#stop eating the cantaloupes

[the-write-insomniac]

I admire and fear you.

Could I be mildly allergic to cantaloupes? Maybe. Will I stop eating them? No.

[daycourtofficial]

Snapshots of Time

Summary: your relationship with Azriel, as shown through your relationship with Cassian.

Author’s note: this is based on this incredible request. Honestly I could do this forever I’m OBSESSED with Cassian I need to be his best friend like now.

-

The hulking Illyrian general looked down at the woman in front of him, examining her outstretched hand. Azriel stood behind her, watching Cassian with curious eyes.

No one knew how this was going to go, what to expect. Azriel never brought girls home, let alone asking Cassian to meet one of them. The moment clear in his mind, as Azriel walked into the dining room to eat breakfast with Cassian.

The shadowsinger sat down, setting his morning coffee, eggs, and bacon in front of him. Cassian looked at him, nodding in greeting as he shoveled some cantaloupe into his mouth.

His brother spoke first, “are you doing anything after lunch?”

Cassian thought about his day, he had dinner plans, but nothing for the afternoon. He shakes his head no, his mouth still full of cantaloupe.

“Good,” his brother tells him, “I want you to meet someone.” Cassian stops chewing, surprised at this. “You want me to meet someone?” Is what he tried to say, but with the cantaloupe blocking his throat, it came out more like, “boo bant me bo beat bomeone?”

Despite the confusing question, Azriel knew what his brother meant and sighed. “Yes, I’ve been… seeing someone.”

His tone conveys he doesn’t want this conversation to continue, but Cassian will not let him get away without a few answers. “You’ve been seeing someone?”

“Yes,” Azriel states, “and she wants to meet you.”

Cassian finally swallows the hunk of cantaloupe, “so it’s a her?” He asks, waggling his eyebrows. Azriel swallows his bite of eggs, disdain coating his voice. “If you can’t handle it-“

Cassian cuts him off, “Oh, I can handle it, brother. I assure you.”

He looked again at the lady in front of him, a smile adorning her face, making her look so soft, so warm.

He can see why she has Azriel wrapped around her finger - she’s been in front of Cassian for all of thirty seconds, telling him her name and offering her hand to shake, and he already finds her incredibly endearing.

But he also wants to give both of them a hard time. As nice as she may look, this is serious for his brother. His brother, who has always felt so undeserving of love, bringing someone to meet his family.

Well, to just meet Cassian. Azriel figured slow introductions was the best way to go about this, and he started with Cassian. A decision Cassian can tell Azriel is starting to regret.

“Ah,” he takes your hand, giving you a bone crushing handshake. You take it like a champ, he notes, as he calls you by the wrong name. It’s close to your own name, but not exact.

You correct him, prompting him to call you a different, incorrect name. He looks at you expectantly, the eye contact you share telling Cassian that you know exactly what he’s doing. And you don’t back down.

“That’s right, Calliope.” You respond, “nice to meet you.” You smile at him, a sweet smile that he sees through.

Wonderful.

-

Azriel had asked Cassian if it would be okay if he brought you to training. It was something you seemed interested in and, Azriel admits to Cass, if things continue he’d prefer you to have some knowledge of defending yourself.

Cassian had seen you a time or two since your first introduction, the two of you continuing to use incorrect names for each other. He agreed to let you come, as long as he could help your training.

You showed up to training the next morning, a teasing smirk making it’s way to Cassian’s face as you approach.

“Behave,” Azriel warns his brother, as he approaches you. You smile as he gets closer, standing on your toes to kiss him quickly.

Cassian’s desire to tease you both falters for a second, wanting nothing more than to make a comment about the red finding its way up Az’s neck, heating his cheeks. The general goes to say something, stopping as he watches the way you look at his brother. Your eyes show such kindness, such warmth, even from yards away.

You walk up, greeting Cassian as you come up to him. “Good morning, Cassandra.” He chuckles, throwing an incorrect name back at you. “You ready to learn?”

You beam, “yeah! Hopefully you’re a good teacher - maybe I’ll surpass you and take your job.”

You start shadow boxing around him, pretending to hit him. Cassian laughs at you, as Azriel looks at you fondly, your back turned to him.

The two of them lead you through a variety of stretches, they teach you how to throw a punch, and where to strike an opponent for the most impact.

“Can I spar with you?” You ask Cassian, both of the males eyebrows shooting up at your request. “I’d ask Azriel, but I don’t want to ruin his pretty face,” you say, cupping his face in your hands.

Cassian grumbles as you two walk towards the clearing, “I’m pretty too…”

You laugh, as he turns to face you. “Okay, sunshine, let’s spar.”

You two circle each other, and Azriel watches from the sidelines in both amusement and to ensure you don’t get hurt. Cassian throws a lazy punch at you, which you block flawlessly, the shock etching his face. You throw a piss poor punch on purpose, wanting him to lower his guard. He blocks your punch easily, and you two continue in this half-assed dance for a few minutes, until you decide to go all out.

You fake a left jab, causing Cassian to move to defend his left side, leaving the right side of his face open for your fist to collide with.

The impact creates a bone breaking sound that doesn’t come from your fingers. Azriel sucks in a breath, running towards the two of you as Cassian falls to the ground.

He looks up at you, the blood dripping down his face. “Where’d you learn that, sunshine?” He laughs, spitting blood out in the ground.

“I have three older brothers,” you smile down at him. “They taught me how to throw a punch.”

You offer a hand, and he takes it, laughing as you help him up.

-

Cassian’s wings were flapping so hard, so fast. He was exhausted, the events of the day catching up to him. Determination to get to you was keeping him moving.

He vaguely knew where you lived, Azriel mentioning stopping by to see you after going to a bakery. He lands in front of the bakery, and does the only things he knows how to: he starts knocking on doors.

Various Velaris citizens open their doors, ready to be angry at whoever is pounding on their door in the dead of night, until they see the High Lord’s General, asking if anyone with your name or your description lives there or if they know you. Eventually he reaches a door where the woman inside tells him that you live a few doors down, with the green door and flowers on your doorstep.

He approaches the door, knocking until you open the door, only allowing a small sliver to see who is there. “Cassian?” You ask, opening the door wider. He can tell he woke you up, due to your messy hair and sapphire blue nightgown.

You wake up at the realization of Cassian being at your door, immediately asking him if Azriel’s okay. Cassian shakes his head, asking if you want to come see him. You ask how dire it is, and he says you have a moment to change into actual clothes. You find some sweatpants and a shirt Azriel had left at your place, and allow his brother to scoop you into his arms as you two fly towards the House of Wind.

The flight is silent, both of your anxieties practically palpable through the air. You two eventually land, Cassian leading you directly to Azriel’s chambers.

You had been a frequent visitor to Az’s room in the other residences, but you’d only been in the House of Wind once. You’re thankful for Cassian’s lead, following close behind him.

You wind through the halls until Cassian stops in front of a door, knocking softly. He waits a moment, then enters, no response from the other side. He opens the door and Rhys is present, turning to look at the both of you as you enter the room.

You take in Azriel’s form on the bed. He’s asleep, you hope, watching his chest, watching it rise and fall slowly. You match your breathing with his, the deep breaths calming you, the only way Azriel can soothe you right now.

“How- uh- how bad is it?” You ask, unable to look away from his form on the bed. You approach slowly, taking in the injuries as you get closer. You’re a few feet away and you can see the deep bruising on his face, his chest, his arms. You shutter, his knuckles covered in blood.

Rhys grabs your shoulders softly, “he’s going to be okay, sore, but okay. He was asking for you, though.”

You nod, Azriel’s request warming your heart a bit. He always came to you after missions to help bandage his wounds. You smile a bit at the fact that whatever the hell happened to him out there didn’t stop him from wanting to continue that tradition.

Cassian is the first to move, as he moves two chairs to sit next to Azriel’s bed. He gestures for you to sit in one of them, as he takes up residence in the other one.

Rhys rubs your shoulders softly as he asks, “do you want some tea? Water? Anything?”

You clear your throat, trying to keep the tears at bay. “Some tea would be nice, thanks.”

Azriel woke up feeling incredibly groggy and like he had fallen from a balcony. He heard laughing, and he kept his eyes closed to figure out what was happening near him.

The room smelled like his room, the sheets felt like his, and he almost snapped his eyes open at your laugh.

No, not just your laugh, but the loud boisterous laugh of Cassian and the soft amused laugh of Rhys.

The three of you were talking about him.

“The morning he told me he wanted us to meet, he was shaking like a wet dog,” Rhys said, amusement lacing his tone.

“No hr wasn’t,” you say, shock in your voice. “Oh, yes,” Rhys replies, shifting in his seat. “He’s never brought anyone home before, and he’s never talked about anyone before.”

Cassian snorts, “I almost caught him with someone a century ago. I swear I heard something, but when I came in poof they were gone.”

You laugh, the sound filling Azriel’s chest with warmth. “He had told me that you two wanted to meet me!”

Rhys laughs, “he told us you wanted to meet us!”

You all laugh, as Azriel stirs slightly. He opened his eyes to find Rhys in a chair on his right, with you and Cassian taking up two chairs on his left.

“Don’t listen to anything they say,” Azriel rasps, coughing from how dry his throat was. “They’re both liars.”

Azriel closed his eyes again, but he felt your hand wrap around his, and he could see your face in his mind. Your hand squeezed his, and despite the injuries, he couldn’t help the smile on his face.

“Hi, love.”

“Hi Azzy,” Cassian responds, earning a groan from Azriel.

You want to touch his face, but you’re worried you’ll hurt him.

“Well, now that you’re awake, we’ll see ourselves out,” Rhysand told him, offering him a wink as his brothers get up and begin moving to the door.

“A woman’s love is the best medicine,” Cassian says.

“You assholes aren’t even going to see how I am? After staying all night?”

Cassian laughs, “oh, we didn’t stay here out of concern over you. We stayed to keep her company.”

-

Looking at where you and the general stood, you regretted the events leading you here. “I’m just saying he’d love this little black number.”

Cassian currently had an arm draped around a mannequin, wearing the least amount of fabric possible.

“Cassian,” you hiss, embarassment leaking out of you, “why are we here?”

“You asked for help for a gift - this is my help!” He says, gesturing broadly around the lingerie shop. You hiss at him, “this isn’t what I had in mind-“

A chipper voice cuts you off, “good morning! How are you two today?” You turn to find a pretty shopkeeper looking at you and Cassian, her eyes lingerinf on his biceps wrapped around the mannequin. You swear you see him flex a little.

Cassian looks at you with a shit-eating grin as he tells her, “great! I’m helping her find a gift for my brother.”

She looks between you two, confusion on her face. “Is it for him to wear? We have a men’s section-“

“No, no,” Cassian says,”I’ll come back another day to check out that section. We’re looking for something for her, preferably in black or blue.”

He smiles at the shop associate, and she blushes at his attention. He winks at her, as she turns around to find you some options.

“Cassian, I’d prefer it if you weren’t aware of my lingerie choices.”

He raises his hands up, “I can close my eyes if that’ll make you feel better.” He places his hands over his eyes, “just guide me around the store, please, so I don’t fondle any mannequins.”

-

“I know something you don’t know,” Cassian coos at you, swaggering into the room. You’re seated in the library, enjoying a nice book by the fire. At least, you were.

“Hi Cass,” you say, taking a sip of your wine. He plops down next to you, stretching his arm behind you on the couch. You almost recoil at his smell, clearly coming in straight from training or fighting or something.

“Ugh, Cass, can you shower before showing up? You have a smell.” You fake gag at him.

He waggles his eyebrows, “some call it a musk,” he replies, “and I know you like it when Azzie is all sweaty after training.”

You roll your eyes, moving a little away from him. “Yes, but he’s hot. It’s different.”

He gawks at you. “It’s not different!” He insists, “I’m hot!”

You sigh, accepting the turn in conversation. “Yes, but not when you smell like that.”

He waggles his eyebrows, “so you do think I’m hot?” You slap him across the chest. “Yes, you’re a very handsome boy. Now what did you know that I don’t?”

Cassian pauses, trying to remember why he came in here in the first place. Then he remembers, smiling at you. He leaned back, placing his hands together on his stomach.

“Ah, yes. I know something you don’t know.”

You huff, “yes Cassian, and I know plenty that you don’t know.”

“Yes but my knowledge is about a certain pretty shadowsinger.”

You eye him, his grin spanning his whole face. “What do you know?”

Cassian looks at his hands, twiddling his thumbs. “What’s it worth to you?”

You push him, “tell me.”

“What’s it worth?”

“Tell me, tell me, tell me.”

“Value?”

You sigh, “I’ll set you up with my friend Varia.”

He lifts an eyebrow, “promise?”

“If your information is valuable enough.”

“Oh I can guarantee it.”

“Then we have a deal. What do you know?”

Cassian looks around the room, to ensure you’re truly alone, including the presence of any nosey shadows. Once he feels confident you’re truly alone, he tells you, “I saw him in a jewelry store today.”

You pause, “okay?”

“And your birthday isn’t for six months, solstice was two months ago, your anniversary is in 8 months, so…”

He motions his hands, hoping you’ll get what he’s insinuating.

“He’s preparing?” You ask. The general rolls his eyes. He grabs both of your arms, shaking you as he tells you, “he was looking at rings!”

You gasp, “no you did not! Did you see any? What did they look like? Do you think they’d fit my fingers?”

Cassian rolled his eyes, “well he wasn’t shopping at Jewelry for Giants”

You hit him in the chest with a pillow. “No, I didn’t see any of them, but he was there for quite a while. Pretty sure the shop assistant showed him everything he had in the store.”

You squeal, launching yourself onto Cassian in a hug. “This better be real, valid intel Cassian or I swear I’ll cut off your testicles and feed them to Bryaxis.”

He eventually leaves, having had enough of your squealing and questions about rings, opting for a glass of milk before bed. As he’s in the kitchen pouring a glass he hears from behind him, “Cassian I know you saw me.”

He flinches, but just barely, causing the shadowsinger to smile just a touch. “Saw you where?”

Azriel sighed, “stop playing dumb with me Cassian, you saw me at Winston’s Jewelry.”

Cassian’s surprised at Azriel’s forwardness, his lack of dancing around subjects a skill Cassian wishes he shared. “Yes, I did. So? I assumed you were buying a birthday gift.”

His brother doesn’t buy the fib. “You know exactly what I was looking for in that store.”

“Mm, jewelry?”

Azriel closes his eyes, counting to ten, to keep himself from leaping across the kitchen and stabbing his brother. He keeps his eyes closed as he says, “I bought a ring.”

“This is so sudden, brother, I mean how could I say yes when we haven’t even spent a night together?”

Azriel rubs the bridge of his nose, annoyance still there from the moment he saw Cassian watching him. “Not for you, for her.” He pauses and Cassian doesn’t try to fill it, waiting for Azriel to continue.

Azriel sighs, letting the truth fill the room. “I’m going to ask her to marry me.”

Cassian cheers in delight, excitement coursing through him.

“How are you going to do it? A bunch of flowers everywhere? Oh, oh, put the ring on your cock and -“

Azriel balks at Cassian, the headache coming back. He goes to walk away, but stops. “Just - don’t tell her you saw me. Please?”

Cassian pales, but agrees, and watches his brother head towards his room. Once he hears the click of his door, he races across the house to the library, where you’re still seated.

“Don’t-“ he pants, “mention anything about rings.” He pants again, surprisingly winded. “I didn’t tell you anything.” He turns to walk away, but he hears you say, “okay?” before he walks out.

-

You were spreading olive oil across the grape tomatoes as you heard your door open. You didn’t hear movement as your husband walked into the kitchen, your back turned to him.

“You’re home early,” you say, stirring the gnocchi. “How was your day, sweets?”

“It was fine, darling,” you hear Cassian respond, followed by a chair dragging across your floor as he plops down, spreading his legs wide, taking up a considerable amount of space.

You turned around, expecting a different Illyrian in your kitchen, a quick retort on your tongue as you look down and see his shoes. “Cassian!” You scold, “I’ve told you to take off your muddy boots before you come in.”

