#the sneaker pants were made for him i swear on my life they suit him amazingly

[pacdevil]

i will line this later maybe but here <2

[atlafan]

My Everything - Part Eighteen

A Take it Slow Sequel

What happens with Harry and Y/N after he proposes? How will the two navigate the engaged life while also continuing to juggle their jobs, friends, and families? Let’s find out.

Warnings: fluff, smut, angst. TW: mentions of past abuse!

Words: 9K

a/n: So, the courtroom stuff is literally like an SVU episode, it’s probably not very accurate. I just wrote what I wanted to happen. If you know more about how courtrooms and prosecutions work, I apologize

Masterpost

“Oh, fuck.”

You were trying to stifle your moans. You and Harry were simply spooning early in the morning, when you innocently adjusted against him. He pressed up against you harder and things just sort of escalated from there. He was fucking you from behind while still in the spooning position. His fingers were rubbing circles into your clit and you had your arm hooked around his head so you could tug at his hair.

You got cleared to have sex a couple of weeks ago, but you hadn’t done anything since Anne had stayed with you to help out. You and Harry had agreed on condoms, not that you were using one now. You didn’t care right this second, it just felt so good.

“Y/N.” Harry groans in the back of your neck.

“I’m so close, don’t stop.” You pant.

You arch back into him as you feel your release coming. Once he knows you’ve ridden it out, he pulls out and pushes you fully onto your stomach. You gasp when you feel his come shoot onto your back and ass. You feel him get off the bed. You look over to the bathroom where he’s going into to grab a rag. He comes back to wipe you clean, even between your folds. Harry leans down and kisses your cheek before bringing the rag back to the bathroom. He gets back on the bed and pulls you to his chest.

“That was incredible.” You breathe. You drape and arm and a leg over him and hold him tight.

“Much needed, that’s for sure.”

“We need to buy some condoms.”

“I got some, I just didn’t wanna kill the vibe by stopping to reach for one.” He chuckles and you look up at him.

“You sound like a teenager.” You laugh. “Although, it was nice to just feel you. Maybe I should just suck it up and get an IUD.” You sigh.

“You don’t need to decide right now.” He kisses your hairline. “I’m really glad Jack’s been staying in his bed, it was nice not being interrupted for a change. As much as I like when he comes in to cuddle, don’t get me wrong.”

“You know what he told me last night? I’m a big boy, Mumma, I’m three now.” You giggle. “He’s been three for three weeks, now he thinks he’s so grown.”

“You know what’s cool? He can form, like, real sentences. Like, I can have a real conversation with him now.”

“It’s great. He’s got a nice personality.”

“Well, he should, we both have great personalities.” He scoffs.

You loved this. Harry could have pillow talk with you and not have to leave for work. You were dreading when he’d start half days at the end of the month. You were being spoiled. He stretches out and groans.

“Alright, I’m gonna get up and make sure the pool’s good to go. You wanna get Jack started?”

“No, I wanna stay snuggled up with you.” You bury your head in his chest.

He rolls you both over so you’re pinned down underneath him. It looks like he’s about to say something, but you hear Jessica cry over the baby monitor. You both sigh heavily.

“Okay, let’s start the day.” You say.

You both put swim suits on and do your morning routines before going to check on the kids. Harry slips downstairs to get the pool ready. You go into Jessica’s room first.

“Good morning, angel.” You coo. “I know, you’re hungry. Don’t worry, after I change you I’m gonna get you your bubby.”

“Mumma?” Jack comes into the room, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

“Good morning, my love.” You get Jessica on the changing table and undress her. “Could you go put on your swim trunks for me? And then I’ll help you get washed up.”

“We’re going swimming?!” He perks up.

“That’s right. Daddy’s getting the pool all cleaned up as we speak. Of course we’ll need to eat breakfast first and make sure we go potty before we go in.” You look at him. “I don’t want another poopy emergency.”

“Okay!”

He runs back into his room to get changed. You get Jessica in a little onesie and make sure to get plenty of sunscreen on her. You strap her to your chest to so you can walk around easier. You find a little bucket hat to put over her head too. You help Jack brush his teeth and get sunscreen on him as well. When you get downstairs, Harry hands you a bubby for Jessica, and gets Jack a bowl of cereal.

“Is the pool all clean, Daddy?”

“You bet! Nice and warm out there today too.”

“Mumma, you’re gonna swim?”

“I’m going to sit in my pool float with the baby for a bit.”

“You never swim.” He pouts.

“Mummy’s don’t like to swim, Jack. The water’s too cold for ‘em.” Harry smirks at you and you glare at him.

“That’s a dumb stereotype. I swim when we go to the beach.”

“When was the last time we even went?”

“No idea…isn’t that sad?” You think for a moment. “Why don’t we go this weekend? We could see what Sarah and Niall are doing.”

“Won’t it be a lot to bring the baby?”

“Not really.” You shrug. “We have one of those little tents, we’ll keep her in the shade. Jack, would you like to go to the beach this weekend?”

“Yes! We can make a sandcastle!”

“That’s right!”

After waiting for Jack to use the bathroom, you all head outside to the pool. Harry goes in with Jack at first and plays with the various pool toys they had gotten. You get onto your float with Jessica and cradle her to your chest.

“Mumma, look! I can swim to the bottom!” You watch as he dives under the water and then shoots back up. “Did you see?!”

“I did, well done!” You smile.

“Daddy, will you throw me up?”

“Yup.”

“Harry, if you splash me, I swear to god…”

“Cover her head then, he makes a pretty big splash, babe.”

Harry picks Jack up and throws him in the air. He tucks his knees in to almost do a cannon ball when he comes back down. He makes a decent splash, but you manage to keep Jessica dry.

“Again, again!”

“Only once more, I don’t want you getting dizzy.” Harry laughs, and throws him in the air again.

Jessica starts crying a little while later so you take her inside to change and feed her. She fell right back asleep once she burped. You set her up in her stroller outside in the shade. You didn’t need to hold onto her every two seconds, after all.

“Mumma, can Buster come in the pool?”

You look down at your dog, and see he’s perfectly content sitting next to the stroller.

“No, honey, he’s a little too big for this kind of pool. He can really only swim at Uncle Niall and Auntie Sarah’s.”

You climb back into the water and dive in. It felt good to really swim again. You come back up and shake your hair out.

“Good thing I bought that chlorine shampoo.” You get the elastic out of your hair and dunk your head again.

“Yeah, we’ll have to scrub those curls out later, huh, Jack?” Harry says to him.  

“No, I hate it!” He pouts.

“That’s a pretty strong word.” You pout back at him. “You could say you don’t like it instead.”

“I don’t like it.” You pick him up and swim him around with you, which makes him smile big. “This is fun, Mumma.” He snuggles close to you. You give his cheek lots of kisses.

“I think it might almost be nap time.” You whisper to Harry and he nods.

Jack falls asleep in your arms and you hand him over to Harry so he can take him out of the pool. You lay a towel down in the shade and make a little outdoor bed for Jack. Harry lays him down and you both smile.

“How cute is that?” He whispers.

“Too cute.” You whisper back. “And look at her, sound asleep.”

“Buster’s pooped too.” Harry chuckles. “Want me to get the grill going for lunch?”

“Great idea. I got us some vegan hot dogs and buns.”

“You’re the best. Do we have any actual hot dogs for him?”

“Mhm, they’re in the fridge.”

You and Harry didn’t feel the need to keep Jack on the same diet as you. When he gets older he can decide on if he wants to eat meat or not. Harry gets the grill going, and Jack wakes up right when everything’s done being made. You sit down with Jessica and feed her while Harry helps Jack with his hot dog.

“Let me burp her, I haven’t held her all day.”

“Alright.” You pass the baby to him.

“Hi, little girl.” He burps her and cradles her in his arms.

“Was that a good hot dog, Jack?” You ask your son.

“Yeah! Daddy’s a good cook.”

“He’s a very good cook.” You wink at Harry. “What about me?”

“I like when you cook too.” He gets up from his seat and crawls into your lap. “I like when you’re home with me, Mumma.”

“Me too, baby.”

“Oi, and what about Daddy?” Harry says, a little offended. “She’s home with you anyways.”

“I like when you’re home too, Daddy!” Jack giggles. “Can we take Buster for walk soon?”

“Sure, go inside and put a shirt and your sneakers on. I’ll help you tie them up.” You reach for your cover up and throw it on. “Come on, Buster.” You whistle at him. “Stay with her, we’ll be back.” You kiss his forehead and hers and, go inside.

After your walk, you return with a surprise.

“Daddy! Mumma let us get ice scream from the ice cream man, here!”

“She did?!” Harry was lounging in a chair, using a scrunchie to keep his hair off his face. Jessica was back in the stroller in the shade. “Thank you very much, Mummy.”

“You’re welcome, Daddy.” You sit down and grab another scrunchie to put Jack’s hair up. “There, now you won’t get your hair all sticky.”

“And I’ll look just like Daddy.” Jack smiles and licks his ice cream pop.

“You didn’t get anything for yourself?” Harry frowns.

“Nah.” You shrug. “Don’t need it.”

“Y/N.”

“It’s fine! I have some low fat treats for myself in the freezer.”

Harry rolls his eyes at you and you start chuckling.

“What?”

“Nothing, just, remember how mad you used to get when I would do that to you?”

“Haven’t you learned by now that everything’s okay when I do it?” He smirks.

“Mumma, can we swim again?”

“You have to wait a little bit. You just had all that ice cream after all.”

“Niall called while you were gone, by the way.”

“Did he?”

“Yeah, wants to know if we can get a sitter tonight to go out to eat with them. There’s a new seafood place they wanna try.”

“Do we need a sitter? Is it not kid friendly?”

“I asked the same thing.” He shrugs.

“I don’t know if I want a sitter with Jessica just yet…as much as I like ours…” You think for a moment. “I could call my mom.” You grab your phone. “I wouldn’t mind an adult night out.” You call your mom. “Hey, mum.”

“Hi honey! How’s the pool treating you?”

“It’s great! How would you like to come use it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well…Harry and I got invited out to dinner tonight. We thought you might like to come babysit. Or I could drive them out to you, whatever’s easier.”

“You know, I’m actually free tonight, I could come over there for a bit. It’ll be good for you to get out for a while.”

“Awesome! Could you be here around five?”

“Sure thing!”

“Thanks, love you!” You hang up and pick Jack up to look at you. “Guess who’s coming to visit later.”

“Who?”

“Mimi!”

“Yay! I love Mimi.”

You kiss his forehead and hold him close to you.

“Great, I’ll tell Niall we’re in.”

//

“Sex, and a night out! It feels like Christmas.” You giggle as you finish doing your makeup.

“I know! They even said they’d drive. Think they wanna get us drunk.”

He walks into the bathroom to talk with you. You were just getting some lipstick on. You had a beautiful red sundress on along with a sleek high ponytail. You looked gorgeous.

“Jesus, might need to have a quickie before we go.”

“You’re funny.” You smack your lips and boop his nose. “Come on, we need to get back downstairs. Mum probably thinks we’re fucking up here as it is.”

“It was cute watching her help put the kids to bed.”

You both walk downstairs just as Niall and Sarah pull up to the front door.

“Thanks again, mummy, we won’t be out too late.”

“Take your time. I brought my overnight bag, so I’m happy to stay if you kids wanna make it a late one.”

“Thanks!”

Harry hooks an arm around your waist and leads you outside. He opens the door for you and gets in on the other side.

“Hey guys.” You say, leaning to give Sarah and Niall each a kiss on the cheek. Harry does the same. “Thanks for inviting us out.”

“Of course! The school year is officially over! We’re celebrating.” Sarah says. “We’ve been dying to go to this place too.”

“It’s gotten really good reviews.” Niall says. “How are the babies?”

“Good, we had a pool day today. Jack got really excited because I actually swam.” You laugh.

About twenty minutes later, you get to the restaurant. It was nice for a seafood place, you were happy you were sort of dressed up. You’re sat at table for four. The tablecloth was a nice baby blue. Waters and a basket of bread are brought over to you to start with.

“How about a bottle of wine for the table, would that work for everyone?” Niall asks.

“Sure!” You say. “After all, we’re celebrating. Another year down, Sarah.”

“I know! I love this school so much. I started tenure this year too, it’s incredible.”

Niall orders a bottle of red wine for the table while you all look over the menu. Harry was being rather quiet, but he seemed fine. His hand was on your knee, nothing out of the ordinary.

“Harry, what are you thinking?”

“Maybe these broiled scallops? That sounded good.”

“Mm, I might do the same. I can’t remember the last time I had those.”

“Y/N, any news on the trial?” Niall asks.

“Next month…I have to go testify.” You sigh. “There’s so much going on. I guess they have a kid, so if he’s not convicted enough to go to prison, she’s at least fighting for full custody. My testimony along with the other women could help either way.”

“You’re so brave, Y/N…” Sarah says. “I don’t think I’d have the guts to go into a courtroom like that.”

“It won’t be easy, but it’ll be worth it for some justice.”

A waiter comes over with the wine and pours you all a glass. You all order your dishes and clink your glasses together. Harry’s hand was still on your knee.

“So, Harry, you’re home through the end of June?” Sarah asks.

“Through the first week of July, actually. Isaac and Mariah asked if we could close for the fourth.” He shrugs. “I was perfectly fine with it.”

“And everything’s still going well?”

“Yeah, it’s great. Usually businesses struggle within their first five years, but our numbers get better every year. We’re lucky.”

“I think it’s the location too. The convenience of that park across the street must make a difference.” Niall says.

“Plus we sell other things, so people can come in and buy pictures and frames as well. My social media lady helps a lot too.” He looks at you and winks. You kiss him on the cheek, leaving a nice lipstick mark behind.

“We were thinking of going to the beach Saturday, would you guys wanna join?” You ask Sarah and Niall.

“Sure!” Niall says. “That would be Jessica’s first time at the beach, wouldn’t it?”

“Mhm.” You smile. “We haven’t brought Jack in forever either, thought it might be nice.”

“You know what would be cool once they get a little older? Now that Rachel and Mariah have Ricky, and Seth and Isaac have one on the way, we could all, like, rent a vacation house or something and go on a family vacation.” Sarah Says.

“That would be so much fun!”

“We should just do that for your birthday, but without the kids.” Harry smirks.

“Right, because turning thirty-two is sooo exciting.” You scoff. “Besides, I like the idea of all the kids getting to know each other better. Ricky is so cute too, they really lucked out with that adoption.”

“Yeah, I thought Mariah would’ve wanted a baby, but she seems to be doing just as well with a five year old.” Harry says. “She brings him in sometimes when Rachel can’t be home with him. He loves seeing her in action. Plus, he likes playing with Buster.”

“Wait, I like where Harry’s head is at. You birthday is always the perfect excuse to get away for a weekend in the summer.” Niall says.

“I wouldn’t want to leave them for that long.” You say bluntly. “A night here and there is fine, but a long weekend like that…I just don’t see it. I’d want to bring them, and I know that would get annoying for the two of you.”

“No it wouldn’t.” Sarah says. “Just because we didn’t want kids of our own doesn’t mean we don’t love yours unconditionally.”

“But…tonight, you wanted to have dinner without them…”

“Well, yeah. This is a nice place, plus I could just feel that you two needed a break. You’ve been cooped up. It’s officially summer now, and Auntie Sarah is here to help.” She smiles.

//

You and Harry get home at a reasonable time so your mom didn’t need to spend the night. You sigh as you slip your shoes off, and start to get undressed. You catch Harry taking his shirt off and smile.

“Could you help me with my zipper?”

He hums his response and comes over to you.

“You got some color today, babe.” He says to you.

“I know, my summer tan is in full swing.” You chuckle.

You step out of your dress and get the rest of your clothes off before grabbing one of his t-shirts to throw on. He strips down to his boxers and crawls into bed.

“Tonight was fun.” You look at him and roll over to fully face him.

“Yeah, good little date night.” He puts his hand on your hip and trails up to your back to give you a little rub. “You looked so pretty in your dress.”

“Thank you. I feel like I’m slowly becoming myself again. The treadmill in the basement has been great.”

“Babe.” He sighs. “Why do you always do that?”

“Do what?”

“Turn a compliment into something that makes you insecure? I wasn’t even…” He sucks his teeth. “I just said you looked pretty.”

“I know, and I said I feel like my body is going back to normal. You have no idea how hard it is to look in a mirror and barely recognize yourself.” You look down and then meet his eyes again. “I’m not trying to turn this into anything, but I do feel insecure sometimes. You met me when I looked a lot different. I didn’t have as many stretch marks, my skin wasn’t as loose…ugh and it’s so frustrating because I’d do it all over again.” You flop onto your back and cover your eyes with your forearm. Harry moves on top of you to straddle you.

“You would?”

“Yes.” You groan. He moves your arm away so you’ll look at him.

“How many more times?” You feel his length hardening against you.

“As many as we feel like.” You raise your hips slightly to his and he groans. “Within reason, of course.”

“I know you don’t love the changes your body makes, but you’re so sexy when you’re pregnant. Even now, nearly three months after having Jessica, you’re still glowing.” He leans down to kiss you. “I’d put another one in you right now.” He says into your ear and it sends shiver up your spine. “You’d like that wouldn’t you? To be full of me?”

“Harry.” You breathe and grind your hips up towards his again. “I’m not ready yet, but…maybe soon. I don’t wanna wait another two years like we did with Jack, but we just had her and…”

“I was just trying to, um, say something to get you in the mood, babe.”

“Oh.” You start laughing. “Well, I’m in the mood so go put a condom on.”

“Wow, twice in one day, look at us.” He hops off the bed and rummages through the night stand for the foil packet.

“I know, it’s just like the good old days.”

“I’d still fuck you any second I could if we didn’t have two little roommates to worry about.”

You giggle as he slides the condom on. You lift up slightly to take your shirt off. His hand slides between your legs to make sure that you’re wet. He teases you a little before pushing inside you. Your nails dig into his shoulders. It really was a nice treat having sex twice in one day. When you were younger it would happen all the time, but life got in the way.

“Harry, kiss me.” You pant as he thrusts in and out of you.

His lips meet yours and you grab for his hands. He pins them down by the sides of your head as your fingers intertwine. Your tongues mold together and he swallows every one of your moans.

“Feels so fucking good.” He grunts.

“God, fuck, don’t stop.” He was hitting your g-spot in just the right way. You were close already. “Yes, shit, right there.” You gasp as you come undone under him.

He kisses you before pulling out to flip you over. He pulls your hips up to his so he can slide back in. The sound of his moan is heavenly as he fucks you from behind.

“Y/N.” He pants.

You move your ass back against him to move in sync with his thrusts, and that just about does it for him. He spills into the condom and nearly falls on top of you. He kisses the back of your neck before pulling out. You both use the bathroom to clean up and then get back into bed.

“I feel like we either do it a lot or not at all.” He chuckles, pulling you to his chest.

“I know, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

“But I like having sex with you.” You pout. “I just get so tired.”

“I know, so do I. I like the early morning shags, those are really nice.”

“Mm, yeah, great way to start the day off.” You kiss him one last time before turning over. He turns over with you to hold onto you. It doesn’t take long until you’re both fast asleep.

//

The day you all went to the beach was absolutely perfect, not a cloud in the sky. Niall helped set up an umbrella to give the kids some shade. Jack fusses when you put sunscreen all over his face, but once it’s done, he’s good to go. He grabs the sand toys and gets to work on his castle. Harry has Jessica nestled to his chest, hat covering her head.

“He has a doctor’s appointment Tuesday.” You tell Harry. “Boosters.”

“Okay.”

“You’ll take him, right?”

“We can’t all go together?”

“No, I’m taking Jessica to visit my dad, remember?”

“Oh, right.”

“Y/N, wanna check out the water with me?” Sarah asks.

“Me too!” Jack perks up.

“Alright.”

You stand up and grab one of Jack’s hands, Sarah grabs the other. Harry and Niall watch as the three of you have fun walking into the water.

“I hate when I have to take them to the doctor.”

“Why?” Niall asks him.

“Because…the nurses always flirt with me, it’s annoying.”

“Oh, boo hoo.” Niall rolls his eyes. “They know you’re married.”

“That’s the annoying part. It’s like they think I would actively cheat on my wife. The receptionist slipped me her number last time I had to take him.”

“Are you serious?!”

“Yeah!” Jessica fiddles for a second, but Harry soothes her. “Yeah.” He says quieter.

“Did you tell, Y/N?”

“No.” He sighs. “We both really like Dr. Philips, and Jack likes her too.”

“Did you say anything to the receptionist?”

“I threw the paper she gave me into the trash right in front of her.”

A few moments later the three of you come back up to your spot.

“Jack, I need to reapply your sunscreen.”

“No! I don’t like it.” He whines.

“You’ll like a sunburn even less, now come here.”

“No! I don’t-“

“Jack.” Harry says sternly. Jack looks at his father and pouts.

“But, Daddy.” He whines.

“I like when mum puts sunscreen on me, why don’t you?” You smile as Harry looks at you. You put some sunscreen in your hands and rub it onto Harry’s face. “See?”

“Okay.” Jack sighs.

Jack lets you put more sunscreen on and then he goes back to his sand toys. You grab a bowl and pour some water into it for Buster.

“There you go, sweetheart.” You pat his head and sit down. “Hand her over.” You grab a bubby from the cooler. Harry passes Jessica over to you so you can feed her.

“Wow, Harry, you really shut that down.” Sarah says.

“He does everything I do if he sees her do it to me, we’ve slowly learned. If I wear a bandana, he has to wear one because he knows she likes when my hair is out of my face. That’s how we got him to eat his veggies too. Total copycat.” He smirks.

“Jack, are you getting hungry?” You ask him as you burp Jessica.

“Yeah!”

He runs over to you and climbs into your lap. You sigh when he gets you all sandy. You look over at Harry.

“I’ll, uh, get his lunch out of the cooler.” He says.

“Thanks.”

“Jack, come sit with me.” Sarah says. “Auntie needs some loving.”

He giggles and goes over to her. Harry hands him his sandwich.

“Thank you, Daddy.”

“You’re welcome. Here, honey.” He hands you yours.

“Thank you.” You pucker your lips and he leans down to kiss you.

“Let me hold the baby.” Niall says. You happily hand her over to her uncle.

“Daddy, will you take me swimming?”

“Gotta wait a few minutes after you eat, buddy, but yeah.”

“Think I’m gonna lay out for a bit.” You say and stretch. You lay a towel out and lay on your stomach. “Harry, could you-“

He was already putting sunscreen on you. Jack hops off Sarah and plops down on your bum.

“Oh!”

“Jack.” Harry chuckles. “S’not very nice.” He picks him up off of you. “Let’s go to the loo and then we can go swimming, alright?”

“I’ll come with.” Niall says. He puts Jessica in the shade in her carrier. She was fast asleep. Sarah lays on a towel next to you.

“They certainly keep you both busy, huh?”

“Yeah.” You smile. “But you know me, I like being busy.” You watch them all walk away towards the bathhouse. “You know the other day, we were talking about having another one.”

“Are you serious?! You realize you have an infant right over there.”

“I’m well aware.” You giggle.

“So why would you want to have a third so soon?”

“I’m gonna be thirty-two soon, Sarah. I don’t wanna wait another two years to have another baby. I’m not saying I’m going to get pregnant right now, but soon I think. And then we’ll probably be done.”

“Probably.” She laughs. “You two are wild.”

“He likes it when I’m pregnant.” You grin.

“It does look good on you.” She chuckles. “What do you think the school would say?”

“I’m on the tenure track, they can’t say shit. Also, I’ve been pretty convenient having them both at the end of the spring semester. It’s not like I’ve needed to take extra time off.”

“True. What do you think you’d want to have, another boy or girl?”

“I have no idea, it doesn’t really matter to us. You know what Harry said before Jack was born? He wanted to know the sex of the baby so we could start calling him Jack instead of just Baby Styles, and he said the sex itself didn’t matter because Jack could realize he was supposed to be a girl when he gets older. It was so sweet.”

“God, that’s so progressive. We have some trans students at the prep school. You should see some of the parents that look at these kids when they get dropped off.” She rolls her eyes. “It’s not your kid, don’t worry about it.”

“I’ll never really understand why other people care so much. You are who you are.” You shrug.

Harry and Niall come back with Jack, and take him down to the water.

“That srunchie in his hair is so cute.”

“I know, he loves them too. We have one in every color for him. I’m so glad he has Harry’s hair. It’s beautiful.”

“Did you have to buy a special shampoo for it or anything?”

“Yeah, actually. My mom told me what to get. Never been so thankful that she’s a hairdresser. He loves when she comes over to cut his hair. He likes when she scratches his head.” You laugh.

It was a perfect beach day. Jack knocked out on the car ride home. You were able to give him a quick bath and put him to bed easily. Jessica went right down as well. You and Harry put some comfy clothes on and plop onto the couch with Buster. He throws his arm around you and pulls you in close.

“I like our family.” He says.

“Me too.” You look up at him and kiss him on the cheek.

//

Tuesday morning, Harry drove Jack to the doctor’s office for his physical.

“Where are we going, Daddy?”

“To see Dr. Philips. She’s gonna see how much you’ve grown from last year.”

“How come?”

“Every year, after your birthday, you have to have a physical. It’s just to make sure you’re in tip top shape.”

“You get one too?”

“I sure do. But I go to the grown up doctor for mine.”

Harry gets Jack up to the office. The receptionist is a little too happy to see him.

“Hi, Mr. Styles.” She beams.

“Checkin’ Jack in.”

“Of course…where’s Mrs. Styles today?”

“Out with our daughter, having a visit with Grandpa.”

“Jessica got to see Grandpa?!” Jack nearly bursts into tears.

“Jack, remember if you’re good you get a lollypop afterwards.” He pouts and goes to sit down. “Sorry ‘bout that.” Harry signs whatever forms there are.

“Happens all the time.”

Harry sits with Jack who was now being grumpy.

“You’re really upset, huh?”

“I like going to Grandpa’s.” He huffs.

“Are you really upset because mummy’s there?” Jack looks up at Harry and nods. “Sorry, mate. We’ll make time to go see Grandpa. You can have a whole day with him without your sister, okay?”

“Jack?” Dr. Philips comes out and smiles. “Ready?”

Harry and Jack stand up and follow her back to the room he’d be examined in. She takes his height and weight.

“He’s right where he’s supposed to be Harry.”

Harry hums his response. He lifts Jack up to put him on the bed. Dr. Philips moves his shorts up a tad so she can see his little thighs.

“This is gonna feel cold, Jack.”

“What are you doing?” He asks, big eyes looking up at her.

“I have to give you some shots so you don’t get sick later on. They’re called vaccines. You get a few when you’re a baby, and you get some now. It’s like your flu shot.”

“Does Daddy get them too?”

“Yes, but his own doctor gives them to him.” She looks at Harry, and he nods at Jack.

//

You get home with Jessica later that day. You and your dad went out for breakfast before hanging out at his house for a bit. You walk up the basement stairs with her and head into the living room. Jack was curled up in Harry’s arms.

“You.” Harry glares at you.

“Not exactly the greeting I was expecting.” You smirk. “What’s wrong?”

“Don’t you ever make me do that again.”

“Do what?”

You set Jessica down in the pack and play that was in the living room. Harry gently puts Jack on the couch.

“How come he’s napping with you and not in his bed? How was his physical?” Harry yanks you into the kitchen.

“How was his physical?!” He whisper screams. “Hm, let’s see, I almost strangled Dr. Philips.”

