#summer at international Ivy
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amoghbanagere915 · 2 years ago
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Summer at International Ivy: Week 3 - ‘Math of Money’
Week 3 (July 10th – 14th): Math of Money (Ages 8-10) Amogh had an enriching Financial Literacy summer camp where he learned all about money: budget, expenses, assets, debts, taxes, stocks, credit cards, banking & interest, currencies and conversions. Taxes & Income: Continue reading Untitled
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thyme-in-a-bubble · 2 years ago
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ily i hope ur okay <3
hi! i am okay today, thank you for checking in ♡ hope you're okay as well
i was actually very big and brave today, went in not just one, but two different stores, PLUS I just came in from spending some time out on the balcony, a whole chapter of an audiobook, so I'm pretty proud.
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httpsserene · 1 year ago
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hey can I request something that’s angsty to fluff and then smut for Oscar where reader gets a ton of hate for dating Oscar so she kind of ghosts him for a bit and they figure things out
𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐰/𝐨𝐩𝟖𝟏
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📖𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: oscar really just wants to hear you laugh again. 📖𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: 18+ only. angst. fluff. happy ending. reader is exhausted physically and mentally. reader's internal monologue is not not nice. bad eating habits. bad sleeping habit. self-deprecation. don't worry she's back on her bs at the end. reader neglects herself (?) and her relationship. implied self-sabotage. people are mean. don't worry oscar is meaner. oscar piastri is a good boyfriend. emotional hurt/comfort. tenderness. intimacy. baths and pampering. crying (non-sexy). implied sex. implied bath sex. logan and lando as plot devices. no beta we die like my will to live during finals. 📖𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁: 5.1k words. 📖𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴: oscar piastri x fem!reader 📖𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: oneshot w/ blurbs. 📖𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸: best i ever had • drake
𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲: sorry it took me so long, i've changed this fic like multiple times :/ hope it fulfills you request properly :))) this is not my favorite thing in the world, i feel like if i went on a smaller scale i would've enjoyed this more but what can you do. this is also not very black reader coded? idk but feel like it's lacking there. i also apologize for my inability to write an oscar fic without including lando, he's such a willing plot device though even if he's a little ooc. i also couldn't find the mental space to write smut but there's smth for you at the end. dedicated to us women in stem! i hope you have fun reading this because i didn't have fun writing it :)
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oscar is worried. you haven’t responded to his texts for a week, he hasn’t seen your face for two weeks, and he hasn’t heard your voice for three weeks. four weeks ago, you told him you wouldn’t be able to fly out to see him at the austin grand prix, like you promised. you sounded exhausted and incredibly guilty when you explained that your course load this semester is extreme, and finals are rapidly approaching. oscar understood; he won’t ask you to sacrifice your education for one of his races, there will be plenty you can come to in the future. what he doesn’t understand is how you’re still functioning. it’s your senior year of university at an american ivy league school, you're pursuing an engineering degree, and you’re also working nearly five days a week as a barista. oscar thinks the last time he’s seen you relaxed is before your fall semester started, you spent your entire summer break with him, making appearances at the only three races you’ve been to this season (silverstone, hungary, and spa). the last time he recalls seeing your smile and hearing your laugh is in august��it’s the end of october now. 
you’ve been ghosting him. oscar wants to believe that it’s unintentional, that it’s just a side effect of the amount of work and pressure on your shoulders—but he can’t accept that. if you were unintentionally missing his calls, facetimes, and texts, you’d spam respond to all of them with a voice message or paragraphs of texts before you went to bed or class. you would send him daily or weekly recap videos of how life is treating you, like you used to do. you would send him stupid videos of you messing around on your shifts during a pause of customers. you would send him thirty reels a day on instagram of brain dead shenanigans with little captions of how you reacted, or if you thought it would make him smile. you would send him fit checks every morning before you went to class, even though your outfit consists of a hoodie and sweatpants. you would send him tiktok edits of himself and tell him that he needs to stop being ‘so hot’ because you almost barked in the middle of class. you would ask him how he’s doing, you would respond to his texts the minute you could even if it's hours late, you would leave him voicemails if he doesn’t pick up, you would make an attempt to communicate. 
except, you haven’t. so, he knows that you ignoring him is intentional, and that your lifestyle right now makes it easier for you to disguise your avoidance of him as accidental. 
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you didn’t say ‘i love you’ back. 
“mate, what are you frowning for?” oscar jumps, eyes flying up from the phone screen and meeting lando’s. the brit is staring at him in confusion, the two of them are still in their race suits, tied around their waists. the sprint race ended an hour ago, and they’ve just finished celebrating oscar’s win.
“you’ve won a race, oscar—what could possibly make you sad after that?” lando says teasingly. but, the smile on his face is quick to fade as he must see oscar’s dejected mood.
the australian debates his next move for a moment, before deciding that telling lando isn’t a bad idea; they’ve been getting closer—they’re friends, oscar would say. he sighs, and hands his phone to lando, maybe he’ll tell oscar he’s worrying over nothing.
“oh,” lando says, eyes widening, “i’m sorry, mate.”
oscar brushes off lando’s words, and buries his face in his hands, “she’s pulling away from me. that was five days ago, and she hasn’t answered any of my calls. she’s only responded to my texts since then with one word answers or very dryly. she’s ghosting me.”
oscar feels lando fumbling for words, not needing to look at him to know that the older man has no idea how to go about reassuring oscar.
“look, mate, if it were me i’d go see her anyways.”
oscar huffs, “she literally said she doesn’t have time.”
“oscar,” lando stares at him in disbelief, “she hasn’t seen you in two months. i guarantee she’s probably dying to see you again, fuck whatever time she doesn’t have. she also can’t ghost you, if you see her face to face. you should go and try to fix whatever’s wrong, before you let her slip away.”
“maybe…maybe she’s just burnt out,” oscar suggests shakily, “i’ll go see her after the triple header–i’m probably just overreacting about this. she’ll be back to her usual self in time.”
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oscar is enraged. he’s pissed off at his fans for attacking you in a sick twist of ‘defending him,’ ‘protecting him’ and the supposed ‘ownership’ they think they have over him. he’s pissed off at you deciding to ghost him instead of confiding in him about the hate you receive. he’s pissed off that his flight to you has been delayed for four hours. he’s pissed off at his race in brazil, if you can even call what happened a race. he’s pissed off at the fact that you can’t make time to see him before vegas. he’s pissed off that you lied to him about picking up extra shifts at the cafe.
he stalked through your instagram the minute after he was allowed to escape debrief, hunting down your roomates accounts from where you’ve tagged them in an older post. he innocently made a group message to the two girls, figuring it would be kind and proper to inform them of his impending arrival to surprise you. and the two girls you shared an apartment with responded eagerly to his message telling him that you’ve been extremely stressed and almost depressed this semester, and that hopefully his appearance will break through to you in a way they are unable to. oscar asked them if they knew your work schedule for the week, since you never told him when you're working–and learned that you lied. you didn’t accept any extra shifts, matter of fact, you got all of your shifts covered for the next two weeks. apparently, all you have been doing is going to class, working, studying furiously, and crying. when he asks if there’s any reason besides the stress from work and school that has you crying, the girls decline to speak for you, and strongly suggest that he asks you himself when he arrives. 
oscar’s no longer pissed at you for lying to him or for ghosting him–he’s hurt, but, he already understands your motive. you don’t want to worry him, so you bottle it up and distance yourself to not make him aware of how you're struggling. he won’t let you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders alone anymore, he’s going to see you and he’s going to take care of you, and then he’ll sort out the ignorant people on the internet.
when he’s at your apartment, you’ll be coming home from your last shift before your time off. and then, once he has you in his arms, he can make everything right again.
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your hands are shaking; a result from the mix of stress and exhaustion that has been plaguing you for a few weeks. it takes you four and a half attempts to unlock the front door to your apartment—this is an improvement, yesterday it took you six times. a trembling sigh of relief exits your lungs as you shut the front door, triple checking that you lock the door properly. you remove all of your outerwear and slip out of your shoes, half-heartedly making an attempt to neatly place them in the organizer you have by the door. (you fail to register how there’s only two pairs of shoes stored away; yours and a pair of shoes that look too big to be one of the girls you live with—the usual sneakers the girls wear are nowhere to be seen.) you grunt as you tenderly put on your backpack and slowly make your way into the kitchen, off-handedly murmuring a “hi,” in the direction of the living room since you can hear the tv playing, but you don’t even spare a glance to see which roommate it is—you can’t stomach anymore human interaction today.
your walk is more of a waddle; your legs and feet are sore from working nine-hour shifts five days in a row, and also from going to class four out of those five days. you place your backpack on the small island, and continue to gently meander towards the fridge. your stomach aches at the thought of food—which is unfortunate, considering you’ve only had one meal today. regardless, you will shove a sandwich down your throat, you need the energy if you’re going to study for three hours before you go to bed. 
you pause before you open the fridge, a note is stuck on the door with a magnet. your roommates are gone; the two girls have spontaneously decided to go spend the weekend with their boyfriends—you’re not going to complain, you have the apartment to yourself. a brief wave of loneliness washes over you, you were kind of looking forward to venting about the week you had to the girls in the morning, and also, couldn’t they have texted you this earlier today? who leaves old-fashioned notes on the fridge anymore? you pull out your phone to send a text in your group chat wishing them a nice weekend, and see that they did, in fact, text you that they would be gone—three days ago. and, you never responded, because you never saw it. you shrug, and send the text anyways, you’ve been incredibly busy and you’re bound to miss a few texts (especially the eighteen texts from oscar that remain unopened). 
you're just going through a little bit of a slump, and you’ve had a bad day. you accidentally messed up three orders today (out of the hundred you fulfilled, so three isn’t really terrible), your running off of four hours of sleep (you’re more energized when you sleep less, anyways), and a customer accidentally bumped into you as you were walking to bring coffee to a table, causing the hot liquid to spill and burn a little spot on the back of your hand by your thumb. well, you know it wasn’t purely accidental, as the girl giggled to the group of friends she was with after she “bumped” into you. based on the way she was wearing a mclaren hoodie, you can make several guesses as to why she did it—you’re kind of shocked that she noticed you even though you wear a mask at work (you have for about a month, too many fans have noticed who you are), her hate for a relationship that’s not hers should be studied for science. 
incidents like these have made your coworkers start to…dislike you. the decrease in tips when you’re assigned to the register causes you to be forced to be hidden behind coffee machines the entire shift, only making drinks the entire nine hours you’re there. it’s better for you though, at least you can have a physical barrier blocking the prying eyes you feel are judging you the entire time. if anything, the recent atmosphere at work made you want to put in your two weeks—but, you have bills to pay. you’re just glad you managed to find a way to get two weeks off so you can focus on school and prepare for your exams—you can’t afford to fail, it’ll cost your scholarship and then you’ll need more than the job you have right now to finish school.
the buzzing of your phone pulls you back to the present—oscar’s calling. you squeeze your eyes shut for a few seconds, before you blink and silence the ringer. if you speak to him, you won’t be able to hide your troubles from him any longer; he reads you as easily as a kid’s picture book. he definitely doesn’t need to deal with your problems after whatever the hell happened in brazil. the noise of your phone startled you into a new thought, however. if the girls aren’t in the apartment, why the fuck is the tv on? who did you greet when you walked past the main room without a glance?
“i was calling to tell you that i’ve got takeout from the asian restaurant you like, if you’re looking for something to eat,” oscar says gently.
it’s a testament to how extremely exhausted you are: you don’t scream, you don’t fight, you don’t run—you just flinch slightly, and turn around slowly to face your boyfriend…the man you’ve been avoiding for nearly a month. at the sight of him (his fluffy hair, his soft sweater, the confused and concerned glint in his eyes) your lip starts quivering, and your eyes start watering. oscar’s gaze softens into something sweet yet empathic, and he says, “i know it’s been a while since we’ve last talked, but i didn’t think you’d cry at the sight of me.”
you burst into tears with a sob, and in a second oscar’s got you wrapped up in his arms, one hand soothingly massaging your back, while the other cradles your head on his shoulder. your borderline hyperventilating, your tears have started to soak his sweater, and you’re sniffling every two seconds to avoid getting snot on him too. oscar doesn’t try to quiet your tears, he doesn’t ask about what’s making you cry, he doesn’t even try to tell you that everything will be fine—he just holds you as you cry it out and presses kisses into your hair. eventually, the flow of tears dries and you focus on pulling in shaky breaths of air to calm down. oscar switches to holding you to his chest with one arm while he uses the free one to reach across the counter and grab a tissue. wordlessly, he wipes the wetness off your cheeks and under-eyes, he even uses another tissue to wipe your nose, clearing away the snot that managed to escape. you almost start crying again at the tender treatment and the matching look in his eyes, but you muster enough strength to keep the happy tears from falling over the waterline. 
oscar nods once, deeming his cleanup complete, and clears his throat, “i’m going to heat up the food. then, we’ll eat and you’ll tell me what’s wrong and if that has anything to do with why you’re ignoring me.”
there’s no attempt from you to keep the façade up any longer, all you do is nod and step to the side so he can grab the food from the fridge.
oscar has already cleared his plate and you’re still picking through half of yours. the two of you are sitting on opposite ends of the couch, teen wolf is playing on a low volume, and your eyes are tunneled on the screen even though oscar can see that you’re not paying attention at all. one of the characters is screaming about having to get his arm cut off (stiles, probably) and suddenly you start talking to oscar.
“it’s been a shit semester. if i wasn’t graduating in spring, i honestly think i would’ve dropped out or taken a gap-year. and, i knew what i signed up for as an engineering major, and i knew that working was only going to add more on my plate—but, it’s not like i can quit my job, i have bills to pay. so, juggling school and work is difficult, and i was managing fine. but, i guess i made the mistake of scrolling through twitter—which is truly my fault i think—and everyone on the internet was calling me a ‘terrible girlfriend’,” oscar watches you scoff out a choked laugh, “and, i obviously didn’t believe i was. in the beginning, at least. i mean, it’s like they expected me to be at every race by your side, like i’m not working my way through a hellscape of a degree. i watched every practice session, qualifying, and race—they’re literally the only hours i don’t spend studying or working. i brag about you to everybody who would listen, i missed hours of sleep just to speak to you on the phone for five minutes, i work as hard as i can so i can finish this degree early so i can be with you as early as possible, and they say that you deserve a better girlfriend.”
you pause and rub at your eyes furiously, mouth opening and closing as you take time to find the words to continue. oscar quiets the flare of anger at your distress, and stays silent, not wanting to interrupt your speech, this is the most you’ve said to him in a month.
“the thing is: i-i i let their words get to me. i think it’s because i was being kicked while i was down—or whatever the phrase is. i was already mentally exhausted, and i already believe that i’m not doing my best this year, i’m disappointing everybody who knows me, i’m a shit student—and just seeing everybody agree, even though they’re just randoms on the internet, tore me down. i even deleted all of the apps off my phone,” your voice has shifted into something desperate, “so i couldn’t see what they were saying about me anymore, but it’s like once i saw it, it never left my mind. i feel like everybody is staring at me with condescending eyes, like they all think i’m terrible. and, logically, i know that’s probably not true. but, this semester has pushed me past the point of being able to rationalize properly. so as a result, i have become a ‘terrible girlfriend’ to you; like a twisted self-fulfilling prophecy.
“i avoid your calls, i leave you on delivered for days, i respond with one word, i lie to my friends and say i was up all night talking to you on the phone when i was really crying and studying at the same time, i hold back from bursting into tears in the middle of my shifts when one of your ‘fangirls’ spills their drink over me for the third time. and while doing all of this, i was hoping you’d do the hard part and just break up with me,” your voice rings out sharply and you refuse to look at your boyfriend, afraid to see the look on his face.
“because…” you whimper slightly, tongue flicking out to lick at your lips anxiously, “you do deserve a better girlfriend.”
oscar is lost for words at your conclusion; seeing you, one of the strongest women he knows break down, is a sight he never imagined. a sense of guilt builds within him, knowing that he’s added to the deprecating thoughts in your brain by postponing this intervention for weeks. you may think that he deserves someone better, but he hasn’t been the best to you either recently. if oscar was half the man you think he is, he would’ve never allowed you to avoid him in the first place. oscar stands up, collects your plate and his, and places them on the coffee table. he turns and drops to his knees in front of you, resting his hands on your thighs, and squeezes them gently to grab your attention. it takes a minute, but eventually you allow your eyes to fall to meet his, and oscar breaks further at the lack of light in your eyes.
“i think,” oscar starts quietly, “that you expect me to break up with you and leave—am i guessing correctly?”
you blink down at him and shrug, biting your lip to prevent it from quivering.
“i also think, that if i flew all this way to see you, and that if i listened to your heartbreaking recollection of how this semester and how the world has been incredibly unkind to you, and that if i sat here and still broke up you—it’s not me that deserves a better girlfriend; it’s you that deserves a better boyfriend.”
stunned, you stumble over your disagreement, but oscar steadfastly continues.
“you did the right thing by deleting your socials—and that would explain why all three hundred of the reels i’ve sent you have gone unseen,” he laughs lightly, “and even if their words took root, you prevented yourself from being able to see more of it every time you used your phone; so even if my pride is not needed, i am proud of you for doing that. i’m even more proud that you sat here and told me that you aren’t doing well, that you didn’t make an attempt to lie, and that i didn’t have to force you to tell me,” oscar says seriously, holding steady eye contact with you to make sure you're hearing him.
“i wish that you would have mentioned the hate you’re receiving as soon as it started, and that you would have told me your mental health was suffering too. you know i do everything in my power to avoid reading anything with my name in it unless it’s a credible article—so imagine my surprise, when i learned about what people were saying about you through a twitter thread logan, of all people texted me about,” you snort out a laugh at the feigned disdain in oscar’s voice when he mentions the american driver. 
“you know i have no issues embarrassing people on the internet for their incorrect claims—and i’d especially tear them to shreds for trying to drag you down. we’ve been together too long for you not to come to me about things like this, even if it’s something that mildly upsets you—i want to know, because then i can make it better, or i can at least try to. you haven’t complained to me about the grueling lifestyle once, as i worked my way up to f1; if anybody could be perfect, it would be you. so, let me try to be as perfect as you, and support you properly and thoroughly as you finish up this degree, baby.
“we’re soulmates, aren’t we?” it’s a question, but oscar states it like a fact, “and i know i can’t magically make the self-loathing disappear with one conversation, but i'll tell you that you’re the best girlfriend i’ve ever had countless times, until you believe me unquestionably.”
oscar watches your nose scrunch cutely as you sniffle, unable to stop the tears that leak from the corners of your eyes. sweetly, he catches them with his thumb before they fall. he stands up and tugs you to your feet, pulling you into a tight, warm hug. 
“i love you, kanga,” oscar coos as he kisses your forehead.
“i love you the most, roo,” you answer back, leaning up to press a kiss to the corner of his lips.
