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0nlythrowharrybeaux · 2 years ago

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Young American - Part 9**

A/N: Ahhhh finally and it's a long one! I really love this chapter because our characters have reached 2 new milestones. Also, I've been feeling very nostalgic and the places I wrote about are very real and extremely important places to me since I was a teenager 🥹. When I was in high school my friends and I ditched school (well we did on countless occasions haha) and would drive out to the mentioned beach and dune and hang out and sing and play guitar for hours, I felt safe and comfortable and so happy there (I might be wrong, but I think 1D actually filmed WMYB at this beach, or at least it looks similar). Either way, I just wanted to mention that because it really just helped me tap into the feelings I wanted to portray in this chapter and ultimately it helped me be able to finish writing this chapter. I really hope you guys like it and thank you so much for your patience! 💖

WC: 11.9K

Warnings: Mentions of family drama (same as part 8), mutual masturbation, facefucking (male receiving), slight degradation, subspace/topspace.

I forgot to tag people in part 8, here it is!

Series Masterlist

Y/N was smiling bright and looking out the window on his side as they drove down the 1, more commonly known as the Pacific Coast Highway. She liked the beach, it was one of the reasons why she had been so excited to move in with her aunt in LA. She usually hit the beaches in OC, wanting to avoid the heavy traffic out near Malibu. However, Harry drove through the small coastal city, the traffic diminishing the further out they got. She glanced over to him and he spared a quick glance to her.

“We’re going to the Ventura County beaches.” He said to her and she nodded, “Have you ever been out here?” He asked and she shook her head.

“No, not that I recall.” She said.

“They’re not as crowded as Malibu beaches.” He explained.

“Mmmm… and how did you come across it?” She asked.

“My first week here I just went for a drive and I just ummm…kept going.” He shrugged with a little smile. “Saw the beach we’re going to and I absolutely loved it. It’s small and it’s got lots of trees and it’s not very crowded, it’s very pretty there.” He explained, she was excited now and they winded up the 1 North.

They hadn’t really said much, just listening to the music playing softly over the speakers and enjoying the view. She was grateful that he had whisked her away, as much as she loved being at the shop it was currently hard to sit there and feel like she was being forced to choose. She wanted to work on her things in peace with someone she cared for and trusted, maybe clarity would come with the calm.

“Everything alright?” Harry’s voice intruded her thoughts and she turned towards him and nodded.

“Yeah, just thinking about what happened.” She said and sighed, “They ummm…basically said that as long as I stay on this trajectory that they wouldn’t speak to me.”

“Oh.” He frowned and squeezed her hand a little bit. There wasn’t anything to say that she hadn’t already heard, so she appreciated his quiet contemplation of the information she’d just shared before saying anything, “What’s bothering you most about the whole thing?” He finally asked and she immediately knew.

“That I know what they did to Julie for doing whatever the hell she wanted, she literally was painted out to be this evil and rebellious black sheep because she wasn’t living too traditionally, it was awful! And I don’t know, I just feel stupid for thinking or…hoping that when it came to me they’d come around.” She said and Harry nodded as he still focused on the road, but listened intently to her, “I’m such an idiot. So fucking naive.” She almost spat to herself with disdain and Harry frowned.

“You’re not naive or an idiot, it’s your family, Y/N, you’re not out of turn to expect them to love you as they always have. It’s not an unrealistic expectation to want their support. This is not your fault.” He said to her and she nodded.

“I know Harry, but it feels like it.” She said turning towards him and he frowned.

“I’m sorry, baby.” He said and she sighed.

“God, must think my family’s a herd of bigots and traditionalists.” She huffed with an eye roll.

“I mean, a little bit,” he said with a chuckle and she giggled, “But look the only person I care about impressing is Julie and well, I’ve got her in the bag.” He said with a happy smile, “Or at least I think I do.” He spared a glance to Y/N and she smiled.

“Your confidence is sexy and not misplaced in any way.” She responded.

“I can’t tell if you mean that or are saying it sarcastically.” He chuckled.

“Well that’s for you to figure out.” She teased.

“I need to know if Julie likes me!” He chuckled, “Every time I’m over and run into her I have these full fledged conversations because she’s so easy to talk to! And you know I’m not really a talker. Am I like this annoying guy who comes around with a crush on her niece?” He asked her as she laughed.

“She loves you, don’t worry.” Y/N assured him and he smiled in relief.

“Good.” He hummed happily. It was only about five more minutes before they started to emerge through this very rocky part of the coastline and he smiled.

“And on your left you’ll find Sycamore Cove.” He said in his best “tour guide” tone and she grinned at his theatrics.

“Wow, that’s different.” She said and he nodded.

“It’s pretty right?” He asked as he rolled to a stop slowly and turned on his blinker to turn into the nearly empty lot, there were only two other cars there that she could see and soon he was rolling over the sandy lot and fitting into a spot, “Surprise.” He turned to her with a smile and she was beaming.

“I love this, thank you.” She assured.

“Great. I’ve also got something that we’ll need to do after this. You’re going to absolutely love it.” He said and she grinned in excitement.

“Can’t wait.” She hummed. Harry instructed her to grab her tote and his from the backseat while he grabbed the blanket and other things he had brought with him for this outing. Once she heard the trunk shut he walked past her to guide her way. As soon as the reached the sand he just slipped his feet out of his white vans, well they were more light gray and very wrecked up, but it was funny to her that he had been occupying these as slippers basically, “Wait, let me lean on you.” She said and he came on over so that she could steady herself as she slid out of her own shoes and socks before they continued their trek.

“To your left.” He said as she got a little distracted looking over to the rocky structure they had driven past not even ten minutes prior, “We can climb that if you want.”

“Maybe when I’m not wearing these jeans.” She said, “I don’t have great range of motion.” She explained with a giggle and Harry sniggered as he stopped by this giant, worn down log. He set down the big Ikea bag he had and pulled out a navy & white checkered black blanket. He carefully extended it and then had her sit. She dropped her shoes to her side before settling into the blanket-covered sand, her back was up against the log. And once she was comfortable he pulled out his sketch pad and his pencil case and sat down diagonally form her. This prompted her to pull out her iPad and apple pen, “What’re you gonna draw?” She asked him quietly.

“Not sure yet.” He hummed.

“Do you want to draw me?” She asked with a smile.

“I could.” He mused and she nodded eagerly, “I’ll try to do you justice, capture you drawing.” He said and she smiled.

“Yeah, do it! I’m gonna finish this design I’m almost done with and then I’ll draw you.” She said with enthusiasm and they got to work.

Y/N wasn’t sure if this qualified as romantic, but it was to her. The tension between them was steadily rising. She abandoned her tattoo design rather quickly and started drawing him instead when she felt his intense gaze taking her in. His eyebrows were a bit creased as he focused, but every now and again their eyes would meet and they’d both smile giddily before getting back to it, trying not to get distracted for too long. After a good thirty minutes of drawing and sporadic little pieces of conversation they were wrapping it up.

“Wanna see yours first.” He said and she scoffed but agreed and hurried to add in the final little details of it.

“Ta-da!” She sang with a smile as she turned over her iPad and he grinned.

“That’s sick. That’s really fucking good.” He said taking it from her carefully and looking over it more closely with a big smile. As he shifted a bit his sketchpad slipped from under his arm and her smile fell as she saw his drawing. Obviously, it wasn’t as detailed as an hour or two-long portrait would be, but it was still an impressive portrait; if this was how he drew she wanted to see how he painted, he had said that was kind of his thing. She smiled as she pulled it closer to her face to see all the little details he had gotten in there - like the sliver of light on her face from the the sun reflecting off of the surface of the iPad. Harry bit his lip nervously as she studied over his drawing of her, “Like it?” He eventually asked and she nodded as her eyes flickered up to his own.

“I love it. Can I keep it?” She asked right away and he smiled and nodded.

“Course you can.” He responded softly and she smiled in quiet excitement. She handed back the sketch pad and he her iPad before Harry meticulously tore out the page and Y/N took it and carefully tucked it into one of the sleeves of her iPad’s cover before she put it away and leant back against the log, but much closer to him than before. “No, c’mere.” He said patting the open space between his legs and she climbed over and settled back into his chest as his hands wrapped around her middle and squeezed her close.

“Missed you.” She said as he rubbed his cheek into the side of her head.

“Missed you most.” He whispered and she smiled, her hands settled on his knees and relished in the warmth of his chest against her back. It was the slightest bit cold, after all it was late November now, “Mmmm, tell me something that no one knows about you.” He said lowly as he let his right hand slip away from around her waist and down his leg to intertwine their fingers together. It sent a hoard of butterflies through her tummy and chest in excitement.

“Ummm…I’ve never had a pet.”

“What?” He asked and she giggled.

“It’s true! My dad’s allergic to both cats and dogs, s’why we or my grandparents would host holidays and family events, no animal hair.” She explained and he hummed.

“Did you want a pet?”

“Of course. When I was 9 one of my friends got a puppy and well I begged and begged but to no avail. I would take ladybugs sometimes and put them in a little plastic cage I had.”

“That’s sweet.” He hummed.

“A bit pathetic really.” She giggled.

“How many did you have?”

“Three.” She said, “One of them was yellow, I decided he was the boy. His name was Steve, the other two I couldn’t tell apart, they were called Dottie and Spottie.” She sputtered on a laugh and he joined her as well, “I was real creative with the names.” She joked about herself and he hummed in agreement, “They lasted about a week.” She finished and he shook his head as he laughed a bit more, “What about you?”

“I didn’t have any ladybugs. Well we call them ladybirds actually.” He said and she hummed, “But ummm, my mum she’s a cat person. We had two cats growing up, Angel and Violet. And my uncle had a big, black dog. His name was Shadow.” He explained.

“Who did you like best?”

“Well my mum’s cats were total assholes.” He said and she giggled, “Or maybe I was a bit of a brute with them so they didn’t like me so Shadow was my favorite. When those awful cats passed we got another one, her name is actually Dotty as well.” He chuckled, “She’s still alive, she’s very attached to my mum.” He explained and she smiled.

“Would you get a pet now?” She asked.

“I have thought it about it. Been to a few dog adoption events and…fuck, I leave with teary eyes every time.” He confessed and she pouted, “Would take ‘em all if I could.” He said, “There’s this one that I just can’t forget. It looked like a schnauzer, maybe it was a mini one, I don’t know. He’s all black and his name is Sebastian.” He said with a chuckle and she giggled.

“Does he look like a Sebastian?” She asked and he nodded.

“Yeah, he does.” He chuckled, “That’s the amusing thing. He’s three or four, so he’s still playful and a tad mischievous, but he’s very well trained, but you can tell that he has a big personality.” He explained, “I’ve seen him a few times at the events.”

“Do you know why they gave him up?”

“Yeah, the girl from the shelter said that his owners had a baby and they just couldn’t do both afterwards and they didn’t want to downgrade his quality of life.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, so he’s definitely spoiled.” Harry grinned and she hummed in acknowledgement.

“What’s something no one knows about you?” She asked back, “But tell me something that you’d only want me to know.” She said and he hummed pensively.

“That’s hard…want you to know everything.” He thought aloud and she felt her heart start to pound and she leaned closer into him, “Mmm…well, I think I want you to know that deep down I’m quite… fragile.” He finished off softly and she bit her lip, “You’ve probably figured it out for yourself, I mean, you’ve seen it for yourself but ummm, I’ve never trusted anyone enough to confirm that because I don’t want people to know just how easily things get to me, you know?” She nodded in understanding, “I want you to know because the way I feel about you is…” he trailed off, “I just don’t want to get hurt.” He finished and she pulled away and turned to face him.

“Look at me.” She said softly and his beautiful eyes met her own, “I would never hurt you. And if I do and cross a line or something please call me out on it.” She said seriously, “I’ve dealt with people like that who are sadistic like that and get off on feeling superior or bigger about themselves when they do that, but I’d never hurt you. Not intentionally, ever. Not to make a point or anything like that.”

“I know you wouldn’t intentionally.” He said and she nodded again, “And well, I just wanted you to know that because well, I know we’ve been in a weird limbo lately with what’s happening between us and I…want more.” He said and she bit her lip nervously as her heart heart started to beat erratically and the butterflies in her stomach were swarming to the point that she felt like she was vibrating, it was exciting and nerve-racking at the same time.

“More?” She asked softly.

“Yeah, more of you. More of me. More of us.” He said as his hands grabbed her face, “I’m falling for you, Y/N.” He admitted quietly, “I love how it feels when we’re together and as much as I love hanging out and the occasional cunnilingus-” he said and she laughed, “I want to date you. For real.” He said and she grinned.

“Seriously?”

“Yeah, seriously.” He smiled, “Want you to be my girl.” He said and she hummed and looked away for a moment before her eyes fluttered back up to meet his gaze.

“Kind of thought I already was.” She said with a smile and he leaned in and pecked her lips quickly.

“Well, yeah in that way you are, but in this way too. In every way.” He said as he leaned back in and their lips met in a slow and sensual kiss that was inching towards hungry and desperate. She moaned as his hands slid down to her ass and pulled her closer to him as his lips started to migrate down her jaw and to her neck and she rolled her head to the side as he kissed and sucked at her heated and tingling skin.

“Oh my god…” she smiled as she squeezed her eyes shut as he sucked gently at her sweet spot and then let go.

“Didn’t leave a mark.” He assured her as his lips ghosted across her throat.

“Wouldn’t care if you did.” She gulped as he choose another spot to suck on and as the words registered he sucked a bit harder and she hummed at the increased pressure before he pulled off.

“No?” He asked and she shook her head no, once again confirming.

“Gonna tell you something else I only want you to know.” She said and he hummed, urging her to go on, “Every time I feel your tongue when we kiss?”

“Mm-hmmm?”

“I just can’t help it,” she started, “start getting so wet for you because I can just imagine how those movements would feel on my pussy. God, you ate me out so fucking good I think about it too much.” She confessed and he groaned as he went back in for a searing kiss and she opened up when she felt his tongue grazer over her bottom lip. He immediately pressed it between her lips and she sucked on it a few times before he drew back and grinned as she moaned quietly.

“You make me feel so out of control. I love it.” He growled and she moaned before he bucked up against her for a second and she hummed and started grinding down onto him and he chuckled as he grabbed her face again, “Not here, baby.” He exhaled and she frowned.

“But I’m aching for you.” She pouted as she ground herself over his erection.

“I am too, baby but we can’t here. There’s people, not to mention sand everywhere. Just be a good girl for me and wait. I will take good care of you, I promise.” He said and she huffed but nodded and made a little more distance between them, “Should we go dip our feet in? Cool down a bit?”

“Yeah.” She said and he smiled and kissed her lips once more before standing and walking the short distance to the shoreline.

She loved how cold the ocean was; it was a sobering experience for every sound to fade except that of the waves kissing the shore. She glanced down to watch as little pebbles and pieces of shells created little streaks in the soft sand as Harry wrapped his arms around her waist. She watched as the last bits of water got pulled back through the little streaks left by the debris and in her mind it was almost as if the water was clawing at the sand, fighting to say with it and not to be dragged away by the current. She felt the same way as Harry kissed the side of her head and hugged her a bit tighter as a chill traveled down his spine. She wanted to cling to him for as long as he’d allow it, and like the water, have to be dragged away from him to even consider leaving his side. A bigger wave was coming in and he pulled her back a little bit to ensure that their denim didn’t get soaked at the ankles.

“Gonna roll these up for you, OK?” He said and she hummed before he crouched down and rolled her jeans up above her ankles and did his as well before assuming his previous position. When the next big wave came they didn’t have to hurry back.

“The cold of the water doesn’t bug you?” She asked quietly.

“Love, m’from England.” He said and she giggled.

“Right.” She stated, “Just wondering, usually it’s the first thing people comment on.” She smiled.

“I think our water’s a bit colder than this.”

“Do you still swim in it?”

“I do.” He said and she smiled, “What about you?”

“Yeah. We should come at night though, when it’s cooler out.”

“You’re barking mad.” He chuckled and she shook her head.

“No, I swear the water feels so much warmer. It’s been warmed by the sun all day. You dip in and it’s feels like a heated pool. I swear it!”

“I can tell you why it feels like a heated pool and it’s got nothing to do with the sun.”

“Oh gross, Harry.” She scoffed and he chuckled, “But I swear it’s true. I do it at least once every winter. You have to do it with me at least once.”

“Maybe.” He chuckled and she smiled knowing fully well that she would convince him.

“Are you going home for Christmas?” She asked suddenly turning around and leaning into his chest, her head now settled into the base of his throat comfortably.

“Yeah, promised my mum I wouldn’t miss it.” He explained. She loved the feeling of his throat vibrating as he spoke lowly.

“Oh that’s really great!” She smiled as she pulled back to see his face, “She’s gonna be really excited to see you after all this time. Well, your whole family will be I’m sure.”

“Y'seem so happy about it. Are you trying to get rid of me?” He asked playfully and she giggled.

“Obviously.” She teased back and he laughed softly, “But honestly I’m just really excited for you to go back and see your family and friends. It’s going to be really great.” She assured and he hummed.

“I’m actually gonna leave…” he said pulling out his phone from his pocket and his eyes went wide, “Oh shit! Next Thursday, right at midnight!” He said in a slight panic.

“So soon?”

“Shit, yes. I’m all booked up from the 17th to the 24th. S’what Eddie told me.”

“Oh, nice!” She grinned and he smiled.

“Yeah, it’s gonna be sick. I’ve really missed doing those long winded sessions. It’s been so long I don’t know if I can hang any more.” He smiled, “And ummm, what about you? After everything with your family?”

“It’ll be fine. Julie has a little friend group here that gets together for the holidays. They do a secret Santa and a fancy dinner, it’s quite cute.”

“And what about New Year?”

“Same thing, they get together and have a dinner and games.” She said.

“Sounds like fun but if you need anything at all or are feeling down please give me a call. I’ll make time for you, you know that right?”

“Yeah.” She smiled and he kissed her forehead before hugging her tight, “Did this plan of yours extend to dinner?”

“No, just have one more thing for us. It’s the fun bit.”

“OK.” She giggled, “Want to join Julie and I? It’s pizza night. Once a month Julie allows herself to have her favorite junk food since she’s on a really strict diet considering her health.” She explained and Harry nodded.

“Yeah, if it’s alright with you both.”

“Of course, we always have leftovers and to be quite honest I don’t really like pizza, but I eat it for her, you know?”

“You don’t like pizza?!” He asked incredulously.

“I prefer the little breadsticks. Why can’t they use the same sauce for dipping the breadsticks on the pizza? That’s one issue! And well, also cheese doesn’t really agree with me.” She explained.

“It makes you toot, does it?” He inquired with a grin and she laughed softly.

“I would much rather it make me toot. It makes me sick, like puke sick.” She explained and he frowned.

“Oh.”

“I know, can have one small slice and that’s all.” She explained and without any warning he crouched down a bit and wrapped his arms around her before lifting her off of the ground and she shrieked out in shock before he started spinning them around. His boisterous laugh was so contagious.

“Oh my god!” She laughed loudly along with him until he abruptly stopped spinning them and slowly set her down and she slid her hands up to his biceps.

“Made myself dizzy there.” He said quietly as he pinched his eyes closed and she giggled and tip-toed, hoping to catch him with a surprise kiss, but he was quite tall and with the mushy and wet sand beneath her, the pressure of her trying to hoist herself higher actually sunk her into the sand and her lips missed the intended mark but smooshed right where his cute little mole was and he blinked his eyes open as she slightly pulled back to look at the glossy little mark she left behind and smiled and continued to bring her hand up to smear away the oily residue with her thumb.

“Sorry, s’a cute little thing.” She said of his mole and he smiled meekly.

“You’re a cute little thing.” He hummed, deflecting the attention away from him and right back to her. She smiled as her eyes stayed fixed on his, they were so pretty and clear as the afternoon sun shone into them. God, she was so into him it hurt her.

“Cute enough that you’ll think about kissing me?” She asked with a smile and he smirked.

“I think about kissing you for an ungodly amount of time, love.” He responded, “But by now you must know that it doesn’t stop there. I’m a man of action.” He said lowly as he leaned closer to her.

“Mmm-hmm.” She nodded, tilting her head up, following his movements as he inched their mouths closer together until his lips brushed against hers and he smiled before closing the gap with a slow, yet ardent kiss. She was obsessed with the way they moved together, in perfect harmony with each other. His big hands always ended up holding her face with the utmost care, it made her swoon and after a few more seconds of being completely swept away by this captivating kiss they parted to inhale a proper breath before she smiled up at him and he sighed and slightly shook his head, “What?”

“Seeing you smile at me makes it incredibly difficult to not kiss you non stop until we both can’t breathe or even think. Specially when I know that I’m the reason you’re smiling.” He said quietly, as if this beach were crowded and the message was solely for her. She felt her heart just about melt into mush as his words processed and she just surged up and kissed him quickly once more.

“I’m so fucking fond of you.” She breathed out when she pulled back and he smiled.

“I’m fucking fond of you too.” He whispered before kissing her forehead before he pulled her into his chest and they both exhaled simultaneously as the waves continued crashing into the shore, this was the perfect soundtrack to this moment. Things rarely felt divine or perfect and this afternoon with him, despite how hard her day had been, was the perfect day, she wasn’t sure what more could happen to make it any better. This was it.

“H, I do want to go on that date with you, by the way.” She confirmed, “I realize I didn’t really say anything before, but I would really like that. Having more with you.” She smiled timidly and he grinned.

“Best thing I’ve heard all day.” He hummed, “Well apart from you kidnapping bugs to keep as pets and naming said bugs Dottie and Spottie. And we can’t forget Steve!” He laughed and she rolled her eyes as she laughed and pushed him back slightly by the chest.

“You’re so annoying.” She grumbled and he was quick to latch his fingers into her belt loops and pull her back into him.

“Yeah, sorry about that but you’re stuck with me.”

“Mmmm, not necessarily, not yet!” She reminded, “So behave.” She warned and he grinned.

“You do deserve me to behave, don’t you?” He reasoned, “You’re always so good for me.” He said and she bit her lip while she nodded in confirmation, “I’ll behave.” He grinned and she smirked.

“So, what’s after this?”

“So remember how I said I just kept driving down the PCH?” He asked and she nodded, “Well, I saw a sand dune it’s not too far from here. There were families climbing up and racing down or using like plastic bin lids as sleds…” he said and she smiled, “It was really cool and it looked like fun. I wanted to try it, we don’t have anything like that in England, or at least not that I recall.” He explained.

“OK, yeah, let’s go!” She grinned and he smiled and they hurried to pack up. Soon enough they were back in the car and Harry was peeling out onto the highway and it was only about a mile down when he pointed at it.

“See, it’s there!” He grinned excitedly and her eyes went wide. It was huge, you had to climb up a good distance of the mountain to reach the top of the dune. Harry was under no illusion that Y/N would want to climb up the sand dune with him. It was a long way up and if she fell she’d be completely full of sand and dirty and he didn’t want to make her feel like she had to, he really just wanted to do this and he’d be grateful if she could take a picture of him after he’d come down at full speed. The day he drove by everyone looked like they were having a total blast as they raced down, some people did fall others were fortunate not too. He’d been so caught up in watching that day that he almost rear-ended someone, but it just looked like one of those things that you had to try and that’d you’d love the memory of it in the future. It looked liberating and like good wholesome, nostalgic fun. He slowly steered out onto the shoulder and as soon as he shut off the engine Y/N reached down to slip out of her shoes.

“Wait, you want to go up with me?”

“Are you kidding? Hell yes!” She grinned and she leaned over and kissed her.

“It could get messy if we fall.” He warned and she shrugged.

“We can have a shower at mine, I’ve got plenty of clothes that’ll fit you.” She assured and he grinned.

“Yeah, alright let’s do it.”

The hike up was exhausting. Walking on the sand is hard enough, now imagine doing it uphill; even Harry had to take a break towards the middle of the dune and he was in excellent shape. Y/N was just reminding herself to breathe through her nose and was fighting for her life to be able to keep up with him. When they made it to the top they were a bit sweaty, but the cool breeze helped remedy that. The clear view into the ocean was magnificent and so breathtaking.

“That’s so fucking gorgeous.” He expressed with awe as he looked out at the vastness of the ocean before them, “And we have it to ourselves?” He said before turning to her and she grinned.

“This is epic.” She agreed, “So are we racing or what?”

“If you want to lose, yes.” He smirked and she narrowed her eyes.

“Yeah, OK… we’ll see about that!” She said and without any warning she started running down.

“You fucking cheater!” She heard him yell and she started to laugh loudly.

She started picking up momentum a lot faster than she anticipated, she was nearing the halfway point and her legs could hardly keep up with her. She could hear Harry close behind her and soon they were running down the sand side by side with big smiles and laughs flowing freely from them, the wind whipped past them and carried the sand being kicked up from their sprinting away and into the air. They were getting close to the bottom and they had to start slowing down lest they end up running into the middle of the 1. Of course, in their attempted to slow their runs the first person to go down was Harry, he dug his foot in too hard and started to roll down a few times and as Y/N spared a glance back to laugh at him she too lost her balance and fell into the sand but thankfully she was closer to the bottom and the sand was not as dense there so she did not start to snowball down like Harry. She was panting and laughing as she pushed herself up, she was definitely all sandy and she turned around to see Harry about 30 feet away from her still on his back and laughing loudly. She climbed up to him and saw that his eyes were pinched shut as he laughed.

“Guess I won.” She teased and he scoffed and went to open his eyes and immediately groaned.

“Fuck, there’s sand in my eyes now.” He griped, “And also you’re a fucking cheater.” He said as his eyes started to tear even as they were pinched shut and she grabbed his hand.

“A win is a win.” She teased, “Sit up, I’ll help you.” She said and as soon as he was sitting up he started to rub at his eyes with his fists to help his tears expel all of the sand, “You alright?”

