#sorry but if you’ve made me feel like shit this weekend you’re getting booted

[bright-and-burning]

this weekend was the kind of psychological experiment they rewrite ethics codes to prevent

[vaaaaaiolet]

It's the RPD's annual Secret Santa, and Leon's at his wit's end finding the perfect gift for his work crush. No competition, of course, except for the part where you make him promise not to bring something lame. Leon's got a week. He can do this. Right?

gn / m, fluff, romance, humor, leon is a SWEETHEART, you guys work at the RPD but you're leon's senior and also love reading??, no outbreak, inspired by the teapot episode of The Office lol, tw: claustrophobia

word count: 1.5k // read on ao3

a/n: vivi try not to mention christmas challenge go!!! @k1ssaphobe this one's for you <3 literally the ugliest effing banner i've ever made i'm SO SORRY but this completely destroyed my writer's block. i had so much fun <3

It’s all been downhill since Leon plucked your name out of a glass jar last week. Shit. Multiply that times three, rain down a couple red and green sprinkles for holiday spirit, and you have a great representation of how prepared Leon feels about being assigned the most crippling crush he’s had since high school for the RPD’s annual Secret Santa: you. 

Shit, indeed.

His hands shake like tremolo as he rereads your name printed on his little slip of paper, and Leon decides right then and there that the best way to go about this is to not go about it at all. Plain and simple. 

“Aren’t you excited?” you gush after your turn to draw from the jar. Poor you, you’d taken his jittery hands as enthusiasm. 

Leon grins tightly. “For sure, yeah, I um… I love Christmas. Really excited. You get who you wanted?” 

“Hey, no cheating. Not even with me, rookie.” You scrunch your face, clutching your paper to your chest. “Secret Santa’s secret. But it’s no secret that you’ve got to give it your all, so no lousy gifts allowed, got it?”

Well, there’s that plan gone. It’s back to police academy basics: Keep It Simple, Stupid. 

There’s nothing to overthink about making a good impression as the newest RPD recruit, Leon gaslights himself while haunting the Target holiday aisle on Monday night. You routinely save him from Irons’ infamous wrath, so it’s only natural that Leon spends all of Tuesday in a stupor at his desk, definitely not thinking of how he could never pay you back the favor with a silly Secret Santa gift. 

Wednesday rolls by and his coffee from yesterday sits in the break room, cold and overstirred next to today’s breakfast crumbs. How many times has Leon watched you sip tea at your desk? Five, six? 

Your eyes sparkle over the rim of your cup when he asks you about your weekend. Really, he doesn’t get the hate for small talk. There’s nothing small about the smile that bunches up your cheeks when he cracks a stupid joke about the weather, and more often than not, Leon finds himself waterboarding his notes app with the names of all the novels you drop mid-conversation so he can binge their Sparknotes over the weekend. So it goes, according to Kurt Vonnegut.

Ugh, he should have paid more attention in English. What the hell is an allegory anyway? Leon spends all of Thursday browsing your Goodreads profile and wracking his head over the hefty price tags attached to your TBR list. His wallet makes for a terrible wingman. 

But really, finding the perfect gift is no sweat at all. Leon is absolutely nonplussed (according to his 50th vocabulary-related Google search) when he steps into the RPD elevator on Friday morning with a clumsily wrapped, candy cane-striped bundle in his arms. 

“Hold it plea- Leon!”  

Liar, liar, pants on fire – he’s totally shitting his pants when you barely make it inside before the doors snap shut. 

“Thanks,” you gasp. 

Leon nods stiffly, his cheeks growing warm, and jams the second-floor button with his knuckle.

As the elevator starts its maddeningly slow climb, you hum, rocking back and forth in your snow boots. You’re cradling a package of your own, something four-cornered and fairly small. Leon, however, feels like he’s holding a bomb, the object of his affections standing less than three feet from his radius of destruction. How are you so carefree right now? You’ve probably got this gifting thing in the bag and he most definitely doesn’t. 

Leon can see everything unfold the moment he enters the office. You’ve had your gift planned months beforehand, his gift is going to be horrifically lame when you open it, everyone’s going to clap politely but you’re going to hate him forev-

And then the elevator plunges into pitch black.

“Oh my god!” 

Who screamed louder, Leon doesn’t want to find out.

The elevator shudders to a complete stop. Leon’s mental spiral of doom helpfully supplies him with an image of you two dangling in midair, suspended on wires. Maybe this is the universe saving him from delivering the worst Secret Santa gift of his life.

Leon blinks in the darkness, waiting for your unflappable voice to cut through the silence and figure a way out, headstrong as always, except you don’t, and Leon strains his ears to hear what’s surely not what he thinks it is, a whisper that sounds an awful lot like: “Leon, I don’t want to die.”

“What?”

“We’re gonna die,” you whimper. “I don’t wanna die.”

Your voice floats up from a lot lower than he remembers your head being, so he crouches down to find you with your arms hugged to your chest. You’re huddled against the wall, breathing all shallow. The package in your arms lies forgotten somewhere in the abyss.

“Hey, hey, nobody’s dying.” Leon reaches out to find your hand. “What’s the matter?”

“I have, cl-clau-”

“Claustrophobia?” He remembers that one well. Wishes he didn’t. 

You nod fitfully.

“The dark doesn’t help either, huh?” he whispers, craning his head to look at the busted bulb on the ceiling. “Damn.”

Your palm grows colder and clammier in his hand by the minute, and the shakiness in your breathing is starting to worry him. Your head pops above your knees when you hear rustling in the shadows, and then the telltale Christmastime cacophony of wrapping paper being torn to shreds. 

“What are you…?”

“Being resourceful,” Leon grits, tearing his Secret Santa gift open. He fumbles with its contents for a second, slipping something into a plastic compartment. “It’s not the best, but…”

The elevator blooms with soft, golden light.

“...it’ll do.”

“What’s this?” you murmur in awe, cupping your hands around the tiny book light Leon holds. 

“My Secret Santa gift,” he chuckles sheepishly. “I kind of, um, blanked. I’m also really bad at giving gifts, so there’s also this,” he says, pulling out a mug from the heap of trashed wrapping paper.

When I Think About Books, I Touch My Shelf, it announces with impunity. 

Leon blushes when you giggle at the inscription. Things always look better online than in person, rookie mistake. But at least you’re breathing better now. 

“This is amazing,” you laugh, cradling the cup like there’s warmth inside. 

“Not so amazing now that I’ve opened all the packaging.”

“Your Secret Santa won’t mind at all, trust me, not with a gift like this- ‘touch my shelf’, you’re unbelievable! Tell me where you got it.”

He shakes his head. 

“Leon Scott Kennedy, if you don’t stop gatekeeping this incredible mug and this super useful book light, by the way, I’m going to tell Irons you spilled coffee all over his desk. I can be very convincing, y’know.” You cross your arms decidedly, waiting. 

“There’s no need for all that!” he protests. 

“That was a promise, Leon, not a threat.”

“C’mon, be reasonable here.”

“You’re still not telling me.” 

“It’s for you, silly.” Leon tilts his head, face heating up faster than the book light bulb, “You’re my Secret Santa.” 

He must be hallucinating the pink in your cheeks.

“Oh,” you breathe. 

“Yes, oh,” Leon teases, scooching to sit next to you. “I couldn’t think of anything,” he confesses, “so I just went with the basics. I know you read and I know you really miss your old tea mug, the one that broke, right? You’re my gifting competition and I got nervy from how sure you were about your person’s gift. So, um, I played safe.” Leon finishes lamely and squeezes his eyes shut, hoping the light doesn’t also illuminate the shame radiating from his body. 

And then he feels the press of an unbelievably soft kiss on his cheek.  

“It’s much better than what I’ve got,” he hears. 

His eyes fly open. Words don’t form right in his throat when you reach out for the package you dropped when the lights went out. Wrapping paper falls apart neatly in your hands (what don’t you do perfectly?) and you unveil a mini waffle iron, proportioned perfectly for somebody always running late without breakfast. Somebody like Leon.

“You keep missing breakfast and Irons is on my ass about saving you food all the time, so I guess took the practical route too,” you shuffle your feet, bashful all of a sudden. “And um, my gift’s kind of useless if we never make it out. Sorry.”

He fingers the tag in wonder. 

Merry Christmas, Leon! There’s a timer so you don’t burn them :) xoxo, your Secret Santa!

You’re so goddamn sweet. You’re perfect and thoughtful and it’s all your fault that Leon didn’t have the faintest clue what to give you. Think, Leon, think. He knows he’s not this stupid. What do you give to somebody who has everything? 

A kiss. One that’s all smiles and just as sweet as the way you kiss him back, because screw Secret Santa.

It’s hard to keep secrets when you’re Leon’s favorite one.

psst, find more of my work here!

comments and reblogs are very much appreciated <3 take care and i love you!

[kinsurou]

Forgive me Lord, for I am sinning

Pairings: Dabi (Touya) x Reader

Word count: 5.4K

Warnings: Smut (18+), Incubus!Dabi, Swearing, Dirty talking, Alcohol, Oral sex, Unprotected sex, Hair pulling, Slight mentions of breeding, Dabi being a little shit, Slight comedy.

Part 2 of the Incubus!AU. This one's a bit different from the first part. Special thanks to @dragonhrte for beta reading this monstrosity for me, and my friends @hawks-senseis @shoutogepi @honeytama @gr0vndz3ro @wakaoujisenhime @sailor-manga for listening to my non-stop ramblings as I worked on this piece! ❤

If somebody had said that after visiting your stranded family, you would end up coming back home bonded to a demon after getting laid inside the same church that brought nightmares upon you for years. You would have laughed at them before asking them to hand over some of whatever it was they may have drank.

But now, as an all too familiar weight drapes over your body, emitting such heat, that it covers your body with a thin layer of sweat despite the intensity of the air conditioner. Followed by a pair of warm lips slowly kissing the back of your neck, as they descend all the way to your lower back. Lastly, the pair of hands squeezing their way in between the mattress and your front to play with the soft mounds in your chest. 

It all makes you think twice about everything you once believed to be nothing but myths and bedtime stories a parent would tell their child so they would behave.

An eyebrow twitched in annoyance as those hands pinched your nipples teasingly, tracing a small pair of piercings adorning the erect nubs. But you made no effort to move from your position in bed, trying to get as much sleep as possible before the start of the day.

“...What do you think you’re doing?” But your tired, sleepy voice was simply ignored, and the owner of those hands leaned down to purr softly over your ear as they started biting the lobe softly.

“Well...I firmly believe there’s no better way to start the day than with some nice morning sex.” Sharp fangs nibbled gently over your neck, right over the spot where a burgundy mark branded the sensitive skin. ”C’mon little one, I’ll be quick.” 

Taking a deep, tired breath, a hand reached out for a small spritzer on the bedside table. Without even bothering to open your eyes, you quickly proceeded to spray the creature looming above your previously sleeping self, who by the way, started hissing painfully by the moisture damping his face.

“What the fuck is that?!” This time, you actually rose half-way from bed to glare at the demon rubbing his smoking face as if his life depended on it. Teal eyes were dangerously lowered into a glare, but honestly? After spending nearly two months stuck with Dabi, he didn’t scare you one bit anymore.

The demon that took you under the eyes of God and the little shit in front of your bed are two completely different individuals by this point. Now, every single day was spent being followed around the apartment by a horny demon trying to either seduce you or feel you up in order to satiate his hunger. Of course, it always backfired on him.

“Holy water.” The spritzer was pointed at him yet again, and he flinched back slightly, glaring at the plastic bottle with nothing but disgust “When I said I was mad at you, It was serious! Why are you still here anyway? Didn’t you get your own place next door?” 

“Not really, just used my hypnosis on the old lady to get in.” He shrugged “If it makes you feel any better, I gave her back the keys some time ago. Told her I found them laying around.” He followed with a sly grin, that somehow riled you up even further “By the way, she thinks I’m your boyfriend.”

He got spritzed again, Much to his chagrin.

………

“So, ‘Touya’...” At the mention of his “name”, Touya looked up from his spot on the couch, frowning slightly after what happened that morning. Those little tantrums of the devil’s spawn usually lasted a few hours before he was back to his casual, lazy, and annoying self. “How did you become trapped in the church in the first place?” 

“Why? Want to send me back? Sorry doll, but there’s no way I’m going back.” He got up from his seat and slowly approached while you were busy having some food. Coming up from behind, his face came from one side to give an alluring kiss to your jaw. “Especially now, that I have such a nice, little vessel all for myself.”

Even though you kept ignoring his approaches, those small shivers that went through your body with his every touch, were more than enough to nourish him for a while. But it’d be a lie if he said he wasn’t expecting a full meal like the one from that night. 

“And what’s with this ‘vessel’ shit? Why me? There were plenty of girls back home, so why did you pick someone like….me of all people?” You jerked away from him, much to the demon’s disappointment, and picked up the empty dish, getting up from the chair to let it sink into the soapy water from the sink before turning to look at him with a frown.

“It’s just like I said before.” He twirled a lock of your hair between his fingers. “There’s something different about you. Besides, all of them are just like those instant meals you like, full of artificial shit. Like that cousin of yours, what’s their name again…? Meh, doesn’t matter, you know who I’m talking about, don’t you?”

You rolled your eyes and huffed knowingly, fully aware of who he was talking about. The family’s golden child. The one who’s never disappointed the family and is their little star. But behind closed doors? They were probably worse than you.

“But you’re different, want to know why?” He got so close, that you could feel the heat of his body through his clothes. His face was so close as well, and it was strange looking at him without all those stitches and scars. Now that you think about it, it’s been a while since he stopped using this “Glamour”. 

“Because you’re not someone who’s afraid of speaking your mind, so what if you’re not their golden child? You’ve always stayed true to yourself.” A hand made its way inside your shirt, claws roaming seductively all over your back. You couldn’t help closing your eyes and gasp quietly as ‘Touya’s hand kept grazing your body with that burning, lust-filled touch.

But as soon as his lips grazed your own, the loud shrill of your phone caught the both of you off guard and nearly caused you to bump ‘Touya’ in the face.

Flushed face turned away from the demon, you turned all your attention to the device. The caller’s ID made you smile in excitement once you saw the name of your best friend, there was only one reason she would call you this early during the weekend.

“Hey, What’s up!” Her cheerful voice made you walk away from the sink, leaving a frowning demon behind. Touya only glared at the device as he saw you talking happily with the girl on the other side of the line. He caught the word “party”, and couldn’t help but smirk smugly once he realized just what that meant. He was really going to enjoy this.

“Alright, I’ll go get ready, see you there!” Ending the call with a squeal, you ran into your room to look for a proper outfit and do your makeup. He just followed behind silently and leaned against the open door, watching you get undressed with a hungry glint in his eye and a devilish smirk.

“Ugh...Which one should I wear?” You mumbled to yourself, looking at the two tops in the bed with a pensive look. Black or Blue top?

“The blue one looks better.” The demon’s voice surprised you for a bit before a loud shriek was heard as he got the other top thrown at his laughing face, but you had to admit he had good taste. The top he suggested had been sitting at the bottom of the closet for a long time anyway, so it was the perfect time to use it!

Grabbing a pair of black jeans, you quickly got dressed and began putting on makeup, just enough to make your eyes stand out with the lights from the club, and a beautiful shade of red that complimented your skin just perfectly. Lastly, a pair of boots that fit the outfit just perfectly. From his place, Touya gripped the fabric thrown at his face strong enough to slightly tear through it with his black claws. Pupils dilated at the sight of those boots adorning those beautiful legs of yours.

Checking the hour, you still had some time before meeting up with your friends. Snatching a small handbag nearby, you made sure everything was in place. Money? check. Keys? check….A condom, just in case? Check.

“I’ll be back later. If I find any of the neighbors at the door, I’m exorcising you myself!” You looked at Dabi with an annoyed squint, remembering the last time he got in trouble for scaring one of the nosy neighbors from the other building, claiming they had it coming for trying to peek through your window.

He said nothing as he saw you rushing out, a wicked grin appeared on his face as he thought of the surprise you might get tonight. It was going to be so much fun.

Two hours later, you were having the time of your life with the others. Taking shots, dancing to the loud music, and sharing looks with one of the hottest strangers you’ve ever met in your life while sitting at one of the barstools. Too intoxicated by the high from the party to notice the burning sensation around the skin of your neck.

“Sooooo, why haven’t you texted these past weeks?” Your friend sat down at your left, resting for a bit from dancing her heart out with this other girl that kept making eyes at her, much to her flustering. “She’s totally checking you out! Atta girl” She couldn’t stop giggling like a teenager at your remarks. 

“I’ve been busy, lots of stuff that needs to be taken care of.” Like how to get rid of the demonic hobo that keeps stealing the instant ramen. But your friend only gave you a look while downing another shot of some liquid courage. 

“The last time you said that we had to take all of the stuff you dropped at your ex’s home after you broke up with them. You’re seeing someone, aren’t you?” She gave you a knowing grin. This girl knows you better than your own family, but what were you supposed to tell her?

Yeah! I went to visit my family and ended up fucking a demon at the church, who just happened to move in with me and won’t stop trying to get laid! 

At this rate, you’d probably end up locked up if someone could hear your thoughts.

Downing another shot, she stood up from her seat and made her way back to the dancefloor and into the arms of her admirer. Thinking about the situation back home left you thinking about Dabi, and that day back at the church. He may try to get into your pants nearly every single day, and yet, he usually stopped his approaches after a while.

Despite all the stress he caused, sometimes he'd go out of his way to help out, even though most of the time he kept messing with your stuff...Maybe...he wasn’t so bad after all…

“Gah! What am I thinking?” Shaking the thoughts out of your head, the drink in front of you was quickly downed.

“Something troubling that pretty face?”  Another voice came from your right side before you had the chance to order another drink. Looking back quickly made your face get warm. The same guy that kept looking at you was standing right there. Just having him this close made something stir inside, as well as a burning sensation at your neck that was brushed off in favor of admiring this beautiful stranger.

“You can say that again, haha….” He sat down beside you, before ordering two beers and handing one over to you.

“Well, hearing a pretty one out is my specialty. Cheers for our troubled lives, am I right?” He raised the bottle before taking a big gulp of the cold, bitter liquid and you followed after him, the night passed by with some small talk and laughter as your face began getting warmer because of the alcohol.

And by the time the clock struck past 1 am, you were already close to this stranger at the far corner of the club.

….Or at least you tried to.

Another two hours passed by, and the sound of the door being slammed loudly caught Touya’s attention as he read one of your favorite books at the same spot from that afternoon.

“You….!” A furious growl came out of your throat. He didn’t bother looking up, already feeling the heated glare at the back of his head before hearing your marching to the bedroom, and he just grinned in realization once he caught a whiff of your scent. 

Dropping the book carelessly behind him, Touya walked nonchalantly inside the bedroom, spotting you taking off all the make-up, half-ruined by your sweat.

“Something wrong, little one?” You turned to glare at him furiously, before throwing the cotton pat at him, which was quickly dodged. But he couldn’t dodge when you pulled him by the collar and began shaking him in anger.

“What did you do to me?!” He felt the frustration coming out of your body, and he also saw it on those fiery eyes of yours “I was this close, THIS CLOSE to getting laid with one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met in my life!” Your faces nearly touched each other “But right as we were about to do it, not only does this fucking mark starts burning like crazy! I couldn’t feel anything as he touched me!” 

You smacked his chest rapidly, trying to let out all that pent-up anger inside, if only this bastard could actually react to your punches, it would actually be satisfying to hit him, but he wouldn’t even flinch.

Before a hand could land on his face, he quickly caught it mid-air, pulling you closer by the waist with something dark in his eyes. Bright, glowing eyes looked down at you. 

“That’s just a side-effect of being a vessel. You can actually be pleased however you want, but there’s a catch.” The way he grinned gave away his answer even before he continued to speak. “As long as we’re bonded to each other, only a master can actually please their vessel.”

You pulled away from him, holding the wrist he held closer to your chest. Like he could tear off the limb in an instant if you weren’t careful enough.

“Besides, think about it. Why would you want to be pleased by a mere mortal, when you know just what exactly your master can offer? Or have you forgotten that night? When you could only scream how much you adored my cock?” 

As much as you wanted to pour the contents of the spritzer on him...he had a point. Why in the world did you want someone else when someone that made you feel such wonderful things, was living under the same roof as yours?

It’s a trap.

Looking down at the floor, you bit harshly at your lip and headed towards the bathroom. After everything that happened tonight, you really needed to freshen up.

Getting undressed and stepping under the running water in the bathtub was easy. Allowing the cold stream to run down your body, trying desperately to ease the aching heat between your legs was the hard part. With each passing second, the increasing heat became insufferable, but no matter how chilled the water felt, the aching wouldn’t go down one bit.

Lust began clouding your thoughts the more time you spent under the cold bath, it was starting to become downright painful and as much as you tried pleasing yourself, it just wasn’t enough.

Walking out of the shower with a soft towel carefully wrapped around your body, you tried to distract yourself blow-drying the damp locks of hair. Trying to ignore the clenching between your thighs. Despite having just taken a shower, there was already slick running down your legs. 

Whimpering, you walked out of the bathroom. Colliding with Touya’s hard chest as he stood in the way between the bathroom and the hallway. His whole body trembled as he let out a low, dangerous growl as soon as he caught a whiff of your scent. It would be a lie if you said that sound didn’t scare you…and at the same time, excited you.

Slowly tilting your head up to look at him, you were met with the same dark eyes from that time at the church. And before you realized what was happening, he had already pushed you against the wall, caging you in the spot with his arms. 

“T-Touya…?” 

But he just ignored you and crashed his lips upon yours with a bruising force. Sending an overwhelming shock from head to toe that nearly made your body give up and fall down on the floor. It was fierce, strong, passionate. You couldn’t even begin to fully describe it, but it was perfect.

“I could smell you from the other side of town.” He broke the kiss, allowing you to catch your breath before he kissed you again as eagerly as before. This time you were ready, and gladly began kissing him back with the same strength. Moaning into the kiss and holding onto him for dear life as his middle finger began prodding its way inside you. He swallowed your every noise happily, enjoying the way your body began trembling as his hand gave you a slight taste of sweet relief, that was so desperately needed.

Then he broke the kiss one more time, teal eyes engulfed in black as he admired your warm face and half-lidded eyes. “That sweet scent of your body, crying out to be pleased, begging to be satisfied until you become nothing but a limp mess underneath your master.”

He looked at your eyes closing with nothing but bliss, begging for more of his unholy touch. Nothing mattered to you anymore, all you wanted was for Touya to defile your whole being like he did the very first time.

“Ahhh….Please…” Lust glazed eyes fluttered open to look at him, and he almost wanted to take you right there, right now “Take my body however you want, Master…”

In an instant. He pulled his hand away from your core, yanking the towel away in the process. With little to no effort, Touya lifted your body with both hands and wrapped your legs around his waist, before taking your begging self to the bedroom. And this time, nothing would stop him from having you, and if he had to obliterate someone to ashes, in order to get what he wanted, he would.

He set you down in front of the bed and sat down on the edge, spreading his calves wide open, just enough for you to fit in at the same time that he leaned back on his lean arms. Face leaning against his knuckles as he looked at your trembling self.

“What are you waiting for, little one? Your master is waiting.”

Nothing but pure, concentrated arousal fueled your every thought. One knee bent down on the floor, the other one followed soon after. Finally, you sat in front of the demon, resting both hands over your knees, and waited for his next commands while staring at a growing bulge, easily noticeable under the layers of black denim. 

“Time to worship your master’s cock, little one.” 

Shaky hands made contact with the zipper of his jeans, slowly tugging it down. A small purr was heard from above you, and the room slowly began to get warmer as the demon’s pants slowly became looser around his waist.

“Look what you do to me. I’ve never wanted to fuck you more than I do now.” He growled in contempt once his jeans were undone and his underwear was pulled down. That all too unique cock sprung out before your half-closed eyes, already dripping with precum. Having it this close to your eyes was way different from last time. 

You could see every detail of the ridges at his sides, and this time, there was something else you definitely did not see, or feel the last time. He smirked widely, showing off those longs fangs of his when he saw you look up at him with curious eyes.

“This is new...When did you get a Jacob’s ladder?” Your hand grasped around the erect member, taking as much of it as it could. Thumb tracing a small vertical line at the underside of it, right in between the row of piercings decorating his shaft, all the way from the base until it stopped right below the tip. The slightest touch was almost enough to send the demon into a frenzy.

“Shortly after leaving the church. But what can I say? I wanted to surprise you.” He didn’t move one bit as he stared at you with those bright eyes. His hands cupped the side of your face, nails scratching gently at your cheek, and you couldn’t help leaning towards his warm touch. “This cock isn’t gonna suck itself. Come on little one, get those pretty lips of yours to work.”

Too lost in the haze to even bother giving the demon a snarky remark, you happily obeyed his orders. 

Slowly, your hand started touching his length with cautious, but firm strokes. The more you kept touching him, the heavier his breathing became. 

“Your hand feels so good.” As much as you wanted to keep on teasing him, the trembling between your legs just kept getting stronger. Desire kept growing inside you like vines, snaring themselves painfully against your very soul.

Leaning forward, your lips gave the tip of his cock a tender, delicate kiss, and not only the feeling of those soft lips against him, but the dazed look in your eyes made Touya grip the blanket with force, growing nails digging into the material underneath, much to your chagrin. But right now, that didn’t really bother you. The only thing that mattered, was worshipping the throbbing cock in the palm of your hand.

Might as well give the demon what he wanted…

“Mmmm...Is my master enjoying this?” You kept moving your hand while peppering his tip with more kisses. Starting at the head before leaving a trail all the way down to the base. Not once did you break eye contact with him, and he couldn’t really complain about the view. 

“Stop with the teasing already,” His hand pulled harder on your hair, leaning down until both of your faces were so close to each other, that you could practically feel his jagged breathing fanning against your warm face, and those hypnotizing blue orbs nearly digging a hole in your soul. “Now’s when the real worship begins. You know what to do, little one.”

You couldn’t hold back a gasp as he pulled harder on your soft locks, and he took advantage of that little noise, to push that pretty mouth down on his cock, hissing in delight at the warmth of your mouth.

“Shit…! your mouth feels so fucking good, it’s just as nice as your pussy!” Both of your hands came forward to rest on top of his thighs while moaning around the pulsing length. Small vibrations made him tilt his head back with closed eyes and a satisfied groan.

He tasted so good, that the pent-up frustration accumulated over the past week because of him, dissipated in an instant, and all you cared about was showing him...just how much you loved, your master’s cock.

Not waiting for a command, you began bobbing your head immediately, taking as much of him as possible, while continuing to stroke whatever bit couldn’t fit inside your mouth. Saliva and pre-cum mixed together into a lewd mixture, slowly dripping down your chin with each bob of your head. 

The grip in your hair became firmer the more your tongue kept tracing circles on his tip. Touya could hear your little, satisfied hums the more you attempted to take him deeper with each thrust of your head against his hips. Thighs shaking desperately once the taste of his precum reached every corner of your tongue.

“As much as I love the way you take my cock with that filthy mouth,” With a single maneuver, he pulled your face away from him despite the little whines you gave, wishing to taste him just a bit more. “I can’t wait to leave bruises all over that pretty skin.”

Unwilling to wait any longer, Touya pulled you off the ground, and with a grin, he threw you face down on the bed. The mattress dipped down on your side by the weight of the demon climbing over your withering body. 

“Get on your knees, right now.” The authority in his words was almost enough for you to melt on the spot. Obediently, you positioned yourself just as the demon said, and felt him grab on your hips with a force that would certainly leave a path of dark bruises. 

When he began rubbing himself against your soaked folds, the friction from those firm ridges sent an exquisite sensation through your whole body, it made him laugh darkly once he heard those small, silent gasps as you waited eagerly to be filled. 

A sharp pain shot through your backside when his hands smacked the skin of your ass, and although it was painful, it felt so good at the same time.

“What’s the matter, little one?” Another smack was given, making you yelp from excitement “You like this don’t you? What a filthy slut!” 

