#thanks to everyone who sent one of these in

[mssishipi]

was it casual? - l.hs

PAIRING: heeseung x afab reader ft. sunoo

SYNOPSIS: Let’s play “Casual” by Chappell Roan. How far can you sink for a guy who only sees you as a bed warmer? Somewhere between the silences, you start to wonder. If it’s just casual, why does it feel so real? And if it means nothing, why does it hurt so much?

genre: angst warning: profanities, heeseung is an asshole (his friends also), reader is a sucker for bare minimum :(, smoking, contains 2nd hand smoke too, mention of pregnancy, sad and kinda happy ending (if you squint), lots of crying and self sabotage, explicit content (smut) contains unprotected sex, doggy style, pussy eating, mention of squirting, blowjob, shower sex.

WC:12.3K

A/N: damn 233 followers already? thank you so much! here's some angsty heeseung fanfic for y'all

"Why are you so dumb for crawling back to that man? We all know you're just one of the girls he likes to bang."

The words hit like a slap, burning through your chest, Your fingers clenched around the edge of the table, nails digging into the cheap wood, the pressure grounding you as frustration bubbled in your throat. You shouldn't care. You shouldn't. But fuck, it hurt.

Fuck Lee Heeseung. Fuck everything about him.

You knew his reputation. Everyone did. He was the guy people whispered about in dimly lit hallways, the one whose name was laced with envy and lust.

Lee Heeseung wasn't just wanted—he was craved. His sharp cheekbones, the way his thin upper lip curled when he smirked, the small face that somehow made his presence even more intimidating. And that nose—slightly arched, just perfect enough to make your stomach twist when he looked down at you. He wasn't an academic genius, far from it, but intelligence was never his selling point. It was the way he carried himself, the lazy confidence, the quiet arrogance that made people flock to him like moths to a flame.

And you? You were just another moth.

But no—no, that wasn't true. You were different, weren't you? Heeseung doesn't fuck twice. That was his rule. One time, one night, then you were nothing but a name on his list, a passing memory in his beautifully wrecked life. Yet with you... it wasn't just once. He kept coming back, kept pulling you in with his heated stares, his late-night texts, the way he said your name like it meant something.

And maybe that's why you let yourself believe—just for a moment—that you were special.

But were you? Or were you just another girl foolish enough to think she mattered?

Your breath hitched, throat tightening as the weight of it all pressed down on you. You were exhausted. Exhausted from convincing yourself that he was just "figuring things out." That he was complicated, not careless. That maybe, just maybe, he wanted you the way you wanted him.

But he didn't. He never did.

And you were done.

Fuck him. Fuck his stupid, perfect face.

You were going to leave. You are going to block him, ignore him, and dragged him out of your heart with bloodied hands if you had to. It was what you deserved.

Sike, bitch.

"Heeseung!" You screamed his name, fingers twisting into the sheets as he drove into you from behind, your body arching under the force of his thrusts.

"Fuck, you're always so tight," he groaned, voice wrecked, half-laughing like he knew exactly how weak you were for him.

His grip on your waist tightened, his hips snapping against yours with punishing speed. Every thrust sent a shockwave through your body, pleasure and frustration tangling into something dangerous, something that made you forget why you wanted to leave in the first place.

His hand slid up your back, rough fingers ghosting over your spine before settling around your throat.

He forced you down, pressing your chest into the mattress as he continued to drive into you, deeper, harder, making you feel every inch of him. Your breasts bounced with each movement, and then—fuck—his other hand found your clit, rubbing slow, teasing circles that made your legs tremble beneath him.

"You're shaking already?"

You bit your lip, trying to hold back the moan threatening to escape, but then he tightened his grip on your throat just enough to make your head spin.

"Hee—fuck—" Your voice broke as the pressure coiled inside you, too much, too fast, overwhelming.

"Come for me," he ordered, his breath hot against your ear.

And you did. Hard.

Your orgasm hit, your body clenching around him as pleasure crashed through you in dizzying waves.

Heeseung groaned, his pace faltering, and then he was spilling inside you, his hips jerking as he buried himself to the hilt. His lips found yours from behind, his tongue sliding against yours in a slow, claiming kiss, the kind that made your heart stutter even as you hated yourself for it.

The both of you collapsed onto the bed, breathing heavy, bodies slick with sweat and satisfaction.

Heeseung didn't move immediately. Instead, he slid his fingers through your hair, tugging lightly as he kissed the back of your neck—slow, lazy.

Your chest tightened.

Was it casual?

Your brain screamed yes.

But the way your heart fluttered said otherwise.

Fuck Lee Heeseung. Fuck him for making simple things feel intimate.

Fuck him for always making you stay at his place, for the way he hugged you from behind in the morning, lips warm against your neck as he whispered a sleepy "Good morning, baby." Like you were his. Like this was more than just a cycle of fucking and pretending it didn't mean anything.

And fuck him—most of all—for never wearing a condom when it came to you.

Your legs shook as you sat on the edge of the bed, his cum dripping down your thigh. The room still smelled like sweat, sex, and Heeseung—faint cologne mixed with something distinctly him. Your chest rose and fell unevenly, fingers clutching the sheets as you glared at him.

"I told you not to cum inside me," you snapped.

Heeseung, fresh out of the shower, a towel slung low around his hips, only grinned as he reached for you, spreading your legs with ease. He looked down, watching the way your swollen cunt twitched, still messy from him.

"I always thought you weren't the type to let that happen," you muttered, frustration bubbling in your chest. "I heard you always wear a condom with other girls."

His smirk deepened. "Maybe you're not like other girls."

Your stomach twisted. You hated how easily his words got to you, how they made your heart stumble, made you want to believe you were different—even when you knew better.

Before you could snap back, Heeseung licked his lips, then slowly, wiped the mess between your legs with a towel.

You sucked in a sharp breath at the sensation, the rough fabric making you flinch. "I told you to take a pill," he murmured, his voice half-amused, half-serious.

Your glare hardened. "Fuck you? You're the one who needs to adjust, bitch. If I get pregnant—"

He cut you off smoothly, not even blinking. "It won't be a problem." He looked at you, eyes dark and unreadable. "I'm ready to be a father, babe."

Your whole body locked up. What?

Your breath hitched, your cheeks flushing as you raised your hand to slap his shoulder. He laughed, dodging easily, catching your wrist in his grip before kissing your knuckles.

"You're so cute when you get mad," he teased, leaning in, his lips barely brushing against yours.

Your heart stupidly skipped a beat. He kissed you again—gentle, slow, as if this wasn't just another night of mistakes. As if he meant it.

"I'll buy you Plan B tomorrow," he murmured against your lips.

You swallowed hard, fingers curling against his chest.

Was it casual?

Fuck him for ghosting you after spending the whole weekend in his bed.

You stared at your phone, fingers tightening around the device like you could crush it, like that would somehow erase the ache in your chest. The message you sent two days ago still sat there, unread. Or maybe it was read, and he just didn't care enough to reply.

And screw you—screw you for being so fucking stupid. For always checking your notifications like some pathetic, desperate girl waiting for scraps of attention. For letting your heart lurch every time your phone vibrated, only to sink when it wasn't him.

"Just get over him already," your friend sighed, sipping her iced coffee as she leaned back against the café booth. "He's not worth it."

How could you?

How could you just get over the way he kissed your forehead in the middle of the night, the way he pulled you closer in his sleep, like he needed you there? How could you forget his sweet smile, his stupid Bambi eyes, the way he looked at you like you were something special—only to turn around and act like you didn't exist?

And screw you—screw you for being a fucking loser.

And that's why you were here, drowning in cheap alcohol, trying to forget him.

"God, I really need a drink." You muttered, rubbing your temple as the bass of the club pulsed through your skull.

Your friend side-eyed you, unimpressed. "It's fucking Wednesday, babe. Middle of the week. Calm your ass down."

You ignored her, slamming back another shot.

"Fuck Lee Heeseung!" you suddenly shouted, voice slurred, drawing a few stares from nearby tables.

Legs swaying, balance unsteady, you barely noticed when someone grabbed your waist, steadying you before you could fall flat on your face.

A familiar grip. A familiar presence.

Your blurry vision focused just enough to make out the sharp jawline, the messy dark hair, the annoyingly pretty face you spent too much time thinking about.

"Ohhh, it's you—Lee Heeseung!" You pointed at him, laughing as if this wasn't a complete fucking disaster. "What ya doin' here?"

His jaw ticked, eyes dark as they scanned over you—messy hair, smudged lipstick, a dress that rode up dangerously high on your thighs.

"I'm here to pick your drunk ass up." His voice was flat, irritated, but his hold on you was soft and steady. He slid your arm over his shoulder, gripping your waist tighter as he started leading you toward the exit.

You let him, but only because walking felt impossible.

Then, with a giggle, you leaned in, breath warm against his skin. "Ohhh, was it casual for you to pick me up at 3 AM because I'm sooo drunk?"

Your voice was teasing, but underneath it—hurt.

His jaw clenched, his grip tightening around your waist for a brief second before loosening again.

"Shut up." His voice was quieter now, almost strained. "Let's go."

"No!" You ripped your arm from his grasp, stumbling back, your vision spinning.

"Why are you always like this, Heeseung?" Your voice cracked, but you didn't care. You jabbed a finger into his chest. "You fuck me on the weekends, make me feel like I actually matter, and then act like I don't exist after? You cuddle me, you kiss me, you hold me like—like I mean something! And then suddenly, you're back to being a complete dick?!"

You let out a bitter laugh, raising both middle fingers at him. "Fuck you! You couldn't even text me. Couldn't even take me out on a proper fucking date. What am I to you, huh?"

Heeseung exhaled through his nose, shaking his head with a scoff.

"Is that the reason you got yourself wasted here?" His voice dripped with condescension, his lips curling in amusement like this was all some fucking joke to him. "Because I didn't text you? That's pathetic."

His words stung more than they should have. Your nails dug into your palms.

"Why do you even care about how I act?" he continued, "We're not even together, so you don't get to tell me what to do or what not to do."

You stared at him, breath shaky, chest tight.

"Not together." The words felt like poison in your mouth. "Right. That's your excuse for treating me like shit, huh?"

His eyes flickered with something more, but his face remained impassive, like he wasn't affected at all.

"I never made you any promises. You're not getting attached, are you? I just want to fuck you." he said simply, and somehow, that hurt the most.

Your throat burned. Fucking bastard.

"Right," you whispered, voice trembling with a mix of anger and heartbreak. Your nails dug into your palms so hard it hurt. "So I guess I was just some easy fuck to you, then?"

His expression didn't change, not even a flicker of guilt. His gaze swept over you lazily, bored, like he was already done with this conversation.

You could feel your resolve crumbling.

You wanted to slap him, to scream in his face, to put a fucking ax in his head for being such a heartless asshole. But you never did.

"You know what, Heeseung?" You took a step back, blinking away the sting in your eyes. "I actually thought—fuck, I actually thought you gave a shit about me." You let out a breathless chuckle, shaking your head. "But you don't, do you? You never did."

"God, I was so fucking stupid." You wiped at your face angrily. "Waiting for you to text me back like an idiot, hoping that maybe—maybe this time, it meant something." Your voice wavered, but you kept going. "But nah, right? It's just sex. Just another girl warming your bed. Just another weekend before you move on to the next."

"Fucking say something, Heeseung!" you snapped, stepping closer, shoving his chest. He didn't even budge. He just looked down at you, dark eyes blank.

And then—finally—he spoke.

"What do you want me to say?" His voice was low. "You knew what this was. I never lied to you. Whatever what's happening between us, it's just casual fuck."

Your stomach twisted. Right, casual.

"Fuck you." Your voice cracked.

You turned your back on him, forcing yourself to walk away, each step heavier than the last.

And the worst part? He didn't even follow you.

No "wait." No "don't go." No "I'm sorry."

Just silence.

The street felt too empty, the cold night air biting at your skin, but nothing compared to the hollowness settling deep in your chest. You had thought—no, you had hoped—that maybe Heeseung saw you as more.

But he didn't.

Because Heeseung wasn't the kind of guy to need anyone.

Not the way you needed him.

And you were done.

You were going to free yourself from this. No more late-night texts that made your stomach flip. No more rearranging your plans just to see him. No more pretending that his touches meant something when, in reality, they meant nothing.

You weren't going to be his puppy, following him around, saying yes to every last-minute "come over" text like some desperate loser.

You were leaving.

Right.

...

So why was it so fucking hard?

Why, after days of stubborn silence, after forcing yourself not to check your phone, were you back here again?

Why were you in his fucking passenger seat, his fingers buried inside you, his mouth pressed between your thighs, making you fall apart like the past week never even happened?

And why—why—did it still feel so fucking good?

You hated this. Hated him. Hated yourself more.

"That's it, baby. Moan for me." Heeseung groaned against your soaked folds, his voice low, dripping with hunger. His hands were everywhere—one gripping your thigh, keeping you spread open, the other palming your breast, his thumb lazily flicking over your nipple.

It felt so good, so maddeningly good, and that made you want to fucking cry.

"More—please, please." Your voice came out breathless, a plea wrapped in desperation.

Heeseung let out a low groan against your cunt, the vibration sending another shudder down your spine. "Can't get enough of you," he muttered, voice wrecked, needy—but you knew better than to believe it.

Because Heeseung never needed anyone.

He sucked your clit into his mouth, swirling his tongue in slow, teasing strokes before dragging it down, tracing messy patterns over your entrance.

Then—his fingers. His hand slid down, tracing along your slit before thrusting inside suddenly, stretching you open, curling perfectly to hit that spot that made your legs tremble.

"Fuck—Heeseung!" You gasped, hips bucking, your back arching off the seat.

He was too good at this—too good at knowing your body, too good at making you fall apart, too good at breaking you down piece by piece until you forgot why you were mad, why you ever wanted to leave.

Your hands tangled in his hair, your fingers twisting at the roots as your legs shook. Heeseung groaned at the sting of your pull, pushing his fingers deeper, his tongue working faster, dragging you closer to the edge.

"Heeseung," you whined, voice high, breathless. "Getting close—please—"

And this was why you kept coming back. Because he knew you. Knew your body. Knew exactly how to ruin you.

Because the way he touched you—the way he kissed you, the way he fucked you—it felt too real.

Heeseung was right. He never made you any promises. Never gave you any reason to believe this was something more than sex.

You were just a dumb, stupid girl who kept misreading his actions. Who kept thinking she was special. But you weren't.

And yet, despite knowing all of that, despite the anger twisting in your chest, your fucking heart fluttered when he pulled himself up, his lips crashing into yours while his fingers still worked inside you. And you hated it.

Hated how he kissed you so slow, like he was savoring you.

Hated how he moved his fingers just right, drawing out every last wave of pleasure, dragging out your orgasm until you were crying against his mouth.

Hated how he made it feel intimate—

And hated yourself the most. Because no matter how much it hurt, no matter how many times he ghosted you, ignored you, acted like you were nothing—

You knew you'd still come back.

Like a fucking idiot.

And you really were stupid. Because after everything—after the nights he spent inside you, after the way he kissed you like he meant it—Heeseung was still the same.

Still cocky. Still stupidly attractive as he leaned against the lockers in the university hallway, a lazy smirk on his lips, talking to some girl. Did it shock you? No. Did it hurt? Absolutely.

The lump in your throat grew heavier, thick with something you refused to name. You forced yourself to walk past him, shoulders stiff, steps quick—like he was nothing to you. Like last night, when he had you moaning his name in his passenger seat, never happened.

But he didn't even look at you. Didn't glance up. Didn't acknowledge you.

Your hands curled into fists, nails digging into your palms as you swallowed the sting.

Because that's what you were, right? Nothing.

Not his girlfriend. Not someone he cared about. Just another name on his list, another girl who meant nothing the second he zipped up his jeans.

And yet, you still hated the way your stomach twisted when the girl he was talking to giggled, leaning in closer. Hated the way he smirked, tilting his head like he was already picturing her naked. The same way he did to you.

Your chest ached.

You felt the bed shift, the mattress sinking under his weight. Then, warm hands—his hands—sliding over your waist, fingers pressing against your bare skin.

Soft lips ghosted along your neck.

"Who the fuck let you in?" Your voice was flat, uninterested, even as your grip on your phone tightened. You didn't turn to face him.

"Natty."

You scoffed. "Ha. I doubt it."

"Swear on my life, baby." Heeseung's voice was low, teasing, the way it always was when he wanted something.

You laughed, sarcastic.

"Missed you," he whined, arms tightening around you, his tongue flicking out to lick the sensitive skin just below your ear. That spot he knew drove you crazy.

"What happened to the girl you were talking to yesterday?" you asked, voice dripping in bitterness.  "Couldn't get into her pants?"

Heeseung laughed—laughed—like this was all some joke to him. His hands slipped under your shirt, palms gliding up your stomach, his breath hitching when he realized—

"Fuck, no bra?" He cursed under his breath, squeezing your breast, his thumb rolling over your nipple.

Your body arch, you hated it, but still reacted.

"Nah," he continued, his lips tracing the shell of your ear. "Just... nothing compared to you."

You almost wanted to choke him. But instead, you swallowed the frustration bubbling in your chest and forced your voice to stay steady.

"Your sister told me you should come home this weekend." You changed the topic, ignoring his fingers still lazily squeezing your chest.

Heeseung huffed a quiet laugh against your neck, completely unfazed.

"Huh? You guys always talk." He sounded amused, like this was cute to him.

You rolled your eyes. "Because you're not replying to their messages. Your mom worries about you."

His hands didn't stop. Of course, they didn't. He was still kneading, still playing with you, his thumbs rolling slow, lazy circles over your nipples as if you weren't trying to have a serious conversation.

He hummed in response, shifting slightly to lie back against your bed, tugging you against his chest.

"Hmm, okay." He finally said, completely casual.

You swallowed, your heart thudding stupidly at the way he pulled you in, the way he tucked you against him.

"Want to come with me?"

Your breath hitched.

You turned your head slightly, just enough to see him over your shoulder. A small smirk tugging at his lips as if he was already expecting your reaction.

Wide eyes. Stupidly hopeful heart. Fucking idiot.

"Why?" Your voice was quieter than you wanted it to be.

Heeseung's fingers trailed down your stomach, dipping just under the waistband of your shorts, making your breath hitch.

"What do you mean why?" he murmured, lips brushing against your shoulder. "Wouldn't it be fun?"

You clenched your jaw, fingers curling into the bedsheets.

"Right," you muttered, looking away. "Just fun."

And of course, you still said yes. Because who wouldn't want an instant vacation?

At least, that's what you told yourself. That this was just a trip. Just an escape. Not another excuse to be near Heeseung. Not another way to keep fooling yourself.

So you ignored the nagging in your chest, ignored the way he carried your bag.

Ignored how fucking easy it was to slip into the illusion of being his as both of you stepped into the small, cozy house.

The moment the door swung open, a woman who looked exactly like him rushed forward, eyes bright, a tearful smile on her face.

"I missed you, my boy!" She practically tackled Heeseung, wrapping her arms around him so tightly that even he seemed a little surprised.

He scoffed but hugged her back, his usual lazy smirk softening just a little. "Ma, I told you I was gonna visit soon. Tell Haneul to stop bothering us."

You blinked, shifting awkwardly as the woman—his mother—finally pulled back, wiping at the corner of her eyes before her gaze fell on you.

And before you could react, she hugged you, too.

Your whole body stiffened. What the fuck.

"You must be the girl Haneul keeps talking about," she said warmly, stepping back just enough to study your face. "Is Heeseung treating you right?"

Your mouth opened, but no sound came out. You had no idea how to respond to that.

Your eyes flickered to Heeseung, who had already dropped both of your bags onto the couch, watching you with a raised brow, completely unbothered.

You swallowed, forcing out a tight, awkward laugh.

"We're not actually together, madam." You admitted, your voice stiff, uncertain.

His mother blinked, the warmth in her eyes faltering just slightly. "Oh."

You could feel Heeseung's eyes on you, but you didn't dare look at him. Your fingers twisted in the hem of your shirt, heart hammering in your chest.

And then, his mother smiled. Soft. Knowing. "I see."

You spent your days with his family wearing a smile, pretending it didn't hurt to exist in this space that wasn't really yours.

His sister, Haneul, was a breath of fresh air—constantly chattering about life, relationships, and the latest dramas, seamlessly pulling you into conversations that felt easy. She told you how glad she was that you were here, that someone like you was easy to talk to, unlike her emotionally constipated brother.

"Heeseung doesn't get it," she had said with a playful eye roll, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "I swear, he's impossible to talk to sometimes. But you... I can tell you actually listen."

Her words made something warm stir in your chest.

His mother, on the other hand, couldn't stop talking about him—stories of him as a child, wild and reckless, stubborn and free.

