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birboon · 6 months ago

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CIRCUS BOY

ACT 1 - Chapter 3

PAIRING: Peter Parker x Dick Grayson

WORD COUNT: ~5k

PREVIOUS CHAPTER: chapter 2

HOW HE'D GOTTEN himself into this situation, Dick didn't know.

One moment he was sitting back against the leather interior of Mercedes's newest sporting model, the next he was sitting in the vents of the new Wayne Tower and staring down through the metal grating at the lead-lined floor, still as a mouse and cursing his super-stupid friends for not shutting up. Every time his phone vibrated in his pocket he winced, knowing the rattling of the metal around him was just as loud and audible to those who weren't inside it.

They hadn't cared about his epic escape from the clutches of an evil fashion corporation (well, no one except Connor but Superboy cared about everything) and now - although he was too scared to move to reach for the device to silence it - he was pretty sure Roy and Wally were having a battle of non-existent wits. When he got the time, Dick was going to make a new groupchat with only the girls of his team.

The 'men' were all idiots. He needed culture.

Looking at his watch and squinting through the half-light, Dick concluded that there was a half-hour before the grand opening of the new Washington office. The receptionist preparing the front desk for the event had told him that 'Mister Wayne' was in a board meeting with some foundation sponsors but Dick had gone there to surprise the tricky man and found nothing but angry, tired businessmen and women at their wit's end because Brucie Wayne had charmed his way from the room before it'd even started.

So now Dick was stuck hiding in the ventilation systems of Bruce's office, waiting for the man to come and collect the real copies of the ledgers he'd left unsigned so he could jump down and throttle him for giving Alfred even more reasons to lecture them. Besides, it would be a nice surprise for the big guy! He loved when Dick visited him in the office; a not-so-rare occurrence whenever the teen was on break and bored.

And Dick Grayson got bored a lot.

Another buzz from his pocket and he gritted his teeth, frustrated, risking a grab for the phone. Just as his nails slid across the glass screen, elbows slamming into the sides of the cramped crawlspace as he twisted round, he heard a click. Lightning quick - though Wally would beg to differ - Dick spun back around, eyes wide, to watch the door slide open with a twist of the handle. Soft hair brushed against the metallic ceiling, gathering static as he leaned forward to peer carefully through the narrow slits below:

A surprise rally from above. That's what he wanted to do - get the drop on Bruce, if only to hear the man congratulate his stealth. Dick grinned to himself; he'd never see it coming. Or hear it coming, for that matter.

"Dick, come out and say hello to our guests," came the ever-familiar voice, dark and rich. Expensive footsteps echoed through the sizeable room until a tall, handsome head of dark hair came to a stop next to the desk, directly below him. Dick blinked.

"What?" He whispered and could almost hear the man roll his eyes.

"Get out of the ceiling," Bruce replied sharply, looking over his shoulder to check for company. He cast the classic playboy grin towards whoever was approaching and waved meekly. "Shouldn't be a second. Feel free to, er, touch whatever you want. Except the walls - I don't want to pay someone to repaint them."

"I wasn't aware you were having visitors," Dick snapped, grunting as he shifted the loose grate off to one side. His fingers latched onto the side of the vent as he gently lowered himself down, swinging to a perfect stop in front of Bruce. The man sighed and folded his arms, watching with warm eyes as Dick slotted the vent cover back in place. "How'd you know I was up there?"

Bruce levelled him with a stare that said all Dick needed to know. A classic i'm-batman look that he was all too familiar with. Bruce held up a tiny, beeping device. A schematic of the building's ventral system glowed on the screen, a single portion highlighted in red:

"Aren't you supposed to be modelling right now?" Bruce supplied, pocketing the new WayneTech prototype. He dusted off Dick's shoulders, spinning the boy around the face their 'guests'.

"Aren't you supposed to be in a meeting right now?" came the reply, more of a huff than a biting remark. Dick let Bruce maneuver him towards a group of people that instantly left him feeling more embarrassed than he had been in a long time. He'd not felt this tortured by a social interaction since Barbara had invited him to that sleepover with all her girlfriends.

Needless to say, he was not feeling the aster.

The striking mustard-yellow blazers looked a stark sickly-green beneath the quality lighting of Bruce's office. Dick didn't realize the new Wayne Enterprise building was some sort of attraction but then again... he was in and out of them all the time. And this wasn't Gotham. Bruce Wayne leaving his city to set up shop somewhere else was always a novelty.

And here he was, Wayne's ward and heir, standing barefoot with dust-bunnies on his expensive clothes and smudged make-up on his face. With no way to escape the awful situation, Bruce pinning him to the spot with a hand firmly on each shoulder, Dick swallowed his pride and raised a hand awkwardly towards the small group of teens.

"Uh, hi," he croaked out towards the stunned crowd. The silence was deafening. A familiar face turned a bright pink as his gaze raked over them. "I'm Dick."

"This is my ward, Richard Grayson," Bruce clarified. "I ran into this wonderful group on my way to Starbucks, Dick! Can you believe it?"

Some of the students snickered and Dick resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He never liked the version of Bruce that he put on show for the world: "I can believe it."

"We're in town for a competition," a man - presumably the teacher - supplied. Dick raised a brow, scanning over the sea of yellow-clad faces. Peter no-surname looked a little nauseous, refusing to meet his eyes.

They didn't seem the sport type. Far too... well, he didn't want to say nerdy because he knew a couple nerds and Wally West was one of the fastest people alive (and if that's not sporty then Dick didn't know what was). But this group wasn't going to be competing for college scholarships in football, that's for sure.

"Mathletes?" He guessed.

"No, we're- close enough. It's close enough," the teacher supplied. He was wearing a cardigan despite the heat outside and his mousy, thinning hair was beginning to stick to his forehead.

"Mister Harrington, we're not mathletes."

Mister Harrington suppressed a sigh, chest jumping with the action, pushing his glasses up his nose. He turned to one of the students, a girl with impressive curls draped over her rather pretty face. "We don't need to bother the Wayne's with specifics Michelle."

Dick couldn't find it in him to remind them that he technically wasn't a Wayne. He may be Bruce's foster kid, but he wasn't is son. Not biologically, anyway. He loved Bruce, he did, but he wasn't going to start calling him daddy. Michelle shrugged and popped her headphones back into her ears. If he strained, Dick could just make out the tinny sound of Black Sabbath blaring from her phone.

"It's a decathlon," Liz added, ducking away from Dick.

"Wasn't the Olympics last year?" Bruce queried, smiling handsomely behind Dick's head. The boy pulled away from his guardian, trying and failing to dodge the hand that shot out to ruffle his hair as he did so.

"It's academic, Bruce. You know that," Dick muttered, folding his arms over his chest. He caught the eye of one of the students closest to him - a kind-faced boy whose eyes were wide as the sun as he stared at Dick. "Can I help you?"

"Oh my god, Peter - he just acknowledged my existence!" The boy whispered, a hand shooting out as if he needed to steady himself on his friend's shoulder. Peter didn't seem too impressed, stance awkward as he decided between crossing his arms in an imitation of Dick or letting them hang loose by his side. "Do you know what this means? I'm friends with a celebrity!"

"Friends?" Peter contained a laugh, eyes darting nervously towards Dick. "Ned, I don't think-"

"We're totally best friends now, Ned. Don't listen to him," Dick butted in with a sly wink towards the non-believer, watching Peter's jaw tense. He held out a graceful hand, encouraged by the other boy's forwardness and grinned as Ned shook it excitedly with both hands. Dick gathered he was something of a fan. "Do you have snapchat?"

"Yes! Yeah I do," Ned exclaimed, digging through his jeans for his beat-up iPhone. His smile was contagious. "Dick Grayson wants to add me on snap, wow."

Ned's bitmoji looked impressively like him, Dick noted. They'd even coordinated outfits, wearing the same shitty t-shirt. He was suddenly conscious of his own, glancing down at the cashmere shirt that lay airily against his chest, unbuttoned and elegantly fascist: "Sorry," he said suddenly, voice bordering on shame. Peter quirked an eyebrow towards him. "I've just come from a shoot... I'm not exactly dressed up for the occasion."

"Occasion?" Peter coughed out, tone what Babs would describe to be 'playing coy'. Dick just found it venomous.

"Meeting guests is an occasion."

"Right, because you care so much about first impressions."

Dick felt his mouth settle into a firm, begrudging line, as his lips pressed together. He willed himself not to frown as he watched Peter aberrantly look away. There was a stale tenseness in the air that Ned seemed unable to comprehend, because he kept sunnily speaking as though he didn't even notice the uncomfortable atmosphere:

"A shoot? Like a photoshoot?" Ned repeated excitedly, ignoring everything his friend had said. He was practically buzzing on the spot. "That is so cool."

Dick scratched at the back of his neck sheepishly, turning the entirety of his attention towards the teen he hadn't met before. "It's pretty sick," he agreed. "So... a decathlon, huh? You guys must be pretty smart."

"Not really," Peter began. As if he hadn't earlier boasted to Dick how he'd won awards in science. His contradictory words were cut off by Ned quickly, almost as if it were a common, practiced occurrence.

"Peter's super smart. Like, if he had a superpower, it would be intelligence. Definitely not something else, like super strength or reflexes or whatever."

"I don't have any sort of powers," Peter reassured, glaring towards his friend through the corner of his eyes. Dick hummed, not missing the silent communication. That was something to keep in mind, then. He watched as an unspoken promise swept between the two teens.

"Right. Me either," Dick announced diverting his attention from the boys towards their classmates. Brucie wasn't finding it all that difficult to rally the troops, it seemed. The students - as well as their teachers - were hanging onto his each and ever word as though he were some sort of prophet foretelling an arbitrary second-coming.

"- and so that's when I told her that the champagne wasn't Dom Perignon but actually Lois Roederer! You should've seen her face, she looked as though... Oh, Dick! Dick, come here - you know this story. Remember when St Cloud -"

"No one wants to know about Silver's alcoholism, Bruce," Dick sighed, turning into the man's addictive aura. "Why did you bring them here?"

"They're from a Technology school Dickie! What better experience for a bunch of nerdy students than a tour through WayneTech's science-y parts?"

Dick sighed. Upon bringing back the rag tag group of high schoolers there was no doubt in his mind that Bruce had forgotten to mention that the WayneTech branch wasn't actually supposed to be starting full operation until next week. He must've had a good reason for leading them here: Bruce had a good reason for just about everything. But Dick was either too close-minded or not observant enough to see what it was.

"Follow me then. You'll never get your tour if you keep pandering to his ridiculousness," Dick announced, spinning on his heels and catching Bruce's eye. The tall man gave him an almost indiscernible nod as he moved to bring up the rear of the herd.

Dick led the way from Bruce's extravagant office, through the winding, grandiose halls of the new Wayne building. He knew where he was going well enough after his little adventure across the grounds searching for the man who'd gone to Starbucks, and tried not to feel hurt when Peter dragged Ned towards the back end of the queue instead of upfront with Dick himself.

WayneTech was the biggest division of Wayne Enterprises - specialized in retrieving and researching alien technologies outside of the public's knowledge, and in security detailing inside of it. It was no surprise to Dick, then, that they had an entire five-floor spread dedicated to their laboratories in the new Wayne Tower. If the new D.C office had been up and running for longer than five days, no one would have been allowed access to the main labs. Mister Harrington and his class were lucky they'd caught Bruce in a 'good' mood, despite whatever ulterior motive he had planned.

"This is the first floor's entrance to the test center," Dick explained as he led the gaggle of wide-eyed students to a dead-end. The wall opposite was embellished with a large painting - a façade of Alfred's favourite piece called The Ghost of a Flea. It was a William Blake special event, the original art hanging high and proud in Wayne Manor.

Dick stepped aside as Bruce swam through the shoal of people, movement fluid and calming like a deceptive predator. With a calculated flick of his wrist the entire wall rippled and plunged inwards, falling away like puzzle pieces to reveal a ringing, metallic decontamination vault with heavy steel doors and hazard symbols plastered all over it.

"I hope you all have insurance," Dick joked, reveling in the momentary look of fear in Mister Harrington's eyes and snickering with the rest of the students as he stepped inside. "Company policy states you're all going to have to take off your shoes and wear these -" he jutted a thumb towards the right wall, hydraulics hissing as it folded upwards to reveal racks of lab coats and white sterile plimsolls. " - Totally monochrome, I know, but it's regulation."

Dick shrugged on one of the embroidered WayneTech coats and donned a pair of protective goggles. Amongst the exchanging of shoes and frisking of all personal items - phones, keys and anything else that could prove to interfere with experiments in the lab weren't allowed past that point - Dick noticed Bruce loitering near a particular tray of belongings.

Peter was busily untying the laces of his worn-out converse, Ned shuffling eagerly beside him. It didn't avoid Dick's notice that as one of the lead research scientists came to collect the high schoolers with a tired smile and the pair looked away, Bruce took the split-second to slip the tip of his finger beneath the solo of one of Peter's shoes.

Dick narrowed his eyes at the singular red flash that emitted from the beacon, petering out of existence as it activated. He grabbed Bruce's arm as he attempted to follow the class through the laboratory, grip like iron as it closed around the man's straining wrist:

"A tracker Bruce? Really."

"It's precautionary," the man replied with a wave of his hand. Dick could see the muscles moving beneath his suit. "It's Stark's kid."

A wave of surprise swept through Dick's blood, ice cold and sharp. Schooling his features to what he hoped could pass as indifference in the eyes of Bruce Wayne, Dick raised an eyebrow, releasing the handful of bespoke material:

"I wasn't aware he had a son."

"Because he doesn't. The kid's an intern," said Bruce. Dick studied his mentor's face carefully, meeting his steely eyes as recognition dawned on him.

"You think he was there? At the Avenger's pity-party?" Dick asked, bewildered. He stumbled back from Bruce, raking a hand through his hair brashly. No Way. Peter somehow-not-a-model? Absolutely not.

"The Sokovia Accords are a serious problem, Dick."

"Please, you're just jealous you're stuck with the league," Dick snickered, bouncing after Bruce as the man shook his head and continued into the lab. "Face it, B, there's no way Supes is going to start a revolution. Maybe you could try and rile Hal up, but -"

"That's enough work talk, Dick," Bruce cut him off sternly. They lingered behind slightly before rejoining the others, Bruce's steady hand gripping his shoulder. Dick wasn't particularly interested in another lecture on xenobiology by one of Barbara's brain-crushes. Not that Doctor Lovell wasn't worthy of being listened to - it's just that Dick had heard it all before. He'd experienced it first hand, he didn't need to be told how Amazo's copy-catting worked. "Remember where you are."

"Yeah well, I still don't think you should bug a high schooler, Bruce."

"You're a high schooler," Bruce insinuated. Dick wrinkled his nose as he leaned into the man's space.

"Your point is? I wouldn't want to be tracked by you," he retorted. He absently felt around his collar and cuffs, checking for a similar device. "Or by anyone, for that matter. You've never planted one of those on me have you?"

"Planted what on you?"

Dick froze. The dynamic duo, Peter and Ned, were staring at them from across a workbench and were flanked by the Michelle girl. She didn't look half as interested as the two boys, absently glaring into the distance with her head in her hand. Peter just appeared to be bored... probably of Ned: the teen was practically swooning at every action the Wayne Heir took. Dick wasn't supposed to be caught off guard like this - why the three of them weren't watching the awesome display of Green Lantern's cosmic constructs was beyond him.

Bruce squeezed his shoulder and Dick stared up at him. The slight pressure told him to keep quiet; the Bat would do the work for him. "My ward's always trying to avoid using the phones made by my company - which gets kind of expensive when he keeps taking them places he's not supposed to." A subtle dig towards Dick for that time he took his phone on patrol. It hadn't ended much better than a dislocated shoulder and a furious Bruce. Dick felt his cheeks heat up at the man's decisive stare. "Silly as it is, I've resorted to slipping the blasted things into his pockets when he's not looking."

Dick nodded mutely, pushing his hands into his pockets. The cold glass screen of his WayneTech phone pressed at his finger tips. "And he always succeeds," Dick said through his teeth, parading the phone for all to see. It wasn't even on the market yet.

"I thought phones weren't allowed in here," Peter recalled and Dick rolled his eyes.

"There are exceptions to every rule," Dick muttered. He looked up through his eyelashes towards Peter's frowning face. "It may be pure favoritism, but, well... I am his son."

This just deepened the other boy's expression, much like the laugh elicited from Ned made him slump further down the table. Bruce sighed: "You're not supposed to be in here barefoot either, Dick. What happened to your shoes?"

"I lost them in the studio. They were giving me blisters."

"Oh. Saint Laurens?" Bruce assumed, face twisting as his ward nodded. "Understandable."

"Couldn't you have just worn a pair of these?" Michelle interjected, flicking her leg to rest on top of the table. The stark-white trainers cut a bold contrast atop the onyx workbench. "We all had to."

"Obviously you all don't have any taste. No one who knows anything about fashion would willingly put them on their feet. Why would I?"

"Because it's protocol?" Peter suggested. He seemed almost offended. Dick couldn't see why he would be. It was a perfectly reasonable observation to say that he had no dress-sense - a no-brainer. The dude was wearing the type of t-shirt Wally would wear, one of those with the dorky science puns. There was no way anyone who dressed Kid Flash on his days off had good taste.

"Not for a Wayne," Bruce replied coolly, steering the conversation to the left. He checked his watch, eyebrows knitting exaggeratedly as he frowned. "Well then, Dick. I've got to be off. Time really does fly, kiddos."

"You're leaving?" Ned asked somberly. Bruce flashed him his 'Person fo the Year' winning smile, laced with regret as he looked to Dick.

"I have business to attend to and an opening to attend," the man sounded sincere. Dick wondered if he'd been contacted by the league, because there was no way Bruce was actually going to go to the Tower's christening. Maybe Diana had buzzed in for a date. Or Selina. Or- "My CEO wishes to remind me that Wayne Enterprises doesn't run itself. Mister Harrington-"

"Call me Roger, Mister Wayne -"

"Alright, Richard. I'm afraid I'm going to have to cut out time together short," Bruce said solemnly. "Doctor Lovell, if you could finish this up rather quickly and have Dickie show these lovely people out? Thank you, dear."

His embellished his words with a wink, face melting into one of irritation as he turned so only Dick could see him 'Clark' he mouthed, face grim-set as he swept away. Dick's stomach churned - it must be important, then. Unless Clark had offered to take Bruce on a date. Dick always had wondered about the two of them. He grinned, watching the hulking figure of Bruce Wayne abandon the theoretical ship through one of the emergency exits - one that lead to a stairwell onto the roof, Dick noted.

As Doctor Lovell wrapped up her explanation of whatever theoretical science she was explaining, shutting down the hologram display of the Justice League's last fight with Amazo, Peter finally turned to face him. The eye contact was awkward and Dick had to refrain from looking away as the other boy pushed himself from his seat. It was almost as if Bruce's presence had been a dampener on whatever he'd been meaning to say.

"Does he always just walk out like that?" he asked. Ned almost tripped over the legs of his stool in his effort to be the first to stand beside Dick.

"Mostly always," Dick countered, waiting for the disappointed students to swarm towards him in an orderly fashion. "Sometimes he lasts longer than five minutes though, if you can believe it."

"Can't say I can," Peter said, staring off in the direction Bruce had ventured. "How does he run a multimillion dollar company?"

Dick frowned, looking over his shoulder to follow Peter's gaze: "Multibillion dollar company. He does a lot for Wayne Enterprises - you can't begin to understand the work he puts into helping this business succeed."

Peter had prodded one of Dick's more tender issues with Bruce's public persona. He couldn't stand people thinking the man was an idiot. Bruce was- Bruce was amazing. The most capable man Dick had ever and would ever meet. With everything he did to protect and serve... all people like Peter saw was Brucie.

"I didn't mean to offend," Peter retreated quickly. His eyes were warm and Dick felt somehow lighter as he stared into them. "It's just, with people like Tony Stark in the business how does he manage to stay afloat?"

"You're awfully talkative all of a sudden," Dick snapped, not un-kindly. Peter reeled back ashamedly:

"I... I'm sorry?"

"Apology not accepted. Maybe if you stop scowling at me I'll rethink," Dick said. "Y'know, I thought we were getting on okay earlier, but I guess not. Ned seems cool though."

"Ned is cool," the man himself supplied from his position on the floor, pulling off the white abominations from his feet.

"I just didn't clock who you were before I saw you in Wayne's office, that's all!" Peter replied, ignoring him. "And then I was like... oh god, he's rich and a model and famous - It's kind of a lot to take in, y'know?"

"A lot to take in?"

"'Cause I said all that stuff to you and I never would have if I'd know, I swear!"

Dick felt his chest deflate. Of course. He wasn't just another teenager to Peter anymore: He was Richard Grayson. Heir to the Wayne fortune, with far too much status to even consider speaking to. Dick's intrepid eyes scaled the walls opposite, thumb running over the material of his sleeve. "It's okay. I get that."

"You do?" Dick didn't enjoy the relief he heard in Peter's voice.

"Yup," he replied, voice strained, and he leant against the doorway to decontamination to watch the boy struggle to remove his lab gear. His eyes flickered to the beat-up trainers Peter began to pull from his tray, mouth dry as he watched the boy begin to undo the laces. "Uh, hey Peter -"

"Yeah?"

He had half a mind to let Bruce's schemes alone. What did he care if Bruce's tracker was stuck to the guy's shoe? But a guilty feeling rose uncomfortably up his throat, threatening to choke him, as he observed the tying of grimy shoelaces. "Er, about your shoes -"

"What about them?" the boy replied, not bothering to look up. It was a good job he didn't, too, otherwise he might've seen how obvious Dick was being as he went about this whole thing. He didn't exactly have a plan: He was flying by the seat of his pants here.

"I need them."

"What?"

"Give me your shoes."

"What?"

"Look, you heard me," Dick hissed, and he was pretty sure any friendliness recovered between the two of them was destroyed at that exact moment. He could feel his onw cheeks beginning to flame. Forget earlier, when he'd crawled from the ceiling in front of everyone: This was embarrassing. But he couldn't just let Bruce track the poor guy. What if it were Dick being tracked? He'd never let it happened, of course - Bruce would (figuratively) murder him. But he couldn't shake the bad feeling away. Someone knowing his every move? Possibly the grossest thing ever. "Hand them over."

Peter stared at him as though he'd grown a second head and for a moment Dick wished he had. It would've been easier to explain.

"Are you serious?" Peter said, letting out a nervous laugh. Mister Harrington was beggining to shoo the other students from the boxy room single file.

"Why do you want his lame-ass shoes?" Someone asked. A taller boy, with dark hair and a confused look on his face. "You can have mine, they're way cooler."

"Let's go, Flash."

"But Sir-"

"Beat it."

In the boy's defense, Dick did think the kid's Nikes were cooler than Peter's worn converse. Although he wasn't sure he'd want to wear anything from someone named Flash. He'd never hear the end of it from Wally.

"Peter, I'm not joking. I'm tired of being barefoot and you- you have socks on!"

