#that and I didn't expect to get near as much of these ones as I had

[shortnspidey]

CHAPTER ONE: ECHOS OF THE PAST

bucky barnes x fem!stark!reader || WC: 3.7K

A/N: In honor of Sebastian getting his first Golden Globe (which was long overdue), I present to you all the first chapter for this series! Thank you for all the love on this series before it was even published! This first chapter is really angsty, BUT there is certainly more to come! Dividers by @sister-lucifer <3

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The familiar hum of New York City quickly faded as you stepped into the quiet sanctuary of your apartment. It was a stark contrast to the bustling campus of MIT, a place that had once held so much promise. The weight of the past few months hung heavy on your shoulders as you let out a long, weary sigh. You had returned home, defeated and disillusioned.

The keys in your right hand felt heavy, almost like an invisible weight was pushing you down. You shook your head, trying to clear the fog of disappointment and frustration. The sense of relief from being back home was met with the bitter taste of unmet expectations. You had dreamed of making a mark, of proving to yourself and to everyone else that you belonged at one of the most prestigious institutions in the world.

Instead, you found yourself constantly questioning your place, your purpose, and your abilities. As you finally turned the key and stepped inside, the familiar surroundings offered a small comfort. However, that relief was short lived. What you didn't expect was to see your father, in the flesh, sitting in your living room. His presence felt like an additional weight on your already burdened shoulders, amplifying the emotions swirling inside you.

Choosing to ignore him, you walked past the living room and into your room. You could bet that he would be following close behind you not even a second later. Sure enough, as you settled to unpack the little clothes that lay in your suitcase, you heard his footsteps approaching. "F.R.I.D.A.Y told me you were back in New York," The stern voice of Tony Stark, genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist or as you knew him, your father, interrupted behind you.

Letting out a sigh, you could practically feel the disappointment radiating off of him from your doorway. "Which I find very odd since it's nowhere near your winter break." You avoided eye contact as you fiddled with the items on your desk. "Funny enough, I gave a lecture at MIT and to my surprise my daughter was nowhere to be found. Especially since the academic advisor stopped me to inform me you haven't been attending classes for almost a month." God you wished he'd just get right to the point.

"Care to explain?" Not bothering to hide the nonchalance in your voice, you simply shrugged and mumbled, "Dropped out." The tension in the room was palpable, his silence spoke volumes, a mixture of disbelief and frustration hanging in the air. "Dropped out? What do you mean, you dropped out? You were doing so well." You could hear the strain in his voice, the effort it took to keep his emotions in check. “MIT was your dream, not mine.” His eyes widened, and for a moment, you saw a flicker of hurt cross his face.

You almost felt bad. Almost. "But you had everything going for you," He insisted, crossing his arms over his chest and looking down at you with what you could only assume was utter disappointment. "The scholarships, internships, the many opportunities they offered… Why would you throw all that away?" You sighed, feeling the weight of his disappointment. "Because it wasn't making me happy," You replied, your voice barely above a whisper. "I finally realized that I was living someone else's dream, not mine."

You had finally admitted it.

As you finally mustered the courage to confront him, a bruise blooming on his right eye suddenly stole your attention. The conversation about MIT, now seemed like the last thing on your mind. After what seemed like an eternity, you tried to gauge his expression, but came up short. "Well in that case," He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're grounded." Clenching your jaw you scoffed in disdain. "What the hell do you mean I'm grounded?" You spat, crossing you arms over your chest. "I don't think I stuttered." Tony rolled his eyes which only fueled your anger.

"I'm not five dad, I'm almost twenty-five, you can't ground me." You growled, digging your freshly manicured nails into your palm in frustration. "As your father, I believe that is one of the many privileges I still hold. You're clearly not thinking straight. You need time to reflect on your choices and figure out what you truly want." He looked at you with a mixture of worry and disappointment, his eyes searching for a way to reach you. "This isn't about punishment, it's about helping you." The more he talked, the angrier you became.

Of course, he was making this about him, as he somehow always seemed to do. Completely disregarding what you wanted, he continued to impose his will. The familiar feeling of being trapped under his expectations washed over you, instantly making your blood boil. "Helping me?" You echoed, your voice dripping with sarcasm. "You do realize that I just confessed that I don't want to go back to MIT, and instead of asking me why, you ground me instead. Real mature." You could feel the tears of frustration welling up, but you refused to let them fall.

You weren't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing that he had affected you. This was your life, your decision, and you were growing tired of being treated like a child. He opened his mouth to respond, but you cut him off, the words spilling out before you could find will to stop them. "You don't get it, do you? It's like you only hear what you want to hear. I’m not some kid who needs to be sheltered from the world. I need you to listen for once!" His expression hardened, and you could see the frustration creeping into his demeanor.

Taking his silence as a sign to continue, you pushed back your nerves and tears, and decided a different approach to somehow get your point across. "Can’t you see that I’m trying to figure things out on my own? Grounding me isn’t going to help me in any way." He sighed, and you could tell he was struggling to find the right words. Tony Stark may be the smartest and most successful man in the world, but he sure as hell didn't know how to express himself. In words, at least. "I just want what’s best for you," His voice softer now, was almost pleading.

It almost made you feel bad for yelling. "Then try trusting me for once," Your voice trembled with a mix of anger and desperation. "I'm tired of people not knowing my name, and only knowing me as 'Tony Stark's daughter'. You have to understand that, dad." The silence hung heavy between you, both of you staring at each other, the weight of unspoken words filling the room. You could feel the tension shifting, and for a brief moment, you wondered if he finally understood. After a pregnant pause, he suddenly found the words, just not the ones you were expecting.

"Well, I'm off, there's cheeseburgers in the kitchen." The casualness in his voice, as if the conversation hadn't happened made your frustration and anger resurface. "Just like that you're leaving," You scoffed in disbelief, but never the less expected it. This was typical of him, avoiding the deeper issues with a quick exit. "You really think cheeseburgers is going to make up for this?" You added, hoping for once in his life he was joking. Oh how wrong you were. “Settle in, watch movies, but do not leave this apartment under any circumstances.” He instructed, his tone firm as he moved toward the door.

"And if I leave?" You challenged, standing your ground as his hand hovered over the front door knob. He paused, his back to you. "Just remember I have eyes everywhere," Without so much as a final glance in your direction, he shut the door behind him. The thud echoed through the apartment, leaving you alone with your thoughts. As if on cue, your phone which laid abandoned in your bedroom went off startling you. Looking at the door one last time, you let out a huff, the frustration and disappointment evident in your breath. It was clear your father wasn't coming back.

With a resigned sigh, you turned and made your way to your bedroom. As soon as you picked up your phone, your heart dropped. Notifications filled the screen, each one more alarming than the last. You had been tagged in numerous social media posts, not to mention the messages from colleagues and acquaintances at MIT. Even Pepper had sent you a text regarding something called the Sokovia Accords. Your fingers trembled as you scrolled through the posts, the images and videos of chaos and destruction filling the screen. Your mind raced, trying to piece together what had happened while you were unaware.

Among the thread of messages, Pepper's stood out the most. "We need to talk. This is serious. Call me as soon as you can," it read. You could almost hear the urgency in her voice, and it made your stomach churn. You quickly dialed her number, your heart pounding in your chest as you waited for her to pick up. The phone rang twice before she answered. "Hey sweetheart, are you okay?" She asked, her voice filled with concern. "I don't know," You admitted, your voice barely above a whisper. "What even are the Sokovia Accords?" You heard Pepper sighed on the other end of the line.

"It's a long story, but to put it in the simplest terms, it's a set of legal documents that will regulate the activities of enhanced individuals." You felt a cold chill run down your spine as Pepper explained the implications. The weight of the situation pressed down on you, and you couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. "Just be careful, okay?" You nodded even if she couldn't see you. "I will, I love you." As she echoed those words back, you hung up. The world seemed to be against you today, because not even seconds after you set your phone down, there was a knock present at your door.

It made your heart drop, especially since no one knew you were back in New York. Slowly, you reached for the knife hidden by your bedside table, adrenaline coursing through your body as you slowly inched toward the front door. Your heart pounded in your chest as you approached the door. Taking a deep breath, trying to steady your nerves. Peering through the peephole, you saw a shadowy figure standing just beyond the threshold, their features obscured by the dim hallway light. With your hand gripping the knife tightly, you cautiously unlocked the door, ready to defend yourself if necessary.

As the door creaked open, the figure stepped forward into the light, revealing a familiar face. "Uncle Clint," You breathed out immediately tackling the man in a hug. He instantly reciprocated, tightening his hold on you. “You ready to get the hell out of here, kid?” You couldn’t contain your smile, immediately nodding. Not needing anything else but your phone and keys, you locked your door following Clint down the steps. "Where are we going?" You asked, your curiosity piqued. "Germany," He replied nonchalantly making you stiffen momentarily.

Turning back as if sensing your unease, he gave you a reassuring smile. "I'm assuming you've heard the news about the Accords." You nodded, climbing into the passenger seat of his van as he unlocked it. "We just have to make a quick pitstop first." As you settled into the seat and the van roared to life, your thoughts instantly started racing. "What's the pitstop for?" You asked, trying to keep your voice steady. Clint glanced over at you, a smirk playing on his lips. "Just picking up some... backup," He said cryptically as the sense of anticipation grew as you wondered what lay ahead.

Arriving in Germany at the Leipzig-Halle Airport, it was safe to say you were a nervous wreck. Especially since the 'backup' Clint had meant was breaking Wanda Maximoff out of the Avengers Compound and picking up someone named Scott Lang. Thankfully, the witch had promised to stay out of your head so she couldn't read your inner turmoil. However, just by your body language, anyone could tell you were not 'okay'. "You okay, kid?" Clint's voice asked softly, his paternal instincts kicking in.

You managed a weak smile. "Yeah, just… thinking." The van's engine hummed softly as it entered the airport car garage, the dim lighting casting long shadows on the concrete walls. Clint raised a brow in your direction as the van entered the airport car garage, his eyes searching yours. "About what?" You hesitated, unsure of how to answer. "Everything," You finally admitted. "The Accords, my dad…" Clint nodded understandingly. "Yeah, it's a lot to take in." He paused, then added, "You don't have to do this, you know. You can still walk away." His words echoed in your head.

He was right, there was nothing stopping you from walking away, especially since your father was in support of the Accords. However, something about how he was willing to start a divide within his closest friends made you angry. Maybe it was because he had failed to hear you out, just as he had failed to hear Steve’s side of the argument. The memory of your father’s dismissive tone and the way he brushed off your concerns played over and over in your mind, fueling your decision. It was safe to say you had already made up your mind.

Turning in your seat, you gave Clint a smirk, a spark of defiance lighting up your eyes. "No chance in hell." His smile widened at your words, and he reached over to squeeze your hand. The van came to a sudden halt, jolting you slightly. Only then did you realize that Steve Rogers was a few feet away, his broad shoulders and familiar stance unmistakable. He had his back turned to you, deep in conversation with two other figures. "Does Steve know I'm here?" You asked, a mix of anticipation and apprehension threading through your voice.

"He does now," Clint shrugged, his tone casual but reassuring. "Here goes nothing" You mumbled to yourself as you unbuckled your seatbelt. "You know I wouldn't have called if I had any other choice," You heard Steve say to Clint as he extended his hand in a firm handshake. His voice was steady, but you could detect the underlying strain. Only then did his blue eyes find yours over Clint's shoulder. They widened slightly, a mix of surprise and relief washing over his features. "Y/N?" Steve breathed out, almost as if trying to decipher if you were real or not.

You lifted your hand in an awkward wave, finding the courage to step forward. Only, the super solider beat you to it. In two strides he was at your side, scooping you up into a much needed hug. His embrace was strong and warm, enveloping you in a sense of security you hadn't felt in a long time. You squeezed him back just as eagerly, hoping that through the hug you could tell him you were on his side. "It's so good to see you," He murmured into your ear, his breath warm against your skin. "I just wish it was under different circumstances." You nodded, pulling back your eyes searching his face for any signs of the unease you knew he must be feeling.

"You know I've always got your back." You smiled, giving him a mock salute which made him laugh. "Nice to see you again, kid." You turned locking eyes with Sam Wilson who was giving you a teasing smile. "Hi Sam." You grinned, eyes landing on the figure standing beside him. Dressed in a red Henley, his posture was rigid, and his expression was guarded. "Y/N, this is Bucky." Steve introduced him, almost as if reading your mind. Bucky's intense gaze met yours, and for a moment, you felt a shiver run down your spine.

His eyes were a stormy blue, filled with a depth of experiences that seemed to weigh heavily on his shoulders. Despite his tough exterior, there was something about him that intrigued you, a vulnerability that was almost palpable. Here it comes. Bucky thought to himself watching as your eyes flickered with recognition. "You're Sergeant James Barnes," You couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and empathy for the man standing before you. Bucky nodded slowly, his expression softening just a fraction. "Just Bucky," He corrected gently, as if trying to distance himself from the past that still clung to him.

You offered a small, understanding smile. "It's an honor to meet you, Bucky. I've heard a lot about you." You could have sworn you saw his lip twitch into a faint smile, almost as if for a brief moment the walls he had built around himself seemed to lower. Steve cleared his throat, breaking the moment. "Thanks for having my back." He nodded towards Wanda who stood behind you with her arms crossed. "It was time to get off my ass." Her expression was one of casual indifference, but her eyes held a spark of determination. "It was time to get off my ass," She shrugged nonchalantly, her tone light but her commitment evident.

The corner of your mouth lifted into a smile at her straightforwardness. "How about our other recruit?" Steve questioned, turning his attention to Clint. His eyes met Steve's with a knowing look, and he gave a slight nod, signaling his readiness. "He's ready to go," He coaxed turning to open the sliding door of the van. "I had to put a little coffee in him, but he should be good." As Scott slowly blinked the sleep from his eyes, Wanda stepped in front of you, her stance protective, almost as if shielding you from his gaze. "What time zone is this?" You heard him huff, his voice gravelly and tinged with sleep as he climbed out of the van with Clint's encouragement.

You watched as his eyes widened when they landed on Steve, almost as if not believing Captain America himself was standing in front of him. His expression shifted from confusion to awe, his mouth slightly agape. "C-Captain America," He breathed out, the words barely more than a whisper. "Mr. Lang." Steve nodded politely, extending his hand out for him to shake. The gesture was calm and composed, a stark contrast to Scott's jittery excitement. "It's an honor," Scott beamed, his face lighting up with a wide grin as he proceeded to shake Steve’s hand longer than was deemed normal.

"Wow, this is awesome," You heard him mumble to himself. The awe in his voice was infectious, and you had to stifle a laugh as Steve and Sam shared a knowing look. "I know you too, you're great," He praised, turning to Wanda with an earnest smile. You saw her eyes light up, a genuine smile spreading across her face as she acknowledged his compliment. "Y/N Stark," His attention now shifted to you. "I'm a huge fan, your Mind-Weaver pitch was compelling. Should help a lot of people too." His words were sincere, and you could see the genuine appreciation in his eyes.

That was the first time you had heard someone acknowledge you as well as your work outside of being Tony Stark's daughter. It was a refreshing change, and you had to admit it felt good. A sense of pride swelled within you, and you couldn't help but smile back at him. Turning back to Steve, Scott nervously fiddled with his hands, his fingers twitching as he tried to gather his thoughts. "Uh, look, I want to say, I know you know a lot of super people, so thanks for thinking of me." He smiled appreciatively. "They tell you what we're up against?" Steve asked, his voice steady and calm.