"You should've seen him," she laughed, eyes twinkling with nostalgia. "Always climbing trees, always getting himself into trouble. One time, he fell and scraped up his entire knee, but do you think he cried? No. He just looked at me and said, 'It doesn't hurt, Ma,' even though his leg was bleeding like crazy."

His father chuckled, shaking his head. "Stupid boy still complains like hell when he stubs his toe, though."

You laughed along, your chest tightening as you glanced at Heeseung, waiting to see how he would react to their teasing. But he only sighed, shoving a spoonful of rice into his mouth.

Later, at the sea, you sat on the warm sand, toes buried in the grains, watching the waves crash against the shore. But your eyes weren't on the water. They were on him.

Heeseung was playing with his younger cousins, his laughter echoing through the salty air as he ran across the sand, chasing after them with an easy, boyish grin you had never seen before.

His usual cocky, indifferent mask was gone. No teasing smirks. No smug glances. No careless words designed to keep you at a distance.

You watched as he scooped up one of the kids, tossing them playfully over his shoulder while they shrieked in laughter. Heeseung's eyes crinkled at the corners, his shoulders shaking with amusement as he spun them around before dropping them gently back onto the sand.

He was so different.

This version of him—the one who smiled without arrogance, who laughed without restraint, who looked so effortlessly warm and real—was a version you had never been allowed to see before.

Then, as if feeling your stare, his gaze flicked up to meet yours.

Your breath caught.

His lips curled into a familiar smirk, the mask slipping back into place, and suddenly, he was walking toward you.

Your pulse spiked.

Oh, fuck no.

You scrambled to stand, to put distance between you before he could ruin you any further, but you had barely taken two steps when strong arms wrapped around your waist, yanking you off the ground.

"Heeseung!" you shrieked, kicking your feet as he lifted you effortlessly, his grip firm.

He laughed, breath warm against your ear. "Where do you think you're going, huh?"

Your stomach twisted.

You should be mad—and you were—but the way he held you, the way he pressed his forehead against your temple as he spun you around, made something deep inside you crumble.

"Put me down, you asshole!" You squirmed, trying to sound pissed, trying to ignore the way your heart was slamming against your ribs.

But Heeseung only grinned, holding you tighter.

"Not a chance, baby."

As the days of your so-called vacation slipped by, you found yourself in Heeseung's bed, again, the soft glow of his bedside lamp casting shadows across his face.

Both of you lay tangled in the sheets, talking, laughing—about nothing, about everything.

You stared at the ceiling, heart pounding a little too fast, stomach twisting a little too tight.

Was it casual for the both of you to stay up until 4 AM, talking shit about the people you hated, exchanging knowing glances as you made fun of your professors, the fake smiles of people you both barely tolerated?

Was it casual to hear him laugh—really laugh—not that cocky, arrogant chuckle, but something softer?

Was it casual that he traced lazy patterns on your bare thigh while he talked?

One second, you were talking. The next, his lips were on yours, hungry, as if he couldn't help himself.

What was supposed to be one last fuck before sleep turned into something more, something too much. The way he touched you was different tonight, his fingers coaxing sounds from you you didn't even recognize as your own. The way he fucked you was relentless, teasing, overwhelming, pushing you past your limits until you squirted—until you were too tired to move, too weak to even change the sheets.

So you stayed there. In the mess of it all.

The damp sheets clinging to your skin, the scent of sex still lingering in the air, the weight of him pressed against you.

His arms draped lazily around your waist, pulling you close. His head resting on your chest, his breath warm, steady, as he slept so soundly—like he didn't just ruin you all over again. Like this wasn't killing you inside.

You lay there, wide awake, staring at the ceiling, feeling the way his fingers twitched in his sleep, the way his breathing hitched slightly before evening out again.

On the last day of your stay, the two of you sat at Heeseung's childhood hideout—a small, secluded clearing behind his house, nestled between overgrown trees and old memories he never talked about. The sky was dark, the moon barely peeking through the leaves, and the only sounds were the distant hum of cicadas and the soft crackle of burning cigarettes between your fingers.

Heeseung exhaled a slow stream of smoke, his head tilted back.

"I hate my father for always shouting," he muttered, his voice flat, detached.

You watched the cigarette between your fingers, tapping off the ash, not saying anything. Just listening.

"My mother always tolerated him. Always crying, always forcing a smile, pretending he didn't just spit the ugliest words at her."

You nodded, silent, because what the hell were you supposed to say to that?

"She wasn't any better, though." He let out a humorless chuckle, rolling the cigarette between his fingers. "I love her, but I can't fucking stand how she talks about everything I should be doing. Like I'm still some little kid who needs to be told how to live my life."

You took a drag, the bitter taste settling heavy on your tongue.

"That's why I'm not fond of visiting this place."

You hummed, watching the way his fingers twitched slightly as he took another drag, like this conversation was pulling things out of him he wasn't used to sharing.

"Your sister misses you, y'know." You finally spoke, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "She told me she kinda hates you for leaving her alone."

That made him pause. His lips parted slightly, brows furrowing, before he shook his head with a laugh, blowing out another cloud. "God, I forgot you two are close."

You smiled faintly. "We always talk on the phone. She said she found me through some Facebook post where your arms were around me. She probably assumed we were friends and added me. Then the first thing she messaged me was, 'Tell your ugly-ass boyfriend to text me, or I'm disowning him.'"

Heeseung let out a real laugh at that, shaking his head. "She actually called me an ugly dick once."

"She's not wrong." You snickered, inhaling the last of your cigarette before pulling it away. "Shit, that fast?" You huffed, flicking away the short remains.

"Come try mine."

Before you could react, Heeseung took one last drag, then leaned in, his hand sliding to the back of your neck, fingers warm against your skin.

You froze as his face came closer, his lips parting slightly, and then—he exhaled.

The smoke passed between you, warm and heady, sinking into your lungs as your lips hovered inches from his.

His nose bumped yours, eyes dark and lidded, waiting.

Your mouth opened, your lips brushing against his, and then—he kissed you. Tilting his head, as he deepen the kiss, his tongue sweeping against yours, tasting of smoke.

As you broke the kiss, your fingers ghosted over his, plucking the cigarette from his grasp. You kept your eyes locked on his, refusing to look away.

You took a slow drag, letting the smoke settle in your lungs before exhaling, the faint haze lingering between you.

"I love you, Heeseung."

The words left your mouth like a gunshot.

His smile faltered.

"Not just love that wants to fuck." Your grip on the cigarette tightened. "I want to date you. Take me on a date. Buy me flowers. Be my boyfriend."

Heeseung just stared at you.

"Let's go back." No hesitation, no acknowledgment, like you hadn't just laid your heart out in front of him.

He stood up, grabbing your hand as if nothing had happened, pulling you up without meeting your eyes.

"Heeseung, I love you." Your voice was firmer now, but he walked faster, avoiding it, avoiding you.

Your stomach twisted. Your fingers curled around his wrist, trying to stop him from running away.

"Heeseung, I said I love you." You said it louder this time, forcing him to hear it, forcing him to acknowledge the words that hung between you like a curse.

Heeseung let out a sharp exhale, pushing the house door open.

His parents looked up as you both entered, his mother smiling sweetly.

"Oh, I was just about to cook your favorite—" she started.

"I'm gonna go shower," he cut her off, already heading toward the stairs.

"Okay, come down after," his mother replied, still warm, still gentle, still unaware of the way her son was running from you.

You swallowed hard, forcing a smile at them before following him upstairs, your heart pounding against your ribs.

Heeseung entered his room without a word, shrugging off his jacket, then his shirt. You watched as he stripped without hesitation, his toned back flexing before he disappeared into the bathroom.

"Heeseung, say something." Your voice cracked,

He turned on the shower, stepping under the stream of water, not even looking at you as he finally spoke.

"I'm gonna take a bath. It's either you leave—" He finally turned, his dark eyes locking onto yours, voice dropping lower. "—or I'll be fucking you."

Your breath caught.

There it was.

The only thing he could offer you.

Your fingers trembled at your sides. The ache in your chest was unbearable, clawing at your ribs, threatening to break you apart.

You should leave. You should. You should turn around, walk out, let this be the moment you finally let him go.

Your vision blurred. You felt the hot sting of tears slipping down your cheeks before you could stop them.

Fuck it.

Before you could think, before you could let the pain settle, you reached for the hem of your shirt, tearing it over your head. Then your shorts, your underwear—every piece of clothing stripped away, tossed carelessly onto the floor.

When you looked up, Heeseung was staring.

The steam from the shower curled around him, water sliding down his bare chest, dripping from his hair. His lips parted slightly, his eyes widening as he took in the sight of you.

You stepped forward, your skin meeting the warmth of the bathroom air, your bare feet silent against the tile. Heeseung didn't move, didn't pull away as you wrapped your arms around his neck, pressing your body against his.

His skin was hot, wet from the water, his breath shaky as your lips brushed against his.

Your arms wrapped around his neck, fingers slipping into his damp hair as you tugged him down, your lips brushing over his—soft at first, then deeper, needier.

Your toes curled against the cool tile, your body tilting, stretching to reach him, but he was too fucking tall.

He let out a quiet chuckle at your struggle, hands sliding down to your waist, gripping tight as he adjusted, leaning lower to meet you, kissing you back.

Your fingers dug into his shoulders as his tongue tangled with yours, deep and slow, tasting of heat. Your body burned as his hands roamed freely.

His fingers slid up, trailing to your breasts, squeezing, kneading, his thumbs brushing over your hardened nipples. You let out a soft moan into his mouth, arching against him.

Your hand slipped between your bodies, wrapping around his hardened cock, stroking him slowly, teasingly.

Heeseung groaned, his grip on your breast tightening for a moment before his head dropped against your shoulder, breath heavy, unsteady.

"Fuck," he muttered, his voice wrecked, his hips twitching slightly into your touch.

Your lips curled, satisfied, pressing kisses along his jawline, teasing nips along his skin. You could feel his pulse hammering beneath your lips, the way his breathing hitched as you kissed your way lower, lower.

Until you were kneeling in front of him.

Face to face with his cock, thick and throbbing, precum already dripping from the flushed tip.

His hand curled into your hair, you look at him with your eyes before slowly putting his tip on your mouth. Then—slowly—you parted your lips, letting the flushed tip press against your tongue before taking him into your mouth.

Heeseung groaned, his grip tightening, his hips giving a slight, involuntary jerk forward as you hollowed your cheeks and took him deeper. The warm water from the shower dripped over both of you, rivulets sliding down his abs, over the flex of his thighs.

Your tongue dragged along his shaft, tracing every ridge, every vein, before pressing flat against the underside as you swallowed him further. His breath came out in a shudder, his jaw clenched as he watched you—watched the way your lips stretched around him, the way you let him slide deeper, let him use your mouth the way he wanted.

His hips began to move, slow at first, then rougher.

"Fuck—" He sucked in a sharp breath, his voice wrecked as you took all of him, his cock hitting the back of your throat. You choked, eyes watering, but you didn’t pull away.

One of your hands slipped between your own legs, fingers pressing against your aching cunt, rubbing slow circles over your clit as you lost yourself in the mix of pain and pleasure.

Heeseung’s gaze flickered down, and the sight of you touching yourself while sucking his cock had his restraint snapping.

"Shit, you’re too good for me." His voice was nothing but a rough whisper, barely audible over the sound of the water hitting tile.

His thrusts grew rougher, deeper, forcing you to take all of him, tears spilling at the corners of your eyes. He stopped suddenly, backing away. 

You gasped for air, lips swollen, throat raw. But before you could process the loss, he grabbed your wrist, yanking you to your feet.

Your back hit the cold, slippery wall as he spun you around, his chest pressing flush against you, trapping you there.

The heat between you was suffocating.

You moaned as his cock slid between your thighs, not inside you yet—just teasing, just rubbing against your slick folds, coating himself in your wetness. He moved slow, dragging himself along your entrance, letting you feel every inch before he pushed in. 

You gasped, your nails scraping against the wet tile as he filled you completely, stretching you, stealing the air from your lungs. His hands gripped your waist tightly, holding you still as he buried himself inside you to the hilt.

"Fuck—" Heeseung panted against your shoulder, his breath hot, ragged, his body shuddering at the feeling of you wrapped around him.

He started slow—savoring it, dragging it out, rolling his hips in deep, deliberate strokes that had you clenching around him, your legs trembling.

His pace quickened, his thrusts growing harder, needier, the sound of skin against skin mixing with your ragged moans. Your knees buckled, your body going weak, but his arm wrapped around you before you could collapse, pulling you closer.

Then, without warning, he hooked one arm under your thigh, lifting your leg, changing the angle.

You cried out his name, your head falling back against his shoulder as he slammed into you deeper, hitting that spot that made your vision blur.

"You sound so good moaning my name—fuck—but keep quiet for me, baby, hmm?" Heeseung whispered against your ear.

You tried—tried to muffle your moans, biting your lip so hard you nearly drew blood.

But when his hand slid up, fingers tweaking your nipple, and his other hand dipped lower to rub slow, cruel circles over your clit, you couldn’t hold back.

"C-close," you choked out, pressing your forehead against the wall, your body tightening around him. "Can I? Please, please—"

His fingers moved faster, his thrusts turning relentless, dragging you to the edge.

"Shh," he hushed, his free hand moving from your breast to cover your mouth, muffling the desperate sounds spilling from your lips.

Your orgasm ripped through you, your body trembling violently as pleasure crashed over you in waves, your walls fluttering around him as you came hard, legs shaking.

But Heeseung didn’t stop.

Didn’t even slow down.

He spun you around effortlessly, lifting you, your legs wrapping around his waist as he slammed you against the wall, thrusting up into you with reckless abandon.

You were whimpering, your body too sensitive, too raw—but the way his cock hit all the right spots had you falling apart all over again.

"Fuck, take it," Heeseung groaned, his grip on your hips bruising.

You couldn’t think. Couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t do anything but feel.

Your hands slid into his wet hair, fingers tangling in the damp strands as you pushed it back, forcing yourself to look at him—really look at him.

His eyes were squeezed shut, his jaw clenched, his lips parted as he moaned your name.

You leaned in, pressing your forehead against his, forcing his gaze onto you.

So close. So yours.

Then, with a sharp gasp, his hips stuttered, his cock twitching deep inside you.

And as your walls tightened around him once more, dragging him over the edge, his mouth met yours in a desperate, messy kiss, swallowing each other’s moans as he spilled inside you.

His grip on you tightened, his thrusts faltering, his body shuddering as he rode out his high.

You stayed close for a moment, foreheads pressed together, breathing heavily, your chests rising and falling in sync.

Heeseung let out a soft exhale before slowly lowering your feet to the ground, his hands slipping from your body.

You blinked up at him, searching for something—anything—in his face. But he was already turning away, reaching for the soap, brushing his hands over his own body as if nothing had just happened.

A pang of disappointment settled deep in your chest.

Your thighs trembled, his release still dripping out of you, and without thinking, you leaned into him, wrapping your arms around his waist from behind. Holding onto him like he wouldn’t slip away. 

But he froze.

And then—slowly, carefully, deliberately—he peeled your arms off of him.

Your throat tightened.

Heeseung didn’t say anything. Didn’t look at you. Instead, he grabbed the soap again, rubbing it between his palms before sliding his hands over your body—cleaning you.

You wanted to say something. Wanted to break through whatever invisible wall had gone up between you.

But the only sound was the running water, washing everything away.

That night, you sat beside Haneul at dinner, forcing a smile, forcing yourself to act normal even though everything inside you was crumbling.

Heeseung didn’t look at you. Instead, he shoveled rice into his mouth, nodding along as his parents talked.

You forced yourself to eat, each bite turning to sawdust in your mouth. Forced yourself to laugh at his father’s jokes. Forced yourself to swallow the bitterness burning in your throat.

And when it was time to leave, Haneul hugged you tightly, her shoulders shaking as she clung to you.

"I’m gonna miss you so much," she sniffled, pressing her face into your shoulder.

You hugged her back, blinking rapidly, trying not to cry too.

You felt so loved in this house—by everyone except the one person you wanted it from the most.

The train ride back was worse.

Heeseung sat beside you, but he never looked at you. Never spoke.

It was like you were nothing more than a stranger sitting next to him.

You swallowed the ache in your chest and slowly lifted your hand, brushing your fingers over his, searching for something—anything.

His eyes flickered down, annoyance flashing across his face as he pulled his hand away like your touch burned him.

You felt your stomach drop. You turned your head, staring out the window, your fingers curling into your lap as you fought the stupid tears stinging the back of your eyes.

But at least you confessed, right? At least you let your feelings slip through the cracks. As long as Heeseung kept coming back to you, it had to mean something.

Right?

The following days were harder.

Because you were the one who kept coming back.

You were the one who kept bothering him, knocking on his door late at night, spreading your legs for him just so he would let you stay.

You were the one whispering soft "I love yous" against his skin, hoping—praying—he’d say it back.

But he never did. And every time you tried to reach for him—tried to hold him, tried to kiss him just because, not just when he was fucking you—he would sigh, irritated, pulling away with that same tired look in his eyes.

"Go bother someone else."

But you still stayed. Because you told yourself that this was enough. That loving him, even like this, was enough. That if you gave him more time, if you loved him hard enough, he would eventually love you back.

But then—why did it feel so awful?

So fucking awful knowing that he was only good to you when he wanted something?

So fucking awful when you reached for him, only to be pushed away?

So fucking awful when he sighed every time you whispered "I love you," like you had ruined the moment?

You kept crying at night.

At first, it was quiet—silent tears soaking into your pillow, muffled sobs that you convinced yourself were just temporary. But the more the days stretched on, the worse it got. The exhaustion, the emptiness, the way everything felt so fucking heavy.

You were barely sleeping. Barely eating.

By the time you dragged yourself to class, you were nothing more than a walking corpse—a ghost of yourself, barely functioning, barely holding it together.

Julie and Natty tried to pull you out of it. They dragged you to cafés, talked about mindless things, gossiped about the latest drama, hoping it would distract you.

But nothing worked. Your mind was always somewhere else. On him.

And when that didn’t help, when you couldn’t sit still in a crowded café pretending you weren’t falling apart, you found yourself outside. Leaning against a streetlamp, standing in the corner of an alley, a cigarette dangling from your lips as you smoked, staring blankly at the city around you.

You had never been much of a smoker before. But now, it was routine. Now, it was something to do when you didn’t know what else to do.

Because Heeseung wasn’t in his dorm. Because Heeseung wasn’t texting you back.

You stared at your phone, debating whether or not to message him again—just one more time, just to see where he was, just to make sure he wasn’t with someone else.

But you already knew the answer. Sunghoon told you he had been partying. Of course, he was.

Drinking, dancing, probably fucking someone else—living his best fucking life while you were here, wasting away in your own misery.

You were miserable, weren’t you? Pathetic.

In love with a guy who never gave a shit about you, who only saw you as another body count—another name in his phone.

Fuck him.

"You need to get over this, babe," Julie said, dragging you into the mall, her fingers gripping your wrist like you might try to run.

"Stop acting like your whole life revolves around some asshole." Natty huffed, shoving a pile of clothes into your arms. "Try something new. Get a haircut. Get a piercing. Do something instead of moping around like this."

So you did.

You let them drag you from store to store, let them pick out outfits you barely looked at. You even sat through a piercing appointment, letting them stab metal into your skin—a new helix, a capital piercing, even one in your septum.

But none of it helped. Not really.

You still looked like someone who had stopped caring.

Your hair had grown wavier, messier, tangled from nights spent tossing and turning in a bed that still smelled like him. Your makeup was smudged from crying too much, sleeping too little.

And now—here you were. Sitting in a restroom stall, your fingers fumbling with another cigarette, the cold metal of your piercings pressing against your skin as you exhaled shakily, trying not to break down again.

But the tears came anyway.

You curled over yourself, palm covering your face, inhaling deep, shaky breaths as the nicotine burned down your throat. Why him? Why did you let yourself get so lost in someone who only reached for you when it was convenient?

Why did you still miss him—even now?

You squeezed your eyes shut, willing yourself to push the thoughts away—

"Okay, okay, I'll send you the links we need to order. Stop being stupid and listen to me! It’s a birthday party, okay? Not a damn Halloween—God."

Your head snapped up. A voice that is sharp and masculine.

Wait—

Did you just walk into the men’s restroom?

"Agh, what the fuck, it reeks of cigarettes in here."

Your stomach dropped.

You swallowed hard, forcing yourself to put out the cigarette as quickly as possible, waving away the lingering smoke. The last thing you needed was some random guy judging you for being an emotional wreck in the bathroom.

You waited. Listening.