“i’ve bought some lavender epsom salt and an embarrassing amount of bath bombs. will you let me take care of you tonight?” oscar asks quietly.
he sees the mix of awed-disbelief and confusion as you stare up at him, like you can’t imagine why he’d want to love you tenderly tonight, and that hurts him more—the words of his ‘fans’ online have done enough damage to cause you to doubt him. maybe he can convince you to come to vegas with him so he can keep you close, but first, he needs to focus on caring for you here and now.
oscar grabs his duffle bag and smiles as you hold his hand to lead him to your room and the attached bathroom (rent is ridiculously expensive, but at least you don’t have to share a bathroom with your roommates.) oscar sends you to grab pajamas while he starts filling the tub, epsom salt already poured in. he fiddles with the temperature for a while before it’s set to the boiling-your-skin-off hot you enjoy. by the time you join him in the bathroom, he’s added the salts and soap in the water and has placed the bath bombs out for you to choose one. oscar can’t help the small smile that rises to his face at the sight of the serious furrow of your brow as you pick out your favorite from the bunch. 
oscar hums as you hand him the jade-infused bath bomb, and asks, “can i wash your hair too? or will it mess up your schedule?”
“i actually really need to wash it,” you murmur with a humorless chuckle, “i’ve been so busy that i haven’t been taking care of my hair properly.”
oscar blinks and continues non-judgmentally, “i’ll give you an extra scalp massage to make up for that—you can start getting undressed now, the water’s nearly ready.”
he turns around awkwardly, he’s seen you naked before but he feels like it would be slightly perverse to watch you while you’re clearly in a more sensitive state tonight. he fumbles with the faucet for a few seconds before turning it off, and drops the bath bomb into the water so it can start dispersing. oscar faces you again carefully making sure he avoids staring at your body and locks eyes with you, he beckons you forward with an outstretched hand and holds your hand as you submerge yourself in the water. once you’re settled comfortably, oscar grabs your hair products (he holds up any bottle he thinks you may not want to use tonight, and you give him a thumbs up or down to decide), and then kneels at your side.
he starts to roll up the sleeves of the hoodie but your hand halts his motions, the water splashing loudly at the quickness of your movement, “you’re not getting in with me?”
“uh,” oscar stutters, “i-i wasn’t planning on it. i just wanted to give you a nice bath.”
oscar pinkens as you stare at him wordlessly and when your unimpressed gaze shifts to a slight glare, he finds himself shedding his clothes and sinking in behind you at an impressive speed. 
his heart began to race as the two of you shifted into as comfortable of a position you could achieve in a too-small tub, but calmed at your pleased hum as you settled between his legs with your back resting on his chest. this may be the most romantic experience oscar has ever indulged in. sure, it’s not a candlelit dinner at an obnoxiously expensive restaurant but, it’s him detangling your hair, it’s him massaging shampoo into your crown, it’s him scratching softly along your scalp as the deep conditioner sits, it’s you playing with the water innocently, it’s you whispering every detail of your life that he’s missed out on, it’s you gently directing him through braiding your hair, and it’s him pressing kisses to your shoulder when he finishes. there isn’t a single moment where the two of you become unsettled during lapses of silence; the intimacy of his actions is loud enough to fill the gaps. oscar can’t imagine ever being this comfortable with anybody besides you, he hates that he almost allowed you to pull completely away from him. moments like these, where you allow yourself to be thoughtlessly vulnerable with him, are exactly why he’s completely enamored with you.
your body has loosened against him, muscles syrupy and lax from the effects of a toe-curling scalp massage, and oscar gently guides you to sit upright while steadying most of your weight with a single hand splayed against your abdomen. the sound of the cap of your body wash clicking open startles you into the present, and you shift around to straddle his lap. it’s amusing; he inaudibly chuckles at the sight of you struggling to complete your change of position without sending water over the edge. you make a triumphant noise when you’ve managed to turn around to face him, and oscar’s hands cradle your hips when you rest on his lap. 
“can i–”
“shouldn’t you–”
oscar bursts into laughter and you into giggles, at the interruption of each other's sentences. it’s definitely not that funny, but oscar’s heart skips a beat at the sound of your laugh–he hasn’t heard that sweet noise in what feels like forever. he motions for you to speak, ever the gentleman, and eagerly awaits for our question with a smile still stretched across his lips.
“shouldn’t you fuck me before we wash up? so we don’t have to clean up twice?”
oscar chokes on his breath, his grip on you tightening in surprise, and he babbles, “what? no-i mean, yes, i mean—wait. i didn’t do all of this just to have sex with you, you know that right? i genuinely just wanted to pamper you–”
“oscar,” you cut him off, intentionally this time around, “after the semester i’ve had, and the less than kind words i’ve heard and thoughts i’ve had describing myself–i really do appreciate the bath, i feel reminded that you love me. however, i really think that having sex would help…solidify your devotion for me.”
oscar blinks up at you, he wasn’t quite expecting you to return to your normal sassy behavior as quickly as you did. but, he is thankful that you’ve opened up to him with no further hesitation–it’s actually incredibly attractive of you, how you’ve resumed complete comfortability in expressing exactly what you want to him. at least, that’s the excuse he’s telling himself to cope with being half-hard already.
“...at least let me take you to bed, then?”
“no,” you whine down at him, your hips sneakily twitching forward, oscar moans lightly at the light grind, “too far! saves time later if we don’t have to come back to shower.”
“you’re right,” oscar hums distractedly, moving his right hand off your waist to slip between your thighs and brush along your cunt, “i’ll fuck you here as long as you let me do all of the work.”
oscar’s blood heats at the sound of your whimpering moan and he takes his other hand off your waist to grab at your chin and he pulls you down for a kiss.
oscar groans when you pause before your lips touch his, and he feels the breath of your giggle ghost over his mouth, “mmm, i’ll never say no to that—and, didn’t i agree to let you take care of me tonight?” 
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taglist: @saintslewis @cherry2stems @lorarri @inloveallthetime @mindless-rock @biancathecool @barnestatic @my-ylenia @katekipshidze @darleneslane @lovingaphroditesworld @smoothopz
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© httpsserene2023
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sirenpearldust · 1 month ago
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Broken Doll - Chapter one
series masterlist ⋆ Chapter two
Pair: Azriel x reader, Eris x reader
Word count: 7.074
Warnings: violence, jealous boys, possessive characters, reader is not nice, Elain slander
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The music muffled the chatter of your classmates, but your focus was elsewhere. It was already 7:20.
You bit your nails nervously, waiting for him. He still hadn’t read your message, and he couldn’t afford to be late, not on the first day of school. 
You had math in the first period, the worst subject. Why did it have to be math on the first day of school?
You rubbed your temples, barely able to drown out the sound of your class monitor - Irina scolding Cass and Rhys, cutting through your earphones. Every year, it was the same, and every year, you wondered the same thing, how could they have so much energy, this early?
Turning away from the window, a familiar figure caught your attention.
“Why are you moping?” Eris asked, leaning in close with that familiar, cocky grin.
His freckles had darkened over the summer, standing out against his sun-kissed skin. His amber eyes studied you intently as you slowly pulled out your earphone. He smelled of cologne and an incoming headache.
“I thought gingers could only turn red. Whose skin did you steal?” you quipped.
Eris’s smile stretched into a wide grin before he reached over and ruffled your hair.
You smacked his hand away, hissing, “Fuck off!”
“You’re just a ray of sunshine in the morning,” he teased, clearly unfazed by your temper.
“I’m happier when I don’t see you,” you shot back, scowling as you tried to fix your hair. It had taken you an hour to have it the way you wanted and now this Gingerfuck had to ruin all your good work.
“Here, let me help,” he offered, leaning in with that smug grin still plastered on his face. 
Evil fucker you seethed internally. 
“No,” you said firmly, grabbing his wrist before he could try anything. You locked eyes with him, raising an eyebrow as if to say, I know exactly what you’re planning, and it’s not happening.
Eris rolled his eyes dramatically and let his hand fall.
Instead of leaving, he slid into Azriel’s seat beside you, his gaze fixed on you. His usual teasing expression softened as he watched you fussing with your hair. For a moment, a small smile played on his lips.
Before you could react, his hand reached out. 
Why did he have to annoy you so much? He knows Azriel doesn’t like it when he touches you.
You turned sharply toward him, ready to snap, but he simply tucked one stray strand of hair back into place.
“Thanks,” you murmured, still scowling. Fucker ruins it first and now helps.
Eris had missed you over the break, more than he wanted to admit to himself. 
For a few seconds, you both stayed like that, looking at each other. Time seemed to stretch as you got lost in his gaze, forgetting everything else around you. 
It was crazy how you had known each other since you were born. You went to the same elementary school, middle school, and now high school.  But there was still a small possibility he would be accepted into a different Ivy League than you. The thought of seeing Eris for another couple of years was starting to make you feel nauseous.
“Please don’t follow me to college,” you said, the words slipping out before you could stop them. Your intrusive thoughts had been louder than usual, and now you regretted speaking them aloud. You immediately looked at him, hoping he wouldn’t be mad.
“You do know that you’re the stalker who follows me around, right?” Eris said, smirking as he leaned back in his chair, his eyes glinting with amusement.
“You were born after me, remember?” Eris teased, his smirk widening. 
“You cried until I was in the same class as you, and then you didn’t let me have other friends. You always wanted me to be your only friend.”
You felt your face heat up, your old childhood habits suddenly being revealed. 
“Eris, I was a kid, stop bringing that up.”
Eris leaned in with a mischievous glint in his eyes, his voice low.  “Oh, but you were so sweet back then. Always clinging to me like I was the only person in the world you trusted. And now, look at you. Still can’t get enough of me, huh? What would your boyfriend think, his enemy being stalked by his girlfriend?”
But before you could deny it, the door opened, and Azriel stepped in. He was accompanied by a girl who came up to his shoulders. Her brown hair fell to her shoulders, and her big, doll-like brown eyes were fixed on Azriel as he spoke to her. When he finally looked up and saw you, a smile spread across his face.
Your boyfriend looked absolutely handsome, mouthwatering, honestly, it should have been illegal for him to walk around looking like this in the uniform. His black hair fell messily over his forehead, still damp from the shower he’d just taken. The dark blue uniform pants hugged his thighs perfectly, emphasizing every inch of his toned frame. You couldn’t help but stare, your thoughts drifting somewhere they shouldn’t before you caught yourself.
Eris was still watching you, and he could tell from the happy expression on your face, the one you didn’t often show around him, that Azriel had arrived. 
Azriels eyes quickly shifted to the seat Eris was in, his seat. His smile faded slowly, his jaw tightening as his eyes narrowed.
Forgetting the girl, Azriel quickly walked toward you, an annoyed expression on his face. 
Eris stood up, slowly turning toward Azriel.
You sighed, watching the familiar tension build. They were always at each other’s throats, never able to let anything slide.
“Hi, babe,” you said, walking past Eris before leaning in to kiss Azriel on the cheek. His warmth engulfed you, he smelled of leather and cedar. He kissed the crown of your head before glaring at Eris again.
 Children
Azriel had arrived just before the bell rang, but now you feared both of them were on the verge of beating each other again. You did not need a repeat of last year.
Leaning forward, you were about to intervene.
Irina suddenly stepped between them, clapping her hands loudly.
“Try fighting again, and I might kill you both. Don’t test me,” she warned, cutting off any chance of Eris’s snarky remarks. Then, glancing over her shoulder, she glared at Cassian and Rhys, who were still making noises in the front, oblivious to the tension in the back.
 “Sit down, both of you! I don’t want to explain again how you two monkeys got into a fight!”
Both of them listened to her, knowing any backtalk would ensure that their coach would find out and that they would bench out on some games.
Irina walked toward the new girl, greeting her.
Eris nodded, moving toward his seat right behind you. You sighed in relief as Azriel slung his shoulder bag next to the table and plopped down into his seat, still a little annoyed that he had to see Eris first thing in the morning.
Eris, never one to shut up, added, “Also, we’re coming over today.”
You turned in your seat, confused. “What?”
“Yeah, my parents want to have dinner with yours because of the deal they’ve sealed,” he explained casually.
“Oh, great,” you muttered, though you couldn’t hide the surprise.
“You should look happier to see me again. There are girls who’d kill for this chance,” Eris teased, grinning at you.
Azriel coughed, loudly. 
Eris ignored him completely, still smiling at you. You shook your head, silently telling him not to add anything else to the conversation.
A few seconds later the new girl walked up to Eris, her big eyes on him as she asked, “Is this seat taken?”
“Yes,” Eris replied without looking up from his phone, ignoring her completely.
 Liar
Your face must have betrayed you, giving away your disbelief at his blatant lie. 
She turned bright red, embarrassed by his obvious lie and glanced at Azriel. 
You gave her a soft smile and pointed toward the front.
“There is a seat free next to the guy with the black hair. His name’s Calix.”
She thanked you quietly, then quickly glanced at Azriel again before heading toward the front.
The bell rang, and just as everyone settled into their seats, your Math teacher walked in, signaling the start of the lesson.
• •
“Azriel, you need to explain this to me, I don’t understand it,” you whined, frustrated as you stared at the page of notes in front of you. Math was the one subject you couldn’t quite wrap your head around, no matter how hard you tried. Luckily, Azriel and sometimes even Eris stepped in to help.
“Sure,” he replied casually, packing the heavy books into his bag. After the last person left the room and it was just the two of you now. He slung his bag over his shoulder, he leaned in closer, kissing your forehead. You were thankful he was this affectionate, his thumb brushing over your cheek.
 “You’ve got a little something right here,” he said with a grin. 
You blushed deeply, the intensity in his hazel eyes made your heart race. His thumb lightly brushed your upper lip, and your eyes fluttered shut, your breath catching as the moment seemed to linger in the air.
He gently cupped your face, his breath catching as he leaned in, his lips softly pressing against yours. He kissed you slowly and softly, his touch slow and tender.
The initial sweetness of the kiss deepened as you tilted your chin, a silent plea for more. 
You gasped as you both couldn’t ignore the hunger and need. His hands found their way to your waist, pulling your body into his. The world outside disappeared, it was only you two.
Your hand rested on his chest, slowly trailing upward until it tangled in his hair. When you gave it a gentle tug, he groaned, the deep sound vibrating through his chest and against your body. You clung to him, breathing him in, the familiar scent of leather and cedar stirring something warm inside you.
It was hard to believe there had been a time when this was just a distant dream, and now here you were, kissing him for real. 
Before you two could go any further, Irina interrupted, slamming the door open and standing in the doorway. 
“You two!” she shouted, making you and Azriel jump apart. 
“No fucking in here,” she added, her Finger pointing accusingly at both of you. 
Azriel and you blushed, quickly moving apart. Trying to explain yourselves you both stuttered.
She waved her hand dismissing your explanation, she looked unsurprised at catching the two of you making out, but there was stress written all over her face. Her ash brown hair was tied messy, and her uniform was disheveled, like she had just been in a rush. It was as if she had run straight here.
“Now get out. I need to lock the room,” Irina ordered, her tone leaving no room for argument.
You both scrambled to gather your things and quickly walked out, hoping she wouldn’t lock you in if you took to long, something she definitely would do if given the chance. 
You and Azriel couldn’t meet her eyes, shame written all over your faces.
“Wait a minute,” she said sharply before either of you could make a break for it. 
Azriel’s grip on your hand tightened, his whole body tense, bracing himself for yet another scolding.
She took a deep breath as she adjusted her disheveled uniform and smoothed her hair as she spoke.
“Coach wants to see you, something about the games and your scholarship.”
Azriel’s eyes widened slightly. “Did he look angry?” he asked cautiously.
“No, he looked happy as a clam.”
Azriel exhaled in relief, his shoulders relaxing.
“Also, Y/N,” she added, turning to you, “Miss Norton wants to see you about the upcoming art exhibition. Congratulations your art was accepted. You are the last person that had been added”
Azriel smiled brightly, pulling you into a hug. “You did it,” he whispered, his voice filled with pride. “I told you there was nothing to worry about. Your art is too great to not be exhibited ”
You felt your cheeks warm, blushing slightly at his words.
He leaned in to kiss you, and you returned it softly, but then gently pushed him away as your eyes darted to Irina. “Sorry,” you mumbled, feeling a bit awkward under her blank, unreadable stare.
“No worries,” Irina said a slight corner of her lips quirked up.
 “I’m glad you got in. Miss Norton and Calix spoke highly of your art.”
You blinked, surprised, warmth spreading through you. That was probably the nicest thing she had ever said to you.
“I better go before I get another scolding,” he said, quickly kissing you on the cheek.
Irina looked at you and you waved before walking toward the art room, the path opposite from Azriel.
• •
Standing at the same spot, Irina took a deep breath before calling out, “Eris, come out. I know you’re there.”
Eris stepped out from behind the pillar he had been hiding behind, his face slightly flushed.
“It’s not what it looks like,” he mumbled, meeting her sharp gaze, with his own.
“You mean stalking the girl you have a crush on and watching her kiss her boyfriend, who happens to be your arch nemesis?” she shot back, crossing her arms.
“Who said I have a crush on her?” he retorted quickly. “She’s-”
Irina cut him off, her tone firm. “ I see the way you look at her. Both of them. And I see how you watch Azriel too.” Her eyes narrowed, and her voice dropped into a warning. “Just a heads-up if you have another conflict with Azriel, Coach is going to kick you off the team. You’ve been causing him way too much trouble, and so has Azriel. Don’t make things worse.”
Eris looked away, his jaw tightening, but he didn’t argue. Irina gave him one last pointed glance before turning and walking off, leaving him standing there in silence.
Eris wasn’t a pervert he had been there because he needed to know, needed to test the theory if he really had feelings for you. He’d read more than once that jealousy was the clearest sign of feelings like the ones he thought he might have. And he did get jealous, it was the only time he would admit to himself that he was envious of Azriel.
He was jealous of the way you looked at Azriel, the way your eyes softened for him in a way they never did for anyone else. He was jealous of the way you kissed him, how you would let him touch you and the way you naturally leaned into his body like he was the only pillar you could lean on.
But what haunted him most were the sounds you made, soft, breathless, completely yours and the maddening thought of what sounds you’d make for him.
Would they be the same?
Or would they be even sweeter?
The questions twisted inside him, they burned like a fire he wasn’t sure he wanted to put out.
He was plagued by dreams of you for a few moths now, dreams so vivid they felt like memories of a life he could never have. He dreamed of you as his wife, your laughter filling the air as you leaned in to kiss him, your touch soft and familiar. He dreamed of a child, a daughter with your eyes and your smile, who looked up at him with unconditional love, something he had yet to experience.
He didn’t know where this was coming from. Sure, he’d always been attracted to you, your confidence, your wit, the way you carried yourself, but this?
This was something entirely different. It wasn’t just attraction anymore, he could say it was an obsession. You had rooted yourself in his mind and no matter how hard he tried to push the thoughts away, they kept returning, stronger than before.
• •
You walked in silence, feeling a bit nervous as you approached the art room. The closer you got, the worse the feeling in your belly became. It twisted and churned, a mix of unease and anticipation that you couldn’t shake. Something was wrong, you could feel it, even if you couldn’t explain why. 
Before you could open the door it swung open, you were greeted by a wild-eyed Calix, who stood in front of you, his black eyes so dark and angry.