“Yeah, s’almost out I think.” He grumbled and then started to slowly blink his pretty green eyes open.

“Here, let me blow a little air into your eyes.” She said and crouched down and used her thumb to drag his undeyes down a bit, “Look up, for me.” She instructed and he did so and she blew cool air into his eye for a few seconds and he quickly blinked it shut as more tears fell, “Is it out?” She asked after a few moments.

“Yes, thank you baby.”

“Course, now the other one.” She said and they repeated this process again until his eyes were free of sand. His face was still sticky with tears and rough with sand though, she didn’t even want to think about his hair, her own hair! They were in for a mess when they showered.

“Can’t believe you’re that person…” He laughed and she rolled her eyes.

“Oh please, with how competitive you are I’m surprised I lasted that long. Was half expecting you to trip me or something.” She joked and he laughed.

“I would, but I’d never admit it if I did.” He confirmed with a grin and she rolled her eyes.

“That was really fun.” She announced with a big smile beaming on her face.

“Even if you’re all full of sand?”

“Yes! It was very worth it!” She giggled.

“Fun enough to do it again?”

“Today, no. I’m too lazy to climb up.” She confessed with a grin, “But I would definitely do this with you again in the future.” She confirmed.

“Cool.” Harry smiled, “Well, I am going to go again and I need you to record so I can show my mum.” He said and she felt her heart get all melty and warm inside of her, “She’s gonna love this.” He said with a big grin and Y/N nodded.

“Yeah, alright. The phone’s in the car?”

“Yes.” He smiled, “Here are the keys.” He said reaching deep into his front pocket and handing them to her and she hurried off to get his phone as he started climbing back up. It was then that she realized that he was slowing down for her, not taking a break at the halfway point because he was now going up at a faster pace and when he reached the top she held up her index finger, indicating for him to wait a moment as she set his phone to record and then put a thumbs up and he returned the gesture before he started running down the sand dune again. She giggled quietly as he sped down and the closer he got to the bottom the clearer his big smile was. She was zooming into him so that his mom could see just how much fun he was having. There was a pretty sizable boulder near the bottom and being the show off he was, he veered toward it.

“Oh my lord, H…” she mumbled lowly as he went straight for the boulder, “Be careful!” She shouted instinctually knowing that he would try to be a show off and jump over it. She literally gasped as he propelled himself up and sighed in relief when he made it clean over the boulder before he started to slow down as he came to the bottom and started running towards her now.

“Did you get that?!” He called as his sprinting started becoming a jog.

“Yeah!” She shouted back and soon he was coming to a halt a few few away from her and she smiled at him and he returned the gesture as she stopped the recording, “Your mum’s gonna love it.” Y/N said as he walked up to her and she handed over the phone so that he could look at the video and she leaned into his side to watch with him.

Harry couldn’t help but smile as he heard her quiet mumbles of concern when he started heading towards the boulder and her shout warning him to be careful, the gasp, the sigh of relief, it was sweet how much she cared and he used his free hand to pull her into his side as the video started to come to an end.

“My mum’s going to appreciate you fretting over me the most.” He chuckled and she giggled.

“Yeah, you’re a wild one, someone has to look out for you!”

“Well, thank you.” He hummed as he leaned down and puckered his lips before she tiptoed and kissed him quickly, “Ready to go home?”

“Yeah, let’s go.” She smiled.

The drive home was nice, they both hummed along to the radio and he told her about the tattoos he would be working on in England, and they held hands the entire way. When they arrived at Julie’s place they made sure to shake off as much sand as possible before heading inside.

“We’re home!” Y/N called out and hearing that made Harry smile and feel warm inside.

“Oh, Harry’s here?!” He heard Julie call from somewhere and he also loved that she automatically assumed it was him who she had brought in. Soon enough she was coming out to the front door as they carefully took their shoes off.

“Heard it was pizza night and I could not miss out.” He explained and Julie smiled.

“Oh yes! Happy to have you, the more the merrier!”

“We won’t hug you because we just came form a sand dune and we’re a mess.” Y/N explained.

“Oh yeah, no worries.” Julie laughed.

“H, you can have a shower first and I can go shake out your shoes outside.” Y/N said.

“Sure?”

“Yeah, go ahead.” She insisted, “Can you get him a towel, please?” She asked Julie who nodded.

“Course! C’mon, Harry.” She said guiding him back as Y/N stepped back out and banged Harry’s shoes together to get the sand out of them. Julie soon peaked out and Y/N smiled as she did the same thing to the shoes she was wearing.

“Do we still have that battery-operated handheld vacuum? There’s so much sand in the car.” She said to Julie.

“Yeah, I’ll go grab it.” She said and hurried back inside. Y/N reached into Harry’s tote at the entrance of the house and grabbed his keys and soon she and Julie were heading out to the car and vacuuming up as much of the sand as possible.

“So what’s going on with Harry?” She asked with a grin and Y/N smiled.

“He asked me out, so we’re going to date. Don’t know the plan he has yet but yeah, we’ll start going out.” She said timidly.

“Finally!” Julie grinned with excitement and Y/N blushed, “What about Christmas, does he need someone to spend it with?”

“No, he’s going back to England on the 15th.”

“So soon?”

“He’s finishing up some big pieces before the holidays.” She explained, “But I’m glad he’s going to be going home for a bit. I know he misses his family more than he lets on.” Y/N said with a small smile.

“Yeah, that must be nice for him. When’ll he be back?”

“I didn’t ask, but I assume until the next year at some point.” She explained and Julie nodded.

“And what about you? Are you going to try and mend things with your parents or are you joining my holiday extravaganza?” She asked with a lighter tone.

“I think I need some space from them so you can count me in to your festivities.” Y/N grinned and Julie squealed in excitement.

“I will make it the best one yet!” She assured. Soon they headed inside. Y/N peaked down the hall briefly to see the bathroom door still closed before following Julie to the kitchen.

“OK, Harry’s still in the bathroom so I’m gonna hop in your shower.”

“Well I’m about to head out and order the pizza, I heard of this new place downtown where they have great vegan pizza, I know cheese fucks you up and now that you have a boyfriend I can’t risk you having explosive diarrhea.” She teased and Y/N scoffed.

“Oh my god! Also, he’s not my boyfriend.” Y/N clarified and Julie rolled her eyes, “Can’t you order on the phone, don’t want him to be all alone when he gets out.”

“I tried, they’re new so they must be busy, they’re not answering and their DoorDash is not active. I’m sure I’ll be a while.” She huffed.

“OK, well good luck. I’ll see you in a bit.” She said before heading out to grab their totes from the front door and take them to her room. She quickly texted his phone then headed off quietly over to Julie’s room.

********

It took Harry a while to get the sand out of all of his nooks and crannies, but when he finally did he realized that he had not asked for any clothes beforehand and stood in the bathroom with his ear pressed to the door for a good five minutes to hear if Y/N was around, he then peeked out into the hallway and called for her and no one came, he didn’t want to wander around and make Julie uncomfortable so instead he wrapped the towel securely around his hips and scurried across the hall into Y/N’s room. He shivered at the cooler temperature and just grabbed his phone before sitting on the edge of the bed. He then saw her text to take his time and that she was showering in Julie’s room. He didn’t want to search around her drawers for clothes so he grabbed the TV remote and stayed put. It was about ten minutes later when Y/N tapped on the door lightly before slipping inside and closing it behind her. She too was wrapped in her towel, hair dripping wet as she shivered.

“Forgot to grab clothes.” She said through chattering teeth.

“You forgot to give me clothes. Was calling and calling for you, m’sure Julie thought I was dying.” He said and she frowned.

“Oh my god, Harry! You could’ve looked around, you must be freezing cold.” She said heading over to her cabinet to find him something, “Also Julie left to get the pizza. S’gonna be vegan I hope that’s alright with you.” She informed as she pulled out a t-shirt and some sweat pants.

“Yeah, m’not picky.” He said and she stood back up and turned towards him.

“Perfect.” She smiled and set the clothes down blindly as her eyes raked down his toned and tattoo-infested chest. He was dry by now but that didn’t mean he was any less lovely to look at. Harry felt a little shy as she looked over him, but it made him feel good about himself, he worked hard for his physique and he was glad that she found him attractive, “You’re kinda hot.” She said softly with a smile and he chuckled.

“Kinda?”

“Yeah, kinda.” She teased and he shook his head as she kept him humble. “Now that I have you here in the nude let me see how your tattoo is healing up!” She said and he chuckled again and carefully raised the towel on his left thigh to expose the tiger she had inked in there about three weeks prior. She crouched down again to get a closer look and she smiled as she looked it over; it was healed now and it was looking really good, “You don’t have to flex your thigh, you know?” She teased as she gently pinched the underside and looked up at him through her lashes.

That look in her eyes did things to him. Just her in general turned him on so easily and the only thing he could think about as she looked up at him like that was her pretty lips parting to fit his cock inside of her mouth. God, she would look so pretty like that. Taking his whole cock in her mouth and drooling for him. Next thing he knew she was leaning closer and pressing a quick and innocent kiss to the tiger she had inked into him and he swallowed thickly and tensed up as his cock started to grow hotter and thicker.

“What happened?” She asked when she looked up to see his eyes pinched shut.

“Nothing, nothing your mouth’s just really close to my prick and I got a little riled up.” He said as he blinked his eyes open, “Sorry. It’ll go down in a sec.” He said and she shook her head.

“No, it’s alright.” She assured him and then glanced down to the slightly tented part of the towel over his hips, “How long’s it been now?”

“I’m not sure.” He said and and she bit her lip before running her tongue over it.

“Can I suck on you? Please?” She asked as her nails gently raked down his thighs, making him shiver as he breathed out sharply through his nose.

“Always get me with those fucking manners.” He mumbled before just unwrapping the towel and letting it fall to the sides and she literally moaned and salivated as she saw his semi-hard cock resting over his perfectly round and swollen balls, it hadn’t even pushed out of his foreskin yet. She inched closer on her knees and let her own towel fall as she brought her other hand up to his right thigh and then she just looked up at him with those puppy-dog eyes but not touching him there without his permission, “Fuck, so pretty. You’re so pretty, baby.” He complimented and she smiled.

“Thank you. But I really just want to suck you off. Please.” She keened once again, “Please. Been so good for you.” She reminded, her patience was wearing thin.

“No you haven’t,” he huffed out a mocking laugh, “You cheated today.” He said and she pouted, “Good girls don’t cheat. Do you think you deserve to suck me off after that? I don’t.” He said decisively and she huffed and looked down at his cock and balls just sitting there so close, just within her reach. It couldn’t be helped as Y/N licked over her lips and swallowed down the saliva her mouth was producing; Harry saw this and it was making his impeccable sense of self-control start to fray.

“No.” She agreed sadly, “I’m sorry. What if I just put in my mouth? I won’t suck it or do anything if you don’t want that. I just want to feel it getting all big and hard on my tongue.” She said meekly and he whined softly, his cock growing a little bit more at her suggestion, he was trying to hold back but the thought of his cock resting on her tongue was enough to have him throw his self-torture out the window.

“Fuck, wanna keep my cock warm in your pretty, little mouth, baby?” He asked with a devilish smirk and she nodded.

“Yes. Please.” She said and he groaned and spread his legs wider, nonverbally asking her to come closer and she did and glanced up at him.

“Go on then.” He said quietly and she leaned in, eyes still on his as she parted her lips and let her bottom lip drag against his tip and then she used her tongue to lift his cock just enough to get it into her mouth and she made sure that her eyes were on his as she sunk lower and he moaned as he was finally in her wet and hot mouth. Harry was trying his best not to reach for her hair because this would surely end in him fucking her mouth until he was coming ropes down her throat.

Y/N on the other hand was fighting the battle of her life in order to not suck on him like every fibre of her being was begging her to do. She was salivating and it was getting to be too much and she slightly closed her mouth and Harry groaned as he felt more pressure around his prick as she attempted to swallow down some of her saliva.

“Holy shit.” He moaned lowly and his eyes squeezed shut as he started to get harder at the pressure her swallowing put on his prick. He wanted to come in her mouth so bad, he knew she was a little come slut now, knew she wouldn’t mind him unloading it all in her mouth. His resolve was wavering surprisingly fast. Besides he wouldn’t be seeing her in weeks, he needed to at least have a new memory of her getting him off for his spank bank.

It couldn’t be helped as Y/N’s saliva started to drip from the corners of her mouth, Harry was almost at full size and he was too big for her to even attempt to swallow it down at this point. She hoped he liked things sloppy because she would soon be dribbling down her own chin and making a mess. His tip was now pressing into the back of her mouth and she just wanted to sink a bit lower so that all of it could be in her mouth. She could feel his cock starting to slightly twitch and throb with need.

“Look at you making such a mess, should probably stop now. My cock’s too big for you little mouth isn’t it, baby?” He asked and she shook her head as she looked up at him, “Sweet of you to deny it, but I’m not blind.” He said and he watched as her eyebrows creased inward and he suppressed his grin with his teeth sunk into his bottom lip as he brought his index finger down to wipe the string of spit that was dripping out of the corner of her mouth and then he sucked it between his lips and hummed. A small whine left her throat and he grinned, loving the pinch of her nails into his thighs, a clear sign of her desperation and withering resolve “God, dying to suck me aren’t you?” He asked and she nodded as best as she could and he hummed, “How wet’s your little pussy for me right now, hmmm? Show me.” He commanded and she slid her hands down her naked torso and her eyes fluttered closed and her mouth opened wider as she circled her clit in passing towards her entrance where all of it was collected, “Did I say to touch yourself there?”

“Uh-uh.” She muffled out.

“Then move it along.” He said and she sighed and reached further between her legs and swirled her fingers around there before bringing them back up and showing him her shiny and stringy with arousal index and middle fingers, “All that just from feeling my cock on your tongue?” He asked mockingly and she whined again as he pulled her arm up higher and leaned down to her fingers and his eyes met hers with a mischievous smile, “Let’s play a game.” He said and she felt a shiver course through her body, “you do what I do, OK?” He said and she hummed in understanding, “Get me out of your mouth and grab my cock.” He said and she looked distressed about it but listened to him. She was finally able to swallow properly and then she looked up at him awaiting his instructions.

Harry then leaned in a bit closer and tapped her sticky fingers to his lips three times and she glanced up at him as she tapped the tip if his cock to her lips and he smiled. Then he kissed at her finger tips and she licked over her lips before kissing the very tip of his cock, the little dribble of pre-cum there glossed over the center of her lips and he grinned at the thought of making her lips all shiny with his pre-cum instead of some lip oil or other product. Y/N was vibrating with anticipation as he parted his lip and breathed onto her finger, it made her inner walls flutter and pulse with need and she did the same to his erection, puffing out a warm breath over it and watched it twitch in her hold. He then circled her fingers around his tongue and she bit her lip as she got closer and parted her lips to let her pink tongue roll out and she guided his cock to circle around it.

“Good girl.” He whispered and she smiled up at him as she pulled back. He then used the tip of his tongue to massage right against the small crevice between her two fingers. She was confident that she understood what he wanted and so she raised his cock just a bit more and her eyes met his as she started to massage her tongue against his frenulum, that sensitive little bit right under the head of his cock.

“Fuck.” He exhaled with a smile, “Love how you know that. Know about that spot.” He said lowly and she nodded as she pulled back and he bit down on his lip, losing his resolve, “Do it again, don’t stop until I do something else.” He said and she was eager to get back to it and he groaned as she tongued at his sensitive spot. It was sending shocks of pleasure through his stomach and down to his toes. Her hand was resting at his inner thigh, keeping his legs parted for her to fit her kneeling body between his. And as he relished in the feeling of her tongue massaging the sensitive parts of his erection he then glanced down once he felt her thumb just lightly tickle at his left testicle. She was reaching out towards his balls and it was making him lose his mind, “Fuck, you can touch there, baby.” He said and she was quick to move her hand to his sack and gently rolled his balls in her warm and smooth palm.

This was so fucking hot, Y/N was nearing her boiling point. She didn’t even noticed the slight pain from kneeling over the rough carpet for however long this was going or the fact that she was naked and a little cold, she was relishing in everything he was guiding her to do. With the way he used his tongue on her cunt and now on her fingers she knew that he probably had given an excellent blow job or two in his day and something about that drove her wild. She wanted to prove to him that she could take good care of him too, as good care as he liked to take of his partners. She then reeled in her thoughts when he released her fingers.

“Get ‘em wet for me again.” He said and she was quick to comply and offer them back up to him and he inhaled deeply once they were in his face and then he used the very tip of his tongue to roll into the crevice between the very tips of her fingers and she let go of his balls to adjust his prick so that she could do as he had done, “I’ll hold it for you.” She said and her hand went back town to fondle his balls, “Don’t be shy, you can squeeze if you want.” He said and she moaned as she gave a light squeeze and then proceeded to take her mouth to his cock. She licked and dipped her tongue against the slit at the very tip of his cock and he groaned. Y/N moaned at the taste of his pre-cum that steadily bubbled up from deep in his balls, up his shaft, and out of his little hole there. She wanted to taste his come so bad. No, she needed to taste his come again. Badly. It was taking every morsel of will power in her not to suck at his tip and draw out more. She needed more.

Harry’s abs were practically trembling at the teasing touches he was having Y/N inflict on him. His balls felt so full and achey as they drew up a bit, his bodies way of indicating that he wanted to come. He wanted to keep teasing her and himself in the process but she was being so good for him, so patient and respectful. She’d been wanting this for a while…

“Fuck…Fuck it, just suck my cock, baby. Please.” He panted and she didn't have to be told twice. Y/N sunk down until she was right up against his little bed of pubic hair without a single second of hesitation and he groaned at the feeling of his cock pressing into the soft spot at the back of her mouth, “Fuck, that’s it, Y/N. Take my whole fucking cock.” He moaned as he watched through teary eyes, he was so overwhelmed and on edge as she dragged her mouth up and down his cock and he sucked the arousal off of her fingers “Rub on your clit for me.” He commanded and she was quick to bring her hand down and circle her swollen little bud, it caused her to moan around his cock, “Oh fuck, make me come, baby. Please make me come with that perfect mouth.” He panted as his fingers scrunched into the bed covers as she started to pick things up, “Shit, that’s it, Y/N. S’so fucking good…” he praised as she gulped and slightly gagged as she took him deeper. Her head game was other worldly as she she focused on the tip and teased and tongued at the spot he had guided her to previously. His abs and thighs were trembling as he neared his orgasm.

Y/N was also getting close as her fingers tickled her clit in quick little swishes. She wanted him to use her to get off, that would certainly help push her over the edge. She sucked at his tip fervently loving the way his moans and praises for her started to pour freely from his parted lips. She loved that he was already getting close, but she needed him to take over. She pulled off of him and he whined.

“Fuck my mouth. Please, want you t’fuck my mouth. Use me to get off.” She said and he frowned, looking like he was hesitant, “I was bad today, wasn’t I?” She asked and he groaned, “Use me, please. Teach me a lesson, daddy.” She pleaded and then immediately bit her lip in worry as the name just slipped out of her mouth. She froze for a second, unsure of how he would react, but Harry was just trying to collect himself. He’d always been curious about the daddy kink, but he didn’t want to ask someone to call him that, he wanted to earn that title from his partner. He wanted them to feel he was a daddy just as much as he felt he was one. And Y/N felt it as much as he did.

“Fuck, baby girl, daddy can fuck your mouth,” he said lowly as he reached his right hand around her head and she moaned as he started to push her down until she was back against his pubic hair and he held her down for a few seconds, feeling her throat bobbing around the tip of his cock without a single whine or sound of complaint, “Oh, fucking hell…” he hissed as he started to thrust up, getting deeper and deeper until she was moaning as her orgasm started to approach, “Shit, I’m about to come.” He warned, “Want it down your throat, like daddy’s good little cock slut? Hmmm?” He asked and she moaned louder in response, “Good girl, was gonna unload there anyway.” He grunted as he continued thrusting a bit more. She was barely breathing through her nostrils and was choking on his cock, the lack of air was making her feel lightheaded and that in tandem with her fingers blurring over her clit was making her start to unravel, “Fuck, here it comes, baby.” Harry grunted and a couple seconds later he was stilling and she felt the first warm spurt hit the back of her throat and she moaned as she started coming at the same time.

She moaned as his warm, creamy sperm filled up her mouth and it kept coming and coming because it had been a while and he had a lot to give. She was struggling to swallow it all down and what a shame that was because she was loving the taste. She moaned as she worked herself through her orgasm and his was lasting as long as hers, it was incredible and erotic and somehow intimate as he came down her throat but gently scratched at her scalp in soothing motions at the same time until he was whining from the sensitivity and let the grip on her head relax and she pulled back and swallowed the cum in her mouth before she inhaled sharply but never the less she was nuzzling against his cock, kissing and licking at it, still hard despite the huge come he just had. And she also kept rubbing at her clit, already feeling another orgasm coming on because this entire thing had been so sexy and she didn’t want it to end. Her tongue then lapped down at his balls and she started sucking at them as he moaned and groaned before she sucked one into her mouth. She then felt a little range of motion and opened up her eyes and glanced up to see Harry fisting at the tip of cock as she sucked at his balls.

“Fuck, keep going, baby. Got one more for you.” He panted and she moaned as that mere confession had her thighs trembling as she started to come undone again and he grinned as he watched her get herself off to the thought of him coming for her twice, but it couldn’t be helped, she was fucking phenomenal. He has no idea what came over him, but suddenly everything was feeling better and like it was orchestrated perfectly as he listened to his instincts, staving off his need to come until she removed her fingers from her sensitive clit, “Lay on the bed.” He said quickly and she did and he stood over her and continued jerking his cock off with his right hand as his left hand guided her to open up her legs for him and he looked at her sticky and fluttering pussy as he masturbated over her. He suddenly leaned down and opened his mouth and she was quick to bring her cum-coated fingers up for him to suck and he groaned as he tasted her, he loved her taste, “Oh fuck, gonna come.” He panted and pulled back a bit and he went around the corner of the bed, the spot he had been sitting when he was waiting for her and he knelt over her, “Close your eyes.” He warned and she did so quickly and then she felt the little spurt of warmth streak over her face and her lips, “S’mine, right?” He groaned and she moaned in response.

“Yes, daddy.” And then she felt another spurt trail from her breasts to her tummy.

“That’s mine too…oh shit.” He panted.

“Yes, fuck yes.” She whimpered and then he got off of the bed and she felt him stand back between her legs. And then his cum started painting over her spread out pussy and she moaned at the feeling.

“This little pussy’s all mine, too. Fuck, you’re all mine, aren’t you, baby?” He moaned as his orgasm coursed through him.

“Yes, daddy. I’m all yours.” She moaned again and then she felt his tongue over her cunt, licking up his mess. And he worked his tongue over every stream of his sperm that had painted her skin. She was completed covered in goosebumps and shivering under his sensual licks and touches, it made her feel completely unhinged. She was complete mush for him as he straddled her to be able to kiss and lick the cum off of her face and finally his lips smashed into hers ardently. She just wanted to be close to him and she hugged him tight as one of his hands gently landed over her throat and the other tangled into her damp hair.

They made out for what felt like ages and the heated kiss slowly started to slow down. He eased her out of it by transitioning them from the tongue-heavy make out into long and deep kisses and finally into shorter pecks and finally to those little eskimo kisses, he nuzzled and rubbed his nose against hers tenderly until her pretty eyes fluttered open and met his own. The way she was looking at him shook him deep into his core, but not in a way that frightened him, in a way that made him want to feel that way forever. She trusted him completely now, she’d let him in all the way. She looked perfect like this.

Y/N couldn’t think or even figure out what it was that she was feeling all she knew was that she felt completely at peace as she looked into his eyes but her body was so alert and alive. Like every cell in her body was feeling a euphoric rush but there was no other way to express that. She was trembling on the outside, but inside she felt like she was on fire, on fire for him. She saw him smile lightly at her and he then kissed her nose and she blinked slowly at him.

“Got you there, didn’t I?” He asked quietly and she just hugged him tighter, needing him to be closer. Even the sound of his voice was impacting her, she could feel it rolling through her like waves. Harry used one of his hands to slightly lift her up off of the bed and he sort of dragged them further up on the bed so that he could lay down too and she curled into him, “I’ve got you love. You were so good. Did so good for me.” He whispered as he squeezed her body reassuringly. She seemed to be getting impatient with feeling so out of sorts and tried to push herself up while still being all trembly and floaty and he smiled at her, “Hey, take your time, baby.” He said softly before kissing her forehead, “S’this your first time feeling like this?” He asked and she nodded, “OK, just hold me, breathe with me.” He said quietly, “Remember, like you had me breathe with you at the housewarming party? Just like that, baby.” He hummed comfortingly and after a few deep breaths Y/N buried her face against his throat and started to cry. He understood that this could be overwhelming and she had just dealt with so much stress from her family, “Shhhh, it’s OK. I’ve got you, love. I’m right here.” He comforted her softly with long rubs up her naked back.

“Oh my god, I don’t even know why I’m crying…” she whimpered against his throat and he smiled.

“Who cares, just feel it out, baby.” He continued reassuring her until a few minutes later she had collected herself enough, “Alright now?” He asked her and she nodded as she drew back with a slightly puffy face and a sniffle.

“Thank you.” She whispered and he leaned down and kissed her lips.

“Course, baby.” He smiled and after a moment of silence he spoke up again, “Was that OK? Did you like feeling that way?” He asked cautiously and she nodded, “That’s called subspace.” He explained gently and her eyes widened a bit, “When I asked you if you wanted me to take control of your pleasure this is what I meant. But I don’t have to try and get you there every time if you don’t like it.” He said, “I know it can be a lot and really take it out of some people.” He said. She had heard of all of this but it hadn’t ever happened to her before.

