#the comfort in the hurt/comfort tag there is my only handhold now

[watercolor-hearts]

.

[bteezxyewriter12]

Don't Forget/ 2

Pairing- Yoongi x Named Reader

Word count- 6.6k

Includes- Unconditional love, caretaking, frustration, blowjob, cum eating, riding, missionary, multiple orgasms, fluff

Tag List- @mingtina @jaxxmine @yeosayang @delightfulmoonbanana @tannie13 @y00nzin0 @marsstarxhwa

@borntowalkaway @soulseobi05 @kpop-bambi @seokwoosmole

Masterlists- check out for more fics

📝Masterlists 📝BTS Masterlist

📝Yoongi Masterlist

Part 1

Two months later

Yoongi POV

"We're home Yoongi", she says, parking the car in the driveway

Finally, I'm able to be home with her

During my time at the rehab, I didn't know she was taking online courses at night to become my caretaker

She wanted to keep me home with her, take care of me

She finished the program last week, passed the test, got licensed and immediately asked me if I wanted to go home

I said yes right away

I may not remember everything from our past but I know I love her

Of that I'm 100% sure

As I remembered more, the feelings came back little by little

And with her spending time with me everyday for months, I fell in love all over again

I'm extremely lucky to have her

To have her give up her career to take care of me

I can never have anyone better than her

And it makes me determined to work harder to get better sooner

She opens my car door and helps me out of it, putting my walker in front of me

I'm still having some trouble walking

And I'm so slow

Something that took me seconds to cross now takes ten minutes or longer

I get impatient but she never does

She always walks next to me, encouraging me, holding my hand

Being patient in everything

It's so stupid that it took not seeing her for one day to make me realize that I love her

To make me realize that by being silent, I was hurting her

I know she'd never say I was but I know the reality

I was hurting her by not speaking, not responding, not looking at her

Hearing the catch in her voice when she stopped herself from crying

I could have done something

Show some kind of sign that I was listening, that her voice was the only thing that kept me sane

That her touch comforted me like nothing else did

That seeing her beautiful face everyday made me fight to keep going, to not give up

That one day she wasn't there devastated me even though she had a good reason for not coming

That day made me decide to show her that I was listening, made me decide to talk to her, to hold onto her and never let her go

Made me realize what I had in her and how extremely lucky I am that she's here, she's helping me, caring for me and she loves me

She helps me up, helping my hands grip the walker handholds

I walk a little further from the car so she can close the door

Then she puts her hand in mine and we start the walk to the house

"I fixed the house naekkeo. I added those stair chair sliders so you don't have to climb up and down the stairs"

She thinks of everything

Even I didn't think that far ahead

"There's wheelchairs for you too. I got you nicer ones than the hospital ones. Those are crappy. And some walkers and canes for when you can walk a little better ok?"

"Ttt..than...ks"

"Anything for you naekkeo", she says smiling as we continue to walk towards the front door

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

"Do you wanna take a shower naekkeo?", she asks, once we're in our room

It took me eight minutes to cross the driveway and another ten to get up to our room

She showed me how the chair lift works

It's easy

I sit in it, pull the bar down and press a button

It has places on the side of it to attach a walker or a cane but I can't do that yet

My hands don't work to do that yet

She told me that she's going to keep walkers and wheelchairs at the top of the stairs and the bottom so that I can just get on there for now

I really don't know what I did to deserve her but I'm so grateful she's mine

"Naekkeo?", she asks

I should take a shower

I've been at that rehab center for a long time and even though I showered there, I didn't have all my personal stuff

"Yyy...yes"

"Ok baby. I'll help you get in ok?"

"Ccccc....can you...you... you cc.come with mm..me?"

She smiles, nodding, "Of course baby"

She comes over to me helping me sit on the bed, her hand reaching for my shirt

As she starts pulling it up, I panic

I have all these scars on my body and they're ugly

Big ones, raises ones

They're still red and angry looking

I don't remember how my body was before but it definitely wasn't ugly like this

And I'm scared at how she's going to react

What if she's disgusted?

What if she thinks I'm gross?

I move my hands as fast as I can, which isn't fast at all, pushing on her hands to get her to stop

"Naekkeo, what's wrong?"

I just shake my head, at a loss of what to do

I can't get undressed by myself

I need help but I don't want her to see me

How am I supposed to shower?

I feel tears pricking my eyes from frustration

"Yoongi, baby, what's wrong?", she asks cupping my face, "Talk to me naekkeo"

"I...I...I'm uuuuu....ugly"

"What?", she exclaims, her face in shock, "No baby you're not"

I nod, "Yes. Ugly...on my face. Bbbbb...body. worse"

She shakes her head vehemently, "No naekkeo you're not"

"I..I.."

"Listen to me Min, Yoongi", she says, cupping my face, tilting my head up, her eyes on mine, "You are the most beautiful man I've ever laid my eyes on. You could never be ugly even if you tried"

I want to believe her but it's so hard

I've seen myself in the mirror

"Your scars do not take away from your beauty. They do not make you ugly", she says sternly, "They show me, show the world how strong you are. That you survived something so horrible and you're still here. Still fighting, never giving up"

She softly caresses my cheek, so much love in her eyes it takes my breath away

"Don't ever worry about that, especially around me. I thought you were the most handsomest man the second I saw you and I will continue to think that until the day I die. And in the afterlife too"

That makes me smile a little

"Don't be scared around me Yoongi, ok? You never have to be scared around me. You're safe with me naekkeo and I will protect you"

I nod believing her and feeling such a huge weight off my shoulders

"Tell me what you want to do naekkeo. I can close my eyes and help you undress. I won't look helping you in the shower and once you're in, I'll turn away while you shower and close my eyes to give you a towel and dressing you"

It all sounds ridiculous but the look on her face tells me she's prepared to do it

"Yyy....you dd..don't have. To"

She smiles softly, "Yoongi when are you going to realize I'll do absolutely anything for you?"

I'm starting to understand that

I'm sure I knew it before I lost my memories but even so, everything is so different now

Everything that happened, my condition, caring for me, it can take a lot out of a person

But she has been there by my side the whole time, never wavering, never running away

She's an angel

My angel

"Ddd..don't. Don't close...yyy..eyes"

"Are you sure baby? I want you to be comfortable?"

"Sure", I nod

"Ok baby", she says, kissing my lips softly

When her hands go back down to my shirt, I let her lift it up

She helps my arms through the sleeves then takes the shirt over my head

Her eyes move across my body and I feel my face get so hot

"Beautiful baby", she says

She comes closer, her lips pressing against the scar on my forehead in a kiss

Her lips move to the next one, then the next one, then more, down to the ones on my chest, stomach, arms, kissing each one so soflty

I feel so loved, so accepted, so happy, my worry and fear sliding off me

She helps me stand, taking the rest of my clothes off, kissing the scars on my legs too

When I'm naked, she stands, her hands on my sides, slowly moving up touching my stomach, my chest, my shoulders

My skin feels alive from her touch and I close my eyes, feeling how good it is

Her arms move around my neck, gently pulling me towards her

Her lips meet mine, the kiss full of love

I move my arms around her, waist, the tremors in my hands and arms making it hard to stay around her but I do

I want more

Slowly I lick her lip, her mouth opening, my tongue against hers

Immediately a memory flares in my head- our wedding kiss

Her in her gorgeous white dress, smiling up at me and the officiate tells me I can kiss my bride

I remember smiling then kissing her deeply, feeling her love for me just like I am now

Slowly, the kiss ends, her pulling away from me and smiling

She takes my hand, kisses the back of it, "I love you"

"I...I..lov. yo.ou", I say

The smile on his face gets brighter and I can't believe that I can make her that happy

She gets my walker for me and stays by my side as we get to the bathroom

Opening the shower, I see it's different

There's a built in seat that wasn't there before and handicapped rails I can grab on to like in the rehab shower

"I fixed it for now", she says, "Until you get better. They can be removed later on"

I just nod, grateful she thought of everything

She helps me into the shower, onto the seat

Stepping out, she turns on the water, saying, "I'll be right in baby ok?"

I nod

She closes the door and I watch her through it, the warm water on my skin

She goes back into the bedroom for a few seconds, appearing again holding my clothes

She puts them in what I assume is the hamper, then begins pulling her clothes off, dropping them in the hamper

The shower door opens and she comes inside, her naked body hitting me hard

More memories come

Me kissing her body

Her body moving so beautifully as she rides me, sweat all over her

Looking down at her, her face in pleasure

I come out of the memories, a wanting feeling in my body

She comes over to me, the water dripping down her body, in between her boobs, her hair soaked

I take in her big bouncy boobs, her tattoos that cover her, the colors so bright, shiny diamond piercing dangling from her belly button, her pretty legs

And her small pussy in between her legs

More sex images of us bombard my head and I'm getting horny

'Get it together', I tell myself

"I'm gonna wash your hair naekkeo ok?"

I nod, watching her take a shower head from the wall and switch off the rain head

She gently puts the water on me, running her fingers through my hair, getting it wet

Putting the shower head back on the wall mount, she gets shampoo and moves her hands in my hair

The soap layers up and I close my eyes, just letting the good, relaxing feeling spread through me

Her fingers are like magic, running through my hair, lightly scratching my scalp and I completely love it

I wonder if she used to do this for me before too

I'm pretty sure she did

She's an amazing wife

Taking the shower head, she says, "Close your eyes", and gently rinses the shampoo from my hair

"I'm gonna wash you first baby then put the conditioner in your hair ok?"

I nod as she gets a bar of soap and works a lather in her hands

She starts on my shoulder, moving the soap along there and down my arm, once again feeling so good

She keeps going and as I look at her beautiful face, feel her fingers spreading the soap on my skin, I realize with horror that I'm getting hard

Fuck

I don't want her to think that's why I wanted her to come in the shower with me

For sex

Not like I could have it anyway with the way my body currently is

Or how slow I am

It's just that I haven't seen her naked in a long time, the memories, seeing her now and her touching me even though it's not sexual at all still kinda turns me on

At least I know that's not broken

The further her hands move with the soap the more anxious I get

Of course I want her

I love her

She's my everything and her body is so sexy

I'm just scared she'll be disgusted

Her hands and eyes move to between my thighs

"Oh", is all she says

"I...sorry!", I say bursting into tears

God I cry at the drop of a hat now

I hate it but I can't help it

"I. Am..sorry. Jagi. I didn't... I don't...it just. Hap...hap..happ-ened", I sob, "You're pppp... pretty and you. Touch...me. I ...not....stop"

I can't even explain right because my stupid mouth isn't working and adding my crying, I don't know if she understand me at all

"Naekkeo it's ok", she says soothingly, hugging me tightly, "There's nothing to be sorry for. There's nothing wrong with you getting hard seeing me naked. It just means you're attracted to me and you think I'm pretty"

"Bbb... beautiful", I correct

She pulls back smiling, "Thanks naekkeo. Don't be ashamed ok? You never have to feel that way with me, remember? There's nothing wrong or bad about it"

"I don't. Want.", I struggle to say, "You get mad"

Surprise falls on her face, "Mad? Why would I be mad?"

"Because...you", I stammer, "You think I...only...only...only"

I stop, getting so frustrated

The stupid words won't come out

"That you only want sex?", she finishes

I nod

"I'd never think that baby. I know you love me-"

"So much", I add

Her soft smile makes me feel better

"So much", she agrees, "And I love you so much naekkeo. I can't be mad at you especially for something you can't control"

She touches my face so softly, leaning to me and giving me a soft kiss

"Don't ever worry about me being mad at you or anything like that. Don't ever be ashamed around me ok? I will never judge you for anything. I promise. I love you more than anything and I always will. Nothing will change that."

I nod, grateful she's so understanding and caring and loves me so much

"You ok naekkeo?"

I nod, "Yes"

I notice I'm still hard and I feel my cheeks turn pink

"Do you want me to help you?", she asks, smirking at me

"But...I...I can't-", I panic

I can't make her feel good

My mouth and fingers don't work and I don't think I am able to have sex yet

She won't get anything and I hate it

I remember some of how I used to be, how wild we were, how I made her cum over and over

And now I can't even do it once

I feel like such a failure at being a husband, at being a man

Her hand touches my face again, making me look at her

"It doesn't matter Yoongi. I don't care about getting anything. I want to make you feel good"

I don't say anything, not knowing if I should let her or not

"Yoongi. Let me make you feel good baby", she says softly

I want her too, so much

It's not going away and I want her

So I nod, whispering "Ok"

She moves to her knees and I whimper

I know she's done this to me before but I don't remember any particular instance and seeing her there, god it's so hot

I watch her tongue move out of her mouth and place it at the underside of my dick, at the base

She licks up and pleasure I haven't felt in a long time, pleasure I recognize hits me hard

I watch her tongue lick all over, soft moans escaping my mouth as pleasure seeps into me

Her mouth moves around my head, sucking softly at first then faster each time

"Jagi", I moan, feeling so good

I can't take my eyes away from her, can't believe that this is happening

It's like I'm a horny teenager instead of an experienced man

I just know I'm not going to last long

"Mmm", she hums, taking more of me in her mouth, the sucking not stopping, the pleasure more intense with every suck

Her hand wraps around my length that's not in her mouth, moving up and down, stroking me in time with her sucking

"Jjjjj.jj...Jo", I choke out, feeling ecstacy crash over me

I cum and I watch her continue to suck, swallowing over and over

Oh my fucking god, it feels so fucking good and I can't stop myself from moaning loudly

When I finish, she stops, taking me out of her mouth

She looks up at me, smiling soflty, "Good naekkeo?"

I nod, "Yyy...yes"

"Feel better?"

"Yy.yes"

"Good baby", she says, standing up and kissing my cheek

"I'm gonna finish cleaning you, then put the conditioner in your hair. While that stays for a few minutes I'm gonna shower quickly ok?"

"Ok"

She does as she said, showering both of us and when everything is done, she gets out first, getting a towel around her

She comes in the shower, dragging my walker to the shower door

Getting my arm around her shoulder she helps me stand up, instructing me to hold onto the rail

Grabbing onto my walker as soon as we're near it, I move to the middle of the bathroom

She puts a big fluffy towel over my body, wrapping me up, then takes another towel, drying my hair

When that's done, she uses the towel wrapped around me to dry off my body

She goes over my skin again and again making sure everything from my fingers to my toes are dry

"Come to the room baby, so you can get dressed"

I do and she helps me sit on the bed, then moves around the room, getting my PJs

She puts them next to me, letting me try to do it myself

With most things she lets me try by myself first and if I need help, she'll help me

I pick up the shirt and try to open it

My hands tremble, making the fabric slip from my hand every time I grasp it

I furrow my brow, trying harder to do it but I just get more and more frustrated

I can't do anything

My hands are fucked up, my fingers don't work that well

I'm getting therapy for that but I hate how long it's taking

I let out a frustrated cry, tears falling down my face

"I'll help you naekkeo", she says, coming over to me

I feel her hands on my face, wiping my tears away

"Don't cry baby. It's going to take time ok? But I know you can do it. You just have to practice"

I nod, knowing this

But I want it to be instantaneous

I want to be back to normal now

She kisses my cheek then helps me

She opens the shirt so I can put my arms through the sleeves

Then she helps me pull the shirt over my head, getting my head through the hole

She lets go, letting me pull the shirt down myself

She takes the clean boxers and kneels on the floor, lifting one of my legs, putting it in to the boxer leg

Then she does the other leg

She pulls them up to my thighs, then helps me stand

Taking my hands, she helps me grasp one side of the boxer band, then the other side

Finally I pull the boxers up the rest of the way

This used to take me seconds

Now it's a whole ordeal and I hate it

We repeat the process with the pants then I'm sitting on the bed again

Standing in front of me, she takes my comb and gently combs my wet hair

"Your hair is so long naekkeo"

I know

I've noticed in the mirror

It's annoying when it gets in my face but over all I don't mind it

"Do you want to keep it long?", she asks

"For for for ...now"

"Do you like it?"

I nod, "Dddd.do. you?"

"Yeah baby. I like it"

She combs it a few more times then she puts the comb down, sitting next to me

"What do you want to do now baby?", she asks

I want to lay down with her

I want to be in her arms, I want to feel her against me, I want to feel her play with my hair, tell me she loves me, fall asleep with her

I just want her

But I can't say all that

I can think it but my mouth doesn't work fast enough to say all those things

I know she will patiently wait for me to get all of it out but it gets me frustrated when my mouth doesn't move the way I want it to

"I want. Sleep. Nap. With.....you"

She smiles so brightly, it makes my day

Makes me so fucking happy

She's beautiful and her smile just adds to her beauty

"Ok naekkeo", she answers, tucking hair behind my ear

I lay down and she puts the blanket over me, then she kisses my lips gently

I kiss her back, loving every chance I get to have her lips against mine

I watch her dry off, change into her PJs, brush her hair then get in the bed next to me

She turns to me, gently pulling me closer and I go willingly

Putting my head on her chest, I sigh, so content, especially when her arms wrap around me

She kisses my forehead, her hand softly running in my hair

"I love you so much my Yoongi", she whispers, making my heart overflow with love, "My sun. My stars. My moon. My heart. My naekkeo"

"I....I ....llll...love. You. My....jagi", I whisper

"Sleep naekkeo. I'm gonna hold you the whole time. I missed having you in my arms, missed sleeping with you so much", she whispers

"Me...Too", I answer

I missed her so fucking much

Missed the simple little things, like napping, her smile, her laugh, sitting together, watching TV

I know it's going to take time for me to get better and I may never be one hundred percent again

But I know as long as I have my jagi, I'll be fine

🐱🐱🐱🐱🐱🐱🐱🐱

18 months later

J POV

I watch Yoongi smile, moving his body a little to the music while sitting in the chair

He looks so happy and when he's happy, I'm happy

The lights are bright on the stage, we're both sweating but his smile makes everything worth it

BTS is in the middle of the stage, dancing and performing

They're holding a special concert now that Yoongi is better enough to be on stage

He can't dance or rap but he's here with them

It's just like when one of them was injured, they'd sit on the stage and sing their part

Except for this concert when Yoongi's part comes up, they let the audio track play while the guys keep dancing so ARMYS can still hear his voice

The stylists even put him in the same outfit as the guys and he is changed every time they do

I change him as I'm his caretaker and I know how to help him so there's no pain

The staff surprised me by having outfits for me to wear

Yoongi wanted me with him on stage or he refused to go on

I told him not to argue, that I'd be backstage like I always used to be but he was having none of it

He said that I've been by his side his whole life, especially during this hard time and I deserve to be by his side for this too

Honestly, I cried when he said that, thanking him but he told me to shush, that there was nothing to thank

Yoongi has gotten better to the point where he can use just a cane to walk

He's still very slow but like I tell him, there is no hurry to do anything

His hands and fingers are better, the shaking less but it still happens

He's better at doing things by himself, like dressing, eating and showering, he's just more slow at it

His speech is better, he doesn't stutter or stammer so much but it still takes him time to say what he wants

It frustrates him but I'm there to comfort and help him

He hasn't regained all of his memories but I was right in that being at home, around his familiar things triggers memories

Most of it is snippets of the memory, bits and pieces

He does get full ones but those are rare

He remembers more than when he first came home

He remembers BTS, remembers the guys for the most part, parts of their history

He remembers his parents, brother, my parents, Daegu, Seoul

He remembers parts of our life together

It's more than I can ask for and like I tell him, we're making new memories now too

He's happy, cheerful, his depression gone once he got back home

His personality has gone back to normal, just like he used to be

Except he's a lot more affectionate, sometimes downright clingy and I eat it up

My life is about him, helping and caring for him and I don't regret a single thing

It's near the end of the concert and we're all dressed in the concert tshirts, sneakers and jeans

Well Yoongi and I are in sweatpants

The staff put a bandanna on his head because ARMYS love the era he had it and he looks so handsome with it and his long hair in a ponytail

I have a bandanna that matches his too

He looks so much better in it than I do

The song ends, they guys getting ready for their endments

The guys all go first, basically thanking the ARMYS and talking about how happy they are to be seven at the moment, with Yoongi back on stage

Yoongi insisted that BTS keep going without him

He said he'll still be there but he can't participate like he used to

He was upset about that for awhile but going to a therapist to talk about that helped him

It helped him understand that he has to let go of that part of his life, focus on getting better, and only then can he choose what he wants to do with his life

He's still part of BTS, he always will be, he's still part of BigHit and he's still invited to things and events

This is just the first one we went to

He says this is the only one

He wants to close the BTS chapter of his life and this concert is the end to it

Yoongi takes my hand, I turn to him to see him smiling at me

I smile back and lace out fingers together

Namjoon comes over, smiling as he hands Yoongi his custom mic

"You'll do great baby", I whisper

He nods, bringing the mic to his lips

"Hi ARMY", Yoongi says slowly, the clapping and cheers of the fans so loud, "Did you...hhh...have a good....time?"