You walk over to him, flicking him in the ear. He rubs it softly, muttering about something. “Sorry, dear,” he says, emphasizing the term of endearment, as he starts unlacing his shoes.

You begin walking back to continue your cooking. “I thought you were my husband,” you shout to him as he walks back through your living room, the door softly opening. “Well, I’m flattered sweetheart, I thought we could have had something special, too, but my rascal of a brother got you first.”

You roll your eyes at him, stirring your noodles, “We never would have worked out, Cass. We’re both too chipper, we need to share our happiness with the grumps of the world.”

Cassian snorted, opening your fridge to grab a beer, “no we wouldn’t have worked out because Azriel would have murdered me if I made a move.”

He opens his beer bottle with his teeth, chuckling.

You laugh, cutting up your cooked chicken to mix it back into the pasta. “Oh what could have been, Cass. The world wouldn’t have been able to handle us together.”

“I know I certainly couldn’t.”

You smile, feeling your husband ghost a kiss to your cheek. He wraps his arms around you, basking in your scent before he goes to get his own beer.

Cassian rolls his eyes, “you would have skulked for hundreds of years, brother.” Your eyebrows raise, “you think we would have been together for centuries?”

“Oh yeah,” Cassian nods, putting his beer down on the table. “If not out of love, out of spite.” He gives Azriel a little smirk, and Azriel slaps the back of his head.

“Why are you here, Cass, other than to flirt with my wife?” He asks, taking his usual seat at the table.

“Yeah, Cass, didn’t you have a date tonight?” You ask, placing the pan in the oven and setting a timer. Azriel stills at your question. His brother did have a date tonight, one that should have started two hours ago.

You both reach the same conclusion as you say, “oh, Cass,” turning around to look at him. “What happened?”

He shrugs, starting to rip the label off his bottle to occupy himself. “She just.. wasn’t right.” He sighs, a contemplative look overcoming his features. “I just want something real. Not a few nights, not a few months. Something real. Like you two.”

Cassian’s face reddens, his admission in the air. He’s about to apologize, but you wrap your arms around his head, placing your own on top of his.

“You deserve someone incredible, Cass. Someone that isn’t me.” He laughs, patting your arms. “I’m sorry she didn’t work out. But you’re free to stay for dinner tonight, if you want. I’m making pesto chicken gnocchi.”

Cassian sighs, deflating in your arms a bit, “I don’t want to impose-“

Azriel snorts, “yes you do. Go ahead, Cassian. Impose. We’re happy to let you.” Cassian smiles, a real, genuine smile. Most nights the loneliness doesn’t get to him, but this is a rare night for vulnerability, and as the three of you gather around the table, gossiping about the girl Rhys was under the mountain with and how she was now at the Moonstone Palace with Rhys, Cassian feels his friends help carry his burden.

[moonstruckme]

hey! could i request a james potter x reader fic pls?? i have been thinking about him specifically non stop and now i just wanna be domestic and cute with him-

Me too lovely :')

James Potter x fem!reader ♡ 661 words

You’ve told James that you’re painting your toenails on the kitchen counter because it has good light, but he knows it’s really because you want to be near him. He’ll have to clean the counter again after you go, but he’s not complaining. He wants you near him too. 

And anyway, the kitchen does have good light. It streams in through the window to tangle in your hair and glance off your skin, illuminating the concentrated set to your mouth as you bend over your foot on the counter. 

James kisses you lightly, and one corner of your lips quirks up like you’re trying to stop it but can’t quite manage. You taste sweet and a bit tart. 

“Don’t mess me up,” you warn. “This is my last coat, it’s do or die.” 

“Stop eating my blackberries,” he counters, “and we’ll see. No promises.” 

You finish with your nails, setting the brush back in the polish and nabbing another blackberry from his bowl. James gasps, betrayed though not surprised. He pinches your side.

You laugh, leaning away from him fruitlessly. “Stop, I’m going to knock polish onto the rug!”

“You could at least vary your snacking,” James says. “My fruit salad is going to have hundreds of pieces of melon and two blackberries if you keep on like this.” 

“I just like blackberries best.” 

“So does Remus,” he chides with no real severity. “And when he gets here later today and they’re all gone, who do you think will be blamed?”

You bat your eyelashes at him, smiling angelically. “He doesn’t need to know there were going to be blackberries in here to begin with, does he?” you ask. The hope in your voice sparkles like sunshine off the ocean. 

James caves instantly at that tone, but he pretends to take at least a second to mull it over before capitulating. “Fair enough. Have at them, lovie. Leave no trace.” 

You descend like a hawk upon your prey, clawing through the bowl of fruit and popping blackberry after blackberry into your mouth. 

“I’m thinking of going to the store in a bit,” you say. 

James grins down at his cutting board, slicing the skin off a wedge of cantaloupe. “To replenish Remus’ blackberry supply?” he asks. He knows you’re too tenderhearted to truly rob his friend of something he enjoys; you’d be racked with guilt for the rest of the night. 

“To get lemons for lemonade.” You touch your big toe delicately, testing the dryness of your polish. “And if I stumble upon blackberries that look good while I’m there…” You shrug, turning away from him like you think you can hide your smile. As if he can’t hear it in your voice. “Then maybe I’ll grab some. To keep the peace.” 

James reaches over and grips your foot, channeling as much love as he can fit into a good squeeze. You gasp and nearly shriek when his thumb digs into a ticklish spot on your arch, grabbing onto his shoulder to keep from tipping off the counter. He sets a hand on your side to help, and he can feel your ribs shaking as you laugh. 

“Sorry, sorry,” James laughs. “I forgot about that spot.” He didn’t. “Wait for me to finish and we’ll go together, yeah?” 

Your nose scrunches with your smile. “Why, you wanna keep an eye on the blackberries?” 

“I was thinking we’d just get extra,” he proposes. 

You hum contentedly, and he takes the invitation to get further into your space, his hip bumping against your leg. “That’s very chivalrous of you,” you reply, your teasing softened by fondness. 

“Well, I do try. Pretty girls need to be kept happy, yeah?” 

You laugh again, grabbing James’ face in both hands. He knows when you let go, there’ll be sticky purple fingerprints on both of his cheeks. He doesn’t mind. 

“Flirt,” you accuse. 

James pushes forward until his nose is pressed up against yours. “Only for you.” 

[clearlyonhere]

I’ve been putting on a lot of weight recently and it’s getting obvious so I think I should go back to the gym. I have noticed I’m blowing up like a balloon with all of the fat piling its way onto my body. I don’t even recognize my body in the mirror anymore. I used to have high sharp cheek bones and a defined jawline, now I have rounded chubby cheeks and what will soon be able to be called a double chin. My neck is thicker. All the definition once visible in my toned arms is disappearing. If I don’t do something soon I know the muscle under the fat will make them look that much fatter. My once small but nice boobs have grown to be hugely round tits the size of cantaloupes…. My toned legs are softening and expanding at a rapid pace. My thighs have begun rubbing together. My ass used to be firm, but now it’s jiggling with every step I take. And my belly is the worst. I used to have defined abs. People would come up all the time and ask how I got my abs to be so defined. My abs have disappear under a thick layer of marshmallow like fat. I’ve had people say I’m so round I look pregnant. I have a roll of fat that hangs over the waist band of all my pants because they are getting FAR too small for my ever growing figure. I’ve gone from such a fit sexy girl into a round chubby piggy. The only problem is, I just tried on some work out clothes to go to the gym and they are all way too small! I can’t even pull them up over my gargantuan belly! They are squeezing my ass and thighs so tight I feel like I’m a bust can of biscuits. The other problem is I don’t know if I can stop eating. My belly is constantly demanding to be stuffed full of fattening foods. My old gym friends haven’t seen me in months. If I go they may comment on just how BIG I’ve gotten. I’m sire if I showed up in this I’d be stared at the whole time. Whispers would start. All the people who used to ask my advice and come talk to me would probably not even speak to me. And if they did they would probably ask when I’d gotten so fat. I can’t imagine even trying to run now. My belly jiggles when I walk. I can even feel my love handles jiggle! I don’t even know how to lose this weight! Maybe I should just accept my fat(e) and accept that I’m meant to be a chubby girl.

If you saw me in the gym now compared to last summer what would you say to me?

The before photo is me from last summer

[petzhexingismyjam]

melons are the best because they taste good

[ayeyolooo]

Roommates!

1000 + words 😓(please excuse my grammatical errors!)

YOU LAID IN YOUR BED BOO BOO CRYING. Your boyfriend just broke up with you. Did you know why? Absolutely not. You stopped crying before sniffing and you started boo boo crying again. Connie walked by your bedroom and his eyes furrowed. He knocked on the door with his knuckles and called out your name softly. "Y/n?" His soft voice rang on the other side of the door. You just sniffed and ignored him. Connie just sighed before he went to go and get eren and armin. Connie walked downstairs to see armin on the game with his headphones on. His back muscles glowed in the sun as the curtain was open,shooting the natural light on his back.

His piercings shimmered in the sunlight as he threw his head back in annoyance. "Bro yall big goofy asses cheating." Armin's deep voice rang throughout the house. Eren just leaned on the counter and laughed at armin. Armin sucked his teeth before turning towards eren and pointing towards the tv. "Nahh cause they asses double teaming." Armin said with a lil attitude.

Eren just laughed and popped a blueberry in his mouth. He took the fruit out and he began mixing him some fruit in a glass white bowl. His fruit mixture was watermelon,cantaloupe, strawberries,mango, grapes and pineapple. He placed the fruit back in the refrigerator and walked over to the couch and plopped down on the seat next to armin. Armin looked over to eren and seen him scrolling through his Instagram feed. He took his opportunity to dig in his bowl and take some of his fruit before eating all of them.

Eren looked up from his phone with furrowed eyebrows. "Bro.. why are you digging your hands in my fucking bowl ion know where your nasty ass hands been." Eren said popping armin on the nose.Armin's hand quickly went up as he clutched his now red nose. "Ouch dickhead,you hit my piercing." Armin's voice muffled from his hands covering his mouth.

Eren just smirked before going back on his phone. Armin just rolled his eyes before he began playing the game again. Connie just stood on the stairs and watched the whole thing unfold. He laughed and walked to the kitchen. "Okay whenever y'all done with y'all lil arguing and shit. We got something else to worry bout?" Connie said taking the pancake mix out of the cabinet. Armin and erens face screwed up in confusion as they turned to Connie. "What's wrong??" Armin asked as his tatted hand began to take the ps5 headphones off.

"mama up there crying."Connie replied taking the ingredients for pancakes out of the refrigerator. Armin placed his headphones back on as he spoke into the mic. "Aye I gotta go imma talk to y'all later." Armin said before turning the game off and walking in the kitchen. "What's wrong with n/n?" Eren asked standing up and making his way to the kitchen. "Beats me." Connie said shrugging as he mixed the ingredients in the bowl. "You asked mikasa?" Eren asked. Connie just shook his head no.

"Did you try asking her?" Armin asked taking out the pots to help Connie. Connie and eren just looked at him like he was stupid. "Well no shit." Connie sarcastically responded. "Okay my bad damn." Armin mean mugged everyone before he began getting the butter out of the refrigerator and spreading it into the pot. Eren took the turkey bacon from the freezer and stood to the side of armin turning the oven on and placing it on 350°.

He cleared the oven out making sure that it was nothing in there. He took a baking pan and he placed some bacon strips on the pan. He slid the pan into the oven and he closed it back. "I'm thinking about changing my tongue piercing." Eren said breaking the silence. "For what? Isn't the one you got good already??" Armin asked. "Yeah,but I want a bigger one..I don't know yet though." Eren said licking his lips and rubbing his two tatted hands together making his muscles flex against his tight dry fit shirt.

"Okay we have to make her cheer up." Connie said pouring some of the batter on the hot sizzling pan and cleaning up the sides so that it'll be clean. "Yeah." Armin and eren both replied with a sad tone. "But mikasa I don't know what I did wrong." Your voice cracked at the end. "Girl fuck him.. he wasn't shit anyways." She said. She despised your boyfriend. She couldn't stand him.

She hated him so badly that she didn't even want to breathe the same air as him. You just tucked your head into your arms and you cried and cried. Mikasa felt bad for you. Since she didn't know how to comfort anyone. And she wasn't anywhere near you. "Girl his dick better have been that good to where you crying like that." Mikasa said looking at you. "It wasn't but I loved him." You said sipping your eyes. Your white acrylics could be seen as mikasa just shook her head in dissapointment.

"Stinka,that wasn't no man..I mean look at the way he talked to you Ma." Mikasa's raspy voice rang throughout the phone. You just sniffed as you tried to wipe your eyes. But the tears kept coming out. Your Nose was running and you were starting to get hot.

You sniffed and stood up. When you stood up your head felt dizzy . It was from you crying so much. You walked to the mirror and looked at your face. Your puffy eyes ,your red tipped nose. All of this for someone you loved.

But did he love you back..?

You kept your light off,but turned on your fan. You removed your jacket and made your way back underneath the covers to sulk some more.

You got into the bed and continued to cry. Mikasa whispred sweet nothings over the phone as you cried. She was trying her best,but you kept crying.

She just sighed out in defeat. "I'm so sorry ma that he's making you feel this way." Mikasa pouted over the phone.

You just shrugged. "Maybe it's cause I'm too fat?" You admitted. "Woahhh hold your motherfucking horses." Mikasa placed one finger up in the camera as a 'wait.' Signal.

"Girl you are a real female. You didn't get surgery..and you're naturally thick.. okay??" She asked you. "But.." you muttered. "But nothing y/n shut the fuck up and listen to me." Mikasa's stern voice said to you as you immediately shut up.

"You have a pudge, so what? You have cellulite? So what? You have stretch marks,so what??  You have lower belly fat,so what??All of that make you human y/n." Mikasa's voice turned soft as she explained.

"You're not putting all of this plastic and shit in your body. Your body is perfect for the person who you're meant for." Mikasa said. "Okay? Now stop crying pretty girl." Mikasa said.

"Wipe your tears, ion wanna see you crying anymore." Mikasa said as you nodded and wiped your eyes. "Sasha wants me to go and cuddle with her..I'll speak to you later pretty girl." Mikasa said smiling at you.

Your lil phat ma throbbed but you played it off since it wasn't the right moment for that. "Love you n/nnn."Mikasa drug out there last letter of your name. "I love you too kasaaaa." You said bringing the phone to your lips and making kissy noises.

Mikasa did the same thing before saying bye to you and hanging up.

You laid on your back as you scrolled through your feed. You checked your dm's and it was a client. She wanted you to do her daughters hair and nails,for her 16th birthday.

Hello! Ms.y/n would you be available today by any chance? It's my daughters 16 th birthday today and I was wondering if you could do her hair and nails?

You sat up and turned your light on.

'Yeah sure! Read the information in my highlights🤍. Can you please bring her by 12:00?' You sent it said that she seen it.

'Yes sure,would you like your $15 deposit on cash app or in person?'

'On cash app ma'am.' You replied. She said okay and sent it. She showed you the way she wanted her hair.

You told her what she needed,and you sent her your address. You kept on erens sweatpants, and they were able to fit due to your thick thighs.

You had on one of armin's white tee shirts and you had on Connie's 'euphoric' hoodie. You made your way downstairs to see the boys all in the kitchen making food.

All of their backs were turned. So when they all turned around to place a piece of food on the plate. They all shrieked when they seen you.

Your eyelashes off, your eyes puffy,the tip of your nose red. And your eyes glossy.

"You okay?" Armin asked walking over to you and giving you a warm hug. Your eyes started to water as he  kissed your head. Eren just walked over and pulled you off of armin. He turned you around and he wiped your tears.

"What's wrong pretty girl?" He whispred and leaned down so that he could face you. "Nothing." You turned your head so that he couldn't see you crying.

He gently grabbed your chin and faces you towards him. He used both of his thumbs and wiped your eyes. "You crying doesn't seem like nothing." He whispred lowly.