"Something about some psycho assassins," Scott replied, his tone a mix of curiosity and concern. Steve nodded, his expression grim. "We're outside the law on this one, so if you come with us you're a wanted man," Steve warned, his eyes locking onto Scott's, ensuring he understood the full implications of joining their cause. "Yeah well, what else is new," Scott shrugged. "We should get moving." Bucky suggested, speaking up for the first time in a while. His voice was low but carried a sense of urgency. Clint nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning the room as if already planning their next move.

"Thanks to Y/N's help, we got a chopper lined up," He added, acknowledging the crucial role you played. Suddenly, a buzz emitted from the intercom, sharp and insistent, cutting through the tense atmosphere like a knife. It sounded urgent. "They're evacuating the airport." Bucky translated, his eyes narrowing as he processed the information. "Dad," You breathed out, your voice barely above a whisper. You picked at your nail polish, trying to distract yourself from the anxiety that was building up inside you, avoiding everyone's piercing gaze that seemed to bore into you, seeking answers.

After a moment of heavy silence, Steve seemed to mull over his options, his jaw clenched tightly. The tension in the room was almost palpable, each second stretching into an eternity. Finally, he made his decision. "Suit up," He commanded, his voice firm and resolute. You held your breath, suddenly feeling the realness of the situation wash over you like a cold wave. The gravity of what lay ahead settled in, and the room seemed to shrink as your heart pounded in your chest. This was it. You were officially going to face your dad in what very well might be the endgame.

[beepiesheepie]

OOoo I don't do these often! :D thanks for the tag ruri!

Last Song: Blochead- The Music Scene

Favorite Color: Pastel Pink! But ONLY if it's paired with either black or with pastel blue and white- guess why for the latter lel

Last Book: Like OP I must turn to fanfiction ^^;; I didn't know Ao3 collected a history of works you read! What It Takes by scarletfyre (mind the tags on it!)

Last Movie: Hundreds of Beavers :D

Last TV Show: Auntie Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun, it's on Netflix so I can't link it wehhh

Sweet/Savory/Spicy: I am a FIEND for sweet and spicy, god I love it so so so much. If I get a pack of cookies expect them to be gone in under 3 days. My ma got me hot sauce for christmas but we found out 2 days later it was expired by 4 months ;w;

Relationship Status: Single pringle! Hoping one of the bars near me hosts a singles night, wehhh. Dating apps unhelpful too

Last Video Game Played: Yakuza Kiwami! I'm trying to get through the backlog of games I have yet to play, after Yakuza is Disco Elysium, Armored Core 6, Ultrakill, and finishing Dark Souls 3 (made it to the twin princes then just stopped)

Last Thing I Googled: adgq 2025 schedule- tomorrow night they're playing two of my favorite games, plus two I'm interested in the speedruns for (Mario 64 and DK Tropical Freeze), plus Superman 64 (a trainwreck I adore watching)

Current Obsession: 3D art, I feel like every few days I shift between art mediums and this is the current one. I'm recording the making of my current model, Reddy TF2, so I can edit a video explaining how I make models- it's fairly simple but the skill floor is reaaaally high. Also trying to force myself to write, that Elden Ring/TF2 au wont write itself. Also the One Thousand Uncles community gamemode in TF2, it's fun as hell

Things I'm Looking Forward To: Whatever the heck TF2 has going for it next. With comic 7 dropping I'm cautiously optimistic for the future and a potential soonish Heavy update. Also Elden Ring Nightreign, I want to play as a canonical furry in a Fromsoft game (beyond the furry I already made in ER)

Thanks for the tag ruri! :D Tagging @0sbrain @markingatlightspeed @panpteryx @pantspissedinreverse and @bitterpossum

Get To Know You Better Challenge Reblog:

Thanks for the tag, @cheetochild989!

I don't normally do things like this because I like to be mysterious but I have some people that I'm curious to learn about. So. I'll do some.

Last Song: Not Sorry For Loving You (From Epic!)

Favorite Color: >:) Guess

Last Book: We going fanfiction for this one:

Welcome Home Brother by OptimisticallyCynical

Last Movie: The Dark Tower (Highly Recommend)

Last TV Show: 2012TMNT (SHOCK AND AWE!!!)

Sweet/Savory/Spicy: Sweets. Mmmmmm

Relationship Status: It's complicated 👍

Last Video Game Played: Wii Sports Resort (obsessed with tennis)

Last Thing I Googled: "is it unhealthy to tranq someone consistently"

...It's safest for everyone if you don't ask questions.

Current Obsession: (You guys will NEVER guess.)

Things I'm Looking Forward To: Finally finishing What Was Lost (so close!!) and TMNT MOVIE NIGHT WITH A LONGTIME FRIEND!!

No pressure tags:

@teks-emporium @puma-or-cougar @tmntforeverinmyheart @greenlovescats @fluffyslug @juhamato

@sleepingdragon11 @ceciturtle @theintrovertedghost @truths33k3r4 @daboyau

@poetique823 @apriltellorocks @craacked-splatters @happydragondragon

+ Anyone and everyone else who wants to join! Feel free!

[spiderb00]

FROGS 'N CATS

Kang Haerin x reader 

“Just a cozy day with your girlfriend, Kang Haerin” 

Genre – Fluff   Warnings – None 

Now playing – Pink, by Wave To Earth

Your head rested gently on Haerin's lap, the younger girl's back comfortably pressed against one of the trees in the park. The sun was setting in pink colors, and you and your girlfriend were tempted not to go home – even though you knew you would have to go back eventually – and to continue listening to the soft sound of the leaves of the trees swaying. The caresses of the girl with cat eyes on your head were almost making you close your eyes, the whole quiet atmosphere was cozy, and some miracle seemed to have happened, because no one had pointed any camera in the face of the two of you or asked for autographs.   

"Oh! Look, Yn!" Your girlfriend's voice caught your attention, making you get up from Haerin's lap quickly and look where she was pointing.   

Expecting to see a wave of fans or paparazzi, you relaxed when you realized you were just a small frog.   

"He's pretty small..." You said, tilting your head to see the frog jumping near the nearby lake. "Is he still a toad child?" You said, laughing and getting giggles from your girlfriend.   

"No, some frogs only grow to a specific point." Haerin began to explain, having you completely mesmerized the second she started talking.   

You loved watching your girlfriend talk, you could listen to her forever. Haerin didn't say much, but she was always chattering more than usual with you, feeling comfortable sharing thoughts and being herself. Before you, Haerin only felt comfortable that way with the girls – especially Danielle – in the group, but after you invaded her heart, that changed.   

"Did you know that frogs actually breathe through their skin..." Haerin stopped talking when he saw the look you gave her. If it weren't for the darkness of the night, which had already arrived, she swore that you could see how she turned red under your gaze. "What's wrong-" 

Haerin was interrupted by you, attacking her face with kisses, distributing all over the younger girl's face, Haerin can't contain her laughter, and neither can she avoid blushing at your surprise attack of kisses.   

"Yn! Stop, someone can see us!" The black-haired girl said, still laughing at the tickle your kisses made on her cheeks.   

Giving your girlfriend a quick kiss on the lips, you walked away with a smile on your face, and the conviction that you left your girlfriend completely red and embarrassed. Haerin loved your displays of affection, but that doesn't mean she won't still be embarrassed if you're out in public.  

"I love it when you talk about the things you like, Kang Haerin!" You say, without taking the smile off your face, standing up and taking her hand in yours.     

"Come on, I know a very good restaurant not far from here, we can get takeout food and take it to the girls." You said, Haerin accompanying you with his hand firmly on yours.   

You two walked the streets quietly, voice after voice commenting on something that caught your attention. Haerin saw some things that she would definitely come back to buy at some cool stores, and you were euphoric whenever you saw something NewJeans-related on the streets.   

Entering the small establishment, you walked over to the counter, Haerin looking curiously around and spotting an elderly gentleman – who probably shouldn't be working anymore – talking to you. The small restaurant had a cozy feel, and reminded Haerin of restaurants she went to with her parents when she was a child.   

"Hello child, it's good to see you're back! What will you want today?" The old man asked you, the cat-eyed girl carefully watching your interaction with the old man.   

"Hello Mr. Jung? Are you alone today?" You asked, trying to peek into the open kitchen behind the man.   

"No. No need to worry, Doyun is in the kitchen, he's doing all the dishes today. The night is very calm." The old man said, smiling slightly at you and changing his gaze to a shy Haerin behind you and giving her a smile.   

"So, what will you and your friend want today?"   

After placing orders, you and Haerin have taken a table in the corner of the restaurant, waiting for the orders to be ready. When you finally had all the bags in your hands, you and Haerin walked to the dorm where your girlfriend and the girls lived. Arriving and handing over the bags and a hungry Minji eager to see what you two had brought for dinner.  

Fried rice and boiled pork dumplings gave off a wonderful smell throughout the girls' dorm, you, your girlfriend and the girls eating it all amidst conversations, Minji jokes (which earned her a few slaps from Hanni) and laughter. 

"I love spending days like this with you, Kang Haerin." You say, your girlfriend snuggling more in your arms on the bed where you were both lying.   

"Are you obsessed with calling me Kang Haerin, or what?" The younger girl said, blinking her eyes slowly at you.   

 "My Kang Haerin." You said, closing your eyes and hearing a soft giggle come from the lips of the girl next to you.   

Hey guys, I did this story very quickly because all I'm having inspiration to write lately is comfort, like, I can develop cute stories where the characters live everyday and cozy things.

Honestly, this is inspiring me and I'm managing to work on the requests, maybe it will take a while because I'm being a little demanding with myself, but it will come out.

I hope you are well and taking care of yourselves, stay safe

xoxo, spider.

[guywhowatches]

You opened the door into the kitchen and turned around to quickly close it. You then turned back around, only for a horrifying sight to meet your eyes. Your stepdad was sitting on a stool at the table, with his jeans pulled down and pants riding up him, exposing his hairy, musky ass. He appeared to be eating something rather loudly. The sight revolted you and made you want to scarper before he discovered you were in the room.

You'd never liked your stepdad, from the day you first properly met him, he was always so cruel to you. He would regularly visit the gym and workout, meaning he constantly stank of sweat. But that wasn't even the worst part. The worst part was, because of his gym diet, he would often rip the most revolting farts imaginable. And worse, he'd always seemed to do them around you deliberately and laugh as you would cough and gag on the stench. He always said it was the stink of a 'real man' and that you should get used to it, or that you were 'weak and pathetic'. So of course, you didn't want to be noticed by him.

Frrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaapppppppppppppp!

Just as you were thinking this over, a loud fart boomed out across the room. You jumped in shock as you looked over at the obvious source of the noise. Your stepdad just sighed and chuckled heartily, before going back to eating. You had to get out of the way before the smell hit you.

Maybe you could try hiding in the bathroom, as the entrance to it was right near and it was slightly ajar, meaning it wouldn't make a sound. You crept over to it, and began to open it when you suddenly lurched and gagged loudly. The second the door was fully opened you were hit with a combined smell of eggs and shit. It was unbearable and you leaned over coughing loudly as the stink burned your nose. Unfortunately, this loud reaction drew the attention of a certain someone.

"Ha, I wouldn't go in there if I had a weak nose like yours boy. Those eggs and protein shakes just went right through me this morning." Your stepdad said, looking back at you smiling meanly. You couldn't believe that. How did it still stink of his morning dump, when it was nearly the evening?

"But I guess that's hard for you, being so pathetic and all." He now got up from his seat and made his way over to you, still grinning menacingly. You wanted to try and run away, but your mind was still boggled by the smell from the bathroom and wasn't allowing you to kick into action.

"I nearly expected better from you, but honestly I couldn't even do that. Seems like you need a reminder of who's in charge here." And then, before you could make a run for it, he grabbed by the back of the neck and forced you into position. You couldn't move at all, with the strong grip he had on you.

Then, to your continued horror, he turned around facing away from you and pulled down his pants, his ass now fully on display. It came as no shock to you that it absolutely reeked. It smelt like he hadn't even properly wiped after his previous toilet usage. It was too repulsive for you.

"Let's see if you can survive the smell my lunch burrito coming out the other end." That explains what he was eating. And, before you could object, he grunted loudly.

FFFFFFFFFRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAARRRRRRPPPPPTTTT

BBBBBBRRRRRAFFFFFFFFFFFFFFPPPPPPPPPTTTTTT

PPPPPPRRRRRRRRAAAAAAPPPPPPTTTT

The slew of farts blasted against your face with no protection between you and his colossal ass. The stink was unbearable and you felt like were going to pass out. Your stepdad just looked down and laughed at you.

"Are you giving up already? That's just sad. I've ripped worse ones at the gym. Yet you can't handle a few measly puffs? Well, perhaps this'll set you straight." He then grunted again, much to your demise.

BBBBBBBBRRRRRRRRAAAAAPPPPPPPPPPPPTTTTTTTTTTTTTTRRRRRPPPPPPP

FFFFFFFRAAAAAAAPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPTTTT

BBBBBRRRRRRRRRRAMMMMMMMPPPPPTTTTTTTTFFFFFFFFF

BBBBBRRRRRRRRRRAMMMMMMMPPPPPTTTTTTTTFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTTT

He was truly was a gasbag that seemed to have a never ending supply, that would always be used to torment you. You couldn't handle it any more, as your brain began to shut down due to no clean oxygen in the room anymore.

You then felt him let go of you, as you passed out onto the floor. As your eyes were closing, the last thing you saw was your stepdad bending over you.

"And don't you ever forget who's in charge around here." He said, grinning at you wickedly. You couldn't keep dealing with this, you had to move out soon.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Credit to @beefybunzz for the pic.

Hope you guys enjoy

[staryscorner]

My savior

Didn't reread this so it might have some errors ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ

Paring: The Salesman x Female Reader

It was a tiring day after working one of your many jobs but after your current shift you would have to run out immediately to catch the last train. You ran and yelled at someone to not let the doors close but it was too late the train had left and there you were alone at the platform with another man sitting on a bench. He called you over.

“Would you like to play a game?” He said with a cheeky smirk

“I'm sorry but I have to get to work or else I'll probably get fired.” You said in a panicked tone 

“But what if you could with 100,000 Won just by beating me at ddakji” still smiling at you

You thought about it for a while…that was way more than what you would make in a night and you then agreed to play his game. 

“I'll pay you for every time that you beat me but if I win you would have to pay me the same amount”

You were not expecting him to say that.

“Um sir i'm sorry but I don't have that kind of money” you said in a sheepish tone.

“Well there is another way you could pay me” He said grinning from ear to ear

“H-how?” you said trying to keep your composure 

“I'll show you once we played the first round”

After playing the first round and losing miserably he looked at you and not even hesitating he lifted his hand and slapped you…

You stood there putting your hand where he had slapped you feeling the sting and almost wanting to cry but you still decided to play. You needed that money… you needed to have your child back. 

After what felt like an eternity you had finally won you could feel like tears were going to fall from your eyes. He opened his briefcase and you saw that it was stacked with cash. You really wanted to continue but you knew you had to get home so you could get at least some sleep before your next job in the morning. You thanked the many for the opportunity and told him you had to leave. He looked at you a bit surprised. No one had quit the game this early, but he decided to just let you leave.