When a third smack was given, tears ran down your face desperately. All you wanted was for this demon to ravish you at once. Not a pinch of pride or shame remained inside. You wanted him, and badly.

“Ahh...Please, master…” A hand snaked its way underneath, spreading those slick folds wide open as an offering to the demon. “Please, fuck me already. I can’t take it anymore!” 

“Good!” One of his hands pushed lightly on the head of his cock, guiding it towards your warm, little hole and with a swift thrust, Touya buried himself all the way in. “Cause I’m gonna fuck you senseless, make you feel so damn good, that the thought of being with someone else will never cross your mind ever again, little one.”

Oh god, it was even better than last time. You could feel every single ridge, and those piercings brushing snuggly against your walls as he began with a fast pace immediately. His every thrust turned you into a mess underneath him. 

Why did you even want someone else in the first place when you had this? If you had to settle for one dick to satisfy you for life, then maybe this wasn’t so bad after all.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” Your face buried against the bed with a lost smile and eyes rolling into the back of your head. In addition, your hands kept gripping the sheets with a death grip as Touya began hitting a spot over and over again that knocked your breath away. Watching you squirming underneath him was truly a sight to behold, nothing could come close to how beautiful you looked in the demon’s eyes.

“I can’t get enough of this delicious pussy, it feels amazing having you taking my cock like this…!” He held your body closer to his, hands kneading your chest in synch with his every push. 

Your moans became louder with every single hump of his pelvis ramming against your ass, it brought you closer and closer over the edge. Until that all too familiar knot in your stomach. 

“Master!...I’m coming! I’m coming!” Your whole body began trembling from the upcoming high, inner walls clasping around the throbbing girth humping your insides so wickedly good. 

But then, Touya stopped moving so abruptly that it almost made you cry out in frustration. Was this his revenge for the spritzer?

But that’s wasn’t it. Instead, he flipped you over and pulled those beautiful legs to rest against his shoulders. Nibbling softly on the soft flesh of your inner thighs made goosebumps appear all over your body, and with a grin, he once again slammed his cock inside that warm, sloppy hole he adored. Picking up his brutal pace from before caused the headboard to slam loudly against the wall with each jab of his hips against yours.

“I want to see that look on your face again. That look in your eyes as I fill this delicious pussy with my cum!” You couldn’t stop gasping for air the more he kept shoving his length into the depths of your warmth, savoring the feeling with eyes closed tightly in nothing but pure enjoyment.

"Take it you little lamb! Take all of your master's seed until you become big and swollen with my offspring!"

He gave another rough thrust, hitting that same spot from before with an intensity that made you cling onto him for dear life, wrapping your arms around his neck. The heat from his body was searing hot, a little more and it could burn you alive at any moment. When you opened your eyes again, the sight you witnessed was hypnotizing.

His body was engulfed in blue flames, and despite being so close to him, that fire around him didn’t burn your skin in the slightest, but instead, it began burning away at his skin, and you realized it was actually destroying his disguise. When he lifted his head from your neck, you saw the same scarred face from that night at the church.

But his unnatural appearance didn’t bother you anymore, too lost in the high as Touya...No...As Dabi let out a deep snarl and with a powerful thrust, that tight knot in your stomach burst. Making you scream as an orgasm overtook your senses.

The look in your face sent Dabi into a frenzy, the sound of his length sloshing into your sloppy core resonated through the bedroom, and with a couple more thrusts, he slammed himself deep inside, clinging onto you as he filled your womb with his scalding seed. 

You both stayed in place, breathing heavily while clinging to each other. Slowly, he pulled out and crawled back, the motion caused your legs to plop on the mattress and he watched in satisfaction as his seed kept leaking out of your drained body, before getting up from the bed and walking out of the room.

For a good ten minutes, you didn’t bother moving, wincing slightly at the sticky sensation all over your whole body, and when every single spasm kept making your body leak with Dabi’s cum, you felt even stickier. The bedsheet laid there completely torn to shreds, soaked and slightly charred. 

“Come here.” Dabi walked back inside the room without his human disguise. Carefully he picked you up bridal style and took you back to the bathroom, where the bathtub was nicely filled. He helped you get in and lean back against the edge as the steaming hot water helped your worn-out body to relax. “There we go.”

“Why are you doing all this? I thought demons didn’t care about us mortals.” From the corner of your eyes, you spotted him picking a small towel from the shelves before he approached the tub again, he soaked it slightly in the tub, before using it to wipe your face.

“Well, I need to take good care of my vessel.” This time, he used the towel on your hair, the warmth felt nice on your sensitive scalp after having your hair pulled for a good time. “And honestly? I like this. You have guts standing up to a demon. Can’t say I don’t like the thrill though. So, as long as we’re bonded, just sit back and enjoy your daily life while I make sure to give you whatever you need.”

You hated to admit it, but it was a tempting offer. Either way, you’re definitely going to hell anyway....Maybe this deal wasn't so bad after all.

@hawks-senseis @honeytama @savagetrickster @unbreakableeiji @wakaoujisenhime @fanfic-me-up @natsuosfairy @sailor-manga @shoutogepi @gr0vndz3ro @divinewhimsy

[firstdegreefangirl]

If you are open to Ted Lasso requests, then Roy Kent/Keeley Jones + sickfic and snuggles?

Oh, nonnie, this got WAY out of hand. But I had SO MUCH FUN writing it, so thank you! There's a lot going on at the beginning here, but I swear there are sickfic and snuggles under the break. I hope you like it!

Read the whole thing in one click HERE on ao3!

The morning gets off to a late start, right out of the gate. The team bus leaves late when they lose Nate again (this year they knew to check the luggage hold, but no one thought to look in the upstairs bathroom, where he was “looking for a little extra privacy, sorry”) and there’s more traffic than anyone could have predicted.

Altogether, it means that the team hardly makes it to Sheffield with time to drop their bags at the hotel before they’re due at the stadium for the game.

Roy tosses a duffel bag onto one of the double beds in the room he’s sharing with Ted tonight (not by choice; it turns out relegation means there’s not enough money in the team budget for all four coaches to have separate suites. Last away game, he and Nate had been roommates, but Ted has some big idea about everyone spending equal amounts of time together in the name of ‘equitable morale,’ and apparently coaching staff isn’t exempt.)

Really, he should have taken the job with SkySports.

At least then, he wouldn’t be pulling a furry green unicorn out of his bag and sitting it carefully by the pillows.

“Security object, Roy?” Ted points from across the room as Roy reaches for his phone. “Respect. No shame in a man seeking a little comfort from-”

“Fuck off,” he snaps, but there’s no real heat behind it. “Phoebe’s mad her mum wouldn’t let her come on a sleepover with the team this weekend. Asked me to bring Captain McKibbin along instead, the little idiot. I … promised to send pictures. As proof.”

“Hey, I get it. My boy’s done many a Flat Stanley in his day.” Clearly, Ted expects him to know what this means, so Roy nods if only to save himself the explanation. “Anyway, we’ve got to meet the fellas in the lobby, head over to the field – pitch.” A full year in, and Ted still struggles with the vernacular sometimes. It’d drive Roy nuts, if the guy hadn’t done so much to help him and his career. “Is, ah, will Captain McCarlson be joining us for the-”

“McKibbin. Captain McKibbin, and he will not. Phoebe says he can stay here, to ward off any bad dream monsters.”

“Well you be sure to let her know that I intend to sleep snug as a bug in a rug tonight. No, two rugs!” Tim points at Roy with both hands, then spins around and opens the door to the hallway.

He still hasn’t gotten a chance to catch up with Keeley before the match starts. She and Rebecca had driven out separately – something about girl talk and lattes – but he knows she’s around somewhere. The owner’s box is a little different everywhere they go, but never too terribly hard to find, and he catches a glimpse of her bright pink peacoat when he looks around during the opening lineup. She's sitting between Rebecca and Higgins, and as soon as she notices him watching, she waves happily. He lifts a hand in response, then tucks it back against his chest, turning back to the pitch and squaring his shoulders as the first half begins.

Richmond is playing well; Isaac has stepped up and really filled Roy’s shoes as captain, and all the lads are on the same wavelength, without having to say much of anything to one another. He hates to admit it, but Roy wonders if the seamless communication doesn’t have something to do with the scavenger hunt they’d hosted in the locker room last night. Ted had blindfolded half of the players, and made the other half sit on the bench and shout directions. The whole thing had been a mess, but then they’d passed around the bottle of vodka he’d stashed behind the clean boots as a prize, and everyone had left smiling. If that’s it, Roy can’t deny the results, but he’ll damn sure try.

That’s what he’s thinking about a few minutes later when he turns around again, looking for Keeley in the stands. He’s always looking for her, when he doesn’t have to be watching every second of the match. She’s almost always watching him right back, before he’s even looking at her. And half the time, he’ll feel his phone vibrate in his pocket. Even if he can’t check it until halftime, he knows it’s a comment on the quality of the plays, or the other team’s kits, or how much she likes the view of his ass from the box.

But now, when he looks, he can’t find her anywhere. He looks again, trying to pick her out in the sea of Richmond jerseys. Most of the faces are strangers, but he can distinguish between them. All the way at the top, where Keeley had been sitting before, it’s just Rebecca and Higgins now, an empty seat folded up between them.

Roy stares for a moment, waiting for her to reappear with a soft pretzel or something. But she doesn’t. Eventually, Rebecca catches his eyeline, and shakes her head. Her lips move, but there’s no way Roy can make out the words. All he knows is that Keeley has disappeared, and judging from Rebecca’s gesture, she’s been gone for more than a few minutes.

Something isn’t right; he can feel it in his stomach. And in his knee, but that’s more from the impending winter. The feeling about Keeley, that sits deep in his gut, twisting and knotting around his organs as he turns back to the pitch.

The lads are lining up the next play, but Ted, Nate and Beard are spread out along the sideline. Roy sidesteps around Beard, almost trips over Nate when he moves back just as Roy passes behind him, and finally comes to a stop next to Ted.

"Coach?”

“What’s up, Roy?” Ted doesn’t turn toward him, but he leans in Roy’s direction, and he knows he’s got the man’s full attention.

He hears the announcer take notice of his new position, the commentary echoing around them.

On Richmond’s side of the field, former team member turned coach Roy Kent is vying for the attention of head coach Ted Lasso. The players are lined up; what could he be saying?

But Roy doesn’t say anything. He just points, arms still folded across his chest, until Ted looks up to the stands behind them.

Both coaches now, looking up at the audience. Surely they’re not surprised at the show of support for the Richmond Greyhounds? They’ve sold out almost every game since their relegation …

The rest of the announcement fades to the background when understanding spreads across Ted’s face. Roy knows he’s seen the empty seat, knows he’ll understand the concern Roy can’t put into words. He raises an eyebrow when Tim looks back to his face, and the other coach nods.

“Just be in the locker room for halftime, yeah? The guys are countin’ on you for a speech to hype them up for the rest of the game.”

Roy jerks his chin up and down, then heads for the tunnel that’ll take him out of view of the crowds. The announcer’s voice comes behind him again.

Coach Kent, now heading off of the pitch. Makes you wonder what’s going on for the Greyhounds. Have they sent a coach away in the middle of a match, or did he ask to be excused? And why? But gameplay continues without him …

It’s only a few steps before he’s in the locker room, trying to shake off the memory of the last time he’d left the pitch before a match was up. It’s empty, no signs of another occupant, but the solitude gives him an opportunity to fish his phone out of his pocket.

No texts, no missed calls. Right away, he dials Keeley’s number.

If you’re looking for the PR Manager for the Richmond Greyhounds, leave a message for Keeley Jones after the beep. If you’re trying to reach your best friend Keeley for a round of drinks, hang up and text me. Oh, and Rebecca? If it’s too long to text, I’ll check my emails soon. Kisses!

“Oi, it’s me,” Roy all but grunts into the speaker when Keeley’s voicemail recording is done. “You’re not in your seat. Not that you have to be, but Rebecca hadn’t seen you, and I didn’t …” he trails off, suddenly afraid of sounding clingy and controlling. “Anyway, call me when you get this.”

He stares at his home screen after he hangs up, a selfie Keeley had nabbed his phone to take. He’s got an arm wrapped around her shoulders and his lips pressed against her temple, and her face is scrunched up in laughter. It’s ridiculous, the first time anyone but a blood relative has ever been his background, but he can’t help smiling at it, even as the worry knots itself tighter in his stomach.

When he can’t stand it any longer, he texts Rebecca.

You seen her?

Her reply is almost instant.

Not since she left. I have her coat, phone is in the pocket. Heard it ring.

Well, shit. She doesn’t have her phone, and as far as Roy knows, nobody has any idea where his girlfriend is.

But then there’s a sniffle from inside one of the toilet stalls. He’d know that sound anywhere; it’s the same noise Keeley makes every time they watch a Disney film together, right before he teases her for crying and she pokes fun right back at how he’s not.

He’d peered under the doors when he walked in, checking for feet, but he knocks on the stall anyway.

“Keeley?” He calls, pushing the door open slowly. Sure enough, she’s inside, sitting with her feet tucked up onto the seat, head wedged between her knees and hands clamped tightly around the back of her skull. “Babe, what’s going on?”

“It’s so … it’s so loud out there,” she whispers, but doesn’t look up. “All the yelling and shouting and cheering. It’s a good thing, I know, that the fans are engaged, but it was just pounding on my brain, making my eyes go all spotty. I tried to stick it out, Roy, really; I know how much these games mean to you, to the whole team. But then I felt like I was going to vomit and-” Keeley chokes on a sob. “I couldn’t find anywhere else quiet to go.”

“Right, well come on,” Roy reaches out slowly and squeezes one of her shoulders. “There’s got to be somewhere better to sit than a men’s toilet stall. You’ve met the lads, they’re disgusting.”

Keeley chuckles, thick and teary, but drops her knees and lets Roy pull her to her feet. As soon as she’s standing, she wraps her arms around his waist and buries her face in his chest. It can’t be too comfortable; he hasn’t taken off the Richmond windbreaker he wears for every game, but Keeley relaxes when Roy doesn’t push her away. Instead, he locks his arms around her shoulders and walks them both slowly back until he can drop onto one of the benches. Keeley stays leaned against him, but brings one hand up to cover her eyes where the harsh lighting seeps in.

“Alright, now, what is it?” Roy asks, when Keeley hasn’t said anything for a while. “You seemed alright when we left this morning.”

“I was. Or, I thought I was anyway. Just a little tired, maybe, but that was all. It was fine until the car ride, but then I got really queasy, and my head started throbbing.” Roy reaches up to scratch his fingers gently through her hair and she sighs. “It got a little better when we got out of the car, but then it was just so-”

“Loud, I know,” he finishes for her, then they both fall silent.

Exhaustion. Nausea. Headache. His sister had those symptoms once, just shy of eight years ago.

Shit.

“Keel. You don’t think you’re … You – we – couldn’t be … you aren’t …"

“What?”

“Um, pregnant? I know we’re careful, but …" Keeley cuts him off with a laugh that turns into a whimper, and he tightens his hold on her.

“No. Definitely not. Not this week, for sure. Just a migraine, I think. Used to get them sometimes, but it’s been a bit.”

“Good,” Roy sighs. “I mean, someday, maybe, but not …”

“Not yet,” Keeley agrees, and something goes warm in his chest, knowing that they’re on the same page. Right now, they don’t need to worry about anything except getting Keeley back in fighting shape.

“Have you taken anything?” She nods against his chest.

“This morning, um, in the car. It didn’t help much. Just need it dark. And quiet.”

“OK, that’s alright,” Roy whispers, dropping his voice even quieter. “It should be almost half, what say we find somewhere else for you to hole up before everyone comes barging in like heathens?”

He’s not sure exactly where they can go, but he knows he’s got to get Keeley out of the locker room before they clear the players off the pitch. She shrugs half-heartedly, and lets Roy pull her back to her feet. He doesn’t have a plan yet, but he starts walking them slowly toward the door as he looks around. There are no offices in here, no treatment rooms or storage closets.

He hasn’t checked the time since he found Keeley, but he’s played enough years of football that his body’s internal clock can feel the seconds ticking away. There’s maybe two or three minutes left, and Ted wants him to give the halftime pep talk. If he asked, if he explained everything, he could probably get out of it, maybe trade Beard for next week or something. Keeley needs him.

But the team needs him too.

All at once, it hits him.

Rebecca.

Rebecca doesn’t have a role in the halftime routine. There’s nothing happening on the field and she almost never comes to the locker room before the match ends. And she’s got a car here; that’s somewhere quiet Keeley can sit, at least until the second half gets underway.

He wiggles his phone out of his pocket again and reopens the text thread.

Found her in locker room. Migraine. Can you meet us and take her outside for halftime? Ted wants me to give speech.

Rebecca doesn’t reply, but a minute or so later, Roy hears the steady click-clack of her heels coming down the hall. Keeley whimpers, and he presses a kiss to her hair as the door swings open.

“Hey,” he says, shifting around to look at Rebecca.

“Hello,” she whispers back.

“Hey, Keeley, Rebecca’s here now,” Roy tips his face back down to whisper against the shell of her ear. “Think you can make it outside with her?”

“We can head back to the hotel, Keeley, if you think that’d help? It’s only a few minutes’ drive.”

“Yeah, ‘s quieter there,” she says, but doesn’t move.

“And I’ll meet you there just as soon as the match is done, hmm?” He runs his fingers up and down her arm, shifting away slightly. “Here, want to take my sunglasses, block out some of the light?”

At that, Keeley squeezes her eyes shut and turns her face up toward Roy. He chuckles and slides his glasses over her eyes, then brushes a kiss to the tip of her nose.

“Alright then, off you go,” He lets Rebecca take her by the arm and lead her back out of the locker room, trying to ignore the way his heart clenches at the sight of her trudging away, hunched over against her own discomfort.

He’ll be back with her soon enough. But the door has no more than swung shut behind them when it bounces open again. Jamie and Sam are leading the pack, the whole team piling in around him.

As usual, their energy is infectious, and Roy finds himself slapping hands and patting backs as he makes his way across the room to where Ted is bringing up the rear.

“Hey, Roy, you get everything all squared away?”

“For now. Rebecca’s taking Keeley back to the hotel; she’s not feeling well.” He should have known better than to hope that Ted Lasso would ever let anything drop with a simple explanation.

“Well that’d explain the text message I got from Boss Lady asking if she’d be alright rooming with me tonight.” Roy’s eyebrows go up at that. “And I’m guessin’ from the look on your face that she didn’t mention anything about that to you? Aw, geez, I hope I didn’t spoil a surprise or anything. But the cat’s out of the metaphorical bag now, isn’t it? So I might as well tell you that I told her that I was a-OK with switching up the room arrangements if that’s what’s best for everyone tonight. Thataways you can keep an eye on Keeley, and down the hall we can have Biscuits with the Boss: Evening Edition. How’s that sit with you?”

“Honestly, Ted, I have no opinion on what time of day you eat biscuits,” Roy sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “But thanks. I think. For making sure I can be there for Keeley.”

“We’re all on the same team here, right? What’s good for the goose and all that, we’re at our best when everyone is at their own, individual best. Hey, speaking of, there are some guys in here, waiting for someone to put a little extra pep in their step for the back end of this game. If you’re not up for it, I can see what Coach Beard has up his sleeve, or-”

“No, it’s fine,” Roy cuts him off before the rambling can reach full speed again. “I’ve got this one.”

He turns back to the group, and yells for everyone to listen up. When he’s got their attention, he takes a deep breath.

“What you’re doing on the pitch today, it’s fucking amazing,” he starts. “Not the score, though that’s pretty alright too. But that doesn’t matter half as much as how you’re playing. Hell, you assholes keep communicating this well, you’re going to put us coaches out of a job. I know Ted’s all about the rhymes and anecdotes and shit, but that’s not … I’m not a walking greeting card store,” everyone chuckles, Ted included. “But get back out there, keep working together, and dammit, make the four of us redundant!”

There’s a round of half-sarcastic applause, then Ted steps forward.

“Alright, y’all heard the man. Don’t get tired, get us fire—well, actually, don’t get us fired. That’s not … take the sentiment of what Roy said, but do me a favor and don’t take him literally. I like working with y’all. Anyway, Coach Beard’s gonna take it from here, walk y’all through a couple plays for the second half.”

The players cluster around Beard and his whiteboard diagram, and Ted finds his way back over to Roy at the back of the group.

“You know, if you need to head out a little early today, we can pull through without you. Sometimes a team is strongest when it’s split up to work on all the different things it needs to get done. Like taking care of each other.”

Any other day, he likes to think he’d insist on staying for the rest of the match. But if he’s honest with himself, he knows that he’ll put Keeley first anytime she needs him to.

“That’d be great, Ted. Thanks.”

“Hey, no problem, Roy. I’ll come check up on y’all when we get back?” Roy nods and shakes Ted’s hand quickly, then slips out of the locker room while Beard is saying something about the Sheffield players having “lots of power, like a high-watt light bulb.”

He doesn’t have a car, doesn’t feel like waiting on an Uber, so it’s a half-hour's walk back to the hotel. When he gets there, Rebecca is already waiting for him in the lobby.

“Ted gave me your room number,” she starts, as soon as they’ve said their hellos. “Keeley’s up there lying down. I, uh, I assumed yours was the bed with the unicorn on it?”

“It’s Phoebe’s,” he groans. “But yes.”

“I’m sure.” But she’s smirking like she might not be. “Anyway, Ted’s things are already taken care of, and I think I got everything of Keeley’s into your room, but she unpacked her entire suitcase first thing, so I might’ve missed some shoes or something.”

“No problem. She’ll get them back, I’m sure. Thanks for taking care of her.”

“Anytime, Roy. Really. I’m just down the hall, if either of you need anything.”

Roy nods his thanks and steps into the elevator.

He swipes his key card to unlock the door, then turns the handle and pushes it open slowly. The lights are turned off, and the curtains drawn, so he makes his way carefully, trying to remember if these rooms have any wayward furniture for him to stumble over.

Thankfully, the walkway is clear. He sits gently on the edge of his bed, smiling when the Keeley-shaped lump of covers shifts closer to him.

“Hey, babe,” she mutters.

“Hi,” Roy presses his lips together and pats what he thinks is probably her knee through the blankets. “Feeling better?”

“A little. Rebecca gave me water. And it’s quiet here.”

“Yeah, it is.” He’s not sure what else to say, but Keeley saves him from having to carry on the conversation.

“There’s a unicorn on your bed. ‘S soft.”

“His name is Captain McKibbin,” Roy replies, rolling his eyes even though he knows she can’t see from here. “I’ll tell Phoebe you like him.”

“Please do.”

“Anything else you need?”

“Just you,” she says, and it’s so quietly honest that if Roy weren’t already pretty sure he’s in love with her, it would have sealed the deal. He toes his shoes off and shimmies out of his windbreaker and trousers.

“Alright, well shove over then,” he teases, nudging her shoulder until there’s room for him to lie down beside her. When he pulls the covers back, he recognizes the hoodie she’s wearing as the one he’d crammed into the top of his bag when he packed last night. It’s three sizes too big, and she’s got one of her own just like it, but she looks far better in Roy’s than he ever will.

As soon as he’s lying down, Keeley is turning over and fitting herself against his side, tucking her face back into his bare chest. It’s still early in the evening, and Roy knows that if he falls asleep now, he’ll spend all week regretting it. But Keeley needs the rest, and there’s not much he can do without turning on the TV or lighting up his phone screen.

Besides, one afternoon nap never killed anyone, right?

So he closes his eyes and listens to her steady breathing. When Keeley wakes up, hopefully the worst of the migraine will have passed, and she’ll feel more like herself again. Roy knows they’ve got a pass on team bonding tonight, if they need it, and he doesn’t want to push Keeley into anything she’s not up for. But rumor has it that Beard found a pub with a bowling alley in it, and that’s bound to be entertaining, no matter the scores at the end of the night.

For right now, though, the only thing that matters is Keeley, curled up against him and warmer than all the blankets stacked on top of them. She’s asleep, and he’s following close behind, and nothing matters beyond the comfort they share.

Not migraines, or bowling, or trick plays, or shoes that might have been left down the hall, or anything but Roy and Keeley and this moment together, in the dark and the quiet.

Just them.

[theleftovertaco]

The Boys in Heels

I decided to go ahead with this hc. I have so many opinions about the boys in heels. 

in our lineup today is Fred, George, Draco, Neville, Ron, Harry, and Cedric and Oliver have been added!

Fred

Fred saw you walking around in heels during a school ball and he loved them

Like loved them

Baby boy was simping over you in these pretty sandal shoes, he liked how your legs looked in them

Fred is already a very tall boi, but he still wanted to wear heels

So you dug out that same pair of blue heels and enlarged them slightly to fit his feet

Boy also wanted to paint his toenails to match so why not

He stood up and immediately fell over and then you nearly did laughing

“HELP ME UP!” “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

He grabbed onto your arm and slowly stood up and then taught himself to walk in heels 

He looked at himself in your mirror and just started beaming

Spent about ten minutes just looking at his legs

He started strutting around the common room in the heels 

After this you got him his own pair in red

George

Georgie was going on a date with you

You walked down from the girls dorms in a pair of pastel yellow heels 

George is a softie by nature so he swooned

And he was way into it

“Love you’re so much taller! How do you walk in them?”

He asks if he can wear a pair of yours a couple weeks later.

So you find an older pair of pink heels and enlarge them

He tries them on and immediately does that dinosaur walk that people do when they first wear heels 

His legs are all bent and he looks like a baby giraffe trying to walk for the first time so you narrate it like the old BBC documentary you and him watched together

“The baby giraffe stumbles and falters before-” “SHUT UP YOU”RE MEAN- OH SHIT I THINK IT GOT IT!” “The baby giraffe is successful.” “Must you taunt me?”

You two start dancing around the common room to old music and after he decides he wants to start wearing them often

Eventually when he and his brother open WWW he wears heels on the first day to boost his confidence

The first pair you get him is a set of pastel pink heels and he wears them so much the heel just snaps off at some point

Draco

He saw you in heels before he even really knew you

You had that whole badass aesthetic and wore those high knee style heels

He admired how badass you looked

So he actually went and just bought a similar pair himself a few months after you were together

He surprised you a couple weeks later

“What do you think, love?” “You look fantastic!”

Maybe it’s the whole rich pureblood thing, where they teach him to act and talk but he actually already knows how to walk and act in heels

It was actually Narcissa, he observed how his mother walked and started to model it

Draco doesn’t wear them super often, he just pulls them out when he doesn’t feel as confident

Probably pulls out a skirt as well

But not too often since he finds heels to painful

“Wimp.” “Hey, I’m delicate.”

Over time, he buys other heels, mostly in black and green

But he always comes back to those first ones

Neville

Neville was always a little intimidated by you 

You wore these dark combat boot style heels 

And you were always so confident

You just put out that vibe of “Do not fuck with me”

Whereas his vibe was like “Hey, you could probably pour soup in my lap and I’d apologize to you” 

So even after he’d gotten to know you it took a long time

You brought it up because he was always staring at yours

He was very sheepish, but eventually agreed

Now, contrary to popular belief, Neville is actually pretty tall, so he didn’t want anything that would make him stand out too much

So you found a tiny little kitten heel style thing

He was insecure about the noise the heels made, so you placed a spell so that the heels wouldn’t make the little click clacking sound when he walked

First day he wore them, he looked insecure, so you convinced a couple other girls to walk around with the two of you and all of you shower him with compliments

He’s bright red the whole day but the smile never leaves his face

After, he gets more confident and starts buying more heels

Harry

Harry saw a pair of red pumps in Hogsmeade by himself and bought a pair saying they were for his girlfriend

“You’re girlfriend has big feet” “You’ve got something to say about my girlfriend?” “No, mate, sorry.”

He kept them at the bottom of his trunk, he never thought you would find it 

You were helping him reorganize his trunk and he completely forgot it was there

You pulled them out and he snatched them back almost immediately

“What are these?” “NOTHING! They’re nothing!” “They look like a pair of heels.”

He just stuttered for about a minute before confessing

“I thought you would have a problem.” “Why the hell would I have a problem?”