You just sighed. "I'm okay,and I have a client today." You said giving all of them a closed smile. "Oh that's cool. Come eat." Connie said placing your plate on the table.

You hesitated before making your way to the table. They all made their plates before coming to sit next to you. "You okay ma?" Connie asked looking at you with his hazel green eyes.

"Yeah I'm fine." You said messing with your earring. "I call bullshit." Armin said. You just rolled your eyes as eren laughed.

"Yeah y/n you ain't a good liar." Eren motioned to you playing with your earring. "Hop off okay?" You said with a lil attitude.

"You and markeshia broke up??" Connie asked breaking the ice. You just mean mugged him at the name. "His name was Marcus and yes,we unfortunately separated.. why did you call him markeshia?" You asked picking up a strawberry and biting into it.

"Cause he acted more like a lil girl than he did a man,so why not?" Connie asked shrugging and taking a bite of his pancake. You just laughed at the name. Armin seen you laughing and he broke out into a smile.

You started to die of laughter as the three boys joined in from your laugh.

Them three didn't fail you. When you were sad they found out a way to cheer you up.

When you were  hungry or needed money they had no problem paying for you. Mikasa thinks that you have a crush on them. But you denied her,even though it was true.

I mean how could you not? Here lemme explain to you.

Eren okay ,Greek God. Slim waist. Tattoos,tall?? Not fine??

Armin, messy undercut,pink lips,nose ring?? Tattoos? Taller than you but shorter than eren. Still not fine???

Connie,green eyes. Nose piercing? Eyebrow piercing?? Tattoos?? Shorter than armin and eren but taller than you. You lying if you say they ain't fine ass hell.

You continued eating. You finished and placed your plate in the sink so that you'll be able to wash it later. "N/n you need us to help you?" Eren asked as all of their eyes shot towards you.

They just wanted an excuse to go and watch you do hair.

"Yeah y'all can come in and help if you'd like." You said showing them a beautiful smile and walking to your little hair salon.

"Y'all seen that sexy ass smileeee??" Connie whispered as eren and armin's face went red. They all dabbed eachother up before finding their faces and making their way to your hair room.

"Y'all go put on some clothesss,I can't have y'all looking like that when my clients over here." You said looking them up and down.

"What's wrong with what we got on?? This out house too n/n." Armin mean mugged you. You just rolled your eyes before you started separating the hair and placing it on the stands.

Armin has on a white wife beater with some black jordan basketball shorts. Connie had on a white tee shirt,with some grey sweatpants and a black beanie on.

Eren had on a black fitted dryfit shirt with some black sweatpants and his hair was in a messy bun to the back.

All of them looked delicious.

"Find whatever." You said rolling your eyes. Armin walked over to you "you need us to help you?" He asked with an innocent smile as he looked down at you,with low lidded eyes.

"Yeah,you can help separate the hair for me?" You asked handing him the hair. He took it from you and began to separate the hair.

The boy all knew how to work your salon. On days you were sick,they'd take your place and they'll give you all of the money when they were done.

Connie did the nails,armin and eren did the hair. They were able to do this because they watched you every single time you'd have a client.

Pt 2🤔??

[l0vergirlv0mit]

All of you

Inspired by: All Of You sung by Ella Fitzgeralds

Pairing: wife!hazel x reader

Summary: after meeting in college and falling in love you both have graduated, found stability in yourselves and each other, and now enjoy the pleasures of being newlyweds. Fluff<3

A/n: more of a blurb. i often fantasize about having a loving wife and a beautiful house. just thinking about scenes of a comfortable loving marriage makes me melt. Hazel is definitely a women in STEM btw. Really enjoyed writing this!

You quietly make your way downstairs trying to find the beautiful women missing from my your bed when you woke up. A sweet aroma fills your nostrils and you know exactly where you’ll find her.

The cold wooden floor boards creek beneath your feet. The late November weather makes you crave your wife’s warmth more than anything. You come up behind her and and wrap your arms around her waist, placing a kiss where her neck met her shoulder. “Smells great baby.” You spoke softly to her.

Hazles been smiling to her self since she heard you open the door of your bed room. Excited to see her love and share the morning with her. “How did you sleep?” She turns the stove off finished with her scrambled eggs. Moving to face you then pull you into an impossibly close embrace, kissing the top of your head. “Good, but I woke up cold.” You look up at her and pout.

“Aww well I have something that’ll warm you up baby.” She places a kiss on the tip of your nose. “Go sit down I’ll bring you coffee and breakfast yeah?” You smile ear to ear overcome with love. You pull away from her going to the record player in the dinning room and put on a jazz record.

“Cream and sugar babe?” She calls from the kitchen. “Yes please!” Swaying back and forth to the music you make your way to your assigned seat at the table. The soft light of the morning pierces through the sheer curtains. Staring contently at the view outside your semi fogged window.

Hazel goes back and forth between the kitchen placing down a large plate piled with pancakes, another plate with scrambled eggs, and bowl of cantaloupe. Finally setting down your cup of coffee and handing you one of her hoodie’s. “Here.” She kisses your forehead and sits next to you.

You pull her hoodie on and smells like her sandalwood amber perfume. Every nerve in your body is buzzing with gratitude. How could you get so lucky. “Thank you baby, you work so hard for me.” She smiles even wider her chest filling with pride. “Anything for you.” While fixing your plates and eating you talk about the events of your past week. Laughing and holding hands and teasing.

Once you finished Hazel starts to get up and reaches for your plate. You place your hand softly on her wrist. “Let me clean up honey you’ve worked hard enough it’s not even 10 yet.” She agreed but still insisted on caring the plates to the sink for you. She leans against the counter watching you clean. Keeping you occupied by telling you details about the event your both attending later tonight.

You were going to a formal party for Hazles bosses birthday. And you couldn’t wait to help Hazel into her suit later tonight. You were nodding and humming to the things Hazel was saying until one of your favorite songs came on.

You gasp stopping what you were doing. Wiping your hands on the clean towel next to you and pull Hazel by the hands to dance with you. Quickly she places her hands on your hips and smiles brightly. Your playful excitement amuses her.

Giggling at your enthusiasm when singing to her her starts singing with you. She spins you around and dips you. Pulling you back close to her. Dizzy as you rest your hand on her chest and your head on her shoulder. “I love you, so much.” She whispered into your ear. Raising your head you whispered back to her “I love you more.” Eyes looking back into each other completely entranced.

She raised her eyebrows, one hand moves to your lower back and the other to the side of your face. “Doubt it.” She pulls you into a passionate kiss. Your hands find her waist thumbs rubbing the soft skin. Both of you pull away and Hazel grinned at you again continuing to sing. Taking your hands again to dance with you until you’ve moved to the living room.

Where she pulls you down with her to the couch. Laying on top of you with her head on your chest. Dishes forgotten and record played through. Hazel reaches for the remote and turned on the show you’d both been watching together for the past month. Your fingers run though her hair. “Dont let me fall asleep ok.” You hum in response and eventually heard her breathing slow as she rest. And you laid there drawing circles into her back completely and utterly content.

The rest of the day was spent being lazy around the house enjoying each other’s company<3

(This made me want to punch dry wall I need this so bad😊)

[karespocketboyfriends]

𝙸𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚍

Chapter One

A Love and Deepspace Fanfiction (Sylus X OC)

Warnings -> None needed I think?

<- Prologue

An original fan-fiction for Love and Deepspace. I appreciate reblogs but reposting to Tumblr or any other site is not okay with me.

January, 2047

The kinky scene playing out in my head is shattered by my cellphone's alarm, demanding I put the book down and start the day. I'm reluctant to do so, the most enjoyable part of my life is losing myself in a novel, but if I don't work, none of us will get to eat.

I stop the alarm and only allow myself to finish the current chapter, trying desperately not to continue reading as I slip the handmade bookmark I received for Christmas between the pages.

"Later." I promise the book, promise myself, and reach up to place it on the shelf above my head.

I crawl to the edge of my bed and slide the door open, making room for the drawers beneath my bed to open. My room isn't a room, but a large closet my brothers helped me convert into a decent sleeping space. We shoved a daybed in for me to sleep on, the drawers underneath deep enough for me to store my clothes in. Needless to say, I don't have a floor, but hey, at least it's impossible for my room to get messy. My older brothers mounted shelves on the walls to hold other things, though most of the space is taken up by books. It took several weeks to learn how to navigate the small space without smacking my head or limbs off something.

The only decoration I have is the colourful stained glass suncatcher hanging from the light fixture attached to the ceiling. Suncatchers are useless in the N109 Zone, where the sun forgets to shine, but I was drawn to it anyway. Partly because there will always be a part of me that hopes the sun will remember this city one day, and partly because the red dragon flying over the mountains is too beautiful to ignore. I was always well behaved in public as a child, but I vividly remember crying as I begged my parents to buy it for me.

My mother disappeared weeks after I brought my dragon home. My father, slowly falling apart after her loss, walked out on us a few years later. My older brothers and I worked our asses off as teenagers, but still couldn't afford the rent at our old house. Hence how all five of us ended up in this cramped, two bedroom apartment. I volunteered to take the closet - it made more sense for my brothers to share the bedrooms.

I slide the closet's door shut to change, and open it again once I'm done. Throwing a sweater on top of my turtleneck, I carry the clothes I slept in to the bathroom and dump them into my hamper. I don't have room in my closet for it, though I wish I did - I’ve had to smack my brothers upside the head on several occasion's for getting freaked out over a sight of a used bra.

God forbid a woman use a bra to hold her cantaloupes down. I’m sure the sight of those bouncing around would scar them even more.

I walk to the end of the only hallway in the apartment and knock on the door on the right with my knuckles. "Simon! Troy! You up?"

I'm not expecting the door to open, but it does. It's Simon that answers, the more studious of my younger twin brothers. "I'm up."

Evidence shows that he's been up for a while. His dark, shoulder length hair looks brushed out and his clothes don't look like they've been slept in. Like me, he's layered up to withstand the unbearable chill in the apartment.

I tilt my head and scrutinize him. He might be ready, but if he's covering up for Troy... "And your brother?"

Simon flashes his quirky smile and points a thumb over his shoulder. Peeking around his tall, lean frame, I spot their beds. One is empty and freshly made, and the other is still occupied, the blankets pulled all the way up to Troy's head.

Huffing, I barge in and yank the top blanket off. "Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty. It's a school day."

"Yeah, I told him." Simon said, sitting on the edge of his own bed. He opened his backpack and started rummaging through it. "He said 'five more minutes' twenty minutes ago."

Troy grumbles and tries to swat me away. "It's Friday."

I raise a brow. "So? I don't care if it's the start of the week or the end of it, you're going."

He twists his head to cut me with a sleepy glare. He's identical to Simon, from his hair to his baby face and his lean build. "You dropped out in your sophomore year and you're doing well. Why are you making us finish?"

My fist curls tighter around the blanket as I blow air out of my nose. "I decided that keeping food in our stomachs was more important at the time. We're in a better position now, so there's no need for you two to quit. Go build a brighter future for yourself, Troy."

I let the blanket go and turn around, heading for the door. I close it behind me, don't linger as Simon starts chewing his twin out the second I'm gone. I make for the kitchen instead.

There's no division between the kitchen and the living room, unless one counts the line where tile meets wood as the invisible divider between the two spaces. The kitchen consists of a mini fridge, an oven, not much counter space and a tiny island that can only seat three people at a time. If we're all eating together, which is rare, two of us would have to eat on the old couch my older brothers found abandoned in an ally a few blocks down.

My stomach sinks when I open the fridge and realize how low we're running on groceries. Things like juice are a luxury, so I grab three water bottles and place them on the island. There are only two eggs left in the carton, only four slices left in the bread box, three apples that are starting to go soft.

I heat the stove top and spare a little bit of butter to grease the bottom of the pan to keep the food from burning. I crack the eggs first, frying them to perfection before transferring them onto a plate to cool. Grabbing remaining slices of bread, I give them all a quick toast.

Simon and Troy appear just as I set two plates on the island, each one containing a fried egg sandwich and an apple. They thank me in unison as they slide into the stools, digging in as I place two bottles of water within their reach. I'd like to offer them juice, but that's a luxury.

"Are you working today?" Simon asks as I reach into the overhead cupboard for a bowl and a box of granola.

"Yup." I reply, popping the 'P' as I pour less than half what the bowl will hold. "It's shipment day, so I'll be staying late to pick up some extra hours."

I internally cringe as I empty the last of the milk into the bowl. Tossing the empty carton into the garbage, I fish a spoon from the drawer and take up the empty seat next to Troy. He's managed to get himself ready quickly, but it seems almost too quick. Should I ask him if he brushed his teeth?

"What the hell is that?" Troy asks, gesturing to my cereal with his chin.

"It's breakfast." I scoop the first bite into my mouth.

"That's it?" Simon asks, peering around is twin to look at me.

I nod while I chew. "It's okay, I'm not that hungry. Drew and Mateo are probably gonna want to eat something when they finally drag their asses through the door."

"You piss me off, you know that?" Troy says, but there isn't a hint of malice in his voice as he rips his sandwich in two and hands the unbitten half to me.

Without a word, Simon gets up to grab a knife and slice his apple. He places half of it on the table before me and gives me a look that screams 'don't argue'.

I sigh, but smile at gratefully at the two. No one says another word after that, too busy eating to hold a conversation.

I finish before they do, hurrying to dump my dirty dishes in the sink. I reach into my back pocket and pull out two ten dollar bills, handing one to each brother. "Here, lunch money."

Troy pushes my hand away. "I'll just beat someone up for it."

"Troy." I scold, narrowing my eyes into the harshest glare I can muster. "We don't take from people if we can provide for ourselves."

Troy looks from me, to Simon, to our surroundings, then back to me. "Provide for ourselves. Right."

He gets up, grabs his backpack from the floor, and stalks out the door into the dark, poorly kept public hallway of the building. Desperate, I turn to the other.

Simon sighs and takes the money. "I can't promise we'll use it."

He too, takes his leave, but not before kissing me on the cheek first. Leaning against the island, I watch him go, sighing as the front door closes behind him. It opens again immediately, two taller, older versions of Simon and Troy with cropped hair entering.

"And where the hell have you two been all night?" I ask, noting the scratches and bruises marking their faces.

Mateo rolls his eyes and waves me off as he walks past, heading for the room he shares with his twin. "It's too early for your nagging, Evie."

I close my eyes and take a deep breath to steady myself as the door slams. "If he brakes those hinges-"

"I'll fix them." Drew says, dropping into the stool Simon used just minutes earlier. He folds his arms on the island and drops his head on them. "Things didn't go well."

"I can see that. Wanna tell me what you two were up to?"

I may be the middle child, the only daughter and non-twin my parents had, but I certainly don't feel like the middle child. Simon and Troy were only six when Mom disappeared and Dad began to spiral, so I, at twelve years old, started looking after my younger brothers as a parent should have. Drew and Mateo were sixteen then, and though Dad was starting to fade, they at least managed to finish high school before Dad walked out and took his income with him.

I always hoped, still do, that they'll change their course in life. That one day, they'll stop sneaking around at night doing God knows what for income and find something stable. My job just barely keeps us afloat, and if they were to find something secure, we would be so much better off.

I have no idea what they're doing, or why they're choosing it, because they refuse to talk to me about it. All I know is that there's a sixty-forty chance of them returning with some kind of profit, leaning forty. The sixty is the possibility of us losing money over whatever it is they're doing.

At first I thought they were gambling, but they swear up and down it's not. I know them well enough to know when they're lying, and they aren't about this. I also considered some kind of fight club they had to pay their way into, but again, they said no.

"No, not really." Drew stands up and tucks the stool in. "I'm going to bed."

"Can you at least make a grocery run today?" I stop him before he can get too far. "We're seriously running low."

He sighs and runs a hand over his practically bald head. "Yeah, okay. We can do that."

"Thank you." I glance at the clock mounted on the wall. "I'm going to work. I'll be home late this time."

Drew hums tiredly and leans over to kiss the top of my head. "We appreciate you, Evie, even Mateo. I'll kick him in the balls for you."