He gives ARMYS a chance to scream and clap

"I am so hhhh..happy...to be...here....with you ttt...today"

More cheers and roars

"Ttt...this is my my my last....concert as ..as a mmm...member of BTS"

The crowd is quiet as Yoongi hasn't said anything to the media about him retiring

I mean I know people hoped he'd come back but it's not realistic

His body, his voice just doesn't work that way anymore

"I...am retiring. I..I ccc...can't be an idol any..any... anymore. Me...all of me....is not not for that....anymore. I...I don't...work...like that...anymore"

I know this is hard for him

He's accepted that he can't be an idol, that he can't make music anymore

But it's still not easy to talk about

He can still be sad over it

"I...am sss .sorry to dis-appp-oint you"

"Never!", someone shouts

"You never disappointed us!"

"We always support you!"

More shouts of acceptance and support ring out and Yoongi has tears in his eyes

He was worried the ARMYS would turn on him but I told him they wouldn't

I knew they wouldn't, I knew they would always love him

"I want to. To thank tttt..the members. Nnn..Namjoon, Hobi. Jj..Jin Hyung. Jimin. Tt. Tae. Jung Jung Jungkook. Thank you for for being.....my.....brothers"

I glance at the guys, who are just as emotional and all of them are crying

I wipe my eyes as I am too

"Ttt..thank you ARMYS. You. Made my...dream....come true. Thank you....for supp..support and ll..love"

"We love you!", ARMYS scream

"Thank you....Hitman Bbb..Bang. for giving...giving me a chance. For for for giving BTS... A chance. Thank thank you to everyone who...who made..BTS pop.possible"

As the crowd cheers, I say to him, "You did so good naekkeo"

When the crowd stops, I expect Namjoon to take over again for their final song so I'm surprised when Yoongi talks again

"And ttt...thank you to..the one...person who has has..always. stayed by mmm..my side", he continues, "Tttthe one who sss supported me..from...when we were... Young. The one. Who always. Believed in me. Who..nnn..never gave up...on me...even when it....seemed like I didn't.....remember her. Who tttt..took care of me ..after...the accident and sss..still cares. For me"

He turns to look at me and I'm bewildered as I process his words

He's talking about me?"

"Mmm..my wife. Joanne"

A huge roar of cheers and claps invade my ears as I realize ARMYS are clapping for me

"She nnn..never left my side...never gave up....even during the the worst....times. When we ddd..debuted and I...had to...hide her. www.when I...had had to go on tour...and leave her here. When when I www .worked all ...all. The time, not mmmm...making time for her. And sss..so many more tttt.times I...I..wasn't....the best... Boyfriend. Or husband. She...never left me. Aaaa...always believed in me. Aaaa...always lll love me"

Tears run down my face as I listen to my naekkeo and I'm so happy he knew, all these years that I never lost faith in him, that I'd stand by him no matter what

That I'd love him no matter what

"Mmm..my jagi. I love you....more than than words....can e...express. Ttt...thank you...for always bb.being with me"

I nod, letting him pull me into a hug and I hold onto him with everything in me

"I love you. So. Much", he whispers, kissing my hair, "So. Mm.much. always"

"I love you Yoongi. More than anything"

He pulls back a little, lifts my face up to him, his lips on mine in a soft kiss

And all the cheering, all the screams, everything fades away until it's just Yoongi and me

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

Yoongi POV

Laying in bed, I kiss her deeply, holding her perfect body against mine

After we kissed on stage, the guys all joked and made fun of us to lighten the mood

We did the last song and then the concert was over

That chapter of my life closed

And yes while I am sad, I'm also relieved

I was tired of the constant speculations, rumors on whether I would ever come back or not

I accept the accident, I accept what happened, I accept that my time in BTS is over

I'm ready to think of my future

What I can do now

With my wife

She kisses me wildly, her tongue against mine as I roll onto my back, helping her on me

She pulls away, sitting up, holding my cock up as she gets me inside her

She pushes down, taking me inch by inch, the pleasure of her opening for me so fucking good

We're such a tight fit because, as she tells me over and over, my cock is huge and thick

She sits on my thighs, my entire length buried inside her

As I got better, stronger, I wanted to try to have sex more and more

My wife is sexy and I was constantly getting horny

She'd help by giving me hand and blow jobs but she wouldn't let me do anything to her out of fear I would hurt myself

This went on for months

It got to the point where I asked the physical therapist in front of her if I could have sex

She was mortified but at that point in time, the physical therapist said I was fine to have sex as long as it wasn't rough

That was months ago

For the beginning she rode me all the time, still worried I'd get hurt

Until I talked to her and told her that I wouldn't know how my body would be if she never let me try

She did and I can do it in most positions as long as we're sitting or laying down

No standing and no holding her up

Yet

I'm working on getting stronger for that

We can also get rough but it's not like I'm throwing her around the room like I used to

And I can also eat her out

It's slower than normal but she likes it and I love doing it

She tastes so fucking good

I also asked my doctor to do tests to see if everything still works on me so I can have kids

It does

That's one of the things I want, to be a dad

We talked about it and agreed to give it a few years until I'm as best as I can be so she can care for the baby and not me and the baby

For now we just have fun

"Fuck Yoongi", she murmurs, circling her hips, "You feel so fucking good"

Yeah right

Not as good as her wet pulsing cunt feels

"Not as good...as you", I murmur, my hands on her hips, sliding up her gorgeous body, feeling her skin under my fingers

Her skin trembles against my touch, making me smile

That's one thing I remember

Her skin always shaking against my hands

It's one thing I love so much among so many others

"Bounce for me. Jagi", I murmur

She leans on my stomach, her hips moving, sliding her pussy up my length, leaving me a wet creamy mess

She comes back down hard, hitting her spot on my head, her whole body shaking

She does it again and again, fucking me fast and just a little harder than normal

I watch her tiny hole split as she takes my cock in, her swollen lips wrapped so prettily around my cock

She sits up more, her hands behind her on my thighs as she wiggles up and down my shaft, grinding on me when she gets me all in

"God Yoongi, fuck, your cock is so good baby", she pants

She's so fucking beautiful, her body so mesmerizing, the sweat rolling down between her jiggling boobs, along her stomach, down her pussy, mixing with the creamy mess she's leaving on my cock and lap

God it turns me on so much

"Yoongi", she cries, her cunt pulsing so fast around me as she pumps me in and out of her hole

"Cum jagi", I tell her

"Yoongi, oh Yoongi!", she whimpers, coming

Through the intense pleasure of her orgasm, I pull her down my entire cock, letting her ride it out and make a huge mess

"Yes Yoongi, oh my god! Baby!"

"Mmm feels. Good. Jagi"

She stops moving when she finishes, breathing in deeply

"Come....lay...down", I tell her

She smiles, climbing off me and laying on her back

I can't move fast enough to switch positions seamlessly like we used to

I have to tell her what I want instead, which was weird at first but we're both used to it, it's really nothing anymore

I move on top of her, in between her legs

Her arms wrap around my body, pulling me against her, skin against skin

She feels warm and a little sweaty but I love it nonetheless

Her legs wrap around me and I move my cock to her hole, pushing back inside her warm pussy

"Yes naekkeo", she says breathlessly, her body arching into me as she takes me fully inside her

"Fuck jagi", I whimper, loving being inside her

She touches my face softly, "Kiss me baby"

"Always", I say, leaning down and capturing her lips with mine

Pulling back, I go back in quickly, stretching her out, feeling her cunt clench me hard

She moans in my mouth as I move, thrusting in and out

Her hands lay flat on my back, so very slowly moving up and down, sending heat through every nerve she touches

I move into her harder, my strokes going in deeper, hitting her spot, making her cry out

"Baby", she moans, her arms moving to wrap around my neck, fingers in my hair as her mouth finds mine again

Moving my arms around her, I hold her to me, the pleasure so fucking amazing as I move

"Yoongi!", she cries, breaking the kiss, her head back into the pillows, "I'm gonna cum!"

I press kisses to her neck over and over, plunging my cock inside her, wanting her to feel so good

She throbs around me so fast and I tell her, "Cum fff..for me"

"Yoongi!", she screams, falling over the edge, her small body shaking under me, her arms clinging onto me

"Ffff....Jo! Jagi!", I cry, as unbelievable ecstacy slams into me and I cum hard

"Yes Yoongi", she murmurs in my ear as I yell her name, "Fill me baby. God you feel so fucking good coming inside me"

"Fuck", I moan, as her lips kissing my shoulder

She always tells me I feel good when I cum and I'm glad I can at least make it pleasurable for her until the end

When we both finished, she helps me lay down next to her, coming into my arms immediately

She lays her head on my chest, her body intertwining with mine and holding on like a koala

I smile, cuddling her, kissing the top of her head

"I love you Yoongi", she says, taking my free hand, intertwining our fingers and kiss the back of mine

"I love you Joanne", I answer, kissing the top of her head, "Thank you. jagi. I don't say say say it enough bbbb...but thank you ffff..for being. with me. For ssss..staying with m e. For love..love..loving me"

She lifts her head, pressing a kiss to my lips, and I kiss her back

"I will always be with you naekkeo. Always love you", she says, "You're my everything. My sun, my moon, my stars, my heart. My naekkeo"

I smile, "You're my world Jo. My life. My jagi"

She nods, "Always naekkeo"

"Always", I tell her

We kiss again, a sweet soft kiss, then settle in bed for the night

And I close my eyes, falling asleep right where I belong

With my jagi

[wangxianficfinder]

Fic Finder

~*~

1. This blog is a life saver, thank you!!! Please, could you help me find the modern AU fic where lwj gets called to a-yuan's school because he's having a meltdown (he's traumatized and only been recently adopted, the teacher reacted badly and he's only speaking chinese due to being distressed) and there he meets wwx again, a teacher there, and they reconnect

FOUND? A New Term by jiejieaini (E, 21k, wangxian, modern au, dadji, bunnies, london, implied/referenced abuse, implied/referenced homophobia, fluff & angst, happy ending)

~*~

2. A) wei wuxian and jiang cheng work a strip club and seduce lwj and lxc) B) ww and jc get preg and lwj and lxc deal with their anrgy wifes

2A) FOUND! Silk & Satin by Brieeze01 (E, 171k, wangxian, LXC/JC, stripper au, pole dancing, falling in love, pining, happy ending)

2B) FOUND? Perhaps one of the fics in Ah, it all makes scents now~! (omegaverse/AU) series by TheWanderingHeart (T, 63k, LXC/JC, background wangxian, ABO, fluff & humor, canon era, puberty, A/A wangxian, courting)

~*~

3. Hello! I am desperately looking for a fic in which Wei Wuxian finds himself 15 again and in the lectures at Cloud Recesses (after he died?) and is horrified. He runs away and attempts suicide jumping from a cliff. Thanks!!!

FOUND! Without end by barisan (M, 60k, wangxian, major character death, time travel, suicide attempt, child abuse, self-harm, PTSD, panic attacks, not Jiang friendly, handholding, YLLZ WWX, WIP)

Similar (Un)Hidden truth by Sarah_R (M, 95k, wangxian, major character death, time travel, characters watching their show, suicide attempt, panic attacks, self-harm, nightmares, hurt/comfort, angst, WIP)

~*~

4. Alright this one has been bugging me for DAYS. The only thing I remember about this fic was that when Wei Ying came out of the burial mounds after the golden core removal he was like… not himself. Possibly possessed by the burial mounds themselves???. He didnt talk, he just followed Jiang Cheng and Yanli around and did what they told him. He was sort of considered a mindless monster, but his siblings were convinced he was still in there. I cant remember how they even fixed him but i really want to read it again!!! @yamibakuraofficial​

FOUND? between the shadow and the soul by cl410 (M, 22k, wangxian, Mojo’s bookmark)

SIMILAR! Helping Yourself by nirejseki (Not rated, 1k, wangxian, temporary amnesia)

Cloudy Memories Recessed by FirefliesNLightningBugs (M, 8k, wangxian, hurt/comfort, supernatural)

~*~

5. hi! i'm trying to find a fic that openly addresses wwx probable cannibalism during the 3 months he was surviving in the burial mounds after he got thrown in the first time. i read it on ao3 sometime in the last 8 months i think, but before i had my own ao3 account. the part that sticks in my mind the most is a scene in qinghe where jyl and nhs figure it out based on wwx total refusal to eat meat (ie, no pork ribs soup!) and then lwj just total devastation at the suffering his poor wei ying went thru. and then then having this part of wwx trauma noticed and him being loved anyhow changes things! thanks for looking!

also open to other fics that deal with the topic @xiaokuer-schmetterling​

💖  the absence of hunger by parsnipit (M, 27k, wangxian, angst w/ happy ending, eating disorder, PTSD, food as a metaphor for love)

#1 of this post might interest you

❤️ Lynchpin by ShanaStoryteller (not rated (I’d say T), 103k, wangxian, my post) has a scene where JYL & JC discuss it

Three Months, but One Day Shy by mondengel (M, 1k, WWX, horror, mind the tags!) Podfic by DanaScully1013

Survival by Kaz3313 (M, <1k, cannibalism to survive, burial mounds)

Lakes of wine and forests of meat by androktasia (M, 1k, wangxian, aftermath of cannibalism, WWX’s burial mounds trauma, post-canon, post-sunshot, non-linear)

~*~

6. Hi, y'all are doing the work of gods.I've been looking for a fic and the only thing I know is that the scars on wwx's back from yzy's last beating healed poorly and lead to limited mobility in his arms and shoulders, and this is why he wears his hair in a half ponytail after the core transfer and surviving Burial Mounds.It's ok if you don't find it, I'm starting to think I dreamed the interaction where I heard about it XD @kanzaki19​

not FOUND? On the first fic of ❤️no new age series by everythingispoetry (M, 146k, wangxian, Mojo’s post) it’s *Lan Wangji* who has to modify his hairdo, owing to disabling injuries from the flogging

FOUND! how about this one @kanzaki19​:  my life's journey is far from over by thelastdboy (E, 148k, wangxian) - a kind-of-modern-but-canon au where wwx is often troubled by his scarred back and cannot always lift his arms and also has short-ish hair

~*~

7. Thank you so much for being here and coordinating this. I'vw been trying  to refind a fic in which Wei Ying and Lan Zhan are married and their  friends and family don't realize it. The scene I remember is Wei Ying  being very offended when they find out because everyone was at their  wedding, but didn't realize it was their wedding. I'm fairly certain  it's a modern au. It's not the delightful The F-Word by raspberrymocha.  Thanks so much for your help!  

not FOUND swiss cheese theory by varnes (M 18k, wangxian, SNL au, modern au, secret marriage, accidental marriage)

Thank you so much for posting my ficfinder request on March 28, #7. While swiss cheese theory is an absolute delight, it's not the fic I was looking for. In the fic I'm looking for WWX and LWJ know they're married; it's their family/friends who didn't realize that they are, even though they were at the wedding. But again, thank you for posting even though the fic hasn't yet turned up.

~*~

8. I've lost a fic I wish I'd bookmarked, and I can't remember much but I do remember that NMJ was somewhat reincarnated as a goose? And he could speak through his corpse's head? NHS and WWX were having a field day with it while JGY was very annoyed?

FOUND! Dream a little dream of me by Moominmammashandbag (M, 60k, wangxian, dream cultivation, Mojo’s bookmark)

~*~

9. Hi! First of all, i'd like to thank for you for doing god's work and for the great fics i've found through u guys. Anyways, i've been looking for this modern au (w/ a hint of mafia au) where lwj and lxc are homeless and they were attack by thugs and lxc died(but it's revealed at the end that he survived and now worked as a hacker??). Lwj was found by wwx and took him in. Lwj was younger than wwx here too. I've been looking for it for ages but i dont remember much and couldn't find it. 

~*~

10. Hello, I was wondering if you could help me find a fit where WWX does get killed at Burial Mounds, but all the other sects discover while searching his body that he was extremely close to immortality, especially since his body did not decompose. His body is then put in a glass coffin in YunMeng I think, waiting for him to wake up. So it would be immortal WWX, with Wangxian of course. Thank you very much! @isoupeachreadingwatching​

FOUND!  If One for you, then One for us by KusakabeNAyako (T, 85k, wangxian, WIP) “The soulless body of Wei Wuxian laid upon a bed of silk in a coffin made of black wood and glass, surrounded by [glass] flowers.”

Alexandria by LilyMaxwell (T, 24k, wangxian)

Glass Coffin by odirin (not rated, 19k, jiang cheng & wei wuxian, angst w/ happy ending, temporary character death, ghost wwx)

~*~

11. Hi,I''m hoping you can help me find a story.  Lan Wangji is imprisoned by Wen Ruohan and thrown into a cell (in a tower I think) with a mysterious prisoner (Wei Wuxian) who has been held long term, but knows that Lan Wangji has a much shorter shelf-life before he's killed.  It turns out that Wei Wuxian is a phoenix. Ends with a dramatic prison break and Wen Ruohan learning that Phoenixes make for bad enemies.  A really good story which I neglected to bookmark.

FOUND! a thousand hills, no birds in flight | 千山鳥飛絕 by defractum (nyargles) (E, 26k, wangxian, canon adjacent, mythology au, hurt/comfort, angst w/ happy ending)

~*~

12. Hi, anon with the sexually explicit fic finder ask here.

I'm looking for a fic where I read where Lan Zhan goes down on Wei Ying and then instead of swallowing, spits it into Wei Ying's mouth. Wei Ying is like holy shit, but super into it. I think it's one of those fics where Wei Ying thought he was straight before, but I'm not 100% sure. There was definitely an element of surprise that Lan Zhan is Like That and how much Wei Ying loves it. Thank you!

FOUND! by anon themself (our friendship) against the ropes by daltoneering (E, 36k, wangxian, modern au, friends to lovers, getting together, experienced lwj, friends w/ benefits, pining, oral sex, anal sex, spit kink, light bondage, praise kink)

~*~

13. hi! I was hoping to find this modern au fic, college/uni au where lwj and wwx were dating and also roommates, and one day wwx finds out that lwj has been secretly meeting his uncle + brother whenever wwx has classes so that they didn’t meet. He gets quite hurt and goes to jc(?)’s house to cry abt it and lwj is regret TM while wq, nhs, jc and jyl are out for blood hahaa TQSMMM >.<

FOUND!  The Art of Duplicity by TheObsoleteOne (Not rated, 8k, wangxian, modern, established relationship, angst, hurt/comfort, lies, WIP)

~*~

14. Hi, i'm looking for a fic where little apple dies of old age, they hold a funeral, and at the end lan qiren gives wei ying a baby donkey.

FOUND! An Apple a Day by dandelion_san (G, 2k, wangxian, character death, hurt/comfort, fluff, family)

~*~

15. Looking for a Modern Au fic (I think it was ABO with omega WWX) where WWX and LWJ are both trying to baby trap each other at the same time.   One of them swaps out the birth control pills with prenatal vitamins, the other pokes holes in condoms.  Its a humor fic where it's clear they'd both be on board if the other said anything and they're both gleefully like "oh no, we're out of condoms :D how tragic.  I'm sure it'll be fine :D :D :D".  The end is them with A-Yuan both being super smug.

FOUND! truly a love story for the ages by sweetlolixo (E, 4k, wangxian, ABO, dark wangxian, mutual baby trapping, humor)

~*~

[mrpenguinpants]

Xiao: First Kiss HCs

I’m so sorry it took me actually forever to reply to you. But I really hope you like this and it was somewhat worth the wait;; I tried really hard but ty for liking my Xiao content and yes! Let’s be absolute trash for Xiao. In this house we only believe in Xiao supremacy 💕💕

---

Semi Part 1: Friendship

Semi Part 2: Falling in Love

Semi Part 3: Cuddles

Semi Part 4: Protective

Semi Part 5: Affection

Semi Part 6: Jealously

Semi Part 8: Opposites Attract

Semi Part 9:  String of Fate [Soulmate] HCs

Semi Part 10:  [ Fainting ]

---

Childe Ver: First Kiss HCs

Venti & Kaeya: Mistletoe HCs

Venti, Xingqiu, and Razor: Kissing HCs

Considering how many more Xiao fics I need to write. This semi part link might not be a good idea lol. Also let’s ignore if I wrote in a kiss in a previous post haha.

