#swiss gets his attention and he stands

[moonstruckme]

Omg holiday fics… I need a Steve and reader under the mistletoe fic (bonus points if like enemies/rivals/frenemies to lovers vibe??) like I need air to breathe

Ahh I missed him! Thanks for requesting <3

cw: alcohol

Steve Harrington x fem!reader ♡ 1.7k words

It’s virtually the same as every party you went to in high school, save for the Christmas tree in the corner of the living room. Try as Scott’s girlfriend might, she cannot, in your opinion, successfully call this a Christmas party. 

She has made a valiant effort, though. There’s an option of spiked eggnog sitting on the counter beside the cooler of beers, tinsel glitters around the railing of the stairway, and a grocery store cheese plate really adds a bit of class to the center of the coffee table. Unfortunately, the class is sort of nullified by all the bro-ey yelling coming from the beer pong tournament Scott’s holding in the basement. 

“That’s McCreedy,” Steve tells you as a particularly loud whoop comes from downstairs. 

You reach for a piece of swiss, suppressing your smile. “You sound confident.” 

“It’s him. Wait a sec, he’s gonna do his signature yell.” He holds up a hand, ear cocked in anticipation. 

A moment later, a testosterone-fuelled, “Whoo! That’s what I’m talking about,” sounds from the basement. 

You hastily swallow your cheese, covering your mouth to hide your laugh. Steve looks very pleased with himself. 

“Every time he scored a basket for four years,” he explains. 

“Oh my god.” Your laughter is difficult to quell when Steve looks so delighted to have brought it about. You think, not for the first time tonight, that you never expected to be having this good a time with Steve Harrington. “Are we going to be subjected to that all night?” 

Steve grimaces. “Depends. He’s not very good, but if he’s playing someone who also sucks…” 

“Is this the part where you tell me that if you were in there he’d be losing?” You’re a bit surprised at the flirtation in your own tone, but you don’t backtrack. 

“No.” He smiles. “That would be arrogant and braggy.” 

“Not to mention predictable,” you tack on. 

“Right. I’ve been told, uh, that’s not really the best way to get nice girls to like me.” 

You pick up your cup, hiding a smile behind the rim as you take a sip. You’ll have to send a fruit basket to whoever taught him that lesson. The Steve Harrington you knew in high school was absolutely that conceited. He knew he was handsome and charming, and the fact that he knew was enough for you to stay away. He never fell short on girls who wanted him for those things anyway. You didn’t think of Steve much then, only with vague annoyance when he wrapped your teachers around his finger or made your friends ditch you on a Friday night so they could go to one of his basketball games, and then you’d graduated and happily never thought of him again. Until tonight, when you’d shown up for a friend-of-a-friend’s so-called Christmas party and here he was. 

This Steve Harrington seems different from the one you knew. His signature hairstyle has changed, for one thing. It’s grown out a bit, less coiffed, more fluffy. A couple of strands fall into his eyes which he keeps combing back in a way that you hate to find endearing but unfortunately do. He seems to walk more than he saunters, now, too. His mouth doesn’t hold so much smugness in its tilt. This Steve is (seemingly) more interested in talking to you than trying to get you to play seven minutes in heaven or recounting his basketball stats or going to play beer pong with his friends who he claims aren’t his friends anymore. He looks you in the eyes like he’s interested in what you have to say and smiles when you smile.

“I’m going to go get a refill.” You stand with your cup. “Want anything?” 

“Oh, yeah.” Steve picks up his beer, long since empty. “I’ll come with you.” 

For all the self-respect that had kept you immune to him throughout high school, it’s hard not to feel flattered by Steve’s attention tonight. Your face heats as he trails you into the kitchen, not even a full step behind as you go inside. 

“Ooooh!” 

You stop. It’s Sasha, Scott’s girlfriend and the party’s true host, who’s oohed at you, but everyone in the kitchen has turned to look. 

“What?” you ask. 

Nancy Wheeler is refilling the punch bowl of eggnog with another girl you almost recognize. She gives you a look that borders on sympathetic. “You’re standing under the mistletoe,” she tells you. 

You and Steve look up at the same time. Taped to the ceiling above the entryway, like a trap hunters lay in the woods, is a small sprig of green tied with red ribbon. 

You look at Steve. He’s already looking at you. 

“I…”

“No.” Steve’s tone could nearly be called scoffing. “No way. That’s stupid, anyone who walks in is gonna be under it.” 

“Only people who walk in together,” corrects Sasha. It’s clear she’s been waiting for her trap to spring all night. 

Steve shakes his head. “It’s stupid,” he says again. “Right, Robs?” 

He looks to the girl sitting on the counter by Nancy—Robin, you remember her now, she was a couple years below you in school—seemingly for support. 

“Uhh, right,” Robin fumbles. Nancy gives her an amused look. “It’s a stupid tradition, which, by the way, we only do because some old Greek guys thought it would promote fertility, so. It’s sexist, or something.”

Steve nods, satisfied. 

“Still,” says Nancy, a smile playing on the ends of her lips, “it is a tradition.” 

With Nancy’s hand gracing hers, Robin seems to have no rebuttal for that. 

“It’s a bullshit tradition.” Steve reaches into the cooler, not looking at what drinks he grabs before ushering you back out of the kitchen. “Come on.” 

You feel like you have whiplash going back to the couch. Steve’s gotten you both sodas, condensation still dripping off the one he presses into your hand. The tab cracks and hisses as he pops his open. 

“Sorry about that.” He still seems piqued. “I didn’t know we were gonna get ambushed like that.” 

“It’s okay. How could you know?” you reply airily. You crack open your own can, not thinking to check what it is until it hits your tongue. Ginger ale, fizzy and light. “I didn’t know that about the origin of mistletoe.” 

“Yeah.” Steve chuckles drily. “Me neither.” 

“Robin seems really smart.” 

“I’m, like, eighty percent sure she made that up on the spot. But yeah, she’s smart.” 

“Well, I’m just glad we didn’t perpetuate a sexist tradition.” 

You say it lightly, but there’s an odd weight in your chest. You are glad that you didn’t kiss in the kitchen in front of everyone, that Steve hadn’t pressured you like everyone else, but part of you wishes he’d been a little less adamant in his refusal. It’s silly, you know. You don’t think you’d actually want to kiss anyone under those circumstances, so public and contrived, but still. It stings just a little. 

“Do you and Robin hang out a lot?” you ask, trying perhaps a bit too hard to sound casual and disinterested. 

“Yeah.” Steve nods, those couple of strands falling out of line again and into his eyes. “But, you know, we’re just friends. We work together.” 

You raise your eyebrows, disbelieving. 

“Really,” he laughs. “She’s—it’s not like that. Super not like that.” 

“Okay,” you say, believing him. But you’re not done teasing him yet, you decide. “You hang out with a lot of high schoolers, Harrington?” 

Steve guffaws. “Hey, we’re just friends! And Robin’s only a couple of years behind us.” 

You pause, sensing there’s more. “But…” you prompt. 

Steve huffs a laugh, pushing his hair out of his face. “It’s not weird, okay?” 

“Okay.” You settle in. “Tell me.” 

He interrupts himself repeatedly to insist again that it’s not weird, and you don’t doubt him, the look that comes over his face when he talks about the kids fond and brotherly. He gives them free rentals from the video store he works at with Robin, helps them navigate high school drama and crushes, and drives them places when their parents won’t. When you call him a pro bono babysitter, Steve laughs and says, That’s exactly what it is. 

It’s sweet to see how much he cares about these kids, to hear him talk about them like they’re pests he has to wrangle and put up with while smiling like he wouldn’t have it any other way. The Steve you knew in high school didn’t seem to care about much of anyone apart from himself. This Steve is overflowing with sincerity, kinder and braver and more genuinely funny than you remember him. When he offers you a ride home, you accept. 

You don’t bother zipping your coat for the walk to the car. There’s salt on the porch, but still you walk carefully, wary of ice. 

“Hey,” Steve says before you can go down the steps. 

You glance back at him, and he’s looking up. 

“Look.” 

You tilt your head back too. Hung on a string above the entrance to the porch, tied in a red ribbon just like the one in the kitchen, is a sprig of mistletoe. 

“Two?” You laugh, turning towards Steve. “Doesn’t that seem like—” 

His lips capture yours. 

The first press is greedy, overeager, but after a second of you standing still in surprise he starts to back away. His lips leave an impression of warmth on yours. They part on an apology. 

You shake your head, reaching for him. “Wait.” 

The material of his jacket is slippery underneath your fingers, and his lips find yours with the same warmth they left with. Steve kisses confidently, like you knew he would, but also with a curiosity you didn’t expect. His lips close and part over yours like he’s asking, entreating, trying to draw something out. You don’t know that you have the answer, but you kiss his cupid’s bow in consolation. He brings his hands to the curve of your back, squeezing before letting go. 

Your breath puffs in the cold air. “I thought…I thought it was a bullshit tradition.” 

“It’s only bullshit when it’s in a room full of people,” he says. 

You laugh, again surprised at how easily he coaxes it out of you but not as much as you’d been at the beginning of the night. You think Steve’s going to be making you laugh a lot now.

[bunny-jpeg]

hi bunny!! please may i order swiss roll with a side of tonic water and mocha coffee served by fernando? and please make it spicy!! 🤍

bakery menu

orders are still open! hit me up! i've been writing a lot more and i love creating these little pieces for you! thank you to all who have submitted, i am working tirelessly to get through all of them! so thank you! from this lovely anon, thank you! i love a good fernando alonso fic in my inbox, fans of his always have the most interesting orders, haha! especially with the swiss roll prompt! wow!

swiss roll ("everything you own, everything you wear i paid for. so i guess that means i own you.") + tonic water (age gap) + mocha coffee (breeding kink) served by fernando alonso (formula one)!!

cw: smut/pwp, breeding kink, age gap (20s/40s), sugar daddy-adjacent, mentions of children & pregnancy, alonso likes having power over you, slight baby trapping, sub/dom

when your university friends told you getting involved a man almost double your age was a bad idea, you simply scoffed it off. in a bit of fairness you had little dollar signs in your eyes when fernando first started to spoil you. his praise was a fountain that kept you full.

but everything came with a price tag, pequeña paloma and after three years of messing around, fernando expected a return on investment.

"you know, you're getting up their in age, alonso." he heard over dinner. it made the man laugh against his wine glass with his other hand on your lower back. your shifted a little in your seat and kept your focus on the conversation.

the same member of the team added, "it's about time you had kids, no? you can't keep racing forever. if you start now you can have the kid in racing before you know it."

you looked away briefly and tried not to blush too hard. you had been out of university for a month for summer vacation and now they were talking about children? but your fernando just laughed and said, "well, i guess we aren't getting younger. right, dove?"

he pulled you a little closer to him and rubbed your shoulder, he looked at you. those dark eyes pulled you in as always. it made you rub your thighs together with a throb that he had trained you to feel whenever he was somewhat domineering.

you nodded and giggled a little, "well you aren't." then giggled when your much older boyfriend pulled you close. he kissed you on the head and you felt his warmth. he then turned back to the team member and flashed him a grin.

it was a return on investment. fernando alonso gets involved with a pretty young thing from a pretty little private university, spoils her and gives her the attention her daddy won't. then have her get all soft with his child and be a good mother to them.

and that was what happened when you got back to your room for the night. his broad hands on your shoulders as he bent you over to touch your toes. just as he trained you, stretched you out nice a good, in more ways than one. he admired you for a moment with his stiff cock nudging against your backside.

"he was right, pequeña paloma. i'm not getting any younger. about time i have a child. and who else would i pick, but you. you're almost done school and now my live-in girlfriend. i feel like a baby would make it a home." he leaned over you and placed his large hands on your middle, "it's only fair you give me what i want. everything you own, everything you wear i paid for. i own those, so i guess that means i own you."

you nodded, "yes." and you felt something to twist in your gut before fernando made you stand up right once more. his hands on your breasts, groping them between his strong hands. you whimpered a little bit from the pain.

"that's what i like to hear." he said before he pulled back a little to undo the zipper of your dress. he didn't know why he was taking it off so delicately, you weren't going to be able to wear this form fitting number in a few months.

but don't worry, he'll get you something to show off that growing middle. once he got you in your bra and panties, you turned to face him. you looked at him and started to undo the buttons of his shirt. his hands were on your hips are you did your duty to get him undressed.

the liked the sight of you, submissive. so cute.

once you undressed him, you led him to the bed. you got up on it and crossed one leg over the other. fernando soon crowded your space and got you on the bed. laid out to perfection for him.

you said to him, "we don't have to make a baby now."

he looked at you and responded, "we have to. anything could happen tomorrow. i need to make sure that your sweet cunt is taken care of. bred to perfection." he said softly, his words left you feeling tingly all over.

you looked good under him as his eyes raked your naked body. pretty little thing. fernando's little investment. have a good place to keep his cum for years to come, but right now he wanted you to end up with a baby at your hip.

"you know you can't deny me, my love." he said softly, "you know you can't. you let me do whatever i want to you. just like your apartment, your bed, your services. i own it all, and you have to start repaying." he licked his lips and got between your legs.

you squirmed a little and held onto the soft white covers under you. fernando's cock twitched at full attention and he shifted his hips a little before he grabbed you by the legs and got them over his shoulders.

he pressed into you further, putting your knees to your chest and fully trapping you underneath. he said in a low tone, "you know how to be good for me. right? you know how to stay under me and let the man who owns you do what he pleases." he got his cock into with ease and watched your back arch.

such a beautiful sight, there was a large period of time where they weren't women like you. so willing to please a man like fernando, do anything to keep your man happy. and he in turn made sure you didn't want for anything. if him bruising your cervix means your silly little tution was covered then so be it. you just hoped that you didn't get pregnant before you finished your program.

it felt weird to have your knees so close to you while he rocked against you. his hands on either side of you as he dragged his cock in and out of you. at one point he only had the tip in before he quickly pushed it back in to the base. you felt the force of that in your chest as his cock explored your insides. you knew his cock was a cervix kisser and it was getting very familiar with yours.

a man almost double your age hitting the back of your pussy with everything he had. he was a man on a mission to make sure your cute little cunt stayed around his cock. barely touched a man before he met you, now he was promising filthy things to the woman who was going to give him the family he wanted. you'd fill out so nicely with pregnancy, a little thickness to your hips would make his cock leaky every time he saw you. he knew that you'd be kept busy with a little alonso baby toddling after you.

he eventually eventually got your ankles over his shoulders, helplessly rested against the strength of them. he groped at your breasts as he continued to fuck you. he watched your cute curves bounce with each thrust.

you whimpered, "please, frenando." your back arched a little from the intensity of his movements. how hard he gripped onto you as the bullies his cock into your sweet pussy. your heart hammered in your chest as he continued to move against you. your much older boyfriend was breeding you, he was fucking you nice and deep to make sure it all took.

if he was going to get you pregnant then he was going to go all out for it. hips tilted so gravity could work its magic and flood your pretty, younger pussy full of come. promise of a future together. don't worry, fernando would be an attentive father and he wouldn't stick you with two or more children. well, until he retires at least. then you're going back to his country with a big piece of land. and you'll be the perfect alonso wife. plus the kids to keep you busy, there won't be any time

so maybe the degree was a bad investment, you won't be able to use it for raising the little brats that you were going to have. but, he'd happily pay for a master's program if it meant that your cunt would be stained with a sheen of his cum across it. sticky dna up against the furthest parts of you thanks to your lover.

he continued to rut against you. his mouth was full of filthy promises as he moved up against you. your heart was hammering in your chest as you tried reach your climax. happily taking what fernando gave. you tried to shift a little but he pressed into your further. he kept you trapped under him as he felt his cock with in your sweet cunt. he knew he was could he could feel the heighten feeling around him. the thump of his heart as he had every intention to breed your sweet little sex.

"please. honey"

"i know, i've got you. you just let yourself finish. i'm right here. just like when i first made you come. you love this feling don't you. you want me all the time. that's why you're letting me finish inside of you. you want me."

you took him by the face and pulled him closer once more. you came around his cock with a noise leaving your chest. you felt hot all over, like a splash of pleasure through your system. your lover took you by the face and moved yoou into a searing kiss as he own pace started to stagger.

"honey."

"shh. i know, i know. i'm close." he really started to work your body was you laid there in a blessed out state. you looked beautiful even now, unaware of how quick fernando was fucking you. the bed squeaked under you two as the headboard rocked against the tacky wallpapered wall. a few more strokes and he finished inside of you with his hands on your hips. he had left pretty marks on your breasts and hips, a sign of his. as if the future child you'd carry wouldn't prove it.

you whimpered a little bit but fernando silenced you with a kiss. no need to be a whiny girl, you were supposed to behave for him. be on your plush behind and let him thrust up into you. watch those breasts bounce. but he didn't slow down once he came. instead he got you on your stomach and pressed his cock into you even further. the new angle had your toes curled.

his words were in you ears once more, it muddled your thoughts. all you could think about was your lover as you arched your back.

fernando alonso wasn't getting younger. so he was going to spend all his time making sure that you became the mother he knew you could be. <3

[miasmaghoul]

so, about those angsty swaeon thoughts...

It's later than usual by the time they make it to the hotel, and Dew's so tired he can barely stand up straight. He was already limping with the damn boot strapped to his leg, but the exhaustion makes it that much worse. He's more hobbling now, at the back of the pack while the others make their way to the lobby - all close enough to touch, yet draped in distance and dense quiet.

No one has spoken much since they watched Swiss be whisked away the moment they'd stepped off stage. Taken by the arm by a pair of men none of the ghouls knew by sight but who wore the clothes of the clergy, escorted down a long hall and around a corner before any of them could even call after him. They'd known he was leaving tonight, Copia's notice recalling him showed up two days ago, but the suddenness, the shock of seeing it? Well, none of them could have predicted that.

A soft, worn voice had sliced through the weight of their silence, heavy footfalls accompanying the words.

"He is...an incredible kisser."

V was softly caressing his own paint-smeared lips as he said it, and the five pairs of infernal eyes that flicked to focus on him all held different intent.

They're all still feeling out their new frontman - one who doesn't particularly enjoy being called Papa, something Dew and Mountain in particular have been struggling with - and while none of the ghouls bear him any ill will, it's true enough that there's a lot of trust still to build. They weren't looking at him with disdain, nothing so sharp - just the weighty stares of five ghouls who had all lost someone yet again, and far too soon.

Aeon, though, hadn't been looking with them. When Dew turned his attention from V, already headed down the hall, he'd found Aeon still staring at that distant corner. He hadn't so much as twitched since Swiss vanished beyond it from the look of things, and Dew's stomach had done an all-to-familiar flip.

Changing had happened in near-silence, and it's been much the same since then. The trek to the bus, the drive to the hotel and now this walk through the parking lot. Dew can at least ground himself with the pain in his foot and hip, but the others? They hardly seem present. Cirrus stumbles over her words at the concierge desk, keys get fumbled, Aurora can't stop bumping into anyone close to her. There's a faint buzzing in the air, one a human might hear and attribute to fluorescent lighting, but it's a sound Dew is intimately familiar with.

Interpreting the varying hums of quintessence is a skill Dew has honed over the years, but you wouldn't need to be an expert on the subject to read Aeon's mood. He's standing a few steps away, staring at nothing and radiating an invisible aura of discontent. The chill rolling off him would be enough to keep away damn near anyone.

Dew has never minded this particular brand of cold though. He shifts his duffel, readies himself, and -

"Need a lift?"

A large hand cups his shoulder, gives it a squeeze, and Dew leans easily into Mountain's familiar side. His eyes remain on Aeon as the taller ghoul rubs his back, holding up a plastic keycard between two fingers.

"We're roomies," Mountain rumbles, tucking the key into Dew's jacket pocket. "Seventh floor, far end. You can play backpack, if you want."

Dew snorts, looking away to gently headbutt the other ghoul's bicep.

"You know how to treat a girl," he teases, but he's already shuffling around to Mountain's back. As he's hoisted up, Dew catches Aeon trading a few words with Cirrus as he accepts his own keys. Well, one of them at least - he forces the other back into the ghoulette's hand. "You talk to the kid, Mount?"

"Not yet," he replies, getting his arms situated. "Rain was...not great when we were in the showers. He needed me."

Dew nods, rests his chin against Mountain's shoulder. Watches Aeon skulking off to the stairwell, bypassing the elevator bay entirely.

"Just wonderin'." He yawns into the taller ghoul's shirt, grunting at the ache in his foot as he's toted to the elevators. "Hey, catch Cir before we go. Got a question."

He does, Dew gets his answer, and the three of them share a long - if slightly awkward - hug and a series of cheek kisses. Mountain punches the number seven, and the doors close just as a damp-cheeked Aurora shuffles to Cirrus' side.

"Poor things," Mountain sighs, stroking the back of Dew's hand with a rough thumb. "Her and Aeon both."

Dew hums his agreement and nuzzles into the side of Mountain's throat. Inhales the green scent of his soap and the remnants of sweat stuck in his hairline. It's always impossible to really get clean in those venue showers, but Dew isn't complaining. It reminds him of better things. He lets out a long exhale, and Mountain gives his thighs a soft squeeze.

"How are you holding up, Dew?"

The low drone of his voice, familiar and full of too many emotions for Dew to parse right now, sinks straight into his skin. He sigh again, does a little half shrug.

"Shitty, but I did most of my mourning the night he got the notice from Co - I mean, from the Frater."

The silly bit of emphasis he puts on the title is solely to distract himself from the gnawing in his gut, but it has the lovely side effect of pulling a soft laugh from Mountain. They both miss Copia dearly, and they both know that any teasing is just a way to cope.

"How 'bout you, big guy?"

It's Mountain's turn to sigh, to give a half-nod.

"Is it good or bad that I'm getting used to this feeling?"

Dew's been wondering the same thing, but he doesn't know how to say so. He hugs Mountain's shoulders instead, and the rest of the ride passes without a word.

The ding of the door gives way to the warmth of the carpeted hall, and Mountain carries him to the juncture where it splits in two before he speaks again.

"Which way, fireball?"

Dew snakes a hand into his pocket, pulls out two keys - the one for their shared room, and the one he'd had no trouble snagging from Cirrus. The minute or so it's taken to get from the lobby to here hasn't really given him much time to think, but Mountain doesn't seem like he's in a rush so Dew takes some time to weogh his options. His conclusion makes him sigh, and Mountain chuckles.

"Careful, he'll think you're going soft." He nudges Dew’s head with his chin, and the little ghoul makes a dismissive sound.

"I can bully him again tomorrow," he mumbles, kissing Mountain's jaw and giving a squeeze with his thighs. "C'mon, lemme down."

"You sure?" He crouches, knees crackling, but doesn't adjust his grip. "I can do the detour, I don't mind."

"Nah, I can walk. Well, limp," he corrects, hissing as he gets his feet on the floor again. "Besides, it's the opposite direction. Let a guy keep some dignity."

Mountain chuffs out a laugh, leaning down to give Dew a quick peck. Dew gets both hands on his cheeks before he can pull away though, and that quick peck turns into a slow kiss that tastes of cinnamon gum and too many memories. Mountain's eyes look so heavy when they finally part, and Dew imagines his own look the same.