“Good, you’re here,” he said quickly, his voice tense. You were confused. 
What is happening?
Stepping in, you watched as Miss Norton smiled warmly at the new girl, laughing loudly at something she had said. She absentmindedly rubbed the new girls shoulder. When she noticed the two of you standing there, her eyes quickly shifted to you.
“Oh, thank God you’re here,” she said, adjusting her glasses.
“I’ve got some great news for the exhibition, but let me first introduce my guest,” Miss Norton began, her excitement evident, ignoring the angry look from Calix. 
She gestured to the girl beside her.
“This is Elain Archeron.”
The girl gave a shy smile, her big brown eyes never leaving yours. 
She blushed deeply as Miss Norton continued, “Before Elain switched schools her artwork was kind of famous I would like to display it at the upcoming exhibition.”
“Miss Norton this is impossible!” Calix interrupted, his voice sharp. He clearly wasn’t amused or excited about the news. Your expression was a mix of confusion and frustration, as you glanced between Elain and Miss Norton. 
You were equally shocked. Everything had been organized over the summer, and if you were accepted, everyone already had their spot. 
Miss Norton then turned to you, saying, “YN, you’ll need to share your corner with Elain , as you have submitted your art last.”
Calix spoke up, his tone firm. “I’m sorry, Miss Norton, but Elain’s art is way more different than the pieces that are meant to be presented for the exhibition.”
You felt your cheeks heat with anger.
How could she do that? You had worked hard on your own art, and now you had to share your spot with someone who wasn’t even part of the original selection. 
Miss Norton turned red, clearly flustered by the unexpected critique.
“We can make an exception this time, it would be a good idea to introduce her like this to the school,” she suggested, trying to smooth things over.
Calix chuckled frustrated, shaking his head, before fixing Miss Norton with a sharp, unwavering gaze.
The room fell into silence Calixs’s anger was evident to everyone by the way he huffed and puffed, he usually was quiet and kind, never one easily to anger. 
“I don’t see why you are so angry Calix I decide who is to display their art and I don’t think y/n minds sharing her spot. Right y/n? “ 
You couldn’t help but stare at her. Was she even right in the head?
How bold of Elain to take over your half of the space without a second thought and how could she speak to Calix like that?
He was the one who had to organize, book, print, and handle so much more work, work that she conveniently left for him while she lounged around like it wasn’t her responsibility. The audacity left a bitter taste in your mouth.
Calix answered for you. “She’s not okay. Nobody would be if things were changed last minute. Miss Norton, there are other exhibitions she can be a part of.”
“Calix, my word is final,” Norton said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument. “Nothing is going to change my opinion.”
You caught the subtle quirk of Elain’s lips, a self-satisfied smirk that made your stomach twist. You had thought she’d just been dragged into this mess. But now it seemed she was far more of a bitch than you’d initially believed. That smug look on her face, the way she seemed to revel in the chaos, it was clear she wasn’t as harmless as you’d assumed.
“And now you two leave,” Norton continued, her sharp gaze cutting through you both. “I didn’t call you here to hear your opinions.”
Without another word, you followed Calix out, swallowing down your frustration. 
As soon as the door closed behind you, you let out the breath you hadn’t realized you were holding.
“You saw her smirk too, right?” Calix asked, his voice low with irritation.
You nodded, still fuming. “Is her art really that good?” you asked, needing to know if there was any justification for the favoritism.
“It’s good,” he admitted, but then added quickly, “but I still think yours is a way better fit, if that’s what you’re worried about.” He said taking out a cigarette to smoke.
His words soothed you a little, but the tension in your chest didn’t entirely fade. Elain’s smug expression was burned into your mind, and you couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t the end of it.
• •
You cried a little in the bathroom, the frustration of it all finally catching up to you. How could this even happen? It felt so unfair.
Once you stopped crying, you stepped out of the stall, dried your mascara-streaked cheeks, and carefully fixed your makeup. The process was almost therapeutic, and by the time you were done, you felt a little better, lighter, even. Your eyes were still slightly red, but a few drops of eyedrops worked their magic.
Grabbing your bag, you packed up your things and made your way to French class, feeling a bit more composed, ready to face the day again.
You were eager to tell Azriel and your friends what had just happened.
As you opened the door, the sound of laughter spilled out. Mor, Cassian, Rhys, and Azriel were gathered inside, chatting with her, Elain.
You stopped in your tracks as soon as you saw her, Elain, sitting in your seat next to Azriel, her fingers lightly brushing against his arm while laughing. 
What the hell was she doing there? It was supposed to be your spot, your place next to him, and now she was acting like it was all hers.
“Hi,” you greeted the others, deliberately ignoring Elain as you placed your bag on the table in front of her, where her things were already spread out. Morrigan’s eyes met yours instantly, and without saying a word, you both understood-later. She could tell something was off.
Azriel, oblivious to the tension, immediately grabbed you into his lap, kissing you softly before nuzzling into your neck. His hand rested gently on your waist, pulling you even closer, as if he felt your need for his warmth and to ease any unease.
“ Now I miss Emory,” Morrigan said with a wistful smile, her voice light but her gaze still focused on you.
“If you haven’t met her, this is Elain,” Azriel said, gesturing toward the bitch with a small smile. “She’s new and the reason I was late this morning.”
You shot Elain a sharp smile. “We already met,” you said, your voice cool and laced with tension.
Elain met your glare with one of her own, not backing down. The two of you locked eyes, a silent battle brewing between you, neither willing to yield.
Cassian and Rhys sat next to each other, completely dumbfounded. They exchanged confused glances, clearly caught off guard by the strange atmosphere between you and Elain. They were unsure of what had happened to cause such an icy atmosphere.
Morrigan, sensing the tension and eager to defuse it, chuckled and said, “I don’t think Cassian told you about his crush, guys.”
Cassian’s face immediately turned red, his eyes widening as he shot Morrigan a look of disbelief. You and Rhys burst out laughing, while Azriel raised an eyebrow in amusement, completely oblivious to the situation that had just unfolded.
“Oh, here we go,” Rhys said between laughs, nudging Cassian. “This ought to be good.”
Cassian groaned, running a hand through his hair. “You better not say a word, Morrigan.”
But Morrigan only grinned, clearly enjoying every second of his discomfort. “Oh, I’m not saying a thing. But maybe someone should tell us who this mysterious crush is?” She shot a teasing look at Cassian.
Cassian leaned back and laced his hands behind his head. “Well, I have someone in mind.”
“Who’s the poor woman?” you teased, the others chuckling along.
Cassian smirked but didn’t answer. “Not gonna tell you. You’ll just see me kiss her, and then you’ll know.”
“It’s probably Irina,” Azriel said with a smirk, glancing at Cassian.
“That’s why you keep annoying her,” you added, high-fiving Azriel as you shot Cassian a teasing grin.
Cassian’s face turned a deeper shade of red, and he groaned, burying his face in his hands.
“You two are the worst,” he muttered, but the laughter from the group only made it worse.
Morrigan grinned,  “You could just ask her on a date instead of annoying her. We’re 18, Cass, not 6.”
Rhys smirked and added, “Guys, he’s already planned their future together.”
Cassian’s face turning an even deeper shade of red as he threw his hands up in frustration.
“I’m not planning anything!” he protested.
Azriel chuckled, watching his friend squirm. “Maybe it’s time you stop talking about it and actually do something about it, Cass. It worked when I did. ”
You kissed his cheek.
Cassian sighed dramatically, slouching in his chair. “You guys are the worst.”
Elain smiled at Cassian, her voice saccharine. “She probably will like you. You’re so nice and funny, who wouldn’t like you?”
Cassian awkwardly muttered, “Thanks,” clearly flustered by the attention.
Morrigan and you exchanged a look. Rhys caught it too, his smirk widening as he picked up on the tension, he enjoyed the drama. You glanced at your watch, realizing you only had two minutes before your next lesson.
“Elain,” you said, your voice calm but firm, “Could you sit somewhere else? I’d like to sit next to my boyfriend.”
You knew she couldn’t refuse without drawing attention. With a quiet sigh, Elain gathered her things and wandered aimlessly, asking people around the room if she could sit next to them. You watched as Elain’s face turned red, her cheeks burning with embarrassment as she awkwardly searched for a place to sit. 
She looked flustered, rejected by the group she had so confidently tried to insert herself into. It felt satisfying, seeing her brought down a notch. She deserved it after everything, the smug looks, the attitude, the way she’d tried to claim space that wasn’t hers and the way she dared to touch your Boyfriend.
She finally plopped down next to Irina, who shot a quick, knowing look at Calix. It seemed she was told about what had happened.
You settled down next to Azriel, feeling a small sense of relief wash over you.
He was blissfully unaware of the silent victory unfolding in your head. You couldn’t help the small smirk tugging at your lips, one that Morrigan mirrored.
But you knew a snake like her would strike again.
• •
School finally ended, you and your group strolled out of the school together, the sun still high in the sky. You were lingering by the gates, waiting for Azriel to finish his advanced chemistry class so you could drive home.
As you leaned against the railing, you told your friends what had happened.
“Damn,” Rhys said, shaking his head. “Seems like you’ve got an enemy.”
“And you’re sure you didn’t know her before?” he added, raising an eyebrow.
“No, Rhys, I didn’t,” you replied with a sigh.
“She’s a bitch,” Morrigan declared flatly, arms crossed as she leaned against the wall.
“Mmh,” Cassian muttered absentmindedly, his attention focused elsewhere. He was turned slightly away from the group, scanning the area, searching.
“You searching for Irina?” Morrigan teased.
Cass ignored her and frowned instead. “Since when are Eris and Irina friends?”
“Huh?” you all turned toward the gate at his words.
There she was, Irina, walking and talking with Eris. The two seemed friendly with eachother, their laughter carried by the breeze. Irina playfully shoved him and Eris, for once, didn’t look annoyed. Instead, he spoke with animated gestures, his face lit up in a way you rarely saw.
It was so different from the usual guarded, cold demeanor he wore like armor. Both of them were at ease, carefree, and it stirred something unfamiliar in your chest. A tug, faint but undeniable, made your stomach twist slightly.
You couldn’t look away, even as you told yourself it didn’t matter. It wasn’t your concern. And yet, the sight of them laughing together lingered in the back of your mind.
You swallowed hard, trying to ignore the strange feeling. Why did seeing him like that with her bother you so much?
“Babe,” Azriel called, breaking through your thoughts.
“Huh?” you blinked, realizing he’d been trying to get your attention.
“I called you multiple times. Let’s go,” he said, his voice clipped as he grabbed your hand, leading you toward the car.
• •
After dropping off the others one by one, the car grew quiet, almost uncomfortably so. It was just you and Azriel now.
He hadn’t spoken much the entire ride, only offering polite nods or brief words as he said goodbye to your friends. 
You stared out the window at the passing scenery, but your mind wandered back to the earlier scene with Eris and Irina. Something about it still lingered in your chest.
Azriel’s silence, however, soon pulled your attention. You turned to look at him, taking in his features, the sharp angle of his nose, the perfect bow of his lips, the long dark lashes that framed his striking hazel eyes, and the dark curls that fell messily over his forehead. He was gorgeous, as always, but it wasn’t his looks that drew your focus.
His posture was tense, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel, and his jaw ticked with barely restrained frustration.
He was angry.
“Az?” you asked softly, breaking the silence. “What’s wrong?”
He didn’t answer right away, his lips pressing into a firm line as if he was weighing his words. The tension in the air was thick, and it made your heart race in uncertainty.
“Nothing,” Azriel muttered.
“Please, did something happen?” you pressed, your voice soft but insistent.
He shook his head, his jaw tightening as he pulled the car over to the side of the road. Turning to face you, his hazel eyes burned with emotion. “Why did you stare at Eris like that?”
You froze for a moment. He noticed. Shit.
“Because of Irina,” you explained quickly. “He was talking to Irina, and Cassian asked if they were friends. That’s why.”
Azriel stared at you, his expression unreadable. He was clearly thinking it over. You reached out and took his hand in yours, squeezing gently.
“Azriel, I only love you. You know that, right?”
He sighed, but the tension in his shoulders didn’t ease. “I just don’t like the way you two are so close. It’s hard to ignore.”
You shook your head, your voice firm yet reassuring. “Azriel, I wish I could avoid talking to him altogether, but our parents are close. His mom has even slept over at our house before, our dads golf together and our Brothers are in the same clubs. I don’t like it either, how he talks about you, or our relationship. He’s arrogant, obnoxious, and so damn annoying.” You paused, your lips quirking up into a small smirk.
“I only love you. You don’t have to worry about the ginger.”
Azriel let out a laugh at that, a genuine sound that made your chest warm. You watched the way his Adam’s apple bobbed as he chuckled, and your breath caught. He was stunning when he laughed, his worry fading away. 
He noticed you staring, his lips curving into a shy smile. “What?”
“Can I kiss you?” you asked, your voice soft.
Azriel nodded, his cheeks slightly pink. 
You leaned in, brushing your lips against his, and the kiss deepened quickly. His hand slid to the back of your neck, pulling you closer.
It grew hotter, more intense, as his free hand gripped your waist, and your fingers tangled in his hair.
You pulled away from the kiss, and Azriel let out a low whine. It wasn’t a sound you heard often, and it sent a shiver through you. His hand bunched the fabric of your white shirt, pulling you closer as he tried to capture your lips again. Both of you were breathless, his lips glistening with spit, and his eyes locked onto your mouth.
“Azriel, wait,” you managed, gently pushing him back.
He ignored your words, instead dipping down to press kisses along your neck. You gasped softly but pushed his hard chest.
“No hickeys, Az. I have to see my parents later.”
He groaned in protest, biting down lightly but just hard enough to make you gasp again. “Azriel,” you warned, your tone sharper now.
Suddenly, a thought struck you. “Azriel, is your mom home?”
He stilled, lifting his head to look at you. “No,” he said slowly, his brow furrowing. “Why?”
“When will she be back?” you asked, brushing your fingers gently through his hair.
“About six,” he replied, still confused. “Why?”
“Think, baby,” you said, caressing his scalp, your voice teasing but patient.
It took a moment, but realization dawned on him. His eyes widened slightly. “Oh.”
You nodded with a playful smirk. “Yes, Azriel. We can go to yours for a few hours.”
His lips twitched into a grin, and he leaned in to kiss your cheek as you laughed. 
He drove, his excitement now focused on getting home before the clock ran out.
• •
You were late. Stupid, stupid, stupid. 
How could you forget?
Your mom had called you multiple times, you knew you were in trouble. Thankfully, your sister had covered for you, telling your parents you were at the library.
Slipping into the house as quietly as possible through the back door, you silently crept upstairs.
From the hallway, you could hear your father and Eris’s father laughing loudly downstairs.
Your heart raced as you tiptoed toward your room, opening the door slowly and shutting it behind you with a soft click.
You turned around and nearly screamed.
There, sitting at your desk, was Eris. His long legs, in black pants, stretched out comfortably as he leaned back in your chair, a painting of yours held delicately in his hands.
His golden-red hair caught the faint light from the desk lamp, but his amber eyes were focused on the artwork.
“Eris, what the fuck are you doing here?” you hissed, your voice low to avoid drawing attention. Fucking psycho! How did he get in? Why was he even here?
He didn’t respond right away. He held one of your more personal pieces, a ballerina staring at her  reflection in a broken mirror. Her red, tear-filled eyes glared back at herself, mascara and tears streaking down her face. Bound in her hair were white feathers. Immense rage in her expression. It was a piece that helped you remember your pain and how far you’d push yourself to reach perfection.
“It’s beautiful,” Eris whispered, his voice softer than you’d ever heard.
Your heart hammered in your chest, faster than before. “Put it down,” you said, though your tone lacked conviction.
“Is it you?” he asked, finally looking up at you.
“Yes,” you admitted hesitantly.
Eris turned the painting back to study it for a moment before meeting your gaze again. There was something in his eyes, something vulnerable, something you didn’t expect.
“You’re incredible,” he said, his voice so soft it almost didn’t register. 
For a moment, you forgot to breathe. The words were simple, but the way he said them, the sincerity in his tone, made your chest tighten.
No one had ever said that to you before, not about your art. Azriel hyped you up sometimes, but mostly saw it like your parents, a silly hobby you could enjoy to keep you entertained. Even Miss Norton had pushed you away for Elain and saw it less then hers. 
But art was more than that, it was a lifeline for you, it was like a diary where you expressed your emotions.
You never showed anyone your personal pieces, not even Azriel. This painting, raw and emotional, was yours alone - until now.
Licking your dry lips, you asked, “How did you get in here?”
Getting up, his hands casually shoved into his pockets, Eris began to walk toward you. One hand slid out to push his hair back before ruffling it slightly. He chuckled softly under his breath, a sound low enough to unnerve you.
It was the quick shift in his demeanour, the way he was always unpredictable, it made your stomach tighten.
Even as you took a step back, he didn’t stop. His strides were slow but purposeful, his presence quickly filling the space until your back hit the wall.
Your heart raced, but you tilted your chin up, meeting his sharp gaze head-on. You straightened up, you weren’t afraid, it was your house after all, he could not intimidate you.
“I opened the door,” he said simply, as if it were the most natural, normal thing in the world.
You scoffed. “Why?”
“I wanted to see the reason,” he said, his voice low and deliberate. “The reason why your art is tucked away in some insignificant little corner if it’s not worth looking at.”
He lightly tugged at a strand of hair that had fallen in your face. Your jaw clenched, the anger bubbling beneath your skin. Every instinct was telling you to punch him, to push him away.
Before you could react, his hand brushed your throat.
Eris didn’t seem fazed, his gaze still locked on you, unblinking. He smirked slightly, clearly enjoying the way he riled you up.
“But,” he continued, softly brushing against of your neck, “it turns out it’s the best I’ve ever seen from any artist. Way better than that Archeron kid’s work.”
Your eyes widened as you grabbed his wrist, your pulse hammering beneath his palm. His tenderness was a stark contrast to the way he spoke to you and watched you. It was as if he was trying to see every emotion, every reaction from you, how far you would let him go. It was too intimate.
It made your head spin, he was testing your boundaries, and the next, his touch was almost considerate. 
It left you feeling unsettled, confused, angry at how easily he seemed to have the upper hand, how easily he could shift the power dynamic, the way he asserted control.
“How do you know about that?” you demanded, your voice barely above a whisper.
“Irina,” he said simply, smirking.
Of course. That’s why he was talking to her. He probably already knew about Cassians little crush on her and thats why he made her laugh for him. 
Manipulative fuck
“But don’t worry,” he murmured, his thumb still stroking the sensitive skin of your throat. “I’ll take care of it.”
“What?” you asked, confused and uneasy. His words sounded more like a threat than reassurance.
“Eris, what do you mean?” you demanded.
“Don’t worry about that,” he said, his smirk deepening.
“Worry about the marks your boyfriend left.”
Your heart skipped as his grip on your throat tightened ever so slightly. The room seemed to shrink around you, his intense stare rooting you in place.
Eris’ gaze darkened, he leaned in closer, his breath warm against your lips.