---

[taglist]  <- if you want to be added, please read this first.

@hanniejji​​  @mikeysbike​​ @unionwitch​​ @musekala​​ @twistedsunnshiii​​ @stanzastic​ @akaasea​​ @xoneaboveallx​​ @adoring-ghost​​ @asheseiler​​ @childelover​​@youaskedfurret​​ @snowy224

---

Xiao: First Kiss HCs

When you and Xiao first got together. It was a slow and steady process of learning each other boundaries and what felt comfortable. Xiao knew he was a difficult partner but you loved him and even becoming his friend was a slow and worthwhile adventure. It started off small leading from small handholding, to cuddling, to showing each other affection. But the one area that you both weren’t familiar in was kisses. He was an isolated adepti and you were an adventurer. You didn’t have any experience in being kissed and Xiao sure as hell didn’t either. Plus it was a lot more intimate and nerve wracking compared to holding hands and that was an hard hill to tackle in itself.

You didn’t mind that he wasn’t comfortable with initiating affection or never went in or talked about kisses. You were just happy that he was by your side and that your love was reciprocated. That he was comfortable in your presence and seemed content in your arms. It still made you a bit giddy when you reflected on how far you both came and that was enough for you. Xiao, on the other hand, couldn’t exactly say the same. While he was happy and he was content, he couldn’t help but feel that maybe your relationship was too one-sided? He knew that you were comfortable and okay with waiting for him to work out his issues and figuring out how to love again but he also really wanted to do more. He just wasn’t sure how to start.

It suddenly dawned on him one day when he saw you off on your next journey, that he had never really kissed you. Even a small goodbye kiss. It was usually you initiating affection or giving words of love and you always told him that it didn’t matter if he said it or not. His actions said more which always made him flush a bit. But on slow and quiet days where you were off on another adventure and Liyue was calm, he couldn’t help but let his mind wander to you. To your face, your bright eyes that would light up whenever you talked about the interesting sights you saw on your journey, the curve of your nose whenever he tapped it when you started to ramble on to much, your lips and how they would spread into a soft smile when it was just the two of you.

Xiao quickly flipped himself up into a sitting position and groaned into his hands. What was happening to him? He needed to take a walk to clear his mind again. He’s been going out a lot since he met you. He had faced an army of demons and fought in a war and yet this felt like the hardest challenge of his entire thousand year long life. He could almost hear Guizhong’s laughter at his predicament and her words of wisdom saying to take whatever problem he had and face it head on. Just without his spear. The spear needs to stay home.

So the next time you visited Wangshu Inn he asked for you to close your eyes. You complied but you were surprised, sitting by the railing facing Liyue up on the balcony. Was he going to gift you something? This was the first time he asked you to close your eyes but you trusted him. You could almost feel the anxiety waving off Xiao so you kept quiet and patient and waited for him to be ready.

He was ready. He could do this. You weren’t even looking at him so what was there to be worried about? He slowly leaned in, just hovering above your lips. But then he leaned back a bit, flushing red. He nearly chewed his lip before stopping since you probably didn’t want to taste blood. It wasn’t that he wasn’t ready or he thought that you would hate it, he was just nervous in messing up. What if his accidently transformed? What if he accidently pushed you off the railing? Even worse, what if someone showed up and saw you both like this?

Turns out he didn’t need to worry. Somewhat. Zhongli, who Xiao knew now was actually Rex Lapis in disguise, made a sudden appearance behind him. The whiplash of suddenly seeing his Master, the nervous butterfly’s fluttering in his stomach, and pep talk Xiao was trying to pound into his mind made him suddenly lurch forward and kiss you deeply. A bit too deeply as his little fangs nipped at your bottom lip.

“Zhongli!?”

“Rex Lapis?!”

You both quickly broke apart as your eyes flew open when you heard the man but also surprise at the sudden but, not completely unpleasant, pain and pressure on your lips. You could almost see the soul leave Xiao’s body when he spun around to see the surprised Zhongli. It was silent for a moment, all three of you just staring at each other. You were still processing what the hell just happened, Xiao was trying to find a way to astral project, and Zhongli was computing the fact that yes, the ever grumpy and “don’t touch me” yaksha both had a lover and was in the middle of...courting.

“Oh. My apologies. I wasn’t aware you were both occupied. I shall take my leave and visit another day then.” Zhongli simply nodded and left before you or Xiao could say anything. You both stared at the empty figure of where Zhongli was before you started to burst into laughter at the situation. You really felt bad, you did honestly, but with all the overwhelming emotions you couldn’t help but laugh.

“I’m...sorry. I didn’t know he was going to visit today,” Xiao muttered as he pressed his hand into his face and groaned at the embarrassing moment. You could see the tips of his ears were getting redder by the second which made you chuckle. For such a fearsome Yaksha he was really cute sometimes.

“It’s okay Xiao. I don’t mind. But are you alright?” you stifled the last of your giggles and reached out to pull him closer and remove his hand from his red face before cupping his cheek. He huffed but leaned into your hand. He really was sometimes like a cat.

“Are you hurt? Was I...too forward?” Xiao asked but he still wouldn’t look you in the eye. The floor was very interesting this afternoon. Wood was nice. Wood was good.

“No! It was...nice,” you answered, starting to go a bit pink yourself now before you felt a stinging pain in the corner of your lip, “Ah. I think you might accidently bit my lip though.”

“I see,” Xiao was now looking at you with his piercing eyes as he watched your small pink tongue brush over the corner of your bottom lip. His attention began to focus on that small part as the world seem to narrow down. Just the two of you. But unlike when you both would lie on top of the inn and watch the sun go down he felt hungry.

“Do you-”

Before you could ask anything Xiao suddenly pounced and pressed his lips against yours in a heated kiss. He took you by surprise but you quickly recovered as you gripped the purple ribbon on his back and yanked him forward as his hands slammed against the railing, trapping you. You felt his tongue press against your lips as you slowly opened them to let him in. It was overwhelming and you were sure if you hadn’t been grabbing onto the purple ribbon you would have fell over but then a sudden deep rumble snapped you out of your trance.

“Xiao? Are you...Are you purring?” you giggled when you got a tiny but of separation from the lack of air but he frowned at you, really it looked more like a pout, before leaning over once again.  Just barely brushing over your lips as he whispered

“Meow”

---

This isn’t even OOC anymore. I feel like I’m writing a fucking k-drama right now, what am I doing anymore? English? Huh? I do not compute.

I’ve just awakened something in me with Cat! Xiao and I am flying with it (and casually ignoring lore. Isn’t he a bird?). Heading straight for the stratosphere and you cannot stop me. Just gonna hide away in shame now don’t look at me.

Okay. Time to commit sleep for uh 2 hours lol. I’m really tired but I feel kinda proud of myself haha. Tomorrow’s fics are going to be Venti, Lisa and Diluc pairing, and Venti and Barbara pairing. Good night!

Oh, and yes there is a lot more Xiao content to come and uhh might continue this cat!xiao idea. Unless that’s too weird. I’m sorry don’t shame me pls 😰

my god tumble just work. i dont want to deal with you and your tags. 

[jaydicksummerexchange]

2021 JDSE Release Post: Monday August 23

[ ❤ Works posted so far! ❤ ]

Toss a kudo and comment to your jaydickers, o valley of plenty!

Here are the day’s posted works:

Sidekicks are nothing but trouble, well most of the time by anonymous for CaptainDeadShips [FIC , Gen, Creator Chose No Warnings, Dick Grayson/Jason Todd]

Additional Tags: Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Alternate Universe - Different First Meeting, Slow Burn, Dick Grayson is Not Robin, Dick Grayson as Slade Wilson's Apprentice, Dick Grayson is Renegade, Jason Todd is Bluejay, Idiots in Love, Boys In Love

Summary: After having been benched from his Bluejay duties for some time Jason is very confused over seeing his long time friend/enemy at his school. What could Renegade possibly be up to that required him to be his civilian self Dick Wilson?

Practice Makes by anonymous for Gemini_Baby [FIC, M, Creator Chose No Warnings, JayDick]

Additional Tags: Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Omega Dick Grayson, Alpha Jason Todd, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Forced Bonding, Non-Consensual Drug Use, Domestic, Food as a Metaphor for Love, Protective Jason Todd, Dick Grayson is Nightwing, Jason Todd is Red Hood, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Sharing a Bed, Cuddling & Snuggling, Nesting, Hurt Dick Grayson, Hurt Jason Todd, Hurt/Comfort, Asexual Jason Todd, Dubious Consent, Angst with a Happy Ending

Summary: Dick and Jason are forced to share a heat that never should have happened in the first place. Now they have to learn to live their lives as mates, all the while maintaining the facade that this was totally what they wanted in the first place.

Who will take care of you? by anonymous for Fallagory [Art , M, Creator Chose No Warnings, JayDick]

Additional Tags: Fanart, Identity Porn, Fluff

Summary: After failing trying to protect Nightwing and be saved by him, Jason is now being taking care by him not suspecting is the person who is actually dating

take my heart (take it apart) by anonymous for doesitreallymatter21 [FIC , E, Rape/Non-Con, Dick Grayson/Jason Todd]

Additional Tags: Canon-Typical Violence, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Alpha Dick Grayson, Omega Jason Todd, Forced Bonding, Blood and Injury, Imprisonment, Hiding Medical Issues, Rape/Non-con ElementsS, omnophilia, Protective Dick Grayson, Hurt Jason Todd, Mental Health Issues, Dick Grayson is Batman, Dubious Morality, Unreliable Narrator, Fuck Or Die, Ambiguous/Open Ending, Dead Dove: Do Not Eat

Summary: Later, Dick was sure, he’d be able to come up with a better solution. But in the moment, drunk on the scent of distressed omega, and worried out of his mind, there was only one way he could see to get Jason home safe. He tugged down the neck of Jason’s undershirt, leaned forward, and bit down: a mating bite.

Feelings™ by anonymous for B_Rated [FIC, Not Rated, No Warnings, JayDick]

Additional Tags: Falling In Love, Boys In Love, Fluff, Damian Wayne is a Little Shit, Jason Todd Has a Heart, Dick Grayson has no sense of personal space

Summary: Jason Todd and Dick Grayson have a lot of history together.

From trying to kill each other, (more on Jason's end), to working perfectly in their caped adventures.

There was a small moment which clicked in their heads like lightbulb that they were in love with the other.

The Thinness of Walls by anonymous for Nitrojen [FIC, M, No Warnings, JayDick]

Additional Tags: Fluff and Humor, Attempt at Humor, Eventual Romance, No capes A/U, Alternate Universe, Non Cannon Compliant, m is for language

Summary: Dick teaches yoga and Jason teaches self defense. Sharing the studios next to each other they don’t exactly get along, until they do.

Like a Stone Betwixt My Lips by anonymous for Morimaitar [FIC, E, Graphic Depictions of Violence, JayDick]

Additional Tags: Supernatural Creatures, Alternate Universe - Monster Hunters, slowburn, illegal handholding, Anal Sex, pseudo medieval setting, Magic, Peril, searching for a prince

Summary: Jason’s promised his long awaited freedom after one last job. Dick’s sent on a highly personal secret mission to recover someone he never knew existed. A chance meeting changes their fortunes, setting them on a path towards their goals. That is, if they can agree to work together.

[early2000smovieimagines]

Meeting and Dating Hermione Granger

(Not my gif)(Requested by anonymous)

(I’m sorry but Hermione in her uniform is beautiful.)

- You and Hermione meet during your first year at Hogwarts. The two of you wound up being partners in potions class and we all know how Hermione is when it comes to her schoolwork.

- She’s very much so the “here let me do it” sort of person when she sees that you’re doing something wrong. Not that you mind; you aren’t exactly keen on getting on Snape’s bad side.

- She’s also very adamant on teaching you how to do things and having you try again; after she shows you the correct way to do them, which gives her the chance to look at you more closely and say to herself “wow she’s pretty”.

- Initially, she sort of just thinks that she’s envious of your good looks or that she finds herself looking at you merely because you’re pretty and people like looking at pretty things. It’s only after a bit of reflecting that she realizes she likes you more than a person likes flowers.

- The only logical conclusion is that she has a crush on you and …oh dear.

- Yeah, Hermione isn’t …the best with crushes. The minute she realizes that she likes you, she turns into a bit of an awkward mess.

- She’ll say somewhat strange things before nervously trying to correct herself. She’ll touch you for a bit too long or without meaning to before jumping away upon realizing what she’s doing. She’ll give you handshakes instead of hugs when you greet each other or do good on a joint project or what have you. Etc, etc, etc.

- She’ll do whatever she can to hang out with you one day while avoiding you like the plague the next; usually because she’s having a bad hair day or something similar. The boys are clueless as to why she’s acting strange but they agree to help her with whatever she asks; usually meaning that they help her hide from you.

- Once the two of you become friends; which is somewhat inevitable with Hermione and the people she likes since she’ll force herself into their lives, she’ll subtly hint at a relationship between the two of you and try to find out more about you and your type.

- There’s going to be a lot of mutual pining. Hermione’s obviously pretty so of course you’ll fall for the strong willed, activist girl who’s now your best friend. And she’s been in love with you since first year but it’ll take a while for her to admit her feelings.

- Viktor Krum probably found out Hermione liked you midway through fourth year and immediately began hyping her up, teasing and telling her to confess her feelings to you. He also probably got you a date to the Yule ball and you four hung out all night because he’s a sweetheart but I digress.

- The thing is, you’re now close friends and she doesn’t want to lose that, so she ends up spewing her feelings out in a fit of desperate frustration. She calls you an idiot, telling you that she loves you and has loved you for years, and if you’re too stupid to notice then nothing; not even her tutoring sessions, can help you, and you’re too stunned to even be offended.

- So there she is, standing there and trying to catch her breath, close to tears and embarrassed before you finally manage to find your words. You tell her that she’ll have to deal with your stupidity forever now because you like her too.

- She takes a deep breath, furrowing her eyebrows slightly and nervously saying “you …do.”, like she’s trying to quickly process what you’ve just said; as though she anticipated a wildly different response.

“Good.” She says after a moment, nodding as she does so. She says the words in a stunted, sort of relieved tone, like someone who didn’t expect an issue to be resolved as soon as it was.

- The two of you have your first date at Hogsmeade where you sort of just wander around the village and talk, trying to bond while enjoying a bit of privacy. Harry and Ron probably show up midway through and she tries her best to signal with her eyes that this “isn’t a good time” before she’s forced to give a pointed, whisper yelled “could you two please leave”. 

- Hermione tends to give a lot of cheek and head kisses to the people she’s close to and you would not be exempt from this. Just saying. 

- The two of you share your first kiss about a month or so after your first date. She’d been stressing over something and you’d laid a hand on her shoulder, reassuring her that everything was going to be alright until she finally managed to calm down. 

- Later on, as you were getting up to leave, she’d leaned over and planted a soft, somewhat chaste kiss on your lips before you both made your way out of the room. You had smiles on your faces for the rest of the day. 

- Congratulations, you’ve managed to score the brightest witch in all of Hogwarts. Consider yourself a very lucky girl; she certainly considers herself to be one.

- The wizarding world seems pretty progressive all things considered so pda isn’t a taboo when it comes to your relationship. She’s more than happy to engage in it though she keeps it polite and innocent out of pure preference. 

- Her slinging her arm around your shoulder. 

- Tight hugs; especially when you’re reunited after a long time or you come back from something dangerous. 

- Handholding. 

- Cheek and head kisses. 

- Sweet and soft kisses. 

- Abrupt and passionate kisses; usually after a surge of emotion courses through her. She’ll occasionally get flustered and apologize for getting ahead of herself, as though you’re not in a relationship. 

- She usually just calls you by your given name but occasionally she’ll call you something like honey or dear. 

- The two of you cuddle laying on your sides with your arms wrapped around each other. Sometimes Crookshanks will wiggle his way between your bodies and you’ll get a nose full of cat hair but you get used to it. 

- Speaking of the orange baby: plucking cat hair from each other’s clothing and taking turns snuggling the endearingly ugly creature.

- Helping her carry all the books she lugs around.

- Getting matching bracelets/necklaces.

- Helping her with her hair.

- Compliments; the two of you are constantly praising each other. She tends to comment on your schoolwork like how you’ve improved so much or congratulating you on doing so well on an exam.

- She’s “secretly” really fond of making you little cards and origami. She lives for Valentine’s Day and you can’t help but find it adorable.

- Supporting S.P.E.W. and wearing one of her badges; whether or not you agree with it.

- Quiet days spent inside. The two of you usually just sit in one of your dorms or the library, talking about whatever comes to mind or doing your own things.

- Study dates.

- Assuring her she’s going to do great on tests. She always gets really stressed and frazzled before a big exam so you always have to make sure she breathes and relaxes a bit.

- She’s always jumping to help you in any way she can, and she always has the knowledge to do so.

- Writing letters to each other over the summer.

- Sitting together in the courtyard.

- Going to The Three Broomsticks and getting a bit tipsy off butter beer. She’s a lightweight.

- Having a cute little book club. The two of you take turns reading to each other and discussing the different novels you’ve read.

- Playing the piano together.

- Baking together.

- Play fighting. The two of you do that cute, grabbing each other’s arms and trying to push each other while giggling sort of thing that couples do.

- Having your dates interrupted by the boys. The two of them are going to be completely clueless about your relationship for a while before finally catching on and giving you more space; unless something oh so important happens.

- Tagging along and helping the golden trio whenever you can. You’re a certified member of their clique by now.

- Cheering the boys on at Quidditch games together. The two of you are usually huddled close to keep warm. 

- Speaking of cheering: she's your biggest cheerleader. She’s always wishing you good luck and rooting for you and giving you an enthusiastic whoop; even if it makes people give her funny looks. 

- Breaking her out of her shell and getting her to let loose a little more. She feels the need to constantly be put together and perfect and you do your best to reassure her that, sometimes, she can just have fun. 

- Dancing together. 

- Whenever she’s really excited and/or really wants your attention for one reason or another and you have homework, she always ends up impatiently snatching it with a “give it here” before doing it for you and launching into whatever it is she wanted from you. 

- Being on the receiving end of her scolding looks. You always get one if you’ve done something or are doing something wrong. 

- Comforting her. She’s a bit sensitive and cries sort of easily; particularly when she’s angry which she gets embarrassed about, so you’re always there to make her feel better.

- She’s constantly checking you over and taking care of you when you’re hurt and/or sick. It helps to have a half blood girlfriend who knows nearly every spell like the back of her hand.

- She always just seems to understand you and know how you’re feeling. She’ll always be there to give advice and comfort you.

- Defending her from wizard racism. You might not stand up for yourself but you sure as hell are willing to hex a man half to death for saying something about her. 

- She has a habit of grabbing onto you when she’s scared so expect to have her wrapped around you or holding your hand in a death grip whenever anything spooky occurs.

- Hermione is smart enough to tell when something is entirely platonic so she doesn’t get jealous very often. It’s only when someone shows actual interest in you that she gets a bit self conscious. She can usually keep herself in check but she’ll occasionally tell you that they were flirting with you in an exasperated tone before you reassure her that you don’t want them.

- She’s more protective in the “I’m going to take care of you” sort of way but she has been known to throw a punch at or use a hex on someone who hurts you or your feelings. She worries over you a lot so rest assured, if you’re upset/hurt, she’ll be right by your side fussing over you.

- She hates being wrong so that’s where most of your arguments probably stem from. You really don’t have a lot of arguments though, all things considered. She’s perfectly capable of communicating her feelings so you rarely need to fight about anything; at least not for long.

- She has a habit of holding grudges and won’t want to admit she’s wrong so expect her to take a bit of time before she says she’s sorry. If she’s proven right then she’ll pointedly say that “well, someone owes someone an apology” but if she’s proven wrong she’ll admit that she owes you one.

- She’s a big softie so she tells you that she loves you quite a bit; mainly in private though she isn’t afraid to say it in public.

- She’s gonna go places and she’s taking you with her. After everything that happened, the two of you enjoy a peaceful, fulfilling life together and she couldn’t be happier.

[just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi]

Train Day - Rowe and Mason

[I TRIED SO HARD TO COME UP WITH WHUMP ON A CHOO CHOO BUT  

I 

COULD 

NOT

so here’s some “training Whump” but with a Twist! Mason and Rowe (who belongs to @whumpzone (and Tomas) The Training is from this prompt, and this interaction :)

hehehehe sorry Rowe Also I kinda want to write more Training!Rowe but who knows]

CW: Conditioning, past abuse discussed, cursing, dubcon touch (non sexual), misunderstanding (look Tomas is TRYING), implied electrocution, Pet Whump, conditioned mindset, dehumanization

[Rowe’s Masterlist] [Mason’s Tag] 

Mason sat, scribbling notes with the office phone wedged between his shoulder and his ear.