"Look, Di- can I still call you Dick?" Peter asked uncertainly. The other teen nodded rapidly, fingers twitching. "Er, I'm not sure why you're asking for my shoes but I'm definitely not giving them to you."

"But I need them," Dick pleaded.

"Sorry, I guess? Bi I 'need them' too. I have to walk back to our hotel," Peter said, standing up straighter. He still hadn't successfully put on both trainers, the left being wedged poorly onto his foot with the laces draping dangerously on the floor. He peered over Dick's shoulder towards the rest of his class slowly walking away nervously. "Hey wait- Ned, wait for me?"

"Look, Peter I'm sorry but... you're really not leaving me with many options here, man. I really need those shoes."

"Can't you just buy a new pair like them?"

Dick rolled his eyes, pushing away from the wall. He could see the faint glow of Bruce's tracking device lodged into the material and inwardly cringed. He could envision what he was about to do and it was not going to look good on record: 'Dick Grayson, Wayne Heir, assaults Academic Decathlon student'.

Had he no shame? Of course he did! Was the shame going to stop? Of course not.

"You're not understanding me here," Dick said slowly, voice a low treble. He tried to add in a bit of gravel, like Bruce did when he spoke as Batman. It only served to confuse Peter more greatly.

"Look, Mister Grayson, you're kinda starting to freak me out - can you let me pas-" Peter's frankly shitty attempt to de-escalate what he hadn't known to be an escalated situation didn't fill Dick with any comfort as he lunged for the boy.

His quick movement obviously took the boy by surprise because the shriek Peter let out as he was barreled to the floor was nothing less than fantastic. "What are you doing? Get off me!"

Dick had to hand it to the guy, Peter was strong. Much stronger than he looked. After only a few attempts he was able to shove Dick off of him and scramble to his feet but Dick's work was already done: he grinned up at Peter from where he was laying on the floor, waving those terrible converse in hand, and bounced up to his feet with triple the grace of Peter, daring the high schooler to do something.

The teen's chest heaved rapidly with adrenalin and alarm, and he lurched forward to grab the objects from Dick's hand but with all the dignity of a gymnast Dick spun away and wheeled out of the room. His laughter echoed down the hallway as he sped away. Peter's eyes were wide as he watched him get away.

"What the hell?" Peter breathed out. He made eye contact with Ned, who was standing stock-still with his phone out. A terribly angled selfie was displayed on the screen:

"Do you think he'll send streaks?"

[Next chapter]

#fanfiction #dc #wattpad #ao3 #dc comics #dick grayson #marvel #peter parker #peter parker x dick grayson #dick grayson x peter parker #mcu x dc #mcu #mcu fanfiction #dc fanfic #circus boy

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eldaink · 9 days ago

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Oh, when you walk in, I can’t look away, Those broad shoulders lead the way. I’m caught in your spell, so tall, so fine, With that body built like a perfect line.

Your arms, like strength wrapped in skin, With every flex, I’m drawn right in. And your back, boy, don’t get me started, A work of art, bold and unguarded.

And that smirk, like you know, The fire you light, the way you glow. Those eyes, they’re trouble, dark and deep, They pull me in, no room for sleep.

Steal my breath, make me sigh, With every step, with every stride. From those eyes to the way you stand, You’re the heat I can’t withstand.

And that behind, let’s talk of that, A curve that’s pure, no room for chat. Boy, you’ve got a fire that’s hard to fake, A look that makes the earth shake.

So keep on moving, strong and bold, I’m wrapped in heat, a heart of gold. Steal my breath, you’re all I need, The hottest dream I’ve ever dreamed.

#music #soundcloud #soundtrack #club #party #fashion #remix

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vitaeplaysda · 4 months ago

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CHARACTERS MASTERPOST AND USEFUL LINKS

Where else you can find me?

◆ @diesvitae main art tumblr ◆ @karmicblackhole personal tumblr

You can find me on Twitter/X with the same names!

VEILGUARD SPOILERS TAGS:

#veilguard spoilers ; #datv spoilers

Active ask challenges I'm taking:

[Veilguard Hype Ask] - [OCs Emoji Ask] - [OCs Relationship ask] - [Florence + The Machine Lyrics Prompts]

All my Dragon Age Characters and Ships can be found below the cut!

(Images will be added on a later date...)

DRAGON AGE INQUISITION

◆ ELINAN of clan LAVELLAN Female (she/her) Dalish Elf Mage (Rift Mage)

We all know how the storyall know how the story goes. She starts at the First of her Clan and due fate she unwillingly becomes the Herald of Andraste at the head of the Inquisition all while falling for the Dread Wolf himself. What is less known is her heritage, of her grandmother falling for a mysterious tall elf with purple eyes when her clan was close to the Tirashan forest, a color she inherited among the superior height compared to the other elves. Fascinated by Solas's stories about the spirits and feeling useless in front of his pain when he lost his friend to corruption, Elinan found herself wondering if there was a way to heal demons guiding them to a road of redemption without killing them. It would later become her primary mission in life, all starting with Enfenim and Cole, bringing her to create a safe place of healing and knowledge in some elvhen ruins hidden in a secret location. As the Inquisitor, she never believed in the Chosen of Andraste idea, but was glad to play along as it gave her the power to help others. This is because she's a people pleaser by nature, working hard to the point of getting several burn outs in order to perform perfectly in every occasion. Understanding that role was no longer needed and with other goals in mind, she disbanded the Inquisition, disappearing completely in a matter of months. She spent her following years between journeying Thedas to learn the different approach to spirits among the various cultures of the world and helping those in need in her haven, and with time she ended up being known as the Shepherd, for spirits, demons and mortals alike or anyone in need of healing or guidance. Knowing that begging Solas would never move him away from his plans of destruction, Elinan decided to show him there was another way, a kinder way of coexistence between The Fade and the mortal races. Still her heart ached for him, unable to forget the love which united them. The Anchor, while removed, still poisoned her. Beside the scarring on her left arm's stump there were no visible physical issues left behind, but it changed her magic, giving her the same powers of a Somniari.

◆ ENFENIM N/A (he/they/it) Ancient Elf/Fear Demon Mage (Arcane Warrior)

Appearing first as a Fear Demon haunting the Emerald Graves, it was clear for the first moment he wasn't a corrupted spirit from a Rift but much more, he was able to wield a sword and staff just like a mage. Haunted by his lack of memories cursing unlucky travelers to the same fate and an even worse death, after meeting Elinan he starts a journey of healing and redemption by learning he could regain his memories by acting driven by his old purposes: protection of others and the pursuit of knowledge. As the years went by, his look mutated from the arachnid humanoid of his demonic form to one of a beautiful ancient elf. Apparently he was born when Arlathan fell after the creation of the Fade. A spirit of Knowledge from Vir Dirthara was driven mad by the loss of its purpose, instinct making it search for the last source of comfort it remembered: a guardian who's seen all what he had to protected gone and failed his purpose as well, possessing and corrupting him in the creature of Fear he has been for centuries and more. In more recent times he acts as bodyguard and partner to Elinan and is a father figure for Rook. He's also an Archivist in the safe haven he has been building with the ex Inquisitor.

DRAGON AGE: THE VEILGUARD

◆ "LITTLE ROOK" NADIR Transmasc Non-Binary (he/him) Elf Mage

There isn't much known of Rook's past but he appeared in Skyhold working as a servant when he was just ten years old. A curious and chaotic child, he always had issues following orders despite having a visceral need to get people’s love and approval. One day, hiding from his duties, he ended up in the small abandoned library near the kitchens, where Enfenim resided while still having the appearance of a fear demon. Somehow the two befriended each other, and in those moments spent together, the child learned how to write and read both elvhen and common. "Little Rook" is the nickname Enfenim gave him, as the kid had deep black eyes and his blond hair and clothes were always covered in dirt and ashes but his face, making him resemble the bird which was a common sight in Thedas. The kid was also quite small and shorter compared to other elves of his age. Months after the victory against Corypheus, Rook manifested his magical powers in the worst case possible as fire erupted from his hands while he worked in the kitchen, close to a pot full of oil. While the event caused no victims but several injuries and was classified as an incident, Rook got scarred both in body and mind, burns covering a good part of him and the sense of guilt lingering, making him believe he was doomed to always create chaos. After the event Elinan officially took him as her apprentice, but seeing him more like a son, a sentiment she shared with her spirit companion. He left Skyhold with his family after the end of the Inquisition, with the goal to find Solas one day and reunite him with his mother.

DRAGON AGE 2

◆ ABIGAIL "GALE" HAWKE Non-Binary (they/she) Human Rogue (Duelist)

Born to the Hawke family between both sets of twins, Abigail was the trickster of the family, always playing pranks, unable to be stopped with a tongue as sharp as their blades. Somehow they always knew a friend, always found the information needed and the way they got all these connections, well it was rarely legal or at times even sane. As they were quick to move, they were also quick to fall in love, counting people like Varric, Isabela or even the Arishok on their list of crushes. But alas between a battle and a bottle of wine, Fenris was the one to finally win their heart, his history sparkling a need to do good and help in them. After the events of Kirkwall, keeping track of their movements was hard as ever, at times they were by the side of their lover freeing slaves, some others they were in the places you would least expect them. Like Skyhold. Or the Fade. From which they thankfully escaped, traveling again to no one knows where.

◆ MARIAN HAWKE Female (she/her) Human Warrior (Reaver)

The canon female Hawke offered by the game, twin of Garrett and older sister of Abigail. She has a kind and patient soul, the only one truly able to deal with her brother's rage. She falls for Merrill, with whom she lives, helping her take care of the Kirkwall's alienage. She also takes care of the family Mabari: Holdfast.

◆ GARRETT HAWKE Male (he/him) Human Mage (Force Mage)

The canon male Hawke, twin of Marian and older brother of Abigail. While he was a sweet, shy and sensible kid in his youth, Garrett grew more harsh and angrier as he was unable to deal with the tragedies of his life. What mages had to suffer in Kirkwall fully turned him into a cynical bastard but also did let him fall in love with Anders, considering him his soulmate and his loyalty for the man unbreakable. As Anders got forced to live in exile after the events in Kirkwall, Garrett embraced the same fate, ready to follow him until the end of days. Little is known about his whereabouts but at times he still writes to his twin sister.

DRAGON AGE: ORIGINS

◆ AILIS COUSLAND Female (she/her) Noble Human Warrior (Champion)

Ailis was the last surviving scion of the Cousland family, a girl who preferred swords and training instead of learning more feminine arts, something reflected by her quite muscular and imposing look. Becoming a Warden wasn't just a way to survive the purge of her family but an honor she accepted gladly, possessing a strong sense of duty toward her people and Ferelden itself. In her journey she became a close friend of Loreen and Leliana, falling for Alistair's sweetness. He especially guided him to become a stronger man, to the point he took his rightful role as King of Ferelden with Ailis acting as Queen. With Kali vouching for Loghain recruitment as a warden and Alistair refusing to fight by his side, Ailis remained by his side, leaving the party, fully dedicating to her role of monarch for the years to come. She owns a Mabari called Grace.

◆ AERON MAHARIEL of clan SABRAE Male (he/him) Dalish Elf Rogue (Ranger)

You will hardly find among the Dalish someone so taken by their role as hunter as much as Aeron. Marked with Andruil's vallaslin, this man dedicated his full life to the hunt, almost to be considered weirdly obsessed by it. Still he's aware his lack of fear and recklessness aren't something to be proud of and he blames himself only for what happened to Tamlen. Becoming a warden wasn't a choice but his only means to survive, still it didn't come without benefits, having the chance to know Morrigan being one of them. He often jokes about how he won her over due to his good look but in truth they simply bonded by their common childhood experiences. He also got to hunt and kill monsters of every kind, fulfilling his bloody needs quite easily. In the end, he performed the ritual, and Kieran is his son, one he loves dearly despite him containing the soul of an archdemon and being forced to live away from him. Still when the time came, Aeron followed Morrigan through the Eluvians, hoping their fate was going to be better than Tamlen's. During his return to the Brecilian Forest, he tamed a wild wolf which became his main companion, and he gave him the name Harellan, as a taunt to the Dread Wolf.

◆ VALDA SURANA Female (she/they) City Elf Mage (Blood Mage)

Shy and sweet, Valda always found comfort in books and learning, interacting little with her peers first and wardens later. Despite her apparent lack of interest for others, deep inside she cared deeply about other living beings, believing she could find a way to help everyone if she focused enough on her studies. Her control of the magic arts was sublime but the fight against the Archdemon, despite ending in victory, made her fear she wasn't enough, to the point she started studying Blood Magic as well. Surprisingly she found an affine soul in the Architect, enough to make her join him in his research for a better solution both for mortals and darkspawn alike.

◆ LOREEN TABRIS Female (she/her) City Elf Rogue (Shadow)

Life in the alienage was harsh, but for a time Loreen was happy, ready to marry a lovely man, ready to contribute to her community. All until that fateful day which took away all of that from her, including her softer side, exchanging it all with a blazing rage and the need to change things for good. Nelaros's ring was always on her index finger after, and she would never took it off. As a Grey Warden she was merciless against her enemies, but able of kindness for those who truly deserved it and a strong leader for the party amongst Ailis and Kali with whom she grew close. Kali understood her pain being a dwarf commoner and Ailis seemed eager to help the elven cause despite being a human noble, ready to use her role to truly change things the best she could. Leliana became a new source of comfort first, and her lover later, one to whom she proclaimed eternal loyalty, even when she became Divine. After the battle with the Archdemon and the chaos with the darkspawn civil war, Loreen became Warden-Commander and Arlessa of Amaranthine.

◆ KALI BROSCA Female (she/her) Commoner Dwarf Warrior (Guardian)

Despite having been born a casteless commoner, Kali always had the aura of a noble with duty, honor and hard work being the pillars of her life, but most of all, she cared for her sister Rica, making sure she could life a happy life. For her, she was willing to push back her morals and work for the Carta, even if it ended up in a disaster, which would eventually change her life for good. Amongst the Warden she was able to fulfill her call, taking a role of leadership in her group. Being practical and hating to have blood spilled for no reason, she was the one to vouch for Loghain's life and even let the Architect go unharmed with Valda even if it wasn't a decision she was proud of. He found a common soul in Sten, but despite the attraction which was strong for both of them, she had to let him go to follow what his Qun demanded of him, even if the two still shared letters with each other, all formal but with much more hidden between the lines. Just like Loreen, she was promoted as Warden-Commander and is the only one in their group to fully dedicate herself to the Grey Wardens after all their adventures.

OTHER DRAGON AGE OCs

◆ HIVER Male (he/him) Qunari (Ex Saarebas) Mage (Spirit Healer)

Being born into the Qun as a mage is something no one should experience, especially when you feel deep down all is wrong. And you dare to voice it. Since his magic manifested, Hiver's life has been a nightmare. Collared, tortured, treated like an abomination, lips sewn and when that didn't work, his tongue was cut as well. Then came the war between the Qun and Tevinter. Venatori captured him like a wild beast to be used freely at their whim. Lost and suffering, his control over his magic was lost, creating a blizzard in the middle of the desert in the Hissing Wastes. That's when the Inquisition and Lavellan found him. That's when he found people who saw him as a person, not as a dangerous tool. She called him "Hiver", the word for winter in the Orlesian language due to that storm of ice he called upon. She taught him how to control his magic, how spirits weren't dangerous monsters but could be allies, many ready to help. His true nature flourished, his kind heart no longer having to hide. Elinan called a teacher to have both of them learn sign language and a spirit of Learning became his main companion, filling in as an interpreter when there was the need. After the Inquisition got disbanded, he followed Elinan, becoming one of the healers in the safe haven she built.

SHIPS

DRAGON AGE: INQUISITION Elinan/Solas - Elinan/Enfenim - Enfenim/Elinan/Solas (polycule v.)

DRAGON AGE II Abigail/Fenris - Abigail/Varric (forbidden) - Abigail/Isabela (ended) - Abigail/Arishok (in their fantasies LMAO) Marian/Merrill Garrett/Anders

DRAGON AGE: ORIGINS Ailis/Alistair (king and queen) Aeron/Morrigan Valda/theArchitect Loreen/Leliana Kali/Sten

DRAGON AGE: THE VEILGUARD Nadir/Elgar'nan Nadir/Elgar'nan/Sulenan Nadir/Sulenan Sulenan/Elgar'nan

#oc: elinan lavellan #oc: hiver #oc: enfenim #oc: little rook #oc: abigail hawke #oc: garrett hawke #oc: marian hawke #oc: ailis cousland #oc: aeron mahariel #oc: valda surana #oc: loreen tabris #oc: kali brosca #pinned post

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aprillikesthings · 10 months ago

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TIME FOR MORE SHE-RA

s1 ep7 let's do this

note: it's 9:14pm let's see how long a single episode takes me ahaha

Y'know, I was going to make a joke about how this is so my aesthetic it's painful, but interestingly enough the colors shifted wildly between my screenshot and adding it to the post. Have they been doing this the whole time and I hadn't noticed??? In Netflix it looks far closer to periwinkle??? fascinating

It's always been a little odd to me that nobody carries ANYTHING (other than magical swords I guess) in this show. And I get why (too much of a pain to animate) but it does mean they have to just sleep on the ground without a blanket or pillow or anything.

Meanwhile I can't even leave my house without at least a messenger bag

I ALWAYS WONDER THIS

okay so I forgot about Mystacor being the place all the sorcerers hang out and it's also mystical vacation land

SIDE NOTE a small thing that frustrates me is how little the animators agree on Glimmer's body size/shape. She's intended to be chubby (and not in an hourglass-y way) but it feels like a lot of the animators just refused to do it. There's a lot of scenes where she looks closer to my size, and I wear a small/medium in American clothes. Harrumph.

I was just about to make a joke about how Adora is gonna struggle to relax

Like gooey stuff in Miyazaki/Ghibli movies, but with a much lower budget

I can't find a gif but you know what I mean

Listen. I know I'm literally here for the gay. I know the show was made by people familiar with fandom, who put all that subtext in there on purpose and knew we'd read into it. But I still did a little kicky-feet wiggle thing when Catra's eyes widened at the mention of Adora's name.

TBH I think this is actually why I keep falling for animated media. You always know that whatever is on the screen was done on purpose.

Like, this shot from Arcane:

This is right after Vi sees Caitlyn visibly flirting with another woman; earlier Vi had asked Caitlyn "men or women?" and Caitlyn had wiggled out of the question.

So Vi's face here does an "Ah, so women it is then. NICE. Shit, I might have a chance." in like, a second and a half.

And it was all very intentional!! The people at Fortiche animation have SAID this. We're supposed to read it that way!!

I dunno. Maybe I'm still just traumatized from my time in the BBC Sherlock fandom. Are we supposed to read it as romantic or not? Because so many shots seemed full of intentional subtext (and I'm not even getting into TJLC shit, just stuff we ALL NOTICED after THE FIRST SEASON, even fucking normies noticed it) and then the showrunners spent the next few years telling us we were just imagining it.

Whereas if Caitlyn looks at Vi's lips before looking back up at her eyes, and we read into that, it's because we were supposed to. If Catra looks worried about Adora after Shadow Weaver mentions her, that's on purpose.

UGH.

Anyway.

Catra (trying to sound bored): sooooo gotta go find Adora again, got it Shadow Weaver: Nuh-uh. You get to just stand outside as guard, because you're a worthless piece of shit. [Unspoken: And also so Hordak doesn't know I'm disobeying him. :) ] Shadow Weaver: *creates a ginormous monster* Catra: yikes Shadow Weaver: GTFO OR GET HIT

Glimmer keeps trying to get out things like the tour and the eclipse ceremony and it's like your Auntie is right GIRL YOU CAN PUT UP WITH IT FOR ONCE it's all new to Adora c'mon

sorry I just get excited when they make places look a bit like medieval cathedrals

Side note did you know that, at least in England that I'm aware of, none of those medieval cathedrals have foundations. None. None of them. There's one in England that's built over a GRAVEL FILLED LAKE and if the water level gets too low the place is just gonna collapse. (They have fancy water gauges and plans for diverting water if necessary.) Anyway that's part of why so many of them charge admission for non-religious stuff. Keeping those 800-year-old super tall stone and glass buildings with NO FOUNDATIONS standing up is hella expensive. D:

Here's the twitter thread where I learned some of this information, btw

NOPE.

Anyway this is why part of the plot of my fic is related to how Adora and Catra have never had a healthy model for any kind of relationship, family or otherwise.

Oh I forgot Shadow Weaver's previous name. Anyway I still think her and Castaspella were together at some point

Adora's expression here ahahaha

Adora has ADHD but I already said that lol, and yeah I love the beach and I still need something to *do* even if it's just endlessly walking back and forth

also how does a floating island have a beach? anyway (edit: they're clouds that SOUND like water)

Yes this moment gets ruined immediately but I love it when they throw a bone to other ships, okay

YES???? DUH

also I get that they did the top on Bow so they didn't have to draw nipples and make him the only one that's topless but also we can imagine it's covering top surgery scars, trans!Bow headcanons are always winning

"So, mom stuff?" "No, commanding officer stuff. ...And mom stuff."

'cause yeah that's not awful or anything

but also now I'm imagining Shadow Weaver trying to explain periods

AAHGHHG Bow is the best. "sounds like she did a number on you. But you're away from her now. Did you want to do something else? Maybe find something to hit??" he's trying so hard to be supportive

The fact that Shadow Weaver knows how to make that monster have Catra's voice, and that she knew that was Adora's weak spot...

And this is in Hordak's, saying basically "the entire rebellion will end up dead and it'll be your fault :)"

Shadow Weaver knows exactly how to psychologically torture Adora.

Okay so Castaspella says She-Ra destroyed "a thousand years of sacred writings" and I'm just like...okay that implies Etheria has an actual religion??

And yeah that's definitely still Shadow Weaver

Also I watched the screenshot change color as I posted it. Gyahhhh.

A mutual pointed out in her live-tweeting of s5 that you could write an entire essay on the meaning of face-touching in this show. It's the one thing Shadow Weaver ever seems to do to intentionally imply affection/caring, but she only ever does it with manipulative, cruel intent, and there are multiple times I think that both Adora and Catra lean into it (even if only for a second) out of hope/relief.

(something something about baby monkeys clinging to dolls that shock them rather than have no mother at all)

(don't look up that experiment if you don't know what I'm talking about as it's incredibly upsetting, but the gist is that children will seek affection from a parental figure when hurt, even if said parent is the one hurting them, because seeking out a parent/caregiver when hurt is instinctual to infants and children. And if knowing that explains any part of your childhood I am so, so sorry)

Yeah that's straight out of the Standard Abuser's Guidebook

"Nobody cares about you or loves you or understands you the way I do. You're just like me, not them."

More face-touching!!

oh I don't like the implications here at ALL

[EDIT: she wasn't actually going to do that. She just wants Adora under her thumb to control her. it's the kind of bullshit abusers promise the moment they think you might leave. "I'll be better this time!"]