When silence stretched, you assumed he was gone.

But the second you stepped out of the stall— You froze.

And so did he.

Standing at the sink, washing his hands, was a guy you had never seen before. His dark hair was down, strands still damp from the rain outside. His skin was pale, almost glowing under the fluorescent lights. His nose was sharp, lips plump and pink, his hooded eyes watching you with a mixture of confusion and amusement.

For a second, neither of you spoke.

Then, his gaze flickered to the restroom sign by the door.

Then back to you.

He grabbed a napkin, drying his hands before picking up his phone, ending the call mid-conversation.

"Are you a trans man?"

Your face burned.

"No!" You blurted out quickly, biting your lip in embarrassment. "I—I’m sorry, I thought this was the female restroom, and—uh—sorry about the smell."

The guy in front of you let out a small, amused hum, his lips twitching, but he didn’t press further. Instead, he dug through his bag, fingers searching for something until he finally pulled out a small candy, offering it to you with an outstretched palm.

"Here. Eat this."

You blinked, staring at him.

"Not judging or anything," he continued, shrugging, "but cigarettes smell disgusting in your mouth. What if there’s an emergency and you need to kiss someone?"

A small, breathless laugh escaped your lips before you could stop it.

"There’s no someone," you muttered, taking the candy from his hand. The moment it touched your tongue, the sharp sweetness cut through the bitter taste of nicotine.

The guy tilted his head, watching you with a slight smirk before rummaging through his bag again. A second later, he held out a small travel-sized bottle.

"You need perfume?"

You frowned. "Do I smell that bad?"

"Hey, I’m just offering," he said, grinning.

You sighed but took it anyway, spraying a little on your wrist before rubbing it against your neck. The light, citrusy scent replaced the stale stench of smoke.

Both of you walked out of the restroom together, passing by an older man who had been about to step inside. The second he saw you, his eyes widened in horror, and he muttered something under his breath while making the sign of the cross.

"God forgive these teens," the old man whispered, shaking his head as he entered the restroom.

The guy beside you rolled his eyes. "Drama queen."

You laughed, and he turned his head slightly, studying your face.

"See you later," he muttered before walking away, but then he hesitated for just a second, throwing a look over his shoulder. "Oh, and don’t smoke."

Soon enough, you were right back where you always were.

In his dorm. In his bed. In his arms, like nothing had changed.

The second you saw Heeseung, you collapsed onto his bed, clinging to him, hugging him tight like you hadn’t been falling apart for the past few days.

"Where have you been?" you asked, burying your face into his chest.

You felt his body shift slightly as he looked down at you, eyes scanning your face.

"What happened to you?" His voice was unreadable.

His gaze flickered to the piercings on your ears, your new septum, the slight dark circles beneath your eyes that no amount of concealer could fully hide.

Suddenly, you felt exposed.

"O-oh," you stammered, reaching up to tug at your hair. "I got piercings… out of boredom. Do they look good?"

Then, Heeseung’s eyes dropped back to his phone, completely ignoring your question.

The air shifted. Your throat tightened, but you forced yourself to swallow it down.

So, instead, you talked. Told him about the past few days, about nothing and everything, about all the things you wished he had cared enough to ask.

And just like always—it ended the same way.

Him, thrusting into you like he needed you to break.

Your nails, clawing at his back like you needed to hold on.

Your legs, wrapped around his waist like you were scared he would disappear if you let go.

Your body, begging for something your heart already knew you would never have.

"I love you," you whispered into his ear, voice trembling, breath shaky.

Heeseung’s movements slowed for half a second.

You held onto that second like it meant something.

"You know it’s not just casual for me," you whispered again, pressing your lips to his shoulder, desperate for him to understand. "I feel it. I know you do too."

And then—he slipped his hand away from your body. The loss of warmth was instant, suffocating, unbearable.

"Fuck, here we go again," Heeseung muttered under his breath, exhaling sharply.

You swallowed, suddenly cold, suddenly empty.

"Did you really not feel anything?" you asked, voice barely above a whisper. "How do you keep coming back if it’s nothing?"

He ran a hand over his face, groaning in frustration.

"God, because your pussy is good!" His voice snapped, sharp and cruel, piercing straight through you. "You’re being so fucking clingy, it’s pathetic! I don’t want a fucking romantic relationship with you! I just want to fuck! How long are you gonna make me repeat that?!"

"What about the times we cuddle?" Your voice cracked. "The way you take care of me after? You even invited me to meet your family! Was that all just—casual? Just fucking?! How long are you going to deny this?!"

Heeseung’s eyes flashed.

"Deny?!" He let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Do you think any of that was special? I was just treating you with basic fucking human decency! Stop being so fucking delusional!"

The words hit harder than a slap. This was dumb love. This was pathetic love.

This was you, being fucking stupid.

Because even after all this, even after every horrible thing he had just said—you still loved him.

And he still treated you the same.

"Fuck, I miss those days that you were feisty and wild, not this annoying bitch who cry about everything."

Your vision blurred. You barely felt yourself move as you ripped yourself from his bed, scrambling to collect your clothes, your hands shaking so violently you could barely pull your shirt over your head.

You just needed to leave. Needed to breathe.

By the time you reached the door, your entire body was numb.

The only sound was the sharp echo of your footsteps against the floor as you stormed out of his dorm, not daring to look back.

Sunghoon was in the kitchen when you passed, leaning against the counter, a drink in his hand. His head lifted slightly at the sight of you—disheveled, eyes red, breathing uneven.

You ran. Ran until your lungs burned, until the cold air stung your skin, until the only thing you could hear was the echo of your own footsteps against the empty streets.

And then you screamed. Loud. Raw.

Kicking a nearby trash can with all your strength, watching as it toppled over, spilling its contents onto the pavement.

You wanted to rip yourself apart. Wanted to tear out the part of you that still loved him.

By the time you stumbled into a small convenience store, your body was trembling—anger, exhaustion, heartbreak—it all blurred into one.

You didn’t even look at the shelves. Your hands reached straight for the pack of cigarettes, slamming it onto the counter.

"Not getting anything else, ma’am?"

The voice made you freeze. Your gaze lifted, meeting a pair of soft, knowing eyes behind the register.

Oh.

The same guy from before. The one who had given you candy in the restroom.

Your eyes flickered to his name tag.

Sunoo.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice gentle, careful, like he could see right through you.

You swallowed, your throat dry. "You told me not to smoke, but here I am buying." You forced a smile, but it felt fake, hollow—like you were trying to convince yourself that you weren’t falling apart.

Sunoo didn’t look judgmental. He just tilted his head slightly, watching you.

"It’s okay." He shrugged. "It’s not healthy, but if that’s what you need to cope, then let yourself be. I just said that before because, well… I don’t think smoking is good for you."

You let out a small breath, setting the pack aside. "Well, what do you suggest?"

Sunoo hummed, tapping his chin in thought. "Maybe cutting your hair? Adding another piercing? Listening to music, crocheting, doing your makeup, reading books, watching movies—there’s a lot you could do instead."

You blinked.

"You really think cutting my hair is gonna fix this mess?" You gestured vaguely at yourself.

"No," he said, grinning. "But it’s a start."

You laughed. It was small. Short. You reached for a pack of bubble gum instead, placing it on the counter. "I’ll take note of that. Just punch this in instead."

Sunoo smiled, ringing up your item. "I’m Sunoo, by the way. If you ever need someone to talk to, I can give you my number."

You hesitated. And then—you pulled out your phone. Because God knows you needed it.

Turns out, Sunoo was one year younger than you—a sophomore at your university, but an irregular student, which explained why you had never crossed paths before.

And somehow, in the span of a few weeks, he became the one person you could be completely honest with. You told him everything. Everything about Heeseung.

How you loved him stupidly, blindly, recklessly. How he used you, broke you, ignored you—but you still kept coming back.

Sunoo never judged. Never told you you were dumb for loving the wrong person. He just listened. And when you cried, he let you.

Sometimes, he would visit your dorm just to sit with you, listening as you let it all out.

You tried not to feel guilty about dumping all your burdens on him, but every time you apologized, he just waved you off.

"It’s fine," he said, "I’d rather listen than see you destroy yourself over someone who doesn’t deserve you."

And maybe that’s what finally pushed you forward. What finally gave you the courage to do what you should’ve done a long time ago.

You blocked Heeseung’s number.

At first, it made your chest feel tight, like you had just slammed a door shut on something that had been part of you for too long.

But as the days passed, the feeling of relief started to outweigh the ache.

You even made a bigger decision.

You moved. Packed up your things and transferred to a new dorm—closer to Sunoo, further from Heeseung.

When you told Natty, she cried, whining dramatically about how you were replacing her.

But deep down, she understood. She understood that if you stayed, if you kept yourself in the same routine, the same dorm, the same hallways that led you back to him, you’d never really escape.

So she helped you pack, helped you move, hugged you so tightly before you left, whispering, "You deserve better."

You changed. Not overnight. Not all at once.

But slowly, little by little,��you found yourself again.

The clothes you used to think weren’t your style? You started to love them.

Sunoo helped you with your hair, trimming it, dyeing it a new color every week just because you could.

"New hair, new era," he declared, dragging you into the bathroom with a towel around your shoulders. "We’re bleaching this shit."

You let him. Because why the fuck not? It was just hair. It would grow back, just like you would.

You started going out more. Not to drown yourself in cigarettes or alcohol, not to forget, but to exist again.

You filled your days with movies, books, stupid little hobbies that made you feel something.

And little by little—you learned how to breathe again.

"Are you ready?"

"No."

"Too late, babe."

Sunoo laughed, gripping your hand as you sat in the piercing studio, white-knuckled and nervous as hell.

"I swear to God, if I pass out, you better not record me."

"Mmm… no promises." He smirked, already holding up his phone, camera locked on you.

You groaned, gripping his hand like you were giving birth as the piercer prepped the needle.

Your heart pounded. You had watched so many videos of girls fainting from navel piercings. It was supposed to hurt like hell, right?

"Okay, deep breath in," the piercer said.

You inhaled. And then you felt the pain, the sharp stabbing pain.

"FUCK, IT HURTS!" You screamed, throwing your head against Sunoo’s chest.

He cackled, arms wrapping around you dramatically, rocking you back and forth. "You’re doing amazing, sweetie."

His other hand? Filming.

The needle went through. Your stomach tightened.

The world spun around you and just like that, you fainted. 

When you woke up, the first thing you heard was Sunoo’s wheezing laughter.

"Dude." He was crying, clutching his stomach, shoving his phone in your face. "I got the whole thing. You looked like you died for a second."

You groaned, pushing him away, only to catch sight of your new silver barbell piercing your navel.

…Holy shit.

You sat up, poking at it carefully. "Fuck, that was traumatic," you muttered.

"But look at you now," Sunoo grinned, helping you stand. "A hot, bad bitch. I mean, you already were, but now you’ve got a belly ring to prove it."

You rolled your eyes. "This better not get infected, or I’m haunting your ass."

Sunoo winked, linking his arm through yours. "Worth it, babe."

People stared. Everywhere you and Sunoo went, heads turned.

And who could blame them?

Sunoo? A walking crayon, decked out in loud colors, funky sunglasses, and accessories layered on top of accessories. 

And then there was you. A full-on emo resurrection—black on black on black, nails painted, piercings gleaming, boots stomping against the pavement.

The two of you together?

You looked like complete opposites, but somehow, it worked. Sunoo owned the rainbow, and you owned the night.

"People are staring." You whispered as another group of girls side-eyed you both, whispering amongst themselves.

"Good." Sunoo grinned. "Let them stare. They wish they were us."

Healing cost a lot. Like, a lot. You hadn’t realized how expensive self-care actually was.

But fuck, it felt good. Manicures. Hair dye. Jewelry. Perfume. Clothes you never thought you’d wear.

You spent shamelessly, like you were trying to buy yourself back, piece by piece.

And maybe you were.

Because with every little change, every small act of putting yourself first, you started feeling lighter.

The wind tugged at your short bangs as you sat on the bench, silver headphones snug over your ears, blocking out the world.

Your fingers moved over your notebook, writing something important—or maybe not important at all—but either way, it kept your hands busy. Kept your mind quiet.

"Holy shit."

The words were barely a whisper, but the sound of your name following after made your stomach drop. Your brow furrowed, fingers tensing against the page. With a sigh, you slid your headphones to the side, glancing up.

And that’s when you saw them.

Sunghoon. Jake. Some other guy you didn’t care about.

And behind them, standing slightly apart—

Heeseung.

Your throat went dry.

"Is that you?! Holy fuck." Sunghoon gasped, eyes wide, his gaze flickering over your appearance like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

You swallowed, feeling uncomfortably exposed under their stares.

"Long time no see," Jake chimed in, taking a seat beside you without invitation. "You’re not attending parties anymore."

"You look quite different," he added, voice slow, dragging his gaze over you—your ears, your nose, your shirt—lingering a little too long on the details.

"She became an emo, bro!" One of them laughed, the word emo rolling off their tongue like an insult.

"Yeah, but she looks totally hot." Jake grinned, elbowing Sunghoon with a chuckle.

You clenched your jaw. The way they were talking about you like you weren’t even here.

The way his eyes hadn’t left you since the moment you looked up.

You hadn’t looked at him once. But you felt him.

"You moved dorms."

You finally looked at him. And regretted it immediately.

Heeseung stood there, hands shoved in his pockets, staring straight at you.

His gaze was unreadable, but his jaw was tight, his eyes dark, scanning you in a way that made something deep in your chest twist. Fuck this.

You pulled your headphones back on, drowning him out as you started shoving your things into your bag.

"Man, she’s back to being feisty. Heeseung’s gonna like her again."

The words were casual, amused, careless, but they made your blood fucking boil. Like you were some challenge. Some toy for Heeseung to get bored of, then chase again once you pulled away.

Fuck them for thinking you’d ever let yourself go through that again. Your movements were sharp as you snapped your notebook shut, yanking your bag over your shoulder.

You stood up. Didn’t look at them. Didn’t say anything. You just turned on your heel, ready to leave.

But before you could take a step, a hand wrapped around your wrist.

"Why the fuck did you move dorm? Why the fuck did you block me?"

His voice was sharp, tinged with anger and frustration.

You ripped your arm away, glaring at him like his touch had burned you. Heeseung felt his chest tighten at the way you looked at him.

"Our last conversation answered that." You huffed, slinging your bag over your shoulder, walking away without looking back.

But of course, he followed. Ignoring the way his friends laughed behind him.

"Playing hard to get." One of them snickered. You didn’t even hesitate—you turned, raised your middle finger, and kept walking.

Heeseung’s jaw tightened.

"Fuck, that alone made you switch dorms?" His voice was sharper now, almost accusing. "Where are you staying? Why didn’t you tell me?"

You snapped.

"I don’t want any fucking contact with you anymore, Heeseung. Go to hell."

His steps faltered, eyes flickering across your face.

You had never talked to him like this before. Not when he ignored you. Not when he ghosted you. Not even when he broke you.

His fingers twitched.

Then—he moved faster.

Easily catching up, stepping in front of you, blocking your way.

"You told me you loved me, and now you’re acting like this?" You scoffed.

"And you have the fucking audacity to throw that in my face—when all you ever did was make me feel like shit?" Your laugh was bitter, broken, a sharp edge of something cruel underneath it.

"Yeah, Heeseung. I loved you." You spat the words like they disgusted you. His chest tightened.

"I loved you—so fucking much. Even when you treated me like I was nothing. Even when you acted like I didn’t exist until you were hard and lonely."

His lips parted. But you weren’t done.

"But I’m done. I’m fucking tired of this casual bullshit. I’m tired of pretending like this didn’t fucking break me. I don’t want you, I don’t need you, so do us both a favor—leave me the fuck alone and go find some other pussy to bury your dick in."

The words hit Heeseung like a gut punch, knocking the breath from his lungs before he could even process them. But the sting of your voice—sharp, raw, final—was nothing compared to what you did next.

You spat at his face.

Not metaphorically. Literally.

The warm, wet impact landed just below his cheekbone, sliding down his jaw, and Heeseung stood there, frozen in place, feeling the slow, humiliating trickle of it. It should’ve pissed him off. He should’ve been angry, should’ve sneered at you, should’ve thrown some cruel words back in your face just to get the last hit in.

But he couldn’t.

Because you didn’t stay long enough to see him break. Didn’t look back to see the way his entire world fucking shifted.

Didn’t hesitate, didn’t falter, didn’t do any of the things he was used to. No regret, no second guessing, no lingering in the space between leaving and staying—just walking away.

That’s when he saw another man.

Heeseung watched, breath stuck in his throat, as the man approached you, slipping his arm around your waist with ease, like it was natural, like he had been doing it all along. Then, before Heeseung could even begin to comprehend what was happening, the man pulled you in and pressed his lips to yours. Right in front of him.

Heeseung’s stomach twisted into a tight, ugly knot. His vision blurred at the edges, not from tears, fuck that, but from something far worse—a feeling he didn’t want to name. His hands clenched at his sides, nails pressing deep into his palms as he tried, really fucking tried, to convince himself that he didn’t care.

And what made it worse—what made his entire body fucking ache—was the way you let that man touch you, let him kiss you, let him hold you. 

Like you weren’t thinking about Heeseung at all.

You looked happy.

Not forced. Not pretending. Not putting on some fake smile to get through the moment. Genuinely happy. Like you had been set free. Like the months you spent wrapped up in his sheets, tangled in his arms, breaking apart at his hands had been nothing more than a phase—a mistake you had already wiped clean from your memory.

Sunoo turned slightly, just enough for his gaze to land on Heeseung.

The look in his eyes wasn’t smug. It wasn’t teasing. It wasn’t the expression of a man who had stolen something from someone else. 

Heeseung hated him for it.

His jaw clenched so tightly it hurt, but he forced his body to stay still, forced himself not to move, not to react, not to pull you away like he so desperately wanted to. He had no fucking right to do that. You had made your choice, and for the first time in his entire life, Heeseung was the one being left behind.

This wasn’t some game anymore.

This wasn’t like all the times before, when you would tell him you were done, but then come crawling back the second he called. This wasn’t like the fights in his dorm, when you would cry and yell and break your own fucking heart, only to kiss him breathless later that night.

This was real. You had actually left.

And the worst part was, you weren’t hurting.

You weren’t looking over your shoulder, weren’t hesitating at the door, weren’t giving him a single chance to fix this. You were just gone.

And Heeseung had never felt so fucking lost. He told himself it didn’t matter.

You were just another girl.

He could go out tomorrow, find someone new, wipe you from his body the same way he had done with every other girl before you. This was nothing. You were nothing.

Then why—

Why the fuck did his chest feel so tight?

Why did he feel like he had just been ripped open from the inside out?

He lifted a hand to wipe his face, expecting to feel the lingering wetness from where you had spit on him, but instead—he felt something else.

A single tear, slipping down his cheek.

He let out a quiet, bitter laugh, shaking his head at the memory—at all the things he told you, the rules he set, the lines he swore he’d never cross.

Was it ever really casual?

perm taglist: @won4me @ikaw-at-ikaw, @kristynaaah, @fancypeacepersona @tunafishyfishylike @vvenusoncasual

[capcollector]

part one of companion doodle requests, thank you to everyone who’s sent one

[mintfullyyours]

to give a dog a bone

thinking about saving a simon’s life once. Now he’s convinced he belongs to you. it got me gnawing at the bars of my enclosure. please lemme know if any of this resonates because I have so many thoughts.

thinking about how your girl's night out ended with one too many sweet drinks bubbling in your system and your best friend going home with a guy who had some sort of accent and a short mohawk. she deserved to have a bit of fun. rain poured heavy as you exited the pub, pulling your hood up, you decide to take the short walk back to your flat.

At the end of the sidewalk, a tall figure loomed beneath the dim glow of a flickering streetlamp. A cigarette burned between his fingers, the ember flaring bright against the curtain of rain. You shivered, unsure if it was the biting cold seeping through your drenched clothes or something deeper—something instinctual.

Rain pelted down in relentless sheets, soaking you to the bone. The city around you was eerily silent, the empty streets offering unspoken permission to move forward. But as you lingered just behind him at the crosswalk, the air felt charged, crackling with something unseen.

He took a step forward.

Before you could think, before reason could intervene, you moved. As if possessed by the strength of Athena herself, your fingers curled into his shirt, fisting the fabric tight. With a sharp pull, you wrenched him back, your breath coming fast, your pulse pounding.

Simon wrenched back a step, twisting his body with sharp precision, flipping his grip in an instant. His fingers clamped around your forearm, iron-strong and unyielding. You gasped, wincing at the bite of his hold, but all you could focus on were his cerulean eyes—cold, calculating, hungry. The rest of his face remained hidden behind the black KN95 mask, a barrier that somehow made him even more unreadable. More dangerous.