“Maybe you should Take a shower before your parents get suspicious of why you smell like that,” he said, his tone a little too sharp.
“You wouldn’t want them to find out about what you’ve been up to, would you?”
You clenched your jaw at his words, irritation bubbling inside you. “Don’t worry about me. Take care of your own issues. I’ll handle mine.”
“You’re so cute when you’re angry,” he taunted, pushing you further over the edge.
Without thinking, you slapped him hard. His head snapped to the side, his cheek turning bright red, and the sting of the slap echoed in the air.
Furious, you slapped him again, pushing him backward until he fell onto your bed. You crawled over him, straddling his waist as you glared down at him.
“Why do you keep pushing me, Eris?” you spat, your voice low and tense.
“Why do you always make fun of me or threaten me? What do you gain from it? I’m not a toy, and I’m not scared of you.”
You placed your hands on his throat, the anger in your chest burning hotter. But before you knew it, he had pinned you beneath him. His body pressed between your soft thighs, your skirt pushed up around your waist, and all you could feel was his weight, his part touching another and the heat of his breath against you lips.
You were beyond furious now, you pushed him again. Your hands gripped his shirt, your nails digging into the fabric. You heard the fabric rip as you tugged harder, buttons were flying, you were unable to stop yourself. You scratched him leaving red marks on his chest. 
He grunted, his eyes narrowed, his posture shifting to overpower you. You fought back, not willing to give an inch, your breath coming in sharp bursts.
The confrontation had escalated, your bodies tumbled down. His hand gripped your wrists, his touch firm as he tried to gain control, but you weren’t backing down.
“I won’t be treated like this,” you spat, words dripping with anger.
He stared at you, lips curled in a mocking half-smile. “You think I’m the problem here?”
“I don’t care what you think anymore.”
His grip on you tightened as he leaned in, pushing his hips into yours from behind, his voice low and controlled. “You started this, not me.”
Before you could headbutt him, the door suddenly swung open. Both of your parents stood there, frozen in shock, their eyes wide. Both of your mothers gasping loudly, the sound of it echoing through the room.
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Main Taglist: @bubybubsters @lilah-asteria
Broken Doll Taglist: @historygeekqueen @bubybubsters @lilah-asteria @onebadassunicorn @anainkandpaper
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roosterforme · 1 year ago
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The Intern Prologue | Rooster x Reader
Summary: You barely have a minute to yourself after graduating at the top of your Ivy League class before your father insists you find an internship. Your days of lounging by the pool and partying are numbered as he has an endless parade of his colleagues visiting the house. But one of them is familiar to you in a way that warms your skin just like the San Diego sun.
Warnings: Language (eventually 18+)
Length: 1800 words
Pairing: Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw x Female Reader
The Intern masterlist. Check out my masterlist for more. Banner by @mak-32
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"We need to start talking about your summer internship."
You had been home for less than one full day, and your father was already on his favorite topic of conversation: your future as a business mogul poised to take over his empire.
"Can we talk about it tomorrow, Daddy?" you asked, flashing him your sweetest smile as you yanked your sunglasses down lower on your nose. It was the end of May. You'd just graduated with top grades and a master's degree in business analytics and finance from his Ivy League alma mater. You were doing everything you could to uphold the family name as his only child, but you just wanted one day off before you got fully immersed in his world.
He sighed and glanced between you and the enormous pool behind the house you grew up in just outside San Diego. "Tomorrow morning. We will talk about it at breakfast," he said sternly. But then you watched his features crack into that soft smile he only ever shared with you. "I'm really proud of you, Sweetheart. You'll do big things."
Your annoyance with him melted away. "Thanks, Daddy." Most of your motivation to succeed came from him and his own personal success, but he worked nearly all the time. You would find a way to balance out a summer internship along with hanging by the pool and partying with your friends. You'd spent years perfecting this routine in college so that you graduated first in your class while still devoting your weekends to your sorority sisters and fraternizing with the fraternity boys.
Your father kissed the top of your head, and once he was gone, you rolled onto your belly. You wanted to feel the glorious heat from the California sun on every bit of your skin. While you enjoyed the different seasons on the east coast and the beautiful Ivy League campus, you certainly missed this weather. You were half tempted to untie your bikini top now that you were alone, but your father always had a parade of his colleagues and employees coming through the house to talk shop. And a lot of them were older and ex-military, and your dad would have a fit. You smiled, because that made you want to do it even more.
You spent all morning and most of the afternoon laying out by the pool with a book that wasn't holding your interest and your enormous water cup. You only ventured inside to get lunch where you waved off your father's chef when she tried to make something for you. It was her job, but you were twenty four and far less helpless than your father when it came to most things around the house. You made a sandwich and took it back out to the pool where the groundskeeper was testing the water. 
Everyone here was calling you 'Miss' which was already getting on your nerves. Nobody cared who you were when you were strolling through campus at the University of Pennsylvania, because their mommys and daddys were even wealthier and more famous than your dad. They just called you by your first name and let you blend in. 
"Miss, the pool chemicals look good," the groundskeeper told you. "Enjoy your swim."
Before he wandered off to work on his next chore, you called out, "Thank you." The funny thing was, your dad never used the pool. All he did was work. He probably only kept it open for the past six years while you were away in Philadelphia just in case you wanted to use it when you were home on breaks. 
And that's what had you walking over to the edge and dipping your toes in the water. There was a bit of a chill to it, probably because the sun had warmed you to your bones. Goosebumps ripped along your skin, and your nipples furled softly in your bikini top. You were suddenly very aware of your body as you heard your dad's booming laughter coming from inside the house along with dress shoes on the Calacatta marble floor. 
You swirled your toes around again as you turned to look through the open French doors at the group of men and women all in black suits. Most of them were as old as your dad with graying hair and scowling faces that conveyed how little they appreciated having their time wasted. All except for one. He was younger and taller than the rest, and he was the only person you knew by name. You hadn't seen him since you were home in December, but Bradley Bradshaw looked just as good now in his navy blue suit as he had with a glass of champagne and pink cheeks in his silk Fair Isle sweater at your father's holiday party. Maybe even better.
Now that he was a mere fifty feet away from you, it surprised you a bit that you hadn't really thought about him in months. His brown eyes met yours and he took a few steps to separate himself from the group. He shot a crooked little grin your way, and you smiled back before your eyes shifted to the pristine pool water. 
That night had been fun, even though your dad insisted you wear a modest forest green dress instead of the black one you brought home from Philadelphia. The champagne and mulled wine made it almost entertaining for you to drift from one of his geriatric colleagues to the next, intentionally asking them almost bizarre questions just to see how they would react. But Bradley had been there, and when you asked him if he'd ever had wine from Domaine Tropez in the south of France, he responded in a deep rumble of a voice saying, "I have a box of wine in my refrigerator that just says White Wine on the side of it. Does that answer your question?" 
You couldn't remember the last time someone made you laugh so hard, and he didn't look at you like the spoiled brat you almost enjoyed playing the part of.
"The vineyard sent me a bottle of rouge for my birthday. Want to try it?" you had asked him, feeling a little drunk and silly as he set his empty champagne flute on a passing tray. 
"You want to waste it on a guy who drinks boxed wine?" he asked, his voice impossibly deep and his mustache twitching with amusement. "I thought you were supposed to be smart. Your father talks about you all the time."
You had been about to take him by the hand and lead him to the kitchen where you'd stashed the wine so your dad wouldn't drink it, but then Bradley got pulled into a conversation with someone else. But you felt his eyes on you frequently throughout the night. And he did make it a point to say goodbye to you, letting you see those rosy cheeks up close one more time.
Just then you were jolted back to the present as you nearly toppled into the pool. Your father's voice carried outside, inflection full of pride as you heard him say, "My daughter flew back last night. Graduated top of her class with the same degree I earned. Following right in my footsteps, if you can believe it. Higher marks than I ever had."
There was some soft laughter and words of congratulations aimed at him, even though you were the one who had worked so hard. You rolled your eyes and planted both feet on the edge before diving as gracefully as you could into the pool. You swam nearly all the way across underwater, grateful for the bit of silence as you collected your thoughts. The water cooled you without being cold enough that you wanted to get out, and when you surfaced, you took a deep breath. 
Everyone seemed to have moved along from the open French doors, probably heading deeper into the house toward your dad's study or his conference room. You swam off toward the pool float that was drifting along in the shallow end, and you pulled yourself gracelessly up onto it. Just as you were fixing your bathing suit, about to settle in for another hour of sunbathing, a shadow crossed your face, and you nearly landed back in the water as you jumped.
"Congratulations."
It was Bradley Bradshaw standing over you with his hands on his narrow hips and his tie loosened in a way that you couldn't stop looking at. You desperately wished you had your sunglasses to help shield your eyes from the bright light as well as the fact that you were on the verge of checking him out. 
"Heard you graduated with a splash," he added, smiling as you dipped your foot in the water.
You rolled your eyes and settled back against the raft. "Crazy, isn't it? There's almost nothing you can't accomplish when you set your mind to it and have a billion dollar bankroll behind you, just helping you along the way."
His laughter made you feel warmer than the sunshine. "Are you daring to call yourself privileged?" He kept his eyes on yours, and you were impressed that they weren't straying south.
"Are you daring to say you aren't, Mr. Bradshaw?" you asked him with a smirk. "I didn't know you could buy Armani suits at JCPenney. I guess even an Ivy League valedictorian can learn something new every day."
He rubbed his hand over his lips and mustache to try to hide his amusement, and you wiggled back against the raft with a smile of your own. You weren't sure what possessed you to talk to him like this; he was your father's colleague after all. But you felt validated as he squatted down in his three thousand dollar suit to test the water temperature with his hand, because he shook his head slowly at you and said, "I'm impressed you even know what a JCPenney is. You're a bit of a brat, aren't you?"
Now you were the one trying to hide your smile behind your hand. "Don't get it twisted. I've never actually been to one. But all the prep school kids used to talk about shopping for suits off the rack along with knockoff handbags just to rile up our parents."
You thought you heard him mutter the word brat again as he stood. "Well, as much fun as this has been, I'm not dressed for swimming, so I guess I'll go find the other Armani suits and get back to work instead."
"Shame, that," you replied, clicking your tongue. "Bring your Armani swim trunks next time and stay a while."
Now that he was standing at his full height, his gaze slowly drifted down your body, and his cheeks turned ruddy just like they had after an evening of indulging in champagne last December.
"Maybe I will."
------------------------
Stay tuned for chapter one. We're about to go on an adventure. Thanks to @mak-32 and @beyondthesefourwalls
PART 1
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satoshy12 · 1 year ago
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Intern Jazz in Arkham
It had been an easy thing for her to send her application to Arkham Asylum and get her summer internship of 6 weeks there. It would help her understand psychology more, too. Danny was very against the idea of his big sister going to Gotham! But she got him to say yes after she said she would be protected. She has the Fenton Peeler and similar, Danny wasn't sure about it and asked a few ghosts to take care of her. In return, they can go to the human world without him attacking them. + Jazz liked it in Amity Park; the true few patients and workers looked as if the Director was crazy to allow Jazz, a 16-year-old girl, to intern in Arkham. But all is well; till her last day, all was well. Then it was a massive breakout of Scarecrow and Joker. Harley made her way to Ivy to protect the young girl! Harley was 100% against her being even near Arkham! They saw her in a room in armor with a massive, flaming knight who had his sword out.
Jazz:" Fright! Release Joker and Mr. Crane now! I am not sure if they can take your horror dimension."
And now Jazz has to get Fighty to release both when people around her are totally okay with letting Joker and Scarecrow be in that dimension! This is not okay!
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millylotus · 2 years ago
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Super Villain Summer Internships [Everlasting Trio, DpxDc]
Everlasting Trio don’t know what they’re going to do for college, so they decide to just bite the bullet and do a few internships. Although they all forget to tell each other that they’re each interning with villains.
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Danny is with Mister Freeze, going under the name Blizzard
Danny is basically the one doing a bunch of intern work while also not, at first he was just kinda there cause he liked being cold
But then he and Freeze begin to bond over feeling responsible for things that aren’t really their fault, Danny promises to help Freeze revive Nora
They have a father-son relationship, in how they’re actually pretty similar in personality & powers
Sam is with Poison Ivy, under the name Blood Blossom
Sam is the only one to have a legal internship because Ivy actually wrote her down as her legal lab assistant
She and Pam are very Big Sis-Little Sis energy, Sam is the annoying younger sibling who wants to do everything their big sister does
Pam finds this devotion to their ideals adorable, and supports Sam in their joint endeavors
Tucker is with Bane, going as Ruin
Tucker acting as Bane’s tech guy, he’s been working on a new type of venom for Bane he doesn’t get into many fights but if he needs to he doesn’t back down
They have an Uncle-nephew relationship going on but also Tucker gets a bit obsessive about making the best venom that they have Frankenstein & Frankenstein’s Monster going on too
It’s mainly just Tucker getting to cackle evilly while Bane just say “Alright chiquito, have you eaten breakfast yet? You get angry when hungry.”
The batfam is not prepared to deal with two mini rouges and a secret mini rouge who they haven’t met yet but are still worried about
A couple weeks into their internship the Gotham Rogues have their bi-monthly meeting where The Everlasting Trio is introduced to everyone
Ivy, Freeze, & Bane were also surprised to see that their interns actually knew each other/are dating
The Everlasting Trio are the entire reason why the Gotham Rogues are even talking to each other at the moment
Now the bats are even more confused & concerned because the rogues are usually at each other’s throats
It’s the only thing keeping them from taking over tbh
When the batfam find out that the three interns they’ve had to deal with for like most of June, all know each other and are actively in a polycule, they feel like everything makes so much more sense
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The trio do have an ulterior motive to this whole thing, at first it’s just indulging in their less than stellar morals
Until it’s not
They become more enthralled in their ambitions, Sam begins to care less and less about the world outside of plants, she cares less about the civilian casualties, she begins to use ecto-science on plants
Pam & Harley are very concerned because they’re both on their path to redemption and Sam is going in the other direction
Danny becomes just as obsessive as Mister Freeze with trying to bring back Nora, he’s bringing in ecto-science in an attempt to bring her back through re-bonding her soul back to her body
Freeze isn’t against this exactly, but he’s unsure if it’ll bring the real Nora back, he’s still gonna go with it
Tucker has fully fallen into the mad scientist idea, he wants to make Bane the best version of himself the best human possible, his new version of venom is directed by ecto-science and such
Bane of course wants to be stronger but he knows at some point Tucker is gonna go to far, so he’s willing to hold the kid back if need be, but he isn’t going to actually do it he wants Tucker to go bad
By the time the Trio reaches the point of no return their bosses realizes this is not going to go their way anymore
Everlasting Trio: You’re just afraid to take it, One. Step. Further.
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The fight to take back Gotham from the Everlasting Trio is a long one
Sam has complete control over Robinson Park [biggest park in Gotham] along with its botanical gardens and such
The surrounding neighborhoods are overrun with plants, she has people asleep and under her control for the most part
Tucker has most of the upper districts running wild on the venom he’s made, people are now more powerful than Superman himself and have lost their minds in their blind rage, they’re all mainly under his control
Danny has the east bays and the graveyards near by, everything is frozen over, the bodies in the harbor and in the ground have been reanimated into ice soldiers and are under his control most of the time
Ivy, Harley, Freeze, & Bane have to call in the bats for help with the Trio and their plans
They split up to go for their kid, with a few bats behind them to back them up
Ivy & Harley pull on Sam’s care for the rest of the world
Bane brings Tucker down from the high, making him think this through
Freeze gets Danny to realize that nobody he brought back is who they first were
By the end of it the trio is subdued after a big fight and some impassioned speeches
They’re admitted into Arkham Asylum, they promise their mentors that they’ll do better, that they’ll get better & make them proud of them
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Admittedly I completely forgot to mention the trio’s family back in Amity
Let’s just say they don’t all know the nature of their internship
Jack & Maddie are aware that Danny is interning under an important doctor but they weren’t sure who he is
Angela & Maurice don’t know what’s going on with Tucker he hasn’t given them any stable information, he wanted to keep it that way with them thinking he’s still a good kid
Jeremy & Pamela know exactly what Sam was doing, she made sure of it, she wanted them to know they’re baby girl was running with villains now
Jazz is actually living in Gotham while this is going on, she going to college at GU for psychology, she’s interning at Arkham
She’s actually close with the bats, having met Jason, she’s one of the few psychs they trust at all
She knows that Sam is working with Ivy, she’s tried reaching out to her but Sam refuses to talk to her
She’s only ever seen Blizzard from afar, and was unable to connect him with Danny
She didn’t even know Ruin existed until the bats told her, and even then she didn’t know he was Tucker
When they’re taken down Jazz finds out who they are and she’s crushed, she feels she not only failed Sam, but also Danny & Tucker as well
Since the trio are all 18+ by the time they’re arrested nobody from Amity is sent anything to tell them they’ve been arrested
For about a week Jazz is actually their therapist at Arkham before she’s re-assigned when it’s realized she knows them personally
Jazz ends up telling the Foleys and the Fentons what happened
Then Amity gets the broadcast of their very own Samantha Manson being arrested in Gotham, New Jersey for eco-terrorism
Everything else just blows up in their faces after that, The three families don’t even dare show face around for awhile
They go to Gotham to actually visit their kids in Arkham
The Foleys are so disappointed in their son for what he’s done, Tucker can’t even look them in the eyes as the yell at him about everything
For the Mansons it sprouts into a huge shouting match with Sam almost jumping to table to try and physically fight her parents
All the Fentons do is stare at each other, they try to ask Danny why but he’s not cooperating with his biting remarks and not wanting to even see them for almost a week
Regarding their sentence and institutionalization the trio only has about five years or until they show sufficient mental stability for two years straight
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This is another one that's been sitting around for awhile. And I also remembered the the banner i made for Batfam & Everlasting trio content
Main Story Index [It's kinda messy but it's got links to most everything]
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five-rivers · 2 years ago
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The Intern
AO3
Inspired by a variety of DPxDC posts, but mostly this one by @gettingcomfyinyourwalls
.
Before Danny's Accident, he and Jazz had competed for the title of "the normal one" with an intensity and ferocity achievable only by siblings in families where there was no normal one.  After the Accident, he had to cede the title, however reluctantly, to his sister, who then, in a turn around only possible for siblings, then dedicated herself to giving Danny the title of "the one everyone thinks is the normal one."  Combined with his chosen friend group - a girl who pursued weird as a lifestyle, and the kid who once tried to use a tamagotchi to hack a vending machine, then gave the tamagotchi an Egyptian burial when the attempt killed it - it was very easy to forget that Danny was not normal at all.  Not even if you ignored the whole "half-ghost superhero" thing, which was very difficult to ignore.  
It was even easier to forget what kind of not normal he originally was, before the accident, and continued to be even afterward.  
However, the world (and particularly Sam and Tucker) was about to be reminded.  
"Guys!" shouted Danny, literally skipping up the hallway to come to a bouncing stop between Sam and Tucker.  "Guess what!"  He was quivering with so much excitement that his edges looked a little blurry.  