“What?! Why?”

“She gave him three shots!”

“She was supposed to!”

“Yeah, well, you didn’t have to hear him whale out and cry. Then I started crying.” He groans. “I wanted to kill her. He didn’t even want his lollypop after. So, I will not be takin’ anyone for any more shots in the future. That’s all you.” He crosses his arms. You smile slightly. Harry’s accent always got thicker when he was upset, and it was sort of funny.

“You think it would be easier for me?”

“You’re way stronger than I am when it comes to that stuff. He cried for you, by the way.” He huffs and looks away. “This is something mums are supposed to do.”

“How was the rest of it?” You sigh.

“Good. His weight is on track and so is his height. He did great up until the shots.”

“Alright.” You wrap your arms around his neck. “I’ll take them for shots next time.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I did it when he was a baby, and I can tell you I didn’t want to kill the doctor.” You chuckle.

“It was too much.” He leans his forehead against yours.

“Mumma?” Jack comes into the kitchen, baby blanket cuddled to his face, thumb in his mouth.

“Hi, darling.” You let go of Harry and scoop him up. “Daddy told me you were really brave earlier.”

Harry raises an eyebrow at you.

“He did?”

“Mhm, so I think you should have a little treat for being so good. What do you say after dinner tonight we all go out for ice cream?”

“Yeah!” He hugs you close. “I got shots, Mumma.”

“I know, wanna show me your band aids?”

You walk him back out to the couch and sit down with him. Harry picks up Jessica and snuggles her. He sits down next to you.

“Oh, those are nice. She gave you dinosaurs just how you like.”

“How was my baby girl today?” Harry asks.

“Oh, I was fine. We went to a diner for breakfast-“ Harry starts laughing. “What?”

“I meant Jessica.” He smirks.

“She was fine too.” You swallow. “Good snuggles with Grandpa. Jack, would you like to see Grandpa later this week? He wants to come over and swim.”

“Yeah! I love Grandpa.”

“He loves you too.” You kiss the top of his head.

“You make everything better.” Harry says.

“Oh stop it.”

“I mean it. He was a mess earlier, and I was too much of a mess to-“

“He was asleep on you when I got in, you calmed him down plenty. You’re such a good dad, babe.”

“Thanks.” He kisses Jessica’s cheek and it makes her giggle. “We have the cutest kids in the world, I swear to god.”

“We sure do.”

//

You didn’t get to celebrate your thirty-second birthday because you were called to testify in court. Harry had been working half days, and you knew he was stressed and felt guilty for leaving you at home with the kids, so you didn’t let on about how nervous you were about seeing Jake again.

Sarah and Rachel would come over to see you when they could. Jack really liked playing with Ricky. The girls would often ask you how you were feeling about everything coming up, but you didn’t really want to talk about it.

“You don’t have to come to court with me.” You tell Harry the night before.

“Sure I do. I need to make sure you’ll be alright.”

“But you’ve been craving alone time with the kids, and now you’ll have it.”

“Y/N.” Harry sighs as he gets into bed with you. “I’m going, and so is Niall. Sarah said she could babysit. It’s all taken care of. You’re not going there alone, and that’s final.”

“Apparently after my testimony they think the jury will be able to make a decision. The other women have come in already. I’m a little nervous…I haven’t seen him in years….what if I freak out and I can’t say what the lawyer has been prepping me for?”

“That’s why we’re going. You can just look over at Niall and I.” He cups your cheek and you lean into you. “And then our kids are gonna know how brave their mum is.”

“And once that asshole is convicted I’ll be able to finally feel free from all of this. That trauma is always going to be inside me, and I’ve learned to cope, but he….well, it’s his turn to suffer.”

Harry kisses you and pulls you close to his chest. Tomorrow was going to be really difficult, and he’d be damned if he wouldn’t be there for you.

//

You put on your nicest pant suit and did your hair and makeup early the next morning. You’d need to meet your lawyer before the hearing. Harry got Jack and Jessica good to go before Niall dropped Sarah off to watch them.

“But where’s Mumma?” Jack asked when Sarah walked in.

“Mummy…had a work thing this morning. She’s getting her classes together for fall. She’ll be home a little later. You and your sister get to spend the day with Auntie Sarah, isn’t that nice?” Harry explains.

“Where are you going?”

“Uncle Niall and I have some errands to run. Adult stuff, buddy.”

“Yeah, it’s really boring Jack. We’re going to have way more fun.”

Jack shrugs and plops down in front of the TV. It was too early for him to even think about arguing. Sarah gives Harry a quick hug before he goes out to Niall’s car.

“How come Daddy was all dressed up?” Jack asks Sarah as she sits down next to him.

“He and Uncle Niall have to be dressed up for their errands. Daddy looks nice in his suit, doesn’t he?”

“Yeah.” Jack smiles.

//

Harry and Niall don’t say much on the way to the courthouse. They were both sweating, and it wasn’t because it was August and they were wearing suits. Harry wished he could see you before going in, but he knew they had you in a private room.

“I just hope the cross examiner isn’t too awful to her.” Harry says. “I mean, she has a way of winning any argument she’s in, but those people can twist your words all over the place.”

“Your lawyer’s been prepping her, I bet she’ll be okay.” Niall gives him a reassuring smile. The two walk in and grab seats before it gets too busy.

People start shuffling in. Everyone rises when the judge comes in. Harry’s leg wouldn’t stop bouncing when they sat back down. Niall puts his hand on his knee and gives him a squeeze.

“It’s gonna be okay, mate.” He whispers. Harry nods at him and gives him a reassuring smile.

“Your honor, we’d like to call another victim to the stand.”

Your name is announced and you’re brought in through a side door. You don’t dare look around you, you just walk in a straight line. It felt weird swearing in on a Bible, but this was how the court system worked. You sit down in the area next to the judge. She was a female, but that didn’t guarantee she’d be sympathetic. You look out and see your lawyer, and Jake’s ex-wife and her lawyer. Your eyes dart over to Jake and his lawyer. You look out and see Harry and Niall, suddenly feeling grateful they were there.

“Dr. Y/L/N, thank you for joining us today.” The lawyer says to you. “Can you tell us who this man is?” She points over to Jake.

“Jake Robinson.”

“And how do you know him?”

“We dated for about a month back in 2018. We went out four times.”

“And what did these dates consist of?”

“Dinners mostly. We went to the movies once as well.”

“What was Mr. Robinson like on these dates?”

“Nice, for the most part. He seemed like a gentleman, that’s why I continued to see him.”

“Why did you two stop seeing each other?”

“He…assaulted me.” Your eyes meet his. You watch him roll his eyes and shake his head.

“Can you further explain this for the jury? Just so we’re all on the same page on what assault means here.”

“Well, he had driven me home from our dinner date, and he came up to my apartment, just for a night cap. We were talking and then we started kissing.”

“So you willingly invited him up to your place?”

“Yes. At this point I thought I knew him well enough to invite him into my home.”

“Where did it start to go wrong?”

“We started kissing, like a lot of people do. It was the first time we had really kissed outside of one of our cars.” You swallow hard and look over at Harry. He nods encouragingly at you. He wished he could hold your hand through the entire thing. “Anyways, he asked if we could move to the bed. I was living in a studio at the time. I just figured he wanted some room to stretch out.”

“So you said yes to moving to the bed?”

“Yes, but that was all I said yes to.”

“What happened next then?”

You squeeze your hands into fists. Your nails start digging into your palms. You take a deep breath and begin.

“It all happened really fast. He got aggressive all of a sudden. Before I knew it my head was being shoved into the pillow and he had…forced himself inside me. It hurt and I was crying.”

“You didn’t want to have sex with him?”

“No.”

“Did you tell him to stop?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I was afraid. If he could flip a switch like that I didn’t know what else he might do to me if I told him to stop or to get off me. It felt like I was paralyzed. I just sort of suffered through it. I didn’t want it.”

“What happened afterwards?”

“He left. He acted like everything was normal. There was a ton of blood on my sheets, and between my legs. I passed out and landed on my floor. When I woke up I put all of my clothes and the sheets into bags.”

“Why did you do this?”

“In case I decided to press charges, I wanted there to be evidence of his DNA or something. I’ve seen enough cop shows to know that’s what you’re supposed to do. I called out of work all week, and barely spoke or ate, or bathed. I was trying to process everything. I ended up seeing a therapist, which I signed a waiver for to free up the documents of our conversations.”

“Yes, we were able to look all of that over, thank you. We were also able to look over the DNA on your things. It was Mr. Robinson’s, just like it had been on the previous women’s things.” She looks at the judge who is making notes. “Did going to therapy help?”

“Yes. I only went a few times, and then took a break. I was suppressing a lot. I went back after a little while because I started having flashes when I started dating my now husband.”

“What are flashes?”

“They’re…like…we’d be doing something and all of a sudden I’d get triggered and get scared like it was Jake on top of me again.”

“Thank you, Dr. Y/L/N. No further questions, your honor.”

Jake’s lawyer stands up to cross examine you.

“Mrs. Styles, -“

“Dr. Y/L/N.” You correct him. Harry and Niall smirk to each other.

“My apologies, Dr. Y/L/N.” He clears his throat. “You mentioned you kept everything as evidence, but you didn’t press charges until a few months ago, why is that?”

“A friend had driven me to the police station about six different times. At the time, I just wanted it all to go away, and a court case terrified me. I was scared of seeing him face to face again. I also hadn’t told many people yet, and I was afraid of a lot of things. I had just turned twenty-three, I was young and didn’t really know how to properly handle things. If I could go back, believe me, I would have gone right to the police.”

“Maybe you didn’t go before because you knew Mr. Robinson didn’t actually assault you. It was just something you made up.”

“No, it was assault, rape, actually. He raped me. I didn’t consent to having sex with him. He didn’t ask me if I wanted to, he didn’t ask me if I was alright, he didn’t even check to see if I was enjoying it.”

“Maybe he just thought you liked it rough.”

“How would he have deduced that from the few dates we had been on? Like I said, he didn’t ask me if I wanted to or if I was enjoying it. He forced himself on me. I’ve consensual sex before, that wasn’t it.”

“You’re married, correct?”

“I am.”

“So every time you have sex with your partner, you both ask to make sure it’s what you want?”

“Yes.”

“Really?”

“Yes. We always check in and make sure it’s something we both want in that moment. Every partner I’ve ever had, actually. Even if it was just a hook up back when I was in college, I was always asked if I wanted to, and when I said no, that was respected. I would give that same respect and courtesy back to them as well.” You take a sip of water from the bottle they put out for you. “Are you saying you don’t check in with your partner when you’re getting intimate?”

“No further questions, your honor.”

“Dr. Y/L/N, you’re free to go. Thank you.” She says to you.

You stand up and you’re lead out of the room. The judge announces there will be a brief recess to allow the jury some time to think everything over. Harry and Niall go out in the hallway to meet you and your lawyer. You tear up when you see them, and you run into Harry’s arms. He holds you close to his chest. His eyes were watery as well. Niall rubs your back as you breathe in Harry’s cologne for comfort.

“You did so well, love.” He whispers to you. “I’m so proud of you.” You look up at him and smile.

“Thank you.” You let go of him and hug Niall as well, briefly. “I’m glad you’re both here.”

“You really shut that other lawyer up when you flipped the script on him.” Niall says. “Well done.”

“Do you want to stay, or do you want to leave?” Harry asks.

“No, I wanna hear what the jury has to say. Even if they don’t believe me or the other women, they at least have to agree she should have full custody of their kid.”

The court is called back into session an hour or so later. Everyone rises when the judge comes back in.

“I want to thank the jury for their months of service on this case. I know hearing all of these stories has not been easy. I would also like to thank the brave women who have come forward in support of Mrs. Robinson.” She looks at Jake and then to the jury. “Has the jury reached a verdict?”

“Yes, your honor.” A woman stands up. “We find Mr. Jacob Robinson guilty on all counts of rape, including predatory.”

You gasp, but try to keep your composure. Jake’s parents and some of his family were also in the courtroom. You thought they should be ashamed raising someone like that, but you’d keep your thoughts to yourself.

“Mr. Robinson, you showed very little remorse during these last few months. I haven’t been very impressed.” The judge says. “We had three very brave women forward to make sure you wouldn’t hurt anyone else, and you easily could have. There could be others and we may never know. I sentence you to twenty years in prison, no parole. Mrs. Robinson will be granted full custody of the child. No visitation rights granted.” She pounds the gavel. “Court dismissed.” She stands up and exits.

You watch as Jake’s ex-wife hugs her lawyer and then who you presume is her family. You hadn’t even noticed that you had started crying. You stand up and throw your arms around Harry and Niall. It was over, it was finally over. The three of you walk out of the courthouse. There were news vans and reports out there waiting to take statements, as there often were with cases like this.

“Dr. Y/L/N?” You turn around to see Jake’s ex-wife. “We haven’t formally met, I’m Jane.” She shakes your hand. “I just wanted to say thank you, and that I’m so very sorry. I remember you, sort of, from years ago. We bumped into you at the ice rink in the city. You ran out after you saw him.”

“I remember.”

“I almost broke up with him that night, but he convinced me there was nothing to worry about. I was young then too, I didn’t realize he was manipulating me. Thanks to you, and the other women, I can go back to my daughter and tell her she’ll be safe from now on. We’ve been divorced for a couple of years, but he just wouldn’t leave us alone.”

“I’m sorry you had to be put through all of that. If I had-“

“Don’t. The other women all said the same thing. It’s hard, when there’s a history of people not believing women, or the fact that your life could have been destroyed by going through this process…it makes you so tired you don’t even want to try. I understand completely.” She looks over at Harry and Niall as well. “Can I ask you two something?”

“Anything.” Harry says while Niall nods.

“Did you ever see him again? Rough him up a little? The weekend of our wedding he had to wear makeup because he had gotten into some bar fight at his bachelor party.”

“Yeah, that was us…mostly me.” Harry says.

“Another red flag I ignored.” She scoffs. “Well, I just came over to thank you.” She gives your hand a squeeze. “I hope you’re able to live a little more peacefully now.”

“Thanks, same to you.” You smile as she walks away. “Okay, I’m ready to go home. It’s too fucking out to be wearing all these clothes, and I miss my babies.”

//

The three of you get back to your house and walk in through the front door. No one was inside, Sarah must have the kids out back for some pool time. You go upstairs to go put your suit on. Niall drives home to change. Harry goes upstairs as well. Once you’re both changed you head outside. Buster barks excitedly when he sees the two of you.

“Mumma!” Jack yelps as he swims over to the ladder. It nearly makes Sarah flip out of her pool float.

“Jack, don’t run!” Sarah yells as she gets out of the pool. Jessica was snug in the shade in her stroller.

“Hi my sweet baby.” You scoop Jack up and hold him close to you.

“How were your fancy errands, Daddy?” Jack asks, looking at his now dressed down father.

“Good.” He jostles his hair.

“How’d it go?” Sarah asks, giving you a side hug.

“He’s going away, for a long time.”

“That’s amazing!”

“Who’s going away?” Jack asks.

“No one you ever need to worry about.” You kiss his cheek and set him down. You snatch one of the water guns on the ground and his eyes grow wide with excitement. “Wanna play?”

Jack grabs another loaded water gun and the two of you start running around the yard spraying each other.

“She did amazing. Really kept it together.”

“I’ll bet.” Sarah says. Niall comes into the backyard and wraps his arms around Sarah from behind.

“Have fun with the kiddos?”

“Mhm.” She turns to kiss his cheek. “You two got lucky with such easy babies. She’s just as good as Jack was when he was that small.”

“Yeah, they’re pretty cool.”

Harry grabs another water gun and joins in on the fun with you and Jack.

“Oh no!” You squeal. “Let’s join forces, Jack!” You both try to get Harry, but you run out of water.

Harry grins at the two of you, and soaks you with the gun. Jack squeals and runs over to Sarah and Niall. Harry gets his hands on you and lifts you.

“Harry, please!” You laugh hysterically as he lifts you higher and throws you into the pool. You emerge, and splash at him.

“Just thought you could cool off, babe.”

“Mhm, yeah.”

“Do it to me, Daddy!” Jack comes running back over so Harry can lift him up. Harry tosses him into the pool so you can catch him. Harry comes into the pool as well to keep having fun.

“They’re a cute little family.” Niall kisses Sarah’s cheek.

“Yeah, they are.” She sighs happily. “I like our little family too, though.”

“Oh, me too. Wouldn’t change a thing with yeh.”

[alpaca-writes]

Mystics, Chapter 8

When Arch becomes hired on at Mystics by Lyrem, everything seems to be going well- their life nearly becomes perfection. Soon enough, however, Arch realizes that perhaps not everything is as perfect as they think...

Directory: [chapter one] [chapter two] [chapter three] [chapter four] [chapter five] [chapter six] [chapter seven] 

Tag list: @myst-in-the-mirror

CW: car accident, misgendering, emotional whump, psychological whump, PTSD, manipulation, actually a bit fluffy before the real pain starts

CHAPTER EIGHT: A FULL MOON RISES

     Arch spent the last afternoon they would have in their hospital bed writing a letter. It wasn’t much, and as they were writing they were feeling rather childish. The letter was sweet, for what it was worth, and they had to believe that it was worth all the effort they were putting into it.

    They made sure to make note of the dinosaurs and how Arch enjoyed looking at them rather than thinking about the accident-

    Well, they said ‘accident’ but it wasn’t an accident. The truth was that Arch would have rather been killed on the highway than in a creepy man’s cabin out in the middle of nowhere. They didn’t include the details. It probably would make everyone uncomfortable to reveal how close their family might have come to being in mortal peril because they had chosen to help.

    Arch placed the folded paper in and licked the envelope before pressing it down to be sealed firmly. They heard through the grapevine that the woman who had saved them was working as a pediatrician in a connected unit, but she hadn’t been able to meet them properly. The front desk had the information from the family that called in the accident. They would see to it that the letter reached the right people.

    “Time to get a move on, gi- sweety.”

    Arch raised a brow to their mother who was standing adjacent to the wheelchair. A skinny male nurse stood nearby as well, to help Arch into it.

    Arch challenged the idea needlessly. The nurse insisted. Without the energy to fight any further, they climbed from the bed and into the chair. The rest of their healing would be done at home. As they checked out, Arch made sure to request the letter be sent away.

    “I made up the futon in the living room for you until you’re ready to climb the stairs again.” Their mother said. She furtively checked her phone, before tossing it into her large black purse.

    “The futon’s just going to make my back worse. I’ll be able to get downstairs fine.”

    “Only trying to help,” Charlotte huffed.

    She thanked the nurse as he released them through the exit. She supported Arch by the arm as they stood on their own two feet on the way to their old silver minivan; easily identified by the distinguishing rust marks around the rims. Charlotte led them to the passenger side, intent on opening the door for them when Arch stopped her.

    “I can open a door, mom.”

    “I’m helping,” she countered with a turn of her head.

    Arch swallowed. This was mom. This was the van. This was daylight in a busy parking lot. They were not alone, they were not in an alley, and they were not with…

    Arch forced their way to the door, opened it and lifted themselves inside.

         “So independent,” Charlotte chided as she started the van. She checked the rear-view mirror and continued to speak as she was driving. “I bet you’ll be running off the moment you graduate, won’t you? Leaving me and Maleficent to our own devices.”

        Arch took a moment before responding. “I was thinking about Strathford Community College, actually.  One of the nurses brought me some pamphlets yesterday. They offer business and finance courses”-

        “Not with your grades they don’t,” Charlotte finalized condescendingly. “You should upgrade, but you know that you don’t have the attention span for that. It’ll just be a waste of money and time for you.”

        Arch didn’t feel like saying much after that comment. What they would have followed up with was an explanation that they were quite inspired to start their own business. But what was the point in any of that, if their mother would be shooting down every idea Arch had like a trophy hunter on safari?

        -------------

        A couple days of needed recovery passed Arch by. To their dismay, the futon was much more welcoming than the stairs to the basement suite. Waiting on a call to the police station, Arch remained securely by their phone. The call never came, nor did any calls from friends or relatives to see how they had been coping. Everyone was too busy, they thought. It was better that others didn’t speculate much anyway and be disturbed by the gory truth.

    In addition, due to the unfortunate experience they had endured and that no one wanted to mention, all of Arch’s final projects had been waived by their teachers. All in all, Arch was on the road to graduating with a C overall, which was more than was expected of them. All they needed to do was study for their finals and that would be the end of it.

    Arch was focusing on their math’s portion when Charlotte entered the front door with an array of plastic bags, and dropped them down in the middle of the room, right beside the futon.

    “You wanted a romper?”

    Arch closed their textbook, studying their mom suspiciously.

    “Yes…” they breathed out hesitantly.

    “I wasn’t sure what colour you’d want so I picked out a few designs in all sorts. Some have sparkles, and it’s your graduation dance, so of course I had to”-

    Arch knelt down beside the bags, wincing as they twinged their arm on feeling the fabric. Some satin, some chiffon, danced through their fingers.

    “Mom…” Arch was left speechless. She had listened to them. For the first time ever. They were heard. “You didn’t have to”-

    “Yes, I did. For goodness sakes’ it’s your prom. Put one on already. I’ll be returning everything you don’t choose so keep the tags intact!” Charlotte ran into the kitchen, intent on placing an order for Chinese food.

    Arch pulled out the first one that met their fingers. A bright purple chiffon number, beaded around the neck in silver and flowy with a cold shoulder. The pant legs were wide enough that when walking, it was almost as though they were wearing a dress. Arch popped into the kitchen, and twirled, causing their mother to sputter.

    “Oh god, not that one!” Charlotte corrected herself over the phone, “Oh, no, no, not you… Number 66 please. And one 14. For two. Thank you.”

    She finished the order and hung up the phone as her child double over in laughter.

    “Why did you pick this thing out!?” Arch interrogated.

    “I thought it would be great for a giggle. There’s a cream and mocha coloured one in there somewhere, I thought it might suit you best.” Charlotte advised with a toothy grin.

    Arch tried on a dozen rompers gauging many different reactions from their mom and themselves. Both of them did their best to ignore the many cuts and bruises that were still healing. In the end, Arch agreed, the cream and mocha coloured romper suited them best. It was simple in its elegance and matched their eyes fittingly.

    “You look fantastic.” Charlotte said as she leaned over the kitchen table, unloading dinner from brown paper bags. “That one’s also floor length, so you don’t have to worry about finding the right shoes for it.”

        “You know me too well!” Arch hollered as they posed in front of the bathroom mirror. There was a buzz from their phone, which sat on the edge of the vanity.

                    Store meeting. 8pm tonight.

        It was Lyrem. Arch grimaced. It was 7:30 now.

        “Seriously?” Arch muttered as they changed out of their romper and into some street clothes. They returned to the kitchen.

        “Lyrem wants me at the store for a meeting… tonight.”

        Charlotte stared at them disappointedly.

    “Oh. Does it have to be tonight? He’s required to give you notice if he wants you to attend a meeting. You can tell him to reschedule. I swear, that man is getting on my nerves with what hours he’s asked of you.”

        Arch brushed off the comment. “I should still go…” There was a strange feeling in the pit of their stomach telling them that it wouldn’t be a great idea to refuse.

        Charlotte raised a brow. “Alright, I’ll drive you in a bit. I was hoping we could stay in and have a movie night like we used to. I picked out Music and Lyrics. Hugh Grant’s adorable in that one, and young Drew Barrymore; oh, Arch, you’ll love her.”

        Arch smiled lightly as they tugged on their sneakers. “I’ll walk, mom. And I’ll text you when I arrive, and again when it’s done. I need to stretch my legs anyway.”

        Charlotte stared at them with a worried façade, wondering if she should fight their child on this. Any mother would, but she also didn’t want to pick a fight. Not tonight.

    “Here,” she rifled through her black bag. “Mace. It’s a single use canister,” She handed over the small tube to Arch as they stood by the door. “Take it and use it if you have to.”

    Arch accepted it, nodding. After planting a kiss on their mom’s cheek, they started on their journey to Mystics.

                    Omw.

[n-ctarinenga]

Heartlines [ calum hood ]

w.a.h series | pt.2 | word count: 3,802 | masterlist

You wish you could say the separation got easier with time, but sadly, that was a lie. 

Months had passed since the last time you saw the man you love in person, and the heartache of being apart without knowing when it would end didn't ease until the day you woke up and saw the words that made you burst into tears before they'd even fully registered. 

The world was healing. Be it at a slow pace, it was still getting better by the day in it's own little ways. 

You favoured the day fast food opened again the most, sitting with your siblings in a McDonald's drive through for two hours listening to New Order and Brockhampton before finally getting a big mac you'd been craving ever since lock down began. 

But once things started opening up again, Calum found his ways to surprise you nearly instantly. First it was a bunch of flowers, then a new fluffy blanket, then something that didn't come from a store. 

Calum had always known you were a hopeless romantic, and decided to play on it in a way he knew would make you melt.

Nearly a week after your text to him and his video to you, you received a piece of snail mail covered in Australian stamps, your heart racing as the scrawl on the front of the envelope was instantly recognisable to you. 

Upon reading the letter inside, your entire body glowed with happiness and your face was soaked with tears, after all, you'd never received a love letter before. 

Once the first letter was sent, you wasted no time making your own and sending it back to him, including polaroids you knew he didn't have, and spraying the paper with your signature perfume for added effect. 

Calum was shy to admit it, but he did cry when he opened his letter and it smelt just like you. 

This continued on back and forth for weeks, until the day more than just a letter could travel between you. 

As normal, you sat with your family watching the press conference with the prime minister and director general of health in the late afternoon, as you'd become familiar with anytime there was an announcement due. 

There were rumours of a travel bubble opening up between New Zealand and Australia, but not wanting to get your hopes up, you didn't feed these rumors too much thought.

But still, you sat beside your sister with a hopeful and anxious feeling stirring in your stomach as you watched today's announcement. 

The moment the rumours were confirmed, you let out a whimper as tears clouded your vision. 

"One week from today, starting at midnight, domestic flights will resume between Australia and New Zealand." 

You waited until the end of the broadcast, excusing yourself to your room to call Calum, knowing he'd been watching the same thing being said by his own prime minister. 

What you didn't see was the look of relief on your families faces. Not only for the fact life was now closer to being normal than ever, but it was the first time they had seen you cry happy tears in the midst of what you confined in your brother, one of the hardest mental states you've ever been in. Their lives were all on hold, sure, but their lives are here, and you had made a life for yourself in a completely different country, and while you would always love your home, you had another one now that you wanted to be wrapped up in again. 

The joy they saw in you wasn't just because you were closer to seeing Calum again, it was because you were closer to your life again. Your job, your home, the friends you considered just as important as your blood family, they were all finally at your fingertips again. 

You didn't care about the fact your messy top knot was falling apart, or that the tears were still pouring down your face, all you wanted was to see him.

Shutting your door behind you, you pull up a facetime request for Calum, him answering seconds later like he was about to call you himself. 

"Baby." The pet name falls out of your mouth as you see tears clouding his eyes, his once short bleached out hair now echoing the blonde tips of his past as his natural curls come back with a vengeance. 

"Hey darlin." He says, his voice thick with emotion. 

He covered his face with one hand as he could feel his tears start to fall, an overwhelming sense of relief flooding him as he saw your bright smile and tears of joy. 

Calum had sat in shocked silence as he watched the news, not snapping back to reality until he felt his mother pulling him into a hug once the announcement sunk in, the words he heard making his knees feel weak. 