As you walked off you started to feel weak and then soon collapsed when it happened. He might be cruel but he was not a monster. He was not going to leave a women lying on the ground in the middle of the night especially you who he found quite interesting for leaving so early into the game 

.

.

.

You woke up confused, finding yourself under a warm blanket and comfy bed. You looked around and saw that it was a fully furnished room which looked luxurious. then you hear footsteps coming closer to where you were and there he was the man from last night 

“I see that your awake” he said holding a cup of coffee and having that same smirk from last night

“I'm sorry I didn't mean to intrude” You said trying to quickly get up.

He pushed you on the bed and tucked you right back in handing you the cup of coffee in his hand.

“Drink this and tell me why you decided to play.” He said sitting near the edge of the bed.

He already knew about your situation and how much you needed that money, but he still wanted to hear you explain it

You hesitated a bit to tell him since you had only met last night, but there was something about him that made you trust him.

“Well about a year ago things were great. I was married and had a beautiful daughter. It was a perfect life, but until one day it wasn't. My ex husband began to hit me…” you paused letting out a big sigh trying to not let your emotions take over. “I tried my best to make sure he never got to my daughter . I wanted to protect her but I couldn't.” “Then one day I came home and there was no one inside”. 

As tears started to stream down your cheeks he came over with tissues and tried to clean your tears away.

“I looked all over for my daughter in that house but I never found her. The police were no help and that's when I started to hire private investigators to look for her but none have ever gotten a lead. That's why I work from morning to night just so that I could pay them to look for her” You were trying to keep yourself together. Then He hugged you and held you close. You could hear his calm heartbeats which helped you.

You both stayed like that until you felt better.

“Hey how about this I will take care of all your debt and help you look for your daughter and get her back”. You sat there in shock after hearing what came out of his mouth.

“But with one condition… you go out with me” He said giving you a sly smile

He saw how fragile you are and didn't want you to go through anything like that again.

You wanted to say yes right away but could you really trust him you did like him and he was willing to help you find your daughter

“alright” you said with a hint of blush on your face

He stepped out of the room and began to make some phone calls you didn't know to who but you just laid on the bed until he got back. When he said that he found the address that your daughter and possibly your ex husband might be at.

“WHAT YOU FOUND HER JUST LIKE THAT!” You began to cry tears of happiness

“We can go to the address right now if you want?”

“Yes please I want to see my baby girl” 

As soon as you finished your sentence he hurried you to a car that was already waiting for you both outside he opened the door for you to enter and after you went in he followed right behind you. From being in a rich area of seoul to a rundown and shady neighborhood you made it to an apartment building that was falling apart when you both entered it smelled rotten you reached a room that slightly opened as you both went in there was not many things inside the room but what caught your attention was a small closet that was right next to you so you decide to open it and what you saw was your worst nightmare

.

.

.

 it was your daughter with just a small blanket covering her and she had lost so much weight. You dropped down and picked up her small fragile body. Then came footspes from the other room. It was your monster husband.

“What do you think your doing here” He started yelling at you 

After saying those words he began to run towards you and holding a knife in but before he could get to you the salesman pushed him on the ground 

“Dear if you don't mind, could you grab your daughter and carry her outside and don't come back in here ok? I'll be out in a few minute” 

Not wanting to know what he would be doing next you grabbed your daughter and brought her to the car that was still there. He came out a bit after with a few red stains on his shirt you didn't even want to ask he then got in and asked the driver to take them to the nearest hospital as the car drove your daughter began to flutter her eyes open.

“Mommy” she asked in a weak voice

“Yes baby I'm right here” You said holding her close to your chest 

He just held your hand not knowing what to do 

Once you made it to the hospital the doctors took her from your arms and brought her to a room and they made you wait outside the room until they said you could come in. He was there the whole time with you making sure you were ok. Bringing you water and just comforting you. You never expected that meeting him at the station that day would bring you here and you felt love when you were with him not wanting to spend any time apart from him.

After a few hour the doctors finally came out and told you that she was in bad condition but nothing to much to worry her all you would need to do is give her the medicine that he proscribed and everything would be fine after he left you ran into the room where she was and then you saw her with the biggest smile you went over to hug her and all the stress left your body and you began to cry heavily not ever wanting to let her go the salesman came over to her bed and introduced himself as her new daddy and she loved the idea of having him as he new dad. (you did blush a bit when he said that) but these 3 days have been the most tiring but you could definitely see him had your husband and the love of your life even if he has a few screws loose thats what makes you love him even more.

A/n: OK im literally hyperfixating on this man so I just had to do something with him so this is kinda like a rant. I feel like it started off strong but I did spiral a bit on what to do with this but hope you all enjoy it!!! Pls suggest some ideas :P

[kiame-sama]

Hey, question. How many requests are we able to send in before you get annoyed with us? I'm not talking about sending in two three requests a day, but like, how many a week? Obviously, not every request, complement, or drabble is going to get a reply - as is expected of any blog, but especially one of this quality - so waiting until a response isn't the move. In theory, since I am an anon, if I didn't announce my presence, you would have no idea it was me popping up in your inbox with frequency, but since I'm named, not telling you it's me would feel... scummy and disrespectful. So, yeah. How many things can we send to your inbox before you go from, "Oh, it's them!"(/pos) to "Oh... it's them."(/neg). ~Wolf-non

That depends.

If they are different in nature from one another (ie. One request about harpies, and one request about Divus) I usually go "oh yeah, it's this person! Alright, you go funky lil anon." But if they are the same over and over with only slight variation (ie. I WANT PENGUIN SIRENS and CAN YOU MAKE ONE OF THE GUYS A PENGUIN BECAUSE I LOVE PENGUINS SO MUCH??? and I WANT TO BE A PENGUIN, SO YOU NEED TO MAKE THE HUMAN A PENGUIN FOR ME BECAUSE I WANT IT) I will get annoyed and angry and will be tempted to share the horrific facts about said animal that I know just to make them be quiet and stop messaging me about that topic.

This is unfortunate because anyone else who sends in a request that has the same topic (since I can't tell between anons that don't identify themselves) will suffer the same punishment even if they were not the problem because they are similar enough requests to the problem anon. (Hence why I refuse to take any hxh requests involving Kurapika because one person thought it a good idea to spam me with almost identical requests repeatedly about Kurapika, now I just dislike writing for the character due to their actions.)

(Person who keeps demanding I make one of the guys (WHO I HAVE ALREADY DECIDED SPECIES FOR) into a penguin simply because you are obsessed with penguins and continuously demand more penguins in MY writing, I will come UNGLUED and you will be blocked. My patience has set limits and you are exceeding them very quickly.)

I also have an unfortunate tendency to just delete any request similar to the one that angered me and avoiding what they want rather petulantly due to my irritation. In example of the penguin anon that won't leave me the hell alone about penguins, I will not be adding a penguin character or anything to do with penguins until they stop annoying the hell out of me with their demands for penguins. I am not a pet that does tricks when you scream and demand, I will block nuisances who see it fit to prod at me for their own amusement.

I can block on anon and will do so if annoyed enough. I will not be hearing any "please unblock me, I didn't mean to make you angry!" After 5+ near identical requests about the same thing over and over or demands that I adhere to what they want in my writing.

That's not to say I don't understand when Internet connection is shoddy and can send the same request 3 times due to unstable network, but 5 is excessive and the person better have a good explanation for why they saw fit to send it 5 times. I also like suggestions and ideas about going forward, but I LOATHE demands. A good part of my AuHD has extreme issue with Demands and Commands, especially from people I don't know/respect as an authority.

[buckets-and-trees]

Huffily Ever After: A CindereLloyd Story [4/?]

Chapter Four - The Awards Gala Characters/Pairings: Lloyd Hansen x curvy Millennial Female!Reader Word Count: 6.5k Summary: A night of industry glitz and glam brings with it some encounters and revelations you didn't expect.

SERIES Content/Warnings: modern Cinderella adaptation, unknown identities, enemies to lovers, toxic coworkers, eventual smut CHAPTER WARNING: UNWANTED SEXUAL ADVANCES

Notes: The sixth offering in my Birthday Jubilee collection.

Previous Chapter | Series

↠ Main Masterlist | Aspen's Ask Box | Field Guide to the Forest

The dress Maggie had insisted on buying for you was nothing short of breathtaking - a floor-length gown with a fabric that shimmered subtly as you moved. The bodice hugged your curves perfectly before flowing into a graceful skirt with a discreet slit up one side. The neckline dipped low enough to be alluring without being scandalous, and delicate beading along the shoulders caught the light beautifully. You felt like a modern day princess.

Maggie had, of course, found a marvelous new dress for herself, as well.

Your mother's necklace, usually hidden beneath your clothes, now rested perfectly in the hollow of your throat, the delicate gold chain complementing the beadwork of the dress. It was a simple jewelry statement, but the dress brought enough elegant glitz that anything more might have been too much.

As the elevator doors slid open, your heart skipped a beat. There, leaning casually against the back wall, was Lloyd Hansen. His piercing blue eyes locked onto yours for a fraction of a second before you quickly averted your gaze. You hesitated for just a moment before stepping inside, deliberately choosing the opposite corner of the elevator.

The small space suddenly felt even more confined as a few other conference attendees filed in, creating a human barrier between you and Lloyd. You were grateful for their presence, giving you a perfectly acceptable excuse not to engage him in conversation at all. You kept your eyes fixed firmly on the illuminated floor numbers above the door as the lift descended.

The elegant fabric of your new gown rustled softly as you shifted your weight, hyperaware of every movement. The subtle scent of your perfume mingled with the various colognes and perfumes of the other passengers, creating an oddly intoxicating blend in the enclosed space.

You couldn't help but sneak a glance at Lloyd's reflection in the polished metal doors as you waited to be released in the lobby. He cut an impressive figure in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo, the crisp white shirt a stark contrast against his tanned skin. His hair was neatly slicked back, as was typical for him. The full look - even with his bold statement mustache - combined to give him an air of sophisticated elegance that was undeniably attractive.

If only he were more of a Prince Charming instead of a Prince Charming said with sarcasm, annoyance, and an eye roll.

You quickly averted your eyes when you realized Lloyd had caught you looking. A small smirk played at the corner of his mouth, and you felt a flush creeping up your neck. Thankfully, the elevator dinged, announcing your arrival at the lobby, and you rushed out quickly ahead of him and the others.

You spotted Maggie near a large potted palm, resplendent in her new emerald green gown. Her eyes lit up when she saw you, and she waved you over enthusiastically.

"Oh, darling, you look absolutely stunning!" Maggie exclaimed, giving you an appraising look. "That dress was made for you. We certainly chose well, didn't we?"

You smiled, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. "Thank you again, Maggie. I still can't believe you insisted on getting it for me."

"Nonsense," Maggie said, “it’s fun playing fairy godmother.”

Your anticipation grew as you walked side by side with your mentor towards the grand ballroom, and it peaked as you entered the prestigious event. The room was awash in soft golden light, crystal chandeliers twinkling overhead. Tables draped in crisp white linens were adorned with elaborate floral centerpieces, and waiters in pristine uniforms glided between guests offering flutes of champagne.

"Deep breath," Maggie murmured, patting your arm reassuringly. "You belong here just as much as anyone else. This is PR - we’re all faking it. "

You nodded and grinned, grateful for her steadying presence. As you moved further into the room, you began to recognize faces from the conference - industry leaders, renowned academics, influential figures in the world of public relations and marketing, and even a few of the new friends and acquaintances you’d made over the past two days.

You wondered if your actual Prince Charming from the masquerade might be here… Though if he were, you really had no idea how you would recognize him. Versailles had been enchantingly but dimly lit - more so than this ballroom - and then your walk around the grounds and gardens had been even darker - with only occasional lamps and moonlight, but even if you’d had more proper lighting, your masked man had been wearing a full face mask. You had nothing to go off of but a general recollection of his height and build and the knowledge that he had a mustache - which you’d only felt and not seen as you’d been good and not peeked when he told you to close your eyes when he’d kissed you.

You could not go around kissing every man with a mustache here tonight.

But what would you do if you were ever face to face with him again anyway?

"Maggie!" a booming voice called out. You turned to see Claude Dumont approaching, his face eager with excitement. "And our rising star!”

He greeted each of you with the customary French double kiss.

You smiled warmly at Claude, feeling a resurgence of gratitude from the panel earlier. "Thank you again for the opportunity today, Claude. It was an incredible experience."

Claude waved his hand dismissively. "No need to thank me, my dear. You more than proved your worth up there. In fact," he leaned in conspiratorially, "I've had several people asking about you since the panel. You've made quite an impression."

You felt a flutter of excitement at his words. "Really? That's... wow. I'm honored."

"As you should be," Maggie chimed in, beaming with pride. "I told you she was something special, didn't I, Claude?"

Claude nodded enthusiastically. "Indeed you did, and as always, your judgment was impeccable." He turned back to you. "Now, the two of you simply must join us at the Hansen Global table tonight.”

As fond as you’d grown of Claude, you knew immediately that would put you at a table with Lloyd Hansen yet again and did not relish that possibility.

But Maggie was already eagerly accepting.

"Wonderful!" Claude exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "Let's head over, shall we? I believe they're about to start seating for dinner."

You tucked your reluctance away as you followed Claude and Maggie through the crowded ballroom. And as you did, you couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. Just days ago, you never would have imagined being invited to sit at one of the most prestigious tables at this gala. Despite your misgivings about Lloyd, you knew this was an incredible opportunity.

You also noticed the way Claude gently placed his hand on Maggie’s back as he helped navigate through a particularly thick part of the crowd. You bit your lip to keep from smiling with too much giddiness. If there was something there for Maggie, you could endure sitting at a table with anyone tonight.

The Hansen Global table was centrally located, offering a perfect view of the stage where the awards would be presented later in the evening.

As you approached the table, your eyes immediately fell on the familiar figures of Victor Chen and Lloyd. Victor, looking dapper in a classic black tuxedo, stood up to greet you with a warm smile. Lloyd, on the other hand, remained seated, his piercing blue eyes following your every move as you drew near.

But it was the unfamiliar faces at the table that truly caught your attention. Seated on the opposite side of the round banquet table from Lloyd was a distinguished-looking man in his late sixties or early seventies. His silver hair was immaculately styled, and he exuded an air of quiet authority that immediately commanded respect. His features bore a striking resemblance to Lloyd's, though softened somewhat by age.

Claude gestured towards this man. "Allow me to introduce you to Robert Hansen, the founder and architect of Hansen Global."

Robert Hansen stood, his movements graceful and powerful, effectively erasing a decade off his age, and extended his hand to you with a warm smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you," he said, his voice rich and resonant. "I heard wonderful things about your panel performance earlier today."

You felt a flutter of nerves as you shook his hand, acutely aware that you were in the presence of one of the industry's most influential figures. "Thank you, Mr. Hansen. It's an honor to meet you."

Robert chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "Please, call me Robert. Any rising star Claude speaks so highly of is welcome at our table so long as you sit by me."

As you took your seat, you couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between Robert's welcoming demeanor and Lloyd's cool indifference. Lloyd barely acknowledged your presence as you sat down, his attention seemingly focused on his phone.

"So tell me," Robert said, turning to you with genuine interest in his eyes, "what inspired you to enter the world of public relations?"

"Well, I've always been fascinated by the power of story and how people latch onto narrative. I wanted to be an author, so I joined the lit mag for my college, and eventually was part of the marketing team. I took a marketing class to help me get better and realized marketing is storytelling. What really drew me in was the challenge of navigating complex narratives and helping an organization connect authentically with an audience. And a more guarantee-able paycheck than trying to strike out as an author."