By the time you found out he’d learned to walk in them and eventually you convinced him to wear them in front of you

So far it’s more of a you and him thing but he’ll get out there eventually

Ron

Ron’s height is similar to the twins so he already towered over most people

But he was just slightly shorter than his brothers

And it bothered him

They always poked fun at him for it “how’s the weather down there” “I’m only a little shorter than you two!” “Couldn’t hear you from up here, sorry Ronniekins!”

So you offered the idea that he should wear heels

Initially he does it as a joke

Staggers into the Great Hall wearing six inch black heels and makes a comment about the twins height

But soon he finds that he kind of likes the heels, likes how confident they make him feel

“I see why women wear them. They’re painful as hell but I feel powerful.”

Over time he starts wearing them more

He rolled his ankle once though in an incident and stayed away from them for about a month

But when he got back into them he was as active as ever

But he’s never running in them again

Never. Again.

Cedric

Cedrics a pretty boy

We been knew

But he initially did it on a dare, you and your housemates dared him to wear them for a day since he had never known the pain of walking around for 8+ hours in heels

So he shows up to the first school dance of the year in 5 inch black stilettos and a suit

Big mistake on his part

He twisted an ankle 5 seconds in

You had to half carry him to Madame Pomphrey and you both spent the first 20 minutes of the dance in the hospital wing while his ankle healed

But after that he started wearing them a little more often

He was always getting dared to do stuff so he started trying stunts in his heels

It began with just running but he tried to jump and that was successful and now he cartwheels around the castle in heels sometimes and you are very worried he’ll end up with broken legs

You find him a pair of comfortable heels (those two words are antonyms) and he now prefers those

You still worry he will hurt himself

“Are you about to jump off that tree and land in heels again?” “No?” And then the fucker jumps

But sometimes he just wears them for fun because he likes them

Oliver

Oliver is a very athletic boy

He never really things about the idea of feeling pretty

But he saw you wearing those like sneaker heels that don’t really look like sneakers

Or rather he just noticed that you were taller

So he asked if he could wear a similar pair cause he’s always been a little insecure about his height

He’s not even short (not that it matters) but still

So you let him borrow them

And we walks into the common room with so much goddamn confidence

After that he wears a pair of heeled boots and feels 10 times better

He wears them to a quidditch game once and when he kicks a quaffle away from the highest hoop he punches a hole it the ball

So because of him heels are now banned during quidditch

But other than that he’s doing great with the heels

Wears them around an to class, the noise the louder ones make draws attention to him that he really likes

You can hear him coming before you see him

Although Madame Pince did not seem to appreciate that

Oh well, you win some you lose some

Besides, Ollies happy, and he looks beautiful, so what else could you ask for?

I’m gonna try to get the makeup one done during the weekend, let me know what else you want me to do! Send me an ask, I fully accept requests!

[angstyaches]

Hey flick! Just read your last fic with poor el and I was just thinking about a potential dynamic between Elliot and Charlie, where Elliot is sick from maybe going through vamp transition stuff and Charlie is around somehow (maybe visiting Shane, or if you can’t figure it out you could just swap him with Shane lol). I could see if Elliot was just mildly sick that Charlie would know to back off and give him some space, but if it was more serious I feel like his deep and intense drive to mother the everloving shit out of people might be too much for him to resist trying to take care of the poor grumpy boi. And besides, Elliot is Shane’s family, so like he feels like he’s GOTTA help even more😂 meanwhile Elliot is annoyed at first but slowly warms up because a) he’s sick as hell and could really use someone to make sure he doesn’t die, and b) Shane trusts Charlie and that’s gotta mean something, right?

I hope this is okay!! My brain has NOT been cooperating with me lately so it's a little messy. This sort of focuses on Charlie’s issues with Elliott.

CW: emeto, blood mention (drank), fear, mistrust

___

"Shit," Shayne sighed as he stared into the boot of Elliott's car, where he and Charlie had just shoved their luggage for the weekend.

"What?" Charlie asked, twisting on the back seat to look back at him.

"I forgot to pack my Docs. Can I get the keys?"

"Lovely, it's 25 degrees all weekend," Charlie laughed, pushing open the car door to lean out and talk to Shayne properly. "Do you really think you'll need them?"

Shayne curled his lip in an exaggerated pout and put out his hand. Charlie dug the house keys out of his pocket and relinquished them, finding himself rewarded with a dark-eyed wink.

"I'll only be a sec," Shayne promised.

"Mmhmm, take your time," Charlie grinned. He shut his door again and watched Shayne jog back towards the house. That was when his gaze fell on the back of Elliott's head, and then on the vampire's hand, which was draped over the top of the steering wheel while his fingers drummed rapidly against the dash.

"Sorry," Charlie chuckled anxiously, wondering when he'd started feeling the need to apologise for Shayne. He tilted his head to try to meet Elliott's gaze in the rear-view mirror, with little success thanks to his dark aviator sunglasses.

"It's fine," Elliott murmured.

"Thanks again for driving us."

Charlie's heart sank when seconds ticked by and Elliott didn't reply again. He really couldn't tell if Elliott was mad or if he was just this closed-off.

Shouldn't have told Shayne to take his time. Should have told him to hurry the fuck up.

Charlie sat back in his seat and put on his seatbelt, taking his time and smoothing out the strap over his shoulder. The awkwardness in the car was as much his own fault as it was Elliott's. He still got shivers down his spine when he recalled that day in the park, and the fear and panic that had taken hold of Shayne when he'd realised Elliott was spying on them; he just couldn't shake the mistrust that had planted itself in him.

Not just that, but on the drive home that same day, Elliott had refused to pull over when his own boyfriend claimed to be carsick, resulting in the poor boy throwing up all over himself.

Plus, Elliott was way too conventionally attractive for Charlie to trust him.

Asshole.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Elliott asked lazily, presumably meeting his eye through his sunglasses in the mirror now.

“I – I, my what?” Charlie stammered, shifting in his seat. For a horrible second, he was worried that Charlie Two’s thoughts had slipped out through his mouth. “Nothing. I have no thoughts.”

“Right,” Elliott mumbled, and he might have burped quietly into his fist just then, but Charlie couldn’t be sure. He could have been clearing his throat. “I’m sure you’ve got absolutely no thoughts on any subject.”

Charlie shook his head and turned his head to look out the opposite window. The wind was brushing across the edges of the trees.

Sarcastic asshole, Charlie Two pointed out from inside his head.

Shayne is also sarcastic.

Yes, but he’s our sarcastic asshole.

Stop saying ‘asshole’!

There was a harsh click as Elliott pushed open the drivers’ side door. He was huffing deeply, as far as Charlie could make out.

Shit. Charlie cleared his throat.

Shit, indeed. Was it something you said?

“Elliott?” Charlie called out, throwing open his own door when Elliott slammed his shut. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes, just excuse me a minute.”

“Oh, okay.” Charlie sank a little further down in his seat, stomach sinking. Had he really said something? Did Elliott now think he’d muttered ‘asshole’ under his breath, referring to him? He knew he should go after him and explain, but the idea of facing Elliott when he was mad at him made Charlie’s guts turn to water.

His car door was still open and he could hear Elliott’s shoes crunching on the gravel. The sound halted abruptly when the vampire was a few more feet away, and then there was a harsh retch that made Charlie’s hair stand on end.

“Oh, god...” Charlie fumbled to release himself from the seatbelt he was still strapped in with. As soon as he was out of the car, he spotted where Elliott had stopped to hunch over, hands planted on his knees and his ponytail flopping over the top of his head.

Elliott looked up at the sound of the gravel crunching, and Charlie almost physically recoiled at the sight of the blood and bile clinging to his lips and chin. Charlie took a deep breath, feeling endlessly thankful that he hadn’t had any breakfast yet.

“Are you okay?” he asked, as steadily as he could.

“Don’t come any fuckin’ closer.”

“Right. Sorry.” Charlie’s feet rooted themselves dutifully to the spot, but his heart still twisted with sympathy at how frail Elliott suddenly looked when at the mercy of his own rebelling stomach. “Do – do you need something?”

“No!” Elliott yelled, though as he did, he doubled over again, jaw wrenched apart as another gag ripped through him. Nothing seemed to come up but a deep, nauseated belch, but it still made Charlie shudder and swallow thickly.

Another belch brought up a splash of liquid, and Charlie had to turn away. He was feeling hot and squirmy. Without thinking too much, he decided to be productive despite Elliott’s resistance; after all, it wasn’t exactly his first time dealing with a sick person who didn’t want to be taken care of. It was almost “his thing” at this point.

Charlie paced back to Elliott’s car and turned out the contents of the glove box until he found a pocket-sized packet of tissues. He also remembered that he had a bottle of water in his backpack, so he grabbed that from the back seat.

Luckily, by the time he crossed the gravel again, Elliott’s body seemed to have finished purging itself. He was standing upright at least, and had pushed his aviators up into his hair. He only gave a mild glare as Charlie approached him.

“Here,” Charlie said softly.

“Do not touch me,” Elliott growled as he took the tissues. He did a double-glance towards Charlie as he pulled one out of the packet. “Thank you.”

“Mmhmm.” Charlie smiled tightly and looked away as Elliott mopped his face. To his relief, the front door of the house opened just then and Shayne stepped out, glancing over at the two of them before locking it behind him. Charlie gave him a listless wave.

“Water?” Elliott rasped next to Charlie, making him jump.

“Right! Sorry. Here you go.” Charlie turned to hand it to him, that pained smile still plastered across his face. He seriously couldn't shake the fact that this guy could sprout massive fangs and rip the side out of his neck with no effort at all.

Elliott’s eyes were so golden they almost glistened in the low sunshine, yet without the sunglasses, Charlie could see the dark circles they cast. His eyebrows were furrowed and flecked with sweat, and yet the vampire managed a half-smile as he unscrewed the cap on Charlie’s water bottle.

“Thanks, Charlie.”

“You’re welcome,” Charlie replied, and although it felt a little stiff, it wasn’t quite as stiff as it could have been.

"Everything okay?" Shayne asked, crunching his way across the gravel towards them, his Docs hanging from one hand and the house keys dangling from the other.

After filling his mouth with water, Elliott spat the liquid back out again, making a queasy face. "Much better now."

"Yeah," Charlie breathed, grabbing the keys from Shayne and taking his hand while he was at it. "Better now."

[mudhorn-djarin19]

Mission: I Do - Chp. 3 (Agent Whiskey x f!reader)

Summary: A new mission has come up and you are sent off on it with Agent Whiskey as your partner. However, you have to go undercover as his fiancee. What will this mission mean for you and your harboring crush on him? This chapter is the set up to the mission. This chapter is fairly long. Makes up for the shorter and kind of lacking content in the last chapter. Hope ya enjoy ;) Rating: Explicit Warnings: mutual pining, language, hangover mention, poisioning, fighting violence, bomb mention, protected sex, and fingering (let me know if I missed any) AO3 Link | Masterlist | Join my taglist via here! Chp 1 | Chp 2 | More chapters to come!

You awake the next morning to hear Jack talking. You roll over, cracking an eye open and see Jack sitting up on the edge of the bed, glasses on his face. You make out in your hungover state that he is going over the mission with who you assume is Champ.

“Yes sir. I will inform her. She’s asleep still but she’ll understand and be okay. I’ve got her. Thank you.” He says, hanging up the call and placing the glasses back down on the nightstand. He turns around and sees you looking at him through half open eyes.

“That was Champ. I’ll tell you what he said once you are awake more. You look pretty hungover and I figured you’d be so I already ordered us breakfast in. Make sure you take the meds I left on your nightstand  too for we have a big day ahead of us.” He says as he rubs a hand gently on your cheek. “You know for working at Statesman I figured you’d be able to hold your liquor better.” He teases, getting an eye roll out of you.

About half an hour passes and breakfast has finally arrived. You two sit at the table eating, your hungover state slowly going away. Thank god for the medicine, good warm food and water Jack provided to you.

“Okay so Champ got the information I sent over to him last night after you passed out. He said we’ve done good so far. Just need to use the poison he has given us to take the rest of them out. He said there shouldn’t be many more. Hopefully some of them will be at the club again tonight. Kind of hard to do at the convention. He did say that the restaurant we are to go to today for dinner has been found to be the local headquarters for the crew. We need to take anyone there out and prevent an explosion from happening since a lot of couples are going there for a special banquet meal today.” He says. “He wanted me to inform you that he knows you are new to being an agent on the field. You’re used to being behind the sense as a tech agent but, he knows you are strong with a gun and knife. So he knows you can fight. I’ll be there right beside you though to help if any trouble arises.”

You nod. You’ve only been an agent for about a year and have yet had to do any actually fighting thankfully but you trained a lot. Having an experienced agent like Jack though by your side helped you feel a lot more calm about the situation.

You two finished up eating breakfast and going over the plan for the day. By the time all of that was over you were feeling a lot better and your hangover had passed. Jack was in the shower while you stayed in the room to get dressed. Since you were just going to be attending the convention and restaurant for the day until later this evening you decided to stick with another casual look. A simple t-shirt, skirt and some boots to match with Jack’s. You were all set and ready to go aside from makeup and hair which you needed the bathroom for. You were about to knock on the bathroom door when it swung open and Jack stood there in front of you. He was shirtless but had a towel wrapped around his waist.

“Uh sorry.” He says scooting aside to let you into the bathroom. “Forgot my clothes out here.”

“I- it’s okay.” You say trying to avert your eyes. “I need the bathroom anyways for my hair and makeup. We can trade.”

God why does he have to look so good shirtless. You saw him that way at night and during missions when requiring medical attention but, seeing him now glistening from the water of his shower and wearing nothing but a towel had your heart doing back flips and your core warming. You quickly rushed into the bathroom to avoid making yourself feel anymore flustered, shutting the door behind you so he can have some privacy.

You two had made it through the convention again but found no sign of anyone new, hoping to find someone at either the restaurant or club this evening.

You made your way into the restaurant which was supposed to be the headquarters of the crew you were to take down. You stayed close to Jack, a bit worried about having to fight for the first time, and not knowing when it may happen. The host seats you at your table and presents you your menus to get started for the banquet. Jack looked over his menu while you listened to the lady talk about wedding planning and looked around the venue for anyone.

You tap Jack’s hand once the host leaves. “Over there.” Nodding your head in the direction of a crewmate going into the kitchen.

He nods, standing and follows your lead. You both sneak into the kitchen, and see 10 crewmates standing around, all have either a knife or gun on them.

“Oh sorry… thought this was the bathroom.” Jack laughs. “Just kidding.”

And on that last statement he pulls his whip out of his belt knocking two out immediately with impact. You draw your gun out shooting down and chucking your knife into another chest. Thank god your guns have silencers on them so no one out in the banquet room can hear the battle going down. You turn to shoot the other two Jack had knocked out with the whip for good measures. Okay 4 down 6 to go. You go to pull your knife from one's body when a crewmate starts to sneak up on you. Jack soon snatches his lasso out, sending the electricity flying through it and cutting the guy in half. You nod to Jack as a thank you, grabbing your knife and sinking it into another crewmate's chest. 6 down 4 to go. Jack in the meantime had already knocked 2 of the 4 left to go out with his whip. You quickly toss your gun to him for him to take them out fully while fighting one who had grabbed onto your back off. The final one comes running towards your front but you quickly take him out by sinking your knife in one final time for the fight. You struggle to get the guy on your back off but he quickly releases you after Jack shoots him down. You look down at all the bodies and sigh. You didn’t do bad for your first time really fighting. Jack took down the majority but you did take down a few and you were proud of your work. Now for the hard part. To find the device and quickly deactivate it. You two look around the kitchen until Jack finally exclaims he found a bag. You rush over and look into it and sure enough, there it is.

“This is too high tech for me. That’s your department.” He nods.

You look over the device and notice a lot of wires, you ask Jack for a knife and he gladly hands you over his pocket knife. You start cutting at wires, pushing some buttons as the time ticks down slowly. You still have a good amount of time left but, any wrong move and it could go off any moment now. After a bit of a fuss with it the timer finally disappears.

“Done!” You say, wiping your forehead and handing Jack his pocket knife back.

“How you techies figure this shit out I will never know.” He chuckles. “Well, objective one done. Champ says there is a chance of another this weekend so we have to keep our eye out. He’ll send us more information as he finds out. But we still need to find and see if we can take out the boss. Chances are we can catch him at the club tonight. If not him at least more of his damn goonies.”

You nod. “I’ll meet you back at the table. Going to clean up before going back out there.”

Jack nods in response and heads back out to the banquet room, acting as if nothing just happened. You return soon after, from fixing your hair and cleaning up any wounds.

You two were sat at a large table with some other couples, you make conversation with some and find out that a few of them surprisingly were crewmates, dropping some of the poison provided you slipped it to them when they weren’t looking and took note of who they said would be at the club tonight aside from them. You eye Jack to make sure he heard so you two can be sure to attend tonight after finishing up the dinner. Once you see the poison take it's work on the crewmates you and Jack inform those who were attendees just like you of the danger and help guide them out to safety.

Once again you are back at the club hoping to catch the boss or anymore of his crewmates. Jack once again finds himself a comfortable spot at a table while you go mingle around the dance floor to see if you can find anyone. You didn’t have as much luck tonight finding anyone like last night but, you glance over at Jack to see he has managed to grab the attention of the two men who are now sitting at the table with him. You give him some time to pick their brains before heading back over. You don’t want to disturb them and scare them off before he can get any information, assuming they are crewmates. Once you see it’s clear and he is left alone again you make your way back over to him. But as you are making your way back over you are nearly stopped in your tracks with anger.

Jack sits at the table you left him at, back turned towards you and you see a random girl walk over to him and plop herself right down onto his lap. You stay a far enough distance to watch and listen but close enough to step in soon if need be.

“Hey cowboy.” The girl winks at Jack as she wraps her arms around his neck, removing his hat to place it on her own head. “You look pretty lonely here. Need some company?” She asks and she wiggles in his lap.

You figure by now as much of a flirt Jack is he’s giving into her, not gonna let her go and will probably find some way to have some fun with her. Ruining a big part of the damn cover for the mission. But next thing you know Jack is unhooking her arms from around his neck, grabbing her by the waist to lift her off up him and set her down on the table in front of him.

“Don’t think my fiancee would much appreciate that now girl.” He says sternly. “Now go on. Get.”

“Pfft. What fiancee? I see no one around.” She snaps back irritatedly.

You then approach and set the drink you had ordered next to her, plopping your ass right down on Jack’s lap sideways, grinding down a little bit to where he audibly groans for not only you to hear but the girl as well.

“This fiancee.” You say, grabbing his hat back off her head, placing it on your own and flashing the fake ring at her. You then plant a kiss on Jack’s jawline, working your way over to his lips, capturing his between yours. You two kiss each other for a few seconds before you turn your head back to the girl still sitting there. “You heard him. Go on. Get.” You say repeating Jack’s words.

She huffs and leaves in irritation. You smirk at your work, damn proud you not only scared some random chick off from touching your “man” but also getting a little bit of a rile out of Jack when you sat on his lap. You turn back to Jack’s face who also wears a smirk.

“Well well… Look at you takin’ charge.” He chuckles, taking his hat back from your head.

You smile as a blush crosses over your face, his hand cupping your cheek and bringing your lips back to his once again. You two continue to kiss for a few minutes when Jack chuckles again. You pull away from the kiss to see he has his phone out, camera open and facing you both.

“Jack!” You blush

“What? I promise I was trying to get the crewmates I had spoken to in the shot there in the back.” He says zooming in, them obviously not being in the frame much at all due to you two taking up most of the photo. “Think we should send this one off to Champ?” He winks.

You blush and roll your eyes at his comment.

“Say… why don’t we get out of here?” He nudges you.

“But what about…?” You start to question.

“I got any information I need from the guys. Seems they are the only ones here tonight and they’ve been dropped the poison like the last few. Their boss isn't here. We’ll have to catch him at the event or his business. We don’t need to be here anymore tonight.” He states.

The walk from the club back to the hotel was short but quiet. You two didn’t say much but he noticed you shiver from the slight chill the night gave you so he had draped his jacket over your shoulders and kept his pace in line with yours, keeping a hand on the small of your back.

You arrive back to your room shortly after and as soon as you are in and shut the door, Jack grabs your torso and pulls your back against him.

“That was some good actin’ you put on back there with that little bit of jealousy and showin’ off to scare that girl. And why’d you have to go and get a rile out of me? Hm?” He whispers into your ear.

“I…um . Acting yea...” You say nervously.

Jack raises an eyebrow even though you can’t see it.

“Are you tellin’ me that wasn’t actin’ back there?” He asks

You’re too scared to speak so you just shake your head responding that no it wasn’t acting. Jack moves his hands to your hips, gripping you a bit tighter. He brushes his nose against your ear, mustache tickling your neck.

“So you mean to tell me you were actually jealous and trying to get a bit of a rile out me darlin’? He whispers into your ear.

You gulp and nod, still staying silent from nerves. You hear Jack chuckle softly before placing a kiss to your neck.

“So when were you going to tell me this? Or were you just going to keep it hidden forever?” He asks.

“Hidden…” You finally manage to say.

“Now, that’s no fun. Why would you do that?”

“I… I don’t know. I guess… I’m scared. You’re such a big shot at work. Figured you’d never be into someone as new and low level or not as much of a big shot…” You say.

Jack laughs and it takes you by surprise. He turns you around to face him. “Darlin’ you make me laugh. I’ve had my sights set on you since day one. I’ve never seen such a damn beauty until you walked through the doors at HQ on your first day. Seeing you filled the empty hole in my heart.”

You lightly smile at him and then ask. “So if you like me back why didn’t you also say something?”

“Well, same as you. Scared I guess. When you joined 2 years ago I didn’t know if you had someone. And then at the office you always seem to be annoyed by me so I had the impression you hated my guts.” He replies.

“I don’t hate you. That was just putting up a hard front to hide my true feelings. Which is that I really like you. And maybe a bit of jealousy irritation...” You blush as you say.

Jack pushes your hair behind your ear and cups your check. “Well then, I guess since we both feel the same you won’t mind if I do this.”

As he says that he crashes his lips onto yours, running his tongue along your bottom lip and dipping it into your mouth when you slightly open it. Your tongue finds his bottom lip, running over the edge before dipping it into his mouth in return. Your hands slide up into his hair, grabbing his hat and tossing it onto the nearby chair. You comb your fingers through his hair, getting a soft groan from him into your mouth. He cups the back of your neck with one hand, the other laying against the small of your back, pushing you further into him. Jack steps towards you causing you two to walk backwards until the back of your knees are hitting the edge of the bed. You topple backwards onto the bed, Jack following with but careful not to crush you. His one hand slides down from your hip to your thigh, bringing your leg to wrap around his waist. Your hands slide down from his neck to his chest, working at the buttons on his shirt when he suddenly pulls away a bit.

“Wait, darlin’ I don’t want to do anything too far unless you really want to. I mean… I’d love to. However, I don’t want to push you.” He says

“Oh shut up Jack.” You smile as you bring his lips back to yours, letting him take the hint that you want this.

He smiles back into the kiss, his hands find the zipper of your dress and starts to undo it, while you finish undoing the buttons on his shirt. You push the shirt back from his shoulders, he releases you long enough to shimmy it the rest of the way off his arms before coming back to you, pulling the straps of your dress off your upper body. His hand snakes up and squeezes one of your breasts.

“Mhm, no bra?” He sighs into your mouth.

“Can’t with this dress. It’d show because the thin straps and low cut back.” You sigh back.

“I like it.” He says as he rubs his thumb over your nipple, sending a shiver down your spine.

You lift your hips as he shimmies the rest of it off of you, discarding it at your feet. Thank god you wore slip on heels, making them easy to kick off. Jack stands and works at removing his belt, pants and boots while you crawl further back onto the bed. He crawls back onto the bed, left now in nothing but his underwear much like you and crawls over top of you. Kissing up your torso, neck and eventually lips. His one hand holds your hip while the other finds your breasts again. You snake your hand down between your bodies and cup him, feeling his rather large erection against your palm. He groans at your touch and grinds down into your hand.

“Don’t tease me darlin’” He speaks into your ear.

You smirk and grab him a bit more firm this time, getting him to grind into your hand again.

“So we’re gonna play this game huh?” He chuckles.

He pulls away from you, sits straddling your knees before he rubs a finger ever so gently at your heat, causing you to squirm.

“Damn, wet for me already?” He asks.

You have no words to say but buck you hips up at him, asking for his touch once more. He hooks his fingers into your panties and slowly works at pulling them down, leaving you fully bare before him. He whistles in response.

“Darlin’, I knew you were gorgeous before but… damn.” He says.

He leans down and presses a kiss to the inside of your thigh as he slowly sneaks a finger into your folds. You buck your hips in reply, craving more of him inside you.

“Jack, please.” You whine.

He doesn’t answer but instead sinks another finger into your folds. Filling you up even more now. He works his fingers in and out of you slowly, he brings his thumb in and starts rubbing at your clit, getting all your senses working.

“Oh god… Jack stop. If you keep going for much longer I might…” You cut yourself off with a moan

“Precisely darlin’. Just let go, it’s okay.” He smirks, picking up his pace.

He adds a third finger and continues at the faster pace for a while until you start to twitch under him. He slows as he feels you tighten and come undone around his fingers, coaxing you down from your high. He pulls his fingers out from you and licks your juices off of them.

“Sweet as a damn peach.” He says.

“Jack please.” You say, pulling at the waist line of his boxers, trying to bring him closer to you. “I want you.”

“Are you absolutely sure?” He asks, leaning down to kiss you.

“Yes. I’ve never been more sure in my life. Now please stop asking.” You chuckle into the kiss.

He leans back up and slides his boxers off, his erection springing forth. You figured he was packing but damn, you never knew he’d be packing this much. He moves and lays down next to you, leaving you looking at him confused. He then pats his thighs telling you to come and straddle him. You do as you are told. Sitting on his thighs, your folds just mere inches from his erection, aching for contact.

“Ah shit, darlin’ do me a favor and hand me my wallet? In the back pocket of my jeans.” He says.

You crawl off his lap, hopping off of the bed and grab his jeans, pulling out his wallet and returning to your spot with it in hand. He opens it and pulls out a square shiny wrapped package. He brings it up to his mouth and rips it open with his teeth, chucking the packaging and wallet to the floor. You scoot back a bit to give him some room and he pulls the condom down his length.

“Alright.” He states.

You sit back up on his thighs and smirk, running your hands up his torso.

“Are you ready?” He asks, grabbing your hips.

You nod and slide forward, straddling over him. He lines himself up with you and slowly helps you lower yourself down onto him. He takes his time pushing into you, allowing you to adjust to his length and girth. Both of you filling the room with your groans and sighs. Once he bottoms out inside of you, you two sit there for a moment, taking in one another and adjusting to the sensations. After a few moments he grabs your hips and helps by lifting you up from himself, but not fully before you are pulling yourself back down onto his length. With every thrust back down onto him it sends a wave of sensations through you as he hits that spot deep inside of you. You start at a slow pace, slowly working up to a faster pace. You feel another high rising inside of you.

“Fuck… Jack… I'm going to…” You groan through each thrust.

He glides a finger down between you two and works at your clit, rubbing fast circles. His other free hand moving to squeeze at your breasts.

“Go on darlin’, come undone around me.” He says, continuing his pace.

You start to twitch and soon you're body tenses as you come undone for Jacks twice in one night. Letting your juices soak him. As you come down from your high Jack slows his pace and then groans as he senses he is close to his high as well.

“Shit.” He curses. “I’m close…darlin’”

You continue to ride him for a bit when you feel his muscles tense up. He holds you still on him as he comes undone, groaning with every strain that releases. His grip on you loosens as he comes down from his high, you stretch your arms and hands out across his chest, leaning up to give him a kiss. He rolls you both over onto your sides, pulling out of you. You whine at the loss of contact.

“I’ll be right back, hold tight.” He says, pressing a kiss to your forehead before jumping up to go to the bathroom to throw away the now used condom and grab a washcloth.