I'm not screen-shotting Adora's little speech of triumph but oh man it's GREAT and cathartic to watch

"Adora, enough of this. Come home." ....didn't Catra use nearly those words exactly

Yeah I'm glad they included that line

Bow: I'm so sorry we didn't believe you :( Adora: No, that's what Shadow Weaver does--manipulates people and pushes them apart

That's some nice awareness

And then yeah we get a moment of Catra scheming.

OKAY it's 10:44pm. Hour and a half! For twenty minutes of TV! But to be fair I did make/eat toast and play with the cat (he walked in and then jumped into the laundry basket, of course I had to parade around the house with him in there).

11:24pm: shit this post has been sitting here for half an hour bc I was actually writing on the fic lolol

#april rewatches spop

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kodiaksheds · 9 months ago

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How do I build a small garden shed?

Building a wooden shed is a long process. It takes time and effort. Depending on the requirements, the process of building a shed can vary.I followed the steps below when I built a small garden wood shed last year. These steps helped me to plan and execute the entire process.

Understand Construction Codes and Requirements

Check with your local governing body to understand the statutory requirements to build a shed. You may need to obtain any necessary clearances and permits.

Pick a Suitable Location for the Shed

Choosing the right location for outdoor storage sheds is crucial. Pick a flat, level spot in your yard that gets some shade. Ensure the chosen spot meets local building codes regarding property lines and distance to other structures.

Prepare the Site for Shed Construction

Start by removing any grass or plants from the location. Level the ground if needed. Spreading a landscape fabric or weed barrier before adding a gravel base is a good idea.

Create a Strong Foundation

A solid foundation is needed to build an outdoor storage shed. Use concrete piers, blocks, or a wooden skid foundation to ensure a strong base.

Frame the Floor

Construct a wooden floor frame per the shed's dimensions to anchor it to the foundation. Use either pressure-treated lumber or rot-resistant wood.

Build the Wall Frames, Siding, and Roof

The next step is to build the walls. Cut the wall studs and top and bottom plates for each side wall. Assemble them into rectangles and nail them.

Add Windows and Doors

Once the wall frames are complete, work on fitting the windows and doors. Choose either pre-hung doors or windows. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully.

Work on the Interior

Once the main construction is complete, you can create the optimal interior for your shed space. Add shelving, racks, and hangers as needed.

There is no doubt that building garden sheds in Canada, or anywhere else, is challenging. You must know what you are doing to save money and time.

Alternatively, if you want to build a shed independently, try contacting companies like Groupe Kodiak to get ready-made garden sheds in Canada at affordable rates. Check them out, and you can have a new shed standing tall on your property the next day!

Source Url:

#outdoor storage sheds #garden sheds in Canada

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meristreena · 10 months ago

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Building Trust: Kiscol TMT - The Best Quality TMT Bars in Tamil Nadu

In the dynamic realm of construction, where the integrity of structures stands paramount, the choice of TMT bars plays a pivotal role. Tamil Nadu's burgeoning construction industry demands materials of impeccable quality and reliability. Amidst the plethora of options available, Kiscol TMT emerges as the beacon of excellence, offering the best quality TMT bars in Tamil Nadu.

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As we embark on a journey towards a future defined by resilience and sustainability, Kiscol TMT stands as a steadfast partner, empowering builders to construct the foundations of tomorrow with confidence and conviction. With Kiscol TMT, the future of construction in Tamil Nadu is not just promising; it's built to last.

#steelbars #tmtbars #construction #kiscoltmt #tmt #quality

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classicpirates · 2 years ago

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OFFICIAL: LEGO House Exclusive Set "40504 A Minifigure Tribute"

If yer been keeping pace with the Classic Pirates yer should know we intercepted a rumour regarding an upcoming pirate-themed set which was about to be announced. Well, by thunders it's been officially announced on the LEGO House website and now we can confirm the images circulating earlier were indeed the new 40504 A Minifigure Tribute set. We can also confirm the set has 1,041 pieces and retails for 599 DKK ($85 USD / AU$126) exclusively at the LEGO House store from March 1 onward. The set features Captain Redbeard as a brick-built figure approximately 30cm/11.811' tall, holding a treasure map which contains cryptic references left by the product designers. And if yer look closely, you'll find a blue LEGO House wristband behind the hook.

Captain Redbeard as a LEGO House Exclusive set: 40504 A Minifigure Tribute Aye, we know there be many a LEGO Pirate fan with hands clasped to their face, wailing in frustration; "why can't we have a classic-style set like a ship or fort? WHY LEGO Group? WHY?!?!?" But let's rejoice for them who genuinely be interested in this fine sculptural piece.

Here be the front of the box - would yer like to see it unboxed?

And on the back of the box we get some really clever alternate buil... ahhh.. we get a history lesson The LEGO Group Announces: LEGO® House Exclusive – A Minifigure Tribute This year marks the 45th anniversary since the LEGO Group launched the very first LEGO minifigure in 1978. Since then, more than 10 billion minifigures have been produced in more than 8000 variants. You can take part in celebrating the legendary minifigure by building the iconic Captain Redbeard, this year's LEGO House Exclusive set. The finished figure, complete with a peg leg, pirate hat, and hook, is approx. 30 cm. high and consists of 1041 bricks. This exclusive set is sold from 1 March 2023 and is only available in the LEGO store in LEGO House, Billund, Denmark. Each year, the LEGO House Exclusive sets pay tribute to the most iconic LEGO Group stories. 'A Minifigure Tribute' is the fourth set in the series. These special sets can only be bought in the LEGO Store at LEGO House. Want to Meet the Designers? Be out the front of the LEGO House LEGO Store between 4 and 5PM CET on the March 3rd or 17th. There, you can meet and greet the LEGO designers responsible for this product, Stuart Harris and Markus Rollbühler. Concept models will on display and you can even chat with the designers and "get your box signed". The official information doesn't specify which "box" though. Did you know 10 Billion Minifigures have Been Produced? It's hard to imagine LEGO play without the minifigure. Who is the tiny LEGO minifigure really? The answer may surprise you because the minifig was created to be you. With the minifigure, you can magically become part of any LEGO build. You can sail the oceans like Captain Redbeard, the model you can build in this year's LEGO House Exclusive box, just to name one example. He was originally part of the 6285 “Black Seas Barracuda” box, a large pirate ship with two masts, sails, a crew, and of course a real pirate captain. Now he has become his very own LEGO set - with 1041 bricks and lots of building fun! The minifig was created to be me? Then why did yer trademark me so I can't reproduce meself elsewhere? Special Events which YOU Can Attend In Person Get out and meet people in the real world! Aye, the real world of little plastic people. You can attend in person on March 1st at 4:15pm CET at LEGO House. You shall witness Redbeard being presented live by the designers, along with the background information on how this set was developed. The ticket price will be a paltry 799 DKK per person and this includes the Redbeard set exclusive valued at 599 DKK... so the event only costs 200 DKK - a steal, really... Book yer tickets here. Online Or you can watch online on March 2nd at 3.00pm CET live at Instagram which will be the same thing, just cut short after the Q&A ends (no play time for you!), only with a camera pointed at the designers. So follow LEGO House on Instagram or you won't know where to watch. Wait! Who IS Captain Redbeard? If yer a youngin' who's just enrolled in the Classic Pirates crew, Captain Redbeard was the original LEGO Pirate captain who debuted along with the LEGO Pirates theme back in 1989 - aye, between 50 or 60 years ago, or something... He was originally included with 6285 Black Seas Barracuda, 6270 Forbidden Island and 6251 Pirate Minifigures.

The evolution of Captain Redbeard Over the years various other pirate captains have appeared, including the infamous Ironhook and Brickbeard, but Redbeard has prevailed, undergoing various design updates. Conceived by Niels Milan Pedersen (aye, that his papa), Redbeard is the first LEGO minifigure to sport a beard and deviate from the standard minfig mould to include piratical features like a hook and pegleg. The official press release also offers a rationale for the enlargement of the good captain: The original Captain Redbeard minifigure from 6285 Black Seas Barracuda was created by Niels Milan Pedersen, and we chose to recreate this iconic figure in large scale for this year’s LEGO House Limited Edition set. Niels has been involved in the development of many popular LEGO sets during his long but still-active career as a LEGO designer. However, of all his many sets, his favourite set is still 6285 Black Seas Barracuda from 1989. Captain Redbeard is an intricate design with lots of fun details such as a hook for hand, peg leg, epaulettes on his shoulders, and a black captain’s hat with the ‘Jolly Roger’ emblem. All of that is meticulously recreated in this new set. The build stands 30 cm tall and consists of 1041 LEGO bricks and as a little extra detail, the pirate has a LEGO House bracelet on his hook hand and a treasure map in his hand with a secret reference to the designers behind the product! They seem to have forgot to include a parrot! Who Are These Designers, Anyway? A handful of aspiring reviewers have already received a preview of the set and a presentation of its development from Stuart Harrisand Markus Rollbühler, along with a special appearance by Niels Milan Pedersen. Here are some stills...

This be "Master Builder" Stuart Harris... thinks we seen him in that other Instagram video

Here's Niels Milan Pedersen Unboxing Video If yer curious about what's included in the box and the figure's articulation be sure to take a gander at this: Spoiler alert: the map is actually a sticker! Alas, there be no gigantic printed map tile. What Do Yer Think?

Captain Redbeard with Stuart Little on his shoulder - yarrrhaaaa, could resist, mates! Does this announcement warm the cockles of yer piratey heart? Will you attempt to procure your very own 40504 A Minifigure Tribute? Or are you seething with disappointment because yer hopes were held high for a classic-style LEGO Pirates set? Share your thoughts with the Classic Pirates in the LEGO Pirates Forum or on the Facebook Post so we can cheer together... or console you, if that's what you need. Read the full article

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awesomecarmods · 5 years ago

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Ten Foot Mud Truck: Able to leap tall buildings in a single... okay, well cross deep creeks, maybe? [ https://i.redd.it/86ht6i95wm531.jpg ]

#AwesomeCarMods #Awesome CarMods #Awesome Car Mods #car mods #Ten Foot Mud Truck: Able to leap tall buil

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watchmegetobsessed · 4 years ago

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Good girl - Harry Styles

a/n: alright so @dontworrysunflower and i agreed that there’s not enough sugardaddy!harry content on here so i took the courage to make a story myself, i hope i didn’t entirely butcher the concept but i had so much fun writing it! it’s hot and whitty, i just loved it. also, the beginning was based on this idea i saw somewhere and i just have no idea where i saved it, so rip to that, but im claiming that it wasn’t my idea though it was so fitting to the story so i took the liberty and used it haha!

PLEASE if you enjoyed the story, give it a like and reblog, it means so much to writers when you give them the feedback, I’m begging you to show a little something if you enjoyed it!

pairing: sugardaddy!Harry / CEO!Harry x Reader

warning: sexual content

word count: 16.8k

masterlist

You can’t stop yourself from growling when you walk into the auditorium and see Nick sitting next to the seat you always take. He knows that’s your spot, he knows you like sitting there because it’s not too much at the front or at the back, it’s close to the window so you have enough light but not close enough to make you shudder when someone opens them. That’s simply the best spot in the room and he knows you always sit there. And yet, even after all the rejection he has suffered from you, he still wants to sit next to you and shoot his millionth shot just to get dumped again and again.

You roll your eyes as you walk across the room and pay a lingering look at your professor behind his desk. There’s another man with him, leaning against the desk with his back showing to you, so you can’t tell who it is, but judging from the expensive suit, he is not a professor around here. The university definitely doesn’t pay enough to wear Gucci.

“Hi Y/N,” Nick greets you as you walk up the stairs next to the rows and plop your notebook and phone to the desk at your spot.

“Nick,” you mumble, already over his shit. At first you tried to be friendly and respectful, turning him down as nicely as possible, but he kept coming at you and now you can’t even bother to be decent towards him. He needs to learn how to take no as an answer.

“How was your weekend?”

“Fine,” you answer shortly, keeping your eyes down on your phone as you put it on silent. Nick then starts telling you about his weekend even though you did not ask him. You are plotting his murder when your eyes move to the front of the room, meeting a pair of intense green eyes standing next to Professor Robertson’s desk. The mystery man is now staring straight at you, his handsome face pulled into a hard expression as he takes his time watching you.

Who is he?

He is tall and definitely muscular, broad shoulders and curls to die for, a faint stubble on his chin and above his pink lips, not the kind that gives away the vibe that he doesn’t care about his looks. It gives him more of a manly sparkle, something no other guy in the room has, including Nick. This man, he is surely a handful and you can actually hear a few sighs around the room as other girls are noticing him. He is… the definition of a man. But who is he?

“So, are you free tonight?” Nick’s question brings you back from your stance and you growl in annoyance.

“I told you, I don’t want to go out with you. What is so hard to understand about that?”

“Why can’t you give me a chance?” he pouts, seemingly ignoring the seriousness you’ve been trying to beat into him when it comes to you.

“Because I don’t want to.”

You turn back towards the mystery man and you realize that he is still looking at you, a playful smirk tugging on his lips as he hides his hands in his pockets before turning towards your professor who finally starts the lecture, robbing Nick from bugging you any longer.

“Welcome everyone, happy Monday. Today we have a special guest.” Professor Robertson claps his hands together in excitement, glancing over at the mystery man. “Since this is a course about startup businesses, I asked an old friend of mine to talk about how he started his business off, built it from basically nothing. Harry Styles is the CEO of Styles Holdings, the parent company of some of the most successful businesses nowadays, working in many different fields. He was so kind to clear his schedule for us today so you can ask him questions following his brief presentation about his journey.”

Harry Styles, the name now rings a bell, you just never knew the face connected to it. You’ve heard about him already, the man is only thirty, yet one of the most influential businessmen in the States, holding so much power and, of course, money you can’t even imagine what he spends it on. For some reason, you imagined him to be some creepy looking guy who looks fifty at the age of thirty, but he is far from that. His chiseled jawline, charming smirk and piercing eyes make every female in the room swoon as he steps next to the professor.

“He looks like a real asshole,” Nick whispers to you and you slap his upper arm.

“Shut up,” you tell him, eyes glued to the man at the front.

“Thank you, it’s an honor to be here. I hope I’ll be able to give out some new information and motivate you all to start your own business.”

His voice! You need to take a deep breath as you lean back in your seat and cross your legs under the table, watching him at the front. He is doing things to you with just his existence and you’re sure you’re not the only one in the room feeling like this.

You drink every word that leaves his mouth as he talks about how he started his company with basically nothing. Started with smaller investments and then slowly moving to bigger businesses until he worked his way up to the top. You can’t seem to move your gaze away from his ring clad fingers every time he gestures with his hands and you notice some tattoos poking from under his expensive suit. You wonder what his dress shirt hides under it.

In addition, he is so fucking smart, you’re convinced there’s nothing in the world he doesn’t know about, it’s clear that he spends a lot of time broadening his knowledge and there’s something incredibly hot about that. Guys your age just want to be done with school already and never use their brain again. Harry Styles is the exact opposite of that.

“So, are you free tonight?” Nick tries again and you almost start screaming.

“Nick, leave me the fuck alone!” you whisper back.

“Come on! Just one date!”

“You know what? I’ll go on a date with you if you can ask him a question that he answers incorrectly,” you tell him pointing at Harry at the front. Nick’s eyebrows shoot up, his smirk is filled with satisfaction though you’re convinced he will lose this bet.

When Harry finishes his presentation he finally opens up the opportunity to ask him questions and Nick is quick to throw his hand in the air.

“Yes, you in the grey hoodie,” Harry points at him and you hold your breath as you wait for Nick to ask his question that will decide if you have to go on a date with him or not. You glance over at Harry and you catch him looking at you for a moment before he returns his attention to Nick.

“I have a very important question for you, Mr. Styles.” “Go for it,” he nods and your heart is beating in your throat when you see him twirl one of his thick rings around his finger in focus.

“Will Y/N who sits here next to me go out with me tonight?”

Right in that moment you want to strangle him to death. Everyone in the room starts chuckling, no one really expected this from him and it seemingly surprised Mr. Styles as well. His eyebrows rise as he looks over at you, eyes meeting with yours once again and you feel like you are about to faint. And then he answers.

“No,” he simply says before moving onto the next question. Nick then turns to you, a smug grin on his lips as he leans back in his seat.

“So, where should we go?” he asks, thinking how clever he was, thought he still didn’t nail it completely.

You just roll your eyes and ignore his existence for the rest of the lecture, still in shock this all just happened. He is lucky the room is filled because otherwise he would already be dead.

At the end of the lecture you give him a fake number so he can finally stop bothering you and he leaves the room so full of himself, it’s ridiculous.

When you are all packed you head down next to the rows until you are standing in front of Mr. Styles who is talking to Professor Robertson. He notices your presence and turns to you with a curious look in his beautiful green eyes.

“You seemed pretty sure about your answer to Nick’s question. Why?” you simply ask and you notice the amusement in his eyes at your courage for coming up to him. He cocks his head to the side, a tiny smirk playing on his pink lips as he answers you.

“Because you are having dinner with me tonight.”

Your breath catches in your throat, his answer throwing you off completely, you were not expecting that. It seems like he is rather entertained by your reaction, a smug smirk curling up the corners of his mouth.

“Unless you already have other pla—“

“I don’t,” you quickly say, sounding maybe a little too enthusiastic, but you couldn’t care less. This man, this fine as hell man just asked you out on a date, you’re not gonna turn him down.

Harry reaches into the inner pocket of his suit jacket and hands a business card over you that holds his name, his company’s name and his phone number in golden plated letters and numbers.

“Text me your address, I’ll send a car for you.”

It’s not an offer or a suggestion, it’s an order you are willing to obey to. You nod and slide the card into your back pocket before paying one last look to him, you walk out of the room, feeling his burning gaze on your frame as you walk away.

You’re a nerve-wreck, running around you tiny flat, trying to figure out what to wear. You’ve already put on your sexiest lingerie set, ready for anything the night might bring you, but you can’t decide on the dress. You’re pretty sure Mr. Styles is taking you somewhere fancy, he doesn’t fuck around with low budget places, you have to at least look like you belong to those places even if you’ll never feel like that.

At last, you decide on a skin tight, satin dress that leaves a great amount of your cleavage uncovered for the wandering eyes and also puts your legs on show with a cheeky slit on your right side. You check yourself one last time in the mirror, feeling pretty good about your appearance for tonight, though you also can’t help but feel nervous about meeting him.

Your phone vibrates with a text that says a car is waiting for you in front of your building and you grab your coat and purse, leaving in a rush. Walking out of the building you see a Tesla parked right in front of you, a driver already waiting for you to open the door for you.

“Good evening, Miss,” the man who seems to be in his forties nods in your way with a warm smile as he opens the door to the backseat.

“Thank you,” you nod, a little out of breath about the whole hustle. Mr. Styles is nowhere to be seen in the car and the driver notices your surprise when he sits behind the wheel.

“Mr. Styles told me to tell you that he is sorry he couldn’t come along, but he had some sudden business to take care of. He is meeting you there.”

“And where is it he is meeting me, exactly?” you curiously asks, but the driver just smiles and ignores your question. Mysterious.

You watch the city lights pass by you, no idea where you are heading, but you can tell tonight is going to be one you’ll surely never forget. The odds of Mr. Styles spotting you from all the other girls in the lecture hall was rather slim, kind of impossible. You never thought yourself to be the particularly pretty type, there are way more gorgeous girls in your lectures, but he still chose you. The way he so easily asked you out still makes your inside burn a little. It wasn’t even a question, but a command. You liked what his controlling manner did to you and you don’t want to fully admit it, but you are already on your knees for this man, ready to do whatever he tells you to.

When the car finally comes to a halt you can’t really tell where exactly you are, you’re just sure it’s a neighborhood that’s definitely not for your budget. The driver helps you out of the car and tells you to let the guy at the front desk know you are Mr. Styles’ guest, they will know where to take you.

The tall building appears to be some kind of boujie hotel, but it surely has a restaurant and a bar as well. You tell the man behind the front desk that you are here to meet Mr. Styles and he escorts you to the all glass elevator, pushing the button of the top level before sending you off to your way.

Arriving to the top, a man is already waiting for you.

“Mr. Styles is already waiting for you, let me show the way,” he tells you and you mumble a short thank you as you follow him.

The top floor of the building appears to be some kind of restaurant, but it’s different from the ones you’ve been to. Every table is in a secluded area that can easily be completely locked away from the rest of the place so no one can see inside the little bubbles. The external walls are completely covered in floor to ceiling windows, giving the most breathtaking view of the city you’ve ever seen.

You follow the man past a few of these private areas until he stops at one of them and as you step inside, you spot Mr. Styles standing at the window, staring out the window with his back to you. He is not wearing his suit jacket anymore and the sleeves of his dress shirt are rolled up, putting his tattooed left arm on display. It’s such a sight, makes you wonder about what other inks he is hiding under his expensive outfit.

Hearing your heels clicking on the marble floor he turns around, eyes falling to take you in as a smirk pulls on his perfect lips you are dying to taste already.

“Y/N, you look gorgeous,” he compliments you as he walks closer and presses a soft, innocent kiss to your cheek before he ushers to the table.

“Thank you. And thank you for the invitation, Mr. Styles.”

“Please, just call me Harry. Mr. Styles is way too serious for this dinner, innit?” The boyish smirk on his lips makes you want to crawl across the table and kiss him hard, but you need to behave, you can only hope tonight will take a more intimate turn eventually.

“I hope you didn’t find me too forward earlier today.”

“I was just surprised, is all. Didn’t think I caught your attention at all.”

“Oh you did,” he nods smirking. “I couldn’t take my eyes off of you through my presentation, if you haven’t noticed.”

“Well, I did catch you sometimes,” you admit with a soft chuckle as you cross your legs under the table. “I’m sorry about the idiotic question from Nick though.”

“Don’t be. It sparkled just enough jealousy in me to make the first step later.”

“Jealousy?” you question with raised eyebrows.

“I saw him trying to chat you up through the lecture, I was close to calling him out on it and asking you out in front of your whole class, but thought I would do it in a classier way.”

“You succeeded in that,” you chuckle softly, finally taking the menu in your hands to choose. Seeing the prices your mouth dries, there are way too many zeros for your liking. Harry catches your discomfort right away.

“Don’t worry, Love. It’s all on me.”

“You know, I would have been fine with just a regular restaurant as well,” you tell him with a shy chuckle, suddenly feeling unworthy of all the hustle around tonight.

“I don’t settle for less than the best,” he simply states and it’s the most attractive thing you’ve ever heard from a man’s mouth.

“So, does that mean I’m the best as well?” you ask with a shy but seductive smile as you lean forward to your elbows, eyes locking with his.

“Yes, definitely,” he answers confidently.

“You don’t even know anything about me, how do you know that?”

He puts his menu aside as he keeps his eyes on you, his intense glare almost intoxicating. Your breathing fastens a little as you try to keep your cool, waiting for his answer.