“What did you do to…get me there?” She asked him curiously.

“I didn’t do anything, I wasn’t even trying to do that at all actually.” He admitted, “I think it was a lot of things that could’ve led to that happening.” He said and she hummed, urging him to go on, “I know I’ve been holding back a bit from you and edging you like that, depriving you can get you feeling really desperate and on edge. And well on top of that you let me take the reigns, just left it all up to me, and well you’ve been under a lot of stress and were having big emotions…Maybe subconsciously you knew that you just needed to surrender and I think when the mix of all of these things was just right it caused you to slip into subspace.” He theorized and she hummed pensively.

“As the person in charge do you ever feel that way?” She asked.

“No, not really. There is this thing called topspace though, not everyone believes it’s a thing, but I think that happened to me. Like towards the end there when I…came all over you,” He said a bit timidly, “Like I wasn’t even thinking of doing that I was just flowing with what felt right and I wanted everything to be so good for you and yeah, it just felt like what you needed and so I did it and it felt really good and not even because I was having an orgasm, but just because I could see what it was doing to you and…I don’t know,” he chuckled, “That’s never happened to me before.” He confessed and she leaned up and kissed him.

“Well, intentional or not that was incredible and I would be OK if we tried getting there again.” She said and he smiled down at her.

“OK, baby.” He said before squeezing her tight and groaning, “I’m really going to miss you while I’m gone.”

“Me too.” She frowned, “You can call though, whenever you want.” She said and he smiled.

“You already said it! No take-backsies.” He chuckled and she giggled.

“Nope, no take-backsies.” She grinned.

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iwritefanficsnottragedies · 4 years ago

Text

Fred Weasley

Request: None

Prompt: "My mum asked about you again"

***

Forgotten in a corner of the library, their books and parchments scattered all over the table, 4 students were restlessly doing their homework.

"Can't this be done already?" one of them broke the silence, so sudden it startled the others. "Bloody hell, it's been over 3 hours!"

"We're almost done, Ron, no need to get so loud," Hermione scoffed, "besides, you barely did anything."

"I assume Hermione and I could finish it in the morning. It's getting quite late and Madam Pince isn't looking quite fondly at us," (Y/N) sighed, feeling her eyelids heavy.

A yawn from Ron made Hermione groan. "I doubt we'd get much done tonight anyway, let's just go then."

Not long after, the 4 of them found themselves on the nearly empty halls of Hogwarts, on their way to the Gryffindor common room. They walked in silence, the tiredness from a full day finally getting the best of all of them. That is, until Ron broke the silence once more.

"(Y/N)," he said, making the (H/C) girl turn her head, "are you sure you don't want to come over for Christmas?"

"No, Ron, it's alright. I don't wanna be a bother," (Y/N) smiled kindly at the ginger.

"Nonsense! You know mum loves to have you over and i wouldn't have asked if I didn't want you there."

"Plus me and Ginny could use some more girl company around, we need all the help to stop these two from getting in trouble," Hermione added. She playfully pushed (Y/N)'s shoulder, making them both chuckle for a bit, time in which Harry finally broke his silence.

"And I'm sure theres someone else who'd love to have you there," he muttered in a whisper soft enough that only Ron heard him over the laughter of the girls. He elbowed Harry, shooting him a warning glance. The brunet shrugged, but kept silent all the same.

"See?" the youngest Weasley boy started, "you have to come. My mum's gonna kill us if we destroy something again. And i do mean anything."

"I'll... I'll think about it," (Y/N) offered shyly. As much as she wanted to go, she felt like she would intrude. But there was something really pushing her to go. Or rather someone...

After a while, the girls were settled in their beds, ready to sleep, or at least (Y/N) was. Hermione seemed to be in the mood for a bit of an interrogation.

"So what's the real reason you don't wanna come?" the young witch asked.

(Y/N) laid quiet for a moment, unsure of the answer herself. She reflected silently. Her parents were more than willing to let her spend Christmas at the Burrow, her closest friends would be there. So why was she refusing really? She didn't have a reason other than the feeling that a certain brother of Ron's, Fred, to be more specific, didn't want her around.

It all started during her visit the previous summer. The holiday was coming to an end and Harry had just arrived at The Burrow. The younger Weasleys, Hermione and (Y/N) spent most of their time together till that point, but when Harry arrived, his 3 best friends spent the rest of the evening with him. Catching up, making jokes and whatnot. Night fell quickly and while the other 3 weren't as tired, (Y/N) managed to fall asleep, right on Harry. They didn't have the heart to bother her until Fred woke up, coming downstairs.

"I should take her upstairs" the twin said, making the others turn to him.

"No, it's ok. I don't mind it," Harry smiled, his arm resting around (Y/N).

"Nonsense," Fred scowled, not leaving Harry any room for protest, before scooping (Y/N)'s sleeping figure off the bed and carrying her to Ginny's room.

The next day, (Y/N) woke up surprised to find herself in bed and even more surprised to find out Fred was the one who brought her there. She went to thank him, finding him eating breakfast, but he barely acknowledged her.

"No worries," he nodded, not even glancing up from his plate.

And from then on, what was quite a beautiful friendship turned into distance between the 2. (Y/N) never understood, Fred never gave her time to ask.

The (H/C) girl was brought back from memory lane by Hermione's words.

"Will you answer before I die of old age please?"

"I don't know what to tell you, Hermione. I don't have an actual reason."

But Hermione knew better than that. It was with good reason she was comsidered the brightest witch of her age.

"I'm sure Fred wouldn't mind if you'd come. And even if he does, the rest of us want you to come. So please, change your mind. Please? For me at least?" The brown haired girl begged.

(Y/N) smiled. She knew her best friend would put her thoughts into words better than herself. But she still felt bad. After all, she didn't even know what she did.

"I don't know, Hermione, I don't wanna make empty promises."

The room fell into silence soon after, both girls too tired to go on.

The next day came and went faster than expected, and soon dinner was served. With Hermione's words from the previous mind still on her mind, (Y/N) realised she haven't seen Fred the entire day. She scanned The Great Hall for him, but there was still no sign of the redhead.

"Where could he be?" she wondered, seeing his twin a few chairs away, seemingly not missing his brother.

Her question got answered shortly afterwards though, when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"May I speak with you?" Fred asked.

(Y/N) nodded and hurried to follow Fred, who was already halfway out the door. She followed him to their common room, not making a sound.

Fred sat down on a couch, motioning for (Y/N) to sit next to him.

"My mum asked about you again," he said. "She wants to know why you arent coming over for Christmas."

"Oh, it's just... you already have guests and there would be so many people, i don't wanna be a b-"

"I talked to Hermione," he intervened,"She told me why you don't want to come."

(Y/N) blushed, that meant he knew he's the sole reason. And the sad tone in his voice only made the girl feel worse.

"I don't wanna be there if it troubles you in any way."

"It doesn't, (Y/N), and I'm sorry if that's the impression I gave you." For the first time in months, Fred turned his head to look (Y/N) in her eyes. "I promise you, that's not it, I'd love it if you'd come."

"Looks like quite the opposite to me," (Y/N) frowned.

Fred let out a puff of air as he looked down at his hands. He knew well how he's been acting with (Y/N) these past few months. Though he wouldn't admit it, he was ready to flee even then from the room, go away, as far away as possible from the younger girl. Poor (Y/N) had no idea how hard it has been for Fred. Keeping himself away from someone he actually cares about was just as hurtful for him as it was for her. But he couldn't let himself fall into unrequited feelings. He remembered when things started to change.

It was the end of July and they were all home at the Burrow, when someone knocked on their door. He opened it to reveal a sun-kissed (Y/N), with a big smile on her face, a smile that gave him butterflies. Her eyes shinning bright, her rosy cheeks, everything about her, it changed everything for him. The child- his little brother's best friend- had disappeared and instead there stood (Y/N) in a whole new light, transformed into a guilty dream, an innocent desire for romance, all with one look. She hugged him and for a moment he wasn't at the Burrow anymore. He was in his own mind-made world, just for the two of them. The moment lingered for a just a bit, not nearly enough, and he was abruptly brought to reality by Ginny's excited screams, by the loss of (Y/N)'s arms around him as she hurried to Ginny.

Fred wanted more moments like these. He spent his summer longing for them, doing everything in his power to get them. Day by day, he grew more fond of (Y/N), day by day he observed her, gazed at her like she was a piece of art, never to be touched.

One evening, after the house had quieted down, Fred and his mum cleaned up after dinner in amiable silence for a while until she broke the silence. "Young love," she said, looking up at him, "it is the sweetest of all."

"Hmm?" Fred turned to face his mother.

"I know my children, Fred, and I watch over them. A mother's eyes see things others can't."

Fred continued to look at Molly, unsure of what she was talking about.

"Go talk to her, Fred, you can't just watch her like she's gonna fall into your arms." His mother laughed, but her son was far from laughter.

He froze as realisation dawned upon him. That was it. Infatuation. He had fallen for (Y/N) and he'd fallen hard. And oh, how his dreams shattered now, as it all turned to reality. His little dream was now this cruel world and he couldn't bring it here.

His thoughts wandered for some time before he heard Molly's voice, loud enough to bring the whole house downstairs.

"Harry, dear!"

It was a few hours later and Fred couldn't sleep. (Y/N) wouldn't leave his mind, but not in the same fairytale way it did before. Concerns about what he could do, what she would do if she knew- all of these imagined scenes kept him restless and wide awake.

Maybe a glass of water would help, he thought and so he made his way downstairs. And what he saw made his stomach hurt just enough to be a bother. He knew Harry and (Y/N) better than to think anything of it, but someone touching her, being so close to her, someone who isn't him, pained him.

"Bloody jealousy."

"Jealousy? Who are you jealous of?" (Y/N) asked in confusion, bringing Fred out of his thoughts. Fred swallowed dryly, realising he'd said that out loud. He didn't know if now was the right time to share his feelings or not.

Luckily for him, a commotion could be heard very close by and soon the door to the common room swung open.

"Fred!" He heard his twin brother yelling his name, giving him a chance to swallow his feelings just a little longer.

"I'm sorry, (Y/N), i gotta go. But please reconsider coming over for Christmas. I'd love it if you would join us."

And with that he exited the room, leaving (Y/N) as confused as ever and he, conflicted and at odds with himself. But it could wait. He had waited until then, what's a few more days, weeks, months. Perhaps it would pass...

________________________________________

Hope you enjoyed! Let me know if you'd like a part 2.

Requests are open, just send me what character you want and a prompt as long or short as you'd like!

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madfantasy · 3 years ago

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I haven't seen you post in a while, I hope you've been doing okay? How is everything? Hope it's been a good year so far for you 💕💕

You're too kind, u & everyone who made inquiries, bless ur hearts.. im sorry for disappearing, but yeah, I don't have net— using my phone credit and hope this posts..

I tried to record my voice answering this, like I sometimes did on tik, suddenly ended up trying to muffle the floods of my burning tears, so now I have an awkward vid of me talking then weeping out of nowhere, which a good reason for me to keep up the no cry habit, heh.. but seriously, I suppose I'm fine till I be conscious of it.. its much easier for not to talk .. even tho I'm aching to be back in thy company, lonely in my foresight to catch on to the present that joins us, hand held out to reach like minded souls but shying from the fear of forgetfulness occurring..

I'm fine tho, did few new stuff, merely drowning in too muchness and nothingness as usual, this month I guess you could say I took an act of mad fury in search of any happy source because the echoing silence and the swarm of sadness nipping on my brain cells thickened, and the reasoning merged with the obscene. So instead of giving my guardians the usual of 3/4 of my earnings last month for net and groceries, I spent it all. Ya know, as it was told to me it mine to do as I please? As being prevented any chance of work if it was possible, 't was supposed to be spent on art supplies & measly delights craved for years ?

Before hand, I've been begging them to take me for months to get any clothing or whatever, be it the first time I ever see a shop, then just to drive around, then just me peaking to the outside when the front door is open, merely seeking change I suppose. They kept vaguely promising me until they refused point blank— getting tired of my nagging, then their car just stopped working till this day. Its in the workshop rn..

Anyway, befouled by despair, needing the mere basics of life and not granted, I was delighted when i found a site to buy from cheap & pretty, I pressed buy without any further considerations, or taking their permission and thrilled to be able get gifts for my siblings too. I say gifts but really they are deprived necessities too and not even much just one each cuz well, they are 5 of my babies and to start with the top of priorities; we all draw

I could already see it, they can't help themselves; heck seeped through the clenched gates of their mouths, trying desperately to poison me with undirect attempts this time, cuz I bought for my sibs they're out of the option of calling me selfish. I was upping the same trance like state of vague existence dealing with them, absorbing their insults and degrading just to make sure my shi arrives safe.

Unfortunate for me, the site chose the worst carrier in this country

I did everything in my power to make it into their convenience, by embarrassingly messaging the carrier daily, they took a week of promising to deliver and flanking so my guardians reached a heated level of threatening, waving their hands nd almost tossing shi at mE saying that they don't care if they came and if i dared to order something again they'll do this and that. Not allowing me to open the door for the delivery guy when he comes, blaming me for missing vaccination dates (they kept missing them even before)& missing going to important places(again, they just didn't go to for ages), made them loose sleep, etc etc— in turn, I seen red and regretfully blew up.

I screamed at them its literally the only time I ever did this, it BECAUSE it easier on them & I'll do what I want whatever anyway, & to stop interrupting me while I try to explain things , then they suddnly back done and be like I'm not mad at u I'm mad at the delivery ppl, that they are proud of me for being able to do all this, and such sort. I left them to cool in my room, Idk how I did it but must have slam-gripped something so hard it chipped most of my short nails & cracked one, was glad I didn't hurt my drawing hand but yeah, goofy mani

They robbed me of the joy of anticipation & the dissipation of apathy, I started to lose sleep again and my liberating dreams left me and I don't think I remember leaving bed.

But still, If not force myself to do things.. there'll be nothing for me if I don't.. at least I know im able of that

I got my guardians happy tho after another tiresome refusal, by trying out one of those Uber-eat like local apps here, since they have no car and being disabled & ill, I ordered McDonald's for the first time. Slythry behind their backs per habit, told them someone coming and they had that look again, but thankfully the guy came through and didn't steal my money, heh. For a big 1800 calories meal I suppose it was passable, the happy fam faces I got was the real treat..

Oh with that thing with the credit card stating I owe them money, waited weeks & nobody got back to us? They started taking from my guardian's account directly to pay it, saying oh we did send you warnings--- TO THE SHADOWY LINES OF THEIR POSTERIOR A.K.A NOWHERE. Thankfully the account is mostly empty nd just for random transactions, i alerted my guardians not to use it. And again, my god, another round of endless calls and promises started, and we wait again so they just don't act as if we owe them a frking 17k dollars that we don't have.. was panicking cuz I have nothing and but my guardians were weirdly comforting about it and told me not to worry

One thing good bout no net is it made me stop thinking about life in general, and stop the tiny unnoticeable prick of misery when I have no input to share, trying not to helplessly compare people just living, in inflated style or not, in media, to my isolated-most-of-my-life style and missing much of that organic "life experiences and chances", heh. At least, my situation would be favorable to me if it was ever possible for it to let me have peace, or have the simple knowledge I'm not virtually imprisoned and have never familiarised with nothing of this world but the surrounding walls.. its nice to have more time to be consumed by muse and day dreaming that flutters life through my dull being and sing chorus of inspiring means for art to flow and finds its way delicately onto my realised canvas.. but no, I continued drawing whilst sight blurred with salty droplets contradicting that happy tintin dance on tiktok I worked so long on just cuz I couldn't stop, not the tears or the mad scribbles of determined intention to visualise the mourned excitement I need, hating everything I make

Somehow the lilac dream still intrudes, visualising me friends, living, in a quaint home, maybe we roommate, arm in arm we go to make every fracture of fate's encounters a disgusting adventurous thrill, like building a maze of cardboard or chasing each other in the dark.. maybe getting that half bleached head and endless ear pericings ... then it dies and I totally forget it..

But what those awesome headphones helped me do, literally blocks all their voices listening to Sev losing it and I can Waltz around not feeling gutted to go and interfere or play the referee each time. But I can't wear them forever, gives me a bad headache, and honestly; I can't be too neglectful.. my sibs hates me for it already hehe

At least these clothing came true to their measurements, felt the new sensations on how everything I wore hugs me & learnt the baffling ways on how "gender" and region plays different tunes on the same measurements. Getting fitting things felt like suddenly there's hope to be, for myself to be me, and ease this severe disassociation between who I am, and what my body is .. from how little I see myself nd consider it worthy of anything because of how long it been living like a phantom among people.. to numb this dysphoria until it be gone one day

Saddened that the only site I can't order from again if they keep using that awful carrier

...

I missed our country's 91 national day, too. They made sales everything 91 riyal so.. but knowing the sellers here, I don't think most of em went true with their offers.. Horrible news tho on the celebrations, sigh

I turned this into a dear diary, guess bothered you enough today, sorry

So thankful to yous, Idk if I can be back, but I'll remain creating, and will keep the thought alive of being tickled when sharing my creations with your viewing pleasure somehow

'till then my precious dears, take care 💛🙏

26.9.2021, 8 pm, sleeping

#ask #text #diary #personal #my art #miss

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kkyujikoo · 3 years ago

Text

These are my... 2...? Maybe 50, cents about the whole "freejk" thing. I'm gonna be extremely petty and at some points a whole lot sarcastic and it's gonna be long but I had to say it. As soon as I get my computer I'm gonna make it under read more, but the app does whatever it wants, as we know.

Listen, this ain't my first fan rodeo, and not even the first fan rodeo where I've been directly or indirectly accused of being some sort of pervert or delulu. I've been in fandom spaces since I was a teen, I was shipping mlm couples when queerbaiting in TV shows was still something that was seen as the norm rather than some cheap disgusting trick. I was there when fanfic spaces saw "slash" fics as something "different" and to be tagged with a more mature rating even when they just looked at each other.

I was in BBC's Sherlock's fandom and I shipped Johnlock during the hiatus between S3 and S4, at this point I'm not even feeling it when people call me delulu or a weirdo.

So, yeah, take this with a grain of salt: as a person who has seen thousands of times fandom drama unfolding and has lived too much of it... This whole situation is so ridiculous it makes me laugh. Like, yeah, it's maddening how people will blame anyone and everyone because they don't even see their own bias and homophobia, granted, but like... It also makes me laugh for the sheer dumbassery of the reasoning behind it all?

Like... Y'all are getting mad and for what? Because it sure as hell isn't the invasion of privacy, since y'all are watching the same content we're all watching and you're paying to see it the same way everyone else is. If you don't want to "invade their privacy", you should just... Stop watching content that isn't their music videos, RUN episodes or interviews. Memories and any kind of dvd/video that shows what they're doing behind the scenes shouldn't be part of their job as musicians, and therefore we're intruding in their privacy... Or aren't we?

Or maybe it's more nuanced than that: maybe the content they release on dvd/on their official channels is part of their job as entertainers, and it's been approved, and it's a small window THEY are granting us.

You know what's the REAL invasion of privacy and what REALLY invalidates someone autonomy? When you, who maybe aren't even paying to see that content (which is something I understand, like, dude, I'm not covered in money either), DEMAND what kind of behind the scenes content you want when I swear ABSOLUTELY NO ONE has asked you. Once again: you don't like it? You think it's some huge invasion of privacy? Don't buy it. Don't interact with it. Convince your friends to do the same. For all I care, just go and petition to boycott this kind of content. I know you won't do it, because... That's the thing, isn't it? It's not the invasion of privacy that bothers these people.

Y'all aren't mad because we get into their business or else you would have gotten real mad when we were privy to REAL private moments like people crying their hearts out.

No, no. Y'all are mad because it's "shipping content" and "fanservice" which apparently bothers you because it lacks authenticity.

Pick a side, lovelies: either you DON'T want to invade their privacy, and thus all the content they release should be focused on what fans want to see, or you WANT to know how they interact TRULY in private.

And here's the catch: "shipping content" can be anything. Shipping existed WAAAAAYYY before the word for it was invented, same way with fanfictions. Shipping means, literally, "seeing two (or more) people interact and thinking they would make a good romantic pair". That's it. That's quite literally it. Everything else is just some nuance of the concept of shipping, but at its core, it's nearly impossible to ban all shipping content when it's a group of seven people, because they should for real go in social distancing mode to do so. Most people who have parasocial relationships tend to have "ships" whether they know it or not, because we've all, at least once, looked at a dynamic from the outside and thought "oh man they look cute together". So, even if, o dear ones, your wishes were granted... What the hell do you mean by "shipping" content? Should they just film solo clips, avoiding talking about the other members? But wouldn't that be fanservice, since it's focused on pleasing the fans? (Which, ultimately, is what fanservice MEANS, and I hate to break it to y'all but the whole concept behind entertainment and thus all the content BTS releases it's... For the fans. Like, they're not going out of their way to just meet our expectations but they're certainly doing fanservice by the mere act of releasing bonus content.)

But it's not even quite that, is it? Because no one bats an eye if it's Tae kissing Nj's cheek. I've seen no hashtag against everyone - and I mean literally every one of them - wolf whistling at Nj. It's okay to show intimacy... Because they're bandmates and it's okay to be close to someone who you see basically 24/7, I hear you. And it's also okay when people see that and gush over that closeness, because it's such a nice thing to see.

Soooooo... We've got to free JK from whom exactly? From what?

Are y'all mad cause people pointed out there's very little way a bruise that stayed for a whole ass night could be a quick bite? Because that doesn't harm jk, at most makes fun of him and jimin and their poor excuses (seriously, guys, next time consider using mosquitoes or "I was doing stuff". It'll be equally embarrassing but at least the meme will be funny), and it's literally... A fair observation. Like. It's a hickey, people are gonna make jokes about seeing a hickey and poor excuses of covering it up in the exact same way they're gonna make jokes over jimin falling out of chairs. And yeah, a hickey is AT LEAST something that happens in a sensual context. Like, I could understand "people who are extremely familiar with each other will have different body language/touch in areas where usually you wouldn't see friends touching each other", but that's not. Not a hand on the thigh. It's a hickey on the neck. I don't even know a more stereotypical placing for a hickey. But once again, are y'all mad because someone is pointing it out? Because that's not being delulu or even being a shipper, really, it's just commenting on something that was approved to be shown and discussed in something that was released BY THEM.

Are y'all mad at hybe for showing something that literally fell onto their hands? Cause like, unless someone (I'm counting on Jimin, since as we know Jungkook was busy spinning him round and round and had both his hands busy) called at hybe headquarters to say "yo bang pd substitute, is it okay if I give my friend jk here a hickey? Cause he's being really annoying rn and he has to pay", I highly doubt anyone expected Jungkook to come to rehearsal all neatly marked up. Or idk, maybe someone at hybe asked them "we need Jungkook to come in with a hickey but refuse to say it's a hickey, so that fans will feel reeeeally served." That sounds perfectly plausible too. Or a good marketing strategy.

Now, if you're a big company and your objective is to have some footage of the rehearsals for a concert, and the fandom is too good at noticing stuff for their own good, and one of your artists comes in with a very visible mark, and he and his bff bropal4lyfe come n with a story about how they were playing and a bite happened, you've got three choices: 1. Cut the artist out of aaaaalll the footage. Someone would have noticed the "bite mark" anyway, you best believe that. If you don't want anyone to notice it, you gotta cut him in most of the footage where it's visible. 2. Keep the hickey, discard the explanations. You could do that, but also it would feel a lot more unfaithful to everyone involved. Also they clearly worked their ass off to invent an explanation, come on! They truly tried to do their best inventing something that was not "it's a mosquito bite", they should get some credit! 3. Keep the bite, keep the explanation.

Notice how none of these solutions include the biting never happening because... They couldn't prevent it? The only thing they have any control over is how they're framing each "accident". And that's not an easy job.

I applaud you, people on the editing team.

So... On whom should we cast the blame now? Ah, yes, I think it's finally time for the ultimate scapegoat of this fandom: Jimin. Which is funny, cause... You know... If this were really about privacy, or being "victims" of shipping... This should be about freeing him too, you know? But obviously Jimin does it for attention, while Jungkook, poor angel that he is, doesn't even know what shipping is.

Furthermore, don't we all know how much Jimin imposes himself in Jungkook's life? To the point where he, multimillionaire man feels compelled to share a car with Jimin even if they're both late in the process. And can't you see how uncomfortable he is, draping himself over Jimin, making Jimin drap himself over him?

Oh lordy, truly such an awful eight years Jungkook spent, choosing to have vacations with someone who made him uncomfortable, spending free time with him, even having to suck his ear in public to the point you can see his saliva just because Jimin was sad :( truly an all-around bad time for Jungkook, as evidenced by alllll those times when he said Jimin was pretty, cute, and all-around knowing every little thing about Jimin. I absolutely concur, the dude would be so much more happy if jimin was not in his life.

Did that sound weird and absolutely ridiculous and a really absurd joke? Because that's what y'all sound like to me. Like. Jungkook is out there living his best life, getting hickeys and showered in affection and y'all paint him as a fucking martyr??? I'm sure he's really truly desperate that Jimin holds him in such high regards 😭😭😭 I can see him suffering whenever he starts doing his own serendipity rendition 😭😭 and when he claimed you are me, I am you as his and Jimin's only 😭😭😭 I cannot believe this poor baby 😭😭😭

I've reached a point where every time I hear this stuff I laugh because the levels of twisting reality when it comes to jikook are extraordinary, Jungkook will have a literally blissed out face and people will cry in outrage.

But coming back to my point: let's pretend you're not mad at Jimin and the possibility that jikook are dating: are y'all mad... At the hickey? Because at this point it seems like the only feasible solution. And if you are, do not worry: I'm sure Jungkook's skin was throughly healed by his boo. A kiss soothes even the worst pain, doesn't it?