Robert laughed - as anyone did when you added the quip in your story.

“I was too far into my undergrad to want to switch majors at that point, but it sent me on the path to grad school, and Maggie was one of my professors there.”

Robert nodded approvingly. "A good journey to root you in this business. Too often, people enter this field thinking it's all about spin and damage control. But true public relations is about building genuine relationships and trust."

Around the room, everyone else seemed to be taking their seats, and servers began bringing out the salad course. Robert continued speaking primarily with you, though in his command of the table, he drew others into the discussion at various points.

He shared anecdotes from his early days in the industry, offering insights into how the field had evolved over the decades. While remaining engaged in the conversation, you did keep stealing moments to observe Maggie and Claude sitting on your other side. They weren’t overt or showy, but it was plain to see there was more than what you had assumed was only a platonic interest there, and it made your heart swell.

By the time the main course arrived, you found yourself thoroughly enjoying Robert's company. His wealth of experience and sharp wit made for engaging conversation, and you were flattered by his genuine interest in your insights. Victor, who had proven to consistently be an engaging companion in conversation, was also eager to contribute to the flow, and smiled at you often.

"You know," Robert mused, swirling the wine in his glass, "it's refreshing to see someone so young with such a nuanced understanding of brand authenticity. In my day, we were often too focused on controlling the message rather than fostering genuine connections."

You nodded, feeling a mix of pride and humility at his praise. "I think social media has really changed the game in terms of transparency and authenticity. Brands can't hide behind carefully crafted press releases anymore."

His eyes flicked briefly towards Lloyd before returning to you. "But you, my dear, clearly understand the importance of adapting to our rapidly changing landscape."

Lloyd's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly at his father's words, but he remained silent, taking a long sip of his wine.

Robert continued, his voice carrying just enough to be heard by those nearby. "I've always believed that the key to success in this field is a combination of intuition and adaptability. The ability to read a room, to sense the undercurrents of public opinion before they surface. It's a rare talent, and one that can't be taught in any classroom."

You felt a flush of pride at Robert's words, but also a twinge of discomfort at the undercurrent of tension you sensed between him and Lloyd. "Thank you, sir. I still have a lot to learn, but I'm passionate about understanding the nuances of public perception and how it shapes brand narratives."

Robert's eyes twinkled. "Modesty is admirable, but don't sell yourself short. From what I've heard, you have quite the promising career ahead of you."

Out of the corner of your eye, you noticed Lloyd's posture stiffen slightly. His gaze flickered between you and his father, a hint of something unreadable in his eyes.

At that moment, the emcee took to the stage, signaling the start of the awards ceremony. You settled back in your chair, grateful for the brief respite from the intensity of the conversation.

The emcee, a charismatic woman in a striking red gown, began announcing the various categories and winners. You found yourself genuinely interested in the accomplishments being celebrated, from innovative crisis management strategies to groundbreaking social media campaigns.

Throughout the ceremony, you found your gaze occasionally drifting to Lloyd. Despite his earlier coldness, you couldn't help but notice the way the soft lighting caught the angles of his face, highlighting his strong jaw and those piercing blue eyes. But what’s more, you couldn't help but wonder about the dynamic between him and his father. His gaze alternated between the stage and his phone, though you caught him glancing in your direction more than once. There was something in his expression - a tightness around his eyes, a slight clench in his jaw - that hinted at barely contained tension.

Robert continued to engage you in conversation during breaks between awards, his eyes twinkling with approval as you shared your thoughts and responded to his comments and questions.

When Hansen Global won an award for their crisis management work during a high-profile data breach, Robert stood to accept it. As he made his way to the stage, you couldn't help but notice the way Lloyd's shoulders tensed, his knuckles whitening around his glass of whiskey.

Robert's acceptance speech was gracious and eloquent, praising his team's hard work and innovation. As he spoke, you couldn't help but notice that he didn't once mention Lloyd by name, despite Lloyd being a key figure in the company.

When Robert returned to the table, he was met with a round of congratulations. Lloyd's smile seemed forced as he clinked glasses with his father, a gesture that felt more obligatory than celebratory.

As the night wore on, you found yourself increasingly aware of the undercurrent of tension between Lloyd and Robert. It was subtle - a continual tightness in Lloyd's jaw, a certain coolness in Robert's tone when addressing his son - but unmistakable to your trained eye.

During a lull in the ceremony, Robert turned to you once more. "You know," he said, his voice low and conspiratorial, "I’m so pleased you landed at our table tonight. I was so curious about whether the buzz around you could stand up to the hype, but I’m convinced you were the perfect choice to fill the spot when Leon fell ill. Claude was holding on to Lloyd here as a back up pick, but destiny intervened.”

Robert's words hung in the air, and you felt a sudden tension descend over the table. Lloyd's eyes flashed dangerously, his jaw clenching visibly.

"Father," Lloyd said, his voice low and tight with barely controlled anger. "Perhaps this isn't the time discussions like this."

Robert waved a dismissive hand. "Nonsense. We're all professionals here. And a rising star deserves to know just how impressive her performance was today."

You shifted uncomfortably in your seat, acutely aware of the brewing conflict. "That's very kind of you to say, Robert. But really, I was just excited for the opportunity. I learned so much."

Lloyd's eyes met yours for a brief moment, and you were startled by the intensity of emotion you saw there - a mixture of anger, frustration, and something else you couldn't quite decipher.

Robert cleared his throat, a flicker of something - regret? frustration? - crossing his face before he smoothed his expression back into a polite smile. "My apologies," he said, his voice low again, only for you - though you weren’t the one you felt might appreciate an apology. "Family dynamics can be... complicated in this business."

You nodded, unsure of how to respond. Victor quickly jumped in, steering the conversation to safer topics, and you gave him an appreciative smile.

As the awards ceremony drew to a close, you couldn't shake the feeling that you had inadvertently become a pawn in some long-standing family drama between Lloyd and his father.

The tension at the table had abated somewhat as everyone began to stand, preparing to move to the after-party. You glanced at Maggie, hoping to catch her eye and signal your desire to make a graceful exit. However, she was deep in conversation with Claude, their heads bent close together as they spoke in hushed tones.

Lloyd vanished so quickly, you didn’t even see him take leave of your party.

Quite a few guests from other tables were pressing closer to your group to speak to Robert, and you were unsure of whether to head to the second ballroom for the next portion of the evening or use the transition to leave.

Victor suddenly appeared at your elbow, a warm smile lighting up his handsome face. "Quite the eventful evening, wouldn't you say?" he said softly, his dark eyes twinkling with understanding.

You nodded, grateful for his steady presence. "That's certainly one way to put it," you replied with a small laugh.

Victor's smile widened, revealing perfect white teeth. "Listen," he said, leaning in slightly, "I know things got a bit... tense there for a moment. I always find it fascinating to observe the Hansen family dynamics, but I’ve never been the one in the crosshairs. But the night's not over yet, and it would be a shame for you to miss out on the best part of the evening."

You raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? And what might that be?"

Victor's eyes sparkled with excitement. "The dessert buffet and dancing, of course! It's standing tradition to end the awards gala with a grand finale of sweets and a big swanky band. Let me be your guide?”

You hesitated for a moment, but after all the tension, some lighthearted fun sounded perfect, and you knew conversation always seemed to flow easily with him.

"I'd love that," you replied with a genuine smile. "Lead the way!"

Victor offered his arm, and you took it, allowing him to guide you through the crowd towards the adjacent ballroom. As you walked, he leaned in close, his breath warm against your ear.

"I must say, you handled yourself admirably back there," he murmured. "Not many could navigate the Hansen family drama with such grace."

You smiled at Victor, grateful for his kind words. "I'm just glad I didn't make things worse," you admitted. "I felt like I was walking on eggshells there for a while."

“No, nothing close to that. You were effortlessly charming,” he said in a low tone that shot butterflies through your stomach. "Now this is more like it," he added in a lighter tone as you entered the second ballroom.

The space had been converted into a lavish dessert paradise, with elaborate displays of cakes, pastries, and confections artfully arranged on tiered stands and elegant tables. The live band was set up on a stage at one end of the room, already playing a jazzy tune that had several couples swaying on the dance floor.

"Shall we start with something sweet or take a sweep across the dance floor?" he asked.

You hesitated, torn between the allure of the desserts and the infectious energy of the music.

"Let's start with something sweet," you decided, eyeing the tempting array of desserts. "We can build up our energy for dancing."

Victor grinned, leading you towards a particularly enticing display of chocolate creations. "Excellent choice. I always say, life's too short to skip dessert."

As you perused the options, Victor kept up a steady stream of witty commentary, pointing out particularly intriguing confections and sharing amusing anecdotes about past galas. His easy charm and genuine warmth helped you relax, the tension from earlier in the evening slowly melting away.

Having each chosen a few bite-sized treats, Victor guided you toward a more quiet corner to enjoy your selections. As you savored a delicate chocolate mousse, you couldn't help but notice the way Victor's eyes lingered on you, his gaze warm and appreciative.

“You really do look stunning tonight," he said softly, his eyes meeting yours. "That dress is exquisite on you."

You felt a blush creep up your cheeks at his compliment. "Thank you," you replied, smoothing your hand over the shimmering fabric. "It was a bit of a splurge, but Maggie insisted."

Victor chuckled. "Well, remind me to thank Maggie later. She has impeccable taste."

One compliment was not a problem. But two and now three didn’t seem to keep things in the professional friendship area that you felt it should firmly stay in, especially since…

Hadn’t he been wearing a wedding band earlier today? Wasn’t he married? Maybe he had been divorced. But maybe he really only meant Maggie had impeccable taste. Because she did.

That was all this was. You were getting carried away - this man was not flirting with you.

“Didn’t you say I couldn’t miss the dancing tonight?” you asked a moment later.

Victor's eyes lit up at your suggestion. "Indeed I did. Shall we?" He offered his hand with a flourish.

You placed your hand in his, allowing him to lead you onto the dance floor. The band had just started a new song, a lively swing number that had couples twirling and laughing all around you.

Victor proved to be an excellent dancer, guiding you through the steps with confidence and grace. His hand on your waist was warm and steady, but nothing more than that, and you found yourself relaxing into the rhythm of the music.

As you spun and swayed to the music, you found yourself relaxing into the moment, your earlier concerns fading away. Victor's easy smile and gentle teasing kept you laughing, and you realized you were genuinely enjoying yourself.

You caught glimpses of familiar faces - Maggie and Claude swaying together near the edge of the crowd, Robert Hansen chatting animatedly with a group of industry bigwigs by the bar, Dr. Rossi, Aaron Lang, even your Nexus CEO and thankfully no Amilla.

But there was no sign of Lloyd either.

Not that you needed to care.

The song transitioned into a slower, more romantic melody.

Victor's hand on your waist seemed to tighten ever so slightly, and you worried he might try to pull you closer. Your mind raced, trying to figure out how to extricate yourself without causing a scene if he did.

But then a familiar voice carved through the music.

"Mind if I cut in?"

You turned to see Lloyd standing there, his expression unreadable. His blue eyes met yours, and for a moment, you forgot how to breathe.

Victor's smile tightened, but he stepped back with practiced grace. "Of course," he said smoothly, though you detected a hint of disdain in his voice. "I’ll find you again for the next dance." He gave your hand a gentle squeeze before releasing it and melting into the crowd.

Before you could protest, Lloyd had taken Victor's place, one hand on your waist and the other clasping yours. His touch was firm but not forceful, and you found yourself instinctively following his lead as he guided you into the dance.

"I hope I wasn’t interrupting anything," Lloyd said, his voice low and tinged with something you couldn't quite identify. Sarcasm? Concern?

You shook your head. "Not at all," you replied, trying to keep your tone neutral. "Victor was just being friendly."

Lloyd's eyebrow quirked slightly. "Friendly. Right."

You bristled at his implication. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Lloyd's eyes flickered over your shoulder, presumably to where Victor had disappeared into the crowd. "Nothing. Just be careful around him. His 'friendliness' has a tendency to blur professional lines."

You frowned, unsure how to respond. Part of you wanted to defend Victor, but you couldn't help but wonder if Lloyd's warning held some truth. You'd had your own doubts about Victor's intentions, after all.

Still, you didn’t need Lloyd of all people nosing in.

"I can take care of myself," you said finally, your voice firm.

Lloyd's eyes snapped back to yours, a hint of surprise in them. "I don't doubt that," he said, his voice softer than you expected. “Like I said, just be careful.”

He said nothing for a moment, guiding you through the steps of the slow dance with surprising grace. You were acutely aware of his hand on your waist, the warmth of his palm seeping through the fabric of your dress.

"I wanted to apologize," Lloyd said suddenly, his voice low and surprisingly sincere. "For earlier. My father can be challenging."

You blinked, caught off guard by his unexpected apology. "Oh. It's... it's alright. Family dynamics can be complicated."

A wry smile tugged at the corner of Lloyd's mouth. "That's certainly one way to put it." He paused, his blue eyes searching your face. "I hope it didn't make you uncomfortable. You shouldn’t be a pawn in his games.”

“Is that all I am?” you bristled. You had wanted to be more sympathetic, but his assertion that you were only a pawn irked at you.

Lloyd's eyes widened slightly, his grip on your waist tightening. "No," he said, his voice low and intense. "Christ, that's not what I meant."

You held his gaze, challenging him. "Then what did you mean?"

He sighed, a flicker of frustration crossing his face. "My father has a way of using people to make a point. Especially to me. He’s masterfully good at it. I didn't want you caught in the crossfire of our complicated relationship."

You softened slightly at his words, recognizing the genuine concern behind them. "I appreciate that," you said carefully. "But I'm not some delicate flower that needs protection. I can handle myself in difficult situations."

A ghost of a smile played at Lloyd's lips. "I'm beginning to see that," he murmured.

The two of you fell silent for a moment, swaying to the music.

As you moved together on the dance floor, you couldn't help but notice how effortlessly Lloyd led you through the steps. His movements were smooth and confident, a stark contrast to the tension you'd sensed from him earlier in the evening. The warmth of his hand on your waist and the gentle pressure of his fingers intertwined with yours sent an unexpected thrill through you.

"You're a good dancer," you said, breaking the silence.

Lloyd's lips quirked into a half-smile. "Years of practice. My mother insisted on ballroom lessons when I was younger."

You raised an eyebrow, intrigued by this glimpse into his past. "Really? I wouldn't have pegged you for the ballroom type."

He chuckled softly, the sound sending a shiver down your spine. "There's a lot you don't know about me."

Your eyes met his, and for a moment you had the wild thought that he could be your masked man. Your mind raced back to that conversation with him on the dance floor, his refusal to ask or answer boring questions, and so you’d gone for a bold punch.

“What's your biggest regret?”

“My biggest regret is not taking more risks when I was younger. The kind that make your heart race and your palms sweat. The kind that could change everything.”

One question, and you would know…

“What's your biggest regret?"

He stiffened, and your heart leapt.

That had to mean…

“Fuck,” he cursed, “asking you to dance five minutes ago.”

You laughed at his annoyed but light tone, but your heart sunk back down. It didn’t fall, because you didn’t want it to be Lloyd. You were just mildly disappointed, the prospect of discovering who he was delayed. Similar builds, they both could dance, and Lloyd certainly had a mustache, but that was it apparently.

“Not all of us had ballroom lessons, okay?”