"Just text me if you change your mind," the taller ghoul says softly. "I might try to squirrel Rain away for the night. I think he might need it."

"Don't forget to put a sock on the door, Romeo," Dew quips with a wink and a wave, an attempt to lighten the mood that Mountain reaponds to with a snort, and down the hall he lumbers.

Every step is slower than it should be, and it gives him extra time to think. What should he do? What should he say? He's always had Aether to fall back on in times of loss, but now...he can't focus on that, it'll only make the tightness in his stomach worse. It doesn't help matters that, the closer he gets to Aeon's room, the more he can feel that icy energy pouring into the overwarm hall. It's worst when he's standing right in front of it, dark-stained wood and an electronic lock the only things left between them. Dew's surprised the damn thing isn't frozen over, even if this is a chill only a ghoul could feel.

Good thing he's made of fire.

With a deep breath a a quick beep, Dew lets himself into the pitch dark room - the one Aeon was meant to share with Swiss tonight, if he hadn't gotten that damn notice. Dew shivers, tucking his hands into his pockets at the frigid air bites his skin. The door clicks shut, the only light source a dull nightlight glowing from the bathroom, and it takes a few blinks for him to make out an Aeon-shaped lump on the bed nearest the window. Dew sighs, tossing his duffel on the free bed and sitting gingerly on the edge.

"Hey stardust," he says, soft and easy. "No need to pretend, I know you're awake."

Aeon doesn't answer, and Dew isn't surprised. He can see more clearly now, can see that the other ghoul has curled himself up into the tightest ball possible around one of the bed pillows. Part of Dew wants to just climb in behind him, wrap him up in his three good limbs without a word. Just silent reassurance, the kind he himself sometimes seeks when things are too much. But with how distant Aeon has been tonight - he'd even stayed on the bus instead of getting dinner - he doesn't want to risk it. Instead,

"If you want to be alone just say it," Dew mutters, unlacing his one shoe, shrugging off his jacket. "Otherwise I'm here for the night."

It's all he says, choosing instead to dig through his duffel for the painkillers he'd been given at the hospital. He shakes a couple pills into his palm, grunting as he drags himself to the bathroom. Takes the pills with a palmful of sink water, combs out his hair with his fingera, takes a leak - through it all, Aeon remains silent. Still. The knots in Dew’s stomach grow tighter.

But he doesn't push. Just heads back to the bed, setting his bag on the floor and moving to finally take the stupid boot off his stiff leg.

"Six hours and forty three minutes."

Aeon's voice barely breaks the silence, just loud enough for Dew to hear the hurt in it. He blinks over at the shape of him.

"Huh?"

Aeon doesn't so much move as he deflates, seeming to shrink before Dew's eyes.

"Six hours and forty three minutes," he repeats, jeans swishing against the duvet when he curls up even further. "Since I, uh," Aeon clears his throat, "since we met, I haven't -"

There's a pause, one that sounds a lot like a thick swallow. Then,

"Since I met Swiss, we haven't been apart for...for longer..."

"Than six hours and forty three minutes," Dew finishes for him, fishing for his phone in the pocket of his joggers. Curse the poor kid's photographic memory. "And it's been -"

"Not even eight," Aeon interrupts, with the air of someone who feels awful and absolutely ridiculous at the same time. Dew knows that one well too, but Aeon doesn't need to know it. "Not even eight fuckin' hours, Dew."

He can hear Aeon plucking at something, stitches popping on the hem of his sleeve or maybe the edge of a sheet. This time, Dew doesn't ignore the little voice in his head saying touch. He hops on one foot, scoots up onto Aeon's mattress and it's only at the last second that he pauses, with an open palm hovering over the other ghoul's hip.

"I know the feeling," he says with half a laugh, settling his hand on the bed instead. "S'like you're going insane, isn't it? Like your head's on backwards and the world is upside down?"

Silence. Dew's fingers start to itch. It goes on for too long, and for a second he worries that Aeon is going to lock up on him. The same way he did, back when -

"Why do I already miss him so much?"

Dew's stomach lurches at the words, ones that would feel so at home on his own tongue and yet still hit like a mean right hook. His hand does find Aeon's body then, warm and solid against his spine. He's so cold.

"Because love is pain, bat boy." Dew funnels syrupy warmth through the thin cotton of Aeon's tee, pours it into the pale skin hidden beneath. Aeon doesn't respond, and Dew feels a crease form between his brows. "Hey, I'm being serious here. Can you at least look at me?"

Aeon lets out a mighty huff, but Dew knows he's on the right track when the other ghoul listens. He brings that squished up pillow with him, but he turns over. Dew can see his eyes shimmering even in the dark, and he offers a gentle smile as a reward.

"There you are."

He reaches up, tucks a chunk of hair behind Aeon's pointed ear. Cups his cheek after, just enough to let him feel that cozy heat. Aeon sighs, burying his face into his pillow and looking up at Dew with something between hesitancy and expectation.

"Did..." he chews his lip where Dew can see it, but he's learned how the kid's face scrunches up when he does it. He hears fabric shift, watches Aeon move one hand to his own chest. Right over his heart. "...did it hurt this much when it happened to you?"

So much pain carried in so few words, so much longing that Dew's own heart aches. A flash of memory makes his throat tight, but this isn't about him. This is about Aeon. A long moment passes, heavy and silent, and at long last Dew sighs. He gestures at the bed, and after another breath or two Aeon nods.

"Did I ever tell you -" he murmurs, getting his good leg under him and laying on his side. Propping his head up on an elbow so he can look down at the other ghoul. "- about our first show after Aether retired?"

Aeon shakes his head, and Dew's free hand finds his arm. Rubs a slow back-and-forth while Dew takes a deep breath.

"I was a fuckin' mess," he confesses, thumb swiping under Aeon's sleeve. "Angry, bitter, lonely...didn't matter that everyone else was there, didn't matter that they'd all been around for years. I felt...betrayed, I think is the word? Maybe. I dunno, but it fuckin' sucked is the point."

Aeon blinks at him, and Dew feels him slowly stretch his legs out. Their knees touch, and Dew carefully laces his good leg between both of Aeon's, bleeding heat there too. The air around them has already started to warm, and Dew takes that as a good sign.

"I was an ass to everyone and I have no problem admitting it," he continues, feeling the fingers Aeon had dug into the pillow between them begin to fiddle with his shirt instead. "Because, no matter who was there, Aether wasn't. And I didn't know how to deal."

"I don't remember you being a jerk," Aeon murmurs, and Dew barks out a laugh so sudden it jostles the bed.

"Aeon, I didn't even talk to you first the first two weeks of that tour."

He can practically see the kid blush, even in the dark.

"...oh," comes his sheepish response, and Dew can't help his smile. Just for a second.

"Anger isn't always loud," he says, and the hand on Aeon's arm drifts up towards his face. Long fingers stroking his brow. "And you don't have to be quiet because you're sad. You aren't alone, y'know."

Aeon stares at him for a long, long while. Probably not for as long as Dew thinks he does, but the steady eye contact makes everything feel slower. He can hear every breath they share, the subtle crackle of Aeon's quintessence, the dull thud of someone walking down the hallway. It's all so distant, so distorted, and for a heartbeat the sparkle in Aeon's eyes makes Dew think he's about to be shoved from the bed.

The pillow dividing them sails over him, thuds against the wall, and before Dew knows what's happening he's got a chestful of Aeon. Hands fisted in his shirt, his face buried between them, and Dew wastes no time in wrapping him up in both arms. Pouring as much heat into the poor ghoul's quivering form as he can, combating the cage of ice no doubt working to encase his heart.

"I just...I miss him so much."

"I know, bug." He drops a kiss in Aeon's mussed curls. "I know."

He can feel the moment Aeon breaks, the exact second his paper-thin shield shatters and everything comes pouring out. The tears soak into his shirt, the sound of his sobs muffled by Dew's chest, and all the little ghoul can do is hold him tight and let it happen.

Slowly, the knots in his stomach untie. With every heaved breath and shuddering cry, Dew holds him tighter. Rubs Aeon's back and hums against the top of his head, the way he remembers a certain multi ghoul did for him back in those first days without Aether. He sucks in a deep breath to fight the pressure suddenly building behind his own eyes, and shoves his face into Aeon's hair to distract himself. This isn't about him, after all.

It's a long while before Aeon calms, before his breathing evens out and the fine tremors wracking his surely exhausted body wear off. He's reduced to sniffles now, stuffy-nosed but considerably looser than he has been for the past couple of days. Dew pulls back, just enough to look down at the top of his head.

"You okay?"

It takes a beat, but Aeon nods.

"D'you want me to stay or -"

"Please don't go!" Aeon blurts, looking up at him with wide, puffy eyes. "Dew, you...please, I don't -"

"It's okay," he assures, giving the other ghoul a tight squeeze. "I was planning on staying no matter what you said."

Dew shrugs, gives Aeon a wink, and the tiny, soft smile he gets in return is worth every soaked inch of his shirt. Aeon yawns then, sudden and deep, and he snuggles in close. Dew reaches over to grab the corner of the duvet, dragging it over them burrito style.

"Get some sleep, kid." He presses a soft kiss to Aeon's forehead. "You've earned it."

"But what if -"

"No buts." Dew lets go just long enough to fix a pillow under his neck, gathering him back up easily. "I'll wake you if he calls, I promise." Aeon gives him an owlish blink.

"Wait, how did -"

"Shush, bat boy." Dew bumps their foreheads together. "And sleep."

Aeon doesn't argue further, just smushes his face back into Dew's chest and huffs out an exhausted sound. He nods, says something Dew can't quite make out, and in no time at all his deep breaths morph into soft snores.

It's only then that Dew lets the memory from earlier rear its head.

One of a similar shared room, but filled with a lot more shredded curtains and bloodied sheets. Dew hadn't wanted a soft touch, and Swiss hadn't given it to him. Instead, he'd given him a place to funnel all that pent up frustration, all the misplaced aggression he'd just never known where to put. He wasn't mad at Aether, never had been. Wasn't mad at Copia for approving the retirement either. He was just...alone. For the first time since he'd met Aether, Dew had been without him. Somehow, Swiss had known exactly what he needed. A few choice words were all it took, and after beating the ever-loving shit out of one another Dew remembers crying it out just like Aeon did tonight. Loud and gross and unrestrained, and wrapped in a cage of Swiss' strong arms.

"Gonna miss you, asshole," Dew whispers into the dark, a sniffle not far behind. He looks at the one crack in the heavy curtains, watching the stars sparkling in the midnight sky. "Gonna fuckin' miss you."

His own tears track silently down his cheeks, and Dew holds Aeon so very tight.

[sweetestcaptainhughes]

Love the drabble idea!! Could you do “We’ve become the clingy couple that you used to complain about “ with our swiss boy Nico

Drabble Challenge Drabble Masterlist

"We've become the clingy couple that you used to complain about"

Nico has never been scared to show his emotions, in fact Twitter is constantly reminding him or the comments on his latest Instagram post about his "soft brown eyes." It was one of the things you liked about him first was how he wasn't afraid to show everyone in the world what he was feeling, including how he felt about you. He was in love with you, and he had this deep need to always be in some type of contact you. Especially since you've been friends since he moved to the United States and just became a couple at the end of last season. Somehow Nico convinced you to go home with him for the summer, or at least for however long you could without being fired form your job.

Somehow over those few weeks you became embedded with each-other. Nico was never more than an arm length away. None of his family or friends chirped you all, they found it enduring that Nico found someone he cared about so much. However it's been less than 24 hours since you've been home from Switzerland and not a single person from the team hasn't said something about the fact that you haven't left Nico's lap since you got to the bar.

"Hey Y/N you know you got a seat next to ya?' Jack asked giving you both a hard time.

"and your point being? Oh Jacky are you jealous cause I give my boyfriend attention and the last three girls you hit on in the hour we've been here rejected you?" you easily tease him back earning a face from him that says "fuck you" and laughs from around the table.

No one said anything else to you to the rest of the night, although you could tell that in the tiny bar stool Nico was getting uncomfortable with you sitting on him. Trying to make it better you shift your weight but then you felt uncomfortable and squashed. After a few more minutes you had to go to the bathroom anyway. Nico was busy talking to Jesper about something, so you tried slipping out of his grasp without much attention. But you failed when he stopped mid-sentence turning to gently asking "what's wrong lovie"

"nothin' just gotta go to the bathroom."

Without even thinking he excuses himself from Jesper and tells you he's coming with you. Usually when Nico acted like his you would make fun of him for being overprotective and make some sassy comment about how you are capable of peeing by yourself. Instead you felt your stomach irrupt in butterflies and your cheeks blush as you nodded your head yes.

After quickly using the bathroom you found Nico standing outside waiting for you. He quickly pulled you back into his embrace and instead of jokingly swatting him away you welcomed the embrace. That was when he realized your biggest nightmare came true. "You know Y/N we've become the clingy couple that you used to complain about." His toothy grin full on his face as he waited for your reaction.

All you did was lean up and steal a quick peak "yeah but it's not annoying when it's us." Taking his hand and pulling a laughing Nico back towards his teammates.

[ratsummer]

I think Phantom was fending for himself for years in the pit, running the circles from just about the age a ghoul can probably survive on their own. He was born into a small but loving pack, so he learned how to be a good ghoul kit, but once he was on his own, he didn't have anyone to socialize him as a young adult ghoul. Sure, he'd tag along with the odd band of ghouls here and there when the opportunity arose, but those alliances were born out of necessity and always quite brief.

All this to say, between his lack of guidance from adult ghouls, his trauma, and the neurodivergencies he was born with, Phantom has held on to a lot of ghoul kit behaviors.

When he's first summoned and meeting his new pack, everyone is on edge. He's small for a quint, and has a confusing blend of kit and adult behaviors. Once the infirmary ghouls have confirmed he is in fact an adult ghoul who chose of his own volition to respond to the summon, and not in fact a large kit they've accidentally abducted, everyone relaxes a bit.

At first, as they're learning about how Phantom was living for years prior to his summoning, emotions run high. They all hide it well from him, not wanting to frighten or burden him. Even so, there are many late nights in the den spent whispering and weeping as they process the things they learn of Phantom's past.

As time passes though, and Phantom settles in and gets comfier with all of them, the sadness and anger pass. They learn to interpret Phantom's unusual blend of behaviors, and they love him all the more. No one pressures Phantom to change, or tells him that he's doing something wrong. They accept him for who he is, and as long as he's not uncomfortable, embarrassed, or inadvertently harming himself, they're happy.

And oh, how they love their baby bat.

It took a while for Phantom to relax enough around anyone to purr at all, but now it's almost nonstop. Almost anything will set it off, too. Swiss walks into the same room as him? Purring. Mountain puts a hand on his shoulder to keep him still while he reaches over him for something in the kitchen? Purring. Dewdrop says good morning? Purring. When everyone gets together after a long day to cuddle in the den, Phantom's purrs stand out from the rest. He hasn't quite switched from the cooing, nasally purr of a kit into the rumbling, chest purr of an adult. He's slowly working into his chest purr, especially as he spends time cuddling on Mountain, Aether, and Swiss. Their purrs are deepest and most obviously resonating from their chests, making it easier for Phantom to imitate. Regardless of how he sounds, though, a purring Phantom is a happy Phantom is a Phantom getting many kisses.

Phantom is also working on scenting. The first person Phantom ever tried scenting was Dew, and boy was the fire ghoul confused at first. They were cuddled up on the couch, watching Cumulus teach Swiss some new crocheting techniques, when Phantom started headbutting him. To be fair, it was a gentle headbutting, really more bumping his face into Dew's jaw and nuzzling into him each time. Even so, it caught Dew off guard. Luckily, Rain was sitting on the opposite end of the couch and caught Dew's attention before he could react poorly. Dew, unlike Rain, had never really spent much time around ghoul kits, so failed to recognize Phantom's kit-like attempts at scenting. Rain mimed at him frantically until he got the memo and started scenting Phantom back. "Oh, Phantom," Rain chimed in soon after, "You're being such a lovebug for Dew. He likes gentler scenting though, sweetheart, do you want me to show you? Come here, it's my turn!" And of course, Rain instantly had a lapful of cooing, cuddly ghoul to coach, leaving Dew to roll around and be embarrassed over how in love with Phantom he is.

Phantom also kneads a lot more than most adult ghouls. While the others might do a little kneading here and there when they're feeling deeply sleepy and relaxed, Phantom seems to knead whether he's feeling calm or stressed. His most frequent victims are Cumulus, Swiss, Cirrus, and Mountain, and he kneads on whatever body part is closest. Tummies, thighs, arms, Cumulus even lets him get away with kneading on her boobs. He zones out hard when he starts kneading, almost slipping into a trance. They've all had to do a little correcting for Phantom with this behavior, just to show him how to keep his claws from hurting soft skin and to make sure he doesn't squeeze too hard. Sometimes, when he's having trouble being gentle, they'll pass him a stuffie or a pillow to work instead. He seems to knead the most during mass, Papa's chanting and the choral accompaniment relaxing him. Usually it's Mountain who will grab him when he starts getting glassy-eyed, holding him in his lap and letting him knead away at his arm.

Aether and Cirrus have spent a lot of time helping Phantom with his emotional regulation. Once he's feeling safe and secure with his new pack, that no one is going to hurt him if they notice him, he gets a bit too reactive when his emotions run high. When he messes up the same section of a song for the sixth time, he starts yelling and crying. When he slept poorly, he hisses and growls. When he trips down the last couple stairs in front of some siblings, he hides and mopes for hours, crying and skipping meals. Aether and Cirrus help him learn to identify how is body is reacting in a situation, and what emotion goes with it. They help him respond more calmly, so he doesn't hurt or frighten anyone. They teach him coping skills, like deep breathing, or leaving a room, or asking someone for a hug. It's not always easy, but Phantom is diligent and attentive, and with guidance he quickly finds techniques that work for him.

Yeah, idk. Just. I could go on and on. Phantom being a little different from what his new pack is used to and it's okay. It's not his fault. He's so full of love, and he finally gets to share it. He's so full of love, and his pack is thrilled that he shows them in his own way. Ugh. Nobody look at me.

[puckinghischier]

Bouy

nico hischier x fem!reader, jack hughes x platonic!reader, luke hughes x platonic!reader

summary: reader gets dragged to the bar by jack to meet all of his teammates, but finds herself drawn to a certain swiss captain

notes: part 2 to locksmith!! probably some inaccuracies about various player’s personalities, but all in the name of entertainment, right? i didn’t proofread either, oops. don’t know if i’m happy with how this turned out but here it is nonetheless. hope you enjoy!! 🫶🏼

part 1, part 3, part 4

[4.6k]

~

The bar that Jack picked is surprisingly busy for a week night. It’s not overcrowded, but it’s busy enough to where you’re having to hold on to the back of his shirt so you don’t lose him. He leads the two of you over to a set of tables tucked away at the back of the bar. Jack is greeted with shouts and hugs as you drop your grip on him and simply stand back, letting him have his moment. You recognize a few of the faces, no names coming to mind, but most of the faces you’ve never seen before. You should know the names and faces of who you’re assuming are Jack’s teammates, but the truth is, despite your relationship with the Hughes family, you’ve never been one to follow hockey very closely. You don’t come from an area where hockey is a big deal, and though you understand the logistics of the game and you’ve traveled to watch all three brothers in some of their biggest games pre-NHL, your knowledge of the league’s players pretty much begins and ends with Jack, Luke, and Quinn.

“Long time no see, hallway sleeper,” you’re pulled from your thoughts at the sound of a voice in your ear. You turn to see Nico, no hat this time, soft, brown hair on full display. He was still wearing a white t-shirt, only his sweats have been swapped for jeans this time.

“Long time no see, locksmith.”

Nico laughs, and for the second time today you allow yourself to think about how lovely the sound is. “You know, all in a day’s work.”

“Sounds like someone really should have a conversation with the big heads at the NHL. Their poor players work so hard, only to have to pick up second jobs on their off days in order to pay the bills. Shame on them,” you joke.

“I know! Maybe it’s time I go on strike, put my full attention to helping pretty girls break into their apartments full time,” he responds, a small blush forming on your cheeks.

“Well I don’t know about all that, I need my own personal locksmith on call at all times. You can’t abandon me in my time of need!”

“Wouldn’t ever dream of it,” Nico places his hand over his chest, feigning offense. You glance over his shoulder, eyeing the bar, thinking about the vodka cranberry that’s calling your name. He turns and follows your eyes. “Did you want to go get something to drink-“

“Neeks!! What’s up man! We missed you today!” Jack cuts Nico off as he turns around, sticking a hand out in-between himself and his captain. “The kids were asking where you were, you totally have to come with us next time!”

“Yeah, man. Next time, for sure. Just needed a rest day, y’know?” Nico responds, slapping Jack’s outstretched hand.

The two begin their own conversation about the charity skate while you stand in the background. You know Jack isn’t ignoring you on purpose, but you’re getting a little tired of just standing around, deciding that you need that drink sooner than later to loosen yourself up a bit and prepare yourself for the endless stream of socializing you know is about to come your way.

“Hey, J, I’m gonna get a drink, okay? I’ll be right back,” you interrupt the conversation, knowing Jack would be worried if he looked up and you were nowhere to be found.

“Oh shit, Y/N I’m so sorry, I totally forgot to introduce you to everyone. Neeks, this is Y/N, Y/N, Nico.”

“Yeah, we met earlier. When you decided to lock the door on your way out this morning and Nico seems to be the only person with a spare key to the place,” you deadpan, watching a confused look glaze over Jack’s features.

“I left the door unlocked, I swear! I even double checked as I was leaving, because Lu-“ Jack suddenly pauses. “Luke must have locked it when he went to grab his beanie he forgot. I’m so sorry, Bouy,” Jack apologizes, letting the nickname he gave you when you were kids slip out of his mouth.

“Bouy?” you hear Nico’s confusion, looking between the two of you, clearly confused.

“We’re not even going there right now, just a stupid nickname from one summer as a kid, not even important. What is important is that I get a drink, ASAP,” you say, once again trying to make your way to the bar.

You walk away from the two men, sights set on an empty spot near the end of the bar. Admittedly, getting a drink seemed way easier in theory than in execution, because no matter how hard you tried, you cannot get the attention of the bartender. You’ve tried waving, yelling, and following her as she makes her way down the line of patrons, but to no avail. You give up with a huff, turning around and leaning your back against the bar, trying to brainstorm how to get a drink in your hand sooner rather than later. “What if I just go take someone’s drink, what would they do then?” you speak aloud to no one other than yourself.

“I would advise against that. Who knows what concoctions some of these people are drinking.”

You whip your head around to find no other than Nico himself standing to your left. You begin to think him sneaking up on people is a habit of his, seeing as this is the second time he’s both surprised you and caught you talking to yourself today.

“You’ve got to stop sneaking up on me, Jesus.”

“Sorry. You just seemed so lost in that head of yours. I’d ask you what you’re thinking, but I’ve learned if I stand here long enough you’ll just say it out loud,” Nico jabs, amusement once again present in his brown eyes. It seems that’s a common occurrence whenever you’re in his presence.

“If you think I speak my mind now, just wait until I actually get a few drinks in me. You’ll be begging me to shut up,” you joke, turning slightly to see if the bartender is anywhere near your area.