#jikook #that freejk dumbassery

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aaronhotchnersquarterzip · 4 years ago

Text

Meeting You Flipped the World Upside Down - Or Maybe Just Mine

So I’ve decided I’m gonna start posting the finished fic on here. I hope y’all enjoy it as much as I do :)

Summary: Reader has been a rut, stuck in a never ending cycle of college worries and job interviews. Never did she think that SSA Aaron Hotchner, or Agent as she likes to call him, would walk into her favorite late night diner and flip her world upside down. And he for sure didn't expect to fall in love so quickly with the soon to be college grad. They navigate finding love and working together to rediscover what that means for each of them.

Pairing: Aaron Hotchner X Female Reader

Word Count: 1.2K

The Diner

I quite literally had nothing to do. I swear the couch had an indent from where I had sat for, minimum, the past week. There were three months before the new semester started and I was nonstop scouring for a part-time job in the area. Whilst all my friends partied the summer away I was stuck in my parents house so I could at least live three months rent free. As I was approaching my senior year at Cornell, I carried an impressive amount of student loans to my name. I worked several jobs to keep myself afloat during the year but for some reason I had no luck the past few months. With a sigh I closed my laptop for the third time that evening and decided to go for a late night drive. My tiny Subaru sped through the Virginia freeways until I ended up on the edge of D.C.

This wasn’t the first time I drove into the city at such a random time, 2:54 to be exact. There was a 24 hour diner just outside the city that I frequented on nights like these, I guess subconsciously I wanted a milkshake and some fries. Sure, McDonalds would've been more convenient, smarter too, but where's the fun in that? I sat down in a booth facing the entrance so I could have a clear view of my surroundings. Something my former Marine father instilled in me at a young age, never have your back to the enemy. Nobody had ever bothered you before at the diner so you weren't on high alert when the bell rang, signaling someone had walked in. It was only when you heard his voice did you acknowledge his presence. He was talking to the waitress about what she recommended at the time like this, going on about how he wanted something sweet.

“The chocolate milkshake does me wonders at 3 am,” you yelled over with a smile. One he returned.

“One chocolate milkshake then please.” After ordering he promptly stood up and walked over to your booth. “Would you mind if I sat?”

You thought for a few moments. He didn’t look like a threat, hell, what serial killer orders a milkshake at 3:15 in the morning on a Wednesday. It was best not to think about statistics actually, this would be a pretty good ploy. As if he sensed your hesitancy, he reached into his suit jacket and pulled out his badge.

“SSA Aaron Hotchner, I don’t want to intrude but it's hard to avoid the presence of such a beautiful woman so close to me.” Damn, well now I had to let him sit with me.

“Flattery will get you nowhere Agent,” you smirked while gesturing for him to take the seat across from you. “I’m Y/N Y/L.”

The waitress appeared moments later with his milkshake and smiled at the both of you before walking back into the kitchen.

Taking a sip on his milkshake he smiled up at you, “thank you for the suggestion Y/N. Now what brings you into a diner this early in the morning? You can’t be much older than a junior in college.”

“Sometimes you just need a break from reality. I could ask you the same question, Agent but I don’t think you’ll give me a clear answer either.” He raised his eyebrows at your remark, testing you. “Unless I pegged you wrong Agent, so tell me, what are you doing here?”

“I certainly like the break from reality answer, but you’re right there's always something more. I just got back from a case and my son was already asleep at his aunt's house, I figured I could use the distraction. An empty house isn’t the most comforting.” You nodded along, knowing all too well the feeling of being alone. When you weren't at home you were normally holed up in the campus library or in your apartment. Your roommate during the semester was nice and all but you both had your own lives, mainly she had one.

“Trying to find a job that will utilize my education is draining, I needed a break from the constant rejection. A real mood killer.”

“What do you study and where?” When you entered this conversation you did not expect some real interest. This was beginning to feel like the small talk part of a first date, something you’re way too accustomed to lately.

“Cornell studying economics.” You slowly sipped on your straw and pushed your fries toward the center of the table to share with Aaron. “I want to work for HUD, although that's nothing compared to the FBI Agent Hotchner.” You smirked and winked at the man.

“It’s certainly not unimpressive though, you should be proud, honestly. The FBI isn’t all it's cracked up to be, it has its moments but I feel satisfaction from what I do. That's what matters in the end isn’t it?”

“I was a federal prosecutor before I joined the FBI, being able to stop criminals in the act grants me more satisfaction than reading their case files and presenting it in front of a jury. I feel like I do more good this way.”

Never in a million years did you think this was what you were going to walk into when you got in your car hours prior. How in the world did this seemingly kind hearted man, and not unattractive as well, walk up to you of all people. You stared in awe as he drank his milkshake. I guess you were staring far too long because all of a sudden his voice boomed in your ears again.

“You still here? I know I can be pretty boring.” He smirked and snapped his fingers in front of your face making your cheeks tint a shade of red. “Yeah yeah of course I am. Sorry about that, I guess the time is starting to get to me.” You chuckled slightly and shifted under his soft gaze. “You aren’t boring Aaron, in fact you’re the opposite. I haven’t talked to anyone so passionate about what they do. It’s - It’s inspiring, really.” Your body reacted on impulse and reached across the table for his free hand, holding it over the table.

Both of you seemed just as shocked at your actions, making you quickly let go and cough to try and ease the awkwardness in the air. Luckily, the waitress came by with both of your checks at the exact right time. Before you could reach into your wallet Aaron had already placed his card out and handed the waitress both of your bills.

“Aaron, I am capable of paying for my own food.” You still smiled at the sentiment.

“I am well aware that you are capable, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to thank you for your company.” He swiftly grabbed your hand in the same fashion you had earlier, except this time you didn’t pull away.

“There were other ways to thank me, Agent.” Summoning all of your confidence, you reached for his phone and quickly typed your name and number into it. “Don’t be afraid to use it, Agent. I’ll be waiting.” And with that, you winked and walked out of the diner without a glance back.

And man, were you hoping he would use it soon.

#aaron hotchner fanfic #aaron hotchner fanfiction #aaron hotchner #aaron hotchner x reader #aaron hotchner x female reader #criminal minds #hotch fanfiction #hotch x reader #hotch x you #fluff

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my-unmanageable-mischief · 4 years ago

Text

New Norm Part 2

Hello!!! I’m back with the highly requested part 2 of my New Norm series. I am defiently open to a part 3 as well if people continue to enjoy it. Not too too much ‘plot’ here, just getting back to school while trying to navigate a new relationship. Some tender moments, and some very cuddly Sirius. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did writing it!!

Part 1

Sirius Black x Reader

The last few weeks of summer we’re the longest and most brutal weeks of your life, and for the first time you felt you understood Sirius and how he became the lighthearted boy he portrayed daily at Hogwarts. When dealing with trauma, and Merlin his mother was traumatizing, people adapted in different ways. Never have you seen such polar reactions as you saw with Sirius and the dutiful Regulus.

Sirius spent the first week you were living at Black Manor picking fight after fight with his mother. Not that she didn’t start her own plethora of ‘disagreements’. You could tell Sirius got something significant out of disobeying her and making her angry, much to your demise; as the woman began taking it out on you as well. She would nitpick you worse than your own grandmother. Sit up straight, ladies shouldn’t speak out of turn (Not that she didn’t do plenty of speaking), and most recently, a wife should know how to cook. So you spent hours of your day locked up with the awful Kreacher in the kitchen.

After a conversation one evening in hushed voices, curled up under the covers he had apologized to you.

“I’m sorry about my mother,”

“Sirius, it isn’t your fault,” You assured, playing with a loose string of his duvet.

“I don’t help it,” He admitted, staring up at the ceiling. Your hands paused and you turned your head to look at him sadly.

“Maybe not, but I can’t blame you either. She’s a witch, and I mean that as an insult. Like the Snow White kind.” Sirius turned to you making a face.

“What’s a Snow White?” You chuckled, shaking your head.

“Oh nevermind, just.. God I know it’s easier said than done, but, try and ignore her? We’ll be back at Hogwarts in no time, away from her. And then my mother said next summer we will have our own home.” Sirius gazed at you for a moment before turning away to look at the ceiling again. He didn’t answer, though you gave him room to do so. Finally you stopped your fiddling with the string and reached over, taking his hand in yours and squeezing.

“We’ll be alright.” You promised him as well as yourself. You had to be, you had no choice. Sirius squeezed your hand back and didn’t let it go for the rest of the night. Eventually silence ebbed into static breathing and light snores, and when the sun peeked through the window, you were still in bed, fast sleep, hands clasped. Sirius woke up first that morning and laid there for a while longer as you slept. He remembered his vows, that he would protect you, and that included from his own mother. If that meant becoming complacent in her demands for these next few weeks- that was something he was willing to do. For you.

Finally the morning of September 11th, 1978 came, it was a cool morning for the end of summer, but sunny. You and Sirius were dropped promptly at Kings Cross station, receiving lectures on behavior. Sirius and his father shared a few words in private that left him scowling for a good majority of the morning, even after you had found Potter, Pettigrew, and Lupin in one of the train compartments.

They eyed you funnily the entire train ride, and you did your best to ignore the gazes. Sirius had told you that he had told them about his wedding, but it was different now in person.

“So is she going to be hanging out with us now? All the time?” James eyed you skeptically and you raised your eyes from your novel to narrow them at the boy.

“She has ears, and is capable of responding to you herself.” Sirius glanced at you, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. It was the closest you’d seen him to smiling since you boarded, and that fact was not lost on the other Marauders.

“Are you going to be hanging around all the time now?” He asked, pouting slightly. James Potter could have received straight Os if being a git was a class at Hogwarts, but you knew he was also a sweet and caring boy, when he wasn’t being 17. You had a feeling he wasn’t keen on sharing his best mate, not that you blamed him.

“James, she’s my wife now.” Sirius muttered, glancing out of the window. Potter made a face.

“I know and it's weird.” You rolled your eyes, opening your book back up and slouching in your seat.

“And you think that is lost on us? We know it’s weird. We’re living it.” James looked ready to continue but Remus cleared his throat and gave him a warning look. A silent conversation you weren’t privy too took place between the two boys and James shrugged, going back to his Quidditch magazine. You finally reached the doors to the Great Hall hours later and Sirius turned to you.

“Sitting with us?” He asked, you looked past him to James and shook your head.

“I think I’ve intruded on boy time quite enough for one day, I’m going to go find my dorm mates.” You admitted, James had the decency to look guiltily at his feet.

“Alright, I’ll see you later.” You hadn’t kissed since you were pronounced man and wife, but you had taken to holding hands in rare private moments you had gotten together. He reached out to you, allowing his hand to awkwardly drop onto your shoulder. He squeezed before letting go and you offered him a smile before turning to go find your friends, you had missed them.

That night was the first night you had not eaten together in a month, and it was weird for you. You glanced down the table a few times, making eye contact with Sirius. When your eyes would meet he’d smile at you reassuringly, and you always returned it. Meanwhile, your friends gushed about how lucky you were, married to the most gorgeous, the most wanted man at Hogwarts. You didn’t feel very lucky, nor did you think they could understand. So you smiled and nodded, and laughed, like things were how they always were. But they were not. They never would be.

When you entered the common room that night Sirius and his crew were already sitting in their seats closest to the fire, Sirius waved you towards him, but you were in the middle of a (dull) conversation with your friends about whose bum had gotten the fittest over the summer, so you shrugged, going to sit with them. About half an hour later someone approached your group and you looked up surprised to see Sirius.

“Y/N,” He greeted you, and you smiled.

“Hey, what’s up?” Your friends around you tried to stifle their giggles and hid smiles behind hands, something Sirius was used to, but for some reason, in that moment it bothered him. Were they laughing at him? Had you been laughing at him?

“Can we talk for a mo?” He asked, and for a moment he almost looked nervous, but mostly he looked slightly ticked off. You frowned. What had you done?

“Of course,” You nodded, getting up from the armchair you had been longing in. You followed Sirius silently through the common room, aware of his friend’s eyes on you as you went. You reached the corridor and he walked you a little further before sitting in an alcove. You sat with him.

“Are you angry with me?” He asked so suddenly it took a moment to process, your frown deepened.

“Merlin, no, should I be?” You asked, turning to face him, with your hands rested in your lap. He shrugged and wouldn’t look at you. “Have I done something to upset you, Sirius?” You asked gently. He shook his head no before shrugging.

“Why were your friends laughing at me? Why didn’t you sit with me?” He asked, and you sighed, taking his hand gently in yours, causing him to look at you.

“Because they think you’re cute,” You smiled slightly, nudging him, “And they think it’s brilliant I’ve gotten to marry you when half of Hogwarts would die to get ten minutes in a broom closet with you.” He smirked slightly, which made you feel better. That was the Sirius you knew. “And I didn’t sit with you because.. Because I am trying to give you space. This is new and scary. For both of us I’m sure. I don’t want you to feel like I’m smothering you, and I can tell James isn’t too keen on me, I don’t want him thinking I’m stealing his best mate.”

“But were different. I’m not married to James.” You laughed at that,

“I wouldn’t tell him that.” You joked and Sirius let out a small chuckle himself.

“You’re not smothering me. I... I enjoy you being around. I would like you to know my friends, they’re my real family after all.” You squeezed his hand again and he lifted your hand to his lips, kissing the back of it.

“I’ll sit with you lot more often then, just tell James to go easy on me. And don’t think I will be helping with any of your tomfoolery,” You chided jokingly, “My mother will have a cow,”

“Well good thing I’m your husband, I’m in charge of you now,” He grinned and you used your free hand to whack him.

“In charge of me?” You laughed, “Watch yourself, Black.”

“Oh Black huh? Well you’re Mrs. Black.” You froze at that, and something truly haunting dawned on you. Tomorrow classes started. You were no longer Ms. Y/L/N... would your teachers be calling you Ms. Black? If the whole school didn’t already know by now, they certainly would tomorrow.

“Penny for your thoughts?” He asked, resting your entwined hands in his lap.

“I’m Mrs. Black,” You repeated, he nodded, not catching on. “Everyone will call me such.”

“Does that upset you?” You shook your head.

“No no, not upset. I mean, everything is just different now? Even my name.”

“I don’t really fancy it either, don’t worry,” He joked, but you knew he was serious. “We can change it.”

“Sorry?”

“When you graduate, when we move and have jobs we can change it- to whatever you’d like.”

“I’m not sure your mother will allow that.” Sirius shook his head defiantly.

“Once I, well now you I suppose, graduate, I have no intention of doing anything that old bat has to say.” He puffed his chest out slightly, putting on an air of confidence. Your head swum slightly. If that were the case, wouldn’t you simply divorce? “Y/N,” He continued, voice lower and more gentle.

“Hm?”

“It’s going to be weird sleeping alone tonight,” He admitted sheepishly, glancing at your hands, “I’ve gotten quite used to you, I admit.” You smiled at that, leaning against him.

“I won’t miss the snoring,”

“Oi, I don’t snore!” He laughed and you grinned nodding your head.

“You do, love. But I will miss it too,”

“Come visit?” He asked wiggling his eyebrows at you again, you whacked him once more.

“No I think I’ll let you suffer, just for that.”

“Evil.”

“That’s me,” Sirius stood up, bringing you with him before releasing the hand he was holding to put his arm around your shoulder.

“Come sit with us?” He questioned, “I promise James will be good.” You nodded, leaning into the boy's touch.

“Alright, you’ve convinced me.” You spent the rest of your night at Sirius’s side.

James was civil but you could tell he still wasn’t fond of you or your newly added presence. From that moment forward you spent nearly all your time out of class with the group of boys. You found a friendship in Remus, he was a kind boy, with similar interests. You enjoyed studying together while the others mucked around, and you talked about literature together. Even James was coming around on you, though you two still bickered constantly. Sirius once called it “Sibling rivalry.” which made you laugh. But you could tell how fiercely James cared for Sirius, it made your heart feel warm, knowing he had people to look out for him. Even Peter wasn’t bad to be around, he was funny when he wasn’t being vulgar, though he loved making jokes about the fact that Sirius was now a married man and ‘on a leash,’.

You didn’t feel like Sirius was on a leash, and certainly not your leash. You were married by your parents' request, not dating. If he wanted to go snog some slag he was more then welcome to. At least that was the lie you told yourself. Girls continued to throw themselves at Sirius, I guess a wedding ring didn’t mean much to them, and you were increasingly more surprised every time he politely turned them down. You began to relax more, maybe he wouldn’t?

One evening you all sat in the boys dormitory. Peter was practicing chess, Remus was reading and taking notes. James was laying on his back at the foot of Sirius’s bed, you were sitting back against the boy’s pillows, as he was resting his head in your lap. Sirius and James were debating the validity of some prank they wanted to pull- whether they could pull it off or something like that. You weren’t paying attention, you were reading, occasionally running your fingers through the hair of the boy who was in your lap.

“You’re making me sleepy,” He suddenly yawned, turning away from James and burying his face into your jumper. You smiled, not looking up from your reading.

“So go to sleep,”

“Get a room, you two.” James complained, whining from the bottom of the bed.

“We’re in a room, you’re the one in my bed mate.” Sirius laughed, wrapping his arm around your middle and cuddling into you. As time past Sirius became more and more physically affectionate with you. Not that you minded, it was comforting having someone around whom you could simply touch. James huffed, dramatically getting off the bed, pulling the curtains shut with a great flourish.

“Use a silencing charm for our sake!” He called.

“Piss off mate,” Sirius laughed and you chuckled slightly rolling your eyes.

“He’s just jealous you don’t cuddle him like you used to.” James made an indignant noise from the other side of the curtain and you heard him stalk away to his own bed. You carded your fingers through Sirius’s hair for a few more moments before letting out a yawn of your own.

“I should go to bed,” You murmured, hand stilling. Sirius let out a small whine and you smirked, gently tugging on one of his locks.

“So go to bed,” He joked, mirroring your earlier words. You started to move and Sirius’s arms around you tightened, pulling you to him. “Here,” He asked and you sighed, patting his head.

“And if we’re caught?” You questioned.

“Live a little, love. Girls are always sneaking into the boys dorm for sleepovers, at least we’re married.”

“I doubt McGonagall will care for that small difference.”

“Please?” Sirius asked, looking up at you through his lashes, batting them at you sweetly. You sighed, shaking your head.

“Fine, you’re a bad influence one me, you know that?”

“That’s the kindest thing a woman has ever said to me,” He grinned, peeling himself from you to sit up, “I’ll get you something to sleep in.” You hummed softly. Sirius disappeared for a moment and came back with a t-shirt for you, handing it over. You watched from your position on his bed as he undressed himself, you felt your cheeks going rosy. Once Sirius was down to his boxers he crawled back into bed beside you, nudging you. “Get changed, I wanna cuddle,” He murmured to you and your blush deepened. You stood up, standing beside the bed and facing away from Sirius as you removed your jumper, pulling the shirt on over your head. It was plenty long on you. Next you removed your skirt, leaving your clothes in a pile beside his head. You turned back around and Sirius was watching you, his own small blush. “C’mere.” He offered you his hand and you took it, allowing him to pull you down to him.

You situated the covers around you both before allowing the boy to snuggle up to your side, his head on your chest. You resumed your earlier activity of running your hands through his hair.

“Thank you for staying,” He murmured and you smiled, dropping a kiss onto the top of his head before you could think about the action.

“Of course.”

“You’re welcome in my bed, anytime.” He promised and you rolled your eyes, gently tugging his hair again.

“Don’t ruin the moment, arse.” He chuckled, tangling your legs together beneath the duvet. Sirius fell asleep to the sound of your heart beating firmly in your chest, it was the best lullaby he had ever heard. You played with his hair until his quiet snoring started before simply resting your hand on his head. It took you longer to fall asleep but you eventually did, enjoying the company of the other- you hadn’t realized how much you missed just sleeping with the boy. And this new found cuddling between the two of you really added to the whole experience.

In the morning you were rudely awoken by James, who threw the curtain of your bed open with a scowl.

“Are you wearing clothes?” He questioned, “I was kidding when I said to use a silencing charm, I don’t want you two shagging when I’m five feet away-”

“Mate,” Sirius groaned, rolling over, glaring at the boy, “Shut up,” James huffed, crossing his arm.

“Y/N better get back to her dorm before all her roommates wake up and wonder where she’s been all night.” You groaned, stretching your arms over your head.

“Thanks Jamie,”

“Don’t call me that!” He whined, shuffling away, you laughed as you untangled yourself from Sirius’s limbs, standing up.

“Do you have to go?” He asked, frowning.

“I will see you at breakfast,” You rolled your eyes, grabbing your discarded clothes from the floor. Sirius frowned, flopping back onto the bed, crossing his arms. It made you laugh, god how he and James had grown to be alike over the years. Or maybe they found each other because they were already so alike.

“Do you want to go on a date?” Sirius asked you one morning during breakfast, your mouth full of food. You raised an eyebrow at him as you swallowed.

“Hm?”

“A date, Y/N.” Like that clarified anything.

“Is there a Hogsmeade weekend coming up?” You questioned him and he grinned, shaking his head no.

“So what, you want to go on a date in the common room?” You laughed, shaking your head at the boy, “Don’t we do that every night?”

“Not the common room, I want to show you something.” You eyed him suspiciously and he flushed slightly laughing, “Not that, who's got a dirty mind now?”

“Still you mate,” Remus interrupted and Sirius shot him a glare, but he quickly recovered, grinning at you again. You weren’t sure you liked that look.

“Sure,”

“Brilliant, be ready tonight at 8pm, in the common room.” You nodded your head, continuing to eat. Whatever he was up to, you were sure you’d be finding out soon enough. That night you got dressed, listening to advice from all your dorm mates.

“Wear a dress!”

“Let me do your makeup please!”

“No no wear the blue skirt with the cream jumper.”

“Do you think you’ll snog?” You shrugged helplessly, ignoring all of their advice and going with your favorite pair of jeans instead and a black and white striped jumper.

“I hardly know.”

“I think it’s weird. You’re married but you don’t snog.”

“They cuddle, that’s for sure.” You flushed slightly, rolling your eyes.

“We sorta skipped a bunch of steps. It’s hard. Our relationship is unique.” You tried to explain to them. You and Sirius didn’t have some play book you could look to to figure what you should be doing and when. You were all on your own in this, on your own; together. You allowed your friend to apply a small amount of makeup to you, no more than you would wear any other day. You didn’t want to seem like you were trying too hard- because you weren’t. You shouldn’t be. It’s not like you had to woo him or anything. Right?

You went down to the common room at 8 where Sirius was sitting with the boys waiting for you.

“Y/N!” He called excitedly, jumping up from the sofa, “You ready to go?” He asked and you nodded, coming to him and accepting his outstretched hand.

“Be good!” Remus called jokingly, waving from his spot in one of the armchairs.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” James added and Sirius threw them the finger over his shoulder before leading you from the common room.

“So,” You started, skipping slightly beside him, grinning up at the boy, “Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise, you’ll see.” You followed Sirius up to the 7th floor corridor and were met with an expanse of blank wall, you eyes him suspiciously.

“Very nice, Sirius.” You put the hand not holding his on your hip.

“Just watch!” He assured you excitedly, “Me and James found this place 5th year when we were running from Filch. Suddenly it was there,” You listened intently, still staring at the blank wall. Maybe you were missing something? “So we did some experiments, and I think we figured it out. Remus read about it in a book we nicked from the restricted section. Apparently it’s called the Room of Requirements, or the Come and Go Room.” You looked away from the wall up at Sirius, blinking at him. He smiled down at you, nodding towards the wall, when you looked back there was a door and you gasped.

“How?”

“No idea,” He shrugged, “But it turns into whatever you need it to.” You looked at the door in awe.

“Really?” You asked, shocked.

“Yup, come on,” He tugged you forward, opening the door and ushering you in. Once you were inside you were met with a small room that closely resembled the Gryffindor common room, but maybe only one forth of the size. It had a sofa in front of a large roaring fire, there were candles lighting the rest of the room, and a few fluffy blankets sitting on the sofa.

“This is lovely,” You breathed. He pulled you towards the sofa and you allowed him to guide you. He sat down and pulling you down beside him. You sat close to him and he placed his arm around your shoulder. You pulled one of the blankets off the back of the sofa and wrapped it around both of you, leaning into him.

“Thank you,” He smiled, glad you liked it. It had taken him ages of brainstorming to decide what you both needed, for your first proper date. And in the end, he decided, simpler was probably better. You weren’t really one for grand gestures.

“How are your classes,” He asked, playing with a lock of your hair, looking at you. You were warm from the fire, but your chest felt even warmer, something fire couldn’t cause. You shrugged, leaning slightly into his touch.

“Alright, not as hard as your stuff I’m sure, but everyone’s making sure we’re preparing for the NEWTs already. It does my head in.”

“I’ve never asked you what you want to be when you graduate,” He tilted his head thoughtfully and you smiled slightly looking down.

“I’d like to be a curse-breaker,” You admitted, Sirius nudged you until you looked at him.

“That’s brilliant, you’ll do wonderfully.” You shrugged, flushing slightly at the complement.

“Maybe. I’m struggling with charms this year though.”

“Is Remus helping you?”

“Yes but still,”

“You’re brilliant, Y/N.” He assured you, resting his forehead against yours. You smiled, leaning forward slightly to nuzzle your nose against his. “You can do anything you want to do, believe that.”

“I will try. What will you do? After you graduate.” Sirius hummed softly, and you cuddled even closer to him, practically sitting in the boys lap.

“I want to be an Auror.” He spoke softly, “I want to save people, protect them. War is coming, Y/N. I want to make sure I am on the right side of history.” You took his free hand in yours and held it tightly.

“That’s sweet, you’ll make a brilliant Auror.” Sirius smiled.