"Don't cry, my love. I'm coming home as soon as possible, okay?" You reassure him, wiping your own tears away with the sleeve of the hoodie Calum could swear used to be his. 

"I hope you know once I get you again I'm never letting go." He says quietly, your heart swelling with his words. 

Little did you know, the engagement ring he had finally asked his mother for sat just out of frame, more meaning in his words than you realised. 

"Who said I'd ever want to leave?" 

Calum just shook his head with a laugh, and from there, you both got to planning. 

As much as you loved your family, you had also been around each other every day for months, and while Calum was more keen on the time he finally got to spend with his family again after touring the world since he was a teenager, you'd had a solid twenty years with your family before you left home. With that in mind, it was decided that you would be flying to Australia, your visa allowing you to stay for a month before you would have to come back to New Zealand. 

Planning out your next steps together, you made a full two month plan, and hoped that after those two months, you'd both be flying home to LA, together. 

With one more week spent giving as much of your time as possible to your family, you finally packed your things up again, hopped in the car with your siblings, and headed to Auckland airport. 

Instead of coming to the airport, you and your parents decided to share your tearful goodbye with each other at home. 

After checking in, handing over your bags, and hugging both of your siblings til they told you that you were the most embarrassing one in the family, you finally boarded the flight to Sydney. 

Little did you know, your boyfriend was already watching the clock to see when he could acceptably start waiting at the airport. 

While you watched Avengers Endgame on your laptop to pass the time, Calum was pacing around the living room of his family home, Mali laying on the couch behind him with a pillow over her head so she didn't have to watch her brother burn a hole in the floor. 

"You already know she's gonna say yes." She says, lifting the pillow for a moment before putting it down again.

"You don't know that for sure." He mutters lowly, checking his watch again and seeing your estimated arrival time was still two hours away. 

Calum walked upstairs to his room, looking into his mirror for what felt like the millionth time today as he checked his hair and outfit for the day. 

With hairdressers opening up again a couple weeks ago, Calum had strongly thought about clipping off all his hair before you saw him again, but knowing how much you loved his grown out curls, he instead decided to get it trimmed and styled yesterday, hiding it under a beanie while facetiming you the night before. 

He once again readjusted his leather jacket, a Elvis shirt underneath with simple black pants and some converse to complete the look. While he had thought about pulling a suit out from the few he'd brought with him, he knew there was a high chance you'd tackle him, deciding comfort was a better idea instead. 

Between leaving for the airport with his family and actually arriving, Calum had tapped the inside pocket of his leather jacket more than thirty times. 

The small velvet ring box in his pocket was at the front of his mind as he sat beside Mali in the back of the car, his mum in the front passengers seat, and his dad driving them closer and closer to the most important question Calum has ever asked in his life. 

His whole family was excited to see you, and it wasn't only because they were about to welcome you into their family, but because in their eyes, you were already part of it.

Whenever Calum would be able to come home throughout the last three years, he would always hear the question "is y/n coming with you?" whenever he let his family know about his plans. It wasn't a secret that they had a soft spot for you, which meant that not only were they excited for you to be here for Calum, they were excited to see you themselves. 

After parking and walking through the airport Calum was more than familiar with, he couldn't help but notice how clammy his hands were, or the way his leg would bounce anxiously when he finally sat down in the waiting lounge outside your arrival gate. 

He was nervous. Excited, but nervous. 

You were feeling a lot of the same as you sat in the window seat seeing Sydney slowly coming into view. 

You'd spent the last twenty minutes of the flight doing some incredibly simple makeup, certain it would probably get kissed off, or cried off your face if you added too much. You only added a slight bit of green eyeshadow to match the green t-shirt you wore over a striped long-sleeved shirt, your black jeans and sneakers finishing off the look you stressed over for a solid two hours before you left for the airport. 

Feeling your heart race as you approached the airport, you tried to take a deep breath as your emotions threatened to get the better of you, but you refused to cry before you'd even seen him. 

Stepping onto Australian land, you felt an entirely different wave of excitement hit you. You weren't the kind of person who liked to stay in one place for too long a time, and spending so long back at home with your family made you feel that urge to travel again more than usual. 

You could barely contain yourself as you walked through the airport, collecting your bags quicker than expected and making your way through the area before your gate exit. 

Stopping for a moment in the hall, you take one last deep breath, nothing able to prepare you for the wave of emotions you were sure to feel. 

Calum checked his pocket one last time as he saw people starting to come from your gate, standing with his family in toe as he tried his best to see you through the crowds of people. 

The second you walk around the corner, you see him, standing there with a mix of emotions obvious on his gorgeous face you had missed so, so much. 

You cover your mouth with your hand as a sob erupts from your throat, and you walk faster towards him, a death grip on your trolley that you let go of as he finally spots you, and you see him let out a breath it looks like he's been holding for months the second his eyes land on you. 

Your trolley is lost behind you as you break out into a run, him doing the same and meeting you halfway where you crash into his arms with so much force it nearly sends both of you crashing to the floor. 

Nothing in your life had ever come close to feeling as good as having Calum's arms wrapped around you so tightly that he had lifted your feet off the ground, your legs automatically wrapping around him as you try to hold him as close as physically possible. 

Both your bodies shook as you cried, tears of joy, relief, and pure happiness all coming at once as Calum finally sets you on your feet. 

Barely pulling away, he pushes your hair away from your face, inspecting you like he was seeing you for the first time all over again. You did the same, taking in his features that no pictures or screens could ever do justice. 

With shaky hands, you grin as you carefully and gently dry his tears, taking your opportunity to rake your hands through his curls, feeling like it had been a lifetime since you'd gotten a chance to and savouring the sensation of finally having him in front of you.

Taking your face in both of his hands, he pulls your face to his, kissing you with more passion and emotion than you had ever experienced before. It felt like the usual fireworks you felt when Calum kissed you had been replaced with straight TNT, your heart beating out of your chest so hard you were convinced he could hear it. 

When you both finally pull away because of your need for breath, Calum holds you close still, peppering kisses all over your face and making you laugh so hard you feel a fresh wave of tears pour down your cheeks. 

Making you yelp in surprise, Calum picks you up again, turning and walking towards the exit a few steps. 

"Okay we can go now." He jokes, and with him turning around, you can finally see Mali and Mr. and Mrs. Hood standing a couple feet away. 

Gasping in surprise, you signal to Calum to let you down, which he hesitantly does, only to see you crash into Mali with open arms tightly wrapping around her. 

"I've missed you guys so much!!" You say, your voice thick with another wave of emotion as you bear hug Mali. 

"We've missed you too, chickie." Joy smiles, opening her arms for her own hug which you happily deliver with a kiss hello to her cheek. 

You give Malcom a hug before Mali pulls you back to her for another, making you laugh as the smiles on the family you loved so much made you feel so much better than you had been the last few weeks. 

"I'm so happy we finally have our third to outnumber the boys." Mali says, wiping a fake tear from her eye as you notice she's pulled your luggage trolly to sit beside your small group, a camera you recognised as hers sitting on top facing you all. 

"Don't worry, we haven't gotten as bad as she makes us out to be." Malcom says with a laugh as he wraps his arm around Joy's shoulders. 

"I have a feeling she's gonna be on her own team." She says, a knowing smile on her face as she looks past you to where you could sense Calum behind you. 

Turning around to follow her gaze, you feel all the air in your lungs leave your body. 

Standing in front of you, Calum's breath came in anxious bursts as he looked at you with pure adoration, a small red velvet box in one hand as he reached out to take yours, doing everything he could to remember the words he rehearsed in his head more times than he could remember. 

"Y/n," he starts shakily, "since the first day I met you by total accident, you have intrigued, confused, and amazed me over and over again. From the second we first threw around the idea of being together, you didn't ever question the miles between us we knew we would have to face, the press that would take hours, or the days I would spend locked away in my studio. Instead, you decided to love me for who I am, a lovesick idiot who eats your secret oreos and adores you more than I could ever express with words. These last few months without you have been the most challenging and unwanted thing I've ever gone through, and it's driven home the fact that if I could, I would never leave your side again."

Calum takes a deep breath, forcing down the tears that so desperately wanted to escape as he watched your tears pouring down your face, a look of shock staying with you as he spoke. 

"You're the funniest, smartest, most creative, and most beautiful woman I've ever met, and I don't know who I'd be today without you. Nothing could prepare me for the happiness you'd bring into my life by just waking me up by shifting closer to me in the middle of the night, holding my hand when the world gets too loud, or ignoring me to defeat Alduin for the millionth time." You can't help but to laugh at his words, using your sleeve to wipe away your tears as you try to stay as silent as possible. 

But your hand flies to your mouth to smother a sob as Calum gets down on one knee in front of you, looking up at you with glassy eyes as he finishes his speech.

"I adore you, I admire you, and y/n, I love you with my whole heart. I'm the luckiest man in the universe to have you, and I would take an arrow to the knee for you any day of my life. I've loved you since our first date, and if I can only be sure about one thing in this world, it's that I'm going to love you for the rest of my life, a life that I want to spend the rest of with you." 

Opening the ring box in front of him, your eyes land on the most perfect ring you've ever seen in your life. A thin band engraved with flowers held a small diamond in its circle shaped setting, the white and silver complimenting the simple style and elegance of the ring that you knew had seen a love before yours. 

"Y/n, will you marry me?" 

You finally let out the sobs you had been trying to hold in, nodding your head furiously as you pulled Calum up from the floor. 

"Yes. In every lifetime, yes." You cry, pulling his face to yours and kissing him as hard as you could, the saltiness of your tears mixing with his as you heard the people around you burst into applause. 

You hadn't even taken notice of the crowd that had formed around you once they had seen Calum get down on one knee, but they were all captured in the background of the footage Mali had been recording the whole time for you to see later. 

Calum pulled back just long enough to slide the ring he was still holding onto your shaking hand, his own not much steadier as the adrenaline and relief hit him at full force. 

"I told you so!" Mali laughs happily, coming over and wrapping her arms around the two of your, excitement and love buzzing through your small group. 

Joy and Malcom join Mali in wrapping the two of you up in hugs, and when you finally do pull away from each other, the wet patch on his chest from your tears matches the one on your shoulder from his. 

Your tears lighten, but don't disappear as your hand sits perfectly in Calum's while you all walk out to the car, you and Malcom loading your baggage into the back before you climb into the car, sandwiched between Calum and Mali, both of them holding your hands as you drive home.

Your new fiancé wastes no time wrapping you up in hugs and kisses the second the door of his bedroom closes, your bags sitting beside it after you dropped them there once you and Calum had excused yourselves. 

Before you made your way upstairs, Joy had let you know that her and Malcom would be taking you all out to dinner that night to celebrate, but that was pushed to the back of your mind as you peppered kisses along Calum's jaw. 

You weren't sure if everyone had made a consciousness effort to give you two some time alone, but with Malcom heading back into work to collect some things, Joy going to visit a friend for coffee, and Mali meeting up with some friends at a recording studio for a couple hours, you and Calum were left alone. 

Knowing this, Calum pulls your face back up to his, pressing a heated kiss to your lips as he lifts you up to lay you down on the bed, climbing on top of you and letting his hands drift under your shirt. 

Pulling back for a moment, Calum hovers above you, looking down at you like you're the most precious thing he's ever had the honour to witness. And as you looked up to him, hands each side of his face, you could swear he was the most beautiful person the universe had created. 

"I've missed you-" you kiss him "-so much." 

You're met with a gorgeous smile as he tightly wraps his arms around you where your shirt was now riding up, flipping you over so you now rested on top of him, legs tangled together and pure bliss coursing through you. 

"I've missed you too, way too fucking much." He breaths, perfectly content for the first time in months. 

"Your family already know by the way." He adds with a sly smile, and you push yourself up so you can look at him. 

"That I'm engaged to the most amazing man on earth?" You question with a raised eyebrow. 

He just grins, nodding as you rest your head against his neck. 

"I video called your parents yesterday, told them my plan. I asked if I could marry you months ago though." 

Your eyes go wide at his casual tone, like he hasn't just told you one of the sweetest things on earth. 

"Everyone knew but me." You deadpan. 

"Mhm. Sorry love." He apologises, kissing the top of your head. 

"Don't be sorry, I wouldn't have changed anything about it." 

You reach up to kiss his jaw once more, snuggling even closer to him and letting out a soft sigh, peace finally settling in you as you laid in his arms again, him squeezing you as close as he possibly could. 

"Told you I'm not letting you go again." 

Taglist: @spicycal @calmlftv @irwinkitten  @mrandleer @candidcal  @lukeskisses  @wallflowercal  @brooklynsninenine ​ @whereveryouares @everyscarisahealingplace​

[badsext]

The Pros and Cons of a Rom Com at Comic Con (sorry): Robert Sheehan X Reader

This is a request from @roma-echelon:

I need a dirty smut one with robert sheehan and meeting him at comic con.

Thanks for the request.  I hope you like it!

Warnings: Smut, Drinking, Swearing, etc.

Word Count: 1,300

__________________________________________________________

Your best friends always accused you of being a nihilist, a hedonist, and bad with money. So when you won a lottery scratch off ticket they weren’t surprised that you decided to spend the money taking everyone to comic-con instead of investing in the future. Besides, it was $10,000, not exactly a life-altering amount of money. You wouldn’t be quitting your job. And just because you saw the world as the flaming garbage pile that it is, didn’t mean you were incapable of having fun.

The night before the con, the three of you got drunk together in your hotel room and decided to perform a love spell that one of you found online. It was a drunken, misguided attempt to make the celebrities at the con fall in love with you. You each lit a candle and dropped some rose petals into a bowl of water, then slurred your way through the chant until you got bored.

It was all a blur the next morning. All it took was some coffee and room service to rid yourself of a slight hangover while you got dressed in your cosplay. You decided to be a waitress at Griddy’s donut shop. Your name tag said “Rose,” just because you liked the name and didn’t see yourself as an “Agnes.” The retro pink waitress uniform really suited you and the white canvas sneakers would keep you comfortable walking from from panel to panel all day.

Your friends decided to split up while you went downstairs to see the Dark Horse Comics panel. The only other person on the elevator wore Hazel’s character mask from the show. You started to look closer at your elevator companion and recognized something familiar about him. He was tall, lean, and sort of androgynous in his purple tank top and low waisted jeans. You concluded that either this person had the same body type, skin tone, and fashion sense as Robert Sheehan or he was under that mask.

“Hey,” he said, nodding politely.

“Hey.” You were trying not to stare.

He lifted the bottom of the mask to take a sip from a Starbucks cup. One muffled syllable was not enough to detect an accent, but you’d know those lips anywhere. The elevator suddenly stopped and Robbie took off the rubber mask.

“Shit,” he hissed. In your shock, it took a moment to realize what he was upset about. The elevator had stopped between floors. You were stuck. Robbie tried all the buttons, checked his phone, then tried them again.

“We’re stuck…I’ll call somebody.” He attempted a call. “I don’t have reception, do you?”

You pretended to check your phone. “Nope.”

“You a fan of the show?” He said, low key checking you out.

“It’s alright,” you answered as casually as possible.

“I like your cosplay.”

“Thanks,” you smirked, leaning against the wall.

His green eyes sparkled as they studied your face. “Hey, would you want to…”

You cut him off with a kiss. Your bodies inched closer. You parted your lips for his tongue to explore. His taste was sweet, his scent intoxicating.

A loud ringing startled you out of your dream like state. It was coming from the elevator call box. Robbie cleared his throat and picked up the receiver inside the box. His voice on the phone was calm and gracious as he shifted the stiff bulge in his pants and made an assortment of funny faces just to make you laugh.

“Thank you,” he said hanging up, then turned his focus back to you. “We have ten minutes until they fix this thing.”

You lunged at each other with breathless desperation. Your faces smashed together, your tongues entwined and your hands searched frantically for a way out of your clothes. Robbie took care of your top few buttons while you worked on his fly. He was inspired by your height difference to slide you up against the wall. You gasped as your feet left the ground. He held your gaze while he pulled one of your lace bra cups down just enough to expose your hardened nipple then suckled it until you whimpered.

He hiked up your pink dress and brushed his knee between your legs. It was summer and the only thing you had on were a thin pair of matching lace panties. You pleaded with your eyes while you pawed at his jeans. He was teasing you. He gently bounced you on his knee a few times then eased you down. You sighed, aching for more contact. That’s when he reached under your dress, pulled your panties to the side and plunged his fingers into the heart of your wetness.

He closed his eyes and groaned. “You’re so fucking wet. You want this?”

You nodded and rasped. “Fuck…me…now.”

He quickly unzipped his jeans and pushed them down around his ankles. His cock was just as beautiful as the rest of him. He relieved you of your panties, picked you up once again and buried himself deep inside you. Your pussy stretched to accommodate him while he pumped inside you. You wrapped your legs around him and threw your head back against the wall. His hands were firmly cupping your ass and his head was buried in your neck.

He pounded into you again and again with growing speed. You moaned at the sensations taking over. The upward angle of his thrusting stimulated your clit and created the perfect storm. You came so hard you didn’t even hear the emergency response team outside attempting to pry the doors open. He came an instant later. You studied his face as the pleasure washed over him. You captured the memory and tucked it away as you became aware of the people outside. You kissed him on the forehead and mentally prepared yourself for the awkward goodbye.

Outside the clanging of tools got louder as a small crack of light shown through the top third of the elevator doors. It was not quite enough for the workers to see what was happening inside, but it meant that rescue was imminent. Both of you rushed to put your clothes back on. Robbie smiled and took your hand. “Can I have your number?”

“Um, yeah.” He handed you his phone open to contacts. He had typed the name “Rose.” It wasn’t his fault that wasn’t your real name, but it sort of brought you back down to reality. You filled in your number and decided to just move on. It wasn’t like he was going to call you, start a relationship…

“Miss?…Miss?” The doors were open now and a repairman was reaching towards you, motioning you to take his hand. You grabbed ahold and Robbie gave you a boost until you were safely out of the elevator. A crowd of fans had gathered. They were cheering. Then Robbie came out and there was a wave of excitement. His handlers emerged from the crowd and ushered him down the hall. It looked like he was reaching for your hand, but it was too late. You were already separated by the crowd.

You met up with your friends at a nearby diner. “So, remember that love spell we tried last night?”

“Yeah, there’s no way that shit worked. They laughed. “We’re not witches. We were just fucking around. Besides, that would be pretty fucking unethical. We’re just going to have to settle for our looks and personality to land a date with the cast of Avengers.

"Why did you bring it up? Did something happen?”

Your phone buzzed and you looked down to check it out. It was a text from Robbie. “Rose, I’m sorry I got pulled away. Want to meet up later?”

Your heart leaped in your chest as your thumbs fumbled over the keys.

“Yes, and I’m sorry about my name tag, but my name is not Rose. It’s……”

Master List

@dandycandy75 @helena-way07 @moorehollandplz @bubblyani @chokemerobert @bi-satanist @writingthosedaydreams @yeetskeetbuddy @chipster-21 @renegadesheehan @turtlease @zombiedixon89 @therealzoeyael @lovelyjulliet @i-dont-knoq @howdycharlie @klankklankklank @ringpopdust @miss-puca @klaushollandyoung @henrydavidthrowrug @larrystylinson437 @zuzellap @victor-criss-bish @gingergetsittogether

[noonaduck]

SeXd (Sex ed) pt.3

Pairing: BTS OT7 x reader genre: Fluff,smut, non idol Au Warnings: some heated making out and fingering  Words: 4377 A/N: EEP! Summaray: Y/N is a woman who is inexperienced in anything when it comes to relationships and sex. Luckily her friend Jimin along with his six other friends decide to show her what she has been missing.

2.  < 3. > 4.

If you want to be tagged msg me or send ask.

I won’t add you if you ask to be tagged in comments.

tags :  @lylanie12 @hopeivx @vannilacake @mina-messed-up  @lonely-hufflepuff @soularbangtan @all289854 @hobitoons @vanessalovesonedirection @bbjel @doki-do-ki @yoongleskitten @chaitaewithkookies

[gifs belongs to their rightful owners]

Your eyes are headed towards the stage and your focus is captured by the beautiful man. Jimin is practicing his part on the stage. The stage is dark except the spotlight which is directed towards him and his co-star. There is emotional music playing on the back round. Jimin’s skin is covered with white powder which makes his skin even paler than usual. His eyes are lined with black kohl and there is traces of silver powder under his eyes. Jimin is playing a part of vampire which you must admit that suits him well, even the ridiculous looking fake vampire teeth doesn’t make him look stupid. Jimin and the main actress are both already wearing their costumes, after all their show would be performed for a first time in two weeks.  Jimin bends the woman from her waist and licks her neck wit his tongue. You are jealous for the woman who gasps for Jimin’s actions (like she is supposed to). She and Jimin fits so perfectly together, beautiful woman with curly blonde hair and hourglass figure and the vampire who could bite you anytime and you wouldn’t complain. There is only few other people following the practice and you have your row of seats on your own. The music turns sensual when Jimin’s fake fangs pierces the actress'es skin and you can swear that his eyes are looking straight to yours. Small stream of fake blood pours from the bite mark and the woman’s eyes turn wide. She tries to pry of but Jimin keeps her still, you can see when the life leaves her body and she turns limp in Jimin’s arms. “Cut!” Director yells and the stage lights turn on. The actress leaves Jimin’s arms and smiles widely to him. When Jimin smiles back to her you feel even more jealous.

~     “So, how was it?” Jimin asks while his make up is being removed. You are standing at backstage while make up artist works with Jimin’s face. “I think that your play is going to be a hit.” You admit and Jimin smiles widely to you trough mirror. You are standing behind him your bag in your hands. “Vampires are quite the cliche, but you make them look extremely good again. And there is also your voice, I could listen you to sing for a whole day.” “Me too.” The make up artist giggles and winks to you. Jimin’s face heats from your praises and happy smile covers his lips. “I was hesitant at first when I took the role but you make me happy that I agreed to it.” He admits embarrassed. You jump little from surprise when new face appears in the mirror. “Jesus Tae, you scared me to death.” You say and the man is question laughs to your startled face. “Hi Tae.” Jimin greets his friend. “Hi. I’m sorry that I missed your practice.” Taehyung smiles apologetic and pats Jimin’s shoulder. “It’s okay, I understand.” Jimin assures his friend. The make up artist finishes her work and leaver from the scene and Jimin is able to spin around with his chair so he is facing both of you. The contrast between Taehyung and Jimin makes you smile amused. “What’s so funny?” Tae asks curiously. “You two. I mean you are here wearing a polo shirt and straight pants and Jimin is wearing this stupid white shirt with ruffled collar and red cloak.” Taehyung chuckles to this and Jimin pouts. “Are you saying that I look stupid?” Jimin’s lower lip shakes. “Yes, very.” You agree and Jimin sighs. “I just cant win, can’t I?” “Nope.” You agree and squeeze Jimin’s shoulder gently. “Anyway I didn’t know that you are coming today Tae.” You point your words to Taehyung. “Yeah it was last second decision and still I ended up late. Anyway the main reason why I’m here is you.” Taehyung takes your free hand, which isn’t holding your purse, and smiles fondly. “Me?” You ask surprised. “It’s my mark to leave.” You barely register Jimin’s words when he slips away from his chair. “Yep you. I came here today to ask you on the date with me.” Taehyung pets your knuckles when small plush covers your face. You curse your genes which causes your blushing to be always so visible. “I thought that we have agreed on it already.” You say shyly. “Well yes, we agreed that seven of us should take you on date but I wanted to ask officially.” Smile is still covering his face. How someone can look so good with so little effort. “In that case I would love to.” You agree and answer to his smile. “Good, when you have your next day of?” Taehyng sounds really happy when he squeezes your hand. “Umm, on next Friday think.” “Great, then you are spending it with me.” “Sure.” You are happy to agree.

Again you had no idea where you were going to spend your date.  You were in the shower getting ready for your date with Taehyung. You had two hours left but you wanted to get ready without hurrying. You shampooed your hair with flower scented shampoo and begun to rinse it away. Taehyung was completely mystery to you. His mind was sometimes hard to read so you had no idea what to expect. After cleaning your body with coconut scented shower gel you exit the shower and tie white fluffy towel around you. You had medium sized bathroom which walls were covered with sand colored tiles full of pictures of seashells and starfishes. You wipe your foggy mirror with your hand and grin to your reflection. Humidity has made your hair curly and full of knots. You take your hairbrush and hair dryer under the sink and begun to brush your hair carefully.  Your hair has been always thick and if you weren’t careful you could easily hurt yourself when going trough your messy hair. When you are happy with your brushing you blow your hair dry. You live in apartment which had small kitchen, bathroom and living room combined with bedroom. Glass wall with wooden borders separated your sleeping space from living place. Your couch was pushed on the other side of the glass wall and your bed was on the opposite of it.  The walls were painted with pastel green and the floor was made of white wood. Your favorite part of your apartment was your windows which had wide window ledges where you were able to sit. You head towards your closet which is pushed on right wall next to your bed and try to decide what you are wearing to your date. You go trough few options until you end up wearing light pink button-up shirt which has lace rims on the sleeves with pair of white jeans. Taehyung had said that there is no dress code on your date. Picking up your shoes was quite easy and you had ended up with white sneakers. When you are happy with your outfit you head back to the bathroom to apply some make up and put you hair into bun on top of your head. You had some time to spare so you end up watching TV while waiting Taehyung to arrive. Finally the doorbell rings and you head to open it bubbling with excitement. Taehyung is standing behind the door wearing brown shirt underneath open long sleeved denim shirt and pair of black skinny jeans. His feet are covered with white high edged shoes. Taehyung’s hands are in his pants pockets and he smiles his signature boxy smile when he sees you.