“How about we test the theory. Need help?” he asks, challenging your words.

“I mean, be my guest, but I’ve been trying for what seems like forever,” you grumble, moving over slightly to make room for him at the bar.

You watch him stick his hand out, the bartender almost immediately looking over and nodding, signaling she’ll be right over. Your jaw drops. You were a little pissed, honestly. How in the hell did he just do that? You turn your head to look at him, eyes narrowed.

“How in the hell did you just do that?” your mouth mirrors your thoughts.

“Oh y’know, I have my ways,” he says, eyes twinkling, smirk on his lips.

“No, I demand to know. There’s no way I’ve been standing up here for the better part of fifteen minutes with not even a glance in my direction, yet all you have to do is stick your hand out two inches from your face and suddenly you’re next in line,” you spit out, your tone showing your frustration at the situation.

Nico opens his mouth to respond, but a voice from the other side of the bar sounds before he can get a word out.

“Hey, Neeks, what can I get for ya? Your usual?” the woman serving drinks asks, using the same nickname Jack calls Nico.

“Nah, just a Michelob for me tonight. Got morning skate tomorrow,” he tells her, seeming familiar with the woman. She turns to you, giving you the opportunity to really look at the girl. She was short, but not shorter than yourself. She had platinum blonde hair that was tied back into a high ponytail, a pen stuck right through the middle of it. She was wearing a bright green cropped tank top with black leggings. Her make-up was the perfect combination of natural, yet bold. She was….really fucking pretty. Like, intimidatingly pretty. The kind of girl that would make even the most confident of women feel slightly insecure, to no fault of her own.

“Is that all or…?” she trailed off, looking at you expectantly.

“Can I just get a vodka cranberry? Double?” you asked, suddenly regretting your decision to not even wear make-up tonight.

You hear her scoff through a “Of course, coming right up,” before looking at Nico once again, then hurrying off to grab Nico’s beer and your cocktail.

“Is there something wrong with a vodka cran up here? Why the attitude?” you spit out, annoyed that she clearly found an issue with your choice of drink.

“You just have to ignore Jess, she’s a bit of an alcohol snob. Thinks everyone should drink top shelf or not even bother drinking at all,” Nico gives you the girl’s name.

You were going to respond to the fact that the two are on a first name basis, but your drinks arrived before you had the chance. You looked up to thank the girl, Jess as you now know, but shut your mouth when you saw the exchange happening before you.

“Just add it to my tab, Jess. Both of them,” Nico tells her, grabbing the bottle of Michelob sitting in front of him.

“Sure thing, Neeks. If you need anything else just give me a shout. You know where to find me,” Jess lets her hand linger, briefly brushing against Nico’s. You look up to her face, seeing the sultry look in her eyes, her chin slightly dropped. She’s looking at Nico like he’s a meal and she hasn’t eaten in days. Glancing over at the man standing next to you, you notice his entire face is flushed red, up to the tips of his ears.

Your brows shoot up in both surprise and understanding. These two have slept together! Her actions a dead giveaway, albeit subtle. Girls recognize girls, you know? It surely explains why he was so quick to get her attention when you couldn’t even get so much as a glance. You’re fighting against every single muscle in your face to not break out into laughter, finding this amusing for some reason.

“Yeah, gotcha. Thanks, Jess,” Nico replies to the girl, stepping back a few inches from the bar.

You turn and follow him in the direction of the tables from earlier, trying your hardest to not get lost in the crowd of bodies you’re having to weave through.

“So, you didn’t tell me that all I had to do to get the bartender’s attention was sleep with her,” you said, stopping Nico in his tracks.

He turns to look at you, eyes wide and face red, seeming a little embarrassed. You worry you’ve already stuck your foot in your mouth much too early into the night.

“How did you- What makes you think-“ he fumbles over his words.

“I’m a girl, silly. I know when another girl is giving a man the ‘you gave me one of the best nights of my life and I want to do you again’ eyes. Nothing to be ashamed of, she’s gorgeous,” you interrupt, amused at his embarrassment.

You actually think its kind of sweet he seems embarrassed. You half expected him to meet your comments with a smirk and puff his chest out a bit, proud that he’d scored such a beautiful woman, but he’s not. You’ve met plenty of Jack’s previous teammates over the years, most of them cocky assholes that care about nothing more than who they can sleep with next. Never missing the chance to boast to all of his buddies about the blonde chick he managed to sneak into his room last night.

Nico’s response was the complete opposite of that. He almost recoiled at your words, looking like he wanted to crawl under the nearest table he could find and hide there until the end of the night. It’s a refreshing contrast to what you’re used to. You start to feel a little bad for even bringing it up.

Nico stands still, staring at you like he’d rather be anywhere else at the moment, beer forgotten in his hand. You can see the wheels turning in his head on how he’s going to get out of this situation. “Hey, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. It’s none of my business. I didn’t mean anything by it, I’m just used to Jack’s other friends that never shut up about who they sleep with. My filter has a few holes in it I need to patch up I guess. I haven’t even had a drink and I’m already sticking my foot in my mouth-“

“I haven’t slept with her.”

Your mouth snaps shut mid-sentence. You stare at the man in front of you, noticing how he keeps fidgeting, clearly uncomfortable. He keeps shifting his weight from foot to foot, switching his beer from left to right to run whichever hand is free through his hair. His eyes keep darting anywhere but your face, clearly uncomfortable with the topic.

“Well if you haven’t then she sure wants to,” you try to backtrack a bit, hoping you can humor your way out of the mess you walked yourself into.

“Yeah, I’m sure she does. Just like she wants to sleep with the rest of the team,” he scoffs out. “Don’t get me wrong, Jess is nice and all, but she hits on all of us. It’s worked on a few of the guys. I’ve seen her drop a few of them off at practice in the mornings, but she never lets it go farther than that. Some of the guys prefer…arrangements like that, but it’s not really my style,” Nico replies, shocking you with his sudden honesty.

“I find it hard to believe that beautiful blondes aren’t your type, but I’ll let it slide for now,” you narrow your eyes, not sure how else to respond to his unexpected candor.

“It seems that my type is talkative strangers, but I’ll let you know if it changes,” Nico tells you with a smirk, his shift in personality giving you whiplash as he walks off without another word.

———————————————————————————

“So, where exactly are you from, Y/N?” you get asked for the fourth time in about 5 minutes from the man sitting to your right. You can’t exactly remember his name, only that he’s drank about 4 beers in the time you’ve been sitting here. Considering Jack went down the line and literally rapid fired names at you once you returned to the tables, you forgive yourself for not remembering.

“Dawson, she already told you three times, dude. She’s from Tennessee!” the man to your left shouts across you a little too loudly. You flinch a bit at just how loud these guys can be, having been shuffled around from conversation to conversation for the past hour, each man reaching a volume you didn’t know was humanly possible.

Jack will come by whatever table you’re currently at about every 30 minutes and tug you in whatever direction he sees fit, going on and on about how you just HAVE to meet so and so because they’ll love you. You love that he’s trying to include you and integrate you into the group dynamic the team has going on, but you really wish he would just let you mingle on your own.

His teammates have been nothing but welcoming and kind, but most of them are more than a few drinks deep and have been talking about whatever upcoming game they have and what strategies they need to improve on, leaving you left out and unable to add anything to the conversation.

“Virginia, actually. But close! I lived right on the border of Tennessee and Virginia, so it’s almost like I’m from both,” you shout back, explaining your origin…again.

“Wait, Virginia and Tennessee border each other?” Mr. four beers questions, Dawson you’ve just learned.

“Mercer you idiot, of course they border each other. Have you ever even looked at a fucking map?” the man to your left responds, reaching behind you and slapping Dawson on the back of the head.

“Ow! I’m from Canada, Johnny! How am I supposed to know? Do you know what Canadian states border one another?” Dawson fires back at the man to your left, Johnny.

“Provinces.”

“What?”

“Canada has provinces, not states, Dawson,” Johnny says, a blank look on his face as he stares at Dawson.

“Fuck you. And your Harvard degree,” Dawson crosses his arms and puffs up like a kid. It’s amusing really, watching the two bicker like siblings.

As the two continue to go back and forth, you can’t help but let your eyes wander around the bar, searching for a pair of brown ones. You haven’t spoken to Nico since he walked away from you earlier, after he all but told you that you were his type. His words took you by surprise, having only known the man for a few hours. You can’t lie and say you didn’t find him attractive from the moment you saw him standing in his doorway this morning, but you can’t let yourself go there, can you? You’ve been in the city less than twenty-four hours. You haven’t even fully unpacked all of your clothes yet, and here you are, unable to get your best friend’s captain off of your mind.

Just as you try to shake the thoughts running through your head, a pair of eyes find yours, causing you to sit up a little straighter. He’s standing at a table with Jack and a man that you remember to be named Timo. He’s Swiss, too, you learned when Jack introduced the two of you. He told you that he and Nico played together before they both found themselves with the Devils, the pair having hockey history.

Nico glances away, only briefly, before finding your eyes again, noticing the two men arguing on either side of you. He raises his eyebrow, as if asking you if you need help, but you just shrug and give a little half smile, rolling your eyes as if to say ‘boys, right?’. He lets out a chuckle, his shoulders shaking slightly. You see him exchange a few words with Jack and Timo before stepping away from the table, walking in the direction of the table you’re sitting at.

Just as Nico is only a few steps away, you feel your phone buzzing from where its laying on your thigh. You look at the screen, your mother’s name flashing across the screen. Realizing you hadn’t called her since your plane landed earlier in the day, you decide you should probably take the call.

“Sorry, guys, I gotta take this call,” you slide out from in-between the two hockey players, still arguing away. They don’t even notice your departure, too lost in discussing geography.

You look over to see Nico stop in his tracks, a confused look on his face. You hold up your phone and point to the screen, mouthing the word ‘mom’ before walking over to a secluded corner of the bar for some quiet.

“Hey, mom. Sorry I forgot to call earlier. It’s been a long day,” you sigh, leaning against the cool brick wall.

“Oh, sweetie, it’s okay. I just wanted to see how you were settling in. See how the boys were,” she pauses. “Where are you? What’s all that noise in the background?” she questions, slight concern in her voice.

“You know Jack, he wanted to come out and ‘celebrate’ the fact that I live in Jersey now. Tried to get out of it, but Jack never misses a chance to go out. Still have a ton of unpacking to do. I hope to have it all done before too long, though.”

“I should’ve known Jack would be ready to party as soon as you got there. You were always his favorite tag along,” she chuckles, referencing all the time Jack would drag you to various outings and events during the summer.

“Yeah, well this tag along is ready to make her way to her bed for the night, but I have to drive Jack home, so I’ll probably still be here awhile.”

“Honey just tell him you’re ready to go home. I’m sure he’ll understand.”

“Nah, I can wait it out a little bit longer. He’s too busy introducing me to everyone. He was so excited for me to meet his teammates,” you quickly glance towards where Jack stands. “You’d think I was some local celebrity or something the way he’s been shuffling me from table to table for meet and greets,” you laugh into the phone.

“He’s just happy to have you around again, sweetheart. I know how much you missed him, I’m sure he missed you just as much. He’s just trying to make sure you’re included.”

“I know, I know. It’s sweet, really, I just wish he would’ve let me have a few days before throwing me into a group of drunk hockey players, as usual,” you tell your mom, trying not to sound ungrateful. You do appreciate how eager Jack is to have all his friends meet you, but you’re growing sleepier by the minute.

“Welcome to life with Rowdy…again,” your mom laughs, using Jack’s childhood nickname.

“At least it’s sure to be an interesting one,” you reply, causing her laugh to grow. “Alright, momma, I better go before Jack comes looking for me. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay? I love you,” you say, looking over towards Jack’s table, watching him look around, likely noticing your absence.

“Alright, honey. I love you!” she says, hanging up the phone.

You lean your head back against the wall, closing your eyes for a second and taking a deep breath before returning to the chaos of bodies across the room.

“Did Dawson and Johnny really make that bad of a first impression that you’re hiding in a dark corner?”

Yet again, you jump at the voice that seems to be following you around today. You raise your head up and open your eyes, Nico standing a few feet away from you. You simply close your eyes once again and lay your head back against the wall once more, needing another minute to collect yourself.

“You know, I think I’m going to buy you some of those shoes with squeakers in them, that way I can always know when you’re coming,” you tell him, enjoying the feeling of the cool concrete against your head.

All you hear in response is a laugh, which has you raising your head to look at Nico again. You admire the way he scrunches his nose when he laughs, already thinking about how you can coax the sound out of him again.

“Where’s the fun in that now…Bouy, was it?” he recalls your nickname from earlier, earning a glare from you.

“Don’t you even start,” you warn.

“You’re really not going to tell me why Jack called you that? I’ve been trying to get the story out of him for the past two hours. He won’t budge, saying only you can tell it.”

“Trust me, it’s not even worth your time. I don’t even understand why the nickname stuck. They’re all stupid, the lot of them,” you shut down the request.

“Don’t worry, I’ll pry it out of you one day. I’ll solve the Bouy mystery eventually,” Nico persists, not letting the subject drop that easily.

You remove yourself from the wall, sliding your phone into your back pocket. You run your hand through your hair with a huff, preparing yourself to join the others once again.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. My mom called, so I figured I’d better take it. A little tired, but I’m all good. Just hope Jack tires out sooner rather than later,” you shrug your shoulders.

“I can give him a ride home if you want to leave? I don’t mind, really. Not like it’s exactly out of the way,” Nico offers.

“No, I should stay. He was really excited for me to meet everyone tonight so I feel like I should at least stay a little bit longer. I don’t want to bail on him this soon.”

“Trust me, if it was up to Jack he wouldn’t leave until they kicked him out,” Nico states, nothing but seriousness in his tone.

“Well, we don’t call him Rowdy for nothing,” you joke. “Speaking of, we’ve been spotted,” you notice Jack making his way over to where the two of you stand.

“Hey, everything alright? I couldn’t find you and Timo said he saw you come over here awhile ago, then said he saw Nico come over here too. You okay?” Jack says as he approaches, glancing towards Nico before looking at you, concern in his tone and on his face.

“No, yeah, I’m fine. Mom called and I came over here so I could hear her better, then Nico came to check on me. We were about to come join everyone again, I was just enjoying the quiet for another minute,” you tell Jack, watching the worry fall from his face.

“Oh tell momma Y/L/N that her favorite surrogate son misses her,” Jack brightens at the mention of your mom, both of you viewing the other’s parents as a second set, just as close to them as you were your own.

“I will when she calls tomorrow,” you chuckle, knowing your mom will get a kick out of this conversation.

“I actually came over here to see if you were ready to go? We have morning skate tomorrow and Luke just texted me asking when we were coming home, which usually means he’s lonely and feeling left out, so we should probably get going,” Jack says, surprising you by granting your earlier wishes.

“Oh my god yes, please. I’m so tired,” you sigh, letting your shoulders slump, relieved that you’re only a few minutes away from climbing in your bed.

“I thought so, you looked like you were having a grand time with Dawson and Johnny,” Jack laughs, recalling your earlier position between the two geography enthusiasts.

“They were literally yelling at each other about the geography of the U.S. and Canada,” you told the two men standing with you, both of them breaking out into laughter.

“That’s nothing. Once they argued for a full two hours on if pterodactyl was spelled with a p or not,” Nico adds in, having been silent until now, causing you to be the one filled with laughter.

Jack looks over, seeming to just now remember Nico was also standing with the two of you.

“You need a ride home, cap?” Jack offers, looking over at you with suspicious eyes before looking back at Nico.

“Nah, I’ve only had two beers. I’m good to drive. Plus, I should probably make sure Dawson gets home and in bed. He’s going to regret all those tequila shots when we have to be on the ice at eight tomorrow morning.”

“Exactly why I’m tapping out now. Be careful, Neeks. See you at practice,” Jack tells his captain before turning to you. “You ready to blow this popsicle stand?”

“Like it’s a hot summer day.”

Jack smiles, the phrase becoming a trademark of yours over the years. You don’t even remember what started it, just that it’s become the signature end to many nights of fun for the two of you. He turns to walk away and you go to follow him before you realized you didn’t say goodbye to Nico. Not wanting to feel rude, you turn around to say your goodbyes to the captain.

“Goodnight, Nico. Have a good practice tomorrow.”

“Thanks. Goodnight, Bouy,” he responds, a shit-eating grin breaking out on his face.

Fuck you, Jack Hughes.

[tinyluvs]

⁺‧₊˚ ruined orgasm 𖤐 swiss&dewdrop ˚₊‧⁺

❥ summary; dew gets a handjob that’s too fast and too tight ❥ warnings; ruined orgasm, it doesn’t feel good but dew asked for it, crybaby!dewdrop, he cries a whole lot, it’s all consensual ❥ authors note; based on these crybaby!dew thoughts ;))) ❥ wc; 1.8k ₊˚⊹♡⁺‧₊˚𖤐 read on ao3; ˗ˏˋ ꒰꒰ here !! ꒱꒱ ˎˊ˗ 𖤐˚₊.⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

it’s a pre ritual, ritual, of sorts. papa talks, awkwardly albeit, doing his best to be a hype man while the ghouls sit and listen, occasionally nodding their heads to show that they’re listening to their leader. swiss is listening, his head is tilted down though, his fingers busying themselves with rolling up his uniform shirt sleeves as he leans on an empty equipment box 

if swiss wasn’t listening he might’ve noticed dewdrop squirming across from him, the smaller ghoul perched on the edge of an identical box. if swiss wasn’t so busy with his sleeves he also would’ve noticed dew sliding his palm over the very noticeable tent in his uniform trousers, but, swiss is busy so he’s not paying any attention to dewdrop, much to the fire ghouls disappointment 

“so, uh, just go out there and do your best, yes?” papa finishes his speech, raising one of his eyebrows and giving the ghouls a thumbs up, effectively dismissing them. a quiet murmur passes over the group, ghouls standing and stretching their legs out, ready to make their way to the stage 

swiss goes to follow, tilting his head from one side to the other before stepping away from the box to fall in with the single file line of ghouls following papa. he would be the penultimate ghoul, leaving dewdrop to bring up the rear but the fire ghoul has a rather pressing issue that just won’t, can’t, wait until after the show

dewdrop loops his thin fingers around swiss’ wrist and tugs hard, forcefully turning the larger ghoul towards him, “swiss,” he hisses quietly, peeking around swiss to make sure everyone is still walking away from them, out of earshot, “help,”

“help with what?” swiss hisses back, bending ever so slightly to hover over dew. their very obvious size difference is suddenly even more noticeable. sharp golden eyes burn into dew, forcing him to shrink away, his fingers dropping from around swiss’ wrist 

before dewdrop can answer verbally, his hips jerk forward, a clumsy movement that swiss notices. bright eyes travel downwards, terribly slowly and dew can’t help but shudder when swiss’ eyes widen as he watches dew’s clothed cock kick, a little damp patch starting to darken the fabric 

“you-”

both of their bodies jerk slightly when a voice echos around them, a reminder that they need to be on the stage in less than five minutes. immediately, the warning makes dew’s blood run cold, a sense of urgency and desperation flowing through his veins fast

“you’ll have to wait,” swiss whispers, straightening his body, his hands smoothing over his uniform. dew, however, doesn’t move. he stays planted in his spot, staring up at swiss helplessly but to his dismay, the multi ghoul just shrugs at him and turns to leave 

“no, i can’t,” dew physically winces at the tone in his voice, a high whine that they both know all too well, as he grabs at swiss, nimble fingers pinching at the fabric around his waist, “swiss, i-i can’t,” 

tears threaten to spill, an awful burn lingering in the back of dew’s throat as he pleads, begs, swiss to do something, anything to help him out. a timer in his head counts down, time rapidly fleeting as they stand still, swiss turned away and dew still pathetically pawing at him

“fucking lucifer,” swiss huffs, pinching the bridge of his nose as he turns back towards the smaller ghoul. he shoves at dew, walking him backwards until they’re mostly hidden between equipment trunks, “c’mon then,”

there’s nothing gentle about swiss’ movements as he shoves dew’s pants down around his thighs, freeing the fire ghouls cock and exposing it to the cold air around them causing dew to hiss, his little fists clenching at his sides 

swiss, unfortunately, doesn’t have time for foreplay. doesn’t have time to take in how dew’s cock is flushed a gorgeous deep shade of red, how thick pre leaks from his ruddy head or how dew stares up at him, his breathing slow and shallow with anticipation and maybe just a hint of excitement 

he also doesn’t have time to prep dew in any way, can’t get his cock all slick and wet so the slide of his fist is easy, or at least, bearable. so, as he wraps a cold hand around dew’s dry cock and starts to jerk, dew yelps

“hey wa-”

“shut up,” swiss hisses against dew’s ear, pressing right up against the side of the fire ghouls body until dew is trapped between him and a box, the metal edging on it biting into the back of dew’s thighs, “you wanted this,”

“but,” dew manages to get one single word out before swiss clamps a hand over his mouth. the fire ghoul gasps, as best he can, his body jerks and tears start to slip down his cheeks 

it’s all far too overwhelming. the tight dry slide of swiss’ hand over his sensitive skin, the time limit they’re on and the fact that anyone could wander back and catch them, makes dew sweat, his compression shirt feeling awfully constricting around his body 

“you asked for this,” swiss whispers, squeezing even tighter around the tip of dew’s weeping cock, his fingers starting to get slick and sticky as they slide against dew’s slit, “didn’t you?”

dew’s head tilts back, hot tears running down his face earnestly now, while he tries his best to nod his head. the rest of his body is rigid, too scared to move incase swiss turns around and leaves him there, dripping pre into a puddle on the floor

suddenly, the same voice from before shouts out again. this time though, the reminder is for three minutes, instead of five. dew’s eyes widen, his brows pulling at the center of his forehead. he tries to speak but it just comes out as a sad muffled sound against swiss’ hand 

his desperation must be felt by swiss though, the multi ghoul rolls his eyes and removes his hand from dew’s cock, ignoring the way dew growls quietly, to spit into his palm, “fucking hell dew,” he grunts, the stupidity of what he’s doing really starting to set in 

swiss’ hand returns to its place, wrapped tight around dew’s cock but his pace quickens tenfold. his fist flies over dew’s length, from root to tip with a sickening slide causing a pained, ah ah ah, to leave dew’s mouth, his hot breath fanning over swiss’ sweaty palm but swiss doesn’t relent

the underlying problem comes to the surface fast, hits dew like a runaway train, none of it feels good. the heat in his stomach doesn’t spread slowly, the coil doesn’t tighten gently. it all happens utterly too fast, dancing on the wrong side of pain but still, he needs it and that revelation makes him sob

fat tears stream down his face, wetting swiss’ hand at his mouth before dripping down onto his uniform. his lashes clump together and the saltiness starts to burn his cheeks, it all just feels wrong 

“sw-iss,” dew hiccups, his chest raising and falling in an uneven rhythm. his hand flies back, knuckles turning white as he grips onto the edge of the box he’s sat on. if his brain wasn’t melting out of his ears, he would be able to register the way the sharp metal digs painfully into the pads of his fingers 

a slick wet sound fills the space between them, swiss’ eyes flickering down just in time to see dew’s cock throb, a thick bead of pre bubbling from his slit and then his gaze returns, burning into the side of the fire ghouls head until dew’s cheeks heat further, flushing violently hot

“hurry up and fucking cum, we don’t have time,” swiss grits out between clenched teeth, his own composure starting to slip as panic sets in, they really don’t have time for this but they’re far past the point of no return now

but, swiss knows dew is close. the way dew’s eyelids droop, stuck between open and shut. the way his stomach is clenching underneath his uniform. the way his cock is pulsing in swiss’ palm. the way his hips are starting to buck, meeting swiss’ movements on every other jerk, are all very telling things that signal to dew’s end 

and then, not a moment too soon, dew wails, shouts ever so loudly that swiss mentally thanks lucifer himself for his hand muffling the noise. with a searing burn and little to no satisfaction, dew’s orgasm rattles through his lithe body 

his cock throbs pitifully as cum dribbles, almost miserably, from his slit. swiss lets out a breath he didn’t know he was holding, squeezing tight at dew’s tip until a thick stream of cum runs over his fingers

dew hisses as it all happens, a coil snapping horribly in his stomach. his eyes pinch shut, forcing hot tears to slip down his cheeks, dripping from his jaw to mix with the small puddle of cum between his boots 

swiss does his best to work the fire ghoul through it as fast as he can but someone starts counting down from sixty seconds and it forces his hands away from dew’s body slightly too soon 

“fuck swiss,” dew grizzles, letting swiss wipe at his eyes with one of his sleeves while dew tries to pull his pants back up, “ouch, s-shit,” he grimaces as he tucks his sensitive cock into his pants, the fabric feeling wholly too rough against his chafed skin

“think the word you’re looking for is thanks,” swiss points out, though it’s light, easy, nothing meant by it. dew glares at him anyway though, earning himself a grin from the multi ghoul, “let’s go,”

“fourty, thirty nine,..”

dew grumbles, wiping at the stream of tears that won’t seem to stop as he follows swiss on wobbly legs, “thanks,” he finally huffs, managing to match swiss’ speed, even though he has to take three times as many steps as his taller counterpart 

swiss doesn’t reply, his mouth busy cleaning and licking cum from his fingers as they draw closer to the rest of their pack, the tallest of the ghouls eyeing them suspiciously, “where were you two?” mountain asks, turning everyone’s attention to swiss and dew, the latter still crying softly to himself 

“nowhere,” swiss answers nonchalantly, his shoulders rolling as someone shoves his mask into his hands, dew getting his thrown to him. his answer may not satisfy anyone’s nosiness but there’s no time for more questions as they slip their masks on, finally ready 

“fifteen, fourteen..,”

a guitar is passed to dewdrop and then the ghouls step out onto the stage, hidden by fabric draped from the ceiling to the floor, “promise when the shows finished i’ll make you cum properly,” swiss mumbles to dew, sliding past him to go in separate directions

dew blinks through his mask, swallowing thickly underneath black fabric as he’s stuck watching swiss clambering up onto his little stage before winking down at him, “promise i’ll really make you cry,”

“ten, nine,..”

for the first time ever, dewdrop can’t wait for the show to be over and it hasn’t even begun yet 

thanks for reading! remember to like! reblog! & comment! i’ll give you a kiss if you do, mwah! send prompts to my ask box!