“I can try and put it into prettier words, but I’m afraid that wouldn’t give off what I truly feel,” he starts with a serious expression. “I have a lot of self-control, Y/N. I didn’t get here with a hothead, jumping into everything without a second thought. I’m a man who likes to plan and be careful with anything he does.”

You shortly nod at his words, not entirely seeing where this is heading, but when he continues, you almost faint again.

“But when I first saw you roll your eyes at that boy in the lecture hall, I was this close,” he holds up his thumb and index finger barely touching, “to fuck you over the professor’s desk without any shame at all.”

Your lips part and cheeks heat up as you squeeze your thighs tightly. A moan almost slips from your mouth, hands gripping the edge of your chair. In just a blink of an eye, you feel your underwear getting soaking wet and he hasn’t even touched you.

“And now that you are sitting right in front of me, wearing this dress that leaves very little to my wild imagination, I need every bit of my previously mentioned self-control to stop myself from laying you across this table and make you scream my name.”

“Fuck,” you mumble under your breath, not able to control yourself any longer. Your arousal is raging, your whole body is in flames for this man.

“I was planning to bring this up later this evening, but now that we are at this point, I better just come clean,” he continues, laying his palms flat on the table. Your eyes wander to his rings and you imagine what they would feel against your bare skin. “I have an offer for you, Y/N. One that I hope you’ll find beneficial.”

“And what would that be?” you ask, a little out of breath, as if you just came back from your morning run.

“I’m way too busy to maintain a regular relationship, but I’m also not a fan of changing my partners often. I was thinking we could help each other out in a way that would be suitable for the both of us. I’m willing to support you financially with a generous amount every week if you agree to spend three or four nights at my place a week and I think I’ve made it clear that we wouldn’t be just watching movies. I’m clearly attracted to you and I would love to have you as my… lover, if you’d like to call it that way.”

His offer is quite forward, you weren’t expecting him to come up with this whole plan for this odd relationship he is talking about. You’re a little taken aback at his words, not sure what to say. You definitely share his attraction, you’d have to be blind not to feel the same way about him and it’s a fact that you could use some extra money, though you don’t know how much he is talking about just yet.

“That generous amount you are talking about…” you wonder shyly.

“Do you have a student loan?” he simply asks and you nod. You’ll probably pay that loan for the rest of your life, or that’s what you thought up until now. “I’m willing to pay it to the last cent as a starter. I also thought about taking responsibility for your rent every month and an additional amount we agree on that you get every week. It is completely up to you.”

“What?” you gasp in shock. “My loan and my rent alone are thousands of dollars.”

“Y/N,” he smiles at you warmly. “I make way more money than I could ever spend. And I do take my part in several charities, but if I’m being honest, I earned your student loan while we were just talking here. It’s not that big of a deal for me and I would love to help you wherever I can.”

It’s amusing how he didn’t sound cocky about his wealth at all, you can tell he didn’t say all those things to brag, he was just stating the facts.

“How much were you thinking for each week?”

“Two thousand seems like a fair amount to me.”

You almost choke on your breath. Two thousand every week? That’s almost ten thousand for a month!

“Two thousand? You are really trying to get rid of your money, aren’t you?” you ask with a shocked chuckle and it makes him smirk as well.

“Just when it comes to things that’s worth the amount,” he cheekily comments.

A waiter appears, interrupting the heated discussion and you realize you haven’t even decided on what you want. Luckily, Harry takes the lead and orders for the both of you and you trust his choice blindly.

“I hope I didn’t shock you too much with my offer,” he softly says once the waiter is gone again.

“It was definitely a lot, in every way.”

“But not too much, because you’re still here, I assume?”

“I have to admit it’s flattering and I could use the money as well. However my morals are telling me this could easily be mistaken for another kind of agreement, if you know what I mean.”

“In no way am I seeing this as an act of prostitution, if this is what you are referring to. It would be strictly exclusive and of course, you can end it anytime you want to. You won’t have to pay anything back.”

“I’m just still a little surprised it’s me you want to do this with. There are so many prettier girls even in my class as well. Why me?” you ask the question that’s been bugging you all evening.

Harry pushes his chair back and standing up he walks over to you, keeping his eyes locked on you the whole time, making your whole inside tremble for him. He stops in front of you, bringing a hand up to your face he runs his fingertips down the side of your face before he cups your jaw in his palm, lifting your head, angling it so your lips part and your neck stretches upwards. His thumb runs along the line of your bottom lip and you are having a hard time keeping your cool and not jumping his bones right in this moment.

“I’m a little saddened you don’t see what I see in you. You’re breathtaking, Y/N. You can capture any man’s attention and I feel honored that you are giving me your time.”

His thumb gently tugs on your bottom lip, playing with it softly and it’s driving you crazy, having him touch you while his eyes are burning into yours, this man is truly something else.

“I want to be the man who pleases you in every possible way. I want to be the one to give you everything you need. Please, say yes and I’ll make sure you will never worry about a thing as long as you let me have you.”

You want to scream yes, you want to fall to your knees and tell him to take you right then and there, but words don’t feel right for the moment. So you turn your head a little just as you grab his wrist with a hand so he can’t move it. Your lips brush against his fingertips until you stop at his middle finger. You make sure to look straight into his eyes as you slide his finger into your warm and wet mouth, lips wrapping around his digit until your teeth can bite onto the thick silver ring at the base. Harry’s lips part as you press your tongue against his finger before pulling your head back, bringing his ring with you, sliding it off him. His finger slips out of your mouth and you tip your head back, opening your lips to reveal his ring that’s caught between your teeth. This is your clear answer to his offer.

Harry draws in a shaky breath before he shuts his mouth, jaw clenching as he stares down at you still. You take the ring out of your mouth and slowly put it back on his finger. His gaze falls to his fingers for a moment before he moves away fast.

At first you get scared you took it too far and he is going to just leave you, but then you see him march to the door, he calls out to someone outside before shutting the door closed, locking the two of you away from everyone else on the other side. He walks back to the table and you gasp when he simply pushes everything off of it, every glass, plate and cutlery flies to the ground, breaking into a hundred pieces, but you don’t have too much time to process it, because Harry yanks you up from your seat and slams his lips hard against yours, one hand on the back of your head while the other one takes a strong grip of your waist, pulling your against him. You moan into his lips, kissing him back with the same amount of vehemence, the feeling of his perfect lips on your completely numbing your senses out.

You faintly feel him moving you, his hands grabbing the back of your thighs before he lifts you up and sits you on top of the now cleared out table. You part your knees wide so he can stand between them, his growing bulge meeting with your pulsing core, the friction driving you crazy immediately.

“Oh fuck!” you moan when he buckles his hips just the perfect angle so you feel just how much he desires you. His lips work their way down your throat, kissing every inch he can reach, while his hands push up your skirt, exposing your legs for his greedy fingers.

“You surely know how to drive a man crazy, Y/N,” he growls when his lips return to you, kissing you in a demanding manner. You have one hand planted behind you for support while your other one travels down his body until it reaches his dress pants. Thank God he is not wearing a belt, because you easily flick the button open with just one hand.

“Yeah? You are doing the same to me, Harry,” you breathe out, giving his pants a tug and he is quick to help you out, pushing them down his legs before his hands come to work on your underwear. He hooks his fingers unto your lacy thong, pulling it down with a swift movement, you’re surprised the fabric didn’t rip. It easily glides down your legs, falling to the marble floor as Harry gets on his knees, his face at the same level as your burning core.

“Seems like I’m having my dessert first tonight,” he hums, lips nibbling on the inside of your thighs as he moves closer to your center, fingers digging into your heated skin.

“Harry, please!” you whine when he is so close, but still hasn’t touched you where you need him the most.

“Please what, Love? Tell me what you want.”

“I want you!”

“You already have me. Where do you want me? Tell me!”

“I want your mouth on my pussy,” you pant, completely losing control over yourself. He doesn’t need more, he presses an open mouthed kiss to your clit, swirling his tongue against the sensitive bundle of nerves.

You’ve always thought you are not into it when a man eats you out. Turns out you are, but only if it’s Harry whose head is pushed between your legs. The man knows what he is doing and you know he can easily make you cum just with his lips and tongue. But right now you are dying to feel him inside you so there’s not time for more foreplay.

Grabbing onto his hair you pull him up and he is panting a little when he stands back up, his green eyes piercing down on you.

“Fuck me, now,” you tell him, getting blunt with your desires, but it seems like this is exactly what Harry likes. He smirks, leaning down he kisses you hard and you can taste yourself on his lips and tongue, it’s intoxicating. Your hands move down between your bodies and find their way into his boxers, wrapping around his erected length. He is huge, certainly the biggest you’ve ever dealt with and your inside already shakes and he is not inside you yet.

“Are you on birth control?” he asks, lips pressed against yours as he pushes his boxers down, completely freeing himself. You stroke his cock, feeling up his length in your palm, making him whimper under your touch.

“Yes. And I promise I’m clean.”

“Me too. Are you fine with going raw?”

“Please!” you beg him, every fiber in your body screaming for him.

“Be a good girl and hold onto me,” he tells you, moving your arms around his neck. He grabs the base of his cock and lines himself up with you, kissing your lips one last time before he pushes inside you gradually, but quite hard.

“Oh fuck! Harry!” you gasp at the feeling of him stretching you out, filling you up entirely. He fits inside you so perfectly, like the pieces of a puzzle finally clicking.

“So wet and warm, all that for me, baby?” he coos, staying still for a little.

“Just for you,” you whisper back, pressing your lips against his when he finally starts moving.

He starts off slow, but quickly picks up his pace, thrusting his whole length into you every time he pushes forward. You bring your legs up around his waist, locking him in your hold both with your legs and arms, just wanting to be as close to him as possible.

He fucks you so good, you completely forget about the fact that you are in some boujie restaurant and there are people outside. Your bare ass is on top of a dining table, but it doesn’t matter as long as you feel Harry’s hard cock inside you.

“Feeling good, baby?” he asks between his pants.

“Yes, oh God!” you moan, fingers digging into his luscious curls at the base of his neck.

“Are you happy you went out with me instead of Nick?”

“Don’t fucking talk about Nick when you’re balls deep inside me,” you growl just when he hits your G-spot, your eyes rolling back at the sensation. Harry chuckles before his lips attack the soft skin on your neck, kissing and nibbling it while he keeps up his steady pace.

You’re nearing the end, your whole body feels like on fire and your ass has gone completely numb on the hard table, but you don’t give a single fuck. You just want to feel him cum inside you while you cum with him.

“Harry, I’m close,” you whine, your orgasm clearly close to burst inside you.

“Cum for me, baby. Cum on my cock,” he urges you, a hand moving down between your bodies and when you feel his fingers circling on your clit, a scream erupts from you without shame.

It doesn’t take long for you to reach your high. A few more thrusts and the pleasure washes over you in waves, making you chant his name as if it was a magical spell. Seeing you orgasm throws Harry over the edge, his thrusts become uncoordinated and he whimpers uncontrollably, fingers digging into your waist until he comes to a halt, both of you panting heavily. His head falls to your shoulder as he is trying to catch his breath. Several minutes pass by before he pulls out of you, a whimper escaping your lips at the sudden empty feeling. You lean back onto your arms, chest still heaving while Harry pulls his pants back up before he walks over to the pile of debris that’s left from your table setting. He saves a napkin from the remainings and gently cleans you up with it before throwing it into the bin in the corner of the room. He then helps you off the table and gives you support while you put your underwear back on.

“M’sorry, I got a little carried away,” he chuckles softly, cupping your face in his hands, but you just smile up at him cheekily.

“Don’t be, I enjoyed every minute of it.” You steal a quick kiss before parting from him.

“Does this mean our deal is on?” he asks, eyes filled with hope as he waits for your answer.

“It definitely is,” you smirk at him before pulling him down for another kiss. You’ll never get enough of his perfect lips, whether they are pressed against your lips or somewhere lower on your body…

“Giving me the number of a Domino’s? You’re a cruel girl, Y/N.”

Nick takes the seat next to you with a huff, clearly pissed that his plan didn’t work.

“You lost the bet, Nick,” you simply tell him, not even looking up from your notes.

“What? He said no, so if you went out with me he would have been incorrect!”

“But I didn’t. So he was correct,” you retort, paying him one short glance. “Besides, I also had plans already that evening.”

It’s been one week since your dinner with Harry at SkyHigh (you later found out that was the name of the place and he also happens to own it, no wonder he had no problem with basically destroying the dining set and fucking you on the table), and you’ve already spent four nights at his luxurious penthouse, fulfilling the deal you two have agreed on. Harry made sure to show you around his home in the most pleasing way, if you might say. In a matter of time no surface will be left untouched by the two of you.

“Plans? So then why did you offer to go out with me if I get it right?” You sigh rolling your eyes, this guy is really getting on your nerves today.

“I had a date, Nick. With an actual man who can take no as an answer, but he doesn’t have to because he knows how to treat a woman. Now stop fucking bothering me, because I’m not interested in you.”

Just as you finish your little speech, your phone’s screen lights up with a text from Harry. Your anger towards Nick washes out of you in a second as you reach for the device to read his message.

Harry: Have an amazing day. Can’t wait to see you tonight.

You quickly learned that Harry is not big on using emojis when texting, but you learned to read his lines correctly. You spent Friday and Saturday night at his place, but eventually had to go home so you can get ready for school on Monday, it seems like that one night apart was just as hard on him as it was on you.

Harry is a very affectionate person, he likes to touch and to be touched, keep a hand on you at all times when you’re over. He offered you your own room for your staying, but he made it clear you are more than welcome in his bed and you’d be stupid not to sleep with him. He likes to cuddle and usually wakes up all wrapped up around you, it’s surely a sight to see such a powerful and handsome man cling onto you like a koala bear. When he is still sleeping, you like to run your fingers through his hair, gently massage his scalp. He often hums in his sleep and he looks so much younger and more carefree when he is that vulnerable to you, even if he doesn’t even know about it.

Y/N: What do you want to see me in?

You’ve stepped up your game in dirty texting since meeting Harry. He is busy throughout the day so calling him is not too convenient, you’re left with texting so he can reply whenever he has the time. It seems like he is in a boring meeting or having a breather, because he replies right away this time.

Harry: Preferably nothing, but I’m happy with whatever.

Your professor has started the lecture in the meanwhile, so you try to keep your giggle down as you read his text. He has a brilliant but also dirty mind and you can’t get enough of him.

Y/N: You’re making me misbehave at my lecture, stop with the shameless flirting!

Harry: Be a good girl.

You have to push down a moan reading his last words. This man knows his power over you and he surely likes to play with it. Leaving his text read you put the phone aside and try to focus.

You miserably fail.

The day can’t come to its end fast enough. You’re the first one to leave the room when your last lecture ends and you jolt home to pack your overnight bag. Harry has tried to convince you to let him send a car to you every time you set your feet outside, but you told him it’s useless and you like wandering on your own. Though he wasn’t entirely satisfied with your answer, he respected your decision.

When you leave your apartment you decide to swing by the grocery store so you can make something for Harry. His personal chef always makes the best dishes for the two of you, but you figure Suzan would let you take care of dessert if you asked her. So you get everything you need for a killer tiramisu before you head over to his place. He texted you earlier that he would get home around eight, meaning that you have plenty of time to do your magic in the kitchen with Suzan. At first you found it surprising how easily Harry trusted you to come and go in his house as you please, but then you realized the place has such a high security, you couldn’t do harm even if you wanted.

“Hello Suzan!” you call out happily when you arrive and the elderly woman is already working on dinner. “How are you?”

She smiles at you widely, her wrinkles swallowing her eyes almost entirely. You haven’t spent that much time around here, but you always made sure to treat the staff right. Most importantly because Harry treats them like family as well, he told you how Suzan has already retired, she works for him so she can save up some more money for her four grandchildren. Elliott, his driver has three daughters and Harry is paying for their tuition at the best school in the city which Elliott wouldn’t be able to afford on his own, no matter how much he worked. There are three cleaning ladies who work in rotation, Nadine, Juliet and Iris, all of them are working mothers, Iris is raising two boys on her own. Harry makes sure they can take a day off anytime they are needed at home and he pays them extra after each of their children and you can guess how generous that extra amount is. It’s clear that all his employees are highly appreciated here and he takes good care of them for the work they are doing. It’s such a rare thing to see especially when it comes to extremely wealthy people. But Harry is different and you find out new things to praise about him every day.

“I’m doing splendid. How was your day, Darling?” Suzan coos as you join her in the modern kitchen.

“Tiring,” you huff, setting your grocery bag on top of the counter. “I was wondering if I could take care of dessert tonight, would that be okay?”

“Oh, of course! What are you planning to make?”

“My aunt has a killer tiramisu recipe, thought I would give it a go myself,” you smile at her in excitement.

“Let me know if you need any help, alright?”

Time flies by fast as you work in the kitchen with Suzan. She tells you all about her secret for the perfect garlic sauce while you share stories with her how you used to bake with your aunt when you were younger. She is such a delight, makes you feel like home at a place you’ve been coming to for just a week.

“You have a nice evening, Darling. I’ll see you around,” she smiles once dinner is finished and set on the heating serving plates so it doesn’t cool before Harry arrives. You’re almost done with dessert as well and Harry could be home any moment.

“Thank you, Suzan, see you soon!” you call out before she leaves.

Once you are all alone you put on some music, dancing through the kitchen as you clean up after yourself, singing along to the songs without a care. Your music taste is not essentially the same as Harry’s, but he is always open to your suggestions, never missing out on a chance to listen to something you like so much.

Now The Weeknd is singing through the speakers as you twirl around the marble floor of the kitchen, putting away the cleaned dishes. You don’t even notice Harry’s arrival, you’re way too lost in the song.

“I don’t know why I run away, I’ll make you cry when I run away…” you sing with the singer, putting the finished tiramisu into the fridge as Harry walks in, a playful smirk tugging on his lips as he watches you.

He has been loving having you around, you surely bring life to his home that often feels too big and empty for him. Seeing you fool around in his kitchen brings him a warm feeling in his chest and he can’t push his smile down when you bust some weird yet interesting dance moves.

“Take me back ‘cause I wanna stay, save your tears for another…” You sing into a spoon using it as your microphone when Harry sneaks up behind you, making you jump when he curls his arms around your waist from behind. “Oh shit!” you gasp turning around in his hold. “You scared me!”

“M’sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt your worldwide tour,” he smirks smugly and you roll your eyes at him, but steal a quick kiss regardless. “What are you doing in my kitchen?”

“I was just cleaning up. I made dessert tonight, I know I’m not Suzan, but I think you’ll like it,” you smile at him proudly.

“I’m sure I will, I’m starving.”

“Great. Then go and change while I set the table for us,” you shoo him out of the kitchen, but not before he steals another quick kiss.

When the table is all set Harry returns wearing a pair of sweats and a plain white shirt. You absolutely love him in his expensive, perfectly tailored suits, but there’s something in seeing him so loose and comfy. The two of you sit at his dining table on each side of the corner so it feels intimate even with eight other empty seats at the table. He always asks about your day first, listens to whatever insignificant little thing has happened, seemingly very interested in anything you have to say.

“Nick called me out today for giving him a fake number,” you admit with a chuckle.

“Still bitter about the failed date?” he smirks at you over his plate.

“Very much. But I told him I had a date with someone else.”

“Really? Was he jealous?”

“I guess. Couldn’t feel nice when I told him I was with a man who can treat me right.” Putting your fork down you lean onto the table with a satisfied grin. Harry reaches up and caresses your cheek gently before he pinches your chin between his thumb and index finger, pulling you into a slow but definitely heated kiss.

“Love that for you,” he chuckles softly before you both return to the food. “Are you staying over tomorrow as well?”

“I can’t,” you sigh. “I have this extra credit thing tomorrow until like eight, by the time I get home, pack my stuff and get here it would be way after ten and I have an early morning the next day. I’m sorry.”

“You know, you can always just… leave some of your stuff here. You can have one of the dressers or just simply use the closet in one of the guest bedrooms.”

You’d be lying if you said you haven’t thought about it, but you were waiting for him to bring it up himself, not too keen on inviting yourself into his home more than he would want.

“You sure about that?” you ask just to be certain he wants it. He clearly has boundaries when it comes to maintaining any kind of relationship, the last thing you want is to push something on him that he is not entirely comfortable with.

“Of course. Would be easier and it’s quite logical,” he nods and you look for any sign of doubt, but you find none.

“Okay,” you shortly say. “I’ll bring some stuff over next time.”

He tells you about his day briefly after that and you give him the same amount of attention he always pays you even when you have absolutely no idea what he is talking about. It’s hot when he talks about business, gives him a lot of power.

Then you bring out dessert and watch him take his first bite in excitement, curious if he likes it.

“Mm, are these cherries?” he hums, taking a better look at it.

“Yeah. It gives the whole thing a nice sour taste, it’s a little unusual but I love it. What do you think?”

“It’s easily the best I’ve ever had.”

“Oh, don’t be such an ass kisser,” you laugh. “You eat at the best restaurants all over the world and dare to say my tiramisu is the best you’ve had?”

“It is,” he nods with a cheeky smile, his hand reaching out to pull you to his lap. You happily obey, throwing a leg over him so you sit on his lap facing him. He brings the fork to your mouth and feeds you some that you proudly take. It does taste amazing, but you doubt it’s the best he has ever had.

“I’m not lying. It really is the best.”

“You’re just saying it to get into my pants, huh?”

“Oh baby, I don’t think I have to lie to do that,” he chuckles lowly, his eyes darkening a little as he pecks your lips softly. “But I do think it’s the best because you made it just for me. Gives it something extra.”

“You are such a flirt,” you grin at him, shaking your head. He chuckles, dipping his finger into the dessert, bringing it to his face as he wipes the cream to your jawline before he leans closer and licks it off your skin.

“Mm, I am,” he hums, kissing down your neck, his hands wandering down your body until they can slide into your shorts, his fingers playing with the elastic of your underwear.

“You’re not gonna finish your dessert?” you breathe out, already getting lost in his touch, not caring much about the tiramisu anymore.

“Oh I’m planning to. But I was thinking I could eat it off of the chef herself,” he grins at you, his green eyes filled with lust and that boyish excitement you always see in them when he is trying to seduce you. Not that he has to try, he has you wrapped around his fingers just by his existence.

“Oh, I guess now is the perfect time to tell you I was lying, Suzan made it, but I don’t think she’d be a fan of your idea,” you tease him, your grin widening as his eyes meet yours.

“You are… such a pain in the—“

“Where?” you cock an eyebrow at him, fingers dancing down the length of his neck, across his chest until they reach the waistband of his pants. “Tell me, where do I pain you, Harry?”

The tiramisu quickly gets forgotten as Harry growls against your lips, pushing his chair back as he carries you into his bedroom to show you where exactly he feels that so-called pain.

“Alright, come clean. Who have you been fooling around with? You’ve completely fallen off the face of Earth these past weeks!”

Your best friend, Cece throws the question at you the moment you arrive at the bar. You laugh at her accusation even though it’s completely true.

