#the greasy hair works suits i really like it hes greasy lol

[druidshollow]

riversboom

also the wires on the back of his head that I give him make him look like he has greasy ass long hair and I'm going to just run with it

hope you dont mind that i did this

[s1llyg0th]

Stanford Pines WIP

This is a SUPERRR long first chapter as a start to writing fanfics, but I hope it’s good! Pls let me know what I need to do to make my writing a bit better lol

You and Stanford Pines had known each other for quite some time now. You had a connection to Fiddleford, knowing him as an old friend and work partner, though only briefly. You one day needed help after being let go from your job and losing most of your belongings due to it, and Fiddleford being one of the only people you could rely on at the time was the person you decided to look for. It took a bit of time to find him, considering he now lived in a seemingly non existent town in the middle of Oregon, named Gravity Falls.

Since then you’ve moved in with the two men, being introduced to a buddy of Fiddlefords’ from college, Stanford Pines. He was a tall, nerdy looking man. He had dark hair, large glasses, and messy looking hair.

You started to help around with the two men. You weren’t entirely sure what they were up to, but you had guesses. Maybe new inventions to help advance the human race? You liked to keep theories to yourself, even if you know they probably aren’t true. You would run errands for them, getting supplies or groceries, and in turn you were allowed to stay with them as long as you didn’t interrupt their work.

They always seemed to disappear, even if you never saw them actually leave. Sometimes you wouldn’t even see them for multiple days on end. The longest being over a week. You would get worried, because after they finally reappear they would look disheveled and sickly. You would always “offer” to help them, but even if they denied you would keep pressing until they caved in, or bribe them on occasion.

On this particular day they had been gone for around 72 hours, and Fiddleford had stumbled into the kitchen while you were making breakfast, and his friend, who you started to call Ford after a while, followed suit.

“Jeez, guys, are you alright?” You ask, as they dragged up chairs and slumped over the table, Fiddleford laying down in his arms and Ford laying back in his seat. The table is strewn with papers and various gadgets that you haven’t dared to bother with in worry that you would mess them up.

Fiddleford groaned and looked up from his arms, his eyebags dark. He groaned and mumbled incoherently, lying back down into his arms. They both looked bad, greasy hair, dirty clothes, and, though you tried your best to ignore it, there were a rather pungent stench of body odor.

“Guys, cmon, you really gotta learn to take care of yourself.” You walk over to Fiddleford, grabbing his arms and trying to get him to sit up and look at you.

“You really, really need to shower. Come on, get up.”

“Mmmmno,” Fiddleford groaned in reply. He pulled away and tried lying back down, but you pull him back up with more force now.

“I wasn’t asking, Fidds. You gotta get up.” You move your hands to under his shoulders, cringing at the moistness you felt. You try to drag him out of the seat, but he flings himself away, falling to the ground.

“Agh, fine. But, please, at least let me lead you to my room to sleep.”

Fiddleford groans in annoyed agreement, letting you lift him and out his arm around you. One you’re stable, you look over at Ford. He’s asleep in his seat, so you make a mental note to come get him later.

After a trial and error walk towards your room, Fiddleford is finally in your bed and asleep. You’re definitely going to have to wash your sheets later, or else who knows how long that smell will haunt you. As you make your way back to the kitchen, you hear loud steps and thuds coming from inside. You turn into the doorway and see Ford rummaging through the cabinets and drawers.

“Wha- hey, what’re you doing dude?”  You rush over to him, trying to catch the falling objects as he moves them out of the way.

“Gah… do you… coffee?”

Oh. He was looking for the coffee. You think he has an addiction. Anytime you’ve seen him other than when he’s like this he’s got a cup in his hand. It’s a little worrisome, but he swears it’s not an issue.

“Oh, it’s- it’s over here. Just stop, hold 

on-“ You grab his arm and lead him to the chair. He looks up at you with tired eyes, dark and weary. He’s leaning left and right, teasing to fall over.

“I’ll get it for you, okay?” I grab his shoulders to keep him from tipping over. He mumbles and leans forward, daring to fall asleep as you hold him. You push him back, getting him to sit in place.

You walk away, heading towards a cabinet that was on the opposite side of the room where he was looking. You pull out the container of ground coffee and a coffee filter. You walk over to the coffee maker, set everything up, and walk back over to the table while you wait for it.

Ford is sitting still, barely awake. He’s fighting, staring at the ceiling with his mouth open. You huff lightly, thinking he looked silly.

“Ford?” You try to get his attention, calling his name from across the table. He doesn’t look at you, so you decide to call his name again.

“Ford, are you alright?” You try to get his attention again, and now he looks at you, turning his head and looking at you dead-eyed. There wasn’t a single thought behind them. His mouth is still open, breathing quietly as he makes eye contact with you.

You look at him with a bit of concern. He doesn’t look much better than Fiddleford. In fact, you almost think he looks worse. His hair is matted and his eyes are red and puffy. His eye bags are so dark that they almost look black. 

“Do you, uh, want food? I can make you something to eat.” Ford stared at you for a feed seconds, even though they felt like an eternity as he stared mindlessly at you. You wonder if he’ll ever answer or if he’s asleep with his eyes open, but he groans and you snap out of your thoughts, noticing his head bobbing up and down in a yes.

You grimace at his state, not even able to make words. It almost makes you uncomfortable to see him like this, looking like a zombie as he groans and lays there, eyes glazed over and mouth open. You see drool starting to pool on his shirt.

“Oh, Ford, let me help you-“ You stand up and rush to the counter, grabbing a dishrag and walking quickly towards him and raising it to his face. 

As you grab his chin he seems to snap out of a trap, jumping a bit at the sudden touch. You hold his head in place as you wipe his face and chest. As you look back at him his eyes are more focused now, his mouth now (mostly) shut. You make eye contact with him now, holding your hand on his chin as you stare for a few moments.

“You… were drooling.” You realize your hand had been on his face a little too long, pulling back quickly. “Thanks…” His words are slurred, and you can tell even though he’s not in his trance as badly, he’s still almost completely out of it.

The smell of coffee brings you back as you look over at the pot. It’s now full, and so you walk over and grab a couple of mugs and fill them up. You grab the sugar, which is stored inside of a mason jar. You go to the fridge, grabbing milk, and walk back. You fill your cup about three fourths full with coffee, then fill the rest with milk, then three spoonfuls of sugar. 

For Fords’, he likes his… black. You think it’s disgusting. It’s so bitter, and it smells almost as bad as it tastes. You pour his cup, then carefully pick up both of them and bring it to the table. You set his glass down next to him, and yours on the opposite side.

You notice he doesn’t seem to look over, or care at all that his drink is done. Before you seat yourself, you step over to Ford and tap his shoulder. He grunts a bit, like he woke up, and turns his head at an uncomfortable looking angle. “Your coffee is ready,” you say, gesturing down with your hand to his mug. He groans in response, turning his body and almost falling off his chair. Admittedly, it’s a little funny to watch hims struggle, but you overall feel bad and decide to try and move his chair. What you hadn’t planned for was his weight. You acted before you thought, standing up and going to move his chair so he can sit straight at the table, but as you go to scoot his chair, you don’t even move him an inch. 

“Agh, crap…” you mutter to yourself, now unsure of how you can help Ford. He’s not an extremely fat man by any means, but he is somewhat chubby. And with his tall stature, standing at around 6’2, it made him heavier than you had anticipated.

You stand up, realizing now your efforts would be in vain. You place your hand on your chin, trying to brainstorm how to help. This predicament has you on hold, and you stare at Ford as your mind races. He stares at you, eyes glazed over and not a thought behind them.

You look over at your chair, considering trying to get him to sit in that one because it’s facing the table, but you would still have to lift him and as already found out, it’s probably impossible.

You decide to just let him do it himself, it’s the easiest course of action in your head, and you’re willing to clean up whatever mess is made. It would probably be easier than cleaning any mess in case you hurt him or yourself.

After watching him try a couple times and spill hot coffee on himself he seems to figure it out. As he drinks, you see more life being brought to his eyes and he seems more aware now. When he’s finished his cup, which happened in only a couple of minutes, he gets up on his own and stumbles to the sink to place it in.

“So…” You try to start a conversation, considering he might actually be able to keep up with it this time. Unfortunately, you can’t think of anything to say.

“What?” Stanford turns his body and leans back on the counter, looking at you out of the corner of his eyes. “Uh… what have you guys been working on?” You hold your cup close to you, holding each side with your hands. The cup is warm, almost too hot to hold. 

“You know I can’t tell you,” Stanford says gruffly. His voice is deep, tired from sleepless nights and hard days. Your eyes wander around as you sit, and when he’s done with his sentence you look back and his eyes are staring into yours. His dark brown eyes stare into your soul, seemingly looking at everything and digging into everything you are.

You snap out of your thoughts and clear your throat.

“Yea, should’ve expected that.” There’s a few minutes of silence as Stanford stands there, his eyes not looking at your anymore, but at the ground. As you finish your cup, you stand up, pushing the chair behind you. It rumbles against the floor, echoing throughout the quiet house. You walk over to the sink, reaching behind Stanford as you drop your mug behind him, trying to make sure it doesn’t hit the metal of the sink too hard. You turn away and start to walk to your room. No, Fiddleford is in there. You have to sleep on the couch. You turn and head to the living room. You grab a couple blankets sitting on top of the couch, and lay them down to prep the couch for you to rest on. 

You look over and notice Stanford still standing there, motionless. His chest rises and falls, his breaths deep. You watch for a moment, trying to think if you should say anything. His hands are pressed on the counter behind him, and his t-shirt hugs his arms and body in a way that makes you blush for a moment, but you push the thought away.

“You should probably rest. You and Fidds are looking rough.” Stanford looks at you through his eyelashes, barely lifting his head. He had a rugged look to him, something that brought those thoughts back again.

His arms.

His chest.

His eyes.

His messy hair, his stubble, the slight chub he has.

God he looked good right now. You can definitely appreciate that right now. You push those thoughts away again. You had always found Stanford attractive, but he never seemed interested in dates. You never made any advances, but his time was all for his and Fiddlefords’ project. You knew there probably wasn’t a chance anyways.

“I’m fine. I don’t need to sleep.” Fords voice makes you snap back to reality.

“You definitely need sleep. I’ll sleep on the floor, you can take the couch.” You stand up and grab more blankets, throwing them in a pile on the floor. 

“No- stop- I don’t need-“

“Yes. You. Do. I won’t stop pestering you until you take care of yourself at least a little bit. I’ve done it before, I’ll do it again. Now lay down. Please.”

Ford groans in annoyance, but also in relief. The idea of rest sounds more and more appealing the longer he thinks about it. And the longer he thinks about sleep, the more his body begins to shut down from exhaustion. He steps over, and as he gets to the couch, he falls over onto it, his body slamming down and making a loud thud as the springs squeak in loud unity.

Your back was turned to Ford so upon hearing the loud thud as he landed on the couch you jump and turn your head so quickly you felt like it would’ve come off if you had moved any harder. He lays face down, his body limp. You drop the blankets in your hands and walk over to him, kneeling down to his head and trying to look at him.

“Ford?” You say his name, looking for a reaction.

“Ford?” You speak a little louder now. It’s a close to a yell, but nothing crazy. Still no reaction from Ford. You grab his shoulder and shake him, just to see if he’s even a little bit awake, but just as last time- no response. You sigh, and stand up to grab his head on each side, turning it so he’s not breathing into the couch anymore. It would suck pretty hard if he ended up suffocating because of how tired he was. 

When his head is turned over, he takes in a deep breath. Seemed like he was already on that track. You remove his glasses and set them on the nightstand the was next to the couch, folding them and making sure to place them with the lens up. Once set down, you look back at Ford. He looks really cute like this. Fast asleep, his breaths slow and deep. His hair is messy and his face is unshaved, but he still looks amazing to you. After a few moments of staring you realize that it’s probably beginning to become a bit creepy. You stand up and step over to the makeshift nest you created with the blankets you grabbed and lie down in the center, making a bunch for your head to act as your pillow, and you lie your head down as you begin to rest alone with your thoughts, waiting for your eyes to get heavy, and your mind to drift to sleep.

[yuri-official]

give me a pitch for korekiibo!!! i wanna hear! :)

OKAY SO

Korekiyo's whole deal is being obsessed with the beauty of humanity, right? Studying how different people behave under different circumstances, sort of observing from the outside. Despite the love xe feels for humanity, there's this sort of alienation. Xe ends up watching everyone else from the edge of the room during class events, xyr this kind of tall, dark, unnerving presence with greasy hair and a mostly obscured face and unconventional interests. In a lot of xyr interactions with the rest of the V3 cast, xyr classmates seem really uncomfortable or even actively distrusting of xem.

And Kiibo's matches up really well with Korekiyo's, their through line is how disconnected they feel from humanity despite being like. The ultimate reflection of everything humankind is. Kibo aspires to be more human, and feels outright offended when their classmates insinuate that they're less than human, or that their life doesn't have the same value as any other person's. They feel like they need to be useful or provide something of value to their friends in order to deserve a place in their circle

(side note I am Not going to use he/him for either of these characters ever. transfem Kiibo + nonbinary Korekiyo supremacy. these are mostly the versions of them i’ve made up in my head anyways so who cares that's all shipping is anyways)

Korekiyo would be the perfect person to affirm Kiibo's value as a person and humanity imo, while Kiibo is a good in-point for Korekiyo to start socializing with more of their friends. I won't take this as an opportunity to shill for my Korekiibo fanfiction, but I have a whole speech from Kiyo written out talking about how Kiibo is the culmination of humanity's desire to share the experience of sentience etc etc

Robotlover Korekiyo Shinguji, you can pry this headcanon from my cold dead hands. What's more human than something created by humanity the way they were created in the image of 'god'? etc

It's really cute!! Korekiyo Does Not Shut Up but thankfully Kiibo loves listening, and there's a lot of substance in what xe says. Even if it rambles for an hour on end, there's information to be gained there, and that applies especially to Kiibo. I think xe would be really interested in the ways Kiibo tries to be more than just the ‘Ultimate Robot’, how they strive to be as close to humankind as they can despite being a robot.

I think Kiibo and Korekiyo would find comfort in each other's shared distance from their peers, too. Korekiyo clearly has a very non-traditional or even distorted view of intimacy and relationships, and likely an extreme discomfort with feeling like xyr out of control. Xe likes to be the person who has information and knowledge to give in xyr relationships, kind of taking up the role of teacher in most conversations in canon.

Kiibo is sort of new to the whole idea of interpersonal relationships, but still goes out of their way to seek out that king of intimacy, as shown in their free time and love suite events. They seem like the type to be eager to learn, which fits perfectly with Korekiyo's affinity for teaching. I can imagine them cuddling while Korekiyo infodumps for hours on end about the entire history of fortune telling or something lol

And now: Things I Just Think Are Really Cute About Their Dynamic

- Consider that Kiibo could probably pick up Kiyo and have xem perched on their shoulder like a weird bird if their strength limiters were turned off. That beast probably weighs about as much of a stack of paper cups wearing a military uniform, xe’ll blow away like a napkin if you roll down the windows of a car on the highway

- Korekiyo is Wife Guy: Evil Edition in my mind. Xyr the type to send xyr partner flowers and the first unlucky person to upset that partner a pipe bomb. Kiibo finds this very reassuring but is working on helping xem find ways of expressing affection that aren’t also felonies

- Korekiyo says things like ‘I think if I were to eat you you would taste like strawberry shortcake’ and Kiibo is just. Okay ❤️ Yay ❤️ All of xyr compliments are incredibly unnerving but Kiibo finds them endearing anyways

- The visual contrast between the two is just. Augh. Tall and flowy and gorgeous and a little terrifying and 5’3 robot with spiky white hair and chunky armour and shounen protagonist demeanour. They are so Connecticut Clark and Malfina to me

- Korekiyo is a BDSM aficionado and Kiibo does not know what sex is

- THIS IMAGE. KIIBO IS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE GAME THAT KOREKIYO CALLS ‘MY DEAR’. I AM INSANE ABOUT THIS

i have. more

so much more

Thank you for coming to my ted talk

[littlemissmanga]

OMG this is fun!

*Takes out notes* Ok, I'm ready ....

Rex is rocking up to the social in the community gym in a letterman jacket- or bomber jacket - and slacks with his nice shoes on, aviators. Still got the buzz cut. Very All American boy next store vibes from him. He wouldn't have been part of any gangs but he'd look like a Socs (gotta have an Outsiders reference in here, ya know?).

I put Kix in this category as well in terms of his vibe for a free evening, but he'd be a little more dapper than Rex - a sports coat/suit jacket over a long sleeve button up. Kix helps give his brother a little push, then they're both swinging dance partners around the floor.

Jesse is your down home Levi's guy - worn in jeans and work boots and a plain but nice button up. He rides his truck to the drive-in with his S/O in the passenger seat. And he's well prepared, too - got blankets for the bed and everything so they'll be nice and cozy.

Also in this category: Hunter, but he'd have a bike so he and his date would grab some grub from a Soda and park by the picnic benches.

Echo is straight up early Elvis - a little more buttoned up and dapper than Rex or Jesse. He absolutely slicks his hair back but not too much. He'll take a date to the local diner before going to a movie or concert. (Take nerves out of the equation. Echo is a confident guy who knows his self worth and he gives an air of bougie-ness so I really see him as pretty suave when he wants to be).

Tech is a little more casual, but same vibes. As much as I wanna put him in a sweater vest and tweed jacket, his fashion choices in canon made me think those options are unlikely. He'd also be just as likely to be taking a date to a museum instead and then after going out for ice cream to discuss what they saw.

Speaking of tweed, that would be Dogma. As straight edge as they come and he likes the neat and put together look. His idea of a great night is listening to new records at home so he and his date can talk through them. He'd go super slow, though. Like, would want to give them a pin and everything.

Fives is a greaser through and through. Black T-shirt, dark jeans, leather jacket, thick boots, greased hair. And he makes it look good. Every chance he gets, he's going to try and get on American Bandstand. And he's good enough to get on pretty consistently. He's got the moves and the flash to get noticed, especially since he dances swing and relies on making his partner look great (cause he kinda has two left feet since he trips so much canonically).

Also in this category: Crosshair, but no American Bandstand lol. Cross is a true loner, very James Dean. He will wander into whatever greasy spoon is open late and night for a cola and some fries. And if he ends up chatting up the lone employee behind the counter - and showing up most nights to make sure they close up without issue from any customers - well, no one but the two of them will ever know about it.

Hardcase is what I'll affectionately dub a "Sandlot" kid. Not that he'd necessarily play spots as an adult, but he was one of those kids running around in the fields a lot and getting into wholesome trouble. Older, he'll likely be working as a soda jerk and giving free milkshakes to anyone sitting by themselves at the counter who catches his eye.

Also in this category I'd put Wrecker. IDK if he figured out Crosshair's secret or if it was pure coincidence but once he knew he had to keep going with Crosshair if only to bug him. (rewatching the Batch arc in TCW, you can really see how much Wrecker loved teasing Cross). But he'll only interfere for so long before he a) gets hungry and b) decides to buy a shake for someone across the store sitting by themselves. Oh, there are two straws?? Well, can't let one go unused, now can he?

I really have no idea where to put Tup, so I'll leave that for @deejadabbles, resident Tup expert.

Them Clones in 50-60's get up doing boogie and jive. Who be Elvis?

Who be slicking their hair back in leather? Who be at the bar buying birds milkshakes? Who be coming up in a Cadillac making them girls scream? Who be doing that King Cry baby scene in Cry Baby (Johnny Depp)? Want dapper men and bad boys.

Need answers. @blueink-bluesoul @wolffegirlsunite @idontgetanysleep @littlemissmanga @sunshinesdaydream @commander-sunshine @kimiheartblade @cloneloverrrrr @wings-and-beskar

Please punch me if I missed anyone <: Ooh and feel free to self-insert your ocs ♥

[sukirichi]

Breakfast for Choso with ingredients #17 and 34 with #2 sugar? Wine is optional.

EASY 

— Nothing is ever easy with Choso, but for him, you’d push through hell and back.

meal order: breakfast + 17, 34 (fake dating, rentboy au) + 2 (enemies to lovers) + biting, scratching, choso eating reader out, sex on the beach

warnings: mature content, unedited fic, choso is mean and harsh when he’s angry

notes: thank you so much for this anon! I really enjoyed writing this and this totally made my day. I hope you like it!

word count: 10k+ LOL CHOSO BRAIN ROT

check out the fanart @tigressnej-chan made, it s so beautiful HURRR

Your day was absolutely ruined. Dark, deep bags covered your under eyes as you stormed through the convenience store downstairs your apartment, body clad in an oversized hoodie and socks visible through slippers, hair greasy and lips chapped. You’re aware you look like a mess, but did you care?

Absolutely not, especially when you haven’t been sleeping well the moment you moved into this cursed apartment because of a certain fucker.

Speak of the devil and he shall appear. That specific fucker – the cause of your ruin and the devil who prevented you from living a good life – waltzed inside the store, the small bell chiming to signal his presence. You scoffed at his confident, suave walk, further irritated because he just had to be insanely attractive – in an alternative, laid-back kind of way.

He wasn’t even your type; you preferred more refined men who wore pressed suits and leather shoes, but you had to admit this man was insanely attractive.

With deep, sunken eyes, a dark tattoo across the bridge of his nose and dark hair twisted into twin ponytails, large, muscular body covered in a black sweatshirt and a red scarf – he looked very much like a former member of a gang who retired because their barbaric ways wasn’t his thing. It was an odd theory, and you sat there at the corner of the store, glaring at the man who tiredly pressed the coffee maker machine for a dark roast.

As if feeling eyes on him, his lazy eyes slid over to yours, and almost automatically, one corner of his lips tilted up in humor. This fucker knew how much he annoyed you, and he only further pushed your buttons by walking over to you, the steam of his coffee nearly blocking your gaze.

“Good morning,” he greeted sarcastically, well aware that it definitely not a good morning for you.

“Have fun last night, neighbor?”

“Yes.”

“Jeez, you won’t even bother denying it?”

“I see no point in it,” he invited himself by sitting next to you, long legs crossed over his muscular thigh. You found yourself staring at how he seemed so firm even in loose sweatpants, averting your gaze and staring at your soggy ramen noodle cup instead.  “And you’re not trying to hide the fact you’re listening, either.”

“I wasn’t listening!” you slammed your fist down the table – he didn’t even flinch, only continuing to sip his coffee as if you weren’t burning in anger beside him – as you hissed, “The walls are too damn thin and you’re so fucking loud.”

“No, I wasn’t. She was loud, though.”

Scoffing, you crossed your arms against your chest. He really was shameless. You already knew this man didn’t have enough shame in his body, but you didn’t think he’d have absolutely nothing.

Upon witnessing your stupefied state, he reached over to knock at your skull. “Still there, princess?” you cringed at his nickname for you; you didn’t even know this guy’s name, for pete’s sake! “Or are you still too bothered by the fact I got some good fucking last night?”

You flicked his arm away from you, nearly seething in your seat. “God, you’re insufferable. I should move out.”

“Yes, I think that would be for the best too,” he nodded to himself as he stared at his now empty coffee cup. Had it been that long already? Apparently, it was, because your noodles turned cold and your neighbor was already leaving your seat, dipping for a mocking bow. “Have a nice day, neighbor. Don’t think of my cock too much,” he teased, even going as far as winking until your jaw dropped.

You watched as he threw the paper cup in the proper bin, a little surprised he was decent enough to do mundane tasks like that. Sometimes, it was so easy to forget your neighbor was also a decent human being, but whatever.

You absolutely, utterly hated him, and you kept mumbling to yourself of the different ways you’d get your revenge on him as he walked out the door, his annoyingly gorgeous ass in view. “Yeah, right,” you scowled to yourself, “As if I can get that image out my mind now.”

He would not be an easy feat.

Despite your constant pleas for him to at least be silent during the weekdays to give you enough peace of mind to study for the finals, he didn’t stop. Hours just after the sun sets, you’d hear giggles and sloppy kisses on the hallway.

No matter how much you pressed your hands into your ears and set your music on full volume to block out the noise, you could always hear them.

Your neighbor was undeniably a fuckboy. 

Every night, he’d have a different girl dangling in his arms. You knew, because the voices squealing his name while he fucked them right next door were always different. Some days, it was deep and throaty, and on other days it’d be high-pitched and nearly scraping at your ears. They all said the same thing though, such as fuck, right there, you feel so good or harder, harder, please, I’m so close!

To say you were traumatized was an understatement. You never wanted to hear such things again, but alas, your neighbor apparently couldn’t give a single shit because he was fucking someone again.

As if things couldn’t get worse, the person he brought home this time around just had to have the most fucking annoying voice ever. Or maybe it sounded like the others, but you were in the middle of memorizing veins and brain chemicals in alphabetical harder when you heard the headboard of his bed slam against your wall, the sound hard and loud enough you dropped your book in surprise.

They didn’t stop. If anything, he kept going harder until nothing but his low sexy groans and his partner’s screaming – that was right, she was fucking screaming – like she was having her insides rearranged.

You didn’t doubt the possibility that maybe she really was. Your neighbor was such a huge, attractive guy, after all, it would make sense he was capable of such. Before you knew it, you could no longer understand the words in your textbook. You kept rereading the same line over and over again, but nothing registered into your mind. You were so close to screaming at them to stop and shut the fuck up because it was three in the morning and they were still going at it, but you weren’t that mean.

Yes, you hated him, but you weren’t going to blue ball someone or make sex awkward. Sex with your ex was always awkward, so you knew how painful it was to live with that memory. No matter how much you hated your neighbor, you wouldn’t go that far.

So you trudged all the way up to the building’s public balcony, bringing a blanket with you to survive the chilly bite of the night.

You used your phone’s flashlight to read all over the textbooks, keeping your little note cards organized and color coded beside you. Finally, you could make sense of things a little bit more, and you chugged at your Red Bull to keep you awake. Time passed by so fast whenever you were lost with your nose stuck in a book, and your attention was only ripped away when the balcony door swung open, revealing your neighbor with messed up hair and bruised lips.

He looked totally fucked out.

“Oh, fuck, no – what are you doing here?”

“This balcony is for all tenants,” your neighbor barely blinked as he walked closer to you, but instead of joining you on the table, he leaned against the railings and stared into the night sky. He seemed so placid, a little approachable despite his intimidating face even, and for a moment, you were studying his sharp, masculine features before he turned your way with a passive face. “Last time I checked, I’m a tenant, therefore I have the rights to be here.”

“I don’t care,” you retorted childishly, pulling your books closer to you as if he wanted to steal it. He only raised a brow at your actions, the large muscles of his arms bulging up from where he stood.

It felt so hard to not salivate at the sight, but for the sake of your pride, you had to push those thoughts down and remind yourself why you hated him so much. “I evoke your rights. You’re not welcome here.”

“You’re awfully harsh to a stranger.”

“You’re not a stranger, you’re my neighbor who brings girls in his home every night and I can never get a wink of sleep because all I can hear is them moaning and the sound of balls slapping!”

“Vulgar,” he smirked, and he had no business looking so attractive with that arrogant smirk on his face that it took all energy you had in you to not whack him with your book.

“I think I deserve an apology.”

“I think you should mind your business.”

You stood up with a scowl, nearly shoving the book right in his chest. “Bro, I’m this close to slapping this book right in your pretty face. You see how thick this is? I’m not kidding, this will hurt. Listen, I’ve got a final exam and a suture practice this weekend. All I’m asking for is just a few hours of sleep – that’s all. I just don’t get why you always seem to be balls deep in someone at every god forsaken hour; I can’t focus on my work when the noises are so distracting. At this point, I remember their begging more than I’m familiar with nerves. I need to study, okay? I really want to graduate.”

He fell silent at your sudden rant, then, he tilted his head to the side, a small smile on his lips. “You think I have a pretty face?”

“After everything I said, that’s all you remember?”

“It’s kind of hard to listen to every word when I’m distracted by your eyes.”

His comment caught you off-guard, and your eyes widened, arm coming up to hide your face that soon began to felt warm. He only chuckled at your reaction, the sound deep and throaty that it went right straight into the pools of your belly. “My eyes – what are you talking about? Seriously, what’s wrong with you? You’re so creepy!”

“Hmm,” he snickered, “That’s the first time I’ve heard that.”

“What, no one tells you you’re creepy?”

“No, people always say I’m handsome,” he said it with such a straight face that you gave him an are you serious look, and he raised one shoulder to shrug. “I’m surprised you’re not attracted to me, to be honest.”

“Wow,” you drawled out, shaking your head with a laugh as you plopped down back to your seat in defeat. “Aren’t you full of surprises? First, I get a really horny man as my next door neighbor who keeps me up at night with his shenanigans, and now he’s got the audacity to ask me why I’m not attracted to him?”

“I mean,” he scrunched his nose cutely, a huge contrast to his domineering stature. “Why aren’t you?”

“Yeah, I give up. I’m just gonna crash at my friends tonight,” you mumbled to yourself while gathering your things, leaving your neighbor all by himself. As you reached the door, you called out to him one more time, “Oh, and by the way, you reek of pussy. Go shower or something.”

“So how’s your exams going?”

“They’re fine,” you lied through gritted teeth, slicing through the fish a lot harsher than you intended. The knife scraped against the plate and you winced at the sound, ignoring your father’s loud munching. “Not too much of a big deal. My professors are nice and my classmates are nice too. I’m fitting in really well and I think I’ll even come out on top of my class this time if it weren’t for that stupid little bastard…” your last words ended up as a whisper, eyes glazing to the side as you glared at nothing in particular.

“Stupid little what?”

“Nothing, nothing,” you waved your hand in the air, “Someone’s just distracting me from my studies, is all.”

At the mention of someone distracting your usually composed and unbothered self, your father straightened up in his seat, a large smile on his face that made him look younger than he really was. “Is it a guy? Do you finally have a boyfriend?”

“Ugh, dad, really, you’re the only father who’s so eager for his daughter to have a boyfriend. Shouldn’t you be more proud that, I don’t know, I’m pretty and smart? I don’t need a boyfriend or anything.”

Your father nodded, “True, you don’t need them, but trust me when I say life is going to get pretty lonely when you grow old and you’re all by yourself. It’s still better – and life is a lot happier – when you’ve got a stable supporting and loving figure in your life.”

“I have you for that.”

“And you always will,” he patted your hand gently across the table, “But a parent won’t always be there for their child, and if you’re still not prepared for the future or ready to stand on your own two feet, then that means I didn’t do a great job at raising you; that means I’ve failed as a parent. Tell me, have I failed? Have I raised my wonderful daughter to be so repulsed by the idea of love that she’s willingly closing her doors and locking herself away in isolation?”

“No…”

“I didn’t think so,” he grinned to himself, and you watched with a frown as his eyes crinkled in happiness. Your father was such the complete opposite of you; he was always so loving and open to everyone, while you were mopey and afraid of attachment.

“Don’t be too afraid to love, child. It’s one of the most wonderful things in this world – it’s a blessing – the absolute core of our being. Why do we exist if not to love?”

“Not everyone is a romantic like you, dad,” you sighed, “Plus…how is it so easy for you to finally find someone after Mom died? Isn’t she your soul mate?” you questioned, putting your fork and knife down as you looked your father in the eye. “I just can’t believe you’re getting married again.”

“It’s already been years since she passed away, Y/N. And yes, she is my soul mate, but that doesn’t mean I’m incapable of loving someone again. Our hearts aren’t limited like that, and your mother wouldn’t want me to keep mourning her when she’s resting in peace,” he gestured to the both of you after swallowing his food, “She would’ve wanted the both of us to be happy.”

At the mention of your passed mother, your shoulders deflated, and your eyes watered at the thought of her kind smile. You wished you could see that again.

“I miss her…”

“I know, child, I know,” your father smiled encouragingly, “I also know the reason you’re so afraid to love is because you’re scared they’ll end up leaving you too, like how your mom just slipped past our fingers like that, but it’s only her body that withered. She’s still with us, right in our hearts and in our memories.”

“You really do sound like a lovesick fool.”

“That’s because I am,” your father laughed with a slap to his knees. When his phone buzzed for his alarm, he quickly dabbed a towel on his lips, standing up to excuse himself. “Now, this lunch was lovely and I dearly missed you, but I need to go back to work. We doctors just never get a break. This is a life you have to prepare for if you want to follow my footsteps.”

“I won’t follow your footsteps – I’ll surpass you.”

“I’ll be waiting for that to happen then,” he announced proudly; pride bursting in his chest at how determined his daughter was. “Oh, and Y/N?”

“Yes?” You squinted at the mischievous look in his eyes, wary of what your cunning father had in mind this time.

“You won’t outsmart me. You better bring a boyfriend or at least introduce someone to me on the wedding – or else I’m pulling you out of the university hospital.”

“Wha – Dad, that’s not fair!”

“All is fair in love and war, child, you’ll learn soon.”

“Oh, I just hate men!”

You really did hate men.

Your final exam was tomorrow already and you’d lost count of the coffee and Red Bull you’ve inhaled today, all so you could study one last time for the test, but no, something – or rather someone – just had to get in your way.

“I’ve had enough,” you announced before slamming your door open; not hesitating as your fists came banging down on your neighbor’s door. “Hey! Keep it the fuck down – someone’s trying to study here! Seriously, man, is it really that hard for you to keep it in your pants for one night? This is what, the sixth woman you’ve had around the past four days? Don’t you get tired? Because I sure as hell am very tired of you!”

The moans and the sounds of bed creaking stopped. For a moment, you almost smirked to yourself when they fell silent.

If only you knew it would be that easy to shut them up, you would’ve done so long ago. You were about to turn back into your room when his door swung open, and you were met by his sweaty and muscular chest heaving up and down – either in anger or from his previous activities – you couldn’t tell.

Your throat felt dry as you peered at him under your lashes, almost afraid of the way he loomed over you. Thank goodness he found the time to wear pants, though, because had he been baby naked, you would’ve run for the hills already.

His dark eyes cut through yours as he seethed, “What do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m the one who wants to ask you that,” you were surprised to find your voice despite the way your pussy actually ached just by the sight of his chiseled body, but when you did, you forced yourself to stand up taller, refusing to back down from his gaze. “It’s literally three in the morning and you’re about to fuck a hole through my wall!”

“I thought you said you’d be crashing at your friends. What are you doing here?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know I had to have your permission to come back home. Next time, I’ll give you a heads-up, good sir. And for your information, unlike you, I actually don’t like bothering the people around me so I came home. Now would you please kick her out and shut the fuck up for once?”

“Babe, are you coming back here or what?”

Red acrylic nails wound from his body out of nowhere, and your mouth fell open as you watched the naked woman press kisses on the blades of his shoulder. You were conflicted, torn between feeling jealous that she got to touch him like that because damn was he fine, but you also felt appalled your neighbor would be this type of person.

“Babe?” you repeated with a sarcastic laugh.

Stepping away from your neighbor’s tempting pecs, you waved to the stunning woman behind him. “Hi, I’m his neighbor, I don’t mean to be a cock block or anything but I’ve been a witness to his fuckboy ways for months now. If you think you’re special to him, I assure you, you’re not. Yesterday he was just banging two girls until the sunrise. If you’re really as sane as I hope you are, I suggest you skedaddle before this man feeds you with more lies. You’re not special, hun, he’s just going to fuck everything that walks on two legs.”

“Is that true?”

“Nadia, you know how this works—”

“I was literally just on the phone with you last night!” the woman named Nadia pushed him away, but because he was bigger, he didn’t budge. Nadia turned to you, her lipstick smudged and a suspicious white stain on the edge of her lips. You couldn’t even bring yourself to look down her head, and you and your neighbor both watched as she got dressed and left, hands up in the air. “Thank you for this. I should’ve known better than to waste time and money on him.”

You snickered as Nadia pressed on the elevator buttons, a scowl sent his way. Turning to him with pride swelling up in your chest, you smirked, “How does it feel—”

“Happy now?” he growled, his eyes so dark and slit into tiny cuts you took a step back, your heart pumping frantically for different reasons. You never thought he’d be this bothered for not being able to bust a nut. “Satisfied now, Y/N? Do you even realize what you’ve just done?”

“Uhm, yes,” you scoffed, matching his tone. “I just saved that poor girl’s life. Who else knows what you would’ve done and said to her. We don’t deserve to be looked down on and treated like this, you know.”

“Neither did I. I’m just doing my job.”

“Job? You don’t even have a job! You don’t even go to university for fuck’s sake – your apartment is rundown and smells like sour cunt and feet! Maybe you should even thank me because I’m trying to give you ideas on better things to do!”

“Yeah, and be like you?” he snapped, tugging at the strings of your hoodie until you fell a step forward. “Dressed in loose shirts to hide the fact you’ve got no tits and your ass is flatter than your back? Lying to her neighbor that she’ll crash somewhere but ends up waddling back home anyway because she’s always cooped up in her apartment studying to prove that she’s not as worthless as she is and that she doesn’t have a life or friends to begin with?” tears pooled at your eyes at his words, and you knew it hurt because it was true, but did he really have to say it that way?

However, his anger got the best of him, and he didn’t stop there. “I don’t want to be like you. I don’t want to skip meals and lose sleep studying for something I don’t care about because I don’t know anything else other than following daddy’s footsteps so he’d notice me more than his new bride. I’m happy with my life.”