“It’s what all the WASP-y moms make their kids do. Cotillion and all that bullshit.”

“On some level, I knew it was still something that happened, but you’re the first person I’ve ever heard firsthand knowledge of it from, so I did kind of think it was only something they put in tv and movies for the plot.”

He laughed. “I don’t know, pumpkin, maybe you’re part of my plot. Things can get pretty magical at a PR conference.”

His tone was absolutely rank with so much sarcasm that you couldn’t help but laugh as well.

"You look nice, by the way," he said. His eyes flickered down to your mother's necklace, then back up to meet your gaze. "I like the necklace."

It seemed genuine. So you responded with a simple, “Thanks.”

A few moments later the song ended, and you split apart, but for a beat, neither of you moved beyond that, caught in a strange limbo. The air between you felt charged, filled with unspoken words and conflicting emotions.

Then, as if snapping out of a trance, Lloyd cleared his throat. "I should..." he gestured vaguely towards the bar.

"Right," you nodded.

It seemed like he might say something more, but then his eyes flickered to something over your shoulder and his jaw tightened.

You turned to see what had caught his attention and found Victor making his way towards you, two flutes of champagne in hand.

When you turned back to glance at Lloyd, he was already gone. You shrugged it off.

"I believe I was promised another dance," Victor said smoothly as he approached, offering you one of the glasses.

“Yes, of course!” you responded, taking the glass he handed you.

“Or we could take these to the terrace and get some fresh air,” he suggested.

“That actually sounds perfect,” you said, giving him a grateful smile.

Victor led you through the crowd towards the terrace doors, his hand resting lightly on the small of your back. As you stepped out into the cool night air, you felt some of the tension from the evening begin to dissipate. The terrace overlooked a beautifully manicured garden, softly lit by strategically placed lanterns.

"Much better," Victor said, taking a sip of his champagne. "It was getting a bit stuffy in there, don't you think?"

You nodded, leaning against the stone balustrade and looking out over the gardens. "It's beautiful out here," you murmured, taking in the twinkling lights and the sweet scent of night-blooming flowers.

Victor moved to stand beside you, close enough that you could feel the warmth radiating from his body. "So," he said, his voice low and intimate, "what did Hansen’s heir apparent want with you?”

You tensed slightly at his proximity and the tone of his question. "Just to dance," you replied carefully, taking a sip of champagne. "And to apologize for the awkwardness at dinner."

Victor raised an eyebrow. "How magnanimous of him," he said, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Lloyd Hansen isn't exactly known for his apologies."

You turned to face him, studying his expression. There was something in his eyes - a glint of curiosity, perhaps even jealousy? - that made you uneasy.

"People can surprise you," you said neutrally, trying to steer the conversation away from Lloyd.

Victor tutted at your response and cocked his head to the side.

You frowned, feeling a flicker of annoyance at his attitude. "I don’t say that with wide eyes and rose-colored glasses. I'm not some naive intern."

Victor held up his hands in a placating gesture. "I didn't mean to imply that you were," he said, his tone softening. "I apologize if it came across that way. I just... I worry about you getting caught up in the Hansen family drama. It can be all-consuming."

You sighed, taking another sip of champagne. "I appreciate your concern, Victor, but I can handle myself. I'm not looking to get involved in anyone's drama - I'm here to do my job and build my career."

Victor nodded, a small smile playing at his lips. "Of course. And you're doing an excellent job of that, by the way. You've made quite an impression on everyone here."

You felt a flush of pride at his words, but also a twinge of wariness. Victor's compliments, while flattering, were starting to feel a bit too effusive.

Victor moved closer, his eyes glinting in the soft light of the terrace. "You've made quite an impression on me," he murmured, his voice low and husky. He reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against your bare arm.

You tensed at his touch, a mixture of unease and surprise coursing through you. "Victor, I..."

But he pressed on, seemingly oblivious to your discomfort. "You're not just intelligent, you know. You're absolutely captivating." His hand moved to your waist, pulling you slightly closer. The scent of his cologne, which had seemed pleasant earlier, now felt cloying and overwhelming.

You took a step back. "I'm flattered, really, but I think you've misunderstood. I'm not interested in anything beyond a professional relationship."

You tensed as Victor moved closer, his hand sliding to your lower back. "Come now," he murmured, his breath hot against your ear. "I’m not looking for a relationship. We're both adults here. No need to play coy."

You tried to step back again, but his arm snaked around your waist, holding you in place. Your heart raced, a mixture of fear and anger coursing through you.

"Victor, please," you said firmly, pushing against his chest. "I'm not interested. This isn't appropriate."

But he remained undeterred. His fingers trailed up your arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake. "We have such amazing chemistry," he purred. "Don't tell me you haven't felt it too."

You glanced towards the terrace doors, hoping to catch someone's eye, but the party inside continued on, oblivious to your predicament.

Victor leaned in closer, his lips brushing against your ear. "Think about it," he murmured, his voice low and seductive. "We could slip away right now. No one would even notice we're gone."

You tried to lean away, but found yourself trapped between his body and the stone balustrade. "Victor, please," you said firmly, pressing your hands against his chest. "No. This isn't appropriate."

But he seemed oblivious to your discomfort, his hand sliding to your lower back, pulling you flush against him. "Don't be so uptight," he chided softly. "Everyone has a bit of fun at conferences."

Your skin crawled at his touch, your heart racing with a mix of fear and anger. You glanced towards the terrace doors again, but still no one, only music and laughter and clinking glasses pouring out the doors.

Victor's other hand moved up, his fingers trailing along your neck. Your skin crawled at his touch as he leaned in, clearly intending to kiss you. You whimpered, struggling against him, and turning your face away.

He chuckled and his lips landed on your throat, hot and wet and paralyzing.

Then suddenly, Victor's oppressive presence was pulled back. Your eyes flew open to see Lloyd forcefully trying to yank Victor back by his shoulder.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Lloyd snarled, his blue eyes flashing dangerously.

But Victor was stronger than he seemed, and he was still clutching at you, quickly recovering from Lloyd's sudden appearance. "This is none of your business, Hansen," he spat.

"Like hell it isn't," Lloyd growled.

The three of your struggled for another moment before Lloyd landed a punch to Victor’s face and was finally able to tear the man away from you, the last point of contact his strong clutch to the side of your neck.

Once free, you backed away and Lloyd positioned himself between you and Victor, his stance protective. "She clearly told you no. Or are you too drunk to understand basic consent?"

You continued to back away, and you could already feel tears of humiliation and anger trailing down your cheeks, though you didn’t know when you’d started to cry.

Victor's face contorted with anger. "You don't know what you’re talking about, you spoiled, corporate nepo prince.”

You took advantage of Lloyd and Victor's heated argument to slip away, your heart pounding in your chest. As you retreated, their angry voices faded into the background noise of the gala. You darted through the terrace doors, blinking as you re-entered the bright ballroom.

The cheerful music and laughter felt jarring after what had just transpired. You ducked your head down and weaved through the crowd, desperately trying to avoid drawing attention to yourself.

As you neared the main doors, you spotted a discreet side entrance marked "Staff Only." Without hesitation, you slipped through it, finding yourself in a dimly lit service corridor. The stark fluorescent lighting and utilitarian decor was a stark contrast to the opulence of the ballroom and a blessed escape from the cacophony of people at the party.

You rushed down the corridor, your heels clicking rapidly on the polished floor. Your mind raced as you tried to process what had just happened, the nice night turned nightmare.

You turned a corner and found yourself facing a bank of elevators. Without thinking, you jabbed at the call button repeatedly, desperate to put as much distance between yourself and the afterparty as possible. When the doors finally slid open, you stumbled inside, pressing the button for your floor with shaking hands.

As the elevator began to ascend, you leaned against the wall, closing your eyes and taking deep, steadying breaths. The tears you'd been holding back began to flow freely now that you were alone. You angrily wiped them away, smearing your carefully applied makeup.

The elevator dinged, announcing your arrival at your floor, and you nearly ran down the hallway. It took your unsteady hands longer than usual to get your door open, but once you managed it, you flung yourself inside, and then leaned against it, letting out a sob as you sunk to the floor.

The events on the terrace replayed in your mind, and you felt a wave of nausea wash over you. Victor's unwanted advances, the fear you'd felt when he wouldn't let go, the humiliation of needing to be rescued… and by Lloyd Hansen, out of anyone who could have found you… A stranger would have been so much better.

You put your hand to your chest, trying to steady yourself, but then your breath hitched and another wave of emotion crashed over you.

Somewhere in the commotion of the struggles and your escape, you lost your mother’s necklace.

next chapter: coming January 13

🥺

↠ Main Masterlist | Aspen's Ask Box | Field Guide to the Forest

I do not do tag lists, but FOLLOW @buckets-and-stories and TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS to be updated any time I publish a new work!

[beelanddiavolosimp-blog]

Suggestion!

I'm genderfluid, and I was wondering if you could do a obey me! Brothers react to someone being transphobic of MC?

Juat a random little idea.

Oh no...lots of planned deaths will be happening..but of course!

The brothers reaction to someone being transphobic to MC

Lucifer

He has always been accepting of you he always saw you as his lover and nothing more nothing less. He hasn't heard much transphobic talk so he never felt he needed to do something about it until one demon changed all that. They were using very hurtful comments knowing exactly what they were doing. He immediately storms over and stares the demon right in their eyes. "I suggest you shut your mouth before I have Diavolo banish you from devildom or better yet let me deal with you." He says his demon form on the verge of escaping. Of course the demon backed off letting out small apologies before running away. He immediately goes to comfort MC saying all the demons words were trash and nothing that could ever be the truth.

Mammon

He already is very defensive of Mc in the first place so when someone bad mouths them it isn't too pretty. Which is exactly what's happening in this situation. The moment he hears any sort of negative comment he immediately gets set off. He of course was damn near a few inches away from MC so he heard it loud and clear. He has no self restraint and his demon form was immediately out in the open. "The hell did ya say? I'll make you eat your damn words then the floor next!" He says spewing more threats before having MC intervene. He after being calmed down and distanced immediately checked up on you apologizing for being too aggressive in front of you (not for being aggressive towards the asshole)

Levi

He isn't very confrontationally to begin with so when situations like so occur he freaks out. Once he sees MC is hurt from these horrible comments he immediately drags them away. If the demon insists on following he eventually snaps. "One more step and lotan will have you for dinner" he quickly states. Once MC is away and safe he nervously checks up on them hoping they aren't too hurt and affected or else he'd relay this incident to Lucifer... anonymously...sure

Satan

As expected it doesn't end well. He tried to hold his temper and ward the transphobic asshole off with a few threats but the demon wasn't listening. He eventually lost his temper and not even MC could calm him. Lucifer had to be called and the two were safely back at the house of lamentation. Once he was coherent he apologized for his outburst and for not listen to MC. He does however promise no one will make comments like those again after seeing what happened to the last demon.

Asmos

With how he is he's dealt with stuff like this demon before. He covers Mc's ears and glares at the demon "hunny look at that outfit I wouldn't spout out anymore low life insults when you can barely dress yourself." He then walks MC away and distracts them. He did however alert Lucifer of this demon and let whatever happens happen☺️

Beel

He loves family and MC so whenever one is threatened he isn't such a great person to be around. This demon has some balls for saying such harsh things to MC when beel is standing right there next to them. He suddenly grabbed the demons shirt with one hand and looks them dead in the eyes. "Stop talking." He suddenly says. MC rests their hand on him to ease his anger a bit. It works he lets the demon down and goes to take a step forward and the demon has already scurried off. He turns to MC and cups their face "are you alright" he asks his demeanor completely different from before.

Belphie

He's an asshole by nature so... The demon wasn't very smart doing such a thing. As soon as he spoke and said one hurtful comment and MC's face dropped he suddenly grabbed the demon and forced them to sleep. He would have gone further if MC didn't step in. "Don't Lucifer will have your head if you do anything more" MC states and he sighs walking them both away. Still not getting that demon out of his head eventually doing something but no one will know that.

[vikkirosko]

Hello. Happy new year !

Can I request Mr crawling, Mr scarletella, Mr silvhair, Mr Hood and Mr chopped from Homicipher (all platonic) with a child female reader ?

Reader is 8 and was able to defeat Mr scarletella. Now that Mr scarletella is her servant (more of a friend/guardian for her) she decided to bring everyone to her world. Now they all live in a huge Japanese traditional house quite abandoned in the woods near the ghost appartements.

Reader must go to school, but instead of taking her normal umbrella, she took Mr scarletella's. Let's say that when she goes back, the other saw her with a very angry Mr scarletella (her scared kids who wanted to bully her)

Thanks!

Thank you, Happy New Year to you too!

Platonic headcanons Another world

🖤 Mr. Crawling x kid fem!Reader 🪮

The day you found yourself in another world, it was Mr. Crawling who was the first person you met. He was surprised that you were a child, but he wanted to protect you from the dangers that might come your way. Especially if Mr. Scarletella gets in your way. It took you a while to figure out the language spoken by the locals, but you were a smart kid and understood everything quickly. Mr. Crawling took care of you and made you laugh when you were scared. But when you finally met Mr. Scarletella, something happened that absolutely no one expected. You were able to defeat Mr. Scarletella. It was the most unexpected thing the residents of the ghost apartments had ever seen, and you were definitely proud of what you could do

Mr. Crawling continued to accompany you and took care of you like an older brother, whom you said you never had, but you were depressed by how gloomy the ghostly apartments were. You wanted your friends to see the world where you came from, and Mr. Scarletella helped you with that. Thanks to your joint efforts, you were able to find yourself in a place that you liked much more. It was a traditional Japanese style house, which was simply huge, otherwise all the inhabitants of the ghostly apartments simply would not have been able to live there. Crawling was not used to being in a new house, but he was glad that he could continue to spend time with you, especially since it was obviously safer for you in a new house than in an apartment. You promised him that you would tell him a lot of interesting things about the world where you were now, and he believed you

You went to school, because you were a kid after all, and Mr. Crawling was always waiting for you to come back. You always brought him small souvenirs, and even if they were small things, he still liked them. He liked listening to your stories about how you went to school, what you were taught, and what games you played with other children. Your stories were filled with happiness, and he liked it when you were happy. He couldn't keep you company in the city, but he could play some of the games you enjoyed playing with you. He found new ways to make you laugh, though not the same as before. You continued to be under his care and the fact that you were now living in a new house could not change anything for him

In your home world, you could continue to grow, but there were those around you who were willing to help you no matter what, and Mr. Crawling was at the top of that list. He took care of you as if you were part of his family. Maybe, in a way, he did perceive you that way, but you didn't mind. You were also attached to him and were glad that he agreed to leave the apartment with you and start a new stage of life in a house so different from his usual surroundings

💭 Mr. Hood x kid fem!Reader 🪓

When Mr. Hood first met you in the ghostly apartment, he felt uneasy. You were a defenseless child who could easily be harmed, you didn't understand their language and it wasn't clear how you ended up there in the first place. He offered to help you, and you agreed. Mr. Hood wasn't sure if you understood what he was talking about, but he decided for himself that he would gradually teach you their language so that you wouldn't have problems communicating with him and with other apartment residents. But because he doubted that you could protect yourself, he accompanied you, often carrying you in his arms so that you would not lag behind him, so that no one could grab you and so that you were in his field of vision