“Just a general kind of refresher?”

Tomas nodded before remembering he was on the phone. “Yeah – nothing harsh, though. He’s been acting out lately and I just don’t know what’s gotten into him.”

“Acting out how?”

Tomas bit his lip for a second before he sighed. Strangely enough, he felt almost like a teacher phoning home about a disruptive student. He would never hurt Rowe, but he needed some correction.

“Uh, marking up things around the house” – destroying my favorite shoes- “messing with things he knows better than to mess with” – playing around with the collar I should have thrown away – “I mean, he cut his own hair for goodness sake.”

Mason wrote down attention seeking and hummed understandably. “Has anything changed recently? Did you get a new job or move or something to that effect?”

A pause.

“Well, Luca’s been coming around more...”

Mason leaned back in his chair, a knowing grin creeping along his face. By the blush in the man’s voice, he could tell Luca was more than just a random friend. He chuckled silently and shook his head. That explains it.

“Alright. Has he ever been through a formal training before?”

“I, I don’t think so. I got him, uh, he came to me through some, not, great circumstances, if you know what I mean. Pretty rough shape. So, uh - no. I’m going to go with no. Or at least, not like, kind training.”

Mason nodded subconsciously as he took more notes. Alright, a little handholding necessary with this one. Fair enough.

“Sorry to hear about that. Is there anything else you want to tell me? Anything other changes?”

Another pause, longer this time. Mason just waited, understanding that some people who were embarrassed about needing a trainer for their pet. Really, there was nothing to be ashamed for, but there was still that expectation. Sadly, that mindset is what messed up the pet in the first place.

“He has nightmares,” Tomas blurts, feeling like this might be the only opportunity for Rowe to get some professional help. “Almost every night – all from before. Not me, all before.”

“Oh,” Mason said, dropped from that professional voice to one a little more casual. Clients liked that, made them feel like friends or something. Personal anecdotes. “Yeah, one of my boys got those too after a little scare with a SUV that was speeding through our neighborhood. It’s fixable.”

“Thank goodness,” Tomas muttered, head in hands. “He’s still scared of that guy. I just, I just wish he wasn’t so scared of everything. I want him to be calm, and comfortable, and feel safe with me. I, I care about him.”

Companion, Mason noted. “Sounds like you’re trying all the right things. I’ll see what I can do to help you and-” he checked the form again “Rowe.”

A sigh of relief from Tomas. It had been a while since there was someone who could help him with Rowe. After, after the whole Kasia debacle that blew up in his face.

It was nice to have someone on his side again. Someone who wanted to help Rowe like he did.

A few more pleasantries, and they said their goodbyes. Mason hung up the phone, glancing over to the pet that had been kneeling in his office. It had been trembling the entire time, not daring to look up. Mason stretched as he stood and made his way over to it. He crouched down, taking the pet by the chin to examin its face.

Big, scared brown eyes couldn’t decide where to look; flickering from the floor to his face, but never quite reaching his eyes. Poor thing flinched when he brought up his other hand to inspect the sloppily shorn hair. He could already tell that the pet was layered in scars, trying to breathe silently but given away by a slightest rasp. It tried to studder something out, but the words got caught.

Mason tutted, using his thumb to rub the boy’s temple in comforting circles. Barbaric. That���s the only way to describe the treatment of the pet’s previous owner. How could people do shit like this? Pet were just that - pets, not just living punching bags. Disciple needed to be humane, needed to help get the lesson across instead of useless violence.

The comforting touch seemed to confuse it even more, the pet staying stalk still. He tried a different spot, and the pet quickly relaxed, neck going slack. Mason smiled a little, faintly remembering another pet that came through a while ago. Loved touch, that one did.

He wondered how it was doing now.

~

Rowe couldn’t stop shaking. He was trying, oh he was trying his best but he just couldn’t seem to stop. The man was big, biceps as big as Rowe’s head. He was shorter than Master Tomas, but he scared Rowe more.

And that made him feel so guilty.

He should respect his Master the most; should be the most concerned about what Master Tomas thought or wanted. He shouldn’t care so much about what happened to him, or about what this man would do. He just needed to be good, and obey. But he was scared. This man was going to fix him, teach him to be better, and with Rowe’s old Master that always meant pain. Pain and darkness and hunger that hollowed him out. Burns and cuts and lashes and begging that made everything worse.

When the man lifted his other hand, Rowe flinched away from it. He wasn’t ready to be hit again. Master Tomas had been too easy on him! Too pitying, too nice. He had gone soft, spending all this time doing house chores and sleeping on a bed and reading. Now he needed to learn his place again and it scared him so much.

“P-p-please Sir, please. I-I-I-I, I, hng-“ Rowe’s voice cracked, and he could feel heat rush to his face. The man made a little clicking noise, and Rowe froze. A thumb was rubbing little circles into his temple and he didn’t know what to do. He found himself looking into the man’s face, utterly confused. Was, wait – did Rowe do something right? What was happening? It, it didn’t hurt. It felt kind of nice. What was he supposed to do? He stayed still, chest rising and falling quickly.

The man made an expression, but it was gone so quickly Rowe couldn’t tell what it meant. Hands reached for his neck, and Rowe whimpered. But they just laid across his skin, not squeezing or putting any pressure. Even so, Rowe still felt faint. Oh, oh oh he must have been so so so bad.

But there was no pain. The man’s fingertips pressed into the back of his neck, right where his spine met his skull. Little circles again, digging into the muscle. Rowe’s head moved a little with the motion for a second - before he felt the tension in his neck just melt away.

It felt so good, his eyes fluttered closed. It was hard to keep his head up straight, gravity pulling it back to rest on the man’s hands. Rowe was still incredibly confused, but he didn’t want it to stop. Didn’t want to mess up somehow and lose this reward that he certainly hadn’t earned. He almost didn’t hear it when the man started talking.

“Feeling a little ignored, eh? Had a bitch of an owner before, didn’t you. Fucked you up real good.”

Rowe’s brain snapped to attention hearing mention of his old owner. He tried to shake his head a little. No, no his old owner was fair. Rowe was the one who kept messing up and needing correcting. He was just a pet, that was how he was supposed to be treated. He knew better. He knew it.

“Hey hey hey,” Mason said, suddenly stopping the motion and firmly holding Rowe’s neck straight. The brown eyes flew open, wrenched from his blissful state. “No, you don’t correct your Trainer. Your old owner was wrong. Now, let’s get you all fixed up for your Master. No more acting out, no more breaking your rules, no more attention seeking.”

Rowe cringed in on himself as he was reprimanded. Yes, yes that’s what he had been doing. Trying to take up Master’s time like an ungrateful thing. He could be good. He could show the man he was well trained.

“I-I’m, I’m sorry. Please, p-please p-punish me, I-“

Mason scoffed lightly, releasing Rowe and stand. “Yes, but that’s only part of the reason you’re here.”

He paused. “Talkative. Does your Master like you to talk with him?”

Rowe’s jaw snapped shut, eyes wide as he realized what had happened. He covered his mouth with his hands instinctively but nodded to answer his Trainer’s question.

“Alright. What does he do for punishments?”

Rowe shivered, starting to tremble again – wait when did he stop – remembering his old punishments. But Master Tomas never did that. He was so kind to Rowe.

“He, he, he h-has me remove spider-rs? Sometimes? Or, um, or he, um.”

Mason sighed and rolled his eyes. Of course, one of those loosey-goosy owners that never punished anything. Probably too afraid to seem like “the bad guy” or like the pet’s old Master. Two extreme pet owners; too much punishment and not enough.

Rowe stopped talking immedicably, unsure of what to do. The Trainer gestured for him to stand as well, and Rowe obeyed. Mason took a step behind him, pinning one of the pet’s wrists to the small of its back while the other hand firmly gripped the back of its neck. The lack of collar made sense now.

“Come on. Let’s get you to the training floor and get started.”

~

Tomas was pacing in the waiting room. The door opened, and Tomas wheeled around.

“Master Tomas!”

Rowe came up to him excitedly, not falling to his knees, but standing sheepishly in front of him. Tomas looked him up and down, a little shocked.

“Rowe? Oh-h, you seem, well.”

Rowe nodded, eyes locked on Tomas’ face. “I, I am! Thank, thank you.”

Tomas glanced over and saw Mason leaning in the doorframe, looking rather smug with himself. Tomas smiled at him half-heartedly. He filled out the paperwork quickly, anything he had to do to take Rowe home.

Every day Rowe was gone made Tomas doubt his decision more. He was so glad they were going home, and that all of this was behind them. He already felt awful for sending Rowe away for the week or so he’d been gone. He’d thoroughly missed having Rowe around the house.

The moment they left, Tomas took Rowe’s hand.

“Are you really okay? Rowe, I’m so sorry I shouldn’t have done that to you. Did he hurt you? What did he do?”

“I’m fine, M-Master,” Rowe said, smiling. There was a pause in the conversation for him to add more, to answer the other questions, but he didn’t. Tomas swallowed, not really believing him.

~

Rowe curled his toes and twitched his shoulders as he spoke. (If you have to move, if you have to flinch or feel scared, move somewhere your Owner can’t see. No one wants a pet that flinches away) Master Tomas seemed concerned. And sorry? Sorry for what? Rowe was his pet and Master Tomas could send him wherever he wanted.

His trainer had been fair, helping Rowe be the best he could. But, but he didn’t want to go back to the Trainer. Under his arms still stung, the little electrodes removed only that morning. There were so many things he had to remember, so many secret rules that he needed to follow to keep Master Tomas happy. To make sure Master Tomas knew his pet was calm, and comfortable, and felt safe with him. It was a lot to remember, but his Trainer has explained that this was how Rowe showed how thankful he was.

You don’t need attention; you need to make sure your Master is happy.

He, he kind of liked his Trainer, but he was also so scary. He got loud sometimes, able to make Rowe nearly fall apart with just his words. And he was downright terrifying when he made Rowe tell him about his nightmares. All the little details and everything that happened. Making Rowe say it over and over again; but with a different ending. Saying that Master Tomas had come and saved him. Taken him away from his old Master.

His Trainer said it would help. Help stop the nightmares. That, and the stretches that didn’t hurt so much after hours of practice. Master Tomas had saved him, and he was forever grateful to him. So thankful to be his pet.

Pets smiled. Pets did what they were told. Good pets followed the secret rules, the ones that kept them good pets. His Trainer had explained those, too. Explained why Master Tomas acted how he did. Why he acted kind.

Why he told Rowe he was a person.

He wasn’t, Rowe knew and his Trainer made sure he knew, but it made Master Tomas feel better to say. So, it was a good thing. Anything that made Master happy was a good thing. Rowe just had to play along. It wouldn’t be hard, as long as he reminded himself the truth when he was alone.

He was a pet.

He was there to be a companion to Master Tomas.

He wasn’t a person.

He belonged to Master Tomas.

He did what Master Tomas wanted.

Master Tomas saved him so he could do whatever he wanted to Rowe (even play this pretend game with him)

He was a pet.

Rowe just had to follow his secret rules.

Just because Master Tomas hadn’t given him rules didn’t mean there weren’t any.

[debbiechanclub]

Best Two Out of Three, Part 23

😁 I’m nervous.

Three more parts after this. @what-does-mine-say and I can’t promise it won’t end in total devastation. 

(Note: If you start reading this and are a little confused, you might have missed Part 22. I think a lot of people did. Click the link below to catch up!)

Best Two Out of Three

Part: 23/26

Pairing: Kenny Omega x OFC x Cash Wheeler and Adam Page x OFC x Matt Jackson 

Word count: 6.1k

Warnings: Language; angst; overwhelming heartbreak

Catch up on previous parts here.

Tag squad: @freshlysqueezedmox @gabbynorth98 @librathepheonix13 @irish-newzealand-idian-dutch @exe-sadboi-exe @comeasyoudar

Beep-beep-beep!

Matt’s alarm clock blared through the early Tuesday morning silence, waking Callie just as she was dozing off again. She felt Matt roll away to shut it off, returning them to quiet, and then he rolled back and wrapped his arm around her again, pulling her close. She let out a contented hum as she snuggled back against his chest. He’d already hit the snooze button twice, and she knew they had to get up soon. But she didn’t want to.

“As much as I don’t want to get out of this bed, we should really get up,” Matt said. His voice was husky with sleep, and Callie’s senses tingled as he nuzzled her neck and pressed his lips against her pulse. He slipped his hand underneath her shirt and traced his fingers over her stomach, ghosting over her skin. Callie grinned, her eyes closed.

“Someone’s up,” she teased.

“Fuck.” Matt rolled away and adjusted himself underneath his sweatpants. Callie bit back a laugh. She didn’t mind. Honestly, she liked knowing that she turned him on. It had been a while since she’d felt wanted like that.

She rolled over and rested her head on his chest, and he wrapped his arm around her and buried his fingers in her hair, messaging her scalp. She’d felt wanted last night, too. They’d ordered Chinese and cuddled in front of the TV until she’d started falling asleep, and then he’d taken her hand and led her to his bed, where she’d drifted off wrapped in his arms. She wished they could have another night together. But they had to go get on a plane.

“Do we have to go back to Jacksonville?” she asked as she rubbed his bare chest.

“Yes,” he chuckled and kissed her head.

“But I just got here.”

“I know. But at least we won’t have to turn right back around on Thursday.”

Callie frowned. On the contrary, she didn’t think that was a good thing. Because the longer they spent in Jacksonville, the more time she’d have to spend around Adam; and with whatever was going on between her and Matt… just the thought stressed her out.

“Are you getting your own room?” he asked.

“Yeah. Who else would I room with? You?”

She was being sarcastic. But he smirked. “Yeah. I’ll tell Nick he has to stay with Kenny this week.”

She scoffed. “That would go over well.”

He let out a silent laugh. Callie felt it rumble in his chest. “It’s alright. I’ll just sneak into your room.”

She looked up at him. “Who says you’d get anything?”

Matt didn’t answer. He hooked his fingers underneath her chin, tilted her mouth up toward his, and kissed her. Slow at first—but quickly needy. Wanting. Callie slid her palm up his chest and maneuvered so that she was half on top of him, straddling his thigh, tangling her fingers in his hair. He moved his hand to her backside, and she hummed into his mouth when he gave it a squeeze. She could feel him straining harder through his sweats. It sobered her up and she broke away.

“Sorry,” she sheepishly apologized. “I’m being a tease.”

But Matt shook his head. “Don’t apologize. I don’t want to do anything you don’t want to.”

Callie bit back a smile. Part of her did want to, but it was too soon. She appreciated that Matt understood that.

“Besides,” he added. “It’s not your fault you could just look at me and turn me on.”

Her cheeks flushed and she rolled her eyes. “Stop.”

“What? It’s true.” He reached up and brushed her hair away from her face, running his fingers over her brow. “You’re gorgeous. I’ve always thought so.”

He took her in, studying her features, and Callie’s heart did a little flutter. She could get lost in those eyes of his if she wasn’t careful.

Beep-beep-beep!

But then the alarm went off again. Matt let out a sigh and silenced it for the final time. “Okay, we really do need to get up now.”

They reluctantly untangled from each other, and Matt threw back the covers and climbed out of bed. “I’m gonna get in the shower. You want to join me or…?”

She smirked up at him. “Keep trying.”

He put his hands on the mattress and leaned toward her. “You know I will,” he grinned, and he gave her a kiss. He pulled away too soon for her liking and shot her a wink as he disappeared into the bathroom, leaving her wanting more.  

* * * * * * * * * *

Later that evening, Callie stood in her hotel bathroom primping her blonde waves in the mirror. She, Matt, and Nick had arrived in Jacksonville a couple hours ago, and she and Matt were going out to dinner—just the two of them. It had surprised her when she’d found out that Nick wouldn’t be joining them—and she was relieved Kenny wouldn’t be—but then she’d gotten nervous. Was it meant to be a date? Matt hadn’t said it was, but she’d put a little extra effort into her appearance, anyway. She wanted to look good for Matt, date or not. She knew that now.

He knocked on the door just as she walked out of the bathroom. She hurried to grab her purse and open the door. Matt’s eyebrows arched as she stepped into the hall.

“Wow.”

He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her in for kiss. Callie returned it as the door fell closed behind her —but she quickly pulled away. “I thought we agreed no PDA?”

They’d agreed on it before they’d left for the airport: no handholding, no kissing, no anything in public—and especially not at Daily’s Place. Matt had pushed back a little, but he’d conceded for her sake. At least for the time being, Callie preferred that they kept whatever this was between them as just that: between them.

But if the look on Matt’s face was any indication, it would be harder to do that than she thought. “I know, but I couldn’t help myself,” he said. “Plus, no one’s around.”

He leaned in again, and she couldn’t help but give in that time. The danger of being caught only made his kiss that much more tantalizing. She had to fight back a moan when he tugged at her bottom lip as he pulled away.

“Maybe we should order in,” he smirked.

She pushed him away at that. “No! I took all this time to look nice for you. Thanks for returning the favor, by the way,” she quipped with a glance at his t-shirt and jeans.

He pursed his lips. “Please. You know I look good.”

Callie just shook her head, an amused smirk on her lips. He did look good, but she didn’t need to tell him that. His ego was big enough as it was.

They walked side-by-side down the hall, making sure to keep a respectable distance from each other. But Callie kept catching the scent of his cologne, and she didn’t want to keep her distance. He was right—there wasn’t anyone around. So when they stepped onto the elevator, all alone, she reached out and intertwined her fingers with his. Matt smiled and gave her hand an affectionate squeeze—but then the elevator stopped on the floor just below. The doors slid open, and they were suddenly met with Trent, Chuck, Orange, and Alex.  

Callie couldn’t pull her hand from Matt’s fast enough. Alex stared at them, her eyes wide and unblinking. Callie’s entire face went red. She prayed she hadn’t seen them holding hands.

“We’ll get—” Alex started to say—but Orange walked onto the elevator, unbothered. Callie rolled her eyes. Of course.

Trent, Chuck, and Alex all filed in after him. Callie stepped back against the wall; she felt Matt place a comforting hand on the small of her back. She gave him a tense smile.

The doors slid closed. Chuck cleared his throat. “Well this is awkward.”

“Well now it is,” Matt shot.

Trent’s brow lowered. “Where are Nick and Kenny? Are you meeting them somewhere? Or is it just you two tonight?”

Callie felt Matt tense next to her. “Why don’t you mind your business?” he returned.

Trent scoffed. “So just you two, then?”

Alex looked up at him. “Stop,” she mouthed. For whatever reason, it angered Callie.

“Why don’t you put a muzzle on your attack dog, Alex?”

“What?” Alex, Trent, and Chuck all said at once. The elevator arrived at the lobby with a ding. “What the hell is your problem?” Alex added.

The elevator doors slid open and Matt ushered Callie out. But she talked back over her shoulder at Alex. “Really? You sicced him on Matt for no good reason last week.”

Alex’s mouth dropped as the rest of them exited the elevator. She looked hurt. Callie didn’t care.

But Trent barked out a laugh. “Look, I don’t know what lies he told you, but Alex didn’t ‘sic’ me on him. I knocked out your boyfriend on my own.”

“You didn’t knock me out.”

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

Callie and Matt exchanged a glance. The corners of her mouth turned down. She hadn’t meant for that to come out so harsh, but it was true—he wasn’t her boyfriend.

“Awkward,” Orange commented.

“We don’t have time for this,” Matt breathed, agitated. “Sorry you’re still upset I told the truth about dear Alex.”

He started to lead Callie away again; but Alex spoke up. “You basically called me a slut.”

He shrugged. “Yeah. And?”

Trent started for him, but Chuck put a hand on his shoulder and pushed him back. “Dude, he’s not worth it.”

Matt scoffed. “Come on.” He reached for Callie—but then Trent said something unexpected.

“You want to settle this? Then give us a match. A mixed tag match.”

It was Callie who scoffed that time. “What?”

Trent shrugged. “What, scared you’ll get DQ’d again?”

Callie bristled. But Matt responded before she could.

“We have way more important things to do than wrestle a mixed tag match against you two clowns.”

“Yeah, like what? Screwing over Hangman some more?”