“How did—”

“Like you said, the walls are thin. You’re not exactly so quiet to yourself, neighbor. It’s kind of pathetic you talk to the walls when you think I’m asleep because you’ve got no one else to talk to.”

Hands balled into fists at your side, you stood on your tiptoes to spit the words out. “You’re a terrible human being,” no matter how much you tried to exert dominance over him, your lips still quivered as you fought back the urge to cry. “Go fuck yourself.”

“You’re the one who needs to go fuck yourself and get laid,” he didn’t let you have another word as he slammed the door in your face, but you still heard him through the door anyway. “Uptight bitch.”

You were wrong.

Your neighbor wasn’t just difficult – he was completely impossible.

[Dad:] Don’t forget your date!

[You:] Dad…don’t push it.

[Dad:] I find it hard to believe my beautiful daughter can’t have one. Go out there and make some friends, Y/N, I know you isolate yourself too much. It doesn’t even have to be a boyfriend. You could date a girl for all I care. I just don’t want you to be too bored at the wedding. Bring a friend.

[You:] Fine, fine, okay.

[Dad:] But a boyfriend would still be better. Your old man isn’t getting any younger and I want grandkids in the future.

[You:] Dad!

[Dad:] love ya kid !

And so it was the turn of your events that had you groaning in your swiveling chair, the grip on your phone so tight you wouldn’t be surprised if you ended up breaking it. As if your week couldn’t get any more horrible with your neighbor’s hurtful words still living at the back of your mind, your father hadn’t stopped talking about you to his co-workers and his equally crazy mother that your grandmother didn’t waste time in calling you.

You loved your nan, you really did, but more often than not, she was much more of a pain in the ass than your father was. The old woman was ruthless, shooting you question by question on why her pretty granddaughter was still single, then came the demeaning comments of how you “weren’t living life to the fullest.”

Frustration eating away at you, you let out a silent scream.

The escort site blinked back at you mockingly, temptingly, as if to remind you that your problems could easily be solved with just a click. You chastised yourself for always having the need to solve problems fast and as easily as you could, because before you even realized what you were doing, your heart started beating a mile a minute as the other line kept ringing.

You ended up lying to your grandmother that yes, nan, I have a boyfriend, can I study for my exams now please, to which the pressing woman responded with, oh, finally! well, I won’t bother you anymore. study well, my dear, I can’t wait to see him!

Just thinking about how she would react if you came alone at your father’s wedding had you breaking out in a sweat, and you chewed at your nails while waiting for the site to pick up.

You were truly desperate now, so much so that you were actually calling a rental boy site.

“Good afternoon, thank you for calling Kamo Escorts! I’m Ijichi, here to assist you. What can I help you with?”

You held back a really painful cringe, biting the insides of your cheek as you got your heart to calm down. “Uhm, yeah…so this is like my first time c-calling a site like this and I don’t know what to do but…yeah.”

“I see, we get new callers too. Would you like a guide?”

“Yes, please, that’d be great thank you.”

“Kamo Escorts is all about, well, as you can see on our webpage – we have men and even women you can hire to escort you on special events. We mostly cater to clients who only need a pretty face to dangle off their arm for social company or even care, or whatever reasons the client may have and the relationship is purely business and professional, but in some cases, the escorts may have sex with the client too under the condition they are paid more.”

The gasp that left your lips was barely stifled, and you furrowed your brows at the implication. “Wh-what, so that’s like a real thing? Isn’t this…?”

Ijichi chuckled from the other line, almost as if he’d been asked this question many times before. “In a way, it is, which is why Kamo Escorts is commercially advertised for purely social company only. You may, however, negotiate with your escort if you would like more services, but we do require that you keep our escorts’ dignity and not look down on them. The service we provide may not be your typical honorable one, but we are dedicated and equally eager to be of service to this society. Should we find that you’re dehumanizing or harassing our escort, we won’t hesitate to…take some action,” the light warning of his tone didn’t go unnoticed by you, and Ijichi took note of your hesitant silence. “Would you still like to proceed?”

“Ye-yeah, I didn’t want the sex anyway.”

“Very well, then. What event are we looking for?”

“It’s for a relative’s wedding,” you supplied, “I need a date.”

“Any preference in escorts? Male, female, tall, short, sociable or introverted?”

Your eyes widened, your back flattening against your chair. “Oh, wow, so this is like a Build-A-Bear, okay, wait,” you chewed your nails again, racking up on your mind on who or what exactly you liked. “My ideal guy is…someone tall, and has pretty broad shoulders…I think I prefer a more introverted one too because people with too much energy sort of drains me…and someone caring and attentive, yes. Handsome too – but if that’s too much to ask for then—”

“It’s okay, Miss. I assure you all our escorts are definitely blessed in the gene department.”

At his confidence, you scrunched your nose and made yourself small on your chair. “Okay, but now that you say it, if he’s too handsome then I’m going to look like a potato next to him.”

“We’ll find someone compatible for you; we always never fail to please our clients. We’ll be able to match you with a more suitable escort if you’re more descriptive with what you want.”

“Okay, okay,” you continued, “Oh, and I like guys with long hair too, but really, anything is fine. I just want someone to effortlessly pretend they’re enamored after just one date and that they’re very glad to be there with me on the wedding. It’s even better if they’re introverted but can communicate well and isn’t shy at all. My relatives are kind of…freaky.”

Freaky couldn’t even begin to describe the chaos of your relatives.

In fact, had you not been paying for this service, you would’ve almost felt bad for the guy. He had no idea what he had coming for him – but then again, neither did you.

“I think we’ve got just the perfect guy for you,” Ijichi answered after a beat, “May I ask when is this event and how long you’d like to book the escort service for?”

“The event is in two weeks. I don’t need to meet him before the wedding because I’m very busy with exams, so I hope this guy can just act really well. As for the duration…I think just one day is enough. After the wedding, I’m coming right back home.”

“Convenient then,” he mused to himself, and you heard slight clicking from his side. “Let’s see…someone introverted and able to communicate well…definitely not Satoru, and his entirely booked by sugar mommies too…” Ijichi whispered to himself, followed by a slight humorous snort. “One last question: would you like someone older, younger, or the same age as you?”

“I’m in uni – I’d be more comfortable if they were closer to my age.”

“Oh, perfect, his schedule is oddly open for the whole month. Wonder what happened, he’s barely had free slots before…” the man was speaking to himself again, and you sat there pouting, even more dumbfounded at how this whole process worked.

Ijichi talked about this escort service and guided you so easily you almost couldn’t believe that it was as…simple as that. You didn’t know what you were expecting, but deep down in your mind, you were waiting for something fishy or weird to happen.

“I found someone for you. He’s one of our best escorts and I believe he’ll be great for this event. However, due to privacy issues, the disclosure of contacts and personal information can only happen once the escort agrees to this service. We’ll shortly get back to you if he’s up for the job. If not, I’ll find you another one quickly; you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

“Okay, thank you so much!”

“It’s our pleasure. Thank you for contacting Kamo Escorts – we hope to see you again!”

Once the call ended, you fell back on your bed with a sigh. Your neighbor wasn’t around the whole day, leaving you in peace and silence, and you took advantage of the rare quietness by pulling out a book. Hours passed, and you were nearly finished with half the textbook, fingers slightly numb from practicing sutures over and over again when your phone lit up with a text.

It came from an unknown number, but the words were loud and clear. Hey, this is Choso, I’ll be your escort for the wedding. Please text me here for the details and what else you expect from my service. I’m only a text and call away, please don’t hesitate to ask me for anything else.

You blinked at your phone, unsure of how to process the whole thing.

So it was official now – you rented an escort and you had a date for the event. Quite frankly, you were kind of expecting that escorts would be a lot more…flirtatious or even eager to please, but this Choso guy sounded too formal for you to picture yourself having this stranger be a good company for your event. Ijichi sounded so sure though that you no longer questioned it; smiling instead now that you’ve finally solved one of your problems.

Life felt a lot easier.

At around four in the morning, you were too worn out to keep going. Your exam was in the afternoon so you still had plenty of time to sleep, your stomach grumbled, prompting you to leave your unit to get some snacks.

Keys in hand and feet cold in your socks, you locked your door, halting in your steps when you saw your neighbor. Different from his usual comfortable clothing, he was dressed in a formal white shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows and his large, masculine hands coming up to loosen his tie. He wasn’t aware of your presence, almost blindly walking to his door and sighing. You didn’t miss the fact his shoulders were slumped, and he looked absolutely worn out.

For a moment, you actually felt worried, until you remembered what he said to you.

“What, no pussy to fuck tonight?”

He froze in front of his door for a moment, slightly tilting back to see your aggravated stance. Upon seeing it was just you, he shook his head and turned back to unlock his door. “No thanks to you.”

“Aw, did I ruin your reputation?” you mocked sarcastically, “I’m surprised people aren’t smart enough to pick up the smell of women’s perfume on you already. Seriously, are people that desperate for touch?” It was ironic; you’d never admit it, but you weren’t any better than them. You were equally desperate to be touched despite your aversion to romantic relationships, but he didn’t need to know that.

“It’s normal when you’re someone people are naturally attracted to. Not that you’d get it, of course, because it’s clear you don’t get some.”

“At least my apartment doesn’t smell like pussy.”

“At least I don’t masturbate every night then pass out after one weak orgasm.”

Your cheeks burned at his offhanded comment, and even with his back turned to you, you could see the slight smile tugging at his cheeks. He must’ve felt so cocky, thinking that he’d defeated you, so you blurted out the most intelligent thing possible: “How dare you!” while grabbing onto his shoulders to make him face you. “Look me in the eye and take that back!”

“Whatever you’re planning,” he crooned, head tilted to the side and making strands of his bangs fall over his eyes. He looked absolutely handsome under the flickering lights of the hallway in that moment, and you hated how you weren’t able to take your hands off of his strong shoulders, his masculine and spicy perfume clouding your mind. “It’s not going to work. Surprise surprise, but you’re not as cute as you think you are.”

Your eyes burned with fire, the nerves in your body so closing to popping. He infuriated you so much. “And you’re not as sexy as you believe you are!”

“Oh, yeah?” The positions are suddenly switched as he cornered you beside his doorframe, both of his arms planted beside your head. Because he was taller, he had to lean down to look you in the eye, his warm, minty breath brushing over your lips. You stared at him with wide eyes, fingers raking over the wall in a silent attempt to flee. Upon seeing your pursed lips, he laughed.

“Then why are you so shaky? Do I make you nervous?” his head dipped down, his lips grazing the shell of your ear. “Say…you only pretend to hate me, but you actually wish it was you I’m fucking every night, don’t you? Tell me…do you touch yourself when you hear me eating someone out?”

“I-I’m not—”

Before you could combust under his gaze, he pulled himself away from you, a satisfied smirk on his face at your flustered state. He chuckled lowly, keys spinning on his thick finger. “I was just teasing you, princess. No need to get so worked up.”

“I never want you near me again!”

He raised both brows as if to challenge you, and you knew from the glint in his eyes he was up to no good. “Princess, you jumped on me first.”

“I didn’t!” You shouted, immediately slapping your palm over your lips after realizing people were sleeping. He snickered at your reactions, and you pushed past him back to your unit, suddenly losing the appetite to get your precious snacks. “God, I hate you so much.”

“Believe me, the feeling is mutual.”

Difficult. Unbelievable. Complicated. Idiotic. Nothing was ever easy with him.

“Would you stop fidgeting?” your father scolded from his chair, his body barely moving as the stylists fixed his hair and makeup, but his eyes glared at you from the mirror. “You’re a lot more nervous than I am, and it’s my wedding.”

“Sorry, I can’t help it.”

Your father sighed to himself, standing up after they were done with him. He checked his appearance in the mirror for a while, nodding to himself in satisfaction. It was still a little surreal that he was going to get married again, to a woman half his age of all people, but he was happy, and his bride seemed to really love him too, so you no longer questioned your father’s decisions. He was an adult, anyway, he could make his own decisions.

“You’re waiting for your boyfriend, you say?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s he like?”

You stiffened at the question. Not wanting your sharp-eyed father to pick up on the smallest cues, you lied through your teeth despite not having any idea on who or what kind of person the escort was.

Other than discussing details of how you two supposedly met, conversations had been crisp and short. You were lucky that the escort seemed to be nice and smart enough to not always ask you to explain everything, and he was crisp and curt in his texts too. No flirty or suggestive messages, not even a single emoji. He seemed a little stiff, and while you worried if you could fake chemistry with someone who seemed like a wall, you were also assured by the fact he wasn’t some creep.

“Nice. He’s sweet. You’ll like him.”

“And when did you meet him?”

“Dad, do I have to tell this story all over again?” you groaned, “We met after exams, he goes to a different uni and he studies law—”

“Law. Impressive.”

“Of course you’re impressed,” you rolled your eyes. Coming from a family of doctors and engineers, your father, and pretty much everyone else in the family, also expected that you’d date someone who was equally intelligent and had enough connections in different industries at least. It just so happened you were really lucky your escort also really did study law for a bit before he became an escort; a detail you never got enough explanation for. “He’ll be here anytime soon. Just you wait.”

In reality, you were the one who couldn’t wait.

You were excited and nervous at the same time to see this mysterious escort, and you were in the middle of talking to your father and his bride when someone called you.

“Y/N?”

You turned around with a bright grin. That must be him! You clasped at the hems of your dress so you could meet this mysterious, rigid man properly, but the moment your eyes met his equally startled gaze, you choked on your own breath. “Y-you—”

Choso stood before you; handsome as ever in his suit and tie, his iconic twin tails still there. How ever would your father believe you now that he was a lawyer, especially with his messy hair and face tattoo? You loved it and found it sexy on him, no denying that, but your father was a little bit more traditional. But that aside, it was Choso?!

His professionalism arose and he regained his composure quicker than you did, the smile on his face so natural and alluring even you almost fell for it.

Choso wrapped an arm around your waist before kissing you on the cheek, and the skin felt extremely hot under his lips. You couldn’t move, couldn’t even speak, because Choso was pressed flush against you, and he looked at you with stars shining in his eyes you didn’t know whether to be flattered or afraid.

Maybe a fucked up mix of both.

“I’m sorry I’m late. Traffic was bad,” he explained with a small smile on his lips, and he looked so handsome and smelled so good in that moment you were left gaping at him as he bowed to your father, arm politely extended. “You must be Y/N’s father. It’s very nice to meet you sir. I’m her boyfriend, Choso.”

To your surprise, your father eagerly shook his hand with the brightest grin he’d worn the whole night before he faced you with a laugh. “No way,” he beamed, gesturing to Choso. “He’s your boyfriend? You managed to snag this fine man?”

“Dad!” your ears burned with embarrassment. Choso only laughed; making you painfully aware of his large, warm hand resting at the small of your back.

“I heard you’re a lawyer, son?”

“Yes, sir.”

Your father nodded in approval, the two exchanging over words about what his plans were for the future and how his studies were going. You stood there with a pounding heart, fearful that Choso could fuck up any moment, but he was so effortless and easy going. Had you not been the one paying him, you would’ve been fooled too.

So this was the life of an escort.

“So how much did my daughter pay you?”

“Dad, I didn’t—”

“I mean, there’s no way she actually charmed you with her non-existent social skills. My daughter here can’t even talk to someone and look them in the eye, much less ask someone out, so how did this happen?”

Choso laughed at your father’s lighthearted comment, saving the day for what seemed like the hundredth time already. “I approached her first, sir. We were both eating in this small diner and it was cramped, so we shared tables and started conversation,” Suddenly, his grip tightened on you as he pulled you closer, your ear now resting above the lulling and steady beating of his heart. How was he so calm?

He lightly squeezed your hip and it had you freezing under his touch, stiffening even more when he looked down at you so adoringly. “Guess it went downhill from there.” God, you had no idea who this man was.

“Really? What did you guys talk about?”

Choso opened his mouth to speak, but it was there, that damned glint on those dark eyes again that you clutched at his bicep. He may be damn good at this job, but knowing Choso, he was enjoying this way too much.

Anything you couldn’t predict or control properly was a huge no in your game, and you pulled Choso away before he could say something downright humiliating.

“Dad, just go focus on your wedding. I want to spend time with my boyfriend, okay?” You couldn’t even begin to fathom the inward cringe upon your words, the feeling only worsening when Choso fought back a laugh masked with a cough. Before your father could say anything else, you dragged Choso rather harshly, but he didn’t mind; he followed you obediently. “Come with me. I need to talk to you,” You didn’t stop until you were both alone in a desolated corner, and finally, you hissed at him. “What are you doing here?!”

“I should be asking you the same thing – but it turns out you’re my client.”

“Client? So you really are my escort?”

“Yes, I am.”

“So those women…”

“All my clients,” he confirmed your thoughts. “I assure you they knew what they were getting into. In fact, they were the ones who asked for that special service that caused you to lose your sleep every night. That woman the other day was just pissed because she booked me for three days, but I lied that I was available until the duration she wanted when I wasn’t.”

“You mean you were still working an escort for somebody else?”

He shrugged. “Pretty much.”

“Why did you lie then?”

“It’s more money,” Choso stared down at his hands before his eyes flitted back up to yours, his face unreadable. “I’m saving up so I can move somewhere else. Our apartment isn’t exactly the most ideal considering my profession. I need to find someplace quieter with thicker walls this time,” he smiled, “That way, I’ll no longer bother my sweet neighbor,” your lips felt dry at his words, your tongue darting out to lick at them while Choso scrutinized you under his gaze.

“I have to admit though – you asking for escort service is the last thing I’d ever imagine you doing. Not that I’m complaining since it’s still money in my pocket, but you’re not the most pleasing company to be with.”

“Oh, you bet, Choso. Had I known you were going to be my escort, I would’ve declined long ago,” you groaned, your head dropping in your hands. “What was Ijichi thinking when he said I would be compatible with you?”

“You’re not,” he stated, “But I am compatible with you – as I am with pretty much everyone else. I’m one of the best escorts, and soon you’ll see why.”

You didn’t understand what he meant by then, but it seemed Choso was quite eager to show his skills off when he dragged you back inside the reception event. The whole time, you couldn’t pay attention to anything or anyone else other than Choso. It still felt hard to believe that the whole time, he really was doing his job, and upon seeing how easily he had people believing you two were an item despite you just standing silently beside him, you felt guilty that you disrupted his “work” like that.

Guilt gnawed at you as Choso made everyone laugh, and soon your relatives were cooing, praising you and congratulating you that you were “happy” now.

Back then, you always looked down on him and even called him a mere fuckboy, but Choso was so much more than that. He was intelligent; his past as a lawyer proved that, and whatever happened that caused him to work in this industry kept lingering in your mind.

There was no denying it now.

You respected this man – admired him even.

“And now it’s time to join the newly married couple on the dance floor! Come on, people, bring your dates up here for a twirl!”

You remained planted in your seat, too comfortable with Choso’s jacket draped around your bare shoulders. You’d lost count of how many times your head ducked down for the lack of sleep, and as much as you loved your dad, you wanted nothing more than to go home and rest.

Choso offered his hand to yours, a teasing smile on his face. He wriggled his eyebrows up and down, and he looked so utterly ridiculous that you couldn’t believe the boring man you were texting was the same infuriating yet undeniably attractive bastard who was your neighbor was the same fun. The world is very small, it seemed, and you weren’t sure whether you were brave enough to venture these strange places and feelings.

“Uh-uh. No. I’m not dancing.”

“Two left feet?”

“No, I’m wearing heels. My feet hurts.”

“Then take it off.”

“And get my feet dirty?” you scoffed. As if to prove your point, you snuggled deeper into his jacket that smelled heavenly like him, closing your eyes as you pretended to sleep. “Sitting here isn’t so bad. Plus, look at them, all staring at each other with goo-goo eyes. It’s revolting,” you shuddered.

Through the sickeningly romantic music playing in the background, Choso fell silent. You cracked an eye open, frowning when Choso studied each of your features carefully. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You seem to hate the idea of love.”

“Because it’s pointless.”

Choso narrowed his eyes at your answer, brows bunching up at the way your shoulders squared to keep yourself away. Then, he stood up and sighed, offering his hand to you once more.

“I won’t really ask you to explain why, because frankly, I don’t care,” you stared at his large palms for a few seconds. There must be a ghost possessing your body because you looped your fingers through his and allowed him to guide you on the dance floor despite your mind’s protests, and soon, Choso’s eyes were all over you. “But if you don’t want your money to go down the drain and you really want to convince everyone, I suggest you forget about that mindset for just a few more hours,” his voice dropped down to a low whisper, his forehead pressed to yours. His eyes turned solemn, his hand on your waist gentle. “Dance with me. Let’s show them how madly in love we are with each other.”

“We met just last week, remember?”

“Love at first sight, princess,” Choso kissed your forehead, sending your heart thumping and running to another dimension. Oddly enough, you didn’t mind, and your hands travelled from his strong arms to his broad shoulders instinctively. “Take your heels off. You can step on my feet and I’ll dance for us both. Just put your arms around my neck – yes just like that,” he nodded with a smile when your fingertips nervously played with his hair, and Choso began to dance you both in time with the music. “Are you good?”

“I don’t like this lack of space between us.”

Choso smirked, “Why, do I get you all hot and bothered?”

“Jesus, Choso, you can’t be serious for a minute, huh?”

“It’s kind of hard to be serious when you’re so flustered and adorable right now,” you pulled at his hair in response, but of course, he wasn’t really hurt.

“Look at me,” he demanded, but you refused, keeping your gaze planted on your bare feet on top of his again. “Hey. I said look at me,” he tilted your chin up until you’re forced to be like prey under his gaze, his breath tickling the bow of your lips. “I am your escort for tonight – and I humbly ask that you do your part as my client so I can perform my job well. I need you to look into my eyes and pretend you’re in love with me.”

“I don’t want to fall in love with anyone,” you suddenly admitted, “I’m scared.”

“You don’t have to be,” he replied, softly this time, and his hands ran down tenderly to your hips to pull you closer to him. “I’ll be there to catch you.”

You couldn’t remember who leaned in first. The only thing you remembered was that the music faded in the background when you kissed him – or maybe he kissed you – fuck, you didn’t really remember. Eventually, the kiss grew too heated, his hands squeezing your waist while you moan at the taste of chocolate and wine on his expert tongue.

Choso easily read your mind and swooped you away from the crowd, the both of you stumbling until you made it out to the venue and onto the beach.

The salty air kissed your skin while Choso carried you bridal style, arms looped around his neck while he kept moving his lips above yours. He was laughing through the kiss with how messy and eager you were, tugging at his shirt to encourage him to unbutton it. Choso set you both down on the darker, isolated part of the beach where nothing but the sound of waves lapping against one another could be heard with your breathless pants and his chuckles.

You were lying on his jacket, dress bunched up to your chest while your legs were spread wide open for him. “Ch-Choso,” you choked out when his tongue ran flat across your slick folds, his hands keeping your hips pinned down to the sand. “I-I, please.”

“I got you, princess,” was all he said before he completely dived into your heat, his sharp nose brushing into your cunt.

It didn’t take long until you were spasming in his hold, legs closing around his head. Choso groaned into your pussy, a finger working its way inside your sopping cunt while he licks and slurps your arousal like it was fucking water. Now you understood why those girls always lost their mind – Choso was a fucking expert when it came to worshipping pussy.

Choso pulled his fingers out of you, making you whine at the sudden emptiness, but he was kind, eager to please you that he immediately replaced it with his tongue.

You cried out when you felt his tongue entering your hole, one thumb pulling the hood of your lips up to reveal your sensitive pearl. Choso rubbed your clit fervently, his other hand reaching up to squeeze and tug at your breasts while he drank your juices dripping down his tongue as if you would be his last meal – and he honestly wished you were, because you tasted like heaven on him and he wanted more.

Once he felt you clamping down on his tongue so tightly he struggled to retrieve his warm muscle back, he helped you reach your high by pinching your clit. You moaned out his name, the sound sending blood straight down his cock, and he groaned into your pussy the moment you grinded on his face as you relaxed from your orgasm.

Choso didn’t give you the chance to recover from your orgasm, pulling you up to his lap before he’s kissing you again. You moaned when you tasted yourself on his tongue, his face and cheeks sweet from your arousal and cum.

You should be ashamed, but you couldn’t find a single bone in your body that felt shy right now. Choso was right – there was no point in being shameful when it came to your pleasure.

The kiss was sloppy, more tongue than lips and teeth clashing onto another. Choso grinded you on his hardened erection in search of your heat that would bring him relief, but he slowed down and pulled away from you, a string of saliva connected from your lips. He wanted you – wanted to fuck you so badly – so he searched your eyes for the answer when you aligned the tip of his cock to your entrance. “Is this okay? Are you sure with this?”

“Yeah,” you gritted your teeth when his tip entered your tight cunt, your walls sucking him in greedily already. Choso’s head dropped down to your shoulder, his teeth sinking down to your shoulder. You slowly sat down on his thick length, but then froze before he could bottom out. “Wait, no, I’m broke! I can’t pay for your extra services!”

“It’s free for you, princess,” he rasped out, “Now sit on my lap so I can feel you around me already.”

“Do you always have to be so vulgar?”

Through the pleasure that had his abs rippling, Choso managed a laugh. “You might want to get used to it.”

“Why would I?” you breathed out, eyes shutting tight once he fully slid into you. He allowed you to get used to the sudden stretch; it had been too long since you’ve been touched this way that you were impossibly tight around him right now. Your chest rose and fall with each faltering breath, your nails running down his back when Choso gave a deep, experimental thrust that immediately hits your sweet spot.

You moaned, cheek resting on his shoulder as Choso set the pace, squeezing your ass as he bounced you up and down his cock. “You’re gone after this. Once this contract is over, you’re moving away and I won’t get to see you anymore. I-I won’t lose sleep anymore after hearing you fuck all those women and gosh, I hate you so much, you know that?”

“I hated you too,” he groaned through your skin, “Or at least, that’s what I told myself so I wouldn’t get hurt.”

“Hurt? I would never hurt you,” Really, you praised yourself for still being able to form coherent sentences even after Choso kept fucking into you.

“I’m an escort, princess, I’m everybody’s and nobody’s at the same time,” he explained almost angrily, and his lips zealously sucked love bites to the sensitive flesh of your neck, “Even if you won’t hurt me, we’re bound to crash and burn at some point. This is why we’re not allowed to get attached to anyone,” his lips brushed over her collarbone, his canines dragging along to make red marks. “Why we’re not allowed to fall,” he squeezed her breast in the palm of his hand, twisting the peaked nipple until you whined, hips bucking deeper into his cock. “Why we’re not allowed to love.”

“I-I don’t understand.”

“I’ve always liked you,” he laughed through the pleasure, holding your hips down so he could drive his cock deeper into you. Yes, he was selfish, yes, he was frustrated – and his feelings burst through the way Choso powered into you. You fell limp in his arms and he easily caught you like he always did, his eyes blown wide as he stared right into your eyes, his dick still pummeling through your gummy walls.

Choso inhaled sharply when you clenched down on him, an elongated moan spilling past your lips. “I liked you the moment you moved in and you fell flat on your face before you could greet me.”

“Shut up, don’t remind me of that!” you raked your nails down his back hard enough to draw blood, and Choso concealed the pain with light chuckle, the pain only prompting him to absolutely use you. “You’re seriously bringing it up now when you’re – ah, fuck – b-buried in me?”

Choso tugged at one of your legs and wrapped it around his waist, the sudden change of angle had you pressing down deeper into him. It felt like you were sinking closer and closer to his cock, the tip of his dick kissing your cervix until you’re crying out in his arms, scratches evident on his back.

“For now,” he breathed out, “I want to at least be selfish enough to want you now, just for now if fate won’t still allow it.”

“W-we can try,” you said in your lust-filled gaze, lips crashing down messily to his while you bounced on him, your hips slamming down at the same to meet his thrusts. “It’s not going to be easy, but we can try, right?” You cupped his face, surprised with the sudden vulnerability from his hooded eyes, looking so innocent and beautiful as if he wasn’t painting your insides white.

“Okay,” he nodded, brows pinching together. And that was all the both of you needed before Choso sank his fangs down the column of your neck to hold on his low groans; your head thrown back as you both drown in the pleasure of being with one another.

In the blink of an eye, all tenderness is Choso’s touches replaced by the hunger in his eyes and the power of his lust-filled thrusts. You were a moaning mess by the time your hips sit flat on his pelvic bone and his balls brush on your ass from how deep he was hitting you, and you felt his teeth nibble at the side of your breasts again as he warned, “But for now, I’m not going to go easy on you – not when I’ve wanted you for so long and I’ve been so hard for you these all time.”

And you allowed him. Because nothing was ever easy with Choso, but for him, you’d try pushing through hell and back.

[xxmoodslimexx]

what would the first dates be like with the boys? are they nervous to ask you out or does something go wrong lol. i love ur writing keep up the good work!!

((Thank you!! 🥰))

First Dates with the Ghostbusters

- Peter -

• We’ve seen it all before. Man has a formula and he sticks to it. You can’t go wrong with a dinner date.

• Except of course you can because everything goes wrong. You guys get all dressed up to go to this really fancy place, only to be turned away at the door because the owner didn’t realise it was that Venkman and they’ve already warned him that last time was the last time (whatever that means).

• And then naturally while you’re out desperately trying other upscale places the boys swing by and need a hand so your beautiful suit/dress gets messy and your hair comes all undone.

• But.. You actually have a great time. Who can honestly say they took down a class five ghost in dress shoes on their first date? You and Peter end up at a fast food/greasy spoon type place at the end of the night and it’s just as good as anything. Peter still pulls out your chair for you and asks the waitress stupid questions about which soda pairs best with which burger to make you laugh. He later declares it’s the best date he’s ever been on.

- Egon -

• Egon really likes you but I’m afraid you’d have to be the one to ask him out first. It’s not that he doesn’t want to, it’s just that it doesn’t really occur to him to ask since you see each other pretty often and that’s what’s important to him.

• But don’t despair! You have plenty of options since Egon’s pretty laid back. He enjoys theatre and museums if that’s your thing, but he’s equally willing to do something a little more fast paced if you like. As long as you’re both spending time together.

• With the lack of urgency you guys end up playing tourist for the day on your first date. You plan out a little sightseeing tour around the city but the best things are the little gems you find along the way. Pop up drink stalls, weird antique shops, really bad indie theatre shows.. You explore everything.

• The best thing about it is you learn a lot about each other. You pass through and discuss so many things that you naturally form a mental map of your likes and dislikes, interests and ambitions. Egon comes away feeling like he knows you a million times better, yet still somehow wants to get to know you more.

- Ray -

• Ray would be SO nervous to ask you out. It would frustrate him too because you’re one of the easiest people to talk to usually, but somehow asking for your time seems outlandish and scary.

• But our boy’s brave and (with a little encouragement from the others) asks you out. It’s not necessarily a traditional first date.. You guys are doing an escape room!

• You guys have a lot of fun, obviously. You both take it seriously enough that it’s challenging but break any tension with jokes and celebrating your little victories along the way. Ray gets really into whatever the theme of the room is and occasionally does stupid accents and bits.

• Whether you win or lose you both have a lot to celebrate afterwards. Anything from drinks to desserts, your choice. You guys know each other a lot better and are so much closer for it. The nights ends with a sweet kiss that leaves Ray blushing for days.

- Winston -

• He’s a classic guy and goes for a pretty classic date with a trip to the movies. He picks you up in his own car and you have to admit he tidied up pretty nicely in civilian wear.

• Everything’s on him. The tickets, the snacks, all of it. Of course he doesn’t expect anything in return but you do have to put up with his cheesy moves. The old yawn into arm around the shoulder thing, squeezing your hand at intense or scary parts.. That sort of stuff. Of course he’ll completely back off if that’s not your bag.

• After the movie it’s really interesting to hear Winston dissect his thoughts and feelings about what you saw. He has some really thoughtful insights and you naturally end up learning about and sharing each other’s experiences.

• He drives you home and you guys end up taking the long way round. You feel safe and comfortable in his presence and the scenic route is the perfect way to finish the night off.

[crowleysqueenandlucislover]

Wishes Don’t Come True

Fandom: Supernatural

Pairing: Sam x Reader, Dean x Reader

Summary: A mistake, that has tormented you for years, is finally unearthed as Sam learns the truth about a night from your shared past.

Warnings: angst, swearing, mentions of abuse, small amount of fluff.

Notes: Listen to me...this story is longgggg. I really should’ve split it up into parts but you know, i just didn’t wanna lol. And I love my sweet puppy dog Sammy but womp-womp even puppies can do wrong; I love Sam but he’s kind of the bad guy in this story. Doesn’t involve the supernatural, mostly just a smut-story between the reader and Sam gone wrong, and Dean reaping from it.

UPDATE: WOW. I can’t believe i never finished this story. I’m posting the saved draft just to at least get some of it out there, but if y’all wanna read more then let me know i guess.

After a hunt in California, the Winchester’s decided to visit Sam’s old college, Stanford University. Dean could only stomach so much of his brother’s ‘walk down memory lane’ before changing course to the nearest bar. After discussing the menu for a few minutes Dean’s attention shifted to the approaching waitress, wearing a little bit too much makeup and not enough clothes. “Dibs.” Sam stole a quick look and rolled his eyes, “She’s all yours.” The women leaned over the table, intentionally exposing too much cleavage, and returned Dean’s direct eye contact. “What can i do for you and your friend sugar?” “I’ll take the bacon cheese burger, as greasy as you can make it, and a beer. ‘My friend’ here will have…” “The same but hold the grease.” “I’m on it.” She flashed Dean her most desperate charming smile before disappearing into the crowd. “Really Dean.” “What’s the matter Sammy, can’t handle a little competition?” Sam couldn’t contain his laughter, “There’s no competition, she’s not my type.” “Not your type?” “Not my type. You know i’m afraid of clowns and twenty bucks says she’s ‘working her way through college.” “I hope so.” 

She soon returned with the drinks. “So, what’s a pretty girl like you doing working in a place like this?” Sam raised an eyebrow at his brother, asking if that was really the best he could do. Dean shot a quick glance that said to shut up. The waitress was happy to deliver the cliche story of ‘needing the money to pay her way through college.’ Sam zoned out her babbling story and started on his food. He couldn’t be less interested in her let alone anyone else. No one has been able to catch his attention lately, but then he saw who was working behind the bar.

You looked nothing like you did when Sam last saw you; you were a woman now. A bit taller, toned muscles but still had curves, those were also new. Your hands seemed calloused and skin sort of tough, but your face still looked young. The exceptions were a few curious scars striped across your face and your hair. It was still h/l but you had dyed it h/c. It suited you. But what really caught his attention were your eyes, or at least, one of them. It was a faint shade of h/c compared to your other one. Sam wondered what must’ve happened, but had to admit it added to your beauty.

You were being kept busy but even on a Friday night, you gave your sweetest smile to everyone who came in. You socialized fluently, but something about you was reserved; you were always hiding a part of yourself. You waved goodbye to a group of people you knew all by name. When Sam saw your smile this time it captivated him.

Dean was still distracted by the waitress so Sam headed to the bar. At first he was excited to catch up, it’d been so long, but once his memories caught up he ran with them. He slipped out the door as fast as he could and headed back to the motel.

Sam’s face turned sour at his refreshed memories of you. He pulled out his phone. “Hey man where’d you run off too? You got company?” Sam could hear the smirk on his brothers face. “No Dean…I’m just feeling worn out from today. I’m headed back to the motel. You gonna be alright?” “Yeah no worries. Hey Sam! Who’s that chick you were staring at? She’s something-” 

“NO ONE-!” 

“What?-”

“No!-I just mean…some old friend from school.” “You mean-” “No. We went on one date and it was a nightmare.” “So you don’t mind if i take my chances?” “What about the waitress?” “Meh, i think…what’s your friend’s name?” “Y/n.” “Cute. Well I think y/n will be a lot more interesting, there’s something about her.” “Just a head’s up she’s bad news.” “Seriously?”

“Yeah. Or at least she was. It’s a long story. It’s probably best if you stay away from her Dean. I don’t think you’ll hit it off anyways.” “Yeah well we’ll see. I’m gonna go talk to her, it’s thinning out here.” “Okay but i warned you. I’m back at the room. See you later.” “Yup.”

Sam showered before sliding into bed but couldn’t fall asleep. That night kept replaying in his head and Sam realized he still didn’t fully understand what had happened. It seemed so unlike you but impossible to deny what he saw. It had started out so well…

*FLASHBACK*

Sam was doing well in school. He had plenty of friends, highest marks in all his classes, and for the first time in a very long time he was happy. Most days flew by quickly but every night, time would stretch. On his way home, Sam made sure to catch one last glimpse of you. You worked at the flower shop on the edge of campus. Sam would always stare as you locked up in the evenings, amazed by your every movement. Something as simple as taking out the trash was memorizing to him.

The two of you shared a couple of classes but sat no where near each other and naturally never interacted. The interesting thing was that Sam didn’t have any significant feelings for you. He found you cute, in a very exotic yet simplistic way; Nothing extraordinary but he couldn’t seem to look away from you no matter how hard he tried. He kept finding himself wanting you.

On a night out with his friends, Sam convinced them to go to a specific bar, just so he could look at you like always. But the unexpected happened.