A car whizzed past, blaring its horn, but the world had already narrowed to just the two of you.

"Ow, fucker!" You yank your arm free and slapped him hard with your other hand. The crack of skin against skin echoed through the air. Your palm stung. His head barely shifted. Instead, his brow lifted, a slow, amused rise. It hadn’t hurt him. Not really. But the effort? Adorable.

You were a feisty little thing—he saw it in your eyes, felt it in the way you shook. He wouldn’t mind molding that fire into something entirely his. Breaking you down, building you back up.

His silence stretched between you, thick and suffocating. Unease crawled up your spine.

"Okay… I’m done," you muttered, taking a shaky step back. "Last time I ever help someone."

You turned, ready to put this strange moment behind you, but Simon reacted on instinct. His hand snapped out, engulfing your wrist, and with one firm pull, you stumbled into him. His body was solid, unmovable, and you fit against him as if you were always meant to be there. The realization sent a shiver down your spine.

"Done?" His voice was low, amused. Dangerous.

His fingers brushed over your lips, silencing any protest. Your breath hitched.

This wasn’t good.

"Love," he murmured, his eyes burning into yours.

"We’ve only just begun."

other simon writings for your consideration: you're Simon's phone wallpaper, Past Lives w/Ghost, creepy!stepbro Simon, amnesiac!simon part 1, amnesiac!simon part 2-ish, patching up exhusband!simon

note: toxic men in fics only!!!! yummy. thank you to everyone who's been reading. ILYSM

[kizzmexoxo]

“Taught to Obey”

PAIRING - L.hs x OF reader x S.jy (Hee & Jake are both brothers)

WARNINGS - Smut, oral sex, unprotected sex, blackmailing, touching, slap (one time), voyeruism, slight dubcon, this is more of hee’s smut scene

WC - 1.7k+

a/n - This is one of my first fic I wrote. This will probably contain a part 2 (spoilers: will prob focus on Jake since this one was hee’s) depending on the outcome of this post. Have a good time reading and remember to separate reality & fiction. Thank you!

You’re a perfect student. Straight A’s, good reputation, everyone knows and loves you. A sweet perfect angel in their eyes. Though, you had a secret of yours. A dark secret no one must know. Somehow, someone discovered that secret of yours. What’s worse is that it’s the brother who you’re tutoring of.

Everything started when you were called by your professor to have a chat.

“Amazing grades as usual, Y/n.” He gives a big smile and pushed up his glasses that was falling off his nose. You give him a smile and nodded as a thank you gesture.

“I have a proposal for you.” He continues, “Would you like to tutor one of my great friend’s kid? He says he was finding someone dependable, and you are very fit for that position.” You were pleased about the idea, even though you did hesitate a little.

He chuckles, “Of course you’re getting paid. My old friend offered $500 per hour. Would you be okay with that?” He looks up at you with expectant eyes while yours widened. “Seriously? Of course I’m taking it!” You say with an excited tone. He chuckles at your reaction. “Alright, you can start tomorrow. I’ll send you the address and details in your email.” You nodded and thanked him once again before taking your leave.

Studying has been always easy for you. So tutoring other people won’t be that hard. You hope.

The next day, you finally arrived at the address your professor sent you. The house was quite bigger than you expected. I mean, the owner offered you $500, of course they would be loaded. You knocked on the wooden door. You waited for a while, yet no response, you rang the doorbell. No response again. You sighed and knocked while ringing the doorbell at the same time, trying to get someone’s attention inside the house.

Finally the door opened, only revealing a tall boy with messy black hair, wearing black hoodie and grey sweatpants with a furious but tired look on his face.

“What do you want?“ he didn’t bat an eye at who he was talking to since he just woke up from a nap. He rubbed his left eye, as soon as he dropped his hand he locked eyes with you. You stare at him awkwardly. “Im a tutor here for..” you looked at your phone, “Jake Sim..” you look up at him, noticing him staring at you with those dark eyes that made you feel nervous.

He looks at you like he’s checking you out. He was. He looked at you up and down before making space for you to enter. You thanked him silently and entered the house. It very modern and spacious.

You turn your head to find out what felt like someone was been piercing the back of your head and noticed how the man who let you in had a seductive look on his face. Or maybe he was just really attractive.

Before you could say anything, the sound of footsteps going down the stairs got your attention. “Sorry! I was taking a shower.” Said a man who looked younger. He came up to you, flashing you a big smile. He looked like a happy dog.

“I’m Jake Sim, you must be the tutor.” You nodded and gave him a smile back. “Y/n Y/l/n.” He nods, “Father isn’t here today but he knows you’re coming. Let’s head up to my room?”

“Alright.” You give him a smile as starts walking up the stairs. Before you could follow him, you felt an arm wrapped around your waist. “Make yourself at home, y/n.” The taller man whispers on your ear after leaving to go up the stairs. What the heck?

You arrived Jake’s room.

He leads you to his table as he sat on the opposite side of you. You sat down and your session has started.

It’s been an hour since getting to know each other and started on a topic he was failing at. You had noticed that in sometimes he gets touchy. Whenever you pass notes or paper to him, he purposely place his palm onto yours before he takes it. Or when he chose to sit beside you and start playing with one of your fingers resting on the table.

You didn’t mind at first since maybe this was his habit. Although his touches were getting intense. His hand now on your thigh, squeezing it slightly as you try to discuss this one equation to him. It just had been less than two hours.

I could feel his hand reaching higher and higher till his pinky finger slightly graze on your mound. That’s when I grab his hand, to stop him.

“Jake. Are you even listening to me?” I lock eyes with him. He still had that innocent look on his face as if he weren’t just about to grasp on my cunt.

He sighs. “I was wondering when you were going to stop me.” He smiles. “I wish you didn’t though.” His hand lowered but was still on my thigh.

“You should stop.” You remove his hand from your thigh. “Last warning, Jaeyun.” He chuckles and accepted his defeat. “Okay don’t be mad. It was just a joke.” He hums and shows a pout. How can you get mad at a face like that.

Minutes have passed. You excused yourself to go to the bathroom. You walked out of Jake’s room and met yourself with a hallway. You proceeded to walk with Jake’s directions.

As you continued to walk down the hallway, you met the taller boy again. He locked eyes with you and showed a smirk.

“You again.” You give him a small smile, walking pass him. “You’re familiar you know.” You paused your tracks. You turned around, seeing already him looking at you. “What do you mean?”

He took a step closer and took out his phone. You were confused what he was doing until he showed it to you. Your OF. Fuck. Your screwed.

You took a step closer trying to grab his phone but he quickly swing it away. “Hey there.”

“What are you trying to do with that?” He chuckles, “What? I haven’t subscribed yet. Should I?” He leans down close to your face. “Don’t show that to anyone.” You got straight to the point.

“Whoah, calm down princess.” He laughs in your face. This was very fun for him. “Who knew the ‘angel’ of the school sells her body like this.”

“Keep your tone down!” You cover his mouth with both your hands, not wanting Jake to hear.

Wait a sec. He knows you? Oh my gosh, how could I not recognize him. Lee Heeseung, the known troublemaker in the campus.

You never knew he had a brother. Though that’s not your concern right now. I gasp. “Heeseung.”

He held your hand to remove it from his mouth,“Took you long enough to recognize me.”

you sighed. “Seriously, heeseung. Don’t show that to anyone.” He scoffs. “Why not? I was planning to show jake.”

You hit his shoulder. “No..! I’ll do anything.”

“Anything?”

You look up at him before hesitatingly agreeing by nodding.

“I saw how Jake touched you back there.” He suddenly says, stepping forward, our bodies so close to each other.

“I stopped him.”

“Will you stop me too?” He lets wraps an arm around your waist, pulling you closer, closing the gap between your bodies.

“Heeseung-“

“You said anything. Or you want me to show Jake your dirty pictures?”

You kept quiet. Letting him touch you.

“Do you show your little tits in this website?”

You looked away, avoiding his eyes and questions. That didn’t last long as he grab your chin to make you face him.

“Answer me.”

You nodded, embarrassed.

“Can you show me too?” He says breathlessly.

I look up at him again, noticing his dark eyes, craving for lust.

“Come on.” He grinds his body to yours.

“Show me and I’ll keep it a secret. Both your account and now.”

You sigh in defeat, nodding.

That’s how you ended up on Lee Heeseung’s bedroom, your legs spread out, your hand covering your mouth to avoid making loud moans. You glance down, the sigh of his messy black hair and his face digging into your wet cunt.

You whimper from his licks and kisses all over your cunt and your inner thighs.

“This taste so good.” He says before diving back in again. You can feel his warm tongue inside your cunt. His tongue pushing back and forth your entrance and swirling.

He teases you by giving a kiss onto your clit then sucking onto it. You moan

You wonder how many minutes have past. Jake is probably looking for you already. “Hee..” You whimper. “Jake is probably looking for m-me.. that’s enough..”

He looks up and chuckled. “I haven’t even fucked you yet. Now you want to leave?”

He suddenly turned you around, your face in his pillows and your ass raised up with your back arching. He gives your ass a slap. You let out a muffled scream against the pillows.

You can feel his tip, rubbing it up and down into your wet slit. “Going to fuck this pussy real good.”

He slid it in, he groans at your walls clenching into his dick. You let out a gasp after he pulls it out and rams in back in. You grip his dark grey sheets as he continues to thrust his hips faster.

His head rolls back while he continues pounding, hitting your cervix. Both of his hands gripped on your hips, making his dick slide even deeper.

Not even an hour in, the room was already filled with pants, heavy breathing, and moans. You wonder if Jake could hear you from his room. You were scared to get caught, but it was thrilling.

“Heeseung! Please hurry.. i still have to tutor your brother.”

“Step brother.” He thrusts faster. “And he can wait.”

It connected. Their last names weren’t the same, yet? You had no time to think about that as he fucks you like an animal. You let out a pained moan, but you were feeling good. Really good.

So good that you didn’t realize Jake watching the whole entire time. His eyes glued to you. Fuck you were so hot getting rammed like that. He wished he was in Heeseung’s place right now.

Heeseung glanced on his side, seeing his brother, step brother rather, peeking through his door. He gives him a smirk and continued to thrust into you harder.

“S-slow down..!” You whine. He looks down at you, sliding his palm behind the back of your neck and brought you closer to his face, giving you a kiss. He slides his tongue inside you as he thrusts into you, reaching his limit.

Finally, he lets it out. Your walls painted white by his cum. You moan gasp one more time while your legs shivering from the sensation. He lets go of your neck and leans back to enjoy the pleasant view in front of him. He wanted to go for round two.

He looks back to his door to find Jake gone. He scoffs and ran his sweaty hair with his hand as he turned to look at you again, fully blissed out.

You pant and took a glance of him, already looking at you. He brought his face close to you, his palm on the side of his face and gave you another kiss. “Let’s do this again, yeah?”

“You don’t want me spreading that little secret of yours.”

You stare at him, disheveled. What will you do now?

[lisalamona]

Lover Boy

. Summary: After years of stolen glances, unfortunate interruptions, and sneaking out of the palace, Telemachus finally musters the courage to confess to you, well… not without a little help, of course. . Pairing: Telemachus x gn! Reader . Warnings: None . Notes: This one had been rotting in the drafts for a while. You can all thank @selena-of-ithaca for inspiring me to finish it! I will probably be doing a second part of this closer to what the request originally was cause it left me thinking about some ideas I wanna explore Art taken from duvetbox's animatic of Legendary Stars devider made by @saradika-graphics, taken from this post

You can say what you will about love at first sight—that it's not real, that it's just an exaggeration poets use to get their point across. But for Telemachus, it was real. Way too real. He just didn't know it at the time.

The first time he saw you, he was just a boy, running from the suffocating walls of the palace. It had stopped feeling like a home—what it was supposed to be—and had become a den. He felt like a lone sheep trapped in a cave full of wolves, and there was no escape. He couldn't leave. He had duties, responsibilities. And most importantly, his mother needed him.

Ever since the suitors had stormed in, treating the palace and everyone inside it as if they were nothing, life had become unbearable. The halls were filled with laughter that wasn't joyful, voices that weren't kind. Every step he took had to be careful, every turn of a corner calculated, just to avoid crossing paths with them. It didn't matter that he was the prince, the heir to Ithaca's throne—his title held no weight with them.

He felt like he was drowning, even though he stood on solid ground.

So naturally, he went to the beach. Or at least, that's where he intended to go. Lost in his thoughts, his mind running rampant, he barely noticed where his feet were taking him. He was halfway down the docks when he collided with someone—hard. The impact sent both of you to the ground, and something clattered beside you.

"Are you alright?"

The voice reached him before he even opened his eyes. The blow had forced them shut, but when he finally blinked them open, the sight before him left him speechless.

At the time, he would've chalked it up to embarrassment. Maybe that was part of it. But looking back, he thought maybe—just maybe—he knew you were the one right then and there, even if he hadn't fully realized it yet.

"Uh... hello?" You waved a hand in front of his face. That snapped him out of his daze, but before he could speak, another voice cut through.

"Kid!"

Both of you turned in unison. A man stood at the edge of the docks—a gruff, towering figure with a bit of gray streaking through his hair. His arms, covered in calluses and old scars, looked like they belonged to someone who could crush a person with a single tap. But you knew better. You knew his heart was made of gold.

"What happened? Are you alright? I knew I shouldn't have let you hold the spears," the man grumbled, his deep voice thick with concern.

"Dad," you muttered, a hint of embarrassment creeping into your tone.

But he wasn't listening. He kept going, mumbling about how he should keep a better eye on you.

"Dad! I'm alright," you reassured him, then turned back to Telemachus—though at the time, you didn't know his name. "Are you?"

He nodded quickly, still a bit unsettled by the sheer presence of your father.

"See? Everything's fine." That seemed to calm the man, at least a little.

You rose from the ground, dusting yourself off before gathering the fallen spears. With one hand, you picked them up. With the other, you reached down and helped Telemachus to his feet.

Your father studied him with a keen eye. "What's your name, son?"

"Telemachus, sir." Anyone could hear the uncertainty in his voice.

Your father's brows lifted slightly. "The prince? What are you doing all the way out here?"

"I just wanted to take a stroll along the beach." Telemachus gestured toward the shore—a more desolate place, one few people ever ventured to.

"Oh, well, that's always a delight to see," your father said with a knowing smile. "Why don't you take [Name] with you? They love going there."

"Dad!"

Heat rushed to your face. That was all you could muster in your embarrassment.

"What?" Your father shrugged. "You could use a break. You need friends your age, anyway." He muttered the last part, but it was loud enough for Telemachus to hear—making your face burn even more.

That day was the first of many.

Over the next ten years, you and Telemachus built something unshakable—a bond carefully woven over time. And in those years, Telemachus came to a realization.

He liked you.

Really liked you.

He had always been hesitant to use the word love. He had never really seen it with his own eyes—not the kind poets spoke of. He had never met his father, and his mother had spent most of his life waiting, praying for Odysseus to return. He supposed the strength she carried was love, in its own way. But he had never seen it in action.

And the years had only made it harder. The suitors had grown more desperate, more dangerous, stripping away every ounce of his attention and confidence.

But then—after twenty long, agonizing years—his father came home.

Everything changed.

In the first few weeks, Telemachus watched his parents reunite. He saw the way they cherished each other, how they barely left each other's side. He saw love in the way they looked at one another, in the way his father reached for his mother's hand without thinking, in the way she smiled as if she had been holding her breath for two decades and could finally exhale.

And that's when he knew.

That's what he wanted.

He wanted to hold your hand, wanted to make you smile—not that he didn't already manage to do that. He wanted to wake up by your side, to trace soft, chaste kisses along your face. He wanted to look into your eyes and, without a single word, know that you both felt the same, that you loved each other.

The only problem was... he didn't know how.

And, gods, he was scared.

──────💗──────

Odysseus made his rounds through town, as he had made a habit of doing ever since returning home. He liked watching the people go about their day, seeing the town buzz with life. He took in every sound, every movement, every face. After spending so many years without proper human interaction, he had learned to appreciate the small things.

That, of course, didn't mean he didn't make time for his family. If anything, he dreaded the moments he had to spend away from them to tend to his duties. That was why, when his son volunteered to accompany him to the docks, he was ecstatic. His mind raced with possible conversation topics, excited at the rare opportunity to bond with Telemachus outside the walls of the palace.

But as they walked, it became increasingly clear that the conversation was more one-sided than he would have liked. Telemachus seemed distracted, his gaze scanning the crowd as if searching for something. Or someone.

Normally, Odysseus might have felt a twinge of disappointment at his son's lack of attention. But then he spotted you, helping your father unload the fishing boat. And then he noticed his son—staring directly at you, his hands fidgeting at his sides before he wiped them on his tunic, as if trying to get rid of sudden clamminess.

Oh. That explained it.

Odysseus' observation skills might have been rusty, but he wasn't stupid.

"Do you want to go talk to them?"

Telemachus nearly jumped out of his skin, his head snapping toward his father. "I— I already do talk to them! We're friends."

Odysseus raised an eyebrow with skepticism. "Friends?"

"Yes!" Telemachus insisted, a little too quickly. His cheeks, however, betrayed him as they flushed red.

"Then you wouldn't mind if I introduced myself?"

Telemachus gave him an incredulous look. "You're the king. They already know who you are!"

"Yes, well, I never personally introduced myself," Odysseus replied smoothly. "And any friend of my son's is a friend of mine."

And with that, he began walking toward you without waiting for a response.

"Father!" Telemachus whisper-shouted, but Odysseus—despite clearly hearing him—kept going, a determined pep in his step.

Panic surged through Telemachus. His father was about to make it so much worse. Desperately, he glanced around, looking for an escape. And then, without thinking, he ducked behind a stack of barrels, pressing himself against the wall in mortified defeat.

He wanted the earth to swallow him right there and then.

"Hello." Odysseus' voice snapped both you and your father to attention.

"Oh—hello, my king, what brings you to us?" your father said, immediately dropping what he was doing to give the king of Ithaca a respectful bow of his head. You quickly followed suit, though your own bow was a little sloppier in your haste.

Odysseus acknowledged both of you with a nod in return—once to your father, then once to you.

"I just wanted to meet my son's friend," he said casually. "Make up for lost time."

At the mention of Telemachus, your ears perked, and your gaze instinctively swept the area, searching for him. It was an unconscious reaction—but not one that went unnoticed by Odysseus.

"Is... is he here?" you asked, smoothing down some stray hairs without realizing it.

Odysseus' lips curled slightly in amusement, though his sharp eyes held something more calculating. He looked behind him, to where his son once stood. "He was. But he seems to have disappeared." His tone was light, but the glint in his eyes told you he knew exactly where his son had gone.

You huffed out a quiet laugh, shaking your head. "Sounds like him."

"Mm." Odysseus crossed his arms, glancing at you with a thoughtful expression. Then, after a brief pause, he gestured toward the town. "Care for a walk?"

You hesitated, glancing toward your father for guidance. He met your uncertain gaze with an encouraging nod.

"Of course," you answered, finally releasing your grip on your work.

Odysseus extended a hand to help you out of the boat. His grip was firm but not overbearing, a steady reminder of the strength he carried. You accepted his help with a small word of thanks, and he nodded in acknowledgment.

As you stepped onto solid ground, Odysseus and your father exchanged brief goodbyes, a silent understanding passing between them. Then, without further delay, you and the king of Ithaca set off down the worn path.

"Tell me—how did you and my son meet?"

"Oh, uh—he ran into me," you said, remembering the day vividly. "Literally."

Odysseus chuckled, nodding as if that sounded exactly like something Telemachus would do. "And you've been friends ever since?"

You smiled. "More or less. He's easy to talk to."

That earned a raised brow from the king. "Is he?"

You tilted your head, sensing a hidden layer to his question. "Once he warms up to you, yes. He's thoughtful, kind. He listens—really listens. Not just to respond, but because he cares about what you're saying."

Odysseus hummed, rubbing his beard in thought. "And what do you think of him?"

You blinked, caught off guard by the directness of the question. "I—well, I think highly of him, of course. He's my friend."

"Just a friend?" Odysseus asked, watching you closely.

You felt warmth creeping up your neck. "I—yes?"

He chuckled at your hesitation, clearly enjoying this far too much. "Well, I suppose time will tell." Then, as if switching subjects entirely, he gestured toward the boat growing smaller behind you. "You work hard."

"I have to," you said, welcoming the shift in topic. "It's not easy work, but it keeps me moving."

Odysseus nodded approvingly. "A strong back and a strong mind—both good things to have." He studied you for a moment longer before adding, "Loyalty is important too. My son, he has to be careful about who he trusts." You could sense something else in his words, more than a father concerned for his son, something personal.