“Who says it has anything to do with fooling around with someone?” you ask as you wave at one of the waiters. The young man quickly makes his way over to you. “Hi, a tequila on the rocks, please.”

“What kind?”

“The best you have,” you simply tell him, your friend eyeing you in shock. The guy walks away and you turn to face Cece. “What?”

“Since when are you drinking fancy tequila? I didn’t even know you like drinking tequila on the rocks.”

You didn’t either, but it’s Harry’s favorite and he often makes you a drink as well whenever he is feeling like loosening up a little at the end of a long day. You’ve brought some of your stuff over to his so you don’t have to return home every other day now, you’ve already spent an entire week at his not long ago, only dropping by your apartment to water your plans and air the place out a little in the middle of the day. You quite enjoy going to his place straight from school and spend your evenings with him and not just in his bed, but in general. You’ve been doing a lot more things together recently, he has taken out to his favorite restaurant besides the ones he owns and you’ve been watching a lot of movies together, showing your top five to each other on cozy evenings when you didn’t feel like jumping at each other the moment Harry arrived back from work.

“I mean, I know your grandma left a good amount for you, but I thought you were saving up,” she comments.

“I am, but… I have other incomes these days,” you tell her quietly, feeling a bit guilty for talking about it.

“Okay, spill the beans. Did you become a stripper without telling me? I thought we agreed we would hit the stage together!”

You laugh at her reaction shaking your head.

“No, I’m not a stripper. I… I’m not sure if it’s the right term to use, but I guess I have… a sugar daddy now? This feels weird to say because he is not some creepy old dude.”

“What the fuck?” she gasps, slamming her hand to the table. The waiter guy arrives with your drink and gives Cece a weirded-out look, but she couldn’t care less. “How did that happen? And who’s the guy?”

You take a sip from your drink and pull your phone out, showing her a photo of Harry you recently took of him sneakily. He doesn’t like to be photographed even though he is probably the most photogenic man to ever walk the planet, so you had to get a little tricky, snapping a picture of him when he was on the phone one evening, looking so fucking good in his dress pants and white shirt, the first few buttons undone to reveal his chest tattoos he hides so well under his expensive clothes.

“Wait, I know this dude, isn’t he like that young millionaire? What’s his name… Henry?”

“Harry. Harry Styles,” you correct her.

“Yes! Bitch, where the fuck did you meet him?”

“One of my professors asked him to present at our lecture. It’s a long story, but he ended up asking me out after the lecture and he kind of gave me an offer.”

“What kind?” Cece asks with narrowed eyes as she takes a sip from her cocktail.

“Well, we cleared the air out that we are both obviously attracted to each other, so he offered to financially support me if I’m willing to spend time with him,” you tell her, implying that you’re not talking about just playing board games with him, but it seems like the message wasn’t that clear to Cece.

“Like how? Going to places with him? Cleaning his place naked?”

“Cece, we are having a sexual relationship,” you sigh. “It’s basically an exclusive relationship where we use each other for our… physical needs. I spend most of my nights at his, don’t see it as some kind of sex slavery, it’s all consensual and actually pretty nice. We spend time together, he is treating me great.”

“So… basically you are dating him?” she points out and you pull your brows together.

“No, I said—“

“I heard what you said, but it entirely fit into what we call dating.”

“Yeah, but it’s not that.”

“Does he take you out?”

“Yes,” you nod.

“You spend the nights over at his place?”

“I do.” “And you said you’re exclusive, right?”

“We are, yes.”

“So the only odd thing is that he is paying you for your time, but that’s not that weird seeing that the guy could buy out the whole city if he wanted. This pretty much sounds like you two are dating.”

“But there are no emotions involved,” you tell her quickly, trying to prove your point. Cece gives you a who-are-you-trying-to-fool look and you stare back at her in confusion.

“You can’t do no emotions, Y/N. I’ve known you my whole life and there’s absolutely no chance you won’t fall for the guy if you haven’t already started falling. You are basically living in a relationship and it’s just a matter of time before you catch feelings.”

“I-I don’t—“

“You think you don’t have feelings for him, but you’re just living in denial,” she bluntly tells you.

You take a moment to think about what she said. The two of you have been really living like a real couple, spending time with each other as often as possible, being exclusive and acting like you really are dating, but that’s not what you agreed on. Harry made it clear he has no time to maintain a normal relationship and you’ve been honestly fine with it until now. Because you do care about him, that’s why you always make sure dinner is ready even on Suzan’s days off whenever he gets home, or why you make his morning coffee just the way he likes it, or why you text him checking in on him whenever you know he is having a rough day. These little things went over your head the whole time, but now you realize you are doing them because you care about him.

“Look, it’s not a bad thing,” Cece starts, grabbing your attention once again. “Just make sure you don’t fall entirely before finding out if he feels the same way. There’s a chance he is going through the same thing.”

Could he be? Is there a possibility that he has changed his mind about the nature of your little agreement? He surely acts like he cares about you too, he does all those seemingly insignificant things for you as well. He always sets the water a little cooler after his shower so it’s the perfect temperature when you get under the water, he offers you to choose a movie to watch even when it’s his turn and he doesn’t whine when you actually take the chance and put on another silly teenage drama to watch. He calls you in the mornings when you spend the night back at yours, telling you he just wanted to hear your voice. The way he keeps a hand on your thigh in the car or whenever you are out for dinner, it always flutters your heart, but is there a chance he is doing all these things because he has feelings for you. Your little arrangement has been going for over a month now.

Harry is a physical person in general, it could be just his nature, how he is with everyone else. He is a caring and polite man, all these tiny things could be just his decent manners, generally looking out for the person he is sharing his bed with. You can’t make yourself believe his intentions with you have changed.

“Shit,” you mumble under your breath before chugging down your whole drink at once, waving at the waiter to bring you another one.

Cece successfully gets under your skin, made you realize things you might have not even thought about if she didn’t point them out. You hate her for that, but it was also needed. The thoughts cleared out before it was too late, hopefully.

You order drink after drink and Cece has never been the type to say no to some partying. She drinks with you, only difference is that she takes it way better than you. When it’s nearing midnight, you are completely drunk, wildly dancing to the music the no name band is playing in the corner of the bar. Cece decides it’s better if you head home, but you’re quite persistent.

“I want to stay! Come and dance with me!” you beg her, but she can tell you’re close to the phase where you just pass out and she won’t be able to take you home on her own. So she takes your phone and searches for the contact she knows will help her out.

“Hey baby, having fun?” the deep voice answers the call and it makes Cece blush for a moment.

“Hi, this is, um—This is Cece, Y/N’s friend.”

“Oh. Is everything alright?” he questions, immediately becoming alerted.

“Well, she had a little too much to drink, I’m afraid. I could use some help with her before she passes out entirely.”

“Text me the address, I’ll be there in ten.”

Cece does as she was asked and then goes to finally beg you away from the dancefloor. Not too happily, but you let her walk you back to the booth the two of you shared through the night.

“Be a good girl and drink this, please,” she tells you, shoving a big glass of water into your hands, and you just grimace.

“Good girl? That’s what Harry calls me.”

“Oh Jesus, I would have been fine without this detail,” Cece chokes out, but she is pleased to see you drinking some of the water finally.

“He is so fucking great, C. Like, the whole package!” you start raving with a heavy sigh. “He is beautiful and nice and so fucking funny! And the things he does to me in bed…”

“Maybe keep those to yourself, alright?” She chuckles shaking her head.

Right at that moment, Harry barges through the door, looking around with a hard stare until he spots you sitting in the booth, still mumbling to Cece.

“Hey,” he breathes out stepping to the table. Cece’s eyes widen as he sees the man himself, wearing a pair of light flares and a simple black shirt, the first few buttons undone, revealing his thin chain with the cross pendant. Cece now gets why you are so into the man, not that she had any doubts before. “Cece, right?” he glances at her.

“Oh, um, yeah. Nice to meet you,” she stutters offering a hand that Harry shakes firmly. The man has a great hold for sure. “Sorry I called you, but I wasn’t sure I can make it back to her place with her like this.”

“Harry! You’re here!” you gasp upon realizing that the man standing at the table is him.

“Yes, baby, I am. Had a little too much fun?” he asks with a small smile playing on his lips.

“Are you mad?” you pout at him, afraid he might see you as this immature little girl who can’t stay within her boundaries when it comes to alcohol.

“I’m not, but let’s get you home, alright?” He gently caresses the side of your face and Cece watches the small interaction with parted lips. “Did you have a tab?”

“Uh, yeah. I’ll just—“

“Don’t worry about it, I got this,” he tells her, already making his way to the bar to pay your drinks.

“Isn’t he the fucking best?” you mumble to Cece, feeling out of breath from just the effort of keeping yourself in a sitting position. You really shouldn’t have drunk this much…

“He is!” Cece gasps. “I’m so jealous of you now.”

“It’s a shame he might not be that into me though,” you scoff with a frown.

“I highly doubt that.”

You don’t have a chance to react, because Harry returns and he helps you out of the booth before turning to Cece.

“Do you need a ride home?”

“I’ll be fine, I’ll just call an Uber,” she smiles at him nicely, grabbing her purse from the seat as she follows the two of you out.

“Send Y/N a text when you get home so I know you arrived safely.”

“Sure,” she giggles, feeling lightheaded that he is concerned about her. “Take good care of her, Harry,” Cece tells him as he helps you into his car. This time there’s no driver, so he makes you sit at the front, buckling you up like you’re a kid.

“I will. Thank you for calling and I wish next time we meet will be under different circumstances,” he chuckles softly before getting into the car.

The drive back to Harry’s place pulls you into a shallow slumber, enjoying the warmth of the car and the comfortable seats. Harry wakes you up just so he can help you out of the car once you arrive, but seeing how sleepy you are, he decides it’s easier to just carry you up to his bedroom.

“Harry?” you mumble under your breath when he lays you to his bed.

“Yes? Do you feel sick?”

“No,” you shake your head softly. “Sleep with me?”

“Of course,” he smiles, kissing your forehead gently. You faintly hear him shuffling around the room, probably undressing before he finally slips under the covers, his strong arm curling around your middle as he cuddles you from behind.

“M’sorry you had to pick me up,” you sigh, already sobering up slowly.

“S’alright. Get some sleep,” he tells you truthfully as he kisses your shoulder.

“You are so good to me,” you whisper, more to yourself rather than to him, but he definitely catches your words.

“Of course. You deserve the best, Love.”

“You are the best,” you breathe out before you finally fall asleep.

The morning comes with a killer headache. Harry was considerate enough to draw the curtains in, but even the lack of natural light can’t ease the pounding in your head. As you slowly blink your eyes open, you spot a big glass of water and two Advils on the nightstand with a note next to them.

“Had to go in, will be back shortly. Have a nice recovery. Xx –H”

Growling you snatch the pills from the nightstand and swallow them quickly, washing them down with the water. Then you take some time to yourself to contemplate what happened last night, staring up at the ceiling. Cece’s words still occupy your mind entirely about your feelings for Harry. Upon realizing them, you managed to get so drunk that Harry had to come to get you. He didn’t fuss about it, didn’t say a word, just took you home and put you to bed. Last night was the first time the two of you shared his bed without anything sexual happening and you’re not sure how to feel about it, you wish it happened differently, but there’s nothing to do about it now.

It’s pretty late by the time you get yourself out of bed, but Harry is still nowhere to be seen. You wonder if he is upset that he had to pick you up from a bar in the middle of the night and he is now avoiding you. The thought is eating you alive so badly that you decide it’s best if you talk to him right away and apologize for your behavior last night.

You get two coffees from his favorite place and head to his office, feeling anxious about facing him and also because it’s going to be your first time seeing him at his workplace. It’s not that he told you not to go there, but he never invited you either so you’re not sure how he feels about you showing up.

“Good afternoon, how can I help you?” the nice woman at the reception greets you upon arriving.

“Hi, I’m here to see Har—erm, Mr. Styles?” you shyly tell her.

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No, but um… Can you tell him Y/N is here?”

“A moment, please,” she politely excuses herself before getting on the phone. You look around in the fancy looking hall of the building and you can only imagine what the rest looks like if the hall is like a page from an expensive interior design magazine.

“Miss?” the woman catches your attention. “Mr. Styles is waiting for you in his office. Thirty-fifth floor, Daisy at the front desk will help you out up there,” she instructs and you thank her before heading to the elevators.

It’s a long way up and people get in and out of the elevator as you make your way up to the top. You feel so out of place, everyone is dressed in fancy looking suits and dresses while you’re wearing just your usual jeans and a knitted sweater, your bag thrown across your body, the two coffees in your hands as you nervously chew on your bottom lip.

Arriving at the top, you are immediately greeted by Daisy, as the woman downstairs told you.

“Good afternoon, Miss Y/L/N, let me show you the way to Mr. Styles’ office,” she offers kindly and you follow her down the hallway that’s filled with pictures of Harry with several influential people. Some of them you recognize, singers and actors, but some are completely strange to you, though you can imagine them being big names in the business.

Daisy leads you to a double door and she knocks on it firmly before you hear Harry’s voice calling out. Daisy opens the door for you and you step into the spacious and rather luxurious office. Harry is standing behind his long desk, his eyes snapping up at you as you walk in, Daisy closing the door behind you.

“Hey, what brings you here?” he asks with a soft smile, abandoning the papers on his desk as he walks around it, kissing your cheek shortly when he reaches you.

“I, um… brought you coffee,” you awkwardly tell him, handing him his cup.

“Is that all?” he asks with a soft chuckle.

“No,” you huff. “I just… I didn’t know when you’d be back and I really wanted to apologize.”

“For what?” he furrows his eyebrows, leaning against the edge of his desk behind him.

“Last night. I totally lost control, I know I shouldn’t have drunk that much and I’m sorry you had to come and get me. It was very immature and childish of me.”

“Don’t be silly, it happens to everyone. And I’m glad Cece called me. I would rather go and get you anytime of the day than have you find your way home on your own.”

“But it’s still not your responsibility to take care of me when I randomly get drunk. Not that it happens that often.”

“Okay, but I like taking care of you,” he replies. “Don’t worry about it, alright? It’s all good. You said it yourself, it doesn’t happen all the time so I’m fine with stepping in once in a while.”

You sigh in relief, happy that he doesn’t hold a grudge for coming to your rescue last night. You were worried he would see you differently because of it, but it seems like he really is cool with it.

“Did it really get you that worried?” he asks with a soft expression, his fingers dancing across your jawline before he tips your head up so he can look into your eyes.

“Kinda,” you admit with a shaky chuckle. “I was just afraid it would make me look like a helpless child. I know you’re older than me, but I’m not like this and I don’t want you to get the wrong idea of me.”

“It was just one tiny thing among everything else I’ve seen from you during our time together. It won’t change my opinion about you that easily. It just tells me that you still like to let loose sometimes with your friends which is completely fine. You definitely should, you’re only in your early twenties. I don’t want to hold you back from experiencing things I’ve already been through.”

“So you’re telling me you’ve drank too much before and someone had to pick you up?” you ask him raising your eyebrows.

“Well, it hasn’t happened recently, but I’ve been there, yeah,” he admits chuckling.

“I can’t imagine you drunk.”

“Haven’t been in more than five years, if I’m being honest. The hangover in the morning kills the fun in it now. If I got drunk now, I would need three days to recover.”

“You’re talking like you’re sixty or something,” you chuckle, your hands finding their way to his hips as he cups your face in his palms.

“I’m halfway there already,” he smirks at you playfully, but you just roll your eyes at him.

“You’re still a hottie.”

“Glad you think that,” he chuckles before pressing his lips against yours. He takes his time kissing you, pulling on your bottom lip, playing with your tongue and you feel like a giddy little teenager. You get so lost in his kisses that you don’t even notice the knock on the door.

Harry pulls back, turning his attention towards the door that opens without his approval. When you glance over your shoulder you see a tall, gorgeous woman with fiery red hair walk in, wearing a tight dress that’s business casual but also very sexy at the same time.

“Oh, I didn’t know you had a guest,” the woman stops at the door.

“It’s alright, Diana.” Harry’s hands fall from your face and you turn to face the woman fully. She is… perfect. In every way. Her makeup, her hair, her figure, she is everything you ever wanted to be and suddenly, you feel like a little mouse compared to her. “Y/N, this is my right hand, Diana,” Harry introduces her and she steps forward with a charming smile, holding a hand out for you. “Diana, this is… a good friend of mine, Y/N.”

You try not to flinch at the title Harry gave you as you shake Diana’s hand.

A good friend? Does he fuck all his good friends?

It’s not that you agreed on a title when it comes to others, but this is not what you were expecting for sure. Would have it been that bad calling you his girlfriend? You are exclusive after all, people don’t have to know it’s just an agreement.

“Nice to meet you, Y/N. Sorry for barging in, Daisy was on the phone so I didn’t know you weren’t alone, H.”

H? She calls him H? You don’t like Diana. Not at all.

“No worries,” Harry waves in dismissal.

“I just wanted to tell you I just got off the phone with Mr. Harlow, he is willing to close the deal next week.”

“That’s fantastic,” Harry beams.

“Congrats, Harry. Another successful deal closed,” she smiles at him and you feel the sudden urge to wipe it off her face along with her stupid, perfect lipstick.

“Thank you, but it wouldn’t have happened without you.”

“I’ll start the paperwork,” Diana nods. “It was nice to meet you, Y/N,” she smiles in your way before walking out.

“She is… your partner?” you ask, trying your best to push down the jealousy that’s about to flood you entirely.

“Yeah, have been working with her for years, she is very good at negotiating,” Harry explains, his focus on the papers on his desk. You feel like this is your cue to leave.

“Cool. I’ll just… get going then.”

He glances up, leaving the papers once again, stepping back to you.

“I’ll be home soon, alright? Will try to finish soon. Choose a movie we can watch when I arrive.”

“Sounds good,” you smile faintly. He kisses you softly, running his fingers down the side of your neck before letting go of you.

All while you’re at Harry’s place on your own, you keep thinking about Harry. To be exact, Harry and Diana and what they might be doing in his office. They spend so much time together through the week, and Diana is literally the most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen. There’s no way she and Harry have nothing going on. But even if they weren’t hooking up, why would Harry choose you over her?

The more you think about it, the worse it gets. Your thoughts get clouded by jealousy and you have no idea how to stop it. You keep reminding yourself you don’t have the right to feel this way, but you just can’t help it.

When Harry arrives late noon, you already feel out of control. He barely makes it into the living room, you throw yourself at him.

“Hey, missed me this much?” he chuckles, but wraps his arms around you anyway, walking you to the couch.

“I always miss you,” you truthfully admit, kissing the corner of his mouth. You want to feel him, you want to be the one to please him so you can convince yourself you are the only one who can make him feel that way.

You push him down to the couch, straddling his lap before your lips attack his, kissing him hard and passionately. Your fingers work fast on his shirt, pushing it down his toned arms as you grind against him, the friction of his growing erection underneath you already driving you crazy.

“I want to make you feel good,” you moan against his lips, hands wandering down his chest and abs until you reach his pants, unbuttoning it without wasting a moment.

“I’m all yours, baby,” he breathes out, sinking into the soft cushions. Before you could reach into his pants and free his throbbing erection, you pull back just enough to look into his eyes.

“You are?” you ask quietly, his green eyes burning into your gaze.

“Yes,” he nods, a hint of seriousness obvious in his look. You believe him and it just riles you up even more. You need to have him. Now.

Kissing him once again, you move down until you are kneeling between his legs, hands pulling down his pants along with his boxers. His hard cock springs free, so glorious and welcoming, all ready just for you. You wrap your hand around it, giving it a few pumps before leaning closer and kissing the tip softly. Harry whimpers under your touch, his head falling back in his pleasure. Sticking your tongue out you give his whole length a lick, spitting on it at the end to wet his skin and get him ready for you.

“Shit,” he moans, his hand moving to your hair as you wrap your lips around him, pushing down on him slowly, enjoying how he completely falls apart under your touch.

Seeing him in this state is better than any drug. Such a powerful and unreachable man, completely vulnerable just for you, it’s a dream come true.

He is pushing on your head but not hard enough to control your movement, it’s just a nice pressure to let you know what he wants. You start bobbing your head, taking him as deep as you can without gagging, working your hand on the rest you can’t reach with your lips.

“Oh fuck, Love, you are such a good girl,” he pants, his hips buckling up to meet your head’s movements. He is so deep inside your mouth, you suck on him hard, your hand that’s been on his thigh moves to hos balls, gently massaging them to add to the sensation.

“I want you to cum in my mouth,” you tell him when you come up for some air, panting your words heavily.

“You sure?” he asks. It’s not the first time you’re sucking him off, but he never finished in your mouth before. You nod confidently before you sink his length back into the warmth of your mouth.

Harry grips your hair harder, more and more whimpers and moans leaving his perfectly pink lips as he nears his end. You are desperate to please him, to see him come undone under your touch, to have an effect of any kind on him.

You press the head against the inside of your cheek, the change of contact catching him off guard and he growls your name when you sink down on him one more time before he finally orgasms, his cum spurting to the back of your throat.

“Oh fuck, baby!” he breathes out, completely lost in his high as you let go of him with a pop and sit back on your knees, pleased with the state you managed to pull him into.

He reaches out for you, bringing you to his lap while he pulls at least his boxers back up. You sit on his thighs as he nuzzles his nose against the crook of your neck, his touch is so delicate and soft, as if he wasn’t cursing and moaning your name just a few moments ago.

“What was that for?” he questions with a soft smirk on his lips.

“Do I need a reason to suck you off?”

“Absolutely not, I was just… surprised.”

“Did you like it?” you arch an eyebrow at him.

“I think it’s pretty obvious that I loved it.”

“Then that’s all that matters,” you smile sweetly at him, kissing his lips chastely.

You successfully forget about the existence of Diana for about a week. Everything is back to its normal, you spend at least five days a week at Harry’s place, basically already living there. He takes you out on Friday which ends up in some hot sex in his hallway, because according to him, your dress was way too hot for him to control himself any longer, but you’re not complaining.

You’ve been planning to go for some book shopping on Saturday, the urge to read something new has been killing you and Harry offers his company for your little trip, suggesting the two of you have lunch somewhere near the pier.

Saturday morning you are woken up by featherlike kisses on your bare shoulder, and a warm palm massaging your hipbone before moving closer to the between of your legs.

“Mmm, mornin’,” you hum into the pillow, smiling to yourself when you feel Harry pressed up against you from the back, his excitement very evidently poking your bum. His lips kiss their way up your neck and jawline and when you finally turn your head they meet your lips in a sweet morning kiss.

“Slept well?” he asks in his deep morning voice.

“Mhm,” you smirk, feeling his fingers teasing you between your legs. “What are you doing, Mr. Styles?”

“I had a dream about you,” he murmurs, his lips nibbling on the soft skin where your shoulder meets your neck. His fingers slide between your folds and it’s no surprise you are already wet for him.

“Yeah? What happened in that dream?”