“Hey Sam, wait up!” You came running up behind Sam. His surprise was obvious as he returned your anxious smile. He imagined this happening dozens of times in his head and the reality of it now flustered him. “H-hey! Yeah, y/n right?” “Yeah…” There was a forever moment of you staring into each other’s eyes, becoming better acquainted. You studied Sam’s face, silently memorizing every feature before taking a leap of faith, “Well, i know this is kind of sudden and out of the blue but i wanted to ask you something-” “Sam,” Sam’s friends called from a few feet ahead, “come on, don’t waste your time with…that, it’s gross, you can do better. Let’s go we’re gonna be late meeting up with the rest of the guys.” Sam rolled his eyes but felt his heart drop when he turned back and saw a completely different person standing in front of him. Your smile had faded and your face was pale with burning cheeks. All eye contact was lost; your eyes stayed glued to the sidewalk but Sam could still see the slight tremble in your lips you were trying so hard to hide. “Oh, hey y/n no! Please don’t listen to those guys-” “No, no it’s alright Sam. I hope you have a good night.” You hurried back to the shop but Sam was faster. He stopped you by your arm and was quick to face you again. “Hey hey hey! Y/n wait, no seriously i’m sorry about them, please don’t be upset. I don’t think-i mean they’re just being stupid you’re not-” “It’s fine Sam, really. I’m kind of used to it.” “I just don’t want you to think that I think you’re…”

Sam wasn’t sure what else to say. The air was getting tense and you both just stood in it. “So,” Sam nervously rubbed the back of his neck, “What was it you wanted to ask me?” “Oh, well,” A shy smile played on your face and Sam was relieved to see you returning to your old self. “I know we don’t exactly know each other, but i thought that if you weren’t busy next friday…maybe you’d consider dinner? You know, with me...?” “Y/n-” “It doesn’t have to be a date! It’s fine i’ll pay for myself! I just thought-” “I’d love to y/n.” “I...What? Did…did you said yes?” Sam smiled, “No, i said i’d love to. And i’ll be paying,” he gave you a quick kiss on the cheek, “that’s how dates work right,” winked, and ran to catch up with his friends. Your hand found your cheek, “..yeah, right..”

Once he caught back up, Sam’s friends wanted full details. “Sam why would you agree to go out with, her?” “Yeah dude did someone bribe you?” “Lose a bet?” “Sam you can tell us, is she holding your family hostage?” The night went on with Sam being hounded by questions and you ridiculed. He never understood what everyone in town had against you, or why it’s always been like that. You seemed nice enough, never caused any problems, didn’t act out of the ordinary. Was there something he was missing?

Throughout the week Sam asked around about you, wanting to learn as much as he could before your date friday. He wanted to see what the big deal was all about but everyone seemed to have something new to say.

“I heard she’s a drug dealer.”

“She lives over on the bad side of town. Her neighbors are all criminals.”

“My cousin says he caught her trying to steal from his dad’s pharmacy once.”

“She has a lazy eye.”

“Her father beats her, that’s why she’s always covered in cuts and bruises.”

“I thought she was a campus prostitute?”

“I heard she keeps rats as pets.”

“Yeah, definitely a prostitute.”

“She eats raw onions for lunch.”

“Her working at the flower shop is just a rouse. Her real job is as a cocktail waitress at that biker bar on the other side of town. I hear it’s a topless bar too.”

“I think she’s screwing the Dean.”

“She’s spread STD’s to the whole school.” 

“Don’t let that ‘good-girl’ facade fool you. My aunt works at the police station and says she’s got a criminal record longer than my entire body.”

Sam’s head was in a knot from all the stories he heard. He didn’t want to believe any of it, you seemed so nice and, well, innocent. But Sam knew that people weren’t always what they seemed. As much as he didn’t want to believe it, he had to accept that it was all possible.

By the time Friday night came around, Sam was teetering on whether or not to come up with an excuse to bail. He heard so many stories about you that it had started to resonate with him. Despite what he had heard his gut told him to still go meet up with you. He wore a brave face but wasn’t prepared for what he would see.

Standing outside surrounded by people was a nearly topless you being held up against the wall, kissing some grizzly looking guy. You were stiff and looked uncomfortable but your lack of struggle sickened Sam. He felt his heart sink just a tad but it was overridden by his rising disgust. Wanting to just walk away yet still wanting answers, Sam confronted you. 

“Hey!” He broke through the crowd and looked you dead in the eyes. You froze and cowered like a deer in headlights. You tried to cover yourself up but it was near pointless. Your shirt was ripped apart on the ground and the only thing keeping your bra on were your two trembling hands. “What is this.” Sam’s voice was tough and void of emotion. “S-sam…” Your voice betrayed you, and left you to shiver helplessly in front of the giant. Everyone around you snickered making crude comments under their breath. It infuriated Sam that much more. “WELL?!” You jumped at his sudden shouting. “Sam…i-it’s not what it looks like i swear-” “Yes it is Sam,” someone spoke up from the crowd, “we tried to warn you about her!” The guy that was kissing you laughed and shoved a twenty down your pants making you cringe, “just a filthy whore who’ll do anything for money.” “No…no! Sam please it’s not-” “Hey,” a girl shuffled next to you before ‘whispering’, “i got those drugs you wanted. It’s gonna cost extra since you wanted the ecstasy with the cocaine this time.” She pulled out a big bag of drugs and tossed them into your purse on the ground, “You can pay me back later. Same as last time yeah?” She blew you a kiss before laughing away with her friends. You looked between the purse and Sam, trying to figure out what to explain first.

“I can explain-” “Yeah you’re a junkie!” “You still owe me fifty for last week!” “Have a bit of decency pig!” “Whore!” “Run away to that dump you call home!” People took turns throwing in their two cents, a few even spitting at you, before slowly dispersing. Meanwhile you and Sam were at a stand still, eyes locked on each other, but telling two completely different stories. Sam was trying to understand how he could be so stupid to go out with someone like you. He was furious at you for making him look like a fool. But yours were like a puppy begging to be forgiven. Tears were streaming down your face and pooled at your feet but Sam felt nothing towards you, not anymore.

The crowd had cleared except for a few guys who had lingered in the back. One wrapped his arms around you from behind. You tensed up and squeezed your eyes but remained still. “Let’s finish this back at my place, what do you say princess? Pick up where we left off last week?” Sam turned to leave making your body jumped out of shock and fear flood you, “No-NO! I’m sorry please don’t leave me! SAM!” He stopped and looked back but only glared as he watched them touch your trembling body. “SAM PLEASE! You have to believe me none of that was true i swear!” Sam stood by silently as you were being pulled to a nearby suv. “I can explain but i’m begging you do not let them take me!” He shook his head, “Looks like you’ve been asking for it y/n-” “PLEASE-!” “I’m not getting involved.” “HELP ME-!” “Have a good night.” “No Sam! SAM NO PLEASE!! SAM!!!!” Your screams died after the car door was slammed in your face.

You disappeared that night and Sam hadn’t seen or heard a word about you since.

*PRESENT*

Sam still couldn’t believe what you were involved in but had nothing else to go on. Your shrill screams still rang in his head and would always make his stomach drop, but he forced himself to forget.

He turned over about to call his brother but he burst through the door with a giant smile on his face. “Have a good night?” “I, man.” Dean couldn’t wipe away his smile and though he would never admit it his cheeks were glowing red. He threw his jacket on the floor and fell onto his bed. For a few minutes he laid there quietly, smirking at nothing, smiling at the ceiling. 

Sam fully sat up, “Um, Dean?” “What’s up buddy.” “What happened?” With a big huff of air Dean finally sat up to face his brother. “The most amazing night of my life Sam, that’s what happened.” Sam had to hear the rest of the story.

“Where to start. I went to go talk to y/n-or, well first, i kind of just watched her. Not in a creepy way, I just wanted to try and get a feel for her, and Sam i can’t explain it but,” Dean was trying to find the words, “After a little while i felt like i got lost in it or like-” “Time slowed down.” Sam was relieved to hear he wasn’t the only one, but also felt a little sharp pain. “Yeah, exactly! So i got up, took at seat at the bar, and we started to talk. But it wasn’t the usual shallow conversation that i have, it felt, meaningful. We talked about our interests, our hopes and dreams, i didn’t even know i had any! I even opened up about my childhood Sam.” “Whoa.” “Yeah. Just how she spoke made everything look so...beautiful and for a moment i forgot we lived in the world we did. I lost track of time and when i finally left i was addicted; i didn’t get enough time with her.” Sam smiled at the feelings he now shared with Dean; he understood exactly what he was saying and took a second to reminisce all the good memories from before. That little sharp pain came back. 

“I know what you mean.” Dean pulled himself out of his trance, “What happened between the two of you? She’s amazing Sammy how’d you screw it up?” “SHE-!…I didn’t do anything. Look it’s a long and still painful story i don’t want to talk about it.” “Fine, i’ll ask her then.” 

“No don’t-wait. Are you seeing her again?” 

“Uh, duh.” 

“Why!?” 

“’Why’? Because like i said Sam she’s an amazing person, alright, i like her.”

 “SO?!” 

“’SO’?! So i want to get to know her. Is that so bad?!” 

“YES!”

 “WHY!” 

“Because-!” 

By now the two stood face to face, both feeling the need to defend themselves. Although Dean sounded angry he was more confused than anything. Sam had never gotten so worked up about Dean spending time with someone. 

“Because what Sam?!” “Just-!” “Just what?! Why are you so against her?!” Sam could only huff and puff so much before it became too much; he grabbed his jacket, and left the room. By the time he came back the sun had risen and Dean was gone.

Sam spent the day lounging around the motel room, gritting his teeth at the thought of you hurting his brother like you did him. Dean had no idea what kind of person you truly were. What made matters worse was how enthralled Dean had become with you, and you were just going to crush him. Night came with no word from Dean so Sam decided to turn in early. The next day lingered on and just as the storm outside was calming down Dean came barreling through the door.

“WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL SAM?!!?” Sam jumped to his feet and started to back away while Dean charged towards him. “Dean what’s going on?!” Dean threw a chair out of his path hard enough for it to break against the wall so whatever it was, it was bad. “HOW COULD YOU!!” Dean threw a punch at Sam but hit the wall behind him, making a sizable dent. “DEAN WHAT THE HELL-!” Sam couldn’t dodge the next one and stumbled back a few feet before regaining his composure. “OF ALL THE THINGS YOU’VE DONE!” Dean threw another punch and another. Sam tried defending himself but nothing was stopping Dean once the fire started. “HOW SAM! HOW?!” Sam went crashing into the glass table and falling into the pile of shards. He was too weak to get up but Dean stood strong, muscles bulging, and his eyes were wild. 

“DAD DID NOT RAISE YOU LIKE THAT AND I SURE AS HELL DID NOT RAISE YOU LIKE THAT!! HOW COULD YOU DO THAT HOW COULD YOU LET THAT HAPPEN!??!” 

“WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!” Dean grabbed Sam by the collar, pulling him to his feet, but kept him close. “Do you have any idea what you did to her Sam. ANY idea how disgustingly stupid you were?” His tone wasn’t as serious anymore but the thunder still boomed in Dean’s voice. “How could you do that Sam. You’re a monster. I can’t look at you anymore.” 

Dean shoved Sam away and slumped down onto the side of his bed. Sam cupped his now bruised jaw and sat opposite his brother. His movements were careful and slow, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so afraid of his brother. 

Sam made sure to speak softly, “Dean…I promise you, i have no idea what you’re talking about, okay? Whatever it is that i did i am sorry but please believe me i don’t know what all this is about.” Dean had to take a few heavy breaths before he could talk without a tremor in his voice. “Y/n told me what happened. Between the two of you; what happened that night, i know.” Sam still didn’t fully understand what about it warranted his brother to attack him. “So what? I don’t see what I did wrong? What was i suppose to do, go out with a girl like that-?” “SHE’S NOT-!” Dean caught himself, “She’s not like that Sam not even close. And if you knew the truth…you would never forgive yourself.” 

The fury had drained from Dean’s eyes. Now they had sunken in a little bit, the corners creased, but the green in his eyes danced with emotion. “I went to meet up with her at the bar but stopped and got her flowers on the way. I waited a few minutes before she pulled up, in a mustang if you can believe it. She got out and could not have looked more beautiful. She was dressed in a, what are they called, ‘sun dresses’?  She looked like something out of a 50′s movie and i mean that in the highest form of compliment. And i could never imagine her without that scar. It’s a part of her, just like her eyes, they’re perfect the way they are.”

Dean’s thoughts trailed off but Sam could still feel the affection pouring out of his words. The world’s greatest enigma was for a moment an open book, showing his heart. A single tear even escaped while Dean kept talking about you, mostly to himself now. Sam risked losing a tear himself, he’d never seen his brother like this; he never thought he would. 

Despite the throbbing pain engulfing his face, Sam smiled, “She sounds lovely Dean.” “She is.” Despite his feelings towards you, Sam wanted to hear about the rest of the date, whatever it took to keep his brother happy. “What happened next.” A slight twinkle grew in Dean’s eyes,

“I gave her the flowers, she said they were beautiful and that she knew just what to do with them. She asked if it was okay for us to make a quick stop before breakfast. We had some small talk while we walked, i used all my best lines, but i couldn’t stop acting like a nervous teenager. We ended up at a cemetery. My first instinct was to put my guard up, figured she might be some creature luring me into a trap. But she ignored me. Walked right up to a headstone and laid the flowers down in front of them. I felt like a complete idiot. I held back, let her have her moment. I could hear her speaking softly, occasionally sniffling, but i did my best not to listen. We left without saying another word until we got to the diner. 

She brought it up, thank god, i would have no idea what to say, not in a decent manner at least. She told me it was her father’s grave. Said he died about two years ago, cancer, and every weekend she goes by with fresh flowers and tells him about her week. She appreciated me saving her a trip to the flower shop. We laughed and just kept talking.

The date was supposed to end after that but we ended up walking around the park and even fed some ducks. Imagine it Sammy. Me, feeding MY food, to some damn ducks. I enjoyed it though. 

We both were getting hungry again so we decided to go on a second date and get some lunch together. We were being so corny but it was fun. I let her choose; she took me to a hole in the wall off the lake and swore they had the best ribs, which they did. 

After we just walked around the town, doing some window shopping, still talking each other’s ears off. We still didn’t want to leave so we planned our ‘third date’, still being cheesy. We went back to her place so she could shower and change. I was waiting a while but it gave me plenty of time to do some snooping. When i got bored of that i turned the tv on and started watching a movie. Y/n came out and looked beautiful but decided to change into something casual and ordered us a pizza so we could finish the movie.

Afterwards we went to have a few drinks at a bar. She told me her entire story. It got heavy at some points, i wanted to kill someone; i wanted to kill you-” “But Dean-” “Just, let me finish Sam, i can explain.” Sam had heard that before but kept his mouth shut. “It started to get a little bit uncomfortable but i knew how to fix that.”

*FLASHBACK*

Some country band was playing that night brought in a huge crowd. The bar was packed and majority of the tables had been pushed against the walls to make a bigger dance floor. Dean wasn’t one for dancing but he wanted to do everything within his power to make you happy. He gave a suggestive smile that you instantly reciprocated. He took your hand and started making his way through the crowd of couples lost in their own little worlds. The band started playing “I don’t dance” by Lee Brice and your face instantly lit up. Dean smiled back at you, “You like this song sweetheart?” “I love it. I dance around with my broom whenever it comes on.” Dean spun you around and pulled you in close to him. “Well i’m honored to be your broom tonight.” You both smiled like idiots and became lost in the song. Dean couldn’t believe how he was feeling around you. He felt like an entirely new man; he felt whole. Dean kept spinning you around, his stomach filling up with butterflies every time you turned to face him again. He knew he would never grow tired of seeing your face. “But here i am, spinning you round and round in circles. It ain’t my style but i don’t care. I’d do anything with you anywhere,” You giggled, “Is Dean Winchester actually singing to me?” Dean smiled, “only for you sweetheart.” 

The two of you danced until the bar closed but it wasn’t enough. Once you stepped outside you two little kids jumped around and danced in the rain. Dean held your hips at arms length and spun you like a modern day fairy tale. You left your arms out wide and let your head fall back, your face fully embracing the rain. Some people walked by and gave you strange looks, others took a moment to smile, but neither of you noticed anyone else. The sun was starting to rise and made the scene that much more romantic. You couldn’t keep your eyes off each other. Dean knew what he wanted and hoped you did too. You saw the look he was giving you, even with it hiding behind his rosy cheeks and nervous half smile. It was cute. You took a leap of faith. 

Without warning you pulled your body against his and kissed him. His hands attacked you, exploring everything they’ve been dying to touch since you met. Both of your lips moved desperately against each other, hoping to somehow kiss more than you already were. You opened your mouth and invited Dean to let you in. Once your tongue was allowed inside Dean melted; he moaned and gripped your body tighter within his arms. He hooked his arms under your thighs and lifted you up, wrapping your legs around his waist. It was the only way he could be physically closer to you. Your fingers rolled through Dean’s hair as you kissed down his face and neck.

You didn’t know how you ended up back at your place, maybe Dean walked the entire way holding you, but it didn’t really matter. The sheets stuck to your two soaking bodies, becoming tangled in the mess you had already created. Sex with you was like an out of body experience for Dean. His entire being was just as heated and flushed as his face. The two of you moved in sync together like what you were doing was choreographed. You floated high up in the clouds all night. And once you finally came down it didn’t matter, you were still both in heaven. 

“Good morning sweetheart.” Dean peppered kisses along your neck and shoulders making you smile. “Mmm you make a girl think dirty thoughts when you do things like that Dean.” You pressed yourself back hard until you heard a soft moan escape Dean’s lips. His arms wrap even tighter around your torso as he pushed back. “God please tell me what you’re thinking.” You laughed, “Down boy.” Dean let one of his hands crawl down your body and in between your legs, “Oh I’ll go down baby don’t worry about that-” “Dean!” You swatted his hand away and giggled like a schoolgirl. Dean kissed your neck again except this time he let his lips linger. 

You closed your eyes and dared to dream. “Hey Dean,” “Hmmm,” “Will I ever see you again.” You felt Dean tense up and you instantly regretted opening your mouth. “Y/n-” “No don’t say it. Please. I understand Dean. I know how things work in your world and honestly I wasn’t hoping for much, I just wish things were different. At least for me. Just once.” You fought back the tears but you couldn’t stop your eyes from becoming so heavy they shut and you couldn’t open them. You felt Dean roll you over to face him but you couldn’t, you knew it would be one of the last times you saw his face. Maybe you could prolong it if you didn’t look. “Sweetheart.” You didn’t look. “Y/n.” Still nothing. You felt Dean’s weight shifted and your body shook with fear that he was leaving just like that. You forced your eyes open. You saw Dean sitting up, pulling on his underwear, but instead of reaching for his pants, he climbed back on the bed. 

“Dean?-” “Sshh. Not another word. It’s my turn.” He pushed you into your stomach and straddled you, letting some of his weight down. He began rubbing your back and you felt your fear slowly start to run away. “Y/n listen. You’re right, this life, it doesn’t nurture relationships, not healthy ones at least. They either don’t last or end with death. And honestly I’ve never wanted to try and test that. If you were anyone else, no, you wouldn’t see me again.” The massage started to not feel so good anymore. “I understand Dean-” “But you’re not anyone else. You’re you. And Y/n honey, I ain’t never letting you go.” You didn’t know what to say so you stayed quiet, hoping to hear more sweet words. Dean climbed off of you and shuffled his way back into his original position spooning you. This time you faced him, burying your face in his chest. He kissed the top of your head and held you close. Feeling his chest rise and fall with every breath relaxed you like a drug. You spread your fingers to feel as much as you could. He was as warm as the sunlight in summer and felt like the only place you were ever meant to be. “You’ll see me again sweetheart. You’ll see me so much you’ll get sick of seeing me.” Dean managed to get a laugh out of you. “That could never happen Dean.” The two of you laid comfortably in silence.

[poutyyybangtan]

ready or not - j.jk

genre: friends to lovers, enemy to lovers, (almost a slow burn?), a mix of everything lol  character pairing: jeon jungkook 9bts) x female oc warnings: not really any lol just angsty fluff kinda stuff word count: 5.4k (it’s alot) authors note: i wrote this months ago and it’s not finished but i can finish it if yall want? let me know :)

______

(prompts from @im-here-to-help-you-all-write​)

“i think the longer you look at it, the worse it gets.” “yeah, kinda like your face.”

“i need your help.” “holy shit, i never thought i’d hear you say that.’ “please don’t rub it in right now.”

“i don’t feel like i’m ready for this yet” “you’re going to have to be, because we’re out of time.”

you can’t believe you actually had to do this. the last person you ever wanted to look at was your only shot at getting out of the situation you brought upon yourself. you had originally counted on one of your other friends to help you out, but of course, life never seemed to work out the way you wanted it to. 

“jin, please. can’t you just cancel and come with me?” you begged, watching as your older companion continued to chop away at some vegetables. 

“you know i would love to help bamboozle your family with my impeccable acting skills, but unfortunately, i do have a business to run. this weekend is a big deal for the restaurant and joon would kill me if i left him alone to handle such a thing. and besides, we all know joon can’t toast bread without having to call the fire department first,” jin laughs. you laugh softly, knowing jin had a point. poor namjoon had amazing business skills, but unfortunately that means he lacks in the cooking department. 

“i guess you’re right,” you mumble begrudgingly. 

“why not ask jimin if he can go?” jin asks, sliding the chopped vegetables into a pot.

“my mom knows him, she’ll know something isn’t right. and besides, he and hobi are going to a dance camp for school,” you shrug.

“and tae? yoongi?” jin asks.

“he’s got that test retake for his photography class and yoongs has an audition for an entertainment company in gangnam,” you sigh. you’re really proud of all your friends and the successes they have, but you really wished they could’ve helped you in your time of need. but you couldn’t be that selfish, so maybe you had to admit defeat. 

“you know, you could just ask jungkook,” jin asks nonchalantly. 

“you know i can’t do that,” you answer bluntly, refusing to even entertain the idea.

“i mean, you could,” jin laughs, putting the lid on the pot and onto the stove top, turning to you afterwards.

“jin, you know i can’t. he is the last person on earth i would ask to help me. i would rather die of embarrassment than to ask him for his help,” you dramatically claim.

“you just might if you don’t ask. besides, what's the big deal? it’s only for a weekend,” jin shrugs.

“yeah, a whole weekend of him pretending to be my boyfriend. jin, we can barely tolerate each other as is, having us cooped up together and pretending like we actually like each other is a whole other ball game,” you said.

“well, here’s the way i look at it. either you tell your mother that you don’t have a boyfriend and face embarrassment at your mother's wedding, or you can suck it up, ask jungkook nicely to do you this one favor, and have fun this weekend. you never know, jungkook might actually be up for it,” jin says, an underlying suggestive tone in his voice; one that you never caught.

you had to admit, jin was right. as painful as it was, jungkook was your only chance at escaping this nightmarish weekend. 

-

you found jungkook in his usual zone of comfort: with his lips attached to some random girl he probably barely knew. you found yourself scrunching your face in distaste. such a vulgar display in a library no less. you huffed off your second doubts and approached the table with confidence. you noticed that neither party acknowledged your presence, so you knocked on the table to gain their attention. reluctantly, the girl pulled away first to throw you a bitter look.

“jeon, can we talk?” you say softly, not trying to cause a disturbance.

“i’m kind of busy, can’t it wait?” jungkook asks, a smug look on his face, the girl sat next to him donned a complacent smile on hers.

“please, i saw you making out with some bimbo blonde yesterday, i’m sure you can find some other toy to play with when we’re done,” you smirk, watching the look on the girls face fall with every passing word that escaped your lips. she glanced over at jungkook with disgust before grabbing her belongings and walking away in a fit.

“great, well there goes my whole afternoon,” jungkook scoffs. he leans into his chair, folding his arms over his chest.

“you’ll deal. look, i need your help,” you admit, much to your dismay.

“holy shit, i never thought i’d hear you say that,” jungkook laughs ironically.

“please don’t rub it in right now,” you groan.

“how can i offer my service to you?” jungkook smirks, looking up at your obviously irritated figure.

“i need... i can’t believe i’m saying this. i need you to be my boyfriend for the weekend,” you spit out.

“you what?” jungkook asks incredulously. you don’t blame him for his confusion. what you were asking was heinous, add to the fact that you two barely tolerated each other? it was the biggest taboo situation you could’ve put yourself in. but you were desperate.

your mother, as loving as she was, was relentless. she just wanted the best for you. you were about to graduate college soon, about to get a real career and be a real adult. and to her, that meant start a family as soon as possible. and that couldn’t happen without being in a relationship first. and what better way than to hook your daughter up at a gathering for family friends? cause nothing says love like a wedding, right?

“what’s in it for me?” jungkook asks. you looked at him in disbelief.

“wait, you’re actually considering it?” you asked.

“well, you gave me a proposition, so why not?” jungkook asks. 

“uh, because we’re not necessarily friends? it’s not like you owe me anything to even consider the idea,” you chuckle.

“you might not be my friend, but that doesn’t mean i’m not yours,” jungkook shrugs, finally standing up and collecting his scattered books. you hadn’t actually noticed them before, you just thought that the library was a good place for jungkook to hook up, not an actual study zone. 

“well, uh, what do you have in mind?” you asked, answering his question finally. 

“i need a date for this work thing, and my usual hookups aren't going to cut it. they’re not exactly what you would say… modest?” jungkook jokes, causing you to laugh a little bit. 

“sound like a deal?” jungkook asks after a moment of silence passes. you pretend to consider his proposition, as if you actually had a choice. you look up at him and you can see that he saw that too.

“what kind of work thing?”

=

“where are you going?” jimin asks, watching you step out of your bedroom clad in a cocktail dress. you really would’ve rather been at your shared apartment, cuddled up next to jimin and tae watching some horror film eating greasy food, but alas, you had to uphold your end of the bargain.

“remember i told you that in order for jungkook to uphold his end, i have to uphold mine? apparently, he works at some magazine company and they’re having a company gathering to celebrate the issue's 90th anniversary and he needed me to come with,” you groan, strapping on your heels. 

“you’re going all out for this,” taehyung comments, a teasing tone hidden in his words. you looked up and glared at him, knowing what he meant.

“if i put forth 100%, maybe he will too,” you say. 

“oh, he most definitely will be putting in 100% effort,” jimin says, low enough for only taehyung to hear which makes him giggle. you look up and see jimin smirking at you which makes you groan internally. 

suddenly, the doorbell rings and you thank whatever being there is that saves you from the conversation that was happening, with or without your participation. you pull the door open and the first thing you see is jungkook, properly dressed head to toe. you notice the bow tie pressed snuggly against his neck, not a wrinkle in his suit jacket or his dress shirt. his long hair was parted down the middle, brushed out out of his eye. you hated to admit it, but he looked breathtakingly beautiful. 

“wow,” jungkook finally says, eyeing you in a way that made the blood pool in your cheeks. 

“uh, yeah. let’s- let’s go,” you murmur, noticing the boys in the living room giggling at your guys’ interaction. you shove him in his chest. he grabs your hands and laughs, pulling you out the door.

“what did i miss?” jungkook asks. you roll your eyes, noticing the way jungkook held onto your hand, even after you got further and further away from your apartment, but not minding the warmth his hand provided against your cold one. 

“trust me, nothing you want to hear, and nothing i’m willing to repeat,” you scoff.

=

jungkook was right. he had warned you beforehand that everyone at his job was stuck up and snobbish and would continuously point out that fact that you were no model. and like he had forewarned, all you heard all night was “you’re too pretty not to be a model” or “jungkook ended up with you?” you were appalled, sure, but you didn’t take their words to heart. you don’t know these people, and after tonight, you’re never going to see them again. 

but jungkook flinched every time someone opened their mouth. he felt bad for you, but when he saw you delicately handle the situation, he knew you would be fine. still, it didn’t make him feel any less bad. 

“we can leave whenever you want, you know?” jungkook whispers into your ear. you look up at him and smile.

“sounds like you’re using me as an excuse to ditch this snooze fest,” you giggle. jungkook smiles back down at you and laughs with you.

“busted,” he finally says.

“thank god, let’s ditch these runway wannabes and get some pizza. i’m starved,” you groan, looking away, missing the endearing glance he tosses your way. you both ditch the stuffy building, and headed to a late night pizza shop down the corner. you sigh in relief once you step into the restaurant, inhaling the smell of cheese and dough. you both decide to seat yourselves in a booth in the corner of the dining area.  once you both place your orders, you settle into a comfortable silence. 

“so, what caused you to conjure up this boyfriend lie?” jungkook asked after awhile. 

“my mom thinks that i need to be in a relationship to be happy since i’m getting ready to enter the real world,” you sigh, rolling your eyes and leaning into your elbows that rested on the table.

“thats stupid,” jungkook scoffs, leaning into the booth. you were caught off guard by this, expecting jungkook to somewhat agree with your mother.

“you look surprised,” he says, gauging your reaction.

“i kind of am. not gonna lie, i was expecting you to agree with her,” you say, shrugging. the waiter brings your slices and leaves you two alone, settling back into the conversation.

“no way. if you want to be single, you should. i’m sure you’re single by choice anyways,” jungkook says, picking up his pizza and taking a huge bite of it.

“what do you mean?” you ask him, slightly confused behind the intentions of his sentence. 

“i just mean that you’re insanely smart, funny and talented. and you’re extremely beautiful. if you wanted any guy, you could have him,” jungkook shrugs, munching on his pizza in peace. meanwhile, his statement sent you into a frenzy. who knew jeon jungkook thought so highly of you. you were under the impression that he dispised your entire being. he never really complimented you before, so his statement shocked you. 

“never knew you thought so highly of me,” you said, smiling to yourself. you can’t really explain it and you don’t know why, but knowing how jungkook truly felt about you made you extremely happy. 

“there’s a lot you don’t now about me,” he winks, causing you to roll your eyes and eat your pizza. and yet again, you missed the way jungkook smiled at you, enjoying your presence more than he would care to admit to. 

=

“i don’t feel like i’m ready for this yet,” you murmur, feeling your hands start to shake as you stood outside the venue. 

“you’re going to have to be, because we’re out of time,” jungkook smiles, taking hold of your hand and waltzing you two into the building. your mom had asked you to come early for a surprise so you decided to give her a surprise of your own.

“jungkook, maybe we should say you caught food poisoning and we had to leave,” you murmured as jungkook continued to drag you further and further into the building. jungkook smiled at your child-like nature and shook his head.

“we’ve come too far to give up now. let’s just rock this and get home,” he says, smiling at you. you felt a sudden urge of confidence that surges through you and gives you enough momentum to swing open the doors of the chapel hall. you were taken aback by the way the chairs are decorated with white pieces, hanging off the backs. you take notice of the pale yellow and white combo that you didn’t think would match so well. you felt happy for your mom and that she met someone who loved her so much that they were willing to do this for her to cherish the day.

“it’s beautiful,” you gape, admiring all the minute details your mother probably agonized over. jungkook admired the astonished look on your face as you practically ignored his presence to take in your surroundings. he always found you beautiful, but watching you be you while nobody was looking was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. jungkook had the biggest crush on you for as long as he could remember. and he refused to even fathom the thought of confessing to you when he knew how you felt. he knew you couldn’t stand his lifestyle, his choices that he’s made regrettably. but how else was he supposed to cope with the fact with the one person he’s allowed to steal his heart hates him. 

“ah, there you are,” a voice says from behind you two. you both turn around and you see your mom, hair curlers and full glam. 

“hi mama,” you smile, running up to her and giving her a big hug. 

“hi sweet pea,” your mama coos, swaying you both back and forth. you pull back and look behind you to see jeon smiling at the interaction. this made your heart jump for a split second before you returned back to your surroundings.

“ma, this is my boyfriend, jeon jungkook,” you smile. 

“oh my, you’re so handsome,” your mother gushes, rushing up to him and pulling him into a hug.

“thank you,” jungkook smiles, blushing slightly. you’ve never seen jeon blush before and to see him in a such a fragile state made you happy. and you couldn’t seem to figure out why. your mom finally released jeon from her clutches and she turned back to you. 

“hun, i’ve got a surprise for you. follow me,” she says, grabbing yours and jeon’s hands dragging you to what you assumed was the dressing room. there were two dresses that were covered hanging off of a clothing rack. your mom shoves you guys onto a couch and rushes over to the dresses.

“one of these beauties will be yours to wear for the wedding because… hon, will you be my maid of honor?” your mother asks, eyes full of stars that made your heart swell. you felt the air leave your lungs and your heart begin to race. you remember watching your mom struggle with love all her life, her face in a frown always. you’ve never seen your mom so happy now, and you would do anything just to see her happy. 

“ma, are you serious?” you ask, wanting to be sure this is what she really wanted. 

“of course baby,” she smiles. you jump up and hug her tightly, muttering a yes into her hair. you both squeal with delight, jumping in place like teenage girls. suddenly, another pair of arms are wrapped around you, chest pressed against your back. you managed to look up and see jungkook bouncing with you and your mom. 

“i wanted to join too,” jungkook says, his voice high pitched and filled with excitement which in response, made you giggle. you all finally stop bouncing and jungkook pulls you into his chest, wrapping his arms around you, catching you off guard. you felt your heart race and you swore his heartbeat matched yours. you brushed it off as it being the sudden activity you all had just endured.

“i’ll leave you two alone so you can try the dresses,” your mother says after she catches her breath, winking at you. 

“you’re just gonna let your daughter get undressed in front of her boyfriend alone?” you ask incredulously. 

“hon, he’s your boyfriend. i’m sure he’s seen more,” she giggles, exiting the room, leaving you with your jaw wide open. 

“can you believe this?” you ask, shocked at your mothers bold statement.

“i’ve always wondered where you get your vulgarity from,” jungkook teases, his chest causing a vibration that you felt in your back, reminding you of your close, read as nonexistent, proximity. you push yourself away and whip around to face him, catching a glimpse of him trying to fight the smile that tried its best to take place on his delicate features.

“i’m not vulgar and you’re not watching me change. however, i do need an opinion on the dresses, so i guess you can stay,” you say, walking past him to try on the dresses. you snatch both of them of the rack and head into the bathroom, changing into dress number one. 

at first you thought it was a joke, the frills and exotic colors making your eyes hurt from how loud it was. you tried it on anyway, and you couldn’t believe how ridiculous you looked. no way your mother was being serious when she picked this dress out. you unlocked the bathroom door and stopped your way to where jungkook was sitting on the couch, playing on his phone. you clear your throat to capture his attention and you nearly explode with the laughter with the way his eyes widen and face drops.

“what do you think?” you ask him, twirling around in the godforsaken dress you know your mother probably bought as a joke. 

“i think the longer you look at it, the worse it gets,” jungkook says, a dumbfounded look on his face. you withhold your laughter and stare at him in distaste.

“yeah like your face,” you scoff, playing with the dress as if you actually admired it. 

“are you gonna wear that?” he asks, secretly hoping you’d say no so he could release a breathe he didn’t know he was holding. 

“well, i like it, don’t you?” you say, continuing to pretend like you actually were considering wearing this deafening dress. 

“uh.. if you like it then… sure,” jungkook says, shifting in his seat. you admired the fact that he was trying to cater to your feelings and for some reason it made your heart race at the thought. you don’t know whats been going on with you lately but every kind gesture has made your heart race with excitement. you didn’t know when it happened, but you started looking at jungkook as more and it scared you. you couldn’t be with him. you knew that. jungkook had a reputation, and he was proud of it. he was proud of the amount of women he could pull in one night. hell, in one hour. he was used to the idea that feelings were a concept he wasn’t willing to understand or try out. and you had to accept that.

“i’m messing with you gukkie. my mom probably bought this as a gag, the real dress is still in its cover,” you say laughing at jungkooks face that was contorted into one of discomfort. you leave him to relish in your teasing as you retreat back to the bathroom to change into the actual dress. you could still hear jungkook laugh to himself as you unzipped the dress to change into the other one. little did you know, he was laughing to himself about the nickname you gave him. he’s never had a nickname he actually enjoyed before. he was still lost in the thought of you calling him gukkie forever when you finally exited the bathroom.

he always thought those scenes in cheesy rom-com teen films where the guy is staring at the girl like she’s the only one that matters was cliche. but he was wrong. so very wrong. watching you in the tight floor length pale yellow dress that just made you glow knocked all the air out of his lungs. you’re hair that was in a messy ponytail allowed some pieces of hair to frame your face as you continued to fumble with the dress.

“it’s a little longer than i thought, but it fits well, yeah?” you say, still looking down at the gown. you honestly felt ridiculous. you rarely dress up like this. you hid your body underneath baggy clothing so to have something so tightly pressed against your body made you severely insecure. the silence coming from jungkook made everything worse. you looked up to see jungkook leaning forward, elbows resting on his thighs, hands holding his head up. there was a look in his eye you had never seen before and it made your stomach churn with excitement.

“that bad huh?” you joke, hoping to ease some of the tension that was building in the room. jungkook stands to his feet and approaches you, his body so close to yours you could feel the heat radiating off of his body. 