I slap his chest. "Don't do that. I want as many nieces and nephews in my future as possible."

There are several key things one must know in order to survive living in the N109 Zone. The first is to try and avoid going anywhere alone, even if you know the area like the back of your hand. If you absolutely have to, you haul ass there and back, avoid lingering in places where you could be noticed.

I've mastered the art of getting to and from the bookstore I work at alone, the number of close calls I've had I can count on one hand. They've all been mild, and only twice I've been robbed and, thankfully, left alone after. Most of the time my brothers would pair up and meet me at the end of the day so I wouldn't be walking alone so late, but that isn't an option this time. Drew and Mateo are out 'working' and I don't dare ask Simon and Troy to leave the apartment this late into the night.

The N109 Zone is always dark and dangerous, but at night, it's even more so. Simon and Troy would still brave it to meet me, and to avoid that, I lied. Texted them to say Luke and Kieran were walking me home.

Luckily, they don't know that I haven't heard from the eccentric twins in several days.

Every click of my ankle boots against the cobblestone sidewalk makes me cringe. It's so loud in the silence that blankets the street, anyone hiding in the nearby shadows would hear me coming and be given an opportunity to prepare an ambush.

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to live in a place like Linkon City, where people could walk in the dark with headphones blasting at full volume because they feel safe enough to do so.

The ringing of my cellphone makes me jump, and I quickly slam my back against the nearest wall to cover my blind spot. Another survival rule: always be alert of your surroundings, and if you find something to be distracted by, make sure your back is guarded.

I really hope nothing will come blasting through the wall at me.

"Speak of the devils." I mutter to myself, bringing the phone to my ear. "Hi, you two."

"Hey, Little V!" Luke exclaims, despite the fact I'm six years older than him. He and his twin are the same age as Simon and Troy, and over the past few months, have come to feel like two more little brothers. "So, listen, Kieran and I need you to meet us somewhere. I'll drop a pin."

"Right now?" I pull the phone back briefly to check the time. It's almost ten. "It's a little late for that, don't you think?"

"It's important." It's Kieran's voice that comes through this time. "You're the only one who can do this."

I sigh softly, thinking of the steamy book still waiting on the shelf at home. "Okay, I'll be there soon."

I hang up and check the location they sent. It's a park not too far from here, the map claiming it's only a ten minute walk from where I'm standing. I can probably make it in seven if I walk quickly.

The lamp posts do a good job of keeping the park lit. There isn't a soul in sight as I make my way to the swing set, no sign of the prank loving twins that summoned me here for one thing or another.

I take a seat on one of the swings and hold my crossbody purse close. I fish out my phone, about to text them that I've arrived, when a red mist suddenly explodes from the darkness. My chest constricts so tightly it's painful, heart leaping into my throat as a cry of alarm rips through my vocal cords.

A fair skinned hand wraps around my wrist and yanks me from the swing. I stumble on my feet, crashing into a broad chest so hard it feels like I hit concrete. My phone falls, tumbling across the wood chips that cover the playground.

Head snapping up, the first thing I see is a pair of bright red eyes staring down at me. Then I see a nose, full lips, a sharp jaw, silver hair that looks like silk. It's a man.

A very handsome one at that.

The attractiveness of the stranger makes me pause, but it only lasts a moment. Very quickly does my brain kick me back into high gear, reminding me of the danger I'm potentially in.

"Let me go!" I shout, trying to break free.

His grip on my wrist tightens, his other hand coming up to wrap around my jaw. He forces my gaze on him, his expression cold and unreadable. "Look at me."

Everything in my peripherals goes hazy as his right eye glows an even brighter crimson. My mind is suddenly ripped in two, a massive chasm opening right down the middle, separating my thoughts from my imagination.

On the side of my imagination, I see an untouched valley sprawling with red and white flowers, golden light of dawn touching the hills while a pearl pink sky extends far beyond the mountains. I've never been there before, it certainly doesn't exist here, where plants can't grow, and yet this scene being conjured strikes me with a sense of homesickness.

On the side of my thoughts, I can hear my own, distorted voice. 'Enough with the chaos. Live in peace. Stay close to those you love'. Over and over again, my own voice repeats this mantra. It echoes in the confines of my heart, almost makes its way to my tongue.

The trance I'm trapped in suddenly shatters, the real world crashing back into my consciousness so abruptly I can't help but gasp.

"Boss!" Luke and Kieran's voices suddenly reach my ears. In the corner of my vision, I can make out their masked figures, but I can't tear my eyes from the man in front of me.

He stares at me for a long minute, the look on his face stone, even colder than before. It's as if in this short time, he's decided he hates me. Even when he finally lets go and steps back, resentment lingers in his eyes. "She's useless to me."

My knees begin to shake, and it quickly turns into full body trembles as I take a step back. Two. On the third, I twist and run, ignoring the twins' shouts for me. Even though my life doesn't seem to be in danger, I run for it, almost stumbling over myself several times. I run from the feel of his massive hands on my skin, run from a voice so deep it's already sunken into my bones.

I don't stop until I'm well over a block from the park. Grabbing one of the street lights, I hold onto it as I fight to regain my breath. At some point during my run, I started holding it and listening for any clues that I was being following.

When my breathing starts to even out, I stand up straight and look around. I don't see the twins or that man anywhere, but it doesn't mean they aren't looking in the shadows. I have half a mind to call Luke and Kieran and demand answers-

Shit, I dropped my phone, and I am not going back to pick it up.

A missing phone quickly becomes the least of my worries when a gunshot disturbs the quiet.

Masterlist

Chapter Two ->

Tag List:

@xxfaithlynxx

[cousingregs]

i eat a couple milky ways for breakfast take my coffee light and sweet show up for dinner when you tell me to i heap the sugar high and white on everything i eat carry an apple in my pocket i write reminders on my skin clip meaningless pictures from old magazines i tape them to the walls its a bad place im in and nothing you could say or do will stop me and a thousand dead friends cant stop me i go back to places i remember see whats been going on without me stare down the strangers at the bus stop pretend theyve been gossiping about me white sugar by the spoonful cantaloupes and grapefruits and watermelons i force it down like it was medicine anybody asks you tell em what you wanna tell em but the best youve got is powerless against me and all your little schemes break when they come crashing up against me

[ladyelissarose]

‘Because I Care’

Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin x female aviator reader- callsign ‘RedHood’

Best friend to lovers

Warnings: mentions of a fight, angst, Jake not knowing how to express his feelings and neither does reader. Fluff in the end and kinda cute. Enjoy!!

Summary: While attending an after party from a Naval Awards Ceremony, RedHood went on her own after Jake picked a random girl to be his date. But Jake only did this to hide his strong feelings for RedHood, but what will happen when he catches someone laying their hands on her?

RedHood, who was known as ‘Red’ to most, stood in between Coyote and Rooster as Coyote tried to get some embarrassing story out of her,

“No no Red! Tell him ‘how’ you got your callsign RedHood! Let me tell you guys, it’s hilarious-“

 “Oh shut it Coyote, maybe we should tell them yours-“

 Rooster laughed out loud,

 “Oh don’t worry Red, I already know that one, and I was actually there too. When we graduated at the academy and Javy chased a coyote’s ass in the parking lot after he stole Javy’s certificate!!”

 Red wheezed out a laughter as she punched Coyote’s arm hard,

 “Dumbass you told me a whole other story!-“

 Javy stopped her hand from giving him another punch as he confessed,

  “I know but I was just trying to impress you!!”

 She let herself go from his grip as she smirked,

  “Oh really? Ok ok... I see now.”

Phoenix came along and welcomed everyone with her beautiful smile and shining brown eyes,

 “Hey fellas! What’s the laughter all about? Oh and I already got a table just for us.”

  Red was the first to embrace Phoenix with a kiss on the cheek as she beamed,

 “Oh thank you honey! Aaaaand, we were just talking about how-“

 Rooster helped Coyote escape the embarrassment of having his callsign story told again as he insisted,

 “How Red has never told another soul besides me and Hangman about how she got her callsign!”

 Before Red could try and change the subject or even play it off with an offer for drinks, Phoenix squealed as she tugged in Red’s arm,

 “OMG I NEED TO KNOW!! Such a strong callsign must have quite the backstory!”

 Red huffed out a little fake laugh as she glared at Rooster,

  “Oh.. ha ha.. yeah I’m sure it does.”

Rooster’s face went pale at Red’s angry darts of glares, but he was quick to forget when Little Bob joined the group with a tray of fresh cut fruits that he had picked out from the fruit bar (being the quiet and observant one of the group paid off every time, he got to know all of them pretty well. And he liked it, especially when he got to see their genuine happy smiles when they saw their favorite fruits picked out and put on a tray for them.)

 “Oh Bobby, did you pick out those strawberry’s for me?”

That was Red who was once again running from the fact that everyone was still trying to get the embarrassing story out of her lips. But she felt that gawking over Bob for him getting them fruit would distract them for a minute. And it kinda worked when the all saw their favorite fruits. Phoenix sauntered towards Bob and picked the biggest cantaloupe as she pinched his cheek lovingly with her free hand,

  “Aw Bob, that’s why I love you as my WSO.. you know my favorite fruit is cantaloupe, unlike Rooster who I’ve dated for three months thinks it bananas.”

 Rooster scoffed while grabbing a handful of green grapes and popping one in Bob’s mouth as his way of thank you.

  “Oh baby don’t snitch me out like that, I thought you said bananas over the phone-“

 Red and Coyote snickered behind Rooster and Phoenix who argued like an old married couple. And Phoenix went on as she questioned with a hand on her hip,

 “And how does banana sound like cantaloupe? But it does if your not paying attention to me while messing around with Hangman at the grocery store while I’m at home with cramps!”

 Rooster looked at Red and Coyote for help and to be one his side, but his so ‘helpful’ friends just shrugged with a shit-eating grin, and Red only made it worse as she batted her lashes at Phoenix,

 “Baby Nix, there’s no excuse, bananas and cantaloupes sound nothing alike. Bad Rooster.”

 Rooster frowned at Red as he stole a strawberry from her hand ignoring her gasp like a child as he complained,

 “You say ‘Bad Rooster’ like if I’m a dog. Where’s Hangman anyway? I’m sick you you kids bullying me.”

 Maverick’s voice swam into the conversation smoothly as he stepped into their little huddle,

  “He just got here, looks like he’s got a date too, so be nice to her please.”

 Fanboy walked next to Maverick joining in as he added with a big smile,

  “Oh yeah, and she’s hot- ow!”

 That was Payback who elbowed Fanboy’s ribs as he called to them,

  “Anyways... Come on guys, there seating us now to start the dinner.”

 Everyone began to walk away, except for Red who was like on pause, frozen completely. She didn’t think seeing her best friend, the one and only sunshine of Texas, Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin, with someone else would trigger her today, but it did. They’ve been friends all their life, from the beginning of joining the academy to now, which was more than five years, now that they worked together and their profession was being in Top Gun. Jake dating other girls had never effected her before, she knew from heart and knowing him for so long, that he was definitely a ladies man, but she had been daydreaming for a while now, hoping that he would ask her to be one another’s date for the after party, but clearly he didn’t. 

 Maverick was who touched her shoulder softly, tugging her out of her headspace with a sweet tone,

  “Sweetheart, are you ok?”

Red looked his way, not responding, before looking back at where Jake was, with his date. Maverick didn’t need to know more or told anything, he knew exactly what was going on, and he felt bad, because he knew both their secrets. Jake and Red were secretly in love, but were too scared to confess it to one another. Maverick only sighed lowly, as he said simply while grabbing Red’s hand gently, tugging her towards the table,

  “I know how you feel, I was just like you at one point.”

 Red thought about his words for a second before asking with curiosity,

  “With Iceman?”

Maverick sent her a small smile,

 “Yup, but it all ended when I told him how I felt-“

 “But Jake won’t take me. At least I doubt he would.”

Maverick shook his head, happy to know he was right on track with the conversation,

 “You’ll never know until you ask, or talk about it... now come on, let’s enjoy this evening, yes?”

 Upon arriving at the dinner where everyone sat, Red gave Maverick a small kiss on the cheek,

 “Thanks MavDad.”

 “No problem kiddo.”

The first to hear Red’s voice speaking to Maverick was Jake, who stood up immediately, kinda forgetting about who he came with, as he happily jogged up to Red with his arms wide open, taking Red in for a tight hug. When he let her go he looked her over once as he smiled,

 “My my Red!! Well you look very beautiful tonight.”

 Red tried not to blush, because she was a sucker for his sweet words, and also because his hot date was there, and she didn’t want to cause problems over her going head over heels for his charm, so she subtly thanked him,

 “Why thank you Hangman, you don’t look too bad yourself.”

 With a cheeky grin Hangman replied,

 “That’s cause I’m good, too good to be true-“

 Rooster came between the two as he put an arm protectively over Red’s shoulders saying,

 “Shut the hell up Hangman the only good ones here is Phoenix and Red-“

Hangman grabbed Red’s arm trying to pull her away from Rooster’s hold as he scolded playfully,

 “Hey chicken nugget don’t interrupt me-“

And in that second a loud noise was made, as someone cleared their throat, trying to grasp attention onto themselves, Jake’s date. Jake turned around to see her, but it was like his mind didn’t register what she wanted, cause his head was so full of Red in that moment. But that caused him to get elbowed on the side by Red as she said in a tone a little to high and pitchier than normal, trying to include the girl as if she knew her, and liked her,

 “Oh Hangman! This must be the girl you were telling me about, ain’t she pretty!?”

Jake’s date sent Red a proud smirk before extending her hand to Red while sitting down,

  “I’m Gabriella, you must be Jake’s wingwoman?”

 Red ignored the fact of how unclassy Gabriella was by shaking hands with her while sitting, but she ignored that as she replied kindly,

 “Yes I am. And I’m Y/n Y/l/n, callsign RedHood, but you can call me Red.”

 Gabriella raised a brow as if she was displeased, or like if Red wasn’t good enough for her, thinking she was higher and better than her as she put forth with a prideful tone,

  “Oh, ok. I’m a assistant for the mayor here, a pretty good and high paying job honestly.”

 Jake didn’t like how Gabriella spoke, but he loved how Red responded, not caring about how people sometimes undermind her,

  “Oh how wonderful! Filing papers all day and writing down schedules for a grown man seems to suit you well, how nice.”

 Phoenix let out a low snort and Fanboy tsked, Red simply sent Gabriella a cute smile before taking her seat that was in between Maverick and Rooster, her best bodyguards. Gabriella only mad-dogged Red before speaking in a baby voice to Jake, trying to appear supposedly cute and sweet wanting all of Jake’s attention, while unbeknownst to her, she was just annoying the hell out of the whole dagger squad. Good thing was, that Coyote and Rooster who were the loudest, spoke over Gabriella’s squeaky voice as they told bad jokes and old stories. Red glanced at Jake a few times to only find him already staring back at her, with pleading eyes that only begged for help, as Gabriella clung onto his arm like a koala, talking his ears out. Red felt bad for him, but couldn’t help him, she tried to convince herself that it was his fault, for bringing her. She instead entertained herself with Phoenix, Bob, and Maverick who all together silently tried to get Red’s mind and eyes off of Jake, only for the sake of not causing problems between the two with Gabriella. All in between the situation, they happily enjoyed their dinner and dessert, and now everyone here and there departed to go to the bar they had, to drink their meals and night away. Red was one of them, as she addressed to the rest, 

  “I’m going to grab a drink at the bar.”

Everyone smiled at Red sweetly, except Gabriella who mocked,

  “So early at night? You must be the drunky of the squad huh?”

 Maverick under the table tugged at Red’s white pants, trying to signal for her to be nice, and the better person, because he saw her fists clench at Gabriella’s words. The table then grew quiet, not knowing what to say, worried they might make it worse, but a calm, Texan voice broke through as he said to Gabriella and the rest,

  “Red got the drinking from me, huh Red? Here’s my card, get one for yourself.”

Gabriella just about shit her pants at Jake’s words, and grew pissed when he saw him pull out his card for Red to take.