Anger rose in Callie’s chest. Trent didn’t know the half of what he was spouting. He didn’t know the pain Adam had caused her; he didn’t know how Matt had been there for her when she’d needed it most. Adam had done this to himself, and she told Trent exactly that.

“Hangman screwed himself.”

Alex’s lips parted in silent shock as she stared back at her. But Callie held her chin high. She was done feeling guilty and sorry for herself.

Matt smirked. “What she said,” he added. And as he led Callie away from them and out of the hotel, she looped her arm through his and hugged herself close, not caring who saw.

* * * * * * * * * *

Alex knew it was probably a bad idea to try to talk to Callie. A lost cause, even. But after their run-in at the hotel last night, she had to try. She doubted they’d ever be friends again—things had gotten too messy, too personal—but she hoped they could at least come to an understanding. She hadn’t meant for any of this to happen. If nothing else, she hoped Callie could see that.

Colt had told her he’d seen her in catering. Alex spotted her sitting alone at a table in the corner. She crossed the room, pulled out the chair opposite her, and sat down. “We need to talk.”

Callie gave her a hostile look. “There is nothing we need to—”

“I’m sorry, okay?”

That stunned her into silence; she obviously hadn’t expected an apology. But she didn’t push back, so Alex went on.

“I can’t imagine how much this entire situation has hurt you, and I’m sorry. But I need you to know that none of it was intentional. I swear. I was completely blindsided when—”

She cut herself off, instantly filled with regret. She’d put her foot in her mouth. That last thought had come out like stream of consciousness and she didn’t want to finish it. But judging by the dark look on Callie’s face, she’d already figured out exactly how it would go.  

“When what?” she pressed.

Alex frowned. Her voice came out quiet; ashamed. “When Adam told me how he felt.”

Callie let out a breath. She looked down at her nearly empty plate. “So he’s told you now.”

The weight of that statement was crushing. The truth of Adam’s feelings wasn’t just speculation anymore—it was fact. Alex fumbled to recover. “Not in so many words but… I had no idea, Callie.”

“Oh please, Alex,” Callie spat. “A blind man could see that Adam’s in love with you.”

Her chair scraped loudly against the floor as she abruptly stood from the table and snatched up her plate. Alex jumped up to follow. “Come on, he’s not in love with me,” she insisted. But she wasn’t sure she believed it herself.

“I’m done with this conversation,” Callie returned. She dumped her plate in the trash can and made a beeline for the door. But Alex wasn’t done with the conversation.

“Well you should know that I rejected him,” she said as they crossed into the hall. Callie scoffed.

“Oh what, afraid there won’t be enough of you to go around if you add Adam on top of Cash, Kenny, and Trent?”

Alex’s brow lowered. “Trent? And fuck you, Callie. I’d expect a dig like that from Matt, but not you.”

“Stop attacking Matt.” She halted and whirled around to face her. “He was there for me when no one else was.”

The anger in her eyes struck Alex frozen. She didn’t know what to say. She knew what she wanted to say. She wanted to say that she would have been there for her if only she’d said something. But of course Callie hadn’t said anything to her. Alex was, in part, the cause of all this, even if she hadn’t known it. She couldn’t have been there for Callie, even if she’d wanted to be.

“I didn’t want any of this to happen,” she said.

Callie’s eyes darkened. There was no belief in her expression, no hope of forgiveness, not even a glimmer of it. Alex had thought right—this was a lost cause.

“Well that didn’t keep it from happening,” she bit, and when she turned and walked away that time, Alex let her go.

* * * * * * * * * *

Alex had wanted to go out with Chuck and Trent for their match against Santana and Ortiz, but they’d both told her no; their feud had been too brutal and too personal and they didn’t want to put her in harm’s way. It had annoyed her—she felt like they were treating her with kid’s gloves because of everything with Matt and Callie. But the longer she watched from backstage, the more she started to think they’d made the right call.

Santana and Ortiz had jumped them on the ramp as they’d walked out. Alex had watched through her fingers as Ortiz had choked Trent with a rolled-up t-shirt; she’d cringed when Santana had thrown Chuck from the stage into a structure of steel chairs that he’d built himself. He still hadn’t recovered by the time the match had officially started, and Trent was left to fend for himself. Somehow, he’d managed to hold his own—until he tried to hit Santana with a spear outside the ring. Santana leapfrogged over him and Trent went crashing into the steel barricade. Alex covered her eyes again. She didn’t know how much more of this she could watch.

“Now Chuck Taylor makes the tag!” Excalibur proclaimed.

She looked back at the TV. Chuck started clearing house, and after sending Santana and Ortiz both outside the ring, he launched himself over the ropes and hit a picture-perfect tope con giro. He threw Santana back inside the ring, followed up with Sole Food and the Falcon Arrow and went for the cover—but Ortiz jumped from the turnbuckle and broke up the pin.

“Fuckin’ A,” Alex breathed.

Not wasting any time, Chuck hit Santana with a Sunset Flip powerbomb right into another pin attempt, but Santana kicked out. Trent tagged in after that. He rebounded off the ropes and caught Santana with a bicycle knee strike. Alex wrung her hands in front of her, hopeful that the tides were finally turning in Best Friends’ favor. But when Trent climbed through the ropes onto the ring apron to follow-up with more offense, Ortiz held his legs so that he couldn’t move. Santana charged. He shoulder-checked Trent and sent him flying back-first square onto the steel steps outside the ring.

“Fuckin’ A,” Alex repeated. At this point, she had half a mind to go out there with a steel chair, a kendo stick, something. She had a feeling Santana and Ortiz had another dirty trick up their sleeve, and it would only be a matter of time before they pulled it out.

They threw Trent back into the ring. Santana tagged in Ortiz. They set up for the Street Sweeper, but Chuck pulled Santana down from the turnbuckle and sent him bouncing off the ring apron. Trent reversed Ortiz’s hold and hit a Crunchie. He covered him—but he was too close to the ropes. Santana revived himself to put Ortiz’s arm on the bottom rope just in time, and the ref broke the count.

“Seriously?” Alex ran her hands through her hair, watching in frustration as Santana grabbed Chuck and tossed him over the barricades into the crowd. Then he crouched down next to the ring. He slipped his hand behind the apron and grabbed something.

“No,” Alex said to herself. In the ring, Trent tried to pick up Ortiz for a powerbomb, but he couldn’t lift him for the pain in his back. Ortiz escaped him and pushed him toward the ropes—and then Santana flicked open that retractable baton and cracked Trent right in the spine. The ref didn’t see it.

“Fuuuuck.”

Santana tagged in. Ortiz picked up Trent. They hit the Street Sweeper. Santana hooked Trent’s leg, and that was it.

Alex didn’t want to sit backstage any longer. She hurried to Gorilla and went through the tunnel and down the ramp. She shot Santana and Ortiz a glare as she passed them and ducked through the ropes. They smirked and talked shit, but she ignored them as she knelt next to Trent on the mat.

“Hey, are you okay?”

He didn’t look thrilled to see her. “What’re you doing out here?” he groaned.

She just pursed her lips and helped him sit up. He was obviously in pain. Chuck rolled into the ring and they both helped Trent to his feet.

“What happened?” Chuck asked.

Alex glowered at the retreating backs of Santana and Ortiz. “Santana hit Trent with that baton of his. Bryce didn’t see it.”

“Fuck,” Chuck breathed.

They all exited the ring and went back up the ramp. Trent leaned on Alex’s shoulders and she wrapped her arm around his waist for support as they walked slowly back through the tunnel. Gorilla was full of people when they returned backstage. An eight-man tag match was next, pitting SCU and Private Party against Jurassic Express and the Young Bucks; the winning teams would face each other that Saturday at All Out. Alex noticed Matt and Nick out of the corner of her eye, but she ignored them. Unfortunately, Matt and Nick didn’t give them the same courtesy.

“Sucks losing unfairly, doesn’t it?” Nick smirked.

Alex shot him a venomous glare. “Mind your business, Nick.”

Matt let out a laugh. “Oh, that’s rich.”  

“Alright, seriously,” Chuck spoke up. “I’ve had enough of your bullshit and I wasn’t even there when Trent knocked your ass out.”

“He didn’t knock me out,” Matt insisted again.

Alex scoffed. “Yeah he fucking did.”

He turned his glare on her. “Why don’t you go get bent, Alex? It’s what you’re best at.”

Trent pulled away from her and walked threateningly up to Matt. Nick stepped between them, but he completely ignored him. “I thought I warned you about saying anything to her ever again.”

Matt nodded. “Yeah, you did. But you didn’t do shit about it last night, and you won’t do shit about it now.”

“Try me,” Trent challenged.

A cruel, cocky smirk curled Matt’s lips. “Alex is a sl—”

Trent lunged for him, but Nick pushed him back. Chuck ran over and grabbed Nick, spun him around and tossed him away, and with the coast clear, Trent speared Matt into a stack of equipment crates with a violent crash. The four of them starting brawling, throwing fists left and right, but the chaos was short-lived. Jurassic Express pried apart Chuck and Nick while SCU did the same for Trent and Matt. The latter pair fought tooth and nail to get back at each other.

“You want your mixed tag match?” Matt shouted as he strained against Kazarian’s grip. “You got it, next Wednesday. And I’ll make sure I knock you the fuck out.”

“You’re on,” Trent spat. “But trust me: you won’t even get the chance to try before Alex makes your girl tap.”

He shoved Scorpio off him, and he, Chuck, and Alex backed out of Gorilla, the gauntlet officially thrown.

* * * * * * * * * *

By the time Kenny asked FTR if their whole plan had been to “bamboozle” him while he was out there by himself, Adam had decided he’d heard enough. He made his way through the halls toward the ring, his AEW World Tag Team Championship in one hand, his whiskey glass in the other. He appeared on the entrance stage just before a fight could break out.

“Yeah, Adam, come on!” Dax taunted when he saw him. “It’s the great Adam Page, everyone! It’s the big superstar! It’s the cowboy hero! Everyone give him his welcome!”

Adam glowered at Tully as he passed him by. “Stay the fuck out of my way,” he muttered to him. He ducked into the ring. And then he fixed his red, watery eyes on FTR.

“We’ve been waiting to hear from you, Adam!” Dax went on, talking loudly and forcefully into the mike. “Why don’t you go ahead and tell Kenny, why don’t you explain to him who got in your head? Go on! Explain to him who made you do the things you did! Tell him what you told us last week at the bar—tell him who made you turn on your best friends so you wouldn’t have to have a rematch at All Out. Tell him who pushed your girlfriend into the arms of another man.”

Adam bit down on his jaw. Dax fixed him with a dark, unforgiving stare.

“Because it wasn’t us,” he said, pointing between himself and Cash. “In fact, it wasn’t anybody. It was you.”

Adam’s vision went blurry. He had told them that in confidence last week. He knew he’d done this to himself. He knew he’d pushed Callie away. He knew he’d thrown the Young Bucks’ gauntlet match not only to get revenge on Matt, but because he felt—he knew—they were better than him. But he’d told them that in confidence. They were supposed to be his friends.

But now, Dax was unrelenting. He looked at Kenny. “Listen, you’ve known him for four or five years. I’ve known Adam Page his whole career, and his whole career he’s been nothing more than an insecure little boy.”

Adam stood up straight, took a step closer to Dax. But he didn’t stop.

“And that’s the thing—you got in your own head. We did nothing! We didn’t have to talk to you at all—you got in your head. So tell him! Explain to Kenny! Explain to him how you’re so egotistical, how you’re so egocentric all you do is care about yourself! Tell him, Adam, how big of a piece of shit you are!”

Kenny immediately stuck out a hand to hold Adam back. It only made him angrier. He stumbled toward Dax, but Kenny pushed him back harder, flinging his title from his grip and throwing his own to the mat. Adam glared at Kenny, right in his face. Kenny shoved him again.

“They’re trying to get in your head again!” he told him, pointing at his own temple. “They’re trying to get in your head again! Don’t listen to ‘em!”

He glared at him, jaw hard. Cash took the mike from Dax.

“You know what, Adam?” he said. “I think Kenny already knows how big of a piece of shit you are.”

Kenny looked back at him, hesitant. He shook his head, but he didn’t say anything. Adam didn’t know what to make of it. But then he saw Dax and Cash pick up their tag title belts from the mat. Adam rounded on them.

“Come on, put those down,” he asked. Not angry—defeated. “Just give ‘em back.”

Cash and Dax glanced at each other. They both held out the titles; but just before Adam could take them, they dropped them to the canvas.

Adam’s eyes connected with Cash’s as he ducked out of the ring. Even though Dax had been the one who’d berated him, Cash was the one he was most angry with; the one he was most hurt by. He never should have pushed Alex to him. He didn’t deserve her. Not in a million years.

He bent down and picked up the belts. He held out Kenny’s to him as he stood—but Kenny didn’t take it. He looked. Kenny was outside the ring, his hands on his hips. And then he walked away, disappearing into the back.

Adam couldn’t be out there a second longer. He slid both titles onto his left arm and picked his whiskey glass back up as he ducked out of the ring and moved back through one of the tunnels, in a daze. He brought the whiskey to his lips and took a drink. When he saw Callie’s distorted image through the bottom of the glass, he thought he’d imagined her. But when he pulled the glass down in a panic, he saw she was real.

She walked tentatively closer, a frown creasing her pretty face. “Hey. Are you okay?”

Adam’s brow lowered. Her false sympathy was the last thing he needed after what had just happened. “Don’t act like you care, Cal.”

He tried to walk past her, but she put a hand on his bicep. It tugged at his heart.

“I do care. I still care if you’re okay, Adam.”

She turned him to face her, stepping close, still hesitant. But then she took a chance and reached up and hugged him.

“You’re not a piece of shit,” she said.

Adam stiffened. But then he smelled her perfume. It was his favorite perfume of hers. It smelled like fresh cut roses. He relaxed and hugged her back.

Her hand went to the back of his neck, holding him, gently squeezing, and he buried his face in her hair. In that moment, things felt restored between them. Maybe it was the whiskey, but right then, he just wanted her back. And so, when she unwound her arms from around his shoulders and pulled slowly away, he caught her lips in his and kissed her.

It was tender, pleading. And for a second, she kissed him back. But then she abruptly pulled away like he’d burned her.

“Why would you kiss me?” she asked, just above a whisper.

He stared back at her, unsure what to say. “I’m sorry. I just—”

She cut him off. “We aren’t together anymore. You made that choice,” she said, and she turned and left him standing there, half-wondering if he’d imagined the entire thing.

* * * * * * * * * *

Alex was enraged. Murderous. She felt blindsided. Duped. Hurt. She needed to speak with Cash. Now.

She found FTR just as they were about to retreat into their locker room with Tully. She picked up her pace, her hands balled into fists at her sides. “Hey! Hey!”

Dax saw her first. “Here we go,” he breathed with a roll of his eyes.

She pointed a firm finger in his face. “Fuck you, asshole.”

Dax’s brow lowered. “Excuse me?”

“Alright, alright,” Cash put a hand on his shoulder as he tried to advance, but Alex came in hot.

“What the fuck was that out there, huh? Was that your plan from the get-go? To make Adam think you were his friend and then just shit all over him once he’d served his purpose?”

“It’s like I said out there, sweetheart,” Dax returned. “Adam did that shit to himself.”

Alex saw red. “You piece of shit snake—"

“Alex!” Cash gripped her arm. “Come on.” He pulled her away from Dax and around a corner. She wrenched free from his grip and pushed him away.

“Don’t touch me. Don’t fucking come near me.”

Cash held his palms in the air. “I know you’re upset—”

“Oh, don’t try to justify what you just did out there,” she bit. “Don’t try to justify the awful fucking things you just said to him.”

His arms fell to his sides. There was no remorse in his eyes. “Alex, you know better than anyone that Adam is his own worst enemy.”

The air seemed to leave Alex’s lungs. He might as well have punched her in the gut. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing; didn’t want to believe it. She’d thought she’d known Cash. She’d thought she’d known who he was. But now, it was like she was looking at a complete stranger.

“You sat across from him at the hotel bar last week and acted like you were his friend,” she evenly returned. “Like you had his fucking back.”

“He—”

“No,” she held up a finger, silencing him. “You tricked him. And you know what? You tricked me, too.”

Her nose burned. Tears stabbed at the back of her eyes. Her next words came out choked. Hurt.

“I can’t believe I was ever falling in love with you.”

Cash’s face fell. She didn’t give him a chance to respond as she turned and marched away, back around the corner, past FTR’s locker room, her vision blurring with unshed tears. She didn’t stop until she reached one of the lounges. She slipped behind the curtains and sunk down into one of the booths, let her head fall back against the cushions, and closed her eyes, pushing the tears out. They streamed down her face, silent. She was broken; defeated. She couldn’t take this anymore, not any of it. It was all too much.

“Alex?”

She wilted at the soft sound of Kenny’s voice from across the room. “Kenny, I just want to be alone.”

She opened her eyes. He walked toward her, his eyes just as soft as his voice had been. “You’re crying. I’m not just gonna leave you alone to cry.”

For whatever reason, hearing him say that only made the tears come faster. He sat down and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into him. She buried her face in his neck, gripping the fabric of his shirt in her fists, shaking.

“I’m sorry,” she muttered.

“What?” he hugged her tighter. “What are you apologizing for?”

“For leaving you for him. I shouldn’t have ever done that.” She pulled back and looked up at him, eyes shining, mascara smudged. “He wasn’t worth it. I’m sorry.”

Kenny frowned at her. “Baby…” he wiped the tears from her face and hugged her again. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not,” she shook her head against him. “It’s not okay. What he just did to Adam is not okay.”

Her body shook. He rubbed his hand over her back in slow, comforting circles. Alex hadn’t expected to say that, but she knew in her heart it was true. At the time, she thought she’d been doing the right thing. But Cash had tricked her. He’d tricked them both. She felt so, so stupid.

She pulled back to look at him again. Her voice wavered as she spoke. “You have to fix things with Adam, Kenny,” she implored. “Please. Even if you don’t do it for the sake of the titles just please do it for me. You’re all he has left.”

She searched his eyes, pleading. Time seemed to pause. And then he nodded, and she felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from her chest.

“I will, baby,” he said, wiping more tears from her cheeks. “I will.”

She collapsed back into him, and he hugged her tight. Alex wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, but the tears had nearly stopped when Kenny spoke again.

“Hey.” He loosened his embrace and looked down into her eyes. “I’m not staying here in Jacksonville; I’m heading back home until All Out. Come with me. I know you said you need time, but… let’s get some space away from all this. Just you and me.”

Alex’s throat grew thick with emotion as she gazed up at him. She felt his arms around her, relished in their strong comfort. After the chaos and hurt of the last few hours—how awful Matt had been to her, how Cash had pulled the rug out from underneath her feet—after the heartbreak and stress of the last few days and weeks, Kenny felt like a safe haven. She wanted that; needed it. And so she tilted her chin up and kissed him.

Kenny wrapped her up again, drawing her as close as he could. Their mouths moved together, deep and slow, like it had been an eternity since they’d kissed. Alex tasted the salt of her tears on her tongue, smelled his cologne, felt the scratch of his beard against her face. She wanted all of him; she wanted to be anywhere but here with him.

They broke apart, breathless. He pressed his forehead against hers. “Is that a yes?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

* * * * * * * * * *

Later that night, Callie laid with Matt on the bed in her hotel room, her head on his chest, his arm around her as they watched TV. He’d asked her if she wanted some company. She’d told him yes, hoping that his presence would help her forget about the way Adam had kissed her back at the arena.

So far, it hadn’t.

“So are you sure you aren’t mad at me for making the match against Trent and Alex next week?” Matt asked.

Callie gave a short laugh despite herself. “Yes. I’m actually looking forward to it.”

“Yeah?”

She nodded. “You know she tried to apologize to me today? She claimed that she was blindsided by how Adam felt.”

“Seriously? What’d you say?”

“I told her to fuck off. Well, not in those exact terms… but basically.”

Matt chuckled. “Good. I’m glad you stuck up for yourself.”

They fell back into silence, and Callie’s thoughts turned inward again. It affected the atmosphere in the room. Matt could tell there was something on her mind.

“Hey.” He gently took her chin in his fingers and titled her face so that she looked up at him. “You deserve better than Adam, Callie. He didn’t treat you anywhere near how you should have been treated.”

He gazed down at her with those dark, captivating brown eyes. It wasn’t hard to tell what he was thinking, what was just on the tip of his tongue, aching to be said. But I would.

Callie sat up. She leaned into him, running her fingers over his chest. “Do you remember yesterday morning? In your bed?”