Mr. Scarletella has been bothering you, and Mr. Hood was protecting you. As long as you were under his care, nothing bad could happen to you. Gradually, you got used to the ghostly apartments and those who lived there. You learned their language, but the fact that Mr. Scarletella continued to appear and haunt you seriously worried those with whom you communicated and Mr. Hood in the first place. When you told him he shouldn't worry about it, he thought you were taking the threat too lightly. He was of that opinion until you defeated Mr. Scarletella. When he found out about this, he wasn't sure if you needed his protection anymore, but you hugged him and asked him to stay with you, because you felt lonely without him. Your request was not entirely clear to him, but he agreed, continuing to play the role of your protector and guardian

When you asked him if he would like to go to a new house with you, he agreed, because he still couldn't leave you alone. He did not expect that you would actually bring him and other apartment residents close to you to a new home. It was a huge house in a traditional Japanese style and you claimed that now it was your new home. It was safer there, so Mr. Hood could worry less about you being in danger or getting hurt. It would seem that your life has changed little. But there was something different from the past. You started going to school. It seemed logical to him. You were a child and you were learning new things. He checked with you what he could check and tried to help you as much as he could when you didn't understand any topics at school

Mr. Hood was more than just a protector for you. He was your friend, your teacher, someone you could trust and who would never hurt you. You were glad that you met him when you found yourself in a ghostly apartment and would not have exchanged your meeting for anything, which marked the beginning of your relationship, which you began to perceive as a parent-child relationship. For you, Mr. Hood was a parent and no one could replace him for you

💉 Mr. Silvair x kid fem!Reader 🪓

Your acquaintance with Mr. Silvair was due to Mr. Chopped, whom you helped to return to the room. You were a kind child who couldn't leave him alone. Mr. Silvair thanked you, but was surprised to hear a child's voice and your lack of understanding of their language. You were a child who found yourself in a ghostly apartment, as if by accident, and he wasn't sure if it was safe for you to travel there alone. Therefore, while you were in their room, he tried to teach you some words in their language, after which he invited you to stay with them. Perhaps Mr. Chopped couldn't do much to protect you, but Mr. Silvair was more confident that he could protect you from those who might want to harm you. Perhaps you didn't fully understand what exactly he was asking you, but you agreed, and there was a joyful smile in your voice

You spent a lot of time with him, and there didn't seem to be much that could really scare you. When Mr. Silvair went somewhere, you often went with him, curious about what you saw in the apartment. He continued to act as your teacher and taught you their language, but when you suddenly disappeared, he felt very worried. Usually, if you went somewhere, you warned him or took Mr. Chopped with you, but now you just left without saying a word to anyone. He planned to go looking for you, but you returned before he could get far from your room. You came back clearly pleased with something and told him that now the strange man with the umbrella would stop bothering you. Then he didn't immediately understand what you meant, but it came to him pretty quickly. You've defeated Mr. Scarletella

You haven't talked about what happened, but things have started to change in your life. You invited them to go to a new home with you, and if Mr. Chopped was interested in visiting a new place, then Mr. Silvair just intended to keep an eye on you. Your new home is a huge house in a traditional Japanese style. It wasn't just the three of you there, but also others you had become friends with, but you continued to spend most of your time with Mr. Silvair, mostly going to school. He always checked to see if you had done your homework, as much as he could check it, and he was like a parent pleased with his child's progress when you told him about how well your day at school had gone

Perhaps life in your world was more useful to you, and Mr. Silvair, as a caring guardian, chose for you what was best for you. Even if he had to leave his usual place for that. Even in this world, there were many dangers, but he wasn't going to let others hurt you. Perhaps when you get older, he will decide to teach you how to protect yourself, and while you continued to be a child, he intended to take over your protection and care for you

🧡 Mr. Chopped x kid fem!Reader 🪮

Mr. Chopped got lost and was trying to get back into the room when he met you. He had already met an apartment dweller who looked like a child and it wasn't the best meeting, but you didn't look like you were going to force him to play with you. You smiled at him with a kind smile. You asked him if he needed help, but you didn't speak the same language as him, so he concluded that you didn't know the language. So he couldn't just ask you to help him get home. Fortunately, his hand helped him explain to you, and soon you were carrying him where he needed to go. You were an innocent child who found it dangerous to walk alone, so he suggested to Mr. Silvair that you stay with them. It would be safer for you that way, and Mr. Chopped could walk with you where he normally couldn't get to without a lot of trouble

Mr. Silvair taught you their language, and Mr. Chopped helped him, although he usually urged you to go for a walk. You didn't feel any discomfort carrying his head in your arms while his hand was on your shoulder. You both enjoyed your little trips, but you had to be extra careful, because if you got into trouble, it would be difficult for you to avoid the dangers. One of these dangers was Mr. Scarletella, who, for some reason, was often seen near you. You used to hide, but one day when Mr. Chopped woke up, he didn't find you around and it bothered him. He wanted to ask Mr. Silvair about it, but you came back with a satisfied smile on your lips and told him that the strange man in red would no longer bother you. It was hard for him to believe that you could beat him, but you had no reason to lie

When you told him about your desire to go somewhere else, he was fired up by the idea. Pretty quickly, you, along with those with whom you managed to find a common language, moved to a new home. It was a huge house in a traditional Japanese style and it gave you and Mr. Chopped a huge place to explore. You wandered around the house, exploring every corner of it, and he was just delighted with it. You played there, you told him about the school you started going to again, and sometimes you thought it was a bad idea to take him to school with you. On the one hand, it could have turned into serious problems, but on the other hand, the opportunity to show him my school looked very interesting. He was bored when you left for school, but he knew it would only be a few hours before you returned home

The new life was unusual for him, but something remained unchanged. You were still with Mr. Chopped. It was like you were siblings who played together, explored new things together, and found adventures together. He was glad that you appeared in his life and he was sure that even after years you would still be loyal friends who go on adventures together, but perhaps already outside your home

❤️ Mr. Scarletella x kid fem!Reader ☂️

Mr. Scarletella felt you. He felt that you were somewhere in the apartment, which meant it was much easier for him to find you. You were another soul that he could get by adding to his collection, but when he finally found you, he was surprised to see a child in front of him, a girl who looked at him with curiosity, without a drop of fear. He didn't show his surprise, but you managed to take advantage of the moment and leave, not understanding why this strange man was looking at you. But that didn't mean Mr. Scarletella was going to leave you alone. He followed you, watched you make friends, even in a place that should have scared you. But every time you ran into him, you preferred to leave. Until at some point you get tired of it. Your new meeting has changed his life. You defeated him, which was unexpected, it would seem, for both of you

He became the one who accompanied you while you were walking around the apartment and who helped you learn their language. The others were afraid of him, but you convinced them that Mr. Scarletella would not harm anyone. He really became more patient with others and was surprisingly attentive to you. He became your friend and guardian, who wasn't going to let you get hurt. And only for your sake will he agree to start living in another house with you and the other residents of the apartment with whom you have managed to get along. Your new home is a huge house in a traditional Japanese style. You seemed genuinely happy to be able to introduce your friends to your world, and the only thing that sometimes prevented you from doing so was that you had to go to school

You always tried not to forget to take an umbrella with you when you went to school, because the weather could turn bad pretty quickly, but because you woke up later than planned, you didn't notice that you didn't take your umbrella, but the umbrella that belonged to Mr. Scarletella. It would seem that little has changed, but when you walked home in the rain after school, you completely did not notice the children who studied with you at the same school. They were a couple of years older than you and were known at school as bullies. They regarded you as a new victim, but when they just wanted to take a step in your direction, they stopped. The reason for this was Mr. Scarletella. He was walking next to you, holding his umbrella and hiding you both from the rain, but his gaze was turned towards them. He looked really scary and the children quickly remembered the horror stories they had told each other, including about him. They weren't even sure at what moment he appeared next to you, but fear got the better of them and they ran away, and you didn't even know that if your guardian wasn't with you, you could have become a victim of bullies

For you, Mr. Scarletella was a friend whom you didn't trust at first, but now you were attached to him. He was your protector and guardian, who did not allow anyone to even think of harming you. If someone had done it, it was unlikely that someone would have been able to escape from him and his anger. As long as you were under his protection, nothing and no one could harm you

[atissi]

if you are 1) currently in a university where your student healthcare covers hormone therapy, and 2) in a good financial, emotional, and social position to start hormone therapy, i would recommend pursuing it. because in my experience, it's a huge pain in the ass to get an endocrinologist once you're on your own

[diseaseriddencube]

girls literally only want one thing and it's fucking disgusting

[life size replica of Courier's bike]

[yourcutelittlegayfriend]

Imagine this

I've been reading some of this good fics about Yandere Batfam x neglected Reader and it got me thinking.

In some of this fic, usually it's Alfred that has given the reader some love and have not neglected the poor thing and I was like,

What if Reader is still neglected by the batfam but Alfred gave them enough love so much that reader just decided to stay just for Alfred and Reader really just treated Alfred as their real Father or Grandfather.

Where Reader just let go of any expectation from getting attention from the others and just strive to make Alfred proud and happy.

How the turns have table

Imagine reader walking pass the others not bothering to greet them as they look for Alfred instead and other stuff.

Dick seeing them practically skipping as they clutch on a medal hanging on their neck.

"Woah hey!-...um whatcha got-". He tries to say but doesn't get any answers because you were busy muttering to yourself 'I got first place! I have to show this to Alfred!' as you giggle while looking down at the medal and sprint away when you see a glimpse of the butler at the distance.

How instead of begging for the others to train you and become a vigilante, you ask Alfred to train you for self-defense (especially the stuff from his spy days).

Jason was the first to arrive at the manor when the team heard about some intruders getting in but halted when he sees you tying up the unconscious thugs on the floor.

"Hey Alfred is this right?". You didn't pay them any mind when some of them pile in as you pay attention to Alfred who was praising you and giving you more good defense tips while you and him pull the unconscious people out.

How you spend healthy family time with Alfred by helping him in cooking and chores that earns you some knowledge of the recipes from his famous dishes.

Tim was trying to grab a coffee when he sees you having a fun time with Alfred as you skillfully prepare for dinner and actually have good laughs with him.

"Okay, then after I fold this I should add some paprika, right?". You ask the butler as he smiles at you while sipping on the tea that you made for him.

"Yes, you're correct once again young miss/master". He said while humming after drinking the tea indicating how good it is.

Tim can practically see you lighting up as you cheered a 'yes!' from Alfred's confirmation.

How you revolved your time and passion to Alfred and actually deciding that only Alfred is the one you should waste your time on.

Damian wonders around the manor when you and him bump into one another.

"And what are YOU doing walking around MY Father's manor?". He asks while glaring at you.

you just sigh and turn while clutching away the art supplies you bought so you can paint in the garden with Alfred.

"Walking away from you that's what I'm doing". you tell him as you turn the other way not even bothering to argue with the boy anymore.

How you do well in your studies and aim to get a good degree/phd and act like a proper man/lady but not because you want to keep up to being a Wayne but to see Alfred's proud face as he watches you stand on the stage as you show him your diploma/degree certificate.

Bruce decided to take a walk from sitting down for too long when he walk pass a framed picture on the hallway near Alfred's room and double takes when he sees you and Alfred standing together with while you were wearing a toga and cap holding not just any graduation certificate but a college one as the both of you look so happy and him seeing Alfred having that loving and well pleased expression something he rarely sees from Alfred after becoming the crusading dark knight.

Looking at the date he couldn't believe that it has been more that a few years since the graduation happened.

All of the family who used to ignore you suddenly took a different turn and started to try and get your attention but they fail to see that you already moved on from them and only cared about the one person that have literally loved you from the beginning.

Bonus:

Imagine Thomas and Martha Wayne was mysteriously revived for a day and met the family but was deeply disappointed to the others and took a special liking to reader because Alfred has said many good things about them and them especially getting many good degrees something that the rest haven't gotten yet or never bothered to get (this is my hot take because my family are hellbent on us cousins to finish school) and you know for a fact that Alfred is really REALLY proud of the kid that he raised preciously

[talaok]

Giving up

Pairing: Joel Miller x f!reader

Summary: Coaxing your neighbor into having sex with you although he's unsure since he's much, much older than you

Warnings: big ass unspecified age-gap, Jackson!Joel is a softie Smut| unprotected piv, crempie, insicure!joel, sub!joel, also my man has trouble lasting cause he's not done this in a very long time.

a/n:i needed to write some cheesy romantic stuff, and maybe it doesn't really make all that sense in this story and maybe i cried while writing this cause no one is ever gonna love me like this but so what bitch leave me alone (i also am i lil tipsy as i proofread this, so ignore any mistakes pls)

Part 1

"did you do something to your hair?"

Tommy was standing on Joel's doorstep, looking at him as if he were an alien.

"I washed 'em" he grumbled, "what do you want?"

His brother couldn't help but huff out a laugh

"someone's in a good mood today"

"I've gotta be somewhere, just tell me what you want"

Tommy's interest was only piqued more.

there stood his brother, his clothes perfectly clean- maybe even ironed- his hair... styled, his beard trimmed...

something was definitely going on.

"Where are you going?"

Joel rolled his eyes now, shooting his little brother a death glare

"none of your business"

Oh he knew what was going on...

"Who is she?"

"Tommy-"

"Is it Jessica? I bet 's Jessica, she's always flirting with you you ol' dog-"

Joel swore he was gonna punch him- he was already running late because of how long he took to pick his clothes- finding a flannel that wasn't completely worn out turned out to be real fucking hard.

He felt stupid for how much effort he'd put into getting ready, he felt stupid for how anxious he was, but most of all... he wanted his brother to go away.

"There ain't no one, Tommy- now, if there ain't anything you need, please go-"

But just then- just when he was finally going to get rid of him, your sweet, soft voice made its way to his ears.

"Hi Joel! Hi Tommy!" You smiled from your porch, waving your hand at him and his brother "You didn't forget about today, did you Joel?"

What in the actual fuck?

Tommy did a double-check, looking between you and his brother, and when he finally confirmed that it was actually him you were talking to, you whom he'd gotten all dolled up for, he couldn't do anything but let out a slow, long breath.

"No I didn't- I'll be there in a minute, darlin'!" Joel was answering you as his brother regained his ability to speak

"well... Fuck. Me" he was in awe, his voice barely a murmur

"it ain't like that" Joel was quick to intervene "'m just fix-"

"'m sure it ain't" Tommy let out a chuckle, his hand going to pat his brother's back "You fucking lucky bastard"

"Tommy I know she's young bu-"

"shut up man" he laughed "Just go have fun, you asshole"

__ __

"Sorry 'm late, Tommy was just-"

You smiled at his words, shaking your head

"It's ok, Joel" you cooed as you let him in,

He gave you a soft little smile, and you felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

Joel Miller didn't smile just at anyone.

"water?" you asked, leading him to the kitchen.

"Uhm- sure"

His heart was damn near beating out of his chest already- for no fucking reason at all.

Well except the obvious one... you'd sucked his dick and he'd eaten you out three days ago- and you'd made it clear you wanted more.

Jesus Christ, he felt like a fourteen-year-old with his first crush.

You watched him as he sipped on the glass.

"So?" a soft smirk was caged between your teeth "Did you think about it?"

He damn near choked.

Which didn't make any sense, he was expecting this, he already knew you'd ask.

He cleared his throat, diverting his eyes from you "I-I have"

"And?"

You'd gotten closer, your expectant eyes studying every inch of his face

pleasepleasepleaseplease say yes

"Did- didn't you have something that needed fixing?"