“James heard his parents talking about some... organization, they call themselves the Order of the Phoenix. I want to join as soon as I’ve graduated. Their goal is to be prepared for when Voldemort finally makes his move.” You nodded, trying to swallow down the worry you felt rising in your chest. You didn’t like the idea of Sirius out there battling dark powerful wizards without you there by his side.

“Good,” You squeezed his hand tightly, “That’s good. You’re a good man.”

“My mother will disown us, she supports those pure-blood ideologies.” He spat the words out and you flinched slightly. You didn’t want to think about what your own family thought of those horrible people. Especially not your father or your grandmother.

“We’ll be alright.” You assured him. Sirius looked at you for a long moment and you smiled softly at him, nudging your nose against his again, “Alright?”

“Alright.” He assured, “Y/N...” He started before trailing off.

“Hm?”

“May I kiss you?”

“Of course,” You whispered, blushing slightly. Sirius smiled before leaning in, he didn’t have to go far before his lips were on your lips. He kissed you softly, his hand that was playing with your hair stilled, resting on the back of your neck to keep you close. You kept one hand in his and moved the other one to his chest, placing it over his heart. He broke the kiss and pulled back just far enough to look at you before his lips were on yours again, this time with more eagerness. He kissed you, lips smashed up against yours and you kissed back, moving your hand from his chest to wrap around him, pulling him closer. He parted his lips slightly, testing the water. You allowed your own lips to open as well, inviting him in. Sirius kissed you with emotion you were surprised were capable of being put into a simple kiss. Everyday Sirius surprised you more and more, and everyday you found yourself falling more and more in love with your husband. It might not have been traditional, or even preferred. But it was working, you were going to make it work.

You spent the rest of the night alternating between speaking to each other in soft voices and snogging. It was the best, and last first date you had ever been on. Sirius was becoming you safe haven in a confusing world. He was becoming your new norm.

Tag list : thebrigheststarinthesky , all-art-is-quite-useless , lindatreb , paosesposts

Let me know if you’d like to be tagged in a part three!

#Harry Potter #sirius black x reader #Sirius black #sirius black x y/n #james & peter & remus & sirius #sirius black x you #new norm

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thisissirius · 4 years ago

Note

I may live to regret. Asking anyway. 97. Angst/Fluff list.

oh, you want “It’s not that easy.”??? :)))))

backbone eddie/buck, eddie & bobby, speculaaaation so 4x04 trailer spoilers

Bobby comes up the stairs, unsurprised to see Eddie sitting by himself at the table. He sighs, coughs slightly to keep from startling him, and says, “You want something to eat?”

“No,” Eddie says immediately.

Rounding the table, Bobby catches the expression on Eddie’s face; shut down. Again, no surprise. “You should try.”

Eddie looks at him, blinks. “What?”

“You should try and eat something,” Bobby says again. There’s some extras in the fridge that he takes out. Normally, he cooks from scratch, but nothing about today is sitting right enough for him to do that.

“I want to punch them,” Eddie says.

Bobby sighs, leaning on the counter. “I know the feeling.”

Eddie’s fingers, previously splayed on the table, curl into a fist. “Even when I was fighting, it was always about hurting someone who asked for it, you know? Literally asked for it. If you were in that ring? You wanted to be there.”

It’s the most Eddie’s said about his fighting since they hashed it out. Bobby gives Eddie his full attention, but doesn’t interrupt. He’s got a feeling Eddie’s not spoken to anyone since he found out.

“But I want to punch them.”

“Eddie,” Bobby starts.

“You know what he told me? Sorry to bother you.” Eddie laughs, but Bobby hears the self-deprecation in it, the look of distaste on Eddie’s face. “Like he’s a burden. As if I wouldn’t care that he was hurting.”

Bobby knows the feeling. “He gives and gives. Thinks that means he can’t take it in return.”

Eddie shakes his head. “I don’t get it. I would give him—”

Abruptly shutting his mouth on the words, Eddie raps his knuckles on the table, looks off to the left. Bobby doesn’t ask him to continue; he knows well what Eddie’s not saying.

“He knows.”

“Does he?” Eddie finally meets Bobby’s eyes. He looks devastated, and Bobby’s not prepared for it. He sits at the table near Eddie and lays his arms on the table. “I’m not sure he’s in any position to hear it if he’s not.”

“Maybe not,” Bobby allows, “but he might like knowing he’s got someone in his corner.”

Eddie’s lip curls. “He knows I am. I’m not abandoning him now!”

“I didn’t say that,” Bobby said. “Eddie—”

Scrubbing his hands through his hair, Eddie sits back, folding his arms over his chest. “You know, when I look at Chris, when things get too much.” Eddie looks away, runs his tongue over his bottom lip. Bobby knows what to look for when Eddie’s upset and he sees it; Eddie’s mouth shifts, eyes starting to shine. “I think I’m still not over it.”

Bobby nods, waits him out.

“If I had turned up sooner, if I hadn’t tried to push things—”

“It’s natural,” Bobby says, “to go over the reasons in your head. To think about the things you could have done differently. Knowing now what you didn’t know then.”

Eddie snorts, shakes his head. “None of that makes it easier. Which is why,” he continues, closing his eyes, “I hated myself for feeling the way I do.”

Bobby raises his eyebrows.

“About Buck,” Eddie says unnecessarily. His smile is oddly twisted. “I wasn’t ready for a sexuality crisis this late in life.”

“It might not be easy,” Bobby says gently. “But what happened with Shannon, the things you went through, it’s tough, I know. But you’re gonna lose people. It’s inevitable.” He thinks of his wife, children, and it takes a moment to find his voice. “So why not take the chance?”

“Because it’s not that easy,” Eddie says. “Especially now, with this. He won’t even talk to me.”

Bobby nods, understanding. “The most you can do is be with him, Eddie.”

“All of us,” Eddie agrees.

“Yes,” Bobby allows, but he elaborates. “But also you. Just you.”

Eddie stares at him.

“Buck needs his best friend,” Bobby points out, knowing if nothing else kicks Eddie in the ass, that will. “Even when he can have Maddie—wants Maddie,” he amends at the look on Eddie’s face, “I know who he’d rather have.”

There’s a long silence where they stare at each other. Bobby aches for Buck, wants to know he’s safe and well, but he also knows—thanks to the prompting from his wife—that Buck’s emotions are wrung out by his parents being in town. Maybe he’ll want to see Bobby eventually, but for now, Eddie’s the one he needs.

“Take Chris,” Bobby says. “You know he’ll love that.”

Eddie’s mouth quirks up into a smile, though he stares off, out the windows of the station. “They both will.”

When the silence drags on for too long, Eddie finally breaks. He pulls his phone from his pocket.

Bobby moves, goes back to preparing a meal. He figures he’ll only need one, and preemptively doesn't start one for Eddie.

“Hey,” Eddie says into the phone, sounding softer than he has over the past few days. “Where are you?” Buck answers, Bobby can hear his voice, even if he doesn’t know what’s being said. “I’m bringing Chris so turn off whatever shit you’re watching.” Eddie’s smile turns a little more real. “You can’t lie, I know you have Nemo at least.” The smile shifts into a frown. “Tough shit,” he says, sliding out of his chair. “Because Chris and I are coming.” Then, quieter, “I don’t want you to be alone.” Whatever Buck says has Eddie closing his eyes. Bobby is intrigued, but he also feels like an intruder. It’s hard not to be concerned about both of them. “I know. Whatever you need.” Eddie pauses, the hand not on the phone has a white-knuckled grip on the chair. “I know. I’ll be there soon.” A pause. “Yes, with Chris.”

Eddie mumbles something else and Bobby heats up the stove.

“Cap,” Eddie says, and Bobby looks up. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” Bobby says. Eddie’s phone goes into his pocket, then he stands awkwardly in the kitchen. “Tell him we’re here when he needs us.”

Eddie nods, looking a little lost himself for a moment. Whatever he thinks is gone quickly, replaced with the Eddie they know; straight-backed, determined, the hint of a smile on his face. He turns on his heel, heading for the stairs.

“And Eddie?” Eddie looks back over his shoulder. “Don’t punch anyone.”

“No promises,” Eddie says, but Bobby isn’t worried; Eddie’s got something far more important on his mind.

#buddie #buddie fic #eddie diaz #evan buckley #bobby nash #fic by me #otp: i forgive you #kat needs this

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wavesmp3 · 4 years ago

Text

before sunrise

kevin moon x reader - strangers to lovers au, fluff - based off the movie before sunrise - wc. 9.4k - warnings: mentions of alcohol, lots of dialogue, cursing, and a few attempts at comedy

synopsis → You and Kevin Moon only have one night together before his flight leaves the next morning. And before meeting Kevin, you never would’ve believed that one night is long enough to fall in love with someone.

The train rattles on and on, a blur of colors painted beyond the small window you rest your head against. A headache is forming, between your ears and behind your eyes, a small thrumming that’ll make the rest of this train ride unbearable if you don’t end whatever’s causing it. Except you don’t know whether to blame the rattling train or the lovers' quarrel from the couple sitting across from you.

You make another attempt to ignore the rattling and the arguing, holding your book closer to your face and starting the same paragraph you’ve been on since boarding the train. The effort does little to help on either account. You sigh, loudly, in the hopes that your annoyance stings the ears of the couple next to you. It does not. So you get up, gather your things, and move further down the car.

You settle into a new seat, the couple’s argument still audible but less intruding than it had been when you were sitting right beside them. You open your book to restart the same paragraph when someone interrupts you. Again.

“Hey, do you have any idea what those two are fighting about?”

You look up from between the pages, lifting your eyes to meet those of the person who spoke to you without lowering the book itself. You stare at him, taken aback almost, by asymmetry of the smile he’s directed towards you and how charmed you are by it. You swallow.

“Oh, sorry,” his body caves inwards, scratching a spot behind his neck, “do you speak English?”

You nod, too eagerly. “Yeah, no, I speak English. Just no clue what they’re arguing about.” You lower the book, folding in the page you’ve yet to move on from and leaning forward in your seat, just enough to catch sight of the couple whose voices get louder with each passing moment. “My German is not very good.”

“Ah,” the boy mutters, his pitch-black hair falling in front of his eyes, “that’s what that is.” He turns back to you, looks at you expectantly almost, then awkwardly laughs sitting back in his chair. He gestures to your book. “I’ll let you get back to it. Sorry to bother.”

And you’re about to tell him it’s fine, that you don’t mind the small talk, when you notice the book laying in his lap and the finger he has shoved between the pages to mark his spot. And the words sort of fall back down your throat once you do.

You return to your book, not even bothering to start the paragraph for what feels like the thousandth time. Instead, you stare at the printed page, passively listening to the heated German flying between the couple and thinking about the boy sitting across the aisle from you.

The couple stands up suddenly, dramatic enough to make half the car look up at them. One of them makes their way down the aisle in your direction, walking hurriedly and shrugging off the hand their partner places on their arm, as if they could not get way fast enough. You look towards the boy across from you with a raised brow. He makes a face at you, lifting his shoulders and shaking his head. You bite back a laugh, eyes following the couple as they exit the car. The sliding door opens with a whoosh and closes, their absence swallowing the car in silence.

“What are you reading?” The guy asks, pushing his glasses further up on the bridge of his nose.

You hold up the cover of your book for him to see. “You?”

He looks down at his lap, pursing his lips and chuckling a bit, hesitating, as if he wasn’t expecting you to return the question. He holds up the book.

“Series of unfortunate events?” You murmur, recognizing the cover.

“In my defense, I’m rereading it.”

“No judgement.” You tell him, lifting up your hands in surrender. “I read it when I was young as well.”

“It’s a good series, right?” You nod. “Thank you.” He huffs, resting his back against the train seat.

“Although, I’m not sure if it’s good enough to reread. Not sure I get why people reread anything, actually. I mean there are so many books out there, why bother rereading one you’ve already read?”

He shrugs at that, tilting his head and gaze fixed on the book. “Nostalgia, I guess.”

You accept the answer with a nod. The couple returns then, and the clamor of their argument returns with them. You both watch as they pass by your seats.

“Hey,” the guy begins again, sitting up in his seat and shifting his body until he’s in the aisle seat instead of the one by the window, “I was thinking of going to the lounge car. Would you wanna come with?”

“Yeah, sure.” You lean towards him. “Why not?”

—

“I’m Kevin Moon by the way.” He says once you’re both seated, extending his hand. You take it; give him your name. And there’s a draft that runs through the lounge car when he repeats it to himself. “So are you coming from Copenhagen too?”

“Yeah, I was visiting some family there?”

He nods. “And how are they?”

You laugh, giggle really, awkwardly despite the faux intimacy of his question. Nodding, you answer: “They’re great. Well—great is a bit much. Content, perhaps?”

“Content sounds good.”

“So where are you getting off?”

“Amsterdam.”

“What’s in Amsterdam?”

“No clue.” You laugh at the response, or maybe it’s at the quirk of his brow and the nervous tapping against his knee. “I have a flight out of there tomorrow morning. So I was thinking I’d explore the city some, attempt to experience all of Amsterdam in one night.”

“Yeah, and where are you flying to?”

“Back home.”

“Let me guess,” you start, a teasing lilt in your voice, “America?”

“Canada, actually.” He proudly corrects. “Where are you from?”

“All over.” You gesture around vaguely. “Moved around a lot growing up. And now I’m in Paris.”

“Is that where you’re getting off?” He asks, leaning forward. You nod. “Why Paris?”

“University.”

“Oh,” he looks shocked, “which one?”

“Would you even know it if I said?”

His mouth parts, eyes darting around somewhere above your head. “Yeah, probably not.”

“What about you?” You ask once your laughter has died down. “Still in school?”

He’s quick to shake his head. “Gosh, no. School was never really for me.”

“Why not?”

“I-“ he falters, tilting his head back at the question, “well, why are you still in school?”

“No real reason.” You plan to leave it at that, but when you look up at him, keenly waiting for you to continue, some part of you wants to elaborate on it as well. “Sort of like I’m not sure what I’d do with myself once I finish.”

“I feel that.”

“You feel that?” You echo, a laugh dancing under the question.

“Yeah.” He answers sincerely, eyes fixated on you and surprisingly serious. “I do.”

“Oh,” you blurt, taken aback by how genuinely he means it.

The waiter appears then, handing you menus and taking your orders after.

“So of all the places you’ve lived, which one felt the most like home?”

You think over the question, tongue poking at the inside of your cheek. “Maybe Copenhagen. I have the most family there.” You add as a half-hearted explanation. “But I don’t know, I guess no place has felt much like home yet.”

“Not even Paris?”

You shake your head. “There’s this quote that goes: what is a home if not the first place you learn to run from.”

“So is that what Paris is?” He asks, resting his head against his hand. “The place you ran to?”

You shrug. “Something like that.”

There’s a beat of silence, somehow you spend the entirety of it starting at Kevin. “You seem to be very well read.” He says finally, looking away first and folding a napkin over his lap.

“It’s just one quote.”

“One more than me.”

“Maybe if you stopped rereading ‘the series of unfortunate events’, we’d be on even footing.”

He gasps. “You said ‘no judgement’.”

“It’s called being polite.” He shakes his head disapprovingly. “So how about you? Were you just visiting Copenhagen, or…?”

“No, I’ve done the whole tour. Started in Madrid, hit Paris, Rome, Vienna, Budapest, Berlin, London, Athens, Prague, Florence, Lisbon… you know, all the big ones.”

“I hope not in that order.”

He laughs brightly. “No, not in that order. Thanks for the vote of confidence though.”

“Of course.”

“But, yeah, I bought the Eurail Pass a while back and decided I would see as much as I could.”

“How long have you been here?”

“About a month and a half now.”

“Wow. And just for a holiday or?”

“Yeah, well,” his face turns down, a cloud passing across the sun and casting a shadow over the table, “I had a friend in Madrid, but, uh, mainly—yeah, mainly vacation.”

You don’t prod any further, nodding at his half-baked answer.

“But what I’ve come to realize,” he continues on, “during these past few weeks, is that there’s something special about just sitting on a train and staring out the window.”

“What’s special about it?”

“For starters,” he gestures to the rolling green hills outside the window, “it’s beautiful. But also, I get these ideas while sitting here.”

“What sorts of ideas?”

“Like,” he hesitates, leaning back towards you, “well it’s gonna sound dumb to say outloud.”

You watch him carefully. The asymmetrical smile that you first noticed appearing on his lips again. And maybe that’s what makes you lean towards him and say,

“Try me.”

—

“Hey,” you push away your now empty plate and tap on the window as the train rolls to a stop, “isn’t this Amsterdam?”

“Oh yeah,” Kevin checks his watch, “it is. I guess I lost track of time sitting here.” You check the time yourself and realize it’s been over two hours.

“Well for what it’s worth, I really enjoyed talking with you,” you tell him, shifting in the seat.

He returns the sentiment, and you both continue to go back and forth until the train does actually stop, a loud whistle traveling through the lounge car.

“Well, this is me.” He says softly, sucking in his bottom lip.

You extend out your hand. “Nice to meet you, Kevin Moon.”

He shakes it. “Nice to meet you too.”

You watch him go, lugging a duffle bag by his hip and pulling a pink beanie over his hair. And once the door to the lounge car closes swiftly behind him, you slump into the chair resting your head against the window and scanning the group of people on the platform outside of it. Maybe, you think to yourself, I’ll catch him leaving.

“Okay, I have a crazy idea.”

You jump at the sound of his breathless voice, jolting up in your seat. “Kevin, what are yo—”

“Blow off Paris for one more night.”

“What?”

“Just—like I know this is crazy—but just listen for a second.” He tosses his duffle bag into the seat that was occupied by him a minute ago and places both his hands on the table, leaning down slightly. An action that leaves no room for you to think he’s joking. “My flight only leaves tomorrow morning, and I was planning on wasting time in Amsterdam until then. So come with me, let’s hang out for the night, and you can catch the first train back to Paris. I haven’t had a conversation like the one we just had in so long, and I don’t really want to say bye yet. So, let’s just see where this goes. And if it sucks or if you realize you hate me, then you leave, and we part ways just like that. No strings, no obligations.” He pauses there, chewing on his bottom lip and fingers curling around the edge of the table.

And for some reason, after his whole speech, you find yourself thinking about the arguing couple from the other car.

You grab your things. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Come on,” a grin fights its way onto your face, excitement teetering in every part of your body, “let’s go.”

And some small of part of you that’s hanging onto reason knows this is a terrible idea, a reckless and stupid idea that you would chide the protagonist of a horror movie for. But another part of you, the same part that can’t get over Kevin’s asymmetrical smile and the same part that said yes when he asked if you wanted to go to the lounge car, is too enthralled with the idea of continuing whatever this is to say no.

So this time when Kevin leaves, you don’t watch him go; instead, you follow him off of the train.

—

You’ve been to Amsterdam before, once on a holiday with your family that you can barely remember and again on a school trip when you were much younger. But despite the two times you’ve been to this city, walking beside the street and admiring the brightly painted buildings with Kevin feels like a first.

And after seven minutes of mindlessly walking around Amsterdam with a complete stranger, the reality of your earlier choice strikes you like a burst of wind across the cheek. The exhilaration that compelled you to get off the train withering away with each step. Not a word has passed between either of you since agreeing to Kevin’s plan.

“This is,” you start, voice hoarse and hiding a shy laugh behind your palm. “This is weird.”

“No, yeah, it’s awkward, right?” Kevin smiles, scratching a part of his neck. “Do you…” he shoves his fists into the pockets of his coat, “do you regret getting off the train with me?” He laughs after he asks the question, as if he’s embarrassed to even bring it up.

“No,” you tell him honestly, scuffing your shoes against the pavement and avoiding looking at him. “Not yet.”

In a corner of your vision, you see him nod, then smile. The asymmetrical one that first caught your attention. And in that moment, a tiny spark of exhilaration returns.

—

You and Kevin find yourselves in an art museum. The first activity you could find to fill in all the awkward silences. You take turns acting as guides explaining the curation of each piece of art. A suggestion that you had made and then come to regret when Kevin tries to argue that a modern sculpture of sunflowers is actually just the Shrek movies reimagined.

“And see that part,” he says animatedly, pointing at a corner of the piece, “is actually depicting that once scene in the beginning of Shrek 2 when—”

You just laugh, shoving his arm playfully and wandering on to the next piece.

“Hey,” Kevin calls from further along the wall, “come look at this one.”

“So, what is this one about?” You tease, meeting him beside the art piece. “Ice Age or Monsters Inc?”

“No bullshit explanation this time, actually.” He mumbles, eyes trained on the art still. “I really like this one.”

You take a moment to study the painting, done by an impressionist artist according to the blurb beside it. The piece depicts a whole bunch of couples dancing on a street.

“I like how the background is all a blur.” Kevin says. “As if each of the couples are so occupied with themselves that everything else sort of fades.”

“I think my favorite part,” you start, taking a step towards the painting, “is how the girl in this pair and the guy in this one are painted like their fading. Makes me feel like they aren’t real; like they’re a dream or a memory.”

“Or a ghost.”

“Yeah,” you smile at the thought, “or a ghost.”

Kevin leans down to read about the piece. “It’s called ‘Lovers Embrace’”

“I like it.” You declare, thinking over how fitting the title is.

He straightens back up, smiling. “Me too.”

—

The art museum is effective in easing the awkwardness between you and Kevin, acting as a distraction from the insanity of the current circumstances and your belated recognition of it, so that now, while meandering about a record shop he found, conversation flows as easily as it did in the lounge car. And when you realize that, another bit of your exhilaration returns, bursting within your chest and fluttering against your gut.

“I have an idea.” Kevin announces as you finger through a section of records.

“Another one?” You deadpan.

He flicks your arm, continuing, “We both pick a record to listen to. And then a random, third one for good measure.”

“How are we picking the third one?”

He hums in thought, drumming his fingers against the shelf. “Okay, I got it. Close your eyes.”

You point a finger at yourself. “Me?”

He squints at you, dramatically looking side to side and bringing the emptiness of this portion of the store to your attention. “Who else?”

“Fine but--”

“Just close them.”

With a long sigh, you do.

“Okay,” Kevin murmurs, spinning you around by the shoulders. He jerks you to a stop. “Now choose a record.” You push your hand out, feeling around for the nearest rack of records. “No, that’s boring.” He complains. “You have to walk around a little bit.”

“You know, we could’ve avoided this if you just chose the random record instead of me.” You huff at him, slowly walking around with your eyes still closed as per Kevin’s request.

“Watch out,” he warns, ignoring your comment, “you’re about to hit a stand.”

Eventually, you walk far enough from the place you started at. Blindly reaching out to the rack, you chose a record that feels the most worn around the edges. You open your eyes, blinking, and are about to read the cover when Kevin stops you suggesting you both wait until you’re in the listening booth. You agree, parting ways to pick your own record to listen to.

After a few minutes of browsing the store, you meet with Kevin outside of the listening booth, two records under your arm.

“Play yours first.” Kevin says, stepping into the booth with you. You pull the record out of its sleeve and place it in position.

Moon river, wider than a mile

“Ah,” he sighs, as the song begins to play, “I love this song.”

I’m crossing you in style someday

You swallow back a smile and mutter a small ‘me too’.

Wherever you’re going, I’m going your way. Two drifters off to see the world

“Kind of fitting, isn’t it?” He asks, laughing lightly and knocking his head back against the wall of the booth.

“Part of the reason I chose it.” You explain, turning your head towards him just in time to catch his eyes fluttering shut. An action that sends a familiar burst of exhilaration running heavily over your chest. He looks at peace like this, you think, his gold frames resting on the middle of his nose and a tuft of black hair slipping out from under his beanie. It’s only when the song ends, the repeated skipping of the needle replacing Sinatra’s voice, do you realize you’ve spent the entirety of it staring at Kevin. His eyes snap open at that moment; you’re quick to look away, busying yourself with the drawstring of your bag and ignoring the warmth that fills your body.

Kevin removes your record and fixes the one he chose in place. The song starts on a familiar chord.

Kelly, can you handle this?

You shoot him a look, just barely holding your laughter in.

“I know. Totally different vibe from ‘Moon River’ but this is the only Beyoncé song I could find.”

I don’t think they can handle this.

You start singing along. Kevin joins, dancing along as well despite how small the booth is. And when he starts twerking, you spend the last two minutes of the song laughing in shock.

The song ends, after Kevin declares his love for Beyoncé. You hand the Destiny’s Child record back to Kevin and pull the final, random record out of its sleeve and set it in place.

“How’s your Italian?” Kevin asks, as you straighten back up waiting for the song to play.

“No better than my German. Why?” He flips the vinyl’s cover around to show you. “Il Mondo by Jimmy Fontana,” you mutter as the first note rings throughout the booth.

No stanotte amore non ho più pensato a te

Kevin finds the translation online, scooting closer until the side of his arm is pressed against yours, phone tilted so that you can see. You lean in to better read the lyrics.

Gira, il mondo gira, nello spazio senza fine Turning, the world’s turning, in a space without end

Your eyes catch Kevin’s for the briefest of moments before he looks away, quickly refocusing his gaze on the opposite side of the booth.

Con gli amori appena nati, con gli amori già finiti With the lovers just now starting, with the lovers already parting

You don’t return to the lyrics, instead watching as his focus ping pongs between the phone screen and the wall.

Con la gioia e col dolore della gente come me With the joy and with the hurt of the people like me

His eyes flit over to your face. You look down, pretending to read the lyrics, swallowing.

Il mondo The world

And from a corner of your vision, you can see him watching you, can feel his eyes on you. You bite the inside of your cheek, trying to ignore how good it feels to know he’s staring.