He returns after a minute with the washcloth which is warm, pulling your thighs apart as he cleans any leftover mess up, same for himself. He chucks the washcloth to the floor and crawls back in bed beside you, laying on his back. You crawl over next to him, laying your head on his chest and entangling your legs with his.

“That was… really nice.” He says, stroking your hair.

“Mhmm.” You smile as you trace a finger on his chest.

Jack chuckles and kisses your head. You two lay in silence for a bit, enjoying the comfort of being close to one another.

“Jack?” You ask, looking up at him a bit. “What does this mean for us?”

“What do you mean?” He says, rubbing your shoulder.

“Well… I mean what are we? What are we going to do? We confessed to each other we’ve got feelings for each other and now we’ve screwed…” You say.

Jack chuckles and pulls you closer to him in a slight squeezing hug.

“Are we…? I mean… I don’t want to assume or if you don’t want to…” You say worriedly

Jack chuckles again and pulls your lips up to his, then speaks against your lips. “Well, I’d say we both know the answer to what you’re asking now. Hm?” He presses a kiss to your lips. “Yes. We are.”

You smile and kiss him back, snuggling into his chest farther. You two stay cuddled together enjoying the silence and each other's presence when Jack’s phone buzzes with a text message. He groans and reaches over to grab it, seeing it’s Ginger who wants to have a quick meeting.

“Shit. Ginger’s wanting to meet… must want to go over today’s report.” He says, grabbing his glasses and yours.

“Shit.” You respond, noticing how you are both still naked and cozied up to one another. “Uhh… hold on lemme just…” You say as you adjust your position a bit so the covers are covering you up to your chin, no skin showing and lay your head on Jack’s shoulder instead now.

Jack finger combs his hair a bit to make sure it’s not out of place, same for yours before you both slide your glasses on and press the button to activate the hologram call.

“Good evening…?” Ginger says slowly and questionably.

“Hey Ging, what’s up?” You respond quickly.

“Uh… well I was calling to go over your reports from today.” She says, pushing her confusion back. She’d question you later you know.

“We found more of the crewmates, took down a large chunk of em tonight at the restaurant. That’s definitely their local headquarters but I don’t think it’s the main one. I do believe the venue we got information on from the main boss is it. We’ll head over to view it in person in person this weekend, I’ll call tomorrow to book it. See what we can do. Seems anyone who uses a company one of his crewmates work for or anyone who uses his venue is those being targeted.” Jack says filling Ginger in.

“Mhm. We found the main boss at a venue booth, and a crewmate at a dress booth. No others yet at booths but there’s got to be some. We will look some more. However like Jack, I mean Whiskey said we found some others and took them out between the club and restaurant.” You add in.

Ginger raises an eyebrow at you calling Whiskey by his first name. You guys at Statesman rarely call each other by your actual first names.

“Sounds good. Keep your eyes peeled. There’s still a few out there I know and of course the main boss. Good work so far guys. Make sure to send me any pictures and information you have over whenever you can.” She smiles.

You nod and jump a little when Jack teasingly squeezes your butt under the covers to see if you reacted and Ginger noticed. And of course she did. She’s not only a smart woman who always has an eye out but your best friend.

You clear your throat. “Of course Ginger. We will do so in the morning. I’m going to go back to sleep now.” Using that as your cover to why acting so strange.

“Alright… um. Have a good night guys. Talk to you later.” She says, ending the call.

You sigh and push the covers back from your chin some, no longer having to hide. That was a close one you start to think when your phone dings. You roll off Jack’s shoulder to your side of the bed, toss your glasses down and grab your phone to see a text from no one other than… Ginger.

*Girl, I know you too well enough to know you two were definitely acting suspicious…* Her text says.

“Everything alright?” Jack asks, rolling over to his side to face you.

You crawl back over and lay on your back next to him, reading over Ginger’s message.

“Yea, just Ginger being suspicious. As one of my best friends she knows me too well to know something is up. But I’m not telling her right away, let’s see how long it takes her.” You chuckle

*What are you talking about?* You reply back

*Girl, you were all cozied up to Whiskey and acting strange. Don't think I didn’t notice… want to tell me something? ;)* She replies back. She had known about your crush on Whiskey for a while so she of course had to be the first to know if anything happened and would pretty much read you like a book.

*I just rolled over to join the call, We only have one bed here. I’m not sure what you’re talking about.* Your message says.

*Stop messin’ with me girl and fess up lol* She snarks back.

You look at Jack, for confirmation that you telling her is okay. He smirks and shrugs his shoulders in a I don’t care way.

*What if… I told you something did happen?* You hit send on the message.

*Tell me now and stop playing!* Ginger’s response read

“Send her this.” Jack smirks forwarding you the photo from the club earlier of you two kissing.

You forward the message to her with no context and immediately get a response.

*Was this for a part of the mission or for real?!* her message questions.

*Have fun figuring it out. I’ll let you know in the morning. I want to go back to be snuggled now ;)* You hit send and put your phone back on the nightstand.

You roll back over to face Jack, both chuckling at the interaction and snuggle up in his arms before dozing off for the night.

Taglist:

 @sarahjkl82-blog @ickleronniekinsemotionalrange @blackberries45 @hailmary-yramliah @prideandpascal @parkjammys​

[obeymeaskme]

Obey Me!: Human and Demon Hearts!

A/N: Make sure to check my pinned post for the whole story so far!

Chapter Two: Reaching the bare minimum (2/2)

Word Count: 1,926

Rating: 18+

Away in her self cleaned room, Noelle had laid in her bed. Face burrowed in the pillow, as she sobbed quietly. Thankfully enough time went by for her tears to subside, as a knock came from her door. Grumbling about being interrupted from almost falling asleep, she turned on the lights, and opened the door, peeking her head through. She didn't see anyone immediately, but caught the sounds of Satan's footsteps and soft humming as he walked back down to the dining room. A soft warm, and earthy smell dragged her attention to the plate of food sitting on the ground. A side of normal looking mashed potatoes, and a ham and pineapple dish made her sigh in relief of not having to go hungry for the night. She ate her food, and decided to wash the dishes in the morning.

The full swing of the weekend had stirred Noelle from her sleep. And much like she promised herself, she got dressed and made her way to the stone kitchen to wash her platter. She jumped slightly as Satan and Lucifer were already in the kitchen, yet they showed no sign of noticing her. Noelle ducked behind the wall, not wanting to intervene just yet. Her heart almost sank as she quickly learned what Satan was explaining to Lucifer, which was what she had told satan the previous day in the library. this caused her emotions to rush back to her while Satan expressed concern over Levi's attitude to her during their art class. Lucifer seemed to hum in thought and had quickly reminded Satan that this was what she had asked for, and a small argument broke out.

It seemed that even Satan was aware of how cruel his brothers were beginning to act towards her. Lucifer seemed stunned at his reasoning, and shot back at him, reminding Satan that he wasn't the eldest, and he doesn't know a thing. Noelle felt herself become defensive for the only Demon she had found safety in. she stood in the doorway, a set of tears stroked her cheeks as she spoke.

“So what?” Was all she could muster with her crackling voice.

The two brothers seemed stunned. Satan felt the growing anger and defense within her arise. Feeding into his own sin. Lucifer closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose before responding.

“And just how long were you standing there?”

Another surge of courage ripped through Noelle, as the familiar sensation of being pushed too far made her swallow what tears she had shed. Her voice came back out in full.

“Long enough. If you're going to talk shit about me, at least grow the balls to say it to my face, coward.”

A line was crossed and Lucifer had glared at her. Noelle's hand reached over her lips, touching them gently. Part of her was surprised and impressed, but the other part of her knew how grave of a mistake she just made. Lucifer was the Avatar of Pride. A demon who found entertainment in being above everyone, unchallenged. He even showed some grace as he sauntered up to her, backing her up into the hallway and against the wall. The other demons of the house had sensed Lucifer's aura and had made their way to the kitchen, stopping at the scene before them.

It was at that point that Noelle realized why she had struggled so much with the citizens of Devildom.

Lucifer's voice dropped into a growl. An inhuman growl.

“If you're going to be so bold to ask me, I will tell you. You are a small, and weak human in a world of strong demons who could rip you to shreds. If it wasn't for Lord Diavolo's orders to maintain your safety, I'd have yanked that flapping, moronic tongue of yours out of that little useless cavern you call a mouth. So we shall make this clear once, and once only. Do. Not. Speak ill of me like that again. Or so help me, there will be 'a case of rules meant to be broken'...”

He took a quick, short pause to inhale deeply, and spoke with a final, shaky voice.

“Along with a few broken bones, do I make myself clear?”

Noelle's body was only able to shake violently in fear. She heard what he had said; What he had threatened. Her mistake was forgetting where she was, and what she was surrounded by. Demons.

Her mind may have refused to process a response, but she felt every inch of her body screaming “I'll behave”. White hair and brown leather blocked her vision, and Mammon stepped between them, trying to coax Lucifer down from his rage.

“Alright there, uh Lucy! You don't have to go that far! And besides, the kid's shaking in her boots! I think um- she gets your point.”

A silent scoff was heard, and he looked past his brother and gave a final glare before walking away. Finally out of his eyesight she realized the black wings of his apparent demon form. She watched as the almost emperor like clothing, along with the wings, burned to ash, showcasing Lucifer's casual outfit. Then she dropped to the floor.

Breathing heavily, and still shaking. Even with her physical form showing her fear, her mind became painfully calm in contrast to the intense moment that just passed. The remaining brother's grew uncomfortable, but a small chuckle was heard. It came from Levi.

“Wooow! What Did you do to make him so grouchy?”

Satan started scolding Levi for such a vicious remark, and Mammon knelt down to Noelle's side, cautiously placing a hand on her shoulder. He jumped a bit as she got up quickly, and walked halfway to Levi, catching his attention. She looked around at the brother's before her. She spoke, her voice stuttering and shaky.

“Grouchy- That's just grouchy? You- you all just.. you- just stood there. Why? Why would- why would-”

Mammon had quickly placed a hand back on her shoulder as the rest looked on in sympathy. Even Leviathan had realized the trauma that was just bestowed upon her. Satan was next to speak, walking up to her and ruffling her hair in an attempt to lighten the mood.

“Yeah- That's Lucifer when he's grouchy. What you just witnessed was a Demon Feeding. Come to think about it...” Before he finished his thought, Mammon gathered everyone's attention and reminded them that it was best to go back to what they were doing. Leaving just Satan and Noelle in the hallway. He looked at her. Having felt the anger and confusion she had hidden so well in the moment. He felt it all crumble, and then he felt... nothing.

He led her into the kitchen, and she watched him as he made the family breakfast. Silence drumming out to their ears. That was until Noelle found her voice again, calm and recovered.

“That was... scary...”

Satan hummed in response.

“It could have been worse.” He looked back at her, studying her in her response.

“what... was that about Demon feeding?”

Satan chortled, clearly amused by something, but answered her nonetheless.

“Before you had decided to entertain everyone just then, I was telling Lucifer, or more so reminding him, that you're human. A lot of times you have kept yourself vulnerable. You're mostly honest, you tend to reach out to others before they even consider asking for help... to a demon you're a very tempting snack.”

Noelle shuddered and swallowed her collective saliva, as she listened to Satan explain further.

“Demons, even if they're fallen angels, have this weak spot for humans like you. The response to that weak spot can go one of three ways. The first two are usually the most common, I'd say about 99.5% common. A demon will take interest in your soul and have the urge to make a contract with you, or will Feed off of you. Which is exactly what everyone has been doing to you. Well except me and the few others who don't bother interacting with you.”

Noelle tilted her head, and Satan sighed, resting himself next her, as she sat on the counter.

“What I mean is, since you're a relatively pure and kind person, despite your perverse sense of humor, you're the kind of person demons just love to torment. When a Demon Feeding takes place they're, in a way, suffocating your soul, and eating at the desired emotion they want.”

Satan rubbed his neck, and an almost visible light bulb went off as he turned towards her, seemingly excited with what he was going to say.

“It's almost like chewing bubble gum!”

Satan's smirk grew playful, and he elicited a laugh out of Noelle. Through her short laugh she asked him what he meant, to which he responded with great theatrics-

“It's just a taste of the soul without eating it! Incubi, and Succubi do it all the time! Ew-”

Noelle laughed harder at his outburst, almost falling off the counter. Satan had caught her before doing so, and led her off the counter tops back to the ground. She was quickly silenced by Satan's glare at her before he finally spoke up again.

“The best way to prevent this, is to not back down. Don't give anyone else the ability to scare you, or get what they want. I won't lie, because you've already gave some a taste it will be harder to fight them off. Bella hasn't been affected by the same condition because Belphegor and Beel have the most history with humans, therefore lacking the desire to take what's not rightfully theirs.”

He began to speak with a light blush.

“I'll even admit that seeing you overwhelmed with anger, made me tempted to feed off you as well... It's an instinctual thing... and it's.. different from what Lucifer did to you.”

Noelle scrunched her face in confusion.

“what do you mean?”

“that third option... The .5% reaction... If a human and demon have some form of common ground, then instead of wanting their soul, they find pleasure more so in amplifying emotions. It's like when you protected Bella when you first got here. She gave you the strength to face demons without thought. It's like an urge to connect with a human, except it's through a more spiritual means. So technically speaking... this was my fault. I think I accidentally amplified my feelings towards Lucifer to you. So uh- I'm sorry.”

Noelle nodded at him, and smiled lightly. A soft weight lifting from her shoulder as she gave him a hug. Speaking as she pulled back.

“It's okay. I'm just glad this just means no one here completely hates me... I was worried. Maybe you need to stick around me more often ya' know? Give me a boost of confidence to start finally sticking up for myself.”

Satan smiled at her, and playfully thought about it before nodding at her.

“Perhaps I do...”

“Hey Satan?”

“Yeah?”

Noelle sniffed the air and before she could ask, Satan had jumped up and rushed to the burning food.

“SHIT!”

[seancekitsch]

Ebb & Flow

part 2 for Heat. diego x reader

warnings: angst, hints of diego’s self loathing, low key set in the prize buck universe but obvs not the same reader character, drinking, oblivious idiot love birds, unprotected pre-marital missionary, edgar allen poe reference, corny ass shit

Four days pass, and every day he debates trying to reach out to you. He wakes up in a cold bed that feels empty without you. But he doesn’t; because you made it very clear you did not want to sleep with Diego Hargreeves specifically. He decides to try to go back to what his life was like before you fell into it. Before he fell for you. He tries to pretend that hair pin (which he’s now tucked away into a drawer) isn’t literally haunting and taunting him every second he’s in his boiler room bedroom. It’s hard for him to sleep or function with it in the room with him, like it screams it’s presence as a trace of you. The hair pin is a tell-tale heart of all of Diego’s misguided feelings and how he so severely misread the situation between the two of you. The hair pin is the constant thrumming of his mind telling him over and over that of course you’d never feel the same way as he does. You were a therapist, he was a gym janitor. Of course you’d tire of slumming it with a man that regularly plays crime fighter at night. Diego is constantly reminded of you even without seeing the hair pin because he just knows where he put it. And that address. That damn address carefully written in blue pen on the back of one of your business cards. Would it be wrong of him to still look into the warehouse? You had to have left it for him on purpose, you had to have taken it out of your bag and left it there purposely on the bed; there was no way it could have fallen out of the bag that was on his table and onto the middle of his bed as you were leaving. Diego tries to bury his thoughts of you in vigilante work, tries to stay out late. He succeeds and returns just before the gym opens in the morning. When he finally gets back to his boiler room, Al offhandedly mentions that a woman had inquired about his whereabouts. Part of Diego desperately hopes and wishes it’s you, but he doesn’t do anything about it. You probably don’t actually want to see him. Or it's one of his sisters. Probably just Allison or Vanya. Family stuff. Maybe they had another dad die or something. 

Twelve days later, he finally works up the courage to call the owner of the warehouse to ask about pricing and zoning if he wanted to start his own gym there. He had enough in savings that he could have moved out of his current situation and into a studio like Klaus had, but he wanted to put as much money together for his own gym before he thought of himself. He could sleep peacefully alone on a cot in a gym that he happened to own. The current owner remarks that he had heard Diego would be calling, and says he likes the idea of a gym going into the space there. He thanks the man, and they strike a deal, talk about a title and deed change to be drafted and signed for the beginning of the next month. Diego unofficially owns his own gym now. Normally he would be calling you to celebrate, but instead he dials and hopes the landline at Klaus’ apartment is still connected. Klaus’ partner answers and congratulates Diego, and invites him out to the bar with them this weekend. Diego’s voice declines before his mind can stop himself. Maybe because he didn't want to celebrate with anyone but you. 

It’s fifteen days later, Friday, when Diego regrets not going to the bar with Klaus and his partner. It's Diego, a six pack, and that damn hair pin having what looked more like a pity party than a celebration of a major life event. But maybe that's not the worst thing, now he can focus himself for the job ahead, get a good night's sleep. Well, he would have gotten a good night's sleep, if there weren't suddenly shouting coming from the hallway outside his door. 

“Klaus, I don't want to be here!”

That was clearly, unmistakably your voice. You were outside his door and vehemently expressing that you wanted nothing to do with this place. What were you doing with his brother? Oh, right. Friday night at the bar. He was supposed to have been there too, but he bailed. 

“Well it was either this or you officially become part of my harem for the night”

“I have a home, thank you very much! I could go to it”

“But you left your car at the club, and you live across the city. You’re safe here, even if you are afraid of my brother now.”

Afraid. Afraid. Your opinion of him had gone from disgust to fear. He presses his ear now to the door and can only hear one set of retreating footsteps. Someone is leaving, and if hes right, its Klaus. 

Then he hears,

“FUCK,” a frustrated half-groan, half-scream. He has to admit to himself, even hearing how unhappy you seemed, he missed hearing your voice. He missed you. And you were outside his door right now in the middle of the night. Fuck it, he thought, I’m not missing my chance. 

When Diego opens the door, he sees you sitting on the ground, tight jean clad legs spread and chunky high heeled boot toes pointed outwards. He always loved those shoes on you. When his eyes meet your face, there’s an indignant pout on your lips, but your eyes are apologetic. 

“How much of that did you hear?”

“Enough. C’mon, I’m not leaving you in the hallway.” He opens the door a little wider, enough that he could usher you in, but you don't budge.

“Y’know, i’m not even drunk it's just my-”

“-your rule, yeah, I remember,” You had this rule that no matter what, you wouldn't get behind the wheel if you'd had more than one beer or even one drink stronger than a beer. Always best to err on the side of caution, you’d said. Better to not get pulled over at the very least or kill anyone else at the very worst, and you could handle being inconvenienced if it meant safety. But the fact of the matter is that it's the dead of winter and you live across town. You actually live in pretty close proximity to his new gym. 

“Come in, you can take my bed, I’ll sleep on the couch in Al’s office. It’s two am and you are not walking home looking like that. I’ll stay away from you,” He's trying his best to sound comforting and respectful, but it hurts. It hurts to be inviting you in and knowing you want nothing to do with him. 

“You don't have to-” you pause, as if trying to find the right words, “I’m not gonna put you out like that”

Diego nods, and turns back inside the boiler room, holding the door open, and you catch it, following him. It's just like old times, except it isn't. 

“Here, I've got a shirt and some pants you can sleep in,” Diego’s rifling through his drawers as he talks, worried he’ll look at you too long and seem as desperate as he is. He manages to throw a clean tee and a pair of jogger sweatpants on the bed, two of the only clean items he has currently because tomorrow is laundry day. Diego turns completely around to avoid looking at you while he can hear you changing, something he never would have done before, but there are boundaries now. He can imagine exactly what you look like right now, beautiful as ever and tired, changing into his clothes, just as it had happened dozens of times before. Only before he would have watched in awe and then grabbed you all to himself. 

“You can turn around now, nothing you haven't seen before,” your voice is soft, you don't sound annoyed anymore and he can’t help but feel a twinge of hope at that. 

When he turns around, he sees you've neglected the pants all together. Your bare legs end where the hem of his shirt meets the tops of your thighs and - why the fuck would you tell him to turn around with you dressed like this?

You gesture to his bed, and he sits on it, but you don't. You stay standing, looking more apprehensive and nervous by the second. 

“K-klaus said you're afraid of me now?” Stupid thing to say. Diego’s tired. His insecurities are showing. You're the last person he would want to be afraid of him.

Your face crumbles into something unreadable, but what he would guess is pity or guilt. Which are maybe worse than fear and disgust by his standards. He lets his head drop, suddenly finding his draped hands between his legs to be extremely interesting. 

You shift from one foot to another, unsure of how to answer, but then it comes to you. 

You place yourself in his line of vision, not allowing him to look away as you kneel down on your knees between his own. The sight alone is more than Diego can bear.

“No, no I'm not. I'm sorry you heard that and he said that. Look, I wanted to talk to you, not like this, not right now. I came by last week but you weren't here.” So it was you that had come around. Not his sisters like he had convinced himself. You wanted to talk to him. 

“I wanted to apologize. I-I shouldn't have left like that. I need to explain to you why I left.” He nods, and lets you continue. “I crossed a line. I was wrong. Our arrangement, I know it was like a no strings attached thing, but I started to have strings! I have so many strings. I broke our agreement, it wasn't casual for me. I broke your trust. I had to leave. I couldn't do that to you.”

Strings. You had strings, attached. To him of all people. You broke the rules. So did he. He searches your face, as if there's something to read on your features, and feels your hands slide into his own. 

“I-I-I’m sh-shitty at t-tying knots.” Diego what the fuck was that? He was more nervous than he thought. But you break into a watery grin, understanding the meaning in his words. You nod, and reply,

“I can teach you, if you've got strings to spare.” That was extremely sappy, and he loved it. He had so many strings to spare. He loved you. And he could show it now.

He tugs on your hands to pull them up to his shoulders, and you lean up into it, lips coming together as his hands wrap around your back to hold you tight. He easily lifts you up until he can gather you in his lap and keeps kissing you, over and over and over until you're dizzy. He holds you tightly, not unlike the last time you were in his bed, but this time his hands roam and grasp and touch, exploring you like it's the first time you're doing this. In a way, it is. It's the first time you're doing this so vulnerable and open with one another. You don't have to hide the smile that forms against his lips, you don't have to feel shame in the way that your lips chase after his own when he tries to pull away. You are taking from each other as much as you are giving, and for once you are giving everything.

His hands slide from your back, to the hem of his shirt, to your ass under the shirt. Diego is, at heart, an ass man you remember. He squeezes one cheek, then slaps it. Not hard, just enough to feel the slight jiggle at the contact. He chuckles against your mouth and then continues south, still kneading his hands into the flesh of your ass as his kisses meet the hem of his shirt at the other side, at your neck. You kiss his cheek, his nose, the scar that connects from behind his ear to his eye. Diego takes the time to lick the base of your neck, making you shudder and moan into it before he flips the both of you, surprising you when your back hits the blankets below. Looking up at him, his eyes are full of lust and admiration. 

“You look beautiful in my shirt, baby,” he whispers.

“And you are wearing entirely too much, dear” you reply.

He groans, and it turns into a chuckle as he whips his shirt off his torso, revealing his broad, scarred chest to you, which your hands immediately reach for to pull him back down onto you. He makes no move to remove the shirt covering you, but you think this might be doing something for him. Instead, his hands roam under the shirt again, and tease at the hem of your underwear. They aren't a particularly sexy pair, because the last thing you expected to happen tonight is this. It doesn't matter to Diego, who just pulls them down as far as his arm can reach, letting you kick them the rest of the way off as he fumbles with pulling his sweatpants down. There isn't the usual teasing game tonight, no. You'd spent too much time apart, you are full to the brim with love that even a little teasing would have the two of you spilling and in pain. This is fuck-or-die with no real consequences but your own impatience and need for each other. 

Diego wastes no time gently spreading your legs with a smooth slowness you didn't know he possessed before easing inside of you. You gasp, close your eyes, and breathe, taking a moment to remember this. This is what it felt like to make love. Another first for both of you. His pace, when he finally begins moving, is slow and steady, he's in no rush now that he has you. He’s quieter than usual, opting to just kiss you until he's sure you can read his mind and just understand what he's thinking. You rock peacefully, like a boat on the ocean, cresting waves within you mounting, exhaling with low moans he's never heard from you before. You never thought slow and careful would bring you to climax, but here you are feeling it steadily build and build. Waves now beginning to crash instead of ebb and flow, Diego’s only warning being your moans beginning to rise an octave. The release hits you in an all encompassing mighty tidal wave, leaving you shaking in his arms, holding onto him tightly like a lighthouse to the shore. This was not a white hot explosion, this was the tides coming home. As you subside, you almost feel ashamed at how quickly you came for him, but Diego is close behind you, your body pulling him to shore after you. He comes with a tight, close-lipped hum of a moan pressed against the side of your neck, and stills above you. His body cages yours to the bed, a willing prisoner of whatever Diego Hargreeves had in store for you. Whatever happened next for him, you were along for the voyage.

[artificialqueens]

Me and You Together, 4/10 (Taywhora) - Ortega

fic summary: The cardinal rule of having flatmates is that you Do Not Catch Feelings For Your Flatmates, because everything inevitably goes to shit and gets made horrifically awkward. A’whora and Tayce both know this, but being in first year of uni and making good decisions have never really gone hand in hand.

a/n: fam this response is crazy it really is…thank u all so much for the love, kudos and comments, i’m so sorry if i’ve not managed to reply to urs yet but know that i’ve read them all and cherish every one and i will get round to replying and yelling some love and thanks at u soon!!! pls enjoy this chapter in which A'whora does not possess the flat’s shared brain cell at any point. that being said, i wish all the readers of this fic a very pleasant italicised ‘oh’ xo

last chapter: January-Tayce and A’whora still had unfinished business from a night out and a hungover morning in December.

this chapter: October- The gang make plans for their first year together, Tia gives everyone plans for the evening, and A'whora has a realisation that will change the dynamic of her friendship with Tayce forever.

***

“Bimini, what is it you’re actually doing?”

A’whora’s intrigued by the way her flatmate’s sitting on the sofa: legs crossed, notepad in one hand and a cigarette in the other, and looking deep in thought. They’ve not long since stretched over the smoke detector with a sock, having long since established nobody in the flat minds them smoking indoors as long as the windows are open. Lawrence is beside them on the other end of the sofa having been to all the lectures that’re required of her already today and has got a bright pink, blue and purple-flecked ball of yarn hanging from two knitting needles, with which she seems to be knitting some sort of cosy accessory. It’s a wholesome picture that’s playing out in front of A’whora, one that’s miles away from the raucous, drunk nights they’ve all shared in the first month of uni so far.

“Okay, here’s what it is,” Bimini starts, clicking their long nails together. “I am making us a freshers bucket list, and I want your input.”

“Ooh!” Lawrence perks up beside them, and A’whora, interest piqued, picks up the bowl of pasta, butter and cheese she’s spent all of five minutes making and crosses the room to sit beside her flatmates.

She knows it’s only been a month so far, but she really loves everyone she’s living with. For a start, there are four of them that take classes at the art college (the ‘art hoes’, as Tayce calls them), so they all get to walk to lectures together and hang about between classes and workshops with each other depending on how their days are going. Bimini is almost always in the flat, with not a lot of contact hours making up their journalism degree, so they’re a comforting presence for A’whora to come home to at whatever hour of the day, always asking how she is and always offering to make her coffee. Tia is sweet and funny (if ever-so-slightly grating to her at first) and they’ve bonded over being the only two flatmates seemingly able to keep the place clean and tidy. Lawrence is endearing and big-hearted, if A’whora spends half her life hoping that her next prank isn’t involving her in some way (Ellie is usually the butt of them). Ellie herself is one of A’whora’s closest flatmates; they’ll often stay up half the night finishing prototypes or assignments together, all while watching a film which they have spookily similar taste in- they’ve agreed on 101 and 102 Dalmatians, Hocus Pocus, and The Wizard of Oz so far.