Oh for fuck's sake

"joel" you called for him in what almost sounded like a plead.

"darlin' just... lemme fix your cabinet first"

This man was gonna be the goddamn death of you.

"ok"

__ __ __

As it turns out, in many different ways.

Who knew watching him fix something would turn out to be so fucking hot?

He'd rolled his shirt up so that his strong forearms and a glimpse of his beautiful bite-worthy biceps were showing, his hands moved so very expertly that they couldn't help but bring back memories of what those same fingers had done to you just a few days ago, and his face... he looked so hot when he was all in his head, concentrated only on the task before him-

or so you thought.

"You're gonna stare at me the whole time?"

A soft laugh escaped your lips

"don't mind me- just enjoying the view"

He huffed out a laugh as he went back to work, but you couldn't help but notice the fact he pushed his sleeves ever further up his arms, giving you more of a view of his delectable skin.

What a tease

__ __ __

"there we go" he said after some time, opening and closing the cabinet one final time to make sure "all done"

For the record, this time you hadn't even done it on purpose, the cabinet had actually broken. It was like fate was sending you a message.

You awakened from your daydreams as he stood up to his full height, and hopped off the stool you were sitting on to walk closer to him, noticing some dampness in your panties while doing so...

It wasn't your fault... he was the one looking way too hot doing such a simple task.

"thank you" You smiled up at him, your hands going to his chest,

He held his breath for a moment

"'s nothing babygirl"

"yeah? then... you think you could check my bedroom too?" you were biting your lip in a way that made your question take on a whole different meaning "to make sure nothing needs fixing y'know?"

"In your... bedroom?"

"yes, Joel- please" you added, with your best innocent doe eyes.

Which of course made him fold in a matter of seconds.

You'd taken on a different tactic. It was obvious at this point that the man was too shy and too unsure to give you an answer (or the one you wanted to hear anyway), which is why you needed to present him with the actual possibility right in front of him.

And yeah maybe it was manipulative, but fuck it if you didn't wanna feel the man inside of you.

The flashbacks of what he did to you on that bed filled his mind the moment he stepped into the room.

He needed to get a grip or he wouldn't be able to hide his growing bulge in a minute.

"Everything seems right"

"yeah? 'm not sure about the bed" you hummed, desperately hoping he would just go along with it "it makes a weird sound when I get on it"

He turned to you then, his eyes locking with yours for an infinite second.

"try" you said finally, nodding to the bed.

He watched you for a moment longer before, surprising you, he did it- he sat on the bed.

The mattress creaked underneath his weight, and you made quick work of strolling closer to him as he pressed his palms on the bed, checking for the inexistent "weird sound"

"it don't look like there's anythin' wron-" he looked up the moment your hands found his shoulders "Whatcha doin'? sweethear-"

You were sat on his lap before he could even finish the sentence.

"Joel" you spoke his name softly, as if it were a caress, your hands slowly moving up and down from his shoulders to his pecs, as you finally scooted closer to him so your core was right against the hardness in his jeans-

He inhaled sharply, his fingers curling on the bed.

"would you like to have sex with me or not?"

You accentuated your words with a slow roll of your hips, grinding onto him and making a soft groan build inside his throat

"this- this ain't really fair sugar"

A smirk pulled at your lips as you lowered your head to whisper in his ear "I never said I didn't play dirty, Mr. Miller"

Your right hand trailed lower, moving down his belly so slowly that Joel thought he might just lose his mind.

"You're y-young baby-"

Your hand had found his crotch, the outline of his dick fitting in your hand oh so perfectly.

"we've gone over this already Joel, I'm old enough" you purred, your lips leaving a peck just below his ear "old enough to do many many things"

He cursed under his breath

"I just... I don't understand"

A breathy laugh escaped you

"there's not much to understand really" you murmured "You're hot, and I like you, and I wanna get in your pants"

That earned you a chuckle

"and you're sure you won't regret this?" he asked, "you sure this is what you really want- that- that you don't want to give a boy your age a chance instead of me?"

You smiled as you looked up at him,

you'd never met a man so sweet

"Joel, I promise you I'm sure" you whispered "I promise you this is what I want, you are what I want"

Fucking damn it

How could he ever say no after that?

With those gentle eyes of yours looking at him, with your hand right over his cock...

"So?"

He was gonna think about the consequences tomorrow. Now- now there was only you.

"yes"

That single word sounded better than any song you'd ever heard.

yes

Your lips were on his before he could even think of changing his mind- and god did they feel like a dream.

His soft stubble grazed against your cheeks and upper lip, as you deepened the kiss, as he opened up to you, closing his eyes only after he'd taken you in, only after he could admire all that was happening to him for some godforsaken reason.

A growl rumbled from his chest when your core found his dick again, grinding onto it in a way, that combined with the way your tongue was tasting every inch of him, was making him see stars.

He didn't think he'd kissed like this in 30 years,

making out seemed like such a distant thing from him, he was much too old to do something like this, and yet... everything about you made him feel like a teenager all over again, so perhaps it was fitting-

and god he had forgotten how amazing it felt.

You started undoing his flannen, not even dreaming of breaking the kiss, and once you opened his shirt up, once his big strong chest was right there before you, you just had to look at it.

You leaned away, his lips chasing yours making you smile as your gaze lowered.

Jesus, he was the hottest man you'd ever seen.

Some hair and freckles adorned his pecs, his little belly was ever so cutely fighting against his jeans- his skin was soft beneath your palms as they explored every inch they could reach.

He was looking at you, watching your blow-out eyes, wondering what potion you'd drank to be this mesmerized by what he had to offer.

You smiled once you caught him, leaning closer to leave a quick kiss on his lips.

"take off your clothes"

You got off of him, and once he saw you get rid of your shirt, your boobs pushed together by a simple black bra that somehow, at the moment, seemed like the sexiest thing in the world, he rushed to follow suit, nearly tripping getting off his pants.

The moment he looked at you again, the world- the universe, it all went quiet.

You stood naked before him, a soft, perfect little thing, looking like a damn dream.

"babygirl" he could only breathe as you reached him again.

"What?" you laughed

"I-I don't even know"

You shook your head, grinning from ear to ear as he pressed his mouth on yours again.

He was already addicted.

In a haze, you found yourself on the bed, your body caged beneath his, his tongue fighting with yours, his hands all over- You almost had the urge to laugh at how desperate he seemed, how frantically he was touching every inch of you, exploring every piece of skin-

His hands were on your tits, fingers gently playing with your nipples, then on your belly, your waist, your ass, your thighs, until finally, he found your core, but before he had the time to fully reach it you'd switched up with him, straddling his lap as he laid flat on his back... only he couldn't keep away for even a second and he immediately sat up, grabbing your waist.

He couldn't even begin to complain that you'd already grabbed his cock, positioning it at your entrance.

You couldn't wait anymore- you needed him now.

"Wait-" he murmured, his breathing labored already "you sure you're... y'know ready?"

Oh my god, you swore you were gonna fall for him if he kept this shit up.

"Joel" you smiled, looking into his big brown eyes "I've been wet since you fixed the cabinet"

"I-" he blushed "You-you sure?"

You didn't answer him, you simply took one of his hands in yours and guided him to feel just how much you were telling the truth.

"Fuck"

"yeah" you smirked "that's just what you do to me, Mr. Miller"

Jesus fuck

Joel didn't think his cock had ever been so hard.

You didn't give him time to do or say anything- he'd gathered that's how you did things by now- as you slowly, oh so very slowly, started sinking onto him.

He was big, the kind of big you'd be feeling tomorrow morning. The stretch hurt just right, so overwhelmed by the unadulterated pleasure that it was barely there.

Soft little moaned gasps spilled from your lips with every inch added, your eyes were closed, only focusing on the extraordinary feeling as your nails clawed at Joel's chest.

Until, finally- you'd done it. You were fully sat on his cock, and while your eyelids fluttered open, you regained your ability to hear- to hear the curses leaving Joel's mouth between ragged breaths

"Jesus Christ- Jesus fucking Christ- Goddamnit"

His grip on your waist was so tight you were sure it was gonna leave a bruise... not that you were complaining.

"you ok?"

His eyes were shut close and creases of effort filled his forehead, while his chest went up and down as he desperately tried to breathe.

"Joel?"

He swallowed tightly, now breathing in through his nose before exhaling from his mouth.

"d-don't move"

You smiled as you promised "I won't"

God this was fucking embarrassing.

He'd spent three days training.

And yes he wasn't sure he would have said yes, but still, better safe than sorry- except for the fact it clearly hadn't worked.

He had spent three days fucking his own fist and trying to last as much as possible and he did do progress... but this... this was fucking nothing like what he'd felt in the last twenty years.

He was so fucked

"I-I'm sorry" he gritted out, sounding almost defeated "I- I haven't done this in a long time darlin'"

"And you... you feel so fuckin' good- fuck"

Your walls had inadvertently squeezed around him at his words, making a groan rumble in his chest.

"You have nothing to apologize for Joel"

he would have told you that your voice was making everything worse if he weren't so preoccupied with trying to calm his dick down.

"take all the time you need"

And so he did, his eyes remained closed as he breathed through the initial shock, until finally, after what felt like an eternity, he was back.

He had to stifle a moan once he opened his eyes back up.

There you were, your beautiful eyes trained on his with such gentleness and care that it made where his gaze fell to feel even more sinful.

Your boobs were barely touching his chest, and yet they could have been in his face for the effect they had on him- his hands were on your waist, holding onto your soft flesh, your thighs were straddling his lap, giving him no choice but to finally look between your bodies, where you two connected.

"Darlin'" he murmured, hypnotized

You smiled, watching him admiring you in silence

"You look..."

Every word that came to mind wasn't enough, you were otherwordly, you were perfection... so he just settled on the simplest, and perhaps truest of them all.

"you're beautiful"

Your cheeks burned with heat as his gaze came back to yours.

"so are you, Joel"

And that was that.

His lips found yours again, and you couldn't stop your hips as they started moving, rocking back and forth and bringing little waves of ecstasy to your core.

A desperate moan spilled from yours to Joel's mouth as he grabbed the back of your head, forcing you into an even deeper kiss as he started following your movements.

Your hands went to the back of his neck, grabbing at the hair at the nape of it as you finally started bouncing on his dick, and god- god it was even better than you could have ever imagined

The loudest growl sounded from his throat as you worked yourself up and down on his shaft.

He was in another universe, his actions were only reflexes as the hand not tangled in your hair found your tits and then your ass, grabbing at it with tenderness and need.

"Oh Joel" you cried, his dick filling you up better than anything ever before.

You could quite literally feel him in your stomach, every little vein and ridge of skin creating a permanent dent inside of you that only he was ever gonna be able to fill.

"sweetheart- fuck" he groaned on his own, your breaths mixing as you ghosted each other's mouths, his eyes raking over your body and face, while yours couldn't help but roll to the back of your head as his manhood hit a particularly good spot.

"You feel so- good Joel" you whimpered mindlessly, now quickening your pace, desperation taking over you completely.

the sound of him entering your drenched core mixed with the bed creaking underneath you as you drove yourself closer and closer to heaven.

The sound of his name falling from your lips was something that filled Joel's chest with an indescribable feeling, he felt on top of the word, and at the same time... at the same time he wished it had never left your mouth because it was now forever imprinted in his brain, and he knew nothing was ever gonna compare to it.

Oh and also- also it was making his little lasting problem real fucking hard to control.

But he was nothing if not a gentleman,

You were gonna come, he wasn't gonna have it any other way.

His hand lowered down your belly as you kept chasing your release, looking like a damn glimpse of paradise, until his thumb found your clit.

"Oh fuck" you moaned, your eyes snapping open to look at him- a dark glaze of lust shading your iris.

Joel realized too late that he hadn't taken into account how fucking tight you'd get, and was now really paying the consequences.

Plus when you looked at him like that... maybe just this one time he could not be a gentleman- I mean it's not like he had much choice, he was trying his hardest but- shit

"darlin'" he mumbled, his thumb circling your bud "w-where do ya- where do ya want it?"

You moaned louder just at the thought of him coming

"Inside"

It wasn't even a question

"N-no sweetheart I-I shouldn-"

"Joel" you interrupted him, your lips grazing his as you talked, your grip on his hair tightening "I want you to fill me up until I can feel you leaking out of me for days"

Good Christ and heaven

"Fuck me" he cursed, all his strength going on not coming right there and then "Darlin' please- tell me you're close"

You were already seeing stars as he spoke

"I'm close, baby- oh fuck" you cried "Joel!"

A tsunami of lust-filled pleasure coursed through your veins as your orgasm hit like a damn truck.

You couldn't even remember your name as you screamed his own into the thick air, as you moaned and cried and spasmed around him, feeling him do exactly what you'd asked- filling you up to the very brim.

He'd started coming the moment you did- he couldn't do anything about it, it was just unadulterated perfection-

His head fell between your neck and shoulders as groaned like a man possessed,

until finally, after a good three minutes, you were both back to the land of the living.

He looked twenty years younger when he looked at you again, and you- you looked like the most beautiful woman on earth.

A soft smile pulled at your lips, and you couldn't help but ask "How long before we can do it again?"

And fuck him, but his age didn't matter, with those eyes of yours, it might very well be minutes.

@kluvspedro @bluebiyou @casssiopeia @bean-is-reading @millerispunk @i-cant-stfu

[bi-writes]

simon being protective of his mail order bride scratches all the right spots in my brain.

mail-order bride

you're almost relieved when you hear the knock at the door. you've been a holding a tree pose for a few minutes too long, and the girl hosting the online yoga class is starting to fry your eardrums with her too-perky voice.

you're sweating bullets, and her hair hasn't moved a fucking inch out of her ponytail.

you mute the television, wiping your forehead before making your way to the front door. you open it with a sigh, not really knowing what you expected to see, but it certainly wasn't the average-dressed man standing on the steps there.

you blink, raising a brow when his eyes roam over you, and you realize suddenly that you're wearing workout clothes, which is showing off a little more than you'd like to some rando standing on your doorstep.

"uh..." you look around a little. "i'm sorry, can i help you?"

he smiles. it's a little unnerving.

"right, yeah, i'm starting a business around here, and i wanted to ask if you've been needing any help with any fixtures around the house. i'm giving a 50% discount if you give me a rating on google."

you open your mouth for a moment, frowning.

"uhm..." you shake your head, "sorry. we don't need any help right now."

"you live here alone? sometimes it's hard to spot when the electric's on the piss, y'know? need a keen eye," he laughs, coming up one of the steps. you shake your head again.

"no, thanks."

he's a wiry man, but he's tall (not taller than your husband, but taller than you). you step back a little and start to close the door. he comes up the steps. out of the corner of your eye, you see the cat slip out between your legs, hissing a little as the distance closes between you and the man.

"wait! can i give you my contact info? i don't have a card, but i can leave you my--"

the sound of simon's truck pulling into the garage gets both of you to look behind. simon doesn't even park all the way inside. he throws the truck door open, stepping out of it, and the man on your steps moves back away from you immediately, making his way off the little porch.

simon looks huge, more so than ever. his steps are heavy, boots hitting the ground like a warning bell, and he's wearing just a short-sleeved shirt that's showing off those glorious fucking arms. you have never doubted simon's strength, but he looks like he could flip a car with the anger that's leaving him in heavy waves. you're surprised that you are not afraid; you just know somehow that simon won't touch you.