𖤐 ghouls masterlist

[spookyghostjelly]

Midnight Hunt - Swiss x f!reader)

Warnings: MDNI 18+, 2,5k words, I'm back with more smut, and yes it's some more ghoul in heat, pnv sex, cnc, unprotected sex, creampie, breeding kink, a little predator/prey play, feral Swiss is a little possessive, public sex, oral sex, fingering, size kink, i think that's it?

You stifle a yawn as you make your way back to your room. It's terribly late and not a soul can be seen in the abbey's corridors, the silence a refreshing change to the usual hustle and bustle going on in the day. Finishing these translations so late was not your objective, but now that you were here, you took this time alone to relax and absorb the calmness emanating from the abbey's walls in the middle of the night. You let your stress from the day's work escape as you mindlessly walk the stone pathways. A sudden noise has you stopping in your tracks however. It was very faint but the silence allowed you to hear it clearly: a shuffle of feet on the stone floors, coming from somewhere behind you.

Who could still be up at this hour? You turn, only to find the space empty. Your head cocks slightly in confusion. Only Copia had the habit of wandering the halls near the library at night -and you obviously- but if it was indeed him, why would he not call out to you, and even disappear on you? Your mind must have played tricks on you, you guess, it was late and you were tired after all. Just as you turn to resume your walk however, you nearly jump out of your skin as a ghoul enters your sight, standing just a few feets away from you. You chuckled and breathed a sigh of relief, the ghouls weren't an unusual sight around here after all. The ghoul in front of you does not react however and as you look more attentively at him, you notice the way his chest is rising and falling heavily, and how his gaze on you does not hold the playful glint they usually did. No, his eyes are dark, fixed upon you, carefully eyeing your every movement. His body is taut, as if ready to jump at any moment.

"Swiss? Is everything ok?" You call out hesitantly to the ghoul.

No answer comes. Instead, his head cocks to the side as he takes a step towards you, and you instinctively take a step back, causing his eyes to narrow slightly. Suddenly the realization strikes you: the ghouls should be locked in their den right now, it was right around the time where they'd be getting into heat… how the hell did he manage to slip through? You silently curse as a spike of fear runs through you, your breath catching. His nostrils flare and his lips spread into a wide sinister smile, fangs glinting in the faint light of the wall sconces. He takes another step forward, and you backwards.

"Swiss, you shouldn't be here." You try to make your voice as firm as possible even though you know it's useless, he can smell the fear emanating from you.

"You should run little rabbit, fucking run while you can." 

His voice is so low, nearly a growl, and it sends shivers running through you. You know he's taunting you, running will only feed into his animalistic urge, but a spike of adrenaline has you instantly taking off running despite your brain knowing it was best not to. You curse the fact that you are still so far from your room and the sibling's dormitories. Running through the unending stone corridors towards the living quarters was pretty much your only option now; however, no way you could go through the main doors and lose him in the forest, he'd get to you in seconds. Your chances were already low as is… So you just focus on running towards your room, trying your best not to look back. You can hear him further behind you and you just know he's not going full speed. He's toying with you, that asshole. You take as many turns and secret passages as you can, trying to keep your frantic breath as silent as possible, even if you know he knows the abbey and its secrets just as well as you do, if not more. You feel like you've been running for hours, sweat beading at your temples and running down your cheeks, and for a moment, the silence around you makes you think you've actually managed to lose him somehow. But just as you're about to turn to look back, you feel a hand grab at your shirt's collar, claws tearing into the fabric. Despite your best efforts, it slows you down, throwing you off balance and of course he takes this advantage to jump towards you with a low growl. You somehow manage to dodge him however, both of you landing face first on the floor. You try to scramble back to your feet but a hand wraps around your ankle, pulling you back down with a loud cry. You curse loudly as you try to kick him off, but of course he easily manages to get you immobilized, face down under him. Swiss towers over you at the best of times so there was no way you could even try and fight him off, especially not with your muscles being this tired. He's currently sitting on you, a hand restraining both of yours in your back. You feel him leaning down, brushing your hair away as he presses his nose to the nape of your neck, inhaling deeply. He curses softly.

"You wouldn't believe how long I've been waiting for this rabbit" he growls, his fangs brushing against your skin as he nuzzles your neck. "Now that I finally have you under me, no way I'm letting you go."

You absolutely hate the shivers that run through you at the low rumble of his voice, your own body betraying you. He chuckles darkly.

"Unleash me Swiss" you try to sound calm, nearly bored, anything to hide the fear. "You can't be doing this, you could be sent back to the pits." 

He hums as he inhales your scent once more.

"If it means I get to taste you, I'm ready to take the risk, love." 

You whimper loudly when he tears your shirt open the rest of the way, your bra along with it. He pushes the offending fabric aside and the tip of his nose trails along the expanse of your shoulders, his lips brushing so lightly, it sends shivers down your spine. Swiss purrs as his tongue suddenly licks a fiery trail up the column of your neck. His free hand then goes to grip your hair and he bucks into you harshly with a loud whine. The way his bulge presses against your ass makes your stomach clench with a sudden need that scares you. His lips make their way to your cheek, just at the corner of your lips.

"Fuck, I need you (y/n), I'm going to take you, make you mine." He mumbles against your skin as he bucks once more.

"Please Swiss", you plead and you're not even sure what for anymore. 

"Yes rabbit I'm here, I'll take real good care of you."

Before you can even comprehend his words, he flips you on your back, a surprised squeak leaving your lips. A wide feral grin is spread across his lips as he spreads your legs around him, his hands going to his pants, unzipping and pulling them down with his underwear in record time. You can't help but stare at his now freed length, Swiss was nearly dwarfing you in size but for some reason you did not expect him to be this big. A spike of fear courses through you at the sight, he can't possibly fit can he? You finally look up to see his dark eyes and the way they are glued to your face, drinking in every single one of your reactions. He goes to grab the hem of your skirt, lifting, but you then try to squirm out of his grasp, your hands grabbing his wrists in a vain attempt to push him away. 

"Swiss we can't do this here, we'll get caught-"

"Let them see, rabbit. You're mine now, let 'em see who exactly you belong to."

He then quickly leans down, sucking a nipple between his lips, fangs grazing just barely at the skin and you gasp loudly. You can't stop your hands from gripping at the back of his head harshly and he whines against your skin, taking this moment to lift your skirt the whole way up. His mouth latches to the other nipple and you yelp when he tears your panties away from you, his fingers quickly finding your folds. You barely notice the way his eyes roll at the back of his skull and he releases your abused nipple with a pop.

"Ah fuck, rabbit, you're dripping." 

You know you shouldn't be enjoying this, and part of you was still a little worried about the whole situation, but a bigger part was now calling out to him, like your body had been actually yearning for him this whole time. His mouth begins slowly traveling down your body, until it finally levels with your core. His gaze lands on yours as he licks a long, slow stripe along your folds. You can't stop the loud moan that escapes your throat as you throw your head back. He repeats the motion, purring at the way your body arches off the floor, and up into his mouth. He is languid and slow at first, but his own desperation quickly wins over as he eats you out like a starved man, his moans growing nearly as loud as yours. You feel the coil within your stomach winding tighter and tighter and when he suddenly shoves two fingers in you, it snaps harshly, a loud wail leaving your lips as you come harder than you've ever came before. You feel him growl against you as he laps hungrily at your juices. It takes a few moments for you to come down from your high, and all the while, he keeps pumping his fingers slowly in and out of you until your thighs are shaking from overstimulation.

"Such a good rabbit for me" he purrs.

You know you're a complete mess by now, but as you look back up at him, you notice he doesn't seem to be doing much better, panting harshly and palming at himself over you. His lips crash onto yours, his kiss desperate and terribly needy, barely leaving room for you to breathe in between. You're so focused on his tongue lapping against yours that you don't even notice how he has lined himself up with your entrance until he shoved himself inside you to the hilt, in one swift motion. He swallows the scream that leaves your lips as he tries his best to remain still at first. He's so big, it feels as though you're stretched beyond what you thought was possible. The way he presses up all the way to your cervix is slightly painful at first, but it thankfully subsides quickly, leaving you squirming under him. His jaw clenches as he tries to keep some amount of control over himself, but you see the way he is nearly shaking.

"S-Swiss, fuck-" you stutter and gasp, your mind unable to conjure more words.

"You're doing so good baby, you're taking me so well, 'm gonna stuff you so full, stuff you 'till you grow round with my kits" he's rambling half coherently.

You struggle to breathe correctly as your hands find his back, nails leaving harsh red trails behind and he starts moving. You feel absolutely overwhelmed but in the most blissful way, it felt as though nothing would ever measure up to how he feels inside you right at this moment. You can't contain the loud cries that leave you even if you tried and he leans down to kiss you again, all teeth and tongue. His lips trail down your neck and his pace quickens, now pounding so hard into you, your mind goes totally blank. His hands are digging in your hips and you know will leave bruises but you can't bring yourself to care. Not when he's fucking up into you like this, like he needs it more than he needs air to breathe. He keeps rambling and mumbling incoherently against your skin, nipping and kissing in between.

"Fuck that's it rabbit, cum around me please, I know you can give me another one." 

His panting and whining are nearly enough to make you come right then, but then his fingers are making their way to your clit, rubbing tight and precise circles which has you coming undone nearly immediately. You come with a loud sob as you clench like a vice around him, a litany of curses the only thing your brain manages to get out. He doesn't stop moving however, even when tears run down your cheek, he keeps pounding violently, his pace growing erratic. His name leaves your lips on repeat as you cling to him for dear life, your whole body shaking and spasming uncontrollably.

"I'm gonna fill you up rabbit! Take it, take all of me, ah, fuck-" 

You feel his length twitch inside and just as he comes, his teeth sink in the soft flesh between your shoulder and neck. The sharp pain pulls another intense orgasm from you, a scream tearing itself from your throat, both from pain and pleasure. It takes a few moments for him to finally slow down before coming to a stop, his tongue now running soothingly across the wound he had created. You've never felt so full in your whole life, and at this point you wouldn't be surprised to find his cum leaking out of you for days following this. You both lay on the ground for a while, catching your breaths in silence, his hands running softly up and down your sides.

"Could you help me get back to my room please?" You ask after a while, your voice hoarse from all the screaming.

When he looks up at you, you notice his warm brown eyes have mostly gone back to normal, the darkness within them only faint now. He nods as he pulls out of you, making you wince.

"Let's go rabbit, let's put you to rest a bit before we go again"

You freeze as you look up at him, your wide eyes nearly horrified. What did he mean? 

"What? You think we were done? I told you rabbit, you're mine now and I'm not stopping 'till every single person in this abbey knows it." 

[sink-me-in-your-ocean]

𝔊𝔥𝔬𝔲𝔩𝔦𝔰𝔥 ℌ𝔢𝔞𝔡𝔠𝔞𝔫𝔬𝔫𝔰

How would the Ghouls (AND Copia) react to seeing you surprise them with lingerie?

Prompt by the miraculous @endhisbloodlineinmyesophagus

NSFW/Suggestive below the cut.

Copia:

Blushes profusely

This man is so flustered he can barely form a word, let alone speak a sentence

That doesn’t stop him from acting, though

He puts his greedy gloved hands on your body the second his mind can catch up to what’s happening

He’s torn between a state of disbelief and a state of unholy fuck I need to put my hands on this woman right now or I’ll die

“You are ravishing, cara mia.”

“Grazie mille, Papa.”

“But those straps, are they digging into your skin? I’d be happy to take you out of them.” 

“It’s actually surprisingly comfortable.”

“Good, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t dying to have you while you wear that.”

-

Swiss:

Grins at you like a madman when you reveal yourself to him

He tries to hide it but he’s so into it

The fact that you put in all this effort to fasten straps, tie ribbons, and put yourself on such a perfect display has him weak

He has an intense urge to fall to the floor and worship at your feet, as he feels unworthy of such a goddess

“All of this effort, for me? I mean, I can’t say I’m surprised you’d do something like this.”

“Well, it’s not just for me.”

“Hm?”

You produce a long silk ribbon that matches your lingerie, “This is for you. You can unwrap me and then I get to tie you up.”

He groans, “You’re fucking perfect.”

-

Phantom:

Can’t. Think. Heart. Having. Palpitations.

His dark eyes go so wide as he sees you all dressed up

His jaw is on the floor too

He runs a slightly trembling hand through his thick locks and unashamedly checks you out (not trembling out of nervousness, from sheer excitement)

“Oh, fuck me.”

“That’s the idea.”

“Get over here you little minx, you’re mine, you hear me?” 

“Are you going to undress me?”

“You know I don’t have the patience; I’m fucking you in that now.”

-

Dewdrop/Sodo:

His first thought is to mark you; he is overcome with the need to bite you and suck on your exposed skin immediately

Practically tears out of his own clothes at the sight of you presenting yourself for him

He needs you carnally

He’s fucking feral for you

“You wanted my attention, huh?”

“Yes.”

“Well I’ll give you points for all of this. But I’ll have to punish you too.”

“For what?”

“For walking around wearing this, anyone could have seen you. No, no, I’m not going to be finished with you until you can’t walk, siren.”

-

Rain:

Has to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from blurting out the first obscene thing that pops in his brain

You got him, you got him good

He doesn’t care for surprises but this one is a winner

His eyes can’t drink you in fast enough, flicking his gaze over your breasts, your thighs, and your ass as you turn for him

“Wow.”

“That’s it?”

“I can’t say the other things I’m thinking, I’m pretty sure I’d get arrested.”

“I’ll take ‘wow’ then.”

“Oh you’ll be taking a lot more than that.”

-

Mountain:

Literally astonished when you show him what you’re wearing 

Utterly hypnotized by the curves of your body done up by lace

Hands start twitching like a crazed addict

He needs to touch you

“Get. Over. Here.”

“Right now?”

“Right fucking now. Either that or I come over there and pin you against that wall.”

“Hmmm…”

“The wall it is.”

-

Cirrus:

Goes from zero to one hundred in a snap

Can’t decide where she wants to look, placing you in front of a floor length mirror for her own pleasure

She is happy to stand back and watch you pose for her

Eventually she gets antsy, fingers tingling with need to touch you

“Need attention, do we?”

“I have some for you too, love.”

“You do?”

“Just for you.” You hand her a black tissue-wrapped package.

“Matching sets? What are we, in a band?”

-

Cumulus:

Purses her lips in satisfaction

Tries to keep herself from smiling, she’s trained you well

Extra points for you sitting on the floor so submissively

Something inside her calls to put her mouth on you, mark you all over with her dark lipstick

“Stand and me a twirl.”

You oblige her.

“What a good girl. Shall I give you a treat?”

“Yes, please.”

She opens the top drawer of the dresser and starts laying out the treats she plans on using on you. You’ve been good indeed.

-

Aurora/Sunshine:

Squeals in delight upon seeing you

You’d think it was her birthday the way she reacted to you

That doesn’t stop a mischievous grin from spreading on her face though

She wants to see you put on other things she’s had tucked away for special occasions 

“This one is next!”

“Haven't you found your favorite yet?”

“Nope.”

“No?”

“My favorite is you wearing nothing at all, gorgeous, I just wanted to see how many different pairs I could get you to put on before you beg me to take them off you.”

-

[lvrhughes]

Matching | N. Hischier

pairing: Nico Hischier x fem!reader

word count: 1.18k

summary: At a halloween party, you and Nico are unknowingly matching, then at the end of the night Nico confesses his love.

warnings: drinking?

requested: no

not my gif!

“You’re here!” Dougie practically yelled, trying to get his voice over the loud music that seemed to seep from every wall. 

“You’re lucky I love you.” You rolled your eyes towards him, reminding him of the countless times he’d begged you to come over the week 

He’d spent the week showing up to your doorstep or work with a coffee, begging for you to at least stop by his halloween party. He’d claimed it wouldn’t be as good without your presence, claiming that no matter if his entire team was there, he still needed his best friend. 

So you showed. 

Arriving in the costume you’d managed to throw together, hoping it would fit up to standard for the night. Brushing your hair back once more while you stood with Dougie, smoothing the dress out while you scoped out the room shortly after. 

“What are you?” 

The question slipped from Dougie’s lips, urging his to rush to rephrase the sentence after you glared in his direction. Fixing your dress again before turning back to him and answering. 

“Could you not tell that I’m a cow?” 

It was a stupid costume, you’d admit it, it was made with very low effort but it worked. The dress was flattering and with a few black patches throw onto it for the night, it made an easy costume. 

“I was guessing, but you can’t just call a girl a cow now can you?” 

Dougie smiled as he spoke, urging you to roll your eyes at him before placing a playful hit to his arm. Confirming that calling a girl a cow is not the right move before watching his eyes light up. 

“You know, I think you gotta go visit Cap.” 

There was a smirk on Dougie’s face as he spoke, his hand moving to your back to push you towards his swiss captain. The same captain who stood just off to the side of you and Dougie, talking to a few of his teammates, wearing a simple cowboy costume. 

His body covered in a simple button up, jeans, boots, and a hat. All tailored to perfection. Hugging his body perfectly as if to accentuate it more, even if unnecessary. 

Before you could think about the outfit more, Dougie had shoved you forwards. Leaving you to fall into the side of Nico, his arm wrapping around your waist to steady you quickly. 

“Woah, you okay?” 

Nico was staring at you, wide eyes and pupils dilated, as your hands fell to his chest, attempting to regain some balance. 

“I am so sorry, Dougie pushed me and-” 

“It’s okay, are you okay?” 

He repeated himself, his hand dropping to your waist while yours stayed planted on his chest, his body turned to face yours now. 

“‘M okay.” 

You nodded, your cheeks flushing as you realized you still had a hold on Nico, dropping your hands quickly. His hand stayed on your waist, keeping you close as he turned back to his teammates, rejoining the conversation with ease.

“Wait, are you two matching?” 

Jack stopped the conversation, noticing the fitting costumes between you and Nico. His eyes flicking back and forth while waited for an answer. 

“Not intentionally.”

Jack laughed at the confession, sending a knowing smirk to Nico after you spoke. Nico’s cheeks darkened at the look, looking at the ground before returning to the conversation once more. 

You stayed tucked in Nico’s hold for almost half an hour before deeming you needed a drink, shifting in his hold just enough to gain his attention, watching him look towards you before you spoke. 

“I need a drink.” 

He nodded, simply leading you towards the kitchen, his hands never leaving your waist. His grip stayed even as you reached to grab a drink, making it a little more awkward but who were you to complain when the hot captain of the New Jersey Devils wanted to hold you?

Nico led you back to the group after, moving you around to leave you standing in front of him, his arms resting on top of your shoulders. You stayed there for the night, not wanting to move from the warmth of his hold, simply making your way around the room by following Nico. 

By the end of the night, you’d managed talking to almost everyone with Nico, letting him lead you around to other teammates or friends of his before settling down on the couch. The room had mostly emptied, leaving only a few other teammates of his in the room, Dougie pacing the room to clean up the mess of discarded cups from his house. 

“Neeks?” 

He glanced at you, seeing you looking up at him already. He nodded for you to continue, keeping his eyes on you, ignoring the yelling of the few, drunk, teammates left. 

“Why’d you stay with me all night?” 

Nico seemed to shy away at the question, his cheeks dusting in a soft pink color. He sent a awkward smile towards you before sighing, internally thinking before looking back at you to speak. 

“I think I love you.” He paused before continuing, watching the confusion run through your features, “No, I know I love you. I think even when Dougie first introduced you I loved you, you’re so beautiful and smart and funny, but I couldn’t say that before, it was never right. First you had a boyfriend,” 

He reminded you of the small man who you dated to try to ignore the butterflies that seemed to appear when Dougie introduced you to Nico, dumping him two weeks later when he cheated on you. 

“Then I had a girlfriend.” 

The girl Nico tried to date to forget you, getting himself dumped when he got drunk once and confessed to said girl how much he wanted you. 

“Then we never seemed to meet.” 

He wasn’t wrong. It was like the world wanted you two apart, scheduling games at the worst times or in another city and your work schedule seemed never ending. This had been the first time you’d seen Nico in two weeks. 