You met his gaze steadily. "I understand. And I'd never betray his trust."

The weight behind your words must have satisfied him because, for the first time, Odysseus' sharp scrutiny softened into something resembling approval. "Good."

Then, without another word, he turned his head slightly and called out, far too casually.

"You can come out now, son."

A muffled curse sounded from behind some abandoned barrels.

Your face lit up with laughter as Telemachus sheepishly emerged from his not so secret hiding spot, his face redder than a pomegranate.

Odysseus clapped a hand on his son's shoulder, grinning. "A prince shouldn't cower behind barrels, Telemachus. Stand tall."

Telemachus muttered something under his breath that you couldn't quite catch. You, however, were too busy giggling to care.

Odysseus gave you one last, knowing glance before stepping back. "I'll leave you two to it, then."

And just like that, he strode off, leaving Telemachus staring at you, utterly mortified.

──────💗──────

"He embarrassed me!"

"You embarrassed yourself."

Telemachus stared at his father in disbelief, then turned toward his mother, silently pleading for help.

Penelope and Odysseus sat side by side on a wooden bench, a stack of parchment spread across the table before them. Penelope had been signing documents, her focus divided between the ink stained sheets and the arms wrapped securely around her waist. Odysseus, ever at ease, rested his chin in the crook of her neck, perfectly content to hold her as she worked.

Penelope glanced up at her son, amusement flickering in her gaze. "Your father just wanted to help."

Telemachus groaned. Of course, he knew that, but did his father really have to do it like that? "I didn't need any help."

At that, Penelope and Odysseus exchanged a look—one of those unspoken conversations only long-married couples could have. A smirk tugged at Odysseus' lips, and Penelope barely suppressed a laugh.

Telemachus narrowed his eyes. "I mean it!"

"I already told you, sweetheart," Penelope said, her voice warm with patience. "You just need to ask them."

Telemachus hesitated. "But what if...?"

"The worst that can happen is them saying no." Odysseus chimed in, casual as ever.

Telemachus huffed. "No, the worst thing that can happen is my friendship with my best friend being destroyed because of my stupid heart!" He dramatically pounded his chest before flopping onto his parents' bed, face first, as if trying to bury his shame into the linens.

Odysseus exhaled through his nose. "You just need to go over there, stand your ground, and be confident."

Telemachus lifted his head just enough to shoot his father a deadpan look. "Be confident? Me?"

Odysseus shrugged. "It worked with your mother."

"No, it didn't."

The response came in stereo. Penelope's tone was amused and firm, while Telemachus' carried all the exasperation of someone who had grown up hearing his father's exaggerated tales one too many times.

Odysseus blinked. "What? Of course it did!"

Penelope gave him a knowing look. "No, I fell in love with you because of your intelligence and because you were so unapologetically you."

Odysseus crossed his arms. "...And my confidence and persistence too."

Penelope hummed, tilting her head. "Ehhh... the good looks did help."

"Hey!" Odysseus gasped in mock offense before playfully patting her waist and pressing a soft kiss to her neck.

Telemachus rolled his eyes. Of course, he loved his parents. Of course, he admired their relationship. But gods, was it frustrating to witness when he felt so incapable of achieving the same thing.

How was he supposed to be confident when confidence had never come naturally to him?

How was he supposed to just ask you when the very thought of it made his stomach twist itself into knots?

His whole life, he had watched his father's legendary feats unfold in the stories of others. Odysseus, the clever hero. Odysseus, the king of Ithaca. Odysseus, who could talk his way out of anything. He was larger than life, a master of words, a warrior, a man who could fight off monsters and trick the gods themselves.

And Telemachus?

Telemachus could barely keep his voice steady when he so much as thought about telling you how he felt.

It wasn't just rejection he feared—it was the aftermath. What if things changed? What if it became awkward between you? What if you started avoiding him? What if he lost you entirely?

He couldn't risk that.

But at the same time...

He wanted what his parents had. The quiet affection, the easy laughter, the deep-rooted love that had endured twenty years of separation.

He wanted you.

And yet—he felt stuck.

"That's why you should be yourself," Penelope's voice pulled him from his spiraling thoughts. "You've been friends for a while. They'll understand."

Telemachus sighed, rolling onto his back to stare at the ceiling. "I can't be myself. Nobody wants that."

Odysseus snorted. "That's dramatic."

Penelope stood up and made her way to her son, gently touched his arm, her voice softer now. "Just try."

Telemachus swallowed, his heart hammering against his ribs.

Just try.

If only it were that easy.

──────💗──────

Telemachus couldn't get the interaction he had with you earlier that day out of his head. He had tried—tried so hard—to keep both his parents' advice in mind. He had finally gathered the confidence to tell you, rehearsing his words over and over, from the moment he woke up to the moment he finally said it.

Well... kind of said it.

You hadn't even heard him. And in that tiny, fleeting moment, all the courage he had painstakingly built crumbled into dust. When you looked at him with those oh so beautiful eyes and that perfect, heart melting smile, he panicked. The words he had prepared vanished like smoke, and before he knew it, he was scrambling to change the topic as fast as possible.

Now, as he replayed the disaster in his mind for what felt like the hundredth time, he decided it was both the smartest and most idiotic thing he had ever done. Smart—because he hadn't ruined your friendship. Stupid—because now he had to go through the agony of doing it all over again.

"You're distracted."

The sharp voice cut through his thoughts, making him flinch. His mentor, Athena, stood a few paces away, arms crossed, her piercing gaze locked onto him like a bird of prey. She had been watching his form as he attacked the training dummy, analyzing every movement, every hesitation.

Heat rushed to his face—not just from embarrassment, but because his mind had been so hopelessly wrapped around you. He swallowed thickly. "... It's [Name]," he admitted.

Athena let out a slow breath, attempting to mask both her amusement and her growing exasperation. She had seen this before—too many times, in fact. First with Odysseus, who had been equally lovesick, and now with his son, who spoke of you so fondly it was becoming predictable.

"Not again." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "I am not Aphrodite. I can't help you."

But her words only sparked something in Telemachus. His eyes widened, a flicker of realization lighting them up, and then—

A grin.

"But you're Athena! Goddess of strategy!" He straightened, excitement practically radiating from him. "We can strategize this!"

Athena stared at him, expression flat.

"Please!" In a dramatic flourish, he dropped to his knees, hands clasped together in a desperate plea. "Every time I even think of them, my heart feels like it's going to burst through my ribs! Every time I look at them, I can barely think! I love them. I can't take it anymore!"

Athena sighed, looking up at the sky as if seeking divine patience. This was going to be a long conversation.

──────💗──────

The plan was simple. Or at least, Athena had made it sound simple.

Step one: Get you alone. Step two: Lead the conversation toward something sentimental. Step three: Casually, effortlessly, drop the confession like it was nothing.

Easy.

Except, now that Telemachus was actually there—walking beside you through the sun-dappled forest, the scent of pine and earth filling the air—his entire brain had turned to mush.

You walked ahead slightly, arms brushing away stray branches, sunlight catching in your hair just perfectly. You looked so at peace, humming softly to yourself, completely unaware of the internal war raging within him.

He needed to start the plan. Say something smooth. Something clever.

"So... uh." His voice cracked. He cleared his throat violently. "D-Do you like trees?"

You stopped mid step, turning to blink at him. "What?"

"Trees," he repeated, voice slightly strangled. "Do you... like them?"

A pause. Then, you burst into laughter. "Telemachus, we are literally in a forest."

He groaned internally. That was not part of the plan.

Desperate to recover, he tried again. "What I meant to say was... um, people... people are like trees!"

You raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Oh? And how's that?"

"Uh..." He hadn't actually thought that far ahead. "Well, some are really tall! And, uh, strong! Like... my father." He winced. Gods, this was a disaster.

You bit your lip, holding back another laugh. "Right. So, are you a tree too?"

"I—" He blushed slightly at the idea you might see him as someone strong. He was spiraling. "I think I might be a bush."

That was it. You doubled over, laughter spilling freely from your lips, and despite his humiliation, Telemachus felt his heart swell at the sound. He loved your laugh. He loved—

Wait. He was supposed to be confessing, not making an absolute fool of himself.

"Why are you so nervous?"

"Umm, it's just—" Telemachus' eyes darted rapidly, searching for something—anything—that could save him. His gaze landed on Athena, perched in the form of a huge white owl on a nearby branch, watching intently. He gave her a desperate, pleading look. She only responded with a subtle nod forward, directing his attention back to you.

"Are you alright?" you asked, concern laced in your voice. You reached out, gently taking his hand in yours, forcing him to meet your eyes. Gods, you loved his eyes—the way they turned into molten honey when the sunlight hit them just right. At that moment, you cursed your father in your mind. He had hyped you up to finally tell Telemachus how you felt, only for the day to end with him having some allergic reaction or whatever was happening to him.

Telemachus stared at you, momentarily forgetting how to breathe. The way the light bathed your features, making you seem almost ethereal—it was unfair. Before he could stop himself, the words slipped out.

"By the gods, you are beautiful."

"What?"

"What?" His eyes widened slightly as if he could pretend he hadn't just spoken.

You raised an eyebrow. "I heard you. I just wanted to know if I heard right."

"Oh."

A thick silence settled between you. The air felt heavy, charged with something unspoken.

You swallowed hard, deciding to bite the bullet. "...I think you're beautiful too." The words tumbled out before you could second-guess yourself. Your heart hammered in your chest, but you forced yourself to push forward. "I like you. I like you a lot, and it's totally fine if you don't feel the same, I just can't hold it in anymo—"

"I do too."

The response came without hesitation, so natural it almost startled you. He took a deep breath, scanning your face for a reaction—some sign that he wasn't making a mistake. He found it.

His fingers tightened slightly around yours. "You are the first thing I think about in the morning and the last thing I think about at night." His voice was steadier now, more certain. "I try to find excuses to talk to you, to be around you, to hear you laugh—even if it's just for a moment. And I know I should have said something sooner, but I was terrified that if I did, I'd lose you."

The world around you blurred. The whispering leaves, the distant crash of waves against the shore, the rustling of Athena's wings—it all faded into the background.

"You won't lose me." you promised, squeezing his hand.

Telemachus let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. His free hand hesitantly reached up, brushing against your cheek as if testing whether this moment was real.

"Then, can I—" He stopped himself, but the question lingered in the air.

You smiled. "You can."

And with that, he closed the distance, pressing his lips softly against yours.

BONUS:

"Would you be mad if I let go of your hand?" "Why? What's wrong?" "It's really sweaty"

[marauder-misprint]

Hello!! I’m your new follower and honestly your fics are so good 🥺 I love the “these damn stairs” one and I wonder if u could write part 2 because shy reader and gentle super friendly Remus trope is the best heh.

Thank youuu for following ❤︎

Here is part 2 to 'These damn stairs' and there will be a part 3 because I can't just let it end here :) Might be a few days before I'm able to post part 3 because I got some really good requests in my inbox that I want to get to!

'It's a date'

Remus Lupin x reader

2.2k words

cw: fluff

Talking to Remus still felt like you had the eyes of the school on you. This meant that it was Remus who talked first. You would give him a small smile or a wave when you passed him on your way to a different class, but it was always him who came up to your desk before or after a class you had together. It was him who still came to sit with you at lunch; your friends warmed up to him quickly and proceeded to tease you about him when he was gone. 

You continued to study with him too. He’d wait for you outside the library before walking with you back to the small table from that first study session. With every passing day, you slowly began to be more comfortable in his presence. You were able to hold a conversation with him. It was a slow growing friendship, but it was growing. 

“You’re sure you don’t mind studying with just me?” you had asked once, worrying that he missed all of the attention that he used to get in the library because he was smart and nice. 

He just smiled at you, leaning toward you to say, “I really don’t mind. I’d rather work with you over anyone else.” 

That left you blushing for the rest of your time in the library that evening. Remus always knew what to say to get that blush to reappear. More often than not, you would leave your encounters with Remus with a pink face and racing heart. 

You were thrown off when you showed up to study with Remus on Saturday and he wasn’t waiting for you outside the library. You considered waiting for him to show up but decided to check inside just in case. You found him sitting at a larger table with his friends. There were open chairs on either side of him with the other three boys on the opposite side of the table. The sight sent your mind spinning as you tried to remember the conversation when you discussed studying today. You didn’t recall him mentioning the rest of the Marauders would be there. Plans must’ve changed. 

You headed toward a different table, your usual before you started sitting with Remus. You didn’t want to interrupt their “Marauders Study Session.” 

However, as soon as he saw you, Remus called you over.

“You know James, Peter, Sirius, yeah? Hope you don’t mind they came today. I’m afraid they need the extra push to get stuff done.”

You do mind but god forbid you say something and make a scene. So you nodded and sat down next to Remus. You attempted to keep your things more consolidated than you usually do. You didn’t want to encroach on Peter’s or Sirius’ space. It took you longer to fall into your studying groove with the entirety of the Marauders at the same table as you; you’re positive that anyone and everyone passing by is confused by it. You felt like an outsider intruding on something sacred. It didn’t help that every time you looked up, you swore at least one of them was looking at you or Remus. You’re a bit uncomfortable. It’s not like you’ve ever really talked to any of them. 

“So, erm, how long has this been a thing?” Peter asked after you caught your eye from across the table. 

A thing? What on earth did that boy mean?

“Excuse me?” 

“We’ve been studying together for a little over two weeks,” Remus said, shooting you a quick smile.

Oh That’s all.

Remus’ answer made the question make more sense. You supposed it was a thing that Remus was studying with one person rather than a herd of girls and essentially playing teacher. You berated yourself for thinking that Peter had meant something more. 

“Right, studying,” Sirius said with a smirk. 

Nope. What?

You pursed your lips together and train your eyes on your assignment. That is what you had been doing with Remus. That’s all you’ve been doing.

“Shut it, Padfoot,” Remus warned. 

He glared at his friends. He had warned them ahead of time to be nice to you, to try not to scare you off. He knows you are shy and more reserved. He didn’t want to cancel studying with you so that his nimrod friends didn’t fall behind on their own assignments. But now, he was beginning to regret inviting them. 

Remus reached for a small scrap of parchment and scribbled on it, “Don’t worry about them” before sliding it into your view. You took notice of it and nodded. He lowered his head to get into your view as well. He raised his eyebrows as if asking that you’re okay. You drew a simple smiley face on the parchment. He nodded and returned to his own assignment. With both of your heads bowed in focus, you missed the shared look between the other three boys. You were able to get some work done. The lingering feeling of eyes on you was impossible to shake. You tried to think of a reason why they would be so interested in you, but you kept coming up short. Well, not completely. You had ideas, but each seemed more ridiculous than the last and one was just downright hopeful. 

“Is it true you started talking because you got your foot stuck in that damn step?” James asked as he closed a book he was using for his Herbology assignment.

“Prongs!” Remus hissed as your face turned beet red. 

“Uh, I guess?” you said meekly. 

You tried not to think about that embarrassing day, even if it did lead to your first real interaction with Remus. It wasn’t a moment you wanted to relive. 

“Must’ve been some fall though,” James continued, despite the glared daggers from Remus. “Certainly got our boy’s attention.”

Remus’ face was beginning to turn red as well at this point. He really, really wanted James to stop talking; it was at the point where he was debating Silencio. 

“Oh? What… what do you mean?” you asked, biting the inside of your cheek. 

Sirius snorted a laugh. “Sweetheart, you should hear how much he talks about you.” 

Your eyes went wide. You weren’t sure what you had expected but it wasn’t that. It took a second for the words to fully sink in. Remus talked… about you? Often? With enough frequency that his friends made note of it? Is that why it felt like they kept staring at you? They were just trying to figure out what Remus found so intriguing about you? 

You turned to see Remus holding his head in his hands. You gently placed your hand on his shoulder.

“Remus?” 

A horrible thought crossed your mind: What if this was all just a prank on you and Remus was collateral? What if he didn’t actually talk about you and now he’d have to admit that? 

He ran his hands through his hair before looking at you. His face was bright red, highlighting each scar that ran across his nose and cheeks brilliantly. 

“Can we talk privately? Before I murder these gits?” he asked you in a low voice with pleading eyes. 

“Yeah. Yeah,” you breathed, standing up and waiting to follow Remus through the shelves.

He led you further than you would’ve expected from the table. You assumed that he really didn’t want the boys overhearing whatever you were going to talk about. With each step, you felt your heart rate increase. Maybe he thought you were going to cry at what he was going to say and didn’t want to do that near them. 

“I think we’re far enough. No hearing extension charm they’re capable of reaches this far,” he said, leaning back against the wall with some kind of effortless allure. 

“Are you okay?” you asked. 

You stood a few steps away from him. If something was going to go down, you wanted to have some space between you. 

“Yeah. Yeah, of course. I’m fine,” he said as he watched you with cautious eyes. “Usually their teasing doesn’t get to me this bad.” He let out an awkward chuckle. 

“Are they teasing you about being friends with me?” you asked, your chest filling with dread. 

You wrapped your arms around yourself to brace for the worst. Remus was popular. He was so well-liked. He was so good with people. And you liked to stay out of the spotlight. Some people thought you were a little standoffish, but so be it. You could see where his friends were coming from. 

Suddenly, you felt hands on your shoulders. And you looked up to see Remus’ warm eyes. 

“They are teasing me about being just friends with you,” he said softly. 

You rolled your lips against each other. What did he mean by that? Just friends? 

“Because I do talk about you a lot. I practically only study with you. I go out of my way to cross paths with you so I can see your smile. I hope this doesn’t sound creepy, but I stare at you from across the Great Hall when I don’t sit next to you.” He paused for a moment to see if you had any reaction yet. “And this is going to sound mean, but I’m so glad you fell on those stairs. It brought you into my life.” He waited again. “Please say something, love.” 

“Okay,” you said as your cheeks tinged pink. “So they aren’t making fun of me? This isn’t some kind of prank?” 

“No. It’s not a prank. The only one being made fun of is me because I wanted to wait longer.”

“Wait longer for what?” 

“Listen. I meant it when I said you are pretty. I meant it when I said I don’t want to study with anyone else. I mean it when I say I can’t get you out of my head. I just wanted to wait longer to be sure… sure that you’d say yes. Sure that you like me.” 

You tilted your head.

“Of course I like you, Remus.”

“But as more than friends? Would you be willing to go on a date with me?”

Your breath hitched. Had Remus just said a bunch of sweet things about you? Yes, and it made your face feel hot. But it was the question that really sealed the deal. He wanted to be sure that you’d say yes. 

“I’d really like that.” You broke into a wide smile. “You thought I wouldn’t say yes?” 

Remus let out the breath he was holding and mirrored your smile. He pulled you into a tight hug before answering. 

“I’ve wanted to ask you out since the first time we studied together. I didn’t want to move too fast. I didn’t want you to think I was trying to jump you or something.” 

You laughed into his chest and he slowly let you go. 

“So all of that back there, that was them being tired of listening to you pine?” you asked.

“Seems like it. I told them to be nice to you, but I guess I didn’t tell them to be nice to me.”

“I mean, I’d say it was pretty nice of them to get you a date,” you said teasingly.

“I’m still the one who asked!” he tried to defend himself.

You raised your eyebrows at him.

“Yeah, but would you have asked if they weren’t here?”

“Not today, no. Maybe in another week or so. I told you, I was waiting to be sure.”

“For a smart bloke, you really should’ve known that if you asked me out on the stairs, I would’ve said yes.”

“Wait, what?” He looked down at you in surprise. 

“Merlin, I’ve had a crush on you for a while. It’s part of what made falling into the stair so mortifying.”

“Those damn stairs, right?” he chuckled as you started walking back to the table. Then he cleared his throat. “So, Hogsmeade next weekend?”

“It’s a date.” 

The three boys were working when you returned. When they looked up, they had matching looks of anticipation on their faces. Neither of you said anything as you sat down and started to work. Without speaking, you seemed to agree that you weren’t going to say anything unless they asked. 

“So?” Peter asked. “Did Remus grow a pair?” 

“Always had a pair, Peter,” Remus said dryly. 

“Moony,” he whined before turning his attention to you. “Did he… you know?”

“Well, she might not know. Because if he didn’t, how would she know?” Sirius said. 

You rolled your eyes with a shake of your head. 

“What if he did and she said no? That’d be something,” James mused. “Although I don’t think they’d be so… content? Peaceful? Somber? Pleased-looking?”

“But wouldn’t they both look much happier if he asked and she said yes?” Peter asked.

“Oi! We are right here,” Remus interjected. “I asked. She said yes. You are to stay away from us in Hogsmeade. Now, work. I want to see finished essays.”