She didn’t look at him as he answered, focusing on her touch brushing over his skin. “How could I forget?”

“Well,” she started. “I want to.”

She flicked her eyes up to meet his. They somehow turned darker. Full of lust.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

Callie thought about it. She thought about Adam’s kiss, remembered how it had made her lips tingle as she walked away. She thought about what Alex had said to her, the revelation that Adam had actually told her how he’d felt, remembered how that had hurt her. She couldn’t reconcile the former feeling with the latter. And because of that, she needed to forget his kiss. She needed to forget him.

She nodded. “Yes.”

Matt smirked. “Come here,” he said, and he pulled her toward him and kissed her, and she let him help her forget.

[missmonsters2]

About You || Part IV

Gif by: giuliacommissions (please check her out if you’d like to commission her for gifs and other work 💞)

PAIRING: Wanda Maximoff x Fem!Reader/OFC

Summary: Wanda had never known loss like she has until she lost Pietro. It’s debilitating. She can’t eat, can’t sleep, can’t even leave her house. Life is fading fast, and she’s not sure if she even wants to hang on. Enter you, a stranger that reconnects her to the daily things that makes life beautiful.

Warnings: Deals with loss & grief and the spectrum of emotions and depression that comes with it. Please note there is no glorification in any of this. Loss, grief, and depression are nothing beautiful. Also, please don’t hesitate or reach out for help if you are in a dark place. Love you, lovelies 💘

Genre: Angst & Romance

NOTE: Did you forget about this series? I wouldn’t blame ya LOL Please drop a comment if you’d like to be part of the tag list! 😚

PART I || PART II || PART III

PART IV of X

Translations + Transliteration Пьетро - Pietro

Count: 1497

⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷⋆⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷

“Honestly, you need to get out more.”

Wanda huffs as she tries to refocus back on her painting. Pietro has decided to come visit her during his lunch hour from work and he seems to be in a mood of harassing her on her social skills—or really lack of.

“I don’t know if you noticed, Pietro, but considering that my form of a 9-5 job includes me sitting in this studio all day painting solo. There’s not much I can do about human interaction.” Wanda dabs her paintbrush in the blue of her palette, coming back up with a steady hand as she continues her work.

Her brother admires the unfinished art his sister is creating, but he grins when he hears her reply.

“If that’s the case, I can totally introduce you to someone. They would seriously be perfect for you; hopefully, help you loosen the stick up your—”

“Пьетро!” She yells, accent thick as she glares at him, a slight blush on her cheeks. She rolls her eyes as she hears his laughter.

“Alright, but seriously, Wanda. I could introduce you to someone.”

Wanda focuses on painting again, absently noticing how she’s got the color green on her thumb, but she’s pretty sure she didn’t take out green today.

“Not now, I’m pretty busy with work.”

She whines when she feels Pietro flick the back of her head.

“Look at you, all grown up and busy with work.”

⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷⋆⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷

You’re about to leave Wanda’s after doing her dishes and sweeping the floor. You’re seemingly checking to make sure you have all your things when you notice for the first time that’s heavily pouring outside.

There’s thunder and lightning, you can barely see in front of you when you look out the window.

You hum before Wanda appears beside you, looking out the window as well.

“How did you get here?” She asks softly.

“Driving,” you answer absently, still staring at the harsh rain pouring outside. It’s not like you haven’t driven in this weather before. You’re quite adept at driving in harsh conditions being overly cautious when on the road. You’ll quite often take the back roads knowing there won’t be other cars.

“This is going to be a bitch driving home,” you sigh, turning around to leave when you feel something pull at the end of your jacket.

You turn around to see Wanda looking at you seriously.

“It is too dangerous to drive,” she tells you plainly.

“It’ll be fine,” you tell her with a wave, but Wanda doesn’t let go of her hold.

“I don’t know how long it’s going to pour for, and it’s already getting pretty late,” you purse your lips.

“You can stay the night.”

You think Wanda would be more reserved about you letting her invade her space. After all, she had been quite clear about wanting you to leave and that you were a nuisance, but then you see the look in her eyes and the seriousness in them.

She won’t say it, but you don’t need her to.

“Okay,” you agree gently.

⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷⋆⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷

You find it kind of hard to fall asleep on Wanda’s couch. Not that it’s uncomfortable because her couch is weirdly better than your bed at home, but you can definitely hear the walls expanding and contracting and the drops of water from the sink.

You’ve probably lain in bed for hours now, wide awake. You sigh quietly, getting up and moussing your hair. You’re probably not going to get much sleep at this point, so you get up and to pour yourself a glass of water.

And then you hear it.

It’s quiet with Wanda having her door nearly shut, but the sound traveled through the small crack.

It was a groan.

And no, not a sexy groan, but a groan that indicated she might be in pain.

You bite your tongue, debating if you should go check because you’re not sure if Wanda would appreciate you entering her bedroom, but you hear her groan again and immediately go check. Opening the door slowly and quietly, your eyes try to adjust to the dark room. You do see a mass of hair in the bed and vague figure tossing and turning.

Making your way in, you kneel on the ground beside the bed, looking over at Wanda. Her face is scrunched up, a light sheen of sweat on her forehead, and lips trembling.

“Пьетро…”

It’s comes easier than you think it would to brush your cold fingers against her warm cheeks, watching as her face settles and unconsciously rub her face closer to your hand.

Honestly, it feels like someone is slamming a hammer right into your chest because you never thought seeing a stranger hurt like this could hurt you too.

Because she looks lost like you do.

⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷⋆⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷ 

Wanda can always tell if she’s had a nightmare. She wakes slowly, blinking in the dark. She feels different, but Wanda cannot exactly explain why.

Slowly getting up, she felt a weight drag on her hand.

Looking down, she noticed you sitting on the floor, hunched over her bed with your hand intertwined with hers.

Her eyes traveled over your bare shoulders and arms, noticing the lack of blood and tiny goosebumps, a sign you’ve been there for quite some time.

Wanda wriggles her fingers, feeling the warmth, and thinks about how hard it must’ve been to sit there as long as you did.

She can’t help but think how stupid you are.

But stupidly kind.

⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷⋆⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷ 

You watched Wanda’s face, dazed and stoic and pursed your lips as you finished up cooking.

Perhaps she was mad?

It felt like you did cross a line.

“Listen, Wanda—I’m sorry about the…hand-holding—”

“I’m hungry,” Wanda cuts you off, and you say nothing more but licking your lips as you bring the dishes to the table.

The two of you eat in comfortable silence until Wanda decides to break it again.

“Why three months?” She asks, stopping your spoon from entering your mouth mid-air. You put the spoon back down in your bowl and look over at her.

“I hardly think a month will change you, so I asked for three,” you say simply.

“Three months won’t change anything either,” Wanda argues back.

“Then I will just ask for more,” You scoop more food onto your spoon again. “If you’re so sure you’ll want to die, then it doesn’t quite matter if it’s a couple months later, does it? You can spare me more time, can’t you?”

Wanda bites her tongue.

“Why are you doing this?” She’s gripping her spoon harder then she means to, but she just doesn’t understand.

You look over at her thoughtfully.

“I want to know you.”

⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷⋆⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷

“Are you warm enough?” Wanda asks unsure as she looks at the blanket and pillow you’ve got on the couch.

You hum, “Yeah, I’m fine.”

Somehow, you’ve negotiated to living with her because if you want to help her, then you need to be with her. Less time together means more likely you’ll begging for more time in the end.

That’s what you told Wanda anyways, and she seemed to reluctantly agree.

Wanda walks back to her room, settling in her familiar bed and sighs as she looks at the ceiling.

All this eating together, sleeping, talking, and sharing…it was only for three months.

After three months, she can say no to more time and everything would go away.

Even though that’s what Wanda kept telling herself, she kept tossing and turning in bed. Her hand kept clenching and opening, and she already knew what she was missing—or wanted, exactly.

Wanda liked holding hands. She wanted the handholding. It felt good, the warmth and steady pressure.

It was a mix of both pride and fear that stopped her from getting out of bed to ask you. So, she lied there, thinking about with family you don’t get a choice. She would hold hands with Pietro when he cried the first time he was rejected from his dream job, or when his long-time girlfriend moved to another city. And while she was always willingly there for Pietro, she did realize one thing.

Wanda liked having the choice.

⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷⋆⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷

When Wanda woke through the night again, she knew right away it was different.

She sat up and hesitantly wriggled her fingers, feeling the familiar warmth and pressure. Looking down, she found you sitting on the ground by her bedside again, the similar lack of blood and goosebumps on your arms.

The wriggling seemed to wake you slightly as you hummed quietly, eyes still closed before you intertwined your fingers more intimately. Your thumb pressing into the back of Wanda’s hand and fingers lacing together.

She lay back down facing you, watching you as your head rest on your free arm, unaware of anything.

How stupid, Wanda thought.

You were going to catch a cold like this.

But Wanda was already smiling.

PART V

[ambersky0319]

could you write something with toxic logicality (unsympathetic patton) and hurt/comfort? only if you want to, though. i love your art and writing btw!

I’m really really happy you like the stuff I make! Also, it’s very rare I turn down an unsympathetic patton prompt-

Warnings: Unsympathetic/Abusive Patton, Toxic relationships, Physical abuse, Attempted control over others relationships, Implied possibility of self-harm (a situation Logan thinks up), no happy ending, please please please lmk if I need to add anything else!

Masterpost 

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

Logan and Patton had been dating for over two years now. The other sides knew, hell, even Thomas knew! They thought it was adorable, how Patton would give Logan sweet pet names and how they were practically attached at the hip. Thought it was cute how in some way they were usually touching, whether it was leaning against one another, full-on cuddling, or simple handholds. Roman would let them go on dates in the Imagination, and the even Deceit and Remus had admitted they made a very good couple.

What infuriated Logan was the fact it was all a ruse.

He didn't like Patton, not anymore. Maybe at the beginning, he had, but soon after getting together, Logan saw how huge a mistake it was. The only reason he hadn't broken up with Patton was because Patton threatened to make Logan's life a living hell, worse than it was already.

Logan wasn't afraid of being beaten, exactly. Patton already physically abused him, shoving Logan too hard into his desk or slapping or punching the side in the face, and Logan needed to pretend he just tripped or startled Patton by accident. Fight or flight instincts was a common excuse.

Besides, sometimes when Patton became particularly angry he would beat Logan anyway. One time he'd even broken one of Logan's ribs.

No, Logan was afraid of what Patton would do to himself. Because if Patton hurt himself, the blame could be pinned on Logan for breaking his heart. And Logan was scared as to how Patton harming himself would effect Thomas. He didn't want to know the consequences, and so, he continued to take Patton's abuse.

One day, Patton had finally left Logan's room to go start on dinner. His cheek he could feel was swelling quickly after Patton had punched him particularly hard, and his shoulder ached where Patton had shoved him into a wall. Logan would probably remain in his room until the swelling subsided, since there would've been no reason for Patton to have punched him and no way Logan could have fallen hard enough on anything to cause that bruise.

He decided to just read a book, pass the time quicker and wait for Patton to either bring him food or say good night. Or, if Patton didn't visit Logan again at all, go get food himself once everyone was asleep in their own rooms.

Logan's mind couldn't focus on the words he was seeing, though. His thoughts wandered to why Patton had been so angry in the first place, and he drummed his fingers against the book instead.

Remus, Patton had stated. Logan had been hanging around Remus too much.

He really hadn't been, just offered to read and edit Remus's work for him after Remus complained no one wanted to do it. He needed the feedback, and Logan was the only one completely unbiased and the only other one who could stomach all the material. And the two spent about an hour, maybe two a day just sitting on the couch. Remus would give Logan his work and create new stories as Logan edited. Patton could even see them!

But according to Patton, Remus was a terrible influence. Patton believed Remus had other motives, getting close to Logan. Thought Remus might be trying to break he and Patton up (though if Remus did, Logan would not complain), disregarding the fact that Remus was interested in Deceit and Deceit alone.

When Logan tried to defend himself and Remus, Patton had exploded at him. He didn't believe Remus could have any good intentions, and that any friendship with Remus would've been toxic. Why would Virgil stop being friends with Remus if that weren't the case?

Logan hadn't mentioned how Virgil still went to see Remus and Deceit often.

Logan shook his head and sighed, leaning back against the wall and closing his eyes. He'd just have to suck it up for now, and reduce his time spent with Remus. Or meet with him in secret, after Patton's gone to bed. He wasn't sure.

Whatever he decided, Logan just hoped it wouldn't earn him another beating.

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

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[inquartata30]

WIP Whenever Yet Again

tagged by @natsora​ which is now like:

Tagging @jt-boi-n7 and @foofyschmoofer no obligations

And here we go—

The Initiative’s leaders had gathered in Pathfinder HQ. Captain Praeton, the turian who had run the shipyard, had been the last body recovered and accounted for from the kett attack. Thaia, once Praeton’s second, was now in charge of the shipyard and with that unwanted promotion had come another: she was part of the Initiative leadership now. She’d only found out last night, the news barely registering between Zahra’s meltdown over a broken toy and Carian going missing for half an hour, buried up to her neck in a mountain of clothes she’d accidentally knocked onto herself while playing in Thaia and Lexi’s closet. She’d only been rescued her after Zahra had heard Carian’s muffled pleas for help. At least Zahra had laughed so hard at her sister’s predicament that the toy was forgotten. 

With Thaia was Aella, tucked close against her chest in her sling. She hadn’t planned on bringing her infant with her, but the second she’d tried to give Aella to someone else for the duration, Aella had started to cry. Thaia had taken her back and, bewildered as fuck, done a shallow meld with her to find out what was wrong. Once she’d peeked in her daughter’s mind, the answer had been clear. Aella simply hadn’t wanted to be separated. Before Thaia had even ended the meld, Aella had settled and fallen back asleep, the reassuring thumps of her father’s heartbeat providing her the comfort and security she’d needed.

Zahra, Anahera, and Carian were safe in Kesh’s office with Jaal, having been old enough to negotiate with. Bribed. She’d bribed them. However, even then they’d only agreed to the separation for a little while, so this meeting had to be short. So far, it didn’t look like it would be, and that really didn’t bode well for Thaia if this was supposed to be a regular thing. Those present—Kandros, Kesh, Sula, Dr. Aridana, Captain Atandra, Pathfinders Ryder, Sarissa, Hayjer, and Avitus—were silent, waiting for Director Jarun Tann to begin the meeting that he’d fucking called in the first place.

He still waited another annoyingly dramatic beat to do it.

“We must plan a funeral for all those whom we have lost,” said Tann, his speech patterns having slowed further as he’d gotten older. Age had leeched so much color from his skin that the only tinges left were hidden in the crags of his wrinkles. Ancient. He was fucking ancient for a salarian and still fucking alive when he shouldn’t have been.

The idea of a funeral was a joke. There was no body to see to, so how could Thaia fulfill the responsibility left to her by tradition? Lexi was dead but not and there would be nothing to watch rejoin the all is one whatever the fuck there was in the end. There was nothing to return to the sea. There wasn’t even a sea.

If Thaia had possessed the ability to light things on fire with her eyes, Tann would’ve been engulfed in flames. Screaming. Screaming like Lexi had over comms.

Behind his desk and not aflame, Tann glanced in Thaia’s direction and then quickly looked away. He shifted in his chair several times, like his seat had suddenly become padded with venomous snakes. He hesitated slightly before he went on. “For the living, there will be a time of mourning, so we may process our grief together.”

He had no right to grieve.

Tann shifted in his chair again. “This afternoon, I will begin the process of integrating the funerary traditions of each culture for the ceremony.”

He didn’t deserve to grieve, much less take charge of their collective grief.

“No,” Thaia said.

Finally, Tann fully acknowledged her. However, he still looked past her, at some arbitrary point on the wall painted with the shadows of everyone in the room, backlit by the Nexus’s artificial sun. “What?” he asked, rough with frustration. “What else would you have me do?”

The fucking gall, the sheer fucking audacity of him to be the one frustrated with her. She dropped her voice.. “You can start by looking me in the fucking eye.”

Slowly, slowly, he drew his eyes from the wall and looked directly at Thaia for the first time since she’d lost her bondmate. “And now will you tell me what else I can do that I have not already done?”

What he had already done was what had gotten them here in the first place. And he knew it.

Rage surged from the fire that hadn’t stopped roaring since the attack. “Invent time travel and fix your fucking mistakes. It was your fucking choices that led to the Uprising and my sister dying in Hydroponics. If that hadn’t happened, she would’ve been there when the kett attacked. Between her and Lexi, they could’ve defeated the kett. Instead—”

“Or they both could have been exalted,” said Tann, as if it was a perfectly reasonable thing to say.

It wasn’t. 

All Thaia saw was Safira and Lexi forcibly transformed into those things, bodies wrenched and twisted and screaming—

Aella was crying. Biotics writhed around Thaia, the flare wiping out the crowd of shadows cast on the wall. It hadn’t hurt Aella and never would, the biotics part of her father as much as her heart, but it had startled her. She would’ve felt the rigid tension of Thaia’s entire body, the intensity that still fueled the flare and Thaia couldn’t stop it and Aella was still crying.

Trusted hands freed Aella from the sling, a trusted friend and mentor softly saying, “I’ve got her,” and then, “we’ll be in Kesh’s office,” as Thaia mechanically passed her the sling. Aella’s crying calmed to sniffles as she was carried down the stairs. The door opened and closed. It was quiet.

Thaia didn’t snap out of it so much as stumble from it, emerging in an empty room, save for one person.

Arms loosely crossed, Sula leaned her hip against the vidcom table in the center of HQ’s middle level. To most, she would’ve appeared at ease, but worry was there in the slight lowering of her brow, along with how her blue eyes flicked back and forth, searching her daughter’s face for... Thaia wasn’t sure what. A sign of sanity, maybe.

“Well,” Sula said, easy as ever, “can’t say I’m surprised. Drack’ll be disappointed that he lost the bet on whether or not you’d throw Tann out an airlock. Tann shuffled out of here pretty quick, though. Didn’t think his old ass had it in him to move that fast.”

“He didn’t have to worry. I wouldn’t have hurt him.”

“Tann’s the only one worried about Tann. The rest of us couldn’t give a fuck about him. We’re worried about you, kid.”

Thaia looked out the window, at the Garson Ward beneath the morning-angled light. A work crew had crowded at the edges of a park scorched black. Another crew was spreading out over a razed field. A gigantic intermodal container meant to carry raw materials for shipbuilding waited on the docks, already half-filled with scrap metal from cleaning up the Commons. The Commons and Hydroponics. Then repairs would begin. Weeks would pass and then Hydroponics would be like new, not even a scar. Like after the Uprising.

Loss lodged a hot coal in her throat. 

Sula spoke again. “Might want to consider letting some of that anger flow away. It’ll tear through like a rip current, but it’ll go.” 

Thaia turned and frowned at Sula, because Sula should’ve been one of the last fucking people calling for cooler heads to prevail. Her dad should be on her side, not Tann’s.

Sula held up her hands, palms out. “I said some, not all.”

The coal crumbled to ashes and embers, scouring Thaia’s voice when she replied, “I can’t.” It was her only handhold. Fingers scraping into hardscrabble ground as she fought falling. 

“This is the most pissed off I’ve seen you since you were that twenty-year-old kid mad at her stepfather, her mother, her dad, and the whole fucking galaxy.”

“What?” Sula had saved her back then. It was what her father did. Only an ungrateful shit of a daughter would be angry with her for that. “I wasn’t mad at you.”

“No? You never got mad that I didn’t come get you after your mom bailed?” The incongruent mildness in her tone infuriated.

Thaia breathed through it. “You couldn’t. The custody agreement was ironclad.”

Sula straightened, questions suddenly thrown out harder, landing as punches. “Because your mother had physical custody of you right then? When she was on Korlus and you on Thessia? Because that asshole turian sure as fuck didn’t have any custodial rights.”

Thaia had forgotten. A few times in those first months, alone in the dark in the middle of the night, frozen in place, lungs burning with the breath she couldn’t catch after waking from her nightmare, she’d questioned why. When she hadn’t come up with an answer, she’d fumed until self-imposed guilt wracked her for being ungrateful. Rattled, she’d focused solely on Aulus, the one who’d hurt her with his hands. Never to anyone had she breathed a word of that small-hours-of-the-night resentment of Sula. But it was still there, smoldering. Her dad hadn’t physically stopped Aulus. The matriarchs in the park had. Sula had been on Illium when it happened, and then it’d been days before she’d gotten to Armali, leaving Thaia believing for all that time that she was completely alone. Now that Thaia remembered, the question wouldn’t go away no matter how many breaths she took. She rotated her left arm, loosening her shoulder before she realized what she was doing. The question persisted. Why. Why. Why hadn’t she been worthy of the same protection as her sisters?