Soltanto adesso io ti guardo, nel tuo silenzio io mi perdo Just now I see you, in your silence I lose myself

There’s a jerk of movement from Kevin. But the second you angle your head towards him, he tilts his chin up, smiling at the ceiling and tongue running over his teeth. You stare at him and consider for a moment: tearing your eyes off him, turning your head down again, and pretending to read the lyrics. But as quickly as the thought comes, it passes. And you find it impossible to care that he knows you’re staring, figuring that it’d be just as impossible to make yourself look away.

E sono niente accanto a te I am nothing beside you

His chin falls at the line, dark brown eyes dancing around the room before landing on yours. And this time, you don’t look away. There’s a sharp inhale. A loud gulp. The slightest turn of your body and an even smaller glance at the curve of his lips. His fingers flex, knocking against your knuckles, lingering for too long to be accidental. And it’s like time stops at that moment, like all the clocks in the world cease to tick, making you and Kevin halt as well, standing still, unmoving, staring at each other as if you hadn’t spent the past minute avoiding each other’s eyes.

And you swear, if the music hadn’t stopped, the scratching needle cutting into the air, you would’ve fell in love with Kevin right then.

—

“A piano,” you point out as you and Kevin are about to leave from the record shop. You go to it, admiring the dark brown wood and fingers ghosting over the ivory keys.

“Do you know how to play?” Kevin joins you in the corner of the shop that houses the piano.

“Gosh, no.” You pause, your middle finger hovering over a black key and tilt your head towards him. “Do you?”

He nods, taking a seat on the bench and patting the spot beside him for you. He starts playing a song you don’t recognize but one that manages to sound vaguely familiar anyways. Like it was playing in the background of a movie you can no longer remember the name of, or like you met the song in a dream and memorized the melody in your sleep before waking up the next morning.

And maybe it’s because you know this song without having ever heard it before or maybe it’s because the chords have been sitting in your soul every night since that forgotten dream but something about the song and something about this moment, makes you scoot closer to Kevin and rest your head against his shoulder.

He stops, barely, for the tiniest of seconds, fingers hesitating above the next key, then continues a breath later. And sometime between the end of this song and the start of the next, you feel his head lean back against yours.

—

You and Kevin decide to get dinner after leaving the record shop, choosing the first place you can find to fill your empty stomachs.

“Let’s ask each other some questions.” You suggest while you’re waiting for the food to come out. “One to help us get to know each other better, and we have to answer one hundred percent honestly.”

“Okay,” he nods, “I’ll start. Favorite color?”

“Green.”

“Gold.”

“Favorite movie?”

“Up.”

“Howl’s Moving Castle.”

You both continue like that asking each other for even more favorites: favorite food, favorite show, favorite holiday, favorite city. Vancouver, Kevin had answered to which you scoffed complaining that choosing his hometown is cheating. He only shrugged. You move onto firsts after: first phone, first kiss, first childhood memory, first job, first celebrity crush.

“You’re turn to ask.” You remind, hoping to quickly move on after confessing your childhood obsession with Chad Michael Murray.

“Okay,” Kevin hums, contemplating a new question and twirling his drink around, “how about… first love?”

“Oh, uh,” you scratch a spot on the table, “I’m not really sure I’ve ever been in love.” You pause there, expecting Kevin to say something. He does not. “Like I’ve dated before,” you sputter out quickly, filling in the empty space left by his nonexistent reply, “seriously, too. But I don’t think it was ever actually love.”

His mouth parts, chest inflates slightly, as if the words need a minute to boil in the back of his throat. They must never come, you think when his mouth closes and his chest deflates, lips tightly shut. A silence crashes over the table, awkwardly taut.

“What about you?” You return the question, cutting through the silence with what you hope is nonchalance.

“Oh, me,” he chuckles sheepishly, “probably freshman year band. I fell so hard for this oboe player.” You give him a look at the confession, sucking in your bottom lip and biting back a laugh. His face twists with confusion. “What?”

“I just can’t believe I got off a train with a band geek.”

“Hey,” he defends, “better than a serial killer.”

You shrug. “Not by much.”

—

It was Kevin’s idea to rent a boat to ride along the canal in. “The little foot pedaling ones,” he had requested, pointing them out. Luckily, you were able to find one before they shut down for the day. And the late timing of your activity made for a picturesque backdrop, the sun beginning to set as you drift along the canal, the sky immersed in varying hues of pink, yellow, and blue. Kevin had paused pedaling for a second to take a picture of the sunset which was fine until one picture turned into fifty.

“You know when you said you wanted to boat along the canal I sort assumed you were gonna help me pedal.”

“Last one.” He mumbles, the small shutter of his phone camera clicking before he shoves it back in his pocket and resumes pedaling with you. “More favorites?” He offers when the silence lingers for a little too long.

“Please, no. I know way too much about you now.” He laughs at that. “New topic.”

“Do you ever think about dying?”

You whip your head towards him. “Morbid much?”

“Yeah, I know, but seriously.” He says, brows lifted to further prove the sincerity of his question. “Do you?”

You turn back to the front. “I mean I’m alive, so yeah, sometimes. You?”

“Probably think about it too much if I’m being honest.” And there’s something that sounds distinctly like exhaustion in the way he says it.

“Would you rather know how you die or when you die?” You ask suddenly.

His answer comes just as quick. “When. Definitely when.”

“Why?”

“I feel like if I were to be told how I die, I’d spend the rest of my life avoiding it or trying to stop it. But there isn’t anything I can do to avoid the passing of time.”

“Profound.” You mutter, unable to figure out if you’re surprised or shocked by how well-thought his answer sounds.

“I told you,” he says, with a breathy laugh, “I think about death too much.”

“What about a goal in life?”

“What about it?”

“Have one?”

He considers the question, eyes trained on the water rippling in front of him. “To make a difference in someone’s life maybe.” He shrugs. “To be happy. I don’t know.”

“Being happy used to be mine too.”

He frowns. “Used to?”

“I used to be obsessed with this idea of happiness,” you tell him, nodding, “used to spend all my time avoiding whatever made me sad. But whenever I chased happiness, I was also the most dissatisfied with my life.” You stop for a second, check Kevin’s reaction, and find a frown still imprinted on his face. “I kinda see it like clouds now. They’re pretty from afar, but when they’re up close, we call it fog. Even when happiness was placed right in front of me, it never felt like enough. Most days, I’m still teaching myself that happiness is not a permanent state of being; it’s an emotion, and it comes and goes like the rest of them.”

He doesn’t say anything for a while. Silently pedaling the boat along the canal. Then finally—

“Damn, who’s the profound one now.”

—

You and Kevin find yourself on a bridge that overlooks the canal after renting the foot pedaling boat. The sun is barely visible, taking its last dip in the horizon before disappearing altogether. You hold out your hand to hover in one of the last golden rays of light, shivering at the warmth.

“Do you ever feel like you’re running out of time?”

“Running out of time for what?”

“To experience life.” Kevin further explains, with a heavy exhale. “I feel like there’s this sick pressure and expectation created by romanticized coming-of-age movies that my youth is supposed to be the best years of my life. Like I should be living every second of it to the fullest. And then I end up spending all my time wondering how I’m going to live up to my youth instead of actually living it.”

“So, is that why you did it?” You pull your hand back in, tucking it under your chin. “Did you ask me to get off the train with you so that in ten years you can look back and feel like you made something of your youth, like you didn’t waste it.”

And something about the bluntness of your question must spread through the air and tug at the end of his lip. “Well, that’s a harsh way to put it, but,” he frowns, inhaling mid-sentence, “I don’t know. Maybe—yea, maybe it was part of the reason.” He pivots around, back pressed to the railing, elbows propped on the ledge, and face turned away from the last sliver of setting sun. You study his face: the point of his chin, slope of his nose, and high set of his cheekbones. He’s pretty. Too pretty, even. A realization that lands as heavily in the pit of your stomach as it did the first time you noticed on the train. And perhaps it’s just that: a realization. Or perhaps, more terrifyingly, it’s something closer to attraction. “Well, why’d you do it?” Kevin asks, turning his head slightly and catching you watching him, something you’ve both done too many times at this point to keep count of. “Why’d you get off the train with me?”

You swallow. “I thought about that couple from the first car. When you asked me to come with you, I thought of that arguing couple and saw my future flash before my eyes. I felt like I could see myself fifteen years from now. Could see myself falling in love, getting married, and somewhere along the way falling out. I could see myself sitting and fighting in the middle of a train. And a part of me just knew, that if I didn’t go with you, if I stayed on that train and continued to Paris, I’d spent the rest of my life regretting it, wondering what could’ve happened.”

You turn away from the sinking sun, swivel your head around to face Kevin again and find him differently than you had left him. Head tilted and biting at the inside of his cheek. Side pressed against the bridge’s railing so that he’s facing you directly. You straighten up, position yourself to face him as well, another asymmetrical smile growing on his face while you do.

“I’m really glad you decided to get off the train with me.”

You step closer, and when your hand knocks against his, he catches it, fingers curling around yours. “Me too.”

“Although, I do hope that if you’re married in fifteen years, it’s happily and that you’re one of those sickeningly in love with each other couple that everyone hates.”

He doesn’t look at you as he says it, watching your intertwined hands with a shy smile instead. And it’s somehow, oddly intimate when he squeezes your palm while wishing you a successful, hypothetical marriage. You feel suddenly breathless, and more prominently, fearless.

“I want you to kiss me.”

His eyes snap towards yours, pupils dilated and darker than normal. He doesn’t say anything.

You know he heard you, know—slightly less confidently—that he wants to kiss you as much as you want to be kissed. So you step towards him again, tugging at the end of his sleeve.

“Kevin.”

His gaze drops to your lips. “Yea.”

“Kiss me.”

And rationally, you know soulmates don’t exist. But there’s something about the way his lips fit perfectly against yours that almost makes you reconsider the belief.

—

“You know when I suggested we play pool, I really wasn’t expecting to have my ass handed to me like this.” He groans, staring at the five of his balls still left on the table.

“Next time suggest darts.” You tell him, voice raised to be heard over the loud pub.

You put the pool sticks back and seat yourselves at one of the empty tables.

“Okay, I have a question,” he says, leaning forward against the small booth table. “Do you believe in love at first sight?”

“Definitely not.”

“Really?” He sounds surprised.

“You do?”

“Well…” he hesitates, tongue darting out between his lips, “I don’t know if I believe it but I also don’t not know that I do.”

Your face contorts at his wording. “I don’t think—”

“Okay, yes, I know, but like have you never fallen just a little bit in love with a complete stranger?” You shake your head slowly. “Like you’ve never had a barista compliment your jacket or your eyes once and then spent the next week thinking about them?”

You place a hand to your heart. “I genuinely had no idea this was a common occurrence.”

“You know what, no, I take it back, never mind,” he quickly says, the tips of his ears turning red and hand waving in the air to dismiss the thought. “New topic.”

A breathy laugh escapes from between your lips. “Alright, new topic,” you hum, nodding your head along to the music playing in the background, “do you believe in soulmates?”

He smiles at the question. “Yes and no.”

“Explain.”

“The term ‘soulmate’ has this implication that love will fall into place between two individuals, that they won’t have to work for it, and that it was chosen for them instead of by them. But isn’t it so much more special to look at someone and decide to love them specifically. Decide to love them on purpose. But more than that, the general idea of a ‘soulmate’ relies too heavily on the understanding of love as a feeling. And it’s as you said before about happiness: emotions come and go, and feelings fade. I imagine, more accurately, that love is a choice as much as it’s a feeling, one that you have to get up and make every single day. So yeah, I believe soulmates are real, but I don’t think they’re found; I think they’re made.”

And after his whole spiel, the only thing ringing throughout your head is: holy shit.

He looks up at you, shaking his head. “I don’t know,” he starts timidly, voice suddenly lacking the immense clarity it held just a second ago, “what do you think?”

“I think,” you swallow, a lame attempt to digest everything he just said, “that I’ll never look at love the same again.”

—

By the time you and Kevin leave from the pub, it’s completely dark out. Streetlamps now lit up and the roads less crowded with only a few whispering groups around each corner. You walk mindlessly around the city’s twisted streets, deciding when and where to turn on whims. And somewhere along the way, while you’re making a comment abput the closed antique store, Kevin’s hand finds its way into yours. You squeeze his palm, a silent affirmation, when he does.

“Wait,” you exclaim, halting suddenly in the square that you and Kevin have stumbled upon, “I think I’ve been here before.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” you tell him, dragging him towards the fountain in the center, “I came here with my family once. I remember seeing this fountain and wanting to throw a coin in.”

“I mean are you sure? Fountains are pretty common.”

You shove his arm. “I swear this is the same one.”

“Here,” he mutters, reaching into his pocket, fishing out two coins, and placing one in your palm. “make a wish now.”

You hold the coin to your lips, closing your eyes while conjuring a wish and then toss the coin in the fountain. Kevin tosses his in a second after you.

“Hey, look,” you take a seat on the ledge of the fountain, pointing at the church across the square, “there was a wedding there today.”

“You know, I learned in school, I think, about Quakers, and,” he starts, sitting down beside you on the ledge, “they have the most interesting weddings.”

“What makes it so interesting?”

“Well for one, there’s no officiant. No handing off of anyone. What’ll happen is the couple walks in, stands in front of the entire congregation, and just stares. And it’s silent too, no one speaks unless they feel compelled to do so. Then after an hour or so, that it; they’re married. Just like that.”

You turn on the ledge to face him. “Okay let’s try it.”

His eyebrows waggle. “Getting married?”

You look at him unamused. “Just the staring part.”

He nods. “Okay, ready?” he shuts his eyes in preparation, “3, 2, 1, go!”

Your eyes open at the same time as his, and you nearly laugh at the sheer amount of competitive spirit radiating off Kevin at that moment. And when you mention it, he shakes it off, muttering something about how you’re supposed to be silent.

When you start leaning in towards him, it’s to mock him and his competitiveness. Or at least, it is at first. But somewhere along the way, you lose track of how close you get to him. Lose track of time as well. Too distracted with studying the concentrated furrow of his brows and the flecks in his eyes to notice whether you’ve spent one minute or twenty getting lost in them. And it’s a cheesy thought, yes, but there’s something about him and the black hair falling in front of his forehead that makes it so hard to care.

You inhale. “I think I feel compelled to do something now.”

“What?”

You close the distance, pressing your lips to his for a brief moment, then pull away.

“I won,” Kevin murmurs, a smug smile painted across his face, “you closed your eyes first.”

You click your tongue against the roof of your mouth, trying and failing to hold back a smile. “You’re ridiculous; you know that right?”

“I do.”

“Good.”

You kiss him again.

—

“Kevin, what are we doing?” You ask for the third time as he pulls you into the red telephone booth and shuts the door. “You do know that these don’t actually work anymore right?”

He shushes you, pressing a finger to his lips and picking up the receiver. “I have to make a call.” He clears his throat, holds the receiver up to his ear, and makes the ringing sound. “Come on, Jacob, pick up.” You stare at him waiting for the punchline. It never comes. Instead, he fixes you a look and nods his head at your empty hand.

“Ah, I see,” you hold out a fake phone in your hand, clearing your throat and putting on a fake deep voice. “Hey, Kevin. Long time no talk. How’s Europe?”

Kevin gives you a funny look. “Hey, Jacob. Europe is great, but why does your voice sound like that?”

You clear your throat again returning to your normal voice. “My bad, I just woke up.”

“That’s better. Anyways, I called to tell you that I met someone on my very last night in Europe.”

“How’d you meet them?”

“On the train to Amsterdam actually. They were sitting by this really annoying couple, so they got up and sat right across the aisle from me. What are the chances, right?”

“Probably, low.” You begin, a familiar exhilaration filling your stomach at what you’re about to confess. “Unless, of course, it wasn’t by chance at all. Unless they saw you getting on the train, thought you were really cute, and used the couple as an excuse to sit by you.” You smile as you say it, finding the way Kevin looks at you after the admission utterly swoon worthy.

“Well, even if that’s true. I think I sort of blew it with them in the beginning. They saw me rereading ‘A series of unfortunate events’ and probably thought I was so lame.”

“Nah,” you mutter, smiling at your feet, “they probably found it endearing.”

“You think so?”

“Yeah, I got a good feeling.” When you meet Kevin’s eyes, he’s still watching you, and you find it humorous, almost, how you can barely keep your eyes off each other now especially considering how impossible it felt to do so in the beginning. “So what happened after that?”

“Oh well, I asked them to come to the lounge car with me and guess what?”

“What?”

“They said yes.”

“Incredible.”

“Then, we got to talking, and, Jacob, everything they said sounded so smart and composed; I felt like a bumbling idiot in front of them. I mean, you wouldn’t believe how incredibly brilliant they are, not to mention gorgeous, and...” his voice trails off, bottom lip pulled between his teeth. You lean towards him a bit, as if that’ll get you closer to hearing the rest of the sentence.

“And what?”

“And I think I fell in love with them right then.”

For a second, you forget to breathe.

Kevin hangs up the fake phone call, handing the receiver to you. “Your turn.”

You take the phone from him, pretend to dial the number, then make the ringing sound while you wait for Kevin to pick up.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Chanhee. It’s me. I have to cancel on our lunch plans tomorrow.”

“Oh no. Why? Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, no, everything is fine. I just met someone on the train and—god, I know this is going to sound insane—but I got off the train with him in Amsterdam.”

“That is insane,” his eyes widen dramatically as he says it. “What made you get off the train with him?”

“Well, for starters, the arguing couple.”

“Right, and of course, I, Chanhee, know exactly what that means.”

“See, I knew you’d understand.” You laugh. “But other than the couple, you know, we started talking on the train and he was so sweet and really cute in this clumsy, flustered sort of way. I don’t know. I think a part of me had already decided to get off the train with him before he ever asked.”

“That sounds…” he falters there, as if he’s still searching for the right word, “special.”

You nod. “It feels special too.”

“So what now?”

“I’m not sure.” You answer honestly. “He’s from Canada and has a flight back there tomorrow morning.”

“Well, do you plan on seeing him again?”

The question comes like a slap to the face from the palm of reality itself. One that you probably should have anticipated; a question that probably should’ve crossed your mind at least once. But somehow, you’ve neglected to wonder what’s to come of this fling past tonight.

You hang up, and the obnoxious clatter of the receiver falling back into place rings throughout the booth.

“I guess we should talk about that.”

“Yeah, I guess we should.” He mumbles, something in his demeanor changing with the words.

A silence overcomes both of you, and it feels like you’re in the listening booth of the record shop again, avoiding each other’s eyes and waiting for the other to make the first move.

“Well it’s—“

“I think—“

You both start at the same time, words crashing together in the air. He laughs, gesturing for you to go first.

You exhale sharply, tugging on your fingers and already nervous to hear how Kevin will respond. “I just don’t think we should fool ourselves here and make this out to be anything more than it is.”

“Yeah, no. I was gonna say the same thing.” He nods solemnly, visibly gulping as if the words are hard to swallow. A smile fights its way onto his lips but doesn’t manage to meet his eyes. “So what now?”

“Well, we have tonight,” you begin, stepping closer, finding his hand, and twirling his pinky finger with yours, “I say we make the most of it.”

“In that case,” he returns the gesture, capturing your hand and pulling you a little closer, “I have an idea.”

—

Kevin’s idea ends up with you standing awkwardly off to the side of a bar, quite literally twiddling your thumbs. You reach for Kevin’s necklace that’s now secured around your neck and wonder what part of his plan explains why he gave it to you before entering this establishment. You sneak a few glances at Kevin who's speaking with the lady behind the bar. The lady finally nods, smiling cheerily and heading around the bar. Kevin swivels around, shooting you a thumbs up before receiving the bottle of wine that the lady had retrieved for him.

“How did you do that?” You ask once you’re both out of earshot, exiting from the building.

“I told her that I just proposed.”

You look at him unconvinced, wiggling your left hand in his face. “No ring.”

“That’s what the necklace was for.”

“And it worked?” You say, disbelief seeping into your voice. “She believed you?”

He scoffs. “I don’t know why you look so shocked when you’re literally the one I convinced to get off a train with a complete stranger.”

And, well, he makes an excellent point.

—

You end up at a park, laying on your backs and making silly comments about each star. You have jackets laid out on the grass beneath you and another draped over both of you acting as a blanket.

“Have you ever heard of that theory?” You say, turning to lay on your side. “About how people fall out of love for the same reason they fell in.” He turns to lay on his side, nodding. “It terrifies me.”

He frowns. “I think love alone is pretty terrifying.”

“Did you mean it?” You reposition yourself with an arm under your head. “Back in the telephone booth, did you mean it when you said you fell for me on the train.”

He stares at you for a long moment then smiles, whispering a small but sincere ‘yes’.

“Can I tell you a secret then?” He nods. “I think I fell for you too.”

“When?”

“Guess.”

“On the bridge?” You shake your head. “During dinner?”

“Before that.”

“In the museum?”

“You’re getting colder.”

“Ah,” he sighs in understanding, “the listening booth.”

You nod. “It was while we were listening to that Italian song, ‘Il Mondo’. Each time I felt you looking away, I would look at you. Then you’d turn your head back, and I’d pretend like I wasn’t staring. That moment—well, I guess it was pretty mundane. But, I don’t know, it still felt a little like magic.”

“Mundane things can be quite magical.”

“Which one is love then: magical or mundane?”

He shrugs. “Both, I think.”

There’s a silence, and it lingers for long enough to remind you of the awkwardness between you and Kevin after getting off the train. However, this silence is so much more different than that other one because it’s the kind that only comes when two people understand each other.

Kevin is the one who ends up breaking it, cutting through the night’s overwhelming quiet with a soft voice.

“I feel like that painting from the museum right now.” He recalls the title: “‘Lover’s Embrace’.”

“Is that what we are?” You question, a bit of misplaced insecurity dipping into your voice. “Lovers?”

“Is there any other way to describe this?”

“I don’t know.” You inhale. “Strangers?”

He waits a beat, then offers: “Soulmates?”

You’re reminded of the conversation you had in the pub, and his gut-wrenching, life-altering definition of the term. You meet his eyes steadily. “Do you believe that?”

He smiles. “Do you?”

And there’s something about the way he says the question that makes it sound like a dare, like a request. As if he isn’t asking if you believe it, but rather, he’s asking you to believe it.

“I don’t know.” You shrug. But it’s a lie, you do.

“The way I see it,” he begins, scooting closer, “if someone were to give me an ultimatum: I’d marry you right now. And I know it’s insane, I know that probably just sounds like some grand romantic bullshit, but I’m serious. With how I’ve come to feel about you tonight, I could wake up every day and put in the work of choosing to love you.”

“And what about the couple on the train?”

“What about them?”

“What happens when we become them? What happens when we hate each other so much, we blow up in public?”

“Who says we will?”

“But hypothetically,” you insist, “what happens then?”

“Honestly?”

“Yes.”

“It’s gonna sound stupid.”

“Just tell me.”

“I wouldn’t mind.” He lets the statement sit for a second, inhaling deeply before continuing. “I’d accept the inevitable arguing in the middle of a train if I was doing it with you.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“But that’s the craziest part,” he lets out a breathy laugh, “I actually do.”

“How?” You huff. “How can you sound so certain that you’ll love me despite all the things you’ll come to hate me for?”

“Because you got off the train with me,” he says, shaking his head like the answer is obvious. “And at this point in the night, I’m pretty convinced that you’re the only person in the world who would.”

And yeah, you think laughing, he’s probably right about that part. Because who else would be insane enough to get off a train with a complete stranger? Who else would fall in love on a train and while listening to an Italian record? Who else but you and Kevin Moon?

“You know what they call that?”

“What?”

You raise your brow, something terrifying hanging off the tip of your tongue:

“Soulmate culture.”

—

You used to love sunrises. Loved how golden they are. How they coat everything in sight, lighting up whatever darkness was left by the night. You always saw them as a promise of something new, a new day and a new beginning. But today, when the sun does finally rise, you can’t seem to remember why you used to love them so much. Especially not after you spent the entire night dreading this particular one.

The walk to the train station had been quiet for the most part, a solemn and groggy acceptance that it was your final stretch of time together. And now standing with Kevin at the platform, you’ve never hated the arrival of a train more.

“I should probably get on the train now.”

“Right,” Kevin mutters, chewing on his bottom lip and bouncing on his heels. He laughs, awkwardly, rubbing at his eyes. “God, I hate goodbyes.”

You bite the inside of your cheek. “I hate this one.”

You hug him, wrapping your arms around his neck and burying your face between his neck and shoulder. He hesitates for a second, as if he’s shocked by the gesture, then tightens his arms around your waist, pulling you impossibly closer. And the only thing you can think about while hugging him is how this is the first and last time you’ll ever do so.

You pull away, give him a small, sad smile, then grab your things, stepping onto the train. You give him a wave before disappearing into the car. From the window by your seat, you can still see him. He finds you, giving you a smile and another wave. And when he turns around, beginning to walk out of the train station, nothing has ever felt more wrong.

“Kevin!” You shout, unlatching the window and sticking your head out of it. He whips back around. “Let’s just do it! Let’s see each other again!”

It takes a second for Kevin to react. Too long, your brain convinces you already wishing the words back. But it’s as you sink back into your seat that he breaks out in the most brilliant grin. “Fuck it, yeah, let’s do it! Where?”

You laugh at the absurdity of this moment and how unreal it feels. “Here! Amsterdam, at this train station, on this platform.”

“Okay, here. In one year?”

You shake your head. “I can’t wait that long.”

“Me neither.” He laughs, an exhale of pure joy that you can see even from the train.

“Six months from today.” You tell him over the train whistle as the wheels start to move, pulling you away. “See you then.”

He waves goodbye again, cupping his hands around his mouth and shouting, “see you then!”

You fall back in your seat, immediately burying your face into your palms. Your hands trail down, rubbing at your neck, clutching the part of your chest that falls over your heart, and—what is that?