“you look beautiful,” jungkook says, smiling down at you. you feel yourself blush and begin to fumble with your fingers, a nervous tic jungkook found absolutely adorable. jungkook was helplessly in love with you, this much he knew. from the way you laughed, to the way you rolled your eyes in his presence. he loved the way you gave yourself wholly to the ones you cared about, willing and able to do any and everything for the people you love. he loved the way you strived to work hard and how incredibly intelligent you were. and suddenly, his heart was full with all the love he was dying to give you, but know he never could. because you deserved much more than some player who was willing to sleep with anything with legs. but if he could at least pretend like the love between you two was real, even if for a short while, he’ll take it. as desperate as he was, he wanted to know what it felt like to have you love him back. even if he knew it was all pretend. 

“jungkook, i can’t thank you enough for doing this. i know you would rather be in some girls bed trying to figure out a way to sneak out without her noticing, but i’m glad you’re here… with me,” you smile, hands gripping his bicep’s to keep him close. his cologne was hypnotizing, causing you to pull him closer and closer.

“there’s no place i would rather be,” jungkook said honestly, placing his hands onto your waist, allowing you to lean in. 

“you don’t mean that,” you scoff, smiling and rolling your eyes, getting ready to pull yourself back from a dangerous territory. jungkook stops this from happening, wrapping his arm around you til your pressed flush against his body. 

“you have no idea how bad i want you. all of you. mind, body and soul. but for right now, for the sake of our friendship and the momentum its growing, i will take you in whatever way you will allow me to have,” jungkooks says, forehead pressed against yours as he wills himself to hold back from pressing his lips against yours and taking you on the small couch in the dressing room. the words jungkook spoke so honestly made you shake from it’s intensity. 

“jungkook i--” 

“how’d the dress fit?” you mother asks, barging into the room. you and jungkook scramble apart from one another, him taking seat on the couch and you standing in front of him. you mother misses the way you two seemed highly unfocused and nervous as she coos over how adorable you look in the right dress. 

“you need to finish getting your hair and makeup done, so scooch along so me and your beautiful boyfriend can get to know each other,” your mother says shoving you out of the room and directing you to where the other bridesmaids were getting their hair and makeup done. it wasn’t until you were sat in the chair that you realized.. your mother and jungkook were alone. oh boy. 

=

you never felt so girly in your life. your hair was curled and put up in a half up half down situation, your makeup light and barely noticeable, but enough to tell you were wearing it. this wasn’t you, you didn’t like wearing makeup mainly because at the end of the day you forget to take it off and causes acne. you were working part time and went to school full time so you always left your hair in a ponytail or a bun. this look was new for you and you were kind of excited yet nervous for jungkook’s reaction. 

you surprised yourself with the thought, not really caring about jungkook’s opinions before, but now it was all you could think of, and that scared you. you knew this was just a favor he was owing to you, but he was really going above and beyond and it warmed your heart. but you had to remind yourself that you were just friends, nothing more. hell, you were barely friends. had it not been for you incessant need to prove yourself to your mom, you two would’ve never even became cordial with one another. 

you brush these thoughts aside, trying to manifest positive vibes for such a joyous occasion. you leave the dressing room, filled with chatter, in search of jungkook who may be suffering your mother’s constant conversation. you return back to the room you first were in when you arrived, catching your mother exiting the room. 

“you didn’t scare him off, did you?” you tease, hugging your mom. 

“honey, you look beautiful!,” your mom gushes, taking in the sight of her daughter. you smile and thank her, happy that she was happy.

“is he still in there?” you ask, nodding towards the door she came out of. she giggled and placed her hands on your shoulder. 

“he is, and he is absolutely in love with you,” she smiles, causing you to furrow your eyebrows.

“what do you mean?” you ask, your heart starting to race. 

“the way he talks about you, the way his eyes gleam with love with the mere thought of you. hunny, this man is undoubtedly in love with you,” she smiles. you couldn’t believe what you were hearing, there was no way that jeon jungkook, the university playboy, is in love with you. you two barely conversed without an argument taking place. you doubt he knew anything about you, despite you two running in the same circles. sure, you knew a lot about him, just because your friends talked about him a lot and it was hard not to listen to sometimes. 

“you’re crazy ma. you need to finish getting ready, the weddings going to start soon,” you laugh, trying to brush off the conversation. 

“jungkook is in there getting ready, one of robert’s groomsmen caught food poisoning so he’s gonna walk down the aisle with your cousin, sam,” she said, rushing off to get ready, leaving you no room to reply. this wasn’t what he signed up for and you felt bad, so you went into the room to check on him. you caught him standing in front of the vanity, trying to finish off his tie. you had seen jungkook dressed up before, but there was something different about this time. you felt something more for him, and honestly, you always have. but his reputation…

“looking sharp,” you smile, looking up at him. his eyes meet yours in the mirror and he smiles, and this time you see it. the love your mother was talking about.

“you look beautiful, as usual,” he says, his charm peeking through. you scoff at his comment, walking up to him. you seemed small compared to him, and it was kind of an odd sight for you. you leaned your head against his shoulder, just staring at him staring at you through the mirror. 

“something on your mind?” he asks, noticing how lost in thought you were. you focus in on him and the surroundings around you.

“my ma said something interesting earlier that’s got me thinking is all,” you say, hoping he wouldn’t press the issue much further. you didn’t want to make the air awkward or uncomfortable by trying to involve feelings, but a big part of you want to know how he feels from his own lips. 

“what did she say?” he asked, his nerves jumping. he didn’t say anything wrong did he? he tried to be as cordial and respectful as possible, wanting your mother to like him. if things were to happen in the future, he didn’t want to be on bad terms with your mother. 

“she said… she said that you love me?” you murmur, you heart caught in your throat now that the truth was out there and you can’t take it back. jungkook froze, caught off guard by your confession. he wanted to play it off like it wasn’t true, that your mother was delusional. but he knew the truth. and he knew that you also knew it too. he wanted you. he’s always wanted you. and now, he’s presented with the opportunity to have you in any way he wants and he can’t make the move to move forward.

“is it true?” you ask, trying to get a clear and concise answer. you’re not sure what’s going to happen, regardless of what his answer is, but the anxiety of not knowing is starting to kill you. you shouldn’t be forcing him to confess, but now that it was out there in the air, you couldn’t take it back. maybe you should tell him?

“if you’re not comfortable talking about it it’s o--”

“i love you,” he blurts, interrupting you. you pick your head up off of his shoulder and now you’re standing side by side, staring at him through the vanity mirror. you’re frozen, unsure of what to do now. you didn’t actually think he was going to say it. you thought your mother was pulling your leg. but she didn’t know that you two weren’t actually a couple and maybe that’s why you had hoped what she said was true. 

“did you hear me?” he asks, voice laced with nerves. he couldn’t even begin to explain the amount of fear and vulnerability he was feeling at the moment. he meant it. he loved you. but why should you believe him. he was a playboy, and though you may never understand his reasons as to why he tried so hard to escape you by sleeping with other people, he wanted nothing more for you to believe him now. 

“i did,” you whisper, afraid that the sound of your beating heart was louder than the words you spoke. you wanted him, god you wanted him, but you were scared that his words were from false bravado. a heat of the moment feeling that was fleeting. 

“i know you might not believe me, and you have every right not to. but i love you with my entire being and.. it’s scary,” he chuckles, trying to explain his emotions to the only person he’s ever been vulnerable with. 

“and like i told you earlier, for the sake of us finally gaining friendship, i will play it to your pace and whenever you’re ready, let me know. because i’ll be here,” he smiles. he turns to you, leaning down and placing a gentle kiss to your cheek before walking out of the room, leaving you confused as to what the hell just happened.

_______

an: part two? let me know :)

[winter-fox-queen]

The Gentry’s Gifts: Max Phillips

Hello!  This is sort of a sequel to the Pero story, in that we saw Max and now we know what he was doing there and what choice he needed to make.

Warnings:  Cursing. Angst. I had the trick of having to put both blank canvas characters into one story, lol.  But I think I finessed it.  The “you” character is a blank slate, mostly gender neutral (mentions of wanting to have children could sway your perception one way or the other.). Not betad.  

This is my late #writerwednesday entry, thank you to @autumnleaves1991-blog​ and @clydesducktape​

Prologue:

Max Phillips slammed the hospital doors open, eager to get outside.  The sound beeping machines seemed to echo in his ears, making them hurt.  The smell of the place stuck to the back of his throat.

He tilted his head back in the afternoon sun, and breathed in, breathed out.  Tried to make himself calm down.  The Autumn are cleared his head as he jogged across the road.  

“Bad day?”  A voice asked.

Between two benches, almost hidden in the orange leaves, was a woman, instead of the ‘Nam veteran he usually passed a few moments talking to.  Her wiry steel colored hair was in a messy bun, covered by a turban.  She wore layers and layers even though it was a warm fall day.  “Where’s Raffi?”  Max asked.

“His daughter found him.  He decided to try living with her again.”

Max nodded.  “I hope it works out.  She wasn’t…apparently he isn’t easy to live with.  Bad dreams.”

“It’ll be better now.”  She said with such serene certainty that Max believed her.  He gave a little wave and walked away.  

He was back, twenty minutes later.  He put a chocolate shake in front of her, and a boxed fried chicken meal.  If he had known his folklore…which, sadly, he would become intimately familiar with, he would have understood her amusement.  Milk, bread…these were the Old offerings.  

Instead he shrugged, uncomfortable.  “What?  I figure everyone likes chocolate.  And I needed to eat, too.”  He sat next to her.

“How old are you?” She asked, though she knew.

He shrugged.  “Seventeen.”  He buttered a biscuit and took a huge bite.  He ate like he was starving.  “Why?”

“You seem to be awfully young to be hanging out with homeless people.  Where are your parents?”  

He shrugged again.  “My mom’s gone.  My father…”. He pointed towards the hospital doors with his chin.  “He’s dying.”  He hunched over the greasy box of chicken, potato strips and biscuits, eating like it was the only thing keeping him sane.

She sighed.

He looked at her, and she shook her head, and ate the food he brought her.  You are going to go off the rails Max Phillips.  You are going to go off the rails so badly and there’s nothing I can do about it.

The Present:

He entered the library through the basement, crept up the stairway.  The first floor was nearly empty…the university library kept late hours so that students could cram late into the night, but it was Thirsty Thursday and most of the students were elsewhere.  

He waited until you were focused on the book cart again, back towards the main floor, and got himself around the corner.  Then he pulled out his cell and dialed the front desk.

You now turned to go to the phone, at least he hoped so, as he disconnected the call and opened the side door to the area behind the circulation desk…

You were there, leaning against the cart, arms folded.  “Nice try, but I know your tricks, Mister Phillips.”

He grinned and advanced on her, step by step.

“No no…”. You point a finger at him.  “Stay back, this is a work place…”. You shoot a look towards the front desk as he backs you into your office.   “You are going to lose me my job.”  You hiss at him, and he bends a little, and kisses you breathless.

“Quit.  I’ll take care of you.”

You wrap your arms around his shoulders.  He’s cool to the touch.  It’s not disconcerting, not like it used to be.  “I wish I could.”

“Stop wishing...”

“If you say ‘and make your dreams a reality’, I’ll bite you.”  

Max looks offended.  “It’s a great slogan!  Do you know how many units of Losapill those golden words have sold?”

“I don’t understand how I can love someone so much and want to punch them so badly.”

He grins down at you.  “I can name several reasons why you love me.”

You smirk up at him.  “I’m sure you can…let me go, honey.  I’ve got to tell everyone we’re closing in half an hour.”  He listened to your voice on the loudspeaker, buttery and gentle and reassuring, and smiled a little. He could listen to that voice forever.  He could sell holy water to a priest, but so far all his skills had failed to net him the one thing he wanted.

He walks with you, as you check the restrooms (He even does the men’s for you on each floor, turning off the lights and blocking the doors open) and stands behind you, hands in his pockets, looking gloomy as you gently tell students to take their books to the front desk if they needed to check them out, that the library was closing shortly.

He waits, patiently, while you close up and lock the doors and usher the last people out.  

“I really wish you’d let me turn you,” he says when you are both in your car and on the way home.  Max often took the rooftops from his office to the university.  He was fast, and strong, and being fairly indestructible made him long for the thrill of possibly getting hurt, so he parkoured his way through the city once it got dark.  It was disgusting, how he looked so good after running and leaping five miles.

He shifts in his seat as you let the silence grow.  “Are you ignoring me?”

“Yes.”  You stop at a red light.  

“Why?  You said you’d think about it.  You’ve been thinking about it for a month.  Any idea where you are on it?  Like, from the scale of one to ten…”

You’ve been wanting to avoid this.  You’ve really been wanting to avoid this.  “Zero.”

She waits.  She waits for the torrent of salesmanship.  The spiel.  Why becoming a vampire and living forever is what she wants, she just doesn’t know it’s yet.  

For once, words fail him.  No quick comeback, no charming lines. “I can’t believe you don’t want to be with me.”  He says it so softly that you almost aren’t sure you heard it.  

You pull into the apartment parking lot, picks a spot quickly you can park and take his hands in yours.  “Max.  I do.  I really do.  But just…I don’t want to be a vampire.  I don’t want to give up the things I would have to give up?”

“Like what?  Death?  Getting old?  Getting sick?  Being weak?”  He pulls his hands away.  “I am offering you unlimited time.  Think of the things we can do together!  And you don’t have to kill…I haven't killed anyone in ages!”

“Sunlight.”  You say.  “Food.”  He makes a disgusted sound and looks out the window.  “A family.”  You take a deep breath.  “Children.”

He finally looks at you again.  “Then I won’t waste any more of your time.”  He raises his hand, and time goes wonky for a moment, and when things snap back into place, he’s gone.

You stay in your car a long time, hoping he’ll come back. Every step up to your apartment, you look around, hoping.  

It’s dawn, before you give up, dried out from crying, your mouth feels full of ashes and your heart full of regret.

The next day:

Max was not in a good mood the next day.  Usually he has a nice word for, if no one else, his PA, a miracle worker of a woman he’d always been fond of, but he just glared at her and slams his door shut.

Emails.  Reports.  He plowed into work.  

The door opened, and he ignored it, steadfast in the hope that whoever it was would go the fuck away.   I could always eat them.  I don’t have to be good anymore.

A cup thumped down on his desk.  He looked up.  He didn’t recognize the woman — her steel grey hair was neat, her suit elegant.  Her heart beat strangely, and he could tell she was not — quite—human.  Great.  Someone new from corporate?

“I thought you said that everyone loves chocolate?”  She said, pointing at the milkshake.  “You’ve come far, since we last spoke outside the hospital…”

He shook his head.  “I remember you, but…”. How did she come to be here? Why? His brain was still trying to match up the homeless lady with the epitome of corporate flash in front of him.  

“Now, I didn’t say you moved in a good direction.  How did the sweet boy who spent his last twenty on dinner for himself and a homeless woman end up being a bloodsucking asshole selling fake products?”

“It’s a long story. Let’s schedule an appointment, maybe for the next century?”

“Nope.”  She reached across the desk.  “You gonna drink this?”

He shook his head and she took the milkshake, leaned back in her chair, moving the straw back and forth in the lid, making an annoying shriek sound that hurt his ears.  

“Do you think I wanted this?”  He snapped at her.  Vampires didn’t really need much in the way of sleep, but he was tired.  Tired and hurt.  “And who gives you the right to fucking judge me?”

“I’m one of the gentry,” she said.  “That doesn’t give me the right, but it gives me the power.”

“You’re fae.  That explains it.  You don’t seem human.”  

“I thought they taught you the rules.  You never call us out so clearly.  Always call us by some euphemism and hope we don’t take a notion to turn our attention towards you.”

He threw up his hands.  “Why?  Why does it matter?”

“Because if I wanted to, Max Phillips, I could turn you back into the weak, dying, foolish mortal you once were.”

This stopped him.  “You could?”  He said carefully.  

“I could.”

“What’s the catch?”

She smiled.  “Good boy.  Maybe they did teach you something, after all.”  She put the milkshake on the desk.  ”You were…what?  Twenty, twenty one when you got turned?  I could, if I wanted to, make it as if you never got turned.  I could choose for you to age to the age you should be, had you not cheated death…or I could make you start from where you are right now.  If I was feeling so inclined.”

“Why would I want that?”  He scoffed.  “Do you think I want to get old and sick?  Do you think I want to spend the last year of my life in a hospital bed, unable to even piss for myself?  You think this is a fucking gift?  Enticing?  No.”

“So you don’t want a life with the librarian? Probably for the best. She is made out of sunlight and deserves so much better.”

He stopped.  He could feel the slipping…where the darker side of him started clambering up, eager to take control and rend and kill.  

“Hush.”  She said, and the blood stopped rushing in his ears, the fangs stopped aching.  “I shouldn’t needle.  It’s just so frustrating.  You were a sweet boy and you just allowed the bad in your life to make you…well, frankly, a bit of a jackass.”  She shoot him an apologetic look.  “OK, that was a cruddy apology.  But.  Back to the subject at hand.  Once, you were kind to me.  And if you do me a favor — one more favor — I will give you a choice.  A chance to choose a life for yourself instead of being a victim of bad choices and worse luck.  No strings.  No further price.”

He side eyed her a long moment.  He was intrigued, despite himself.  “What’s the favor?”

She took a small painting out of her pocket and slid it over to him.  “Another debt to pay…that woman has a soul mate out there.  I know where he is.  If you get her to my house tomorrow night, I can unite them, give them a chance at well deserved happiness.”

“Yeuch.”  He said, then picked up the painting.  “Wait.  That’s my PA.”

“Is it?  How delightful.  Isn’t just splendid how fate intervenes.”  She put a card on the desk.  “This is the address.  Hope to see you.”  She held up her finger.  “There is one thing.  She can’t know.  You have to get her there without her knowing why.  Alright?”

“Don’t hold your breath.”  He muttered.

“Good.  I am glad you understand.  Ciao!”

He picked up the card.  And cursed a bit.

NIght, in the time middle of nowhere:

“So, Mister Phillips…are you taking me out into the middle of the woods to murder me?”  His PA asked, laughing.  She didn’t know he was a vampire.  Telling people what he was hadn’t worked out very well at his last job, so he’d been much more circumspect this time.

“I promise, you are safe.  From me.  I don’t know what Corporate will do, though,” he said, turning down another road.  

“So, did they tell you what the meeting is about?”

“It’s meant to be a retreat.  All the heads of the various branches and their PA’s.  They want to re-envision the future of the company”. He took one hand off the wheel to put air quotes in the right place.  “Apparently they messed up your email address so we didn’t get the invite in time.  Someone caught it and called me directly.”

“I hope the place they picked is nice…”. She was looking out the window, trying to make out the road ahead.  “Carol in accounting is super jealous.  I think she has a bit of a crush on you…”

“Well, I am irresistible.”

“Mostly.”  She grinned at him.  A square of light grabbed her attention.  “I think we’re here.”

He pulled up to the house.  It looked sketchy at best, and the looks his PA were casting made him wonder if her trust was stretching a little too thin.

He got out and walked up to the porch.  The Fae came out this time wearing a chic, flowery dress.  She ignored Max and called to his PA.  “Don’t be afraid.  You are here so I can talk to you about your dreams…and by that, I mean the Spaniard, with the scar over his eye.”

The PA froze.  “You…you know about him?”  

“Go inside, dear, and I will tell you all about him.  But I need to talk to Max, here, first”

His PA stopped next to him, put her hand on his arm.  “Will you be OK?”

“Absolutely.  You know me.”

She went into the house.  

“Come here, Max.”  The Fae held out her hand, gesturing him to come up to the porch.  He did.  A card table was set up, with one chair.  Two cards lay face down.  “Here is your choice.  Are you ready?”

He stood there, looking at the table, and nodded.  Fear coursed through him, as strong as the day cold hands grabbed him from behind, teeth sinking into his throat…

She reached down and flipped over a card.  The Queen of Spades.  “Darkness ever lasting.  A vampire queen even now is looking for her equal.  She will choose you, and the two of you will know power beyond your wildest dreams…until enough people get angry about it and decide to deal with you both.  You will not love her, but who needs love when you have sex and death and all the power you ever hoped for?”

She reaches again, flips over another card.  The Queen of Hearts.  “And this.  This is life.  Your soul will wake up, and you will be twenty one and full of possibilities again.  Your heart will beat every beat that was stolen from you.  The slate will not be wiped entirely clean, but you will have a chance — a chance with your lovely librarian.  Children.  Be kind when you were once cruel, and live a decent, good life.”  

His lips were numb.  “How…how long?”

“Long enough.  You will not feel cheated.  It will be a plain sort of life, but it will be yours, and you will have the woman you love…some would say that is worth dying for.”

“What do you know about death?  Your kind just fade when they are tired of living.  You will never know the absolute fucking horror of your body betraying you.  The fucking humiliation that waits.  The pain.”

“No.”  She said softly.  “I do not.”  She kissed his temple.  “I am sorry.  If I had met you sooner, perhaps…but, in any case, I consider all debts paid.  When you are ready, pick up the card representing your choice, and rip it in half.  Choose well, Maxwell Phillips.  May we never meet again.”

He didn’t notice her leave.  He sat down, weak, at the table.

Life.  Death.  Life.  Death.  

He’d seen both his parents die terribly.  After he was turned, he’d mourned, then he realized the gift he’d been given.  No hospitals.  No lingering disease.  No pain.

His hand hovered next to the Queen of Spades.  No love, but power and sex.  He’d tried to recover, tried to be good, for you.  And he’d started feeling the guilt.  And with guilt, came all the excuses.  That he was living according to the nature that had been forced upon him.  That he was giving people a gift…they died, or they become something that could never die.

You don’t punish the wolf for being a wolf.

But that was why it had been easy to walk away.  Because you deserved better.  Not a vampire.  Not a wolf.  A man…

He did not hear the car, but he heard the thump of the other man’s steps as he mounted the porch.  

“She’s in there…”  he said, barely paying attention.  

When the other man left, he repeated what he said to him, in his head.  Choosing between life and death.

He picked up the Queen of Hearts.  His hands were shaking.  He ripped the card in half.  Darkness roared around him, pulled him under.

When he woke up, he was on the floor of his apartment.  

No.  His fucking.  College.  Dorm room.

“Dude, you started early.”  Evan’s stupid face appeared as he bent over him.  

Max wondered if he could punch him in the face.  It would feel really, really good to punch the other man in the face,

“OK, well, I’m going to an away game…see you sometime tomorrow.”

He put the palms of his hands in his eyes.  “Yeah…have fun.”

Evan stepped over him.  “See ya…wouldn’t want to be ya!”  The door slammed shut and Max raised both hands in a one finger salute towards it.

He made himself get up and go to the bathroom.  He looked younger but not better, per se.  What is wrong with me?  What’s this feeling?

It wasn’t just that he could feel his body working.  Feel breath (was breathing always so fucking noisy?) and heat beats and aches in his neck and back from laying weird on the floor.

He’d lived for years.  But right now, he was still the same angry, miserable hit mess of a man he’d been at this point of his life.  

A phone was ringing, he went and grabbed it.

“Hey Maxie.  Is Evan gone?”  Evan’s girlfriend.  Great.

Oh.  

“Yeah.  Yeah.  Look…”

“Awesome.  I bought the cutest bra and panties…”

And this is where, he thought, this is where he took the step to becoming the man you deserved him to be.  “That’s great.  But you know…I only want to fuck you because your boyfriend is an annoying twit.”

Shocked silence.  OK still an asshole.  Check.  So much for being a sweet boy when I was younger.  “Look. I meant what I said.  You are beautiful. You are probably far, far too good for Evan. Or maybe not, if you are willing to screw around with an asshole like me. In any case, you deserve better. But you have to decide what better is.”

This treated him to a string of profanity before the woman hung up.

Then, he walked to the infirmary, and asked for aspirin. And if there were any free spots for the therapist.

Sunday, the conversation between roommates went like this:

“So you were going to screw my girlfriend?”

A shrug — Max concentrated on the video game.  “Changed my mind.”

“Why?”

He paused the game.  “Because you deserve better.”

He felt Evan throw himself on the couch next to him.  “That’s rich, coming from you.”

“I don’t hate you. You’re just so fucking happy and peppy and optimistic and everything is going to be awesome but I think the world is shit and misery and maybe if you dialed it back a little I we could have conversations that didn’t end with me wanting to punch your face.”

“Dude.”  It sounded defeated and apologetic at the same time.

Max held a controller out to him. “Sorry. I’ll try to be less of an asshole.”

He took it.  “I’ll try to be less…happy?”

Max sighed.  “Just don’t get me kicked out, ok? I can’t afford anywhere else and I really don’t want to end up in Transylvania.”

Two years later, he decided he could go and find you.

Most people went to nice places on their spring break.

Max got on a bus and headed to a University in the next state.  They’d had their Spring break a week sooner.

There you were. Sitting cross legged on a bench with a man with a streak of blonde in his hair, and a suit coat with elbow patches.  Elbow patches.  Pretentious asshole.

You were tucking hair behind your ear. You liked him. Max wondered if he should leave, come back…in a year?  Three?  When did he have a right to become part of your life?  Did he even?

You look at him and smile and it is sunshine and he can’t leave.

The man on the bench says something about class.  “See you at work,” she tells him, and he lopes off in an easy walk to one of the brick covered class buildings.

Max approaches carefully.  “Hey.  Um.  I’m thinking about transferring here, wondered what it’s like?”

She shifted her bag over, even though there was plenty of room to sit, and he took it as an invite.  “Sure. What do you want to know?”

He gave her his best smile. “Everything. I want to know everything.”

[midnightmoonkiss]

Painful Stings & Sweet Apologies

Yandere! Izuku Midoriya X Fem! Reader

Summary: Rage fueled by failure, Izuku finds comfort in a bar, only to come home to a broken promise and a furious darling. He didn’t mean for this to happen.

WARNINGS!: blood, violence, alcohol (Izuku under the influence)

Category: Angst, one-sided fluff

Word Count: 9k+

A/N: This is my first yandere fic! I’m nervous as hell, I have no idea if I got this right lol. Though I did spend months perfecting it to the best of my abilities! Hope you enjoy~

Just To Clarify:

You’re both adults

It’s Friday

It’s cold and rainy (naturally--)

Izuku’s bedroom has a walk in closet and a bathroom

the kitchen is off-limits

THIS IS A YANDERE FIC!

Izuku is an obsessive yandere~

Cold, burning liquid rushed down the male’s throat as he gulped at the drink within the short glass.

Whiskey, or more specifically - a Jack Daniels, the honey-brown alcohol that delivered a bitter slap to all those who drank its refreshing nectar. 

It wasn’t his usual drink, and certainly not one he’d ever guzzle like a parched beast.

Hell, who in their right mind would do that? Even with a single sip, it left your chest burning with its heat.

But desperate times call for desperate measures, right?

Or, more of, self-loathing times call for a quick, one-way ticket to Forget-Me Ville and Cringe Island.

The bar he sat at was lively, filled with drunken laughter and slurred speeches of men and women who have been out for far too long.

But it was Friday night, so who cared?

A rainy, cold, sucky, depressing Friday night, one of which his friends tried to make a bit better by taking the pissed off, green-haired hero out for drinks.

They certainly hadn’t expected Izuku, an innocent little guy who couldn’t handle his liquor for shit, to shoot down an entire glass of whiskey.

At first, he ordered a simple beer - a starter drink if you will.

It didn’t take but ten minutes for him to gulp that glass down, and he was onto his next drink - a sangria wine cooler. His typical drink. He always was more of a fruity guy, after all, preferring the sweet tang over the bitter bite.

But as the night raged on, and so did his inner turmoil, he kept ordering stronger and stronger drinks, until he got to the whiskey. You could say he lost his sense of reason a while ago.

He was still seething with rage, not as much as before but the mixture of anger and frustration swirled hotly with the alcohol pumping through his veins and sitting in his belly.

You could say it was keeping him warm in this lifeless atmosphere.

For the first time in what felt like forever, he didn’t think of you, his precious little darling. He could barely think straight, mind occupied with too many thoughts to be able to understand any of them. It was all a garbled mess, one he chose to ignore.

Was that a good or a bad thing? He’d find out later.

But for now?

He needed another drink.

In the beginning, this Friday seemed like it was going to be one of the best he’ll ever have.

For months this pro hero has been working alongside detectives with catching a murderous villain known by the name “Ghoul.”

They were sick and twisted, their motives unknown, their trail hard to tract.

He had only one encounter with them, but he was too late to catch them.

That’s the day he was brought in to help aid the case.

But, that day haunted him for weeks. He knew that if he had arrived at the bloody scene sooner, he could have captured that cannibalistic fuck, brought justice to those who had already died by their mangy hands.. and prevented the deaths that would ensue after.

He’d known horrible villains before, but this one was different. Their teeth were sharp, blood permanently stained their clothes, and they gave off a wolfish vibe. Yes, a hunter. One who tore flesh from human bones and munched on it until someone screamed in terror for help.

For months he helped gather intel, piece puzzle pieces together, aid with location predictions and stakeout missions, until finally - they found that bastard.

It was more of a hunch than anything really, that Ghoul would show up to that site.

Ghoul, while hard to track, left a pattern in their wake. They avoided certain areas, thrived where the poor were at their weakest. The murders always seemed to happen at the exact same time behind run-down fast-food restaurants.

It was unclear if the sicko liked a hearty human meal with their victims own stomachs filled with greasy, fattening food, or if it was just convenient to them, either way - the perp was too damn sloppy.

To regular ol’ police personnel, the murders would just always happen there, behind restaurants.

But after Deku’s team began tracking where each and every murder occurred, it was quite easy to tell they were drawing, funnily enough, a circle around the city’s map.

It was stupid, childish, and downright idiotic, but damn if that didn’t lead the team to find the cold-blooded killer.

Adrenaline and pure hatred for the villain fueled Deku’s onslaught of attacks, each seemingly more powerful and less calculated. His mind was muddled.

He was filled with rage, finally being able to see the shitty excuse of a human again, but it affected his movements. He was being hasty, careless, not his usual calculated self.

And that’s what brought him his demise.

His shoulder was harshly bitten, razor-sharp teeth tearing through the fabric of his suit and shredding up the skin on his shoulder. Their quirk pumped through his blood instantly, making him collapse onto his knees, paralyzed. He hissed in pain as the sickeningly warm liquid flowed down his arm, unable to stop himself from face planting onto the dirty gravel of the alleyway.

He had lost, and Ghoul got away.

He still remembers it, after all, it was only hours ago that it happened.

The sun had long since set, the crescent moon hung high in the sky as her stars shimmered around her. His wound was stitched up and healed by doctors, leaving only a bitter scar to remind him of his failure.

He failed not only himself but those who counted on him.

God, he sucked.

And so, he ordered another drink.

He wanted to forget. He didn’t want to feel the failure sting at his fragile heart anymore.

It was too much to take.

What type of hero let the villain get away, knowing full well that they would kill again?

They couldn’t track Ghoul’s trail anymore, for the circle had been completed - and they were left with nothing with the numbing feeling of brutal loss.

Hours blurred together as his mind went hazy. His speech slurred together, dull, green eyes unfocused and mouth blabbering out nonsense to his friends that he couldn’t even really hear. It just- came out. 

Soon enough, he was being dragged out of the bar by his annoyingly sober friends.

The night had gotten colder since they first entered the warm bar, rain pelted down like freezing bullets flying from a machine gun. A dirty old awning kept them dry as they stood still at the front of the bars entrance, the loud music bouncing off the walls inside echoed down the empty streets.

Heavy streams of salty rainwater poured off the edge of the awning, splattering down into a mud puddle that emptied into the sewer grate below.

Who doesnt love the musty stench of rain on asphalt?

Hell, the smell itself, combined with the strong yet savory scent of the Korean barbeque joint across the street was enough to make him nauseous. He had drank far too much, and his stomach was suffering the consequences. He should have eaten more before drinking. How foolish.

 “It’s pretty late, you should head home.” Reasoned his best friend, Todoroki, puffs of condensation leaving his mouth as the warm breath met cold air, pressing a freezing hand to the back of the freckled boy's sweaty neck to jolt his drowsy, drunken self into a more alert state. Nothing but time could sober you up, but damn if that hand didn’t help slap some energy into him.

“Yeaahh, ye-yeahhh.. I gooht you Todooroe.” God, he sounded like someone high on anesthesia after being awoken from a surgery - which he definitely would be able to compare this experience to. Being a hero meant at least a few surgeries a year. Comes with the job.

Plus, this wasn’t the first time he’s been drunk.

He sure as hell hated the aftermath, but some nights it felt as if the hot burn of alcohol was the only thing that could keep him sane.

This was just one of those nights - or perhaps it was multiple nights slammed into one from just how stupidly drunk he was. The world was blurred, and Izuku doubted he could even walk straight at this point.

The half and half hero waved down a stray taxi, street water splashing up onto the sidewalk as the yellow vehicle came to a screeching halt.

“Get home safe.” Todoroki sighed out his nose at seeing his friends out-of-it state, helping the giddy and jelly-like hero into the back seat.

Izuku pouted, grabby hands clinging onto his friend's shirt in protest.

With a half-hearted chuckle, Todoroki pried himself free from his grip, handing the cab driver more than enough yen to get the drunk boy home.

He gave the taxi driver an address, and soon the car was rolling off down the street, Izukus flushed face pressed against the cold, fogging glass and staring with eyes full of tears at his friend.

Though, it seemed as if he had forgotten a promise he made to someone very important to him. Someone who he devoted his entire life to.

Someone who he risked everything for.

You.

His princess who had been locked in a small, dark room all day, wrists tightly cuffed to loose chains on the wall. The only light provided was a rusty oil lamp Izuku had gotten at a yard sale one day. The flame was dull, and left the room covered in shadows.

The tile below was as cold as it had been since the morning when Izuku had forcefully chained you there for misbehaving the night before.

You had deserved this punishment for disobeying him.

That’s what he tried to convince, anyway.

He was only trying to keep you safe! He hated punishing you, hated the way you thrashed and screamed at him in protest - that only meant he had to be rougher with you. You had broken into the most dangerous room in the apartment, afterall.

The kitchen.

There were far too many harmful objects in there!

Knives that could slice your delicate skin to shreds, forks that could jab into your body, hot stoves that could leave you with a nasty burn, and canned food stored too high up on the shelf that could fall and hit your head.. It was for your protection that the kitchen was off-limits to you!

Plus, Izuku, your oh-so kind and sweet boyfriend, had no problem with cooking you meals to eat together. In fact, he loved it!

He felt accomplished whenever you'd hum in approval at his cooking, or even turned on if that slutty mouth of yours just so happened to moan around your utensil. 

Those were the nights dinner was forgotten.

But you had been foolish, entering the kitchen for a midnight snack whilst Izuku was out on patrol. Your sneaky little self thought you were clever, leaving no trace of your betrayal.

Until you were awoken hours later by a green glow, blood running cold as a pair of murderous neon eyes stared into yours.

It had to be one of the scariest sights to date.

His pupils were shrunk, green electricity buzzing around his large body. He hovered over your trembling body, a wrapper in between his two gloved fingers.

He was so close, your noses brushed together.

You swore he could see into your soul, as well as see the fear in your (E/C) eyes.

“What is this, (Y/N)?” He had asked innocently, hurt coating his words.

“I-” you wanted to make an excuse, protest, say it wasn’t yours, but every single letter died on your tongue as his face pressed closer, a sadistic smile overtaking his features.

“You didn’t.. You didn’t go into the kitchen, did you?”

His hot, minty breath blew all over your face as he spoke, and you shriveled back in fear as insanity crossed his expression in that way you were far too familiar with.

The giggles bubbled in his throat as he tried to fight logic with delusion, “It wasn’t you, right? Someone broke in, didn’t they? You wouldn’t break my trust, would you?”

His voice was cracking, fingers digging into the flesh of the bed beneath you as his eye began to twitch.

He stared down at you, curly green hair brushing against the sides of your face, waiting far too long for an answer he would never get. His bottom lip wobbled, feat tears welling up in his eyes and falling onto your pale cheeks as his body shook with anger and sadness.

He was already stressed about the following mornings mission, and to come home to his princess betraying his trust was not something he enjoyed.

And so, you were punished.

But he had promised you wouldnt be locked in there for long, he knew how you feared the dark. He had conditioned you to fear it, after all. It was his greatest accomplishment.

You were always so willing to cuddle into him when the lights were off.

A few hours turned into nearly an entire day, the only indication you had of this was past experiences, skin around your wrists rubbed raw from the metal cuffs, and the unusual sting of your ass and bare legs burning from the freezing tile beneath you.

That was the least of your worries, though.

Worst of all - the flame, which was holding you together and keeping you from crying out for help to those who might hear you in this soundproof room, which would no doubt get you a harsher punishment, was about to die out.

That flame, albeit small, was your only hope of surviving this.

Izuku was typically a very reliable person, it was strange for him to not keep his word to you. He devoted his being to you, worshipped the ground you regrettably walked upon, why would he break his own promise?

The thought of being trapped in the dark, the echo of your chains taunting your delirious mind had you close to tears. You didn’t want to be alone here anymore.

You watched in horror as the flame got smaller and smaller, tears now rolling down your cheeks as you pleaded under your breath for it to last longer.