“Hi, are you ready to go?” He asks cheerfully. “Just a sec, I need to go get my bag pack.” You tell and head to pick up your small leather back bag. “Now I’m ready.” You declare happily. You head to your apartment complex parking lot and you look around curiously. You have no idea what kind of car Taehyung is driving. ITS. NOT. A. CAR. Taehyung stops in front of shining black motorcycle and you gasp slightly. “You don’t have a car?” You ask little bit scared. “No, only this baby.” Taehyung pats his bike fondly. “I have never rid one.” You admit. “You don’t have to be scared, I’m quite confident driver.” Taehyung assures you and takes one of the two black helmets which are top of the seat.  You look him hesitantly but give him your consent. Taehyung pulls your bun open with ease and your hair fall freely around your face. There was gone all time and effort which you had used to your hair. When your hair is free and your bun isn’t on the way Taehyung put’s the helmet to your head. He steps closer so he is able to close the tape under your shin. “So cute.” Taehyung says and pokes your nose. “Thanks?” You look when Taehyung puts his helmet on as well. Taehyung swings his leg over the bike with easy and he is standing the metal beast between firm his legs. “Nervous?” He asks looking your hands which are fumbling with your back bag’s leash. “Very.” You admit and Taehyung pats the seat behind of him. You obey him even though your nerves are going on overdrive. “Put your hands to my waist and lean to my back. I will drive slow.” Taehyung tells you what to do and you put your hands around him. You can feel his firm muscles under your shirt and you are secretly happy for his choice of vesicle even though it makes you nervous. If he had car you wouldn’t be able to put your arms around him like a koala bear. The bike roars alive under you and you can feel the engine purring underneath you.  Taehyung turns gas on and the bike jolts into motion. Adrenaline pulses trough your veins when you fly trough the busy city. You never thought that being on motorcycle could be so fun, your hair was flaring on the wind and the agile bike was able to bring you to your destination in record of time. Taehyung parks in front of Aquarium and you climb of excitedly from top of the bike. Your thighs feel sore, you probably tensed your muscles too much while driving. You are able to take your helmet of after few fumbling tries with the helmets lock under your chin. “That was so fun.” You admit while Taehyung turns his engine of and takes of his helmet. “I’m glad that you liked it.” “Soo the Aquarium?” You change the subject. “Yeah, you know that I work here, right?” Taehyung asks and walks next to you. The Aquarium is huge building painted full of sea creatures in cartoonish way. There is different colored fish, seahorses and even some sea creatures that you don’t recognize. wide glass doors leads inside of the building and a group of elementary students stand in line close to the door. The kids looks so happy that their excitement sticks to you too. “No I didn’t. I think we have never spoken what you do for a living.” You turn towards Taehyung who is closet to you than you thought and you almost end up falling over him. “Falling for me already?” Taehyung teases when he helps you to keep your balance. “Haha, really funny.” You roll your eyes for his weak pun. The elementary kids enter the Aquarium lead by their teacher and you and Taehyung head towards the doors as well. Taehyung keeps the door open for you and you step in to spacious lobby. Ocean theme continues still inside. The walls are painted to look like the sea and Caribbean music plays lowly on the back round. There is so many places that you haven’t had chance to visit in your time of living in the city and you felt thrilled to be able to visit in one of them. There is two lines in front of counter where you can buy tickets. Because its a week day there isn’t much line except the students who are enjoying their field trip. The second line is completely empty and Taehyung smiles for the woman who is behind the counter. She has short strawberry hair  which is pushed behind her ears. Her eyes are green and bright and her face is unfairly heart shaped. She is wearing the Aquarium’s uniform, short sleeved light blue t-shirt with the Aquariums logo and black shorts with lot of pockets. “Hi Emily.” Taehyung greets the woman who seems little bit too excited for seeing him in your liking. “Hey Tae-tae, Didn’t get enough from work?” She asks with wink. Tae-tae? “You know that I can’t stay away from you for that long.” Taehyung flirts. “And who might this be?” Emily asks and measures you with her eyes. She seems to be happy what she sees because small grin visits her lips briefly. You feel insecure, you are sure that the helmet messed your hair and you didn’t have your hair done anymore. “Shes Y/N, my date.” Taehyung smiles widely and pulls you closer from your hip. He leaves his hand lazily around you and you can feel your heartbeat quicken. You are secretly gleeful for her unhappiness. “Oh, I see.” Emily’s cheerful tone turns into more plain. “I assume that you are here for those free tickets.” “Yup.” Taehyung admits and Emily pulls stamp under her desk. “Please give me your hands.” She says with monotone voice and you put your hand on the table next to Taehyung’s. You get stamp with small sea star on back of your hand and you admire the cute mark. “I hope you guys have fun.” Emily adds with not so convincing voice. “Thanks Emily, we will.” Taehyung waves for her and you follow him inside of gates next to the counter.

You follow the hallway into space full of all kind of different aquariums where the lights are dim and in the middle of room is circle shaped couch. There is no one else inside. “So how did you end up working here?” You ask curiously while looking into small aquarium full of colorful fish. “Well I have always wanted help oceans and their inhabitants. I’m actually  a marine biologist, did you know?” You are learning so much new info about the Goofy man that you are beginning to see him more than a man who walks his head on the clouds. “So you are saying that you are actually smart?” You tease Taehyung who is now watching into same aquarium than you are. “Ouch, that hurt.” Taehyung pouts but soon his face is covered with plotting smile. His hands reach for you and soon you are laughing hard when Taehyung’s slender fingers keeps tickling your sides. “I give up! You have been always smart.” You wipe tears from your eyes and Taehyung grins in victory. You are still giggling slightly when the elementary group enters the room. “Maybe we should continue our journey?” You try to calm yourself down. “Yeah, We should let those kids enjoy their time without two crazy looking adults making noise in the back.” ~         You are having so much fun with Taehyung. He is able to tell you more about the fish than what there is one sings next to the tanks. Taehyung’s voice is fond when talks about ocean but turns angrier when he tells about how badly the waters are treated. His excitement could be boring for some but you find it quite cute .Soon you arrive into under water tunnel where is small sharks swimming above you. You are admiring the sharks when Taehyung takes your free hand. “Even though we might think that sharks are all mighty predators there is one even more dangerous creature.” He says suddenly. “You mean like tigers for example?” You ask with low voice. The atmosphere makes you want to talk in quiet voice. “Yeah those too.” he chuckles quietly. Taehyng turns you gently towards him, so instead of sharks you are seeing his face where reflection of water is dancing. “But I meant you. There isn’t many people who is patient with my rambling about the ocean. Even when I talk about it to the guys they always listen halfheartedly, thank you for listening to me.” “You are wel-” You sentence is disturbed by Taehyung lips which gently covers you. Your heart leaps into your chest when he bites your lower lip gently. The kiss is quick one but when you part you both has huge smiles plastered on your face. “Do you want to see more private parts of the Aquarium? One of the perks being and employee here is that I can bring you to the back.” Taehyung smiles fondly and pets your cheek with his thump. “I would like it very much.” Taehyung leads you out of the tunnel into big hall where is huge aquarium which you are able to walk around in the middle of it. Other rather large Aquarium is located in the end of the room. Taehyung pulls you after him towards in and only then you notice a metal door whit sign ‘staff only.’ Taehyung hits code into panel next to it and pulls the door open. Now you are behind the Aquarium and you are able to see the hall with the rotatable Aquarium. You are able to see in the room, but you aren’t able to see from there in the back space.   “This place is used for feeding the fish.” Taehyung tells when you look around you. There metal shelves full of boxes and small bench in front of the Aquarium. There is another metal room which leads deeper into space which is only meant for the employees. “I don’t want to be a party killer, but I thought that I’m going to see something more exciting.” You admit after you are done with scanning the space. “I assure you that you are going to experience something exciting here.” Taehyung’s teasing tone makes you confused and when he pushes you against the Aquarium’s glass you gasp out loud. Now you are standing you back against the glass Taehyung in front of you his hands on both sides of your head. You feel excitement pool inside of you when he leans closer. “I heard that you had lesson about kissing from our little Kookie. What do you say if we put what you learnt in good use and I teach you few other things?” Taehyung’s voice is low when he whispers to your ear. “Okay.” The word is only one which you are able to mutter being so close to the man. Deep chuckle leaves from Taehyung and his lips finds yours again. This time his lips are more heated when keeps moving them against yours. The gentleness from earlier is gone and there is a shark in front of you. Taehyung’s hands leaves their position from both sides of your face and finds your butt. He squeezes your butt and your mouth part open. Taehyung’s tongue easily slips into yours and yours goes to greet him. Your tongues battle in dominance but Taehyung wins easily. When you part small line of saliva connects your lips. Taehyung’s pupils are wider and he is panting. Taehyung sweeps your lower lip with his thump and cleans the spit away. Cheerful noises fills the hall and happy kids run into the room followed by stressed looking teacher. The children gathers around the round tank in the middle of the room except few curious ones who head towards the aquarium on the back.  Taehyung spins you around so this time you are facing the room  full of the kids and you can see their twisted faces trough the water. “Look at you making out in the backroom while those students are watching sea creatures without knowing what is happening right under their noses.” Taehyung whispers huskily to your ear. He pulls your back bag gently of your shoulders and it drops on the ground. Slight chance of being caught turns you on and when Taehyung presses himself against your back you can clearly feel his hard on rubbing to your butt. “I noticed earlier how you were jealous towards Emily, but don’t worry I’m not interested in her. I’m here after all with you and not her. ’'Taehyung’s breath is hot against your ear and your breathing is getting more heavy. ’'You don’t mind if I touch you more, don’t you?” “N-no.” You whine when Taehyung rubs his hardening member against your butt. “Good girl.” Taehyung praises you and his hands finds their way under your shirt. Taehyung pushes your shirt up so your white lace bra comes into the view. More kids are gathering around the tank and admiring the sea life knowing what is happening right in front of them. Taehyung’s right hand comes to squeeze your breast and the left one pushes your hair away from your neck. When Taehyung has access to your neck he leashes his lips behind your ear. Taehyng keeps stroking your breast lazily while his lips explores your arched neck. He bites gently to your neck and sucks his mark into it. Your chest is heaving at slow space and you feel wetness leaking into your underwear. Taehyung’s left hand finds your other breast and soon he is rutting against your backside. “Your breast feels so good, like they are meant to fit into my palms.” Taehyung’s right hand leaves your breath and seeks your pants. “May I?” He stops right on the hem of your clothing. “Yes.” You sigh and as soon Taehyung hears the words opens your button easily even with one hand. His hand disappears inside of your pants and he follows the line of your underwear with his fingers. When he dips lower moan leaves his lips. “You are so wet fro me already, I have barely done anything. Oh god, you drive me so crazy Y/N.” His Index finger finds your clit and he circles it on top of your panties. “Tell me, do you have ever masturbated before?” You feel suddenly so shy despite of the situation and widget on your place. “Yes.” You finally admit. “Did you come?” “No…” “Then there is treat coming towards you.” Taehyung’s husky voice is full of excitement. His fingers slips inside of your panties and soon they find your swollen clit again. Taehyung pinches your clit between his thump and index finger and you moan out loud. Confused students look around them but aren’t able to find the source of noise. You hurry t cover your mouth with your hand which has been pushed against the glass until now. “You must be quiet or we might get caught.” Taehyung giggles and pinches your clit again this time more gently. His fingers continues to do their work and soon his index finger finds your hole. He pushes in and your walls squeezes around the strange feeling. You have only tried to stimulate your clit and never gone that far as entering your fingers inside of you. Even though the feeling is strange its so good when Taehyung keeps gently fingering your heat. “You are so tight and wet, is this all for me?” Taehyung sighs and you mumble your answer. “Sweetheart I can’t hear you.” Taehyung teases and halts his actions. “It is for you.” You admit this time louder. “You are such a sweet girl for me.” Taehyung praises and ads second finger into your heat. Taehyung moves his fingers in and out in steady rhythm and his thump finds your clit. You feel knot tighten in your abdomen and Taehyung notices this too speeding his space. You have to bite your lip to keep quiet, it feels so good. For your luck the group decides finally continue their journey and they leave the hall right when you come to Taehyung’s skilled fingers. You aren’t able to keep yourself up when your life’s first orgasm washes over you like the oceans wave. You see only white for a second and when you come down your high Taehyung is petting your hair gently your shirt pulled back down. “That was, just wow.” You are finally able to say and look up to Taehyung’s smiling face. “I’m glad that I was able to make you feel so good.” Taehyung says and pulls his finders out from your pants. When he steps back you notice his still visible bulge in his pants. He licks his fingers clean his eyes looking into yours for the whole time which made you shiver slightly. “What about you?” You frown and Taehyung smiles gently. “As much as I would enjoy for some relief this was about you.” He assures you but you still feel guilty for leaving him hanging. “I let you go ahead and I finish myself here.” He continues and peeks your cheek. “Are you sure?” You still hesitate when you pick your bag from the floor. “I’m positive.” Taehyung pushes you back from the metal door in to the hall. You feel sad that Taehyung wouldn’t let you help him but you have to give up after all there was locked door separating you two. You just had your first orgasm and you have to feel excited over it. Your legs are like a jelly and you fumble like Bambi towards empty bench. You are still putting yourself together when Taehyung comes out his problem fixed. “Are you ready to go?” Taehyung asks and offers his hand to you which you gladly accept.

You are laying on your bed phone in your hand and discussing about your date with Jimin. Your call is on speaker and you are able to hear Jimin’s cheerful voice. You: “Hey Jimin?” You interrupt his happy nonsense. Jimin: “Yea?” You: “Why do you think that Taehyung didn’t let me help him with his problem?              Does he think that I’m not capable of giving him pleasure?” Usually you                were on the listeners side when Jimin talked about his sex life so it was                nice change that you were the one talking even though the subject was                sensitive for you. Jimin: “I don’t doubt that you are able to give a man pleasure after little learning              honey.  There is reason why Taehyung wouldn’t let you touch him.” You: “And that is?” Jimin: “He is insecure.” Jimin answers after short break. You: “He is what now?” Jimin: “Even though he seems so experienced with women he feels insecure                  with his body. I don’t understand why though. What I have heard is that                he only agrees to sex fully clothed.” You: “Wow. I could have never see that coming. He has quite dirty mouth.” Jimin: “He has? Well you can never know from the innocent looking ones.”

[wandlores]

To Love and to Hate

Pairing: Harry Potter x Pansy Parkinson Words: 2,193 You can also read this on AO3. This is for the @hprarepairnet and @slytherdornet true love challenge! Happy early Valentine’s Day :) I needed to write about my ultimate OTP. I got some inspiration from this post with prompts regarding V-Day!

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Two Years Earlier

Harry saw her again for the first time since the Battle of Hogwarts two years later and on Valentine's Day of all days. 

He was in a muggle pub, drinking away his sadness. Ginny had left him, though he knew it was going to happen. They had grown into different people. Their love became familial once again. What even was romance? Harry was not sure, but to him, it was dead, or he at least wanted it to be.

The stout he was drinking was thick, and he could feel it slide slowly down his throat as he groaned from his own inner emotional turmoil. He regretted his choice in beverage, but it was too late now. He was surrounded by muggles and no wizarding drinks were in sight. He would have to live with his choices.

Harry didn't realize he was still groaning aloud until he heard her voice. He would have recognized it anywhere. It had the same high-pitched tone it did when she screamed his name in the Great Hall. He could feel the smirk spread across her lips before he even turned to face her.

"Potter, could you pipe down over there?"

It was Pansy Parkinson. One of the last people he would ever want to see at this moment in time, or ever, really. Her once dark and short hair was now past her shoulders and bleach blonde. You could see her dark roots threatening to come back in. Her makeup was dark compared to the pink it used to be, and she was also drinking a stout rather than wine like he figured she would be. He knew he should roll his eyes and groan just at her presence to annoy her, but really, he was intrigued as to why Pansy Parkinson of all people was in a muggle pub on Valentine's Day when she probably had rich daddy's boy's back in the wizarding world wishing they could be fawning at her feet at this very moment.

Harry could feel a burp coming on, but he stifled it. Even if Pansy Parkinson didn't think so, he still had class. He always had class, even if he didn't want it. He was regretting his fifth stout very much.

"What in the actual fuck are you doing here, Parkinson?"

He watched as Pansy raised her brow and his vision blurred. She could see he was clearly heavily intoxicated. He watched as her face started to express concern, even though she tried to stifle it down like his earlier burp.

"Potter, can you get a grip? Drink some water."

She waved the bartender over to bring him some water. She moved to sit right next to him. Harry did not have the energy to even recoil. He had no idea why she wanted to be close to him or why she cared that he was heavily intoxicated in a public place, but he did not have the capacity to question it any longer.

He took a sip of the water in front of him and set it down loudly on the bar-top.

"What are you doing in a muggle pub?" He pressed again, "I never would have expected to see you here in a million years. Especially since I heard you were interning at Ollivander's now. I heard he does most of his work at night?"

"Keeping tabs on me, aye Potter?"

He heard the joking tone in her voice as his stomach started to bubble with stout. He took another drink of water to try and calm it down. 

"Gossip is always going to be a part of my life," he replied, "Even if I don't want it to be."

"You and me both."

He looked at her in shock. First, because he could not believe she wouldn't enjoy the gossip, and second, because he realized he was about to throw up all over her.

And so he did.

He listened to her screech as his previous drinks seeped into her white blouse, but he watched as she quickly collected herself. In that moment, she kind of reminded him of Hermione. He would never dare tell Hermione that, though. It was probably just his drunk thoughts talking. 

"Can you get your date out of here?" The bartender grumbled. 

Harry watched through his blurry vision as the bartender started to clean up his puke. He was utterly mortified as he felt Pansy lift his arms over her shoulders. 

"Let's go, Potter," she told him.

Before he could protest, they were out in an alley, and she was apparating away from all the muggles. Then everything for Harry went black. 

Two Years Earlier, The Next Day 

Harry woke up in a flat he was not familiar with. The walls were grey, and the house was furnished in what Ginny would call a "modern muggle" style. He blinked a few times, but quickly shut his eyes again when a light was turned on.

"Finally you're awake, Potter. I thought I was going to have to call your precious Weasel girlfriend to come and-"

"She's not my girlfriend anymore. She's basically my sister."

"So... you... just were fucking your sister for all those years?"

"Shut the fuck up, Parkinson. You know I didn't mean it like-"

"Just get up and get out of my house."

Ridiculously hungover, Harry rolled off of what he assumed was Pansy's bed and hunched over to collect himself. The room was now spinning.

"You better not barf again or I swear to-"

"I'm not going to barf, but I am going to ask, why take care of me? You hate me, and I hate you."

He watched her as she sarcastically smiled, "But it was Valentine's Day, isn't that supposed to be the day of love and caring?"

Harry snorted, "More like a day of hell. I don't understand the hype and ridiculous conventions-"

"Tell me about it."

Harry was surprised. He figured Pansy would love the attention and the flaunting. She did at Hogwarts.

"I don't understand-" He started.

"Look, don't pretend to know who I truly am anymore, and I won't assume I know you. Though, I assume you are pretty easy to figure out like you always have been."

Harry finally looked up and glared.

"Please just leave now before your paparazzi crew or something comes and realizes you were here. That's the last thing I need. I don't need to be followed to Ollivander's by more people to be spat at as I am just trying to do my fucking job."

Harry was about to say something, but he stopped himself. He wasn't even sure what he was going to say, just that he wanted to say something. But instead, he got up and slipped on his sneakers. He didn't even bother to tie them. As he walked towards her front door to prepare to apparate, he turned around to look at her again. Her eyes were almost as green as his, he realized, but they had some blue in them as well. They reminded him of Hogwarts lake, and his heart ached as he realized how much he missed his first home.

"What are you gaping at?" She finally asked.

He thought about saying something cruel and snide. That's what he would have done in the past; that's what she would have done in the past too, but he realized now that neither of them were no longer the same, and maybe that was okay. 

"The blonde suits you," he told her, and before she could reply, he stepped out of her flat and apparated home.

One Year Earlier 

It was a year since they had reunited and a year since Harry had first slept over, even though it wasn't for the best reason, but now they laid on Pansy's bed panting for air.

"God damn, Potter. You continue to fuck me good."

Harry smirked as he rolled over and tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear, "Happy Valentine's Day."

"Don't start with that holiday bullshit-" Pansy started, but she was interrupted by Harry rolling back on top of her and kissing her on the lips. She didn't try to fight it. 

As Harry pulled away, he looked down into her eyes, "I want you to be mine."

"Are you seriously telling me this on Valentine's Day? We have been having sex for a year and casually hanging out and now-"

"I love you, Pansy."

He figured she would fight back; she had a thing against that statement. She had since the very beginning, and he did too at first, until he started to let himself feel again. He loved her, and she made this new Harry after everything feel alive. That meant everything to him. He was nervous as she didn't respond; he would rather have her fight it than not respond at all.

He started to pull away from her to sit up, but she pulled him back down and kissed him softly.

"I love you, too," she whispered, "But don't pull that shit again. You know how much I hate this god damn day."

A smile spread across his lips as he kissed her again, "Next time on Valentine's Day, I'll have to propose, just to annoy you. I know how much you'd love that. That is the definition of corny Valentine shit."

She rolled her eyes, "You better not, but if you do, I need an emerald ring. That's the only way I'll accept. None of that corny bullshit. If you ever buy me a rose, I swear to god-"

"Okay," he responded teasingly, "Emerald it is, just like your eyes. But maybe I should add some sapphires in there too?"

"Why?"

"Because your eyes aren't only one color, Pansy."

He stated it like it was obvious, and this made her roll her eyes and playfully hit his shoulder, "Harry-" she started, but he bent down to kiss her again. That was the first time she had ever used his first name. 

Present Day 

Their least favorite day was upon them again, and they spent it as they always did, in bed. This time though, they weren't fucking. Harry was listening to Pansy as she ranted about her work day and was tending to someone's damaged wand.

"And you won't believe what fucking happened next-" she went on.

"What happened next?" He humored her.

"Fucking Zacharias Smith comes in with Romilda Vane and requests they have matching wands with the same core to represent their soul-mate connection. Wands don't even work that way, Harry! You should have seen Garrick's face, it was absolutely ridiculous. I hate this god damn day, and that will never change."

He tried not to laugh as she continued to be so worked up about Zacharias and Romilda.

"Are you sure this isn't about your old crush on Zachar-"

Before he could finish his statement, her pillow was thrown in his face, "Don't you fucking dare! I told you that in confidence."

Harry smirked as he threw the pillow back down behind her. He leaned back and felt the box below his pillow, suddenly thankful she hadn't grabbed his.

She was quiet after that and kept tending to the wand in front of her. It was a Hazel wand with a unicorn core. The previous owner had a near death experience and the wand almost died, too. It was not uncommon with that wand combination. Pansy's eyes were filled with concentration as she worked. Her hair fell slightly in her face, and Harry almost put it behind her ear, but he stopped himself so he could observe her some more. To him, she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

Pansy could feel him staring and noticed the look he was giving her, she playfully rolled her eyes, "What?" she asked, "Are you thinking about how you should have gotten us soul-mate wands, too?" 

It was that moment then that Harry knew. He wasn't sure why, but it was a gut feeling. It was his intuition saying now. 

"No," he responded as he reached under his pillow, "Wands are expensive, but I did get you this."

He pulled out the box. She looked down at it in his hand and didn't say a word. All she did was grab it. He wanted her to, he wanted her to be the one to open it. Pansy was the most independent person he knew, and it was only fitting that she practically proposed to herself.

He watched as her hands shook as she opened it. Inside, she saw the platinum band wrapped with emerald and sapphire stones. Harry watched as her eyes welled up with tears, just enhancing their color, but she swallowed them down quickly. He watched as she put the ring on her own finger.

"I love you," she told him seriously, "But this still doesn't change the fact that I hate Valentine's Day."

Harry smiled as she rolled over to straddle him. Relief rushed through him. Without saying a word, she had said yes. She didn't give him a chance to reply as her lips met his. 

[thephantomofthe-internet]

Lavender and Daisies

Steve Harrington x Holland!Reader, Max Mayfield x Reader (PLATONIC)

Word Count: 4,183

Warnings: Death, grief, violence, mourning, funerals, angst, crying, swearing

Tag List: @carolimedanvers @thechickvic @moonstruckhargrove @hotstuffhargrove @alex--awesome--22 @lilmissperfectlyimperfect @so-not-hotmess @agentsinstorybrooke @sunflowercandie @kaliforniacoastalteens @songforhema @mickmoon @buckybarneshairpullingkink @marvelismylifffe @spidey-pal

You found yourself drawn to the Hawkins Cemetery after the announcement of the Starcourt Mall’s demise.  You’d spent a lot of time there two years prior. Two years ago you knew why you spent so much time around those gravestones. This time, you weren’t sure.

You always made sure to dress appropriately for the stones. Your mother had drilled it into your head, after your Great Aunt Amelia’s funeral almost twelve years ago, that the souls of the dead were offended by any colours other than black, grey, and navy blue. Dark winter tones were the only colours appropriate for the stones. You couldn’t help your bright yellow converse sneakers though; they were your only shoes with flat soles and anything with a heel would sink into the grass, loose dirt, and mud.

You knew how to dress for a funeral. You were a Holland girl.

You lost your baby sister Barb in your junior year. It destroyed you. She was this little dork you’d been trying to protect since the day she was born. You were Irish twins, less than a year apart. Your sister was a miracle baby; your parents were told by several doctors that they wouldn’t be able to have children after you, due to a seemingly botched c-section. When they found out that they were pregnant again so soon after having you, they had to go through with the pregnancy, purely because they might never have another shot at a kid.

Barb was your sweet little geeky sister, with her prissy friends and her homework parties. You still felt guilty about not telling her to skip the party she was going to. Not that Steve Harrington inherently threw dangerous parties, simply that you knew that it wouldn’t be her scene. Not that you thought she’d listen, Barb was a teenager. Teenagers never listen, especially when they had it in their heads that they were right. So you mourned her death hard. You spent every day at her grave site for the first year. Your parents had intended to use their life savings to pay for a private investigator to research her disappearance. And while, at the time you weren’t sure as to whether or not she was even alive, you weren’t comfortable with them selling everything to hire some random guy they found in the penny saver. You moved in with your Aunt Jeanine while your parents lost their minds for awhile, so you could try to keep your mind on your studies. And while living with your aunt and her four kids, all no older than preteens, off a pull out couch in their basement wasn’t easy, you made it work.

You graduated. But you didn’t get into any colleges. And once Barb was discovered dead, covered up by an evil corporation, you were forced to deal with your own issues head on.

Staying in Hawkins and going back to high school was the only way to clean up the mess you’d made of your own life. It meant you could stay close to Barb, which your parents had trouble doing. They were destroyed with grief, you understood why they felt the need to sew their wild oats and try to discover themselves beyond their pain.

The Hawkins Cemetery was like a second home to you now. You found yourself wandering around even when you felt well enough to not have to visit Barb every day. You found yourself wondering about the people who’d been buried there for years. You did your best to mourn them properly, dressed in your darks and keeping quiet. You tried to avoid funerals whenever you could.

Today, you ran into one.

Neil Hargrove didn’t get around to planning his son’s funeral until almost August. He’d demanded that his wife do it for him, but Susan was having none of it. It wasn’t as if she hated Billy, but she hardly knew him, he’d only been her stepson for two years and he hadn’t exactly let her into his world. Neil was forced to do it himself. So he paid for the cheapest funeral possible. And he refused to call his ex-wife, Emily; Susan had to call her herself, the one thing she did to help plan the thing.

The day of Billy’s funeral was hellish hot, he probably would’ve loved it. The sun beat down on the scattered, small group like migraine, sending sweat pooling down each and every mourner’s back and making their heads pound painfully. You found yourself wandering cautiously into the mix, fitting in just enough and just intrigued by the scene enough to stay. You and Billy weren’t friends, you wouldn’t even say that you liked the guy, but you felt bad for his family over what had happened.

Neil Hargrove wiped his forehead and moustache with his white handkerchief, shoving it violently into his pocket. His eyes were dry as the pastor spoke over the coffin, a small wreath of roses on its lid. Susan stood at his side, trying to whimper quietly, her green eyes misty and her thin red lip quivering slightly. Her hand was squeezed tight in her daughter Max’s, whose free hand was wrapped around the end of a tight red braid. Tears were rolling down her cheeks, her whole face red and splotchy. You’d guess that she’d been crying for over an hour and by the heavy purple bags under her eyes, she hadn’t much sleep the night before.

You knew that look. You’d been in her shoes. You felt like you were kindred sisters.

You recognized the rest of her little group, all in various stages of grieving. Mike Wheeler looked bored, his fists shoved into the pockets of his black dress pants. Lucas Sinclair had his arm wrapped around Max’s shoulders, watching her cautiously. Dustin Henderson and Will Byers seemed deeply uncomfortable, although Will seemed a bit more saddened than his friend. There was a girl with them who you didn’t recognize who was holding Will’s hand and leaning on his shoulder, tears brimming in her eyes.

Then there was Steve Harrington.

He made about as much sense being there as you did.

You understood why those kids were there, they had to be friends of Max, but Steve was an outlier. He wasn’t friends with Billy, hell they were enemies the second he sauntered into the parking lot of Hawkins High. You heard the stories about Billy beating the crap out of Steve and saw the evidence yourself. Why on earth would that boy show up here, in a suit, to stand in the burning heat with people who either don’t know him or don’t like him? You didn’t understand.