Tucker put a hand on his shoulder to get him to stop.  "I guess it's a good thing, and not that your parents invented a ghost wiggler or something?"
Danny stilled.  "The ghost wiggler.  My enemy."
"Wait, I was joking."
"Mom and Dad weren't.  That thing was evil."
"Okay, okay," said Sam, raising her hands, "it didn't have anything to do with one of your parents' inventions.  What did happen?"
"Two of my summer internship applications were accepted," said Danny, almost sparkling with delight.  
Actually, he was sparkling.  If he had an internship outside of town, he would have to get that under control.  
"That's great," said Sam.  "Which ones?"
"Lexcorp and Wayne Industries!"
"Lexcorp?"
"Wayne Industries?"
"You applied to Lexcorp?" demanded Sam, appalled.  
"You're going to Gotham?" asked Tucker in the same tone.  
Danny looked from Sam to Tucker, then back again.  "Yessssss?"
"To work for the guy you call Bald Vlad?  The one who keeps trying to kill Superman?"
"The place with all those crazy villains and mad scientists? That Gotham?"
Then, together, they asked, "Why did you even apply there?"
"Lexcorp is a civilian leader in astronautics, meteoritics, cosmochemistry, nuclear physics, quantum computing, robotics and medical research."
"Because Lex Luthor is trying to kill Superman."
"And even beyond Wayne Industries, there are so many great scientists in Gotham, like Dr. Isley, Dr. Crane and even Dr. Fries!"
"Danny, those are the villains."
"Well," said Danny, "I figure I'm never going to meet Lex Luthor, being an intern and all, but if I see any dangerous weapons, I can trash them!  I have lots of experience."
"Don't you think it might be a little dangerous for you to work for an avowed human supremacist?"
"It’s not any different from staying home."
Sam leaned back to stare at a point over Danny's head, flummoxed.
Tucker, not liking his point being ignored, squeezed Danny's shoulder.  "If you miss fighting that much, I'm sure any ghost you ask will be happy to spar with you.  The villains, Danny.  Why do you want to go somewhere with that many villains?"
"It's not like I'm joining them."  Danny rolled his eyes.  "I just want to talk to them.  If you're so concerned, I can take Dr. Isley and Dr. Crane off the list."
"Why only those two?  Why not get rid of the whole list?" asked Tucker, shaking him slightly.  
"Because Dr. Isley was mostly for Sam and Dr. Crane was mostly for Jazz.  Dr. Fries is for me, and Mom and Dad want me to try to convince cousin Hugo to try therapy again."
"Why," said Sam, as Tucker glared at her, "do you think I'd want you to talk to Poison Ivy?"
"Uh," said Danny, "because you admire her work?"
"Admired, past tense, and that was before she started turning people into trees."
“But the ‘turning people into trees’ part is way more applicable to our lives!”
“Forget about that,” said Tucker.  “Why do you want to talk to Mr. Freeze?”
“Well, Doctor Fries is an expert in cryogenics and incorporating ice into technology.  I want to be able to do that.”  Danny looked back and forth between Sam and Tucker.  “Come on, I’m not interning for him.  I just want to expand my knowledge base!  Just think about all the cool things I could make!”
Sam and Tucker, united in horror and purpose, grabbed Danny by the arms and dragged him bodily into Senior English.  
"Jazz," said Sam, hauling Danny forward by the arm she held, "your brother is turning into a mad scientist!"
Jazz looked from Sam, to Danny, to Tucker, then back to Sam.  "Yessssss?"
"Well," huffed Sam, "aren't you going to do anything about it?"
"No?  Why would I?" 
“Mad scientist,” repeated Sam.  
“That’s generally a bad thing,” said Tucker.  
“It’s fine.  Danny has a very strong sense of ethics.”
“And lab safety!” chimed in Danny.  
“And lab safety,” agreed Jazz, nodding.  “Now, if you want me to help you with your internalized prejudice, I can refer you to some resources I’ve found quite helpful myself.”
“Internalized prejudice is when you’re biased against yourself,” said Tucker.
“Yes.”  Jazz returned to the task of arranging her pens and notebook on her desk.  
“Wait,” said Sam, “you are not calling us mad scientists, are you?”
“Well,” said Jazz, “Mad Science Disorder isn’t in the DSM, but there’s a movement to have it included in the next edition, and I think you would fit the proposed diagnostic criteria.”
“No,” said Sam.  
“Yes,” said Danny.  
“I have seen the inside of your greenhouse, Sam,” said Jazz.  “You’re at least on the road to being a mad botanist, if not a mad ecologist.”
“I’ve been saying that for years,” said Tucker.  
“And you’re obviously a mad computer scientist, with a minor in archaeology.”
“Wait, why are you saying this like they’re college majors?” asked Tucker.  
“It’s easier that way,” said Jazz.  She frowned slightly.  “I’m not saying it’s a bad thing.  It’s just that you should be aware of it, so you don’t wake up one day and start planning involuntary human drug trials, or something like that.”
“Jazz did that, once.  I was five.”
The warning bell rang.  
“You should go to class,” said Jazz, pleasantly.  “You don’t want to be late.”
.
“Listen,” said Sam, leaning over the desk to whisper at Danny, “couldn’t you, I don’t know, just do the Wayne internship?”
“Hm,” said Danny, rubbing his chin, “maybe.  But I kind of get the feeling I only got the Wayne internship because I got the Lexcorp one.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I mean, like we talked about way back, Bruce Wayne has to be funding the Justice League, at least a little.”  He pushed his math homework - already finished - to one side.  “It’d make sense for him to keep an eye on anyone Lex Luthor personally hires, on account of the Superman thing.  It’s either that or corporate espionage.”
“Wait,” said Tucker, leaning in from the side, “go back to the ‘personally’ part.”
“It’s a special internship?” said Danny, somehow still managing to pull off the clueless innocent look.  “It was, like, competitive?  You know what I mean.”
“Luthor personally hired you?  Reviewed your application and whatever?”
“Yeah.”
“And you think he isn’t going to meet you?”
“Why would he?  I’m basically going to be getting a tour, then doing drudgework for a month.”
“I love you, man, but you are so, so dumb sometimes.  The man is going to meet you.  Jeez, I hadn’t even heard he was doing internships like that for our age group.”
“Age group?” asked Danny.  
“Dude.  No.  Tell me it was at least limited to just high schoolers.  Tell me you didn’t apply for an internship meant for college students.”
“There wasn’t any age on it as far as I remember.”
“Mr. Fenton,” said Mr. Falluca, “will you please come solve this triangle for the class?”
Danny huffed.  “Rule of cosines,” he said as he stood.  “Give me an easy problem…”
“Why is he even in this class?” mumbled Sam.
“Ghost hunting,” Tucker mumbled back.  
.
“How are you even going to get to Metropolis?” asked Sam as they walked away from the school.  “You don’t have your license yet.”  He probably wouldn’t have his license ever.  Three Fentons driving had, evidently, proven too much for the local DMVs.  Jazz, as conscientious as she was, had gotten hers from the one in Elmerton before they, too, realized the horror that was Jack and Maddie.  
“Jazz is going to take me,” said Danny with a little shrug.  “She’s doing a pre-college thing there.  Some kind of volunteer thing.”
“And how are you getting to Gotham?”
“There’s a train that goes there,” said Danny.  “Like, a regular one.”
“And getting back?”
“Mom and Dad will pick me up.”
“Where will you be sleeping?”
“There’s on-site dorms on each site.”
Sam curled her lips.  “The return of company towns in the modern era.”
“I don’t know, I think the Wayne ones are probably fine.”
“But you’re sleeping in the Lexcorp ones?”
“I figure I can disable any subliminal programming devices that might be installed there.”
“Do you not see how crazy that sounds?  Tucker, back me up, here?”
Tucker sighed.  “Honestly, I don’t think we’re going to be able to change his mind.  I’ve been picking out funeral flowers.  You still like lillies?”
“It’ll be fine.  I’ll call you guys if I need help.  Just like you’ll call me if some new ghost shows up and starts causing trouble, right?”
“Yes,” said Sam, exasperated.  “But you understand those two things aren’t the same, right?  That with the way things are here, there probably won’t be a new ghost causing trouble?”  
Danny had made… peace probably wasn’t quite the right word, with the Fentons, the Guys in White, and the lack of an organized overarching social structure, but there was an understanding between him and the ghosts.  Without that understanding, he wouldn’t have been able to take the time to apply for internships, let alone actually go to any.  
“I mean, if it’s an imposition–”
“That’s not what she meant,” interjected Tucker.  “Nope.  Nope.  You aren’t wriggling out of calling us when a supervillain kidnaps you.  She’s trying to talk you out of taking an unnecessary risk.”
“It’s not really a risk for me, though.”
It really wasn’t.  Danny might not be invulnerable, but the sheer variety of his powers along with his accelerated healing made that point academic.  For most enemies.  
“This is the guy who fights Superman, Danny,” said Sam.  “For all we know, he’s got some kind of anti-ghost material in the same cabinet he keeps his Kryptonite.”
“I don’t think that’d work very well, actually,” said Danny.  
“It was a metaphor.  Be serious.”
“I am being serious.  This is something I want to do.  I want to go there and learn and prepare for the future.”
“You sound like Jazz, you know?  You’ve got two more years here.  You don’t have to do this.  If this is some kind of overcorrection because of the ghosts–”
“It’s not.  I told you why I wanted to do this.”  He stopped on the sidewalk, pulling on the hem of his shirt.  “Is it really that bad?  Is it really that terrible that I’m going somewhere and doing something that I’m interested in?”
“No,” said Tucker, awkwardly.  “We’re worried about you.”
“And I’ll be fine,” insisted Danny.  “Really.  I will be.  And, you know, like I said, I want to do this kind of thing in the future, so it’s good practice.”
“For what?” asked Sam, crossing her arms.  “Scamming supervillains?”
“Well, yeah,” said Danny.  “That, too.”
Sam’s arms fell, along with her jaw.  “What?”
“Scamming supervillains,” said Danny, starting to walk again.  “Like, obviously, I want to either do something with spaceflight or something with a big humanitarian dimension, but scamming supervillains is definitely going to be my backup.  Or maybe my hobby.  They always have the coolest stuff, and a lot of money, too, usually.”
“Coolest stuff?”
“Yeah,” said Danny, almost skipping, now.  “Ice rays, supercomputers, gene therapy, rapidly growing vegetation, limb regeneration, cloning techniques… Lex Luthor came up with a cure for, like, over half a dozen different types of cancer.”
“Because he wanted to kill Superman,” said Sam, taking up an earlier refrain.  It had only 
“Yeah, but imagine what he could do if we could convince him that Superman got his strength from, like, world hunger or something.”
“I hate it,” said Sam, after a long moment, “but I think you have a point.”
“You two could go into business with me.  Some villains go through goons so fast, I bet we could hit them about a dozen times.”
“You’re not planning to do this now, though, are you?” asked Tucker.
“Huh?  No.  No, not until after graduation.  Most I’ll do with any supervillains I see this time around is talk.”
“That’s a lie,” said Sam, immediately.  “There’s no way.  The first time Man-Bat or Brainiac jumps out of a sewer, you’re going to start swinging.”
“Man-Bat is a geneticist and a chiropterologist, you know,” said Danny.  “I’d love to take Brainiac apart, though.  Do you have any idea how many planets he’s wiped out?  And the stuff he’s got to have–”
“You’re floating,” said Tucker.  
“And glowing,” said Sam.  “You’re really going to have to work on that.”
“Oops,” said Danny.  “Sorry.  It’s just, like, everything I’m Obsessed with.”  He landed, but still fidgeted, as if shaping something invisible with his hands.  Which he might have been.  “It’s– I still want to help people.”  The plaintive note in his voice made it clear that ‘want’ was, in this case, closer to ‘need.’    “I don’t mind doing the hero thing, and I can’t ignore a cry for help.  But I’m not going to just waltz into someone else’s territory and start messing with stuff.”
“I think the territory thing is more of a ghost thing than a hero thing.”
“Eh,” said Danny, “I wouldn’t be so sure.”
.
Danny waved goodbye to Jazz as she pulled away from the curb, then grinned up at the Lexcorp building.  Wow, it was tall.  And probably had a lot of really sketchy stuff in the basement.  
But!  He wouldn’t start poking around with that stuff until he’d been there for at least a week.  
(Okay, he’d probably last twenty-four hours at most, but who could blame him?  How often did anyone get to poke around the lair of a supervillain who wasn’t their archenemy?)
He walked into the lobby, craning his neck this way and that to take it all in.  It was… honestly pretty boring.  Not unlike Vlad’s buildings.  But he supposed that all corporate buildings were like that to some degree.  
“Hello!” he said, walking up to the front desk.  “I’m–”
“You’ll have to wait for your parents to come out, I’m afraid, sweetie,” said the secretary.  “Company rules.”
Danny blushed.  “No, um, I’m here for the internship?  The Innovators of Tomorrow Today internship?  I’m Danny Fenton.  Daniel.  Daniel Fenton.”
The secretary blinked at him, then looked down at her computer for a moment.  “I’ll need to see some ID.”
“Will my passport be okay?” Danny asked, tugging on his bracelet to get it to lie more comfortably on his wrist.  On account of the whole ‘no driver’s license’ problem, he didn’t have anything else, other than his student ID.  
“That will be fine,” said the secretary, reaching for it.  She looked it over carefully, becoming more and more confused.  Danny wondered if she was expecting it to be fake or something.  “You’re fifteen.”
“I know I’m short,” said Danny.  “But I’m almost sixteen.”
“I see,” she said.  “Well.  Here’s your visitor badge.  We’ll have someone come escort you to the meeting room shortly, and your internship badge will be ready when you start tomorrow.  You can leave your luggage here, and it will be scanned and brought up to the dorms.”
Danny bobbed his head happily and took back his passport and the badge.  He couldn’t wait to meet the other people he’d be working with.  He bet that there’d be a lot of people his age, no matter what Tucker said after he looked it up and saw the website.  
A tall man wearing an earpiece and some kind of weapon - a taser, probably - walked up to Danny a few minutes later and scanned his badge.  With a few words, he directed Danny to an elevator - one with a keypad code - and brought him up to the tenth story.  The elevator opened directly into a… Danny wasn’t entirely sure what to call it.  It was square and very large and open, with soft, rounded furniture, a kitchenette, and a catered lunch spread out on several long tables.  One wall was all windows, looking down into Metropolis, and another wall was covered in cool, art-deco Lexcorp posters.  
There were a lot of people.
A lot of tall people.  
A lot of tall, college-aged people.  Older college-aged people, even.  No teenagers.
Tucker had been right.  Great.  
A middle-aged woman extracted herself from the loose crowd and came over to Danny, smiling.  
“Hello!” she said.  “You must be Daniel Fenton.  My name is Liberty Rue, I’m the coordinator for the Innovators of Tomorrow Today program.”
“Hi,” said Danny, “it’s nice to meet you.”
Ms. Rue nodded.  “Thank you, thank you.  We’re just giving everyone a chance to get to know each other before we start the orientation.  Please feel free to take any of the refreshments and mingle.  All of you are going to be working together closely.  Your specialties were electrical engineering and space science?”
“Yes,” said Danny.  Although, to be honest, he didn’t really have a specialty.  He was more of a generalist.  
(Unless you counted ghost science, but there was absolutely no way he was going to bring that up.)
“Excellent.  Let me introduce you to the group you’ll be working most closely with–”
What followed was something of a whirlwind.  It wasn’t that there was a lot of people, but it was one after the other, and Ms. Rue seemed to be… showing him off, almost?  Or showing the other people off?  In any case, there was a weird tension to it all.  
Was it because he was younger?  
He tried not to dwell on it too much, though, because everyone here had so much cool stuff to talk about.  Almost all of them had been involved in serious graduate or undergraduate research projects.  Strange matter, transient dimensions, reality fields, meta gene analysis, non-quantum teleportation, reproduction of extraterrestrial technologies…  Danny was starting to feel a little inadequate.  The project he’d sent in was a ‘theoretical’ blueprint for a spy-bot disabler.  One that he was proud of, sure; getting a localized EMP effect without a nuke wasn’t easy, but it was doable.  And the EMP part was definitely the ‘last resort’ stage of things.  It was, after all, much better to hack into Vlad’s bugs and have them send him a hundred hours worth of rickrolls.
In the middle of a conversation about exactly how much room you needed for a decent particle accelerator, Ms. Rue stepped aside and put her hand to her ear.  Danny hadn’t noticed the earpiece before, but now he looked at it with curiosity.  It was well made, and he could barely hear it, even with his slightly augmented hearing.  He wondered if they were designed to counter Superman.  
“Mr. Fenton,” said Ms. Rue, “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to steal you away for a moment.
“Okay,” said Danny.  He followed her back to the elevator, stealing a cookie as he went.  They weren’t as good as his Mom’s, but he was pretty sure they tasted the way they did because of their ectoplasm content, so…
Ms. Rue punched a code into the elevator and scanned her badge.  “Alright, Mr. Fenton.  Go ahead.  You’ll be taken where you need to go.”
Well.  That was maybe a little sketchy, but Danny was nothing if not curious.  He got in.  “I’ll be back in time for the orientation, right?”
“If you aren’t, I’ll make sure you’re shown around personally,” promised Ms. Rue.
The doors closed and the elevator went up.  And up.  Then stopped for a moment, during which Danny felt the tingle of a very thorough full-body scan.  And up some more.  All the way to the top.  The doors opened to a sparkling office.  Everything in it was white, chrome, or glass, with smooth straight lines and geometrically perfect curves.  It blended perfectly with the skyline of Metropolis framed by the full-wall windows.  
Between Danny and the windows was an enormous white desk.  Behind the desk was Lex Luthor.  
“Daniel Fenton,” said Lex Luthor, inclining his head ever so slightly towards Danny.  “It is good to meet you.”
“Thank you,” said Danny, trying not to squeak.  “I’m happy to be here.  I’m looking forward to working here for the next couple of weeks.”
“It is heartening to see that you are more open to cooperation than Vlad.”  Luthor turned away, slightly, surveying the city below him.  
Danny took that as an invitation to come closer and peer out the huge windows himself.  What did Vlad have to do with this?
“I confess, I found myself frustrated by his lack of vision,” continued Luthor, “but youth often holds wisdom that age lacks.”  He turned back to favor Danny with a smile.  “On seeing your application, I was charmed by your initiative in circumventing your mentor.”
Danny’s train of thought, such as it was, derailed.  
“Mentor?” he asked.  
“You don’t have to hide it,” said Luthor.  “Not when we are both quite aware of the others’ knowledge.  Considering my wealth, I am privy to a number of things that ordinary people are not.  Including the beneficiaries of my fellow billionaires’ wills.”
Oh.  Oh, no.  Lex thought– But why–  Was he–  He couldn’t be right, but–  But did this make Danny a… a… nepotism baby?
The sprout of confidence that had been flourishing ever since he got the letter announcing his acceptance to the internship program withered.  This was even worse than finding out he and Jazz were test tube babies.  (And that was only so bad because his parents had felt the need to go on a long tangent about how they had selected their donor-parents, as large portions of Jack and Maddie's genomes were unstable due to a combination of the family proclivities and a variety of curses.)