  Red bit back her original comment that was geared towards Gabriella at first, but when Jake spoke, she changed her words and  instead replied while taking his card,

  “Thanks Jake.”

Jake sent Red a small nod as he mouthed to her,

 ‘I’m sorry’ 

Red read Jake’s lips and sent him a wink, showing him that it didn’t matter to her, or at least lying to him to comfort herself and him. Red adjusted her dress whites and hat before walking away, to which Phoenix followed behind closely as she informed,

 “I’ll come with you Red, come on sweetie.”

Phoenix wrapped her arm with Red’s as they walked to the bar, and when they got there Red spoke loud and clear to the bartender as she asked politely,

  “I’ll like two Old Fashions please.”

The bartender nodded his head as he replied nicely,

 “That’ll be right up ma’am, anything else?”

  Red shook her head,

  “That’ll be all, thank you.”

 Soon they got their drinks, and sat on the stools turned around to face the crowd who looked happy and peaceful at their own tables. Red thought her night was going to be calm, maybe even a little drunk too, but she unfortunately only got to complete one of those things. Already have downed more than one tequila, and a few more Old Fashions, Red was kinda tipsy, but more alert than usual, which was why she went on guard immediately, when she heard Phoenix’s pleading, 

  “Can I have my Dixie Hat back please?”

 Red faced Phoenix as she saw her extending her hand high up towards a man that stood in front of her, wearing an ugly smirk as he taunted,

  “Only if I can get your number I said. So what’s it going to be?”

 Red could see the frustration on Phoenix’s face, she stood up for her as she boldly said,

  “It’s going to be nothing, now give it back.”

The guy only liked down at Red as he teased,

  “Oh there’s two of you, that means I-“

He then reached for Red’s Dixie cap but before he could even get close she smacked his hand away as she warned him,

  “Don’t touch me or anything that’s on me, now give me her hat back.”

He grew a little upset at the fact of how Red smacked his hand, and even more when she showed him that she wasn’t interested in his games, which in fact she really wasn’t, she was actually getting very irritated and almost mad. Mad how this guy thought he could mess with her best friend Phoenix. Jake watched from the distance, because he couldn’t move from where he sat, as Gabriella held onto him and kept him in place. And Jake didn’t want to be rude and mean, walking from Gabriella to be at the bar with Red. But if it was any other time, he would’ve been there right at her side, like he always did. But when he saw the commotion rise, he got Rooster’s attention, who was facing away from the bar. 

  “Hey Roos, can you check on the girls, they’ve been gone for a while, I know they wanted to have their own time-“

 Hangman didn’t even have to finish when Rooster turned around to look for the girls, and saw Red standing with her chest puffed up against a guy who was trying to get to his baby Phoenix, you bet he got up fast,

 “I got it.”

Jake was about to follow when he felt a strong grasp on his though that kept him seated, he turned towards Gabriella as she told him with batting eyelashes,

“Don’t worry about them, you worry too much. Just stay here with me, they’re fine-“

 “I just want to check on them-“

 “You don’t need to.”

Jake looked down at her hand on his thigh and gave up on himself, thinking that ‘ok, maybe she’s right’

 Before Rooster could get there, Red told the guy one more time,

  “Stop being a jerk, and give the hat back.”

 The guy’s eyes darkened and finally lowered the hat as he asked,

 “Do you really want it back?”

 Phoenix saw Rooster coming and sighed as she tugged on Red’s jacket,

 “Rooster’s coming Red let him deal with him-“

 Red don’t hear her as she said at the same time,

 “I want it back now.”

“Then have it you little bitch.”

Red expected the guy to hand it to her, but he instead punch her in the stomach with it. Now that Jake clearly saw, and that was what set Jake off as he seethed standing up,

  “Son of a bitch!-“

Gabriella tried to grab him but he pushed her hand away, she gave him a look of hurt as she complained,

 “Jake it’s not your fight!”

But Jake didn’t care to hear her as he began to walk away, with Coyote and Payback trailing behind him. Red had hunched over clutching her stomach as she let out a groan, the guy didn’t give a damn about what pain he caused as he laughed at Phoenix and Red,

  “You made it hard on yourself, I wanted it to be easy-“

 BAM!!!

 A loud, crushing punch was landed on the guy’s jaw by Jake, who had ran to the scene, to get his share of pain on the jerk. 

Rooster had pulled away Red and gave her to Payback who he picked up bridal style and walked away, Rooster then grabbed Phoenix and checked on her to make sure she was ok, which she was and insisted that she go check on Red. Rooster let her go at the same time another punch was heard, as Jake and the guy went at it hard. And before you knew it, Rooster, Coyote, Jake and even Fanboy got into the fight as 3 other guys showed up for their jerk of a friend. 

 It took a few long minutes until a few other standbys came and separated the fight, putting a distance between the dagger squad and the other men. Rooster came out with a nose bleed, Fanboy got his arm twisted, Coyote got a couple of hits on the jaw, but Jake, Jake was the worst, he had a searing pain on his ribs, back, and face which was beat up pretty badly, but that’s cause he fought the most. Maverick made sure that the jerk that hit Red got taken care of by the police, saying he assault her. And Rooster drove to the hospital in Jake’s truck, persistently saying that he had to be checked out in case he got a broken bone or rib. Jake was upset about going, but obliged anyway once he arrived and went in to be checked. Rooster called Red and told her what had went down, and asked if she was ok,

  “What about you Red, are you ok?”

Red sighed as she wiped her mouth,

 “Yeah I am... vomited out all the tequila and shit.... how’s Jake?”

 Rooster sat in the waiting room as he replied,

 “I don’t know yet, Doc just called him in, but he was pretty bad... he got pissed off real quick.”

 Red felt terrible for Jake engaging into a fight that wasn’t his, but now she could only hope for the best as she said,

  “Phoenix and I are on our way over there, I’ll see you then.”

“Ok, drive safe.”

About 15 minutes later Phoenix and Red met up with the Dagger squad as they sat in the waiting room, Maverick was the first to approach Red as he asked worriedly,

  “Are you ok sweetheart? How’s your stomach?”

 Red hugged him tight as she replied,

  “I’m ok MavDad.. it was just a hard punch that’s all.”

 Maverick squeezed her tight, feeling like a protective father over his daughter who got hurt by a guy, he had given himself that position, and wasn’t gonna let it go anytime soon, if not ever. Just in that moment the Doctor walked in as he gave the news,

  “Mr.Seresin is going to be ok, no bones are broken, he’s just got pretty bad brushing. That young man is pretty tough, but stubborn as heck, he refused to take Advil or aspirin.”

 Rooster sighed heavily,

 “Oh yeah, that’s Jake alright, always trying to be the tough guy. That means he’s ok.”

 The doctor smiled at Rooster and at the rest of the dagger squad, happy to see how they were all there for support. 

  When the doctor gave the clear for them to see him, Red was the first to say,

  “You guys go first... I want to talk to him... alone.”

Everyone understood the assignment, and left to see Jake after each of them gave Red a big hug and kiss on her head, (Bob was the more sensitive one, he cried when he saw Red get hurt, she was like a big  sister to him, and Maverick made sure to ask Red over 20 times if she was going to be ok, which Red assured him that yes, she was just ok) It didn’t take long until the Squad came back, signaling for Red to go in, Phoenix approached Red last as she put forth,

  “Don’t be afraid... don’t think.. just do.”

Red nodded agreeably,

  “Thanks Nix...”

“No, thank you for stepping up for me, you’re a real friend.”

 Red embraced Phoenix and let her go,

 “I’ll always be, for you.”

Jake sat on the medical bed, trying to check his wrap around his body, after the doctor told him to not touch them at all. He was completely shirtless with a gauze wrapped around his chest, and some on his left arm, his bruises were exposed completely. He then heard a sudden knock on his door, and thought it was the doctor, so he right away said,

  “Come in.” 

The door could be heard opening, and then a small voice came out,

“Jake?”

Jake heard the voice and reached for his medical coat throwing it over his back and covering his front wanting hide his growing and darkening bruises. It was Red’s voice that he had recognized, and he didn’t want her to see his body. Upon seeing her walk into the room, he sent her his usual, happy grin of sunshine as he beamed,  

 “Hi sugar... came to see me?”

Red’s face fell at the sight of Jake’s bruised up cheek,

“What happened to your pretty face?”

Jake lifted a teasing brow as he tried to ignore the pain on his side,

 “What do you mean? I’m looking at it and it looks as pretty as always?”

Red stood confused for a second before she caught on to his cheeky comment. She then shook her head with a scoff while walking up to him slowly,

 “Always being sappy, I’m talking about yours silly.”

 With a click to his tongue Jake tried to brush it off,

 “It’s nothing Sugar don’t worry-“

Red stepped closer as she pressed on,

“Did those guys hurt you? The ones at the dinner-“

 Moving closer to the edge of the medical bed to get off Jake insisted,

 “It doesn’t matter-“

But halted his moves when he heard Red’s voice tremble slightly,

 “I-It does when you- when you look like this Jacob! What happened?”

 Thinking that maybe showing Red his beat up body wouldn’t effect her as much or get her more upset, (maybe she’d just call him a whiney baby and leave) he slipped off his coat and extended his arms while he looked at himself saying,

 “It’s not that bad Red, it’s like nothing I haven’t seen before, especially when you’re in the Navy and a big cocky ass like me-“

 “oh..”

A soft whimper could be heard but Jake didn’t think to much of it as he went on, but now looking up to Red,

“It can happen to-wait... a-are you crying? Why the tears sugar?”

A tear slipped off Red’s cheek as she cried softly,

 “Because you got hurt, and you didn’t have to you could’ve just left with your date. And pretend like I- ... well I don’t know like I wasn’t there or that nothing was happening?”

 At hearing her words Jake’s eyes widen with shock,

  “Red I could never leave you... never. Especially when I saw a man put his hands on you, I couldn’t let you go-“

Letting the tears come out more with a sob Red tried to argue,

 “But why Jake I shouldn’t matter-“

With a stern voice Jake confessed,

“Because I care!!”

Red was silenced at Jake’s words, and listened attentively as he added with a calmer voice,

“Because I care... about you. And you’re right... I could’ve left you hanging, but I didn’t because I truly care about you.”

 Red wiped her teary eyes spreading her forgotten mascara as she questioned with a slight frown,

  “But Jake you had a date, she even got upset when you threw yourself at me, forgetting her... why would you do that?”

  He reached out his hand and gently grabbed Red’s hand, pulling her to stand in between his large legs as he poured out his long hidden truth, with his glistening green eyes gazing into Red’s lovingly,

 “I only brought her for backup.. because I was too shy to ask such a gorgeous, strong, independent woman like you to be a date for a guy like me.”

 Red’s mouth fell agape as she gasped Jake’s name softly,

 “Jake...”

Grabbing both of Red’s hand he continued,

  “I really care about you, I mean- Gosh I love you Red. More than anything in my entire life. My heart has known it forever but the day my mind registered it was when you, out of everyone I knew, chose me to be your Wingman. You could of had anyone else, someone less cocky and dependent, yet you chose my stuck up ass and saw the best in me... your heart chose to trust me, no matter what.”

 Red let go of his left hand to cover her face, sobbing into it as she cried,

 “Oh Jake.. you really love me?”

Blood running cold for a mere second at Red’s question, Jake hesitated for a moment before replying nervously,

  “y-yes.. I do. I love you.”

Before Jake could do or say anything else, he was met with warm hands on his cheeks as searing kiss fell on his lips, leaving him very surprised, but very relieved at the same time. He tilted his head a little to deepen the kiss as he used his hands to grasp her hips and bring her closer to him, pressing up against his bare chest. They both grew warm inside, not necessarily because of their very close proximity, but because they were igniting one another fires with true love. Jake leaned into her gentle touch as he squeezed her hips tightly, earning his tongue entrance to taste and dance with hers when she opened her lips with a low moan. But soon Red separated from the kiss first, which made Jake chase after her soft lips. But he was glad they didn’t reconnect in the moment when she confessed with a sigh, while leaning her forehead on his,

  “Jake.. I love you too... so so much.”

Jake batted his puppy eyes to her from where she looked down at him as he smirked,

  “I know you do... that’s why you kissed me-“

Red rolled her eyes playfully,

 “Oh shut up-“

“Make- oomph!!”

Indeed Red made him shut up with another breath taking kiss, now wrapping her arms around his neck, careful not to touch his bruised up back, (though she desperately wanted to run her hands across his broad and muscular back, but there’s always another time... especially when he’s was hers now) Jake wrapped his muscular arms around her entire form, bringing her impossibly closer to him, smiling into the kiss when he felt that she did first. Moving away to take a much needed break for air, Jake then embraced Red tightly and tucked his face into her neck before asking sweetly,

  “Want to come home... with me?”

Red kissed his head happily as she replied,

 “Of course... Wherever you are is home for me.”

 Jake then pulled away excitedly, 

“Great! Now, let’s get out of here before the doctor sees us.”

 Red stepped away so she could help him off the medical bed carefully as she questioned with worry,

 “But sugar.. Jake, shouldn’t you wait for them to clear you?”

 In that moment Jake realized that he would be addicted to Red’s gentle touch, as he let her help him put his shirt on as he responded quickly, 

 “Yeah I should, but then they wheel me out of here and that’s embarrassing. That’s why I had already signed everything and paid the bill, so I never see this place again. Come on baby.”

  Red knew Jake hated to be seen as weak or incapable of taking care of himself, so she clearly understood why he didn’t want to follow hospital protocol and be wheeled out. She complied with him as she tightened her grip on his hand after he had grabbed it and kissed it. 

  “Ok... let’s run then.”

“WAIT WE NEED TO FOLLOW PROTOCOL AND WHEEL YOU OUT SIR!!”

Jake suppressed his laughs and he tugged on Red’s hand watching her try to hide her giggles too, while they were running away like rebellious teenagers that were caught at a frat party.

 “Come on!! come on!!”

They ran past all the nurses and through the doors, running straight for Jake’s Red Truck, now bursting out in laughter, excited to have been able to escape. 

 “This is hilarious!”

Jake opened the passenger side and ushered Red in with a cheeky smile,

“I know I am, now come on get in.”

 Seconds later he was in his designated seat and pulling out of the parking way, heading for the streets. They drove for a few minutes while giggling to themselves, before Jake pulled into an empty parking lot abruptly, sending Red forward but back with the jerk of her seatbelt,

 “Jake what was that for- Oophm!!”

Jake had unbuckled and threw himself at Red as he grabbed her face and crushed his lips onto hers, desperate to feel her lips again. Red unbuckled her belt and let Jake grab her hips and bring her over to his side and resting her on top of his thighs, long forgetting his bruises and pain as he melted into her touch. Red locked her arms around his neck as she deepened the kiss, breathing hard through her nose to avoid separating from his lips. Jake opened his mouth during the kiss to take a deep breath, and let out a groan when Red let her tongue slip into his mouth deliciously. After Red pulled that move, they now gave opened mouth kisses as their hands wandered everywhere, not getting enough of one another. Low groans and soft moans could be heard here and there, hard breathing filled all the corners of the truck as they made out heavily and passionately. But soon their sinful but heavenly moment was cut short when a certain ring tone filled the air,

 ‘Shawty had them apple bottom jeans!!

Boots with the fur!!!-‘

“Holy shit what the hell!!”

 Red sat back from Jake as she felt a vibration from under her, but Jake apologized profusely as he said,

  “It’s not my cock baby I swear, i-it’s my phone- let me get it-“

‘The whole club was lookin' at her!!

She hit the floor !!

Next thing you know

Shawty got low, low, low, low, low-‘

Red couldn’t help but start laughing and giggling as Jake’s hand went in between her legs to reach his phone that was resting between his thighs, she was laughing because first, his searching hand was tickling her and second, because of the ring tone he had that sang out loud. 

Jake caught onto how she was giggling and asked,

  “What’s got your giggling you silly baby girl?”