“It’s okay if you don’t feel the same, I just needed you to know.” 

You sat wide-eyed looking at him, the realization of what Nico had just confessed hitting you quickly.  You shook your head, moving to straddle his lap before you spoke. 

“Nico, I love you too.” 

His eyes lit up at the words, his hands placed on your hips once again while a smile broke out over his face. You moved your hands to cup his cheeks, smiling back at him. 

“Can I kiss you?” 

Nico whispered, barely loud enough but you heard. Nodding at him as he slowly leaned in, urging him to move the rest of the way. Connecting your lips, letting your body melt against his while his arms slipped around your waist to pull you closer to him, if even possible. 

“I think this means I get to be your girlfriend now.” 

Your forehead was pressed against his, letting your breaths mix in between as you pulled back, staring at Nico as he smiled. 

“I think so too.”

[willowsnook]

sweet sister (18+)

You can make one with Lance x Ocon reader. She is Esteban's sister but she never participated much in the races and which she was Lance didn't pay much attention to her. But now he is newly single is invited to Esteban's birthday and finds her and ends up rolling a mood. Then they have a relationship hidden from the media and families but being discovered later, some interaction of Lance and Esteban being brothers-in-law!!

Lance stroll x ocon!sister

—----------------------------------------------------------

“Happy birthday, Estie,” you cheered as you found your brother talking with Flavy in his kitchen, with a drink in his hand. 

“Thanks sis,” Esteban replied warmly. He was hosting a small party at his Swiss apartment to celebrate and you were happy to finally get time off of work to make the trip this weekend. You had thrown on a casual fit with an oversized cardigan in your favorite shade of blue and were ready to let off a little steam. 

“Come on Flavy,” you said, pulling your brother’s girlfriend away to the outdoor patio area. She giggled as you dragged her, and the cool air had you clutching your outer layer when you finally made it. 

“So what’s new?” She asked, sinking down on one of the outdoor couches, resting her feet on the patio table. You joined her, not letting go of your glass of wine. 

“Not a lot. Work is boring, but there is a chance that I’ll get to start being remote,” you said excitedly. You were a data analyst and while you enjoyed being in the office, you wanted to live the nomad traveling life while you were young. So being able to be remote would be perfect. 

“Wait does that mean you’ll come to more races,” she asked, her eyes wide. She squealed as you nodded. “Thank god, I’ve been so bored.”

“You hang out with Kika, though right?” You asked.

“Yeah, but she’s been hanging around with Alex more which is fine, but then I get lonely. And now that Lance and Marilou broke up, there really isn’t anyone else I’m friends with.”

“Oh yeah, I heard about that,” you said. “A couple of months ago right?” 

“Yeah,” she said giving you a teasing look. “Trying to swoop in?” 

“Esteban would kill me,” you muttered with a small laugh. 

You didn’t even know Lance that well, but something about him intrigued you. By the time him and Esteban had gotten close you were already in college so you weren’t even 100% sure if he remembered who you were. 

“He’s nice,” Flavy said thoughtfully. “I think he gets a bad rep because of who he is but he’s always been a sweetheart to me.” 

“Didn’t he cheat on Marilou, though,” you asked, thinking back to the gossip account’s post you had seen. 

“I don’t think so,” she answered. “To my knowledge, they had been broken up a while before the media knew so the girl they referenced was post-break.” 

“Ahh,” you said. Turning your head to look back inside you saw the man himself, talking to your brother and some others in the living room. Dressed in all black he managed to look casual but still put together. 

As you watched Lance through the glass doors, he suddenly looked up and caught your gaze. For a moment, your eyes locked, and you felt a flutter in your stomach. You quickly looked away, feeling your cheeks heat up.

"Ooh, someone's blushing," Flavy teased, nudging you with her elbow.

"Shut up," you muttered, taking a large sip of your wine.

Just then, the sliding door opened, and Esteban stepped out onto the patio. "Hey, stop hiding out here and come join the party.” 

You and Flavy exchanged a glance before standing up. As you followed your brother back inside, you couldn't help but steal another look at Lance. To your surprise, he was still watching you, a small smile playing on his lips.

Throughout the evening, you found yourself gravitating towards Lance. You chatted with some of Esteban’s old friends and eventually found yourself beside him. 

“It’s been a while,” he said, breaking the ice between you. His eyes lingered on your body before he brought them back up to your eyes, a small smirk on his face. 

“It has,” you agreed, trying to act casual. “Tough season so far?”

“Already busting my balls?” He snorted, leaning back against the wall. 

“Someone has to,” you teased. As nervous as you were to talk to him, it all seemed to melt away now that you finally were. “You aren’t in the bottom five of the grid though, so I guess that’s a good sign.”

“Only a matter of time,” he mumbled, and you caught a flash of dejection on his face that he tried to brush off. 

“The car or you?” You asked gently. Having been around your brother’s racing career, you knew that was usually what it boiled down to. 

“A little bit of both,” he admitted. “The car isn’t great which is resulting in me not being confident which makes for easy mistakes.” 

You nodded sympathetically. "That must be frustrating. I'm sure you'll find your groove again soon, though."

Lance gave you a small smile, his eyes softening. "Thanks. It's nice to talk to someone who gets it."

You felt a warmth spread through your chest at his words. "Well, I've been around racing my whole life. It's hard not to pick up on a few things."

"Thanks, that means a lot. You know, I always wondered why we never really got to know each other before."

"Probably because I was always busy with school when you and Esteban started hanging out," you replied, suddenly very aware of how close you were. “I’m surprised you recognized me.” 

"Well, I'm glad I did," Lance said, his voice lowering slightly as he leaned in closer.

Your breath caught in your throat at his proximity. You could smell his cologne, a subtle but intoxicating woodsy scent. You were too caught up in his intense stare to see your brother coming towards you.

“Hey guys,” he said, shooting Lance a warning look. You instantly stood back and blushed, looking anywhere but the man before you. “Flavy and I are hungry, you in for late-night dinner?”

Looking around, you realized that everyone had filtered out. Lance agreed to food and you found yourself nodding along as well. The four of you called a ride to a nearby restaurant that Lance had called, asking them to stay open. Esteban sat in the front with the rest of you in the back; you being in the middle meant you were pushed alongside Lance, making you flush. 

Pulling up to the spot, he got out and held his hand out for you to help. His big hand enveloped yours and he held on for an extra couple of seconds before you shot him a curious look. 

Late night dinner was a great move, and conversation flowed as the four of you enjoyed being the only ones there. You had missed your brother a lot. A couple of hours later you were dead and watched as Esteban and Flavy got into a car back to his place. You were staying in a hotel, so Lance insisted on waiting for your car with you, to make sure you were safe. 

“Are we going to go another few years without seeing each other?” He asked and you smiled. 

“I hope not,” you said. “I’m going to try to be in Austin.” 

“That would be good, I can get you an Aston garage pass,” he said. 

“Not sure how Esteban would feel about that,” you teased. 

Lance chuckled, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "What Esteban doesn't know won't hurt him, right?"

You bit your lip, considering his offer. "I suppose one little garage tour wouldn't hurt..."

"Exactly," Lance said, taking a step closer to you. The streetlight cast a warm glow on his face, accentuating his strong jawline. "And maybe we could grab dinner after the race?"

Your heart raced at the suggestion. "Lance Stroll, are you asking me out on a date?"

He grinned, running a hand through his hair. "I guess I am. What do you say?"

Before you could answer, your ride pulled up to the curb. Lance opened the car door for you, ever the gentleman.

"I'll think about it," you said with a coy smile as you slid into the backseat. 

As the car pulled away, you couldn't help but look back at Lance, who was still standing there, watching you go. You felt a mix of excitement and nervousness about what might happen next.

—---------austin gp—--------------------

This was your first time in Austin and you loved the southern culture. You insisted on buying three different pairs of cowboy boots when you came. You knew people didn’t really dress like this all the time here, but it was fun. 

It was warm on race day so you chose a lighter-weight dress paired with the favorite boots you had bought. Flavy matched you in a cream dress and you both fit right in with everyone else in the paddock. Lance was talking to Esteban after the drivers parade and you blushed under his gaze; he clearly was a fan. Esteban was too infatuated with Flavy to notice. 

“Embracing the cowgirl lifestyle,” Lance teased as you reached him. You did a little twirl for him, smiling widely. 

“Yeah, do you like it?” You asked innocently, already knowing the answer. 

“A lot,” he said simply. 

One of the Aston Martin media girls was nearby, holding a cowboy hat that seemed ot be for Lance. You reached out your hand and she gave it to you so that you could place it on his head. 

“There,” you said, breathless from the lack of distance. “Now we match.” 

Lance's eyes darkened as he looked down at you, his hand coming up to adjust the hat. "I like matching with you," he said softly, his voice low enough that only you could hear.

You felt a shiver run down your spine, but Esteban called out to you before you could respond. "Hey sis, come here for a sec!"

Reluctantly, you stepped away from Lance, shooting him an apologetic smile. You could feel Lance's eyes following you as you walked towards your brother.

The race was intense, and neither your brother or Lance put on much of an impressive performance. Lance texted you when he had his phone again, asking to meet up for dinner in a bit, which you agreed to. 

“Are you coming out with us?” Esteban asked, and you faked a yawn, looking at him apologetically. 

“I’m honestly beat; I’ll probably just get room service and call it a night,” you lied. He nodded in understanding before hugging you goodbye and leaving with Flavy. You felt terrible lying to your brother but you wanted to enjoy whatever was going on between you and Lance just the two of you for now. 

You changed into comfier clothes and took off your makeup right as Lance knocked on your door. 

“Still want just to do room service?” He asked. You nodded, waving him in. 

“Yeah, I honestly am tired,” you said. 

“Good, me too,” he agreed. You let your eyes drop to his shirt that was tightly clung to his torso before meeting his smirking gaze. 

You rolled your eyes, moving to look at the menu. He leaned back on your bed, resting his head on the headboard while watching you with amusement. 

“There’s too many choices,” you muttered, unable to decide between chicken tenders and a burger. 

“What are you between?” He asked. 

“Chicken or a burger.”

“Just get both and we’ll split it,” he said and you nodded, calling in the order. Once you had the food, you sat a respectable distance away from him on the bed, letting him talk you through what the race was like for him. 

“Sorry for boring you,” he said sheepishly and you smiled. 

“I’m not bored, I like seeing you get lost like that,” you said. “If only those gossip accounts knew that you actually liked racing.” 

He rolled his eyes, “I don’t know where they come up with that stuff. Didn’t peg you as a gossip follower.” 

“It’s amusing,” you said, shrugging. 

As the night wore on, you found yourself inching closer to Lance on the bed. The conversation flowed easily between you, covering everything from childhood memories to your current aspirations. You were surprised at how comfortable you felt with him.

"You know," Lance said, his voice soft, "I've really enjoyed getting to know you these past few weeks."

Your heart skipped a beat. "Me too," you admitted, meeting his gaze. 

“I should probably get going,” he said, and you felt a wave of disappointment wash over you. 

“Yeah, it’s late,” you said, sliding off the bed to walk him to the door. 

“Esteban said you were remote now, does that mean I’ll see you next week?” He asked, one hand on the handle.

“If you’re lucky,” you teased and he smiled before pressing his lips against your forehead. 

“I’ll see ya,” he said and you were glad he had already turned so that he couldn’t see the red on your face. 

—----------Mexico GP—------------------

Lance was having a good race, slated to get some much-needed points but a last-minute push by Pierre crushed his hopes. He was frustrated coming out of the car, snapping at his engineer before retreating to his driver's room. He rarely lost his cool, but something about today had him trying to simmer down his frustration. Being so close to finishing in points and then having it ripped away was not a good feeling. 

Your brother was pulled away for debriefs so you wandered around the paddock for a bit before running into Fernando. You had gotten to know him a bit when him and Esteban drove together for Alpine. 

“Hey y/n,” the older man greeted you, pulling you into a quick hug. “Your boyfriend is scaring everyone away.” 

“Boyfriend?” You asked confused and Fernando smirked. 

“Yeah your lover boy teammate of mine,” he said. “Since he can’t talk to Esteban about you, I have unfortunately become the sounding board.”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” you said, mumbling, a slight flush on your cheeks. “Is he okay?” 

“Just pissed, snapping at people, try to calm him down will ya?” He asked, not giving you a chance to answer before walking away. 

Sighing, you made your way to the Aston garage, heading towards the room that everyone seemed to be avoiding. You knocked once before pushing open the door to see Lance, shirtless with a scowl on his face. 

Your breath caught in your throat at the sight of Lance's toned chest. Despite his frustrated expression, you couldn't help but admire his physique. Shaking yourself out of your daze, you stepped into the room and closed the door behind you.

"Hey," you said softly, approaching him cautiously. "Tough race, huh?"

Lance looked up, his scowl softening slightly when he saw you. "Yeah, you could say that," he muttered, running a hand through his hair.

You sat down next to him on the small couch, close enough that your thighs were touching. "Want to talk about it?"

He sighed heavily. "It's just... I was so close. Those points would have meant a lot, you know?"

You nodded sympathetically, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "I know. But you drove well out there. Sometimes things just don’t work out.” 

You could feel the anger radiating off of him and could tell he was trying to stop himself from snapping at you. 

“Can I help you relax?” You asked and he scoffed. 

“I don’t think anything can help me,” he said. 

“I can think of a few ideas,” you said, moving off the couch onto your knees in front of him. His eyes widened at what you were suggesting, but the way you were staring up at him had him instantly hard. 

“Y/n…,” he trailed as you started to pull his suit, further down, leaving him just in his briefs. 

“Let me take care of you, baby,” you whispered. 

Lance's breath hitched as your fingers trailed along the waistband of his briefs. His eyes were dark with desire as he gazed down at you.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice husky.

You nodded, maintaining eye contact as you slowly pulled down his underwear. His erection sprang free, and you couldn't help but lick your lips at the sight.

Without hesitation, you wrapped your hand around his length, stroking him slowly. Lance's head fell back against the couch, a low groan escaping his lips. Encouraged by his reaction, you leaned forward and took him into your mouth.

"Fuck," Lance hissed, his hand coming to rest on the back of your head.

You worked him with your mouth and hand, alternating between long, slow licks and quick, shallow bobs. Lance's fingers tangled in your hair, pushing your head deeper, causing you to gag. 

You pulled back slightly, adjusting to his size before taking him deeper again. Lance's hips began to thrust gently, matching your rhythm. The room filled with the sounds of his low moans and your muffled whimpers.

"Y/n, I'm close," Lance warned, his grip on your hair tightening.

You doubled your efforts, hollowing your cheeks and swirling your tongue around his tip. With a final groan, Lance came undone, spilling into your mouth. You swallowed everything he gave you, continuing to suck gently until he was completely spent.

Pulling away, you wiped your mouth and looked up at Lance. His chest was heaving, a thin sheen of sweat glistening on his skin. He gazed down at you with a mix of awe and affection.

"Come here," he said softly, helping you up onto his lap. 

“Better?” You asked, and he pressed his lips gently against yours. 

“Much,” he said. 

You played nervously with his hair, his arms wrapped snugly around you as you both sat silently. 

“What’s on your mind, pretty girl?” He asked. 

“I really like you,” you admitted boldly, looking down to see him grinning widely. 

“I really like you too,” he said. 

“I’m not sure if I’m ready to be dragged through the media thought yet,” you said softly. “Or have my family harass me.” 

“We can take things slowly and quietly,” Lance assured you, returning his lips to yours. The kiss was soft and you melted into him. 

—--------------------------------------------------

The next month went by quickly and you didn’t go a day without talking to Lance. You hadn’t seen him much, not being able to go the Brazil GP, which was sad considering how well your brother did. But you facetimed him constantly and he had flown out to London everytime he had a break. 

He was such a sweetheart and made you feel so special, always showering you with compliments and affection. You knew your brother was starting to get suspicious, especially since Lance had bailed on hanging with him multiple times. With that in mind, you decided that maybe it was time to go public, at least with him. 

Flavy had called and said that she and Esteban were renting a cabin in the Alps and wanted to know if you wanted to join. 

“Yeah, I’m free. Can I bring someone?” You asked. 

“Oooo who??,” she questioned over the phone. 

“My boyfriend,” you said quickly, and you heard her scream. 

“Are you joking me?” She complained. “Why didn’t you tell me? Is it who I think it is?” 

“Yes,” you admitted. “Just make sure Esteban is in a good mood.” 

Your flight landed at the same time as Lance’s, and Lance greeted you with a kiss once he saw you come down to baggage claim. 

“Hi, angel, I missed you,” he sai,d and you beamed up at him. 

“I missed you too,” you replied. He took your luggage from you, carrying it to the waiting car as you drove up to the cabin. 

“Nervous?” You asked, noting how Lance bobbed his knee up and down. 

“I can take him, so no,” he said and you playfully hit his shoulder. 

“It’ll be fine,” you reassured him. 

You had thought Flavy would let it slip to Esteban that Lance was coming but based on his shocked face, that was clearly not the case.

As you and Lance stepped out of the car, Esteban's jaw dropped. He looked between the two of you, his eyes narrowing as he noticed your intertwined hands.

"What's going on here?" Esteban demanded, his voice a mix of confusion and anger.

You took a deep breath, squeezing Lance's hand for support. "Estie, Lance and I are together. We've been dating for a little while now."

Esteban's face turned red, and for a moment, you thought he might explode. But then Flavy appeared behind him, placing a calming hand on his shoulder.

"Babe, remember what we talked about," she said softly. "Be happy for your sister."

Esteban took a deep breath, visibly trying to compose himself. "How long has this been going on?"

"Since Austin," Lance answered, his voice not wavering. You both waited in silence for Esteban to respond but he just kept looking from you to Lance, not saying anything.

“Fine.”

That was all he said before he spun on his heel and stormed into the house. 

“That went well,” you muttered. Flavy shot you an apologetic look before following him inside and Lance pulled you into his body. His hands found your jaw as he cradled your face. 

“He’ll come around,” he promised and you couldn’t help but smile. Leaning up, you pressed a soft kiss against his lips before heading inside. 

Inside the cozy cabin, the tension was palpable. Flavy had ushered Esteban into the kitchen, leaving you and Lance in the living room to settle in. You could hear low murmurs from behind the closed door as they spoke, but you couldn’t make out what they were saying. Lance gave your hand a reassuring squeeze as he helped you unpack your coat.

After what felt like an eternity, the kitchen door swung open, and Esteban stepped out, his expression unreadable. Flavy trailed behind him, giving you an encouraging nod.

“Lance,” Esteban said, his tone firm but calmer than before. “Can we talk outside? Just us.”

Lance glanced at you, and you gave him a small nod. “Sure,” he replied, following Esteban onto the snowy porch.

You watched through the window as the two of them stood facing each other. Their conversation was animated at first, with Esteban gesturing wildly while Lance remained composed, his hands tucked into his pockets. But slowly, the tension seemed to melt away. Esteban’s shoulders relaxed, and Lance let out a small laugh, clapping him on the shoulder.

When they finally came back inside, both of them seemed lighter. Esteban walked straight up to you, his expression softening as he looked at you.

“Alright,” he said with a sigh. “If you’re happy, that’s all that matters. But,” he added, pointing at Lance, “if you hurt her, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Lance said earnestly.

Esteban nodded and pulled you into a quick hug. “Just… don’t make me regret this,” he murmured, ruffling your hair like he used to when you were kids.

Lance gave you a knowing smile as Esteban turned to Flavy, muttering something about needing a drink.

“See?” Lance whispered, leaning close to your ear. “Told you he’d come around.”

You laughed, feeling a weight lift off your chest. Maybe this holiday wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Flavy came near you, holding out a glass of wine, “you’re going to need this.”

“Why?” You said, accepting it curiously. She pulled out her phone to show you F1gossip’s latest post: you and Lance kissing at the airport. 

“Let’s get the bottle,” you said. 

[op1umeyes]

Where Were You? Where Were You?

🩻 - Synopsis. Aaron realizes how badly he messed up, but doesn’t know if he has the strength to mend the wounds he gave himself and you.

🩻 - Warnings. Angst. No happy ending. Self isolating!Aaron. Boo hoo we’re all pitiful clowns here. Part one HERE! NOT EDITED!

🩻 - Author’s note. Part one got so much love!!! Thank you all for reading and commenting. I hop you enjoy the second part, but I’m bringing in the big guns for part three! :)

You stayed to get your psych evaluation. It took two tries. The first time around took a toll on you: reliving everything that happened, talking about it in explicit detail, and acting like everything was fine. But you knew you failed before it even began.

You took it again a couple weeks after. Even though you were officially benched from any cases, you didn’t complain.

All the time the team spent away gave you the opportunity to job surf. In reality, quitting the BAU was much harder than you initially imagined. Of course you would still be able to see them and talk to the team, it just… wouldn’t be the same. You would miss J.J.’s round of ‘good mornings’ as she swept by you all, eyes locked on the coffee pot a few feet away. You would miss Derek perched on Emily’s desk, teasing you, Spencer, and Emily like he was getting paid for it. You would miss Spencer looking over at you every couple of minutes to see of you were paying attention or not; making faces at you or mouthing words if you weren’t. You would also miss Emily spinning stories about her past, telling you the good and the bad, letting you closer into her heart. You would obviously miss Penelope’s hugs whenever she could tell if something was off, trying to cheer you up. And Rossi. Rossi buying the coffee at expensive places after begging him too, Rossi giving you advice during a case, Rossi being the father of the team he was meant to be. But… most of all you would miss Aaron.

Aaron speeding to his desk in the morning, desperate for something to wake him up. Aaron walking into casual Friday in a pair of tight-fitting jeans you didn’t know he had. Aaron stepping out of a hotel room in a quarter-zip, unaware of you ogling him. Aaron letting Jack go straight to you whenever the little guy swung by. Aaron’s smell when he hugged you. Aaron. Aaron, Aaron, Aaron.

No. You physically shook your head. Get rid of him, you thought, he’s just going to make it harder for you to leave. The computer screen was giving you a headache now. You finally decided to get up and stretch your legs.

As you moseyed over to Penelope’s cave, you noticed the time: 11:49.

“Hey Pen,” you greeted. “You eat anything? I’ll go grab lunch for us,” you offered.

“Hey mamas!” Derek greeted. You saw his face of the screen, smiling.

“Hey, you. How’s the case?” You asked, immediately happy to talk to the man.

Derek shrugged and looked at someone behind the camera. “Reid! C’mere. It’s y/n/n.”

You heard a couple gasps over the quiet chatter in the precinct and suddenly Emily and Spencer’s face showed up on the screen.

“Hi y/n!” Spencer greeted excitedly. You came to stand behind Penelope, poking her in the cheek as you greeted the both of them.

“Hey Spence! Hey Em!” You were happy to see the pair. Though you had seen them only four days ago, you missed them. A pang of guilt stabbed at your heart: how were you supposed to quit your job if you couldn’t stand four days away from them?

“-ffee shop you’d love. I got that mocha stuff you normally get to try, and it was alright. I guess I see why you like ‘em,” Emily shrugged.

“I’ve been telling you! Anyway, how’s the case?” You asked.

“Close. I can feel it,” the black haired woman said plainly.