The air vents around you provided enough oxygen for it to survive, but that damn oil..

Where was he?! 

Suddenly, the door to his apartment flew open, giggles seeping through the house and teasing your ears.

Then, there was no more light.

A screech tore from your throat, a desperate call of his name as you thrashed around, tears pouring from your eyes.

You felt as if you couldnt breathe as your head whipped around the space, desperate for more air and light as your lungs seemed to scream.

You couldnt feel the cold chill of the floor anymore, body numb as adrenaline pumped through your veins.

What was in the dark?

How big was this space again?

Rather, how small was it?

What was that noise?

Did something just touch you?

There was wind, there was wind, no. A cold chill?

Oh god what was that-

Loud, clumsy footsteps made their way closer and closer to the locked metal door. You sobbed as your heard the jingle of keys, metal scraping against metal as he fumbled with inserting them into the lock.

Until finally, you were basked in the honey-dew glow of the bedroom.

You fought to control your breathing as he dropped to his knees, taking far too long for your liking to get the cuffs off.

But at least now you know why he took so god damn long.

You could smell the putrid miasma of alcohol wafting off him the moment he stepped into the darkroom, tainted with the salty effluvium of rainwater as it dripped onto your skin from his damp, messy hair.

Rage bubbled inside you as he giggled once more at your tear-stained cheeks, “D-did yoou miss mee?” He slurred, a giddy smile on his face as the stale stench of what he had been drinking all night circled around your head like a rotten wreath.

Instead of answering, like you knew you should have, you turned your head towards the door, soaking in the light you were previously deprived of. Even if it was just a mere minute.

At your silence, his smile quickly turned into a frown. Big, forestry green eyes welled up with sadness, bottom lip trembling, “(Y-Y/N)?” He couldnt help but reach out, scarred fingers wishing to wipe away those stray tears from your face.

You missed him.

That’s why you were crying, surely.

He wanted to comfort you, say that he was there now and that you could both cuddle until twinkling dawn.

You weren’t alone anymore.

He was all you needed, and he was right beside you.

He’ll always be there for you, and you’ll always be there for him.

Because you love each other.

“D-Don’t cry-”

His cold hand was smacked away, and his usually sturdy body was shoved back so that you could scramble out of the freezing closet.

You needed space.

More room to breath.

To be on flooring that didnt feel like ice cutting into your flesh.

Hell, you were sure the skin that had the unholy misfortune of touching the floor were burned red at this point from how long you had to sit there.

Not to mention your poor wrists, you couldnt even bear the sight of them being so raw. You were pretty sure they would bleed if you even touched them. Your body was screaming in pain, stomach growing for food, mouth parched from not being given water so that you wouldnt make a mess on the floor.

You were weak, shaking, and afraid.

That bastard had the gall to say not to cry, to look concerned when he knew damn well how much you absolutely despised the dark.

At first it was a childish fear, but the moment he snatched you from your regular life, that fear became a reality. There were countless nights you’d be punished by being left alone in the dark.

He didnt want to hurt you, no, and he never has, but damn if he hasnt conditioned you to be afraid. 

Storms were the worst.

What was once a peaceful white noise turned into a terrifying nightmare once the moon rose in the sky.

There were times you were locked in that closet during violent storms, screaming and begging to be let out.

Sometimes you were, other times you werent as lucky.

Though it was only raining right now, each pitter-patter of the droplets against the window or balcony made hairs on your neck stand up. The sound was previously muted in the closet, but now it was hitting you like a freight train on a track that never seemed to end.

You heard him scramble to his feet as you wiped your tears away, the creak of the floorboards as he stumbled towards you.

A subtle bang made you jump, his foot no doubt hitting the chest at the end of your bed. Everso the clumsy one, even in an illuminated room.

Suddenly, he was right behind you, arms wrapping tightly around your middle as his head dropped to your shoulder, nuzzling his cheek against your neck.

Perhaps it would have been pleasant, comforting, even, if he wasnt soaked to the bone. The cold water from his dark grey, long-sleeved sweater was now seeping into your own thin clothes, freezing wet hair sending shivers down your spine and it presses against your heated, sensitive skin. Some drops even went down your back, ripping a gasp from you.

This wasnt comforting at all.

This was suffocating.

You squirmed in his grasp, desperate to get the hell away from him.

You were already pissed, and him wrapping around you and squeezing you tight like a snake to its prey was the cherry on top of your disastrous sundae.

With a grunt, you used the rest of what little strength you had left to rip yourself free from his ‘hug,’ nearly tripping on your own two feet as you rushed away from him.

He pouted at you as you shoved yourself into a corner of the room, finding comfort in being able to see all around you, no surprise attacks from behind, only what was in front of you.

Your breath was heavy as you glared at him, nostrils flaring and jaw clenching.

Truly, you had some nerve.

But it was hard to help it.

He broke a promise.

He never does that, and yet in your time of need- he wasn’t there for you.

For once.

He knew damn well you were locked up, scared shitless, expecting him to return home in a few short hours, yet here he is - looking absolutely clueless as to why you were suddenly so angry at him.

Tears streamed down his drunkenly flushed cheeks, hurt by how you shoved him away again.

All he wanted to do was snuggle you, his body exhausted yet numbed by the alcohol still burning in his tummy.

“Where..” you started, voice low, scratchy, and dripping with venom that reached deaf ears. “Where have you been!”

Just as he was about to open that mouth of his, no doubt about babble nearly incoherently - form logical excuses with evidence to back him up, say he lost track of time which you know damn well he never did, you shut him up.

You hated dealing with him when he was drunk, hell - you hated dealing with his obsessive ass most days.

But drunk? Drunk he got worse. He was clingy, more emotional, and worst of all? He didn’t have a filter.

He always managed to hide those more sinister desires under that sweet mask of his - until alcohol brought it out.

God, the smell of it made you sick to your stomach, but luckily you didn't have any food to throw up.

No thanks to him.

“What the fuck, Midoriya?!” You leered at him, noticing quickly the way his eyes darkened in that way they always did when you referred to him by his family name - the name he hated being called by you of all people.

“I’ve been trapped in that room all goddamn day! You said it’d be a few hours? What the hell happened to that! Look at the fucking time! Nine hours! Nine hours I’ve been stuck in my own personal hell! I can’t feel my fucking legs because of you!”

“I-” he attempted to start, the firm grip he had on his sanity quickly loosening with every shout you threw at him.

You cut him off, again, pent up rage now overtaking your sense of reason and fear, “What the hell happened?! You know what! I don’t even care! Not only did you,” You pointed a trembling finger at his stilled body, “break a promise! Something you swore you would never fucking do, you also had the nerve at laugh at me as I was trembling in fear!”

You looked like a mess, body shaking and bent over itself, one arm clutched around your waist as if to hold yourself together as that accusing finger stayed trained on him. Your hair was messy, frizzy, soaked with sweat and oily as hell from being denied a shower. Your clothes, thin and girly - much to your utter distaste, but to his satisfaction - now damp thanks to his carelessness.

All of this was because of him.

It always was.

Every single thing that went wrong in your life always seemed to be because of him nowadays.

You couldnt believe you let yourself fall for that misleading smile all those years ago, only to end up like this.

A mouse in a lions den.

But hell if that would stop you from squeaking your heart out till his razor-sharp claws ultimately caged you back in.

“Do you see my wrists?!” with a strangled sob, you held up both of your arms to show him the mess he already knew was his fault, “look at them! They hurt so fucking much because you left me in those disgusting handcuffs! This is all your fault!”

Your knees were wobbling so bad you swore your legs would give out at any second, but you’d be damned if you didnt hold your ground to this lunatic.

True, some days he was nice, normal, even. But days like these, or days much worse, you were reminded of just who he really was.

A monster was stretching it. He never intentionally tried to hurt you, your friends, or even your family.

No, he just stole you from your apartment in the dead of night, convinced the reason you were crying was because of the thunderstorm and not because some psycho snatched you from your window like some sort of 1970’s movie trope. That night he cradled your thrashing body to his hard chest with his strong arms, cooing at you and whispering sweet nothings into your ear as you begged to be let go. You were just scared of the storm~ He would keep you safe~ He is the number one hero, afterall~

That was all utter bullshit, straight from the beginning.

And even now he was still wrapped in the delusion that you loved him as much as he loved you.

A fated pair.

Please.

But you still held on to the pathetic hope that one day he’d snap out of it, return to the Izuku you knew from the beginning and not the person who now stood a few feet in front of you, staring with cold, emotionless eyes.

“I’m sorry.” he says impassively, face as blank as a new canvas - unreadable and dangerous in every way imaginable. It was hard not to feel as if he was just waiting to strike, already calculating his next moves like he always seemed to do. It was far easier to deal with an angry Izuku than one where you couldn’t read his already complex emotions, thoughts, anything. He was the definition of expressive, and it truly took a fuckin bullet to the back of his head for him to be like this.

So clearly, you hit a nerve.

Wonderful.

“Oh?” Despite knowing the implications of the situation you found yourself in, it was impossible not to laugh at such a pathetic fucking apology.

Knowing him, he probably was sorry, deep down inside. You knew he didn’t like seeing you hurt, especially if it was because of his doing, and yet- you pressed on. 

Pent up anger was a nasty thing to deal with, especially since it’s been brewing inside you for so long.

“Are you now? You don’t fucking seem sorry! If you were really sorry, you wouldnt have done it! But look where we are! You’re such a fucking-!”

“Shut up.” he growls out borderline maliciously, stumbling slightly as he turns to walk out the door. He was clearly fed up, his strong hands clenched into threatening fists, but so were you. Even if you were undeniably frightened to confront him, you wouldn't let that stop you from pushing yourself off the wall - your safe space - and wobbling after him.

“Look at you! You can’t even walk right! How drunk are you, huh? Washing away your feelings again, are you? What about my feelings! Huh?!”

You were pushing it.

You really were.

The entire house felt it, the air chillingly still as Izuku had to grind his teeth together so as to not lash out at you. 

He didn’t want to.

That was the last thing he wanted to do, but all that stress and self-hatred previously washed away was coming back up to the burning surface that cages his discretion.

Heavy breaths blew out his nostrils as he made his way to the living room, desperate for you to get the hint from his hunched over body that he wanted you to fuck off.

Yeah, he messed up, deep down he knew he did but currently his mind was far too clogged to even begin to comprehend it.

You were like an annoying mosquito, your words morphing into a persistent buzz.

He was ignoring you, and that made you livid.

He always ignored you when your problems were deemed irrelevant, or when he found you were being far too vexatious.

He always did this, always.

You were trapped in a cell with some asshole who didn't even want to listen to you.

Obviously, you had enough.

Typically you’d back off, go fume in another room or punch the wall till the skin around your knuckles tore open and dripped blood everywhere, making him snap out of whatever state he was in just to suffocate you in his toxic love.

Oh how life proved to be full of surprises.

A low growl of your own slithered passed your teeth, eyes practically burning red as if you prayed you had a quirk that could do something against him.

“You’re a selfish bastard! You fucking piss-poor excuse of a hero-!”

SLAP!

A shrill scream tore from your raw throat, the echo of skin burning against skin dizzying you as you were thrown back onto the floor.

Boiling hot tears streamed down your face as you sobbed out of pure fear, body shaking uncontrollably and you shuffled backward, desperate to get yourself as far away from him as you could currently manage.

It had all happened so fast, you didn't even have time to register it as it occurred.

One moment his hands were gripping the back of the couch with such strength you could see his knuckles turn a ghostly white, and the next, crackling, neon-green lightning surrounded his body, illuminating the dim apartment in a slimy glow. Before you even had a chance to register just what happened, he whipped his head around, his eyes, typically blown wide with sickening love and sparkling under delusional illusions, were narrowed and glowing in a way that sent shivers of immense regret down your spine. His arm whipped back with his hand, the very hand that delivered a painfully paralyzing slap.

He always spoke with his hands, and you just happened to be too close to him at that moment.

The reddended skin of your cheek burned, and you swore you could feel more than just tears streaming down it.

You were stuck shaking on the floor, imaginary bile rising in your throat, and all you could do was stare at him with wide, bloodshot and terrified eyes.

He had never laid a hand on you like that before, you didnt know what to think.

He always promised to do you no intentional harm, to never lay a finger on you with intentions of making you cry out in pain.

He had never acted so feral and out of line before.

It.. it scared you in a way you never felt before.

The gap between you grew, you really were just a mouse trembling in a lion's den.

“P-princess-” he shakily called out, voice weak and uneven, quirk diminishing into thin air like it never was there in the first place.

His own eyes were wide and filled with immense regret, tears already pouring down his flushed, freckled face.

He took one step forward, and you scrambled back, hand coming up to touch at your cheek, shock making you feel faint at the sight of blood coating your trembling fingertips.

You felt sick once again, empty stomach feeling as if it was collapsing in on itself to push even the tiniest bit of nonexistent food out.

You didnt know what to do.

Choking on your own sobs, you tried desperately to shuffle away from him, but he only came closer.

You cried out the moment he dove at you, your hands clasped together tightening against your chest as if to hold yourself together as this bear of a man wraps his arms cold, soaked arms protectively around you, his large shoulders violently shaking as he buried his snotty, tear stained face deep into your unruly tresses.

The stench of alcohol burned your nostrils, edging you on to try and push his heavy chest away. You tried, but you failed miserably, resulting in his arms pulling you even closer to his sweaty and damp body. It was disgusting.

“L-let go of me!” you wailed, your own tears stinging your eyes as your vision blurred and you could no longer tell just what you were staring blindly at, the dimness of the living-room paired with the suffocating embrace of your captor swallowing you whole.

You couldnt take it.

You could barely breathe at this point.

“p-p-ple .. plea-s-se..!” your cries intertwined with his own desperate ones as he babbled nearly incoherently on about how sorry he was, how he never meant to do something so horrible.

“I’m not a monster!” he howled out, desperate words seeping with ululation.

He was desperately trying to convince himself of that.

He wasn’t talking to you at all.

He was talking to himself.

He wasn’t a monster.

He wasn’t a monster.

He’s not like him.

He’s not like that piece of filth.

No, he’s so much better.

He’s a good man.

No, no, he’s not a monster.

He’s your hero.

He could never purposely harm you.

No.

It was an accident.

An accident.

You’d understand.

He knew you would!

You always understood him.

You were like two peas in a pod!

You forgave him, surely.

Yes.

Yes!

You did the moment he hugged you, the moment he started comforting you.

He was a good man.

How could you not forgive him?

He loved you so, so, so much.

You knew that-

You knew he would never do such a thing.

His breathing was even, eyes wide and straining as he stared at the floor, a crooked smile on his face as he repeated the words over and over again in his twisted mind.

He never met to hurt you.

No.

He didnt.

“Plea-” you tried once more, biting your wobbling lip as he squeezed you even tighter.

“No, no, no, no, no, no..” he heaved out, hand coming up to gently pet your oily hair as if to calm you. His head shook back and forth in your hair, “It’s okay. It’s okay. I’m so sorry, honey.”

There was nothing you could do.

You were stuck alone in a mouse trap, the cold, metallic bar snapped down on top of your frail neck.

There was no escape.

There never was.

His form of ‘love’ far too strong for you to even attempt to.

And so, you gave up. 

Just like you always did.

There was no point in resisting him.

Sticky blood trickles down your raw cheek, dripping down onto the chilled bare skin of his neck, still cold from the damp clothes he wore, instantly catching his wondering attention.

“You.. you’re bleeding?” he whispered guiltily, already feeling a new wave of salty tears building up in the corner of his eyes.

His large left hand trailed up the skin of your neck, idly collecting the thin trail of red liquid onto his fingertips and smearing a path up to your jawline, stopping the moment your shivering form flinched.

He frowned at the red mark taking up half your beautifully innocent face, a small cut resting in the middle of it where no doubt the ring he foolishly wore as an accessory swiped.

Guilt made his stomach churn, the familiar burn of acid rising in his throat.

A deep inhale, and he swallowed it down, arm still wrapped around you, languidly rubbing your back as he stared with nothing short of pity at your wrecked state.

Your lips wobbled, holding in a reply as you force yourself to look into the vast abyss of darkness that was the hallway of your apartment instead of his orbs gleaming with concern.

Concern.

Concern for something he caused.

At least he had a heart, but you were still scared shitless and wanted nothing more than to run away. You were still fighting to regulate your breathing.

His thumb suddenly pressed against the slap mark, ripping a yelp from your throat as your head flung back to avoid any more contact. It was then that you noticed a pounding headache echoing inside your skull, yet another reason to aid in the water running down your face. Pain consumed your body, and you wanted nothing more than to escape this shell you were trapped in.

Openly chewing on his lip, both of his arms went back around you, cradling your delicate form to his chest.

Without a word, he stood up, practically forcing you to have to wrap your bare legs around his waist to keep yourself steady, something you were trained to do by him. He loved it when your legs were around his waist whenever he picked you up.

It became a regrettable second nature.

Heavy foot steps brought you back to your bedroom, and then into the bathroom connected to it.

Your fears crept up your spine at the pitch black room you were forced into, remembering how you were in a similar position just a few minutes ago.

When would this cycle end?

Ah. 

It wouldnt, would it?

You were set delicately down atop the cold marble counter as if you were a fragile piece of glass, which, in many ways, you were. The tears had at least stopped, but your body continuously shook like a chihuahua, your breathing still hard to control as fumbled around mindlessly with your fingers to serve as a distraction.

He flipped the light on, momentarily blinding your sensitive gaze with its bright light.

Sniffing, you wiped at your nose, watching as he walked about the bathroom, grabbing a wash cloth just to run it under cool water. The rain was still heavily pouring just outside the wall mixed with the loud splatters of the stream against the white sink. It would have been calming had cold water not splashed up onto your bare thighs, making goosebumps prickle along your skin. Your thighs were nearly numb at this point.

After ringing most of the water out, he held it up to your cheek, staring at you.

Taking the cue, you hesitantly took the cool, wet cloth from his grasp and gingerly pressed it to the swelling skin on your face. You hiss out in pain, dry sobs wracking your body at the stinging pain and the fact that he was still far too close for you to currently handle.

The pain on your cheek paired with the numbing cold was a good distraction.

You chewed on your lip as you squeezed your eyes shut, freehand gripping tightly at the hem of your shirt as you listen to him fumble around in the cabinet hanging over to the left.

You jumped the moment you felt his larger fingers ghost over the ones holding the cloth to your cheek, cautious (E/C) eyes opening ever so slightly as you looked over at him.

You couldnt help but feel idiotic as you suddenly felt flustered at the intense gaze he was giving you, eyes now gleaming viridescent in the white light of the bathroom almost staring right into your soul.

It was like he was reading you, pulling words off your own frail pages just so he could recite them to you.

He did this often.

Keeping silent, staring for long periods of times as he tried out scenarios in his head of the words he was going to say.

It gave you chills, but yet, it made you feel like you were the center of his drifting attention.

The sun his planets revolve tirelessly around, repeating the same cycles like a record forever skipping on repeat.

In these moments, though, he became an enigma.

Not exactly something your fragile state of mind entirely needed right now.

You shivered when his palm came to cup your soft jawline, thumb absentmindedly tracing over your parted lips.

His mouth opened, ready to say something, but he stayed quiet.

Mouth shutting, he leaned forward, tentatively bringing you into another hug.

“I’m sorry.” he repeated, the words nearly as quiet as your stilled breath, but you had nothing to say to it. And he knew it.

He was used to you staying silent.

He would prefer it most of the time.

So he could sink into his fantasies, the deluded fantasies that you loved him wholeheartedly, that you chose to stay silent as to not hurt his feelings, and always forgave him no matter what.

That you would forever and always be his.

He wouldnt give you the choice not to be.

He wouldnt let you leave when you’re his favorite person in the whole wide world.

The only one he needed.

And he was the only one you needed.

Yes.

Of course.

You didn’t need anyone else but him.

And he didn’t need anyone else but you.

So what if a few more people died because of his mistake, he would capture Ghoul eventually. Regardless, he would always come home to you.

Always.

And that’s all he needed.

He chucked against your neck, having buried it in the crook as his mind slipped through his shaky fingertips.

The Big Bad Wolf and his Little Red Riding Hood.

God how he loved the comparison.

Perhaps he was addicted.

Addicted to you.

Even now, as he inhaled your sugary sweet, natural scent stained with the metallic smell of dried blood.

Pulling back, he gazed into your hesitant eyes, delicately resting his forehead against yours.

His hair, now dry and no longer dripping with salty rain, tickled your skin, making you involuntarily take in a deep breath.

Closing his eyes once more, he soaks in the moment of your warm body in his frigid embrace, nothing else mattered to him.

Just you.

Only you.

“L-let me see your cheek,” he asks softly, words not as wobbly as before,  afraid that if he spoke too loudly in such a thin atmosphere, everything would shatter abruptly like glass.

Your body moved on instinct as if you were used to doing as he asked immediately no matter what, pulling the cool cloth away from your burning cheek.

Resisting the urge to sniffle and flinch away, you allow him to rewet the cloth, holding still as he dabs lightly at the small wound.

“I know it hurts,” he breathes out, “shh, shh, it’s okay.” it was always so strange how his voice still managed to calm your nerves even after all you’ve been through.

Deep down, you knew he was still that loving and energetic boy you met back at that coffee shop.

If only you knew how sinister and twisted he could really be.

Perhaps.. perhaps you wouldn’t be in such a situation now.

But there was never any point in pondering the what-ifs.

All you could do was fight your mind from seeking normalities in such a relationship as this, if you could even call it that.

You wouldn’t succumb to his desires like you always did.

You wouldnt lose yourself.

No.

You couldn’t let that happen.

Or was it too late already?

You hissed when you felt the stinging seer of rubbing alcohol dotted onto your cut, cleaning the wound.

“It’s okay.” he repeats, cooing to you with a reassuring smile that should have made you feel sick all over again.

You let him apply antibiotic ointment and a small cheek bandage, his hands shaky yet careful. You could say he has experience in applying bandages.

It was uncomfortable as it sat on your raw skin, but it’s not like you were going to go and rip it off. That would feel like ripping off a wax strip on a sunburn.

Humming, he gingerly wipes away the dried blood on your neck with the same washcloth, not minding how blood-stained the innocently white fabric became. 

Next came your still aching wrists. There wasn’t much he could do for your legs, but at least he had roll-on bandages on standby.

Turning the cold tap on, he lets you run them under cool water before gently dabbing the stray droplets away, careful not to press too hard.

He really needed to invest in softer handcuffs, it’s just- those were the only ones he had, and he didn’t use them often. Besides, it never got this bad before. But that wasn’t a good excuse.

He’d have to order some online tomorrow..

Applying more ointment around the area, the kind that offers instant relief, he wraps your smaller wrists up as best he could, cringing himself whenever you’d flinch.

He’d make it up to you.. Pancakes in the morning, perhaps?

Izuku then begins to sluggishly put away everything he brought out of the cabinet, tossing what needed to be tossed into the trashcan.

He was slow, almost as if he was trying to keep his balance, which he no doubt was. 

Standing in front of you once again, he wrapped his arms around you, whispering “up” in your ear.

It was something he would always say when he wanted you to wrap your arms and legs around him so he could carry you like a baby.

But who were you to refuse?

It wasn’t as if he couldnt pick you up without your limbs wrapped around him, it was more for your comfort rather than his convenience.

So, tentatively, you wrapped your still shaking arms around his neck, doing the same with your legs around his bent waist.

“Good girl.” he praised as he began walking back into the bedroom, stopping just at your side of the bed to place you down at the edge.

Numbly, you let him remove your rain-soaked clothes from all the hugging, sitting on the bed in just your panties as you watched him toss the clothes in the hamper by the door

It wasn’t the first time he insisted on treating you like a child who needed help changing, but at least you didn’t have to walk.

It was hard to remember if it was a good or a bad thing that you didn’t care about being nude in front of him anymore, not even bothering to hide your chest as he came back over with a fresh set of clothes - the strawberry patterned pajamas he always seemed to adore you wearing.

You always looked so innocent in them. The shirt is far too large for your frame, the sleeves hanging off your hands and the large v-neck exposing your collar bones and parts of your shoulders. The bottoms were the regular run of the mill pajama pants, soft as cotton and comfy as hell.

The top truly was the part of the look that tied it all together.

He couldn’t help but smile as your arms immediately raised as he pulled the shirt out of the pile, making quick work of slipping it over your cute head and helping your arms into the sleeves.

He liked to take care of you.

You needed him to, after all.

You were his innocent, helpless little darling, after all.

Pulling your pants up, he guided your body down into a resting position, dragging the thick, grey, and black patterned comforter over your stilled body.

Such a good girl.

He tucks loose strands of messy (H/C) hair that fell across your face behind your ear, being mindful of the wound.

He stares at it for a moment, his expression holding that of worry and regret.

Pushing off the bed, he stumbles his way to the kitchen in the dark, having turned off the light as he went, the layout of the apartment burned to memory so he could easily avoid furniture.

In the kitchen, he opened the freezer and grabbed an ice pack, one he would commonly use on his own sore muscles and bruises. It hurt his heart knowing he was the reason you had to use it for the first time.

After wrapping it in some paper towels, he trudges his way back into the dark bedroom, eyes wracking over your balled up form, covers bunched over you like a shell.

“Put this on your cheek..” he whispered, placing the pack just in front of your face.

He would love to be the one to hold it to your cheek, but his mind was still hazy, and his words were still slurred. Events could sure as hell sober you up a bit, but damn did that nausea always come back crashing in through the brittle window full force when you’d least expect it.

Rummaging through the drawers once more, he picked up some of his own fresh clothes and made his way into the bathroom again.

All he wants is to sleep, but he also didnt want you to smell dried sweat and rain on his being throughout the night.

He knew you missed him, him and his warmth, you always did, right? No question about it. You must be longing for him even now. 

Wanting him to hold and comfort you just like always.

Numbed adrenaline pumped in his veins as he stepped into the shower, letting the warm water wash away his filth and regrets.

God, it felt so good to be able to somewhere warm for once.

The entire night he’s felt nothing but cold.

Not even the fire in his belly or the breath stolen from his lungs could’ve warmed him up.

He was mad at himself. Mad that he lost control and hurt the one thing that mattered the most to him.

Mad that he let himself get disgustingly drunk.

Mad that he walked in the rain like a dumbass just to soak your clothes and make you feel as cold as him.

But at the moment, too many thoughts were flying in his mind for him to properly think, no, he couldnt really even say he was thinking at all.

He was just letting the water splatter on the back of his neck, forehead resting on the cold shower tiles and he watched as water swirled down the drain like a whirlpool. His hair stuck to his cheeks like glue, but he couldn’t find himself caring.

Absentmindedly, his fingers brush across the fresh scar on his broad shoulder.

He swore the longer he stood there, watching the clear flow of water, the looser his grip on himself became.

He couldnt really say he felt anything at all anymore.

When did he lose himself?

Was he ever even really found?

Ah.

With you.

You were the missing piece in his complicated and skull biting puzzle, the one who made him whole and lit up his dull life. You were the reason he felt things anymore, you were the reason he still managed to get up and save people with a clear conscious.

You always had such a positive impact on his life, and he knew he had just as good a one on yours.

A wobbly smile tore his flushed face in two, you both really did need eachother.

He was so happy to have you in his life.

Knowing you’d never leave him.

Turning the boiling hot water off, he stepped out, the plushness of the bath-mat embracing his wet feet as water continued to pour down his nude body.

It felt, it felt so hot suddenly.

His breath came out in exaggerated pants, hands sweeping his hair from his face as the burn of bile rose in his throat.

Lunging for the toilet, he emptied his stomach into the glistening white bowl.

Gasping for air, Izuku whipped his mouth on the back of his hand, still trying to catch his breath as he fumbled to flush.

God, he needed to sit down.

Shakily turning the bathroom faucet on, he washed his hand, making quick work of brushing his teeth before lazily drying himself off.

Ignoring the other clothes he brought in, the toned hero simply pulled on a pair of black boxers before walking out of the bathroom.

Green eyes immediately looked at your form, just to see the soft rise and fall of your chest as you soundly slept, the ice pack sitting comfortably on your cheek.

You looked so adorable.

You always did.

Smiling once more, he walked over to the bed, pulling back the sheets just to slide his larger, warm body in and next to your own.

He sighs blissfully the moment he tugs you into his embrace, relishing in the feeling of your soft body against him.

Removing the icepack from your cheek, not wanting you to awake to a cheek burning from the cold, he places it on the nightstand before snuggling closer to you.

You always fit so perfectly in his big arms.

You were meant to be by his side.

And you loved it, didn’t you?

Eventually, he fell asleep, soft snores echoing around the quiet room filled with the downpour of rain still pouring down outside the large glass windows,

But you were still wide awake.

It was hard to remember the last time you got a good night’s rest, especially when the room was spine-chillingly dark..

Hard to remember what life was like before you even met your own personal nightmare.

You were used to the exhaustion, the dark circles kissing at the skin under your eyes becoming normal the day you were brought here.

Oh, how foolish you were.

You should have locked your window that fateful night.

But heroes are quite stealthy, aren’t they?

Was this even reality at this point? Or all just a figment of your imagination, protecting you from the true horrors before your very eyes.

Either answer wasnt one you wanted.

But you never had a choice.

Tears slipping from your eyes like they always seemed to do, you stared longingly off into the distance, the warmth pressed against your back pulling you further into your own bubbling madness.

All it took was a signal thought for this to all become normal.

For the pain to wash away with your tears.

‘Maybe this is ok.’

[diningwiththeasquiths]

WIP Game

Yay! I got tagged by the lovely and talented @viraaja ❤

I'm currently writing/editing 6 different works (oh damn, what happened to me, seriously 😂) about 2 different ships (Gingerpilot and Renben) so erm... I'll put down two snippets to cover both ships! Just in time for Snippet Sunday too, lol.

Gingerpilot WIP (for Gingerpilot Week Day 4: Post-Canon)

There’s no doubt about it, even though the former pilot is looking rough these days. Well, it’s not like Hux is aging any better himself. The fine lines on his forehead and around his eyes have turned into actual wrinkles. And the dark circles underneath his eyes are worse than they’ve ever been. Not to mention the grey streak that has made an appearance in his hair, slowly taking over the red, to his great annoyance.

Truth be told, Dameron still looks good, downing those shots of Tevraki whiskey like there’s no tomorrow. The rough exterior suits him. Unlike Hux’s, his greasy hair is curly enough to not fall limply over his forehead. The smoke from his cigarra billows from between his greying moustache and beard, causing heat to rush to Hux’s groin for the first time in what feels like years.

Renben WIP (Prison AU)

“Hey kid. I’m called Ren.”

“I’m Ben,’’ he says, grateful for his own deep voice. At least he has that going for him. Should he tell Ren that he’s not a kid? He’s definitely a lot younger though. And perhaps he shouldn’t talk back right away, especially not when it wasn’t really an insult.

“Well isn’t that funny. Ben and Ren. Y’know, when they told me I was getting a new cellie they forgot to mention how cute you were. Did they warn you how dangerous this place can be for pretty things like you?”

Ben’s panic instantly returns, tenfold. He can feel himself turn red. During his research he kind of avoided this particular topic, hoping it was just a stereotype thing and wouldn’t be an issue. So of course it’s the first problem he runs into. What does he say to this?

Tagging: @lariekoekje @mylifeisactuallyamess and anyone else who is interested in doing this!

[akvtsuki-ari]

Sweetheart (Ch.2)

Warnings: smut!, choking, uhh insecuity maybe??, sub!spencer, dom!reader, talks of bdsm protocol

Length: 4.2k 

Authors Note: heyyy yall. i feel like i haven’t uploaded in DAYS idk why. another chapter of this fic bc i love it a lot but my next fic will be a dom!spence oneshot that i can’t get out of my head lol. this chapter is kinda open conversation

Plot Summary: Spencer can’t stop thinking of you but he’s too nervous to do anything about it. You’ve got doubts that only he can fix and he has questions only you can answer. Spencer really likes being choked, apparently. 

Ch. 1

Look at you baby, your lashes are so long, aren't they? Such a pretty boy," your voice rings out softly in Spencer's ears. A light sheen of sweat coats his chest as he feels your fingers around his dick, his throat caught - words disappearing from him.

"Fuck - please, Miss I'm gonna -," Spencer's voice is broken when he feels an orgasm wash over him.

Then of course, Spencer wakes up. Sunlight hitting his eyes as he blinks himself awake. He can feel it in his pajama pants, still not having registered the content of his dream before he looks down to see the massive mess. It's managed to happen a 3rd time, and its only been a week. Spencer shuts his eye in disdain as he stands up, pulling his pants off and tossing them in a hamper before he heads into the shower.

Spencer hates cold showers, he remember this fact as the water beats down on his back as he washes himself up. He washes his hair while he tries to compartmentalize the situation.

Like Spencer mentions, it's the 3rd time he's had a dream that wakes him up in such a pleasant way. You two had been dating for 2 ish months now, but Spencer chokes everytime you try and take things further. You never give him shit for it, which is more than relieving to him. You always reassure him that the two of you can take your time and that it's okay if he doesn't want it right away.

You were an angel, he knew that for sure but Spencer did want it. He was just, well - as nervous as a person could be. He still hasn't really talked to you about any of that, not about how it would work the first time the two of you did.. it. He didn't even know if you still wanted that - he'd been too petrified to ask if you still wanted to dominate him or if maybe that'd change now that you actually knew him. He didn't even know how to bring it up, or if there was a time for him to do just that. The whole thing filled him with such intense anxiety, he just didn't bring it up at all.

But, he wants to go further with you. He likes you so fucking much - of course he wanted to go further with you. He figured you knew that.

You didn't, really. You figured Spencer found you unattractive to some extent so he just kept putting off sleeping with you. It felt like a juvenile insecurity to have but well - he always reacts so poorly anytime you take this further. You knew he was anxious but there was always that self-loathing voice that told you that it was your fault, that he just didn't find you attractive enough. You pretended it didn't hurt since you like him so much, but it was starting to take it's toll.

On both ends, it was a fucking mess. Neither of you really knew why it was a mess for the other person, but it sure was one.

Spencer gets out of the shower when he hears a knock on the door. His eyes flit up to his analog clock on the wall, you were here right in time, Spencer thinks. He throws on an oversized sweater and some jeans that you bought for him. He liked them but he only really wore them cause you like them so much.

Spencer can't help the butterflies that fill his stomach when he sees you. Your eyes are dolled up in this pretty dark eye shadow, and red lipstick. You're pretty, dark and pretty but still pretty. The makeup was just new. Spencer feels like he's choking as he looks at your smiling expression Spencer shuts the door behind you as he lets you in.

"You ready to get brunch?," you ask Spencer. He dries his hair off and finds something to style it with as he walks back into the bathroom. All stuff that's new that you've introduced him too. He likes using the stuff that you told him to use though cause it makes his hair look less greasy.

"Yeah, but we've got some time before then - right?," Spencer ask. You smile and nod your head as you walk up behind Spencer, wrapping your arms around his waist. He feels small - your actual size unimportant to the way you make him feel. You pat his sweater down, hands dangerously close to his waist as you look at him, eyes gleaming. You give him a small grin when you peak over, as Spencer's eyes meet yours in a small blush. Your hands find themselves underneath his sweater, brushing his waist as you sway into him. Spencer focuses so much on doing his hair, just trying not to get hard.

"What should we do in that time?," you ask, mostly to yourself. You know Spencer probably won't do what you were thinking of doing. Spencer just blushes before shrugging, finished fixing up his hair as he moves away from your touch. You're a little hurt, not tryng to let it show as he walks back out into his living room, you following suit.

"I think they're playing some animal planet re-reruns," Spencer suggests. You give Spencer a small, half-hearted smile.

"Yeah sure," you say softly. You don't mean to be disappointed because you really do respect Spencer boundaries. You don't ever wanna do something that he's not a 100% down for and you just like him so much it doesn't matter. You had to admit though - god, you wanted to fuck his brains out and the fact that he may not return those feelings hurt a little more than your ego wanted to admit. Spencer seems to sense your disheartened demeanor, and with trying to ignore his immediate panic he looks over to you as you lean into him on the couch. He moves away from you for a few moments to look at you, and you turn to him confused.

"Are you okay?," Spencer asks concern. You give him a small smile and nod, taking his hands in yours and playing with his fingers. Spencer looks at you for a while longer before you begin to talk.

"It's nothing serious - it's kinda silly actually, so we don't -,"

"Hey," Spencer pauses. You look up at him, his eyes so full of concern. You can't help the way your heart melts, leaning up to meet Spencer's lips for a second. You look at the clock, still a good hour before the two of you have your plans. You sigh, looking down into your lap before you speak.

"I just wanna say first, that I totally respect any and all of your boundaries regarding sex - and I would never, ever pressure you into something you don't wanna do," you say slowly. Spencers nerves crawl up his back but he waits for you to continue.

"But uhm, well - I don't know, I guess I just wanna know if you still, well or if you ever wanted to sleep with me. Like ah, you know, maybe you found me unattractive. I mean, I get it - I guess I'd uhm, just wanna know beforehand," you trail off, unsure of how to say your comments. Spencers a little incredulous - did you genuinely think the reason he'd been avoiding sex was because you weren't attractive to him? Spencer just shakes his head violently, wanting to say so much but not wanting to scare you away with his words.