And then there’s Tayce, who A’whora thinks is both the absolute carbon copy of herself and yet also so different, the yin to her yang. Tayce has been her closest friend in the flat since day one when she booted the door to her room down and dragged her out of her emotional stupor, and that’s really what’s set the tone for the rest of their friendship; Tayce, upbeat and motivating, constantly and infectiously helping A’whora feel the same way even when she doesn’t want to go out, or doesn’t feel like dragging herself out of her room for a chill flat night with the others, or even when she just feels like a heap of shit. She’s such a fun and positive person to be around, relentlessly optimistic and goofy, and she brings out that side of A’whora too. As opposed to during sixth form and high school, where she’d put up a front to make sure nobody fucked with her, A’whora finds that at uni she can be the person she truly is and let her guard down a little.

This includes being open about her sexuality for the first time ever. She’s out to her family (for the better or worse), but nobody else back home knows (not even her friends) and she wants to keep it that way for now. But at uni things are different- nobody knows her here, nobody has these preconceived ideas of who she is and who she has to be, so she’d taken the plunge and been open about everything. None of the others had cared of course, in fact they’d all been too excited about the fact there’s not a single straight person in their flat comprised of four lesbians (Tayce, Lawrence, Tia and A’whora), one bi (Ellie) and one pan (Bimini).

“What’ve you got so far?” A’whora asks Bimini, sitting down on the sofa opposite her two flatmates.

Bimini reads off their notepad. “Casino night, bottomless brunch…get the train down to Newcastle, have a big night out, stay out all night an’ get the first train home-”

“Christ, that’ll be a challenge for me, you know I get sleepy around midnight,” Lawrence chuckles.

Bimini shrugs. “We’ll just get you an IV drip of Ellie’s Monster, you’ll be alright.”

“What else’ve you got?”

“That’s it so far.”

A’whora spears a pasta spiral, tilts her head in thought as she eats it. “Get drunk in a lecture.”

“Aw, good one!” Lawrence cries enthusiastically. Bimini, for their part, frowns with disapproval.

“Wait, no! Not a good one. Not a good one at all. It’s alright for you art school bitches, you’ve got some lectures together and you can coordinate, where does that leave me n’ Tia?”

“I guess that leaves you…downing a bottle of five pound chardonnay on the back bench of a lecture hall like a tramp with a drinking problem,” Lawrence shrugs, A’whora yelping out a laugh as Bimini shoves Lawrence with their foot.

Just then, there’s movement in the hall and as A’whora turns around she’s greeted by the sight of a tired-looking Tayce and Ellie walking into the kitchen. They shrug off their coats and take off their shoes and dump their bags on the kitchen table with a huff before they walk over to the others. Tayce spreads herself out over the sofa that A’whora’s sitting on, thudding her feet onto her lap without asking permission, to which A’whora instantly pushes them off her and gets a glare and a smirk in return.

“Lawrie, are you knitting?” Ellie laughs, sitting on the arm of the sofa beside her.

“Yeah? And?”

Ellie snorts in amusement. “Just didn’t realise we were living with a wee granny.”

“Well actually, bawbag! I was in the middle of making you a scarf because I can’t stand to listen to you talking shite about how you’re cold every time we leave the flat, but I can leave it if you want,” Lawrence explains. A’whora thinks it’s funny how Ellie backtracks immediately; she can’t tell if she’s blushing or just out of breath from scaling their block’s stairs. Bimini gains control of the conversation, tilting their head in intrigue.

“How were your lectures, huns?”

“Shit, thanks for asking,” Tayce groans, thudding her head down dramatically against the sofa cushions. “I don’t know, I just can’t concentrate when I’m getting talked at for an hour at a time. I need to be doing stuff, you know?”

“Feel that,” Ellie joins in, deflated. A’whora can sympathise- she loves the practical elements of her course, but not so much the lectures. She’s glad she shares a lot of them with Ellie, and the two of them can dick about and text each other and doodle designs in their notebooks while keeping one ear on whoever’s speaking.

“Well if you want to be doing something, you can help us with this,” Bimini suggests, explaining the bucket list they’ve been making.

The girls get settled and the ideas start to flow, Lawrence putting her speakers on for background noise as they all come up with new and increasingly more chaotic exploits. Ellie suggests trying every cocktail in Levels which gets scribbled down into Bimini’s notepad, and Tayce suggests going to Levels sober, which doesn’t get afforded the same appreciation. A’whora comes up with crashing the catered halls for breakfast one day, which they all agree is a good idea but the chances of it actually happening are low considering the earliest riser in the flat is Tayce and even she doesn’t waken up til half nine on a weekend.

“What’re some clubs we’ve not been to yet?” Bimini asks, shrugging. “Could put those down, try an’ visit every one in the city?”

Lawrence snorts derisively. “You go to Underground if you want your phone stolen, Velvet if you want to be bullied by fifteen year olds in the toilets, and Crystal if you want to subject yourself to painful misogyny and probably some light sexual assault.”

“So none of those, then,” Bimini murmurs.

“Those are all really het as well, though,” Ellie wrinkles her nose up in distaste. Then her face lights up as she gets an idea. “Oh! Put down Pride in July.”

“Nice one,” Bimini nods as they scribble down Ellie’s suggestion, the others making little hums of approval.

The conversation goes on for quite some time. Halfway through it Tayce seems to decide she’s bored of lying down and instead moves to sit on the floor between A’whora’s legs, asking her to play with her hair. They’ll do this sometimes- it’s a routine they fall into, A’whora being able to style Tayce’s endlessly long, straight hair and Tayce finding the whole thing therapeutic. They have a lot of little routines like this: they’ll sit close together on the sofa during a flat movie night and take turns leaning on each others’ shoulders, spontaneously give each other hugs at random points throughout the day, trace patterns into each others’ palms when the other seems stressed.

It’s nice. A’whora’s never really had a friendship like this, soft and caring and kind. In school her group was the kind that made catty jokes about each other then buffered them with a “love you!” afterwards and took kissy-face group selfies only to bitch about each other on a private group chat mere hours later. If it was a wolfpack then it was rabid and cannibalistic, and it had seemed like a full-time job ensuring she was never the runt of it. What she’s got with all her flatmates now- especially Tayce- makes her feel like she can finally breathe.

“What about the Centurion Challenge?” Lawrence suggests with a small gasp, breaking A’whora’s reverie as she expertly twirls Tayce’s hair into a loose and chunky French plait.

“Jesus Christ, Lawrence,” Ellie mutters in amusement.

“What’s the Centurion Challenge?” Bimini asks, pulling a face.

Lawrence gives a blythe shrug as she elaborates. “A hundred shots in a hundred minutes.”

A’whora ruins Tayce’s braid in shock, her hair untwisting itself from the braid as if it’s outraged too. The cry she gives joins in harmony with that of Tayce’s and Bimini’s. “A hundred shots? You’d fucking die!”

“Not of vodka! Obviously not of vodka! I know we all have one communal brain cell between us but Christ, can one of yous not use it?!” Lawrence protests. “It’s a hundred shots of beer. Don’t shit yourselves.”

“Aw, well that’s alright then,” Bimini pipes up sarcastically. “What’s actually wrong with Scottish people? Is your breastmilk spiked with whiskey? What d’you get instead of Cow and Gate formula, just cocaine?"

“Actually, a hundred shots of beer sounds more doable to me,” Tayce shrugs, and A’whora can feel her relax against her lap.

“I’d need to change it, I can’t stand beer,” A’whora considers. Ellie cocks her head in consideration.

“Well what alcohol do you like?”

“Fucking none of it,” A’whora laughs. “Cocktails. Vodka cokes. Anything where there’s juice to cover it up.”

Tayce twists her head to look up at her, a little twinkle of mischief in her eye. “I think the challenge ceases to be a challenge when it’s reduced to one hundred watered down shots of Woo Woo, Rory.”

As the others blurt out a laugh A’whora glares down at Tayce, but she can’t help but break out into a giggle too when Tayce grabs her knee and gives it a playful wobble, letting her know she was only joking without even having to say a thing.

A’whora’s not sure what time it is when she hears the front door swing shut and Tia emerges from the hallway, her long hair all messed up from the seemingly ever-present wind outside and almost obscuring the bright smile plastered on her face. “Hey, huns!”

“Oi oi,” Tayce greets her from her position on the floor. “What’s got you so smiley?”

“Nooothing,” Tia smirks, dragging the word out playfully. “Just got an invite to the night out of a very cute girl in my MT society…and she said you guys can all come too. Pres at her flat and then out to The Avenue. Evening plans sorted?”

“Oh, love that!” Bimini gives an enthusiastic clap. “Go on then, who’s the girl? Whose night are we crashing?”

“Her name’s Veronica,” Tia smiles bashfully. “She’s so lovely. Honestly, she wouldn’t mind you coming! She’s got one of the big flats over at Gourock Court so it’s not like it’ll be packed.”

“You don’t exactly want to go to a party that’s not going to be packed,” Ellie screws up her nose. She looks unimpressed and her tone is flat. “And even if it is, I don’t know if I’m in the mood for a flat party with a ton of new people, Tia.”

A’whora’s face drops and she locks eyes with Lawrence simultaneously, who’s got an equally incredulous look on her face. “Els, are you unwell? You never turn down a night out.”

Ellie shrugs quietly, not giving much away on her face. Tia, obviously keen to move to the girl she’s crushing on, carries on persuading her. “C’mon, Eleanor, don’t be such a fucking…square! It’s the musical theatre society, we’re just a walking Pride festival who all happen to be able to hold a tune. There’s loads of fit lesbians?”

“Well if I wasn’t convinced before, I sure am now,” Tayce purrs, a little smile appearing on her lips and a cheeky twinkle in her eyes. A’whora feels her laugh come out weakly. She doesn’t know why, but an odd, uncomfortable feeling lodges itself in her gut. She can’t quite put her finger on what exactly it is or why it’s put itself there.

“And there’s gonna be so many musicals on the playlist!” Tia continues to insist, despite being met with Ellie’s sour face. “I know you’ll love it! They’d probably even play stuff from Shrek if you got them drunk enough.”

A’whora can’t help but scrunch up her nose in distaste. “Hey, I’m only coming if they play fucking…normal people music as well. I’m not gonna be sat in a room with twenty white kids trying to rap to Hamilton or whatever the fuck it is.”

Tia rolls her eyes, plants her hands on her hips in exasperation. “Calm down, A’whora, you’ll still get all the top 40 dance-pop shit you love so much.”

“To be honest, it sounds class. And The Avenue’s always good,” Bimini cuts in calmly. A’whora does have to agree with that. They’ve not been there in a while- the bar across the road from the city’s most popular LGBT club- and its selection of early 00s pop princess tracks combined with its deal of two vodka mixers and a shot for a fiver makes it a guaranteed good night out.

“Well it seems like we’re all down, even if this stroppy cow isn’t,” Tia smiles happily, sticking her tongue out at Ellie for good measure. Ellie finally heaves a world-weary sigh, rolling her eyes dramatically as she relents.

“Ugh, fine! Fine, but this Verruca or whatever the hell she’s called better be the hottest bitch on the planet for you to drag us all out with your MT weirdos, Tia Maria,” she grumps. Tia ignores her bad mood and lets out a cheer which the others join in with, and A’whora resolves to interrogate Ellie about her Bitter Betty attitude later on. Preferably when they’re both drunk. That always makes things easier.

In the melee of excitement, Tayce twists round from her position on the carpet, folds her arms and rests them on top of A’whora’s thighs. “Right. You need to come help me choose an outfit if we’re going out. I need to look fit.”

A’whora smiles with pride. “Ooh, personal stylist duties? I’m honoured.”

“Well I’m hardly gonna ask Tia, am I?” Tayce giggles quietly, and A’whora joins in like it’s a little secret they’re sharing. “Or Ellie. She’d just send me out in one of her bodysuit/skirt combos. I swear to God that girl is like Marge bloody Simpson. Open up her wardrobe and she’ll have twenty sets of the same outfit. Serial killer behaviour, that.”

At this point A’whora is laughing so much that it draws the attention of the others, who eye them with suspicious stares. “What the hell’s so funny?”

A’whora gives Tayce a mischievous look. “Tayce just called Ellie a serial killer.”

Tayce yelps in outrage at having been called out, and as Ellie narrows her eyes Tayce leaps up from the floor and tugs A’whora off of the sofa with her. “That’s taking it out of context, you absolute hound! Come on, help me pick something.”

Tayce’s fingers stay curled around A’whora’s hand all the way down the corridor and into her bedroom. It’s a feeling that A’whora likes because it makes her feel close to her friend, and Tayce taking her hand is like an affirmation and a reassurance all in one; that she likes her, that their friendship has reached the level where hand-holding has become acceptable, that A’whora is worthy of being liked, of being someone’s friend- their real, proper friend. The validation sets her heart off like a flare. It’s nice to feel wanted.

A’whora perches on the edge of Tayce’s bed as she scrapes the coat hangers in her wardrobe and throws outfits onto the bed like a tornado, each more gorgeous than the last and all ones Tayce would look stunning in. That’s something that always strikes A’whora about Tayce; just how beautiful she is, how absolutely blessed with the God-given good genes. The way she looks serene and ethereal without makeup, walking to lectures in the morning with the sun hitting her face and giving her skin a glow. The way she paints for a night out and knows how to accentuate everything about her face that’s already perfect, a feat that would seem like an exaggeration if A’whora hadn’t seen it for herself to confirm it’s true. She frequently finds herself having to hold back from giving compliments to Tayce because if she started she’d never stop.

“Okay, first thoughts are…” Tayce announces unnecessarily loudly, and A’whora laughs at the way she’s talking as if she’s a stylist on a morning TV show. “…I’m thinking something black.”

“Of course you are,” A’whora interrupts with a laugh. “Tayce wearing black. How predictable.”

Tayce gives her a shove on the shoulder that’s too hard and makes her fall back against the mattress. “Shut up! I’ll wear something other than black when Lawrence wears something other than purple, how’s about that?”

The pair of them giggle at the joke as Tayce rifles through the clothes she’s shortlisted, holding up a black leather jacket and a black bralet with an intricate lace hem. The combination makes A’whora’s eyes fly wide open in appreciation.

“This?” Tayce raises an eyebrow at her inquisitively. The fact she’s obviously seen her reaction makes A’whora feel a little self-conscious and she doesn’t particularly know why. “Because I’m wanting to wear either my wet-look leggings or my black vinyl skirt with the zip up the front, and I don’t know if that’s too much leather effect stuff?”

“It’s too much,” A’whora nods, physically unable to help her honesty. “Also I think you should wear the skirt because you’ve got good legs and you should get them out any chance you get. But also the bralet won’t go with it because it’ll make your proportions all wrong.”

Tayce smiles appreciatively as she throws the bralet back into her wardrobe as if A’whora’s given her a command and not a suggestion. “See, this is another reason why you’re the queen of outfit advice. Bimini wouldn’t give me this level of honesty, they’re too nice.”

A’whora feels a warmth spread in her chest at the compliment, but she doesn’t show it. Instead she snorts, nods in agreement. “Yeah, because you could come out dressed in a pair of child’s pyjamas and they’d still say they love it. They’d say it’s very Y2K or something.”

Tayce lets out a cackle before holding up the skirt and leather jacket, humming in thought. “Okay, so you’re saying ditch the jacket but keep the skirt.”

“Yes.”

“And ditch the bralet.”

“Yes.”

“So you want me to go out in a skirt and a pair of heels and nothing else,” Tayce raises an eyebrow at her, and as A’whora bursts out laughing and protests she has to fight off a blush at the thought of her best friend topless in heels. Topless in heels and a vinyl skirt. Topless in heels and a vinyl skirt with a zip that could just be pulled down to leave her in-

The heat floods A’whora’s face like she’s been smacked and she shifts on the bed in an attempt at dissipating the feelings that’ve hit her like a tsunami. Inappropriate. Weird. Way too weird. Don’t do that again.

“What about the bright blue fur coat you’ve got? Because you could have an all black outfit with that as a bit of colour,” she suggests, shrugging lightly in an attempt to pretend that she hadn’t just been thinking about Tayce in the way she had.

Tayce’s face lights up and she points at A’whora with one hand and reaches into her wardrobe with the other. “Love that. Okay, top?”

“Are you addressing me? I’ve never topped for anyone,” A’whora attempts a joke. If Tayce can make jokes like that to her then she can do it right back.  

“That’s very clear, baby,” Tayce shoots in response without missing a beat. Before A’whora realises it, she’s flexing her toes. What the fuck is happening to her? She needs to steer this conversation back on track.

She thinks for a second. “You’re a size eight, right?”

“In theory. The amount of pot noodles I’ve been chucking down my neck since I moved in is very quickly rendering that a distant memory, I’ll tell ya,” Tayce says, as she leans against the door of her wardrobe and folds her arms.

“I’ve got a black lace bodysuit that would go with that. It’s a ten so it’ll fit. D’you want to try it?”

“Well despite the fact a skirt and a bodysuit was the very thing I just roasted Ellie for always wearing…that sounds lush. Thanks, Rory Roo,” Tayce agrees, the nickname-of-a-nickname setting off the click of a small pilot light in A’whora’s heart. She’s about to ask if she wants to come try it on just now when she hears both their names being yelled from the kitchen.

The pair of them head back through to find that Tia has changed the playlist on the speakers from the chilled-out, calm acoustic one that had been playing to her early 00’s tunes. Combined with Bimini half-singing, half-yelling along to Murder on the Dancefloor and the blast of the extractor fan as Ellie stirs something in a big metal pot at the hob, it’s a far cry from the calm, cosy scene that A’whora had witnessed in the kitchen some hours prior.

Ellie had been the one who had shouted on them, and she whips around from the cooker when she realises that Tayce and A’whora have come through. “I’m making dinner for me, Bims and Tia, you wanting some?”

“Depends what it is. Come on, talk it up, Ellie. Give us some options,” Tayce shrugs with feigned disinterest, and A’whora can’t help the bubble of laughter that bursts from her mouth as Ellie narrows her eyes at her.

“It’s spaghetti and meatballs, and your alternatives are fuck off or die,” she shoots back savagely, and the whoop of shock and laughter that goes up from the others soars above the music and the fan. Tayce laughs good-naturedly in spite of the barb.

“I’m joking, ‘course I’ll take some.”

A’whora wrinkles her nose. “You’re making meatballs for a meal that Bimini is gonna eat?”

“They’re not real ones, dipshit,” Bimini pipes up from over on the sofa. “It’s that Birdseye Green Cuisine shit, innit.”

“Birdseye Green Cuisine shit,” A’whora repeats disdainfully. “If you ever go on The Apprentice, Bim, Alan Sugar’s gonna shit himself at your selling abilities.”

Tayce snorts, tries and fails to cover it up. When her eyes rest on A’whora they share a little smile, and A’whora’s grows bigger when she thinks about the way they’re both so in sync all the time.

“They’re nice, I promise! Veronica’s talked them up loads, she told me she’s been trying to eat more veggie things,” Tia insists, with an entirely unnecessary namedrop of her crush. A’whora relents and says she’ll have a small bowl before jumping out of her skin as Ellie bangs the spoon against the pot somewhat aggressively with a face like thunder.

Before A’whora can ask Ellie about her bad mood, Tia speaks again as she scrolls her phone to change the song. “Honestly, Ellie, you’re a star for doing dinner. Thanks so much.”

“Aw, don’t be silly, doll! It’s nothing!” Ellie turns around from the hob and bats the compliment away, shooting Tia a dazzling smile in return. It’s funny the way her demeanour seems to instantly do a complete 180 at the praise, and it makes A’whora wonder what’s changed.

She’s distracted, though, by the way Lawrence enters in her dressing gown with her hair up in a towel, obviously having come straight from the shower. She pouts and whines in a very un-Lawrence way as she lingers at the doorframe between the hall and the kitchen.

“Guysss, does anyone have an ID they can give me for tonight?”

“What about your friend? Who was it…Rosé?” A’whora shrugs, and Lawrence fixes her with a wide-eyed stare of incredulity.

“Oh my God, A’whora! I never thought about asking the girl I’ve been borrowing ID from since the start of uni! Thanks for that!” she says sarcastically, Bimini giving a yelp of laughter and A’whora leaning off the countertops and swiping at Lawrence in retort. “She’s using it. She asked her girlfriend and her flatmates for me but they’ve all got plans. I felt like a fuckin’ daytime TV charity advert.”

“For just one pound a week, you could help an underaged child get blackout drunk on triple trebles,” A’whora puts on a dramatic, concerned voice, proud of the way it makes Tayce blurt out a laugh.

“It’s such fucking bullshit,” Lawrence huffs, leaning against the fridge and folding her arms. “I mean my eighteenth’s in five days and I’ve been drinking in parks since I was fourteen, how can I not just be let into a fuckin’ bar?”

“Grow up and order a fake one,” Ellie shakes her head with incredulity, smashing the wooden spoon against the pot again with a bang-bang-bang to get the excess pasta sauce off.

“Just you pipe down, hen, you shouldn’t even be at uni. In fact, have you even completed primary yet?”

The two girls stick their tongues out at each other, a mirror-image of petty bickering that makes A’whora laugh. Luckily Bimini steps in, shrugging as they open their purse.

“Here, babe. I’ve still got my course friend’s provisional from when she dropped it on Gordon Street when she was off her face. I ain’t given her it back yet an’ I’m sure she wouldn’t care if you borrowed it. She’s chill.”

Lawrence accepts enthusiastically, bouncing over to Bimini and thanking them gratefully. A’whora watches her face drop, though, when she takes a look at the photo.

“There’s no way this’ll work.”

Bimini tuts and shakes their head, the picture of casual composure. “It’s fine, babes, they never look properly anyway.”

Lawrence drops the hand that’s holding the license to her side and fixes her friend with an astounded glare. “Bimini. This girl is black.”

As the others screech with outrage and mirth, Bimini waves Lawrence’s concerns away blithely. “It’ll be dark! It’s fine! Asttina an’ you have both got similar…well…you’re both girls, an’ you’re about the same height. Give or take a few inches.”    

“Christ. I’m going to have to just forward roll past the bouncers, aren’t I? Then draw a fuckin’ club stamp on my arm in Sharpie.”

“Oh my God, stop moaning!” Ellie sighs from her position at the hob, bangs the spoon again for emphasis. “Look, I’ll ask Pippa from flat 2, alright? You both have brown hair, so…that’ll probably be enough.”

A’whora thinks it’s interesting the way Lawrence doesn’t shoot something back in her foghorn of a voice like she normally does. Instead she smiles warmly, dashes over to the kitchen where she hugs Ellie from behind, squeezing her tightly at the stomach and making her flinch in surprise.

“Thanks, Ellie-Bellie,” she sing-songs, swaying her aggressively from side to side until Ellie bats her away, flicking the spoon in a way that threatens to shower them both in marinara sauce.

“Right, that’s plenty. Don’t even do things I enjoy for that long.”

“When’s this gonna be ready, Els?” Bimini shouts through as Lawrence lets go. “ ‘Ave I got time to do my makeup before it?”

Ellie shrugs. “If you can do your makeup in ten minutes.”

A’whora kicks her leg out in Tayce’s direction and jerks her head towards the hall. “Do you want to try on that bodysuit before tea?”

Tayce nods enthusiastically in agreement, so they go back along the corridor with a shout to the others telling them they won’t be long. A’whora holds the door of her room open for Tayce and her heart sinks in embarrassment when she realises she forgot to make her bed this morning.

“Sorry about the mess,” she apologies, to which Tayce gives a cry of a laugh in response.

“A’whora, have you seen my room? You’re fine, kid, don’t worry.”

A’whora thinks that’s true- Tayce’s room is a state, but somehow it seems to suit her. Tayce’s room with the crowded bulletin board, desk covered in sweet wrappers and sketches, floor carpeted with clothes that need washed and outfits that didn’t make the cut. The cracked picture frame on her window-sill of the first selfie the six of them all got together on the first night of freshers and the huge cheese plant that sits next to her bedside table, Tayce’s pride and joy. They’re all little intricate shards that join up to form a perfect picture of her personality, and A’whora thinks it’s sort of perfect.

She looks out the bodysuit from its neatly Marie Kondo-d place in her wardrobe and hands it gently to Tayce. “Try it and see. It’s a small 10 anyway so it’ll probably be fine for you.”

Tayce accepts it gratefully and hooks a finger around both of the straps, letting the rest of the material fall out of its perfectly folded little parcel. She gives a little gasp of appreciation as she looks at it. “Oh yes, baby. I think this’ll do just fine.”

A’whora feels good- proud that she’s managed to find the perfect piece for Tayce’s outfit, to help her look as inevitably gorgeous as she knows she will. The smile on her face falters, though, when Tayce shoots her a wink and leans against the wall with her shoulder. “This is gonna get me someone I can pop off my acrylics for, I can tell. You’ve got the best taste, girl.”

“Are you actually going to try and get with someone tonight?” A’whora injects a laugh into her question that she’s banking on sounding genuine, otherwise it comes across as accusatory and that’s not what she means it to be. Or is it? She doesn’t know. “You know how messy nights at The Avenue always get. Last time we were there Lawrence got so drunk she told us she couldn’t see, remember?”

Tayce laughs her off with a shrug. “Well then I’ll just have to be careful with my drinks, won’t I?”

A’whora gives a false laugh, tries so hard to get it to meet her eyes. Why is she so pressed about this? She gets with girls on nights out too, she’s brought the occasional one night stand to the flat. Tayce is allowed to do the same.

So why does she feel ever so slightly gutted?

If her smile looks fake (which it is) then Tayce doesn’t notice, and she only shoots her a smile as she opens the bedroom door. “You’re an angel. I’ll pop this on then be back in five.”

A’whora takes the opportunity of Tayce having left to make her bed, and as she does so she feels lots of little thoughts dart around her mind like minnows, none of them staying in the same place for long enough to be able to be deciphered. She manages to catch a few before they flee away and she clings to them, turning them over in her head: why does she feel so bothered about the prospect of Tayce finding a girl at the party, talking to her and making a connection and laughing at her jokes? Why had it felt like a punch to the gut when Tayce was joking about doing so? Why does she have this part of her that feels like an idiot for setting Tayce up to look her best and knowing that it’s for the benefit of somebody else, somebody that doesn’t know her like she does?

And then her bedroom door opens and A’whora turns around and lays eyes on her best friend. Tayce in her high heels and bare legs and the skirt with the zip. Tayce with her baby blue fake fur coat and her straight, dark hair tumbling over its shoulders. Tayce in the bodysuit- A’whora’s bodysuit- with the lace and the mesh that clings to her chest like it was designed just for her. There’s something about the fact that she’s wearing something that belongs to A’whora that makes something inside her chest tingle, the fact it’s a little piece of her in Tayce’s jigsaw puzzle that seems to fit regardless of the difference.

“What d’you think?” Tayce smiles, all too aware of how drop-dead stunning she looks.

And then the realisation hits A’whora like a train.

Oh.

Fuck.

She’s screwed.

[renaerys]

PPG One-Shot: Mall Santa (Boomer/Mike and Brick/Blossom)

Summary: To earn a little extra cash over the holidays, Brick, Mike, and Boomer agree to help out their buddy Todd at a Mall Santa gig. Shenanigans ensue.

This one is for @snailbutters, @genovah, and @hanaokm. Merry Christmas and happy holidays! Enjoy some Boomike, Blossick, and Capri Sus on me. 

[Cross-posted to AO3]

xxx

There were a lot of things Todd needed: a haircut, for one. His black hair was getting too long for gel and it was really pushing the boundary between greaser sexy and sad trash hobo. Money, for another. But like any other 21-year-old townie with a high school education and two restaurant jobs, he always needed money.

A new best friend, for yet another.

“I’m not your best friend,” Brick snapped as he tied a black tie around his neck. He needed to leave in ten minutes if he was going to be early for his dinner meeting with Oliver Morbucks.

Todd put a hand over his heart like it might fall out of the wound Brick’s words had stabbed there. “Dude, of course you are. I’m totally sorry if I ever gave you the wrong idea.”

Brick grimaced so hard he was sure he’d end up constipated. “No, you idiot. I know you think I’m your best friend. You’ve never shut up about it, even after we graduated high school. I’m pretty sure the whole fucking Peninsula knows it the way you go around shouting it when you’re blasted.”