"oi!" simon yells, and the man definitely understands he picked the wrong fucking house to be a creepy salesman at when his knees nearly buckle as he tries to walk away. "where the fuck do y'think y'r goin', you twat?"

you sigh deeply, not realizing how much you were shaking until you notice your hands trembling around the doorknob. you watch as simon catches the guy by his dirty jean jacket, nearly lifting him completely off his feet as he drags him towards the fence gate.

"hey! hey! i didn't do anything!"

"i saw ya, ya fuckin' arse, know exactly wot the fuck y'were doin'," simon growls, tossing him onto the sidewalk. he hits the pavement with a cry, holding onto his arm, and simon slams the fence gate closed before pointing at him accusingly. "'f i ever see ya anywhere near m'fuckin' house or even askin' m'wife for so much as fuckin' directions, i'll cut y'r bloody prick off, y'hear?"

you blink as simon comes closer, the cat retreating back into the house once they see him. he keeps walking, crowding you back into the house before he shuts and locks the front door. his chest is heaving, black t-shirt doing nothing to hide the puff of his chest and how large he makes himself when he stands up to other men. he doesn't even need to make himself larger; simon takes up enough space for two men combined.

"he touch you?" simon asks, his voice low. you see his fists clench, and you have no doubt that if you said yes, simon would go outside and paint the pavement a new color with the man's face.

you shake your head frantically, and he lets out a deep breath, reaching up and wrapping a hand around the back of your head and pulling you close.

he bends, pressing his masked forehead against yours, closing his eyes as he breathes in slowly. he rubs at the nape of your neck, soothing you, and you smile when he pulls away, giving him those big eyes that say thank you, thank you, thank you.

simon cocks his head, staring behind you, and you turn with him to see the cat blinking slowly at the two of you from it's place on the windowsill.

"should get you a fucking guard dog instead," simon mutters, pulling his mask off and kicking his boots into the corner. you smile as he walks away, trying to cool your warm cheeks with the backs of your hands.

doesn't he know you already have one?

[softbabybelle]

corruption 001. 𓍯𓂃 rֶָ֢ cameron

rafe cameron x shy!reader

𝜗𝜚 Summary : rafe finds sarah's best friend sitting in her room after she sneaks out to see her boyfriend, topper, and offers to keep her busy while teaching her something new.

𝜗𝜚 words : 2.5k

𝜗𝜚 c!w : weed, smoking, drvgs, suggestive.

part 2. part 3.

by the time sarah had re-entered her own bedroom, you were laying on your back across her bed, twisting your hair above your face, absentmindedly playing with the strands.

"i have a favour to ask." upon hearing your best friend's voice, you turned so you were laying on your stomach.

you liked having sleepover's with sarah but sometimes, she wasn't all that reliable. "m'kay." though you already had an idea what following words would pass her lips.

"i just got off the phone with topper and he wants me to go meet him." she settled herself against her drawers. "but my dad'll kill me if i stay out past curfew. think you could cover for me?"

you batted your lids at the girl, frowning for various reasons. you'd brought all your stuff so you and sarah could hang out, you were getting a little tired of her using you as an excuse to see her boyfriend and you were downright petrified of ward cameron. there was something awfully frightening about your friends' parents.

but you didn't like to be troublesome. so a small "okay." passed your lips with a thin smile.

it took sarah less than twenty minutes to get ready and before you knew it, you were waving goodbye as she snuck out the window.

she left the tv on so you could watch one of your shows but you were much more inclined to reading the book in your bag. at this point, you'd grown accustomed to sarah leaving you during the middle of your sleepover's, you had to come prepared.

the reason she invited you over and snuck out was because she knew ward wouldn't dare go near her room when she had a friend over. none of her family did.

well, none aside from one.

"sarah!" you heard a familiar voice from behind the door followed by a bang against it that rafe cameron would later excuse as a 'knock'. "listen, i know you took my fuckin' charger, so give it ba―oh."

rafe was sarah's older brother, you'd seen him around plenty of times and he'd surely seen you. at this point, you practically lived in the house. many times you'd sat across from him at the dinner table or sat on the beach chairs with sarah while he was in the pool. though you didn't often speak to him.

perhaps that was your fault more than it was his, though.

"you're here." he stated, glancing around the room for the white charger he was missing.

rafe often initiated conversation with you but it was only in your shy nature to nod after he said something and use less than two words to communicate before scurrying down the hall after sarah.

this time, she wasn't here to be your human shield.

"uhm, yeah." you sort of just squirmed, hoping he didn't ask about why you were in here alone.

but you didn't often get what you hoped for. "where's sarah?" snatching up the charger. upon his question, you blinked at him, a stretch of panic flashed across your face. you didn't even need to say anything, your look gave it all away. "snuck out with topper, huh?"

your top lip snuck your bottom teeth in. "please don't tell." you weren't used to being so confined with rafe. sure, you'd been in a hallway with him before but come to think of it, you weren't sure you'd ever been in a small room like sarah's, alone, with the door shut.

"wasn't going to." he counters. his eyes pass over the room, raking down to you. you were sitting on the bed with a little book in your hands, pink bookmark sticking out from the page you left it on. "you don't need to be sittin' pretty in here all alone, though." he approached the door before turning to face you. "you comin'?"

it was as if he'd expected you to follow. you hastily stood, pink blush across your cheeks. "where are we going?"

he shrugged. "my room." as if it'd been obvious.

a nervous pit swirled in your stomach. you hadn't spent enough alone time with rafe to be invited into his bedroom. sarah was the one out of the two of you who talked to many guys. you kind of just stood idly by, a nervous look on your face as you bit your bottom lip and angled your head to look at the ground. you supposed rafe wasn't so bad, though.

after all, you practically grew up with the boy.

but that didn't make it any easier.

"so, uh, how's school?" he sniffed, inviting you into the room before shutting the door closed.

you'd been around sarah and her friends long enough to know that the smell swirling the room was weed. something you'd never so much as touched. the room also had a smell of some expensive cologne, the same one you often detected from rafe.

"it's okay." you offered, standing idly near his dresser, hands messing with the hem of your shirt. "what about you?"

a soft sort of smirk fell across his face. "i'm not in school anymore." he reminded you before taking a seat on the bed, taking something out from the beside table's drawer.

"i knew that, sorry." you felt your face flush. you hated this, always making yourself look silly when you spoke to rafe. it was why you avoided him in the first place. you wanted nothing more than to run out of the room to where you came from. but sarah was gone, meaning you had nobody to use as an excuse or a getaway.

you'd merely have to endure.

he didn't say anything, only offering a humorous huff from his lips.

"you mind?" your eyes trailed down to what was in his hands, the source of the smell you'd detected earlier. "asked you a question, sweetheart."

"oh, uhm." your eyes snapped up to meet his, head feeling floaty at the name. "i don't mind if you smoke. it's you're room."

again, he offered no response but continued to take out his pieces. he was currently in search of a lighter. "what are you standin' all the way over there for? sit down. i don't bite." but there was a quirk to his lips when he said it that made you think he did bite.

"sorry." you mumbled before shuffling to the bed to sit on the furthest edge you could.

you didn't miss the way rafe rolled his eyes. he looked back at you, studying your features. "split one with me?" he was testing the waters. he knew you enough to gauge assumptions about you. asking him? you didn't drink, didn't smoke, didn't have sex. you were the type of girl who stayed in your friends bedroom reading a book while they snuck out to meet their boyfriend.

he wanted to see if you'd give in.

your eyes were watching his hands, the way he rolled paper between his fingers. "uhm, 've never smoked."

ding ding ding.

he cocked his head. "want to try?" he could see immediate panic flash across your features. in a way, it was exactly what he wanted. he wanted to soothe you into this, not for you to instantly kneel at his every command. he knew you weren't easy. "c'mon, baby, 's just me. promise i won't let anything happen to you."

"i don't know." you shook your head slightly.

you were no stranger to the names he used on you. he often spoke them in a soft yet playful voice, especially around sarah. you just thought he liked seeing his sister get angry, tossing a pillow his way and telling him to stop treating you like one of his 'notches on his belt' but if he was only keen on making sarah angry, then why was he calling you such things while you were alone, sarah nowhere in sight?

"how long have you known me?" since you were very, very young. "one can't hurt. you trust me?" you slowly nodded, eyes still wavering to his hands. "so what'do you say?"

you knew you shouldn't. if your parents ever found out, they'd kill you with their bare hands and rafe would be next in their death note journal.

but there was something about the way he was looking at you that had your stomach folding in two.

besides, you never did like upsetting people.

if you didn't say yes, rafe would think that you didn't like him. he would be upset that you'd be so mean to refuse such a kind offer.

so nonetheless, a small squeak of an "okay." left your lips.

"atta girl. c'mere." he gestured down and you blinked at him confusedly. was he asking you to sit in his lap? you swallowed thickly. "c'mere." he repeated, this time between a soft chuckle. he reached out for you, helping you to sit flush against his lap.

instantly, you swore you had never been so red in your life.

your eyes were all wide and embarrassed, cheeks flaming red hot while you tucked your bottom lip under your top one again. a habit you supposed you'd die with. to say you were shocked to feel his hand against your face was an understatement. his thumb pulled at your lip from between your teeth, securing it away from harm. "don't do that." he mumbled. "you know how to take a pull?"

awkward and embarrassed were two words you swore were forgetting their meaning. this was above and beyond that. "you just... suck, right?" you squirmed in his lap at your own words.

"inhale, sweetheart." he moved the rolled blunt up to your lips. "open." you complied and he stuck it between the two, lifting the lighter to set the top to a low burn. "don't try to keep it in, 'kay?"

you nodded, inhaling the blunt and finding a strange sensation fill your mouth.

you'd never smoked a cigarette before, much less a blunt.

it was a weird feeling but you did what he said, you didn't try to keep it in. you moved the blunt from your lips with your fingers and didn't feel the need to couch heavily. you just blew the smokey air back out.

"good girl." the soft pads of his fingers trailed softly against your bare thighs below your sleep shorts. you felt your stomach do flips at the praise. "did so well. you sure you haven't done this before?"

you nodded with a slight giggle. "'m sure."

you watched as he lifted the blunt to his lips, taking a drag, then another. he didn't seem as phased as he did. "mm, don' know if i believe you on that one, princess."

"i haven't!" your hips gently reached up against his own. "swear." before simmering back down.

he lifted the blunt to your lips. this time, he didn't need to tell you to part your mouth, you just did it. "cross your heart 'n hope to die?"

he was staring at you so intently that you swore you'd never seen anyone's eyes so vividly, never been more interested in the squiggles of blue in someone's iris or the way his pupils slowly began expanding.

all you could offer was a slow nod as he watched you take another inhale of the blunt, eyes suddenly now steady on your lips, watching you stain the end of the paper pink with lipgloss.

a smirk fell on his lips as he leaned back onto the headboard. one minute, you were too shy to leave sarah's room, now you were sitting on his lap, smoking a blunt with him.

rafe merely had a way with women.

"so what, you feel like 'm corrupting you yet?" his steady smirk and sly hand trailing up your thigh.

a giggle passed your lips as you shook your head. "no."

he hummed. "plenty of time for that." you weren't too sure what he'd meant, though you hadn't actually asked him either.

it didn't take long for you to get high. rafe realised this within less than a few minutes. your pupils had turned wide, eyes gone glassy and suddenly you couldn't stop licking your already wet lips. you were staring at him, a little too much, not that he was complaining. he'd spent too long waiting for you to shyly meet his eye. with the weed in your system, you couldn't seem to look away.

"can i ask you something?" his voice was low, hardly a whisper as he spoke now, as if afraid he'd awake something and the room would turn to dust, the moment would fade from his memory and this moment would dissappear.

"uh-huh." you were busy looking at him, downright gawking. your eyes were shamelessly staring right at his lips.

he wasn't as buzzed as you. but to be honest, he'd been doing this a long time before you. "have you ever been kissed?"

it was his turn for his eyes to advert to your lips. all glossy and wet. for the thousandth time, your tongue peaked out, wetting them again before biting your bottom lip.

he couldn't get you to stop biting it, no matter how hard he tried.

he'd merely have to train you, when the time came.

"mm-mm." you shook your head at him. finally, your eyes broke from his lips and looked up at his eyes. he could see now, how truly buzzed you were. your eyes were all red and glassy, it was almost as if he could feel you floating. you tilted your head at him. "are you gonna kiss me?"

his hands ran up and down against your skin. "do you want me to?" a hesitant nod followed his question. "say please." pulling the blunt up to his lips for another drag. it was almost out now.

it was a mindless tease but he felt you squirm in his lap again. "please, rafe." voice but a whiney murmur.

he blew the smoke out from his lips and watched it fall into your own parted mouth.

your eyes fluttered shut and he didn't give you a chance to think, his lips replacing the smoke. his were hungry, your's were soft, inviting. and he took the invite as soon as it'd been handed to him. his hand ran up your back, shoving your body as close to his own as he could. he wanted the heat to envelope him, wanted your skin against his own. wanted so badly to rip off every piece of clothing that tainted you. wanted you to be his for the taking.

but the way you suddenly pulled back, those doey, bloodshot eyes and fearful voice murmuring the words, "you're not gonna tell sarah, are you?" told rafe exactly what he already knew.

he need to be patient with you. take his time unravelling you until there was nothing left.

he shook his head, fingers soft against your face, running across your cheek.

"don't worry, sweetheart, your dirty secret's safe with me."

[nullen-void]

For a long time I wondered if the final TF2 comic would ever come out. For a longer time I wondered if I wanted it to. They built it up so much, hyped the Administrator's big plan so high, and then waited so long, could they possibly ever meet expectations?

I don't know if what they did was what they originally planned, or if there even was a plan, but I think they knocked it out of the park. It feels... right.

And it cemented the Administrator as one of the most terrifying villains in history. But before I discuss that, SPOILERS:

It was all pointless. None of it ever mattered.

The Gravel Wars, the fighting, the Australium, the deaths, the Classic Mercs, none of it mattered at all. Because Helen or whatever her name is just an addict getting her fix.

She kept a man alive for near enough two hundred years, trapped in the moment just before death by a thousand diseases, because she dedicated her life so thoroughly to ending him that when he finally croaked, she had nothing left. So she brought him back to suffer more. And then extended her OWN life so she could keep making him suffer.

And she doesn't even remember why. She was a child when Zepheniah Mann killed her parents, and she's something like a hundred and seventy years old now. It's been three normal lifetimes since then, and she's forgotten. But she never forgot the hate.

She sabotaged two infant's futures by raising them to be bafoons just to hurt their father. She orchestrated a forever war to spite a single man. She was prepared to keep this going until the heat death of the universe.

Do you know what would have happened if Pauling had lost her nerve and admitted they found a new stash of magic metal? With all three Mann brothers dead, she probably would have gone after Olivia. The last Mann standing, and a girl who at the time was only seven and had barely any connection to the Mann legacy at all, and probably didn't know her grandfather's name! And Helen would have gone after her and ruined her life just to make Zepheniah watch as yet another generation of Mann was ruined.

What a pointless, misspent life. What a waste of time. What an ending.

It makes what comes next all the greater. Scout and Soldier are dads with happy children, Spy still can't admit their relation but gets to be part of his grandkids' lives and he and Jeremy trust each other enough that Scout doesn't blink when he takes his mask off. Team Fortress is happy. They moved on. Found new lives.

Helen couldn't. She had all the time in the world and then some, and she just couldn't move on.

What a waste.