You look down, recognizing the object around your neck and lifting it up with the pad of your thumb. And as you stare at the pendant of Kevin’s forgotten necklace, your smile grows.

—

SIX MONTHS LATER

The train station feels so much more different than how you left it. The weather now colder, and the platform decked with lingering holiday decorations. You get off the train and look around, praying for a familiar face.

“Hey.” The voice comes from behind you. You pivot around, so quickly your head spins. Or maybe the spinning sensation has something to do with how euphoric it feels to see Kevin again.

“Hey.”

“You came?” He asks, not bothering to hold back his elation.

“Well, yeah,” you reach into the pocket of your coat and fish out the necklace he left six months ago, “you forgot this.”

“Funny coincidence, huh? Unless, of course, it wasn’t a coincidence at all.” He hints with a smug grin. “Unless I left it on purpose so that you’d have a reason to come back.”

“If that’s the case, then you spent six months without your necklace for nothing.”

“Oh, and why’s that?”

You step closer, smiling. “Because I already had a reason to come.”

a/n: i had way too much fun writing this,, also the translation of the italian song is half google and half me kind of assuming what the lyrics mean so idk how accurate that translation is

349 notes · View notes

mrspanky · 4 years ago

Note

I'm not really sure how long these are meant to be. "Right, I'm pretty sure that's called trauma".

Trauma Bonding, (a Jason Todd x Reader)

Warnings: Language.

Genre: Fluff/angst/comedy/romance

Authors note: This prompt is perfect, thank you @aethers-stuff ! Sorry it took me so long to write! I hope you like it. ♡(: _______________________________________________

Dick watched you two from the kitchen.

Jason was seated on one end of his livingroom couch and you on the other. You were talking loudly, gesturing with your hands so much that you looked like Italians at a family gathering. You were both exceptionally expressive and extroverted people on your own, so when you got together, the room's volume was always raised a noticeable few notches.

It was endearing, but a real headache when it went on for too long.

Dick massaged his temple. An extrovert himself, he felt the need to jump into the conversation, but he knew better. You and Jason would simply not shut up long enough for him to get a word in when you were both really on a roll, and Dick didn't feel like expelling that much energy. Plus, he was curious to see where this would end.

“...That’s ridiculous Jason”.

You crossed your arms.

“There is no way in hell you're dying your white streak black.”

He raised his hand from the couch armrest in exasperation.

“I wasn't even asking you.”

You arched an eyebrow.

“You should've been. The white streak stays. It's your trademark. If you're concerned about me being right, I dare you to ask everyone to vote.”

“Hon, I am not in the practice of asking people if I can or can't do things.”

“Luckily, you never ask me my opinion so you don't have to worry about breaking your pattern just yet.”

“...You never keep it to yourself, so why would I even bother”.

Dick shook his head. You were like an old, emotionally constipated couple and it was amusing to observe.

“Just kiss already”, he said under his breath.

You turned your head towards the kitchen, hearing him faintly, but almost unintelligibly.

“Dick, did you say something? Sorry, we're arguing here, I hope we're not too obnoxious”.

“Hey don’t throw me under the bus with you, I was just trying to have a moment of quiet meaningless thought when you started playing hair cop,” Jason quipped.

“Hush.”

“Right back at you”.

“-Both of you shut up for a minute. I didn't say anything”.

Dick rolled his eyes.

“However, we do have patrol in an hour, and Bruce sent me some weird instructions.”

“Weird how?”

You tilted your head in curiosity.

Jason glanced at you, and huffed a little. He couldn't help himself. Despite himself, he found you really endearing. Especially in moments like this when your lips were pouted in confusion and....”.

Dick snapped Jason out of his brain fog.

“Jay. Buddy. Try to pay attention.”

“Wasn't not doing that,” he grumbled.

“Then what did I just say.”

The two brothers shared a childish battle of glares.

“...fine, you made your point. I was dreaming about this whisky I saw in the manor the other day”, he lied.

“Ok. Very in character, Jason. Now, the mission is-”

“...looked decadent. It was really old and had this fancy label on it that-”

“...Guys. I can hear you from the other room”, Tim walked in looking miffed.

There was a pause as all three of the human boom-boxes stared blankly at the intruder.

“...you’re a detective, Tim”, Jason deadpanned.

“Ugh, Jason...that’s not the... just shut up.”

Tim pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose.

“Did you all get the mission briefing?”

“Somehow, Jason didn't”, Dick fumed.

“Alright, fine. Basically, Jason, you, and Y/n are staying back tonight because you're the only ones who haven't been seen yet in the city, and Bruce wants to save you guys for an undercover mission next week”.

“What?!”

You both looked at each other in disgust.

“I'm not working for the bat anymore!”

“Yeah, and I've never even started to work for him! He can't just expect us to be at his disposal and then bench us!”

“Guys, relax. He's just doing this so you can have a better element of surprise later. You're both really valuable, ” Dick reasoned.

You and Jason paused, your egos begrudgingly satisfied.

“...fine”.

“Fine”.

“Good. Ok. So everyone suit up”, the oldest brother concluded.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Jason was irritated.

He found you interesting. Really interesting. Usually, he dealt with his fear of vulnerability by acting too unbothered to care, but you intrigued him so much that he struggled to keep his mouth shut around you. He was afraid to get too close to you; he would lose you eventually like everyone else.

But, he knew so little about you, despite all of the banter. A talent you both possessed, was chattering without disclosing any actual information. You had only met each other two months ago, and usually it would take both of you longer to warm up to a new person, but there was just a feeling. You were kindred spirits. He wanted to learn more about you, despite himself.

“So what brought you here”.

“Here as in what brought me to dress up and punch criminals as a nightly routine, or as in what brought me to be in an alliance with Bruce Wayne that I'm now regretting?”

There it was. Those were the kind of responses that made Jason feel just enough on his toes to be uncharacteristically comfortable with you.

“Take your pick I guess.”

“Bruce Wayne it is then. I'm not really a fan of my life story”.

“Ttt, ” Jason laughed, taking a page from his youngest brother’s book.

“I'm kind of an accidental friend of Dick’s. We met first at the Bludhaven police station, I was there for...pfft...I was just there, ” You paused with a laugh.

“He helped me out, and we didn't see each other again until he ended up working with me anonymously for info on a case as Nightwing years later. We both just figured out each other's identities and he brought me on a mission once where I met Bruce. And Bruce is a convincing prick so now here I am, somehow under his command”.

“Sounds about right. So when do we kiss?”

Great. Now he sounded like an asshole.

Jason looked at you, gauging to see what your reaction would be. He’d half said that last part by accident, but now that he’d acted out of impulse he knew he couldn’t take it back.

“-What?”

“When do we kiss? You heard Dick”.

He was really committing to his blunder now.

“Yes, and I ignored him and smoothly got him to change the subject. Besides. You're not my type”, you lied.

Jason was in fact, exactly your type.

“What is your type?”

“Shit”, you thought.

“Hmm. I like people who I can chase that don't actually like me, and then I eventually get to give up. It makes it easier”.

You admitted this in a tongue-in-cheek manner, but you weren't really kidding. Something about Jason’s persistence made you want to open up, despite your usual habitual wall-building.

“You're like a fucking mirror; you know that?” Jason laughed.

He knew you weren’t kidding because he’d said things along those lines millions of times.

“Your point, Mr. Therapist? People hurt people. I kind of prefer to enjoy relationships from a distance at best”.

“Right, I'm pretty sure that's called trauma”.

“Call it what you will, but it's a good way of not getting even more mentally busted up than an already fucked vigilante”, you grinned.

“Nice.” he smirked.

“You sound as dumb as me”.

“That’s a little low don’t you think? I’m only half as dumb as you at most, but yeah. Fine. We share some things”.

“What’s that supposed to mean Princess,” he smiled.

He felt himself get exited a little. What you had just said made it sound like you felt you two were similar just as he did.

“That I think we’re both stupid people that have really stubborn hearts that get us into trouble”.

Your heart was beating so fast. You hadn’t meant to say that much.

“Now who’s the therapist”, he said in a low voice.

He leaned in closer to you a little, testing the waters to see if you were just being a little cautious, or if you actually weren’t comfortable. He felt like you were just being scared like he always was deep down, but he didn’t want to push you if it was only going to cause you both more pain.

He was a little scared too. You scared him. Not just because you were powerful and beautiful, but because he actually liked you. He wasn’t used to that. But he knew himself, and when Jason Todd does something, he can’t do it half way. If you were in this too, he knew he’d do anything for you, and that was terrifyingly vulnerable.

As he leaned in, your breath caught.

“Fuck”, you thought.

His eyes were stunning.

You hadn’t let yourself notice how much until now.

“Jason…”

“...Todd why are you about to taint Y/n”.

Jason spun around.

“Damian!” you yelled.

The small Wayne was standing in the doorway.

“Shortstack, you are too young to be using a fancy word like taint”, Jason recovered.

Tim and Dick emerged behind Damian in the doorway.

“What’s going on?” Tim asked.

“Todd was just about to be disgusting with Y/n in front of all of us”, Damian smirked, crossing his arms.

He knew he just set up Dick to take a fit.

The oldest brother was not pleased.

“Jason, really? Damian is right here and you didn’t think to chill?”

Jason rolled his eyes.

“We didn’t do anything Dicky. The kid here is being a drama queen. The only thing he walked in on us doing was some good old fashioned arguing”.

Jason knew he was making himself look like a major...well...dick, but he knew you wouldn’t want to commit to the family knowing about anything that might be going on between you two, however small just yet.

Dick rolled his eyes, and the three brothers walked in the doorway and into the kitchen to get water. You and Jason were always an entertaining spectacle for sure, but patrol was tiring, and they all needed to cool down.

Jason looked back to you. You were looking at your feet with your arms crossed and a barely contained smile on your face.

“The kid has good timing,” he huffed with a laugh.

“Oh fantastic”, you gazed at him, laughing back quietly.

“So, you want to talk some more about trauma?” He asked in a playful, but matter of fact tone.

“Maybe sometime, Red,” you smiled.

You turned and walked away.

“She’s gonna make me work for this”, he thought.

It had been so long since either of you had met your match, and you both were going to thoroughly enjoy this.

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flooffybits · 4 years ago

Text

Official

Idol: Shin Yuna (Itzy)

Anon: Can i request for a yuna(itzy) × idol! Reader caught by dispatch and before they was caught by dispatch they were hinting on their relationship so evryone who ships them both are so happy hehe -🤡

☕buy me a coffee☕

“Will you be okay?” Yuna looked up from her phone and fidgeted in her seat as her leader gave her a worried stare, taking the seat next to her and placing a gentle hand on top of her own shaky ones.

The younger girl slowly nodded her head, nibbling on her lower lip as she let out a sigh. “I will. I mean Y/n and I have been dropping a few hints here and there, and I also got JYP’s permission.” Yet despite all of this, she still couldn’t hide the anxiety that was bubbling in her chest as she turned off her phone and set it on the table.

Jisu took the seat across the pair and leaned over to pat their maknae’s knee in a comforting manner. “Don’t worry, okay? We trust Y/n and we know that they’re going to take care of you. If you’re worried about fans, then don’t.”

“Unnie is right. Whatever they have to say, you shouldn’t let it affect you.” Ryujin piped up from the door when she finally exited her room to join the three, Chaeryeong coming not long after she finished freshening up. “People will say anything to bring you down, but real Midzy’s will support you as soon as they see that you’re happy.”

And it was true. The girls weren’t too sure when Yuna had finally introduced you as her partner since you were from another company, but the amount of times they’ve seen her being even more bright than usual and how much you did take care of her.

What sealed the deal was probably when Chaeryeong answered Yuna’s phone when the younger girl was asleep. Hearing your sleepy voice as you spoke, thinking that it was your girlfriend, praising and muttering quiet affections toward the latter, Chaeryeong was quick to tell the rest of the girls about it as she abruptly hung up on you.

After that, you had been officially accepted by the rest of Itzy, while also feeling embarrassed that her member had heard you acting like a total sap.

“What did Y/n say, anyway, after Dispatch leaked your photos?” Ryujin questioned while propping her head up with her fist. “They’ve been nervous, that’s for sure.” Your girlfriend couldn’t help but smile when she recalled you continuously asking her if she truly was okay with the situation and that you still had time to deny the claims and say that you were both merely friends.

Yeji chuckled while leaning back. “Well, one thing’s for sure, Y/n is going to do whatever will make you happy, Yuna. I just hope neither of you let the public ruin your relationship.” The eldest stated while rubbing the maknae’s back, and Yuna couldn’t help but smile at the thought of you.

“Don’t worry, unnie. We won’t.”

"Also, if Y/n thinks they can get away with hurting you just because JYP allowed you to publicly go out, they’ve got another thing coming.” Ryujin piped up, Chaeryeong nodding along with her fist up. “If I see a single tear on your face, Y/n better hope it wasn’t their fault.” Jisu giggled at her friends’ antics, Yuna brightening instantly as she nodded her head.

“Thank you.”

Sitting up properly when the door opens, you look up only to sigh in relief when you see your girlfriend walking into the room. The sight of her immediately brings a smile to your face as you stood, arms opening for her.

Your girlfriend wastes no time in jumping into your arms, and pecking your cheek while you give her a gentle squeeze. “You sure took your time.” You joked as you took her hand and she lightly rolled her eyes before resting her head on your shoulder.

“Well, I had four members to assure that this date would be safe.” She pointed out and you huff while poking her cheek. “You act like I didn’t have to worry about my own members.” You tell her, making her laugh before she shook her head. “Your members are more chill compared to mine. Plus, I’m the youngest.” She tells you and you hum before checking the time.

“Do you think we should get going, now?” You ask her and she bites her lip before nodding her head. “I’m ready.” Even when she’s nervous, you can see the certainty in her gaze as she looks at you and you smile gently before pecking her lips.

Smiling, you lace your fingers together before pressing your lips tenderly against her forehead, making her smile a little more relaxed as she let out a breath.

The rest of the day, the both of you spend it the way you want it without the worries of anyone finding out about your relationship.

Now that it was out to the public, you were both able to spend time together freely despite the few people who were stealing pictures and videos of you together. It didn’t bother you as much anymore.

And if you were being honest, you didn’t mind as long as your girlfriend had that same bright smile on her face whenever you did get the chance to act like a normal couple out in public.

The next few days, there are only articles about you together, your names trending in various platforms along with both your groups names.

“I’m at the company right now.” You had answered while looking through comments of your live since you decided to turn it on after practicing your parts of your choreography.

You were so busy answering and looking at questions, you failed to notice the door to your practice room opening until the intruder jumped on your back, causing you to drop your phone.

Yuna’s laughter echoed in the room before she quickly picked the device up. But as soon as she saw her own face and the comments that was flooding the live, she quickly covered her face and turned to you with wide eyes.

“I didn’t know you were live!” She squeaked and you laugh while taking your from her hands and then kissing her temple. “Why do you think I didn’t notice you coming in here?” You playfully shot back, setting your phone back up while Yuna pulled her mask up to cover half of her face.

Waving embarrassedly, your girlfriend properly introduced herself while you smiled at her, fans quickly commenting on the cute display. “They’ve been asking about you since I started. I’m surprised you didn’t know.” You tell her as she gave you a light shove.

“I was at practice, too. I only left because I wanted to eat.” She explains and you blink before turning to the camera. “Okay, since my girlfriend wants to eat, we have to say goodbye for now.” The blush on Yuna’s face grew redder and she was glad that it was covered when you purposefully emphasized on the ‘my’.

“You’re so annoying!” She laughed before standing up and you follow after her with a quick goodbye, smiling when you see the compliments fans have left before you finally turned off the live.

You quickly wrap an arm around her before exiting the practice room with her. “Hey, I don’t have a reason to hide you anymore, and everyone seems happy to know that we really are together so I think it’s a win win situation.” You stated proudly.

And despite the roll of her eyes, she can’t help but smile knowing that people supported you together. Of course, there was some backlash, but she knew in the end, it was her happiness over their selfishness.

And she was more than fine with that.

#girl group #girl group scenarios #girl group imagines #itzy #itzy scenarios #itzy imagines #itzy yuna #yuna itzy #shin yuna #yuna imagines #yuna scenarios #itzy yeji #itzy lia #itzy ryujin #itzy chaeryeong

155 notes · View notes

drawlfoy · 4 years ago

Text

Wonders of Ohio P.9

masterlist

requests are closed, but please read this first :)

if you want to be tagged, send an ask or message me!

pairing: draco x reader

request: nope, my original shameless self insert idea lmao

summary: american high school senior y/n y/l/n is in for the ride of her life when their exchange student is...a bit strange (but very hot). NOT a nonmagic AU, though you already knew that if you’ve read part 8 ;)

warnings: swearing, mentions of a break in, concerns about a home intruder, objectively the most fluffy scene we’ve gotten so far in this series (hehe), draco being fucking obnoxious and moody (did i mention swearing?)

a/n: ayoooooo so here’s part 9, as promised. i’ve started getting back into the hp universe more and more, so i should probably be picking up my writing soon. i’ve been feeling more myself again!! which is super awesome. i don’t think many people read this series anymore (or my author notes in general but i don’t blame yall) but i’m having a lot of fun writing it, so i’m going to keep going :)

music recs:

puppy princess -- hot freaks

loverboy -- A-wall

linger -- the cranberries

tags tags tags: @gruffle1 @missmulti @cleopatera @hahaboop @accio-rogers @geeksareunique @eltanin-malfoy @war-sword @cams-lynn @itsivyberry @ayo-cowbelly @nerd-domland @yesnerdsblog @shizarianathania @evanstanfanatic @strawberriesonsummer @hariosborn @night-ving @straightzoinked @imintoodeeptostop @naiomimoonshard @jejegu @ophelia-enthusiast @alwaysbeanunknownfan @nearly-memories @litty-dumb @callieclearwater @malfoy-wife15 @charlenasaxen @belladaises @fiantomartell @writeandtranslate @erisdogwood @loveissupernatural @sycathorn-slush @big-galaxy-chaos

word count: 3.8k :)

Y/N couldn’t help but wonder if Draco deliberately waited until the last minute to tell her family that he was leaving so he could evade her questioning. She tried to talk to him later that evening by knocking on his door, but she was met with complete silence.

Draco was ignoring her, and she didn’t get why. She’d promised to not tell anyone--even begged for him to trust her and essentially swore on her life--but he still wasn’t acting normal. Perhaps he didn’t want her to badger him with questions about the magical world.

Or maybe this was an excuse to get away from her.

Y/N swallowed the second possibility and locked it away somewhere out of sight. He’d left without a single word more to her (not even a congratulations for getting into a top 20 school, that loser) and never even bothered telling her when he’d return. And maybe that was the nicest part of it--she could pretend like he was never coming back.

As attractive as that option was, she had to admit that there was a Draco-shaped hole in her passenger car seat every time she drove to school. And in the kitchen when she was studying. And everywhere else he’d once touched.

“Why do you think he went back?”

Y/N took a break from reviewing her Art History final exam notes to look up at Lizzy. “Maybe something happened with his dad or he wanted to spend his holidays with his family? It’s probably not that serious.”

“Speaking of his dad, I tried to look up his name and see if anything came up,” Lizzy began. Y/N felt her heart jump into her throat. “Don’t you think it’s kinda sus? I haven’t found anything for him. It’s like he’s been completely wiped off the face of the earth. Do you know anything about it?”

“Honestly, I don’t think it’s any of my business.” Draco’s franticness when she found out lingered in the back of her mind as she chose her words carefully. “I’m sure if he’s a genuine political target, they’ve just scrubbed the web clean of him, being a minor and all.”

“But don’t you think it’s funny that he’s apparently so important but there’s no evidence of him or his father ever existing?”

“Lizzy.” Her voice was firm. “It’s entirely possible that his real name is different. And either way, it’s not our story to uncover. He’s entitled to his own privacy, and if he doesn’t reveal his true identity then we need to respect that.”

“Oooookaaayyyyy, Mother,” said Lizzy. “You’re so fun. You know that, right?”

“It’s my job.”

After the close brush with Lizzy, Y/N avoided the topic of Draco with her friends like wildfire. At the back of her mind, she registered that that was probably more suspicious, but when Sylvia asked her about him during lunch, she finally spun up a story.

“I told him I liked him,” she told everyone, the words stinging her throat. “He doesn’t feel the same way. I just would feel better if we dropped it.”

Her friends reacted immediately with sympathy, telling her that it wasn’t her fault that he couldn’t see her for what she was worth. Somehow, this made her feel worse. She didn’t even need to tell him her feelings to know his thoughts--he didn’t see her as anything but a “muggle”, or whatever he called them. She never stood a chance.

Y/N spent an embarrassing amount of time wondering how things would’ve been different if she was a witch. She didn’t know anything about his world (apart from the fact that they really had a stick up their asses about people knowing of them) but she somehow craved a place in it. Would Draco feel differently towards her if she was magic?

It was probably better if she didn’t pay too much mind to it, but she couldn’t let the thought go. Every time she shut her eyes at night, the memory of waking up next to Draco replayed in her head, over and over. She would’ve sold her soul to have gone back to that. Would things have been different if she had just...not found the letters? She was driving herself crazy digging through all her interactions with him. There’s no way she was imagining things, and judging by the surprised reactions of her friends when she told them he didn’t reciprocate feelings, she wasn’t the only one who thought something was there. If he was really so disgusted by her and her people, he wouldn’t have let her sleep in his room, in his bed no less.

As December wore on, her mind began to be occupied by another feverish stream of thoughts. If she didn’t already feel like she was going crazy over the Draco problem, she was going completely insane over the fact that she was misplacing things like crazy and forgetting the most basic of things. It seemed like it was almost every day that she was forgetting where she put her keys (even though she could’ve sworn she’d hung them up by the door) or getting home to find the door already unlocked even though she was sure that she’d locked it behind her. It would’ve creeped her out, but she was really off kilter. It just wasn’t right having Draco away, and the sense of dread she got every time she went by her room just threw her off balance. What if she still had lingering sickness from whatever magical infliction she suffered?

He really should’ve stuck around to watch after me. Just in case.

Another thing was bothering her--a name she saw pop up in the pouch from when she went through his letters. It was a small portion of his collection, and she didn’t even think to examine it until after he took them back from her, but she noticed that the name “Pansy Parkinson” came up more than once as a return address.

Her mind immediately jumped to the worst--Draco was madly in love with another girl, a magical girl, and traveled back home with the express purpose of declaring his neverending devotion for her and complaining about that rat Ohioan muggle that he had to spend his days with.

Y/N knew it wasn’t healthy, but no matter what she did, she couldn’t quite shake it. The fact that he’d no doubt grown up around girls that would be suitable for him to date was making her physically ill with jealousy, which was probably the most embarrassing part of her feelings for him. Nevermind how much time she spent fantasizing about how soft his hair felt or how his stupidly pretty fingers would feel grazing her skin--she couldn’t even cope with the idea of him existing with other women that were honestly a better choice to him.

That Christmas was surprisingly bleak. Being an only child always made for a quiet house during the holidays, but the expectation she held of having Draco there set her up for disappointment. Her house felt empty.

“Do you think he’s coming back?” Y/N asked her mother as they did the morning dishes together.

“Well, I assume so. Why wouldn’t he? He was scheduled to spend the entire year with us. I think that if he’s changed his mind we would at least know by now.”

“What if he’s still deciding?”

“Why, miss him already?” Mrs. Y/L/N’s tone was teasing, but she felt her cheeks grow hot.

“Quite the contrary. I’m just wondering if I’m about to become the pampered only child again or if I’m going to need to go back into the unglamorous life of sharing the spotlight.”

“Y/N,” her mother tutted. She’d stopped doing the dishes.

Y/N made a point to evade her knowing look. “Mom.”

Her mother took a breath before answering. “Nothing. As a matter of fact, I did get a letter from him a few days ago. He’s scheduled to return the second week of January, right before school goes back.”

“Oh,” said Y/N. No matter how hard she tried, there’s no way her relief wasn’t visible.

“How’s that for your Christmas gift, hm?”

“Mom!”

“Hey! Hey, it was a joke,” Mrs. Y/L/N said, throwing her hands up in a “no can do” sort of gesture. “I know that you’re good friends with him is all. Unless…”

“Mom!” Her cheeks were all shades of red.

“All I’m saying is that he seems to enjoy your company.”

“Stockholm syndrome, I’m telling you.” Her explanation of what that meant was on the tip of her tongue before she stopped herself. There was no reason to--the only person who would need that explained to them was no longer on the same continent as her.

“Whatever you’d like to think.”

The snowstorm hit them without warning, two days after Christmas. Her parents had left for the night to attend a charity auction, but unfortunately for Y/N, by the time that they realized that their daughter would be snowed in, the roads were too dangerous to drive on. Y/N begrudgingly agreed to do all of the things they told her to--get the generator ready, make sure the fireplace was prepared, and locate all the candles in the house.

On any normal day, she wouldn’t have been concerned in the slightest, but she’d felt uneasy in her house ever since the night of the break-in, and now that this was the first night she’d have to spend alone, her heart was pounding at the thought of having to sleep in an empty house. Especially if the power was out. Especially when whoever broke in was still on the loose.

She locked up at dusk, making sure that every entry to her home was completely sealed shut. The generator was in the basement, all set up in the case that the lights went out. She’d located all the bottled water in her house in case the pipes froze, and she finally retired to her room to relax.

The sense of dread that hovered around Draco’s room was gone, thankfully. The overall feeling of creepiness was just beginning to lose its jarring sting, but she’d never quite been able to shake how many things she misplaced in the beginning of the month.