 Red stopped his moving hand from in between her thighs as she tried to catch her breath,

  “You’re tickling me, and that ringtone-“

She then stopped talking as she let the ringtone song go on,

‘Them baggy sweat pants and the Reeboks with the straps!

She turned around and gave that big booty a slap!’

 “Jake it’s hilarious!! Who’s the caller?!”

Jake let out a soft chuckle as he replied,

 “It’s Maverick.. him and I had a dance off a while ago, and he beat me to this song, so I picked it for his ringtone.”

 Red awed as she moved her hand from Jake’s and squeezed his cheeks,

 “Awww baby you lost? Baby you’re to cute and funny- aww!!! Look at this squishy face!-“

 Jake giggled at Red’s laughing and change of topic, but caught her jump in his lap again as the phone started vibrating again, but this time she reached for it and pulled it out before clicking the green button and handing it to him with an innocent smile,

  “Here you go Jake-“

Jake really didn’t want to answer the phone but instead keep messing around with Red, but it was too late,

 “Oh Babe wait-“

 “Seresin? Did you just call me babe?-“

Jake took the phone immediately and pressed it between his ear and shoulder as he covered Red’s mouth just in time before she could bust into another fit of giggles,

  “No- no sir... I think you heard wrong, what’s the matter?”

 Maverick voice came through in a concerned tone as he explained,

 ‘Uh the hospital just called me and said that you ran out with a random girl, instead of staying to be wheeled out and cleared by your doctor... is that true?’

Jake moves to look down but then went right back up at Red’s face when she licked his hand, her shoulders were shaking for how hard she was trying to laugh, but Jake only shook his head and gave Red’s forehead a kiss before replying to Maverick,

  “Uh yeah about that... so just know, I’m very ok, like totally fine, Rooster is the one that exaggerates. Then um... well I walked out with being wheeled out because I don’t like it-“

  ‘Who did you walk out with? Do you have somebody with you? I just wanted to make sure you’re ok, I saw how hard those guys hit you before our boys got them off of you.’

Maverick always being his overly protective fathered self, had Jake choosing to give up the truth in the end, but his hand was yanked off Red’s mouth by her hand as she said happily,

 “Hi Maverick!!!”

Mavericks voice changed tone to a much sweeter and slightly higher pitched as he replied,

 ‘Oh hi sweetheart! Are you there with Jake?’

Jake lightly pinched Red’s thigh as she stuck her tongue out at him,

“Yessss sirrrr! I got him here and I’m taking him home, the doctors are crazy for underestimating his strength, he’s doing just all right Mav. I promise I got him taken care of!”

 Jake awed at how Red stood up for him, he only craved her more from that moment on. Maverick then replied,

 ‘Alrighty then kiddo, thank you for picking him up before he went crazy with the nurses.. take care of him for me.. I’ll see you guys on Saturday for our barbecue.’

 Red ran her fingers through Jake’s hair,

  “It’s no problem at all Mav, thanks for everything... I’ll see you Saturday, love you.”

 ‘I love you too... and I love you Jake don’t go all cry baby on me-‘

 Jake scoffed,

 “I don’t cry! But I appreciate the love, love you too.”

Soon Maverick hung up on them and that’s when the real tickle fight started, Jake grabbed Red’s hip holding her down while his other hand tickled in between her thighs, she squealed and laughed out loud as he said in a teasing tone,

 “So you think it’s funny to answer the call when I’m trying to make out with you?!-“

Red tried to paw his hand away as she half laughed and talked,

  “I-It was Maverick!! You- you had to answer!! Ahhh!! Time out!! Time out!!”

Jake latched his lips onto her neck kissing at her weak spot and explained in between, 

 “I’ll stop if you promise to be my girlfriend! And you know whatever else comes with that!”

 Red heard his words clearly and tried to answer, but he was tickling her so much she couldn’t make out a clear sentence or word. And it was even harder to accomplish such when Jake was sucking on her neck, already marking her and claiming her as his. Out of frustration of not being able to give a clear answer, Red let out a loud and long moan, which caused Jake to slightly stop so his ears could take in her every sexy sound, and that’s when Red finally had the chance to scream,

  “OK OK!! I say yes!! I’ll be your girlfriend and you’ll be my hot boyfriend!!”

 Jake laughed and smiled as he finally stopped and rested his hands on her hips,

 “That’s my girl... thank you.”

 Red sucked in a deep breath and wiped her forehead before leaning her body against his with her face hidden in his neck as she replied,

  “You’re welcome handsome... and thank you for caring for me.”

 Jake wrapped his arms around her form as he leaned his head against hers, feeling her soft breath hit against his neck,

  “I’ll always care about you.. because I love you.”

 Red hummed happily and kissed his neck,

 “I love you too.”

[yaut-jaknowit]

Your mxm idea generator is back at it. hear me out, what if the reader was a homocide detective and all the overworking on a case and having to keep it to himself just gets to him, how would his mate react to finding him like that?😭 (zamn this is so specific i’m sorry💀) and as always love you and your works keep up the amazing work🫶

Long Nights

Pairing: Wolf x Reader

Word Count: 2175

Summary: This is your job, your livelihood. How else could you live your life without death and murder? This is all you pretty much know. So when you're beat tired from a long, long day, you head straight to bed. Wolf was gone. Somewhere in the universe. You were left to sleep countless nights in an empty, cold bed. But this was life. Nothing else would stop you from getting into that bed.

Author Note: Never apologize for these great ideas you send my way! I love all of them. This one was fun to write. Sort of gives me ideas to write an actually story about it. Do I have the time or energy? Probably not unfortunately.

Masterlist

Ao3

The first few days of a case are the most important. It’s crucial to collect all and any data possible to further along a case. As a homicide detective, you know this. Through and through. Yeah, you’ll still complain in the solitude of your office or back home. Nothing a cup of coffee or a can of Red Bull can’t fix to keep you up another few hours or so.

A yawn interrupted your thoughts and progress. Your head shook to clear any leftover of exhaustion still in your system. A heady can of Red Bull has helped you for the last hour, yet it seems to be wearing off so soon. Maybe, you needed another one. There was still a lot to do until you could go home and collapse for a couple of hours. Your eyes shifted over to the mini refrigerator in your office.

Or was this your sign? The countless hours, sweat, blood, and tears poured to find the murderer have worn you down. It was far beyond rubbed you raw and bloody at this point. You take a gander at the clock to find out what time it was. Big hand over the two while the small hand rested on top of the seven. Shit. It was morning. Not much light peeked through your closed blinds.

The streetlamps nearby didn’t have enough energy to fight its way into your office. Morning. How long have you been here? Had to be… at least… fourteen hours at the office alone? That didn’t account for the time you took to head over to the crime scene once more.

Yeah, there’s pictures of the night it happened. There’s something different about being there in person. Get a feel for the area, the surroundings. See what the murderer saw. Get an idea on how it was done. What he done to kill two average people in cold blood.

Take a moment. You leaned back in your uncomfortable office chair and filled your lungs with air. It was held on for a few seconds before it was released. Twenty-five days and counting. There has been little on revealing the killer. It was clearly planned well and executed down to the minute details. Not a trace of him has been found. Just the fact there were two bodies and stab wounds that littered them. It was clear it had been personal.

The killer had taken his time, was comfortable with his area, to kill these two people. Similar to the well known case of ‘The Nightstalker’. This murderer had sat down for a bite to eat at the dinning room table. It wasn’t a cantaloupe. Instead, a watermelon. Still, no fingerprints of sorts. You hoped to any one who would listen this wouldn’t become a serial killer case. You didn’t need another one of those. Not after Wolf had found you buried in your work.

Kind of like right now.

Wolf. Your heart panged at the thought of him. Away. Somewhere in the universe. Without you at his side. Someday though. You might grow the balls to join him out in there. Where it probably wasn’t safe for you. But not today. Or tomorrow

Twenty-six days. That’s when you last saw him. The day before this whole shit-show hit the fan. You woke up to find your phone buzzing off the night-stand with your commander’s name on the screen. Off you were. To work. More death and blood spilt. You groaned and leaked back in your chair. It bounced with the movement. Your brain screamed to finally get home, to go home and sleep till six o’clock. Wake up and come back here.

Without Wolf. Again. Fuck, you can’t do that. Not when you’re in this kind of state. You were going to cry yourself to sleep once more. Why did he have to leave without you? Go on to save the universe one infestation at a time. You didn’t even know if he was alive. There was no real way of knowing. He can’t give any true day of return. Somedays, it could be an overnight trip. Others, weeks.

This one is becoming weeks. Again. Without him to warm your side. Or wherever you pass out on top of him. You sighed, head leaned against the back of your chair. He’ll come back. He always does. Then, he can give you the support to continue this dreadful case.

Horrifying. A father and daughter erased from earth. Gone with just a bullet to each other their heads. But this killer had to make it fun. Like any other one. You rolled your neck, popping the joints that lined it. Another day in this messed up city. You should really leave with Wolf. Make off with him and live out the rest of your life out there. Together.

Your knees cracked as you put weight on them. A cringe passed over your features at the sound. Either you’re getting old, or that was a sign to move around more than a couple of bathroom breaks. None of matter though. You made the decision to find go home. Despite the fact you’ll be alone another night. You knew your body needed the sleep to continue this day. Sleep it was.

Everything from closing out of tabs, locking your room, and making your way out of the building was all a blur. There wasn’t a coherent thought between your eyes. Which lead you to make the horrible decision to drive home in this condition. Thankfully, the drive home wasn’t long. Just enough to make you complain along the way.

.

A cool breeze washed over his hot scales as he stepped into the dark apartment. Dark, cold, and quiet. All the things he didn’t want to find. Worst of all, your scent – one he’s been craving since he left – was distant. You hadn’t been here in almost the cycle of your planet’s sun. Where have you gone? Where are you? Why have you been gone for so long?

It was unnatural to feel this way for his kind. That didn’t stop his heart from twisting in its cage. His hands didn’t shake like yours did though. Instead, his breath grew a hair shaky. One you had to listen for to know it was happening. He didn’t let it best him. He took more steps into the main living space and took note of the area.

Disarray. Blankets not folded. Plates of old food sitting on the table. A few clothes strewn across the place. It didn’t smell clean or well-orderly. What has happened to cause this?

Wolf, himself, wasn’t perfect by any means. But he understood what a clean station and living space meant for himself. A pristine work space offered him a greater outcome of his job. If everything was put back to where it needs to be, he can find it faster. He stared at the main living area with furrowed brows.

His hands twitched at his sides. A whispered calling ordered him to pick up. Something nice for you until you came back. You would come back to a clean home. Then he question what has occurred while he was gone to remedy it.

As the Yautja reached for the first unfolded item to clean, a jungle of keys had him stopping. From the many times he’s been here, at your apartment, he’s learned the cues, the sounds of the apartment. Most of the people here have a set schedule of work. Not you though. He’s been awoken to your phone ringing to either an alarm or work calling you in the middle of night.

First that happened, he smashed the device. It had disturbed both of your sleep. When you start to yell at him out of frustration and exhaustion from only three hours of sleep, he learned not to do that. You needed that device to function at your job. Like his own weapons to kill.

He perked his head up, tresses swaying as he listened. Heavy, uncoordinated footsteps slugged their way over to your door. It didn’t sound like you. He activated his cloak and waited in the middle of your living room.

The keys smacked against the metal doorknob. The one key you needed to get into the hole wasn’t working. Each try, it scrapped against the golden doorknob. Without fail, it didn’t go in. You made a soft, frustrated cry and rested your forehead heavily against the front door. All you wanted was you bed. Though, lonely, it would be better than that damn chair at work. How anyone thinks those are comfortable… Fucking crazy.

That sound. Then, your smell waft into the room. Fresh but… something was wrong.

Immediately, Wolf dropped his cloak and marched over to the door. Within two long strides, the door finally opened to reveal… you? Similar to the state of your apartment, yourself wasn’t well kept up. Hair, greasy and a mess in the low light coming from the hallway. Your clothes were wrinkly and smelled heavily of you. Like you wore them to bed and rolled out looking like that.

You trudged inside, lanyard tossed haphazardly to side. They crashed loudly on the counter, momentarily hurting his hearing. Wolf flinched before shaking his head. He waited, slightly to the side for you to react. He had been gone for longer than he wished.

Nothing. Your feet dragged across the hardwood floor. Each slide created a horrible squeaking noise that usually would have you scrunching your nose. Except, your face was blank. Eyes vacant. Dark patches of skin hung below them. He’s seen this before on you. It was rare, thankfully. But he knew what was happening.

He softly trilled at you, as not to startle you. Yet, you kept moving. Slowly but surely enough, you make it past the threshold of your bedroom. The apartment door left wide open. First, he closed it and locked it. Then, Wolf followed quietly behind you, calling your name.

Each time you didn’t react, he said it louder and louder and louder. To the point, your neighbors could hear him. You finally stopped and blinked slowly. Those lifeless eyes of yours met his. He watched a drop of recognition rolled through you. It wasn’t heavy or thorough by the looks of it. You just smacked your lips together and made a popping noise with them. “Huh. Oh, hey,” you greeted, voice gravelly and dry.

For the first time, Wolf didn’t know what to do. All he could do was watch as you collapse face first into the bed. The heavy, long sigh that escaped your body had him moving towards you. His own sigh breathed into the air as well.

In the dark of your room, the Yautja slowly flipped you onto your back. You would be thanking him later. Next, the thick boots that covered your feet were pulled off. They were gently placed next to the bedroom door. After that, came your dirty clothing. Those were tugged off of your body and thrown into your hamper. He took note of how full it was becoming. A project he’ll take on later when he knows you’re taken care of.

In one of your jean pockets, Wolf pulled out your phone. The bright light hurt his eyes in the dark room. He was quick to turn it off before it come make any noise. Wolf could survive you yelling at him for turning it off the next time you woke. For now, he’ll ensure you get sometime to yourself, away from that job of yours.

Don’t get him wrong. He’s highly proud of you and what you do among your kind. Slightly similar to what he does for the Yautjas. Yet, when he sees what it does to you. It pushes you past the limits of the ooman body. It doesn’t even seem like you care that it does either. A good hunter knows his limits, what he can and can’t do. That’s why his last hunt took a bit longer to complete. Or else he wouldn’t be here right now.  

Some days, he truly wanted to pick you up from this damn planet and take you far away; show you what the universe has to offer for even a ooman like yourself. Then, maybe you’ll join him at his side. He would give you anything you wanted to have you stay.

Wolf scooped you up from the bed and crawled on top of sheets. With a skill that only a Yautja could harness, he used his foot to scoot underneath the blankets. Your body was carefully placed upon his torso, chest to chest with him. Your face buried into the crook of his neck, as if hiding away from something. Wolf let an arm drape over your back, fully securing you to him.

You melted into his body, lax and malleable. A gentle, rumbling purr began in his chest, vibrating across your skin. He was more than relieved to be back with you. More than you’ll ever know.

[ender-of-the-sender]

Rank the melons from least to most favorite. Including cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon + any others you know.

Do you have any sticker so your water bottle/laptop/other item?

Tell me the story of how you got a prized possession.

What is your favorite item from your kitchen?

Do you collect anything?

Favorite spoon?

Do you wear jewelry? What are some of your favorites/any with stories behind them?

What are some of your favorite Pokémon?

Favorite book?

I love you sm omg- /plat

Oh boy i dont know many melons but watermelons are fucking peak and you can pry them from my cold dead hands bro. Honey dew is also great- im that freak that eats all the melons in fruit bowls (not that i can have fruit bowls considering im allergic to citrus and pineapple but ykwim)

I have some stickers on my Ipad for school, a sandworm sticker i got from a tattoo convention i went to and a moth sticker my boyfriend gave me. If you had asked me this like a week ago i had a whole bunch more but i got a new case so i forgot already-

Currently my prized possession is my donkey drawing a family friend drew me for my 2nd birthday thats signed. He was an amazing artist and having an original of one of his sketches is such an honour.

My toaster tongs. Fucking life saver.

I collect so much stuff bro- snowglobes, rubber ducks, nerd memorabilia, shark plushies, i used to collect pop figures till i realised how bad they are for the environment.