But his big brown eyes caught yours and you found yourself offering a shy, small smile, which he returned. The pastor signal for the group to join in the hymn listed in the funeral program and you found yourself slinking further into the back as the small, cracked voices of the mourners rang out in prayer, following along with the pastor. You hummed to the rhythm of their words, keeping your head down. Funerals always eventually became about god, even the concept of resting easy eluded to some sort of afterlife and almighty creator above. You didn’t exactly adore the concept of god, but it wasn’t something that you outright decried. You understood why religion was a fixture in society and you didn’t want anyone to feel lost or aimless. You understood that feeling tenfold.

When the hymn ended, you looked back to the children, who now huddled around little Max. The bored looking one, Mike, was whispering in her ear and her broken expression shifted slightly from sadness to anger as her brown eyes met yours.

The pastor finished his sermon and the pallbearers lowered the coffin into the ground. Some members of the group chose to throw handfuls of dirt onto the coffin. Susan tried to bring Max over to do so, but she refused. A bright blonde woman, whom you could only assume to be Billy’s mother, cried softly as she threw two handfuls onto the coffin, standing over it with this broken expression you could only match to your mothers just two years prior.

You didn’t add any yourself. Neither did Steve. The pastor announced that there would be refreshments at the nearby funeral home and most of the masses headed off behind the pastor. Susan again tried to egg Max on towards the funeral home, but she held back with her friends. You took one last look at the gravestone, noting the inscription “William Calvin Hargrove: Son, Brother, Friend; Mortui Vivos Docent”

Mortui Vivos Docent-The dead teach the living. The quote was on enough headstones to draw your attention and force you to learn its meaning. You wondered sarcastically what they expected to learn from his death. Just like that, he was another soon to be forgotten member of the Hawkins dead. Just four rows from Barb.

You turned on your heel, letting out a soft sigh through your nose, planning to return to your aunt’s house. You had promised to help her embroider cushions for your Cousin Sarah’s upcoming baby shower.

“Hey!” a loud, angry voice called after you and you turned back to meet the eye of Max Mayfield, whose freckled arms were crossed tightly over the front of her black button down blouse, the cardigan she’d had on for the ceremony already tied around her waist and her gaze stern.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing here, huh? This is a private burial.” She snapped angrily.

You simply shrugged “I’m sorry. I just wanted to pay my respects. I’ll go now.” You replied, trying again to head again, but the sound of angry footsteps following behind you.

“Who do you think you are? Barging in while my family grieves! This is a private occasion.” Max called after you.

“Max, stop it...” Lucas said softly and the footsteps stopped for a second. You turned to look at the group again. Lucas had grabbed her arm, tugging her away from you. The rest were huddled together, watching in slight horror. Max was seething. You guessed that they’d never seen her that angry before, or at least not in a very long time.

“Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that it was a private affair. I wouldn’t have intruded if I had known. I’m truly sorry for disturbing you.” You said slowly, keeping your gaze on hers as she tried to rip her arm out of Lucas’s grasp.

“What kind of funerals are public?!?” Max turned her attention to Lucas, her voice pooling with exasperation and disbelief.

You couldn’t help but chuckle as you turned away heading towards the oldest plot of the cemetery, hoping to sit on the bench surrounded by lavender and daisies. “You’d be surprised...” you muttered, pulling the creamsicle coloured scrunchie off your wrist and pulling your hair up.

Something hard hit you in the back of the head. Several screams rang out as you stumbled forward from the sheer shock of the hit. It wasn’t a very hard hit, although it did sting.

“Max, what the fuck?” you heard a voice call as you turned to grab whatever had hit you. A black ballet flat. And then, suddenly, the other shoe and a foot clad in black tights were in your eye line. You stood up fast as a red fury came at you, tiny fists hitting your arms and shoulders and stomach. She was almost as tall as you and yet she was fighting like a small child. You let her land every blow as her friends and Steve came running after her, all screaming for her to stop.

“He was my brother...” you heard her mutter angrily over and over again, tears streaming fast down her cheeks, her face growing exponentially redder.

You wound your arms under her arms, pulling her to your chest tightly. “I know.” You said firmly as she fought against you “I know. I understand.” It took a couple moments, but eventually she stopped fighting, her head coming to your chest as a loud sob wracked through her tiny body, making her shake and lose her balance, pulling you down with her onto the grass. Your hand came down first, to soften the blow and once you hit the ground, it wrapped around her, rubbing her back softly. Your other hand came to her hair, petting it gently as her tears soaked into your shoulder.

You turned to the boys “Can one of you go and get her a cup of water? And maybe something to eat?” you asked quietly, not wanting to disturb her crying. Lucas nodded turning and jogging towards the funeral home. Mike grabbed the other girl’s hand and led her towards the funeral home. Dustin attempted to get Will to follow, but he simply sat on the grass next to Max’s feet, pulling his knees to his chest. Steve followed suit, sitting next to you.

“I know how you feel, its okay...” you muttered into her hair “Let it out, Max...” Max nodded softly into your shoulder. It took her a few tries, but eventually she sat up on her own and you let her go, letting your hands fall in between the two of you.

She sniffled loudly, wiping her nose again, her eyes still brimmed with tears and red. “How...how you know h-how I even f-feel?” she hiccupped between her syllables. She was starting to hyperventilate, but you saw as she tried to regulate her own breathing.

You lowered your gaze, focusing on the grass. Talking about was still hard. You focused on twisting your fingers into the grass, crossing your legs under you. “I lost my sister, Barb, just a couple years ago.” You said simply. Realization washed over the two, but you knew Steve recognized you.

None of the little party went to the funeral, but you’d seen them at the reception with Joyce Byers when you finally made it back to your parent’s home. You guessed that they didn’t know that you were her sister until that moment.

“I know how you feel about all of this: the pain of losing him, the regret, the anger at the world and at me. I felt the same thing with my sister.” You added, finally able to look up again.

Max crossed her arms over her chest, looking away towards the road less than ten feet away. “Y-you don’t k-know how I f-feel about y-you.” She replied bitterly

“Oh I do,” you chuckled to yourself “When I saw Steve at my sister’s funeral, I wanted to kill him.”

Max raised an eyebrow, which you took as your cue to keep going. “Steve wasn’t even friends with Barb, he didn’t even know her. And it was his stupid party that she went missing, how she got hurt by all that laboratory shit. When I saw him with all those people that loved her, I wanted to destroy him. As soon as the funeral was over, I went right over to him and started screaming at him. He let me try to beat the shit out of him.”

Steve chuckled softly at the memory. In truth, he only went to the funeral because he felt guilty. Guilty that it was at his house, guilty that he’d left her outside, guilty that he didn’t do anything to help her, that he didn’t even notice she’d disappeared until the police started asking him questions. He went to apologize to her, he couldn’t apologize to your parents, they wouldn’t let him. Instead, he apologized to you. He let you yell at him and hit him and cry into his shoulder and wear his jacket when you started to shiver from the cold.

And after that day, he started to check up on you. Little things at first, he knew that you wandered around here so he’d check to make sure that your car came and went. Sometimes he’d drive past your aunt’s house, because it was on his way home anyway, to make sure the car was in the driveway. When he saw you in school, he’d sometimes go over to you to make small talk. He’d eat lunch with you once Tommy and Carol ditched him to hang out with...well with Billy. It was hard to be bitter about that now. You were genuinely one of his only friends.

“I really am sorry for disturbing your mourning, Max. I really didn’t mean to.” Your words pulled Steve out of his memories and his gaze to you. It was a stark contrast to the last time he’d seen you here. Your skin was warm and rosy, your eyes clear and bright, your smile was...heart stopping. You looked so alive, it was beautiful to behold. When he first saw you, you looked so pale and fragile, small in your heavy black dress. But now you sat tall and you smiled like it didn’t hurt anymore. You were fully here, live in Technicolor, and so very alive. Steve couldn’t stop staring at you.

Max nodded softly “Its okay...” she said, looking to Will, who squeezed her shoulder. “C-can I ask you something?”

You smiled “Sure.”

“Does it get any easier?” Max looked so vulnerable, her eyes going wide, she looked almost as she was begging for an answer.

You took her hand gently, your eyes closing as you let out a small sigh through your nose. “It will in time.” You promised “But it won’t ever be okay.”

Max’s gaze dropped away and you squeezed her hand gently “I don’t mean that you won’t be okay, you will be just fine. I mean that what happened to Billy isn’t okay and it won’t be. But you will get some peace one day. It will just take some time, you have to heal.”

Lucas came running up, water from the paper he sported in hand sloshing with his steps. Dustin was behind, carrying a very full napkin. He stopped in front of Max, handing her the drink nervously. You let go of her hand and nodded for her to take the cup.

“We didn’t know what kind you’d like, so we just grabbed one of each.” He plopped down next to her on the grass, opening the napkin to reveal at least five cookies, all different flavours.

You stood up, brushing grass off your jeans “You gonna be alright, Max?” you asked. Max clutched the cup with both hands, taking small sips. She nodded. You smiled “Alright, then eat till you’re sick. Funeral cookies are the best cookies. And if you need anything, ever, you give me a call, okay? Anytime.”

As the kids picked at the cookies, you headed away from the scene. You felt good that you were able to help that little girl in any way you could. But sitting in the muggy feeling of sadness was exhausting and you really needed to breathe in air that wasn’t salty with tears.

“Y/N! Wait up!” Steve called after you and you slowed down, letting him catch up with you. He was wearing the same suit that he did to Barb’s funeral, you reckoned. He looked handsome in it. His hair was deflating and falling into his face, the summer heat making his sweat wash the hairspray out of his locks.

“What you did for Max, that was really cool.” He said, slightly out of breath. You both silently blamed the heat.

You shrugged “It’s the kind of stuff I’d wanted to hear when I was in her situation.” You arrived at your bench, the smell of lavender taking over your senses. You sat down on the bench, smiling at the peeling white paint and the daisies pooling around the tall grass, untouched and forgotten in the corner of the cemetery.

Steve sat down next to you tentatively “So, how are you feeling?” he asked, loosening his tie and taking off his jacket. You knew what he meant; funerals weren’t exactly your comfort zone. You’d confessed to him your deep fear of funerals now, of freaking out and embarrassing yourself. Of having a panic attack and making it about you.

“I’m okay,” you breathed out as his arm came around the back of the bench. You let out a heavy “I really shouldn’t have wandered over there, it wasn’t my place, but I couldn’t help it. I just felt...drawn to it. It was weird.”

“But you did okay. You didn’t freak out, right?” Steve offered with a smile. You nodded, looking down.

“I mean, what you did for Max...it was amazing. She’s been unmovable for weeks. If she’s not crying, she angry. No one’s been able to help. But you calmed her down. It was incredible!” Steve said, his gaze focusing on a faded gravestone for someone named Josephine Bray. “I wish I had been able to do that for you...” he added softly.

You turned to look at him, bewildered “What are you talking about? That’s exactly what you did for me!” you cried. Steve scoffed, shaking his head. “You’re joking right? You told me all about your grandfather’s funeral and how much it hurt.”

“That was stupid shit...” Steve replied, leaning back to stare up at the bright blue sky. It was too beautiful a day for a funeral.

“No it wasn’t!” you slapped him in her chest, startling him into looking at you “Steve, you really helped me. You made me feel like I wasn’t alone, that I’d feel better eventually. You really helped me that day. I never thanked you for that.”

“You don’t need to thank me that all. I mean it was my fault that your sister...” Steve trailed off, not wanted to finish the sentence.

“No it’s not.” You said. Steve shook his head and you repeated yourself firmly “Steve, no it’s not. It’s not your fault. It’s that terrible labs fucking fault. You didn’t know that she would get hurt. You didn’t do shit.”

“I could’ve made her stay inside.” Steve replied bitterly.

“And have her listen to you and Wheeler bone? You know she wouldn’t have gone for that!” you shot. That made Steve laugh against his better judgement. The image of poor Barb sitting in his living room, listening to the sound of his mattress squeak above her was so sad and cringe worthy.

“Okay, that’s fair.” He sighed “But I still could’ve done something...”

“Yeah, you probably could’ve. But the labs could’ve been safer in their disposal of waste or just not done those experiments. And Barb could’ve not gone to your house that night. There are a million variables that could be changed, but we aren’t in charge of any of them.”

You grabbed Steve’s free hand in yours. He looked down at you, a little surprised. “You can’t hold onto your guilt anymore. It’s not your fault. No one blames you.” You smiled up, his big brown eyes finally meeting yours. He swallowed, but nodded, squeezing your hand softly. It felt nice to have your hand in his, it was comforting.

“How’d you find this place?” he asked, pulling away from your gaze to look over the withering stones, growing over with grass and weeds.

“I got lost in here once, found old Jo and this little bench. Sometimes I come in here to read or think when it’s too loud at my aunt’s. It’s like it’s in its own world.” You explained softly.

“You still spend a lot of time here?” Steve asked, a little concerned with the idea of you still wandering around this place.

You sighed “I probably shouldn’t be. It’s just a bad habit now.” You replied, your face heating up just a bit. You knew that Steve had been looking out for you and he knew about your haunting of the funeral. You knew you shouldn’t be hanging around here anymore. It had become a force of habit, but you had to move on.

“You know, anytime your house gets too hectic, you can just come to mine. It’s usually pretty quiet. And I won’t like bug you or anything.” Steve offered shyly. “I mean, if you want to! I know that with your sister it might not be cool but I thought-”

Your hand came to his cheek, silencing him instantly. “Thank you, Steve.” You whispered, kissing him softly. Steve’s heart stopped in his chest, the world coming to a standstill. Your lips barely ghosted over his and you pulled back just as fast. You were far too scared to do anything more, to force yourself on him.

Steve didn’t pull you back, he didn’t want to scare you off. Instead, he let his arm wrap around your shoulders, pulling you closer to him. You let your head rest on his shoulder, smiling softly. You didn’t know if you’d ever be in this position again, so you savoured it wholeheartedly. It was too beautiful a day to not enjoy it at least a little, with a pretty boy holding your hand.  

[cubanmalefootlover]

The House of the Witch

A lad stopped in front of the iron railing. He’s your regular high school teen in search of excitement. Beyond the fence, the impressive building of “Madison House” surrounded by the vast land. He got off his bike while looking around warily.  

“PRIVATE PROPERTY. KEEP OUT. NO TRESPASSING”. It could be read in the tattered sing. A black hood covered his head and a dark ski mask hid from his nose down, so his hazel eyes is the only you can see of his face. He pulled back the hood and wiped his sweaty forehead with his hand, now it could be seen his brown hair with golden highlights nicely styled in a man bun. He took a deep breath while replaced the hood on his head. Then he pushed the rusty fence and biked forward with determination…

 Three days earlier

Four teens were walking by the town.

-I assure none of the Bakers lives there any longer–stated Samantha.

-My dad says the family’s living out of town now, but they still own the land –said Lynda.  

-Why don’t they sell it? –asked Fabian.

-Perhaps they’re thinking in fix it and rent it –deduced Lynda.

-Bullshit! –said Fabian-. They didn’t even take care of the house.  

-No one’s gonna buy it ‘cause of the “witch” –Samantha whispered.  

The four kids kept silence for few seconds.

-Last week the janitor’s son tried to cut the grass and he couldn’t… - said Samantha. She and Fabian chuckled mischievously.

-Please guys… -said Peter-. Officer Paterson arrested him for violation.

-It hasn’t sense –protested Samantha-. The grass is actually very grown and he’s not a stranger. They don’t want nobody get inside the house.  

-Some people say it’s haunted –said Lynda.

- You won’t believe in that, will you? –taunted Samantha-. Hey guys, it’s just a myth!  

Lynda and Peter exchanged doubtful looks. Fabian sniggered.  

-Mister Baker’s grandmother was the daughter of a witch –said Samantha.

-No! –interrupted Lynda-. She was blamed of witchcraft, but she was innocent.

-How you know it, dear? –asked Samantha-. You were there?

-Many women accused of witchcraft were innocent –said Lynda-. At least, it’s what my mom says; she and Mrs. Baker were friends. And she also said that Mr. Baker’s aunt brought the ashes of the witch, six months before they moved.  

-Don’t you think it’s… weird? –asked Peter trying to conceal his unease.  

-Hey, guys, is Halloween! -said Samantha-. “Madison House” is creepy. I think it’s a good challenge. Thirty bucks for the “Keep out” sing.

-That’s too easy –replied Fabian.

-This isn’t easy –retorted Peter-. We better look for another challenge. We don’t want Officer Paterson arresting us for trespassing.

-Yeah, Fabian’s right… -accepted Samantha-. What if… taking a higher risk?

-For example? -asked Fabian with interest.

-The numbers on the door –suggested Samantha.

-I bring you the number and you spend the Halloween night with me in “Madison House”… alone -added Fabian.

-Mmm… deal! –accepted Samantha with a naughty sparkle in her eyes.  

 The Halloween Night

It’s still afternoon, so the people is preparing all stuff for the night. A thin, agile figure crossed the streets in a bike. The face was hidden behind a ski mask and a hood. It’s dressed with navy t-shirt, black jacket, dark pants and red Vans. It stopped in front of the railing entrance of “Madison House” properties. The surroundings were lonely, as expected. The hood is pulled back and the ski mask removed from the face: it’s Fabian. His hazel eyes stared at the old building with awe…

He opened the railing door, got on his bike again and quickly rushed by the path toward the uninhabited house. He felt a strange sensation in the air, but he blamed the anxiety. He left his bike on the overgrown grass and then his slender figure reached the doorway. Old remains, broken windows, dead leaves and others things scattered all around.

The main door was shut. Fabian took a screwdriver out of the rear pocket of his pants and began to pull the number out with the tip of the tool. The number was pushed out of its stud and fell down the floor. He heard a voice and turned around: a bus and two cars went by the street, nothing else. Fabian bent over to pick up the number and, surprisingly, the solid door opened. It came into view a huge hall covered with dust.  

The boy glanced inside the hall with a mix of curiosity and dread. He walked two, three steps inside.  

-Hello?!... –he asked. His voice echoed through the hall unearthly.

No answer. Just a mild sound of sleeves and the whispering breeze. The daylight gave way to the darkness beyond the hall. That fainted voiced made him stare back again. Now he could swear he vaguely heard his name. Proud of himself, Fabian walked back while kept the number in his pocket, but before reaching his bike he was seized from behind and shoved inside the house abruptly. He gripped the doorframe as tight as he could, but he was pulled with incredible force. He looked back and there was no one, just a black cloud that took form in a terrible face…

-AAAHHHHHH…AAAAHHHHHH…AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH…!!!!!!!      

Fabian was thrust toward the hall and the main door got again closed, his hopeless screams were fading within the walls…

 Sybil the witch

The intruder was dragged by the dusty floor of “Madison House”. It suddenly stopped. He stood up in a hurry and ran toward the door when his eyes collided with the most hair-raising sight he’d seen in his short life. A humanoid figure was floating above the floor; it seemed to be a woman with long hair and a white gown. Two blazing embers in the center of her face petrified him. The figure charged toward the boy and enfolded him. He emitted a cry before shut his eyes and passed out…

The black cloud gently lifted the out cold lad and placed him in a bed. It took a female form and caressed Fabian’s boyish face. She took his black jacket off, then his shirt. Fabian had a lean pale torso and his nipples showed sweet rosy areolas. A few hairs covered his chest and ran down the flat belly to the navel. She unlaced his Vans and gently removed them off his feet. A distinctive smell wafted from his Vans that made her drag her attention to the lad’s feet. His white socks were damp with sweat and somewhat dirty on the bottom. She rolled the pants out his legs. His boxers and socks were off too, leaving him in his birthday suit.  

She got fascinated at the view of her prey, so tender, so innocent, which made him even more adorable. Fresh meat to devour. However she weren’t going to wolf him down nor drink his blood; she wanted something else from him. She brought his forearms above the head. Then stretched the legs and separated the ankles from each other, so that he adopted the form of an X on the bed. She stroked lovingly his head trying not to ruin the cute bun on his hair.

For some odd reason, the witch got devotedly mesmerized with the feet of her victim. Fabian’s were lean just like his frame, about size 10, they had a wonderful narrow shape, milky arches with crisscrossed patterns tending to wrinkle when the feet scrunch; the toes were lanky and knuckly with very tender gaps between them. The toe tips, ball of the feet and heels were silky smooth and deliciously pink. The toenails were clean and trimmed. Unlike most of bikers and skaters’ feet, Fabian’s were unusually soft; his soles were unblemished and free of calluses, obviously because of comfy sneakers and lots of boy foot sweat acting as natural lotion. Such feet couldn’t have been born except to be tickled.  

The witch gently slid one finger by Fabian’s sole from toes to heel. This foot immediately twitched and, interestingly, the other foot also shook in a sort of sympathetic reaction. He burped a childish giggle in his unconsciousness. It was really funny to see the way Fabian wiggled his long toes.

She now scratched the other sole, his giggles got clear but he stayed out-of-the-world with a big smile in his cute-boy face. His lanky toes looked like crazy worms as the witch dragged her nails in between them and the length of his super tender soles. She pricked his rosy heels with her sharp nails and reflexively the toes fanned out very wide so that she could see how long this boy’s toes really were. She rested her nose over them and inhaled deeply: a pungent smell of restless, sweaty feet filled her nostrils. Then she licked those toes and soles lavishly to taste their flavor.

By ancient experience the witch knew that there is a secret link between the feet and the genitals in the man body, so when his soles and toes are meticulously tickled, the nervous overload may tend to be unleashed through powerful orgasms. And since such natural reaction was having effect on the healthy young Fabian, the witch knew what’s going to happen to him as soon as she noticed his cock getting stiffen till resemble a raging missile ready to shoot.

She kept gliding his nails along his soles and in between his toes: now his testicles began to jump inside the scrotum. The witch stayed tickling Fabian’s feet and he stayed giggling silly like a baby. His breathing got a characteristic pace; his lips trembled and his face was contorted. His nipples got hard and his mouth opened in a strange grimace. Within few minutes, the slit of his swollen penis opened wide and started releasing semen, creamy and abundant that went by his chest like a river and poured down by a side to the sheet. None of his previous wet dreams had been so thrilling and breathtaking…

The witch licked avidly the semen splattered all over the lad’s chest.    

A high-spirited music came from a pocket of his discarded pants. Guiding by the loud sound the monster caught Fabian’s phone in her creepy hands. It was Samantha, wanting to know if the mission was accomplished. There were some messages about their private meeting tonight. The monster showed her teeth in a horrific smile and left the phone on the clothes.  

Still deep in his unconsciousness, Fabian didn’t feel how the sheets took the shape of hands and grasped his wrists and ankles.

Sometime later the lad gave sings of waking up. He found himself in an unfamiliar bedroom.

-Where am I…?

The sun beams going inside through broken windows, lighting up a room long time unused made him realized that he was still in “Madison House”. He tried to stand, but he couldn’t move his arms.

-What the hell…? Why I can’t move…??

Fabian tossed his head and looked around. He tried to get free, but to no avail; his wrists and ankles were held in place by robust knots formed by the sheets, so he noticed that he was stark naked.

-HOLY SHIT…! -he gasped, reluctant to believe. Who had stripped him off? He fought to pull out of those knots, again without success. He recognized that those weren’t knots, but looked like… hands! Some more hands rose from the sheets and grabbed around his elbows, knees and waist. His heart was racing at top speed now.

-I see you’re awake my little sweetie –said a female voice.  

The hairs on his neck stood on end as a chill went through his spine.

-Wh-who a-are you? –his terrified wide eyes were searching everywhere.  

-I’m Sybil, the witch... and this is my home… -the voice said.

A dark fog emerged from the shadows, taking a woman form. The figure floated on top of the bed and brought her face close to the lad’s. Fabian was going to die; he closed his eyes and just stayed there, froze.

She smiled and started running her fingers all over his torso.

-No-ha…no…nohahaha…hahaha…ohho…noohonono… itti… it titickles-sss… ohh-hohohononoo… I WANNA GO HOME! HELP ME!!! AAAWWHHHH!!!

He unleashed a sudden piercing scream when his armpits were attacked. Anguished laughter echoed through the bedroom as her hands rubbed and danced over the soft skin of his armpits. No matter how strong he pulled on his arms and legs, the sheets held them tight.

-HAHAHAHAA!! PLEASE LET ME GO!!… LET ME GO!!… LET ME GOO!!!!

His screams turned overwhelming panic when he saw another two identical women joining to the torment and offered their wicked fingers to “caress” his defenseless body. Now his torso, sides and belly were purposely tickled. He answered with a burst of hearty boyish laughter gusted out of his wide open mouth. The ladies smiled as if they were listening music.  

Fabian had been ticklish his whole childhood; his mom and others close relatives played tickling with him when he was younger, he’d always could endure it quite well and even loved being tickled. Nonetheless, what he was feeling under the witches’ clutches right now was BEYOND all he’d felt before. It’s as if the witches were touching directly his nerve-endings with some kind of electric source and it was getting worse with each touch.

-SHIHIHAHAHAHAHA!!!! IIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHI!!! OUGHHUHUHUHUHU!!! AAWWWWWHHAHAHAHAHA!!!! EEWWWWHHHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEE!!!! PLEEZHEHEZEEZEHEEEHEE LET ME GOHOHOHOHOOOO!!!

Every part of his willowy flesh released a different tone of laughter when it’s stroked. At the time there was four women working on him; two at his armpits, neck and face; the others two were tickling his sides, chest and stomach, so devotedly, so tenaciously that they all seemed to perform a concert, playing their instruments with perfect skill and he was the singer, doing the only thing he could do: laugh, laugh and laugh as strong as he could to at least alleviate a bit the increasing torment he was undergoing.

The unlucky teen didn’t know why all that cruelty was thrown upon him. He only knew that all this torment was consuming his strength and he was about to lose his mind. But, poor thing, those monsters didn’t know pity and they weren’t going to free him soon. And since no one knew he was there, no help was on the way for him.

Then all of a sudden, ten hands, fifty evil fingers assaulted the young flesh in unison. A lady was now gliding her lips over his face and neck while another slid her tongue over his chest and stomach and a third one relished herself licking his left armpit. The others two ladies added her tongues to the right armpit. The feelings got now a never-reached level of excruciating intensity. Those tongues had something unnatural that engulfed his nerves in a hell of sensations, totally incomprehensible for the human flesh. Sort of nerve-eating waves swept his nervous system, bringing him to the edge of collapse.  

Fabian was in absolute hysterics. One thing is that he felt agonizingly ticklish, but now, in this place, incapable of escape and stark naked, every single touch of those vicious creatures sent him into paroxysms of helpless laughter and involuntary spasms which menaced to dislodge his thin body and drive him to insanity or worst: his death.

Without notice Fabian felt the ominous torture was subsiding. When it finally stopped, he thanked God amid panting and coughing. He was too terrified and confused that he couldn’t form a coherent thought in his mind. However he felt as if he’s going to sleep for a whole month, but “the calm” lasted only a moment.

With his face and eyes bathed in sweat and tears he made out that the witches had retreated to his lower legs. He gasped and heaved, fearing the next target. He was painfully right: two witches crouched at the end of the bed and started to lick the soles of his feet like cats lapping a bowl of milk. Fabian felt as if waves of electric current were running through his young body: he began to convulse and howl in complete madness.