“I fucked you from behind. Woke up with a painful hard-on,” he bluntly tells you, a smirk tugging on your lips. Moving a hand behind you, your palm meets his very obvious erection that’s been poking your ass. Wrapping your palm around him you give him a few pumps, earning some soft moans against your skin as you arch your back and angle him so when he thrusts forward, his cock slides right between your legs, but not inside you just yet.

“Do you have dirty dreams about me often?” you ask in a teasing voice as you start moving your hips, making his dick slide between your wet folds, the tip poking at your clit every time you push backwards.

“It’s been occurring more often lately,” he admits, his hand moving up on your body, slipping under the thin fabric of your top that you threw on last night before falling asleep, his palm covering your breast, giving it a nice squeeze that makes you moan shamelessly.

“What happens in those dreams usually?” you breathe out, the friction of his cock between your legs building up your own orgasm slowly.

“Not sure it’s very gentlemanlike to share them with you,” he chuckles boyishly, pressing an open mouthed kiss to your shoulder as he pinches your hardened nipple with his fingers.

“Showing your hard dick into my ass is not that gentlemanlike either, if you ask me,” you call him out grinning smugly and it earns you a harder thrust between your legs.

“You bring this out of me,” he growls into your ear, tugging on your earlobe gently as the urge to feel him fill you up grows inside you.

Just when you reach between your legs, ready to usher his length inside you, his phone starts vibrating on his nightstand and you growl in frustration when he reaches for it, stopping what you had going on entirely.

“M’sorry, baby. I have to take this.”

“Really? Now?” you whine as he pulls away from you, grabbing a pair of clean boxers from his dresser as he brings the phone to his ear.

“I’ll make it up to you,” he grins before answering the call, walking out of the room, but you still hear him greet the person on the other end of the line. “Hi Diana, what’s up?”

He left you in bed all riled up for Diana? Is he fucking serious?

Jealousy and rage washes over you in a blink of an eye as you push yourself up in the bed. You can’t believe he chose her over you on a Saturday morning, he could be balls deep inside you by now, but he is now probably locked up in his study, talking to Diana.

You march into the bathroom, feeling like a cold shower might help you, but as the water rains down on you, you still feel like you’re about to burst and it might be because you were getting close to your orgasm.

Driven from a sudden idea, you grab the removable showerhead and change the setting of the water stream on it before moving it between your legs. It’s nothing like Harry’s dick or even his touch, but it’s what’s left for you, because the man you want is too busy talking to another woman. You reach down and start playing with your clit, the stream pushing you towards your edge more and more and you’re desperate for a release.

When it finally comes, you let go with a gasp. The bitter taste in your mouth ruins it for you however and you keep thinking about how it wasn’t Harry who made you feel good. Raging thoughts flood your mind as you get out of the shower and get dressed.

You are sitting at the kitchen island, drinking on your morning coffee when Harry emerges from his study.

“Sorry about that, it was kind of an emergency.”

“No worries,” you dryly answer, but he doesn’t seem to notice.

“When do you want to leave? Have you eaten? We could have brunch somewhere near the mall.”

“Oh, I forgot that I was invited for a birthday party tonight and I thought I would check in on my apartment, get ready there. I haven’t been home for a while.”

Harry grabs himself a bottled water as he joins you at the kitchen island, looking at you with furrowed eyebrows.

“We can drop by your place after shopping and then come back here.”

“Yeah, but I really want to clean up a bit there and you know, pretend like I still use that place.”

I also would love some space from you, because right now, I’m way too close to flipping over this whole Diana thing.

“You sure?”

“Yeah. Can we postpone the shopping to next week maybe?”

“Works for me,” he simply shrugs, giving you one last look before dropping the whole thing.

You are out of Harry’s place before twelve and arriving back to your place, you can’t help but feel this sharp pain in your chest whenever you are thinking about him, which is basically every second.

You can’t lie to yourself anymore, everything you feel whenever it comes to Harry, it all points to one inevitable thing: you are hopelessly in love with the man. And to think that he might be into someone else is heartbreaking. You can’t stop thinking about how he might have feelings for Diana instead of you and it takes a toll on you, crushing you unmercifully.

You didn’t lie about the birthday party, you just didn’t plan on going, but this morning changed your mind and you decided you could use some time apart from Harry and the party gave you the perfect excuse. You weren’t essentially good friends with the people that were invited, but they seemed like a nice bunch so you thought it couldn’t hurt to give it a go.

The only thing that’s already pissing you off by the time you arrive at the bar is that Nick is there too, being friends with the birthday girl as well.

“Well, well, well! Haven’t seen you outside of the lecture hall in a long time,” he smirks at you once you are settled with your drink. He sits beside you, luckily keeping some distance but you’re ready to kick him in the balls if he tries to get closer.

“I’ve been busy.”

“With the man you went on a date with when you were supposed to meet me?”

“Okay, first of all, I was never supposed to meet you, Nick. Stop pretending like we ever had anything going on. And second, yes, I’ve been with that man.”

“Is he your boyfriend?” he questions and you almost snap at him saying yes, but then you realize that it wouldn’t be true. “So he is not? I guess then you still can go out with me finally.”

“Just stop already, okay? How many times do I have to tell you that I’m not interested?” you growl at him, turning away from him to join the conversation on your other side.

Later that evening a group photo is taken and uploaded to Instagram and it’s mere coincidence that Nick is still sitting next to you when it is taken. You don’t pay much attention to it, even share the picture in your story as well, but until you get a text from Harry.

Harry: Didn’t mention Nick would be there too.

You stare at it for a few moments, not sure how he knows Nick is there and then you realize. As unusual as it seems, Harry has an Instagram, he just never posts on it, only following his close friends… and you.

Opening the app you quickly scroll through who has seen your story and there he is, Harry’s name hidden somewhere at the bottom, but it’s clearly there.

Y/N: Didn’t think I have to report every time I see him somewhere.

Your reply feels just as passive aggressive as his was, or that’s what you think. His answer comes in seconds.

Harry: The guy has been trying to get into your pants since forever, would have been nice if you told me he was there too.

Y/N: A lot of things would be nice, Harry.

Harry: Are you trying to imply something?

Y/N: Idk, you’re a smart man, figure it out.

You mute the phone and place it to the table, ready to ignore it for the rest of the evening, but you don’t make it too long. About ten minutes later the screen lights up with a call from Harry. At first you want to ignore it, but then you climb out of your seat and walk outside so you can hear what he is saying.

“What?” you snap not too friendly.

“You didn’t fucking answer my texts!”

“Did it occur to you that it’s because I don’t want to talk to you right now?”

“What’s with the attitude all of a sudden?” he questions and you can tell he is getting angry but he is not the only one with a temper.

“I don’t know, Harry. You text me about Nick out of nowhere, demanding to know whenever he is around me as if he was some kind of criminal. What’s up with that?”

“I told you, the guy is always up in your ass, you’ve told me yourself, I just don’t like it that he is anywhere around you.”

“Out of the two of us it’s not you who gets the right to feel that way. As far as I know I didn’t leave you naked in bed right when we were about to have sex for another person. Think about that for a moment,” you throw it at him, feeling relieved you can finally speak your mind. The line gets silent for a moment and you wish you could see his face at the moment.

“I’m coming to get you,” he then states, it’s definitely not an offer.

“You are not.”

“I am. We are not having this conversation over the phone.”

And with that, the line dies. You could throw the phone against the wall in frustration, he could piss you off so badly, you hate how much effect he has on you.

The bar where you are is not too far from Harry’s place and you barely get yourself another drink and return to the table when he walks in. You don’t spot him at first, but other girls from your group do.

“Oh my God, it’s that hot businessman from Professor Robertson’s class!” One of the girls, Mindy gasps and your eyes snap over to Harry who is roaming the place, clearly looking for you. He is wearing a pair of light washed jeans and a simple, black long sleeve, his hair a little messy, but he still looks breathtaking. You hate him for that.

“Shit,” you mumble under your breath, right when he finally spots you and makes his way towards you.

“He is coming here, oh my God!” the girls gasp in excitement while you are trying to figure out a way to escape the situation, but you miserably fail.

“Y/N,” he calls out your name stopping at the table, his eyes flickering over to Nick who sits two people down from you. You spot the frown on his face, but he manages to control himself so others don’t notice his hate towards the guy.

“I’m not leaving with you,” you simply shake your head the rest of the group watching the scene unfold intently.

“Wait, he is the guy you’ve been seeing?” Nick speaks up upon realizing the situation. “You are fucking Harry Styles?”

“Nick, shut the fuck up,” you snap at him, completely over his shit at this point.

“Mind your own business,” Harry tells him, but just as expected, Nick doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut.

“No, wait. You turned me down and then went out with him? He is like, what, thirty or something?”

“So what?” you give him a puzzled look.

“Shouldn’t you be with someone your age?”

“No, she shouldn’t,” Harry answers before you could even think of an answer. “Don’t put the blame on others for being a disgrace to men and bothering women when they are clearly not interested in you. Grow up and try to get some manners for yourself and maybe you won’t die a virgin, buddy.”

Everyone gasps at the way Harry put Nick to his place and you can’t hide your smirk either, no matter how angry you are at Harry. Nick just mumbles something under his breath totally defeated before he disappears in the direction of the bar as Harry turns back to you.

“Y/N, can we please talk?”

“I told you, I don’t want to talk right now.”

“But we fucking need to, so would you please at least come outside so we don’t have to do this in front of all these people?” he snaps, clearly running short on his patience and you’re not sure you want to wait for when it’s completely gone.

Sighing you grab your phone from the table and shimmy your way out of your seat once again, walking out of the bar with Harry following right behind you.

“You can’t just come here and order me around, Harry, not when I especially told you I don’t want to see you!”

There’s a little alleyway next to the bar and you snap at him the moment you are hidden from the prying eyes and ears.

“You can’t expect me to just sit around at home and wait for you to come back whenever it’s convenient for you.”

“But that’s exactly what you should have done! You don’t have the right to be all… possessive and act like a fucking cave man just because Nick was next to me on a picture! Not when you fucking leave me in bed for a call from Diana!”

“Y/N, it’s not what you think, okay? Let me explain it to you.”

“Okay, explain why you chose her over me and if we are at it, just let me know if you want this whole thing over because I definitely won’t be second after her. I did not sign up for that.”

“What?” he looks at you with widened eyes. “Why would I want to end it?”

“Because you clearly have a thing going on with Miss Perfect!”

“Diana and I are just friends. Have always been.”

“Oh yeah, and should I just believe it?”

“Well, you might want to, because she is married and very much planning to start a family with her husband.”

You instantly freeze. You were not expecting this information and it throws you off. It never occurred to you that Diana might have a spouse herself, you were way too hung up on the thought of her and Harry.

“I know this morning was very awkward and I wouldn’t have answered the call, but she’s been having trouble with getting pregnant, her and her husband, Peter have been trying for years now and she’s just started treatment to help her conceive. She called because her lab results came back and they weren’t as promising as she hoped them to be. We’ve been friends for a long time, I’ve been there with her through it all and I’m her closest support other than Peter. I’m sorry I made it seem like I chose her over you, I was just not sure if I should share it with you. After all, it’s not my place to talk about it, and to be honest, I didn’t think it would leave such a scar in you, baby.”

Now you just feel like the biggest asshole in the entire world. You had this whole situation mistaken and let your insecurities get into your head.

“I-I’m sorry, I didn’t think…” “You couldn’t have known. I’m sorry too, could have handled the situation way better.” Harry takes a few steps closer now that he is sure you won’t throw a punch at him and reaching up he runs his fingers down the side of your face. “And I’m sorry about this Nick thing, but I just… completely lost my mind when I saw him next to you on the picture.”

“You should know the best out of everyone that he has no fucking chance at me.”

“I know, but still, I’m a very jealous man, especially when it comes to people I love.”

Your lips part and eyes widen as his words set in. Did he really just say that he loves you or is he just playing some kind of cruel game with you?

“Y/N, this was not my plan, but I couldn’t help it. You swept me off my feet with your whole being and I fell in love with you. I tried to tell myself it’s just a momentary thing, but it’s not. I think about you when you’re not with me and every time I wake up and I see you next to me I know it’ll be a good day because it started with you. I fucking love you and I’m done pretending I’m not. I want you, the whole… relationship thing with you, I want to be the man who makes you happy. Please tell me you feel the same,” he begs and for a moment you think he’ll get on his knees in front of you, but he stays stood, hands cupping your face as you stare back at him, completely in awe at his words. You wrap your hands around his wrists as you smile at him.

“If my jealousy filled scene wasn’t enough proof for you, I do feel the same about you, Harry.”

“You do?” he asks, excitement filling his beautiful green eyes that appear way darker under the poor light that’s coming from the street.

“I would be stupid not to,” you admit with a chuckle. “I’ve been in love with you for a while now. Took me some time to realize, but I’m quite sure about it now.”

“Oh my Love, you have no idea how happy you just made me,” he chuckles in relief before pressing his lips against yours, kissing you with all his feelings. He kisses you over and over again, pushing you backwards until your back meets the brick wall. He grabs the back of your thighs and makes you wrap your legs around his waist as he keeps you up easily, his lips never leaving yours.

“Come home with me, please. I want to make love to you,” he breathes against your lips and your heart flutters at his words.

“Take me home then,” you giggle, pressing your forehead against his.

For a few minutes the two of you stay like that, enjoying the closeness and the intimacy of the moment and you wonder what could be going on in his head.

“What are you thinking about?” you ask, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth.

“I just… have to thank Trevor for his invitation,” he tells you, but you just give him a puzzled look. “Professor Robertson. If he didn’t invite me to his lecture I would have never met you. I owe him one,” he explains with a chuckle, making you laugh as well.

“So, does this mean you’ll finally introduce me as your girlfriend when we meet someone?”

“I assume you caught on that when you met Diana,” he breathes out. “I actually wanted to call you my girlfriend, but didn’t know how it would sit with you.”

“So you called me your good friend?” you ask with a chuckle.

“Wasn’t the brightest solution, right?”

“Not really. It made me wonder if you fuck all your good friends.”

“Just the ones I’m in love with,” he smirks at you cheekily, stealing a quick kiss.

“Oh, are there more?” you ask raising your eyebrows at him, pushing his hair out of his forehead gently.

“Just you. My only good girl,” he answers before kissing you again.

SEQUEL: MY BEST GIRL

Thank you for reading, please like and reblog if you enjoyed!

#harry #styles #harry styles #harry styles au #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles fanfic #harry styles oneshot #harry styles one shot #harry styles imagine #harry styles x you #harry styles x reader #harry styles x y/n #sugardaddy!harry #CEO!harry #harry styles smut #harry styles angst #harry styles fluff

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nyaitsu-writes · 3 years ago

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what headcanons do you have for undead with an s/o that gives them genuinely sweet and cutesy nicknames (or just tacks a -chan on the end of their name) and uses it often lol

i have,, almost 1.2k words about this. ehe. ehehehe (*/ω＼*) you just got together 2 of my favourite things in the world: cute nicknames + undead! i love writing for these four so much so and i’ve been looking forward to getting to this rq for soooo long!! especially with koga,, i have so many thoughts about koga in this,, pspsps fellow undeadPs this one is for you <3

✧ undead | when their s/o gives them cute nicknames ✧

REI SAKUMA;

✦ oh. so you’re into cute, fluffy and sugary sweet nicknames? and you want a reaction out of him? listen up, this man here is the king of demons. the overlord of vampires. and the mastermind behind the best nicknames in the universe! and yet you call him your sugar bunny and rei sakuma is already on his knees, clutching his ancient vampire heart and trying not to cry. why. how. why and how are so sweet he’s going to melt and it will be your fault! i hope you’re prepared to get your own personal vampire puddle (*￣▽￣*)

✦ putting that aside, rei has 0% shame and will let you call him however you see fit as long as he’s allowed to do the exact same thing. outside of his wide collection of unique and personal nicknames, he also enjoys trying things out of his comfort zone! get ready for the day this almost 180 cm tall man calls you cupcake with his deep voice. ohhh you flushed? you’re his cupcake now <3

✦ most of the time, rei can’t resist a chuckle as he pats your head and lovingly messes up your hair when you call him any of your sweet names. he’s been called a lot of different things throughout his life, some were good and many weren’t as nice but yours makes him so happy. because it means that you are comfortable enough around him to the point you don’t feel embarrassed of calling him like that, that you care for him and want to share your own personal love language with no one other than himself. and that makes rei absolutely ecstatic.

KOGA OOGAMI;

✦ the first time you called him koga-chan he almost had a heart attack. you called him what again? he’s torn between wanting to kiss you or fight you (or both!), which becomes an essential part of your relationship as soon as he listens to all your new names for him. you come up with a special nickname for him and it has to be something cutesy and silly? how dare you hurt his pride like that!

✦ ...but deep down he doesn’t mind that much. see, he has to keep up his image as the big bad wolf, he can’t let everyone see you have such a strong influence on him （︶^︶） not even you! so he’ll complain, and growl and bark every time you call him something other than his name, telling you to find a proper name for someone as cool as him.

✦ and yet koga-chan sounds too good for you to drop it so soon. maybe, as long as you keep it for both of your ears only, koga might be willing to make a slight concession. maybe. he will ask for something in return, though! it’s not like… like he enjoys your attention after all or something like that. if you pat his head while you’re sitting together, mumbling a soft koga-chan he’ll flush beet red and press his head against your shoulder, grumbling in annoyance but enjoying the feeling of your hands in his hair too much to pull away. see, if you give him something good he’ll put it up with whatever cute name you have in store for him~

✦ now, you might have koga pinned down in private but in public? he will die if anyone, especially other undead members, find out about the names. and you can bet it took them just a couple of days. you had decided to accompany him to practice and probably called him like that on instinct. now he’s everyone’s “sweetheart”. rehearsals, outside work, lives: i’m afraid teasing has reached to each and every possible joint activity for undead, leaded by rei with kaoru as his vice captain. luckily, this means koga has built some extra tolerance to cute nicknames so you can try even more names with him. his sacrifice was for a greater good after all!

ADONIS OTOGARI;

✦ adonis is sincerely confused. he sees himself as someone strong and fairly big, some people have even called him scary. so, why are you calling him sweet pie? is he a pie? is he related to pies in some way? maybe the language barrier is proving to be more of a problem than he anticipated… it is then that you explain that is a special term of endearment and adonis is already nodding in understandment, smiling kindly.

✦ you like using cute nicknames? adonis will absolutely indulge you. he isn’t one for using nicknames himself but when you propose having special names for each other he wants to give it a try. he calls you little bird. little bird and sweet pie. the sugar rush is so strong all of your friends go one out of two ways: it’s either sobbing at how absolutely adorable you two are or trying to run away from the fluff overload because their heart can’t take it (*/ω＼*)

✦ adonis. ado-chan. donis-chan. donut-chan? talk about sweet names that fit him! o(*°▽°*)o he doesn’t quite get it but he can’t help but feel all fuzzy on the inside every time he sees you smile while calling him like that. and adonis will always answer. it’s the special name you gave him so it’s his name now! even if some friends try to tease him about it he’ll pay it no attention: it makes you happy and that’s his top priority!

KAORU HAKAZE;

✦ cinnamon roll? are you sure that you don’t want to reconsider your new nickname for him? something more… charming, maybe? love of your life? oh, that one got him just right. look at his cheeks, he has blushed!

✦ getting over the initial surprise, kaoru is absolutely on board with your personal naming sense. what better way to show the world that you’re made for each other than using the absolute cutest, most sugar rush inducing names ever? it’s not that he doesn’t mind, he actually likes it. he likes it to the point he’ll get pouty if you call him just by his name and ask if you’re angry with him, wrapping his arms around you so you get absolutely zero escape chance until you explain yourself!

✦ kaoru, happily holding your hand, will stick out his tongue to anyone who tries to make fun of him for being in such a sweet and lovely relationship. they’re just jealous, hmp! not everyone gets such an affectionate s/o after all, he’s just that lucky.

✦ because you’re just so nice and sweet? you’re his sunshine (❁´◡`❁) warm and gentle like the sun, always making his days just brighter and brighter no matter the season. kaoru doesn’t care if people are watching and will always have his little shows of affection with you when you call him any of your special nicknames: kissing the top of your head, holding you between his arms, kissing your cheek. he gets so energized just by having you around and listening to your voice. you’re open about your feelings, showing him that he’s genuinely loved each and every day. and it feels so good <3

#ensemble stars #enstars #ensemble stars x reader #ensemble stars imagines #enstars x reader #enstars imagines #rei sakuma x reader #rei sakuma #kaoru hakaze x reader #kaoru hakaze #koga oogami x reader #koga oogami #adonis otogari x reader #adonis otogari

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venusararara · 2 years ago

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Gatherines mom you say? 😏🙏 do u have any info on her u wanna share or does she have a tag or anything?

HMMMMM

I suppose I can tell you abt Amoré;;

Gatherine is a near perfect replica of her besides her hair color, since demons reproduce asexually and she's the only genetic contributor to Gatherine's genes. Amoré is a gen 1 succubus.

She's always covered in those beads, they're metal and considered good luck. She's also 9 feet tall. Gatherine isn't as big as her because she's not full grown yet.

She's mischievous and will prank the fuck out of you. She's like 400 yrs old in canon.

Basically, she's pulling one over on the mortals. At the conception of their species, mortals stood in for the demon's government. They were under the impression the demons wouldn't be smart enough to do it for themselves. Amoré was the cheerleader for demons governing themselves, so was chosen collectively as the "queen". There was a disgusting, bloody revolution where a large amount of government officials who were slaughtered and displayed publicly in Infernum. It eventually got bad enough they had a conference with her, where she convinced them it's for the greater good. So, she became "leader".

Momma lives in a massive gothic builing in central infernum, and stands in as the face of Infernum. The surface thinks it's a monarchy, but it's extremely laissez-faire and adoré doesn't do much at all. She knows demons are capable of doing for themselves. She legit pretends to be royalty around mortals, but acts like a civilian when she's not.

She was a little psychopath when she was a teen/young adult, and had her conference with the surface soaked in mortal blood. She's mellowed out completely since then, and isn't violent at all. She's good at getting Gatherine to relax, and raised her the best she could. Amoré got her out of trouble a lot. She has a deep, gnarly scar on her left lapel from Gatherine's first bender. Seeing it makes Gatherine feel very guilty, so she wears sweaters when they see each other.

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axoxtxhxh · 4 years ago

Text

First Date with the Vets - Erwin

Big shoutout to @chaotic-nick for making this lovely banner for me!

Overall Summary: I had this idea to do a first date with the vets and what it would be like. I am including Erwin, Levi, Miche, and Hange in this list. Each date will be different, but all of them will be set in modern au.

Check out Miche’s story here, Levi’s story here, and Hange’s story here

Pairing: Erwin x Fem!Reader

Content: Nearly all fluff

Word Count: ~ 6,100

Summary: Reader is on her way home to get ready for her blind date when she runs into a handsome stranger on her way home. On her way up to her apartment to get ready, the elevator breaks down with her and the handsome stranger stuck inside.