“Our boy became a man!” Sirius said, wiping an invisible tear from his eye. “We’re so proud of you.”

“Padfoot. Essay. Now,” Remus commanded before shooting you a wide grin. 

You could tell that he was pretty proud of himself too. 

tags: @allformoony, @oursweetmoony, @moonyswifee

[eepyhoney]

AMNESIA [ prompt ]

alternate title: Together Again ⋆˙⟡ Caleb x f!reader ⋆˙⟡ ambiguous drabble ⋆˙⟡ angst? ⋆˙⟡ 349 words ⋆˙⟡

A mission gone wrong, a battle against a vicious wanderer lead to another near-death experience.

Only this time, your heart did stopped beating - death upon arrival at Willow Medical Center, the cold atmosphere weight heavily in the air as the doctor relayed the news to the Farspace Fleet Colonel.

Caleb would've snapped, his last strand of sanity, his anchor to reality, his homing beacon - his pipsqueak, slipping out of his reach again and into the abyssal realm of death.

Until unexpectedly your heart miraculously revived not soon after, shocking everyone into a stupor.

And Caleb? He was too relieved to care of other's disbelief as he immediately rushed to your side. Thanking whatever deity above for not taking you away from him - not after everything he did in his power to protect you.

After weeks of undergoing recovery and Caleb finally permitted to visit you, he was neither affected or surprise when you stared at him with a guarded and confused gaze in your eyes.

"Who.. are you..?"

Ah the familiar question, one Caleb had hoped not to relive ever again since their wretched childhood.

Only a brief heartache, a twinged in his heart until a particular thought cross his mind, a thought to finally bind you to him once and for all.

The thought that sent a thrill through him as Caleb easily masked his expression with a warm loving smile before taking a seat beside your hospital bed.

"Its okay.. Its okay if you forget." He spoke softly, the flowers he brought placed neatly on your lap as he gently grasp your hand. His touch careful and soothing and it did help ease a bit of the tenseness you felt around him despite the lingering confusion in your mind.

"Even if you don't remember anything. I can always say it again." A paused, a small shaky sigh as he locked eyes with you. "I'm Caleb.."

He brought your intertwined hand up close to his lips, planting a tender kiss against your skin, his eyes never leaving yours as he uttered his final words.

"And I'm your husband."

divider by omi.resources

a/n: an open prompt that /might/ turn into a fic someday but unsure. if anyone wanna write this out feel free! please tag me though bc I would love to read it 𖹭

[petersasteria]

Hey, It's Been A While - G Dragon/Kwon Ji Yong

Pairing: GD x Reader Summary: long time partners that don't have the same goal

A/N: i just want to say that it's been a while since I've written a fic and this is my first time writing for GD sksksks I've been wanting to write for a while now and I just want to thank @ldydeath @thanosscross @loveesiren @welcometoyunosworld @dollzites @natalicss for inspiring me to write again <3

He was your whole world. You were his. Everything seemed right until it wasn't.

A year into your relationship, everything was still phenomenal. It was like the honeymoon phase never ended. He treated you right and he did right by you. You pampered him when he was tired and he always sent you updates when he was at work. He even started sending you food, knowing that you always forgot to eat on time.

God, you were in love with this man. After your first year together, you knew he was the one. You knew in your heart that nobody could replace him and you hope that he felt that too.

Years go by and suddenly, you've been dating for 9 years. Everyone was pestering you to get married already, but Ji-yong never asked... not yet. Your relationship with him was never rocky and despite multiple breakup rumors, it remained stronger than ever. It stood the test of time and Ji-yong liked to prove people wrong all the time. He brought you to events all the time and he would be the one to send you those shitty rumors first before anyone else would, just so the two of you could make fun of it.

God, he was in love with you. He loved every single moment he shared with you. It was weird because he figured that he was the only man in the world who falls in love with you even more when you're angry. He absolutely loved you when you were angry because he loved seeing your real emotions toward things that angered you. He loved supporting you when you got angry. If you were cussing someone out during a rant, he'd do the same thing because he knew that you'd look at him, laugh, and forget what you were even angry about which annoyed you a lot, but he knew you were thankful. Your first year together was the best year he ever had. He wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Years go by and he's still so madly and sickeningly in love with you. He would never want to hurt your feelings that's why when rumors started going around about your breakup, he'd make sure to send it to you first attached with a cruel joke that only you two would understand. He'd smile to himself when you give it a 'haha' react and reply with another joke. It'd be enough to put him in a good mood.

Lately, he's starting to notice something different about you. You were a little bit sad, but he didn't know what to do and it scared him because he'd usually know what to do and what to say. He could read your expressions so well and it killed him that he couldn't read it now. For the first time in 9 years, he couldn't understand what was wrong.

To remedy the situation, he took you out on a date in a very expensive restaurant. He didn't care how much he'd spend. He just wanted to see you happy and to know if something's wrong. He wanted to make you feel better.

Obviously, that action didn't register the same way to you. He wanted to talk to you and ask what's going on, and you thought he was proposing. Of course, none of you knew what the other was thinking during the time both of you were getting ready in the same room. He glanced at you as he put his cufflinks on and smiled when he saw you smiling to yourself. 'My girl's back.' He thought. You looked up at him as you smoothed out your dress and smiled, "Ready to go?"

The whole ride going to the restaurant was quiet. It was a comfortable kind of quiet. The soft music filling the car and the reflection of the lights coming from the street lamps and shops illuminated your faces perfectly. He wanted to take multiple pictures of you then and there to make it his new lockscreen, but he didn't want both of you to get injured because he was too busy driving. Despite having a lot of money, he didn't feel the need to hire a driver because he thinks that going on drives with you is intimate no matter where you go.

You arrived at the restaurant and got seated at the best table with the best view. You scanned the menu, ordered your food, and smiled at each other. "Um, it's been a while since we went on a proper date. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love staying in, but I just feel like dressing up with you and going to a fancy place for a change. If that's alright?" He asked, anxious for your reply. He didn't know why he was anxious around you. He guessed that maybe he didn't want to upset you by saying the wrong thing.

"That's perfectly fine, Ji." You smiled shyly, thinking he's nervous about his proposal. "I'll go wherever you go. We've been together for so long, I can't even remember what it's like to function without you."

Both of you laughed and agreed. You started talking about your job and how you're eyeing for that big promotion because the pay is better and the office is bigger. He just kept listening and laughing and only talking when he was curious about one topic or if he had any opinions or views about something you said. At one point, he couldn't help himself because of how your face was perfectly illuminated by the light coming from the restaurant's warm, dim lights. He asked for you to pose as he took multiple pictures. Some of it were candid shots of you asking him to stop because it was taking too long. Despite all the magazine-worthy photos he took of you, he chose the most candid one as his lockscreen because it took him back to when you first met.

"I'm really glad that you're smiling again, Y/N." He said as he toyed a little bit with his dessert's toppings using his dessert spoon. Your head tilted a little bit to the side as you furrowed your eyebrows in confusion. What was he talking about?

He looked at you and said, "Oh, I mean it's nothing bad... I hope. Um, recently, I noticed that you were sad and you had this expression I couldn't read and I panicked because I didn't know how to fix it and you've never been so closed off like that with me. Now that you're smiling and laughing, it makes me feel better that you're feeling better." He breathed and smiled a big smile, "I'm really glad you're feeling better. You can tell me if I've done anything to upset you, you know that right?"

You nodded your head and said, "You did nothing wrong, actually. I guess I was just a bit sad because of what people are saying about us... or about me."

His eyes went dark and said, "What?" He wasn't aware that people were saying stuff about the two of you or about you, specifically. It angered him that people were trying to breakup the one relationship he cherished the most. He felt betrayed and backstabbed. You nodded and said, "They said that you didn't really love me and that I'm just a placeholder for when you meet your true love."

He was so hurt that you said that so casually. "Anyway, I don't believe it anymore because it's ridiculous! Especially now that it's happening." You said giddily. He chuckled in confusion and shook his head slightly, "I'm sorry, what's happening?"

"You know..." You said in excitement. "No, I don't know actually." He said with genuine confusion.

"Oh. Is this not what I thought it was?" You asked in a small voice, feeling absolutely mortified and embarrassed.

"What are you on about, my love?" He asked. He didn't understand. He didn't have a clue at all.

You gave him a tight-lipped smile and said, "Let's just go home."

As soon as you got home, you marched straight to your shared room with Ji-yong quickly following behind. "Hey, what's going on? Please tell me. You know that I don't like to be kept in the dark about things that concern our relationship."

You looked at him as you took off your shoes and earrings. "Fine. We've been together for 9 years and you still haven't proposed. Why?"

He chuckled, "Is that it? Is that why you're so upset? I can answer that right now."

"Okay. Please enlighten me."

"I don't believe in marriage and starting a family, Y/N." He said coolly. "I thought it was obvious? I mean, we have a great relationship going on and I absolutely adore you and everyone knows that. I just don't feel the need to put it on a piece of paper. You're the only woman in my life and I'm the only man in your life and it's always been that way. Everybody knows that."

Your heart shattered into a million pieces. "What?" was all you said. He shrugged and sat down on your shared bed, "Yeah. I thought you knew? I'm sorry if I didn't tell you. I genuinely thought you knew this whole time." You shook your head and started crying.

You sat down on the bed next to him and started crying. He pulled you in for a hug, but you pushed him away. He was hurt that you did that because you never pushed him away before. "What's wrong?" He asked, rubbing your back and pushing your hair away from your face.

You looked up at him and said, "I don't think I can go on this way."

"What do you mean?" He panicked. Is this it? Is your relationship ending after 9 beautiful years?

"We have different goals. I want to get married and have kids, Ji. I find it so selfish of you to not tell me and expect me to be okay with it now. If you told me that 9 years ago-"

"You would've left immediately, I know you would. Please don't leave me now. We're doing so great." He pleaded.

"Ji-yong, please-"

"Will you marry me?"

"What?" You looked at him like was crazy.

"You wanted to get married, right? I love you too much for you to walk away. Let's get married and have kids like what you've always dreamed of. How many kids do you want? We can move out of here and find a more quiet place for us to start a family and-"

"I don't want you to hate me."

"I could never hate you, Y/N. Don't be silly."

"Oh, but you would. You'd resent me for marrying me because you never wanted to get married. You'd resent our children because you never wanted to have children. We want different things in life and maybe we were just meant to meet, but not destined to be with each other."

"Y/N, I love you. Please marry me."

"You're just asking me that because you want me to stay, not because you want to marry me. Ji-yong, my love, it's okay. It'll take some time, but I hope you find someone who has the same goal as you."

Those were your last words to him before you parted ways. Your breakup was called the "breakup of the century" because it shocked everyone.

-

It's been 2 years since then and Ji-yong heard that you were getting married and that you were pregnant. He was truly happy for you because you got what you wanted, but it killed him to know that it's not him you're marrying and it's not him who's fathering your child. He was invited to the wedding and so are Daesung and Taeyang. They didn't want him to go because they knew it would hurt his feelings, but he assured them that he'll be fine. He moved on... a little bit.

He hoped to talk to you, though.

He wandered around aimlessly through the halls and hoped that by sheer luck, he finds your dressing room. He spots a group of bridesmaids and he switches on his charm and asks them if they were your bridesmaids. They said yes and he immediately asked where your dressing room was.

They led him there before leaving. He could hear you singing softly to yourself, indicating that you were alone. After all this time, he still knew you like the back of his hand. He smiled to himself and knocked on your door.

"Mom, please calm down. For the nth time, I don't need water!" You said through the door. He chuckled to himself before opening the door.

"Sorry to disappoint. I'm not your mom." He said softly. His gaze immediately falling on your beautiful face matched with your perfectly styled hair, then on your white wedding dress.

"Ji-yong."

"Y/N."

"You're here! Wow." You said in surprise. "Um, please sit." You motioned for him to sit on your couch and you sat down next to him.

"You look beautiful, Y/N." He smiled. His smile reached his eyes and you gave him a shy look. His compliments still gave you butterflies.

"Thank you. I'm glad you could make it."

"I'm sorry, Y/N." He said. "I'm sorry I couldn't be the man you needed me to be. Now that I look back, it really was shitty of me to tell you that I didn't want to get married and expect you to accept it. It was also shitty of me to propose to you just for you to stay, and you were right. I would've hated you and I don't want to hate you because I love you so much. In fact, I love you so much that I can't let you go."

"What are you saying?"

"I don't know what I'm saying." He chuckled bitterly. "I want you to be happy with me, but I can't make you happy because I can't give you what you want. He makes you happy and I hate that. I don't want you to leave him because I would never want to breakup a family... that's not who I am."

"I just wish that I was different. I wish that I believed in marriage, so that you wouldn't marry that guy and have his child. I wish it was me you came home to. You'll always be the love of my life, Y/N. I screwed up, but I never lied to you. I've done a lot of shit in my life, but loving you and being with you is different. I meant what I said that day when I told you that you're the only woman in my life."

He pulled out his phone and showed you his lockscreen from that night at the restaurant. "See? I never changed it. I'll always love you and it'll stay that way until my last breath."

You stayed quiet. Why was he saying all this?

"I love you. I respect you. I already care about your kid and I haven't even met them. I guess what I'm saying is, something in my gut tells me that we're definitely destined to be together and in some fucked up way, I hope it's true."

"I'm confused." You told him.

"Get married, Y/N. Go. I'm not stopping you. I'm not a cruel person and I know how hard you've worked in planning all this. I know you so well, after all. I'm just saying that one day, I know you'll come back to me."

"What if you're wrong?" You asked. "I love my fiance."

"I know you do. Just not the same way you loved me. Our 9 years wasn't a joke. We're basically married at that point." He smirked. "You deserve a happy marriage, Y/N. I know you're happy."

He stood up and walked to the door. "I just have this terrible gut feeling about that man that I can't shake."

With that, he left the dressing room.

--------

A/N: I planned on smth very angsty, but I couldn't stop typing until it led me to that ending HAHAHAHA

[diazsdimples]

Hey. So this is an incredibly uncomfortable post for me to make and I hate that it's gotten to this point, but I need help.

As some of you may know, I am a student midwife, who recently had back surgery and the ending of a very long-term relationship. As a student, I can't work alongside being out on clinical placements, and I receive a very small amount from the government that adds onto my student loan, but this only happens during term time. As it's the summer, I'm no longer receiving this financial support, and due to my surgery, I have been unable to find work in the meantime. Now, to add to all this, my ex is withholding $600 from me and expects me to pay him back for things that he is not entitled to. Due to all this, I can no longer afford my weekly rent, my food bills, or petrol costs. I've been making do with the little savings I had, but they've run out and I can't get financial assistance from anywhere (I've tried).

I absolutely hate to ask for this, but I really need some help. I've made a ko-fi, and have been going back and forth about what I could offer in return, but if you're able to help out, it would mean the absolute world to me. If you can't help out (and so fair), if you could please reblog to help spread this.

I love and appreciate every single one of you, thank you to everyone who has sent me kind messages over the last few months.

[promprom2007]

PromProm2007's Intro Post!

Hi there, you may have known me for my previous accounts GalacticSomewhat and Prometheus2007! I am back from the dead once again. You can call me Promni, Prom, or Galactic!

I post about my Gacha OCs [Gacha Club only for the most part], and do different Gacha Challenges! I love seeing Gacha content on Tumblr and will follow pretty much anyone that does Gacha content on here as long as it's not sexual. GACHA TUMBLR USERES UNITE!!

I do not have a DNI list, I really don't care what people like or support even if it's considered weird. Idk man, if you like Gacha stuff and have cool designs and ocs you're most likely chill in my book.

With that out of the way, here is my main oc! :3 Her name is Promni. She has a GL2 version as well but I don't hav that photo at the moment. IF ANYONE WANTS HER CODE LET ME KNOW! :D

I've had a lot of people ask me before: YES YOU CAN DRAW/EDIT/USE/MAKE FANART OF MY OC ^^ PLEASE DO IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY! you can always draw any of my ocs or edit them or use them! if you need codes just ask.

My ask box is ALWAYS open, I find great joy in seeing asks sent there by anyone, it makes me so excited :D. Please send me asks, show me your designs, tell me your lore, tell me about anything! Just don't be rude is all I ask but that's common sense, isn't it?

I only ask to not be forced into or have my name used in any sort of drama, I would rather not be involved in any sort of issue. Please respect that!

Thank you so much for reading, have a lovely day/night!

PFP art was made by someone on discord I forgot who :(

BANNER ART WAS MADE BY MY BESTIE @iok045

@mynameis---m my starlight <3

@kart-ana the most sigma ever

@iok045 number one alfred shamer [and my bestest friend DONT GET IT TWISTED]

MY CLOSE TUMBLR BUDDIES: everyone above ofc and @bethn0tfound404 @espressodepressoconan @sicdios @9mysterybook6 @torrentialchaos @jacksepticeye-simp @nightfox67 @mythically15 @pamithebunterfly2007 @sleepi-toasti @adumblittlegachakid and im sure a lot more im still trying to find you all </3

[ofmdrecaps]

01/24-31/2025 OFMD Recaps

TLDR; Happy Belated birthday to Guz Khan!; David Jenkins; Rhys Darby; Con O'Neill; Vico Ortiz; Kristian Nairn; Ruibo Qian; Gypsy Taylor; Samba Schutte; Minnie Driver; Anapela Polata'ivao; Christopher Corbin; Vote for Jes Tom in the Queerties; Articles; In Person Events: Florida Super Con Guest Request; The Wee Con; Fan Spotlight: Our Flag Means Fanfiction: The Sprizzy Episode; Love Notes; Daily Darby / Today's Taika;

Hey crew. I'm so very sorry. I have not been in a good headspace these past two weeks. Between my home life, and work, and everything going on here in the US, I have had to limit what I do in a day because I've been burning the candle at both ends and there hasn't been much left of me. Thank you to everyone who was sweet and sent me love, I promise i'll respond soon. I've had the next 3 recaps half done for days but just haven't been able to get up the strength to finish them, and I do apologize for that.

= Guz Khan's Birthday Jan 24th =

Happy very belated birthday to Guz Khan! Our dear Ivan!

= David Jenkins =

David shared this amazing animatic by our friend @aimeekitty! Wanna see it in action? visit Aimee's Bsky!

Source: David's Bsky

= Rhys Darby =

Issue #102 Part 2 of the Cryptid Factor went up on Patreon!

Source: The Cryptid Factor Patreon

For those of you on Rhys' Paid Substack, there's a new "Darby Files" up for 01/20-01/26!

Also on Rhys' Substack is footage of the Sundance Film festival where he went to see the film Buttons' produced - "Prime Minister!" You can check out the BTS from it on his paid substack!

Source: Rhys Darby's Substack

More shots from his trip with Buttons!

Source: Rhys' Tiktok

= Con O'Neill =

More trailers for Con's show SAS Rogue Heroes are out!

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A post shared by BBC iPlayer (@bbciplayer)

Source: SAS Rogue Heroes IG

= Vico Ortiz =

So many new Podcast episodes of Today In Gay! Your daily dose of Queer News! Check Vico out on the Substack! (Sorry for the reverse image to links, I was combining pictures to make space!)

Jan 24

Jan 27

Jan 28

Jan 29

Jan 30

Jan 31

Source: Today In Gay Substack

= Kristian Nairn =

Kristian attended MegaCon London with his new hair style-- and got to chat with lots of fans!

Source: Adrianna Dagmara's IG

Kristian also shared this beautiful memory of Ofmd with us! "Just found this while packing up ! Wee John wore a really lovely pin cushion on his wrist in S2, and this was one of the spare little guys who encircled it. Thanks @gypsytaylor , I miss you guys down there"

Source: Kristian's IG

= Ruibo Qian =

More beautiful music from our beloved Pirate Queen.

Source: Ruibo Qian's Instagram

= Gypsy Taylor =

Gypsy's been all over lately!

"Holding space with the Siegfried to my Roy @c_hristian 🐅 @sydney_festival Siegfried and Roy the Opera! CAMP! 🐅 so many fun sparkly costumes by @xtcostume and that TIGER!!! A very good cat.. gorgeous @erthaustralia 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 well done team little Bavaria 🇧🇪"

Source: Gypsy's IG

= Minnie Driver =

Minnie's chatting about her podcast! Wanna check out this episode? Visit her spotify!

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A post shared by Min. (@driverminnie)

Source: Minnie's Instagram

= Samba Schutte =

Samba's new baking class has been announced! Tickets go on sale in April, but you can sign up to be notified once they're available at the link below!

Source: Momentus.US

Episode 4 of Parallel is out on amazon prime!

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A post shared by Seasick Studios (@seasickstudios_)

Source: SeasickStudios

= Anapela Polata'ivao =

You can now purchase tickets to see Tinā if you live in Aotearoa! Visit https://www.madman.co.nz/tina/ for more info and dates!