-NOAAAHAHAHAHAHATHATTICKLESTOOMUCH!!!! NOOHONOT ON MY FEET!!! NAHAHAHAHAHA!!! NO STOP! NOT MY FEET!!!! NEHEHEHEHE!!!! HIHIHIHEHEHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! NONONOHEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! I CANT STAND IT HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! PLEASENOHEHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!

The witch had an accurate knowledge about the male body, so she focused her malice right here. Fabian writhed and squirmed hopelessly, the tongues kept licking at the exposed bottoms of his feet, between his wiggling toes, up the arches, making him laugh helplessly and beg for stopping! No stop. No lessen. No mercy. All he could do was receive, endure and laugh his head off as if it was the end of the world. His wide open mouth dribbling, his lungs burning for air, his riotous guffaws echoing within the enormous house just like a banshee in hell. 

-The pink of your soles… oh the pink of your soles…

The witches made a leg-lock around his calves and held his toes back to make the soles stretched and taut. Then they devoted to scratch their fingernails the length of that super tender skin. Those evil nails travelled along his helpless soles with greed, not making any harm, just sliding gently over the delicate skin. Fabian bucked and pulled with all his youth might. Her fingers scratched the lad’s naked soles harder and faster as if her earthly presence totally depended on it.

-BHWAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!! AWWWHUHA-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHH!!!!! PLHEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! ICAHAHAHAANHNTT AWUAAAAHAHHHPLEHEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!!!

The witches in his chest used her tongue to tickle his nipples with abandon. And with abandon the laughter poured out of him in response. Another lady came to deal with his groin and thighs. She slid her feathery fingers randomly around his penis and testicles. Thanks to the tight sheets he had little room to thrash around, so his exposed hips and sides received the whole treatment for long long time. Another lady twirled a finger into his navel. He tilted his head back and laughed without control. Meanwhile, she used her other hand to scribble down his belly: his flat stomach started bouncing like a jelly in an earthquake.

Meanwhile his teen cock was again ready to shoot his load.

The witch got oh so wicked! His whole body was shaking and his feet twitched wildly due to the way those fingernails and tongues treated his soles and toes. It was enough to drive him beyond madness. He was swimming in sweat, convulsing and braying with laughter. Every now and then his armpits were also tormented as well as his sides, ribs and belly.

On and on the foot-tickling continued, Fabian could only thrash his head about as he was tickle tortured with the cruelty that only displays the creatures from hell. On the screen of his phone was shown the picture of a naughty Samantha smiling to the camera. If she just could hear his desperate gales of laughter…

-NEAAAAEEEHAHAHAHAHEHEHEHEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!!!! NOOOOOHOHOHOHOHOOOHAAHAHA!!!! STAP PLEEEHEHEHEHEZZZZE I CAHAHAHAANHNN’T TAKE IT!!!! AHHHNOOOAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! PLEEEEESE!!! STOHOHOP! AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! HAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!!

The witch relished nibbling and munching his super ticklish soles.

-AAAWWWWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAHAHAA!!!!!

Minutes later, he came again. The foot-tickling never stopped.

-NOOOOOOOHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!!

Sometime later, he came again, but the tickling torture went on…

-PLEEEEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEZHEZHEZHEZHEZHEZHEZHEZZZ!!!!!!

Outside the magnificent old building, the silence reigned peacefully, like in some bucolic portrait of a charming town. A sign half hidden amid the overgrown grass on the railings says:

 “WARNING - NO ENTRY - TRESPASSERS WILL BE TICKLED TO DEATH”

[jimlingss]

Jungle Park [4]

Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 4.5 OR Chapter 5

➜ Words: 5.7k

➜ Genres: Fluff, Light Humour (?), Slice of Life, Workplace Romance!AU

➜ Summary: The equation is simple. Hoseok needs to hire someone. You need a job. Except like any actual equation, it’s not fucking simple at all! Not when you have to add the fact that he was forced to hire someone he doesn’t want in his office, he has little respect for your job in general, and oh yeah...once upon a time you might have—*CENSORED*.

➜ Warnings: swearing

Right as things seem to be improving and you’re slowly being less ostracized by the others, it plummets all to hell again. It’s no wonder that so many people hate HR. You’re constantly going after the employees and you’re really beginning to feel like Hoseok’s personal henchman.   “Am I being fired?” Lisa cuts straight to the point, eyeing how the conference room door is closed and the shades have been drawn for the utmost privacy. She faces you from across the table and glances at Hoseok who’s behind you, chair against the wall, preoccupied with some work and flipping through a stack of papers.   “No, no, you’re not,” you try to reassure the female receptionist to no avail. You’re perfectly aware that out of everyone, Lisa has the most hostility towards you. It’s justified too, since you basically fired her best friend and now she thinks you have it out for the receptionists.   “Then what is it?”   “I would like to just brush up on the dress code with you.” You try your best to offer the kindest smile while damning Hoseok on why he made you do this. It’s your job, but still. “It’s not a huge deal, but the firm’s dress code is business professional and it applies to everyone. For men, it’s buttoned suits with ties or dress pants and sports jackets. And women can wear pencil skirts or dress pants with a top and jacket, or a dress or suit as well. Muted and neutral colours are generally encouraged, but there’s some flexibility there. Shoes can be opened toed or closed, as long as they’re not sandals or sneakers or boots...”   Your hands are clasped on the table and you continue, “There are a lot of choices to choose from. But Jung and Park find it especially important for you to adhere to the dress code because you greet clients that come in. In a way, you’re the face of the entire firm—”   “So what you’re saying is you want me to button up my blouse more?” She interrupts you and her glare is directed towards Hoseok for a few seconds before she looks down at her own shirt.   “Yes.” You retain your reserved smile, keeping your voice light and trying your best to clearly deliver your message without misunderstandings. “It’s a bit revealing. You look fantastic! I really like your fashion sense! But maybe it’s more appropriate for an evening out with friends rather than a professional office setting.”   “Maybe people shouldn’t let their eyes wander,” she mutters passive aggressively and moves on before you can address her concern. “If the dress code is so important, then I’d like to tell you that Taehyung comes in his pajamas sometimes.”   “I will talk to him about it,” you promise her and she nods, already moving to do up two more buttons on her white blouse. “How is Dahyun? Is she doing alright with you?”   “She’s fine,” Lisa says in a curt tone. “If this is all, can I go now?”   “Uh...yes, you can go now. Thank you for this discussion.” It’s shorter and easier than what you were preparing for. In the next few seconds, the receptionist swiftly stood and opened the door, waltzing out. You’ve also stood up, shuffling your stack of papers. Hoseok continues to sit there without moving, flipping to his next page, but the corner of his mouth moves.   “You need to be more stern,” he mumbles, barely coherent.   “I’m doing fine,” you tell him and with that, you leave.   No one said your job would be easy. When Jimin told you this place was full of high conflict, he wasn’t kidding. It seems like office drama and gossip runs like the wild west here. But recently, the flood of complaints made against each other seemed to stop entirely. Maybe people didn’t want to file official complaints or they simply decided to band together against you and Hoseok. If it’s the latter reason, you’re happy that you at least got to lessen the tension around the office.   It takes teamwork to revolt against authority figures. And….well, even if no one wants to be your friend anymore, you still like your job.   It’s a lot better than driving a damn taxi around.   “Um, Y/N?” There’s a timid knock on your door and you bolt your head upright, tearing your eyes away from the computer screen. At the doorway, Sebin linger hesitantly, arms holding onto a thick file. “Do...do you have some time?’   “Of course!” You stand, perhaps a little too enthusiastically. Nonetheless, you welcome her in and when she takes a seat, you happily close the door for privacy. You just can’t believe that someone’s actually here, greeting you, asking for your help, and you’re about to pull out all stops. “What can I do for you?”   “I just need to talk to someone.” The girl brushes her long brunette hair until it’s behind her, draping her backside. Her eyes divert to her lap, fingers playing with the hem of her beige pencil skirt before she looks up at you. “I’ve been having a hard time recently.”   “Do you know what you’re having a hard time with? Is it your family or your personal life or is it because of someone in the office?”   She shakes her head with a modest smile. “No, no one’s been anything but nice to me here. I just feel stuck.”   You nod, actively listening and reading her expression. “Can you elaborate? What do you mean by stuck?”   “I just…” The legal assistant sighs, a heavy exhale squeezing from her lungs. “I wonder what I’m doing. I like my job. I think it’s easy and straightforward. It pays the bills too. I really love and adore everyone here. Jimin was the one who hired me and I feel like I owe it to him to stick this out...but I don’t know...I keep thinking about it and I can’t get rid of this feeling.”   “Sebin, you don’t owe it to anyone to stick it out.” You repeat her exact words and you reach across your desk to squeeze her hand. “There’s no one here who would understand better than Jimin.”   She smiles, thankful that you’re offering her comfort. “I don’t know if this is what I want for myself anymore. But if I leave this place, I don’t know where I will go, I don’t know where I would get money.”   “Do you have any savings?”   “I do. But what if I can’t find another job? What if no one’s hiring? I know the economy isn’t great.”   “At this point, I don’t think the economy will ever be good.” You grin and she laughs behind her hand, agreeing with you. “There are a lot of reasons why you shouldn't do something. Sometimes...you just gotta go for it, as stupid as that sounds.”   The girl is kind of surprised. She expected you to coerce her to stay and she wondered if you’d just turn around and tattle to Hoseok later. She wouldn’t be all that shocked if Hoseok chucked a cardboard box at her head and told her to clean out her desk before the end of the day for even thinking of leaving her job. But Sebin is pleased to hear your encouragements and a part of her thinks you won’t tell Hoseok. Your sincerity reaches her. “Can you be honest with me?”   “Of course,” you reassure, wondering when you’ve ever been dishonest.   “Do you think it’s dumb?” The paralegal makes wild gestures with her hands. “I mean...my job right now isn’t hard…”   “Just because it’s easy, it doesn’t mean you’ll like it.” You hum and begin to reminisce. “I’ve been at jobs for the sake of money before and I was miserable the entire time. Actually, I only have this position right now because I made the decision to quit my old job….for the same reasons as you.”   You continue, “And as hard as this job can be sometimes, I love it a lot. I don’t think there’s anything I’d rather do than be here and help people, get to know them and boost office morale while still being a part of the team.”   Sebin smiles warmly, in awe at how you speak so passionately even when you know HR is a mundane job. “I’m not even sure of what I want.”   “Well…” You lean back. “If money wasn’t a concern, what would you want to do?”   “I don’t know.” It’s a typical question, but the legal assistant considers it carefully. “I’d travel. I’d eat a lot. I...I always wanted to become a teacher, so maybe I’d do that. I had a job as a teacher’s aide before. I just never thought I could be an actual teacher. Somewhere along the way, I applied for this job...and then I stuck to it.”   “And now you’re really stuck,” you say lightheartedly and she nods. “I think you would be a great teacher, Sebin. You have the patience for it for sure and it’s never really too late to do anything. If you have savings, you could do it, return to school and see what you need to complete your degree. There’re tons of bursaries and scholarships for adult students as well. In fact, I may have something for you.”   You open your left drawer, thanking the heavens of your bad habit of taking brochures that you don’t need. In ten seconds, you’ve fished for the right one and you slide the pamphlet over to her. “You can also continue working while going to school. There’s a lot of options out there.”   The girl’s eyes are glazed over, holding back tears. “Thank you for this, Y/N. I really appreciate it. I had no one else to talk to and...this just means a lot to me.”   “No problem.” If you were happy before, now you were on a high. Why should people do drugs when helping people was for free? “If you want, you can keep me updated on what you decide, but you don’t have to. My door’s always open if you need to talk to someone.”   At the end of the conversation, the both of you are over the moon.   Sebin leaves while dabbing her eyes with the back of her hand and you’re ecstatic that you actually got to help someone in their career development. At this rate, you’re sure she’ll still be working while going to school part-time, eventually becoming a teacher, or maybe not. She’s promised to see where things go and to take steps to make herself happier. And you couldn’t be happier yourself.   Except, the next day, someone by the name of Jung Hoseok takes a big fat dump on your bliss.   “You called me?” You pop your head through the door and he motions you in. You’re forced to awkwardly shuffle, moving to stand in front of his desk like you’re an elementary student about to be scolded by the principal.   “Explain this to me.” He throws a letter onto his desk and he glares at you hard enough to set your skin aflame. “Sebin just handed me her two weeks notice.”   Oh shit. Turns out she won’t be working and going to school at the same time. Maybe it’s better that she fully focuses on achieving her goal. It’s a good decision either way.   But you don’t tell Hoseok any of your thoughts. Instead, you manage a skeptical expression. “And you called me because…?”   “Because she came in here talking about being stuck and her dreams and needing to take charge of her life. I was thinking about who could’ve fed her all this nonsense and I realized that it could only be you.”   There’s a murderous look in his eye and you begin to break a sweat. If Hoseok didn’t hate you before, now he definitely did. You scramble to reply, “That...that’s a big assumption. Aren’t lawyers supposed to avoid assumptions?”   “Do you realize that in this busy season, we cannot afford to lose an important member of staff?”   “Yes.”   “Do you know how much work it will take to hire another paralegal that will fulfill the correct requirements and fit the needs of this office?”   “Yes,” you mutter before adding on, “but isn’t it my job to find someone suitable?”   Jung Hoseok is not amused and from the way he glares at you dead in the eyes and his hands are clasped, it makes you ponder if this is what Satan looks like in hell. “Did she or did she not visit you in the past few days?”   “She did.”   “And what did you talk about?”   “That is confidential material.”   “I am your boss and it is your job to tell me,” he demands and your life flashes before your eyes. You wonder if this is the end, if he’ll toss his sharp scissors at your exposed neck and the rest of the lawyers will end up hiding your corpse and burning it in some forest. They’d get away with it too, considering they’re the top lawyers in the industry. Oh god. How would your mom even react if your death became an unsolved mystery? “Either way, you would’ve had to fill out a report, correct? I could always read it.”   “Sometimes reports are not necessary to fill out,” you mumble while scratching your hair and downcasting your head.   The lawyer seated across from you persists without missing a single beat. “Did you or did you not speak to Sebin about her professional goals?”   “Perhaps.”   “Did you at any point suggest that she should quit if she is feeling unhappy?”   You’ve watched enough law television shows to know how to respond. It might be ridiculous, but you don’t care. “I refuse to respond on the grounds that it may incriminate me.”   Hoseok’s frown deepens, but the corner of his mouth twitches. You’re not sure if he’s become slightly amused or absolutely furious with you. “Are you….are you pleading the fifth?” He asks it like he can’t believe his own ears.   You cringe in your spot, avoiding his glare. “Yes.”   “This is not an interrogation.”   “Then what am I doing here?”   The male is brought to a loss for words, so he simply scoffs. He pinches the bridge of his nose and waves you away with his other hand. “Get out of here before I toss my mug at you.”   “That’s a threat and verbally abusive, also highly inappropriate.” Despite your words, your legs bolt upwards and you’re on your toes again, collecting yourself as you slowly back away from his desk. “Just letting you know as HR.”   “You’re testing me,” he chimes and returns back to his work.   “Alright...goodbye.” You run for your life and Hoseok lifts his chin, staring at the space where you just occupied. The corner of his tilt mouth again and he lets out a hopeless puff of air through his parted lips before it stretches into the smallest of smiles.   //   If life at the office could be charted, it would be one of the craziest graphs you would need to draw. The line would currently dip and rise, like the drop and incline of a rollercoaster with no stops. Often times when you’re having the time of your life, it plummets to the bottom. And when you’re having the worst time, things improve so drastically, you remember why you wanted this job in the first place.   At the moment, it feels like things were at a standstill, half between the rise and fall of good and bad. While the employees of the firm aren’t exactly friendly with you anymore, they aren’t hostile or passive aggressive either. Sure, you’re almost certain Hoseok hates your guts and probably wants to throw you out of his window, Jimin has been nothing but understanding and kind.   Things are okay.   But it’s about to be a new low for you.   “Are you the one who fired my girlfriend?!”   “Pardon?” You frown in confusion, forced to a halt in front of the office building as the car pulls up on the curb. An unfamiliar man has his head popped out of the window, half his body hanging out as he angrily screams the question at you. It’s only nine a.m. in the morning and your mind is still numb without coffee.   “Are you the fucking HR bitch that fired my girlfriend?!” He repeats, shouting so loudly that it hurts your ears. What you don’t notice is who is sitting in the driver seat and the familiar lawyer that is walking down the street, noticing the commotion going on.   It happens too quickly.   The driver of the car moves the man out of the way to see out the window. You recognize the ex-receptionist immediately and she wastes no time to point an accusatory finger at you. Kei frowns and shrieks, “That’s her!”   The man in the passenger seat brings up a bucket from in-between his feet and then there’s a sudden stream that glistens in the morning sunshine. There is the sound of sloshing that follows. The beads glimmer against the light like stars and then it falls like a tsunami.   You’re doused in cold water.   It shocks your system, hair drenched and clothes dripping, doused from head to toe. There are gasps that surround you, people passing by that move out of the way to not get wet. The man shouts, “Drive, drive!” And then tires screech on pavement as it pulls off and zips down the road.   Hoseok runs over towards you and pulls out his phone, swiftly snapping a shot of the license plate before the car is too far gone. If you thought he was furious before, now he was completely livid.   “What the fuck!” His hands curl around your shoulders, firm yet still gentle, and he doesn’t notice when you flinch from his touch. “Are you okay??! Y/N?!” The man searches your face before he locks his eyes with yours.   “I...I’m fine.” You’re violently shivering, still shocked by the sudden change of temperature and also humiliated by people’s stares. “It’s just water, I’m fine. It’ll dry off.”   He doesn’t wait and takes off his suit jacket, draping it over you as if it could warm you up and shield you away from stranger’s gazes. The security guard of the building runs out while catching his breath and Hoseok casts one mere glance at him. “Give me the footage of that security camera.”   “You got it,” he responds and goes off again.   “Hoseok.”   “Do you have a change of clothes with you? Actually no, go home,” he says it quickly, nearly getting whiplash at how fast he turns to look at you again. You can’t imagine taking the subway in this state and he must read your expression well with the next question he asks. “Did you drive here or do you need me to drive you home? Wait, no, we need to file a police report as soon as possible. Okay, let me drive you home to change and then we can head to the police station and file a police report.”   “Wait…”   “We can get a restraining order by noon. See if we can press charges on grounds of harassment and assault and verbal abuse. From now on, I’m your attorney, understand?”   “Listen to me,” you say as calmly as possible whilst gazing into his eyes. “I don’t want to press charges or file a police report. I’m fine.”   His jaw clenches and the knit between his brows deepen. “No. You do not get to argue with me on this.”   “It was water. You’re making a big deal out of nothing.” You just want to go away from the prying eyes and pitiful stares. “I’ll dry off. And she was just upset, she lost her job.”   “That does not justify her actions. Why do you let this happen to you?! Are you really okay with it?!” Hoseok’s composure is completely lost and he steps away, running a frustrated hand through his hair. “Fine, you might not want to press charges, but I’m still going to get a restraining order for this office. I have a responsibility to protect my employees, do you understand? And you are my employee. No one is allowed to hurt you or put you in danger.”   You’re caught in a trance, staring into his brown irises that seems to catch light in all the right places. Eventually, you’re pulled back to attention when Sunyi comes rushing over, asking what happened. Miraculously, the lawyer has a change of clothing since she was planning to switch to more formal attire to meet an important client at two. She’s happy to let you borrow her clothes.   The ride up to the floor is uncomfortable and smothering. Everyone in the office stops to gawk, baffled out of their minds at the sight of you, considering you look like you went showering in your attire. But no one whispers or murmurs since Hoseok stomps into Jimin’s office and the door slams shut, hard enough to cause the hinges to break and the goddamn wall to crumble.   You change and Seulgi makes a cup of hot coffee to warm you up. Even Lisa lingers in the kitchen and asks if you’re alright.   Within the hour, Hoseok appears again, beelining from his partner’s office to yours. He seems much calmer now, vein no longer popping at his forehead, wrinkles no longer prominent and brows not furrowed. “I know you don’t want to press charges. Tell me if you change your mind, but the entire firm is getting a restraining order against both parties. She will not be allowed to be within five hundred meters of this office building.”   There’s an extended silence.   The lawyer nods, having nothing more to say and he turns to walk out. “Hoseok.” Your voice stops him. “Thank you.”   “It’s a given,” he murmurs in an oddly softer tone and then turns so you can see the profile of his visage. The edge of his mouth lifts. “You’re my responsibility, you know....even if you are a headache.”   You smile back at him and he leaves.

//

As usual, with the new low, comes a new high. And you can only hope naively that things stay this way forever. Rumours of what Kei did to you spread and they evolve to become wilder versions — ones where you threw yourself in front of Hoseok and protected him, or she had hired a hitman to harm people in the office, but you blocked the entrance and protected them. If anything, you’re amused over these stories.   But more importantly, the employees of the firm become more pleasant towards you, like when you first joined and won their trust. Maybe they turned a new leaf because they finally realized your job wasn’t as jolly and chummy as it seemed on the outside. Maybe they felt guilty since in the back of their minds, they knew you were being shunned. Maybe their kindness derives from pity.   Whatever the case may be, you don’t mind.   The others are surprised at how Sebin is close to you. She chooses to sit beside you during lunchtime in the break room and chatters on happily. She even tells you how she got accepted into the first post-secondary institution of her choosing and Hoseok wrote her one of the best recommendation letters that brought her to tears; it turns out the lawyer isn’t angry that she isn’t staying.   Before the paralegal leaves, everyone celebrates with cake in the conference room, bidding her goodbye and telling her to visit. You’re sad that one of your best friends have left, but it doesn’t last too long when Seulgi invites you out to lunch one afternoon and the two of you have a fun chat. Even Sunyi has returned to your office every other day to do her regular complaints about Yoongi.   Things are good.   For the most part.   “Good morning.”   “Morning.”   The elevator doors shut and the tension between you two and the small space is enough to suffocate you. You should’ve known he was close behind you and maybe you would’ve waited for another elevator or took the stairs. Sure, you probably would’ve ended up sticky with sweat, but it would be better than standing alone next to Jung Hoseok.   All you do is focus on the rising numbers flashing over the doors….   Until there’s a large ‘clack’, the floor jolting and causing you to grip the side bars. The overhead lights flash for a moment. The bulbs die off, engulfing you in darkness before flickering back on.   “That doesn’t sound good,” you mutter underneath your breath and Hoseok moves to spam the elevator buttons. They don’t light up. The elevator doesn’t move. The numbers stay the same.   He curses and hits the ‘call for help’ button.   “Not again.” He fishes out his phone and speed dials Jimin. At the same time, the intercom flares to life and he doesn’t wait for them. “We’re stuck in elevator two between floors seven and eight.”   The woman on the other side remains impassive. “We’re on our way.”   Jimin doesn’t pick up and he hangs up with a sigh. Wonderful. As if being in the same elevator with just Hoseok wasn’t painful enough, now you were trapped with him. Trapped. For god knows how long.   “Does….” You attempt to break the silence and you finally shift to look at him. “Does this happen often?”   “Often enough for it not to be surprising,” Hoseok mutters and sits on the ground. You decide to follow his lead, moving to lean up against the corner of the elevator with your legs out in front of you. There’s a moment of quiet before the lawyer speaks, “The last time this damn elevator did this, it was stuck for four hours.”   He pauses and looks at you, smooth timbre quieting, “We should designate a peeing corner. My bladder is beginning to hurt.”   Your eyes are full of horror. “Wh-what?”   “I’m kidding!” He laughs at your expression. The sound of his laughter is tinkling, foreign to your ears. It’s as if sunshine itself is emitting from his mouth. “In what world would I actually piss in the corner of an elevator? And we’ll probably get out here in ten minutes.”   “Oh.” It was a joke.   Hoseok’s little chuckles fade off and he looks at you with a smile. “Lighten up, you always act like I’m going to bite your head off.”   “Aren’t you?” Underneath your placid exterior, you’re shaken from his lightheartedness and teasing. At the moment, you’re not too sure who’s sitting next to you and if this is the same man who rules the office with an iron fist. But you know this is also a part of him he doesn’t show in the firm — though it painfully reminds you of something long ago.   “That would get me arrested and trust me, you don’t want to see prison version of Hoseok.”   You grin at how he refers to himself in third person. “What’s prison version of Hoseok?”   “Someone who tries to escape and fails and ends up crying pathetically on a cold prison floor with a tramp stamp tattoo of a red butterfly,” he drones on and ends up sounding completely done with his life. You can’t help the giggles that bubble up your throat and he smiles, able to make both your predicaments better.   The elevator suddenly creaks, sounding like nuts and bolts tumbling and you quirk your head to one side, grabbing the bar by your head tighter. “The elevator won’t suddenly fall, right? We won’t die, right?”   “Don’t worry. If we do, the building will be liable for our deaths and Jimin will sue them.”   “Great to know I’ll have a chunk of money in my coffin,” you deadpan and this time, he’s the one laughing. You watch the way his mouth draws up slightly into a heart shape when he’s grinning and how his eyes crinkle softly. The words spill before you can stop them. “Do you really not remember?”   His laughs slowly fade away, the last of them streaming from his chest before he looks over at you, tilting his chin towards you, lips together but still pulled into a smile. “Remember what?”   You stare at him for a moment before tearing your eyes to the closed silver doors. “Never mind.”   “No.” He won’t take no for an answer, not when his irises are sparkling with both mischief and curiosity. “What is it?”   “Nothing.” You shrug. “There’s no point if you don’t remember. It was like twelve years ago.”   “What? Did you do me wrong and now I don’t remember?”   “Not telling.”   “Tell,” he demands childishly and leans over like he’s going to crawl closer to you. You’d rather climb up the elevator shaft like Spiderman and end up dying because you’re not Spiderman than to have him close the already small distance between the two of you.   “Okay fine!” Luckily, he stops moving and you swallow hard. “I freeloaded off a group project with you.” You watch his reaction. “If you didn’t notice on my résumé, we went to the same university. But actually, we were also in the same finance class in our second year together. It was a long time ago.”   “That’s it?” An endeared expression appears on his features. “That’s what you were so worried about?”   “Of course, I’m worried! I freeloaded off of you! We were supposed to meet at a library, but I was in a board game club and I ditched you because I was winning at Monopoly.” As if it helps, you add on, “Which I ended up winning, by the way.”   “Really?” The little shit is grinning, finding your story all the too amusing, from how you were in a board game club to how you actually knew each other and not just by name.   “We failed.”   “Well, that’s not too bad.” He muses, “Thought there was something deeper or more important.”   “It was forty percent of our grade,” you counter.   There’s a bit of a pause and then he shrugs. “.....I still made it as a lawyer and you made it as an HR member.”   Since all of this is out and the open, you figure you might as well spill all the beans. “And you may or may not have asked me out to a coffee date, but I rejected you.” A part of you almost hopes that he’ll remember. Except, he doesn’t.   “Okay, now I’m just hurt.” He puts a hand over his chest where his heart should be, an over dramatic reaction and he gasps. “How could you?” You laugh and he smiles at the sound, arm dropping into his lap. “Sounded like we were friends back then.”   “Acquaintances,” you correct.   “Well, the past is the past and it’s not like I can even remember, so you can stop tiptoeing around me.”   “I’m not tiptoeing!” You defend, despite it being a complete lie. For the first time, you actually feel at ease being in Hoseok’s presence, like the weight of the past is no longer on your shoulders. It’s nice to talk to him like this, like the both of you are adults with no baggage or resentments.   “Yeah, you are.” His eyebrow is cocked. “I know the rest of them are scared of me, but they have reason to be. You don’t. You haven’t fucked up yet.”   You’re surprised. “I haven’t?”   “Annoying if anything, but no, you haven’t really.”   “I’m glad.” You smile to yourself, fiddling with your fingers and looking in your lap. There’s another thought that comes into your mind, but you wonder if you would be overstepping your boundaries. Still, you can’t imagine a better time than now. Your voice is a soft whisper when you speak, full of hesitancy, “Was your accident that bad that you can’t remember anything?”   “Hey!” He scoffs in offence. “I remember everything. Just not the small details like acquaintances and stuff. But yeah, I hit a lamp post on the highway and ended up in the hospital for a year of recovery. It was rough.”   “I’m sorry.”   “It’s fine. It actually worked out in the end since Jimin came to me and told me he had plans of opening a law firm one day and wanted me as a partner. That helped me get off my ass and I finished my third year of law school, did a year of articling for another divorce firm, and then Jimin and I started this place.”   “That’s really amazing.” The words spill out in awe.   “A lot of sleepless nights.”   “But you made it.”   “Sure did.” He turns to gaze at you. “You did too.”   “Yeah…”   The ten-minute estimate turns into twenty and with enough of Hoseok yelling over the intercom for what’s taking so long, you both eventually get freed from the elevator. The paralegals end up crowding you after, asking if being trapped with Hoseok for that long was as horrible as it seemed and if you wanted to hit your head on the walls and die, but you only shrug and keep your responses positive.   In reality, you enjoyed talking to him a lot. You missed it.   Hoseok disappears for the rest of the day for court proceedings, Yoongi and Taehyung following him and giving him a headache with their bickering. It’s almost as if the conversation and reconnection never happened and you’re a bit disappointed, but then the next day, you have him knocking on your door.   “Is there something wrong?”   “No.” He plops down his second coffee on your desk and takes a sip with the one in his right hand. You stare at the cup, not sure what he wants you to do with it or if he’s putting it down temporarily. “It’s yours.”   You hold it, looking up at him. “Mine?”   “It’s my offering of our truce.”   Truce. Hoseok ends up leaving without looking at you and your bright smile.   In your life, you’ve never had such delicious coffee before.