Spencer nodded and started talking about the case. The unsub’s main slaughter technique consisted of an electrical wire- of all things- and a Swiss army knife, a different knife each kill. You nodded along, listening to what your friend said. Eventually, you heard “Reid!” and Spencer said a quick goodbye and he was out of frame.

“That’s our cue, baby girl,” Derek said. “I’ll talk to you two ladies later.”

You heard Emily’s ‘bye!’ and the screen turned black.

“Sweetness, I would love some food,” Penelope groaned. “I’ll eat anything you get, but I need a pink lemonade! I need it, y/n, or I may perish.”

You laughed. “Yes ma’am.” With that, you poked her other cheek gently and left.

— 🔥

Aaron heard your conversation. He heard your sweet laugh, how easily you fell into conversation with Derek, Spencer, and Emily. He thought of the few months before you were taken. You were excited about a stray kitten you had found, claiming that the little creature followed you from your apartment to the bookstore you swung by regularly. You hadn’t even realized the calico until you sat down and felt his little paws tugging on your pants, tiny mews trying for your attention.

You were overjoyed to have been- in your words- ‘decided worthy enough for the system to choose you’. Penelope had been buzzing about it too, especially after showing her numerous different pictures of the little fella.

Spencer had asked what you did with him, knowing you didn’t have the time to take care lf a kitten when you were gone so much. You told the team that you had given it to a cousin’s daughter, who was immediately taken with the kitten.

The joy in your tone as you gushed about the kitten was palpable. Aaron loved- liked so many things about you, and how passionate you are was definitely one of those qualities. But he felt his own smile fade off of his face as his eyes fell back on crime scene photos: he had a job to do. And you were unimportant.

— 🔥

You picked up Chinese food, ordering inside the restaurant because the line wrapped around the whole building.

After ordering, you paid and gave the cashier a smile. You kept smiling until you turned away, still feeling her wandering gaze drag harshly down your cheek, eyebrows furrowing as she tore herself away from the scar as dipped below your shirt.

As you stood back and waited, you felt like everyone’s eyes were on you. What an idiot, you thought: a government agent who doesn’t even have the confidence to buy some food. Your jaw tightened and you kept your eyes down, waiting until your last name was called. You saw a little girl look at you as you walked out. She held her hand up to wave and you smiled at her, the chubby cheeks of her face lifting into a bright smile. You looked away when her mother pulled her forward, sharp eyes glaring at you.

The little girl’s toothy smile filled your head as you drove back to the office. The ice in Penelope’s pink lemonade clinked around in the plastic cup as you drove. You drove in silence, thinking of the mother pulling her daughter away. Were you… really that bad? Ugly? Your heart sank into your stomach: a feeling you were starting to get used to. You saw your vision blur, but refused to cry. Maybe that’s why Aaron doesn’t want to see your face anymore. Because you were a monster. MacMillian had done his job- successfully.

— 🔥

Aaron stared at the text on his phone.

From Penelope Garcia 🖥️😄: u need to talk to y/n. ASAP. i  don’t think she’s okay and i think it has to do with the macmillian case

It had been three weeks since the case and you still hadn’t spoken to Aaron since before you were kidnapped. Well, you had talked to him, but it was stiff and professional. He looked over at Rossi who was speaking with a few officers. Aaron felt like an idiot.

He wanted bothing more than to drag you into his office and sit you down to talk. Talk about what happened, what he did, how you felt, how you’re feeling now. Aaron just wanted to help you heal but he knew he can’t. He can’t jeapordize your relationship or his job. Aaron felt a lump grow in his throat. He didn’t even know what he wanted anymore- other than you.

To Penelope Garcia 🖥️😄: How is she? What happened?

From Penelope Garcia 🖥️😄: she went to get food for us and came back all upset. i think the poor girl was about to cry :(

From Penelope Garcia 🖥️😄: and i think there’s something else i need to tell you

From Penelope Garcia 🖥️😄: but it has to be in person.

Aaron leaned back in his chair. “Damn it.”

— 🔥 

A day later the team came home. There was an arrest and the case was closed. There was a lighthearted conversation on the way home, Reid and Rossi playing a card game as Derek, Emily, and J.J. bickered over something (Aaron doesn’t know anything when they get together and scheme). But Hotch was looking out the window and thinking of Penelope’s texts. What had happened to make you shut down? What news did Penelope have for him? How were you doing mentally? How are you at home?

Hotch knew you had nightmares. Hell, everyone could tell. You had growing purple splotches under your eyes, a larger coffee cup every morning, and you zones out consistently during the day. You wore turtlenecks- that Hotch personally thought you looked amazing in- even in 85 degree weather. Not to mention how jumpy you are whenever someone touches you.

Reid had nudged you one day to get your attention; you were staring at nothing and it was time to leave. Derek watched you, a frown on his face after saying your name thrice. Spencer nudged your shoulder with a knuckle and you flew backwards, stumbling out of your chair, a hand coming to your cheek (where The Scar ran down your face). You played it off quickly after seeing Derek, Emily, Rossi, and even Hotch’s looks. But the fear in your eyes… Spencer knew you thought he would hurt you.

After landing, Hotch gave the team the day. As they all cheered and left to get their stuff, Hotch walked into the bullpen where he knew you were still working.

“Y/n.”

God, Aaron missed you. Missed seeing you, being in the same room as you- hell, breathing the same air as you.

You looked up from your computer, eyes falling on an exhausted looking SSA Aaron Hotchner. “Sir?”

“You may have the rest of the day off.” Aaron swallowed, holding your eye contact. Your eyes were one of his weaknesses. After a second of silence, you nodded.

“Thank you, sir.” 

Hotch turned on his heel and made his way to see Penelope. He felt his head spin: your blank stare and emotionless eyes felt like a knife to the gut. Aaron really fucked up, hadn’t he? Fucked up so bad you called him ‘sir’ and acted like you hadn’t bonded over your love for Phil Collins and old action movies. And how to looked away from him like you hadn’t slept in Aaron’s house clad in a pair of his sweatpants and an old sweatshirt, Jack lying on top of you after falling asleep to a cartoon. And especially the way your voice was monotone, completely different from the way you held up a quiet conversation after being sent home because you had a concussion.

“Garcia-“

Penelope stood up the second she heard Hotch’s voice. Tears welled in her eyes, shining brightly against the different colored lights in her cave. “Sir, it’s about y/n. I- I didn’t mean to snoop, but she’s just been so distant lately and ever since that case, she hasn’t gone out with me, Emily, J.J., or even Spencer! I’m really sorry-“

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, Garcia. Slow down. What happened?” Aaron asked. He felt bile rise in his throat. He had a gut feeling that whatever the bubbly blonde woman had to say wouldn’t be good. He swallowed.

Penelope harshly wiped the tears off her face. She looked down and then back up, clearly distraught about the news. “Y/n applied to another job… and got accepted.”

🏷️: @zaddyhotch @jazzimac1967 @polireader @magical-spit @angelmather1 @pettydonuts @aremuslupinsimp

[sentientgolfball]

Mushy May: "Better now that you're here"

More swisstom for you all because I'm actually violently in love them. Its about 900 words of Phantom being afraid of storms and Swiss being there with them

Thunder is not something new to Phantom. They have experienced many storms in their time in the Pits. But the ones in the Pits are quite different from the ones Topside. A crack of thunder Down Below is usually followed by a ravenous flock of air ghouls hunting for their next meal. It meant Phantom making themselves as small as possible so they could shrink into the shadows just to have a chance at seeing the sun again. 

So it is no surprise the first time since their summoning a gentle rain turns into booms of thunder and flashes of lightning that Phantom disappears. The rest of the pack tries to play it cool while they sit in the common room for movie night. They have only been Topside for a few weeks, it is not crazy to believe they just wanted an evening alone. 

But the easy explanation does not sit right with Swiss. He does not pay any attention to what is happening on the tv. All his senses are dialed in, just waiting for the first sign of Phantom coming to join them. They never miss an opportunity to be with the whole pack. The energy from the storm does not help either. He can feel all his elements humming and buzzing just below his skin as it rages outside. He needs to move. He needs to do something. And that something is finding Phantom. 

“I’m gonna piss.” He announces to no one in particular. Just a simple, quick explanation for why he stands and leaves so suddenly. 

He turns down the left side of the hallway, making a beeline for Phantom’s room. He can feel them in there, the buzz from their quint reacting to his tells him so. He knocks softly at the door, “Buggy? You okay? The movie just started.” 

He gets no response, but when another rumble of thunder shakes the den, he can hear a high pitched whine. His eyebrows twitch up, “Bug?” 

Still no response. 

“Alright, I’m coming in.” He goes to twist the knob and the door swings open. Good thing they have not discovered their lock yet. Once inside, he notices the curtains are drawn shut and their bat string lights are off. He also notices no distinct Phantom shaped lump anywhere in the room. But he can smell them. Gasoline and melted plastic so thick he has to swallow to not choke on it. 

Another rumble and a flash so bright he can see it through their blackout curtains. The scent of fear spikes and he catches their whine. He frowns as he makes his way towards their closet. Once again he knocks softly at the door, “Hey little bug. What’s going on?” 

To his surprise, the door pushes open. They stare up at him with wide eyes, lichtenberg figure scars alight as his quint struggles to contain itself. It only serves to highlight the tracks of dried tears on their cheeks. 

“Aren’t they done yet? It’s been hours.” 

Swiss slowly drops to his knees to be level with them. He grabs a hold of their hand and squeezes, “Who's done with what?” 

“Those air ghouls. Why are they still hunting?” 

Another rumbles makes them squeak, eyes wide as they look over Swiss’ shoulder as if something might pop out from behind him. It all clicks in Swiss’ mind then. His gaze softens even further as he gives their hand a tug, “There’s no air ghouls here buggy. None except for Cirrus and Cumulus. And Zephyr…and Aero. Not the point. I promise you none of them are hunting.” 

They look wholly unconvinced yet they still let him pull them from the closet. He smiles and brings their hand up to his lips, kissing a line across each knuckle, “Trust me?” 

They chew their lip but they nod. Their tail wraps tightly around one of their legs as Swiss slowly leads them across the room to the window. Their eyes go impossibly wide when another flash of lightning sneaks through the curtain. 

“It’s okay, buggy. Just. Look.” His voice is still soft as he pulls back the curtain to reveal the storm outside. Rain taps steadily against the glass. The clouds are so thick they blot out the moon and the stars, darkness only being broken by the occasional streak of lightning. Phantom squeezes his hand so tight he swears he feels something crack. 

But they do look. They press themselves to Swiss’ side and stare out the window. They flinch with each rumble, ready to bolt at the first sign of danger. But it never comes. There are never any sharp talons or frigid blasts of air. There is only Swiss’ warmth and sporadic sparks of light. Slowly, very slowly, as they continue to watch the storm by his side they begin to shake less. Their grip loosens. Their tail finds its way from their own leg to Swiss’. 

He smiles at him, “Good?” 

They nod, “Yeah. Yeah. It’s better now that you’re here.” 

Swiss’ smile only grows brighter. He squishes them even closer to his side with an arm thrown around their shoulders. The two stand like that for a while, leaning against each other as they watch the storm light up the night. They are not seen again until Dew goes looking for the two missing ghouls. When he opens the door to Phantom’s room, he finds them curled up together on their bed. They are both fast asleep, Phantom’s nose tucked under Swiss’ chin. 

“I really hope he pissed before getting into bed,” Dew mutters to himself before softly clicking the door shut behind him.

[bloodmoon-bites]

Swiss x Ghoul! Reader

Warnings: None

Summary: Rain drops off this ghoul kit that sister imperator accidentally summoned to Swiss, and [Name] finds them.

Not beta read, i originally typed this out on another platform so if you see any asterisks instead of being italicized… no you didn’t.

Word count: 5.2k

"What am I supposed to do with it?" Swiss complains, looking down at the little ghoul staring back up at him like he hung the stars. "I don't know, just keep them out of trouble until Sister can perform another ritual and send them back to the Pit." Rain muttered, walking off toward his bedroom inside the abbey.

[Name] had ventured outside of her room. It was early in the morning but she heard bickering out in the common room so she walked out, hair all messed up and in her sleep pants, a shirt she’d stolen from swiss a while ago tossed on over top of it. She rubbed her eyes as she walked out the door with a yawn, her sharp canines on display.

When she stopped and opened her eyes she caught a new scent and followed it to where swiss was and her eyes went wide, “Oh my lucifer!” She whispered yelled as she saw the kit and she crouched down a bit, “Hi buddy….” She spoke quietly before she looked up at swiss, “Where did this little guy come from?” She looked back at the kit and slowly scooped him up.

She bounced him a few times before setting him near her chest. He was old enough to able to stand and walk around a little on his own that was for sure but considering all he was doing at the moment was purring and trolling she didn’t think the little guy could speak. She hadn’t known anyone had had a kit recently. Yeah there weee a few kits running around with the large amount of ghouls that were at the abbey but not many.

She looked at the little guy with a smile. He seemed to be somewhere between an wary and water ghoul with the tiny horns that were poking out just barely almost looking like two per horn instead of one which probably meant they were going to be the typical antler like horns of an earth ghoul. She knew the little guy wasn’t mountain’s especially because their whole little pack here stayed together, their own little polycule of sorts.

The little kit had some fins on his tail kind of like hers so she knew he had some water ghoul too. He was gonna be a cool looking ghoul when he grew up that’s for sure, now she just had to figure out how the little guy got here and who he belonged too so she could get him back. Swiss watched as [Name] picked up the little kit. He was kinda cute if he was being honest with himself. The little guy seemed to be comfortable with her, or he just liked her shirt since he kept nuzzling the fabric. The little guy also seemed to keep getting distracted by [Name’s] piercings.

The little one leaned into her familiar touch, purring loudly as he snuggled his face into her shoulder, wrapping his little arms around her neck and clinging tight to her. Swiss leaned against the wall, letting out a long breath as he watched the little one cling to her, his expression softening with a small half-smile. "I have no idea where the little one came from. Some botched summoning ritual, I think." He grumbled, rubbing the back of his neck with a shrug.

"Sister had just finished up a quick ritual, and this little guy landed in her circle. Then she assigned me to babysit him while she figures out a better summoning method." Swiss explained, pushing off the wall to walk closer to [Name] and the kit. He chuckled, watching the little one attempt to investigate a gold hoop through her nose, the kit's attention completely captured by her.

She chuckled softly as she moved to nuzzle the kits head and giving a soft chirp and trill back to him before looking at swiss once more, “So… First of all i wanna look after him with you, and second, Is he staying then? Because i don’t feel like imperator would send back a ghoul and even if she did this little guy won’t be zapped back into his parent’s arms.” She laughed softly as she felt the kit reach up to grab at her ear to mess with two gold piercings in it. She let out a breathy chuckle once more as she moved her head a bit to get his hands off her ear. Instead she moved her tail to dangle the end in front of his so he could play with the tip of her tail and the two gold bands around it.

Swiss nodded, a soft smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I don't think we'll be able to send him back. And no one seems to know who the little one belongs to." He shrugged, his gaze shifting down to the kit, who was now completely distracted by playing with her tail.

Swiss chuckled, amused by the kit's curiosity. "You're pretty good with him," he remarked, watching as the kit tugged on her tail and attempted to stuff the tip into his mouth. "I think he likes you." Swiss chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. The kit looked back and forth between the two ghouls, purring softly as he continued to play with [Name's] tail. His tiny fingers curiously tugging on the gold bands and attempting to chew on her spade.

She chuckled softly as she let him nibble on the end of her tail. She’d showered the night prior so it was clean considering this was the first time she’d been up since then. She watched him with fondness as he continued to mess with her tail, those tiny hands grabbing at it, messing with the gold bands… It melted her heart and she couldn’t help but begin to purr back at him as she shifted him a bit before looking at swiss with a fond smile, “I’ve always liked Kits, liked babies too when i was human. Never wanted a baby though when i was human, wouldn’t be a good mom. Still don’t think i would be, but i feel like taking care of a kit for a while is going to be a hell of a lot easier than trying to raise a human baby…”

She found kits adorable, loved messing around with the little ones around the abbey, she’d look after chain and opal’s on occasion, let them have a break and she got to have a kit for the day. She knew how to care for one, but this one was practically hers now, the baby fever was hitting her hard. Swiss chuckled, raising an eyebrow at the sound of her soft purring. He'd seen her interact with kits before and knew she had a soft spot for younger ghouls, but seeing the genuine fondness in her eyes and hearing her purr was making his heart melt.

"You're a natural," he said, the corner of his lip tugging up in a fond smile. The little one seemed to enjoy her purring, clinging to her tightly and trying to mimic the sound, with the same adorable little churring. Every time he tried imitating it he failed, leading to a small huff, but it was still adorable. "I can't believe you, of all ghouls, have baby fever," Swiss teased, shoving his hands into the pockets of his sweatpants.

He continued to watch the little kit, who was now happily chewing on her tail with a wide, toothless grin. His little eyes lit up with curiosity as he looked between the two ghouls, his ears flicking back and forth in excitement. She smiled to herself before looking back at him, “Hold him and see if you don’t get it too,” she said chuckling softly as she moved and slowly passed the little kit over to him with a smile as she watched him settle into Swiss’s arms, his big crimson eyes opened wide as he looked up at him, cooing softly, letting out small chirps.

She laid her hand over the kit’s head with a smile on her face. She could see his tail flicking happily. “See? He likes you too…” she spoke quietly as she looked up at swiss, looking at the way he looked down at the kit. It was definitely different from the awkward he was when she first walked in and saw the kit. Swiss' expression softened as he held the little kit in his arms, taken aback by the way the baby immediately snuggled into him, chirping and cooing adorably. He chuckled softly as the kit looked up at him with wide, crimson eyes, seeming to cling to him like a little koala.

Swiss could feel his heart swelling with affection as he held him, and he found himself mimicking her earlier action, gently running a hand over the kit's head. "He's surprisingly sweet," he mumbled, looking down at the kit as he continued to make little sounds. "And so tiny." Swiss couldn't help but smile as he looked at the kit's tail flicking happily. He chuckled softly, shaking his head at the sudden onset of emotions he was experiencing.

"Looks like we're both caught under the baby fever spell," he joked, unable to take his gaze away from the little one. He gently lifted a finger and tapped the kit's nose, finding himself utterly enamored by the baby's adorable expressions. "I still can't believe you're the one with the kit fever, though," he teased, giving her a small smirk as he continued to play with the kit's tiny fingers. She watched on with a smirk on her face as Swiss interacted with the little kit. It was clear that he was melting just as much as she was, even if he was trying to hide it. The little one was now curled up in Swiss' arms, his tiny body dwarfed by the ghoul's large frame. He was still making soft noises, nuzzling against Swiss' chest with a content expression.

She chuckled softly, amused by Swiss' reaction to the kit. "Looks like you're starting to catch baby fever too," she teased, crossing her arms over her chest before she leaned her head on his shoulder, watching the little kit against his chest. She was still so sleepy, but she was to enamored by the kit to care at the moment. She rolled her eyes, “Hey, you just said yourself that you’ve got it too. We both have kit fever, and can you blame us..? look at the little guy…” She murmured as she watched him play with swiss’s finger, his little tail moving about. It was probably the sweetest thing she’d seen in quite a while.

Swiss couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief. She was right; he was succumbing to kit fever faster than he thought. The kit's adorable gestures were contagious, and he found himself utterly powerless against their charms. "Okay, I'll admit it - I'm a goner," he said, his voice soft as he watched the kit playing with his finger. He gently lifted the tiny hand, marveling at how small it was compared to his. "But you started it," he joked, nudging her side gently with his elbow.

The little kit seemed to have gotten drowsy, his eyes drooping a bit as he let out a soft yawn. Swiss' heart melted even more at the sight and he gently repositioned the kit to rest against his chest, his hand rubbing small, gentle circles across the little one's back. "Looks like sleepy time," he said quietly, looking down at the kit with a soft and warm expression. As the kit slowly started to doze off, Swiss shook his head and chuckled. "We can't just keep calling him 'little one.' He needs a proper name," he said, looking over to her.

“I guess i can take the blame for starting it,” she teased with a chuckle as she watched the little kit. She watched as he lifted his finger to look at the size of how tiny the little kit’s hand is compared to his and she couldn’t help the warm, soft smile that spread across her face at the sight. She smiled softly as she saw the kit beginning to doze off, his little snuggles and yawns absolutely adorable. She watched as Swiss adjusted the kit, rubbing his fingers across the little one's back in a gentle, soothing gesture. She felt her heart melting even more with each passing moment.

She chuckled when Swiss suggested giving the kit a proper name. "You're right. We can't keep calling him 'little one' forever." She began to think quietly as she moved up off of him, lifting her head and nodding towards her room. She opened the door so they could get in and she softly closed the door behind her. She took off the shirt and her sleep pants before taking hold of the little kit, pressing him against her skin. Skin to skin contact often helped in bonding with the little ones. She nodded for him to do the same as she slowly crawled in her bed with the lot and waited to swiss to get striped to his underwear and do the same, “How about Vega?” She spoke quietly.

Swiss nodded, carefully removing his shirt and sweatpants before joining her in the bed. He couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and intimacy as he settled in next to her, the little kit resting against her chest. "Vega," he repeated quietly, testing the name on his tongue. "I like it. It suits him." He reached out a hand to gently stroke the kit's back. Vega had fallen fast asleep, his tiny body rising and falling with each breath he took. Swiss let out a soft chuckle. "He's out like a light."

As they lay there in comfortable silence, Swiss couldn't help but feel a sense of connection with both [Name] and little Vega. The kit's gentle purring had turned into soft, rhythmic breathing, and the room was filled with a peaceful calm. Swiss allowed himself to relax, his hand still gently stroking the kit's back as he looked over at [Name], a soft smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You're good with him," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "You seem like a natural…" She chuckled softly as she watched the kit sleep, his little face relaxed and peaceful. It was adorable how quickly he'd fallen fast asleep. She shifted a bit, resting her head on Swiss' shoulder as she looked down at the little one. "He's so adorable when he's sleeping." [Name] whispered softly as she gently brushed a finger against the kit's cheek.

She heard him speak and she smiled softly as they laid on her bed, same pillow beneath them and her head tucked beside his at Vega slept on her chest. She smiled but didn’t really know what to say in that moment for a bit before she finally spoke up, “Yeah… i guess i am…” She whispered as she snuggled against Swiss to make sure she was comfortable to go to sleep in a bit. Swiss wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer as he let out a soft, content sigh. The warm little kit between them added a sense of tranquility to the moment, and Swiss found himself watching the little guy peacefully sleep.

"You were right," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "We're both infected with kit fever now." He chuckled softly, reaching out to lightly pat Vega's head with his free hand. The little kit let out a chirp in his sleep, nestling further into [Name’s] chest. As the room lapsed into a comfortable silence once more, Swiss couldn't help but be amused by their situation. The tough, usually reserved ghoul lying in bed next to him cuddling with a little kit while also nuzzling against another ghoul. It wasn’t often moments like this happened and swiss was thoroughly enjoying it. He turned to look at her, meeting her gaze. She looked so content right now, and he couldn’t help but tease her a bit. "You know, you look even more beautiful like this," he said, smirking.