"Well, uhm - no it's not that at all. I think you're super attractive, and I defintely want to.. you know - with you I mean," Spencer starts, feeling the way your hand tightens around his instinctevely. This the most vunerable you've been with Spencer in your relationship so he wants to make sure you know how much he cares

"I have dreams about it, like all the time recently. I really like you, and I really do think you're very beautiful, I guess I'm just - nervous, you know? I don't know what to do, especially since we've never done that before and we met under such.. interesting circumstances. I don't know how to approach it,"

"You have wet dreams about me?," you say, a little too excited for your own good. Spencer blushes before nodding.

"Huh, I just openly admitted that didn't I? To answer your question, yes - I had one before you came over," Spencer remembers. You give him a cheeky grin and he hides his face in his head, groaning. You only laugh, pull them away before kissing his knuckles. You were more than pleased to hear this info. You stand and sit down in Spencers lap, hands on the side of his face. He gives you a small, gentle smile.

"It's okay if you're not ready to talk about sex at all, but it may help if we cover general BDSM code and standard. Nothing has to be decided or talked about if you don't want, but maybe just going over it will ease your mind up," you say softly to Spencer. His nerves settles as you continue to reassure him - your behavior is so perfectly soothing. The hand on his back, the softness in your voice and your reassurance, Spencer knew you were experienced but he was still impressed. Spencer just nods, letting you pepper kisses all over his face that made his expression scrunch up. Cute. Spencer was so cute.

"Yeah, that sounds good," Spencer manages to push out. You give him a warm smile. You move away to sit next to him, still maintaining physical contact but clearly becoming more serious.

"The most important thing to know is that everyone practices BDSM differently. There are two common standard procedures that people use, however - safe, sane, and consensual is the most common. It's just saying that both parties are participating in something that is just as it implies, and it prioritizes safety. Knowing you, I'm sure you've read up on most of this, but it doesn't hurt to explain," you say softly. Spencer nods, he did already know a lot of what you were talking about.

"The other is 'Risk-Aware Consensual Kink,' which is where both parties are participating in something they knew could have consequences that are harmful. In both situations - both parties need to be aware and understand the lengths of whatever they're participating in. It's the core of all BDSM practice, and since this is all new for you - let me be clear that your safety and sanity come first to me always. BDSM is a psychological thing at heart so making sure you're okay is firs priority," you clarify. Spencer is in awe by how.. well-spoken you were about it. He knew you were experienced but it was more than you let on. Spencer just nods, unsure of what to say.

"You've actually done this before, but the same goes for me - you know," Spencer adds. You give him a sweet kiss which he returns.

"Thank you, love. With all that, the way you assure someone's safety is obviously having discussions about limits but also by developing a safeword and system to make sure that a scene can stop at any point. It's especially important to make sure that those words are a out of place. You shouldn't use words like "Stop," or "No," as safewords because in some peoples play they refuse something as a part of foreplay or a part of the scene. Maybe a submissive whose being bratty is refusing something but they're okay with it happening - thats when a safeword can come in. If a partner at any point wants to tap out, they use that word," you explain.

Spencer nods in understanding, he didn't even think about people using those words for the purposes of foreplay or whatever else. He gives you a curious look, as you lean back. Instinctively, Spencer moves himself to lay his head on your lap which you'd sorta pavloved onto him. You'd always pat your lap when you wanted Spencer to do it, and at first it was so embarrassing but you'd do it so much he just sorta got used to it. You run your hands through his hair, the other one on his chest. His face is a little hot.

"For me, I like the stoplight system - Red meaning stop completely, yellow meaning slow down and let's talk about this, and green meaning go, I'm totally down for this. I like that system because it's a lot easier to get a sense of how the other person wants the scene to go, and if I want to try something, I can ask my submissive 'Color?,' and they can respond however they like. If they say yellow, I can break character and ask them whats up which can give them some real reassurance. Every submissive is different, but this sytem is really universal and easy to keep up with, " you say lovingly, patting Spencers chest rhythmically. You look down at his expression with serious eyes.

"Listen to me carefully when I say this my love - if we participate in a scene and there is a single doubt about what's happening, you use one of your safewords no questions asked. Using your words with me or any other signals may discuss is so important and it doesn't make you a bad submissive - okay? We are equals, always. Even if you want me to step on you, or call you pathetic - we are still equals and always will be, okay pretty boy?," you say in a stern, but loving voice. Spencer just nods, softly - so far he doesn't have many questions though he's sure that'll change at some point. Spencer nods, leaning his face into your hand as you cup his cheek. You lean down and place a kiss on his lips.

"I know I've been talking a lot, but lemme hear your thoughts, yeah? Anything," you ask Spencer.

"It's weird - I've done so much research on safe BDSM practices and understand all this stuff in theory but it seems so different in practice," Spencer comments lightly. You nod, letting him continue.

"One thing that I did notice was that you use If/When scenarios about you dominating me and I wasn't really sure what that was about. We are girlfriend and boyfriend, doesn't that sorta just imply you are my dom?," Spencer asks. You give him a pat on the chest before you go into explanation.

"It certainly helps that we're dating but you and your submission is something to be earned. We've never discussed in length until today, but of course - I was hoping that you'd want that from me. It's really just like an everyday relationship, but a lot more involved in trust and respect. We have a strong romantic connection which is really lovely, because it builds a lot of that trust and respect that you need to practice BDSM healthily and safely. I wanna lead you so I can see you grow, and hopefully, you wanna submit to me out of respect - those sorts of things,"  you say, playing with Spencer's hands. Spencer just nods, looking up at you.

"Will you be my dom, then? I want you to be. I don't think I could really imagine it being anyone else," Spencer asks out of the blue. You weren't expecting the question so suddenly, or the way your heart rips through your chest hearing it. It's so simple and innocent when Spencer asks.

"I mean, I'd love too but are you really sure? I mean -," you try to think of a reason for Spencer to say no but you really cant. Spencer just smiles at you, sitting up to look at you completely.

"I trust you so much because I know you'd never do anything to hurt me on purpose - I mean unless I asked but, you know what I mean. I'm more sure than I was about asking you to be my girlfriend because you're just a trustworthy person. You're smart and kind and lovely all around. I know I'm new to this but theres no one I trust more than you to teach me. I really like you," Spencer says warmly. You wrap your arms around him, avoiding the tears in your eyes. Spencer is so sweet, reassuring by nature and it makes your heart yearn.

"Well, then - yes, I'd love to be your dom. And to answer your question about what we do for the first time, it'll be rather purely vanilla. No hijinks, just regular sex - since it's your first time partaking in BDSM with someone else, we gotta go really slowly so you don't have to worry. It might make you a little impatient but have faith in the process," you explain softly. Spencer is relishing in the fact that you know so much - you seem to have such a tight grasp on what you were doing he had no urges to question you. You lead so naturally, you don't demand anything from him but still, Spencer follows you. Spencer would follow you into the darkness if you kept speaking to him like that.

"We'll discuss things slowly and we'll make it really easy, okay? Once I get to know you a little more in bed, we can plan and talk about our first scene. It takes time to figure this stuff out, you know," You play with Spencers hair as you look over to the clock. 27 ish minutes before you two went out for brunch. Spencer sits up, face flush as he opens his mouth to try and ask you for what he wanted - now that he knew what was on the table his mind was thinking of everything he was missing. All the touches he was aching for you to give him. Spencers eyes were a little lost as he tries to explain to you.

"Can we -? I mean, would you, you know - uhm," Spencer voice can't get the words out. You give Spencer a small smile as he leans back into the couch. You pull your dress up, straddling Spencer's lap, and Spencer's throat dries up. He can't speak as he feels your heat up against his jeans. He's hard nearly immediately, a painful feeling for his dick up against the tight denim. Spencer stares up at you startled, a playful smile on your face. You place your hands on Spencers chest, feeling him up before settling your hands on the side of his face base of his neck. You lean in slowly, breath brushing Spencers ears as he heart pounds against his chest. His body felt a little out of control, and you just seemed to be so comfortable Spencer didn't know how to deal. He's so aware of the where your fingers seem to linger around his neck - he wants to blurt out "Choke me, please," but the words seems to disappear when he opens his mouth.

"You want me to touch you, Spencer?," you ask softly. Spencer nods violently and you can't help but laugh, maintaining eye contact for a few agonizing seconds. You lean in to kiss Spencer as your hands work the zipper of his jeans, your fingers making indirect contact with Spencer's cock. He whines aloud - he's sensitive, apparently. You can't help your pleased reaction as you pull his erection of his boxers - the tip is swollen, you can feel it ache under your touch. Spencer's eyes roll up in the back of his head, despite you having barely done anything for him at all.

"How fast do you think you can get off, baby?,"

Baby. Fuck, Spencer liked when you called him that. It was so natural to you, and Spencer just sighs.

"Fast," Spencer admits, a little embarrassed. He'd never needed to cum that quickly before in his life, yet here you were making him feel like he'd break at any second if you touch him too long. He was an adult but the thought of having sex with his girlfriend made him feel like he was gonna fucking combust.

"I cum first today, hope that's okay with you," you tell Spencer warmly. He gives you a nod, he's more than okay with that. You guide his wrist under your dress, feeling his hands palm through your panties. You moan quietly, and Spencers pleased with himself. It's hard for you to not just tell him to lay back so you can sit on his face - because god did you wanna do that.

"You lead the way," you joke to Spencer, more just telling him that he has permission to do his thing. Spencer just nods, as you lean into his neck to bite hickies into it. Spencers hands are careful with you, two fingers pressed against your clit as he rubs circular motions, his other hand holding your waist steady.

"A little faster, love," you ask Spencer. He just nods as he hears your voice, soft sighs falling from your lips as you feel your orgasm build in your core. Spencer likes you so much, he's so eager to please you in every way so when you finally reach your orgasm, Spencer doesn't hesitate on letting you ride out your high. His dick is pulsating against your thigh, as you finish up and flutter your eyes open to look at him. Spencer gives you a small smile, eyes looking for your approval as you give him a lazy smile.

Spencer watches you pick your bag up from the couch, laughing as he sees you pull out a condom. He gives you a look of surprise and you just shrug, rolling it on for him.

Your lipsticks mostly on but smudged a bit as you kiss Spencer, lifting your hips up before settling back around Spencer's cock. You feel so good around him, the feeling of your lingering orgasm gripping him tight makes him choke. You ride Spencer with ease, hands around the base of his neck. Fuck - Spencer wants you to choke him so bad.

"Choke me, please," Spencer spits out. You give Spencer a look.

"Are you sure, love?,"

Spencer strains for a second, feeling his orgasm coming at him full speed before squeezing out another "please". You debate for a second, but you figure non-kinky couples do this all the time and you tighten your hands around the base of his neck.

Spencer relishes the way the air leaves his lungs and doesn't return. He loves the way you look at him when you do it, the way you adore how much he's under control. He tries to calm down but before he can think, his orgasm shoots up his spine as he looks at you pleadingly. You purposefully clench around him and Spencer's leg twitches underneath you. Your grip on his neck releases immediately and he misses the feeling of you around his neck, cumming into the condom with a heavy sigh.

"I really like you," Spencer breathes out as you cum. You bubble up with laughter as you kiss his cheek, a little red pair of lips sitting on it. He goes to wipe it off but you stop his hand, grabbing his wrist.

"Leave it," you say, an edge to your voice. Spencer can't help but nod, touching it carefully as you slip off of him. You pull off the condom for Spencer, throwing it in the trashcan of his bathroom before heading to his bathroom with your bad. Spencer follows suit, wiping himself clean with a wet-wipe before tucking himself back into his jeans. Spencer watches you fix your makeup in the mirror, as he clings onto you in the mirror.  You turn to him, wetting your lips before kissing that same spot, then using your little brush to put powder on it. You smile, leaning up to kiss him on the lips. He wraps his arms around your waist instinctively.

"Now it'll stay put. And, I really like you too," you say, rubbing his back as he hugs you. He may have been tall but he clings to you like a big baby. It was so damn endearing.

Spencer's heart beats so loudly in his chest. You were so lovely, you smelled good, and tasted nice and were so sweet to Spencer. Spencer liked you so fucking much, he just wanted to stay like this forever and the best part was you liked Spencer too. The way you rubbed his back, soothing him and humming as you gave him the affection he always dreamed of made him feel more happy than he could imagine. When he pulls away and you look at him, you place your hands on the side of his face and smile.

"You're so pretty, doc," you say. Doc - you only called him that when you felt affectionate. Spencer blushes.

"So are you,"

If you two didn't have a brunch reservation, Spencer was sure the two of you would stay like this forever. Not that he really minded, anyway.

[yuthoe]

ONEUS Ravn x Ballroom Dancing

hey hey hey, i’m back, but this time with some HCs from one of the boys from ONEUS! honestly didn’t think i’d write for them, but honestly i should have known when the teaser images for “TBONTB” dropped lmao. anyways, if you’ve read any of my PTGxBallroom HCs or saw me gagging in this post, then you know i’ve been wanting to make ONEUSxBallroom HCs too mwahahahaha (i blame covid and how long it’s been since i last danced. am i projecting? mayhaps.)

(also damn, these things keep getting longer and longer lol)

PAIRING: RAVN x reader. GENRE: headcanons. WARNINGS: n/a. WORD COUNT: 975.

Master List

---

A Latin dancer that lowkey does some other styles. He isn’t one to brag about it, but he was in a dance group back in high school, and they were actually pretty popular. They were a mixed styles group, so they did some jazz, some hip hop, some other things. How he became a ballroom dancer is a different story, though.

Urban Boyz (the dance troupe) was attending a competition in the same building as a preliminary dancesport competition (Standard Division), and he was intrigued at all the outfits. So after his group’s performance, he decided to check it out, sneak at peek through the slightly open door.

Youngjo was totally taken aback by the fluid movements of the dancers on the floor, the way the follows’ skirts sailed through the air like wings, and the way the leads dodged through everyone else and avoiding a collision while still doing the choreography. He was entranced.

He got home that night and looked it up, asked his parents if he could join ballroom classes on the weekends, and somehow learning proper framing the next Saturday. 

He started out in Standard, and while he was good at it, he realized it didn’t feel right, so he sat in on a cha-cha-cha class after his waltz lessons.

And BOY Youngjo absolutely loved it! He loved all the complicated steps and the arm choreography, the sass and strength of the dance. After that session, he finally figured out what he really wanted from ballroom.

He kept training all the way through high school and college, but he didn’t quit the dance troupe, nor did he stop exploring other styles. He just really really likes ballroom. So in the event you want to dance something other than Latin, you just just kind of look up choreography online or make some up on your own.

Offer to go to the gym with him and he’ll say no; but during conditioning days, he’ll take all the aches and pains in stride without once complaining. (Also he doesn’t tell you, but he does go to the gym sometimes, when he needs to let off some steam or if he’s noticed he’s becoming more Bbangjo than Youngjo.)

The epitome of shy when you first met at the studio he trains at. He’s quite the quiet type, but when you became partners you got to know his softer and more caring side, along with his more mischievous and funny traits. The more you got to know each other, the better he led you, and soon he was twirling you around and anchoring you like you’ve been partners for years rather than months.

You’d be the first to admit that he flusters you--it’s the look he gives you when you dance the rumba or paso, the way he rests his hand on your shoulder blade just so but still firm enough to guide you into a dip. He’s a natural lead and you consider yourself blessed for having such a capable and attentive partner.

His Instagram and Twitter are full of selfies--sometimes in training clothes, other times in costume. He posts something every week, whether it’s asking how his fans are doing, or just dumping his photos on social media because he’s running out of space on his phone.There’s one set of selfies that he posted that he took before your samba heat was up, and the slicked back hair paired with the deep v-neck suit? Absolutely incinerated all his fans.

Facebook exists just for competition announcements other gigs he might have. Has a secret SoundCloud that he had from way before, but he hardly posts there anymore. Doesn’t stop his fans from listening to his beautiful songs and covers, though.

The cha-cha-cha has a special place in his heart. It’s the first Latin dance he actually learned and he just feels so happy and energized while dancing it. Loves that it’s simultaneously crisp and soft in certain parts, and definitely taps his foot to the beat when he hears it in the supermarket.

Youngjo doesn’t shy away from the passion of the paso doble, though. The shaping of the body is what intrigues him about the dance. He’s already tall, but somehow when he dances the paso he just becomes taller, feels stronger. It’s also an excuse to make eyes at you and challenge you.

He’d posted this cover on his YouTube (that doesn’t really get a lot of action) one time and you joked about making a routine for it. But Youngjo, always one to look for excuses to get close to you, immediately wanted to give it a go.

The song is perfect for a rumba, but you both decided to speed it up a little--you thought you’d be able to show off better (read: steamier) choreo if it were just a tad bit faster.

You worked on the dance during one of your free days, and it was a struggle to not blush whenever you’d have to get up in each other’s faces. You’d been partners for literal years now, what’s got you so flustered?

Needless to say, Youngjo enjoyed it (the practice and your flushed face) very much.

You decided to film it in the studio, dressed very smart casual--Youngjo’s in a simple v-neck with his dance pants and Cuban heels, and you just put on a plain shirt, loose pants, and your heels. The aim was to be as sultry as possible without the aid of any “sexy” costumes.

You uploaded it onto your YouTube and within hours, fans were making GIFs and edits to the video, and it even got featured on some dancesport accounts on Twitter and Facebook. His friends from the studio keep teasing him about how greasy he was in the video, they’re never gonna let him live it down--just like with Leedo and that commercial.

[runenc03]

HH - Kaycee’s first year (part 2)

Writing date: November 2018

Genre: Fluff? 

Warnings: Genuine childish innocence. Also, get ready for beta-ed (someone explain this conjugation to me) stuff in the next chapter :)

Word count: 9k lol

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Autumn

"Granger, Kaycee!"

The 11-year old hesitantly walked towards professor McGonagall, so the sorting hat could decide which house'd be best for her. She saw her sister give her a thumbs up from the corner of her eye, but it didn't help calming her nerves. The walk to the front of the Great Hall seemed to take ages, but in reality of was only about 40 seconds. Before she could really prepare herself for her sorting, the hat was already pulled over her head.

Kaycee closed her eyes, waiting for the sorting hat to say something. She knew what would be coming. Hermione and Sean had told her all about their conversation with the sorting hat.

Except, there was no such thing as a conversation right now. The sorting hat stayed completely silent.

Time seemed to stop, even though mere seconds seemed like hours in that gigantic room. Kaycee wanted to ignore everything around her and focus on the hat instead, but it was simply impossible. And it became even harder when the other students began whispering to eachother. She strained her ears, trying to hear what they were talking about. The word she seemed to hear the most was 'hatstall', but she absolutely didn't know what that was. Was it a wizarding term? If it was, Hermione surely hadn't told her about it.

Just when Kaycee was convinced that there had been some kind of cruel mistake and she wasn't a witch, the sorting hat surprisingly shook her out of her thoughts:

"You're quite the extroardinary lady, miss Granger. It's a very rare occurence that I have difficulties sorting a new student... I'm going to be very honest with you. It's going to be either Ravenclaw or Hufflepuf. You have this massive amount of loyalty in you and your kindness is one of your strongest traits, but I can't just ignore your uniqueness, your individuality, which could indicate that you're destined to be a Ravenclaw...what do you think, yourself?

Kaycee was silently thinking, eyes closed. If she was 100 % honest with herself, she had to admit that she felt like a Hufflepuf. She couldn't explain it, she just felt like she belonged there. However, there was also a part of her that screamed: 'You're a weirdo! Ravenclaw praises uniqueness! And Sean's in Ravenclaw..."

And she didn't know why, but she suddenly had to fight a heavy blush from coloring her cheeks. The sorting hat on her head was long forgotten.

"Okay, miss Granger. Your thoughts really helped me making a decision. You've sat here way too long, people are already talking about the fact that you're the first hatstall in years."

Kaycee wanted to ask what a hatstall was, but the sorting hat seemed eager to get this over with.

"You've got a unique personality, miss Granger, but your kindness outnumbers your uniqueness effortlessly. And now I know that you don't really have a preference, I am convinced that you're destined to be a...

"HUFFLEPUF!"

Finally, Kaycee opened her eyes. The first thing she saw were Hermione and Sean, simultaneously standing up from their respective housetables and urging on their housemates to join them in their standing ovation.

A smile crept on Kaycee's face.

And then she caught sight of the Hufflepuf table.

All her housemates were, without exception, beaming at her, applauding, beckoning her to come over and join them.

So she did.

She didn't doubt it anymore.

She was a real Hufflepuf.

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

"Take your books on page 24. We're going to investigate the difference between monkswood and wolfsbane. Everyone is going to make an essayment about what you learned this lesson and hand it in by next one. The minimal length is..."

Kaycee couldn't help it. She tried to listen to professor Snape, but his voice was so monotone that she couldn't help but zone out. Her mind took her away from potions, and brought her to an evening during the summer holidays.

She'd been at home, it'd been pretty late. She'd been to Disney world with her parents, her siblings and Sean that day, which had resulted in her brain being way too active to go to sleep. There was only one thing that helped her when she couldn't sleep: dance. After tossing and turning for a few hours, she'd tiptoed downstairs, towards her dance room.

When Kaycee'd arrived there, she'd turned around, straining her ears to hear if she woke anyone up. The whole house had been silent, so she'd quickly opened the door and gone into het dance room...

She was dancing, moving her body to the music like she was water, so fluid. Her mind went blank, the only thing she felt was the immense happiness dancing brought her. When she was dancing, she could really let go of everything and just be herself.

She absolutely loved it.

The music stopped, and Kaycee hurriedly ran to her phone to pick another song. She was busy choosing one, when she heard a voice speaking, not that far away from her:

"That was really beautiful, Kaycee. Hermione told me you dance, but I didn't realise that you'd be this good..."

Kaycee turned around as fast as possible. She hadn't meant for someone to see her, and certainly not Sean. He stood there, leaning against the door frame, with an expression of wonder on his face.

She felt her cheeks turn crimson. How could she draw the attention away from herself?

And then Hermione's letter from a few weeks ago shot through her head: "Sometimes, he reminds me so much of you, it's unbelievable. And not just because you both dance..."

Kaycee got an idea. She smiled at Sean and said:

"Oh, well, thanks. But I'm not that good...anyway, Hermione told me you dance too! Care to show me something?"

She looked right into his eyes, and saw something flicker in them. It was kind of hard to say, but she thought she saw a mix between curiousness and passion in them. Dancing clearly meant as much to him as it meant for her.

He walked a few steps into the room, still hesitating. "Okay, then. But only if you dance with me."

Kaycee thought about that. It wasn't a bad idea. In fact, it'd be the perfect opportunity to get to know him...

"Deal!"

She turned around and let the music blast once again through the speakers. When she was done, she turned around and saw that Sean was beckoning her to come over to the middle of the room. When she was close enough to him, he gave her an encouraging smile, as if to say: let's do this together, and began dancing. Kaycee watched him move. At first, it was slow, but soon, he seemed completely in his own world, not even moving in time with the music, but owning it.

Kaycee felt herself move in sync with him. She didn't even try, it just felt so natural...they locked eyes again, and the world seemed to stop.

In the few days that Sean had been here, she'd gotten the impression that he was a nice boy, but she hadn't really gotten the chance to get to know him. She'd wondered why Hermione had seemed so convinced that they would get along so well.

She had her anwer now.

She had never felt so connected to someone in her entire life. She was dancing her heart out, pouring out so much emotions without feeling embarrassed that he was there to witness it. Without agreeing on it, they were already dancing like this was a duet and not just some improve. A wonderful feeling spread through Kaycee's entire body. She felt warm, safe, she'd even go as far as to say that she finally felt like she was ho-

"Miss Rice, do you care to explain why you are still sitting here? I thought I made it very clear that the class was dismissed, but apparently, you find yourself important enough to force me to repeat myself. You. Are. Dismissed."

With every word that Snape said, he came closer to Kaycee, who'd woken up from her daydream as soon as the scary teacher's voice had echoed through the dungeons. She looked around the class room: it was completely empty, except for herself and professor Snape. How had she managed to daydream for so long without noticing?

Her eyes landed on the greasy-haired man again, and she suddenly remembered what he said.

She collected her stuff as soon as possible and scurried out of the class room, all the while mumbling apologies.

She turned the corner and let out a deep sigh.

Leave it to Sean to get her into trouble when he isn't even physically there.

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

Kaycee Granger sat on the grass, in a secluded spot near the Great Lake. This was by far her favorite place in Hogwarts. It was an afternoon in late octobre, but the sun shone brightly and it was surprisingly warm for the time of the year. The young girl tilted her head backwards, letting herself bask in the warmth of the sun. She loved this: the slight breeze that blew through her hair, the birds singing one last time, before they flew to warmer regions, the sun rays touching her skin. It was one of those perfect moments where you just want to stay in forever.

Kaycee was just contemplating whether she could procrastinate her homework for another hour or not, when she heard Sean's voice coming closer and closer to her.

"Unbelievable! The nerve of that boy! How dare he call you a mudblood!"

Kaycee turned her head now, wanting to know what was happening. Walking in her direction were an annoyed looking Sean, a strangely emotionless Harry, her sister who was seemingly very determined to figure out her thoughts and Ron....who was vomiting?

No-one seemed to notice her.

"Hey, Hermione, wait! What happened?"

All four of them now stopped in their tracks, looking at Kaycee. Sean didn't seem to mind that he had another person to spill his guts to, so he quickly turned around and sat down beside her. The rest followed suit.

"We came across Draco Malfoy", Sean began, still worked up from whatever had happened. "He found it necessary to call Hermione a 'filthy little mudblood'. I was angry, but apparently, Ron was much angrier, because he took out his wand and tried to jinx Malfoy. But the spell backfired and now he's stuck with vomiting slugs until the spell wears off."

Kaycee looked at Ron sympathetically. The poor boy couldn't say anything. Every time he opened his mouth, a handful of slugs came out. She really pitied him, he was a nice boy who was only trying to protect her sister. Kaycee considered him as a friend, after all the stories her sister had told her about him and the few times that she had spent time with the group of friends.

Her eyes shifted towards Sean, and she put up a sad but determined smile, addressing both Ron and Sean.

"Guys, I know Hermione means a lot to both of you, but you should really calm down about these kind of things. There'll always be people like Malfoy who go through life like this. He was raised this way, he can't really be blamed for the way he thinks now."

This time, Ron said something. Or at least, he tried to.

"K-urghhhh Kaycee! Are you seriou-uuuuuurhhg defending that ferret now?! You th-think it's okay-uuuurggghhh to, to call people mudbloods? Seriousl-uuuurggghhh"

Kaycee shook her head.

"No, I'm not saying it's okay to call people mudbloods, I'm simply stating some facts here. Malfoy shouldn't have done what he did, but let's be honest: his dad doesn't seem like a warm and caring father either. I'm saying I'm not surprised by how Draco acts, if you see in what kind of family he grew up."

At this, Hermione's head shot up, surprised by her sister's words.

"You saw Draco's father? When? Where? And where was I when at that moment?"

Sean had to admit that he too was surprised. He began feeling slightly sick to his stomach. First, Hermione being called a mudblood, and now Kaycee apparently knowing Malfoy's father. Both girls meant the world to him, and the last thing he wanted was to see them hurt. He asked himself the same as Hermione had asked Kaycee: where had he been when Kaycee saw Draco's father?

Sean felt a twinge in his chest. He should've been there when she had seen that man.

But Kaycee was quick to reassure her friends.

"Don't worry, guys, nothing serious happened. You were all busy with professor Lockhart's book signing. I was just looking through the shop when he passed me. The opening between the stacks was quite small, so he grunted that I should move for him. I did, but he still brushed against me. He didn't apologize to me, but it doesn't really matter. I'm okay now, aren't I?"

"If you say so...But if you see him again, or anyone else who makes you uncomfortable for that matter, please make sure that I'm around, okay?"

"Don't worry, Sean. I can handle those purebloods. I appreciate the fact that you want to protect me, but you have nothing to worry about."

Kaycee was sitting there beside him with a smile on her face, convincing him that she was okay.

But the sinking feeling in Sean's stomach didn't go away.

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

Winter

About a month went by since the slug incident, and the temperature outside had dropped dramatically. Kaycee, however, had other things on her mind. It was approximately 5 in the afternoon, and she was walking with quick strides towards her destination: the ravenclaw tower, or more specifically: Sean Lew.

Originally, she'd intended to go to him to ask him about a specific chapter in her DADA book she didn't really understand, but now that she was walking, she didn't even remember her question anymore. Deep down, she knew she could've asked him when she saw him tomorrow, she just chose to go to him immediately.

While she was walking, her mind drifted towards Sean. She was sure he wouldn't mind her coming to him for her questions about her homework. In fact, she realised while a smile began forming on her lips, he didn't mind her asking him anything.

Maybe they could go to the abandoned classroom they always went to to dance together after he'd answered her questions.

She'd been so lost in thoughts, that she hadn't realised she already arrived at the ravenclaw common room.

And then it hit her: she didn't know how to enter. Moreover, she didn't know if she was allowed to enter altogether.

"Do you want to go in?"

An airy voice startled Kaycee out of her thoughts. Quickly, she looked in the direction the voice came from and saw a girl around her age, with long strawberry blond hair and a dreamy expression on her face. The Hufflepuf nodded, she hadn't found her ability to speak yet, still trying to recover from the shock of someone seemingly appearing out of nowhere.

"If it was my decision, I'd let you enter, you seem like a genuinely nice person. Unfortunately, only Ravenclaws are allowed to enter, and if I'm not mistaken, you're a huf-- wait a minute! You're Kaycee, aren't you? Sean Lew's friend? I saw him this morning, he was complaining about the fact that he couldn't just dance with you, instead of going to professor Snape's class. I guess you're here for him? I'll make an exception for you, and I'll show you how to enter, listen closely!"

The rambling girl smiled at her and began enthousiastically explaining to her how to enter. Kaycee couldn't contain her smile either.

"This eagle knocker asks a different riddle every day. If you answer the riddle correctly, you are allowed to enter. If not, you have to wait until someone solves it for you. It's as simple as that!"

Kaycee wanted to answer the girl, but the Eagle already cut her off:

What can travel around the world while staying in a corner?

Kaycee wracked her brain, trying to understand the riddle, but she didn't get it...someone behind a computer who talked to people around the world with the help of the internet? But a computer was a muggle object, surely the knocker wouldn't ask something like that, would it? She turned her head towards the other girl, who was watching her with a mild smile on her face. She wasn't laughing at Kaycee though, it was an encouraging kind of smile, and for that, she was the ravenclaw incredibly grateful.

"Can you help me please? I really don't know the answer...?"

The girl's smile became even brighter, and for some reason, she reminded Kaycee of herself. Her whole family always told her how her smile was her best characteristic, and it was the same with this girl.

"Of course! Anything for a friend! And the answer is a stamp."

The door opened, and the girl turned around to walk away, clearly just here to help the huffelpuf and not to enter herself."

"Wait- STOP!"

The blonde stopped in her tracks and shifted her attention towards Kaycee.

"I wanted to say thank you! And I don't know your name yet!"

"I'm Luna Lovegood. It was nice helping a new friend, Kaycee Rice. But now I really should get going. I promised the thestrals I'd visit them today. Bye!"

She didn't know who the thestrals were, come to think of it, she didn't even know if the thestrals were a group of who or what. But as she watched the quirky girl walk away, she realised that she was glad she made friends with someone like Luna. Someone who wouldn't only accept kaycee's weirdness, but also understand it.

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

"SEAN CHARLES LEW, YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW ANGRY I AM AT YOU RIGHT NOW!!"

Sean was sitting in the library. It was the 26th of decembre, and Hermione had been brought to the hospital wing after her 'makeover' yesterday. Sean felt guilty. Even though he hadn't really been responsible for Hermione's semi-transformation into a cat, he had been participating in their plan to get Harry and Ron into the Slytherin common room. His guilt made him come to the library, even though teachers didn't give them tests anymore. He wanted to find something to cure Hermione faster. The young ravenclaw knew madame Pomfrey was already doing everything in her power to make Hermione better as soon as possible, but trying to find a better cure seemed to ease the guilt just a tiny bit.

Hermione had been incredibly embarrassed yesterday, not even wanting to show him her face. She'd made them swear not to tell a soul about the incident, about how she looked, and the boys had all promised to keep their mouth shut.

But apparently, Kaycee had discovered her sister's condition.

And judging by the volume of her voice, Sean Lew was about to face her wrath.

In a library.

He tried to say something that'd stop her from making a scene in such a silent room, but no words came out of his mouth.

With blazing eyes, she hissed: "come outside. I need to talk to you. Right now."

And with that, she turned around and marched out of the library. Sean wasn't stupid. He didn't even think of dissobeying her. The scared boy immediately scooped up all the books that were scattered on the table, and followed her outside. As soon as both of his feet were outside of the library, she began her tirade once again.

"I am so incredibly dissapointed in you. I never thought you'd be so stupid. I thought you were nice, God, I thought we were friends, but apparently, I was wrong."

Sean's eyes widened. She didn't want to be his friend anymore? He knew she'd be angry with him when she'd discover what had happened with her sister, but breaking their friendship? Malfoy wasn't worth such a high price.

He didn't like the blonde Slytherin, much less trusted him, but if she wanted him to leave the ferret alone, he would.

For her.

"K-kaycee, I am so sorry...I know it was stupid of us to make that potion, but I swear I only joined because Malfoy had insulted Hermione. I mean, I don't want that to happen to her again, and I certainly don't want it to happen to you. I just wanted to protect the two of you. It was stupid of us, and I-I just hope you can forgive me. W-we're still....friends, right?"

Sean looked with his hopeful eyes in her angry ones. She didn't seem to be any calmer than before his speech.

It scared him tremendously.

"Don't you get it Sean? I'm not angry that you made that stupid potion or tried to enter that common room, I'm angry because you didn't tell me! If I'd be even a tiny bit important to you, you would've told me what you guys were doing all that time, but no, you leave me out of everything you do!! Why? Because I'm a year younger than you guys are? Seriously, I'm not a baby anymore, you can tell me things!!"

Kaycee sighed.

"Why do I even care? You clearly don't care about me. I'm not talking to you anymore."

She turned around, but Sean was quicker, terrified that she'd leave him alone.

He laid an arm on her shoulder, which made her stop in her tracks and turn around.

Sean felt his heart sink. He could handle an angry Kaycee, but the intensity her eyes held only moments ago was gone. Now, he only saw hurt and immense pain in those beautiful, big brown eyes.

It made his heart break.

"Please Kaycee, I'm sorry. Don't go. Talk to me."

But while he was looking into her eyes, he already knew her answer.

"We'll see about our friendship when Hermione gets out of the hospital. You really hurt me, Sean."

With that, she walked away again, and this time, he let her.

But it broke his heart all over again.

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

Spring

Sean Lew was absolutely desperate. Hermione had been in the hospital for weeks, and Kaycee had kept her word: she hadn't talked to him in 36 days and 14 hours.

And Sean was absolutely miserable without her.

It was still quite early in the morning, his roommates not bothering to get up anytime soon since it was a Sunday, but Sean had other plans. He'd visit Hermione today, just like the previous 37 days, but today, he'd also talk with his best friend about Kaycee. He needed Hermione's advice on this, he wanted to make it up to Kaycee, but had absolutely no idea how to begin with that.

Ignoring the cold that hit his body when he pulled te blanket off of him, he got out of his four poster bed and put some clothes on. After quickly brushing his teeth and putting on some shoes, he began walking towards the hospital wing.

His mind was filled with a million questions on his way there. How was Hermione doing? Would she be able to get out of the hospital wing soon? Would Kaycee talk to him after that, or still be stubborn? Would their friendship really end?

His mind was so busy with all those questions, that he almost walked right into the massive oak door of the hospital wing. Scolding himself for being so inobservant, he raised his hand to open the door, until a certain voice on the other side made him freeze.

"Come on, Kaycee. How long have you been avoiding him? Just admit to yourself that you are hurting because of this as well. It's pointless, Kayc. Why don't you just admit that you hate not being around him?"

Shit. Kaycee was visiting Hermione.

Some part of him wanted to get away from this situation as soon as possible, but another part of him was really curious about Kaycee's answer.

He stayed.

"I know, Hermione...I- I don't...He-"

Her voice clearly gave away her frustration.

"Can I tell you something really personal, Hermione?"

"Of course Kayc, I'm your sister, I'll always be there for you, and you know that."

"I never would've thought not talking to him would affect me so much. I thought it'd bother me a bit at first, but I'd get over it after a few days. But, really, I don't eat, I'm never hungry, and when I want to sleep, I constantly dream about him and wake up even more exhausted then when I went to bed...what do I do now, Hermione? I am getting desperate.."

Still wide-eyed from what Kaycee had told her sister, Sean tried to hear as much as he could from the conversation. He could hear a bit, but the thick wood of the door wasn't making it very easy.

Sean needed to hear more. He had missed her voice.

The 12 year old knew very well that it was a bad idea, but nonetheless, he opened the door only slightly, peeping through the crack he'd made.

He saw Hermione, who looked a lot healthier then she did a few weeks ago, sitting on her bed with her legs crossed. Then, his eyes shifted towards the other person in the room, and his breath hitched.