Lex Luthor stood.  “Doubtless, you’re interested in the projects I outlined to Vlad when I proposed our cooperation.  The device blueprint you submitted for the internship referenced them quite cleverly.  I would like to show you how far they’ve progressed since I spoke to Vlad, and then we can discuss your contribution to their success.”
“I don’t have access to any of Vlad’s resources, Mr. Luthor,” said Danny, cautiously.  “I couldn’t provide any, er, funding to these projects.”
“I am aware of that.  But I think your value goes above and beyond the financial, Daniel.”  He put a hand on Danny’s shoulder.  “After all, the reason I approached Vlad was his science background.  And in a few years… Well.  Vlad Masters is not a young man.”
Was that a murder threat?  Danny thought it was a murder threat.  Oh, boy, did he have something else coming for him if he thought he could just kill Vlad like that.  
Luthor directed Danny back towards the elevator, and this time they went down.  Far down.  Into those basements Danny had been thinking about before.  
They stepped out into a vestibule, and a pair of much more openly armed security guards saluted Lex before running through a series of security measures.  Danny took note specifically of the ones intended to detect mind control and shapeshifting.  
From there, they passed through a series of locked doors and into a maze of gleaming white hallways.  The color made Danny’s skin itch.  Too much like the GIW for his taste.
Luthor opened a side door, and showed Danny into an empty lab.  Empty in terms of people, that is.  In terms of stuff… blueprints, prototypes, models, drawings, coffee cups… not so much.
“I had the team take the day off,” said Luthor.  “I thought you’d appreciate the chance to look at things without any distractions.”
Danny surveyed the plans with interest.  There were similarities between what was being built and the mini-EMP portion of his bug-zapper.  There were also echoes of shield technology…  some kind of energy projector or amplifier?  
“What is it supposed to emit?” asked Danny, unable to hold back his curiosity.  He touched, ever so gently, a hollow place he was sure the energy source was supposed to sit. 
Lex smiled.  “I’m glad you asked,” he said.  “Follow me.”
They went back out into the hallway, but only briefly.  The next room had even more security, but Luthor bypassed it all with businesslike efficiency and they entered a plain, all-white and bare room.
One wall of this room was taken up by a backlit display cabinet made of square cubbies.  Within each cubby was a tiny chip of crystal, like a sample display of particularly expensive rock candy.  Green, of many shades, was the best-represented color, but there was also red and blue.  That made sense, because each crystal was made of delicious ectoplasm-infused quartz.  Danny swallowed.  They were making his mouth water, but the amount of death energy they would have had to be around…
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” asked Luthor.  “Kryptonite.  The key to repelling our would-be alien overlord.”
Yeah.  Remnants of a planet that imploded while still inhabited by billions.  That would do it.  
“I intend to create a Kryptonite field over the whole of Metropolis, one that should, at the least, disable Superman to the point where we can drive him out.  I will sell them to the great cities of America, and then, the world.  One day, the whole Earth will be protected, and Superman must either leave, or die.  But for now, it is still a dream.  That is why I need you, Daniel.”
Danny didn’t think Luthor’s weapon would work.  Not now.  There was too much missing.  Too much being missed by scientists and engineers expecting the Kryptonite to behave in a normal, logical way.  He was certain, however, that he could make something that functioned exactly as described.  He could even do it quickly, building off ghost and human shield technologies.  He could see the pieces of it fit together, like a puzzle.  
Making it, just to prove that he, Danny Fenton, could, was tempting.  
So tempting.  
But he had this little thing called morals, and driving Superman off Earth was definitely in the category of bad.  
“Well, I don’t know if I can fix problems all your scientists can’t, but I can sure try to help.”  He winced a little at the phrasing.  Why did he have to use the word help?  
“That’s all I ask,” said Luthor.  “But that’s far from our only project.  Shall we?”
“Sure,” said Danny, not at all faking his smile.  Even though he’d have to sabotage this stuff, it was really cool to see it!
.
Later that night in his dorm room - which was, incidentally, a lot more spacious than he’d expected - Danny rotated the bracelet on his wrist and pressed a button on its side.  Inside the thick band was a miniaturized and completely functional version of the spy-bot zapper he’d submitted as part of his internship application.  He listened to it click as it went through the different modes available to it.  It tweedled at him when it finished.  
Only then did he pull out his phone and power it on.  He clicked into his contacts and hit the button for his first favorite.  
“Hey,” he said, when the call connected, “Jazz, so…  Sam and Tucker might have been just a little bit right about my internship…”
.
May do more at a later time, but for now, this is it. I am incredibly forgetful, so I don't do taglists. Please consider subscribing to the AO3 version of this instead.
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spiceseal · 5 months ago
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𝔽𝕝𝕦𝕗𝕗𝕥𝕠𝕓𝕖𝕣 𝔻𝕒𝕪 𝟙
October 1st. Prompt: Favorite Scent Timeskip!Akaashi Keiji x Gender Neutral!Reader
Pronouns- You/yours
Credit for Prompt. Flufftober 2024 @flufftober Ivy's Mashup List 2024
Word Count: 919 Includes: Akaashi feels burnt out, he had a bad day. Fluff, comfort. The reader loves autumn. He misses you <33. A neck kiss but not sexual. He thinks about a past memory of the Reader. Rain mention. Notes: No beta <3. I haven't written a fic in a while,, so bear with me if this is cheesy and all over the place,, I promise I'll do better. ;;w;;
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The train ride was long. Being a manga editor had its perks and cons. But now and then, the Akaashi felt that long impending feeling of burnout creeping up on him. It was hard finding time between your schedule and Akaashi’s. He was missing you. Seeing the season’s change from summer to autumn was just another reminder that time was passing and he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was missing it. Keiji liked his job, it wasn’t his first choice of company to be an editor for but he was content. However, he felt hesitation at the idea of going to work the next day. 
His body jolted slightly as the train came to a stop. Keiji grabbed his bag and zipped up his coat before he stepped off the train. The air was a little chilly and the sun was setting. A deep sigh left his lips as he continued his journey home. 
His gaze was kept on the ground as he walked the familiar path to your shared apartment. The wet ground glistened. It must’ve rained today and he was too busy moping around to notice. A thought entered his mind as his shoes stepped on colorful but damp leaves. 
Did you remember to bring an umbrella today? Did you get caught in the rain? Were you able to make it home without getting soaked? 
The thought of you entered Keiji’s mind even more. A small smile tugged at his lips. He could imagine the look of surprise on your face when you realized it was raining. Akaashi couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of your disappointment if you didnt have your umbrella to shield you from the cold and wet rain… It made him feel a little better, even if it was at your expense. 
Akaashi thought of the last time it was pouring rain at the start of autumn. You called him with such a shy and guilty tone. Your apologies were endless. “Keiji, I didn’t know it was going to rain… Can you bring me one? I’m sorry,” He couldn't quite remember if he said much after that but he did remember leaving work to meet you at your job, He sat through a twenty-minute train ride to make it to your job and stood outside with the umbrella waiting for you. Once you came out, you looked embarrassed but it didnt matter to him. Akaashi was internally reeling at the idea of walking home with you. 
Akaashi hadn’t noticed but recalling that memory on his walk home made him walk a little faster. His shoulders had relaxed a bit and his stoic expression had softened unintentionally. But his mind continued down memory lane as a distraction from his bad mood earlier. 
You huddled so close to him on your walk together home, made him so happy. Akaashi never cared to pay attention to seasons changing but you always did. He remembered asking you that day what you liked about fall so much. 
“Autumn has all my favorite scents. I like seeing the change of reds, oranges, yellows, golds and browns… But most of all the scents.” You replied as you stared at the large tree, that was on the way home. It was colorful and bright and the rain continued but you didnt stop. Akaashi’s gaze stayed on your face. He admired the way you looked. He liked the way you spoke of the things that made you happy. He knew why you were so quick to buy candles and incense of crisp apples or pumpkin, pine cones, and cinnamon. Autumn was your favorite season…. But Akaashi snapped out of his gawking when you asked. 
“What’s your favorite scent, Keiji?” 
Akaashi almost stopped at that. Sure, he had scents he liked but he couldn’t pick a favorite. Instead, he gave a halfhearted shrug before telling you he’d think about it. It seemed that his trip down memory lane was enough to get him home; without realizing he was already unlocking the front door. 
The apartment was warm and inviting. The lights were on and those autumn scents candles were lit. Keiji closed the door behind him; he took off his coat and shoes and set his bag down. He had been so used to coming home when you were leaving, he hadn’t realized that you were home. But much to his surprise, you approached him. 
“Welcome home, Keiji.” You smiled and you hugged him tightly. Keiji blinked a bit shocked to see you in your pajama pants parted with an old hoodie of his. His arms snaked around you and he gave a tighter hug than usual. His head fit perfectly against the crook of your neck and your shoulder. With a deep inhale, it was like all his troubles were gone. 
He realized he was missing you more than he thought. Akaashi smiled softly before pressing a kiss against your neck tenderly. He never noticed that the scent of your soap and perfumes or colognes made him content. You were his favorite scene. But he was too embarrassed to answer that question almost a year late. “I missed you, Y/N. Let’s take tomorrow off and we can go get you some new fall decor” 
Your face was shocked at the fact he was so sudden to announce taking a day off. But something told you that he needed it. That warm smile, the way he held you was enough to show you that he wanted to be with you.
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lilyinavalley · 6 months ago
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Tropical promise 🪷
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Sylus x reader Fiction for the Misty Invasion fan art contest 4,248 words [Masterlist]
Ao3
CHAPTER I
A call, a message, a letter, also a gift, Sylus used a lot of ways to lure me, usually it was for an auction, sometimes he needed a partner to rely on in tricky “deals”, or maybe, he just wanted to spend some time with me in places thousands of kilometers far from the city.
It was almost the end of summer when I finally managed to get two weeks off, being a hunter was a really fulfilling job, but as a lowly human being I really needed a pause, and also a change of air, so as soon as I decided the destination, I booked everything in advance.
When the last day of work ended I said hello to my fellow hunter colleagues and I sprinted home, excitement was literally expanding from my body, like an aura of some sort. As soon as I crossed the threshold of the house I rushed to the bedroom, opened my wardrobe and started to pull out suitable clothes for the trip. With a sundress in hand I was looking at myself in the mirror when I heard the doorbell ring.  
I wasn’t expecting anyone nor did I order anything, so I had no idea of who it could have been… or maybe I did…
I laid the dress on the bed and jogged until I was in front of the door; I asked who it was but I didn’t receive any answer, so I tried to look through the door peephole and I could only see the empty hallway and my neighbor’s closed door.
“What the hell is going on now?” I whispered in an annoyed tone.
Too curious to leave, I cautiously opened the door, only to find a long black package with a red ribbon laying on the mat, some nail scratches on the top…
“Those really look like something a certain crow would leave, is he a courier now? Hah” I sneered.
With no more hesitation I took the package and put it on the coffee table of the living room, I untied the bow, opened the lid and then I saw “... a machete?”.
The large knife blade was immaculate, shiny and sharpened to perfection, the black sturdy handle was carved with golden sinuous lines, they reminded me of climbing ivy, little rubies adorning it like flowers. As for the material, I really had no idea, I liked weapons, but I wasn’t that passionate about it.
Without wasting any more time I called the real weapon freak.
After only two rings a familiar deep voice came out of my phone.
“Good evening sweetie, I was anxiously waiting for your call”
“Yeah, of course… So Sylus, what is the meaning behind this extremely well crafted and fancy piece of knife?”
“Why do you always think I have ulterior motives? Maybe it’s just a gift, it’s not the first time I gifted you a weapon”; after a short pause he continued.
“You are not wrong this time though… Are you sure you checked all the contents of the box?”.
I furrowed my brows and immediately removed the velvet support of the machete from the box; laying on the bottom there was a handwritten sheet of paper, it just said:
<< 7.30 - Linkon city’s international airport → Manaus international airport
10 days trip - tropical weather, bring suitable clothing
I will think of the rest, we will also use our private jet
-Sylus >>
After reading that a long silence descended, the expression on my face was unreadable.
“Sylus”
“You don’t sound enthusiastic at all, is there something wrong?”. It was almost unperceivable, but you could see a hint of doubt in his words.
“I was literally packing for the trip I planned weeks ago, I have the plane tomorrow morning and I have paid everything else in advance!”
“Oh I see, it’s not a problem, I’ll refund you, give me the accommodation contacts and I’ll take care of everything…” I interrupted him immediately.
“Wait wait wait, hold your tongue, I didn’t say I was okay with this, did I? I was waiting to go and relax on the beach since summer started, you know, laying on a beach lounger with a cocktail in hand, sunbathing, swimming a bit, taking a walk on the shore when it’s not too hot… those kind of things”
“It sounds extremely boring, did you really want to spend two weeks living like a granny?”
“Yeah, that’s exactly what I need right now”
Sylus continued with a softer voice.
“Did you not enjoy our last outings? In ten days we can do a lot of things, the little gift I gave you will be used, of course, but I don’t want to spoil anything. The choice is yours sweetie, either way I’ll be waiting for you, you already know where to find me.” And the call ended.
I remained still for a minute.
“Who do I want to deceive, there wasn’t a day when I didn’t enjoy my time with you”.
I sighed.
“I guess I’ll have to make some calls” I finally said with a soft smile and a resigned expression.
After changing some of the clothing I already packed, I had dinner and went to sleep.
The day after, I woke up early and went to the airport with a taxi, as soon as I got out of the vehicle I saw currents of people going in and out of the building, in the middle of them there were lovers and families reuniting, it was a literal chaos, it resembled a raging river whose billows crushed against the rock surfacing from the bottom. A messy entangle of feelings.
Suitcase in hand, I went through the crowd, their emotions reached the person they longed to, mine were still in the middle of their search, eyes looking everywhere for him, heart too.
But it didn’t take long, maybe his feelings were searching for me too; in all his imposing height, he was leaning against a pillar, arms crossed, his silver hair adorning his sharp features, crimson eyes scanning the crowd. The people that were passing by couldn’t help but feel intimidated, even if he wasn’t doing anything in particular, his presence emptied the area around him; if the entrance was an impetuous river, the crowd just inside the airport could be described as a compact school of fish that swam madly in a circle, them staying on the circumference and a shark in the center.
As I looked at him in the distance I tried to guess what was going on in his head, what he felt by being avoided like this, was he lonely, pained even?
Suddenly I felt my chest aching, it was like a needle slowly penetrating the tissues of my beating organ; following this new sensation, my hand reached the skin right above my heart, and it vibrated with the rhythm of its pulsations.
I sped up my pace, gaze locked on his stony face, I got closer and closer and the moment he saw me I could see the sudden change of his expression. It happened so fast that if I wasn’t staring at him so intently I would’ve missed it. The pupils of his eyes expanded, eating the red sea in which they were immersed, his eyelids softened and his lips that were previously pouting, raised and opened a little, giving a glimpse of his smile, but nothing more.
When I was just one step away from him, he moved from the pillar and stood completely straight.
With his new height I inclined my head a little higher.
“Were you so sure I would have come?”
He curved his back so that our eyes were on the same level, with his palm facing upwards he gently lifted my hand toward his lips and gave my fingers a single feather light kiss.
“I wasn’t… Sometimes the outcome overweights the risks”
Sylus said while never leaving nor my hand nor my bewitched gaze.
Escaping the trance I suddenly found myself in, I regained possession of my hand and swiftly moved my fingers that were previously embraced by his to his ear, my index finger traced its outline from the helix, then descended slowly to the lobule. Never leaving his crimson eyes I got close to his face, lips barely touching his cheek, hot steady breath tickling his skin; getting even closer, I whispered to his ear.
“Say the truth, you just can’t be without me anymore, can’t you?”
A light scoff reached one of my eardrums.
“Your presence here tells me you are in the same situation though”
My lips curved in a complacent smile and so did his.
He lifted a strand of my hair and gave it a final kiss. After that the tension was broken and our little bubble popped. He stood up.
“Follow me”.
He led me to the by then already familiar jet and we departed.
Machete kept on the bottom of my suitcase, fortunately we didn’t have to pass through the security…
CHAPTER II
The flight seemed to be endless, but I really couldn’t complain at all. In the jet we were the only passengers present, excluding the pilot and the two hostesses that attended to our every caprice.
When we arrived it was already evening, the sky was strangely clear, stars so bright they looked like diamonds; my eyes were inevitably attracted by the pure beauty of its immensity.
Apparently I stayed in a daze a little too long, because Sylus flicked me on my forehead.
“Are you planning to turn into a statue?” he said with his usual ironic tone.
Maybe because of tiredness, or maybe because I was distracted by the night sky, I spoke with sincerity.
“We are nothing but tiny spots in the immensity of the universe, it’s quite terrifying isn’t it?”
Sylus remained strangely quiet, so I continued.
“Even if it’s so scary and mysterious I can’t help but feel this attraction, I wonder why? Is it the charm of the unknown?”
After I asked the last question I moved my gaze towards Sylus and I stared intently in his crimson orbs.
His expression was very peculiar, almost indecipherable, I could distinguish only a tiny shadow of sorrow; but it lasted only for a moment, a sprout of weakness nipped in the bud.
He immediately returned to his usual demeanor.
“I don’t think it’s terrifying, it just makes you understand how little and powerless you are when you are faced by fate”
Without giving me the time to answer, he took my hand and started to walk towards a luxurious car that was parked close to the jet.
“Let’s go sweetie, or you won’t get enough rest for tomorrow”
So I got into the passenger seat and Sylus started the engine, not after long, the exhaustion and the sleepiness took over and I drifted off to sleep.
I woke up the morning after in an unfamiliar room, loud noises coming from the open window, a gentle breeze that moved the curtains reached my now well rested body, as my brain started to slowly gain its self awareness, I got up from the bed I was resting on and reached the source of the gentle morning wind.
With the hands on the window ledge I leaned a bit outside.
Right under my room there was a street bustling with life, children playing football on the corner, stalls that sold all kinds of things, from fruit to strange handicrafts, on the sides of the road I could also see many street performers, some played odd shaped guitars, others were doing magic tricks and so on. The festive atmosphere and the happiness coming from the people below enveloped my heart, finally I really felt on holiday.
The sound of a door opening startled me from that joyous bliss, I turned around and found no other than my travel companion, with sunglasses, a Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts on. It was an unusual sight to behold, as he usually wore those dark and imposing clothes, kindred to the role he held in the infamous N109 zone.
With just three strides he was already in front of me.
“Good morning kitten, did you sleep well?”
With the back of his index finger he traced the outline of my face.
“Yes I did, thank you for taking me here, I blacked out as soon as I got into the car”
“No problem, get ready, today’s going to be a busy day… Oh also, bring along my little gift”
And he got out as fast as he entered.
By then I was already fully awake so I got ready really fast. After going to the bathroom and getting dressed, I packed my adventure backpack and secured in the “little gift” Sylus gave me. Fully ready I got out of the room and I found him already waiting for me.