[Name’s] cheeks flushed just barely at Swiss’ comment as well as the small white dots on her face began to glow a bit, and she couldn’t help but roll her eyes playfully. "Oh, shut up. You’re just saying that because I’m holding a kit." But despite her playful tone, she couldn’t help but feel a little bit flustered by his words. Swiss had always been teasing and playful, but there was something different about his tone this time. It felt almost… sincere. And the way he was looking at her…

She rolled her eyes playfully at Swiss' teasing but couldn't help the warmth that filled her chest at his words. She chuckled softly as she snuggled further into his side, her gaze drifting down to the little kit sleeping peacefully on her chest. "I can't believe we're both falling head over heels for this little bundle of joy," she murmured, her voice warm and soft. She never thought she’d have or want a kit, and she didn’t think swiss did either, if anything the only ones she could see thinking about kits would be Aether, Mountain, and probably cumulus. she had to admit though, this? This was nice, very nice, and she was perfectly happy and content.

Swiss chuckled as he watched her cheeks flush. He loved seeing her like this, with that soft, almost vulnerable side she rarely showed. His smirk widened when she playfully rolled her eyes at him. "Maybe I am," he teased, a hint of affection in his tone. "But you know me. I call it how I see it." He wrapped his arm a bit tighter around her, pulling her closer as they both watched the little kit sleeping between them. "He's got some kind of spell on us, that's for sure," he murmured, his voice low and fond.

As they lay there in comfortable silence, Swiss allowed his thoughts to drift. He never imagined he'd be in this situation - cuddling with a kit alongside another ghoul, the both of them completely spellbound by the little one's innocence and charm. It was almost like some strange dream come true, and he couldn't help but tease her a bit about it. "You know, in another life, I could totally imagine us as parents," he said, his hand idly playing with her hair. “You'd be a great mom.”

[Name’s] heart skipped a beat at Swiss's words. She knew he was probably just teasing her, but there was a part of her that couldn't help but wonder if he meant it. The thought of them as parents in another lifetime was a strange - but not unwelcome - thought. "Ha, you're crazy," she said playfully, trying to hide the flutter in her chest. "I don't think I'd make a very good parent." She chuckled softly, hoping he didn't notice how his words had affected her.

She scoffed, rolling her eyes as she looked at him. "Me? A mom? Can you see me changing diapers and singing lullabies?" She said, her perfectly crafted sarcasm practically dripping from her tone. Not only was it the fact that she knew for a fact she wouldn’t have made a good mom, still doubted she would now… but of the fact of who she used to be. The pair lived in different times, she was younger than him, sure biologically they were maybe a year apart, but timeline wise they were atleast 20 years apart. But if the stars had aligned and they were born in the same year… she so messed up before she ended it… she couldn’t keep herself alive, how could she keep a kid alive?

Swiss chuckled, amused by her reaction and unable to resist teasing her a bit more. "I can picture it now - you, covered in baby drool, singing nursery rhymes. It'll be a sight to behold," he teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief. He could see the uncertainty and doubt in her expression, the way her words seemed to deflect rather than agree with him. He knew her well enough to catch the hints about her insecurities. "Hey," he said, his tone shifting to something more gentle, "I was just messing with you. You'd be a great parent."

He gently lifted a hand and tenderly cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing against her skin. He held her gaze as he spoke, his voice soft and sincere. "You've got a good heart, Love. You're patient, strong, and caring. I've seen how you are with kits - you just... you have a way with them. And you're a lot more nurturing than you give yourself credit for." He couldn't help but smile at the thought of her with a little kit of their own, even if it was just a fantasy. However with the little on on her chest, though it may not be theirs, a combination of the both of them, he was theirs now…

As he spoke, her eyes flickered with a mix of emotions. She wanted to believe him, she really did. But the doubts and insecurities deep inside her were hard to shake. "You’re just saying that," she murmured, her tone soft but tinged with disbelief. She wanted to argue, to defend herself and insist that she'd be a terrible parent. But as he spoke, there was something in his voice, something sincere and caring, that made her hesitate. She leaned into his touch, her face still flushed. "I... I don’t know," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just never thought about it, you know? About being a parent." She gently ran her fingers through the little one's hair, her expression softening as she looked down at him.

She closed her eyes as she moved a bit so the kit was curled more into her, holding his little body close to hers even though he was already resting on top of her. “I’m not fit to be a mom… yeah i’m gonna try for him… but i’m not cut out for it…” She was apathetic about a lot of stuff as well as she had severe anger problems. It was yet another reason she didn’t want to have a kid even though she’d always thought about it. “I don’t know the first thing about being a parent… i know how to keep them from killing themselves but i have no clue how to actually take *care* of one…”

Swiss rolled his eyes playfully at her denial, chuckling softly. "You always doubt yourself, you know that?" he said, his tone still affectionate. "But I'm telling you the truth. You've got a nurturing side you don't give yourself credit for."

He looked down at the kit, who was now nestled contently in her arms. "And look at you with him. You're doing great already." His expression warmed as he looked at her, his hand moving to caress her hair. "Maybe you haven't thought about it much, but that doesn't mean you wouldn't be amazing at it." He finished softly as he moved his hand from her hair to intertwine their fingers together, his thumb gently stroking the back of her hand in a comforting gesture.

He noticed the hint of sadness in her eyes and the way her expression softened as she looked at the little kit. He could tell she had her doubts and fears, and he knew why. He knew about her past, about her struggles. But he also knew that her past didn't define her. And he also knew… that she was worthy. He knew she struggled with insecurity and self-doubt, and he hated seeing her like that. He wanted to see her see herself the way he saw her - strong, capable, and deserving of love. "You’re a lot more capable than you think." He told her. “You’re already doing great with him. You just… you have a natural way with kits, Love. You just might not realize it yet, but I see it clearly.”

She looked down at the little one sleeping peacefully in her arms, her expression softening as she gently rubbed his head. Swiss' words lingered in her mind, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of uncertainty. She had always struggled with insecurities and self-doubt, and the thought of being a parent was both daunting and overwhelming.

Despite Swiss' reassurances, she still doubted herself. She felt like she wasn’t cut out for it, like she didn't know the first thing about being a parent. She didn’t think she was nurturing enough, or capable of giving the child everything he needed. She looked at the sleeping Vega on her chest as she softly rubbed his back with her hand, feeling his tiny tail rested against her stomach. She listened to Swiss's words, her heart fluttering despite herself. She wanted to believe him, to believe that she could be a good parent. But the self-doubt and insecurity that had plagued her for so long was a heavy burden to shake off. "I just…" she murmured, her voice soft and shaky. "I don't know if I'm cut out for it. I've got so much baggage, Swiss. You don't know everything that I've done… the things I've been through… i just don’t know if i’ll be enough… i want him to have enough, stuff i don’t know if i can provide…”

Swiss watched her closely, his heart panging at the raw vulnerability in her voice. He could see the fear and doubt etched into her expression, and he wanted nothing more than to take it all away. He leaned in closer to her, his hand still gently stroking her cheek. "You are enough, Love. You've always been enough." he said softly, his voice filled with conviction. "I don't care about the things you've done or been through. It doesn't change who you are." He sighed. "Look at him," he said, nodding towards the little kit. "You're already providing” He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in, before continuing. "You're giving him love and comfort, and that's what matters most. You don't have to be perfect to be a good parent, Darling."

He gently lifted her chin up so she was looking at him. "You're not broken, you're not ruined. You're strong, you’re capable, and you’re worthy of love. And that little kit, he’s already so lucky to have you." Swiss smiled softly at her as he continued speaking. "He's sleeping peacefully in your arms, doll. That's a sign right there that you're enough. Kits aren't stupid, they can sense these things. They know who to trust and who to love." He paused for a moment before speaking up again. "You've already bonded with him, even if neither of you realize it yet, I can see the way you look at him, your voice when you talk to him... you already love him."

She felt a mixture of emotions swirling inside her - fear, doubt, and a glimmer of hope. Swiss was right. She had bonded with the little kit, and she couldn't deny the growing affection she felt for him. She looked down at the kit sleeping in her arms, his soft breaths and the peaceful expression on his face making her heart ache with affection. Swiss' words had touched her, and she realized that she did love the little guy, in her own way. It was a strange realization, but one that made her feel both vulnerable and strangely empowered.

[Name] felt a lump form in her throat at Swiss' words, her emotions swirling within her. She wanted to believe him, but the doubts and insecurities that had plagued her for so long were still there, nagging at the back of her mind. She looked down at the little kit sleeping on her chest, his tiny face peaceful and content. She gently rubbed his head as Swiss spoke, her hand trembling slightly. Swiss continued to speak, his words like a balm to her wounded soul. She just nuzzled up to swiss as she continued to hold the kit, her other hand still holding swiss’ hand. His warm body pressed against hers, his locs spread out against the pillow just as her soft fluffy hair was. “Of course i love him… I don’t know it happened so fast but i do… “ She closed her eyes softly. She was so exhausted, but so scared she’d mess this up.

Swiss wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer against him and holding her tightly. He couldn’t help but feel a lump form in his own throat as he listened to her words. There was something about her vulnerability that touched him. It felt like she was letting down her walls and allowing him to see the real her, the one that she hid from the world. He gently ran his hand through her hair, his touch soft and soothing. He felt her tremble against him, and he held her tighter, as if he could block out the doubts and insecurities that were plaguing her.

"You won't mess this up, doll," he murmured softly, his voice low and reassuring. "You're doing great already. The kit loves you, and he's lucky to have you." He pressed a gentle kiss onto the top of her head, his lips lingering there for a moment. "And so am I." he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. Swiss' words seemed to wrap themselves around her like a comforting blanket, his voice soft and reassuring. It was as if he could see right through her, like he could sense the fears and doubts that had been weighing her down. And in that moment, she found herself not only grateful for his words but also comforted by them.

She snuggled up closer to him, her body pressing against his. She felt his arm encircle her, pulling her in closer, and she couldn't help but lean into his touch. His hand running through her hair was soothing, and she closed her eyes, letting herself be wrapped up in the warmth and comfort. She pressed her face into his chest, feeling the warmth and comfort of his embrace. For a moment, all her doubts and insecurities melted away as she listened to his heartbeat. She wrapped her arm around his waist and pulled him closer, savouring the feeling of being so close to someone who cared.

Her hand slowly traced patterns on his back, as if she was trying to memorize the feel of his body against hers. She could feel a sense of peace and safety wash over her, as if everything would be alright so long as he was there with her. The little kit was between them, happily snoozing and oblivious to what was going on. She slowly smiled against him. For once she felt whole, right in that moment everything felt right, like the last little void in her heard had been filled, “Thank you… and me and the kit are lucky to have *you*.” She whispered into his chest as she slowly drifted off to sleep, the small kit shifting with a little trill in his sleep.

[madangel19]

Golden Eyes

Finally got around to writing a little fic about @pomidaea's fantastic Swiss design! He's so pretty ya'll and I was inspired to write about him and Phantom! Their Phantom is also amazing and I love the buggy boi so much I had to include him in this fic as well!

Links are here and here for their designs :D

Summary: Phantom is on the search for a midnight snack but he's not alone...

Contains: Dubious use of quintessence

Word Count: 1177

Settling into the church had gone by fairly smoothly for Phantom. Everything was so new and wonderful and getting to know his new pack members was so exciting. Having to be told about all the rules and expectations was somewhat daunting, but Phantom quickly learned that he liked following most of the rules.

One rule did stand out to the young ghoul though. While Copia was talking about how his ghouls would eagerly take him in, he informed Phantom and Aurora not to look directly in Swiss’s eyes. When Aurora asked further questions, Copia appeared nervous and continued telling them more about the church. 

Swiss was an exquisite ghoul in Phantom’s eyes. He had never seen a ghoul so handsome and mysterious before. His eyes were always covered by his thick locs and no matter how much he moved around, Phantom could never get a good look at his eyes. He would have investigated further about Swiss’s eyes, but there were other things to admire about the older ghoul who always smiled down at him warmly with those perfectly sharp teeth of his. Phantom quickly noticed some bells that were tied to his tail and when he asked Copia about it, he told him that the bells were used to let others know that Swiss was near since he was very quiet and often scared the poor old man. 

Phantom laid in bed, unable to sleep. Aurora slept next to him, her arms around his middle as she purred softly. His thoughts were racing as he thought of ways to fall asleep. He could recall from one of his lessons about life on earth that having a midnight night snack could help him with falling asleep. That sounded like a perfect idea.

He looked over at his clock and saw that it was midnight. It was time. With a little bit of wiggling, Phantom slipped out of Aurora’s tight grip and he got out of the bed with ease. The small ghoulette frowned in her sleep, reaching around blindly for him. Phantom grabbed a nearby plush moth stuffy that Cumulus got for her and pushed it into her arms. Aurora pulled it closer to her chest, that sweet smile of hers returning as she snuggled the moth. Phantom smiled at his work before turning to leave the room. 

The ghoul den was dark as Phantom made his way to the shared kitchen. He could hear faint sounds coming from some of the rooms, but he paid no attention to them as he went to the fridge and rummaged around for something to eat. Nothing looked appetizing to him.

“Guess I’ll go up to the big kitchen,” Phantom murmured as he closed the fridge door with a tired sigh. He then made his way out of the ghoul den and up a staircase that led to the church. 

Everything felt too quiet when Phantom found himself in a candle-lit hallway. His ears twitched to and fro and his nose twitched as he turned his head to get a good look at his surroundings with his good eye. Nothing seemed too out of the ordinary and he couldn’t sense anything on his blind side. He was in the clear. 

“Now, where is that kitchen?” He whispered to himself as he tried to remember where the big kitchen was located. He would find it sooner or later. He just had to keep walking around. 

As he walked, he continued sniffing the air until he caught the faint scent of something delicious and his stomach growled.

“There you are,” he purred as he followed the scent.

Jingle

He stopped in his tracks upon hearing the sound, his ears twitching. He knew that sound. Swiss was nearby, but where? 

He had overheard siblings whispering amongst themselves about running into Swiss in the halls late at night and giving them a fright. Some said that he would snatch them away to the closest room where they would have some naughty fun and others said that Swiss would eat siblings that were out late at night and the last thing they would hear is the bell. What happened to ghouls that were caught by Swiss? 

Surely, the older ghoul wouldn’t bother him in his quest for a late night snack. Phantom would be fine and if he came across Swiss, then they would just share a snack together. 

Phantom took a deep breath and stepped forward, focusing on his late night snack. 

Jingle Jingle

There it was again. It sounded closer now. 

“Swiss? You there?” Phantom called out, scanning the dark in front of him. Why did the hallway look darker now? 

Jingle

Closer. It was too quiet now. The only sound Phantom could hear was his racing heartbeat. What was Swiss trying to pull? This had to be some kind of sick prank of his. It had to be…unless Swiss was hunting him down. No, that wasn’t possible. The older ghoul had been so nice to him. Phantom never sensed any hostility from him or the others. 

“This isn’t funny, Swiss!” Phantom exclaimed, his hands balled up into fists as he whipped his head around to see if the older ghoul was behind him. Nothing.

“What’s not funny, Buggy?”

A chill ran through Phantom’s body as he looked down and saw two glowing golden eyes staring back at him in the darkness. He couldn’t move as the darkness smiled a familiar toothy smile at him as Swiss climbed out of the shadows and stood over him. His locs went back to hiding most of his face, but Phantom could still see that beautiful yellow glow that held him in place. He opened and closed his mouth, unable to find his words. 

Swiss chuckled darkly and leaned forward, pushing his locs from his face and revealing his eyes again. Phantom had never seen something so beautiful before. 

“Aw, what’s wrong? Cat got your tongue, Buggy?” The older ghoul cooed, reaching forward and cupping his face. 

Phantom tried to think of a way to get away and find his snack, but his thoughts quickly melted away. He just wanted to look at Swiss. 

“S…Swiss…,” he murmured, blinking slowly at the ghoul and giggling drunkenly at him. 

“Are ya hungry, Buggy? I got some snacks back in my room if you’re hungry. No need to be walking around the halls late at night. It’s dangerous for new members like you. You could get snatched up,” Swiss purred, caressing his now flushed cheek with his warm thumb. 

“Yeah,” Phantom said, never taking his eyes off of Swiss whose smile stretched across his whole face, showing every sharp tooth he had. 

Jingle Jingle Jingle

Swiss’s tail was wagging excitedly behind him now, the bell jingling nonstop. It was such a beautiful sound. 

“Do ya wanna spend the night with me, Buggy? I gotta keep you safe from getting snatched up,” Swiss said, moving so that he was just inches from Phantom’s face. He could smell his lavender aphrodisiac on his breath. There was no escaping him now. 

“Yes…please…”

[jungkoode]

死 KKANGPAE | #06 死

† charming forks †

"In Kkangpae, respect is earned in blood—even if it's just from a fork to the palm. But it's the hurricane brewing in Jeon's eyes as he watches you handle yourself that has you wondering if maybe there's more than one way to catch an assassin's attention."

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⚔ chapter details ⚔

word count: 5k

rating: mature

content: croissant speculations, bestie gossip, AD being a menace, sope behaving like a married couple, fork-y confrontations and Jeon’s curiosity being piqued (because apparently man’s got other emotions apart from his default stick-up-his-ass one).

☠ author's note ☠

WAIT WHAT?! IS IT POSSIBLE?!

JEON HAS...

*whispers dramatically* F E E L I N G S?!

Did our resident ice prince really look at someone with something other than his patented "I'd rather be literally anywhere else including possibly on fire" expression?!

Okay, in all seriousness—stop coming for my boy. I can FEEL some of you judging him through the screen. He has feelings! They're just... buried... under several layers of trauma, bad decisions, and leather jackets. You'll understand him better eventually, I promise. Maybe. If I'm feeling generous. Which I rarely am (￣︶￣)

Here's the thing: I make my characters complicated on purpose. Humans are messy little disaster creatures, and I want my characters to reflect that beautiful chaotic energy. Everyone's actions are based on the personalities and backstories I've created—some of which you have NO idea about yet. *laughs maniacally* Every character has nuances, and I really hope I'm portraying that properly. Watch me stress about character development at 3 AM while chain-drinking tea because coffee stopped working six chapters ago.

ANYWAY! AD HAS ENTERED THE CHAT. The chaotic technology gremlin of my heart! And Sope's dynamic? *chef's kiss* Two cranky old men pretending they don't care about each other while absolutely caring about each other? BEAUTIFUL. MWAH.

I know it's hard to picture everything now because you're just getting the tiniest glimpse of all these relationships. But trust me, there's an intricate web of backstory that you'll discover eventually. Have fun grasping at straws in the meantime because I'm not making it easy for you! Where's the fun if you know everything THIS SOON?!

THERE IS NONE!!!

So hang tight, be patient, and maybe save those curse words for later chapters. Trust me, you're gonna need them. I have PLANS. *ominous music plays*

Love you all, you disaster enablers. Stay hydrated!

⚔ socials ⚔

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tumblr/twitter: @jungkoode

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎

Your crutches click-clack against the stone floors of the castle, and it's weird how normal this feels—hobbling through what used to be some fancy abandoned castle and is now home to South Korea's deadliest gang. Nobody even looks twice at you. Then again, in a place where missing fingers are basically fashion statements, a sprained ankle's hardly worth noticing.

The infirmary door swings shut behind you, cutting off the sharp smell of antiseptic and the muffled sounds of people who definitely had worse mornings than you. The hallway feels almost peaceful in comparison. Almost.

The elevator dings, and suddenly you're face to face with what looks like pure rage wrapped in a hoodie. He storms out like the elevator personally offended him, all baggy clothes and barely contained fury. The track pants and oversized hoodie stand out here—most gang members dress to intimidate, but this guy looks ready for a gaming marathon.

You freeze, crutches awkward under your arms, as he practically radiates "don't talk to me" energy into the hallway. Something about him seems familiar, though you've definitely never met. He brushes past you, and the scent of fresh lemons hits your nose—which is when it clicks.

AD. The genius behind Cyber Intelligence. The guy who designed the security system that keeps rival gangs from turning this place into Swiss cheese. His reputation around here is... interesting. Brilliant but brutal, the kind of person who'd hack your phone just because you breathed too loud near his workspace.

You shuffle into the elevator, trying not to drop your crutches or your dignity. Your card beeps against the scanner, and you hit the button for the fourth floor—home sweet home, or at least as sweet as a gang's seduction division can be.

The doors start closing, giving you one last glimpse of AD's retreating back. The whole encounter probably lasted thirty seconds, but it sticks in your mind. You've heard stories about him—how he practically lives in his division's "gamer cave," how he's as loyal to Kkangpae as he is allergic to basic human interaction.

The elevator hums around you, and you can't help wondering what pushed his buttons today. Guy looked ready to set something on fire with his mind. Though maybe that's just his face. Hard to tell with the Council of 9 sometimes—they've all got enough trauma to keep a therapy practice in business for decades.

When the doors open to your floor, the familiar buzz of the Seduction Division wraps around you like a blanket. Back to your world of honey traps and carefully crafted lies. Still, you can't quite shake the image of AD's fury from your mind. 

Guess that's life in Kkangpae—even a simple trip to the infirmary can turn into an encounter with one of the gang's most notorious leaders.

The Seduction Division's floor buzzes with its usual afternoon energy as you hobble through on your crutches. Half your colleagues are sprawled across the common area sofas, deep in mission talk, while others practice their best "come hither" looks in the wall-length mirrors. Just another Tuesday in the art of professional manipulation.

Kazuha doesn't even look up from her iPad as you pass, that wine-red hair falling in perfect waves around her face. She gives you a quick nod though—which, coming from her, might as well be a bear hug. The girl's got that whole "ice queen who could definitely ruin your life but chooses not to" vibe down to an art.

Your shared room feels like heaven after all the hopping around on crutches. Yunjin's exactly where you expected—spread out on her bed like a pink-haired starfish, head hanging off the foot end while she watches what looks like another one of those melodramas she's obsessed with. The contrast between her bubblegum hair and the pastel yellow bedding is probably giving interior designers somewhere an aneurysm.

She brightens up when she spots you, hitting pause mid-dramatic confession scene. "How was medical training?" She twists around to face you, and you can tell she's dying for some good gossip. "Did J-Hope make you practice on oranges?"

"Nah, straight to fake skin." You drop onto your bed, grateful to finally get off your feet. "Though he did spend like twenty minutes ranting about how everyone in this gang stitches like they're drunk toddlers with safety scissors."

The memory makes you laugh. For someone who literally saves lives for a living, J-Hope's got the bedside manner of a grumpy cat. Though you guess when you're dealing with gang members who think they're immortal, maybe being nice stopped working a long time ago.

"Oh!" You perk up, remembering the best part of your morning. "You'll never guess who showed up while I was there."

Yunjin's eyes go wide with interest. She's always been a sucker for castle drama.

"Jeon." You try to keep your voice casual, like you're not still thinking about how he looked without his shirt on. t̶o̶r̶s̶o̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶g̶o̶d̶s̶

Yunjin bolts upright so fast her pink hair whips around her face. "No way. Jeon? What happened?"

"Medical checkup." You grin at how invested she already looks. "You should've seen how much he didn't want to be there."