She busied herself with mundane activities--she cleaned out her closet, organized her drawers, read, changed her sheets, and finished the last of her homework--but nothing could distract her from the gnawing inside of her. The hairs on the back of her neck constantly stood up, even when she was tucked away in the corner of her room, nestled into her blankets. The tingling was akin to what she felt when she walked into that antique shop on homecoming night--the same night when Draco helped her off her feet and narrowly kept her from throwing up all over Heather.

Looking back on it, she realized that when he grabbed her wrist, he must’ve done something to quell her nausea, something magical. There was no way her carsickness could’ve been able to disappear so quickly.

Her soliloquy was interrupted by what sounded like footsteps outside. Before she could assess the situation and decide what she was going to do, a boom sounded off in the distance and she was all of a sudden bathed in darkness.

Y/N froze.

Someone was most definitely outside her house, but thankfully she’d locked all the doors. And, thankfully, the boom told her that her fuse box hadn’t been messed with. A tree had probably just fallen on a transformer.

But those small comforts still didn’t change the fact that she was no longer alone--and not only that, but no longer alone without power.

Her thoughts were interrupted once again by banging on her front door. Y/N jumped, just barely managing to clap her hand over her mouth to muffle her shriek. She’d seen enough horror movies to know that alerting someone that you were home wasn’t the smartest move. She’d have to be strategic.

Heart pounding out of her chest, she crept out of her room and down the stairs. The power outage was quite lucky, she realized, as whoever was outside couldn’t see in. The moon only cast a slight light as it reflected off of the snow, so she was going to be able to see the person outside before they would see her.

She squinted from her perch by the base of the staircase. She could make out a silhouette, a tall and lanky one. The weak moonlight reflected off a very light head of hair, and Y/N was struck with a feeling of familiarity.

No way...

Y/N stood frozen for a few seconds as she heard the person knock on the door again. A muffled version of a familiar British voice said, “Is anyone there?”

Throwing all caution to the wind and praying to any higher power that was listening to her that her suspicion was correct, she pushed down on the doorknob and swung it open.

Her heart stopped.

“Draco? What are you--”

Before she could get another word out of her mouth, she was pulled into the tightest (and snowiest) hug of her life. One of his arms wrapped solidly around her waist, the other reaching further up to her shoulders to hold her closer. He was tall enough in comparison that he could rest his chin on the top of her head while she cautiously clasped her hands around him, breathing in the same soft pine scent that she knew so well.

When he finally let go of her, she noticed that his face was decidedly less pale than what it had been when she first opened the door. At a loss for words, Y/N just made her way behind him and shut the door to keep the storm from blowing any more snowflakes in. She noted that Draco was shaking.

“You’re okay,” he said, his voice low and quiet.

She grinned. “Yeah. Believe it or not, I’m not that scared of the dark.”

He didn’t look nearly as amused, wringing his hands out in front of him instead of meeting her eyes.

“You’re going to freeze to death if you’re gonna just stand there in soaking clothes,” she chided. “And what are you doing back half a month early? I know you must’ve missed me, but I didn’t expect you to miss me THAT much.”

He rolled his eyes, bringing Y/N the comfort that the sarcastic asshole was still in there. “We need to talk.”

“No, what you need to do is get changed into dry clothes,” she said. “Not sure if you’ve noticed, but until we get our generator working, there’s no heat...and I’m not sure if the Ministry is going to like it if I let you die on my watch.”

Even though he didn’t normally laugh at her jokes, he seemed especially solemn when she said this. It became very clear to her then that he regretted his brief display of affection.

“What are you doing, just standing here? Shoo! I don’t want to see you dripping snow all over the rug.” She waved him off until he made his way up the stairs, still eerily silent.

Once she was sure he was actually getting dressed, she made her way to the kitchen where she started heating up the water. She’d never been more thankful for the fact that they had a gas stove instead of an electric one.

The tea was almost finished brewing by the time that Draco was back downstairs, perched awkwardly on the couch. She’d never seen his sweater before--it was in a rich forest green with a silver crest of a snake.

“Are you going to tell me whatever is going on? I’ve never seen you like this before,” asked Y/N as she handed him the mug that she knew to be his favorite.

He took a sip and waited a bit before responding. “I found out some things while I was away.”

“Is that it? Must’ve been something pretty interesting for you to come in here and act like I’m your long lost love or whatever.” She took careful note of how his cheeks were especially pink, but it must’ve been because of the cold.

“I shouldn’t tell you everything, but I think you should probably know the gist of things,” he began. “First of all, I figured out why I couldn’t use the Obliviation cube on you. Also, you have to consent to an Unbreakable Vow.”

“A...what? Care to elaborate? Like, at least a little? Why didn’t it work on me?”

He sighed, a sharp breath of air that left his lungs in a huff. “Because you stumbled upon a very important box that can bestow the gift of magic onto anyone. And since you did something in your dream to try and open it, it permanently took root in you. I tried to reverse it, but there’s always going to be an imprint of magic on you.”

“Sick. So I’m a witch now? Like you?”

“No.” His tone was sour. “No, you’re not. For that to work, there needs to be a ritual actually completed by someone magical. That’s why you got so sick--because you would’ve needed me to help you through your dream sequence and open up the box. So, now that you’ve essentially pushed yourself into the magical world uninvited, I can’t use anything on you that’s catered towards Muggles.”

“Rats,” said Y/N. “That’s no fun. What about the whole part about my safety? And what’s that vow thing?”

“Apparently someone really, really wants that box,” Draco told her. “It doesn’t just give muggles the gift of magic--it can also give current wizards powers that are otherwise completely unavailable to the rest of the population. In the wrong hands, they could wreak havoc on the world. And I’m almost positive they think you have it.”

“Oh…” Everything started falling into place. “So, the break in? That probably was them right? And, uh, let’s say if you feel like maybe someone has been in your house while you’ve been gone? Like, that’s something I should be worried about, right?”

“Is that happening to you?” His face looked significantly more pale.

Y/N was tempted to tell him no--just to ease his nerves--but something in his look told her that she needed to be truthful. “Um, kind of. You know how I can be forgetful, though. It’s just little things, like sometimes I come home to find that the front door is unlocked when I’m sure I locked it, or I can’t find little things like my car keys and my phone, but it’s all easily explained.”

“I never should’ve left,” he said, tucked his knees up to his chest. “I should’ve known that that was Merlin’s Box.” He swallowed, meeting her eyes with a gaze that looked so forlorn that her heart ached. “I’m so sorry.”

“Hey, hey, all we have to do is tell them I don’t have the box, right? And then they’ll leave me alone.”

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I assume so, but if they didn’t find the box when they originally ransacked your room and they’re still hanging around, I don’t know what to do. That’s why I can’t obliviate you, the proper way that we use on wizards, because I can’t always be there to save you. Once I’m gone, you’re going to have to manage on your own.”

“Please, Draco,” said Y/N. “People will always talk a big game, but once I pull out my pepper spray it’s over. I can take care of myself! I didn’t need protection while you’re away.”

He smiled then, a small one that seemed more sad than anything. “You sound like me. When I was younger.”

“You probably don’t even know what pepper spray is. What’s that vow thing?”

“You have to promise that you won’t say anything that would reveal what you know about me and my world,” said Draco. “I need to find a wizard to say the incantations, but it shouldn’t be too hard. I ended up telling the Ministry what happened--I’m not going to get sent away as they have a clear record of me at least attempting to wipe your memory and they agree that you need to be able to protect yourself. Unbreakable Vows are just really intense promises. If you break it, you die.”

“Is that your way of saying you don’t really trust my word?”

He rolled his eyes. “It’s required by the Ministry. If you don’t comply, then you’re going to be completely obliviated and then you can have as much fun as you’d like trying to run from whoever that criminal is without even knowing why they’re after you. Oh, and without me.”

“Then why are you even offering the vow? Don’t you want to go home?”

Draco took a long drink from his mug. “I still have a sentence to carry out. If I go back home, I’ll get sent to the same prison that my father is being held at right now.”

“A...sentence?” Y/N stared at him. “I know you mentioned a punishment, but a sentence?”

He remained silent and refused to meet her eyes.

“Draco, what exactly did you have to do?”

“It’s none of your business,” he snapped. The sudden switch of tone made Y/N start, but he was unwavering in his scowl. “I’d prefer to not think about it.”

“But...Draco…” Y/N cast her gaze to the ground so she didn’t have to see the no doubt furious look in his eyes when she continued to push. “How bad? Do you think that maybe whoever is after me might know that I don’t have the box anymore? And that they might be trying to seek revenge against you for whatever it was that you did instead?”

He didn’t respond.

“Think about it. That would explain why I was untouched this whole time that you were away when they were still keeping tabs on me.”

With a pronounced bonk, he set his mug down on the coffee table. “I’m going to bed.”

She managed to get one more look at his face before he spun around to head up the stairs and was shocked to see what was etched into his face--anger, yes, frustration...and also shame. Unmistakable shame.

final a/n: weeoooooooo i’m like 3 minutes early...this is a monumental moment for my blog. let me know what you guys think (if there’s still people sticking with this series fjkds;al). i am going to go back into my hole and work on some math hw (wonders of ohio y/n vibes...i have low key become her trying to roleplay as a stem girl). the plot is going to thicken and hopefully there will be more fluff soon. i honestly didn’t want to add the hug bc i do want this to be slow burn but it has come to my attention that this is now about 30k words long and i haven’t given y’all so much as an inkling that draco has feelings/anything will happen between them so i gotta give you something to hold you over fjdska;

#draco x reader #draco imagine #draco malfoy x reader #draco malfoy imagine #draco x you #draco malfoy x you #draco x oc #draco malfoy x oc #draco malfoy #draco #dracotok #draco x y/n #draco malfoy x y/n

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chibimyumi · 4 years ago

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Kuromyu 2021 - First Review

So, yesterday 05-03-2021 was the First Day Performance of Kuromyu 2021, “The Secret of the Boarding School”. It is no secret that I am no fan of the Boarding School Arc, but even so I was very, very curious to see this arc being translated to a stage media.

This review shall not be without spoilers. Not just the story itself, because I think by now most people know how the story unfolds. I mean the execution of the stage play itself.

I shall not lie and admit that my review WILL contain my opinions, meaning it is by no means objective and might influence your opinions. For people who wish to experience the production entirely objectively for themselves, I recommend NOT clicking “keep reading” to reveal the spoiler section.

For now, I shall give my spoiler-free rating per category.

Faithful to canon: ⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Script: ⭐⭐ ★★★

Acting: ⭐ ★★★★

Singing: ⭐ ⭐★★★

Music: ⭐⭐⭐★★

Dancing: ⭐⭐ ★★★

Stage & Costume: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hereunder I shall give the spoiler-section first preceded by “First Impression”, and then followed by the categories listed here above.

First Impression

The stream started, and seeing the Kuromyu logo in present day again after three years really was very exciting. Since 2010 on as always, Kuromyu opened with the contract scene, and I was positively surprised to see the stage set being quite elaborate! This set was the largest and most elaborate one so far without TOHO’s help.

After the contract scene the prologue gave a very quick recap of the Jack the Ripper, Circus, and the Campania Arc. I am not sure whether it was necessary to show the Jack the Ripper and Circus Arc as they provide no information needed to understand Weston Arc. But I think it was mainly inserted to speak to the nostalgia in Kuromyu fans, and as a Kuromyu fan myself, I have to say it did work. It did not take much time, I think maybe 1 minute per arc, so it was fine.

The recap of the Campania Arc was important as it served to equip the audience with the information that there’s a reaper who creates zombies. Undertaker was shown as the main antagonist of the Campania Arc and responsible for the bizarre dolls.

There was a short brawl between Undertaker and Sebastian, which is in fact a very good choice in my opinion to showcase the dynamic between these two supernatural powers...............except that only 10 minutes in, and the musical already MASSIVELY screwed up by portraying the fight as though Sebastian beat Undertaker. The ONLY reason Sebas is still alive is because Undertaker decided so. Normally I wouldn’t care that much about errors in a recap, but this time it serves as the exposition of Undertaker and Sebastian’s dynamic: It should have shown that Undertaker is an incredibly dangerous foe and that Sebas is scared shitless because of that. Especially because this ties in with how this arc was concluded.

“But okay, fine. Maybe the script has other plans, so I shall let it be,” I thought. Moving on. But it did “plant a seed” in me that this musical is either going to contradict itself, or that it is going to defy canon. That was the first impression.

The prologue transitions into the setup of the case quite smoothly, and I have to say it was skillful. You very quickly see Ciel change into the Weston uniform and the admission ceremony was swiftly started. Immediately you get introduced to Agares, the prefects and their fags, and the musical does a good job defining the atmosphere as: “something is off here”.

Faithful to canon: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ★

The overall musical was really quite faithful to canon. Most plot points were as they were in the manga, and enough so that I would recommend anybody who doesn’t understand Japanese to first re-read the arc as homework. If you have the arc fresh in your memory, it is very easy to trace every action back to the canon.

There are some details that were omitted or changed, probably done so in consideration for the stage medium or run-time, and done reasonably so. Unlike the previous Kuromyus, 2021 adds very little new elements that were not there in the manga. No added extra depth, but also no unnecessary additions.

There were a few things that were very off-canon, namely the characters. But I think that falls under the “acting” header, rather than this header.

Script: ⭐⭐ ★ ★ ★

The script was a real disappointment. You might wonder how faithfulness to canon can be 4/5, and yet the script only a 2/5 in my opinion. WELL, most dialogue was based on the text in the manga, but told as dry as possible. It was also as though the script writers didn’t trust its audience intelligent enough to understand things on their own, or even remember something that was said literally 5 minutes ago.

Exposition Ad Nauseam

There was a tremendous amount of exposition, exposition, exposition, ad nauseam. There was exposition about who Ciel is and what the Queen’s Watchdog is and what his job entails, and that is entirely fine. That’s necessary background information for spectators unfamiliar with Black Butler. However, there was also a lot of exposition that could easily have been left out, or concluded through context. For example, there were quite many expositions about the history and status of the Weston College. In my opinion, a competent script writer could have let the audience known that the Weston College is really important just by giving the information that the blood relative of the QUEEN attends the school, and by showing the Red House, since their entrance is based on social status.

In this post I wrote about my following concern:

Unlike tennis, cricket is a very foreign sport to most people. Cricket cannot be shown without explaining the rules. So if Kuromyu were to happen, these expositions that were dry in the manga to begin with, are going to be even dryer on stage. Does an actor narrate the rules? Do we want Sebastian to sing us the rules??? Or do we want the kids to sing us the rules themselves while they are batting the balls?

And alas, true to my fear, Sebas indeed narrates the rules to us... But even worse, he also explains cricket by using baseball analogy... This is an incredibly ineffective and time-wasting method, because:

it takes the audience out of the moment,

it assumes the audience knows enough about baseball to let it help understand cricket,

and it assumes the audience actually cares about the name of every single strike....

Repetition Ad Nauseam

Then there is the problem where many info-dumps sounded like: “LIKE I JUST SAIDDDDD, DON’T FORGET!!!”. The script for Sebas is the biggest offender. There were many moments Sebas was just saying the same thing twice. At times he repeated the same information, and there were some moments where he regurgitated already given information. (Sorry I’m just being nasty here, but that’s what it felt like (;;≽▽≼;;) )

Sebastian has this obsession with constantly proclaiming himself an omnipotent, one hell of a butler, which makes him capable of doing anything... and after a while it just gets a bit tedious. I have the feeling the scriptwriter really has the hots for him, and therefore can’t shut up about how powerful he is.

While Sebas is the biggest offender, he is by far not the only one. This musical is guilty of doing a lot of very unnatural lines that no person would ever say. Soma for example, seems incapable of saying anything without shouting that he is the Prince of India and Ciel’s BFF. First time, FINE. But the entire time? My god....

Characterisation

Then there is the characterisation of characters in the script. Of course in great part the characterisation is dependent on the actors too, but no matter how amazing an actor is, you do as the script demands.

As discussed above, Sebas is done dirtiest by the script. This script also makes him incredibly arrogant and a bit too happy to be in his master’s service. Similarly, Ciel is also written entirely dependent on Sebastian, and equally happy that Sebas is happy to serve. In the first song between Ciel and Sebastian, without any prompt Sebastian asks his master for his orders, as though that’s what Sebas is looking forward to all day. And the first thing Ciel says in response is: “can you take on this reaper [Undertaker] and the large number of moving corpses?” to which Sebas responds: “Leave everything to me, because I am the Phantomhive butler.” ........and then he proceeds to defeat Undertaker effortlessly.........!?!?!?!?!?! When fighting Undertaker, Sebas also says: “what a bother” as though it’s just a bit of an unpleasant chore rather than a life-threatening fight. And just before Undertaker disappeared all the way at the finale of the arc, Sebas seriously says: “I really don’t get along with you”. SERIOUSLY, WHO WROTE THIS?!

Myu!Ciel is CLEARLY the master of this Sebastian as he seems to be on a permanent power trip. He “it’s an order”s Sebastian for the most trivial of things. At the beginning when Sebas was fighting intruders already, Ciel “it’s an order”s Sebas to take down the intruders.... HE’S ALREADY AT IT!!!

In chapter 70 where Sebas and Ciel simultaneously think of Soma, Ciel doesn’t give Sebas an official order. This shows the audience that there is a certain level of trust between master and servant that they’re on the same page AND that Sebas has come to a stage where he will actually do what’s necessary.

In the musical however, Ciel gives a full “Sebastian, it’s an order, get the procedures done to get him here, to the Weston College.”

This is also an example of how unnatural and repetitive the script is. Who would EVER say “get the procedures done to get him here, to the Weston College”???? Of course procedures need to happen first! And “here” alone would have sufficed, scriptwriters. We KNOW where “here” is! We didn’t forget since 5 seconds ago!

Lyrics

The lyrics are technically not the script, but they are ridden with the same problem as the script itself, so I shall take the liberty of discussing these under the same paragraph.

There is a LOT of repetition in the lyrics as well. The P4 especially sing “Weston” and “tradition” like the ENTIRE time. One song literally goes: “this is Weston, Weston, Weston, Weston, at Weston we uphold our traditions, traditions, traditions, traditions.” The other song is: “It’s cricket, it’s cricket, it’s cricket,” and another “I am Ciel’s BFF, BFF, BFF, Ciel, lord Ciel, lord Ciel, lord Ciel’s BFF.”...... *shudders* ((ﾟﾟ((Д))ﾟﾟ)) AAAAHHHH!!!!

Acting: ⭐ ★ ★ ★ ★

The acting was by far the most abominable in the musical safe for two gems: Chesslock and Derek. There are too many characters to discuss, so I shall keep it to the main/noteworthy ones.

The gems

Chesslock has this tremendous energy and something very wild about him, and his jumps are so incredibly precise it’s amazing! Derek has but a very small role, but the moment he showed up as the zombie you already immediately saw there was something “off” about him. It was very subtle, but still clearly unhinged. When he was acting living-Derek, you also clearly saw what type of prick he was. Amazing! These two were the brightest stars of the show.

The....... not gems

The most unwatchable ones were Soma and Harcourt. Soma doesn’t have a big role, but he bothered me so much he is ironically the most memorable one. It’s like Okada saw “loud and obnoxious (in a good way)” in the manga, turned it up to 12, and gave the worst portrayal possible. As said above, the script making him repeat “Indian prince” and “BFF” the entire time doesn’t help, but blaming just the script would be letting Okada off too easily.

Harcourt...... gave me so much secondhand embarrassment I literally got a cramp looking at him. When the diarrhea happened he was screaming like a pig about to be raped and slaughtered... and I am NOT making a rape-joke here. I would never. He really did sound like he was unwillingly aroused and terrified at the same time.

Sebastian

Let’s start with the good things: Tateishi’s Sebas did have his presence and his movements were fairly neat. He was never just standing there. He is quite elegant, and not swaggering or pulling spasms on stage unlike a CERTAIN someoneeeeee. He could work a BIT on the coordination of his extremities, but that’s only when I’m nitpicking.

But otherwise.... he was a bit underwhelming to be honest. The main problem is not necessarily Tateishi’s acting-skill maybe, but his interpretation I think... but I can’t say his acting was amazing even at knife-point. The way he acts Sebas makes him look like a complete fanboy of Ciel... which is just not Sebas. He is incredibly eager and at times I could almost see a puppy tail wagging. Whenever he is getting an order from his master he is just beaming. And with Undertaker there was not a single hint that Sebas is scared of the only foe who managed to mortally wound him.

His interaction with Ciel was also very SebaCiel heavy. In the manga where Ciel challenges Sebas why he didn’t go after Undertaker, Sebas is clearly emphasising the importance of the contract, and half-threatening his master not to dare “it’s an order” him to go after Undertaker.

In the musical however, Sebas is all UWU, as though saying: “I couldn’t let the big baddy hurt you... uwu”. Without exaggerating, Sebas caresses Ciel’s face THREE times and then embraces him.

Ciel

Ciel was very unbearable to watch in my opinion. Not as bad as Soma and Harcourt, but otherwise an “honourable” third place after them. In the manga it was a bit cringey to begin with because he is supposed to fake being (*ÓωÒ*), but seeing a 20 year old man do that... and play it up to 11 was just jarring. Ciel is like “tehe” very often, but never actively skipping like a forest fairy.

This Ciel also has tremendous mood-swings! He is either UWU or actively a ice-cold diva... and at times he is also being UWU when he’s not around others???? There was also not a single moment where I could see him cooking up a plan. No hint of intelligence or cunningness to be found.

Unlike with Tateishi I can’t really come up with anything good to say about him.

Undertaker

Undertaker was the best among the main three (not that the bar is very high). He is making efforts to tease-threaten Sebas, which I think is a very nice added detail (it’s just that Sebas reacts to none of them... sad.) and even though his role is pathetically small (he doesn’t show up as the principal), he still managed to present himself in the spotlights.

Greenhill had his energy, he was funny, and something really funnily militaristic about him. Though, I was missing nuance in his acting because at not a single point could you see Greenhill might have a trauma for killing people.

Redmond was Viscount of Druitt light and he had a very strong emphasis on the BL aspect with Maurice......which was just personally not my cup of tea. But I have to admit that aspect was played up too in the manga. So I guess he was faithful to canon.

Violet was quite charming and eccentric. He did play up the gothicness of the Violet house, which was actually kinda nice! He also had a deep friendship with Chesslock, which I really liked. When Violet didn’t do shit during the tournament Chesslock was really miffed about that, and challenged him. And then Violet showed Chesslock a portrait he drew of him, saying: “you just looked so cool I had to capture that.” That was amazing! He is a bit bitchier and sassier than in the manga, but I really don’t mind.

Bluer.... William light. He was the least memorable of all of them.

Singing: ⭐ ⭐ ★ ★ ★

Nobody really hurt my ears, but also nobody quite hit the notes... and the notes weren’t that hard.

Music: ⭐⭐⭐ ★ ★

Eehhhhhhhhhhhh I’d say the songwriter played most songs a BIT too much on the safe side. Not a single song was memorable, but they didn’t offend me either. The main theme was fairly nice actually, but only when just the instrumentals played. I think it might have been the singing just being too chaotic for me to actually hear the music.

Dancing: ⭐⭐ ★ ★ ★

Chesslock is an tremendously good dancer, his movements were precise and energetic. But otherwise.... nobody really popped out, but there was nobody who looked like a noodle on stage either.

The main problem is choreography; with some exceptions they were very underwhelming and messy. There were a lot of group dances, but often enough people were just a bit out of sync and messy.

Stage & Costume: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Stage Set

The stage set was VERY good. It was well made and mobile; they could be moved around and functioned as different props. Examples include the cellar in which Derek and his gang were committing crimes, and the boat of the parade even. The set also had this really magical aesthetic about it which communicated the glamour of the Weston College well.

Costumes

The costumes were well made. The logo on the uniforms for example were actually embroidered rather than those iron-on plastic things. The wigs were .... very messy after jumping around a bit and they looked very greasy. But that’s fine. They did their job and I realise I’m just spoiled. TOHO makes their wigs using real human hair, and that’d be an astronomical sum for any normal 2.5D company.

My ONLY problem is Ciel’s “lord costume”. This photoshoot photo underneath is doable, but trust me, on stage it is a nightmare. There are no clear photos of this costume on stage, and I think I understand why.

It was glittery velvet which just SCREAMS cheap Halloween costume, it was ill-fitted, almost like it was 2 sizes too large. The costume makers didn’t take stage-lighting into account, so the fabric and details glistened all over the place. Under the limelight the “golden” aiguillettes were PISS yellow. And the suddenly black sock suspenders protruding from his white boots were just...... distracting.

BUT, this was just one costume and he only wears it in the prologue and the finale of the show. Even though it’s God-awful, the rest were well made enough to compensate for this abomination.

Conclusion

So now finally the conclusion! The musical was..... fairly faithful to canon, but the execution leaves quite a lot to be desired. The interpretation/acting of the characters were the most disappointing one, while the stage/costumes were the most charming.

Do I recommend buying the stream/DVD/BD?

Stream: Yes.

I personally do recommend buying the stream as it’s only 3800 yen, especially if you like the Weston Arc itself, and/or are curious to see how they did it. Even though I myself really hate the Weston Arc in and of itself, I was very curious to see how it’d be translated to a stage medium. Despite my mostly negative opinion of the musical, I don’t regret buying the stream at all!

The best reason in my opinion to buy the stream though; it’s a very good and legal way to get a “preview” to see if you want to spend approximately 10000 yen on the proshot.

DVD/BD: Depends on you.

I myself have decided not to buy the DVD because I don’t think I’ll be rewatching it after the stream-archive period is over. The DVD/BD are the most expensive so far, and to me the final product is just not worth that amount of money.

But if you like the Weston Arc, or the performers, or you think you will be rewatching it and you are a collector, I think it is a very nice addition to your shelve.

#Kuromyu 2021 #Kuromyu #Secret of the Boarding School #Review #Weston Arc #Musical

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