“Took you long enough sweetie, let’s go eat something in the stalls nearby, otherwise you’re not gonna make it with an empty belly”
He said while gently pinching my tummy.
“Yeah yeah let’s go then” and I rushed out of the hotel.
All kinds of exotic smells reached my nostrils, sweet, salty, spicy even, the warmth of the sun embraced my figure, but I didn’t really know where to go; suddenly I felt something on my head, apparently Sylus put on me a white straw hat.
“Take my hand or the crowd will separate us”
So I put one hand in his and the other held the hat steady on my head, scared of losing it in the general chaos.
His large body strode forward, the only thing I could see was his broad back. Thanks to him paving the path in front of us, we arrived at the food stall in no time.
The booth had all kinds of sweets in display, cakes, biscuits and also what appeared to be muffins. Sylus exchanged some words with the smiling middle aged seller, then she put two pieces of everything in a small tray and gave it to him while waving goodbye.
“Aren’t you gonna pay for it?”
“She’s an acquaintance, I helped her with something a long time ago. She really wanted to exchange the favor, even if she didn’t need to”.
“You have connections all around the world huh”
He took a little square shaped cake and brought it to my mouth.
“Try it”
I took a bite and a delicate coconut flavor imbued my mouth. 
“It’s amazing, give me something else”
Sylus looked at me tenderly and gave me the entire tray, we sat on a bench nearby and together we finished all the food.
With the belly finally full I leaned on the backrest, the man next to me had his legs crossed and was looking at me intently with a sly smile.
“Do I have something on my face?”
“Yes, actually you have a bit of sugar powder on your cheek”
Without giving me time to wipe it off, he removed the stain with his thumb, and then licked his finger clean while looking me in the eyes.
“That was smooth Sylus” With an almost invisible red tinge on my cheeks and a playful smile I looked away.
He laughed a little and I jumped up with energy.
“Soo, where are you taking me today?”
“We are going on a little adventure in the rainforest, are you up with it?”
“Well…” I put on a thoughtful expression “It would be a first for me. Is it going to be just the two of us? Don’t we need a guide?”
“I’m the only guide we need sweetie, trust me”
He stood up, put on his fancy sunglasses and started walking towards a narrow road that led off the main street, I followed him straight behind.
At the end of the dark alley there was a bright and spacious parking lot, it was really full, probably because of the high number of tourists of the period. Families and groups of friends were taking their luggage out of their cars, some kids were crying because they couldn’t wait to play in the resorts, others were silently waiting for their parents to finish. In the midst of all that, there was us.
“There are a lot of families here”
I said while taking his hand, a bit surprised by my initiative Sylus was startled for a second. He knew all about my childhood, his though, was still a mystery, the only thing I knew was that he didn’t have a good one either. Whenever I inquired about his past, a dark veil would descend on his expression, and most of the time, in the end, I wouldn’t get anything relevant out of him. 
He squeezed my hand in return.
“Yes, there’s the summer break in schools” 
A faint sense of anguish started to hover around my heart, not too strong, but also not weak enough to not reach my eyes. They say the eyes are the mirror of the soul, and that must be true, because as soon as that gloomy feeling occupied my mind he patted my head.
“Don’t worry, our future little ones won’t suffer the same fate as us”.
And every negative feeling faded away.
“What are you talking about!” I gave his arm a little nudge and laughed the tension away.
“Here we are, this is what will accompany us on our little adventure”
In front of me a brand new black cross-country vehicle, and also a proud man leaning on its hood.
I raised my eyebrows and took off my backpack to put it in the backseats.
“Let’s not waste any more time then”.
CHAPTER III
The road to the rainforest wasn’t long nor boring.
When we departed Sylus turned on the radio and we did a bit of karaoke together, so his singing alone made the trip hilarious.
After just 15 minutes every human trace disappeared from the scenery, only tropical plants and trees on the view. From the rolled down car window the wind ruffled my hair and the air that filled my lungs was cleaner than ever, the remoteness of the city could already be felt.
Not too long after, we reached our destination, Sylus parked the car in a plain grassy area and we hopped off the vehicle.
“Are we just going in?” I said while looking at the block of leaves in front of us.
“Yes, but we’re here for a reason, around this area there’s a place I want to show you”.
After saying this he swiftly removed the machete in my backpack and walked towards the tropical plants leaves.
“Wait a second!” I stopped his swing by holding his shirt. “Should I be particularly careful about certain dangerous animals? Like snakes, felines …” I got interrupted immediately.
“You are a hunter sweetie, and I have a pretty useful long distance Evol… are you maybe  scared?” He said while sneering.
“You know what, nevermind, you’re right, let’s go”
So the man before me cleared the area in front of us with rapid machete swings, and in no time we were immersed in the rainforest.
We could hear animal sound coming from afar, and every now and then we could hear the rustling of leaves of the vegetation near us, probably little mammals or amphibians were the cause; even so, all this disturbances didn’t make Sylus hesitate for a second, he was really focused on finding the way to the place he wanted to take me. 
While going on and on the environment started to become more and more wild, the humidity seemed to rise at every step and sweat covered every inch of my body.
“Hey, how long until we arrive? You didn’t stop for a second and I’m all sweaty here”
The man stopped his movements and turned around. His face was also covered in salty droplets and his silvery strands were stuck to his forehead.
“You stopped me on time, the destination is right behind this wall of lianas, I’ll give you the honor”
And he gave me the machete.
Curiosity took the better of me and with some swings I quickly opened the path ahead.
What appeared before my eyes was in complete opposition to the landscape seen until that moment, there was a large circular body of water, a little waterfall on the far end and colorful parrots flying.
Utter awe was displayed on my face.
“How did you find this place?”
“A man has its secrets… and another pair of eyes”
Mephisto cawed from the sky and descended on Sylus’ shoulder.
After giving him a little scratch on the head, the black mechanical bird flew on one of the tree branches where the parrots were resting, the tropical animals were weirded out by him, but instead of flying away, they stayed to study him.
While I was distracted looking at the birds I heard a rustling noise extremely close to me, so I turned around and I found Sylus with only his underwear on.
“Sylus, what the hell are you doing?” I screamed, I was shocked by the sudden view.
“I’m going for a swim, I’m too sweaty and hot, strip off and come with me”
“Are you serious? Isn’t it extremely dangerous, there might be alligators on the bottom!”
I said while being genuinely worried about the possible dangers lurking in the water.
“Don’t worry, there is no longer a single harmful thing in this pond, I wiped it clean”
So I looked intently at the surface of the water, and only then I noticed the thin black fog hovering over the entire area.
“Oh, I see”
Without waiting for me the man had already soaked his legs, the water reached his knees.
“Okay, okay I’m coming, wait for me!”
I quickly removed my clothes and I remained in my underwear too. I slowly dipped my feet in the crystal clear water. Sylus said the truth, no living being could be seen, nor on the surface nor on the bottom, only rocks and algae tickled my feet soles.
Seeing the man with his back facing me a few steps ahead, suddenly gave rise to a naughty urge within my body; so after taking a little jog to give the push, I jumped on top of Sylus.
The surprise attack succeeded, and together we fell completely into the deep water.
Air bubbles and distorted colors took over my view; after the bubbles disappeared on the surface I could clearly see Sylus pouty expression in front of my face, happy to have pulled a prank on him I started to smile. Probably softened by my expression he got closer and pulled me in his arms, my hands squeezed his shoulders for stability.
And in this position we floated to the surface. 
Water dripped down from our hair to our shoulders and it returned where it belonged to. 
Our chests were glued to each other, we were at the same level, the Archimedes’ principle helping the cause.
Sylus’ hand slowly moved from my back to my under tight, leaving goosebumps all over the path they traced.
Our hearts were beating together, with every second that passed the pulses increased in frequency in a beautiful crescendo.
And at last, our eyes interlocked, his fiery rubies were burning, his flame bore into my orbs and burned every inch of my soul.
I moved one hand from his shoulder to his cheek and with my thumb I caressed his cheekbone with circular movements.
The affectionate nature of this gesture made his passion subside, now only vulnerability and tenderness transpired from his eyes.
“Sylus, I want to tell you something, but please, don’t say anything until I’m finished”
I said resolutely while still caressing him gently.
He looked at me and gave me a look of tacit consent.
“I don’t know anything about your past, but I just wanted you to know this”
The vision I had when I retrieved the aether core still vivid in my head, pain and sufferance plunged my heart, there was so much blood that I couldn’t even distinguish where the ground started; in front of me a creature similar to a demon, a sword stuck in its chest, the handle in my hand and an inhuman one holding mine in place.
“It doesn’t matter what happened in the past, the causes of the scars that lie invisible on your body…” I traced the line that divided his pectorals with the hand that was still resting on his shoulder “and what you really are”.
“Even if you say that in the past you were a monster scarier than a wanderer, I accept you. My heart always seeks yours, and I decided to trust it”. 
“Even if fate is against you?” Sylus said in a melancholic tone.
“Even if fate is against me”
The passion in his eyes reignited its flame, but this time instead of being burnt I decided to match his heat, so I took the initiative.
I captured his lips in a sweet but steady kiss, I didn’t want him to take the upper hand, not this time. This exchange was my seal to our promise. And Sylus accepted it with vigor.
The shadow of our intertwined limbs was trembling in the uneven surface of the body of water, but remained whole nonetheless. 
A lot was still unsaid between us, but for the first time, in that little paradise far from everybody, our hearts finally found each other.
End
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rassberrylips · 1 month ago
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hey! i just found your acct today and I LOVE YOU :)
if you're still doing the matchmaking thing, please could i get a match from hayden's characters?
here are some pointers about me :)
girlboss in stem geeky queen 👩‍🔬: i have ADHD but i'm still into maths, physics, and chem, but i’ve got a soft spot for psychology, photography and creative writing too!! i'm an engineering major at an ivy league now :)
cultural chameleom: i've lived all over the world, and i can speak 10 languages :) english, tamil, telugu, spanish, french, portuguese, italian, german, hindi—like, how do u even keep track?
creative baddie 🎨: been drawing for 14 years, my niche is pencils sketches and intricate artwork!! i'm getting into painting as well now and i've always been into tons of different art styles and crafting too <3
preppy princess: if it was not obvious by the tag i am your full on old-money preppy aesthetic. you know, ralph lauren jumpers, sleeved shirts, trench coats, pleated skirts all that stuff?
future ceo vibes: the dream NYC glamour + making six/seven figures in aerospace or finance while still having time for pilates and cooking!
other than that, im 5'7, sort of a hopeless romantic too and super extroverted and get along with everyone! i like some sports, like martial arts, swimming and volleyball, and i fence as well! i LOVE animals and my dream pet is a gorgeous golden retriever and im crying just thinking about it!!
i saw someone else say this, but my favourite seasons are spring and early summer :)
your match is ... aj (from takers) !!
♡ very old money very mob wife
♡ you are very important to the team
♡ he loves to be around you and you love to be around him
♡ you speak tons of languages which helps if they're scheming something international, your amazing at drawing so you draw up all these maps
♡ your also super smart so you can really help with anything
♡ love a good late night walk while everyone is at the drive in so its super quiet
♡ hanging out at the club/bar every night
♡ aj plays piano while you sit pretty and drink a martini
a glimpse into your relationship ...
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a/n: sorry its so short and for the wait 💋 hope you enjoy xo
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amoghbanagere915 · 2 years ago
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Summer at International Ivy: Week 1 - ‘Biomedical Engineering’
Summer 2023 – We enrolled Amogh in a variety of STEM themed camps at International Ivy’s collaboration with Pingry School. Week 1 (June 26th – June 30): Biomedical Engineering Camp (Ages 8-10) Amogh learned the different parts of human knee and their functions, types of Engineers, Engineering Design Process, all about Biomedical engineering and how Biomedical Engineers use their knowledge of…
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sokoneedsagun · 5 months ago
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Hi everybody! I wrote another fic!!
This one is a hs au mainly focusing just on Bruce and Harvey, however by like chapter 3 Oliver will show up too, and ivy eventually too
Description- Title from Drain You by Nirvana
This was the second high school he had attended. He made more than fine grades, usually at the top of his classes despite his classmates being in higher age groups. At this point he could probably test out of high school all together. But after being expelled from Arkham Preparatory School, (that teacher deserved it. And the fire barely even spread.) Alfred had decided that he needed “more structure.”
Apparently more structure meant boarding school. He was now stuck at Gotham Academy 9 1/2 months of the year, he was allowed home to the manor on thanksgiving, Hanukkah-New Years, Easter (even if he didn’t celebrate), break, then spending two months of the summer home
Or- Bruharvey hs fic, with Bruce and Oliver as friends and plenty of internalized homophobia
Also edit bc I forget to mention it, there’s a playlist for this too!
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3bU79uRhFMEe0Xd0FJGJZd?si=C-SHjVNERsGAu8ZsAkj9sA&pi=u-FhLPDAlWTg6e
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thedruidsforest · 10 months ago
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Hello friends! I have 2 paperback copies of my fantasy book, Queensdaughter, available for sale! I'll sign and personalize these however you'd like - if you are interested, please send me a message! (You must be able to provide me with a name & shipping address.) $18 USD including shipping (through PayPal) - outside of the US, shipping costs will differ, but I am still able to go international!
Goodreads link (this is book 1 of a trilogy - book 2 is set to release in summer/fall 2025!)
The description is as follows:
Navette lives a peaceful life in her home of Osala, managing a bakery that was passed down to her and her elder sister. The night of the spring festival of Emystre arrives, and the village is laid to ruin when ancient creatures-the skáiga-come in search of the Queensdaughter. Navette flees to the capital, where she discovers her fate as the heir to the throne and a world far more vast than she had ever imagined. This story follows Navette as she learns how to become a queen, control her innate magic, and battle the darkness that threatens her entire world. Meanwhile, her sister Ivy remains in Osala as the people try to rebuild a village from ruin, even as the darkness returns. In the lands of Varyn, not all is as it seems. The trees begin to whisper of danger, the dragons of old are little more than legends, and even queens have their secrets. Love and companionship are more valued than ever as Varyn begins to sink into darkness, but even after the darkest of nights, not all is lost.
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tasha-writes · 6 months ago
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ACOTAR college AU bc I can. I originally wrote this while avoiding a math quiz and I just found it in my drafts.
Riceand
Political Science fashion design double major, you can pry this hc from my cold dead hands.
Comes from a long line of successful politicians, but fashion's the passion. Especially formal wear. Could've gone Ivy league bc of Daddy's money and influence bs, but decided to go to where Cassian and Azriel committed instead
Cassian
Probably Sports Medicine major and plans to become a certified personal trainer after college. He's on the fencing team, and in multiple martial arts clubs.
Somehow he got stuck with Eris as a roommate so he usually crashes in Azriel and Rhysands room.
Azriel
Computer science major with a focus in Cyber Security. He interns with Rhys's dad over the summers. As good as Azriel is at building firewalls, he's better at breaking them down
Feyre
Miss maam doesn't go to college. She had a Fiona Gallagher moment and dropped out of school to support her family. Eventually she starts dating Tamlin, who is like, this successful business owner in some sort of plant/gardening thing. He encourages her to get her GED. At some point she ends up with Rhysand and he encourages her to go to college and she gets a degree in Art and opens a successful gallery with art lessons.
Elaine
This bitch is an Ag major. She wants to open one of those super fancy bouquet shops after graduation. It's giving Lily Bloom
Nesta
Miss maam is a double major in political science and dance. Her mother made her choose poli sci as a major so she would prepared to be a senator's wife.
Once she and Rhys get over their little (huge) pissing contest they bond over their asshole controlling parents
She and Elaine met the bat boys when Feyre invited them over for a Christmas party. She doesn't go to the same school as they do, but an all-girls one about a 30-45 min drive away depending on traffic.
She eventually becomes a personal trainer.
Morrigan
She didn't go to college because her parents suck and tried to marry her off instead. She ends up being a polygraph operator ;)
Amren
She went to college. No body knows where or what her major was.
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roosterforme · 1 year ago
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The Intern Part 3 | Rooster x Reader
Summary: Bradley had an easy way about him that you appreciated. Working for him all summer sounded promising, and you were determined to make it fun for both of you. But as you dipped your toes into getting to know one another on the flights from San Diego to Lisbon, you ended up closer to him than you ought to be, both conversationally and physically.
Warnings: Language, brief mention of drugs (eventually 18+)
Length: 4900 words
Pairing: Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw x Female Reader
The Intern masterlist. Check out my masterlist for more. Banner by @mak-32
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"I still can't believe someone is paying me fifty thousand dollars to spend my summer on a yacht," you mused as the private Cessna jet gained altitude over the California desert landscape. 
Bradley turned and looked at you from his plush leather seat across the narrow aisle and smirked. "You needed the money that badly?"
"Don't play games," you told him, and he laughed. "My point is, I would have done this for free just to get Ted off my back."
His fingers tightened a bit on his armrest, knuckles growing white as he closed his eyes and said, "Now you tell me. My department budget could be looking a lot fatter right now if it wasn't for you."
You could feel the airplane leveling out as the flight attendant, a woman named Melissa, stood and made her way back toward the two of you. "Oh please," you groaned, earning one of those grins from him that made you feel light inside. "I know how much the shareholders make, Mr. Bradshaw. It's not like it's not listed on the Nasdaq Composite if you dig deep enough."
"Can I get anything for either of you?" Melissa asked. 
"I'll take an Old Fashioned, please. Hold the cherries," you replied while Bradley just shook his head in a jerky motion.
When Melissa disappeared behind the black curtain, you asked, "Why are you so tense? Have a drink and relax."
He huffed out a laugh. "It's eight in the morning. A drink is not going to help me."
You leaned a little closer, and his gaze definitely dipped down to your unzipped sweatshirt. "Don't tell me you're into something harder?" you asked, already thinking you'd be disappointed by his answer. You'd been there and done that. Hung out with and dated guys who were users, and it was not something you wanted to be around. Even out of your sorority sisters, there were only a handful who weren't high all week during grad school.
Bradley looked at you with alarm. "I'm absolutely not going to allow drugs on the yacht, Ivy League."
"Good," you replied right away, already feeling more at ease as Melissa dropped off your cocktail. "Thank you."
But she was looking at Bradley now as she said, "Please let me know if I can get you... anything."
He waved her off as you took a sip of your mediocre cocktail. Melissa had gone a little heavy handed with the bitters, probably because she was too focused on your hot boss to measure things correctly. "Take a sip," you told him, reaching across the aisle with your glass. "You look like you need it."
He grunted and accepted the drink, and a few seconds later, he had downed the whole thing. "Thanks," he whispered. "I hate this part of traveling to Europe for Avio. The flights are going to take forever."
You narrowed your eyes at him and took back your empty glass while he white knuckled the armrest again. "You were an aviator, Mr. Bradshaw."
When he looked at you again, his cheeks were a little flushed as he softly said, "You don't have to call me that. Bradley is fine." 
"Bradley," you said with a smile, and his face softened a little bit. "Why don't you like the Cessna? I mean, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't also hoping for something at least a little more luxurious from Avio, but it's not that bad."