You can still picture it perfectly—the way he filled the doorway like some dark cloud of attitude, all black clothes and that stupid leather jacket. Even his quick scan of the room felt dismissive, like everything beneath his notice was personally offending him.

"But here's the weird part." You lean in closer, lowering your voice like you're sharing state secrets. "You know how he's usually all... you know, Jeon? Like someone carved him from ice?"

Yunjin nods eagerly.

"Complete different person around J-Hope. I mean, still grumpy as hell, but like... almost human? It was like watching a statue learn to bend."

"Jeon?" Yunjin's eyes go wide. "Are we talking about the same person? Mr. I-Take-Orders-From-Nobody?"

"Oh, it gets better." You can't help the laugh that bubbles up. "He brought J-Hope a croissant."

"A croi—wait." Yunjin sits up straighter. "Oh my god, that explains this morning!"

You raise an eyebrow. "What about this morning?"

"Okay, so you know how he's basically married to that coffee machine, right?"

"First cup of the day, every day," you confirm. Everyone knows that—it's like some weird ritual. The sun rises, birds sing, and Jeon appears to claim the first coffee like it's his divine right.

"Well." Yunjin's practically vibrating with excitement now. "Me and Kazuha were having breakfast, and there he was, just... lurking by the pastries. Like, full-on stalking them. We started betting on what he'd pick because honestly? What else do you do when one of the gang leaders is having an existential crisis over baked goods?"

You frown, something not quite adding up. "Wait, he told J-Hope it was the last pastry left."

"Bullshit." Yunjin flops onto her back, pink hair spreading across her pillow like cotton candy. "It wasn't even 7 AM. The breakfast spread was packed—Kazuha and I had front row seats to his whole pastry-hunting performance."

She stares at the ceiling for a moment, like she's replaying the scene in her head. "Actually... now that I think about it, he was really focused on the croissants. Like, weirdly focused. Standing there analyzing them like they held the secrets of the universe or something."

You both fall quiet, trying to make sense of Mr. Ice Prince going on a dawn croissant mission. It's such a small thing, but it feels... significant somehow. Like finding out your scary math teacher collects Hello Kitty merchandise.

"Well, worked out for me." You shrug, trying to sound casual as you show her the pastry bag. "J-Hope doesn't even like croissants, so."

The look Yunjin gives you could only be described as suspicious. 

“Okay but like... isn't that weird to you?" She sits up straighter, getting that expression she always has when she's about to drop some tea. "Jeon's on the Council of 9. He works with J-Hope all the time. How does he not know what the guy likes?"

"What do you mean?"

She leans forward, eyes sparkling like she's solved a murder mystery. 

“Think about it. Our fearless Chief of Tactical Assassinations spent ten whole minutes picking out the perfect croissant for someone who hates croissants." Her grin gets wider. "But you know who's always having croissants for breakfast?"

The implication hits you like a truck. No way. There's absolutely no way Jeon would... t̶h̶a̶t̶'̶s̶ ̶k̶i̶n̶d̶a̶ ̶s̶w̶e̶e̶t̶ ̶a̶c̶t̶u̶a̶l̶l̶y̶

"You're reading way too much into this." You try to sound dismissive, but your voice comes out weird. "He probably just grabbed whatever was there."

"Uh-huh." Yunjin's not buying it. "That's why he spent longer choosing a croissant than most people spend picking engagement rings."

You throw a pillow at her face. She's being ridiculous. 

Just because Jeon accidentally got you breakfast doesn't mean... anything. He's still the same guy who used you as paintball bait yesterday.

Even if he did pick out a really good croissant.

The weight of Yunjin's words hangs in the air. The idea that Jeon—Mr. Perfect-Planning-Everything—might have deliberately chosen that croissant... it makes something weird flutter in your stomach.

No. Absolutely not.

"As if." You roll your eyes so hard they might get stuck. "How would he even know what I like for breakfast?"

Yunjin just gives you that look—the one that says she knows something you don't want to admit. "You're both always in the cafeteria at dawn, right? Haven't you noticed? He gets his coffee right when you're picking out your croissant."

You pause. She's... not wrong. Your early morning schedule does line up with his weird first-coffee-of-the-day ritual more often than not. But the thought of Jeon actually paying attention to your breakfast preferences? t̶h̶a̶t̶'̶s̶ ̶k̶i̶n̶d̶a̶ ̶c̶u̶t̶e̶ That's ridiculous.

"But why would he suddenly bring me breakfast?" The question comes out smaller than intended. "He doesn't even like me."

"Maybe he doesn't dislike you as much as you think." Yunjin's voice goes soft, thoughtful. "He's still human, you know? Under all that ice. Maybe he actually felt bad about your ankle."

Her logic makes an annoying amount of sense. But accepting that Jeon might have done something... nice? That he might have been paying enough attention to know what you like? That feels like admitting something you're not ready to face.

Could Jeon really have...?

No. t̶h̶e̶r̶e̶'̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶w̶a̶y̶ ̶h̶e̶'̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶s̶w̶e̶e̶t̶ There has to be another explanation. The idea of him noticing your habits, remembering your preferences, actually feeling guilty enough to do something about it—it doesn't fit with the cold, distant chief you know.

Except... maybe it does. And that's even more unsettling than the alternative.

"You need to stop watching those dramas. They're rotting your brain."

"Fine, don't believe me." Yunjin pouts, folding her arms like a scolded kid. "But when has anything in this place ever been simple?" There's this knowing look in her eyes that makes you want to throw another pillow at her, but she mercifully drops the subject.

The pastry bag crinkles as you grab it, desperate for any distraction from t̶h̶o̶u̶g̶h̶t̶s̶ ̶a̶b̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶J̶e̶o̶n̶ this whole situation. The croissant looks perfect—because of course it does, this is Jeon you’re talking about. 

Except for that small bite you already gave it back in the infirmary.

You break it in half, offering part to Yunjin like a peace offering.

One bite and—oh.

Oh.

"This is really good," you manage between bites, trying not to sound too impressed. 

Because you hadn’t really had time to savor it, appreciate the taste. But now you do, and holy shit. You've had your fair share of castle croissants—there's a reason you drag yourself out of bed at ungodly hours to get them—but this? This is something else entirely.

Stupid Jeon and his stupid perfectionism. Everyone complains about how anal he is about everything, but apparently that extends to pastry selection too. 

That's just annoying.

"God, I could eat like five of these," Yunjin mumbles around her mouthful, and you hum in agreement.

You both enjoy the quiet for a moment, just appreciating good pastry and each other's company. Then Yunjin sits up straighter, switching into work mode. "Hey, while you're here—mind helping me with something on my iPad? I'm stuck on this one part."

You scoot closer as she pulls up files full of charts and data. This is the real meat of gang work—not the glamorous missions or dramatic showdowns, but hours of planning and strategizing. You and Yunjin fall into an easy rhythm, bouncing ideas off each other and finding solutions.

It's nice, actually. Just you and your friend, doing what you do best, making plans that could mean life or death for someone someday. 

You know, normal people stuff.

Lunchtime at the castle is its own brand of chaos. 

The cafeteria buzzes with life—metal trays clanking, conversations overlapping, and the smell of whatever's cooking today making your stomach growl. 

It's kind of wild how this massive, well-lit space becomes neutral ground where gang divisions actually mix. 

Even if it's just to argue over the last pudding cup.

Yunjin, being the angel she is, grabs a tray for you since you're still stuck with these stupid crutches. You point out what you want—some spicy stir-fried pork that smells like heaven, a mountain of steamed rice, and enough kimchi to make your breath lethal. The kind of comfort food that reminds you of simpler times, before your life involved paintball ambushes and medical training. Yunjin goes for her usual rabbit food—some fancy salad and seaweed soup.

Finding a table is surprisingly easy. There's this unwritten rule about leaving some spots open for people who need the extra space—like, say, someone who got their ankle twisted during a certain chief's brilliant bait plan. So you snag a spot near the food counter, perfect for people-watching.

The cafeteria has this weird energy to it, like a tide of people flowing in and out. Some grabbing quick bites between missions, others lingering over coffee and gossip. It's probably the most normal part of living in a gang headquarters.

"Look who's eating alone again." Yunjin's voice drops as she stabs at her salad, and you don't even need to look up to know who she means.

"Does he ever eat with anyone?" You can't help asking, because seriously, what's with Jeon and his lone wolf act?

"Sometimes." Yunjin talks around a mouthful of greens. "His division members join him occasionally. Especially Takama."

"Who's Takama?" You mix some kimchi into your rice, trying to sound casual.

"His second in command." She covers her mouth as she chews, ever polite even in a gang cafeteria. "You know, deputy officer of Tactical Assassinations."

You can't help but smirk at the way Yunjin's eyes light up. Your roommate might be shy around strangers, but get her talking about castle gossip and she transforms into a one-woman intelligence agency. Her weird talent for reading people makes her better at gathering intel than half the Seduction Division.

"Okay, tea time." She sets down her fork and turns to face you fully, going into full gossip mode. "So Jeon's basically a lone wolf in the cafeteria. Only exceptions are Takama—his second in command—or sometimes J-Hope."

You take another bite of your food, settling in for what promises to be an interesting breakdown of castle dynamics.

"And get this—J-Hope hardly ever eats here. Man's practically married to his office. But when he does show up?" She leans in closer, lowering her voice. "It's either with Jeon or AD. Those two are like his pet projects or something."

"AD and Jeon?" The combination sounds about as likely as V starting a knitting club. "Wouldn't have called that one."

"Oh no, you'll never catch them together." Yunjin waves her fork for emphasis. "There's this weird... thing between them. Nobody knows why, but the tension's so thick you could cut it with a knife. Still working on figuring that one out."

She drops her voice even lower, like she's sharing state secrets. "AD's basically a cryptid though. Lives in his gamer cave like some kind of tech hermit. But word is, if you hang around the snack bar at 3 AM..."

You snort at her dramatic delivery. "Very spooky."

"And get this—he's apparently even grumpier than J-Hope. But somehow they just... click?"

"Grumpier than Dr. Cranky?" You raise an eyebrow. "That's actually impressive."

"Right? Like, next-level antisocial. But I guess their matching bad attitudes cancel each other out or something. They're both fluent in asshole."

"Well, you'd know." You gesture at her with your chopsticks. "You're the people-reading expert here."

"I mean, I haven't seen everything firsthand." Yunjin shrugs, picking at her salad. "But J-Hope's probably the one Jeon tolerates the most. Now V, on the other hand..."

"Yeah, no need to finish that sentence." You snort. "Those two are about as friendly as cats and dogs."

"Right? They hate each other's guts. Though V's weird because he gets along with everyone else—or at least pretends to. Hard to tell with him, honestly." She pauses, eyebrows shooting up as she glances across the cafeteria. "But he seems weirdly obsessed with JM lately."

"JM?" You follow her gaze. "The finance guy?"

"See the guy in the fluffy cardigan over there?" She tilts her head subtly. "That's him. Usually sits with Chaewon and Jessi. He's like, genuinely nice to everyone, which is probably why he puts up with V's... everything."

"Christ, he must have the patience of a saint."

"Right?" Yunjin snickers. "Meanwhile V's like this social chameleon—just plops down wherever he feels like. No fixed spot, just vibing with whoever catches his attention that day."

"What about Chaewon?" You ask, genuinely curious about your division chief. "You mentioned she sits with Jessi?"

"Yeah, see that woman with the red hair next to her? That's Jessi. They're basically joined at the hip, which makes sense." Yunjin lowers her voice. "Only women on the Council of 9, you know? Gotta stick together in this boys' club."

"Must be rough up there." You watch the two women, something tight forming in your chest. "Especially for Chaewon, considering how she feels about men. Makes you wonder what they went through to get those positions."

"Yeah..." Yunjin's voice goes soft. "Gang leaders don't really talk about their past lives. All I know is Chaewon came from another gang. Might explain some things..." She trails off, watching your division chief for a moment before shaking her head. "But that feels like the kind of story you don't ask about, you know?"

"True." You push around some pork with your fork. "What about RM and Moon though? Never seen them down here."

"Oh god, you won't." Yunjin waves her hand dismissively. "Those two are like urban legends in the cafeteria. Pretty sure they're permanently glued to their office chairs, buried in paperwork."

You're about to ask more when something in the air changes. You feel it before you see it, like a wintery breeze sweeping through the room, chilling and unmistakable. Conversations stutter and restart, heads turning just enough to look casual. 

When you follow everyone's not-so-subtle glances, you spot him immediately. 

AD, the human thundercloud from this morning, has decided to grace the cafeteria with his presence. 

His hoodie's pulled low over blonde hair, and everything about his walk screams 'touch me and die.' He moves like someone who's one minor inconvenience away from committing cyber crimes.

He heads straight for the food counter, completely ignoring the line of people waiting their turn. His eyes scan the options like they've personally offended him. You can hear the quiet grumbling from the queue, but nobody seems brave enough to actually say anything.

Well, almost nobody.

"Hey man, line starts back there." Some new guy who clearly hasn't learned the castle's pecking order yet pipes up.

AD turns his head so slowly it's almost cinematic. The look he gives this poor idiot could probably crash every computer in South Korea.

"Shut the fuck up unless you want your keycard to mysteriously stop working." His voice is barely above a whisper but carries enough venom to kill a small army.

The new guy practically shrinks into himself, mouth snapping shut like a trap. Everyone else in line suddenly finds the floor tiles absolutely fascinating. You get it—when the guy who controls every digital aspect of your life threatens to lock you out of the castle, you shut up and take it.

AD turns back to the food counter like nothing happened, loading his tray with... well, everything. It's like watching someone who hasn't eaten in days try to make up for lost meals all at once. Spicy Korean chicken, Caesar salad, pepperoni pizza, and a bowl of ramen that definitely wasn't meant to be a side dish. The combination is as chaotic as his reputation.

When he turns to survey the cafeteria, his eyes briefly meet yours. The air around you drops several degrees, like someone opened a window to a winter morning. Even under that hood, his gaze is sharp enough to cut glass.

He chooses a table not far from yours, dropping into the chair with a sigh that sounds like it started somewhere around his soul. The curious looks from other members bounce right off him as he attacks his food with the same intensity most people reserve for coding or murder.

Then J-Hope walks in.

The medical chief spots AD immediately, and his eye-roll is probably visible from space. With a huff that screams "not this shit again," he marches over to AD's table like a man on a mission.

"Oh, this'll be good." Yunjin leans in, practically vibrating with excitement.

You watch as J-Hope plants himself at AD's table, hands on hips, radiating disapproval. Whatever he's saying gets completely ignored—AD just keeps eating like J-Hope isn't even there. But instead of giving up, J-Hope drops into the chair across from him, apparently settling in for the long haul.

It's kind of fascinating, actually. J-Hope's clearly telling AD off about something, probably his hermit lifestyle, while AD responds in what looks like grunts and eye-rolls. But the weird thing is... he's letting J-Hope stay. For someone who just threatened to digitally exile a guy for speaking to him, that's practically a declaration of friendship.

"They're like a divorced couple who still lives together," Yunjin whispers, barely containing her grin.

You snort into your rice. "Yeah, if both of them were the grumpy one."

It's hard not to stare at AD. There's something fascinating about watching someone who practically lives in code actually interact with humans. The guy who could probably crash South Korea's entire infrastructure with his phone is sitting here eating pizza with salad. 

He's weird for a Council member. The others, like Jeon or V, you can picture them leading divisions. But AD? He feels more like some urban legend the gang created—the grumpy gremlin in the tech cave who might lock you out of your room if you breathe too loud near his servers.

You try not to be too obvious about watching him, but it's kind of mesmerizing. Even now, with J-Hope clearly giving him hell about something, AD maintains this icy distance. Like he's tolerating human interaction because someone forced him to remember he needs food to live.

The cafeteria noise provides perfect cover as you and Yunjin lean in slightly, totally not eavesdropping on what might be the grumpiest conversation in Kkangpae history. 

"For someone who's supposed to be a genius, you eat like a fucking teenager with a death wish." J-Hope's voice carries that special blend of medical concern wrapped in pure irritation.

AD doesn't even look up from his food crime scene, just keeps shoveling spicy chicken into his mouth with the enthusiasm of someone who hasn't seen sunlight in days.

"I'm not kidding, AD. Your last medical results were shit." J-Hope leans back, crossing his arms. "Or did you delete that memory along with your basic survival instincts?"

AD finally looks up, his expression screaming 'I'd rather be getting a root canal than having this conversation.' "Can you not? I can handle my own fucking health."

"Yeah, clearly." J-Hope's voice drips sarcasm. "Because staying up for three days straight surviving on energy drinks and spite is peak healthcare. What's your plan when it catches up to you? Hack yourself a new liver?"

A ghost of amusement flickers across AD's face before he squashes it. "Maybe I will. And while I'm at it, I'll program myself some immunity to your bullshit."

"You're impossible." J-Hope rolls his eyes. "Just eat something green occasionally! I'm tired of playing doctor because you think vegetables are optional."

AD stabs a piece of lettuce with enough force to kill it twice, moving with exaggerated slowness. "There. Happy?"

J-Hope gives a narrowed stare, his gaze softening ever so slightly. "No. Eat another one."

"You're so fucking annoying." AD turns away like if he can't see J-Hope, maybe he'll cease to exist.

You and Yunjin share a look, biting back smiles as you watch AD and J-Hope's weird version of friendship play out. 

It's kind of sweet, in a grumpy-meets-grumpier way. 

Even in Kkangpae, where everyone's got walls built up to their eyeballs, sometimes you catch glimpses of actual human connection. Even if it's just two cranky leaders arguing about salad.

But the peaceful moment doesn’t last long.

Harmony shatters when a group from V's division walks in. The atmosphere shifts immediately—you can feel it in the way conversations quiet down, in how other members subtly shift away. V's assassins always move like they own the place, all swagger and deadly grace.

Your stomach drops when one of them breaks away from the pack, heading straight for your table. He's tall, probably handsome if you could get past the douchebag energy radiating off him. 

He plants his hands on your table, leaning into your space like he's got every right to be there.

"Hey princess, heard about your ankle..." His voice drips fake sympathy before sliding into something that makes your skin crawl. He leans closer, close enough that you can smell whatever cheap cologne he's drowning in. "When you recover, how about some private lessons? I bet you could teach me all about seduction..."

The suggestion hangs in the air like something rotten. 

Your mind floods with comebacks—each one sharper than the last, each one perfectly crafted to cut him down to size. 

But you keep quiet.

Not because you're scared. Not because you don't have anything to say. But because you know how this game works. 

In Kkangpae, everything's about power. One wrong move, one moment of weakness, and suddenly you're marked.

And being a woman in this testosterone-fueled nightmare means always watching your step, always calculating the cost of each word.

Your silence apparently pisses him off more than any insult could. His face twists ugly, that fake charm vanishing like smoke. "I'm talking to you, bitch."

You catch Yunjin starting to rise, all protective big sister energy, but you grab her arm. This isn't her fight. Besides, you've dealt with worse than some bruised ego in a leather jacket.

The cafeteria's gone weirdly quiet. You can feel eyes on you from every direction—AD pausing mid-bite, J-Hope's exasperation shifting to concern, V watching like this is better than cable. Even Jeon's stopped pretending to eat his lunch, those dark eyes fixed on the scene playing out.

You finally look at the guy, really look at him, keeping your face blank. 

“And I'm not interested."

The words hit him like a slap. His face goes red, then purple, and suddenly his hand twitches.

The whole cafeteria seems to hold its breath. 

You catch flickers of movement—Chaewon half-rising from her seat, JM's eyes going wide, Jessi's hand twitching toward what's probably a knife.

But it's Jeon's reaction that catches your attention. He hasn't moved, hasn't said a word, but the look he's giving this guy is like a typhoon gaining speed. The kind of stare that promises violence, calculated and cold and absolutely certain.

Not that you need the backup.

The moment his hand comes down, you move. 

The fork in your hand becomes a weapon, and you catch his wrist mid-swing, driving the tines deep into his palm. The movement is smooth, precise—exactly what they taught you in training. Always use what's available, turn everyday objects into advantages.

He screams (more shock than pain probably), stumbling back like you've burned him. His eyes are huge, that macho confidence evaporating as blood wells up around the fork still stuck in his hand. 

Everyone goes dead silent. 

Like their brains are recalculating, adjusting their mental image of the new girl who just stabbed someone with cutlery.

t̶h̶a̶t̶'̶l̶l̶ ̶t̶e̶a̶c̶h̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶c̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶b̶i̶t̶c̶h̶

"Maybe think twice about who you're messing with next time."

He yanks his hand back with a string of curses, blood dripping onto the pristine cafeteria floor. His face twists ugly, like he can't decide if he's more hurt or pissed. 

"Who the fuck do you think you are?"

You lean back in your chair, channeling every ounce of b̶i̶t̶c̶h̶ confidence you've got. The fork might have been impulsive, but now it's time to play smart.

"Someone who has Chaewon's ear." You let that sink in for a second. "And you know who Chaewon's best friends with? Jessi. You know, the one who handles personnel management?" Your smile feels sharp enough to cut. "Wonder what they'd think about some guy from Assassinations harassing their girls."

The color drains from his face so fast it's almost funny. 

Nothing like dropping two of the scariest names in Kkangpae to make a man rethink his life choices. You can practically see him doing the math in his head—is harassing the new girl worth potentially pissing off not one, but two Council members?

"You wouldn't—" His voice wavers between threat and panic.

"Try me." You cut him off clean. "This isn't even about me. You really think they'd let this slide? Their division members getting pushed around by some wannabe tough guy?"

His jaw clenches so hard you're surprised his teeth don't crack. The rage is still there, but now it's got a healthy dose of fear mixed in. Good. Maybe next time he'll think before running his mouth.

"Fucking bitch," he spits, but the words don't have much bite anymore.

You glance pointedly at the bloody fork still sticking out of his hand. 

"Get me a new fork while you're at it. You got blood all over this one."

The cafeteria's still dead silent, everyone probably wondering if they just witnessed career suicide by cutlery. But hey—sometimes you've got to stab a man with a fork to make a point.

He shoots you one last glare before stalking off, still cursing under his breath. 

You watch him go, noticing how the other assassins suddenly find their lunch absolutely fascinating. 

Funny how quickly tough guys back down when someone actually stands up to them.

Conversations resume, though noticeably quieter than before. You can feel the weight of everyone's stares finally lifting—some impressed, others probably wondering if you've got a death wish.

Everyone's except Jeon's.

When you turn to meet his gaze, something's different. Those dark eyes catch yours across the cafeteria, and something electric passes between you. It's different from his usual dismissive glances. Like he's seeing you properly for the first time. Not just as the new girl from Seduction, or the one who twisted her ankle during his paintball game. But as someone who can hold her own.

His expression hasn't changed—he's still got that perfect poker face—but there's something in his eyes that wasn't there before. 

Something that feels almost like respect.

His lips twitch, just barely, before he looks away. 

But that tiny almost-smile says more than words could. 

Maybe stabbing someone with a fork is all it takes to impress the mighty Chief of Tactical Assassinations.

t̶o̶o̶ ̶b̶a̶d̶ ̶h̶e̶'̶s̶ ̶s̶t̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶a̶s̶s̶h̶o̶l̶e̶

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