There she was, Kaycee Rice, long, curly hair hanging loosely around her shoulders, eyes big with worry, arms crossed over her body, as if to shield herself from the world.

"You solved your own problem, Kaycee, if you miss him so much, you have to talk to hi- Oh look who's there! Sean, come in! I think it's about time that you and my sister have a serious conversation!"

Shit. That didn't go as he'd planned.

Hesitantly, he made his way towards Hermione's hospital bed, looking at the ground, scared of making eyecontact with the 2 sisters.

"Hi, Sean"

It took only 2 words to change his mind. He looked up from the ground, and locked eyes with the girl he had missed more than anything he ever had in his entire life. Her eyes were big, and looked at him with more emotions swirling inside them than sean could count.

They didn't talk, didn't have to. The 2 of them just stared at eachother. They talked without words, their bond still strong enough to communicate by just looking at the other.

They understood effortlessly.

Sean saw the hurt in her eyes, but he also saw the hope. Hope, he realized, that they could fix whatever they'd broken a few weeks prior. Hope that their friendship would be as strong as before, if not stronger.

Hope that everything would finally be okay.

He prayed that she understood his eyes as well. That she understood how sorry he was, how much guilt he felt. How much he'd do to fix this.

And then suddenly, he saw something change in her eyes. It almost seemed like the last barrier, the last thing holding her back from forgiving him completely, crumbled.

And she did as well. Shaking, she put a few steps forward and fell into his arms, clinging to him. Her sobs made his sweater wet, and his teardrops landed on her hair.

They didn't care. All they felt was the other's presense, their warmth, the fact that the other was really there, was real.

They didn't know how long they stood there, just holding onto each other like their life depended on it. It could've been minutes, or hours, or days.

It didn't even matter.

"Ahem. I'm really happy that you guys, uh, talked, but if you don't want to get yelled at by madame Pomfrey, I'd make sure to get out of here. If she discovers I haven't had a chance to sleep in about 3 hours, she probably won't let me go tomorrow, and I don't want to lay in this bed a second longer than is necessary."

Sean had completely forgotten about Hermione, but something she'd said had caught his attention:

"You're allowed to leave tomorrow?"

Hermione gave him a bright smile and nodded.

"Yup. I can finally get back to class now!"

But that wasn't what Sean was concerned about. Sure, he was really happy for Hermione, she was his best friend after all, but he could only think about one thing: if Hermione was leaving the hospital tomorrow,  would Kaycee consider talking to him again?

He looked down at her, only to see that she was already looking up at him. She answered him verbally, knowing him well enough to understand what he was thinking.

"Of course I forgive you, Shamu. You still hurt me, but I talked with Hermione about it and I understand now that you didn't do it on purpose. So we'll continue our friendship from now on...if you still want to, that is..."

Her eyes grew worried towards the end of that sentence, and Sean didn't know if his heart was breaking or melting. He wanted to take away her doubts, worries, pain. And even though he really didn't know what he was feeling at this moment or what he was supposed to do in a situation like this, he just did what felt right.

He tightened his arms around her and gave her a light kiss on her forehead.

"Of course I still want to be friends with you, Ricebowl. I wouldn't want to trade our friendship for anything in this world."

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

"Why are you packing your stuff already? We've only been in here for 2 hours!"

Kaycee was in the library with her sister. While her time in the library had been very productive - Hermione had made sure she was actually studying and not zoning out - she really wanted to get out of there and actually have some fun.

"Sean's almost coming. We agreed to watch the quidditch match between Hufflepuf and Gryffindor toge-"

"You ready Kayc?"

Both sisters turned their head and saw Sean. He had a bright smile on his face, clearly excited for the quidditch match, although Hermione secretly assumed it had something to do with the fact that he'd go somewhere with Kaycee.

Kaycee nodded her head, equally as excited, and stood up from her chair, ready to walk out of the library.

"Slow down guys, not so fast...Sean, where's the time you cheered for Gryffindor?"

Sean looked sheepishly at his best friend. He didn't really know what to say to that. Was she really that upset about him cheering for Hufflepuff? She didn't even like quidditch, or did she?

He didn't have to worry though, because Hermione giggled, and quickly reassured him that she was just making fun of him.

"I'm only kidding Sean, of course I'm not upset. Go have fun, I'll stay here and study a bit more. Maybe I'll come as well when I'm done here. But just so you know it, I'll cheer for my own house."

Sean and Kaycee both got a big smile on their face, glad that Hermione wasn't upset. They both knew very well that an angry Hermione was not so easy to deal with. And for some reason, it was so much more fun to do things when you knew your best friend or sister supported you.

So they waved goodbye to the Gryffindor, and off they went.

The walk to the quidditch pitch was filled with laughter. Kaycee realised that she really couldn't help but feel good whenever she was around Sean. He made her smile, made her a happier person, a better one.

Soon, the game began, and Kaycee couldn't have asked for a better afternoon. They both weren't that fierce about quidditch, but that wasn't really a problem. Whenever there wasn't a lot of action during the match, they'd both come up with crazy dancemoves they could try on a broom. Maybe they could even try a whole broom choreo in the future...

Time seemed to fly, and before they knew, the game had ended. The sun already began to set, and Sean and Kaycee decided it was time to go inside. The 2 students began walking towards the castle, and Sean grabbed her hand so they wouldn't lose each other in the mass of people. As soon as his fingers closed themselves around her palm, her palm heated up and weird sparks seemed to come off of it, but Kaycee shrugged it off, not really knowing what the feeling meant. Little did she know that these kind of things were something she would worry about a lot, a few years from now...

Even if she wanted to at 11, she didn't get the time to overthink those sparks, because professor McGonagall was standing in the middle of the still buzzing crowd, and she was coming their way.

Kaycee had an uneasy feeling that the grim expression on her face had nothing to do with the fact that the rest of the quidditch season had just been cancelled.

"Mr Lew, miss Granger, please come with me. I need to show you something very important."

She didn't say anything else, she just turned around and began making her way through the crowd.

Sean and Kaycee shared a worried glance. What was going on? What did professor McGonagall want to show them when they both weren't even in her house?

They entered the castle. Kaycee and Sean followed the professor blindly, staircase up, staircase off...until they arrived in the hospital wing.

Kaycee felt like an ice cold hand got a grip on her heart. All previous sparks Sean's hand had given her were gone, and they were replaced by shivers that went up her spine.

If professor McGonagall wanted both Sean and her to come with her to the hospital wing, it could only mean one thing: There was something going on with Hermione.

Nothing could've prepared Kaycee for what she saw when the curtains to Hermione's bed were opened.

There her sister laid, completely stiff, eyes wide open in terror, with a mirror laying in her still raised hand.

The cold fist around her heart tightened its grip, and she felt like she couldn't breathe.

Her sister had been petrified.

She heard Sean's sharp intake of breath beside her only slightly, much less registering his hand around her shoulder, trying to comfort her, or the soothing words he tried to reassure her with. The only thing Kaycee's mind could register at the moment was the rigid form of the sister she was closest to.

"Breathe, Kayc, you need to breathe. Come on, let's sit down, I don't want you to pass out."

Sean led her to the two seat beside the bed, gently made her sit down and then sat down beside her himself.

"Now I know that you're scared Kaycee, but everything will be fine. Hermione's really strong, and we both know that. She won't give up so easily. Besides, there's a cure for this, professor McGonagall just said it, but I don't think you were really listening...it doesn't matter, I listened for the 2 of us. Anyway, this might look really scary, but it'll be okay, I promise. Don't be scared, I'm with you. Just please breathe."

Kaycee forced her eyes to look away from Hermione, and took a glance at Sean. She didn't know what she did to deserve him. They'd known each other for what? 11 months? And she was already attached to him like her life depended on it. He was the only one who could calm het down, the only one who could make her breathe.

"But Sean, aren't you scared? Your best friend is in hospital. You shouldn't have to worry about me.."

She wanted to look away, being ashamed all of a sudden, but Sean was having none of it.

"Nonsense Kaycee. Here's the thing: I am worried about Hermione, I really am, but I can't do anything to make her better right now. I can, however, let you calm down. You both mean a lot to me, and if I can't help one of you, I can at least make sure that the other one is safe and well."

The hand around her heart loosened its grip just a little bit, and while she was still worried sick, the panic wasn't paralyzing her anymore.

Kaycee knew full well that this situation was nowhere near good, but Sean's comforting hand and soothing words were registering now, and they made the world at least a little bit better.

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

Summer

Sean Lew felt like the past few hours of his life were a movie he had been sucked into.

It had all begun a few hours ago, when he was walking under the first few warm sunrays of this year, trying to clear his head. He was just strolling around the lake, when Harry and Ron came towards him, all the while calling his name.

They had told him that they figured out where the chamber of secrets was.

He'd raised his eyebrows at first, not really believing them, they had been searching for a whole year after all, but when the two Gryffindors explained it to him - Hagrid and his spiders, the girl who was killed in the bathroom and Hermione's clue about the basilisk- it suddenly made sense.

The 3 of them had made their way back to the castle, forced professor Lockhart to take them to moaning Myrtle's bathroom and upon arriving there, had had a hurried conversation with the latter.

After that, Harry had opened the chamber by speaking parseltongue, and they'd all crawled through the opening. They knew they didn't have much time left. The writing on the wall, "her skeleton will lie in the chamber forever", was still engraved in all of their minds.

But then, Lockhart had begun being a thorn in the flesh, threatening to wipe their memories, and Sean had been scared that their plan to save 'her' from the chamber would've been in vain. Fortunately, Lockhart's spell had backfired and Ron had proposed to stay behind, which permitted him and Harry to continue their way through the previously hidden dungeons.

They came across a set of doors, and Harry had to use his ability to speak parseltongue a second time that day.

They went through the door, and arrived in the chamber of secrets.

On the other end of the chamber was a gigantic statue of Salazar Slytherin, and right in front of that laid a seemingly lifeless body.

Kaycee Rice's body.

This whole time, Sean had felt as if he was in some kind of movie, everything had happened in a blur, but now, standing there in that gigantic chamber, looking at the laying form of the girl, he felt as if an ice cold bucket of water had been thrown over his head.

That girl there was kaycee, not some random person, but the girl he had fun with, trusted, subconciously already loved.

He didn't hesitate, didn't think about the consequences of running through a room that had been locked for over 50 years. He just did it.

When he was close enough to her for his liking, he let himself fall on knees. His hands automatically went to her shoulders, gently trying to shake her awake. "Kaycee, please, wake up, we've got to get out of here."

"Oh believe me, she won't wake up."

Sean quickly turned around. In front of him stood a pale boy, black hair, Dark eyes, emotionless expression on his face. Whoever this boy was, Sean immediately took a dislike to him.

But Harry apparently didn't.

"Tom! Please help us! We've got to get out of here with Kaycee, please!!"

As Harry came closer to him and the pale boy, realisation dawned upon Sean.

This was the mysterious Tom Riddle, owner of the diary Harry had told him all about.

Tom didn't seem that affected by Harry's entreaties, he merely scoffed.

"How could you have survived Voldemort's attack on you as a baby?"

And suddenly, all pieces clicked together in Sean's head. He understood. In a fright, he looked over at Harry, only to see his friend with a confused expression on his face.

Sean knew he couldn't start yelling, he couldn't do anything now to warn Harry that he was talking to you know who. He just had to keep calm and try to get harry and Kaycee out of here before Tom Riddle could cause even more harm.

A cold, vicious laugh echoed through the chamber, and made Sean wake up from his previous thoughts.

"You don't get it, do you? Okay, let me help you, Harry"

The pale boy took out his wand and began writing something in the air with red, glowing letters.

TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE

I AM LORD VOLDEMORT

Sean saw Harry's eyes widen, his head turning to him, looking at him with eyes full of terror. Sean tried to give Harry a look of reassurance, to tell him to stay calm non-verbally, but it just didn't work. As much as he loved Harry, they simply didn't have the same connection as he and Kaycee had.

There wasn't much time to communicate, however, because Tom Riddle began speaking again:

"You think I kept my filthy muggle father's name? No, I gave myself a new name, a name I knew people would fear once I became the greatest sorcerer of all time! "

It was at that moment that Sean's blood seriously began to boil. Not one muggle, or muggleborn for that matter, should be called filthy. Being a pureblood didn't make you a great wizard, muggleborns were just as good. And the fact that he had the nerve to call himself the greatest sorcerer of all time made Sean just forget his previous plan to keep his mouth shut.

"Albus Dumbledore is the greatest sorcerer of all time!"

Slowly, Tom Riddle tore his eyes away from Harry, and focused on the young Ravenclaw instead.

"And what gives you the right to talk to me? I don't think I've ever seen someone who looks like you in a book about pureblood families, which means that you're either a mudblood or a halfblood, and that means that I won't spend my precious time talking to you. Just go lay with your mudblood girlfriend or something."

Sean didn't think he had ever been this angry. He wanted to run to Tom, swing his fist in his face, spit at him, strangle him, but Harry took a hold of his arm before he had a chance to do anything. Tom Riddle, however, didn't pay much attention to the younger boy's sudden outburst. Instead, he simply turned his back towards them, and began speaking.

In parseltongue.

Harry turned, once again, to Sean, eyes even wider than a minute ago, if that was even possible, and this time, their communication went flawless.

Run.

But Sean didn't want to.

Harry seemed to have forgotten the curly-haired girl in all his fright, but Sean definitely hadn't. He had to keep her away from harm, at all cost.

And it wasn't even that he wasn't scared, 'cause he definitely was. He was terrified, frightened, panic-stricken, you name it, Sean felt it.

But loosing Kaycee would hurt so much more.

They should've known that there would follow something much worse than just the sissing sound of parseltongue, should've known that those kind of Dark things always led to other Dark things, but they weren't prepared for what came closer to them as a response on the parseltongue.

Out of nowhere came Salazar Slytherin's basilisk.

And the creature was ready to attack them.

Instinctively, Sean shuffled closer to Kaycee, trying to protect her. He was looking for something to defend himself with, but when he looked up, he saw that he shouldn't be scared for his own life.

He should be scared for Harry's.

The basilisk seemed to ignore him and Kaycee completely, diving to Harry as if he was the only one in the room.

"HARRY! COVER YOU EYES!!!"

His friend didn't turn around, but followed Sean's advice, thankfully.

Harry was blindly running now, seemingly not really caring where he was going, as long as it was out of the basilisk's eyesight. Just as Sean began to think about a plan to help the Gryffindor, he heard a long hoot.

He looked up. There, high up in the chamber, was Fawkes the Phoenix, with in his beak, the sorting hat.

Sean watched while the beautiful bird flew a few circles in the air, and then descended, letting the sorting hat fall near Harry's feet. He saw Harry looking at him from where he stood, a questional look in his eyes. Even though this wasn't the perfect moment to roll your eyes, Sean couldn't help it. Sometimes, when Hermione wasn't with them, Harry seemed to believe that Sean knew everything, just because he was a ravenclaw.

"I don't know! Pick it up! Maybe something's in there!"

Harry seemed to understand him, because he was already reaching for the hat, when an aggresive sounding hoot came from Fawkes. Harry, knowing that he couldn't look up if he didn't want to die, screamed at Sean:

"What's going on up there? You can look for me, he doesn't seem to notice you!"

Agreeing with the Gryffindor, Sean looked up, only to see the Phoenix dug his claws in what seemed to be the creature's eyes, or at least near them. He couldn't look directly in the basilisk's eyes, of course, but since the creature's back was turned to him, he didn't have to cover his eyes, which meant that he had a fairly good view on what was happening.

He was fascinated by the way Fawkes seemed to be absolutely livid. What made him come here? Maybe professor Dumbledore had sent h-

"SEAN! THERE'S A FREAKING SWORD IN THE HAT!"

Sean's eyes flew towards his friend, surprise probably quite noticeable in them. He figured that it wouldn't be a coincidence that Fawkes had taken the hat with him, but a sword? That was probably the best thing he  could've brought. He made a mental note to ask professor Dumbledore about all this later, when they came out of this chamber.

If they ever came out of it.

Trying to push down the anxiety that treatened to overtake him, he screamed back at Harry:

"GO ON! DEFEND YOURSELF! I'LL TRY TO GET KAYCEE OUT OF HERE!"

He saw his friend nodding, before taking the sword out of the hat and running towards the basilisk. Sean had to admire his bravery.

Quickly, he did as he had promised. He turned around to face the girl, ignored the pang in his chest when he noticed that she didn't look any healthier than she did a few minutes ago, and scooped her up, letting her rest on his shoulder. His arms were tightly wrapped around her legs, terrified he'd let her fall.

He stood up carefully, and began shuffling towards the other side of the room, crossing the distance he had run towards her once again. He made sure to stay close to the wall of the chamber, trying to be as unnoticeable as possible.

From the corner of his eyes, he saw Harry, mainly trying to dodge the basilisk's strikes.

The third time the creature tried to hit Harry, however, Sean saw something change in his friend's posture. Harry seemed more confident, more prepared. Sean stopped in his tracks, it felt like he forgot how to move his feet.

Something was going to happen.

He was right. Something did happen. It all happened so fast, Sean couldn't really follow anymore. He saw the basilisk move, saw Harry move, and the next thing he knew, the sword of Gryffindor was pierced into the basilisk's beak, while Harry was laying on the ground.

And to top all that, Tom Riddle seemed to appear next to Harry out of nowhere.

"You'll be reunited with your mudblood mother soon, Harry."

Something about Tom's voice seemed to trigger something inside of Sean, something outrageous, violent, dangerous.

He knew he had to help Harry. He would do the same for him.

Even though he was livid, he found enough gentleness to lay Kaycee down on the floor slowly, careful not to let any parts of her body fall harshly.

Then, he rushed to the middle of the room, where Harry and Tom Riddle were.

Only when he came closer did he see the reason why Harry was laying down: a large fang pierced his skin.

Tom Riddle didn't do anything to stop the boy from coming closer to his friend, probably thinking that a 12 year old without magical parents couldn't be a threat.

Well, Sean would learn him not to underestimate 'mudbloods'.

"This is going to hurt a bit, sorry Harry", Sean said, while walking straight up to the two, not even acknowledging Tom, and therefore not giving him any time to react to Sean's sudden move.

Before Riddle or Harry could comprehend what was happening, Sean had crouched down, gripped the fang, and ripped it out of Harry's arm.

The poor boy gripped his arm, rolling up into a ball, grunting in pain.

Originally, Sean had only planned on getting the fang out of Harry's arm and finding a way to get out of here before Riddle could get to them, but now that he stood there, he noticed the diary, laying on the floor.

And suddenly, everything became crystal clear.

He gripped the fang with both hands, took a deep breath, and burried the fang in the diary.

The boys were shook to their core when Riddle let out an absolutely terrifying scream. They both looked at the young form of you-know-who, who seemed to get burned from the inside out by a bright light. First, only his chest lit up, but after a while, his whole body was glowing, until he exploded into into more than a thousand little sparks.

Sean let out a breath he didn't know he was holding in.

Tom Riddle was gone.

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

Sean found himself sitting on the side of a hospital bed for the umpteenth time that year. Only this time, it wasn't Hermione laying in it, but Kaycee. Sean thought back to what had happened a few hours ago. He felt a shiver run up his spine and shuffled closer to the curly haired girl, still needing to convince himself that she was here, alive.

When they had come out of the chamber a few hours ago, Madame Pomfrey had immediately taken Kaycee with her. Sean had followed, begging the nurse to tell him in how bad of a state Kaycee was. After inspecting her for a few minutes, she had turned around to the boy and had given him a smile. She had told him that Kaycee would be fine, as long as she would rest enough. Sean had thanked Madame Pomfrey and had quickly rushed to the bedside, taking a hold of Kaycee's soft, but cold, hand.

And that's where he still was, a few hours later.

There was one thing he'd learned from this whole adventure, he decided. He and Kaycee had a special connection. He didn't know what it was, or where it came from, but it was definitely there. He'd felt it for the first time when the basilisk came out of it's hiding place. The first thing that had flashed through his mind, was that he had to keep her safe. He didn't know why, but he seemed to want to be close to her, whether that was to protect her or something else he didn't understand either. She was definitely something special.

After quickly looking around to check that the curtains surrounding her bed were closed, he acted on that instinct, shuffling closer to her and, after a moment of slight hesitation, gently lifting her head and placing it in his lap, so he could run his hands through her soft curls.

He didn't know what the future would be like for them, didn't know where they would be 10 days from now, let alone ten years.

But all that wasn't important at the moment. Right now, she was in his arms, safe and well.

And that was all that mattered.

[0kayblue]

A Peace Offering

Summary: You’ve graduated from Hawkins High and summer has officially begun, bringing new beginnings with it. You’re focused on turning over a new leaf and becoming an actual adult, putting your Queen of Hawkins High title behind you.

So far it’s turned out in your favor. You’ve got a job, your parents almost off your back about college, and a best friend who works for the ice cream shop up stairs.

Adulthood is proving itself to be pretty fruitful, but one day when you go to visit your best friend, Robin, you cross paths with the former King of Hawkins High, Steve Harrington. You and Steve were most definitely not strangers but you wished you were as memories flood both yours and Steve’s minds

Word count: 10k

Notes: Anything written in italics is a memory. It is either a memory from you, Robin, or Steve. I understand how that can be pretty straight forward as you read, but the groundwork for this piece is the memories.

Character Relations: Robin x reader (best friend), Steve x reader (romantic interest), Billy x reader (close acquaintance)  

A/N: Hi! This isn’t the first imagine I’ve ever written, but it is the first Stranger Things centered one. It’s also one of the first imagines I’ve ever even posted. I really enjoyed writing this and I also feel a little accomplished, lol. There might be a part two? I haven’t decided if I really want to dive deeply into this or not yet. Anyway, if you read thank you so much! Critiques and comments are welcomed with open arms!

WARNINGS: Cursing, lots of cursing. Fluff? Angst? A mix of emotions.

                                                    ……………

As you flashed an obviously fake smile at the dusty blonde man who “complimented” you on your ruby red lipstick, you felt the urge to jump across the table and strangle him.

“Well, I thank you. It’s a new shade I’ve decided to try out. Now, is that all I can grab for ya?” You said with a tone too sweet to indicate how venomous it actually was. The fake twang seemed to echo in your head and you wondered how anyone with a natural accent could handle the sound of their own voice.

“Ah, no thank you dear. I’m afraid that’ll be it.” He smirked and you simply nodded as you turned and walked up to the diner window. Your cheery facade fading as you glared at the cook behind the open order window.

Sal, the cook, chuckled as he analyzed how upset you were starting to get. You weren’t a stranger to the irritation you felt every time you stepped foot in this damn diner.

You clipped the order onto one of clothespins and let out a deep sigh as you rested your head on the cool smooth steel counter. Sal just smiled as he threw a hamburger patty on the grill. You looked up at him and he just continued to chuckle.

“Y’know I think you should drop that fake twang, you might be less miserable.” Sal was a bigger built man, he reminded you of your father, just bald.

“I might be less miserable if I didn’t have to wear scratchy outdated themed clothes that do nothing but irritate the irritable.” You huffed out laying your head flat on the counter.

“Mhm.” He just groaned out. “Only way you are getting rid of that poodle skirt is if you quit.” You groaned in defeat knowing quitting was not an option.

“Then it’s empty pockets.” You said as you stood up straight, the snickering of table five being overheard. “Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.”

“I’m serious, kid. I don’t know why you are here. You should be enjoying your summer and going to college in the fall. You’re smart enough for it.” You rolled your eyes.

College seemed to be the only thing that people wanted out of you. A nice college education and maybe you could make something out of yourself. You couldn’t help but scoff and give Sal a look of distaste.

“I’ve been over this with you. And my parents. And my grandparents. And basically everyone. I don’t want to go, at least not yet. I want the experience of working first.” This wasn’t an exact lie per say, it was more of a beefed up truth. You didn’t want to go back into the school system mainly because it just made you feel like shit, and you believed knowing all sides is better than just one. So an honest job was not only a way to get experience and out of college pressure, but to also to hold onto to this fleeting feeling of youth.

“Besides, this is also to fund potential college endeavors.” You smiled as he placed two plated burgers on the counter in front of you.

“Yeah, right. You better take this to table five so you can take your break.” You rolled your eyes as you picked up the plates and walked over to table five with a painful fake smile.

“One double cheeseburger with fries and a single hamburger with extra ketchup and fries.” You sat the plates in front of the correct recipients of their order. “Is there anything else I can get ya? Refills, maybe a milkshake?”

“A strawberry milkshake, but only if we can share, doll face.” You looked at the black haired man as the blonde across from him stifled a laugh. You bit your inner lip taking a deep breath and tried not to break your smile.

“So you won’t be needing anything else. Wonderful.” You reached into your apron pocket and pulled out your order book. You ripped out their order and lightly slammed it on there table. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to check you out due to the fact that my break is about to start, so just take your receipt up to the register and Sal will check ya out.”

The black haired man sent a glare but quickly recomposed himself with a smirk. “No problem, doll. A milkshake tomorrow, then?” You unwillingly bit your tongue and just smiled.

“We’ll see.” You said and turned. You tried to not stomp as you walked back and pushed open the kitchen door, but it didn’t work. You could hear them laughing as you yanked your punch card off the wall.

“Don’t let them get ya.” Sal said as you went ahead and punched your time card into the machine signaling you were officially off the clock. You yanked off your apron and threw it on the clean counter by the freezer.

“Yeah, uh huh, I’m headed to Scoops. You want me to bring you back anything?” You said as you took your hair out of that headache inducing high ponytail. As you fluffed your hair out you took a deep breath and exhaled, clearly exhausted from working the morning and afternoon shifts.

“No thank you. Watching my figure.” You chuckled as you walked past him patting him on the back.

“Suit yourself.” You said as you walked out into the nearly dead mall. You figured the heat index was keeping everyone either inside or at the pool, but you honestly didn’t expect the mall to look this empty. It was weird to only have to walk past people and not forcefully push your way past.

Starcourt was Hawkins newest addition and it’s busiest. Which was sort of sad as you saw local businesses close one by one. You overheard of a scheduled protest to take place on the lawn of City Hall, but other than that, nothing was really being done to help savage Hawkin’s local flare. You weren't doing much to help it either, I mean hell, you worked for Starcourt. There wasn’t anything you could really do, you tried to get a job down main street, but alas no one would hire you. Mainly because they couldn’t afford to pay you for any work you might actually stumble upon.

So, naturally, you ended up working in Prime Time 50s Diner on the first floor right across from Hot Dog On A Stick. Which was just as depressing as it sounded. Hot Dog On A Stick was busier than the diner nine times out of ten and you legitimately thought about moving across the way just for something more to do.

As you stepped on the escalator you spotted the bright flashing bulbs of the big Scoops Ahoy sign. You enjoyed ice cream and even though you had ice cream at your job you couldn’t resist the getaway from the smell of greasy cheeseburgers and the constant repeat of the same old songs. You walked your way into Scoops Ahoy glancing at the few people eating ice cream inside. No employee in sight as you approached the front counter. You smirked and began to ring the front bell in front of the register rather obnoxiously. You loved this stupid little bell it was a great way to get under Robin’s skin. You stopped ringing the bell and just stood there for a split second and rang it one more time. You snickered and headed over to look at the ice cream flavors they had today. Contemplating on trying something new or not, you wouldn’t, but it was always nice to look.

Your ears perked up as you heard shuffling to the door, a thud, and then a sliding window open.

“Ahoy!” Robin said with a tone of annoyance in her voice. Her face sarcastically fell realizing it was just you and you smiled. A slight smirk found her face when you giggled at her.

“Ahoy there!” You said as you lazily gave her a two finger salute. You both let out a laugh and she walked around and met you on the other side of the counter.

“What are you up to?” She asked and you just shrugged.

“Same old, same old.” You smirked as you saw Robin grab your favorite flavor. “You know I could’ve changed my mind, I could’ve wanted the U.S.S. Butterscotch.”

“As if.” Robin said as she rolled her eyes. You always knew of Robin, you, of course, went to high school together and knew each other through passing. But you never were friends. You simply just knew of each other and that was that, until one day during your lunch break you guys started talking.

The food court was packed and almost every seat was filled, except for two right across from each other. You sat on one side and Robin sat across from you on the other side. You started friendly conversation not expecting much of anything to come from it.

“So, you work at the 50s place?” She asked trying to keep her gaze towards you limited. You wondered what she actually thought of you. You hoped that you never did anything to offend or hurt her in high school because she was proving to be pretty cool and not just the band geek you originally thought.

“Yeah.” You said with a friendly smile, wondering how much she remembered of you from high school.

You were the Queen of Hawkins and the ruthless truth rang down the halls as you called people out on their bullshit. If they started something you would sure as hell would end it. Not in any physically violent way, but words do cut like knives.

You understood that, but you couldn’t stop yourself once the thought entered your brain. People liked seeing you be a bitch, so you were a bitch. For six hours a day five days a week, you were Queen of Hawkins High, the Bitch of Indy, not (Y/N).

“You should stop by, it’ll be on me.” You smiled honestly wanting to give Robin a chance. You were tired of being lonely and pretending. You wanted a friend, an actual friend, something you haven’t had in a long time. It was time to be an adult.

Robin’s head shot up as her eyes meet with yours. There was some sort of gleam in her eyes, like she was finally able to hang out with the popular girl. Your eyes met hers with a shared excitement.

Now, this was something new and you planned to just let the walls you built crumble a bit and you were genuinely excited. High school was over and you could be who you wanted to be, who you should have been.

“Maybe tomorrow, lunch?” You questioned and she nodded. You stood up and apologized due to the fact your break was over. “Great. I have to get going. I’ll see you then.”

“See you then.” Robin said with a smirk as she returned to her Chinese food.

The next day she met you for lunch and you gave being open a chance. You didn’t expect Robin to stay after that, but she did. She put up with your stubbornness and your tendencies to shut down, and actually stuck around and helped you out of that hole you were stuck in for so long.

You told each other everything and you both knew everything about each other. Even Robin’s biggest secret which was actually pretty funny because you thought she was dying when she very mysteriously “had something she needed to tell you before your friendship could continue”.

“Seriously? That’s it?” You questioned.

“Yeah.” She said shakily and she was so nervous. “I’m a lesbian and I understand if that’s a problem and you don’t want to be friends-.”

“Robin.” You cut her off abruptly. “I thought you were dying. Dying. You being gay doesn’t matter to me. As long as you are happy I will always support you. You are my best friend and I have no idea where I’d be without you.” You pulled her into a hug, holding back tears. Robin let a few slip, but would never admit it. As you parted you put your hands on her shoulders.

“Movie night?” You asked smiling.

“Movie night.” She affirmed.

“What are you up to tonight?” You asked her.

“Not much of anything. Movie night?” She asked as she handed you ice cream and as you took it you nodded. You shoved money into the tip jar knowing that she wouldn’t take it. She rolled her eyes and you heard another thud from the back. You raised an eyebrow and tried to glance around her. She quickly fidgeted so you couldn’t take a peak, not that you’d be able to see into the break room that was down the hall.

“What is going on back there? Did they finally hire some help?”

“Just some shelf assembly.” Robin said and you raised an eyebrow quizzically. What type of shelf was being put together? What idiot was assembling it? “But, yeah they finally hired help. What movies are you thinking of for tonight? I was thinking maybe a classic or something along those lines.” She tried to gently ease the conversation away from the noise that came from the back. You just shrugged.

“Anything works tonight.” You said taking a lick from the ice cream cone as you studied Robin. She’s hiding something and it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out Robin knew something you didn’t. “Who is your new co-worker? It isn’t Tommy is it?” You stifled a laugh picturing Tommy in the sailor uniform. You leaned against the counter continuing to eat your ice cream.

“Ah ha, no. So, about this movie how do you feel about Dargonslayer, I heard-.”

“So you are avoiding the co-worker conversation.” You cut her off and grinned. “Do I know them? Is it Tammy? C’mon just tell me-.” You went to finish but was cut off by the loudest thud thus far.

All conversation stopped in Scoops Ahoy as you and Robin made desperate eye contact before you both ran into the back. As you both took a sharp turn into the break room your eyes locked with the complete and utter idiot who was laying underneath the poorly constructed steel shelf.

“Harrington?” You spat, your actions not correlating with your wicked tone as you went to pull the shelf back onto its four legs.

“(Y/L/N)?” He questioned his eyes not leaving you as he pushed the shelf off of him as you pulled it up. The shelf wasn’t completed therefore it wasn’t that heavy but it was in fact tall. When you had it back and up straight you crossed your arms as Robin gave Steve a helping hand up.

You crossed your arms and glared at him.

“What are you doing here?” He asked as he dusted himself off. Robin chewed the inside of her cheek knowing it was only a matter of time before you and Steve crossed paths.

“Why are you failing to assemble a simple shelf?” You questioned and he mocked you. You could cut the tension in the room it was so thick.

“Ha, well I think it’s time for you to scurry out of here. Besides you aren’t supposed to back here anyways..” Robin said with a clap trying to relive some of that bottled up tension, being no stranger to the rocky relationship you and Steve had.

“Yeah, Scoops Ahoy employees only.” Steve said as he went back to the shelf and its instructions. Steve wanted to continue to look at you, but knew it was best to turn away.

“Right.” You said not wanting to hang around anyway.

“Right.” He said as he picked up a screw driver.

“I’ll see you tonight, Robin. 7 as usual.” You said as you left. You took a lick of your ice cream cone and shuttered. It no longer tasted as sweet nor as refreshing as it usually did. You couldn’t believe that Steve Harrington was the newest Scoops Ahoy employee. Throwing the ice cream in the trash you left Scoops Ahoy with mixed emotions.

Robin went to call after you but decided to let it go. She glared at Steve and Steve just looked back at her somewhat confused.

“What did I do? Are you guys friends?” Steve asked as he put the last screw into the shelf to make it sturdy. He was clearly disgruntled, something Robin hasn’t really seen on Steve. He was just fine not too long ago, going on about how Dustin was to be coming back from camp soon.

“What is with you two? You guys have been bickering back and forth, since, well the whole King and Queen thing started.” Robin said as she began to help Steve by putting boxes of plastic utensils on the newly constructed shelf. You never told Robin the real reason you and Steve were at each other's throat, she asked one time, but didn’t get anywhere.

“Some people just don’t get along.” Steve grunted, a hint of sadness lingering. It was out of character, well as far as Robin was concerned, to see Steve get so upset so fast. Not to mention stay upset about something.

“Something has to have happened. I believe you guys were fairly close in middle school.” Robin said and Steve just sighed.

“Harrington!” You yelled from the end of the middle school hallway as kids tried to rush past you and out the school.

“(Y/L/N)!” Steve yelled back as he shut his locker and lightly jogged down to the end of the hall to meet you. As he met you with a smile you both walked out of the school and continued on the way down to the end of the street. You and Steve both walked home and went in the same general direction, so it just made sense to Steve for you both to just walk together. Thus, a friendship was born.

“Did you see Mrs. Karly today? What was the deal with those glasses? They made her look like an owl.” He said and you both laughed picturing the big bright orange circular glasses on Mr. Karly’s thin and brittle face.

“Well it was nothing compared to Carol’s new braces.” You chuckled smiling at Steve as both your laughter died down.

Once you guys where further away from the school you sighed and your head fell. Steve could sense that something wasn’t quite right with you and he playfully pushed your shoulder.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” He asked as he could feel a type of fear grow in his stomach.

“It’s nothing really. I think I’m just worrying for no reason…Maybe?” You questioned facing him.

“Spill the beans, (Y/N).” He said and you just sighed.

“Do you think we will still be friends, Steve. In high school? I mean we only have one more semester of middle school, one, and then a new cycle of everything begins.” You let the words fall from your mouth as you tugged on your back pack straps.

Steve looked at you baffled wondering why you would think he’d leave you. Steve really liked you, really liked you. You were funny, and honest, and not to mention very pretty. What would bring him to not have you around him in the slightest had to end.

“Of course we will.” He said in a stern tone unsure of how to exactly convince you he didn’t want to be anywhere you weren't. You laughed and the way he looked at you with such seriousness made your checks warm.

“Yeah, of course, we will.” You said with a smile as you looked at Steve. He coughed and looked away as a hand found the back of his neck, his body temperature rising causing him to flush red. You laughed and punched him in the shoulder and you both just died of laughter.

When you both parted ways that night to your proper houses, you both had a lot to think about.

“Just forget about it.” Steve said, clearly cranky and an out of place redness to his face. “She’s your friend, why don’t you ask her.”

“After how upset you just made her, with only saying, what, eleven words in total to her. I’m clearly afraid to ask her anything.” Robin and Steve finished putting the multiple boxes from the floor onto the shelves. “So,  go on, what exactly happened? High school is over, right?” Steve rolled his eyes and pulled out a chair from the break room table and sat down. Steve hasn’t really talked about you since his last rant about you to Nancy Wheeler.

“I just don’t understand! It’s like she’s lost her goddamn mind! What is she thinking getting between Carol and Tommy like that?” Steve exclaimed to Nancy. Nancy was listening to Steve, but her mind was also going elsewhere with thoughts of Barb’s parents and how her and Steve had to cancel dinner, yet again.  “She’s not stupid, Nance. She has to know that Carol isn’t taking this lightly.” Steve said with frustration as he ran his hand through his hair. Nancy just nodded making a noise of affirmation.