Hehehehe my favourite spoooonnnn issssssss okay so theres this place called Newbridge silver and they make cutlery but they also have like a museum of cool movie costumes upstairs and everytime me and my mum vist i get a spoon. So my favourite spoon is what i call my sorbet spoon but i use it mainly to eat dessert. Its got a cool design on the handle and is little spoon approved.

I wear kandi bracelets that i make but thats about it. My ears are pierced but i only wear my basic ass studs to stop them from closing. I have a post about my favourite kandi but i actually need to update it when i get home.

Crustle is my favourite pokemon :3

Good omens, the Martian and hitchhikers guide

[justcallmefox89]

Cinderfella's Adventures in Cordonia - Chapter Twenty - One

An AU of The Royal Romance with a male MC and a bisexual prince.

Masterlist

Callum makes a request.

“Callum?”

“Hm?”  I don’t look up from the herbs I’m chopping, afraid that once I quit moving I’ll start spiraling after that argument with Pops and my grandda.  So for now I focus on a task I know I can handle; feeding my men.

Drake takes a tentative step into my kitchen, Liam right at his heels.  “You doing ok?”

“Yeah,” I answer absently, setting aside my knife and turning to remove a few strips of bacon from a frying pan and setting them on a folded paper towel. 

“Hey… talk to me.”  Drake steps closer, wrapping his arms around my waist and nuzzling his face into the crook of my neck.  Liam stands to the side awkwardly, a yearning look on his face, but he ultimately remains at distance. 

I sag against Drake, soaking in his warmth and the comforting scent of his cologne.  “I’ll be fine, love.  It’s just been a long fucking night,” I mumbled, pressing a kiss to the top of his head.

He snorts out a small laugh and tightens his hold on me.  “Sorry about that.”

“Don’t worry,” I reply, lightly slapping his ass.  “You’ll be punished later.”

Drake shivers, but the subtle press of his groin into my thigh lets me know he isn’t totally opposed to the idea.  Liam clears his throat softly, interrupting us before my teasing can begin in earnest.

I sigh and gently push Drake towards a seat at my kitchen island.  “Sit down you two and I’ll get you something to eat.”

“We’re not - ” Drake begins, only to be interrupted by an unholy growl from Liam’s stomach.

“That’s what I thought.”  I smirk at the pair.  “Now sit.”

**********************************************************

Liam sits silently on a stool next to an equally quiet Drake, watching Callum butter two small ramekins before deftly cracking three eggs in each, then topping the eggs with a splash of cream and a generous sprinkle of a creamy, herbed cheese.  He places lids on the ramekins and gently sets them in a large casserole dish half full of warm water, then places the entire thing in the oven. 

“So…”  Callum draws out the word as he places several thick pieces of buttered bread into a toaster oven.  “I’m willing to go back to Cordonia with you.”

Drake straightens up, a tentative smile on his face.  “You are?”

Callum reaches into his refrigerator, removing a large contained of cut fruit and a pitcher of orange juice.  “For a few weeks anyway.”

Liam frowns, accepting the glass of juice Callum hands him with a small nod of thanks.  “Have you changed your stance on my… previous offer?”

“No,” Callum says simply, passing a second glass of juice over to Drake.  He moves fluidly through the kitchen, dishing out portions of cut cantaloupe onto two small plates, crumbling the cooked bacon into a bowl, setting various pots of jams and marmalades in front of the waiting men.  “I was serious when I said it was either Madeline or me.”

Liam tamps down the anger that threatens to flare up.  “Then why bother returning to Cordonia?”

“For Drake, you massively egotistical asshole,” Callum snaps.  “Mine isn’t the only heart you’re breaking by marrying Madeline.”

The king winces, glancing over at his best friend and former lover guiltily.  “I didn’t mean to imply - ”

“I know,” Drake interrupts quietly, toying with his glass of juice.  “It’s fine.”

“No it isn’t!” Callum growls, glaring at Liam.  “Why do you let him treat you like - ”

“Callum, stop…” Drake pleads, fatigue written in every line on his face.  “Just let it go.”

Callum opens his mouth again, clearly ready to argue the point, but eventually relents.  He rolls his eyes and gives Liam one last glare for good measure.  “This conversation isn’t over, Your Majesty.”

“Looking forward to it, Mr. MacKenzie.”

“You shouldn’t be.”

Callum turns his back on them, opening the oven with more force than is strictly necessary.  Soon he’s setting steaming ramekins before Liam and Drake.  Callum tops the shirred eggs with finely chopped herbs and a sprinkle of crushed bacon.  He pushes the plates of toast and cantaloupe closer to the pair.

“Go ahead and eat,” he urges.

Despite his annoyance Liam eagerly tucks into the impromptu breakfast, his eyes rolling back in his head as the flavors of the creamy, cheesy eggs combine with the freshness of the herbs and the saltiness of the bacon and explode across his tongue.  Drake lets out a pleased moan next to him, verbalizing Liam’s thoughts.

“Aren’t you going to eat anything?” Drake mumbles through a mouthful of melon.

Callum hums in acknowledgement, pulling a container of cottage cheese from the refrigerator.  As Liam eats he watches as Callum carefully measure one cup of cottage cheese and top with an equally precise half a cup of cantaloupe and begins to eat.  The Callum he remembers would have already been on his second dish of eggs. 

Liam narrows his eyes, carefully studying Callum as the other man leans against the countertop and slowly eats his meager breakfast.  Caught up in all the other drama of the night, Liam hadn’t really taken in Callum’s appearance and what he sees now shocks him.  Callum’s once robust frame is now far leaner than Liam remembers, replaced by smooth, lithe lines of muscle that have clearly been hewn by many hours in the gym.  He wrinkles his nose, Callum’s new diet making slightly more sense.  The shorter haircut just emphasizes the sharp lines of his cheekbones and jaw, making his face look nearly gaunt in the soft light of the kitchen.  Previously unseen dark circles rim Callum’s eyes, the green of his eyes even more vibrant against their bruising.

Callum sighs and sets his spoon in his now empty bowl.  “I meant it when I said I’ll go back to Cordonia for a few weeks.  But if I do this I want Drake to do something for me.”

Liam glances at Drake to see if he knows what’s going on.  His best friend looks equally confused.  His eyes flick back to Callum, curious as to what his request will be.

“Drake, I want you to consider moving to New York after Liam’s wedding.  To moving in with me.  To being with me.  Only me,” Callum says calmly, speaking to Drake but staring directly at Liam.

[darklydeliciousdesires]

Light on the Darkside - Chapter Thirteen.

Apologies for not getting back to comments and reblogs, guys. Life is a bit fraught at the moment between my anxiety and work pressures. I'm only just about able to find the time and mental clarity to post! I love you all for leaving such beautiful comments, though, and I appreciate you for taking the time to do so :)

Previous chapters - One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve

Tag list - In the comments. Please DM to be added/removed.

Words - 4,217

Warnings - 18+ throughout. Topics cover depression, suicide and eating disorders. Minors DNI!

“Whatever the hell you’re doing, please, don’t stop on my account.”  

He stood for a few seconds, admiring the view. God, that body. Honestly, it was a sight he’d never tire of when coming back into his flat, seeing Ella there. What he liked even more was the fact that after first arriving, she hadn’t actually left as yet. Well, that was partly untrue. The day before, they’d driven up to the huge ASDA supermarket on the other side of Nuneaton to buy food, and so Ella could purchase a few necessities that meant she didn’t have to go home. 

A five pack of knickers, a couple of new tops, another pair of jeans, socks, pyjama bottoms for lounging in, some moisturiser, a toothbrush, face wash, deodorant and body spray. With a few pieces of makeup already in her bag, but not too bothered about being seen bare faced, she was set to stay for as long as she wanted. After seven weeks without one another, they weren’t quite so content to part ways just yet.  

She’d called in with her mum and told her, April cooing and sending her into a pink cheeked mess of embarrassment, telling her to enjoy herself. Oh, she really, really was. 

Pausing from the yoga stretches, Ella jumped to her feet, giving him a big kiss as he placed the massive IKEA bag full of clean laundry down. “I like how bendy you are, innit.” 

“Hmm,” she hummed, her eyebrows raising a few times in rapid succession. “I noticed that with all the creative ways you were bending me around last night.”  

He laughed, low and dirty, smacking her on the bum before heading to the kitchen area. “I will a few more times today too if you like?” 

“I like!” she grinned, standing on one leg, lifting the other behind her and reaching back to grasp her foot as she bent elegantly. It was just them on that Monday morning, Snedders off to try his best at being allowed to move back into his own abode, and Steve over in Leamington Spa, visiting his mum.  

She then flexed herself even further, James’s eyebrow raising sharply as he watched her bring her foot to touch the back of her head. He wasn’t sure a dick twitch was the appropriate response, but it was the one he had.  

“Shitting hell!”  

“A yoga body is a healthy body,” she sighed, breathing deeply before releasing her foot, repeating the same with her right leg. 

“It’s a fucking elastic band, Ells bells!”  

She laughed softly, extending further, her foot once again brought to the back of her head. “That’s what Mary used to say when she supervised my yoga time, make sure I wasn’t like, running in place or doing excessive sit ups.” 

Indeed, at her very worst with her illness, Ella had exercised to extreme excess. Jogging for six miles a day, doing hundreds of push ups and sit ups, all on roughly two hundred calories.  

Clicking the kettle on, he smiled thinly. “I miss Mary, she was so cool.” 

“Yeah, she was the best. Even when she was trying to make me eat carbohydrates and I was sitting there, screaming and crying, calling all the food minging and throwing my plate,” she spoke, her behaviour back then making her feel embarrassed in the present. She’d come far since. “Speaking of which, I want some of that melon we bought. Can you pass me a knife, please?” 

Grabbing the cantaloupe from the fruit bowl, she walked around to his side of the kitchen units, placing it on the chopping board while he moved to pull a knife from the block in the corner. Immediately, he paused, looking down at the blade. A flash of being on the bathroom floor hit him, remembering the pain, the distress, the blood.  

“James? You’ve stopped,” she spoke, her brain quickly assessing the situation. Oh, no, that wasn’t the... Oh, shit. Reaching for him, she grasped his arm, taking the knife from his hand. “Bleedin’ hell, that was the one you used, wasn’t it?” 

He nodded, eyes a little rounded, Ella opening a drawer to place it in and hide it away. He didn’t need to see it. “Baby, come on. Come here. You’re alright,” she spoke comfortingly, pulling him into her arms. Slipping a hand beneath his t shirt, she stroked his back, soft skin flecked with scabs from her nails, her other hand smoothing his hair as he wrapped himself around her, pressing his face against her neck with a groan. The comforting scent of daisies began to soothe him, just as it always had with her. 

“Really didn’t think it’d affect me like that,” he mumbled. She could have slapped Steve for being so thoughtless; to clean the blade his best friend had used to take his own life and simply return it to place, voicing that. “Nah, babe. Don’t be pissed off at him. They’re my knives and they’re worth a fortune. He wouldn’t have chucked it away without asking me. Probably just forgot, innit.” 

His heart thundered against her chest, Ella guiding him over to the sofa and sitting him down, taking the half smoked joint present in the ashtray and lighting it. With a large puff taken, she handed it to him, her hand resuming its stroke between his wide shoulder blades. “Smoke that and calm down. You’re alright, you’re past it now. It’s okay, I’m here.” 

It was the first falter she’d witnessed in him since he’d absconded to his room back at Moor Acres, Ella trying her hardest to be supportive, although she didn’t know what magic words to say in order to soften what must’ve been a traumatic flashback. True, he had the reminders there on his own arms all the time, but seeing the blade he’d used as an implement truly must’ve rocked him hard.  

Just her sitting there with him was all he needed, feeling her kiss his shoulder and rest her chin atop the thick plane of muscle, reaching for her hand and squeezing it. “Thanks, darlin’. Feel a bit better now, like.” Both she and weed were brilliant for calming anxiety, Ella perhaps having the greater edge there, James finishing the joint and stubbing it out, pulling her onto his lap as he rested back.  

She wasn’t sure she believed that, and her face must have revealed it with the soft scrutiny he picked up on. If there was any person in this world he could share with other than Michael, it was her. It was her first, in fact. “I was back there for a second, in that moment. It fucking scared the fuck out of me, Ella. I spent months chasing it, wanting to go back there and succeed, like. Nah. Just holding it again made me see how much I wanna be alive, innit. Don’t ever wanna go back to that darkness.” 

His ability to open up and express where it’d taken him to made her proud, Ella kissing his forehead before her lips met his. “I believe they call that person growth.” 

Immediately, he frowned, pointing a heavily ringed finger at her. “Don’t you quote that old witch at me.”  

Of course, he meant Dr. Beaumont. She had to concede that truly, she wasn’t for everyone. She’d eventually gotten through well with Ella, although the young woman also heavily credited people like Mary and James helping her through recovery, but for him, her methods had not been effective. 

“I think it’s a boarder term rather than a Clarice Beaumont specific,” she declared, moving off his lap and over to the kitchen. “Tea?” 

“Yeah, yeah I was doing that before my brain went splat, wasn’t I?” he hummed, rubbing his eye with the heel of his palm. “Nice one, babe. Love you.” 

It fell from his mouth without him even registering, but god, how true the sentiment was. He’d loved her for months, but declarations of such did not come easily to him, especially not when he’d been so ill upon realising it.  

Ella beamed, racing back over and jumping on him, holding his face in her hands as she smothered him in kisses. “I love you, too!” She hummed happily as they fell into a deeper kiss, James making her snicker with laughter as he pulled her knickers up and began to squeeze and lightly smack her bum.  

“Stop it!” she warned. 

“You fucking love it!” 

True, she did. He knew how to give the good smacks.  

Going back to the kitchen, she prepared the tea and used a different knife to slice herself up some melon, selecting a few more fruits too that she added to a bowl and took back to the sofa. They sat there snacking on them while watching a film, James deciding on The Silence of the Lambs since Ella had confessed she’d never seen it. 

After it had finished, she went for a bath while he sat and played guitar, Steve arriving back after half an hour of his playing. Of course, he had to let him know of the incident that had occurred regarding the knife.  

“Oh fuck,” he exclaimed quietly, his face falling. “I didn’t even think, ya know. I don’t even remember doing it, I just went on autopilot when I was cleaning up the mess. Nah, no excuse though, Jim. I should have gotten rid of it,” he spoke, moving to hug him tightly. “Sorry, man.” 

James could understand that, knowing he’d probably had to disengage his thoughts to an extent in order to get through something as horrific as cleaning his best mate’s blood from the bathroom floor. “It’s alright, but yeah, just don’t get it back out the junk drawer. I’ll go buy another set eventually.” 

His friend looked thoughtful for a minute. “Hold on. Them are proper chef knives, aren’t they?”  

“Yep,” he confirmed, “nicked, most likely. Do you remember when I bought them off that fella in the pub with the duffle full of knocked off goods?”  

He did, now it was mentioned. “Yeah, yeah! You paid like, seventy quid for ‘em and later found out they were worth about four hundred. “Nah, hang on. I have a plan.” Moving rapidly to the kitchen, he grabbed the block, took the suicide knife from the drawer and slotted it back in, leaving the flat at speed.  

James was rolling a joint when he returned, a huge, triumphant grin plastered across his face as he slapped down a wad of twenty-pound notes on the table. “He is redeemed!” he announced, grinning widely. 

“How the... shitting hell, how much cash is that, mate?” he spoke, quickly sealing the joint up and leaning to count it. “There’s three hundred quid there! How did you... how... you just walk out with ‘em and return with three hundred quid ten minutes later? Explain.” 

“Fella downstairs is a chef, ain’t he? Gave him a hundred quid discount and he ripped my hand off for ‘em!”  

Never let it be said that Steven Savage was not a brilliant negotiator.  

“Here, sellers fee,” James spoke, pulling five twenties for the pile and handing them to him. “Go on, I’m up a hundred and thirty. You have that, mate.” 

“Sure?” 

“Before I change my mind, man.” 