“You can ask,” Sula said and Thaia almost jumped.

The question tumbled out bitter and brutal, her fingers curling into fists. “Why didn’t you get me earlier?”

Where Thaia’s question had been harsh, Sula’s answer was gentle, hushed, and riddled with long-lived regret. “Because I thought she’d come back, too.”

Thaia had spent every day for weeks watching the spaceport after her mother had left, hoping she would be on one of the arriving ships, then pretending she might be because her mother couldn’t really have been gone forever.  “She didn’t.” 

“No. She wasn’t herself anymore. The Indah Kallistrate I’d known for centuries had died long before I accepted it.”

Sula’s point found its mark.

Lexi’s dead.

Lexi’s dead and it’s time you accepted it. If you don’t, it’ll only hurt your kids.

Goddess, she’d made Aella cry when Aella was the one who’d lost the most, and what kind of monster was she to make her daughter cry instead of helping her feel better? Aella had already lost her mother. Unlike her sisters, she wouldn’t be able to remember Lexi at all.

“Aella will only know the Ietrai.” Thaia’s regret mirrored Sula’s, which suited, in her opinion. Like father, like daughter.

“That fucking kett isn’t her mother. Just like the person who abandoned you wasn’t your mother.”

There was another point there, the one Thaia didn’t like to think about. But, whether she acknowledged it or not, it was still one of many sources of her rage. So, it got its chance to torch, too. “I should’ve gotten there sooner.” Thaia looked out at the ward below, at the repairs being made, at the cargo container now nearly filled to the brim with wreckage. This was what failure looked like.

Sula stepped between Thaia and the window, relentlessly refusing to let Thaia break eye contact. “You didn’t have a choice to go sooner. I did. And I’ve spent a long fucking time trying to make up for not doing what you needed me to. Unlike me, you did everything right. That’s all anyone could ask of you and you need to hear that.”

What Thaia needed was for Sula to make this better, to fix this fucking nightmare, but nothing was fixed despite Sula being right there and Thaia just—goddess, she just wanted to fight. It burned through every centimeter of her body, and she tried and she tried to stop it from consuming her. Taut and shaking like a huntress’s overdrawn bow, Thaia couldn’t stop it all. “Lexi’s gone! If I’d done everything right, she would still be here!”

[dreamcatcherfication]

And Way Down We Go

Here is another mediocre Broadway Verse fic. I’m starting to think my Broadway fics have one plot point and it’s falling from heights, but that’s not important. Anyway, @theatergirl06 requested a while ago that we have some of Kat saving one of the other queens, and I know how much she loves KatAnna, so here’s some of that. This could be read platonically or romantically, I didn’t really have one or the other in mind while writing. Sorry for any spelling/grammatical errors, I use an app opposite of grammarly that creates mistakes instead of fixing them.

Writing Masterpost

If you want to send a request or a prompt, my inbox is always open! I publish a story at 8:00 AM PST everyday, so I’m always in need of new ideas (now featuring random asks). If you want to be tagged in my works, just let me know and I’ll be sure to tag you!

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Trigger Warnings: Heights?

When Anna invited Kat out for a rock climb, the girl thought she meant in an indoor gym where there would be a foam pit waiting beneath them in case they fell. Alas, that is not what Anna meant, and now Kat was stuck out in the middle of a canyon with Anna and the minimal amount of safety measures to help them. Already Anna had her climbing gear on, tying her rope around the stake she set at the top of the cliff. “Anna, I don’t know if this is a good idea.” Kat mumbled, peeking over the cliff. It was a long drop down, and she had never seen Anna or her rappelling skills to feel confident about the excursion. 

Watching Kat as she tied her knot, Anna furrowed her eyebrows. “Why? Kat, we’ve got plenty of safety gear, we’ll be fine.”

Still unsure, Kat stepped away from the edge of the cliff. “I don’t know. It’s really far down, and what if one of us slips?”

“I’ll tell you what,” Anna stood up, finished with her knot tying, “If you’re not comfortable, you don’t have to go down. You can stay up here and be my spotter, make sure I don’t get into any trouble, eh?”

Pursing her lips, Kat nodded. “If you promise to be safe -”

“I’m always safe mein Schatz, you don’t need to worry about me,” Anna assured her. With that, Anna put her feet on the edge of the cliff and pushed off, starting her journey down to the bottom of the ravine. Nervously watching her, Kat couldn’t help but bite her tongue in worry. Anna was skilled and could take care of herself, but there was still the nagging in the back of Kat’s mind that something could go wrong at any moment.

On the other hand, Anna wasn’t the least bit concerned. She had rappelled this cliff multiple times before and knew it practically like the back of her hand. All her gear was properly secured, so there was no way anything could put her in danger. Carefully putting her foot on a protruding rock, Anna cursed when the rock slipped away. “Shit!” she yelled as her body slid down the side of the cliff and landed on a small ledge.

“Anna!” Kat called from the top of the cliff. “Anna are you okay?”

“I’m fine Kat,” Anna responded, dusting herself off. She wasn’t much further down, but she had completely lost her rhythm. There weren’t many ledges nearby that she could hoist herself onto, so Anna’s only option was to climb back up using her rope. Testing the rope, Anna pulled down harshly to make sure it could hold her weight. She frowned when the rope felt loose as she yanked on it. Her confusion was answered when the rope came falling down from the top of the cliff, no longer attached to the stake. Anna groaned, “Kat?”

Kat was lying flat on the ground, her head over the edge so she could better see Anna. “Are you hurt Anna? Do you need me to come get you?”

“No!” Anna immediately shouted up. She knew how terrified Kat had been of rappelling in the first place, so Anna wasn’t going to make the girl come down to get her. She could figure this out on her own, Anna reasoned. “My rope came undone, but it’s not a big deal. I’m gonna climb back up, okay?”

“What?” Kat shouted incredulously. “Without your rope, Anna, you could fall and die!”

Waving off the concern, Anna looked for anything she could possibly use as a handhold. “I rarely use the rope Kat, it’ll be fine.”

“I’m coming to get you,” Kat stated forcefully from the top of the cliff. Her head disappeared as the rustling of gear came from above Anna.

“Kat, you don’t have to do that,” Anna tried to assure the girl. Grabbing onto the first handhold she found, Anna started to lift herself up the side of the cliff. “Look, I can get up there just fine. You shouldn’t come down if you don’t have experience.”

There was no response from Kat’s end, just the continued rustle of gear being moved. Shaking her head, Anna attempted to dislodge the sweat that was running down her forehead. It was a hot day already, not to mention the current exertion she was putting into her muscles in order to hold her body weight. Sure, Anna wasn’t the biggest person (the only queen shorter than her was Anne, but they didn’t talk about that), but she wasn’t used to supporting her weight without the rope taking a bit of the slack. 

Pushing away any thoughts except for absolute focus on her current predicament, Anna continued climbing. She moved slowly, slower than she had ever before, but she was prioritizing safety over speed. One foot on that ledge, a hand on that rock, reach a little higher…

Anna gasped in surprise as the ledge her hand was on crumbled beneath her grip. Her weight disbalanced, Anna’s body went tumbling backwards, slipping off the side of the cliff. Squeezing her eyes shut, Anna awaited any sort of impact of the ground against her body.

Instead, all she felt was a warm hand around her wrist. Opening her eyes and looking up, Anna smiled at her savior, Kat. As for Kat, she had a much more worried look on her face. The girl seemed absolutely baffled with how to properly rappel, but her feet were braced against the wall, one hand holding the rope taught, the other encircling Anna’s wrist. “Hello there savior,” Anna said, attempting to cover up the adrenaline that had just flooded her body. 

Barely even acknowledging the joke, Kat attempted to lift Anna but failed. Her arms were far weaker than Anna’s, seeing as she generally ended up missing workouts by getting sucked into video game competitions with Bo. “Get on my back and I can pull us up,” Kat instructed.

Raising an eyebrow, Anna complained, “You know, just because you’re taller than me does not mean that I’m going to let you give me a piggyback ride -”

“Well then you better get comfortable hanging over the side of a cliff because I can’t climb while holding you.” There was a pause where they both looked at each other before Kat added, “Or I could drop you and climb up myself.”

“Someone’s feeling cheeky today,” Anna said, but she gave in. Pulling herself up on Kat’s back, Anna had to hide her embarrassment at being carried like a little kid. She was glad they were in the middle of nowhere and no one but herself and Kat were around to witness it. 

Once Kat was sure Anna was holding on tight, she started to pull herself up the cliff. Instead of rock climbing like Anna would, Kat used the rope to pull herself up, practically walking sideways up the cliff face. Her muscles burned and ached, a clear sign of how unfit she was, but Kat ignored it, pushing herself in order to get to the top. After an agonizing climb, Kat heaved herself and Anna over the edge and collapsed onto the ground.

Getting off of Kat, Anna stumbled to the side, her sense of direction askew after holding on to the other queen while she climbed. Kat rolled over so that she was facing the sky, and then let out a loud groan of pain. “My muscles are gonna be sore for weeks,” she grumbled, moaning in frustration. “This is all your fault Anna.”

Instead, Anna was staring at Kat with a budding look of pride. “You saved me.”

“Uh, yeah, I did,” Kat shot back. “And you better repay me for it-”

“No, Kat,” Anna cut her off. “You saved me.”

Still, Kat didn’t seem to get what Anna was saying. “So?”

Moving over to Kat’s prone form, the German queen leaned over her. “You specifically told me you did not want to go down the side of the cliff. But when you thought I was in trouble -”

“You were in trouble.”

Anna grunted in embarrassment. “When I was in trouble, you didn’t hesitate to come and save me. I remember a time when you would’ve been too scared to do that. You would call Jane or Parr for help. But you didn’t even hesitate to save me.”

Realization dawned in Kat’s eyes as a smile grew on her face. “It’s not a big deal,” she mumbled, but secretly her heart filled with pride. Kat always felt like she was the weak link, the queen who couldn’t help herself, much less any of the others. Anna knew how important strength was to Kat, and both of them knew how monumental something like helping Anna was to her. “I mean, anyone would’ve had to save you with how badly you tied that knot.”

“Hey!” Anna guffawed, “I’ve tied hundreds of knots.”

“Then maybe I should come with you more often if they all come apart as quickly as that one.”

Shooting Kat a childish glare, Anna huffed. “How do I know you didn’t tamper with it just so you could save me and be a hero?”

Ignoring the question, Kat said, “You think I’m a hero? Wow, I can’t wait to tell Bo that I’m your hero -”

“That is not what I’m implying now, Katherine,” Anna made sure to cut her friend off. The two of them dissolved into laughter, the adrenaline draining from their bodies. “Well,” Anna sighed, laying down next to Kat on the ground. “That was an experience.”

Laughing, Kat shook her head as she watched the clouds float by. “We are never doing this again.”

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

Tag List:

@annabanana2401

[keelywolfe]

FIC: Beneath an Aurora Sky ch. 13

Summary: The South Pole Station is equipped for research and Edge has always made sure things run smoothly for the inhabitants. His charges are meant to follow his rules and regulations, and in turn, he makes sure they survive in the arctic temperatures. It takes plenty of hard work and determination and Edge, along with his crew, can handle both.

He wasn’t counting on one of the newest researchers. He wasn’t expecting Rus.

Tags: Spicyhoney, First Time, Arctic AU, Hurt/Comfort

Notes: This chapter includes lemon goodness!

~~*~~

Chapter One | Chapter Two | Chapter Three | Chapter Four

Chapter Five | Chapter Six | Chapter Seven | Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine | Chapter Ten | Chapter Eleven | Chapter Twelve

~~*~~

Read Chapter 13 on AO3

or

Read it here!

~~*~~

~~*~~

The crackle of the radio woke him. “boss? you reading me? over.”

Edge leaned up on an elbow, squinting through the dimmed emergency lights. The windows were dark, they were months away from any daylight. Next to him, Rus slept on and Edge slid out of bed, hissing at the cool floor on his bare feet as he crossed the short distance to the radio. He picked up the receiver and clicked the transmit button, “Still alive and kicking, what’s the situation, over.”

A long moment of crackling static, then his brother’s voice came again. “finally! been trying to raise you all morning.” Beneath his voice was the sound of a motor, growling along. “snow stopped at about 0400, i’ve been plowing ever since. we’re about halfway to you and the fashion victim now, give us a couple more hours and we’ll have you out of there, over.”

“Copy that, out.”

Edge flipped on the outside lights, peering out the porthole window. Snow was piled high, overtop the snowmobile but it hadn’t gone even halfway up the shelter. Not too terrible a storm anyway, the clouds must have thrown only thrown a short tantrum and moved on.

“they’re coming to get us?” From behind him and Edge turned to find Rus blinking at him sleepily. He pushed up on one elbow and the blanket slid down, giving Edge a lovely view before he hissed at the chill and yanked it back into place.

“Yes. We should have enough time to clean up and get dressed before they get here.” The shelter would need a little restocking, but he wasn’t about to leave a mess for Undyne to deal with on her next supply run. In the meantime, he dug into the supplies to find the packets of instant coffee. It was foul, but it would have to do until they were back home to Bonnie’s powerful brew. He set the kettle to heat on the camp stove. “Would you like some coffee?”

“yeah, sure.” That was oddly subdued, and Edge glanced at Rus. Who seemed downcast, the second pillow scrunched up in his arms like one might hold another...ah.

Perhaps he’d been hoping to wake in Edge’s arms. Or maybe he’d been hoping for a little more time on their own to explore this...well, whatever this relationship was. The thought warmed him better than coffee would and Edge flicked off the burner, ignoring Rus’s confusion as he moved to sit on the side of the bed, hooking a finger under Rus’s chin to take a soft kiss.

He drew back, looking into those wide, startled sockets and murmured, “Good morning.”

“i...good morning,” Rus said dumbly.

“Did you sleep well?” Edge asked solicitously, only to get a rather blank nod in return. He looked as if one kiss had sent all his brilliant thoughts winging out into the snow, Edge thought with no little amusement. Another kiss finally woke him from his daze, Rus pulling him back into the bed and Edge went willingly.

They had a few more minutes to spare.

~~*~~

The cold oversized wet wipes in the kit were not a suitable replacement for a shower, but it was the best they had, and while Undyne might not have a nose, his brother’s was exceptionally keen.

Edge dressed quickly and busied himself with bundling up all the trash to take with them, making sure everything in the small shelter was left in order. He could hear the rumble of the plow in the distance. They should be here soon.

“almost here, huh.” Rus dressed almost as quickly after a shivering wipe down; the room was warm enough but it was far from toasty. He was sitting on the stripped bed watching Edge, the bed linens bundled up next to him.

“Yes.” Edge set the small trash bag by the door. “Soon you’ll be able to get back to work.”

“yeah, i have a lot of data to process from the last trip, even if i didn’t get finished.” Rus played with the strings on his hoodie, chewing on the end of one and his eye lights cast were towards the floor. He seemed almost strangely shy considering the intimacies between them not a half hour before.

But there wasn’t time to question him. The plow pulled up and in the glaring floodlights, Edge could see Undyne hopping out, dragging an oversized shovel with her. He pulled on his gear quickly as she approached. Her grunts as she cleared a path to the shelter were loud enough to be heard through the walls and were louder still when the snow was cleared away enough for Edge to force open the door.

“Heya, boss,” Undyne said cheerily, the steam of her breath clouding around her. She propped the shovel on a snowbank and leaned on the handle. “Lose any fingers or toes?”

“No, I still have the full complement, unlike you,” Edge said dryly. He closed the door against the chill when Rus squawked a protest, leaving him to scramble into his own gear. “How are things back at the station?”

“Good, everyone is taking an internal work day for now.” Undyne jerked her head at the plow. “Brought along a restock for the shelter.”

“Good.” There were still plenty of supplies left, but Edge didn’t like to take any chances.

Red hopped out of the driver’s side and came wandering up along the dugout path. His coat was zipped up high; the cold could be achingly deep for him. “if you two want to handle that, i’ll take the fashion victim back on the snowmobile. then you can head out and find the cat.”

It was tempting to take Rus back himself, but Red had been up for hours and he was likely tired, especially after a recent healing session. Edge at least had a full night’s sleep in him. He nodded curtly and the three of them began cleaning off the snowmobile. With a little effort, it roared to life, just as Rus came out of the shelter, properly bundled up against the freezing cold.

“Rus,” Edge called to him over the noise, “you’ll be heading back with Red while Undyne and I get the Cat.” When Rus opened his mouth to protest and Edge added, “We’ll be careful with your equipment, I promise.”

“okay.” The reluctance was audible even through the din of the running engine. With Red and Undyne both watching avidly, Rus waffled uncertainly in front of Edge before turning towards the snowmobile.

To hell with it. Edge caught him by the shoulder and turned him around, leaning up to give him a light kiss that he melted into instantly.

It was a fair sign that they needed to talk back at the station and Edge found he was fine with that. Whatever Rus wanted to make of this, if it were only once or if they kept up until it was time for him to leave, Edge was braced to deal with it.

Reluctantly, he drew away and Rus gave him a little smile as he hopped on the snowmobile.

Red was slower, climbing on in front of him. His brother’s expression was unreadable, mostly hidden behind oversized goggles and his hood. Their size difference was incongruous; Rus had to hunch over to wrap his arms around Red, almost covering his visor, and Edge was forced to keep his face schooled to seriousness as he silently showed Rus the hand grips on the sides of the snowmobile to use instead.

Undyne was not nearly as diplomatic and her raucous laughter followed them as they roared away. Before they were even out of sight, that wide grin turned in Edge’s direction. He ignored it, turning towards the plow.

“Didn’t show him the handholds when you picked him up, huh?” She jogged up next to him and jostled him hard enough with an elbow to make him misstep.

He shoved her back. “You’ll excuse me for not following every minor safety protocol in an emergency.”

“Uh huh, oh, yeah, you’re never a stickler for protocol!”

Restocking the shelter became a blatant exercise in turning a deaf ear, especially as she came into the shelter with him and took in the bundled up bed linens.

“I’ll take those,” Edge gave her a rude push and grabbed them up. He wasn’t ashamed of anything they’d done, but he’d be damned if he’d stand here while Undyne checked them over for incriminating stains.

Luckily, she seemed satisfied with that. “All yours, boss, you know I hate laundry.”

She checked over the supply bin, adding packets from her carryall. “Sorry to interrupt your romantic getaway, you should’ve said something.”

“Don’t be, I was nearly ready to burrow through the snow for a shower.”

“Uh huh,” she paused in her counting. “Sooooo, past bustin’ your chops, I’m kinda at a loss for words.”

“That’s a first,” Edge waited as she signed off on the clipboard. He took a deep breath and said, “I’m taking your advice.”

“Yeah, kinda got that idea with the smacker you laid on him outside,” she said dryly. “You guys never opened the playing cards so I guess you found something else to keep you entertained.”

“Something like that.” She followed him out of the shelter towards the plow. He wasn’t about to feed her any lascivious details. Even if he’d wanted to share them, which he didn’t, giving Undyne that sort of information was a poor idea. If you give another person ammo, then you should never be surprised when you get shot.

“I should mark this on my calendar. Big ol’ letters.” She raised her voice and let it carry out over the snowy planes, “The Boss listened to me for once!”

“I always listen to you,” Edge said easily. “The problem is that you so rarely give good advice.”

He didn’t even complain when she pushed him into the snow bank.

The trip to the Sno-Cat was a short one. The plow cut through the fresh, loose snow, scraping it down to the hard packed road beneath it. It took longer to clean off the Cat, clearing the windows and the treads.

Undyne opened the door to check inside and found Rus’s equipment still on the passenger side. She poked curiously at the bags. “What kind of shit is he lugging around?”

“I have no idea, but I do know it’s fragile, so leave it alone.”

“Yeah, yeah, I wasn’t gonna break his toys.” She frowned and gave the large tube a last nudge. “This shit isn’t light, is it, not to a scrawny boy like the fashion victim.”

“It’s not,” Edge agreed. He remembered being startled at the weight the last time he’d helped Rus carry it.

“Huh,” Undyne said speculatively.

He shouldn’t ask, he shouldn’t, he really shouldn’t. “What?”

She shrugged. “Just thinking. He carried all this crap plus a lot more from the ship all on his own.”

“He did.” There was a core of strength hidden in Rus, that much was certain. “And?”