He shook his head at you, something you were pretty sure you were just going to have to get used to for the summer. But his mustache twitched as he licked his lips and said, "Maybe chartered flights are normal for you, Ivy League, but I got used to being the pilot. Of something much less comfortable than a Cessna Hemisphere. So this just feels inherently wrong to me. I mean, I just drank a cocktail."
"Inhaled," you corrected. "And technically it was my cocktail," you said, waving to Melissa and holding up the glass and two fingers.
"Semantics," he grunted. "I miss my Super Hornet right now. Not only were there no drinks, there wasn't even a bathroom."
You watched Melissa duck behind the curtain again, probably to forget how to make a cocktail again. "Well, we'll be there soon," you told Bradley.
"I doubt these pilots can do Mach 2, so not fast enough for me."
You sighed, knowing this would probably be a lot easier for him if you could get him to drink a second Old Fashioned, but when Melissa dropped two more of them off, they were both garnished with a cherry. "I asked you to hold the cherries."
"Oh, yes. Sorry," Melissa muttered. "I can remove it for you."
"I'm allergic, so I'll actually need you to remake mine," you replied, and Bradley started to hand his back as well.
"Remake hers, and mine too," he grunted, suddenly looking far less nervous about the flight as he made to stand up. "Fresh glasses and everything. I don't want cherries anywhere near her." You looked up at him in surprise as he kind of rolled his eyes and followed Melissa. "I'll make sure she does it right," he whispered, and you watched him walk up to the curtain, as confident as he usually was.
"Thanks," you replied, even though nobody was there to hear you now. Well, he had promised he'd do everything he could to keep you safe and comfortable. You watched as he crossed his arms over his broad chest, and you pressed your lips together. That blue Oxford shirt was the exact best color he could possibly wear, and you wondered if he knew it or if it was an accident that he chose it.
When he met your eyes, you didn't look away. You didn't really care if he knew you were checking him out. Until you did. Because when he walked back with two new drinks, you realized how little you knew about him. "Here," he grunted, voice deep and raspy. Then he clinked his glass to yours before sinking back into the aisle seat opposite yours again and buckling his seatbelt once more. 
"Thanks for doing that."
He smiled at you. "Can't lose my intern on her first day. Especially since I've never had one before."
You perked up, loving that you'd cornered the market. "I'm your first intern?"
"Yeah." He was back to downing his drink and looking miserable now, practically throwing the empty glass aside in favor of gripping the armrest. Abandoning your drink after one sip, you stood and stepped over his outstretched legs, his eyes following your every move as you eased yourself down into the window seat next to him. "You okay?" he asked, looking a little amused now that you were just inches away from him.
"I am, but you're not," you told him with an air of authority. "Just relax," you added as you took his hand from the armrest and held it in both of yours. His brown eyes went a little wider, and his lips parted like he wanted to say something. Probably question what you were doing. But you said, "You'll feel better in a few minutes," as you worked your thumbs along the pressure points in his big, rough palm. And then he closed his eyes and without a word, he leaned back in his seat with his hand cradled in yours. Soon he was sound asleep.
-----------------------
Bradley woke up to an almost pleasant humming sound all around him. His hand was warm and wrapped up in something soft, and when he opened his eyes, your face was just a few inches from his as you slept. His body thrummed with something akin to desire as you pursed your haughty lips in your sleep, long lashes grazing your perfect cheeks. 
Shit. His hand was resting on your body, fingers tangled up with yours and wrapped in your designer hoodie. His knuckles were pressed to the soft skin which was exposed between your high waisted pants and your damn sports bra. And based on the way the plane was started to descend, he'd taken a five fucking hour nap all cuddled up with his intern. With Ted's goddamn daughter.
Hands off. He'd been telling himself to keep his hands off of you, and just a few hours in, he was literally doing the exact opposite. But you'd been sweet to him, carefully massaging the pressure points in his hand until he was able to fall asleep. You must have drifted off then, too. And now he was loath to remove his hand from your body or look away from you.
He needed another fucking drink. Or several. He leaned carefully over you, and sure enough, he could see the New York skyline coming into view through the small window. And he could smell your perfume. And that was when you opened your eyes, immediately sitting up a few inches and nearly bumping noses with him.
"Sorry," he grunted. "I was just trying to see where we were."
"Where are we?" you asked, your voice soft and a little rough from sleep. Jesus, he liked the way that sounded. 
"Almost to New York. Want me to ask the pilot to circle back to Philly so you can wave to your alma mater?"
You laughed and sat up a little more, arching your back, but you didn't immediately let go of him. "No, thank you. I've only been gone for a week, so I'm sure the City of Brotherly Love is enjoying this break."
Bradley found himself continually laughing at your words, but now you were looking at his hand all linked with yours, so he started to pull his free. You didn't stop him, and when you looked up at him, you even asked, "Did you sleep okay?"
He nodded his head once. "I did. Thank you. For making me feel better."
You sat up the rest of the way and stretched, and he had to look away as you said, "A good intern is good at everything."
Your words weren't dirty, so why the hell were his thoughts? He should be trying to find out more about your father, not imagining you wearing a fluffy white bathrobe while you drank an Old Fashioned sans cherry next to his bed. He was miles away in his mind when the plane touched down on the runway before taxiing to the refueling spot. His stomach was growling wildly now as Melissa walked back and offered them a very late lunch. 
"I didn't want to interrupt anything," she said, looking between you and Bradley like the two of you had been all over each other. When she turned away to get the salads and sandwiches ready, you climbed over him to use the bathroom, and Bradley watched you ignore a phone call as you went. He also realized that he'd have to tread very carefully around potential clients over the next few weeks. It was one thing for Melissa to make a comment like that, but it would be something entirely different if a line like that got back to Ted.
While the plane was refueled and the pilots switched places for the longer flight from New York to Portugal, you and he ate in companionable silence. You'd returned to your seat across the aisle, and you ignored another call before tucking your phone away in your bag. Bradley also used this time to drink a gin and tonic in the hopes he'd be able to sleep again, slightly afraid you wouldn't join him on his side of the aisle to make him feel cozy again. 
"We'll be taking off again in five minutes," Melissa informed him as she cleared away the meal and brought pillows and blankets. Your phone was out again now, and you ignored yet another call as Bradley shook his head.
"Are you going to keep me up at all hours of the night on the yacht yelling at your little boyfriend on the phone?"
You scoffed and looked right at him as you said, "I don't date little boys. Are you going to keep me up calling your wife and kids back in San Diego?"
He didn't want to laugh at the way you talked to him and kept him on his toes. He also registered that the way you'd let him hold your hand while he slept had only come from a platonic place if you were just now asking if he was married. "I don't have a wife or kids."
"Why not?" you asked, leaning on your armrest with your tits smashed together. "You could be married. If you wanted. You're tall and you have all your hair."
"Are those the only prerequisites?" he asked, trying not to look anywhere other than at your face. God, your little bikinis were going to be the absolute death of him if he didn't get fucking laid soon.
"No," you replied without missing a beat. "You're smart, too. Handsome. Tons of money. And you seem nice. Good manners. You make me laugh. Seems like someone would have snapped you up off the market by now."
His cheeks felt warm again as he tried to figure out how to answer. You'd just complimented him nine different ways, and he was reeling a bit. "Because I was in the Navy. Nobody in their right mind would trust a Navy guy with that level of commitment."
"Why not?"
"They lie and they cheat," he said, repeating the lines women had been telling him since he was twenty two. "Nobody you'd want to settle down with."
But you didn't look convinced as your smile tilted a little higher on one side. "Are you a cheater?"
He knew somehow he wouldn't get away with speaking anything but the plain truth to you from here on out. "No."
"I didn't think so." You looked satisfied as you settled back in your seat, about to snuggle under your blanket. The sky was a little darker now, and there was nothing below except for the Atlantic Ocean. 
He had a slight buzz from the gin, and he felt a lot better than he had earlier this morning. He reached for his bag and pulled out his laptop before crooking his finger and coaxing you back to the seat next to him. "We have a little work to do, Ivy League."
While he expected you to complain, you didn't. Rather you popped out of your seat with your pillow and blanket, climbed over him and settled in the window seat once more. "What is it?" you asked eagerly, and when he logged in to his email account, he saw something from Ted right away. Just a reminder to keep himself on track.
"I'm going to teach you a little bit about the Avio software we will be marketing, so by the time we land in Lisbon, you'll know as much as I do."
You curled up with your pillow and blanket and looked at him, your words doing more to him than you probably intended. "Don't test me, Sir, or I may end up knowing more than you."
"You're a brat."
-------------------------
This time when you woke up, it wasn't to Bradley's touch or his brown eyes. This time it was to Melissa's laughter and Bradley's soft voice. "When are you flying back to the states?" she asked him as you cracked your eyes open. 
"Not any time soon," he replied smoothly. "We have a lot of work to do."
"Well I hope I'm on your flight back," she said flirtatiously as you propped your head up. 
But Bradley wasn't paying attention to her now as he turned your way. "You're up," he mused, and you just nodded, wishing you'd had time to shower or check how you looked before he saw you. "We'll be landing soon. And then we'll get you and your designer luggage to the yacht."
You watched Melissa roll her eyes at you before she stood. "I'll be right back with coffee and some breakfast."
"Hold the cherries! Please!" you reminded her, just to be obnoxious. When she pretended she didn't hear you, Bradley chuckled. "You know, it's kind of refreshing being given an attitude. Is this how you feel when I give you one?"
His eyes went a little wider. "Don't make me call your father."
"I thought you valued your intern," you replied with a smirk. "So don't make me spread that nasty little rumor around Avio that you went to the University of Bumblefuck."
"Virginia," he snorted.
"Whatever."
Melissa dropped off mugs, a carafe of coffee, cream, sugar and pastries. "No cherry," she said blandly as you reached for a blueberry muffin. 
"Much appreciated," you replied as you peeled back the wrapper and took a nibble while Bradley ate an apple danish in two bites before he poured coffee into both mugs. Clearly the two of you were hungry. You also had no idea what time it was. You had to put your phone on silent since your dad wouldn't stop calling you, even though you told him you'd talk to him when you got on the yacht.
"How do you take your coffee?" Bradley asked as you silently chewed. You went to reach for the creamer, but he pulled it away and looked at you. 
You swallowed down your muffin and said, "Cream and sugar, but you don't have to do it. I should probably be doing it for both of us."
He shrugged and got your coffee fixed up exactly the way you would have made it yourself, as he said, "You and I will be working in close proximity, and I feel like this is the kind of detail I should know."
"Well how do you take your coffee?" you asked, but he set down the cream and sugar without adding anything to his. "Black, no sugar."
"Black, no sugar," he confirmed before taking a sip. You watched the alluring scars on his neck as he swallowed, once again surprised that he wasn't married. He didn't seem as helpless as your father, but he seemed like the kind of person who should have someone warm at home when he returned from work each night. Someone to look after him. 
You took a sip of your own coffee and smiled, because it really was perfect, especially for something that was made on an aircraft. "Thank you."
"Any time," he responded, and you eased back in your seat and looked out the window as the Portuguese coastline came into view. You drank your coffee and picked at the muffin, watching as the very early morning sun made the Atlantic Ocean glitter. There were marinas filled with yachts and sailboats, and you wondered if Avio's was amongst them. 
"Were you on the yacht with my dad last year?" you mused as the plane dipped lower in the sky.
Bradley set his mug down, and maybe it was just you, but his features suddenly seemed a little guarded. You'd always been good at reading people, which made it easy to get a favorable response when you needed one. But he'd never looked at you this way before. "For a few days. One of my buddies from the Navy was there too. Jake Seresin."
You blinked and his expression was neutral again. "The name sounds familiar."
Bradley laughed as the plane touched down. "The face will be familiar, too. Soon enough. He's champing at the bit to get onboard for a few days here and there this summer."
You set your mug down as well and said, "Don't worry, Sir. I'll dazzle him to bits during the dinner parties."
Bradley's nostrils flared, and his pupils grew wider. "I don't doubt that."
When you laughed, he smiled before looking down at his hands. "Well, Bradley, I don't know about you, but I can't wait to get on the yacht. I wonder what kind of caviar the chef will serve for lunch."
You unbuckled your seatbelt, prompting him to do the same. "There are different kinds of caviar?" he asked, one eyebrow raised as he picked up your tote and handed it to you. 
"Don't embarrass me, Bradley. The other interns will all laugh at me behind my back."
But he just shook his head as he moved to the side and said, "After you, Ivy League." So you led the way to the front of the aircraft, thanked both pilots and Melissa, even though she clearly didn't like you, and you climbed down the stairs onto the warm tarmac. 
You shouldn't and absolutely couldn't keep reacting to Bradley the way you were, but when he placed his hand on your lower back and said, "This way," you nearly moaned. You looked up at him as he tried to guide you toward the waiting limousine. "Go climb in. I'll grab the bags."
"I can get my own bags," you insisted.
"I know you can, but you have nine hundred of them, and I'm still hungry, and I can do it faster."
"Fine," you replied, and you could feel his gaze on your back as you walked toward the driver who was holding the back door open for you. "Thank you." As you slid across the leather seat, you watched Bradley effortlessly lift multiple pieces of your luggage at the same time while you bit your lip. What the hell was it about him? You couldn't quite put your finger on it, but he was enjoyable to watch. His voice made you feel a little fuzzy. He was raw and genuine like your favorite pair of well worn Levi's which were tucked away in your Dior suitcase he was carrying with one massive hand. 
You looked away. You counted to ten. You already knew this was going to be an issue, so you weren't sure why it was hitting you now. When you glanced his way again, he was bringing his own two, nondescript pieces of luggage to the limousine trunk, and then he was sliding across the seat next to you.
"Twenty minutes to the marina from here," he murmured, his hand coming to rest on the seat next to your thigh. "And then we can get to work."
You pursed your lips. "I was under the impression we would be playing, too."
He chuckled as you started to look through the compartments next to the seat. "We can play a little bit."
You opened what turned out to be an ice chest, and ran your fingers along a bottle of chilled Dom Perignon. "We can start with this," you said, pulling it free from the ice and holding it up.
He was looking at you, not the bottle, but that little twitch of his mustache was his tell. Even though his eyes seemed stern, he held out his hand, and asked, "Think we can finish it in twenty minutes?" 
You smiled brilliantly as you handed it to him. "Don't ever ask me that again."
"Sassy," he muttered, unwrapping the foil and slowly twisting the cage loose before wiggling the cork free with his big hands until it popped. "Here you go."
"No," you insisted as the driver pulled out onto the main road. "You first. Drink to a successful summer."
Bradley nodded once and took a sip before handing you the bottle. His eyes were on your lips as you pressed them to the bottle where his had just been. "To a successful summer," he echoed, his voice a deep rumble as the city went by in a blur. You couldn't stop smiling, and neither could he, and approximately eighteen minutes later, when he helped you out of the limousine, his cheeks were flushed pink.
"Is that it?" you asked, very slowly removing your hand from his as two men rushed your way in matching gray shorts and navy polos. There was a massive yacht with Down to Business lettered across the back and Avio Technologies along the side.  
"That's it," Bradley confirmed, slipping his black sunglasses on as he reached to shake hands with the two men who introduced themselves as Antonio and Nikolai. Bradley told them your name, and they both took your hand in turn. "She's my intern for the summer," he said smoothly, and then they started to unload your luggage. 
"Let's go," you said, glancing back at Bradley as you started down toward the marina gate, and then he was right next to you again with a few long strides. "I hope you can find your Armani swim shorts quickly, because that pool is calling my name." 
"I can, actually. One of the benefits to only bringing two suitcases." He helped you over the gap, and as soon as you were on the yacht, you felt at home. You knew this was going to be the summer you needed.
"Let's go meet the captain," he murmured, his hand finding your back again. 
"Do you think he has more champagne?"
"Ivy... it's nine in the morning."
"I'm still on San Diego time."
Bradley paused for a beat while he did the math. "It's one in the morning back home."
"Exactly," you told him with a little pout that you knew wouldn't actually faze him. He just smiled as he guided you past the pool you couldn't wait to jump into and an enormous jacuzzi. You walked through a dining room that could seat twelve people and past a fully stocked bar. It was like the best offerings from your sorority house and your dad's estate all rolled into one.
"Welcome aboard!" boomed a voice with a French accent. "We've been expecting you. I'm Captain Marcell." He was probably in his sixties with gray hair and a matching beard, and he reminded you a bit of your favorite professor at UPenn.
"Pleasure," you replied, shaking his hand after Bradley told him your name.
Next to him were lined up two friendly looking women, one with short brown hair and one with long brown hair. Beatriz and Lucia, the stewardesses, would be taking care of everything you needed. And next to them was an attractive man wearing a bit of a scowl. 
"I'm Rocco. The chef. I can make anything. I don't like changing the menu at the last minute."
Oh, you liked him already as you shook his hand. And then your heart fluttered as Bradley said, "I need to speak with you about removing any cherries from the yacht before we leave the marina." 
"Cherries?" Rocco asked, scowling deeper.
Bradley glanced at you as he removed his sunglasses, and his mustache twitched. "Yes. Can't have any onboard. That applies to the kitchen and the bars. My intern has an allergy."
"I'll take care of it," Rocco replied before turning away, and you'd never been more certain that someone would take care of something in your life. Then Captain Marcell handed Bradley a folder.
"Rough itinerary. Weather report for the week. List of phone numbers. Please let me know how long you'd like to spend in each port. I can of course adjust anything as needed. Now if you will select your cabins, Antonio and Nikolai will deliver your luggage."
"Thank you," Bradley replied, handing the folder to you. "You're in charge of this. Now why don't we head down so you can choose a room?" He nodded his head toward a wide set of stairs.
You walked down to the lower deck, and once you and he were alone again, he pointed to the left. "The sooner we get settled, the sooner the swim trunks come out?" you asked softly. 
"Something like that." His soft chuckle was right behind you as you stopped at a mint green door with gold trim.
"Is this my room?" you asked, placing your hand on the doorknob. There was a little keypad next to it. 
"If you want it to be," he replied. "Or, there are three others you can choose from."
"Which one are you taking?"
His eyes flitted from your face to a spot a little further down the hallway. "White door."
When you turned to investigate, you saw a pink door directly across from that one. "Wouldn't it be easier if my room was near yours?"
"Probably." His expression was neutral, but that damn mustache was giving him away. 
"I'll take the pink one."
"Very good. I'll get the room codes from Beatriz, and I'll tell them where to deliver the luggage."
"Great," you replied, still standing close to him, but he didn't move.
"Perfect," he said, brown eyes focused on yours. The hallway was narrow, and now he was placing his hands on his trim hips, taking up even more space. "Try not to get into too much trouble while you look around."
Finally he turned toward the stairs, but you called his name right away. "Bradley?" He glanced back over his shoulder with a questioning look. "Thanks for mentioning the cherries."
"Sure," he replied easily. "I got you, Ivy." Then he was walking back up the stairs and out of sight.
---------------------------
We are about to set sail. Let's get into a little trouble. Let's have a little fun. Already feeling a little tension between Bradley and Ivy League. Thanks to @mak-32 and @beyondthesefourwalls
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