You were a little over a block from home, nearly running with your small bag from the convenience store clutched tightly in your hand. You hated running late. It didn’t really matter what the scheduled engagement was, you made it a point to always be the first one to show up. Today’s engagement was no different, but leave it to you to rip a hole in your pantyhose as you were getting dressed.

Your best friend, Fen, had set you up on a blind date with one of her co-workers. You hated blind dates, not to mention Fen had terrible taste in men. She had been begging you to at least meet him for a couple months now, but you kept finding reasons not to. The last time she asked, you ran out of reasons. So here you were, running back home ten minutes before he was supposed to arrive. With any luck, he will be as terrible as you expect and show up late, maybe not at all.

You turned down an alleyway, trying to save time by cutting through the side streets and picked up speed seeing your apartment building up ahead. The shortcut was quickly turning out to be a bad idea. There was only one streetlight all the way at the end and you couldn’t see anything, especially the puddle you barely missed, splashing dirty water on your leg. Perfect.

You rounded the corner quickly, ready with your key in your hand to unlock the lobby entrance when you slammed into the back of a large body standing in front of the door. Pushed back by the impact, you dropped your keys and bag on the floor, the cheap convenience store pantyhose rolling to the feet of the person you slammed into.

“Oh gosh. I’m sorry.” You reached down to pick up your stuff when the hand of the person reached it before you. A very large, strong hand with perfectly manicured fingers wrapped around the small plastic case of your pantyhose, holding it up to you.

Your eyes followed up his long arms. You could see how well-built he was even through the brown suit jacket he wore over a white button-down shirt, the top buttons undone so you could see the top of his strong chest. He had to be at least 6’2. Tall and broad.

“It’s my fault.” His ocean-blue eyes sparkled as his lips curled into a smile revealing his bright, white and honestly, dazzling smile. You almost giggled at the sight of him. “I shouldn’t make a habit of lurking in doorways.”

“It’s—uh, it’s not a problem.” You smiled, your eyes locked with his while you fumbled with your keys. Any other night. Any other night you could have stayed and chatted with this handsome stranger. But instead you had to race upstairs to finish getting ready. Your miserable Friday night was getting worse.

You finally fit your key into the keyhole and got the door unlocked, pushing it open. The handsome stranger helped you, holding it open and holding his hand to his stomach as he gestured you through. Damn, he even smelled good.

You moved quickly to the elevator, pushing the call button and trying not to focus on the handsome stranger following closely behind you.

“If you’re going to anything lower than the fifth floor, you might as well take the stairs,” you recommended, looking up to him, “this elevator takes so long, you could probably get there faster by walking.”

“I appreciate that information.” He smiled, pulling out his phone and clicking quickly, scrolling through. You used the opportunity to look at how you looked through the elevator doors.

What a hot mess you were in that moment. Your hair was a mess, your face red and sweaty, the bulky man’s coat you grabbed quickly on your way out the door hung on you like your dad’s t-shirt when you a child. The only redeeming thing about your look was your skirt. You had just bought the camel pencil skirt you were wearing a couple days ago, finding the high-slit a bit too sexy for your office, but it worked perfectly for a date night. The bottom hem shared the same dark stain from the rainwater as your legs and shoes did.

You sighed. Your shoes. You had on some old sneakers, knowing you needed to make the quick run to the store. It could have been that cute sexy-casual look if your shoes had still been white. Now they were brown and grey and smelled like a wet dog. Any chance you had in imagining this Greek god standing next to you would give you a second look were thrown out the window.

You could now see how well he was dressed. He had that dark academia look about him that made you weak. His slim-fit tweed herringbone pants accentuated the length of his legs and somehow made him look even taller, his blonde hair perfectly parted and smoothed back. He looked up from his phone and put it in his pocket.

“Looks like I’ll be taking the elevator with you.” He turned to look at you. “If you don’t mind the company.”

“Of course not.” You smiled back, biting your lip to hide your excitement. Maybe the night would be picking up after all.

The elevator dinged and the doors creaked open shakily. He held his arm out again, gesturing you inside first. It was honestly a bit unfair at how much of a gentleman he was. You dipped your head down and scurried in to hold the doors for him.

He stepped in after you and you pressed the close-door button, followed by eight, your floor. Turning to him, you noticed him staring at the buttons and asked which floor he needed.

“Eight as well.” He put his arms behind his back, and looked back at the door. You turned to face the door, mirroring him as you thought about which lucky woman on your floor was getting a visit from him. Possibly lucky man? Either way, someone was going to be having a great Friday night.

You filled your cheeks with air, puffing them up as you tried not to let yourself glance at him through the elevator doors. The building was old, the elevators dark, but it really was only the two of you and you were sure it seemed pretty obvious that you were staring.

Your eyes moved up to the numbers indicating which floor you were passing. Still only at the third floor, you let yourself peek at him from the corner of your eyes then turned your whole head when you thought he was staring at you. It turned out, he was only staring at the numbers and he quickly turned his eyes to you when he saw you turn to look at him. Damn it, you did that uncomfortable thing. You smiled and hoped that you seemed friendly and not creepy and stalker-like.

“You were quite right about the speed of the elevator.” He chuckled, a low hum that vibrated off the walls. “It’s exceptionally slow.”

You looked back at him, his teeth gleaming even in the darkness of the elevator. Was he trying to make small talk? You smiled to yourself at the attempt, assuming that’s what it was.

“It’s a pretty old buil—” The elevator slammed to a halt and cut your sentence short, both of you falling back. You reached for the rail next to you to brace yourself. The elevator lights flickered before turning off, seconds passing before the emergency lights came on.

“I take it that’s not supposed to happen.” You turned to him and shook your head.

“This is not happening.” You said aloud, more to yourself than anything. You were already running late and now this? You moved to the elevator buttons and started pushing them randomly, knowing they wouldn’t work, but hoping that your frustration was enough to get it started.

“I’m not getting a signal.” The man was holding his cell phone up in the air, trying to get a signal. “Do you want to try yours?”

You nodded and pulled out your cell phone. No bars. You tried holding it up, not reaching nearly as high as he was able to and finally trying to jump a little, trying to catch the reception you hoped sat at the ceiling. The man just stood there smiling at you until you finally noticed and you quickly turned away to hide your embarrassment.

“Maybe the phone here.” You opened the phone box to check inside only to find it empty and you dropped your head. “Damn it.”

This was even worse than how you had already thought your night was going to go. You checked your phone. You were definitely late now. Not only late, you were trapped in an elevator with no way of alerting someone that you were even there at all. Maybe Fen was right. Maybe you should have spent more money to move to a newer apartment building. You loved your little block though. Your apartment may have been old, but it was cute and had character. It was quiet on the weekends and it made the commute to work so much shorter than where you used to live. A cute apartment wasn’t helping you then though.

You heard a small sigh come from behind you and you turned around to see the man sitting on the floor. You didn’t think you were giving him any sort of look, but he stared at you for a second and then jumped up.

“My apologies.” He stuck his hand forward towards you. “My name is Erwin.”

“Y/N.” You took his hand which was surprisingly soft and gentle for someone his size.

“Y/N.” Erwin repeated. “Well we might as well get comfortable. I imagine someone will figure out the elevator stopped running soon enough.”

He sat back down on the floor, stretching his long legs out in front of him and crossing one foot over the other. He set his hand down on the area next to him and looked up at you.

“Would you like to join me?” He smiled and there was no way you were saying no to that.

One hour passed by remarkably fast. The two of you sat on the elevator floor and chatted about your jobs and where you grew up. At some point, both of your stomachs were growling and you opened up your big purse, pulling out some water and snacks. Erwin’s thick eyebrows lifted as you continued pulling out exactly what was needed.

“I like to come prepared.” You smiled shyly, hoping he wasn’t judging you.

“What else do you have in that magical bag of yours?” He scooted closer and you pulled out a bouncy ball, an old bus pass, your work keycard and a folded piece of paper. Erwin took the ball and the paper, opening it up and reading.

“Thirty-six questions to fall in love.” He held it up. “This is something you need to have with you at all times?”

“My friend gave me that.” You both laughed and you tried to grab it, but he pulled it away quickly.

“A friend, huh?” His eyes scanned over the first couple questions then looked at you. “I might be interested in asking you some of these questions.”

“Me?” Your eyes went wide. Why would he want to ask you any of those questions? You had to admit, you hadn’t actually read any of them when Fen gave you the paper, but if it’s about falling in love, you were sure the questions were about marriage and children. Why would Erwin want to ask any of those?

“I am a bit short on other participants.” He gestured around to the empty elevator. “Even so. You seem like you have a lot going on in your head.”

You looked up at him. This night was already a bust, stuck in an elevator with a stranger, albeit an incredibly handsome stranger, but a stranger nonetheless. Why not reveal all of your insecurities, past boyfriends, career failures and whatever other strange questions that paper had.

You turned your body to face him, lifting your legs until you were sitting cross-legged and placed your hands on your knees.

“Fine.” You took a deep breath. “Let’s do it.”

The rules were simple. You each ask each other a question, alternating who asks and who answers until all the questions are asked an answered. It was important they are done in order because they get increasingly more personal. After all questions were answered, you and your partner are to stare into each other’s eyes for four minutes.

You couldn’t even say that was easier said than done because it really didn’t even seem all that easy just saying it. Four minutes? You’ve never looked into anyone’s eyes for longer than a couple seconds. This doesn’t even touch on the fact that these questions were going to get more personal as you moved. The only thing that made this even remotely worth it was knowing every question you had to answer, Erwin had to answer the same one and you would be lying if that wasn’t exciting you.

…..

“Number three. Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?” Erwin set the list down in between you as you thought about the question. It didn’t really require that much thought honestly. You were a highly anxious person.

“Yes.” You nodded once and smiled. Erwin waited for you to keep going, but you just stared at him and then remembered. “Oh right! I ask the next one.”

You picked up the paper and Erwin took it from you, holding it above him and laughing at you as you let confusion spread across your face.

“It’s expected you also answer why.” He explained. “The idea is to get to know each other.”

“Yes, but I thought the reasoning was obvious.” You pointed out.

“Not to me.” He lowered his hand, setting the paper down as he watched you fiddle with your fingers.

“I find it almost necessary to practice it. Otherwise I’ll stumble over my words and get confused.” You admitted, shifting uncomfortably. You looked up and smiled, trying to pretend you weren’t as uneasy as you looked. “I bet you don’t have to do that.”

“I think we each have our own insecurities.” His smile was so understanding it had you biting your lip and looking down quickly, heat rushing to your cheeks. “I appreciate you sharing your answer.”

…..

“Number eight.” You paused as you read the question to yourself, a small gust of worry running through you. This definitely meant he was going to look at you. “Name three things you and your partner appear to have in common.”

You cleared your throat, keeping your eyes down on the paper, trying your best not show how uncomfortable it was going to be to have him staring at you. You could already feel his gaze. Was he looking at the dirt on your legs and skirt? Was he critiquing how messy your hair was or how your shirt didn’t match the rest of what you were wearing? Maybe he was judging your feet and your choice of socks. You looked down, making sure you did, in fact, shave your legs.

You couldn’t handle it anymore. You let your eyes slowly look up at him, meeting his stare. He was sitting cross-legged, his chin resting on his fist which was propped up on his knee, the smile on his face had a flush of warmth rushing to your cheeks and swirling in your chest.

“To start, I think we both care quite a bit about how we’re perceived by others.” He leaned back on his arms, straightening his legs out, his left leg brushing against yours and you shivered at the warmth. “We have a similar sense of fashion. I also have that same coat.”

He pointed to your jacket laying on the floor and you looked over at it, taking the moment to look away from him and gather yourself. He was quiet and you wondered if maybe he didn’t realize that was only two things in common. You turned to look at him.

“You’re supposed to name three.” You reminded him, looking at him with your eyebrows together. He smiled.

“I would stake a guess that we’re both big rule followers.”

…..

“Alright. Number thirteen. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?” He set the paper down in front of you, going back to resting his chin on his fist, a position you were beginning to realize was his go-to.

“Hmm…” You thought about it. There was no way you would ever want to know your future. You did that once at a carnival and you had anxiety for the next year over it. “I guess I would want to know the truth about myself.”

“What about yourself?”

“I think I would ask if I was a good person.” You nodded slowly. “Yeah, I would want to know if I am a good person.”

“Are you?”

“Am I what?”

“A good person.” He laughed.

“That’s what I would ask. I don’t know.”

“Well what is a good person?” He sat up straight. “To you. Your definition.”

“To me?” You were fiddling with your fingers again, a nervous habit that you often did when you were feeling eyes on you. “I guess someone who tries their best to be helpful and kind to everyone equally.”

“I think that’s a fair definition.” He nodded and you picked up the paper. “Do you do those things?”

“The things I listed?” You knew what he was getting at. He nodded. “Yeah.”

“So you have a definition of what a good person is and you’re already doing those things. Why do you need to ask a crystal ball if you’re a good person?”

“For confirmation?” You honestly had no idea. Why did you want to ask that? Erwin had a point. “I guess I don’t feelgood enough?”

“But if a crystal ball told you it was enough, you would believe it?” It all sounded so good in your head, but when you put it out there and he repeated it, it sounded like something a child would say.

“I guess it sounds kind of dumb when it’s said like that.” You laughed uncomfortably.

“Oh, no. I’m so sorry.” He put his hand on yours and you shivered at the warmth and looked up. His eyes looked so concerned.

“No, I didn’t mean to make you feel bad for saying it. I just realized it sounded bad out loud.” You both laughed at your apologies. Erwin rested his chin back on his fist.

“I was just trying to say that if something as simple as a crystal ball was enough for you to believe you were a good person, would you believe me if I told you?”

“This is only number thirteen.” You smiled. “Are you sure you know me well enough?”

…..

“Fifteen. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?” You put the paper down in between you both, the space that was beginning to grow smaller as you each moved closer together.

You were both getting increasingly more comfortable with each other as the questions got deeper and more personal. You had removed your shoes, scooting closer to Erwin while he took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves, moving closer to you.

Erwin looked up, thinking about the question. You’ve been enjoying the questions more as they went on, making Erwin think a bit more each time before answering. It gave you time to admire his face, his perfect bone structure, his incredible blue eyes, and the way he liked to tap his finger on his lip when he thought about things.

“I want to say deciding my career path.” He looked at you and it made you smile. “I thought I would… I was expected tofollow in my father’s footsteps and become a teacher, but I chose my own path. I’m happy with that.”

“What do you like about your current job?” You asked him.

“I like my job because it gives me the freedom to continue things I have interest in, like teaching kids about finance.”

“Wait.” You held your hand up. “You are proud of not following your father and being a teacher so that you could get a job in finance just so you could teach kids finance?”

“It certainly sounds silly when you say it like that.” You both laughed.

…..

“Twenty-nine. Share with your partner an embarrassing moment in your life.” You put your hand out and Erwin took an M&M from it, tossing it in the air and you caught it in your mouth, the only way you were allowed to eat them then, a rule you made around question twenty.

“Okay, I have it.” Erwin chewed his M&M you tossed him and continued. “When I was interviewing for my current position, I had never been to the building before that so I wasn’t familiar with it. The whole building is, in essence, a big glass box. It’s all windows, even the doors just look like large windows, but not the tinted ones. These are the completely clean and nearly invisible windows. As I made my way up the steps, I thought it was an open floorplan without any doors, so I just walked forward and stepped straight into the glass.”

You threw your head back with laughter and quickly tried to cover your mouth so he wouldn’t feel bad, snorting into your palm. Erwin smiled at you, his hand brushing over your waist before dropping to the ground.

“I’m sorry.” You apologized. “That’s a very understandable mistake. Honestly. It’s not so bad.”

“Yes, well.” He continued, a small smile on his face. “I also did it on my way out the building after the interview.”

You were roaring with laughter now. You tried your best to cover your mouth, but even your eyes were watering. You put your hand on his shoulder to steady yourself, but dropped your face there until you could calm yourself down enough.

“I’m sorry. Really. I shouldn’t be laughing at you for that.”

“It’s quite alright.” He bit his bottom lip before quickly smiling. “It’s worth it to see you smile.”

…..

“Question thirty-one. Tell your partner something that you like about them already.” Erwin set the paper down. It was quite amazing actually. You had only been in the elevator for a couple hours. You’ve only known Erwin for a couple hours. Looking at the way he set the paper down, how he was holding his face, barely looking away from you, slowly sitting back against the wall, his hands rubbing over his thighs to wipe the nervous sweat from his palms, he was uneasy. You could see it. Even knowing him for such a short time, you could already tell what he looked like when he was nervous. Thinking about it made the corner of your mouth turn up in a small smile.

You had a feeling he would expect the obvious things. He was a gentleman, he was honest, he was kind, he spoke well. You wanted to give him something to make his eyes shoot up to meet yours and to make a small smile grow on his face.

“I like that you helped take this really terrible situation on an already crappy Friday night and made me have the most fun I’ve had in a long time.” His eyes shot up to look at you, a small smile growing on his face. Bingo.

…..

You laughed, blowing air from your mouth as you tried to hold it in, giving up and throwing your head back with a loud laugh. Erwin was smiling at you, his cheeks coloring pink as he absentmindedly slid his hands over your waist.

It was too embarrassing, too cringy, too intimate for someone you just met and you were sure even if you knew each other well, it would be just as awkward. You managed to calm yourself down enough, still letting out puffs of air and giggling every time the discomfort crossed your mind.

“Let’s try again.” Erwin spoke softly, shaking your hips a little as he smiled.

“It wasn’t embarrassing enough that you want to do it again?” Your eyes went wide.

“I just shared thirty-six highly personal pieces of information about myself. What’s four minutes of looking into eyes as beautiful as yours?”

Your jaw dropped open, bottom lip moving up and down as you searched for something to say. He was flirting, that was definitely flirting. The idea of a man like this flirting with you left you a bit speechless. You finally just sank back, smiling shyly as you looked at your hands.

“We don’t have to.” He leaned his head to the side to look at your face. “I apologize if I’ve made you uncomfortable.”

“No, it’s okay.” You looked up at him. The idea of a man like him flirting with you might be unbelievable, but this whole situation was a bit unbelievable and while you were living in a dream, you might as well really live in it. “Let’s try again.”

He smiled and it melted your insides. You weren’t a confident person naturally. There were a handful of things you could confidently say you didn’t overthink, but the majority of the time, you were always second guessing everything you did, every decision you made. So when you decided to sit yourself on his legs in front of him, hands resting on either side of his thighs, you were just as surprised as he was, his blue eyes peering into yours as his eyebrows dropped and he let out an exhale.

“Start the timer,” you instructed. He didn’t even look down at his phone as he started the four-minute timer from zero. He dropped a quick glance down to your lips and brought his eyes back to yours, a small smile played on his lips.

You weren’t brazen enough to sit on his thighs, your butt rested comfortable on his shins and your upper body leaned forward towards him, but the new shift in position gave you a confidence you didn’t have a moment before.

His phone let out one small beep and you smiled. One minute had passed. You held his gaze, noticing him licking his lips, his tongue fliting out and the tiniest lip bite before he rested his lips in a smile. You shifted in your spot and his hands inched their way to yours. His first finger getting there first, wrapping itself around your pinky and you smiled, encouragement to have the rest of his hand follow.

A second beep from his phone and he rubbed his hand gently up and back down your forearm. You sat yourself a bit closer, lifting yourself off his legs and slowly scooting forward until your butt rested on the cushy muscles of his thighs. His hands connected with yours until they slipped free and rested on your waist, sliding back and roughly grabbing the extra meat of your hips. He blinked slowly, licking his lips and you felt like your heart would beat out of your chest. He raised his knees, sliding your body down his thighs and pushing you up against his chest, your faces barely an inch apart.

You couldn’t help but smile at him and he brushed your hair from your face, his hand cupping your jaw while his other hand brought your body even closer to him. His eyes moved to your lips, looking away from your eyes for the first time since the four minutes started.

You rested your palms on his chest, feeling just how firm, yet soft it was before letting yourself lean in to press your lips tenderly to his. It was like electricity shooting through your body at the contact and your hands quickly moved to the back of his head, pulling him in. He must have felt the same way because his hands slid up your back to keep you in his lap and resting against him.

You moved your lips slightly against his and he opened his mouth, teasing your lips with his tongue until you opened your mouth. He didn’t push his way in, his tongue waited for yours to meet him halfway before he started exploring the cavern of your mouth. You panted against his mouth. You were amazed that he still tasted like minty toothpaste, even after all the snacks you both ate and you wondered if your breath had any remnants of anything fresh, but the pull of his hands to bring you closer had you thinking it couldn’t be that bad.

His hand slid lower down your back, the touch giving you chills. He timidly ran over your hips, and moved back up, settling on your waist. You slid towards him a bit, your hips barely lifting up before resting back in his lap and he groaned, a deep rumble that echoed off the walls of the elevator and vibrated through to your own chest.

You smiled. Your lips pulling away from his, but your hands remained in his hair, brushing through the blond locks now entirely out of place. He sighed, looking at where his hands were resting on your hips. He moved one of those hands to your cheek and leaned back in to kiss you as the four-minute alarm on his phone sounded and you both jumped, laughing quietly.

He turned back to you and continued leaning in, his hand moving to behind your head as his lips reached yours.

“Hey! Is there someone in there?” Someone called from outside the elevator. Your eyes widened and you stood up.

“Hello? Yes! We’re stuck!” You called through the doors, hoping your voice was loud enough. You turned back to Erwin, grinning with excitement and he stood up, fixing his shirt sleeves and moving behind you.

“Alright! We got a guy who can open up these doors.” The man called from outside.

You stepped back, directly into Erwin’s arms and he held your shoulders. The contact with him made you turn around to look at him. He had his suit jacket back on and you remembered your shoes. The man that was outside started prying open the doors and you grabbed your shoes, sliding them on and picking up the things from your purse that were scattered along the ground.

In the corner of the elevator was the small plastic capsule of your pantyhose and for a moment, you froze. In the time you were stuck in there with Erwin, for a short amount of time you had completely forgotten about your blind date. The man probably waited for hours only to hear nothing back from you. Guilt was starting to settle in. Even if you didn’t want to go on the date in the first place, you weren’t the kind of person to just leave someone hanging like that. And the whole time you were in here enjoying yourself with Erwin. Well, you may have been trapped, but knowing you were having fun with someone else made your stomach fill with shame.

You stood up, having collected all your things and faced the elevator doors. Your mood shifting entirely from only moments before. Erwin had grabbed his things and put his shoes back on. You could see light coming from the slowly growing crack in the elevator doors and you squinted a bit as your eyes adjusted. Erwin moved closer to you, his arm pressing against yours as he leaned in.

“Y/N, I…” You looked up to him.

“Alright, that’s it. You guys can come through.” The man told. Erwin pressed his lips together in a smile.

“After you.” He gestured. You stepped through the elevator doors onto the landing of the sixth floor.