[lexyleblancc]

fresh air - t.s

THIS IS A SONG IMAGINE (?) BASED OFF THE SONG give you the moon by Kina AND DONT WORRY THERES NO ENDGAME SPOILERS SHES SAFE :)

word count: 1755 (solid)

warnings: like one swear word, kinda intense scene but legit nothing happens, and fluff :)

You gave me a shoulder when I needed it.

Tony walked into the room you were sat in, you were curled up on the couch reading a book getting lost in the world between your hands. When you heard the shuffling of Tony’s sneakers you looked up to see your boyfriend, bags under his eyes and his hair sticking up in every direction possible. “T, what's wrong?” you asked, closing your book and moving to sit up. “No don’t,” he said softly, motioning for you to not move. He kicked off his shoes and walked around the couch before laying almost on top of you, wrapping his arms around your waist and resting his head on your shoulder.

“Tony love, what's wrong?” you asked running your fingers through his hair. He sighed and looked up to you a look of pure exhaustion on his face. “I can’t do anything right anymore (Y/N)” he whispered to you. Your heart shattered when he said that. Your boyfriend was so hard on himself, he never thought he was good enough, he never what he did as Iron man was enough, he didn’t think he was enough.

“Tony, no one is perfect, but you sure as hell can do anything you put your mind too,” you said softly rubbing small circles onto his back. “JARVIS, cancel the rest of Tony’s calls please,” you called out to Tony’s robot assistant. “Of course Ms. (Y/L/N),” the robot replied. Tony looked up to you, a small smile on his face. “Thank you,” he muttered before quietly ranting about his latest project.

You showed the love when I wasn't feeling it.

You walked downstairs to Tony’s office, fuzzy pyjama pants and slippers being sported by you. “Babe, come to bed,” you said softly walking into the lab. You found your boyfriend laying on his desk, papers scattered around himself. You sighed and walked up to the man, gently placing your hand on his back and rubbing up and down. “Tony,” you whispered making the man slowly flutter his eyes open.

“What’s wrong?” he asked sitting up and wiping the sleep from his eyes. “Come to bed Tony, you’re exhausted,” you said softly. “No, no i’m good I was just resting my eyes,” he said shaking his head. You sighed and placed your hands on either side of his face. “Tony i’m not asking you. You need to sleep. Come to bed,” you said sternly making the man sigh and stand up.

“Lead the way,” he mumbled grabbing your hand. You smiled to yourself and squeezed his hand tightly before leading the way to your shared bedroom. Tony quickly changed into something more comfortable, handing you his t-shirt knowing how much you loved to sleep in his clothes. You smiled to yourself and swapped shirts and kicked off your slippers.

The two of you crawled into your large bed and under the heavy covers. Tony instantly wrapped his arms around your waist, bringing you to lay on his chest. “I love you,” you whispered as Tony ran his fingers through your hair and pressed a kiss to the top of your head. “I love you too,” he whispered back.

You helped me fight when I was giving in.

“Fuck!” Tony yelled throwing everything that was on his desk to the floor. After everything that happened in Sokovia with Ultron, Tony was starting to lose all hope in the Avengers, but mostly in himself. He couldn’t think of anything new for his suits, he couldn’t even think of a new AI for his program. He felt as though he was falling apart and he had no grasp on his life anymore.

You walked into the office and crossed your arms when you saw the man standing in the middle of a mess. “Tony,” you said making the man look up at you. “You saved everyone you could,” you told him gently. Every life that Tony couldn’t save, he blamed on himself everyday. He carried the weight of thousands of dead souls on his shoulders everyday. “That’s not good enough!” he yelled. “It’s never good enough!”

You walked up to the man and held his face between your hands. “You can’t save everyone.” you said sternly. Tears were welling up in the broken man's eyes making your heart clench. “Every life you do save, that’s what matters. Don’t live your life pondering on ‘what ifs’ and live your life honouring those you have lost.” you encouraged.

Tony nodded and wrapped his arms around your waist bringing you into his chest . He rested his head on your shoulder, his tears soaking the fabric of your shirt. “You can do this Tony, I know you can.” you spoke with so much confidence, Tony started to believe you.

You made me laugh when I was losing it.

Tony sat at the island in the kitchen, reading the obituary in the newspaper. You walked into the room after just waking up, rubbing the palm of your hand against your eyes to get rid of all the sleep. “Whatcha reading handsome?” you asked, walking up and wrapping your arms around his shoulders.

“Nothing,” he replied quickly, clearing his throat and closing the paper. You sighed already having caught a glimpse of what it was. “Why do you do this to yourself?” you asked, sliding past him and climbing to sit on the island in front of him. He placed his hands on your thighs, smiling to himself when he noticed you were only wearing underwear and one of his - extremely expensive - button down shirts. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said shrugging his shoulders. You rolled your eyes before a smirk grew on your face - there was one thing that could always cheer up Tony Stark.

“You know, you left the bed so early we never got to partake in your favourite activity,” you told him, moving from your spot on the island to sitting on his lap. “I’m sorry darling,” he replied, moving your hair from your shoulder and placing light kisses on your exposed shoulder. “It’s okay,” you replied, attaching your lips to his in a quick kiss. “We both know you’d rather wake up to Cap than me,” you whispered in his ear before jumping off his lap.

Tony looked at you shocked before he bursted out into a fit of laughter. If anyone could make him laugh in a moment of pain - it was you and your comments about his friendship with steve Rogers.

'Cause you are the reason why I'm still hanging on.

You somehow convinced Tony to take a break for the night and spend some time doing nothing. So the two of you ordered take out and laid on the large couch watching Netflix. It was early in the evening, take out boxes littered the coffee table and a random movie was now playing in the background.

You laid with your head on Tony’s chest, drawing different shapes and patterns onto his abdomen making a small smile settle on his lips. He drew zigzags along your side, tickling your skin slightly. Without even realizing it, you fell asleep and Tony still quietly talked to you. He ranted to you about his fellow Avengers and some of the arguments they have been having regarding missions and who should be handling them.

As much as you were interested in hearing about Tony’s day, after a long day of work yourself you were completely exhausted. But when Tony asked you a question and waited for your response he looked down to you when you never answered. That's when he found you sleeping, your mouth slightly open and your breaking steady.

He smiled to himself and shifted the two of you so he could pick you up. “Friday, turn off the Tv and living room lights,” the man called as he carried you towards your bedroom. When in the room, he placed you under the covers before joining you. He knew that you were asleep and you would never hear what he was about to say, so he took advantage of the moment.

“I love you, so much (Y/N) (Y/L/N), so much that it terrifies me. But I would never want to live my life without you, so thank you for being in my life baby.” he whispered, leaning down and kissing your forehead and then resting his head on your chest. “Thank you for being alive.”

'Cause you are, the reason why my head is still above water.

Tony knew he was drowning himself in work to avoid everything going wrong in life. You knew he was drowning himself in unnecessary work as well - but there was nothing you could do to make him take a break. You carefully walked into his office, a blanket tucked under one arm and a box of pizza in the other hand.

Tony looked up from the suit he was working in, and smiled slightly at the sight of you. “What is all that?” he asked looking at you. “A little treat,” you replied, laying the blanket out of the cold floor and placing yourself and the pizza down on top of it. “Remember when we first got together, every Saturday was date night.” you said making him smile at all the memories the two of you made every saturday night. “I think we should bring that back,” you told him patting the spot next to you.

Tony quickly dropped his tools and came to sit beside you. “I think that’s a great idea,” he said leaning over and pressing his lips to yours firmly which made you smile. “You just want it to end the same way all the others use to,” you commented making Tony shrug his shoulders and take a large bite of pizza. “What can I say baby, you’re my favourite way to end the night,” he said making your burst out laughing.

Tony always felt like he was drowning in work or from the pressure of others. But as soon as you walked into a room he felt like he could breathe all of a sudden, and there was nothing he loved more than a breath of fresh air. You were the one constant thing in Tony’s life, the one thing he never had to worry about. The one person who always had this back and the one person he could count on at the end of the day.

You were Tony’s breath of fresh air.

[freckled-words]

Fake It Till You Make It

This is a re-post.

This was originally prompted with “I told my sister I have a boyfriend so she’d stop trying to set me up with people, but now she’s coming to visit and I’m in too deep. I need a fake boyfriend, ASAP!”

Love to my editor @the-wild-ego

There were some days that Mare had to ask himself, “Why did I decide to befriend this person?”

That morning, the question came to the forefront of his mind. What else was he supposed to think when you barged into his bedroom, at nine in the morning?

You were a whirlwind of frantic energy, with a coffee in one hand and your keys in the other. You had simply rushed into his pitch black bedroom and began ranting while turning on his bedside light.

“Mare, I have an emergency. Not the same kind of emergency where I ripped my pants on presentation day. No, this is a Sister Emergency. By that, I mean she just would not shut up!”

Being a bounty hunter, by default, made Mare a night person. Nine in the morning was far too early for him. He growled into his pillow, trying desperately to block out your voice. He had his usual night out, canvassing for a hook-up and a pay break. He hadn’t crawled into bed until 3am.

You sat on the edge of his bed, your attention more on the space in front of you rather than on your friend trying to ignore you. “She was doing it AGAIN! Needling me about this friend, or that friend that’s single and would be promising for me. I could not take it anymore, Mare, I just wanted her to stop!”

Mare curled himself into a smaller ball under his blanket, hoping you would conclude your rant and then leave. He’d have a proper talk with you about your problems later.

“SoItoldherthatIalreadyhadaboyfriendandnowshe’scomingtovisitandwantstomeethim.PLEASEBEMYPRETENDBOYFRIEND!”

Mare’s sleep deprived brain relished in the silence that followed this last blurt. He was just starting to pass out again, and then he realized what it was you said.

He lifted the corner of his pillow, allowing you to see his bleary eyed glare. In turn, he got to see your absolutely pathetic expression with hopeful, puppy dog eyes. 

You didn’t budge, despite the chill he was sending your way. If Mare didn’t help you out, your next choice would demand a cost for the favor. 

“No.” Mare growled this just before burying himself under his pillow again.

Not accepting this answer, you launched yourself at him. You laid on top of him, bouncing you whined, “Pleeeeease Mare! It’ll only be for a few hours. Pleeeeeaaaaaase! I’ll owe you the biggest favor in the world for this!”

In a blur of movements, that left you disoriented, you suddenly found yourself buried under Mare’s blanket, and Mare on top of you. Fed up with your whining, Mare had knocked your arms out from under you, flipped over beneath his blanket, grabbed you in the blanket, then rolled you under him. 

His brown eyes were tinged grey as his power fed off his grouchy mood, “I will do this, once, and only once, after that you will tell your sister we broke up, and you will never use me for your fake boyfriend again…. You’ll also do my laundry for the next two months.”

Pinned as you were, the only part of you Mare could see were your eyes. Your gush of enthusiasm was muffled,“YES! Thank you, thank you!” You were grateful for the blanket covering your face, as the blush on your cheeks might have made Mare a bit suspicious.

Groaning, Mare got off and made his way to the kitchen to make a cup of espresso. He was going to need three of them before he was ready to leave the house. His sleep addled brain also needed some help to process his jumble of thoughts. If it weren’t for the rude wake up call, Mare wouldn’t have any hesitation in agreeing. This would be a good way for him to, at least, get a chance at experiencing what he’d been considering for some time.

You waited until Mare was out of sight before calling out to him, “One more thing! It needs to be today, she’ll be here at noon!” 

The resulting clatter of something being dropped, followed by Mare’s swearing, convinced you to stay where you were under the blanket.

A couple hours later….

You sat next to Mare, out on the patio section of your local Cactus Club. It was a restaurant that people, wearing work casual clothes, or even suits, tended to go to for lunch. They catered to meetings, but didn’t discriminate against more casual guests. 

You currently felt lumped in the casual category, dressed in your jeans, sneakers, and a zipper sweater. Mare was good looking enough to be considered well dressed, even in his black t-shirt, black denim jacket, and dark blue jeans. 

Your sister, Melanie, looked ready to become the next president of the United States. An off-white blouse; smoke grey blazer; black, form fitting pants; gold, chain necklace; tiny, gold, hoop earrings; and her hair pulled up in a tight bun. 

Melanie worked in the corporate world, and had been a go-getter all her life. She was a good, big sister, didn’t tease or make snide comments about your life. She’d pick a little, wanting to help you strive to the top of whatever field you were interested in.  For Christmas she always gave you a classy new outfit, that usually were to your tastes. Those Christmas outfits were a blessing for job interviews over the years.

“It’s really nice to meet you, Mare. I’ve heard about you over the years, and I know you two were friends, I was just waiting for the day you two got together.” Melanie practically crooned as she said this, her eyes on the menu in front of her.

Mare raised a brow at you, “You’ve been telling your family about me?”

Your eyes were glued to your menu as well, debating between the chicken tenders or the quesadilla, “Sure, you’re my best friend. It reassured my parents to know I had someone looking out for me.”

Mare made no comment, deciding instead to casually slip his arm around your shoulders, squeezing you against him with a teasing smile. 

Melanie caught this over the top of her menu, and noted the blush both wore. She was happy she spotted this, as Mare took back his arm and their blushes faded.

Her decision made, Melanie closed her menu and settled her gaze on Mare, “So, tell me, how did it happen? What changed to make you go from friends to lovers?”

Tough, paranormal, bounty hunter that Mare was, he still blushed alongside you at the word ‘lovers.’

You were quick to answer, having anticipated the question in advance, “It was one of those realization moments, ya know? We were hanging out at his place, venting about our jobs, and I just felt like, it was easy. It’s always been easy, and with him being so good looking, it was a no brainer for me to ask.”

Melanie rested her elbows on the table, her fingers locked together as she listened, “You asked? Just right then and there? That’s not usually your style, normally you take weeks to get up the nerve just to talk to a guy you’re head over heels for.”

Mare chuckled, “Y/N didn’t confess their love or anything, they just asked if we could try.” 

You smiled warmly, appreciating Mare jumping in, and adding to the illusion of them being a couple.

Melanie smiled, relaxing back in her seat, “That’s rather mature for you, being on your own has really helped your growth.”

From there things fell into an easy pattern of conversation, thankfully with Melanie wanting to learn a little more about Mare, and sharing stories of common interests.

By the time they’d had their food delivered, along with some drinks, it felt more like a group of friends hanging out than a couple under scrutiny from the big sister.

The three of you were nearly done eating when the bill was brought over. You reached to take it, and to your surprise, Mare grabbed it first, “I’ve got this. It was a treat getting to meet you, so I may as well treat you both in return.”

You and Melanie made a kind of snort/scoff at the same time, which embarrassed Melanie, as she tried to refrain from ever doing it in public. Mare thought it was cute that you two shared something like that. 

Just as he opened the slim, black folder with the bill inside, movement caught his eye. Turning to look he froze.

Taking the order from an elderly couple, three tables down, was Jacob Matthews. Mare had been trying to find the guy for weeks! He was wanted for an armed robbery. If Mare brought him in, he was looking at a whopping $5,000 upon delivery.

Smiling pleasantly back at you and Melanie, Mare put the bill back down, “If you’d excuse me a moment, I have a work matter to take care of.” 

You paled. You’d been with Mare once before, when a ‘work matter’ arose suddenly. Before you could tell Mare to leave it he was hopping out of his seat, his smoke pooling in his hands to form a semi-solid length of rope.

Melanie gaped, “Uh… Y/N… remind me what his job is again?”

“Mr. Matthews, I’d like to have a word with you!” 

Jacob Matthews looked at who was calling him out, recognized Mare, and immediately bolted.

Grinning at being given a chase, Mare swung his rope around and up in a lasso. Patrons rushed out of their chairs, clearing the space that Jacob was approaching, and where Mare was walking past.

Mare tossed the lasso forward and it immediately honed in on it’s target. The noose snagged onto Jacob’s ankle, allowing Mare to yank back hard. Thrown off, Jacob did a massive face plant onto the floor, just inches from the employees only entrance.

Covering your face with your hands you groaned, “It’s his job to make a big fucking scene.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After Mare had secured Jacob in the back of his car, he’d come back and paid for the bill. The smile on his face was the brightest, happiest thing you’d seen him wear in months. 

Melanie’s opinion of Mare, thankfully, didn’t change too much. She even dared to make a joke about it, “If he can do that to catch a criminal, just be sure to use a really good safe word when playing in bed.”

She’d said this to you in a whisper, leaving Mare confused as to why you were suddenly blushing and spluttering. 

She gave Mare a hug and demanded he keep you safe. 

He smiled over at you with a wink, “That was always the plan.”

Once Melanie had driven off you fully relaxed, “Well that wasn’t the complete nightmare I thought it might turn into. Thanks for putting up with the charade.”

“It wasn’t any different than a normal outing for us. Just a little lying mixed in this time.” 

You walked alongside him back to his car. When you reached the front passenger door, Mare put a hand out that kept you from opening it.

“You know… it doesn’t have to be a lie.”

You blinked up at him. If you weren’t mistaken, that was an adorable blush on his cheeks. 

Tilting your head a bit, so his eyes would meet yours, you asked, “Are you asking seriously, or are you just getting off on the adrenaline from earlier?” You jerked your thumb at the tied up Jacob in the backseat of his car.

His mouth twitched with a smirk, “I’ve actually been meaning to ask you out for a while… you just always seemed indifferent to me, and I didn’t want to lose what we have.”

The air in your lungs whooshed out. Stepping back from him you felt your face heat up with a blush of your own, “It’s not that I’m indifferent… just…. comfortable? And what was I supposed to think when I’ve seen all the partners you drag to bed?!” You gestured to yourself, as though to remind him of exactly how you looked.

Mare’s smirk came out in full as he closed the distance between you in a couple easy steps. Leaning in close, he asked with an almost purr to his tone, “And who’s fault is it, that I’ve been dragging so many one night stands to bed, hmm? Maybe I’ve been trying to scratch a particular itch, that none of them can satisfy.”

You didn’t dare move, much less breathe! You’ve never had this side of Mare unleashed on you, and it was causing your brain to fight itself between terrified and exhilarated. 

“I…. um…..”

“You two are hot to watch and all, but if you’re going to bring me in, can you just do it already? I’m sweating to death back here.”

The simmering heat in Mare’s eyes froze over. You could only give Jacob a pitying stare when Mare leveled his glare on the man. You heard Jacob yip and watched him squirm as the smoke rope began to heat up. You knew, from experience, that it would get just hot enough to be really uncomfortable, but not painful. If Jacob had been sweating before, he was going to be a dried out husk in a puddle of his own sweat by the time they reached the police station. 

Able to get your thoughts back in order, you gave Mare a friendly poke to the chest, “Come on cowboy, let’s get this varment to the sheriff. We can talk more about us over some ice cream after.”

Mare rolled his eyes, but he was smiling again. He opened the front passenger door, and as you went past him to sit, he snuck a kiss to your cheek. 

That was his first stolen kiss, and it certainly wouldn’t be his last. He’d make sure of that.

[sailor-cresselia]

Zero One 02: Shot through the heart, and Vulcan’s to blame

He gives wolves a bad name.

…I’m not sorry.

I’m bouncing between the three non-TV-Nihon sub groups right now – OverTime, Rider Time, and Genm Corp. Since all three had their subs available quickly, this’ll make it easier to compare differences. Also, Genm Corp was the only one of the three who bothered subbing the OP when it appeared as an insert in episode 01, so I’ve only seen the one style for it yet.

Zero One 02: START

––––

We open with Izu and Aruto stepping out in front of Hiden Intelligence, where she formally introduces herself as his personal assistant.

He’s still in very justifiable disbelief that he’s been named President. He’s a comedian, for crying out loud! Izu points out that not only was he personally selected by the founder, the point of the HumaGear is to make people smile. That lines up with his own goal of making people smile, so he is well suited for the job.

Aruto: I mean?! TECHNICALLY?!

As they walk further into the building from the lobby, Jun and one of the other members of the board peek out from behind a vase of flowers and a table. He swears that he’ll pull the chair out from under their new chairman.

Shesta stands there, unimpressed.

The security system is pretty cool! At first glance, it appears to be the standard ‘bioscanner and glass pane’ set up that you see in all sorts of media – and then you realize that once a person has been let in? The ‘glass’ door is just a hologram. It’s a holographic door that says STOP on it, and it disappears when  it’s ‘open’. Which raises the question of ‘do we have solid-light holograms’ here. I wouldn’t put it past this season.

Unfortunately for Aruto, he. Uh. Hasn’t been added to the security system just yet. Instead of the circle saying that it’s okay to pass, he just gets a big old X and a buzzer noise.

After several attempts of smacking the scanner, a security HumaGear briskly steps up. He scans Aruto, and greets him as ‘President Hiden Aruto,’ bowing formally. Aruto returns the bow and greeting…

And still can’t get through the gate.

–

Daybreak Town.

Horobi watches a delivery HumaGear on a screen.

…oh. Oh dear.

After my last liveblog, I had a thought that I worked out with some others, that the selection of which HumaGear get hijacked probably isn’t random. That Taro’s smile was geniune when he thought back to the audience, and that he’d reached sentience – he’d hit the evolutionary singularity.

I thought that Horobi and Jin might be specifically using HumaGear who had hit singularity to turn into monsters. They’re not trying to bring on the singularity, they’re weaponizing it.

And Horobi just said that the one he’s watching is approaching it. That satisfied little nod to himself as he hoists up a package… yeah. That sure seems more like Taro than the other HumaGear we’ve seen.

Handing a Progrize Key to Jin, Horobi tells him to go collect the data.

…After Berotha was defeated, they plugged the broken key back into the holder that he’d pulled it from during his expository monologue.

So, maybe… trying to weaponize the mechanical rise, and bring it about en masse? Or something?

–

Back at Hiden, Aruto is ‘exploring’ his new office.

Looks like I was right on the money with my ‘dumb puppy’ comparison, he’s all over the place.

The 3D printing studio is just part of a big mechanical work bench section of the office, down a level from the office section of the office.

It’s also clearly up really high, because one of those tv-drones can be seen at the same level outside.

The workstation can be neatly hidden away, as well, when a wall builds itself back into existence, blocking the whole thing from view and leaving the room more like a normal office.

That’s the point when Izu decides it’s time to go over his schedule. He’s got a morning meeting with some government representatives… right now.

(Aruto has a brief, quiet panic about not being dressed for this – he’s wearing his day-glo sneakers, a formal pair of pants, and a formal suit jacket… and the jacket is on over his hoodie. It barely fits over his hoodie.)

We’re finally formally introduced to our two main members of AIMS; Techinical Advisor Yaiba Yua and Agent Fuwa Isamu.

Apparently, they’re going to be questioning all of Hiden’s personnel. Yua is much more reserved about this, and Isamu-

Okay, wow, if I didn’t hate him just from last episode, I’d hate him already. He slams a hand down on the desk, leaning way into Aruto’s space, ‘warning’ him to be thorough, because his answers could land him in jail.

Come on! He just got here! Aruto has had this job for less than a day, he doesn’t know jack!

–

…Oh, come ON!

STILL NO OPENING?!

–

Delivery HumaGear is doing his job, when a playful voice calls out from on top of the truck. How’d Jin get up there? Who knows! But he’s already calling the deliveryman his friend, as he forcefully places the false driver onto him, saying that he can start by destroying this company.

The deliveryman, wracked with pain and red sparks, mind you, says that HumaGear are supposed to make people smile!

We see from his perspective as Jin crouches in front of him, a progress bar filling as Jin tells him he’s wrong. It’s to make people extinct.

Connection established.

–

Back at Hiden, we see that Aruto has exactly zero idea what’s going on, and that Isamu gives zero shits about acting professional during an interrogation.

Basically, AIMS suspects Hiden Intelligence of covering incidents up. Currently, the specific incident in question is the one at the amusement park yesterday. They’ve clearly gotten the remains of most of the rogue HumaGear, but there wasn’t a trace of the one in charge.

Because he was very thoroughly destroyed, not that anyone but Aruto and Izu know that.

Izu, connecting to the server, states that there are no records of anything matching that description… as phrased by Genmcorp. Going by Ridertime, she says that they can not validate those records. Overtime has her saying that there’s no data to corroborate Yua’s claims.

In any case… something is going on. Hiden is very definitely covering this up, and using Aruto to do it. He’s just following Izu’s ‘lead,’ because he has zero idea what’s going on.

Isamu implies that this isn’t new, that Hiden has covered things up before.

Yua tells Aruto that AIMS has the authority to prosecute HumaGear-based violations.

Not that Aruto actually knows what that sort of thing would be, so he asks Izu, who recites off the good ol’ First Law of Robotics: A HumaGear may not allow a human to come to harm, for any reason.

Isamu – area speciesist – basically threatens Aruto, telling him not to think he can keep this quiet, these HumaGears are killing machines.

Yua, who is a few bullet-shaped microaggressions away from punching her ‘partner’, tells him to cut it out, they’re not here to commit slander.

Being the dumb puppy that he is, Aruto thinks he can break the tension with one of his old stand up routines.

This doesn’t work.

In fact, it looks like it does the opposite of work, and I’m pretty sure that Isamu’s about ready to kill a man with his bare hands.