“Quality!” he announced, placing the cash in his wallet. “Ka-ching! Pub tonight then, yeah? Or are you planning on pounding a new hole into Ella some more?” 

James smirked, lighting the joint. “I can do that later. Suppose I better ask the missus, though.” He paused for a second. “Ella! You up for the pub tonight, babe?” 

A few seconds pause followed his boom. “Yes!” 

“Top grade reply, my darlin’,” he called. 

“Innit!” 

“Fucks sake. She’s picking up the way you talk,” Steve groaned, James laughing, passing him the joint.  

“Innit?” 

“Nah, I ain’t sitting there with you two parroting each other all night on my own, and being stuck at the face.” Pulling his Nokia from his jacket, he scrolled through the phone book, taking another puff on the joint before passing it back. “Hester! How are ya, gorgeous? Yeah, I’m alright, yeah. You up for a few drinks tonight? Yeah, yeah, I’m heading up The Gallows with Jim and Ella. Alright, see ya there at seven. Bye.” 

They waited on Ella to get ready, finding that she actually fussed much less than either were expecting, zipping her boots up and fluffing her hair before pulling on her jacket. James smiled to himself, noting that it was the first time he’d seen her in a top that revealed her body, the one she chose cropped just above her belly button. It meant her confidence was growing, that she didn’t feel the need to hide in clothes four sizes too big.  

Hester was already waiting at the bar when they arrived, hugging them all in turn, squeaking when Steve gave her leather clad bum a sharp slap.  

“Beast,” she teased, poking him with a long fingernail. 

“Just the way you like me,” he grinned, the pretty blonde turning to Ella and tucking in at her side. 

“We need some serious girl talk, darl!” she whispered, the guys asking what they wanted to drink, both giving their beverage requests before heading off to a table together. “So, seeing him again already after Saturday, hmm?” 

Ella bit the corner of her lip. “I haven’t been home yet.” 

Hester’s mouth dropped open. “Get the fuck outta here! Really?” 

“Yeah, really,” she began, sitting down, pulling her cigarettes out and offering her one. “It’s like we didn’t spend that time apart at all. I’m really enjoying it, being with him on the outside. It’s the simple things, like being able to kiss him whenever I want to without being barked at by an orderly,” 

“Or shag his freakin’ brains out!” Hester chimed excitedly, biting her tongue naughtily. 

“Oh yeah,” Ella confirmed, “there’s been plenty of that!” 

“And! How is he? Are we dealing with impressive merchandise, too?” 

Of course, she’d ask for the dirty details. “He’s fucking amazing, and yes, the merchandise is above average,” she revealed, grinning as Hester clapped and hugged her arm with a squeak. “Not like, freaky big, but oh god. Not small either!” 

“Darl! I am so happy for you!” she enthused, giving her a little shake.  

“Yeah, I’m bleedin’ happy for me too,” she chirped, looking in the direction of the bar with a happy smile. “That’s my man up there!”  

The squeaks continued. “Dude, you’re fucking with War. You have no idea how cool that is! I mean, you’re cool all on your own, such a freakin’ awesome chick, but shit! You bagged one of the biggest hotties on the scene, I swear. Girls line up for that man to be single. He’s renowned for turning girls down if he’s with someone!” 

That was very much who James was as a person, Ella knew well. “And you’re shagging another, so yes, my friend. We have done well for ourselves.”  

Hester nodded, offering her hand. “Put it there!” Ella shook her hand, the pair descending into giggles. They composed themselves by the time James and Steve arrived with them, the former resting a hand upon Ella’s thigh after he sat down, giving her a wink.  

Hester’s words stuck in her thoughts a little, but she truly didn’t notice the validity of them until she glanced around the bar, seeing the way female eyes especially all roved towards their table. It didn’t matter at all to her, that her boyfriend had status as a musician very much coming into prominence, but certainly, her spot seemed to be a much coveted one.  

Finally, after years of being a bullied loser, an antisocial, miserable anorexic, she was now one of the cool girls. It wasn’t of her own merit, though, merely through the man she was with. Or, so she thought.  

On the way to the toilet, she passed by the bar, overhearing a couple of women talking between themselves as they looked her up and down. 

“Well, of course he’d be with someone like her! She fucking looks like a model.” 

Slowing down, she changed her path to the cigarette machine instead, her curiosity piqued. She needed a new pack anyway.  

“No, she’s too cute looking to be a model, but that body. I’d kill for legs like that. And she gets to wrap them around War.” 

“I know! It’s so unfair! Why not me?” the first girl wailed, laughing with her friend, Ella picking up her Marlboro Lights and popping them into her pocket, continuing to the toilet. She’d be lying if such wasn’t a shot in the arm for her, to hear other women especially be complimentary. On her way back again, she caught the eye of them, smiling, receiving the same back before returning to the table.  

Suddenly, she understood how women like Hester must feel all the time. Her friend was effortlessly cool, with her long, dark and blonde streaked curls, her gorgeous boobs and effortless style. It felt strange, but nice. Sadly, it was not to last, though.  

“Ahh,” Hester exclaimed after they left the bar at 9pm, about to move on somewhere else. It could get a bit much for the guys, being on their own territory and thus getting pestered by fans for autographs or pictures. Sniffing the air, she began looking around, trying to trace the source. “Where’s that smell coming from? Is that the new curry house?” 

“Yeah, I went with Dan and Snedders a few weeks ago. Fucking lovely,” Steve confirmed, pointing across the street. “Shall we go?”  

Everyone agreed, although inside, Ella felt her hear beginning to pound nervously. It had been a long, long time since she’d eaten at a restaurant. Eating around James wasn’t an issue, Steve or Hester either. But being in a place where other people were? Gulp. Maybe it would be quiet, though, being a Monday night.  

No such luck, she found upon entering, seeing a rugby team in there still celebrating their obvious win with their various cohorts. Oh, god. Sitting down, Steve ordered a round of drinks while they studied the menus, Ella feeling her mouth drying up rapidly. She didn’t know the calorie content of the food, although she was getting a lot better with not counting every single thing she consumed.  

Where to begin, knowing that it was a fairly large meal, too. It had been years since eating a curry because of the high fat content, panic starting to creep over her, biting her lips together to try and hide the fact she was trembling. It was noticed, though.  

“I probably should have asked you if you were alright with this before we piled over here. Sorry,” James whispered at her side. “Just choose something small, like a side dish if you don’t feel up to anything bigger. No one’s judging you, babe.” 

A side dish. Yes. But what the hell to have? The Indian names of the dishes all began to blur, her heart thundering, palms sweating. Why did it have to be like this? 

“Give me a sec. It’s hot, I need a bit of air.” She was out of her seat and marching for the door in seconds, Steve and Hester looking to James.  

“Yeah, she’s having a bit of a food panic, innit,” he confirmed, Hester’s face saddening, Steve looking confused. He still didn’t really get it, but then he didn’t truly know Ella very well. He didn’t have the understanding that certain foods or situations could spark anxiety, especially after they’d sat together that morning sharing a large plate of Marmite-slathered toast.  

“The poor darl,” Hester cooed softly, James standing. 

“Give us a minute, she might need to just go straight home if she’s too anxious and all that. If she does come back in, though, don’t make a fuss, yeah?” Leaving the curry house, he turned to find her sitting on the steps of the bank flanking the building, wiping her eyes as she smoked a cigarette and trembled.  

“To use one of yours and Steve’s favourite words for Snedders, I feel like such a fucking flid right now,” she sniffed, James coming to crouch before her. “I wish it wasn’t so scary, but my brain just panics and I get myself all stressed!” 

“Okay, take a few deep breaths,” he began, resting his hands to her thighs and stroking them. “What’s the scariest right now? The different food, or the fact you’re not eating somewhere familiar?” 

God, he was so intuitive with her. “Both. Sorry, I’m like, not trying to be difficult, but both!” 

“No one thinks you’re being difficult, least of all me.” Leaning to kiss her, he then continued. “Alright, well a group of pissed up rugby players ain’t gonna be paying attention to anything other than shovelling in curry like it’s their last meal, so that’s something. And the different food, I suppose you can count that as another milestone, innit? Eating something different would be an achievement.”  

He was right. “And I wouldn’t look like a freak for having something small?” 

“Nah, nobody gives a shit what you eat. Except for you. Don’t even matter if you can’t finish it, at least you gave it a go, yeah? There’s no orderlies watching over you, you’re just a person whose out with her boyfriend and friends, nobody expecting anything of you either,” he continued, his words beginning to calm her down. He always had a knack for it, deescalating her spirals.  

Taking another drag on her cigarette, she contemplated a while longer. It would definitely be something she could speak of in triumph when she went to see Mandy, her new therapist she’d been referred to by Dr. Beaumont for continued treatment outside of the facility. “Okay. Let’s go back in.” 

He smiled, kissing her head. “Proud of you, little.” They returned inside, Ella picking up her pint and chugging a huge amount back, lifting the menu again and studying. Although she’d been told not to make a fuss, Hester really wanted to do something to make it better for her friend if she could. Being a vegetarian, it narrowed down her choices, too.  

“Ella, I really can’t decide,” she began, leaning to point at the vegetarian options on the page before her. “Do I go with the lentil daahl, or the spinach and paneer? Or, I could have the veggie bhuna. Arrgh, help!” 

James smiled, watching it. In including Ella’s input over her own choice and cleverly detailing the dish ingredients, Hester was not only giving her information she could easily process, she was making it all a little less frightening for her.  

Ella noticed that they were available as side dishes, feeling herself beginning to calm further. “I think I’m going to get the spinach and paneer, so you can try some of mine if you like?” 

“Then I’ll get the daahl, and you can try some of that!” With decisions made, the waiter came over, scribbling down their choices first, then Steve’s. 

“Chicken phal, boiled rice and a keema naan please, mate,” James spoke lastly, the waiter eyeing him carefully. 

“Sir, this is the hottest dish on the menu. Forgive me, but are you quite sure?” 

“He’s got a cast iron stomach, my friend,” Steve chirped, nodding towards James with a grin. “Spicy things don’t affect him at all. He can eat a raw chili pepper and not even flinch.” 

James confirmed, while Ella and Hester looked at him in disbelief. “It’s true.” 

The waiter scribbled the order down. “One moment, guys.” He headed for the kitchens, returning a few seconds later with a small, white plate in his grasp, a whole red chili atop it. “This I must witness for myself, sir.” 

He expected him to take it and moderately nibble off a piece, his eyebrows raising when James took the chili by the stalk and bit the entire thing from the top. He waited, knowing there had to be some kind of reaction as he crunched through it, James shrugging.  

“That’s really tasty, I like it,” he spoke. The waiter was stunned. 

“Oh my god!” Hester cried, pointing. “You aren’t even flinching!” 

“Mm,” he hummed, washing it down with a mouthful of Coke, deciding not to drink any alcohol at all that night. “I like spicy food, never been bothered by it.”  

The waiter left them too it, muttering ‘crazy white man’ in his native Urdu as he headed back to the kitchens, Hester still in a state of shock at witnessing him do it. 

“Just make sure you brush your teeth before you go near Ella’s lady bits later!” she spoke, the girl herself snorting into her pint glass as she took a sip. 

“Yeah, I ain’t in the market for burning her flaps off.” James spoke, everyone descending into hysterics. Looking at her, he winked, covering her hand with his, glad to see her looking much more relaxed.  

They’d both succumbed a little to what ailed them that day, what they were now gladly on a road to recovery with, and both times the other had been exactly what they’d needed to restore a calm balance. How good they truly were for one another.  

[hopetorun]

Fruit!!

i love fruit!!!!! this is absoutely the opposite of a hot take because i think many people love fruit. some of my favorite fruits include strawberries, peaches, apples, bananas, blueberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, clementines/mandarin oranges, black raspberries, grapes, and limes. there are many other fruits i like and many many other fruits i have not tried that i would probably like!

also love avocados and tomatoes and cucumbers but not really as fruits ykwim. tomatoes are probably my all-time favorite food that is a plant tho.

i have many fond memories of buying and eating fruit with people i love, and one hilarious but kind of grisly fruit story that i will place under a read more. but first some nice ones: my mom and i bought some delicious strawberries and raspberries today. when i was a kid we would sometimes stop at a fruit stand about an hour from our house if we were near it on a longer drive and buy a gallon of strawberries and eat them in the car. every summer i go to the mountains with some friends and we go to this farm store and buy beautiful beautiful tomatoes and the best peaches i've ever had and this year we got a cantaloupe and it was so good. a few weeks ago i made a tomato pie and mom was eating some of the leftovers and she didn't realize how well i peppered it and added more pepper to her slice and then kept sneezing violently while she ate it. she still said it was good tho.

and the kinda gory one that makes me laugh. in grad school i took a class about abortion and us policy and one week the professor had a doctor who does abortions come in to talk to us and she used a papaya to demonstrate a vacuum aspiration abortion because apparently you can kinda suck the insides of a papaya out in a similar way only her papaya wasn't ripe enough so nothing would come out. it was very funny but it did kinda put me off papaya.

[cutelittleriot]

Prologue

Somewhere in the rock troll kingdom

There was a tree that was bearing black fruit that rock trolls usually enjoyed snacking on every once in a while but all of a sudden a fruit begins to seemingly twitch i seemingly sems to morph as itt changes color from black to bright pink and covered in glitter. It's stem went from grey to green and little petals seem to pop up around the fruit and the ends of them are in different colors. It also grew in size a bit. Before it was about the size of a apple now it's the size of a cantaloupe it's amazing its still connected to the tree.

Riff was heading out to go to a concert that was being hosted by queen Barb herself at volcano rock city. He was riding on his motorcycle when he spots something highly unusua hanging on a tree. He had time to take a quick stop and look as he left a little early.

He stops his bike and walks over to the tree. It was a fruit tree but the weird thing is that the fruits are usually black grey or even red but this fruit it was bright pink with small sections of other colors and was it coveted in glitter?!

Why would that be here? It looks like something a pop troll would eat. Maybe Barb can send it to the pop trolls as a gift. Shrugging his shoulders be plucks the fruit from the tree and puts it in a compartment on his bike and heads off.

In an hour he arrives at volcano rock city a bit earlier than expected it wasn't even time for rehearsal yet. He grabs his equipment and the fruit and heads backstage. Barb who was tuning her guitar hears him come in "Yo Riff ya got here earlier than you usually do" She acknowledges before she sees the fruit tucked under his arm. "What.is.that" She stares at the fruit in utter disbelief.

"Don't know found it hanging on a tree on my way here" Riff explains getting a closer look at the fruit. Barb takes it from him and keeps staring at it. Why is something so bright,colorful and glittery in rock troll territory?

As she continues to examine said fruit her dad King Thrasher arrives to check on his daughter. He takes one look at the fruit and his eyes widen "Oh my I never thought I would ever see one of those" He says with a chuckle. Barb looks at her dad in surprise "Wait dad you know what this is?" She says shocked. "Yep sure do hehe let's just say it's a exotic fruit and let's just say something interesting will happen to the troll that eats it" He says with a smile before rolling off on his mobility scooter.

"Something interesting huh?" Barb ponders to herself. She thinks about eating but she does not want to eat something so bright color and ugh glittery it can't taste good no way. But still it is a exotic fruit and it shouldn't go to waste so she has a idea and a solution to get rid of said fruit. She whistles for Debbie and she looks around for a box to put the fruit in. "Uh what are you doing Barb?" Riff asks tilting his head.

"Well I'm sure not gonna eat this glitter bomb of a fruit but I know a certain group of trolls who would~" She sings with a grin as she puts the fruit in a box and manages to staple it shut as Debbie flies in. "Hi my cute wittle Debbie I need ya to deliver this package to Poppy"She says in a cutesy voice to Debbie as she writes down a little note and staples it to the side of the box.

Debbie happily takes the box and flies off to pop village. "Heh wonder how this is gonna go down. Welp back to practice this concert is gonna be KILLER!" She yells as she grabs her guitar ready to rock out.

Here is the fruit in question (yes its glittery just xoom in)