Todd looked like he’d just received news that his favorite nana wasn’t dying of cancer after all. “Oh, cool. For a second there I thought I really hurt your feelings. You know you’re kinda sensitive, right?”

Oh god.

“What do you want, Todd? I have a really important meeting and I’m not missing it for your bullshit.”

Brick checked his reflection in the bathroom mirror in his one-bedroom apartment in downtown Townsville. It was a shitty hole-in-the-wall kind of place, but Brick was used to squalor. His break was coming, he could feel it. If tonight’s meeting went over well, he’d have a more steady revenue stream and, more importantly, the connections and clout the Morbucks name brought to open doors. All the long days at Red’s Auto Shop saving and scraping by would finally pay off, and just in time for Blossom to graduate from college. It was perfectly planned, meticulously manipulated, all down to this last pivotal dinner.

“Cool, no big deal! I just need to know if you’re free this weekend.”

“Free to do what?” Brick indulged him, because Todd was one of the few people on this planet who wasn’t 100% intimidated by his very presence.

“To help me with this Mall Santa gig I got. Harry Pitt was supposed to be my number two elf, but he ate some bad prawns and they had to, like, airlift him to Citiesville General.”

Brick stopped everything he was doing and glared at his second-to-best friend, which was a key fact because second was not the same as first. “What the fuck did you just say to me?”

“I know, right?” Todd knew his way around Brick’s embarrassingly small bathroom, opened up the hair wax, and fixed Brick’s styling job. “Dude always had a weak stomach, you remember. But you don’t fuck with bad prawns. I mean, obviously.”

Brick swatted Todd’s hands away and checked his reflection. It was definitely an improvement. “Not that; the Mall Santa thing, obviously!”

“Oh, yeah. So you’ll help me out?”

“Fuck no.”

“Aw, Briiiiiiick,” Todd whined.

Brick grabbed his dinner jacket from the closet barely big enough to fit a small, starving child. Todd, who had latched onto Brick in the seventh grade like a goddamned barnacle and never let go no matter how hard Brick tried to push him away, followed. “Not if you paid me.”

“You’ll get paid! It’s $20 an hour!”

Brick hesitated over the threshold. “That’s higher than minimum wage.” It was higher than his hourly rate at the garage too.

“Seasonal gigs, man. That’s how you win.”

“It’s seriously fucking not.”

Todd, one of three people in the universe who actually cared about Brick on a personal level even though he wasn’t obligated by blood, made his blue eyes big and wide in a way that reminded Brick of Puss-n-Boots from Shrek, Todd’s favorite movie. “C’mon, bruh. Do your bestie a solid? Just this once? I really need the money and they won’t let me keep the gig without two elves to fill in. So please? Pleeeeeeease?”

And Brick, former scourge of Townsville, a Super with the power to literally raze the planet if it so much as tickled his fancy, and the dictionary definition of the boy every father dreads his perfect, pretty little girl falling for against her better judgment, cracked like an egg.

“For fuck’s sake,” he groused. “Just text me the time and place and get out of my face already.”

Todd punched the air with both fists. “Yes!! Oh, hell yes! I love you so much, dude.”

“Blow me.” Brick checked his watch. Shit, now he was merely on time.

“I’d consider it an honor,” Todd said, probably literally serious.

xxx

Boomer rolled glitter on his cheeks and around the edges of his dark blue eyes with the help of a compact as he huddled behind the North Pole set on the first floor of the Townsville Mall. When he was satisfied that he sparkled like the tinsel-festooned Christmas trees in Santa’s twelve-by-fifteen-foot “forest” themselves, he discreetly re-emerged just as the latest child slid off Santa’s lap.

“Merry Christmas, Dan!” bellowed a red and white-clad Todd behind an enormous, curly beard. “Remember to brush your teeth!”

The little boy ran back to his parents, who were having a word with the photographer about purchasing a picture of their son on Santa’s lap. Before Boomer could follow them, Brick was quick to cut him off.

“Where the hell were you?” he demanded. Sour as an un-sugared plum in his festive, candy-striped elf costume, Brick may have absolutely intimidated the seven-year-olds waiting in line with their parents for a turn on Santa’s lap, but Boomer only allowed him a bemused smile.

“Why, I was making toys for the good little boys and girls who came to visit us here at the North Pole,” Boomer said in a raised voice. He looped his arm through his brother’s and let his power surge with enough force to turn Brick around and face the crowd that was definitely within hearing range. “Isn’t that right, Elf Mursten?”

Brick pushed back with inhuman force, but Boomer held his ground with a smile as bright as the glitter on his cheeks as a little girl in overalls trotted forward.

She giggled. “I like your hat.”

“Thank you!” Boomer gushed, and he tipped his pom-pom-topped cap. “And what’s your name?”

The little girl giggled again. “My name’s Alynn.”

“Well, Alynn, why don’t you step right up and take a seat on Santa’s lap? I’m sure he has a great present for a cool girl like you. Right, Elf Mursten?”

Brick glared medieval torture at him, and he managed a smile that showed too many teeth to be anything other than life-threatening. “Of course, Elf Buller.”

Boomer’s smile tightened.

“Ho ho ho! Come on over, Santa doesn’t bite,” Todd said.

“What a psychotic reassurance,” Brick said soft enough for only the Super brothers to hear.

“Hey, Brick?” Boomer said, just as softly. “Cheer the fuck up.” He gave his brother a bone-crushing squeeze around the arm and broke from him. Brick could be a sourpuss when he wanted to be (all the time), but he wouldn’t mess up Todd’s Mall Santa gig when he’d bothered to show up and actually put in the effort at all. Complain as he might about Todd’s exuberance, Brick had always come through for his best friend since the seventh grade.

Boomer, on the other hand, had been very happy to accept Todd’s offer to work the two weeks leading up to Christmas. The hours were reasonable, the pay was good, and Boomer loved children. It was easy money in between local shows he and his garage band had booked over the holidays.

Plus, the photographer had a nice rack.

“Okay, Santa, Alynn. Look over here and say ‘jingle bells’!” A flash went off, and Mike Believe stood to his full height behind the tripod he’d set up for the day’s pictures. Even in reindeer antlers and a bright, red-painted nose, Mike filled out every fold of his brown Rudolph outfit almost to the point of popping a button. His broad chest puffed out when he put his strong hands on his hips and grinned brightly like he wouldn’t pick anywhere else to be right now.

Their eyes met, and Boomer flushed and smiled like a fool.

When Mike winked back at him coyly, his heart leaped into his throat. Mike had gotten home from college just two days ago, but the three weeks he had off for Winter Break would surely fly by like they did every year, and Boomer was determined to spend every moment together.

A tug on Boomer’s green tunic drew his attention. “Can I take a picture with you? Please?” the little girl asked.

Boomer beamed and scooped her up onto his hip. “Of course you can. Hey, Mike? Can you take one of us, please?”

“You bet! Get in close, now.” Mike readied his camera.

“Oh, wait a sec. Why don’t you take this too?” Boomer removed his festive hat and put it on Alynn’s head. It was big on her, but she laughed happily.

They posed for the picture, and Boomer hugged her cheek to cheek.

“Thanks!” The little girl tried to give him his hat back, but he pressed it to her chest.

“You keep it. Merry Christmas. Remember to be good, okay?”

Alynn’s father was waiting with a hand for her to take when she ran back to him, yammering about how she’d met Santa and his super cool elf friend, and Boomer watched them go.

“You know you’ll have to pay for that hat,” Brick said.

Boomer sighed and ran a hand through his cornflower hair. “You know I look better without it.”

Brick frowned deeply. “Uh-huh.”

“If you keep frowning, your face will stick like that.”

“Moron.”

He always had to have the last word. Brick went to stack the empty boxes wrapped in bright, shiny paper, which was probably more productive than blowing up the entire display. Boomer left him to it. It was time for their mid-morning break, anyway.

Todd got up to stretch. “Man, who knew sitting could be so tiring, huh? Whack.” His phone buzzed, and he grinned when he saw the caller ID.

Boomer, however, had eyes only for Mike as the latter turned off his camera and put a sheet over the tripod to protect it. “Working hard, I see.”

When Mike smiled, his dark eyes crinkled in the corners. He had a face made for smiling. “Oh, you know. Just helping out some friends.”

Like Brick, Todd had asked Mike to help out behind the camera for this gig. Mike didn’t exactly need the extra cash given his lacrosse scholarship that covered his college expenses, but the three of them had been as thick as thieves all through high school no matter what Brick said when he was annoyed. No way was Mike going to bail on the chance to help out a bro.

“This is cute,” Mike said, running a thumb over Boomer’s sparkly cheek.

“If only I could convince Brick to wear some,” Boomer said, lacing his fingers in Mike’s as they shuffled to the side of the exhibit behind a blinking Christmas tree for a bit of privacy.

Mike chuckled. “That’ll take a Christmas miracle. But anyway, I don’t want to talk about Brick right now.”

Their kiss was soft and mostly chaste, considering the venue, but Boomer didn’t mind at all. He rose up on his toes to lean into his boyfriend’s superior height and smiled into their kiss. Even in the middle of the Townsville Mall with shoppers mere yards away, for a few seconds Boomer got lost in the fantasy of the forest and the snow drifts, bright lights and magic that came around only once a year and had always touched his heart in a way nothing else quite could.

“Babe! You got here quick!” Todd’s excitement and a small commotion around Santa’s throne drew the lovers’ attention, and Boomer reluctantly broke the kiss. His Super hearing quickly picked up on what was going on.

“What is it?” Mike asked.

Boomer smiled wryly. “That Christmas miracle you wished for. Come on.” He took Mike’s larger hand in his and pulled him back toward the front of the display, where Todd had scooped up a very small, very fashionable Asian woman in his arms.

“Oh my god, don’t do shits in front of the innocent children, Toddy.” Hana patted her high bun and smoothed out her oversized black jacket once Todd released her.

“Hey, I just missed you is all,” Todd said with a genuine smile like he had really, truly missed his girlfriend since this morning when they had last seen each other.

“You guys are too cute,” said Bubbles with a giggle. As usual, she was adorable in blonde twin tails and a holiday-appropriate sweater dress. Shopping bags hung from both her arms, also as usual.

“Right?” Hana said, her deadpan façade melting completely as she beamed at her closest friend.

“No contest.” Bubbles set down her small nation of shopping bags. “Oh! Hi, Boomer!” She dashed to hug him in a flash of blue, and he caught her easily. “Oh my gosh, I love your glitter. You look like a supermodel!”

Boomer laughed and hugged her back. “Thanks for letting me borrow it. I really owe you.”

“Don’t worry about it. Oh, but you definitely need some touching up. Here, let me just…”

Mike had wandered over to Todd and Hana. “Hey, Hana. Are you staying for the holiday?”

Hana shrugged. “Yeah, my art show isn’t until after New Year’s. You know, I’m always looking for more models.” She raised her eyebrows suggestively.

Mike laughed. “I’m honored, but I’m really nothing special, honestly. You might try Butch.”

Todd guffawed. “Oh man, Butch is, like, one of her top models! She painted him for what, six weeks last summer, babe?”

“Seven,” Hana said, dead serious.

Mike smiled nervously. “That’s a lot of inspiration.”

“He is very inspiring,” Hana said, deader and more serious.

“That dude is goals,” Todd said, totally unironically.

“I guess I can’t argue with that,” Mike said.

“Aaaaand done.” Bubbles stepped back to admire her handiwork. “Honestly? You’re the most beautiful elf the North Pole ever employed.”

Boomer snickered. “Don’t tell Brick that.”

“Don’t tell me what, now?” Brick emerged from his useless empty box stacking task, glitter-less and severely lacking in Christmas cheer.

Bubbles gasped, right on cue. “Brick! Where is your glitter? Get over here.”

Brick made a weird face. “What are you talk—hey!”

Bubbles all but accosted him with the glitter pen. Hana cheered and applauded, and Todd joined in because he liked to cheer and applaud in general.

“What are you—get off!” Brick shoved Bubbles hard, but a flash of pink caught her before she could crash into anything.

Blossom peered around her totally unfazed sister, a tray of lattes in one hand and her perfectly sculpted eyebrow raised. “Brick,” she said.

Brick swallowed. “Blossom.”

She looked nice in leggings and a sweater dress that matched Bubbles’ style, except where Bubbles’ was white, Blossom’s was a scarlet that rivaled the shade of Brick’s eyes.

“I brought you guys coffee,” Blossom said, her eyes trained on Brick even as she held out the tray.

Mike took the tray before it could become collateral damage in whatever was going on between the two of them.

“Here you go.” Mike offered one to Boomer, who gratefully accepted it.

“Thanks!”

“I thought you weren’t getting home until tomorrow,” Brick said, as if he and Blossom were the only two people there.

“Change of plans,” Blossom said. “Problem?”

Brick seemed to remember what he was wearing and snatched his elf hat from his head. He bunched it up between his hands like that would hide his imagined shame. “It’s fine.”

It wasn’t fine, clearly. But it wasn’t Boomer’s place to intrude. He would have been extremely happy for it to end there, but sadly Blossom, like his brother, had a flair for the dramatic and an affinity for the center of attention.

She sauntered up to him and smeared the bit of glitter Bubbles had managed to draw on his cheek before he’d shoved her off. “Good,” she said, half an invitation and half a challenge.

Brick didn’t bend easily. Boomer knew his brother as well as he knew himself, and he knew Brick didn’t relent, never gave in unless he was well and truly beaten, which was rare. But he slackened now, lips parting and eyes falling. Even though his arms stayed stubbornly at his sides and he didn’t do something as scandalous as hold his girlfriend’s hand in public, he melted under her touch and attention.

“All right! Bloss, you’re back early! This is massive, like, supernova massive,” Todd said. “Hey, I know! Let’s throw a party at mine tonight! Brick said you weren’t coming back for another couple of days, so this is like a cool early Christmas present to all of us.”

Bubbles gasped. “Oh my gosh, yes! Let’s all go to Todd’s tonight, just like we used to. I’m calling Robin right now.”

“We can make it a real Christmas party,” Blossom said. Somehow, she’d gotten ahold of Bubbles’ glitter pen and now smeared a generous amount on Brick’s cheeks until he gleamed without suffering a nuclear meltdown. A Christmas miracle, indeed.

“You’ll wear the Santa suit,” Hana said. Demanded.

“Ho ho ho! You got it, babe.”

“That thing’s a rental,” Brick said. “And it’s, like, 75 degrees outside.”

“If he gets too hot, I’ll hose him down,” Hana said.

Brick smartly decided not to press her on that one.

“I like your elf costume, Brick,” Blossom teased. Maybe.

“I’m burning it as soon as I get paid,” Brick said.

“I thought it was a rental like Todd’s?”

He hesitated, trapped by his own logic, and she laughed softly and kissed the side of his mouth. Brick froze and played it off like it didn’t affect him, but his eyes were drawn to Blossom’s lips for the next six whole minutes. Boomer really didn’t get why he had to make everything so damn complicated.

“Hey, hombres, our break is up and I see a super cute kid waiting to sit on the softest lap in Townsville,” Todd said, sinking back onto his candy cane throne and patting his lap.

Brick visibly cringed.

“It could be worse,” Mike whispered to Brick. “At least this time we get to keep our shirts on.”

Boomer smiled at the memory of Todd’s last seasonal gig he’d roped Brick and Mike into over the summer. The shirtless carwash had admittedly been one of his more rewarding part-time jobs, and Boomer had the photo evidence to cherish the memory extremely fondly.

Blossom and Hana retreated behind Mike while Bubbles finished up her phone call with Robin and Brick admitted the next child on set.

“Welcome to the North Pole,” he said with all the cheer of an old tire. Nonetheless, his cheeks dazzled. “What’s your name, kid?”

She looked up at him but didn’t say anything. Boomer noticed her shyness and decided he better intervene.

“Hey there,” he said, taking a knee so he could be on her eye-level. “Merry Christmas.”

That alarmed her even more, and she hugged Brick’s leg.

“What the—” Brick put his hands up like he didn’t know what to do with them. “Great.”

The girl’s parents were busy talking to Mike about the picture packages and didn’t seem to notice what was going on.

“Uh,” Boomer said, ready to flag them down before the little girl got scared or started to cry. They’d been lucky this morning with only one child throwing a temper tantrum out of the tens they’d seen.

“All right, kid. I hope you have a good grip.” Brick floated off the ground with the little girl clinging to his leg and flew over to Todd’s throne.

Boomer was so flabbergasted by his brother’s gross disregard for this child’s safety in front of her parents that he was momentarily stunned where he kneeled. It was over in about two and a half seconds, with her parents none the wiser and the little girl still in one piece, miraculously. Brick peeled her off him and dropped her on Todd’s lap.

“Name,” Brick demanded. And then, reluctantly: “…To check you off the Nice List.”

The little girl looked up at him with wide-eyed wonderment, or maybe fear. “Morana.”

“Morana. Super. Tell Todd—I mean, Santa—what you want. And smile for the camera.”

Todd didn’t miss a beat and wrapped his arms loosely around her to hold her safely in place. “Morana, that’s a pretty name. Wanna tell me what you want for Christmas?”

Morana pointed at Brick. “That one.”

Brick turned as red as his messy man bun. Todd wheezed.

“Oh, yeah? Well, that one’s taken, but I bet I can get you a picture together. How ‘bout it?” Todd asked.

Boomer was up and moving in a blue flash. “That can be arranged.” He shoved his brother with a healthy burst of Super strength, and Brick all but fell on his knee next to Todd’s throne. Boomer waved back at Mike for the picture.

“Big smile now!” Mike said cheerfully, and snapped the picture.

“What the hell is up with these kids?” Brick asked when Morana skipped back to her parents and started chattering at them in a language Boomer didn’t recognize but assumed must be all good things from the way she grinned from ear to ear. “They get bolder every year.”

“Or you’re just getting softer,” Boomer teased.

“Yeah, right.”

Blossom laughed at something Hana said on a nearby bench, drawing both their eyes.

“Whatever you say, man,” Boomer said.

xxx

Todd’s party was a nostalgic and long-overdue affair later that evening. Unlike Boomer, who had to make do in a small studio apartment on the outskirts of Citiesville where the rent was more manageable and his commute didn’t matter when flying anywhere took only minutes, Todd lived in a big house he took care of for his often absent, globe-trotting parents. Blossom, Bubbles, and Robin had taken the initiative and strung up Christmas lights, while Boomer created and managed the playlist for the night. They had a good crowd with old friends from high school and new ones from work and college gathered for no excuse other than to have a good time.

Butch, Buttercup, Mike, and Todd had set up beer pong in the basement, where most of the festivities were taking place. As usual, the shit talking and macho bravado had soared to ludicrous heights.

“Come on, BC,” Todd goaded. “Money shot, right here.” He fluffed his Santa beard, the ends of which were damp with beer. Buttercup had one cup left to hit.

“I’m about to straight-up tea bag you with this ping pong ball, Todd, I swear to god.” Buttercup tried to focus on her aim after too many beers and the distraction of Todd’s stupid Santa beard.

“Do it, fucking do it,” Butch said, bobbing on the balls of his feet and slightly manic with the competition and holiday cheer, probably.

“I’m gonna fucking do it!”

“I don’t think you can fucking do it,” Mike said.

“Ohhhhh!” Butch hollered when Buttercup lost her temper and threw the ball too hard. It bounced off Todd’s beard and fell on the floor, leaving the last cup untouched.

“Mike, you cheater!” Buttercup shouted.

Mike burst out laughing.

“All riiiiight, the Toddster’s final shot. You filming, babe?” Todd asked.

Hana, across the table from Boomer, had her phone out and poised. “Kick their asses, Toddy.”

“Yeah, bring it on, Toddy,” Butch jeered.

“Oh, it’s about to be brought.”

“Oh god, please, you peaked in high school,” Buttercup said.

“Hey, he plateaued,” Mike said. “There’s a difference.”

“Just take the damn shot!”

Todd shot, hit the rim of the solo cup, and missed. Buttercup and Butch threw up their hands and whooped. They were still in the game, and the stakes were even higher now.

Boomer squeezed Mike’s arm in a silent excuse and went to change the music…only to find Brick and Blossom making out in the hallway like it was their last night on Earth.

The music was fine, he decided. No need to interrupt Brick and Blossom trying to fuse with the wall and face his brother’s cock blocked wrath. Discreetly, Boomer snapped a picture on his phone and texted it to Bubbles.

[Boomer: Shooketh]

Bubbles’ reply was lightning fast.

[Bubbles: More like shattered!!]

[Bubbles: Better get out of there before they catch you lol 💀]

After another hour (and Brick and Blossom’s reemergence from the wall in one piece with not a hair out of place because god forbid), Boomer and Mike decided to head out early. They went back to Boomer’s apartment, where a very excited Pomeranian welcomed them home.

“Hi, Pumpkin!” Mike brightened like the sun and scooped up his favorite girl, left in Boomer’s care while he was away at college. “Who’s ready for a walk?”

They walked Pumpkin and let her tire herself out running around the suburban neighborhood where it was too late at night for any cars to be out. A half hour later, they were curled up on the loveseat with Pumpkin snoozing in her fuzzy bed at their feet and an old black-and-white Christmas movie playing on low volume on the television.

“Hey,” Boomer said, lifting his head from Mike’s chest to look at him properly.

Mike set aside the hot chocolate he’d been drinking and pulled Boomer up by his waist. “Hey, you. What is it?”

Boomer smiled. It was silly, really. “It’s nothing.”

“Oh?” Mike returned his smile and leaned closer. He smelled like soap, a hint of chocolate, and something else that made Boomer want to bury his face in his neck.

“Just happy,” Boomer said.

“Really? I can’t tell.”

Boomer sat up a little higher. The neck of Mike’s old lacrosse jersey he wore dipped down his shoulder, too big on him and softer than a cloud. He pressed a chaste kiss to the underside of Mike’s jaw. “How about now?”

“Hm, nope, I don’t think I quite got that.”

Boomer threaded his fingers though Mike’s short, dark hair at the nape of his neck. Feeling coquettish, he gave his ear a nip. “How about now?”

Mike shifted on the couch and pulled Boomer’s bent legs onto his lap. His voice was as warm as the hot chocolate he’d been drinking. “I think I’m starting to get a vague understanding.”

Boomer laughed and painted a trail of kisses along Mike’s jaw, up his chin. He pressed a strong hand to his chest and put a little power behind it. Centimeters apart, he could taste the lingering heat of the hot chocolate on Mike’s breath. “And now?”

Mike’s eyes drooped and darkened. His hands slipped around Boomer’s waist, under the jersey, a silent entreaty. “I think you can do a little better than that, Angel.”

The secret nickname broke Boomer’s resolve, and he kissed his boyfriend full on the mouth with all the confidence and shamelessness he couldn’t give him that morning at the mall surrounded by children and their parents. Mike’s shirt soon found its way to the floor along with Boomer’s borrowed jersey. The loveseat was too short to accommodate Mike’s height comfortably, and after a few moments Boomer held him close and flew them to the bed in a flash.

“I’ll never get over how hot that is,” Mike said, breathless.

Boomer blushed, unable to help it. He was careful with his strength around Mike, but sometimes the X bonded to his bones pushed him to the raw, carnal boundaries of humanity. Mike’s hand on his cheek drew him out of those spiraling thoughts.

“I mean it,” Mike said. “I love that part of you. And I trust you completely.”

Words did not come easily, nor did they seem appropriate in that moment. Boomer bent to kiss Mike again and pull him as close as he could get. Wrapped up in the warm sheets and each other, Boomer’s silly little thought that he had never been happier grew and swelled to heights he never could have imagined before Mike. They lay there together, lazy and sleepy, as the credits of their forgotten holiday movie played on the television.

“One more semester,” Mike said, “and then I graduate.”

“I can’t believe you’re almost a college graduate,” Boomer said. “It feels like you left ages ago.”

“Four years is a long time, but it’s not forever. And you should get ready.”

Boomer looked up at him. “Ready for what?”

“To move, of course.”

“Move?”

“Hey, I love how cozy your apartment is, but I’m pretty sure Pumpkin would appreciate her own room once we’re living together full time.”

Boomer sat up properly. “You… You want to move in together? With me?”

“Of course! The only question is, where do you want to go?”

Boomer covered his mouth. Of course he had thought about getting a place with Mike, but that always seemed like the distant future. What if they didn’t stay together? What if the long distance was too hard? What if Mike met someone else at college? Brick didn’t talk about it much, but after a few too many drinks one night the year Blossom and Mike both left for college, he’d confessed how afraid he was that he would lose her forever. How can the old be exciting and fun compared to the amazing, new adventures she would be having?

But from the way Boomer had caught them all but absorbing each other at Todd’s tonight, Blossom seemed perfectly happy to keep him. And Mike…

“You’re serious,” Boomer said.

“I’ve never been more serious.” Mike took his hand and kissed his knuckles carefully. “I can’t wait to start our lives together.”

Boomer could have cried. He almost did. Life was hard, even for a Super like him. With endless bills to pay and the occasional monster to dispose of, sometimes he felt like he was being pulled in too many directions without anyone there to help pick up the slack. But this… This was his.

“Me too,” Boomer said. “And I don’t care where we go, as long as it’s together.”

“Well, cool. In that case, if you’re not opposed to it, was thinking farther north, like Metroville. There are some great photography jobs there that I want to apply for, and the music scene is bigger than it is here—”

“Yes! A hundred percent yes, let’s do it. When do we leave?”

Mike laughed. “June 1st, as soon as they hand me my diploma.”

Six months. It had a date now. Unthinking, Boomer threw his arms around Mike’s broad shoulders and hugged him tight. “I’ll mark my calendar.”

“It’s a date.”

Incidentally, they did not get much sleep the rest of that night.

xxx

I told myself I wasn’t going to do a ton of fluff, but damnit all, Boomike is SUPER CUTE and I couldn’t help myself. Let them have the happy ending they deserve. Thanks for reading!

[luci-in-trenchcoats]

Strangers (Part 3)

Summary: Dean and the reader are taking their very first weekend away together and things couldn’t be going better in their relationship. Their first night away is going perfectly until Dean gets a notice on his emergency pager...

Masterlist

Pairing: Doctor!Dean x patient!reader

Word Count: 3,400ish

Warnings: language, crazy-ex boyfriend, mention of surgery/injury, talk of future smut

A/N: I hope you enjoy!

_____

“Beautiful! I’m here!” you heard Dean bellow from the driveway. You blushed and opened your bedroom window, Dean smirking as he leaned against his new truck.

“I have neighbors you know,” you said.

“Your neighbors should know you’re hot,” he said, flashing you a wink and walking over to the front path. 

“Dean,” you heard from below you, Dean jumping about a foot back as your dad wandered out from the garage.

“Hi Mr. Y/L/N,” he said quickly. “Lovely day, hm?”

“I ain’t too wild about you two going out in the middle of nowhere for days on end. Last time she went out of touch like that, a boy tried to hurt her. You know what happens to the next boy that tries to hurt her?” he asked.

“A slow and painful death?” winced Dean.

“Always knew you were smart. I want her back by noon on Sunday.”

“Dad!” you called out the window. “I’m thirty! I don’t have a curfew!”

“I don’t like it,” he said.

“I need to get the hell out of this house,” you groaned. Dean chuckled and you heard him come in the front door. He was up in your room quickly, grabbing your one bag while you finished packing the other. “I’m sorry about him. He likes to fuck with you cause you’re sweet.”

“No harm done. When are you moving into Eastside?” he asked.

“There’s a problem with the unit. People who were in it before got evicted and trashed the place, like trashed it bad, broke a bunch of crap. It’ll be at least a month or two before I can get in,” you said. “If I last that long.”

“You’ve survived worse,” he said as you slung your bag over your shoulder. “Got everything?”

“Yup. I am ready for three days at the Winchester cabin,” you said. 

“Got your medicine?” he asked.

“In my bag.”

“What’s that on your nightstand then?” he asked. You turned around and frowned. 

“My immunosuppressant,” you said, sitting down on the bed. “I have to take this everyday. What if I forgot it?”

“Well, you wouldn’t die,” he said with a laugh. “You might feel a little sick.”