Her smirk was proof he should’ve buried his curiosity in the mental graveyard where it belonged, “Must have pretty good stamina for being bony. Heh, bony for boning, right?”

“Leave the puns to my brother,” Edge sighed. “I’ll see you back at the station.”

The trip back was slower than usual, the plow wasn’t a high speed vehicle. Soon enough they were parking within the garage and signing them back in, the Cat being tagged as out-of-commission until Red was able to give it a once-over.

Undyne helped him gather Rus’s equipment and the two of them went into the station.

His gear was only half-off, the suspenders of his snow pants hanging down as Edge padded over in his stocking feet to the larger storage lockers. His plan to lock up Rus’s equipment until he could come for it was thwarted as he realized he didn’t have his locker keys back yet. He’d given them Rus when he’d helped out with Red and forgotten to reclaim them.

He sighed and hung his head. This was retribution for his sins.

“Undyne, can I use your keys? Rus has mine.” She looked up from the boots she was untying, her eyebrows climbed her forehead like a ladder.

“You let him borrow your keys?” she asked gleefully. “You?”

“For the storage lockers, yes,” Edge said defensively. “I didn’t give him a full access pass.”

“Uh huh,” Undyne gave him an uncommonly shrewd look. “Better be careful, boss, you might be in a little deeper than you thought.”

“Yes, thank you, I’ll keep an eye on the depth meter, can I borrow your keys,” Edge said impatiently.

“I dunno, seems if I do that, you might owe me a little something something,” she waggled her eyebrows lewdly. “That’s what the fashion victim did.”

“And if you don’t, you’ll get extra duty this week.”

The keys jangled as she tossed them over, muttering out a good-natured, “Spoilsport.”

But her cheer at Edge and Rus consummating their affair seemed endless. She followed him back to his own living quarters despite him pointedly ignoring her, and gave him a firm slap on the back that nearly sent him into the door. “Alphys said you can use up two tokens in the shower. Guess Red told her something about you needing to clean off the sauce.”

“Thank you,” Edge muttered and didn’t dignify any of the rest with a response, shutting the door in her face.

He didn’t waste any time hopping in the shower, groaning at the heat of the water sluicing down on him. Despite Alphys’s generosity, he soaped up quickly, scrubbing his bones clean though not of the lascivious juices that his erstwhile loyal companions seemed to believe he was coated with. All the little aches that came from sleeping on a thin, unfamiliar mattress eased and by the time he got out and into fresh clothing, he was feeling more himself.

He flicked on the coffee pot, not Bonnie’s brew but certainly better than instant, and then his computer. The day was still early and there was plenty to be done. Before he could even settle into his chair with his cup, there was a knock at his door.

Edge sighed. He was gone for one evening, and already it was beginning.

He opened the door, expecting Red or perhaps a flustered scientist, demanding to know when they’d be allowed back into the field.

Instead, he found Rus, his skull still dewy-damp from his own shower. His fingers clattered lightly against it as he swept a hand over his head, his chin lowered enough that his eye lights didn’t travel above the hem of Edge’s shirt. “um, hey.”

“Your equipment is locked up in the front lockers,” Edge told him, “You still have my keys, if you could give them back after?”

“what?” Rus finally jerked his head up and met Edge’s gaze with his own startled one. “um, yeah, but it’s not about that. i...sorry, i know we’ve been back like five minutes, but i…” Rus paused and took a deep breath, blew it back out in a rush, “look, this doesn't have to get weird, okay, it can be whatever you want it to be, i...i really like you and--”

“Rus,” Edge interrupted and he fell silent, swallowing hard. “Why don’t you come in?”

He nodded jerkily. “yeah, okay.”

The moment the door was closed, Edge pushed him back against it, crowded against him as he firmly kissed that startled mouth. It turned eager quickly enough, his tongue meeting Edge’s greedily.

His appreciative moans became a surprised yelp as Edge hooked his hands behind Rus’s knees and lifted him up, the better to push him against the door.

“woah!” Rus said as their mouths jarred apart and Edge paused. The delightful squirming of Rus’s slim body already had him breathing heavily.

“Is this all right?” Edge asked hoarsely.

“don’t you dare stop!” Rus gasped, his blunt fingertips digging into Edge’s scapulas as he scrambled to hang on.

He took Rus at his word, nuzzling and licking at his cervical vertebra. Rus tasted as sweet as his magic smelled and suddenly Edge was filled with the urge to verify the truth of that. He hefted Rus against him before he spun towards the bed, lowering him down, but Edge didn’t join him. Instead, he began working at the fastenings to Rus’s trousers, batting his hands aside when he tried to help.

Between the two of them, they wrangled his pants off along with the thermals underneath. Edge took a moment to hastily strip off his own clothing and tugging off Rus’s shirt didn’t give his fluttering hands a chance to shyly cover his softly glowing pelvis. He hadn’t had a chance to look back at the shelter and now Edge wanted to get his fill of the sight.

Rus’s magic was the expected honey orange, all delicate folds and petal-softness, already glistening wet with desire. His own magic flooded Edge’s mouth, eager to taste and he didn’t resist, ducking his head and dipping his tongue against that silky pseudo flesh.

Beneath him, Rus arched up with a startled wail, his fingers scrabbling at Edge’s skull, pinching as they dug into the bone. Edge didn’t stop, only reached up to settle their franticness, pressing those hands flat to his skull in silent permission.

Those first undulations were tentative, uncertain, but soon Rus was all but grinding against his face, whimpering softly as quivers rocked through him. He felt it as Rus peaked, sweetness flooding his mouth and Edge drew back, swiping that dampness away impatiently with the back of his hand even as he settled between Rus’s upraised knees.

“please,” Rus begged, still quivering, “oh, please, edge.”

Pressing inside this time was easy, generous slickness guiding the path. That morning they’d only indulged with their hands, and the feel of Rus clenching around him was just as overwhelming the second time.

He wasn’t going to last, Edge realized wildly, he couldn’t, not with Rus writhing beneath him, pleading and it was his own name tangled into his throaty cries.

Pushing up on one elbow, Edge reached between them a little desperately, his fingers seeking out the hard little nub that made Rus gasp, clenching even tighter around him as he came again.

That was too much to bear, and Edge slid an arm beneath Rus, crushing him against him as he thrust once, twice, and came in a flood of hot sweetness through his bones.

Barely he managed to catch his own weight, shuddering through the waves of pleasure lapping up his spine. Rus was no better, splayed out beneath him, and each breath he took ended in a faint whimper.

“Are you all right?” Edge asked roughly, cupping an orange-flushed cheekbone gently in one hand.

“if i’m not, i never want to be all right again,” Rus groaned, “fuck me, that was wild.”

“I thought I just did.” Rus managed a disbelieving chuckle that became a groan as Edge carefully withdrew, shifting to lie next to him. It took very little encouragement to get Rus snuggled up against him, the blankets tucked warmly around them.

His wide, comfortable bed was much more conducive to a cozy aftermath. Edge rolled up on his side, his head propped up on a hand as he gently explored the long, flat bones of Rus’s rib cage, admiring the ivory gloss.

“You know something about my past,” Edge mused. “Tell me about yours.”

Rus offered him half a shrug, on the side Edge wasn’t touching. “not much to tell.”

“Then I’ll be content with a short story.”

Rus slitted open a socket to look at him and huffed a laugh. “okay. um. well, i’m a graduate student at ebott university, you probably already know that, and, um, i came up here to write my thesis, despite my brothers’ very loud protests.”

“You have brothers?” He’d suspected as much from the pictures in Rus’s room, but it was good to have it confirmed.

“yeah, two of them, blue and dings,” Rus rolled over to face Edge, but his gaze was on his rib cage, petting with light, idle strokes. His bones were scarred and no amount of polish would make them gleam like Rus’s, but he seemed fascinated nonetheless. “dings is a lot older, he’s why i can speak in hands.”

“He’s deaf?”

“nah, it’s kinda complicated. anyway, i’m the youngest and both of them have spent their whole lives protecting me. neither of them wanted me to come here.” There was a certain careless defiance in his shrug, but Edge didn’t think he was mistaking the flash of anger beneath it. Having an overprotective brother of his own, he well understood that. “but i’m an adult and this is what i want. so i came.”

“It can be difficult to oppose your families wishes,” Edge offered, softly.

“yeah,” Rus said, unusually subdued. Then he shook himself visibly, “okay, it was super fun discussing my brothers while we’re naked in bed. wanna hear about my last pelvic exam, too?”

“That won’t be necessary,” Edge murmured. He caught Rus’s hand where it was roaming curiously over a roughly healed scar on his sternum, stilling the ticklish exploration before ducking his head to take a thorough kiss.

When he finally drew back, Rus’s eye lights were satisfyingly dazed. Before Edge could decide what to do about that, Rus blurted out, “can i stay the night?

“It’s the middle of the day.”

“i know. can i?”

“You’d better, because I was planning to come get you if you didn’t.” Edge nuzzled a last soft kiss against his cheek bone and sighed. “For now, I need to get up.”

“ugh, it’s cold,” Rus groaned, burrowing in deep as Edge slipped out from beneath the blankets. He wandered over to the window bare and lifted the shade. It was snowing again.

“Perhaps I could spare another hour,” Edge allowed and Rus’s smile was terribly warming.

A wild, impossible thought came to him then; that Rus should stay here, with him, all that sweet vibrancy of his lighting up their home through the darkest months. Undyne, Bonnie, and Alphys already adored him, and as reluctant as Red was, at least he appreciated Rus’s humor. Surely he’d adjust--

No. Someone like Rus shouldn’t be trapped here at the edge of the world. He should be out in it, sharing his brilliance.

Edge glanced out the window again, then turned back to Rus, decision made. Until he left, Edge wanted as much of him as he could. A memory to warm him on cold nights.

For now, he had a spare shower token, so they may as well get into a proper condition to use it.

~~*~~

TBC

[the-wayward-robot]

Sleep forever, Here with you part 2

Pairing: Steve x Reader

Summary: Will Steve lose the love of his life when the Avengers run into a Djinn?

Warnings:  Talk of Suicide, Angst, Language

A/N: this idea came from a talk between @time-travel-bouqet and I about if we would or wouldn’t stay in the Djinn’s dream. This is based on a Djinn from Supernatural but I clearly took liberties to make it work for the story. Thank you for being the beta on this jov @time-travel-bouqet

Feedback and comments are very welcomed!

Read part one here

You sat there on the bathroom floor, hot tears running down your face as you sobbed with your gun in your hand. The panicked voices of your son and your husband seep in from the other side of the door, only making you cry harder

You made up your mind, it was time to go back. Were you sure? Absolutely not, but you couldn’t stay, this wasn’t real

You raise your gun up to your head and drop it back down to your lap more times than you can count, the pleas from outside the bathroom door getting more and more frantic. Lifting your gun once more to your head you shut your eyes, trying your best to steady your breath. That’s when you hear him, as clear as day and clearly no longer on the other side of the bathroom door. You open your eyes to see your baby, your son, your Caleb, standing in front of you. He’s the nearest to you; with Steve, Buck, and Sam right behind him

“Mommy!!! Paaa-ppleeease don’t leave me! I need you” Your son sobs, perfect blue eyes surrounded with red from crying, arms already stretched out to hug you as he runs toward you.

The pain and fear in his beautiful eyes rip you to pieces.

“No, please stop-ple-stop I can’t, I fucking can’t” You sob.

Your son pulls himself onto your lap and latches on to your neck, sobs tearing through his entire body. Dropping the hand with your gun down you hold him to you, murmuring pleas for them to stop in your weeping. Steve shifts slightly, drawing your attention back to the three men standing there watching you. You quickly draw your gun back up and stare Steve directly in the eyes. Your son is screaming on your lap, yells of “no” and “mommy” as his little handhold on to yours, trying to pull the gun away from your head with no success.

Tilting your head down but never breaking eye contact with Steve you place a kiss on top of your frantic, crying son’s head. 

“I love you both so much.” You say, eyes still locked with Steve’s. 

“Sweetheart!” Steve yells as he rushes forward, but then everything goes black.

The air in the tower is thick with sadness, it’s full of mourning. It’s been an hour since Steve got back from your Djinn induced dream and you have yet to wake up. You have two, maybe three hours left. Steve had gone silent after Tony told him there was no way back to you. Ever since, Steve had been sitting in the corner of the room, unable to look at you. When he did, it felt like death itself was mocking him; laughing at his failure, getting ready to take his love, his dreams… But his need to be near you outweighs his pain. So he walks up to your bed, standing next to Bucky who sits closest to you, holding your hand.

“Steve, what happened in there? Did you see her? Talk to her?” Bucky asks worry making his voice wobble.

Steve just nods at him, as he reaches up to softly stroke your face. not once taking his watering eyes off your beautiful sleeping face.

A moment passes before Bucky speaks again.

“What did you see in there Stevie?”

He opens his mouth as if to say something, anything, but the words stick in his throat. He could see your happy smiling face, could still feel your lips on his. He could still hear your soft voice calling him baby, see the pain in your eyes when he tore it all down… and Caleb… his son. He was everything Steve was, he wasn’t Captain America’s son, he was Steve Rogers’s son. One of the many reasons he had fallen for you was because you had always seen the man behind the suit, had always treated him as Steve and not Captain America. You loved looking at old photos of him and Buck and listening to stories of his life before the serum, often saying things like:

“Oh, I would have married you in a heartbeat if I was around back then!” 

“You were as gorgeous then as you are now Stevie!”

He had always just assumed you were being kind or playful, there was no way you could have meant it. He was just a scrawny, sickly thing who couldn’t protect anyone or even himself for that matter, not that it ever stopped him. However, now he knows you truly did mean those words, the tears falling down his face unstoppable now.

“Steve” Bucky says as he stands, ready to pull his friend into a hug. But before he can Steve loses it, pulling away from Bucky, his fist cracking against the walls of the lab. Everyone is frozen on the spot as they watch their normally calm and collected Captain punching holes in lab walls as he screams. It’s primal, guttural, hopeless. The pain of it is felt in the spines of everyone who hear it.

Bucky and Sam rush to stop Steve from hurting himself and the walls any further, Bucky stopping Steve’s fist as it’s midway to the wall.

“Stevie stop!” 

A now bloodied knuckled Steve snarls as he turns and sends a punch in Bucky’s direction which he dodges by a split second. 

“DON’T! Don't fucking touch me!”

Bucky pulls his hand up, reassuring his friend there’s no threat, that he won’t touch him in any way. 

“Okay, alright Steve, I won’t touch you, but you need to stop. At least let Bruce wrap up your hands, you can see the bone on your knuckles. Fucken hell Steve, I know how you feel about her and we all love her as well, I get it but-” A sob escapes Steve, stopping Bucky from continuing.

“NO! You don’t get it! You have no fucking clue!! None of you! You don’t understand… I love her more than anyth- and I didn’t… Buck her dream, it was wit-”

A loud inhale of breath cuts Steve off, causing him to turn and see you jerking up in bed. Your eyes shoot around the room, wild and filled with panic. You’re unable to focus; the lights too bright, the air too cold. Your breathing is frantic, which causes the heart monitor to beat rapidly. Shutting your eyes just as your panic is about to reach its peak, you feel someone place your hands on a hard chest. A steady heartbeat can be felt underneath your palms, another hand cups your face, forehead pressing against yours.

“Doll, follow my breathing, come on.” It’s a voice your mind can barely register, it starts counting your inhales and exhales for you. After what feels like forever you start to calm down, opening your eyes to beautiful blue eyes looking back at you… Bucky's blue eyes.

“There you go. Just keep breathing Doll, welcome back” says an elated Bucky.

Steve wants to run to you, hold, kiss, and comfort you. tell you how relieved he is you came back to him, but fear has his feet glued to the floor.

Steve’s mind starts buzzing.

 What should he do? 

Does he just go right into this and tell you how he feels? Does he kiss you again? Should he wait? He opens his mouth to speak but all that comes out is a soft whisper of “Baby…” 

That draws your eyes to Steve. still frozen in place, blood now dripping down to the floor from his destroyed knuckles. You rip your eyes from Steve back to Bucky, clutching at his shirt as your panic starts up again.

“Shhh. Calm down, keep breathing.” Bucky says calmly. 

“I-I can’t, I can’t” You say, letting go of Bucky in an attempt to pull at your IV as you try to stand, only to have Bucky stop you.

“DOLL STOP!” Bucky yells as you fight against him. Bruce quickly injects you with a sedative, and just as your eyes begin to droop you see Steve start to rush toward you.

“Buc-I- can’t-Steve-out” Then, you were out.

Tagging those who showed interest in part one :

@hiddles-rose @heyiamthatbitch @jennmurawski13 @mom---nicole @nerdy-bookworm-1998 @zsuzstyina @cosicas-cuquis @thefanficfaerie @teller258316 @puddinsqueen

[ao3feed-bakudeku]

by dissyizzy

Midoriya Izuku has always been in love with one person. That person is none other than THE Bakugou Katsuki. Sure, he may be the most volatile, out-right rude person you've ever met, but Izuku only found that endearing. Despite all that, he could not stop spiraling into love for someone he can never have.

Kaminari Denki has known he was different his whole life. He never was interested in girls or anything like that. He was more attracted to guys for as long as he remembered. But, he learned very early on to never show that he did. Falling for Kirishima Eijirou hurt even worse because he can never show his true self.

At least they both could admire their loves from afar... Right?

Words: 2705, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Characters: Class 1-A (My Hero Academia), Various Characters, Uraraka Ochako, Ashido Mina

Relationships: Bakugou Katsuki/Midoriya Izuku, Kaminari Denki & Midoriya Izuku, Bakugou Katsuki/Kirishima Eijirou

Additional Tags: Hanahaki Disease, Angst, Heavy Angst, Blood and Gore, Body Horror, izuku and denki hate flowers, like a lot, My poor babies, Angst with a Happy Ending, I can never not do happy, Near Death Experiences, Rescue Training, still in UA, Platonic Kaminari Denki/Midoriya Izuku, what the hell that's not a tag?, now it is, suck it nerds, bakudeku endgame, kirikami endgame, Past Child Abuse, a little internalized homophobia, Not Actually Unrequited Love, forgot that lol, Oops, ashido and uraraka are best girls, possibly a slow burn, Suicidal Thoughts, but it's just thoughts, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Platonic Cuddling, there is smut, but no penetration, but yall have to earn it, hahah, platonic handholding, these tags are so random lmao, Mineta is non existent

[echo-bleu]

Title: Power Through

Fandom: Roswell New Mexico

Chapters: 4/?

Relationship: Michael Guerin/Alex Manes, Max Evans/Liz Ortecho, Background Isobel Evans/Noah Bracken, Past Isobel Evans/Rosa Ortecho, Friendships all around that I'm not gonna tag            

Characters: Alex Manes, Michael Guerin, Liz Ortecho, Max Evans, Isobel Evans, Maria DeLuca, Jenna Cameron, Noah Bracken, Kyle Valenti            

Summary: Alex Manes escapes the mutant detention center, and is rescued by three mysterious mutant siblings and taken into the Mutant Underground, a clandestine network that fights back against the government. Only Isobel gets captured in the process, and as they run against the clock to get her back, some of Alex's darkest secrets may be brought to light.

Tags: mutant AU, Alternate Universe, They're all mutants, Except for Kyle, Malex-centric, But everyone will be there, Mutant Powers, Canon Disabled Character, everyone has powers, Everyone Has Issues, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Whump, The Gifted fusion, Alternate Universe - Fusion            

A/N: Whumptober kinda took over my life, but it's now over, which means that other things have decided to take over my life. But I do hope I'll be able to post a bit more regularly.Anyway, here's chapter 4!And thank you to eveningspirit for checking it over, handholding and being amazing.

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The plans to get Liz are made quickly once Maria and Cam head out. Alex only has time to change his pants and make his bed properly, before Michael comes to lead him outside.

“It will take about forty-five minute to get to the rendezvous point, and we can't leave Liz hanging,” he explains. “With the Sentinel Services on high alert, it's going to be a dangerous meeting as it is.”

Alex nods and looks around him as they get out of the garage. It was too dark last night to make it out, but the derelict building is standing at the edge of a large scrapyard, filled with the carcasses of old cars, and what looks like an Airstream. The car they came back in last night, which is apparently Max's, is parked inside, beside an old blue truck that doesn't look out of place in the scrapyard.

Alex doesn't have time to look around more or ask questions. Michael and Max stride to Max's car, bickering the whole way, and he struggles to follow without limping too visibly.

Read on AO3