Source: Tinā Instagram

= Christopher Corbin =

Our wonderful "We could have made magic" man got a new haircut! Always so glad to see his bright smile.

Source: Christopher's IG

== Queerties ==

Thank you to @adoptourcrew for notifying us that you can vote every day for Jes Tom, one of our dear writers in the Queerties! Head on over there to support them!

Source: Adopt Our Crew Instagram

== Articles ==

Thank you as always to our dear friends over at @adoptourcrew for keeping us up to date on all the new articles and interviews of our cast & crew!

Source: Adopt Our Crew's Bsky

Source: Adopt Our Crew IG

Source: Adopt Our Crew Bluesky

Source: Adopt Our Crew's Bsky

== In Person Events ==

= Florida Super Con Guest Requests! =

Our friend Irene Adler and several other crew members have asked for some help in requesting guests for Florida SuperCon! You can request over and over and it'd be great if we could try to get some of our cast & crew invited!

Source: Irene Adler's Instagram

= The Wee Con! =

There's a fabulous new convention happening 31 Oct - 2nd Nov in Edinburgh Scotland! You can purchase tickets now on their kickstarter!

Source: TheWeeCon's Tumblr

== Fan Spotlight ==

= Our Flag Means Fanfiction =

OFMFF had their sprizzy episode for Sprizzy week!

Source: OFMFF Instagram

== Love Notes ==

Hey lovelies, I have been constantly thinking of you all the past two weeks. I am trying to keep my spirits up and share things when I can. I hope you know that no matter what, you are perfect the way you are, and that the actions of a certain US president don't define you. AT ALL. Please remember that what's going on in the US is a dying breed trying desperately to gain back the control they lost with progress, and so many of you are doing so much to prevent it. You're doing all you can. Remember to rest, people are still fighting even when you rest. I know it feels so hard right now, but please don't give up okay? Love you crew, since I'm so behind I'll be doing some shorter love notes til I catch up again.

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Source: The Latest Kate's Tumblr

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A post shared by @thelatestkate

Source: The Latest Kate's Instagram

Source: The Latest Kate's Bsky

== Daily Darby / Today's Taika ==

Today's gifs are brought you by the lovely @ofmd-ann, and @raggedy-spaceman and the current theme is how I'm feeling about the state of the US government.

[katyawriteswhump]

love and other catastrophes at the omega cafe (2/8)

I’ve was totally overwhelmed (in the best possible way) by the reaction to chapter 1 of this fic—billions thank yous 💚I will admit I got a bit nervous about this chapter and not letting everyone down, but it’s a long one, and I really, really hope you enjoy! I will probably be updating every weekend, more regularly if I can 💚 

Summary: Steve is a runaway Omega who gets a job at an Omega café, where he’s basically paid to curl up and purr in Alphas’ laps. It’s legal, and he earns a living, rents his own place. He’s getting along fine for a packless Omega. Then Alpha rockstar Eddie Munson turns up for an hour of ‘kitty’ petting, and shatters Steve’s fragile little world…

Rating: M (will be E); Chapter length: 4000 words, No major warnings; Tags: omega steve, alpha eddie, a/b/o dynamics, rockstar eddie, fluff and angst; (It won't get tooooo angsty, I promise)💚Chapter 1 on tumblr On Ao3

🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛

Chapter 2

After waking up in Eddie's lap, Steve dabbed his lips again. He dared peep upward. His burning cheek was pressed to Eddie’s solid Alpha chest, his hand creeping helplessly up the faintly soggy black t-shirt.

Eddie was beaming, for sure. He was also wearing a pair of ray-bans and a baseball cap with ‘Bite me, Baby,’ emblazoned on it. He’d gotten the collar of his jean-jacket turned up. After a further moment of confusion, this time at Eddie’s transformation, Steve gasped in a lungful of Eddie’s smoky-plummy scent.

Eddie was a rockstar. Who doubtless wished to remain incognito. Somewhat like Steve did, although Steve was a very long way from home, and… Nope, he wouldn’t think about that. No way could Eddie have wanted to stay so long, while the café filled up with customers.

On the other hand, Eddie could have woken Steve anytime.

He hadn’t.

“Good snooze, Steve?” Eddie’s vibes remained totally chill.

“Yeah. Um…thanks?”  Steve wriggled slightly, sitting up straighter on Eddie’s lap. “I’m not supposed… Why didn’t you wake me?”

“And interrupt that blissful purring? Sweetness, you delivered exactly what I paid for, and I didn’t even get a cramp—insane!”

Eddie’s arms tightened into a full-on hug, keeping him in place. The fleece blanket had slipped off them, and the intense heat rolling from Eddie’s body teetered on the right side of scorching. It was unsettling not being able to read Eddie’s eyes. But if Eddie still didn’t want him to shift, no part of Steve was gonna argue.

Then Steve felt it.

That slab of Alpha cock gouging somewhere north of his knees. He felt slick trickle lightly, heat flushing down his face and neck, and then…

Carol hollered, “Chrissy, the pancakes were for table three, you ditzy O-head!”

“Yeah?” Chrissy replied, quieter but no less shrill: “You try reading your chicken scratch handwriting!”

That ripped Steve from whatever dreamland he’d been sucked back into. It seemed to shatter the moment for Eddie too: “Weeeell, it’s been fun, Kitty-cat. ’Fraid I gotta love ya and leave ya. I’m gonna get my ass busted for being late at the studio.”

He released Steve, who slid off his lap backwards and clumsily. Steve’s elbows and butt landed on the sofa with a thud, his feet taking their place on Eddie’s thighs. The loss of full-body contact sent a wretched shiver through him. Before he could gather himself, Eddie had gathered up his goddamn feet in his large, rough-feeling hands:

“Steve, are these feet or ice chips?”

Oh God, oh God, oh God!

Eddie launched into the most delicious foot massage, thumbs gently kneading into his arches, then leaning forward to lavish his feet with warm gusts of breath:

“You have the cutest toesies, Honey, you know that?”

Steve’s terror ratcheted up a whole new notch. He sure as heck didn’t have a foot kink, but Eddie’s relentless touch unhinged him. In all his time working at ‘Kitties,’ he’d never felt so close to losing control, to melting into a puddle of need. Weren’t the blockers supposed to curb such extreme reactions to even the most sizzling Alphas?

And Jesus Christ, Eddie’s lush mouth was so close to Steve’s feet now. Too close—was he gonna kiss them?

Steve spotted Carol back at the cash register, casually glancing their way. With an effort, he swung his legs off Eddie’s lap.

“Aw, is petting feet against the rules?” There was an air of kicked puppy about the Alpha that Steve struggled not to fawn over. And which segued quickly into a devastating earnestness. “Look, seriously, this isn’t a kink of mine.” That made two of them. “I can’t leave you shivering, not any part of you. I’ll pay extra?”

“I… I…” To be fair, there was nothing in the rules against petting feet. Right now, Steve simply couldn’t deal: “I thought you were gonna k-kiss them. Sorry, I…um…”

Eddie raised his palms. “No, I’m sorry, Steve. Truly. Self-control has never been my forte.”

“Please don’t apologise. It’s all good, and my feet are always cold. I dunno if it’s an Omega thing, or just me, or…” Stop prattling, Harrington.

Eddie smiled tightly, then rose and strode off to settle his final check with Carol.  Steve sat on the couch, arms wrapped tight around himself. He wiggled his toes, which seemed to tingle with the memory of Eddie’s breath. Then Eddie wandered back over. He blocked Steve from Carol’s view and pressed a hundred-dollar bill into his hand.

“Wow! I can’t accept—”

“Take it, Omega,” rumbled Eddie, in a deep gravelly tone that no part of Steve could argue with. As Eddie retreated, Steve found himself ogling how those sweatpants clung to the flat muscular planes of Eddie’s Alpha butt. At the door, Eddie glanced back, lifted his shades, and winked.

“See you soon, Stevie.”

Stevie!?!

Carol heard, and the instant Eddie had gone, she bounced over and hugged Steve. He’d never seen her so non-bitchy and jubilant. Then again, she was hardly gonna complain to Tommy that Steve had slept on the job when Eddie had spent well over two hundred dollars. He’d tipped her well, too. She made Steve a grilled cheese sandwich—actually one for Steve, rather than one she’d made for a customer and accidentally burned. Then she allowed him an extra-long break, to sort his hair and loosen his collar, before he had to clamber into the next lap.

It took all Steve’s concentration not to squirm and fidget and generally give a shitty kitty experience to the seemingly never-ending line of Alphas. He couldn’t help wondering if it wouldn’t have been easier to endure without Eddie’s throwaway, “See you soon, Stevie.”

Yeah, Steve would’ve felt flat, but he had ways of pepping himself. Even being petted by these randos might’ve helped return him to his usual fake-purring levels of okay.

Knowing Eddie might be coming back?

Each second with another Alpha was excruciating.

When he clocked off at five, everything changed. He literally bounced on his toes to the bus-stop. Thinking about Eddie made his insides feel fizzy and light, every part of him happily trembly—lightyears away from the morning’s exhaustion and fading heat cramps.

It wasn’t exactly convenient, tho’. When he reached his condo, it took him three attempts to fumble his key into the lock. One of his neighbours sensed his fluster through the thin walls.

She poked her head into the corridor. “Hi, Steve—are you all right?”

“Hey, Joyce. Yeah, I’m fine. Been a long day, and I’m beat.” He finally managed to turn the key. “Thanks for asking.”

“Okay, dear. If you feel up to joining us for quilting club tonight, we’d love to see you. I’ve baked cookies.”

“Maybe.” Steve quirked a smile, before darting in quickly and closing the door.

Leaning back against it, he let out a long, shuddering sigh. Joyce was kind, and Steve liked chatting to her. However, she knew as well as Steve that he wouldn’t be joining any of the local Omega-Omega support groups. Even when the heating was broken, and some of the other Omegas formed ‘snuggle’ nests together, he preferred to shiver alone.

He was fine with bodily contact these days, obviously, much as he enjoyed being called ‘cute’ and generally being admired. But he was used to having his own space. Which was why he loved his little home, really he did—despite its loud clunky plumbing and the damp patches on the walls. It was the only real nest he’d ever had. He’d stitched most of his throw cushions and drapes himself, apart from a couple that had been swapsies with Chrissy. Robin had gifted him a duck-down duvet and a thick wool blanket. She was the closest thing he had to a pack, and he enjoyed snuggling beneath her offerings through the long winter nights.

Now, after a few hours sleeping in the arms of an Alpha he might never see again, his little slice of paradise… felt horribly drab.

Still leaning on the door, he pulled the hundred-dollar bill out of his coat pocket and pressed it to his cheek. Which was gross given that it’d been passed between literally thousands of germy hands.

It still, very faintly, whiffed of Eddie.

He breathed deep of it as he dared and then: “This is dumb! This is so dumb!”

It wasn’t like he could keep it. A hundred dollars would settle his rent arrears this week. He dumped it on the counter and wandered toward his bathroom pod.

When he peeled down his underwear, he winced. He’d changed twice today, once after Eddie left, then again at a later break. Both times, his panties were damp with slick. Now, after travelling home dreaming about Eddie, another pair was soddened, and his peachy-chamomile scent was stronger than since he’d started blockers. He stripped, shivered and turned on the shower, holding his hand under the icy flow.

It started to get slightly warmer. Not exactly toasty, and he shuddered as he stepped in. He knew that he, like that bill, retained a slight tang of Eddie. Especially in his hair, which he was particularly reluctant to wash.

He went through the motions, the glide of his own fingers setting him sighing then sniffling stupidly at the memory of Eddie’s gorgeous touch. When the shower temperature switched suddenly thermo-nuclear hot, he leaped out with a yelp. After sticking his hair under the kitchenette faucet to finish rinsing, he blow-dried. Then he tidied away the yucky tissues, painkillers and hot water bottles he’d left scattered at the end of his heat. Finally, he cuddled up in his nest with another of Robin’s gifts—his third-hand refurbished iPhone.

The Wifi was working again, and he was tempted to google Eddie, find out every last thing about him, although… What if Eddie was mated or married or lived on the other side of the country? That said, he’d mentioned going to a studio, so he had to be staying locally, or…

Steve resisted searching. He wanted to enjoy his silly crush without knowing crap that would spoil it.

He avoided the internet for the most part, anyway. He’d been raised without it and was terrified to get a login for anything, even under a fake name. This was chiefly paranoia, probably. It was also sometimes annoying. All the social media sites where Chrissy showed him pics of ‘Hot Alphas’ tended to chuck him out before he’d properly feasted his eyes.

Nevertheless, he managed to find the ‘Knot me now, Alpha,’ thirst thread that he’d gotten a faint idea Eddie was familiar from. He was right. He admired Eddie’s pic there for a long while—a shirtless, sweaty mass of raw Alpha sex-appeal and bulging-at-the-crotch leather, nailing some finger-work on his electric guitar.

Then Robin texted, and they bantered for a bit. He didn’t mention Eddie. Screw it, what the hell was there to say?

The next morning, at exactly 10.37 am, Eddie Munson entered ‘Kitties.’ This time, he’d gotten a tie-dye scarf muffled up over his face and wore a crazy multi-coloured bucket hat.

He looked ridiculous.

Nothing could subdue that scent.

Steve felt a squeal bubbling in his throat, which he released only briefly. It was enough for Chrissy to shoot out from the back to check everything was okay.

Steve had his head in one of their regular customer’s laps, and they’d paid up till 11 o’clock. DAMN, DAMN, DAMN! He struggled to subdue his panic. He didn’t want Eddie to see him with another Alpha! It’s not like he could’ve refused the customer, but… a silent scream tore from the depths of his soul. Carol was already meeting and greeting Eddie, offering him Chrissy’s or indeed her service.

Which Eddie graciously refused. “I got time to wait for Steve. Any chance of an Irish coffee, Ma’am?”

“Sorry, we don’t have a liquor licence.”

“No sweat, Sweetheart. I’ll have a coconut-mocha with extra cream. It okay if I move the furniture a bit? I could do with a cosy corner.” He dropped his voice so soft and low Steve strained to hear it: “Somewhere where nobody can shove a camera in my face.”

“Absolutely, Sir. I’ll help. Chrissy—get over here!”

Eddie refused the aid of the Omegas and shifted a large couch himself. He then settled with what felt too much like a cold-shoulder to Steve—although his wish for privacy very much suited Steve too—and started scrolling on his cell.

Steve’s skin crawled every time the other Alpha touched him. When they skimmed the strip of bare flesh between his tight tee and shorts, his stomach seemed to flip upside down and refused to right itself. He couldn’t fake purr. His collar felt chokingly tight, and when he tried to take a gulp of air, Eddie’s beautiful scent caught in his windpipe.

He released it as a stifled sob, and then the purrs began to happen. They were definitely purrs of distress, and they shook him like a leaf. Maybe Eddie would realise Steve was not worth waiting for and leave?

Steve watched the clock crawl toward eleven. At which point, Carol snapped at Steve’s customer, “Time’s up, Mister. Steve is booked!”

Steve shuffled on his knees over to Eddie. The thread of Eddie’s scent—screw it, his sheer Alphaness—drew Steve like he was on a leash. He couldn’t suppress a pang of disappointment when Eddie left his scarf on and plopped a thin cushion into his lap. Christ, Steve wished he’d been able to wash! The other Alpha’s burnt-toast scent had been barely noticeable, easily drowned by the chemicals and Eddie. But would Eddie detect it and despise Steve for it?

“Sorry about the wait,” whispered Steve. “I… I…”

“It’s okay,” said Eddie. His tone was strange and rough, bordering on scary, before softening like melting butter: “I missed you.”

“Missed you too,” squeaked Steve, before he could help himself.

Wtf? Missed me? He’s lying—he only just met me!

Yeah, now he thought about it, Steve had spent every moment they’d been apart missing Eddie like hell. Alphas were different, right?

He sank his cheek onto Eddie’s cushioned lap, staring ahead at the slinky black cats silhouetted on the walls. Eddie’s fingers glided into Steve’s hair, and Steve’s stomach finally settled the right way up again. For the first time since he’d left Eddie’s lap yesterday, he felt totally warm, comfortable, serene… and, suddenly, so very safe.

“How’s your day going, Steve?”

“Oh, like, seriously, it sucks. And this creepy stalker Alpha just showed up and it’s gotten even worse. Um… Joking.” He was being sassy now? Where did that come from? Fortunately, Eddie hooted, and Steve’s voice wobbled with his excited purrs. “I’m good, thanks. How about you?”

“Mighty fine right now.” Eddie leaned down close, speaking quiet and confidential: “Got another manic afternoon in the recording studio coming up. I lost my mojo, Stevie, did you know that?”

The reminder that Eddie was a badass rockstar shook Steve’s happiness. Only for a moment. A little voice in his head squealed:

He called me Stevie again! He’s giving me PET NAMES!

Eddie’s knuckles skimmed, featherlight, down the curve of Steve’s throat, sending heat sparkling through several layers of skin. Eddie’s coffee-spiced breath ruffled Steve’s hair, and his world was perfect.

“I can’t imagine you’re ever not great at everything.” Steve revelled in the sensation of Eddie twisting a strand of Steve’s hair around a finger, giving it a gently delicious tug.

“You say the sweetest things, Sweetness,” replied Eddie. Then, with a bitter twist: “You clearly don’t follow much music news.”

“Hey, don’t say that! Music journo is my dream career.” Woah! Again with the sass. Again, Eddie chortled indulgently, while Steve added, “No, sorry. I really don’t.”

“Damn, you really are the puuuuurfect little kitty, aren’t you?” sighed Eddie. “Wish I could stay here all day.”

Steve was so overcome, he couldn’t even whisper, Me too.  An ecstatic little noise bubbled in Steve’s throat, which might’ve been a chirrup if he’d not swallowed it back in time. He’d never chirruped. Never! He pressed his legs together, scared that the slick trickling lightly from his slit would leak out of his shorts.

They were decidedly skimpier than yesterday’s shorts, basically hotpants—cut right at the line of his butt-cheeks. He wondered if Eddie’s eyes had wandered there yet. Despite the slick, he sure hoped so, and…

Dammit, focus on his touch, Harrington. Not on his scent. And definitely not on how close you are to his dick and how badly you want it inside you.

Apart from Steve didn’t want that, not really.

No Alpha had ever triggered such strong reactions in him. Which was all the more reason he shouldn’t get carried away. Eddie would never be interested in being Steve’s Alpha, even without Steve’s… complications in that department.

Eddie was here to relax a while. If not today, then soon, he’d leave and never look back.

Steve’s purrs grew fractious, though it turned out to be almost impossible to remain stressed out in Eddie’s lap. Like yesterday, Eddie seemed to read his anxiety, asking if Steve was okay, smoothing Steve’s hair till Steve’s troubles slipped away.

It helped that Eddie wanted to chat, and he was so fun and engaging Steve briefly forgot he was even an Alpha. It was like being with an old friend, though that was an experience that Steve wasn’t exactly flush with.

Eddie asked Steve about what music he liked, and Steve came clean instantly. He didn’t listen to music much. He got too easily overwhelmed by emotional tracks.

“I mean, I like a whole variety of music, honestly. It’s just, sometimes lyrics and melodies just get me so deep, and…” The next thought that popped into his head stunned him—I guess it might be different if I had an Alpha to guide me, to anchor me when my emotions are overstimulated. Nope. Would be waaaay too needy to say that out loud. “Wow, that sounds pathetic.” He wrinkled his nose, pressed a finger between his brows. “None of it makes sense.”

“It’s not pathetic, and it makes perfect sense,” said Eddie. Almost as if he’d heard the parts Steve hadn’t said out loud. “I mean, you might find Corroded Coffin a bit shouty.”

“I can do shouty,” said Steve.

With you to hold my hand… Oh, seriously self?!?

Turned out, despite Steve’s ‘difficulty’ with music, they liked plenty of other things in common. Including dainty little rose cupcakes, of which Eddie ordered a plateful, and fed to Steve with his fingertips.

Feeding the kitties was permitted—at the discretion of the kitty and as long as fingers didn’t enter mouths. Steve, naturally, was totally up for the chance to lap lightly at any part of Eddie, salty goodness mixed with super-sweet floral pastry.

“It cracks me up how many Alphas miss out on this good stuff because they’re scared their precious Alpha image will be tarnished,” said Eddie, when they’d finished the last mini cake. His fingers and thumb—deeply grooved from plucking strings and shiny wet with Steve’s saliva—still lingered on the cushion a hairs’ breadth from Steve’s lips. Gnnnnnng! What Steve wouldn’t give right now to inhale any one of those digits deep.