“I’m more vulnerable to sickness for the rest of my life,” you mumbled.

“You are two months home, four months post op and you are doing incredible. Forgetting to pack something is human. Between the two of us, we got it covered,” he said.

“Thanks,” you said as you put the bottle in your backpack pocket. “I’m all set.”

“Perfect. I have been looking forward to this for weeks.”

“Wow,” you said that night as you sat in front of the fireplace. Dean came out from the bathroom shirtless in a pair of sweats and you couldn’t help but stare.

“You could take off your shirt and make it fair,” he chuckled, padding into the kitchen. You laughed and heard him moving around for a bit before he walked over with two mugs. “I heard someone likes hot chocolate.”

“You’re a dream,” you said, taking a mug from him. He settled down next to you and got between the blankets with you, throwing his arm over your shoulders to pull you into his side. Your head rested on his chest and you smiled at how warm and cozy you felt. 

“You look beautiful,” he said, almost to himself. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile like that.”

“Having a moment is all,” you said. “I feel kind of perfect right now.”

“Good,” he said softly. He snuggled down a little lower, the two of you quiet for a long, long time, sipping at your drinks, sinking lower down watching the fire flicker and dance. You set your mug aside when you’d finished and Dean started to play with your hair. 

“Dean,” you hummed.

“Yeah?”

“Do you wanna have sex?” you asked. He tensed and you felt your happy bubble pop. He must have felt you start to pull away because next thing you knew he had his arms around you. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked that bluntly.”

“Sweetheart, I would love to...someday. You’re still recovering. It takes six months to fully heal from what you went through. It’s been four. I’m not risking hurting you,” he said.

“What?” you asked, sitting upright and turning towards him.

“It is an extremely small and minuscule chance but if you went at it, something inside of you could get hurt. You’re still tired sometimes. I will do things to you and you can definitely do things to me, but no sex. I won’t risk it. I’m sorry. Not yet.”

“You don’t want to have sex because you don’t want to hurt me?” you asked.

“That is the sole reason. Trust me, I want to. I really, really want to. But I want you to be okay more.”

You sat back and took off your shirt, Dean doing a damn good job of keeping his eyes on your face. You grabbed one of his hands and pressed it against your stomach and over your scar.

“Y/N, I’m sorry but-”

“That is the most perfect thing you could have ever said to me. I am like this, I have to take all that medicine every day the rest of my life, because he hurt me. He hurt me. I know you weren’t in my surgery but you help this heal too,” you said. “I believe you when you say you’d never hurt me. I never thought I’d believe anyone ever again when it came to that. But I trust you. I’m really glad your candy bar got stuck in the vending machine.”

“Me too,” he said. He pulled you onto his lap and smiled, kissing you while he traced a finger up and down your scar. “Like I said, gorgeous.”

“You’re gorgeous,” you said, leaning in to kiss him when a beeping started coming from the bedroom. “What’s that?”

“My work pager,” he said. “They know I’m out of town. They only use that if my phone’s out of commission. I’ll be right back.”

“It’s no problem,” you said. He got up and went to the bedroom, digging around and finding it. He walked back out and you got up as he looked around the cabin. “What is it?”

“Phone number I don’t recognize. I’m really sorry, Y/N. It could be an emergency,” he said. He pulled on his jacket and boots by the door, frowning to himself. “I’ll be back in fifteen minutes tops. There’s a phone at the general store close by.”

“De, it’s fine. Maybe I’ll have a little surprise for you when you get back,” you said, flashing him a wink. “Maybe something with red lace.”

“Ten minutes. I’ll be back in ten minutes,” he said, laughing as he ran out the door. You hummed and cleaned up the mugs, heading back into the bedroom. You freshened up in the bathroom for a few minutes, shocked when you heard the truck ripping down the path. 

“Geez. Someone’s excited,” you laughed. You walked back out to the main room, giggling as Dean came rushing in. “What’s wrong?”

“Put on your shirt and get your bags,” he said as he went to the kitchen and got some water, throwing it on the fire. He tossed your shirt back at you and was already going past and getting bags. He walked outside and chucked some in his truck as you got your shoes on. He made one more trip and you put on your coat, Dean barely turning off the lights before he grabbed your hand and dragged you outside.

“Uh, oh,” you said. He didn’t let go, simply opened the passenger door and shoved you inside. You glared at him as he tossed the bags in the back. You put on your seatbelt by the time he was behind the wheel, turning around fast and heading back onto the main road. “What is your problem?”

“I need to get you back home.”

“Did something...are my parents-”

“They’re fine,” he swallowed. “Y/N...fuck, I don’t want to tell you this.”

“What happened, Dean?”

“Your ex...he got out of his institute. He nearly killed a guard and got out. He’s very...upset with you according to the police,” he said.

“No, no, no,” you said, pulling your feet up and gripping your body tight. “No. No.”

“Hey, listen to me,” he said. He pulled over and he put a hand on your arm, getting you to look up. “I’m not gonna let him get anywhere near you.”

“Dean, he’s gonna ruin…” you said, squeezing your eyes shut.

“If I see that piece of shit, he’s gonna be the one needing a transplant,” said Dean. You slowly opened your eyes and watched him take a deep breath. “We’re gonna go back home. I’m gonna stay with you. The police are with your parents already.”

“I thought my life was becoming normal again,” you said. You kicked at his dashboard, Dean sliding over and wrapping his arms around you. You tried to turn away but there was nowhere to go. You felt hot tears prickle your eyes and felt a few slip loose, something you hadn’t done in months. “I wanted to be happy. I was happy. Ten minutes ago was the happiest I’ve ever been and now it’s all fucked up.”

“I am not going anywhere,” said Dean. He put his hand on your stomach and you stilled, Dean giving you a smile. “You’re strong. I know you’re tired but you gotta be strong tonight, just for a little while. I’ll take as much as I can off your shoulder but I know I can’t take it all. We are still happy. I was gonna ask you if you wanted to stay in my spare room.”

“Yeah,” you said, wiping off your face. “Even if I question your taste in women.”

“Can’t help it really. I kinda love her,” he said. You smiled and he kissed your forehead. “It’ll be okay. He’s not coming near you. Promise.”

“Okay,” you said. He slid back behind the wheel and started to head home again. You saw where you’d dented his dash and pouted. “Sorry about your new truck.”

“You kick that hard if you’re ever in trouble, I will worry slightly less about you,” he chuckled. 

“You worry about me?” you asked.

“Yeah. I think about you a lot,” he said with a shrug. “I like you.”

“I like you too,” you said, getting your face dried off with one last swipe of your sleeve. “This is pretty much how I was when I woke up from my transplant. A screaming, crying hot mess.”

“This is easier than that was. It’s not even close,” he said. You let out a dry laugh, looking out the window as his hand reached over and took hold of yours. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

“Besides the crazy ex being even more crazy? Nothing aside from…” you said, his hand gently squeezing yours.

“What is it?”

“I’m not that happy person anymore. I’m not...this is always going to be in my life. And you’re gonna go away when tonight’s over and done. It’s too much and I can’t ask you to stay. Not when I’m putting you in danger.”

“Did you miss the part where I said I loved you? Asked you to move in and be roommates? I don’t give a fuck who’s out there, I’m not letting you go. You don’t have to be happy all the time. We’ll get back to feeling like that. I swear we will.”

“If I asked to breakup, what would you do,” you said quietly.

“We’re not breaking up.”

“But if I asked.”

“You’re afraid, for you and for me. I’m afraid too but I’m gonna take care of the both of us right now. If you ever wanted it under normal circumstances, then fine. I’d do it, even if it hurt. But you just want to protect me and I want to do the same thing. I’m winning this time. It’ll be okay. Trust me.”

“Okay,” you said. You squeezed his hand in return and felt him relax a bit. “We’re going back to my parents house?”

“Police station. That’s what your dad said. He also told me not to take my eyes off of you so I think he likes me finally,” he said.

“He’s always liked you. He gives the boys a hard time,” you said. 

“Want to listen to some music?” asked Dean. “We got two hours before we’re back.”

“Sure,” you said. You rested your head against the window and let out a sigh.

“It’ll be okay, sweetheart. I promise.”

Two Hours Later

“Hi, sweetie,” said your mom as she came into the conference room at the station you and Dean were told to wait in. She gave you a hug, Dean standing up when your dad popped in. “How was your weekend going? You two having fun?”

“Yeah. He’s better than the last guy,” you said, giving her a smile, Dean giving you a quick one in return. “They said they were still looking for him.”

“Last we heard he was holed up at some house,” said your dad. “They’ll find him.”

“I know,” you said.

“Can we get you anything?” asked your mom.

“No. Dean’s already handled the me freaking out. I’m okay,” you said. You took a seat again, Dean hanging out by the door, talking quietly to your dad. “Why did he come back?”

“His doctor told the police that he suspected he was faking the insanity plea he entered. You always thought that from the beginning. He was going to be sent to a real prison soon. They think he took the chance while he could,” said your mom. “It’s not very much fun living in a place like that when you’re sane. He has quite a bit of anger towards you now. Before, he simply wanted to get rid of you because you caught the cheating. Now he’s angry.”

“He’s angry? I’m angry. If anyone should be pissed it’s me. He could have walked out on his own like a normal person,” you said as a detective walked inside.

“There’s been an update. He engaged with officers when attempting to flee out of the back of the home. Fire was exchanged and he was pronounced at the scene,” he said. “You folks are free to go anytime but take all the time you need.”

“Let’s go home,” said your mom.

“I’m going over Dean’s place. We’re supposed to be on our first vacation right now.”

“Alright. Remember what I said,” said your dad, looking at Dean. He nodded and held out his hand for you. You took it and walked out with him, closing your eyes as you leaned against his arm.

“Let’s go home, sweetheart.”

“How’d I do?” asked Dean an hour later as you lay in the living room, an image of a fire on the tv and a space heater cranked up at your feet.

“It’s perfect,” you said, leaning back against his chest. He rested his chin on your shoulder and loosely held you in his arms. “Sorry about tonight.”

“Hey, we can drive up first thing and be out on kayaks by ten. We’re still having fun this weekend,” he said.

“What were you talking to my dad about?”

“What to do with you. Keep you in town, have me go off with you somewhere. I don’t want you to worry about it anymore. It’s over and done.”

“I’ll do my best,” you said. “Thanks for taking control while I freaked before.”

“Kinda my speciality,” he said, kissing your cheek. “Totally justified freak session by the way.”

“Oh,” you said, getting up. “Stay. I have a surprise.”

“Staying put,” he laughed as you headed to the front door and dug around in your bag. You pulled out two boxes and carried them back, Dean wearing a huge grin. “You did not!”

“I meant for it to be a surprise. A box of full sized candy bars for you and a box of swiss rolls for me,” you said, settling back down in his lap.

“I love it,” he said. “My doctor won’t but I love it.”

“We had a rough night. We deserve this,” you said.

“Yes, yes we do,” he said. “So what do you want to do tomorrow? I know we have kayaking on the list but I’m interested what else you have up your sleeve.”

“I would love to make you dinner,” you said.

“Alright. I was thinking more…” he said as you leaned back and pulled him down into a kiss. You smiled and felt his lips tug up with yours. “Well that’s definitely on the list.”

“We should probably do it every day, just to be safe.”

“Well, I am a doctor and I highly recommend it,” he said.

“Dork,” you giggled.

“Daily kissing increases your odds of-” he said as you kissed him again, Dean laughing as he grabbed your hips and spun you to face him.

“This is why you were single,” you said.

“No one could handle my awesome jokes? Must have been it,” he said, putting his hand in the back of your hair. “I worked a lot if I’m being honest. I’m cutting back more recently.”

“I wonder why?” you teased.

“Just between me and you, there’s this really hot girl. I think she has a crush on me. I’m so gonna land her.”

“Oh really?”

“Totally. You won’t tell on me though, right?” he smirked.

“Oh, never. I may have inside information on the subject though,” you said.

“Do tell,” he asked, kissing your neck gently.

“She’s crushing on you, more than you realize.”

“Yeah?” he mumbled against your skin.

“Yeah. You don’t know it yet but a big part of why she’s been so happy the past few months, and been happy on not so great days, is because of you. You’re important to her.”

“Why?” he asked, lifting his head up, green eyes looking at you. “She was the one that helped me.”

“You did the same thing for her. Just...not as obvious. You were kind.”

“I was an asshole.”

“No you weren’t. You had a bad day. I don’t like when you have bad days.”

“Me either,” he said. “You know that girl is you, right?”

“Oh my God, yes I know it’s me,” you laughed, Dean nuzzling your cheek. “De.”

“Yeah, sweetheart?”

“Thank you for protecting me tonight.”

“Don’t have to thank me for that,” he said. “Just want you to be safe and happy.”

“I am,” you said, giving his body a squeeze. “Love you too.”

“Love you-” he said, both your heads turning when you heard someone trying to open the front door. He pushed you behind him and a giant of a man stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. You were reaching for your phone when Dean shook his head.

“Sorry,” said the guy. “I thought you were out of town.”

“I was, not that you should know that. What’s going on, Sammy?”

“Who’s Sammy?” you asked. Dean took a deep breath and sighed.

“This is Sammy. My little brother who I haven’t spoken to in close to three years. So. What brings your home Sam?”

_____

A/N: Read Part 4 here!

[d0llpie]

Tendou x reader

Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  Part 4  Part 5

Warnings: angst, mentions of insecurity, self harm (not explicit), sexual assault, ooc ushijima and smut, please let me know if i missed anything

Word count: 3.2k

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning when you woke up you saw the manga sitting next to you and realised it wasn't a dream, you really fell asleep on Tendou. You mentally cursed at yourself, you probably scared him off. 

y/n: hey tendou, did i fall asleep last night? 

Tendou: yeah it was around 3am

y/n: i'm really sorry i didn't mean to

Tendou: oh no it's fine, i'll see you after school for practice :) 

School. Shit. It was already 8.30, you rushed to school and barely made it to your first class, Yachi noticed and asked if you were alright. You weren't as close to her as Miki but you decided to tell her what happened last night anyway. 

"You what?!" Yachi half screamed earning a glare from our classmates 

"Shhh, it wasn't like that we were going to talk about the manga and i accidentally fell asleep" you tried to whisper to get her to calm down 

"I knew you guys were a thing" she smirked at you before giggling 

"We aren't like that, i'm pretty sure i freaked him out, he'll probably cancel our date this weekend" you pouted knowing you'd ruined it

"DATE?!" Yachi screamed again earning shushes from various students and you 

"So you guys aren't a thing but you're going on a date and you've slept together" she raised her eyebrow and you elbowed her

"Shut up we didn't sleep together" you huffed before focusing on the class work in front of you 

"Yeah okay" Yachi replied sarcastically before getting back to her work as well. 

At practice you noticed Tendou talking to Ushijima a lot and Ushijima not looking very interested. You wondered what they were talking about and tried to hear what they were saying when you heard Yachi scream out "y/n!" You turned around only to feel a volleyball connected with your face and a sharp pain spreading through your back as you hit the floor.��

You heard Tendou yell out and some people running towards you. As you slowly sat up and focused your vision you saw Tendous hand on your leg as his other arm held you upright. You started laughing to try and convince the team you could keep training and you were fine but you looked in your lap and saw blood dipping down. Your nose was bleeding.

"Tendou can you take her to the nurses office?" Yachi asked, he nodded and picked you up bridal style. 

"You know i can still walk right?" You looked up at him, your head had stopped aching now

"You hit your head, don't worry about it just don't fall asleep this time" he winked at you and you slapped his arm. He noticed the blush spread across your cheeks and laughed at how you reacted. 

"Okay you need to lean your head forward, here" he grabbed your chin and held some tissues to your nose, the bleeding had almost stopped but he insisted on helping you. 

"I can hold it you know" you looked up at him 

"What kind of a date would i be if i sat back and watched you bleed" he scoffed dramatically 

"Oh this is our first date?" you looked around the nurses office and back to him "How romantic" 

He laughed at you and smiled. 

Tendous POV 

He didn't know what to do, you kept making it harder and harder to push away. He wanted to be with you but he could still hear you in his head 

'i'm sorry but i don't feel the same' or 'is ushijima interested in anyone? could you set us up?' 

He'd heard it all and he didn't care about the past but he didn't want to hear that from you. After you were done in the nurses office he started piggy back carrying you to the gym. 

"Tendou i can walk" you smirked down at him 

"relax i wanted to carry you anyway" he joined his hands together under your thighs and hoisted you up further on his waist. 

When you walked back into the gym Yachi had a smug grin on her face as she elbowed Miki. You knew what they were thinking and you blushed becoming extremely aware of how you and Tendou looked. You caught Semi's eye, he seemed to be amused at the sight of tendou carrying you, even Ushijima stopped practicing to look over at the two of you. 

"New girl is with the monster huh?" you heard some 3rd years from your team giggling and felt Tendou tense up against you. You'd heard from Yachi about Tendous past and you put your head against his shoulder to try and soothe him. He relaxed a little before putting you back down and going to his team. 

After practice Tendou was silent on the walk back to the dorms, you were holding his arm and playing with his hand while you walked. 

"Hey Tendou, you know you're not a monster right?" you peered up at him but he didn't look down at you 

"Yeah don't worry that stuff doesn't bother me" he laughed a little but he still wouldn't look at you, you knew he was upset but didn't want to push him so you just snuggled closer into his side and rested your head on his shoulder. 

"y/n, were you scared of me when we met?" your heart almost broke hearing him say that, you squeezed his hand and looked up at him but he was still not looking at you

"look at me" you stopped walking and turned to face him. He looked down at you, the usual red intensity in his eyes was gone and he looked exhausted. You held the right side of his face and stood on your toes to kiss his cheek softly. As you looked back at him you noticed the blush covering his face and you smiled

"Of course not ten-chan" he smiled down at you still blushing. 

'cute' you both thought

It was finally the day of your first date, you knew you were going into the city so you wanted to dress up since you knew Tendou would too. You put on some fishnet stockings and a small white corset dress with some black demonia boots. You put on some jewellery and made a cup of tea while waiting for Tendou. He knocked before walking into your dorm room, you both stared at each other in awe, he was wearing leather boots, corresponding dress pants and a large jacket. He had the same rings on as last time and he even had earrings in. 

"You look amazing" you said grinning 

"Yeah uh, you look gorgeous" he said slowly, looking you up and down devilishly, you blushed in return before grabbing your purse and heading out. 

On the train to the city you talked about last weeks shounen jump and music, occasionally earning glares from strangers when Tendou would get over excited and yell, causing you to laugh. 

During dinner the waiter was paying you a lot of attention and you could practically feel Tendou's annoyance 

"can i refill your drink miss" the waiter grinned at you not even noticing Tendou staring holes into his back. 

"um i'm okay thanks, Tendou?" he looked back to you and his face softened before replying no thanks as well. 

"Alright well if there's anything else i can do, just call me over" he winked at you before leaving. You reached out and grabbed tendous hand and his jaw unclenched as he held your hand in his. 

"Hey, you don't have to be jealous, i'm here with you" you reassured him, stroking your thumb on the top of his hand as he relaxed

"I know, i'm sorry" he said before his face completely changed to one of mischief "you ready to go?" he asked as he started to stand up

"yeah sure-" you started before he grabbed your hand and cut you off 

"let's go" he put his arm around your waist and started straight for the door, you were too confused to say something but that didn't stop the blush that spread across your face. He didn't slow down until you were around the corner on a new street and he stopped and smiled down at you

"Tendou what the hell" you sounded angry but your face gave away that you were excited and he just smirked at you

"Don't worry about it, my mums boss owns the restaurant i'm sure we'll be fine if we get caught" he winked and began walking again.

You had never had such an adrenaline rush and you felt so free with Tendou, you decided to text Asahi to let him know you were okay though. 

y/n: hey asahi, we just finished dinner and are continuing our date in the city 

Asahi: how is it going? do you need me to come get you? what are you guys doing in the city now? 

y/n: it's great, no we're fine and we're going to get some boba 

Asahi: okay please be safe and don't be out too late

y/n: okay okay, love you <3

Asahi: love you too<3 

"Hey n/n-chan what drink do you want?" you looked up from your phone and said (your drink order) 

"Let's go to the rooftops after this okay?" he smiled down at you and nervously took your hand. Your hand was freezing and he noticed this 

"Cold?" he grinned, you hummed in response and he took off his coat and placed in on your shoulders. 

You almost melted in it's warmth and you put your arms in the sleeves before looking up at him gingerly and hugging his arm. He chuckled and lightly pat your head before grabbing both of your drinks. 

You followed Tendou around like a small child and he smiled warmly at your eagerness as he led you through the city's library up onto the roof of the building. 

"How do you know about this place" you asked, slightly concerned but you didn't want to go back, you lived for how he was making you feel right now

"i don't i was just guessing we could get up here" he looked back at you holding your drink with both hands 

'cute' he thought while his heart rate started to speed up seeing how small you looked in his coat 

"hmm you really are the guess monster" you laughed and he seemed to be filled with pride at hearing you say that in such a positive way. 

"C'mere" he reached out for your drink and put it next to his as you both sat on the roof looking out at the jungle of buildings in front of you. He pulled you into his lap with your head resting on his chest and your back pressed against him. It was comfortable watching the city and seeing everyone below move around while you were both still. You could hear how fast his heart was beating but it was soothing to hear it and feel how warm he was around you, his arms around your waist as you both watched the sun set. 

The sky changed colours quickly but you felt still and safe in Tendous arms, you closed your eyes and he dipped his head to your shoulder burying his face in the crook of your neck. You felt your face heat up and you were about to speak when you felt someone cold drop on you legs, it was raining. 

It started to rain heavier and you both got up and laughed as you ran for the door that led back to the library. 

"y/n wait" tendou grabbed your arm and pulled you close to him, he rested his chin on your head and mumbled "thank you for today"

"it's not over yet" you smiled sweetly and looked up at him, the rain had made his hair drop down, framing his face perfectly which reminded you of your first day at school. 

'cute' you blushed and looked back up into his eyes as his arm wrapped around your waist while the other cupped your face in his hand, you felt your face heat up quickly and your heart was beating out of your chest. He leant down hesitantly and pressed his lips against yours, you were shocked but quickly melted into the kiss wrapping your arms around his neck and pushing your fingers into his hair. He slowly pulled away and looked into your eyes looking for any sign that you were scared or annoyed but he was just met with eyes of adoration. He smiled and pulled you back into a hug, holding your head, he felt you smile against his chest.

"n/n-chan..do you like me?" he whispered against your now wet hair

"of course i like you" you said into his chest while you stroked a small part of his back with your thumb

"be my girlfriend, i mean if you want to be of course, i meant to ask you-" he was cut off by your lips connecting with his again, he found his hands at the small of your back as he smiled into this kiss 

"i'll take that as a yes?" he looked into your eyes as you smiled 

"yes it's a yes, now let's go inside i'm soaked" you chuckled and he looked down at both of your outfits which were now dripping

"Okay lets go" he smiled grabbing your hand

On the train back to shiratorizawa you were standing in Tendou's arms with your back to his chest, you hated riding the train this late at night but you felt safe with Tendou. You decided to text Asahi who was probably worried since he hadn't heard from you in hours.

y/n: Hey Asahi, i'm on the train back with Tendou now :) 

Asahi: You only just left now? y/n it's 10.30pm do you have your key for the dorm building at least? 

shit. 

"Tendou...do you have the keys to the dorms?" you looked up at him and saw his face fall

"I'll take that as a no" you were now worried, you were in cold damp clothes on the city train at least another hour away from shiratorizawa. 

"My mum's house isn't too far from here, you can shower there and stay if you need, or Asahi can pick you up, either way you need a change of clothes" he still wasn't sure if he was asleep or not but being with you, no matter where it was, was a dream. You were his now, he knew you had no interest in hurting him, he could see it in your eyes and he wanted to have you close to him and never let you go. 

"Okay i'll text Asahi, thank you" you sighed and relaxed into him 

y/n: Asahi i don't have my keys but Tendou's mums house isn't far, can you pick me up? 

Asahi: daichi has my car, he had to pick up something for his mum at the store, i'll call him to come and get you, send me the address 

y/n: no it's okay tell Daichi i'm fine, i'll just stay with Tendou 

Asahi: y/n you can't stay with him 

y/n: why not? 

Asahi: Daichi doesn't mind its okay 

y/n: I know he says that but really it's okay, i'm safe and Tendou wouldnt do anything 

Asahi: text me first thing tomorrow morning i'll come pick you up 

y/n: okay, thank you

Asahi: :) <3

y/n: <3

Tendou had been reading over your shoulder the whole time and he smirked down at you 

"Hmm so desperate to stay with me huh?" you rolled your eyes and elbowed him lightly 

"shut up" you didn't want to admit it but you were happy staying with him, you felt nervous but hearing his heart beat next to your ear soothed you. 

"C'mon this is our stop" he grabbed your hand and pulled you off the train 

As you entered his house you noticed how silent it was

"Oh sorry, my mum isn't here, i hope you don't mind" he said nervously 

"oh no it's fine" you said looking around 

"You can use the bathroom upstairs to shower i'll go get you some dry clothes" he handed you a towel and smiled awkwardly 

"First time having a girl over?" you teased as you walked up the stairs 

"Shut up" he rolled his eyes and smiled at you

After you got out of the shower you saw the hoodie and shorts Tendou had left for you, as you put on the hoodie you brought the collar to your face and inhaled. It was so soft and smelt just like Tendou, you'd never felt so warm and it was amazing after being stuck on the train for 2 hours with damp clothes. When you went back downstairs you noticed tendou in sweatpants and a tshirt with a towel around his shoulders

"Sorry did i take too long?" you walked over to him and noticed his damp hair was pushed back out of his face

"Oh no you're fine" as he turned to look at you in his hoodie he began blushing 

"you look beautiful" he propped his arm on the bench in front of him and looked at you with a smug grin as you held back a smile. 

"so, do you wanna watch some movies? i've got snacks and i was just about to make some tea" he stood up towering over you 

"yeah sounds good" you followed him to the lounge room holding some snacks in your arms 

You were both on the couch with you resting your head on his shoulder but you noticed him becoming restless 

"Are you okay?" you looked up at him 

"This is no good" he looked around suspiciously and you were very confused 

"What do you mean?" you asked, worried

"Let's make a fort" he said proudly 

"Like a pillow fort?" you questioned grinning at him

"Yes wait here!" he scrambled up the stairs and came back down with blankets and pillows. After you set up the pillow fort you both crawled inside and continued watching the movie. 

After around 20 minutes he was starting to get restless and so were you, your neck hurt from having to sit up and you decided to be bold and lie down. Tendou looked down at you admiring how cute you looked and lay down behind you leaving space as to not make you uncomfortable.  You noticed this space and chuckled at how he could change from being smug and loud to shy around you within a few minutes. He wrapped his long arm around your waist and rested his hand just under your chin. You moved back until you were against his chest and you felt him tense up. You sighed and felt him relax against you. You tried to make your heart stop beating so fast but feeling his breath against the back of your neck was making your face heat up. Before the end of the movie you could feel yourself struggling to stay awake, you felt him kiss the top of your head before falling asleep in his arms.

Tendou's POV

As you shuffled closer to him he tensed up and mentally cursed at himself for being so nervous. He felt you relax into him and began to relax too, you fit perfectly against him and he was so in awe he didn't even watch the movie. The way you clung to his arm that was wrapped around you made his heart flutter. After a while he noticed your breathing slow and he figured you'd fallen asleep. He kissed the top of your head and snuggled you closer before slipping into sleep as well.  

[chyrstis]

WIP Sunday!

After the number the start to the week tried to pull, I’m glad to have a few moments to kick back and relax a bit, b/c things are only about to get even busier! For now, though, I’m just glad to be able to sneak in more writing, b/c these ideas just aren’t going to get done otherwise. :’)

Tagged by: @fadedjacket @cobb-vanthss @faithchel @raisinghellinotherworlds @painterofhorizons @geronimo-11 and @proudspires! You’re all wonderful, thank you! <3

Tagging: @writerofblocks @amistrio @tommymillers @softmillers @foofygoldfish @ma-sulevin @shellibisshe @unlikelynick @redroci @teamhawkeye @scarlettkat86 @guileandgall @risenlucifer @tomexraider @nightwingshero @strafethesesinners @baeogorath @lilwritingraven @weekend-writer @sneaky-apostate @nightingore @aceghosts, along with anyone else that has any WIPs being kicked around! 