You only had a couple floors to walk up and while you could have done it alone, it was nice walking with him. That is, until the realization hit that you were only going to be walking with him for a couple short flights of stairs, after which, you will say your good-byes and most likely never see each other again.

There really wasn’t any way this man wanted to see you more than the forced three hours he just had to endure. You sighed to yourself. That thought coupled with the mixture of guilt for your blind date was enough for this Friday night. When you made it to your floor, you opened the stairwell door, made sure to hold it for him and quickly hurried to your apartment and unlocked the door.

You rushed inside, closing the door behind you and resting your head against the door. That was fun, but there was no way it was going further. Your date may have been cancelled at this point, but Erwin still had time for whatever rendezvous he had planned. Just the thought of you kissing him without knowing anything about who he was coming to see was making you cringe.

Beyond that, there was the notion that your kiss would lead to something and that was embarrassing enough. You didn’t need to stick around after that. To think that anything else would come of it was a lot of pressure and expectations on him just to fulfill your little girl fantasy. You both got caught up in the moment and that was it. There was nothing else to it. You took a deep breath and set your bag on the floor.

Walking to your dining room table, you pulled out your phone to call your friend. You may not have wanted to go on that blind date at all, but forcing the poor schmuck to wait hours for you without even a text was unfair.

As you unlocked the screen, you saw twelve unread messages from Fen and quickly looked through them.

[6:30pm I just spoke with him. He’s on his way to your place now.]

[6:38pm I guess I forgot to mention how punctual he is.]

[6:38pm A lot better than me, right? XD]

[6:45pm What are you going to wear?]

[6:50pm You’re so lucky you have a friend like me to set you up on dates for a Friday night.]

[6:51pm He just texted me. He’s at your place]

[6:51pm Why aren’t you answering your bell??]

[6:52pm You’re not standing him up, right? Please, he’s so cute!]

[6:54pm Someone let him in. I told him your apartment number. You better let him in!]

[7:15pm I haven’t heard from him so you must be out. Why aren’t you texting me??]

[7:16pm I guess that must mean you’re having a great time!]

[7:24pm I just ate a whole pack of Oreos.]

Your heart was racing. Someone let him in? You checked the time of the message. Someone let him in around the time you were letting Erwin into the lobby. Your jaw dropped, your mind hurrying through your thoughts.

You didn’t have time to think about it because your doorbell rang and your head shot up from your phone as your heart nearly leapt from your chest. Hesitantly, you set your phone down on the table, letting your mind believe what you were hoping was true. Before you could overthink it, you walked to the door, unlocking it and turning the knob, taking a deep breath before pulling the door open.

Erwin stood there, his jacket back on, shirt straightened and hair back in place.

“I—uh… it looks like I’m your date for tonight.” He smiled nervously at you, his phone in his hands with Fen’s name on the screen. “If you’re still interested, I would very much like to accompany you to dinner.”

You were still interested. You were more than still interested. What were the chances that the man you enjoyed so much time with stuck in an elevator was the date you were supposed to meet all along? You made a mental note to thank Fen because, for once, she was spot on with this match. You smiled broadly and pretended to think about it, playfully tapping your finger to your lips in the same way he did when he thought.

“How do you feel about having dinner at my place?” You stepped back a bit, opening the door wider.

“I think I’d like that very much.” He stepped inside and you closed the door.

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neowinestainedress · 3 years ago

Text

DYNASTY ⮚ NCT

prev⏐ chapter twenty-one ⏐ next ⏐ masterpost

warnings: suggestive scene

genre: fantasy au, royal au, super powers au

word count: 4.424

summary: The apparent calm that reigns in Neo City breaks into million pieces when some members of the Neos find an outsider laying unconscious in the wood. After that, everything they know stops making sense. Menace from the past come back, while they have to rule on their city knowing that the menace of Simon’s dictatorial power is closer day by day. The past they never dared to face will wash over them like impetuous waves. The present is filled with doubts, regrets and the mystery of the lost memories of the nameless girl. The future is even more uncertain.

Can you break the chain with your past even if it’s running in your bloodstream?

taglist: @saeyeoniee @shwizhies | if you want to be added let me know under the masterpost or with a message

Agreeing with Kun was the last thing Bambi wanted to do, but she didn’t have many choices. Kun had given her a kind of an ultimatum, he asked her to at least spend one day down at the city with Jungwoo, see for a day how it really was out there and then decide what to do. If living downtown was her ultimate decision he would’ve helped her find a job and a place to stay.

And now, after not much more than 15 minutes of car, she understood why Kun was so apprehensive about the whole thing. The city was huge. She had never really seen it before, or better, she has always felt big from the hill where the Neo Palace rested, but now, down there in those streets between the tall buildings, she felt extremely small. The neon lights were almost blinding, and not even all of them were on since it wasn’t night.

“Wow, it’s been ages since I last came here,” Lucas whispered as they climbed out of the car and started to walk down the streets. Kun had insisted that Mark and the other fighter would go with them, it was their free day, and the two took the chance immediately when they heard they could do something different than staying inside the walls of the palace.

“Yeah, it seems so different even if nothing changed,” Mark agreed with the blonde soon after locking the vehicle and putting the keys in his pocket. The only ones who used to go to the city were Taeyong, the healers because they also had a medical studio in town, and sometimes the thinkers for other businesses they had to deal with. The fighters basically had no chance to get out of their house, not like they were forced inside, but their tiring training didn’t even give them the chance to visit the city after a long day of work.

“Why the style of Neo Palace is so different from the city?” Bambi asked in awe as she kept looking around. Her curious eyes flew from building to building, studying the billboards, and the signs of those languages she had no idea she could understand.

“Well,” Mark mumbled, trying to find the words, “The city has pretty much been like this since...Simon,” he hesitated “and the palace is older than everything. Even when the fire burned it down we decided to be loyal to the original architecture while rebuilding it.”

“So Simon loved to feel like a king,” Bambi chuckled, noting how royal-like the palace and its insides were, compared to the city that looked futuristic.

“Yeah, I guess you could say that, what do we expect from a megalomaniac?” Mark snickered, moving a strand of hair that the wind blew on his eyes. All of a sudden the cold was once again hard, and the only thing Mark wanted now, was to go inside of a warm coffee and drink a cup of hot chocolate.

“Nothing different,” Bambi smiled bittersweetly.

“Can we talk about something else, though?” Jungwoo intruded in the conversation, wrapping his arm around Bambi’s.

“Yes, Woo, also we need to find a warm place to go, I don’t want to freeze to death,” Mark laughed, looking at the others while adjusting the black beanie on top of his head.

“Are there any close Cafè, here?” Bambi asked still looking around and seeing mostly buildings that seemed like workplaces. Banks, offices, print shops, hotels, even.

“Well, not here, here,” Lucas answered instead of the younger fighter, “but not far away from here, there’s the centre of the city. It’s really pretty actually. The houses resemble an old Chinese style. There are no skyscrapers actually, it’s like every floor it’s a small street with restaurants and shops. Going there during Christmas was the best.” A sad smile appeared on the three men faces as Lucas spoke. That part of the city was their small getaway from reality when they had the possibility to sneak out, whether it was at night or in the afternoon. And there was also the only place where holidays felt like holidays.

“Me, Lucas and Ana used to sneak out after school and drink mulled wine even if we technically couldn’t, you know, we weren’t of age,” Jungwoo remembered with a smile on his face that left the two other men quite surprised. He had stopped talking about her so lightly, or better, he had stopped talking about her, ever.

“So you’re telling me that you weren’t as calm as it seems?” Bambi pretended to be shocked as she stared at the pink-haired with wide eyes and mouth and a hand on her chest.

“Plot twist,” Jungwoo chuckled, “our days were really exhausting, without a getaway we would’ve gone crazy.” His tone then got a little bit sadder and lower, because at the end that was exactly what happened to him when they started to trap him and lock him in a room for weeks, months even. But right now he didn’t want to think about that. It was an overall beautiful day of February, he was finally putting his nose out of that walls again, and he was with his friends. No, he wasn’t healed completely, still bruised and burned, but he was happy for now, and he didn’t want that happiness to go away. He knew damn well how swift it was to go away.

Bambi grasped the change in the air, she wanted to reassure him somehow but when a genuine smile crept on his face she stopped, and simply smiled back.

“Wait,” she then exclaimed, stopping in her tracks for a moment, making the other do the same, “You went to school? You trained? How many things were you able to do in a day?”

Mark laughed, almost hysterically and then started to walk down the road again while talking. “Our lives have been quite normal ‘till we were 10 years old,” he started explaining, causing the curly-haired to giggle from happiness because finally, they were answering her questions and not pushing her away. She shouldn’t have a prejudice against them, to be honest, the three of them never said anything bad to her, and with Lucas and Mark, she never had a chance to have a serious talk. But it was nice to know that they were different.

On the other side, Mark was a little afraid of talking. Kun had told them to talk, a lot, even about the smallest things, trying to do anything that could trigger something in her brain. Their hope was for that to happen once she was back and was sleeping but the healer had told them that they still had to be prepared because memories can come back any time, and Mark was terrified something could happen there. He kind of thought that the two of them weren’t the best choice to send with them, maybe Kun himself should’ve accompanied them, or maybe Sicheng and Liv.

“We all went to the kindergarten with other children. I don’t really think our parents wanted us to go there, but they had to show that the children of the rebels were like anybody else. The rulers and the citizens on the same level, or some kind of bullshit they used to say,” Mark scoffed, his hands were still in his pockets, trying to fight the cold, and his lips would’ve bled soon for how much he was wetting them and then biting them.

Lucas stilled at his words for a second, scared that Bambi would ask for more, but when she kept quiet and just listened with an interested look on her face, the fighter could breathe a sigh of relief.

“I think some of the oldest went to a public elementary school for the first two years maybe, then after Yuta, none of us has seen other children ever again. They started to divide our day between home school and the different training we had to do. We couldn’t quite understand why they were doing that. But we never had much saying in our lives.” Another bittersweet laugh left his lips. As much as Bambi wanted to listen, hoping to gain more information with that, there were still a lot of things that didn’t add up, so this time she couldn’t fight her urge to talk.

“And now, you know why they did that?” She asked with a tremble in her voice. That was something she never understood, if their parents were good why were they so strict and cruel with them? Who, and why, would do that to their own blood?

Jungwoo shifted at her side and held tighter on her arm, but once again the one who answered was Mark. He decided to opt for a small truth and a little white lie and tell her the reasoning they gave to themselves when they were unaware of all the other things they put them through. Talking about the experiments would’ve been quite useless anyway, they knew they were doing them, but why was still unknown.

“It was understandable, we were the next to reign. We had to be strong, smart, ready for any inconvenience. They had chosen the strongest physically and turned us into fighters. The smartest into thinkers and healers. The only thing in common? We all had to know at least five languages, but you know everybody has to. They are taught at home by the families, usually, parents teach the languages of where they are from and then school does the rest.”

“But old cities don’t exist anymore?” Bambi asked remembering the books she had read in those nights when she couldn’t sleep. After the apocalypse, a lot of things had changed, and one of these was that the earth wasn’t like before and neither were the continents, countries and cities. People started to mix up and so did their languages and cultures and new Reigns came to life. There were tales about those places, but most of them seemed unrealistic to her, too magical.

“No, they don’t, but people know where they are from. At birth, you are assigned another city of birth, or more if you’re parents come from different places. Even if it’s symbolic, it was done not to lose the identity of each one and embrace the different cultures. Simon tried to also get rid of that, you know, when everybody is the same it also means that they have nothing, so it’s easier to control them. They had a new whole identity that was only related to being part of Infinity City.” Bambi nodded, she had also read that in one of that books, but once again something was missing. Why weren’t things, luckily, like that anymore? Who made it possible for people to be aware once again of their roots and cultures and cherish them even among hundreds of others?

“Our parents,” Lucas replied, almost as if her trail of thoughts were so loud that he could hear her, “when they took over,” he finished, once again hoping that she wouldn’t have gone there with the conversation. And once again Bambi nodded in silence.

“Anyway,” Mark said, going back to the original topic, “our days stopped being normal quiet soon. Especially for me, Lucas, Liv, Yuta, Jaehyun and Anastasia.” The girl shifted, not for the cold that was actually getting on everybody’s nerves now, but at hearing that name. So that famous girl was a fighter?

“Let’s say that while other children were playing soldier with wooden swords we were doing it with real ones,” Lucas added trying to shrug the feeling of unease off. They had been quite left at their destiny, with the only advice to survive, and there wasn’t a day where he wouldn’t stop thinking that they could’ve easily killed each other by mistake.

It was funny and entertaining seeing them now, after years on the battleground. Now that they knew each other by heart. Now that they had spent years studying each other, their weakness and their strength. Now that they had been in the game for quite some time to know how to properly play to get a growth from that and not injuries. But it had been mentally devastating for their little selves. All the tears Yuta would cry as he carried one of them to Sicheng who had to seal the wounds that the sharp object he couldn’t handle caused. Or the loud thumping of his heart being the only thing he could hear while he was forced to train his shot aim while one of the girls stayed still in front of him, if his hand only didn’t hold the grip tight enough, a splattered brain would’ve been the only remaining thing of them. And how all of the packages of ice that Kun had to bring to Jaehyun and Anastasia every time they boxed still weren’t enough to not make their faces bloat. Or the way Liv hated to practice dodging with Mark because she was forced to be perfect and not care if the other boy was enough in shape to have his reflexes this fast.

He knew, that as much as it had been terrible for every single one of them, none of the others had such traumatizing experiences. They had to play with each other lives every day since they were barely 10 years old.

“Yeah,” Mark agreed, his voice not much higher than a whisper, “We’re here by the way,” he said, turning left. And right in front of them, there were thousands of shops, and restaurants, and also what seemed to be houses, all lined up on four, five different floors. The building seemed to be made of wood. And plants and trees run up on the walls, there wasn’t much green due to the season but the ambient was still warm and cosy thanks to the red-orange-ish lighting that hang outside of the shops and the lampposts. At the start, there was like a gate with wisteria crowing the arcades.

They took some steps inside and all of a sudden it really felt like they were being transported to another different place. The style was a perfect mix of Chinese and European architecture. The buildings were mostly Asian like, especially the ones starting from the second floor, while the street and the little she could see of the first floor resembled small towns all over Europe. She was fascinated, and couldn’t believe that the art she had seen and dreamt of in those art books or old novels was right in front of her eyes.

“On the second floor, there’s our favourite spot. It’s a small cafè, but they also have a room with cats, music and books. We used to come here because it had many things to keep us all busy doing what we liked while also being together. And the lady has always been kind of like a grandmother for all of us,” Mark told her as he started to make his way up the bricks stairs. A small smile made its way on her cold face, a shy shade of red could be seen on the tip of her nose, but even the freezing cold couldn’t stop the warmth that was taking its place in her heart. That was the closest thing to a normal life she was going to experience in ages, and it felt so good, it almost seemed surreal.

Johnny never understood how their relationship got like that. He couldn’t explain how what they had crumbled apart making them drift apart just to inevitably get back to each other. People grow and change, you can’t always expect relationships to stay the same but what had changed between them? Because now that Ten was pushing his body against the wall, aggressively biting his neck as his hands moved frenetically under his shirt he could see nothing but the same old Ten. The witty, shameless teenager that would pull him in the closet locker of the palace to make out between every matching break they had.

Johnny sighed, a moan rolled out of his lips against his will when the younger bit a specific spot of his neck.

A smirk crept on Ten’s face; he loved to see that Johnny couldn’t resist him and, at the end of the day, he was the only one who knew him by heart. Every millimetre of his skin was immortalized in his memory, every single one of his weaknesses, every small thing that could get the older down on his knees. Ten had him in the palm of his hands, tied to him with a string that made him dance to silent music.

Johnny’s hands reached for his and stopped his movement. Trying to stop that to happen before even the last bite of sanity would abandon him. He wanted that, he wanted everything that Ten had to offer so fucking bad. But where was this leading them?

Ten giggled, his sharp eyes locked in his in a second, “Don’t try to stop me, you know damn well you don’t want this to stop.”

Johnny smiled slyly, and then moved closer to Ten’s ears, his hot breath colliding against it, causing a shiver to run down the younger’s spine. “I thought you said we should stop doing this,” he then whispered with his lowest tone, his voice coming out sultry yet like poison to remind him the words he had said to him the last time he tried to push him away, failing for the nth time.

Ten froze on the spot, his hands unconsciously grabbing to Johnny’s forearm, afraid he would slip from his fingers anytime soon.

Johnny chuckled under his breath, he knew that. Because if Ten had him in the palm of his hands, Johnny had him in his just as much. Few words, the right ones, said with the right tone and Ten’s walls would come crashing down.

When Ten pulled away slightly, almost to let him go, with his head low and his feet moving nervously, Johnny ran a hand through his hair. He moved closer, just one step was enough for him to reach the other. His big hands moved to touch his chin and lift it up, an evil smile creeping on his face as soon as he saw the other. The dominant strong tiger turned into a defenceless kitten.

“What are you waiting for, Ten?” He whispered, leaning closer with his face with every word. “What are you waiting to take a bite of my heart?” He continued, lips to lips, their breaths colliding, their mind going hazy. Ten closed his eyes, waiting for a kiss that never came. The cold replaced the warmth of Johnny’s body soon.

Ten turned around to see the other man stand at the other side of the room next to the door grabbing his suit jacket that fell before, his wide back facing him. He didn’t hesitate to walk to him and turn him around harshly.

“You want to play, uh?” Ten asked with his head tilted to the side. Johnny didn’t answer, he simply stood still, wetting his lips while his eyes penetrated his soul. “Well, I like it better like this. When I have to run after you. When I have to beg. When I make you think you have the reins of the situation but at the end, it’s me who’s leading the game.”

Johnny laughed, a deep laugh coming from his stomach. So fake yet so cruel to get on Ten’s nerves enough that he would’ve pushed him against the wall once again and shut him up with a kiss.

“Then show me, honey,” the older teased with a smirk on his face, “That’s what I wanted you to show me. I told you,” he stopped, finding himself close to him now, his hand gently moving a strand of black hair out of his face, “why don’t you take a bite of my heart and show me what you’re capable of?” He then leaned closer, once again their lips almost brushing against each other. “Or do you want this to be a game? The hunter and his prey?” He asked, their eyes burning in each other. “Sounds like fun, do you want me to start running?”

Ten didn’t waste more time, he had teased him enough. Just a swift movement was enough for him to press Johnny’s body against the wall and start again right where he had been stopped before. Johnny was definitely stronger than him, but he turned powerless pretty easily against his touch. Johnny could’ve easily run and hide, push him off of himself, and maybe he should’ve, the rational part of his brain was screaming for him to run, to stop this. But he didn’t want to. No matter how wrong what they had was, he couldn’t get enough.

So there they were again. Body against body as the flame of lust started to consume their souls another time. Ten’s hands were moving fast and hungry on him, not caring if he had just popped every button of Johnny’s shirt. He needed him, now. He needed to see him putty in his hands. To have some kind of control over him for a while. To have Johnny for a while, because, no matter how hard it was to admit, since Johnny wasn’t his anymore, he felt like shit. He needed to prove to him that he was the best, and nobody would’ve known him like he did. Ten needed to be consumed by Johnny’s flame because it was the only flame that made him feel alive.

It was sick. So fucking sick. Whatever they had, now. It was sad, thinking about their older times together. But Ten didn’t want to think about it, not now, he would’ve let those thoughts not let him sleep that night. Because now he had Johnny right there, in front of him, already looking like a mess, all ’cause of him, and that was enough to let a wave of pride consume and make him feel powerful. Johnny was wrapped around his fingers and he wasn’t going to get away, not that night at least.

And any last trail of sanity left Johnny’s brain as he let himself get lulled by Ten’s touch. His slim fingers tracing invisible patterns on his skin that only he knew. His warm touch, an exciting contrast to the cold air that hit his skin once he was left out of every clothes.

But when Ten kept playing around, getting closer to where he needed him the most but never close enough to give him any type of relief he snapped. It didn’t take him much to lift Ten up and press his still completely covered body against the wall that sustained his body just a few seconds before.

“Nobody ever told you, you shouldn’t let the prey wait, she might show hidden parts of her and attack back.”

“Or maybe the prey is just a hunter in disguise,” Ten bit back, the poison in his voice watered by the defeat he couldn’t repress.

“Aren’t two hunters fighting with each other the most destructive thing ever?” The other asked as his hands started to pull down of his shoulder Ten’s jacket.

“But aren’t we masters at this play?” He answered, his face moving closer to grasp a taste of Johnny’s lips. “And weren’t you getting tired of waiting?” He teased, his hands grasped the back of his nape and pulled back, strong enough to make a moan roll out of Johnny’s lips.

“I am tired of waiting,” Johnny growled as he pushed his hips against Ten, making him feel with his body how he couldn’t take it anymore.

“I was going to take care of that if only you weren’t so greedy, John,” Ten smirked.

“Don’t call me that, I hate it.”

“Oh, sorry, Youngho,” Ten giggled, fake innocence plastered on his face.

“I hate you, I hate you so much, Ten,” he mumbled against his lips as he caught him in a messy and rough kiss. Their breaths leaving their lungs.

“No you don’t, and you know it damn well,” the black-haired teased, as his hand tugged on Johnny’s hair once again, this time pulling him closer.

“Yeah, I don’t and that’s the problem. That’s what fucks me up,” he growled, before turning around heading towards the bed. He let Ten fall on the mattress not so gently, causing his light body to jump a little, but before the younger could sit up, Johnny was already on top of him. His hands busy to rid him of any other useless piece that was covering his body.

“You’re not getting out alive from tonight, kitten,” Johnny whispered before biting slightly on his neck under his ear. The mix of his voice and his teeth sinking his skin caused a whine to slip out of Ten’s mouth. Yes, he was more than sure he would’ve been the death of him, but he would’ve liked it more than anything else. Fuck trying to be in control, he wanted Johnny to take everything from him.

“Who said I wanted to make it out alive?” Ten smirked, pushing him closer to him once again.

“I want every little drop of you.”

“Then stop fucking around, Johnny, and take it,” Ten remarked in a stern tone, “take everything I have to offer,” he then whispered letting his body fall on the bedsheets again.

And he did. They let their soul get consumed by each other, as their hands couldn’t get enough of their burning skins, and their lips kept crashing and biting. The devil playing in the sheets with them, every sin getting sweeter.

There they were again. The same old habit that was going to make them sick. Or maybe they already were, sick like animals, trying to hide from each other, playing pretend, just to come back to one another.

Once again, their bodies were rolling in those sheets, and those four walls were once again looking at their show, laughing at how foolish and weak they were. Human being. So strong yet so bad at fighting the most primordial instinct. And while they were messing themselves up even more, the world outside was silently listening to their souls’ unspoken cries. Begging to be saved. But it was all useless; no God would listen to their damned souls.

#nct fanfiction #nct fantasy au #nct royal au #nct superpowers au #nct u #nct 127 #nct dream #wayv #nct smut #nct fluff #nct angst

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