Softly, Eddie asked, “What about you, Steve? What do you enjoy that flips the bird in the face of conformity—that’s totally un-Omega?”

Steve closed his eyes to temptations of the flesh. If only it was so easy to shut out Eddie’s scent! He focussed on the question: “I used to love sports, especially swimming. Before I presented Omega, I used to train three times a week. Tho’ I got really nervous, I loved racing, the thrill of competition. I miss that.” His latest purr mingled with a heartfelt sigh. “Nobody lets Omegas train, and even those special Omega hours at pools are few and far between and so stupidly pricey. I heard a rumour it’s because they don’t want the pools all slicked up. Jesus, we can control ourselves!”

At least, when we’re not being petted by super-hot Alphas.

“That really sucks,” agreed Eddie. “Steve, I might know a pool where—”

“No, no, no, no, no,” said Steve, kinda panicked suddenly without knowing why. “It’s fine. It’s one of those things I just need to let go of.”

An uneasy growl rumbled from Eddie’s core, but he must’ve sensed Steve’s renewed agitation, because he let it drop.

He probably just wanted to see Steve in his speedos. Steve sure as hell would love to see how Eddie managed to stuff his Alpha dick into his.

Eddie returned the next day, having booked Steve for the entire morning in advance, and they chatted more. This time Steve spent most of the hour sitting in his lap for a proper cuddle. Steve hugged around Eddie’s neck, clinging tight as he dared. He was glad of the scarf there, muffling Eddie’s scent slightly. He ended up turning his face away, anyhow. Like on Monday, he was petrified he wouldn’t be able to stop himself burying his nose there, nor turning super-submissive and baring his own throat.

Once again, breaking the rules himself.

Why did Eddie have to be sexy Alpha perfection incarnate and a great guy? And his voice… Gnnng! It touched some secret place in Steve, chiming happy chords buried so deep he’d never known they were there.

Before long, though, Steve had gotten his head notched cosily beneath Eddie’s chin and was keen to get as much of himself into Eddie’s lap as possible. He huddled into a ball, knees hitching till his bare heels kissed Eddie’s thighs.

No part of him was cold now. He couldn’t remember what cold was, hardly. Being with Eddie was like a dream.

But he was not gonna fall asleep again. He didn’t want to miss a precious second with Eddie, whether laughing and chatting, or just quietly snuggling. He even adored the way Eddie hugged him a little tighter—once almost bruisingly so—whenever another Alpha passed by. Once or twice, Eddie growled at them, too. It was all daft, because it was merely an Alpha being Alpha, following his possessive, protective instincts. It didn’t mean anything. Steve basked in the vibes, all the same.

“Same time tomorrow?” asked Eddie, when, with an obvious reluctance, he allowed Steve off his lap.

Steve glanced uneasily between Eddie and Carol. The café was quiet, and she was busy arranging the pastries. “I’m on in the evening tomorrow,” admitted Steve. “It’s ‘kitty-kitted-up’ night—you know, we wear the ears and whiskers and shit. Oh, and we screech like kitties in heat too. I mean, most of the customers need earplugs to stop their brains imploding.”

“Steve!” snapped Carol, while Steve enjoyed Eddie’s goofy grin. “Stop fooling around. Honestly, Sir. Nobody screeches.”

“Aw, shame,” said Eddie. “That sounded like a blast. Either way, I’m in.” Then he cringed, and Steve’s heart seemed to drop like a stone. “I guess it’s pretty popular? I take it you don’t have, I dunno, anywhere private I can book? A back room or something?”

“You know, we don’t,” said Carol, making moon eyes at Eddie, while Steve’s knees gave way beneath him. His butt slammed heavily onto the couch—onto the lusciously warm patch Eddie had vacated.

A private room. Alone with Eddie.

Oh. My. God.

“However, you are our favorite customer.” Carol’s smile verged on a simper.  “I’ll talk to Tommy. I’m sure we can figure something out.”

Eddie turned to Steve, who scrambled to his feet. “You okay with that, Steve?”

Steve nodded. Yes, he was.  He shouldn’t be, but this was Eddie. He wanted to ask Carol if the same rules would apply as usual.

His voice failed him. To be fair, he hardly cared if they did, or they didn’t. He just wanted to be back in Eddie’s lap.

“You sure?” prompted Eddie. “Because if you feel uncomfortable about this in any way—”

“No! It’s fine.”

Steve trusted Eddie. Maybe he shouldn’t. Crazily, he did. These past three days, he figured he should’ve felt more scared about his past catching up than usual, about being found out.

He didn’t. His past seemed more distant than ever. Having Eddie in his life made him feel safer.

Yup, crazy.

“Honestly, I like the idea,” he said, dispelling a final hint of doubt from Eddie’s sincere and searching gaze. “It gets us away from Carol here. She can screech high enough to shatter glass.”

“Shut up already, Steve!” Carol tittered and blushed in equal measures. “We don’t screech, Mister Munson. Honest. He’s being a total douche.”

After Eddie had gone, Steve managed to resist analysing his emotions too deeply by squealing his head off with Chrissy and Carol and dancing around the café.

Right until another customer turned up, and they all had to crash back to earth pronto.

🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛

Thank you so very much for reading. If you enjoyed, every little like and reblog or comment means a lot to me so thank you💚

I am always happy to tag, pls let me know, or you can follow the tag #steddie omega cat cafe 💚

tags 💚🐈‍⬛💚 @disrespectedgoatman 💚 @bumblebeecuttlefishes

@katethetank 💚 @themoonagainstmers 💚

💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

[sc0tters]

Could Get Used To This | Kevin Fiala

summary: in a space full of chaos, sometimes all you need is a morning at the beach with your fiancé.

request: yes/no

warnings: nothing!

word count: 0.99k

authors note: we are back again with part two of the one shot wonder event! this was my first time writing for Kevin and I have to say it was nice to write something so soft and sweet even if it was so short!

You loved the sun. 

A day by the beach had always been your favourite way to kick off the summer and this year it was no different. You spent your morning lying on your towel, soaking up every bit of sunlight your skin could handle. 

But Kevin had other ideas for the both of you “liebling!” He whined feeling jealous of how your bikini got to hug your ass and your tits “yes love?” You looked up to see him now stood over you. 

He had just finished his swim so you were grateful that your sunglasses hid how your eyes drank in the sight of him. Droplets of water ran down his chiseled abs, and you couldn’t help but bite at your lip “good to know I still have it.” Kevin smirked sitting down on his towel next you yours. 

You sat up, rolling your eyes in the process “think this allows me to look at you from time to time.” You pointed to the engagement ring that you wore making him laugh in the process “please you were looking at me like that long before I proposed.” He shot back letting out an amused scoff. 

Your hand reached up to hold his “now what is it that you wanted?” You asked reminding him of the fact that he called you first.

He let out a soft ‘ah’ as his cheeks turned a shade of red “I wanted to see if you wanted to go home.” Kevin confessed letting his free hand fiddle with the strap of your bikini “give us a little more privacy.” There was a sultry sense in his tone that told you all that you really needed to hear. 

A smirk formed on your lips “seems like you’re the one who is obsessed with me.” You teased him leaning into his touch “you know I always am.” Kevin nodded getting up as if it was the most obvious thing in the world to everyone around you both. 

He held his hand out to help you up “and there won’t be a day that it’ll change.” Your heart throbbed as he wrapped your towel around your body before he threw his over his shoulder “should we go?” Kevin asked taking the beach bag into his hand before he used his free hand to lock it into yours. 

You nodded, slotting your feet into your flip-flops “lead the way.” You pressed a kiss against his shoulder, enjoying the last moments of listening to the waves crashing against the shore.

The walk to and from the beach was something that both of you always found so peaceful with it only being ten minutes. That was actually part of the whole appeal of your home when you bought it. 

It was the first place you had seen and the moment Kevin saw the grin on your face at how short the walk to the beach was. He knew that there was no better place for the two of you, and the offer was written and sent in that night. By the end of the week after, the place was yours. Now even after all these years, it still came with the same appeal that you both found in it the first time you saw it. 

You couldn’t help but smile as you watched him race to the gate and then wait so he could let you into the backyard first “my gentleman.” You smiled pressing a kiss against his cheek as you took the bag back from him “thank you baby!” The moment you were in he went back to what he was planning on. 

Kevin had jumped into your pool first making you laugh as you set your bag on the ground “the water is perfect!” He called out throwing his hair back out of his eyes. 

Sometimes you never had to wonder what he would do if he retired, Kevin would happily be a child of the water forever if he could “let me get my feet in first.” You announced wanting to sit on the edge of the pool for a little bit. 

He nodded, watching your every move until you too took off your sunglasses “there’s my pretty wife.” Kevin smiled swimming over to settle between your legs “not for a few more months.” You corrected him as your wedding was three months away. 

But he waved you off “fine print details.” Kevin shook his head as he made you throw your head back with a laugh.

It was a sound he swore he’d never get tired of hearing as you grinned looking back at him “I love you.” Kevin announced placing his hands on the pools edge on either side of you. 

He did that so he could push up to kiss you. The kiss was sweet as he swore he would never get enough of you “I love you too.” Your voice was soft as you watched him settle back in the pool “and I also love you.” Kevin pressed a kiss against your stomach, it had been a few weeks since you found out you were pregnant. 

So at the moment this stayed just your little secret with him “now you coming in or do I have to force you in?” Kevin asked not even giving you a chance to respond as he wrapped his arms around your waist pulling you in. 

Like clockwork your arms wrapped around his shoulders and your legs locked around his hips “Kevin!” You squealed scared as if he was going to drop you “I’ve got you schatz.” Kevin clicked his tongue before he kissed your temple. 

He was right the water was indeed perfect, his hands rested against your ass as he settled with both of you in the water “you are a little shit.” You let out a soft laugh before you shook your head. 

Kevin grinned pecking your lips once more “yeah and I’m your little shit.” He was right again, and you didn’t want to have it any other way. 

[whytheylosttheirminds]

hello friends, I'm back 🌼

a few notes on the future of this blog and my series...

firstly, if you're still here thank you so much! everyone has been so patient and I so so appreciate it 💛 I am spending 2025 focusing on writing my first novel (lifelong dream of mine) which means I will likely write much less fanfic, if any at all. but first I want to do the following things!

while anything can change at any time, here's my current plans:

finish Don't Call Me Kid (3 or 4 parts left!)

finish June Gloom (1 part left!)

discontinue Home for the Holidays and I remember everything (I love these series so much and your support of them has been so wonderful, but I think I have done all I want with them and I have simply moved on. thank you to all those who have shown them love!!)

begin writing for and posting for multiple fandoms/characters and/or posting original works

may or may not write more series/one-shots for rafe cameron if I'm inspired

long live Rafe Cameron!! but if I'm being as honest as possible, the hyper fixation is riding off into the sunset...

thank you to everyone who has sent asks/replies/dms during my hiatus to inquire about and show love to my fics, I see it all and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world! I love you all!! I will be on Tumblr when I'm 99 years old so just know that no matter what happens writing wise I ain't going anywhere!!!

asks are always open if you have any thoughts on this! love y'all!

[witchygagirlwrites]

Fix You-Part 1

Kelly Severide x Reader x Matt Casey/ Sevasey x Reader

You get sent to Firehouse fifty one as a temporary placement when a paramedic is needed. Your first day you meet the house Captain and Rescue Squad Lieutenant.

“Where’s your placement?” your sister asked as you balanced your phone between your ear and shoulder, trying to gather everything you needed to get out of the door. “Firehouse fifty one. They need a new partner for Brett after Dawson moved. I’ve worked with the rig in passing but this will pretty much be my first time working with the truck or rescue squad” you told her as you rushed out of your apartment, locking the door behind yourself.

You’d met with Chief Boden already along with Sylvie Brett but when you’d met with the two of them it had only been them. Today would be your official introduction as a temporary member of the house. You knew most of the firemen by name and face at the very least but you would be there for ten months. You’d hopefully build at least a few friendships.

You parked your truck across the street where Boden told you it was ok then grabbed your gear and headed over to the station house. Sylvie spotted you and stepped out of the bays to meet you halfway “Hey Y/N” you grinned “Sylvie! Glad you’re here already. I would’ve hated to walk into this without at least one friendly face at my side” she laughed and slipped her arm through yours “They’re not that bad, really”

You raised an eyebrow and she shrugged “Ok, well they’re not worse than any other house” you laughed “Now that I believe”

The two of you walked into the bays and you spotted a few men sitting around a table, one in a freaking recliner. “Who’s the grandpa?” you asked without thinking about it and when he turned around you wanted the floor to open up and swallow you. It was Squad Three Lieutenant Kelly Severide. A grin slipped onto his face as he stood up to face you “Who’s the spitfire Brett?”

You recovered from the embarrassment fast enough to smirk “Spitfire huh? I kinda like that. Name’s Y/N. I’m the temp paramedic here as a partner for Brett until Boden finds someone who’s a fit” he nodded as you held your hand out. He shook it then winked at you “Think I’ll stick with Spitfire, suits ya just fine” 

Matt Casey, the house Captain, walked out behind him and put a hand on his shoulder “Is this idiot bothering you ladies?” you shook your head “My fault really, I called him a grandpa” 

A grin split Matt’s face at that as he cut his eyes at Kelly, affectionately running his hand over the other man’s grey hair “Grandpa huh?” “Don’t you dare babe” Kelly replied then nodded at you “This is Y/N, the temp para but I think we’re gonna call her spitfire”

Matt looked back at you “Spitfire?” you shrugged “I like it” he nodded “Then it’s settled. Sylvie will show you around, get you a locker. If you need anything feel free to holler at me or Kelly” you nodded “Thanks”

Within about a week or two  you were on a first name basis with everyone you were on shift with and knew everyone who worked out of the station house. It was a family of sorts and even though you were only a visitor they were welcoming you in with no hesitation. 

“Why are you working as a temp?” Cruz asked one day when all of you were picking at breakfast before any calls had come in. You shrugged and sipped the coffee in your hands “Haven’t really found a house that fits me. This way I’m still doing what I love and helping houses that need it in the meantime” Kelly leaned back from where he was sitting across the room next to Matt and you knew the moment he grinned he was about to tease you “So you’re a stray sniffing around for a home?” 

Matt slapped him behind the head then looked at you “I’m sorry. I’ve been trying to house train him for years but it hasn’t taken” you laughed as Kelly rubbed his head and cut his eyes at his boyfriend. “It’s fine Matt, he isn’t wrong really”  “Think you may stay here?” Sylvie asked and you shrugged, feeling very much like you were in the hot seat “I don’t know yet. I mean I like working here so far but it’s a little too soon to tell”

Matt met your eyes and you knew he could tell you were uncomfortable because he cleared his throat “That’s enough with the twenty questions” you shot him a small smile as a thank you as everyone turned their attention back to their food or other conversations. 

A call rang out for a structure fire needing the truck, rescue and ambulance so everyone was on their feet and in motion, any semblance of breakfast long forgotten as you headed for the bays. 

You ran past Matt and smiled “Thanks for that” he nodded so you hurried to hop into the driver’s seat of the rig as he ran to the truck and Kelly ran to the rescue squad. Sylvie cut her eyes at you as you fell into the line of vehicles as they pulled out onto the road “I think you’ll end up staying”  You laughed lightly “That you thinking or hoping Brett?” She shrugged “Little bit of both?”

You walked into your apartment and considered for a second just crashing across your couch instead of making it to your bed but your phone chimed with a text from Sylvie We’re going to Mollys. You in?

You were tired but it was a friday and you were off the next two days…screw it. You texted back Meet ya in twenty? And she replied See you there!

____________________________

You walked into Mollys and spotted Sylvie sitting with a few women from med and the twenty first so you headed towards her. You smiled when Kim Burgess greeted you “How’s fifty one treating you?” you cut your eyes at Sylvie then nodded “Best partner I’ve had yet” and Sylvie grinned broadly. You looked around “Where is the rest of your unit Burgess?” she shrugged “Adam is currently retrieving our drinks, we got you one too. Jay and Mouse are over there in a booth with Fireball” she nodded and you saw the men in question with their girlfriend. You knew Fireball well, she was a trauma nurse at Chicago med. One of the best you’d seen. Probably from her time as a combat medic, from what you’d gathered that was how the three of them had met.

“Where’s the other two?” you asked and she grinned “Kevin has a date with that new nurse from med that just moved here from scotland and Firecracker stayed in tonight with Will and Connor”  you nodded as Adam made it back to the table carrying the drinks and passed them out, shooting you a smile “Here ya go spitfire. If it’s not right, blame your partner” you laughed “It’s fine Adam. A free drink is a free drink. Especially one I know I can trust”

____________________

You and Sylvie had Adam and Kim laughing about a call you responded to where a frat guy got his head caught in a stair railing. “He was breathing fine, not in distress but I swear it reminded me of something that would’ve happened in a movie from the eighties” you laughed around your drink.

You’d only drink two with alcohol then switched to soda but the company was good so you were still enjoying the night out. “There’s our medics” you heard Matt’s voice and cut your eyes up with a smile “Captain” he shook his head “We’re not at work, just call me Matt” you nodded “Ok Matt” Kelly grinned at you from next to him “And you always call me Kelly anyways” you laughed “That’s cause Matt always acts like a captain. You only act like a lieutenant when we’re actively on a call”

They nodded to the table “Can we join you four?” you shrugged and looked around. Sylvie shrugged and Adam patted the table “Sure” Kelly went to grab them drinks as Matt sat down next to you. “So, spitfire, how long is your contract for anyways?” you grinned “Trying to get rid of me already?” he raised an eyebrow so you grinned “Ten months unless I put in a request to stay. Boden said I’d have that option as soon as six months hit”

Sylvie gasped “You did not tell me that” you grinned “Because I don’t want the twenty question game to start back up” Matt shook his head “It won’t. I won’t let it” “Thank you” you replied and turned back to your previously abandoned conversation with Sylvie and Kim as Matt started talking to Adam then Kelly came back over and joined their conversation as well. Maybe you could find a place at Fifty one? 

It was still a little soon to tell but it was starting to feel like home already.

@desimarie12

[jubileesstuff]

Know that Nico has new paperwork (thanks Barbara); he goes to school. Bruce realizes that there is a problem, well, multiple problems. The last time Nico actually went to a school, or something that's like a school, was in the 30s/40s. School now is different. Nico's ADHD and dyslexia that come with being a demigod don't help at all. Then there are the other students; Nico knows himself that children can be brutal (he lives together with Damian Wayne; he knows the Aphrodite Kids), but nothing prepared him for this. He has to be 7+ hours in a room with 20 or more kids. They use words that Nico doesn't understand; hell, he just learned what a microwave is and how to use it. His classmates use words like sigma, Ohio, Rizz, slay, or lmao. When he asked where these words are from and what the meaning is, they looked at him weirdly and asked if he doesn't have social media. That is the next thing he doesn't know.

Well, no, he knows about social media but does not have it. Why? Demigods and phones, or generally technology, are not the best mix. Tim and Barbara give him a presentation on Internet slang and what everything means. The problem is, they also don't know everything.

Barbara is more generational, lmao, lol, idk, iykyk, and smh. And Tim is too busy running a company and being Red Robin to learn the new slang teenagers have come up with. Nico can't ask Damian; he talks more like Nico's grandparents in Italy than a teenager in modern times. Bruce and Alfred are too old; the same goes for Jason and Dick. Cass probably also doesn't know. He could ask Duke or Steph. But Nico is too afraid to ask Steph. She will teach him stuff he never wants to know.

The last time Nico asked Stephanie something, she explained what fanfiction is. Fanfiction is something nice, but what came after fanfiction is something he wants to forget. She explained in detail what the Omegaverse is. He really, reallllyyy didn't want to know about that.

However, not only is slang a problem, but modern technology is a general problem. When someone asked if they should add Nico to a group chat for this class, he was confused. First he was like, 'Is this an after-school club?'

His classmates are convinced that Bruce Wayne has a strict 'No Technologyrule because Damian isn't that much better. Obviously everyone knows Damian Wayne; they all know that he also has no clue about slang or certain social media things. So the entire school (teachers included) is convinced Bruce Wayne is a strict parent.

One day, during a history lesson, Nico gets into trouble at school. It's the first time ever. The teacher talked about the time before the Second World War. They focused on Italy and America's relationship with Italy at the time. The teacher said something incorrect, and Nico corrected it. It became a full argument because the teacher obviously doesn't know that Nico was alive back then. Even if he was a small child, he still remembers stuff. He gets sent to the principal, where Bruce picks him up.

At dinner he gets asked by Dick, who is visiting, what that was about. After he explained it, the teacher said something incorrect about Italy and history; Dick asked how he knew that.Nico answered, "You know that I was alive back then."