First up, more of the Trap fic, b/c the more I write, the closer I can get to posting it, and I really, really want to start putting chapters up, darn it.

---

The handle started turning, and Hana nearly fell ass over end trying to get away from it.

She’d expected force of some kind. For it to swing open and startle her, but the man holding onto the doorknob let it slip out of his hand as he entered the room, giving her a good look at him.

It wasn’t John. That alone was a relief, but he was covered in tattoos like him. Wore heavy boots, had no shirt to speak of, and carried himself differently than the people she’d fought off before.

What had they been called over the radio? Cult VIPs? She’d only seen a few of them from a distance before, but if anyone was going to fit the bill, it’d be him.

The words and phrases running up his arms and over his torso reminded her exactly of the kind covering Joseph. Words of dedication tattooed next to those carved into him directly, and as he crouched down next to her Hana had no choice but get a closer look.

“You’re awake,” he stated. “Can you move?”

She spat on the floor.

The man didn’t frown, or get mad. But when he reached for her, she launched herself away from the wall only for him to hook her arm and bring her crashing down into the ground.

“Don’t! I’m not here to hurt you.”

She angled her head up to look at him, and waited for the hit to knock her back out again, but he didn’t raise a hand or a weapon. In fact, he hadn’t brought one in or gone for one at all, and that only ratcheted her nerves up further.

“What’s your game then, huh?” she hissed, feeling his grip on her loosen. “Just going to keep me here ‘til your boss drops by?”

The man frowned, though it was hard to tell just how much under the full beard he wore. “If he were, you wouldn’t be here to begin with.”

---

Then the No-Cult AU, b/c I’m weak for it, and this idea’s not getting any shorter in the slightest.

---

Another woman bounded up to them, giving Selena a hug while the rest of his response fizzled out completely.

“The first blooms have started opening! I thought it would be another few days, or that it would happen closer to morning, but they’re here and they’re beautiful.”

Selena gasped. “The flowers from the field?”

“Yes,” the other woman said, almost bouncing in place as she reached for Selena’s hands. “The others have already seen them, but not you! Please come see. Unless you’re needed here?”

Sharky hadn’t been sure at first, but the two were almost identical, from their modest dresses down to the way their hair was styled. One was blonde and blue-eyed, and the other with green eyes and darker hair, but having both turn to smile at him didn’t help clear his head at all.

No, he was almost floating in place as a dazed smile settled onto his face and he only snapped out of it when Selena spoke to him again directly.

“Mr. Boshaw?”

Oh, fuck no. That sobered him up fast. “Call me Sharky. Don’t gotta worry about being all formal and shit.”

“Well, Sharky” - and actually hearing that might’ve made his heart skip a little - “they need me over at the greenhouse. I’d stay longer, but this moment can’t be missed.”

“I mean, if you gotta go, don’t let me hold you back,” he said with a chuckle, his voice pitching funny. “Guess I’ll just have to come back and ask you later? …‘Bout getting food, showing you cool shit, um. Both, just both of those things.”

She smiled, and gave his shoulder a gentle pat before bounding off. It left the spot tingling as he stood there, holding his breath as the two faded from sight.

---

And maybe a little more of the Accidental Kiss idea, maybe?

----

“Yep.”

“Yeah.”

He nodded, and it took way too long to realize she was mirroring him perfectly.

“…Sorry.” Hana blew out a breath and ruffled her bangs. “For being weird, and making this weird, because that was a huge mistake to make. I shouldn’t have-I’m sorry for doing that.”

Sharky’s small smile fell. Turned more awkward than anything else when he tried to bring it back, and he rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, didn’t wanna go and spill shit all over you either, but I went right for you.”

“No, you were-it was sweet of you to get that for me, and you dropped that on your foot, hon. That hurts.”

“It’s cool. It didn’t hurt, or leave me with a burn or nothing. Just-“ He shrugged, and his mouth twisted. “Didn’t want you to miss out. Forgot how quick that shit goes when you’ve got both the Resizzy and the po-po doing laps around it, and it was starting to look low.”

“And you probably didn’t want to hear me complain all over again, huh?”

This time he didn’t meet her eyes when she smiled at him, shuffling in place as he shoved his hands in his pockets. It was the most uncomfortable she’d ever seen him, and it left a bitter taste in her mouth as she looked him over.

Stepping closer, she lightly touched his arm. “Hey, Shark-“

“Rook?”

The door at the end of the hall opened, and the minute she caught the sheriff stepping out, she aimed a concerned look his way.  

[mamabearcatfanfics]

Second chapter up now on AO3, or read on below!

“Pizza delivery for one Kagome Higurashi!” The bright grin on the wolf demon’s face immediately fell when he saw who opened the door. “Oh, it’s you mutt. Ain’t you got a home of your own to go to? Or is the salary Myouga the flea’s paying you so miniscule that you’ve been reduced to couch surfing?” He chuckled at his own joke. Inuyasha did not join in.

“Hand over the pizza and fuck off”, he said pleasantly, holding out one clawed hand expectantly.

“I didn’t see your name on the delivery order”, said Kouga, making a show of checking the receipt then trying to peer into the apartment behind Inuyasha’s broad shoulders. “Nope, no mention of a mutt named Inuyasha. Only Kagome. For all I know, you’re a freeloader trying to steal Kagome’s hard earned dinner.”

“Yeah, she’s eatin’ three pizzas and a serve of garlic knots all by herself. Even though she’s the size of a wet kitten. Hand it over wolf.”

The stalemate continued, Inuyasha continuing to block Kouga’s view, and Kouga refusing to hand over the pizzas. Finally Inuyasha rolled his eyes and hollered for Kagome, who appeared in a pair of soft blue flannelette pyjamas and fluffy slippers, drying her damp hair with a towel.

“Oh wow Kouga, that was really fast! I didn’t expect you to deliver it in person!” she said, her blue eyes lighting up at the stack of cardboard pizza boxes he was carrying.

“You’re my favourite customer Kagome – I’m always going to deliver your pizza in person.” Kagome laughed a little uncomfortably.

“Aw, that’s sweet. Um, let me just get my wallet so I can give you a tip.”

“I’ll give him a tip”, Inuyasha grumbled, stepping aside so Kagome could pay Kouga. “You should wash behind your ears more often wolf, you stink.”

“Inuyasha!”

Kagome’s elbow caught him in the ribs, making him grunt. She pulled out a crisp ten dollar note to pass to Kouga and squeaked in surprise when his much larger hand wrapped around hers.

“Forget the tip. I’m finishing up work in an hour or so. How about I come back and take you out for a drink?”

Kagome smiled kindly at him, valiantly trying to tug her hand free, and failing dismally.

“Ah, um, Kouga, that’s very kind and thanks for the offer, but as you can see” she said, glancing down at her pyjamas and slippers, “I’m not going anywhere else tonight. I know it’s Friday, but it’s been a tough week at work. All I want to do is sit on the sofa, eat my pizza and just relax.”

“So, tomorrow then?” Kagome’s smile slipped a little, and she did her best to ignore the rumbling growl beginning from her inuhanyou friend looming protectively behind her.

“Um, I have plans. For the entire weekend”, she added quickly when it looked like Kouga was going to inquire about Sunday. Kouga sighed in obvious disappointment and then placed a lingering kiss on Kagome’s knuckles, before taking the money out of her hand and handing over the pizzas.

“Another time then mon chéri. Enjoy your meal!” Inuyasha slammed the door on him.

“What did I say to you about encouraging him?!” grumbled Inuyasha, taking the pizzas out of her hands and carrying them over to the coffee table. He dropped himself onto the sofa and flipped back the lid of the first one, making a disgusted face. “Yuck. Mushrooms. This one’s yours.”

“It wouldn’t kill you to eat a vegetable occasionally you know”, said Kagome, sitting down next to him, continuing to dry her hair. “And in what way was I encouraging Kouga? I told him no. I tell him no every time he asks.”

“That was a no?” he snorted. “You called him sweet and batted your eyelashes at ‘im. He’s gonna take that as a yes.” He flipped open another pizza box and breathed in the fragrant smell of pepperoni and cheese. “Kouga’s a wolf youkai Kagome. You need to be firm with him, or he’s gonna walk all over you. Say somethin’ more like ‘stop asking me out, because I wouldn’t date you if you were the last demon on Earth’. That should do for starters. And if that doesn’t work, lemme punch him a coupla times. Or at least start orderin’ pizza from somewhere else.”

“But that’s so mean!” said Kagome in an aghast voice. “Kouga is actually a nice guy! When I first moved in here, he told me where all the good coffee places were. Besides, his pizza shop is in the bottom of the building, I’m not going to order from anywhere else!” She hung her towel over the back of the sofa, now her hair was as dry as it was going to get. “He means well, he just comes on a little strong sometimes. And I’m not going to let you punch anyone!” Inuyasha rolled his eyes.

“Whoops Kittycat, your small town roots are showin’ again.”

“Hey! I don’t want to hurt his feelings, and that’s because I’m a nice person, not because of where I grew up!” she said, punching him as hard as she could on his bicep. Inuyasha barely moved, but looked at her pointedly.

“Nice, huh?” She crossed her arms and huffed at him and he sniggered. “What’s the current population of Wrightwood Kagome? I bet it ain’t even 5000, am I right?” He grinned at her when she rolled her eyes. “That’s what I thought.”

“I did live in San Diego for six months before I moved here”, she pointed out primly, reaching for a garlic knot. Inuyasha snorted, then folded his slice of pepperoni pizza in half and took a huge bite.

“Ah, that hits the spot”, he said indistinctly around his mouthful. “He may be a stinky wolf bastard, but he knows how to make a good pizza.” He wound a piece of stretched out mozzarella around his finger and slurped it into his mouth.

“Charming.”

“Hey, I’m all charm.” Kagome rolled her eyes, reaching for her own slice, then let her hand drop with a sigh.

Inuyasha glanced up, trying to read her scent. She was a lot calmer now, after her shower. A good thing too. For some reason, Kagome feeling upset made him twitchy, like he needed to do something to fix whatever had caused it. He supposed it was her size and personality. She was so little and so nice – it was no wonder he felt protective of her.

The four of them had settled into a regular routine in the three months she’d been living with Sango. Beer and chili dogs on Friday nights. Occasional trivia nights, with a stroll to the best pretzel cart in Queens on the way home. Regular card games at Miroku’s. She’d fit into their little friendship group like she’d always been there. And with Sango and Miroku’s current ‘friends with benefits’ arrangement, he and Kagome were left to hang out together more often than not, which was fine by him. At least he wasn’t playing third wheel anymore.

She was cute and funny, easy on the eye. Kind, with an infectious smile and bright blue eyes. But surprisingly, also kinda sarcastic, which made him laugh. And she’d stood up for him when someone had said something with a racist undertone while they were out at the pub. He’d grown a thick skin over the years, and was so used to tuning it out, he’d hardly even noticed it. But Kagome had, and she was a sight to behold. A tiny spitting ball of fury. He’d had to carry her bodily out of the bar, needing to remove her from the situation before her comments started an all out brawl.

“Inuyasha? Um, thanks again for walking home with me tonight”, she said softly. “You really didn’t have to.”

“Sure I did”, he answered, bumping against her shoulder. “If some creepy bastard’s following you, calling me is the first thing you should do.”

“So I should always call you? Not Miroku?” she teased.

“What’s he gonna do? Put the moves on them by flooring them with his boyish charm? Flirt them into submission?”. Kagome giggled, then sighed.

“I don’t know that he was following me, really. But he kept up with me, even when I walked faster, and I just got that feeling, y’know? That something bad was going to happen.”

Inuyasha nodded. Her voice on the other end of the phone as he’d answered had been a dead give away.

He hadn’t been expecting to hear from her tonight  – Sango was visiting her brother and was away for the weekend, and Kagome had been working late nights all week, so she’d texted him and Miroku and cancelled their usual Friday night drinks. Miroku had opted out also, and he’d been sitting on his sofa with a beer, watching Netflix, and scrolling through his Facebook feed, phone in his hand. And then she’d called.

 “Hey Inuyasha?” There was an edge to her voice he didn’t like. She sounded panicked.

 “Kagome? What’s up?”

 She was panting a little now, and he could hear her hurried footsteps on the pavement, and the jingling of keys, which meant she was probably carrying them in her hand. Kagome never did that, because she had them on a long lanyard secured to the buckle on her bag strap so she could always find them easily. He knew from Sango that was something girls were taught to do if they were feeling threatened.

 “Sorry, I’m going to be a little late!” He sat up straight on the sofa, ears alert as he looked around for his wallet and keys, then shoved them in his pockets. Something was definitely up.

 “Is everything okay? You said you were goin’ straight home tonight after work.”

 “Yeah, I got held up at the office, and then missed my train. But I’m almost at Veteran’s Park, the one near Jackson Mill Road, so I should be there pretty soon.”

 “Kagome… is someone followin’ you?”

 “Uh huh!” He could tell she was aiming for a bright happy tone, but was failing miserably. Shit. The thought of anyone mugging her or worse made his gut twist.

 “Keep talkin’ to me”, he said firmly, shrugging on his jacket and shoving his feet into his work boots. “I’ll be right there. Keep walkin’ and stay under the streetlights okay? Try and move towards people if you can. I’ll find you.”

 “Sure thing! I’m really looking forward to seeing you!”

 “I’m headin’ out the door, I should be there five minutes, tops.”

 He’d sprinted, keeping his mobile on speaker so he could hear her talking aimlessly about random stuff, the tone of her voice getting more and more nervous. He caused a few angry yells as he dashed past people, but he didn’t care. Kagome was his friend, and she needed him. He slowed his pace to a slow jog as he rounded the corner to the park, easily locating her by scent. She was terrified. He’d walked straight up to her and embraced her in a tight hug. He could hear her heart hammering in her chest, her hands shaking as she wrapped them around his waist.

 “Inuyasha…”

 Inuyasha could smell the bastard, loitering in the background, the stink of the other man’s lust making him want to hurl. He glared in the direction the scent was coming from, pushing back a snarl. He could go after him, confront him, but he didn’t want to scare Kagome any more than she already was, so he put his arm around her shoulders, leading her away. But he knew that guy's scent now. And if they should happen to cross paths again, it wouldn’t be his fault if the fucker tripped and fell directly into his fist.

 “Nice to see you Kittycat. Thanks for callin’ me to tell me you were going to be late. I appreciate it.”

 She’d pressed herself into his side, still shaking, and he’d done everything he could to soothe her during the ten minute walk back to her apartment. Making jokes, asking about her work, inviting himself to dinner, because he could tell she was still feeling nervous. He was so glad that she’d called him, and more than a little flattered.

“I’ll always come when you call. What are friends for right? Besides, you bought me pizza. That’s more than enough payment for jogging a coupla blocks and walking back to your place.”

“You probably think I’m ridiculous”, she sighed. “He probably wasn’t following me at all. I think it’s just because it was so much later than I usually walk back from the station, and it’s the first night I’ve been here alone, with Sango visiting her family.”

Inuyasha thought for a moment about confirming her suspicion that she was being followed. But he didn’t want to frighten her even more. Part of Kagome’s charm was her openness, her excitement about finally living her dream here in NYC. He didn’t want to spoil that for her. But unfortunately, part of living in a city was learning to move about it safely, and being more aware of your surroundings. Because there were always random assholes who wanted to take what you had. He could help her with that.

“If you’re ever late again like that, call me. I’ll be happy to walk with you from the station, even if I’m workin’. Myouga wouldn’t care if I had to leave the shop for a while to walk with you – he thinks the sun shines out of your cute little ass. And ya know, if you’re still feeling worried, I can sleep here on the couch.”

“Inuyasha, I can’t ask you to do that!” Kagome said, glancing down at his long legs and then the length of the sofa, one Sango had purchased from Ikea. “You’re way too tall, your back would be wrecked by morning. I will be fine, I promise!”

He studied her closely. Her words said she was fine, but her scent, and her expression, said she wanted him to stay. He could do that for her. It wasn’t like he had any other plans on a Friday night. Besides, if he left now, he’d just be worried about her, wondering if she was sleeping or not.

He made a show of stretching himself out, twisting around to throw his legs up on the sofa and crossing his ankles in her lap, then reached for another piece of pizza.

“Ooh, yeah, this sofa is pretty comfy. I don’t think I could be bothered to go home now. Besides, you can make me breakfast. I happen to know you’ve got bacon in the freezer.”

Kagome sighed. “You’re still eating dinner and you’re already thinking about breakfast?”

“Bacon is a serious business Kagome.”

Kagome leaned forward over his legs to grab herself a slice of pizza, which flopped downwards, losing a good portion of the topping as it slid off onto the cardboard box below it. He laughed at the pout on her face.

“Okay, you should know this if you’re gonna be a full time resident of NYC. You gotta fold your pizza. Like this, see?” he said, reaching for another slice for himself and folding it in half lengthwise. He took a big bite. “You get twice as much in a mouthful, and the topping don’t slide off.”

“You should open your mouth a little more when you chew dog boy, I didn’t get to see everything in there that time.”

“You think you’re funny don’tcha?” he smiled. The nervousness in her had settled, and she was back to her normal self. Everything was okay now.

“Yeah, I do actually.” She patted him on his ankle absentmindedly as she reached for another garlic knot. “You’re a good friend Inu.”

“Right back atcha, Kittycat.”

[starrynite7114]

Boots (Angel Reyes)

A/N: Another daddy Angel Request fulfilled! I’m going to make a list of requests just so you all can see if your request is on there or not. If I missed it on accident, please do not hesitate to let me know! 

Thanks for the request Twinnie! 

Enjoy! Happy weekend!

Ahhh there were so many cute options on the list I had such a hard time choosing! Can I please request "Little one playing dress up with a grown-up set of shoes" Thank you so much Twinnie ❤️😘❤️😘

Masterlist

tagged list: @iambabyharry : @justahopelessssromantic : @briannab1234 : @marvelmaree : @carlaangel86 : @everyhowlmarksthedead​  : @trulysuccubus​ : @claytoncardenasbabymama​ : @ifoundmyhappythought​ : @chibsytelford​ : @whyisgmora​ : @jadert15​ : @gemini0410​ : @woahitslucyylu : @thickemadame​ : @elcococruz​ : @agirllovespasta​ : @enamoured-x​ : @encounterthepast​ : @briana-mishell24​ : @sadeyesgf​ : @summertimesadnesswithadashofsass​

Credits to the original owners of the pictures!

Six year old Alena Reyes loved playing dress up. Her favorite article of clothing? Her father’s boots. She wanted to be just like her father when she grew up. It was quite adorable and Angel always loved seeing her walking around with his boots, even though you were worried that Alena would trip and fall. Coco got Alena a dirt bike recently and you knew it was a done deal from there. Angel and Alena always went riding on the weekends, with you and Junior tagging along. Junior was two years old now, so he couldn’t exactly ride with his big sister and father as of yet, but you know eventually, all three of them would be doing it. 

You remembered walking in one day while Alena and Angel were home alone. You had just taken Junior to his check up and found Alena and Angel playing dress up. Alena was Angel and Angel was, well Angel. It was so adorable. Alena had Angel’s mannerisms down to a tee, though you were thankful she didn’t pretend to be smoking like her father. But ever since that day a year ago, Alena’s favorite person to dress up as was a biker or Angel. Before that, she wanted to be a princess, much like most little girl’s, but ever since Angel took her for a ride on his bike, that all changed. 

Walking around the house, you followed Junior as he got the hang of walking. Alena led the way, walking in her father’s boots. She fondly told you that she would be daddy while you played mommy and Junior was the baby. It was very adorable. 

“Come on Junior!” Alena encouraged her younger brother as he followed after her.

“Lena!” He followed after her excitedly. 

You smiled, it was always so nice to see Alena and Junior play together. For some time, you thought you wouldn’t be able to give Alena another sibling. But now, you had two year old Junior and you were currently pregnant, with twins. Angel was hoping they were both girls, since he was a girl dad, whatever the fuck that meant, but it really didn’t matter to him as long as you two had another child. 

It was the biggest blessing and you two couldn’t ask for more.

Angel always wanted a big family and you did as well. The fact you two could have that? 

It was an amazing feeling.

“Alena be careful, you’ve tripped due to daddy’s boots before.” You warned her as she began to run.

“It’s okay mommy, you can fix me. And I’ll have cool scars like daddy” Alena grinned as she continued to run with Junior trying his best to catch up to her. “You’re so slow!” She exclaimed as she slowed her pace, just so her younger brother could catch up to her. “Mommy, Junior is still slow.”

“Lenny, he literally just learned how to walk, give your baby brother a break.” 

Alena thought for a moment before nodding her head in agreement. “You’re right. Come on Junior, give me a hug.” She opened her arms. Junior walked the same pace, but reached his sister and hugged her. 

“Lena!” 

His favorite word to say was ‘Lena’, for his favorite person. And for Alena, just as it has been all these years, Tio Coco was still her favorite person. You watched as Alena fixed Junior’s shirt, which had ridden up due to their embrace. She always wanted to make sure that her baby brother looked good because his big sister always looked good. Alena was such a good older sister, you couldn’t ask for anything more. 

But it wasn’t always perfect. 

Angel was Alena’s person. Junior had mommy and Alena had daddy, plain and simple as that. It was difficult at first as Alena had a hard time sharing Angel’s affections with Junior. She adored her little brother, but Daddy was Alena’s person no matter what. 

Even though Tio Coco was her favorite person. Angel was convinced that Coco must have paid Alena while you two weren’t looking, but you were certain that wasn’t the case. She really adored Coco since she admired Letty. And Coco was Letty’s father. 

“When the twins are born, we’re bound to be their favorite person right?” 

You shrieked, making Angel and Alena laugh. Alena obviously saw her father and didn’t want to bust him when he was trying to scare mommy. 

“Angel!” You smacked his stomach making him groan. “You’re literally going to cause an early birth or something.” You were currently five months pregnant and you honestly couldn’t wait for them to come.

Angel chuckled, wrapping his arms around you. “Sorry mi amor, I couldn’t help it.” He looked at his children, squatting down so they could give him a hug. “Can Daddy get some love?”

“Is Tio Coco with you?” Alena knew how to turn them against one another. She didn’t mean to hurt her father’s feelings, but she knew it bugged him when she would ask for Coco. It became a fun game of poke Angel’s heart. 

“Alena,” you warned her. 

“I’m kidding daddy, you know you’re my favorite person.” She ran to hug him, her previous words already erased from Angel’s mind. 

“Damn right I am.” He waited for Junior who made his way over, when he finally reached him, he let go of Alena and picked up Junior, giving his son a kiss on the cheek. “Look at my boy, next thing you know, you’re going to ride that mini Harley I got you.” 

“No, bikes are our thing!” Alena pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. “He can’t do it, he’s too little.” 

“Sweetie, you all can do it. Wouldn’t it be fun to have Junior with you?” You reasoned with your loveable six year old.

“No, I’m going to be like Daddy when I grow up, see, I’m wearing his boots.” She frowned and you could tell Alena was becoming upset. You wanted to kneel down, but your belly wasn’t really helping out with your flexibility or movement recently. 

Angel frowned as well, squatting down to talk to his baby girl. “Baby, you can still be like daddy when you grow up. You don’t want to share riding with Junior?”

“No, that’s our thing.” She began to sniffle and Angel knew the tears were coming next.

“Mami, it’s okay, riding will be our thing, okay?” Angel handed Junior to you, enveloping Alena in his arms. “It’s still early out, do you want to go out for a ride?”

“Yes!” Alena ran to her room to go change. 

Angel looked at you and smiled. “I just have to cherish the moments where she still likes hanging out with me.”

“Don’t start, we literally have two coming, you will always have someone to spend time with.” You knew Angel was having a hard time with Alena growing up. Alena was his first born and as much as watching her grow was a treat, he knew that someday, it wasn’t going to be like this. Whenever Alena requested for his time, Angel gave it to her. 

“She’s my first born though baby.” He wrapped his arms around you, Junior in between you two. “Next thing you know, she’s going to have a boyfriend and it’s going to be endless fights.” Angel was not looking forward to teenage Alena. She already had so much spunk. The fights were going to be something. 

“Why do you anticipate fights?” You questioned him. Though, you were in agreement with Angel. They most likely will have fights since Alena was Angel through and through. “It’s cause you were such a little shit to your parents, karma is a bitch.” You teased Angel.

“Laugh it up now, you’re going to have a headache too.” Angel narrowed his eyes at you.

“I’m sure I will, but we’re a team, nothing to worry about.” You shrugged before you kissed him.

Junior put his hand in between you two, pushing Angel’s face away.

“Mommy mine,” he declared. 

Angel held up his hands. “Alright little man,” he chuckled. “That ass is going to be mine tonight though.” He grinned mischievously.

“Ignacio!” 

Angel let out a laugh before giving you a quick kiss and making his way down the hall to Alena’s room. When he arrived, he found his daughter with the mini Mayans vest he got her along with a flannel and jeans. She was still wearing his boots making Angel slightly shake his head. 

“Mami, we gotta take those boots off, we’re not playing dress up right now.” Angel picked her up and the boots slipped right off. 

“No! I’m not playing dress up, they’re riding boots.” Alena tried to wiggle her way out of her father’s arms, hoping to put the boots back on.

“Baby, I know, but daddy has a present for you.” Angel carried Alena to your room, sitting her down on the bed. Angel walked over to the closet and took the bag that held Alena’s present. He was going to wait till the weekend, but since they were going out now, he was certain she would want to have it. Taking the box out of the bag, he set it on the bed, sitting on the other side of it while Alena sat on the other side. 

“What is it?” She kneeled, using the box to help her balance. “Is it the Stitch doll I wanted?” Her eyes were fixated on the box, thinking of what her father could have possibly gotten her. “Clothes? The gold bracelet? The headband with the cute bow? Oh, the backpack?!”

“Baby, when did you ever ask for these things?” Angel knew about the stitch doll, but the backpack, headband, bracelet and clothes? No knowledge whatsoever. And you usually told him whenever Alena made a request. 

“Oh, I may have asked Tio Coco and Tio EZ.” She gave him a sheepish smile. “What did you get me?!”

Angel chuckled at his daughter’s enthusiasm. She really did have all the Mayans wrapped around her fingers. He opened the box and Alena’s eyes lit up. 

“They’re your boots! But smaller!” She didn’t want to touch them, they looked so beautiful. “They’re so pretty daddy!”

“They’re for you baby, mommy and I got you riding boots.”

You were by the door, watching father and daughter as you held Junior. You were trying not to cry, but hormones were a bitch and just about anything could make you bawl. 

“Thank you!” She launched herself at Angel, before making her way down the bed and hugging you. “Mommy, why are you crying?”

“They’re happy tears baby.” You assured her. “Come on, go try them on.”

“Okay!”

She climbed back up on the bed, and looked at her father. “Daddy, can you put it on for me?” 

“Of course princesa, I got you.” Angel helped Alena put them on. Once they were zipped up, she jumped down and ran to the full length mirror in your closet. 

“They’re so cool!” She ran back out and the absolute glee on her face made you and Angel’s heart swell. “We’re matching daddy!”

“Yes we are.” He stood up and looked at you. “You two coming?”

“Naw, we’ll stay here. Don’t stay out too late, family dinner tonight.”

“Of course not.” Angel took Alena’s hand. They both gave you a kiss as they made their way out to the truck that held the dirt bikes that the two owned. 

You loved watching Alena and Angel together. He and Alena were two peas in a pod. No matter what, Angel had Alena’s back and Alena had Angel’s back. There were a few times where Alena would side with you, but more often than not, she was Daddy’s little princess. Which made you even more excited to reveal to Angel later that you two were having twin girls. 

Angel was going to have two princesses to play dress up with and of course, his original princess, Alena Reyes.