Steve was trying to focus on the road and wrap his head around your actions and why all of a sudden you chose to mess around with Tommy. Tommy, of all people, Tommy. Really? It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and his blood boil at just the thought of Tommy.

He was a giant prick! If anyone knew that, you did! You constantly reprimanded Tommy. He couldn’t believe it when he first overheard some people in the hallway gossiping about it. You hated Tommy, you have since fifth grade. Tommy! Who’s next, that new guy, Billy? Steve’s hand moved from his hair as he put it out of the car window. Steve grunted as subconsciously his foot put more weight on the gas.

Why are you fucking around and acting like a child? Is it because he hasn’t apologized for what he said at that party junior year? Is it because you needed some type of drama? What ever happened to Michael McEvers? Were you just lonely and would just take anyone? What was he chopped liver?!

“Steve!” Nancy shouted and Steve brought his full attention back to the road and the stop sign fast approaching. Steve’s foot slammed on the break as he watched the blue Camaro race past their four way stop. Steve and Nancy both caught their breath and looked at each other. Steve took a deep breath and just slammed his hands against the steering wheel. Nancy, finally pulled out of her own thoughts  of guilt began to comfort Steve as he laid his head against the steering wheel and sighed.

Somehow, he managed to make it through a lecture from his father this morning, starting yet another college application, a rough basketball practice with Billy joining the team, and a deep conversation with Nancy that nearly avoided a break up. And this, this was just the icing on the cake. Steve’s eyes started to water.

“Steve, honey, it’s okay.” Nancy’s brows furrowed as she cooed and rubbed Steve’s back.

“She just-. I just-.” Steve began but kept getting cut off by his own sobs. “I should’ve stuck around. I shouldn’t have blown her off. I kept meaning to call. I keep meaning to show up at her door and talk with her. I should’ve been there for (Y/N), Nancy. Why wasn’t I there?” Steve sat up and put the car in park. “O-Oh yeah, that’s right I was too busy being an absolute a-ass.” Steve sniffed trying to pull it together. Nancy leaned against Steve’s shoulder and ran her hand up and down his arm.

“Steve, things happen. People get busy, especially after what we just went through. You can’t let yourself be responsible for everyone. It’s okay.” Nancy said as she placed a kiss on his cheek and genuinely felt bad for Steve. Steve just sighed out a chuckle and shook his head slowly. He could’ve fixed things with you. Steve took another big sniff and without even thinking he just started speaking.

“I just miss (Y/N), so much, Nance. If I could go back and get her, I would. In a heartbeat.” Steve rubbed his red and irritated eyes and his mind just focused on you.

They sat there as Nancy seriously began to contemplate on her and Steve’s relationship, and the relationships they didn’t take.

Steve regretfully looked at Robin as she sat on the edge of her seat. Steve sighed and took a deep breath.

“We just got into a fight. That’s all.”

“You can’t just leave it at that. I need to know the details.” Robin said with a raging curiosity in her mind. Robin knew that you would tell her in your own time, but she wanted to know now. It was hard to admit but Steve’s goofiness was growing on her and the fact that he actually did stuff at Scoops and she wasn’t alone anymore made her life a lot easier. Robin looked furiously at Steve and he just sighed.

“Take a seat.” He said and gestured to the other seat. As Robin took a seat, Steve thought about where to begin. It’s funny how you can recall things in such vivid detail and once someone asks you what happened you can’t find the words to say to describe it.

A laugh escaped both yours and Steve’s lips as you flopped down on the king sized bed that belonged to Tammy Thompson’s parents. You both laid next to each other on the bed. Neither of you were drunk, just a little tipsy. You both had drunk enough just to find each other and sneak off together.

As you stared at the ceiling Steve’s eyes were glued to you. He took in the way your hair fanned out onto the bed and how it looked against the dark purple comforter. He wondered what was going on in that head of yours and how he could work his way in there and take up as much of your attention as he could.  

As you rolled your head over to look at him and you had a big goofy smile on your face. A redness started to become present on your cheeks.

“What?” You questioned as you playfully punched him on the shoulder. You focused on blinking as if your eyes were cameras taking pictures of this moment and capturing it so you could put those pictures into a scrapbook.

“You are beautiful, (Y/N) (Y/L/N).” He said with rose tinted cheeks that he blamed the booze on. He also blamed the booze on this need to be close to you, this need to tell you how wonderful you are, and how he had to be touching you. As his hand laid against yours his eyes studied the way your lips looked, and he couldn’t help but wonder what flavor chapstick they tasted like.  

“Shut up, Steve. You’re drunk.” You stated as you snuck a glance at his lips telling yourself not to linger for too long. You couldn’t make that mistake tonight, even though the thought of both your lips synchronized in harmony against each other warmed you to your core.

“What, and you’re not?” Steve asked as he looked into your eyes. You bit your lip, like a tease, and Steve swore on God that you were going to be the death of him. He wanted your body pressed against his, he wanted his hands to roam over every square inch of your body, he needed to know how your lips felt against his. As his thoughts drove him insane he came to the conclusion that tonight, wasn’t the night for that. Not while you both of you were almost off your asses, you deserved better. He wanted to give you better.

You turned on your side as you propped yourself up you began to think about that one conversation you had on that one walk home from school. Your mind quick to distract yourself from the intrusive thoughts of Steve.

“Why didn’t we stay friends, Steve?” You questioned sadly, not exactly wanting to take that road. It was too late now and now you had to know.

“We still are friends.” Steve lied looking up at the ceiling and away from you. Steve couldn’t look at you and lie, he couldn’t handle the way your features settled into disappointment.

“Bullshit. We really aren’t, Steve. This is the first night in, like, forever that we have had an actual fragment of a conversation.” You said exasperated, beginning to get annoyed.

“(Y/N), can we not, can we just-.” You sighed and sat up. As sadness filled the room where drunken laughter once rang out. Steve followed you quickly and reached for your wrist. “Hey. C’mon, (Y/N), what does it matter?  We are friends right now. Stay with me.” You yanked your arm away from his gentle grip.

“What does it matter?” You said standing up and Steve sighed. Your heart broke. Steve sat up straight up as he felt the consequences of what he said.

He fucked up, he royally fucked up.

“It matters because I’ve tried calling and everytime I did your mom answered and said you were out. Or that- that you had a friend over to help you study.” You said putting air quotes around the words “out” and “study”.

“I’ve been busy.” Steve said, and he has been. Trying to navigate his way through his feelings and thoughts. Evaluating what he wanted and building a reputation along the way. You just chuckled and Steve stood up annoyed. “Like you haven’t?” He questioned with an edge to his voice. Trying to keep the volume down not wanting anyone to overhear.

“What is that supposed to mean?” You questioned and Steve stood there dumbfounded. You weren’t with him, therefore you had to have been busy.

“You know what it’s supposed to mean. I’ve seen you around with Michael and his crew of football cronies!” His voice raised and stern, any thought of keeping anyone from hearing gone. You let out a sharp laugh. “Which has apparently given you a complex to just go and call anyone out. You yelled at Tommy just this past week.”

“Tommy needed to be yelled at! He was ogling up Barb and Nancy like they were greasy hamburgers fresh off the grill!”

“That’s what Tommy does! He’s harmless!” Steve bickered back.

“So that’s supposed to make it okay?” You questioned raising your brows and looking at him in disbelief.

“What? No, of course not!” You just shook your head and rolled your eyes.

“Then why don’t you say anything? Why don’t you call Tommy out on his bullshit? Ever! You just stand there with this look on your face. It’s like you know what you are doing is wrong but you don’t do anything about it! You just stand there with this shit eating grin and it’s not you! It’s not you.” You yelled and Steve was left speechless. He didn’t know what to say and even if he did, he wouldn’t know how to say it. Tears were threatening to start to pour, but you just sniffed refusing to start crying.

Steve wanted to apologize. Steve knew you were right. Steve understood that his actions weren’t a true reflection of who he was. He was just lost and the attention he was getting wasn’t something he wanted to give up, yet. So as most things go.

“Not me? (Y/N), you don’t know me! You don’t know shit about me and you can’t stand here and lecture me when you have your own title you don’t even live up too! Queen of Hawkins my ass! You show off this fake face to everyone and feed into their obsession of seeing if they can please you or not. They see this mean character that you mask around as and you love it!” He yelled and you just laughed because you knew he was right to a point.

“Yeah, well, at least they get honesty from me!” You shouted back at him.

“Do they get the complete honest you, though?” Steve asked his voice lowering, selfishly hoping that he was the only one that knew this you. The real you. You stood there refusing to give him the ‘no’ he wanted and you gritted your teeth as you headed for the door. As your hand gripped the door knob you took a deep shaky breath and then exhaled. As you faced Steve with a couple tears leaking out of your eyes. Steve’s demeanor softened and he regretted everything he just said. He went to bring you into a him but stopped as you flinched away from him. You longed for his embrace but you knew it would shatter your already broken pieces. Steve stood frozen, broken, and hesitantly awaiting for you to say something. Anything.

“Like you said, ‘what does it matter’? We all put on these facades and we don’t get hurt. I don’t get hurt.” You said as strongly as you could as you opened the door and began to walk away from the room as quickly as you could without alerting the rest of the party that something had happened in that room. Steve just looked at the empty doorway and his jaw tightened. He paced the length of the bed thinking.

“Shit.” He shouted frustrated with himself. What was he doing? Maybe it wasn’t too late to change. Maybe he could fix things, fix this. Steve took strong strives out the door and he began to scan the hall for you. His pace quickened as he repeated your name.

“(Y/N).” He tried to say audible enough for you to hear over the blaring music as you made a beeline for the stairs.

“(Y/N)! I need-!” Steve was cut off by a sharp hit on his shoulders. It was Tommy.

“You slept with (Y/N)?” He asked with a sinister grin and a light laugh.

“What? No, Tommy I need to get-.” Steve went to begin.

“You dog!” Tommy shouted. “King Steve! King Steve! King Steve!” As Tommy began to chant the whole party started to join in. With their chants getting louder and louder you turned and glared at Steve.

Steve’s heart broke and your glassy eyes told him enough. You stumbled down the stairs and away from the chanting upstairs.

“(Y/N), wait!” Steve shouted as he began to take off after you. The chanting followed Steve down the stairs, Tommy sinsterly lurking behind him. His eyes glued to the back of your head as he tried to get as close as he could to you. He didn’t want to let go, he wanted to fix this.

As you were almost out the door you tripped over the now stained welcome mat and into Michael McEvers arms.

“(Y/N), are you okay?” Michael asked concerned pulling you up and you just nodded while trying to dry your eyes and sniffling. Steve was so close to touching you when Michael’s eyes met Steve’s he knew Steve did something. “Get away from her, Harrington!” Michael shouted as he pulled you out into the porch and slammed the door behind you. Steve went to go after you to make things right but Tommy’s hand found Steve’s shoulder holding him back.

“Let the slut go. C’mon we can get you another.” Tommy said wrapping his arm around Steve’s shoulders.

Maybe it was best that he let you go. He’d only say the wrong things and hurt you even more. He couldn’t fix this, he couldn’t make things right, it was just too late. He had to accept that. Michael was a good guy anyway, he could give you things Steve couldn’t. Steve took a deep breath furrowing his brows as a headache started to form.

“Let’s get you wasted.” Tommy said as he went to go get Steve a drink. Being wasted and feeling as light as air sounded a hell of a lot better than how heavy and broken he felt now.

As Steve finished his brief synopsis of your guys’s argument to Robin, guilt settled in his stomach.

“And you didn’t say anything after that night?”

“No, I figured it was best to leave her be. She didn’t need me anymore. Or at all to be completely honest.” Steve said as the bell from outside rang and he stood up pushing in the chair and working his way to the front. Robin followed him on his heels. He silently thanked whatever customer rang the front bell.

“Are you serious?” She questioned wondering how someone could be so stupid.

“I wasn’t going to waste my breath.” Steve said. He thought about making it up to you countless times. But, one time he called when he really needed you, desperately needed you, you couldn’t get to the phone.

“You are joking?” Robin was astounded with how much of an idiot Steve was being.

“Why don’t you just talk to her?” You strained out through a hick-up as you leaned against Robin’s shoulder looking at both of your reflections in the pool. Robin just laughed.

“Let me just waltz up to Tammy Thompson and say, ‘Hey! I really like you and I think you should’ve been gazing into my eyes instead of at that stupid Steve Harrington!’ yeah, you do that and then tell me how well it works for you.” Robin continued to laugh. It was a movie night and for some reason you couldn’t focus on that dumb rom-com you picked. Which lead to you sneaking some beers from your dad's “secret” stash and hiding out in the backyard wasted with Robin. Sitting on the side of the pool with your bare feet in the water and you smiled sadly. Steve, “the hair”, Harrington. King Steve. You snickered at the thought of him and you could almost smell a faint hint of Farrier Fawcett hairspray.

“What made you two go at each other’s throats all the time?” Robin just asked. You looked at her confused.

“You and Steve. You guys were always bickering and it literally made no sense. I mean you were Queen and he was King of Hawkins. Why didn’t you guys run the place together?” You nodded sadly understanding what Robin was saying.

“Yeah, I really liked, Steve. Like I mean I liked him.” You said with an emphasis on “liked”, but it was so much more than the simple like.

“Oh.” Robin said shortly understanding fully well how that stuff works.

“But then he turned into ass hat McAsserton and everything changed. He just pissed me off so much, and it wasn't him, like, I know Steve Harrington. He is such a goof and he was being someone I knew, I knew he wasn’t and I just couldn’t stand it. He’s such an-.”

“He’s changed, y’know.” Robin cut you off. “He’s lonely.” Steve had just hired in at Scoops Ahoy and Robin could tell that something had changed and for the better. You scoffed and slid off of her shoulder as you laid on the wood deck connected to the above ground pool.

“Okay.” You snorted refusing to get your hopes up.

“If you could change why couldn’t he?” Robin stated as she leaned back to joining you. “Think about it.” Robin was right as she usually was. You took a deep breath and thought about that night. You should talk to him. You should go see him. You should be there. Then maybe this weight on your chest would be gone. This summer you would finally patch things up with Steve Harrington once and for all. A creed you pushed aside in the morning once the hangover was gone.

“Well, I think you could do better than Tammy anyway.” You said as you turned your head and looked at her with a smile.

“You think?” Robin asked knowing what you were doing, but she just let it be. She wasn’t going to force you to talk about anything you didn’t want to talk about.

“Oh my god, definitely, Robin.” You both laughed as your thoughts wondered about Steve.

“Don’t you miss her?” Robin asked, her tone giving away her confusion.

“Of course I miss her, Robin.” Steve said in a matter of fact tone. “What can I get for you?” Steve asked as he pulled out his ice cream scoop from it’s holster around his waist. He twirled it in his hand as the old lady examined the flavors.

“You do understand that all of this could be solved by just talking to her. Right?” Robin said with her hands on her hips and a serious look in her eyes.

“Gee, I never thought of that.” Steve said with an airy laugh.

“How about the mint chocolate chip?” The lady said squinting trying to figure out who exactly she was talking to.

“You could have fooled me, Steve.” Steve made a ‘tsk’ sound as he shook his head and began scooping up some ice cream.

“It’s a lot easier said than done when you have that much history with someone, especially someone as stubborn as her. Also, she could come to me, y’know.” Steve said putting the ice cream into a sugar cone and taking it down to the register handing it to the old lady not even bothering to ring her up. “It’s on the house.” Steve said frustrated, what if you didn’t want him around anyway.

“Why thank you, Miss.” She said taking it and hobiling away. Robin stifled a laugh as Steve threw his hands in the air out of frustration. Today has not been his day.

“Steve.” Robin said straightening up bringing her focus back to the matter at hand. “Do you honestly think the Queen of Hawkins would go to you first? Especially when she was in the height of her high school career? Honestly? Especially after the whole school branded her a slut after that party. Which you totally should have done something about, by the way. Jumping from you to Michael when she didn’t even have a thing with either of you.” Steve stood up straight.

“She didn’t have a thing with Michael? They were dating, holding hands in the hall and everything.” Steve said feeling completely and utterly confused.

“No, dingus. Michael’s-. (Y/N) fake dated him to keep it from getting out that him and Tyler were, well,-.” Robin said not exactly knowing how to phrase what she was saying. She tried to be cautious not knowing how Steve would take the news that Michael McEvers was totally gay. “A thing.” She said with little fear while she scanned Scoops Ahoy with her prefils hoping the two people there weren’t catching on.

“Michael McEvers?” Steve questioned wondering how he didn’t pick up on it. Then again he could’ve sworn Jonathan Byers was gay, but he was currently seriously invoved with Nancy. “Wait, how do you know that?” Steve asked Robin with an eyebrow raised.

“(Y/N) told me.” Robin said quick to get any suspicious thoughts about herself away from the conversation.

“Shit.” Steve mumbled.

“Y’know I think that pale yellow looks great on you, Mike.” You said as you straightened up Michael’s cardigan.

“Really?” He questioned.

“Of course.” You said as you leaned against the lockers. “Tyler doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” Michael shut his locker as he awkwardly took your hand.

“Thank you, for all this.” Michael said quietly and you just smiled.

“Please don’t mention it.” You smiled softly as you both walked down the hall.

“Do you want to go to the movies tonight? Tyler will meet us there.”

“Yeah. Of course.” You said and Michael continued to talk. As you and Michael walked to Algebra you both passed Nancy and Steve. Yours and Steve’s eyes locked, a sadness lingering over the noisy hall. As you passed you looked straight ahead while Steve looked back.

“Steve?” Nancy questioned.

“Uh huh.” Steve said and looked back at Nancy.

“You have basketball tonight, right?”

“Right.” Steve said as he let go of Nancy’s hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

“So a double cheeseburger with a side of onion rings and a large coke to go.” You read off the order to Billy while simultaneously ringing it up.

“You got it, Queen.” Billy said with a wink and you rolled your eyes. Billy had a fascination with you and he couldn’t just place his finger on what made you so different. He liked your attitude and he liked the way you handled yourself.

You and Billy never got together, together, and maybe that’s why he liked you, you weren't throwing yourself at his feet.

Usually when Billy was around you were open and gentle with him, because you could tell he was dealing with something that he couldn’t handle. You wanted Billy to know if, or when, he wanted to talk that you were here.

“What’s the matter, doll?” Billy asked before he could even think about why he even asked.

“Nothing, Billy.” You sighed as you sent the order to Sal. The diner still as empty as it was an hour ago.

“C’mon. I haven’t seen you this frustrated since I almost T-boned Harrington’s car.” Billy laughed.

“That wasn’t funny, he and Nancy could’ve really gotten hurt. Not to mention we could’ve really gotten hurt.” You said leaning against the counter facing him.

“It was an adrenaline trip and you can’t deny that. Almost had you in my lap.” He laughed and you smirked.

“You and I remember that drive very differently then.” You laughed and crossed your arms. Billy smirked trying to think of something that might cheer you up. Maybe keep that smile around.

“Do you remember that Halloween party? Do you remember Tommy being shit faced and his face just colliding with the porch cement out back. He always was a giant prick.” Billy laughed and you did to. You didn’t go to that Halloween party but you had heard about it. You were appreciating what Billy was trying to do so you just went along with it nodding and laughing.

“Mom! Get the phone, please! I’m kind of busy!” You yelled as the phone rang off the hook and you tried to paint your nails with your non dominant hand and flip a page in your magazine at the same time. The last thing you wanted to do was answer the phone to a drunk sobbing Carol asking why you weren’t at this party to comfort her while Tommy hit on anything with a pulse. Steve was also there with Nancy and you didn’t feel like feeling like shit for once. You didn’t want to be jealous of Nancy anymore. You didn’t want to see them. As the phone stopped ringing, your mom obviously not grabbing it, you just sighed. Finally, just some time by yourself. Nice and quiet-. Your thoughts suddenly interrupted by the phone ringing again.

“Mom!” You yelled as your aggravation got the better of you.

“Hold on!” Your mom yelled from downstairs as she shut the door on a couple of trick or treaters in ghostbuster costumes. As she sauntered her way over to the phone she picked it up with a friendly hello.

“The (Y/L/N) residents, (Y/M/N) speaking.”

“H-Hey, Mrs. (Y/L/N). I-It’s a- um Steve. Is (Y/N) around by any chance?” Steve choked out through tears.

“Steve Harrington?” Your mom questioned with an edge to her voice.

“Uh,-.” Steve coughed. “Yeah, Steve Harrington.” He said his voice breaking while he was hoping to God you were home. Your mom chewed the inside of her cheek as she contemplated her next few words as wisely as she could. She knew Steve and she knew that he sent you into multiple whirl winds of consent confusion.

“Mr. Harrington, if you know what is good for you, you’d leave (Y/N) alone and you wouldn’t dare to call this number again.” She threatened and hung up the phone.

Steve on the other end was a mess of tears while his heart felt like a black hole. Steve nodded swallowing back tears. His house was empty, it was just him and the mind numbing silence.

You got up from your desk and went down the stairs to see your mom glaring at the telephone and you were completely bewildered by her strange and unusual attitude. The doorbell rang and as you went to the kitchen she went towards the door.

What could that phone call possibly be about to make your mother's whole attitude change on a dime.

“One double cheeseburger with side onion rings to go!” Sal shouted and as you picked up the to go bag and coke you glanced at the clock. Only 30 minutes left to your shift then Jessica comes in to replace you.

“Well, Billy here you go.” You said as you handed Billy his to go bag of grease.

“(Y/N), if you need a time out, you know my number.” Billy said with a sly smile. His intentions were truly pure, maybe Billy was also growing old of the part he used to play. You smiled at him not breaking eye contact.

“I know, Billy. I know.” you said as Billy completely took the bag and gave you a cheeky wink.

“I’ll see you later, alright?” He said as he turned and left.

“Whatever you say, Billy.” You chuckled and waved. As you watched him leave you heard Sal whistle.

“What?” You snapped as you had a light glare targeted at him.

“You two would be cute together, that’s all.” You rolled your eyes, unfortunately a lover wasn’t on the agenda for you. But, when did your agenda ever go as planned?  

Steve was on the escalator on his way down to the first floor to grab himself and Robin a corn dog as a little snack that wasn’t ice cream. On his way over there he peered into the diner and saw Billy leaving. Steve just scoffed as he hopped off the elevator peering through the big open entrance of the diner catching glimpses of you. As he headed towards Hot Dog On A Stick he stopped. He could see your full frame as you laughed at something someone must’ve said. As he leaned against the pillar near him he examined how when you laughed your hand found your mouth. Steve chuckled as his cheeks grew pink and his stomach flipped excitedly.

He wanted to make things better and that’s all he’s been able to think about since hearing your voice earlier. Since he saw you earlier.

Steve didn’t think he’d ever even see you again. He thought for sure you’d be packed up and out on your own, away from Hawkins, away from him. College bound with the world at your feet. Maybe it was a sign? Maybe it was time. It’s been so long, too long. A peace offering. He needed a peace offering. His brain told him to move, to get going. To use this excitement that was coursing through his veins to pull something together. But his body didn’t move, instead he continued to lean against that pillar and look at you. Just look at you and the way when you really started to laugh you you would throw your head back. He just wanted to look at you for a while longer.

“I swear you just want me to leave.” You said as your laughter died down. You glanced out into the mall and your eyes unexpectedly locked with Steve’s. A light smile on your face as Steve quickly looked away and took off towards Hot Dog On A Stick. You sighed, just talk to him. He wasn’t going to bite, quit being stubborn and grow up.

“Hey, Sal, I’ll be right back. I’ve got something I have to do real quick.” You said and began to lightly jog out of the restaurant and catch up with Steve.

“Hey. Hey!” Sal called and you just waved. Sal rolled his eyes as your eyes locked on the back of Steve’s head. Enough is enough. You are an adult now. You can pick up after yourself and mend relationships. As you finally caught up to Steve and stood behind him in line, and you were about to touch his shoulder to get his attention when all of that confidence left and was replaced with doubt. What if he was still mad? What are you doing? He should be coming to you. He’s the one that fucked up, not you. Turn around and go back.

“I can help you over here, ma’am.” Said a spunky looking teenage girl in a bright and obnoxious primary colored uniform. She pulled you out of your thoughts causing Steve to glance behind him.

“I, uh-.” You began but was cut off by Steve.

“She’s with me.” Steve said quickly, praying that you actually were with him. If you said yes it would make it easier to explain the apology corn dog, if not he’d probably get cold feet and give not only your corn dog to Robin, but his own.

“Uh, um, yeah.” You said awkwardly and he smiled letting out a breath he didn’t even know he was holding. “I’m with him.” So cold feet weren’t an option. Steve had to go through with this long over do make up conversation. You smiled and the girl at the other register just rolled her eyes.

“Three corn dogs.” Said a man in front of Steve holding them between his fingers. Steve broke eye contact with you, turned, and grabbed the corn dogs.

“Thanks.” He said with a smile and handed over some cash. “Keep the change.” Steve spit out quickly as he turned back to you.

“Let’s go for a walk.” You stated not giving Steve the option to turn you down.

“Definitely.” As you both walked out into the nearly empty food court you held your hands behind your back. How did this work? How do you talk to someone you know so well, but were mere strangers with.

“This.” Steve said holding out a corn dog. “This is for you. If you want it of course. I wanted to get you one so we could start talking. Well, I could start talking to you, make it less awkward and maybe soften you up a bit.” Steve let out an awkward laugh and you just smiled. “I don’t even know if you really like corn dogs. I know you used to. I remember when we went to the state fair and you got one that was the size of your head. You said it was good, but people's taste buds change. I guess I should’ve gone with candy, or maybe flowers. I should’ve thought this out-.”

“Steve, you’re beginning to ramble.” You said taking the corn dog. Only Steve Harrington, only Steve Harrington.

“Right, so.” He said before starting in on his corn dog. God, this was hard. You both walked in an awkwardly comfortable silence and before too long Steve’s corn dog was gone. Steve’s always been a nervous eater, it was quite an adorable little quirk he had. You took a bite of your corn dog and held the corn dog closer to him, signaling you’d share yours with him.

“This is a bit weird.” You said as Steve leaned and took a bite of your corn dog. He didn’t say anything but he did agree. It’s been almost two years since you didn’t snap at him the first time you saw him and he didn’t run away. You took another bite of your corn dog and then passed it back to Steve.

“Y’know, I think the sailor uniform fits you, it’s kind of cute.” You laughed and Steve almost choked.  

“S-Seriously?” He laughed and you couldn’t wipe the grin from your face.

“Seriously.” You said with a nod as you guys continued to walk down through the food court. No idea where you were going or how much time has passed. It felt like you’ve been walking for hours, both your corn dogs gone and Robin’s getting cold. When in reality it was only mere minutes since you’ve left the register at Hot Dog On A Stick. You caught a glimpse of  Jessica walking into the diner.

“Steve, I, uh, I’ve got to go. Maybe-.” You started trying to break away from this until you had yourself together and you could put together what you wanted to say and how you wanted to say it.

“I’m sorry.” Steve blurted out. He had to say this before you left. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve listened to you. I should’ve called. I was scared you wouldn’t want to listen to me. I’m still afraid you don’t want to listen to me. I should’ve came around, I just. I thought I was-. I’m a schmuck. I was a real asshole and I’m so sorry. You looked like you had everything figured out. I didn’t think you’d want to deal with me. I tried calling one time and your mom answered, she told me to leave you alone. I mean, I couldn’t blame her, in fact I could even agree with her. I already put you through a lot. It felt wrong, but you seemed to be doing alright and I thought that maybe if I searched for you elsewhere I wouldn’t miss you as much. It didn’t work, I mean it helped, but it didn’t work.  I miss you so much. I want to make things right, I have got to make things right with you. You don’t have to stay around, I just need to know how you feel. I get it if you don’t want to see me again. I’ll leave right now if you want me too. I’ll pack up my sailor hat and I’ll-.” Steve started to speak quickly not even really thinking about the words coming out of his mouth. He just had so much to say and it was pointless for him to try and organize all of it. He wanted you to know every thought that ran through his mind.

“Steve.” You interrupted him and as he caught his breath you grabbed ahold of one of his hands. “I’m sorry too, so unbelievably sorry. I miss you too.” You smiled lightly and Steve let out a nervous sigh as his eyes traveled to your hands holding one of his.

“(Y/N)!” You heard Jessica yell from the diner. You whipped your head around.

“In a minute!” You yelled across the mall. You faced Steve and followed his eyes down to your hands. You quickly let go with an awkward chuckle. Steve let a small smile escape as he saw your cheeks go a rosy red and you playfully pushed him away.

“Truce?” He asked holding out his hand. You smirked and took it both of your hands gliding down each others wrist as your pinkies enter locked. You both had wicked smirks plastered on your faces as you both chuckled.

“You dork.” You said and Steve’s mouth hung open dramatically.

“I’m the dork? You did it too.” He laughed and you both just felt so at peace that it didn’t matter that your fingers were starting to intertwine.

“(Y/N)! Come clock out!” Jessica obnoxiously yelled from the opening of the diner.

“Look, I’ve gotta go. I’ll see you later.” You said as you began to head off towards the diner, your heart lighter than air.

“Movie night tonight, right?” He shouted.

“That’s up to Robin not me!” You shouted turning and walking backwards. “I don’t think she’s sold on you, yet!” You joked and turned back around and entered the diner.

Steve chuckled taking a bite of the other corn dog in his hand. Not sold on him, yet? How could she not be sold on him yet. As Steve swallowed his bite of corn dog he realized that Robin wasn’t going to be sold on him if he went back upstairs with a cold corn dog with a bite taken out of it.

[peter-parkourwrites]

Searching For Forever ~ Teaser (Peter Parker x Stark!FemReader)

Warnings: Swearing?? Eventually, I think. Mediocre writing lol,,

Summary: When everything seems almost too perfect, your family is starting to fall to pieces. Your father chooses his path and Steve chooses the opposite, and you're in the middle of it all. Only confiding in your best friend who just so happens to be everyone's favorite Friendly Neighborhood Spider-man, and the one you fall for. 

A/N: Hi hello okay so, this is the very first series I will be doing and I’m excited to share it with you all. I don’t know when the first part will be uploaded because I’m busy with college applications and volunteering. But I will try and update as often as I can. I will alter some details, and such within the storyline. Also, the mood board above is my own and I love love love it !!! AnyWAyS, I haven’t seen Civil War in forever so plz forgive me any of this is wrong. Love you all, xx Devyn, <3 

Part 1 is here

Civil War Part 1 - 

“Miss Stark?” FRIDAY’s voice rang through your ears. You lay disheveled on your floor. Hair up in a messy bun, and stains covering your clothes of chemicals, food, and water. 

“Yes, Friday?” You called back as you jotted down another equation into your notebook for later solving. The school was most certainly your least favorite thing, well, that and your dad being mad at you. Your father, Tony Stark a world-famous billionaire and genius, and he loved to add onto that with ‘playboy and philanthropist.’ While the last part was true he had now had a steady relationship going with Pepper Potts. When you were dropped off at your father’s house at the age of three, by your mother, Pepper had been the one to whip Tony into shape and made him realize he had a responsibility now. You. 

“Your father is asking if you could join him for something to eat.”

“Eat? It’s only three…”

“Miss, it’s seven o’clock. He said dinner is ready and he needs to discuss some things with you.” You pushed yourself up off the floor and closed the notebook, making sure to mark your place with a pencil.

“I swear if this is about me stealing all of Caps sweatshirts again…” You grumbled and walked out of your room after putting on a clean shirt. You feet collided with the cool marble flooring, a soft pitter-patter echoing off the walls of the tower. As the elevator whirred and took you down to the dining area, you picked at your cubicles, a nervous tick you had picked up since you had found out your dad was Iron Man. You had snuck into his lab one night when you were seven. Trouble sleeping and lack of comfort from him led you to where you were standing in the lab. Your jaw hits the floor, the teddy bear in your hand, -who you ironically named snuffles because really what kid didn’t have a weird name for their stuffed bears- had hit the floor with a gentle thud. Right in front of your eyes was your father testing out his new suit, DUM-E right by his side holding up a fire extinguisher. 

“YOURE IRON MAN?!” Your voice filled the lab, and Tony jumped slightly, one of his arms getting knocked loose from the suit.

“(Y/N)!” He hissed, “What the hell-heck are you doing in here! You should be asleep!” Tony yelled, his face turning red from anger or embarrassment, you couldn’t really tell. You bent down and picked up snuffles drawing him into your chest as you held him close.

“I-I couldn’t s-sleep and Miss Potts isn’t here so…” You shrugged and Tony sighed, a greasy hand running through his hair as he climbed out of the suit. He sat down on a stool and motioned for you to walk over. A small smile graced your features as you happily walked up towards him, hair bobbing around as you jumped with every step. Tony let out a small chuckle as he wiped his hands with a rag and reached out for you. He lifted you up and sat you on his knee. 

“Listen pumpkin, you can’t tell anyone about this. This is our little secret… okay?”

“Okay!” You cheered nodding at him and holding up your pinkie. He laughed and linked his with yours.

“You can’t tell anyone, not Miss Potts, Happy, your uncle Rhodey… no one. This is dangerous and I don’t want anyone to know.”

“But why not?” You asked moving your attention from the bear in your arms up to his face. Your big (y/e/c) doe eyes made his heart warm at the sight. 

“Because pumpkin, you could all get hurt. And I can’t let that happen. Especially not to you.”

“I’ll be fine daddy, you’re iron man!” You giggled and he shook his head a small laugh escaping past his lips. You were so young and had yet to figure out the dangers of this world. Tony wanted to keep it from you for as long as possible, he was going to protect you no matter the cost. His hand cupped the back of your small head as he gently pulled you closer to his chest.

“I love you.” He whispered and placed a gentle kiss to the top of your head. You smiled warmly and looked up at him.

“I love you too Papa.” You hummed and rested your head against his chest again, your eyes scanning the room around you as you asked, “Does this mean I get my own suit now?”

“No.” He stated, before laughing softly. “You’re too young, and-”

“Then can I try on your suit?!” You cried out, raising your head from his chest and giving him a goofy grin. He let out a defeated sigh and shook his head. 

“Not tonight pumpkin, it’s time for bed.”

“(Y/n)!” Your father’s cheery voice filled your ears as the elevator doors slid open.

“Hey Old Man, Miss Potts.” You greeted the pair as you walked up to the kitchen island and climbed up onto one of the obnoxiously high stools.

“(y/n/n), sweetie how many times have I told you to call me Pepper?” Pepper said, looking over at you with a teasing smile. You chuckled nervously and shrugged. 

“Heh, sorry force of habit I guess… Anyways uh what’s for dinner?”

“Cheeseburgers and I made them.” Tony grinned and you sighed shaking your head.

“Well, Pepper guess we had better start apartment searching.” You said nudging the blonde woman's arm. She laughed and nodded in agreement.

“I’ll call the relators now.” 

“No no no! There is no need for that. I didn’t even burn the kitchen down!”

“Yeah, this time! Besides for all we know this could be an illusion Old Man.”

“Oh can it. I know what I’m doing.” He grumbled turning away from the both of you and grabbing the plates. He handed them out before sitting down across from you. You looked down at the burger and fries sitting beside it. You tossed a fry into your mouth and chewed, before picking up the burger. Your eyes flickered from the burger, to Pepper who was looking over at you as well. A soft sigh escaped your lips as you bite into it. 

You placed it down again and nodded, your eyes meeting the cheerful face of your father. 

“It’s… really good. Nice job Dad.” You said with a smile as he gave you a goofy grin and cheered. 

“I knew it! Now next time you underestimate my cooking you’ll be eating rats.”

“Dad!” you screeched, “Tony!” Pepper and you called at the same time making you chuckle a bit.

“Oh whatever anyways, what I needed to talk about uhm…” Tony cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. “So you remember a few days ago your Uncle Steve and crew went to Lagos.”

“Yeah…”

“Well, Wanda… she uh. She basically contained the blast but she threw it upward near a building, which was full of Wakandan humanitarian workers.”

“Wait wait so, Rumlow the guy I told you looked like a bad guy, tried to steal that staff thing or whatever it was, and then blew himself up, causing Wanda to hurt Wakandans?”

“Yes, now we have some of it under control. We are getting word to Wakanda and they will be handling everything with the families but, Secretary Ross-”

“I hate that guy…” You grumbled taking another bite of food.

“So do I pumpkin, but he informed all of us that we need to have a meeting about what happened. So the rest of the team is coming back soon, and we will have a meeting tomorrow night.” Tony said as he took the last bite of his burger and sighed. “So just be prepared for anything to happen.”

“Already am Dad.” You said with a reassuring smile as you stood up and put your plate in the sink. “Besides you guys will work it out and come up with a solution together, you always do.” You said walking back over to him and placing a small kiss to his cheek. He smiled and hugged you before standing up. “I’m gonna get back to work… I’ll see you two in the morning, night Pepper, night Dad.”

“Goodnight (y/n), sleep well,” Pepper said as she poured herself a cup of tea. You smiled at her and waved before walking over to the elevator.

“Night Pumpkin!” Tony called off as you walked into the elevator. A small smile curled on your lips as the doors slid shut. You hit the button for your floor and up went the elevator with a quiet whir.

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