It’s a little ironic that the giant ‘emergency’ warnings flashing around the room are what probably just saved Aruto’s life. Mind you, they also confuse the heck out of all three humans in the room. Izu, who often looks about two steps away from saying ‘screw the first law’, lets Aruto know that he has a trespasser.

–

Said trespasser is a very-much hijacked deliveryman, tossing people around – human and humagear alike. His transformation into the Kuehne Magear is no less terrifying than the one into Berotha last episode, although it is thankfully over much faster.

Kuehne is based on the Kuehneosuchus, a late Triassic gliding reptile. This is most easily seen in how he has a pair of wing-shaped boomerangs.

A security humagear manages to block said murder-rangs from killing Jun and the other board member, but that wound up redirecting them to the balcony where Aruto and the others were, dividing the party as everyone dodges.

And these blades are dangerous, too. They can cleave right through the display stands, which appear to be made of poured concrete.

As Isamu and Yua fire, I can’t help but notice her saying he’s disobeying orders again – he is not supposed to have the transformation gun right now.

Oh, goody! As an arboreal gliding lizard, Kuehne is able to crawl along walls! Right up until he takes a hit from Isamu’s Shot Riser, which makes enough of an impact that it knocks him back to the ground.

Isamu, pulling out a Progrise Key, says that he’ll transform and scrap it.

Or, he would, if the key would open. He’s a bit distracted by his non-functional transformation trinket as Kuehne launches his boomerangs again, so Yua literally kicks him to the ground to dodge the return path.

I love her.

I love her even more now that I know that she’s the weapons administrator, and that key isn’t going to open without her authorization.

Yua, I love you, please don’t die.

The security humagear are evacuating the remaining civilians, as Izu all but hurls Aruto out of view. “President Aruto, it would be wise of you to do something before anyone dies.” Emphasis mine, but I strongly suspect she would be placing the same if she were allowed to have emotions yet.

“However… please conceal your identity from AIMS.”

Aruto seems really reluctant at first… and then he hears the screaming again, and turns around, his expression level. “Henshin.”

There’s a brief scuffle between Zero One and Kuehne, which moves the fight outside, and Aruto does okay… until his sweep kick is dodged very handily via Kuehne landing on the wall. That sort of jumping ability does tend to put a damper on knocking someone off their feet.

As Aruto’s hit by a few shots from Kuehne, he gets knocked down, and as he gets to his feet, here come Isamu and Yua, guns drawn and aimed at him. Oh, uh, not just aimed at. Isamu’s shooting at him. Aruto’s protests of ‘you’ve got the wrong guy’ are useless, as Kuehne’s disappeared. Zero One proceeds to take off, as well, dodging gunfire and leaping off of walls to get distance.

Aruto has just barely dropped his transformation when the AIMS agents make it to where he wound up. Isamu grabs him by the lapel, shoving him into a wall and ‘asking’ where he’s hiding ‘the yellow one.’

“I’m not hiding him! He went that way!” Aruto points at the fucking sky, and this somehow works, so as the agents move away from him – only a few yards, mind you – Aruto nopes the heck out of there.

Isamu, the Key dangling from his fingers, demands that Yua unlock it.

“Why would I do that for someone as stupidly reckless as you?!” (The only part of that sentence that’s subtext is ‘stupidly,’ everything else is just straight up text.)

Isamu, getting in her face, all but yells that he’s the captain here.

She gives as good as she gets, retorting right back that she’s in charge of the entire arsenal. If she doesn’t think you should be using the super gun, you’re not getting to use the super gun. They split up, to go look for the rogue HumaGear.

–

In the Hiden lobby, Shesta and that same security guard we’ve been seeing assure the small crowd that it was just a security drill, nothing more.

As the relieved crowd disperses, Aruto jogs up, thanking the guard for protecting everyone.

“President Aruto, it is my task to protect the people of this company.”

Izu smiles a little bit, looking slightly away from her dumb puppy of a boss. Most people don’t treat HumaGear on the same level as humans – not quite. But Aruto talks to her like a regular person, and he greeted one of his coworkers at the park by name – Yui, one of the greeters.

Aruto notices the damage to the guards arm, and flashes back to his father – humagear legs revealed, synthetic skin torn away. He pauses, just for a moment, his smile dropping a little, before he turns back to the guard.

“Then, tell me your name! I won’t forget it.”

Implying that people don’t usually bother to remember HumaGear’s names.

“Mamoru. President Korenosuke named me.” The guard – Mamoru – looks a little less stiff at that, a little less pre-programmed.

“I see. We’re basically family then, right?” Aruto pulls out a handkerchief, tying it around Mamoru’s damaged arm. (Oh, for the love of – it’s got those comedy paper fans on it. Aruto, please.) He pats Mamoru on the shoulder. “Get yourself patched up.” He grins as he heads back into the office.

Mamoru looks down at the inexplicable impromptu bandage… and smiles. A real, authentic, smile, not the programmed one.

A distance away, Jin spins a key in his hand, and smiles as well.

–

Isamu interrupts a ‘talk’ between Jun and Aruto, the second of whom has zero idea what’s going on.

He brings Aruto to the roof to talk, because that’s totally a good idea… but it’s nice and private, at least.

He starts going on about how the company hasn’t changed, that it’s still building itself on a foundation of victims. Aruto protests that HumaGears are supposed to make peoples lives better, that they’re what people dreamed of!

“So you’ll just let the nightmare repeat itself?!” Isamu pauses after yelling, and then resumes talking, more calmly this time. “An entire city was destroyed in an accident.”

Ah. There’s why we came up here. It’s to give us a visual. The roof has a wonderful angle of Daybreak Town.

Aruto grows somber at the mention of Daybreak, thinking back to an explosion of blue fire engulfing a school building, and his younger self crying over his fathers broken body.

“But that catastrophe was no accident. The truth was that HumaGears went on a murderous rampage. I was there, that day…”

Holy shit. Isamu was… late middle school, maybe a first year in high school at most, waking up in a blasted, ruined classroom… and it sure looks like the other students in there are dead. Red-eyed humagear – an earlier model, going by the less detailed faces – are crawling at the windows, hurling themselves after him as he runs.

“And Hiden Intelligence covered it all up. They claimed it was an accident!”

Aruto stands, shocked, his eyes wide, before growing serious as Isamu storms up to him, glaring. “I will expose your company, and their sins.”

While Isamu walks off… I’m pretty sure that Aruto’s vowing to do the same.

–

Kuehne reappears, where the press is hounding for answers in front of Hiden, tossing people aside.

Mamoru charges him, trying to tackle him away, before being similarly tossed aside. As he gets up…

No.

No, no, no.

As Mamoru gets up, Jin places a buckle at his waist.

–

AND THEN I HAD TO SPEND 15 MINUTES WAITING FOR MY COMPUTER TO UPDATE.

–

As Mamoru gets up, Jin places a buckle at his waist, saying that he can be one of his friends, too.

Mamoru, on one knee, in pain, tries so, so hard to reject this. “To protect this company…” he clutches at the arm that Aruto had wrapped for him. “That is my task!” He’s not saying this in the scared manner that Taro or the deliveryman, named Okureru, according to KRWiki, did. He’s defiant, and angry, and glaring right up at Jin, even as he gets grabbed by the chin and forced to look directly at him, as the download completes.

–

Yua and a team of AIMS troops ‘corner’ Kuehne, firing on him.

–

As people evacuate, Aruto runs up to Izu.

Slowly, Jin comes up the stairs toward them. When Aruto asks who he is, he says “Me? Hmm… the pioneer of a new world… I guess.”

A security door opens behind him, Mamoru stepping through, his face vacant… and a little bit haunted. None of the fear or loss of control from the other two. He looks like he’s been erased far more than they had.

“Mamoru!? Why did you let him in?”

“It is what I was commanded…” He pulls out a key, and inserts it into his murder belt.

Aruto already recognizes those belts, too.

Mamoru’s transformation into Ekal is terrifying, yes, but he doesn’t scream through it, like the previous two magear did. He’s silent, and since we don’t see as much of it, that is where the terror comes from.

The tragedy comes from how it happens. His uniform burned away… but near the end of the transformation, we see that the handkerchief didn’t disintegrate. It fluttered to the ground. On fire, yes, and definitely not the same size it used to be. But it wasn’t completely destroyed.

Ekal takes his theming from Ekaltadeta, a type of carnivorous marsupial. They can tell it was a carnivore, or an omnivore with a preference for meat, by the “large buzz-saw-shaped cheek-tooth” found in the species fossils. That description of the tooth is a direct quote from Wikipedia.

Aruto grabs Ekal around the waist, calling for Mamoru, to try and wake him up. This isn’t him, so please, snap out of it!

He gets thrown against a pillar for his trouble.

Izu chooses now to speak up. “Once HumaGear code has been modified, it cannot be reverted.” There’s no other option. Aruto has to eliminate him.

“no…”

Ekal, in a robotic monotone, advances. “Humans must be…”

–

“-Eliminated!” Kuehne, growling, finishes the sentence in the loading area where he’s cornered Yua. She backs away to reload her gun, but Kuehne is on top of the shipping container already. She aims her weapon-

And a shot passes right past her ear.

Isamu, stop doing that. I swear, if we lose her to friendly fire of all things…

He stalks up, the belt for his Shot Riser in his off hand, swearing that he will crush all HumaGears.

Yua yells at him to stop, even as he latches the Shot Riser in place, he doesn’t have clearance yet!

“I said I’m going to do it! And I make my own rules!”

Someone needs to knock this asshole down a few pegs.

He pulls out the Progrise key, and as he strains to get it to open, there are momentary flashes of the red-eyed HumaGear attacking, and him running. “The HumaGears are going to pay…”

–

Aruto is flung against a column, again. “HumaGears are the reason I’m here today…”

We flash to when he was a child, with the blue explosion… and see that his father shielded him from it, pushing him to the ground and covering him with his own body.

“A HumaGear protected me.” In the present, he drags himself to his feet. “HumaGears aren’t killing machines!” Izu watches in the background as he puts on the driver and furiously glares. “They’re humanity’s dream!

–

Isamu pulls at his Progrise Key. “HumaGears are a threat, they’re humanities enemy!” He keeps forcing at it. “And I’m going to obliterate every last one of them!”

The Shooting Wolf Progrise Key opens.

Bullet! Authorize!

The belt plays a sound clip of “Kamen Rider” over and over, looping, the background music effect audibly looping with it. And then Shooty McAsshole gets a STUPIDLY COOL TRANSFORMATION SEQUENCE.

“Henshin!”

SHOTRISE

He fires the gun, and the bullet looks like it’s a seeker round, by the way it zooms around Kuehne, and then back toward Isamu…

It starts to ‘split apart’ as it returns, and then he pUNCHES THE BULLET IN MIDAIR. It breaks apart and the suit forms. The armored portions are the first to appear, latching onto him, as red circuit lines trace down his body, which presumably turn into his undersuit.

But the best part, especially for me, a Double fan, is seeing his helmet form. The individual pieces start as little disks, before spinning out into the shapes on the helmet. Those same red circuit lights that made the base for his suit also trail up his face, before the helmet segments close in and form the helmet proper.

For those who haven’t seen Double – and you should – that helmet formation is almost the exact same way it happens for Double, Accel, Skull, and Eternal. Literally the only difference is that the helmets in Fuuto form out of… like, fragments? They aren’t distinguishable until they’re actively part of the helmet, basically. And the lines are darker in a Gaia Memory based transformation, instead of glowing, but still.

Kamen Rider Valkyrie had better get an even better transformation than Vulcan is. I refuse to let her be shown up by this asshole.

The elevation increases as the bullet is fired

–

Jump! Authorize!

Aruto, I am begging you to get your mechanical grasshopper under control, because once again, he’s causing even more damage to the surroundings. Also, he is very definitely being teleported down from the satellite – the 3D printing doesn’t seem to go through things, and that grasshopper just crashed in through a skylight.

…Aw, man. We’re not going to get a cool robot wolf or cheetah, are we?

Just one more way that Aruto’s transformation is different from the others. He has the undersuit form first, they have the armor. Zero One has a giant robot, Vulcan has a literal bullet. He has a belt, they have a gun.

Hm.

Zero One charges to battle-

–

-and the shot transitions smoothly to Vulcan doing the same. He and Kuehne are swapping blows in the enclosed spaces between shipping containers, while Yua films it with her RisePhone.

“Fuwa Isamu has become Kamen Rider Vulcan. It’s finally begun…”

…Honey, what do you mean by that?

–

Zero One and Ekal have made it to a parking garage – and. Uh. Okay, so. He knocked Ekal down, and said magear landed near a row of motorcycles.

Remember how Berotha used those cables to reprogram the other HumaGear in the last episode?

Ekal just used that to jumpstart a motorcycle to get away.

And then it gets WEIRDER!

Izu shows up, telling Aruto that his phone can summon his company motorcycle.

And by ‘summon,’ we’re being quite literal here. I think we all assumed that the phone was going to be like the Machin Builder. It’s not. The phone has a bike app, that he has to scan on his belt, same as the Progrise Key.

This is where the ‘Changing to Super Bike, Motorcycle Mode’ voice clip comes from.

Then. We see the satellite – which Genm Corp and Over Time agree is called ‘Zea’, as opposed to ‘Z-A’ like Rider Time had chosen. A section on it rotates, and it is definitely straight up sending the grasshopper down for the transformations. How can I tell that?

Because a panel on the satellite opens up, dropping a giant Risephone to earth.

Regular phone, in a polite female voice: “Please watch your head.”

Aruto, confused: “Eh?”

Ceiling: destroyed

The giant risephone is floating over the rubble – yes, it’s definitely floating in mid-air, I can see it bobbing up and down. Aruto presses the giant bike app icon, and there’s the ‘phone becomes a bike’ aspect.

Aruto just sort of goes with this. His life has already become weird enough in the past day and a half, why not just get on the floating phone-bike-comet?!

Zero One and the Rise Hopper nyoom down the street in hot pursuit.

–

Ekal, meanwhile… seems to be following traffic laws much more closely on his stolen Honda than Aruto is on his company vehicle. Case in point, Zero One just used a car as a ramp to get some air. He got too much air, and drove on the side of a building, shattering the windows, several stories up, before finally going back down to the actual ground.

This show is wild, and I think that insert theme is kicking back in.

Oh, no, maybe it’s just normal fight music. Everything looks like it’s going at a weird speed, because they’re allegedly fighting each other by punching and kicking while driving motorcycles next to each other. And it looks really slow! I. You know what, it gets us some NICE stuff, so whatever. Such as Ekal having extendable fangs that nearly knock Zero One off of his bike, but him hanging on by literally one hand and foot, and pulling himself back upright in time to avoid getting hit directly by an oncoming truck.

Then he does some truly absurd kicks to Ekal’s face… while standing on the bike seat.

Our protagonist, ladies and gentlemen!

The second kick is the one that knocks Ekal completely off of his respective bike, so Zero One skids to a stop, and goes back to fight, pulling out his Attache Calibur, going after Ekal.

–

The shot of Zero One rushing off screen with his sword transitions directly into Kuehne’s perspective of attacking Vulcan with his own swords. Vulcan blocking a strike and pushing it away transitions directly into Vulcan’s perspective as he shoots.

The cinematography of this show so far is just. Mwa. Beautiful.

There’s some time with Vulcan dodging the boomerang blades, before Kuehne must catch them and leaps down to attack-

–

-transitioning right into Zero One parkouring up and off of a shipping container to kick Ekal.

Wait. A shipping container? There’s. Uh. Your new location has a lot of those. And Vulcan’s already surrounded by them.

And AIMS thinks Zero One is another rogue HumaGear.

Uh-oh.

…Oh.

Oh, my heart. We’re not even getting that conflict yet.

We’re getting the end of the Zero One versus Ekal fight.

Breathing heavily, Aruto pulls his Progrise Key out of his driver. “There’s only one thing that can stop you…” His voice is shaking, he does not want to have to do this. We see a shot of him tying the kercheif around Mamoru’s arm. He looks at the key, and then back at Ekal. “And that’s me!” His voice is breaking, and so is my heart, and I’m pretty sure he’s trying not to cry under that helmet.

The music is dark, dismal.

There’s nothing heroic about this sunset victory.

–

Yikes.

So. Uh. Vulcan’s initial finisher.

He, naturally, activates the progrise key and shoots. That’s as expected. Four over-sized energy bullets come out. That’s as expected, it’s a superhero finisher.

What’s significantly less expected is for said energy shots to then turn into energy wolves, which track down the fleeing Kuehne. And bit onto his limbs. Okay, yes, fine. When the first two have him by the arms.

They pin him against one of the shipping containers as the other two go for his legs, and when I say ‘pin him against’ I am being incredibly literal.

The wolves turn into spikes and literally pin him in place.

This shipping container isn’t even anywhere Vulcan can see. He fires again.

The energy sphere literally burns straight through three consecutive containers before it reaches where Kuehne is pinned and then presumably melted.

I say presumably, because we don’t see any remains. We do see that the fourth container has had a hole melted through, same as the others. Zero One sees this, as well, since he’s right on the other side, and just barely didn’t get hit by the massive ball of energy that was still going.

Vulcan looks at him, gun still raised and shaking slightly with his rage.

A cloud of smoke billows past Zero One, obscuring his escape.

Vulcan stands alone, a full moon hanging low in the sky.

–

The next day, Jun is heading a press conference – or, trying to. Nobody seems to believe that he doesn’t have any comment with regards to any potential HumaGear having gone berserk. Yua and Isamu watch the chaos unfold as they stand along a back wall. Also, Isamu must have screwed up his shooting arm in that fight, because it’s in a sling.

“It’s the truth!”

And just like in the board room, all it takes is a short, sharp phrase from Aruto to silence the room, even as the theme song intensifies in the background.

Hiden Aruto strides forward, in a well-fitted suit, Izu following a step and a half behind him as he takes the stage. She starts a video as he speaks.

It’s Mamoru, and Jin, right before Mamoru was turned into Ekal. From the direction of the camera… this is taken from a feed from Izu herself.

Aruto, at the podium, in front of reporters and government officials, tells them that the true people behind this are the terrorist group Metsuboujinrai.net, that they hack HumaGears and corrupt their programming.

Going by Yua and Isamu’s reactions, they had no idea that anything of the sort was happening. They also know full well that the third person in the video is Aruto – they recognize that hoodie from the same afternoon.

If he was trying to cover this up, why would he film himself being attacked? Why would he film it with one of his own security guards doing the attacking?

He swears that he will prove that the HumaGear are not at fault.

(He doesn’t say this, but… he’s not doing this as a CEO, but as a person. It’s not a corporate desire driving him to prove his companies innocence, it’s because it’s what’s right, and humans and HumaGear alike deserve better than this.)

One of the human reporters asks who he even is.

“Chief Executive Officer and President of Hiden Intelligence, Hiden Aruto.”

Jun looks like he wants to do a murder.

Aruto has come off cool and collected, serious throughout this entire section… and then a HumaGear reporter brings up that it seems unlikely a comedian like him could be a company president.

This was a mistake.

He steps out from behind the podium, looking like he’s going to make a grandiose statement, and… no. No, it’s one of his terrible, nigh-untranslatable jokes. Something about bright futures and shining and whatever. Izu is now his accomplice, helping him out by shining a light from her tablet.

The room is left silent for a completely different reason.

…Oh no. It’s not going to be heroic resolve that wins Isamu over to Aruto’s side. It’s going to be Aruto’s terrible, awful, no-good sense of humor.

Because Isamu wasn’t fighting the urge to punch him in the office.

He was trying not to break out laughing.

This aspect will not end well.

Isamu and Yua leave, him trying to regain his stoicism, as Aruto desperately begs Izu to stop explaining his jokes.

––––

Zero one zero one zero one zero one zero one I DON’T HAVE A GOOD END COMMENT

UH.

Okay, so. The special effects in this show. The cinematography. They’re SO GOOD.

I acknowledge that Yua’s going to have a very hard time getting a better transformation into Valkyrie than Isamu has into Vulcan, but by gaim, I need her to beat him out.

The cuts between shots tying into each other during the fights was just. Ugh. Yes. It’s beautiful.

The only problem I have right now, that I’m willing to get into, anyway… where are our opening credits?! Are we going to have to wait until episode four for them?! Because episode three is where we’re finally getting Valkyrie, so they might just be waiting until we have our three main riders. Might.

As for the problem that I’m not willing to get into just yet… I know that I didn’t mention, during the press conference, that there’s a shot of… a new Mamoru. I don’t want to get into the topic of “can you ‘recreate’ an AI” at the moment. I’m not good at dealing with things like the Ship of Theseus Paradox in the first place, and since it looks like we’re going to be getting more into the ‘do HumaGear have hearts’ next episode, I’d like to at minimum wait until then.

Until next week!

Zero one zero one zero one zero one- PLEASE JUST GIVE US OUR PROPER OPENING SEQUENCE ALREADY I BEG YOU.

(Takahashi-san, please. Please don’t start off doing the thing from Ex-Aid, where Excite wound up being an ending theme for a good third of the season. Please.)

[ilovemygaydad]

No One [part 2]

from the friends in dark places au

pairing: pining logince, mentions of past toxic roman/oc

WARNINGS: crying, anxiety, alcohol usage, people get drunk, making out, kissing, PTSD, coming out, internalized transphobia, swearing, and mentions of: non-consentual sex, sexual assault, date rape drugs, drug usage, implied underage sex, blackmail (in the form of cp), transphobia, transphobic slurs, forced coming out, misgendering, food mentions, rebellious behavior, insensitive comments, physical assault, and possibly something else

tag list: @hufflepuffgirl01 @cocobearthe4th @cas-is-a-hunter @band-be-boss-blog @theunoriginaldaisy

a/n: jsyk, it’s totally okay to ask for a modified chapter if you need it or if i need to add tags! i get it, and it’s no problem for me to quick edit a chapter or whatever :) also, feel free to send requests or questions that you have!

a/n 2: hey so this story is super dark and shitty, so please read with caution! i’m happy to summarize for anyone who needs it!!!

first of main plot - companions

part one of no one

consider buying me a coffee (please)

-

September 23, 2015

Roman shut his locker door, clicking the lock closed, and turned to walk to his first block class. He only made it a few feet before someone called his name.

“Roman! Hey, wait up!” He turned and found Audrey, the student council president, running towards him. She handed him a small card and smiled. “You’re invited to my homecoming after-party. I hope you’ll be there.” With a wink, she was gone.

As much as Roman feigned popularity, he never actually got invited to parties. But he was excited! Other than cast parties, it would be his first high school party, for goodness sake! His eyes scanned the invitation and immediately saw “One additional person allowed with each guest.” Roman weaved through the hallway--his short stature payed off for once--and made his way to Logan’s first class.

“Lo! I got invited to a party!” Ro whisper yelled to Logan. The other teen, who was engrossed in a book, nodded.

“That’s wonderful, Roman. And why are you telling me about this?”

Roman groaned and snatched the book from his friend. “Because I want you to come with me!”

Logan looked up at his, quirking his eyebrow. “You want me to accompany you to a party? Are you serious? Roman, you know that it isn’t nice to play practical jokes on your friends.”

“Of course I’m serious!” Roman sighed in exasperation. “I know it’s not really your thing, but Patton’s busy on Homecoming night, and I don’t want to go alone! Pleaaaaassseeeeeeeeeeee?” The one thing that could truly get Logan to bend was Roman’s whining voice. Well, that and when Roman climbed on Logan’s 5’11” frame with monkey-like skills.

“Fine. Just stop that incessant noise making! I’m assuming that normal curfew applies and that we’re going to need a ride?” Logan put his space bookmark in his book—Alice in Wonderland; go figure—and put his full attention on his friend.

“Yeah. Would your mom be okay with it?” Roman bounced excitedly on the balls of his feet. He really wanted to go to this party.

“I’ll ask when I get home.” The two minute warning bell rang, and Logan gestured to the door. “You might want to leave now, Roman. Word History is rather far away.”

---

October 3, 2015

The whole inviting-Logan-to-the-party thing definitely hadn’t been an excuse to spend a whole day with him. Of course not. That would be a ridiculous idea…

Logan ended up wearing a black button up, black slacks, and a light blue tie. It was hardly different from his everyday wear, but it was slightly more snazzy. Roman wore a white button up and a red tie, which he claimed was what a prince would wear, and he’d dusted some pretty white highlighter on his cheekbones. It was subtle enough to pass as natural, but enhanced his features just enough to make Roman excited.

At six pm exactly, the two teens made their way down the stairs, met with an eager Mrs. Patrick. “You boys just look so nice! Oh, I’m so proud of you, Roman! You’ve come so far!”

Roman laughed nervously at her nearly outing him, but gave his mother a big hug. “Yeah, Mom. I have.” He chose to ignore the way that his binder felt so tight around his chest.

For most of the Homecoming dance, Roman danced with assorted friends from Drama, occasionally dragging Logan into the fray. As soon as the dance ended, Roman changed into some more casual clothes for the party (Logan had refused to bring any extras for himself), and they waited for Mrs. Christiansen to pick them up.

Logan’s mom made sure to outline what the plan was. They’d be dropped off at the party at 10:30, have three hours to do whatever it is that kids do at parties as long as it’s legal, and then they’d be picked up between 1:30 and 2:00. Which, honestly, was far more time than Roman had thought that they would get. Mrs. Christiansen, being a doctor, was always worrying about Logan becoming one of the horrific ER cases of teenagers in drunk driving accidents.

Once they’d arrived, Roman practically threw himself out of the car. His sneakers hit the sidewalk with a quiet thump, and Logan’s clacking shoes followed suit. They made their way to the door and knocked. A wave of sound hit them as soon as the door opened. Booming bass and piercing treble accosted their ears, and suddenly Roman was glad he had brought ear plugs for himself and Logan.

“Roman!” Audrey slurred, clearly already drunk. “And your sexy friend. Glad you two could make it.”

“Yeah…” Roman hesitated. They stood awkwardly for a moment before Audrey finally moved out of the way to make room for them to squeeze their way in. Logan dodged some sort of groping motion from Audrey, looking for safety in Roman. They might have gotten themselves a tad bit in over their heads.

The duo sat on the stairs for a few minutes before Roman heard a song he enjoyed, jumping into the pool of dancing bodies. Logan sighed, tapping at his phone absently. He had expected something like this to happen, but he didn’t want to leave Roman alone at a party. He didn’t trust people like Patton did.

Roman, on the other hand, grabbed a cup from a table of snacks and drank. The drink stung as it went down, but it settled nicely and gave him a bit of warmth on the frigid October night. He had no idea what he was drinking, but he continued to down the entire cup within the next five minutes.

---

Less than an hour later, Roman’s head felt completely clear as he stumbled through the crowd. Logan observed his friend drunkenly flirting with a lamp, which was quite funny, but it worried him slightly. He hadn’t even seen Roman drinking, and he was supposed to be protecting Roman. Logan sighed and looked back at his phone. Roman would be fine. He always was.

Roman sat in an armchair at the corner of the living room. He was happy and free and everything just felt right.

A boy that he didn’t recognize approached him, shouting over the loud music, “You look really great tonight!”

“Thanks!” Roman shouted back, ignoring the light blush dusting his cheeks. “What’s your name?”

“Cal! And you are?”

“Roman!”

“Well, Roman,” Cal started with a charming smile. “Would you like to dance with me?”

Roman nodded, and suddenly, they were dancing. He could feel the heat from Cal’s body radiating through his thin t-shirt. At any other time, Ro would be afraid of what other people were thinking, but everyone at the party was drunk out of their minds. Not a single person would pay mind to the gay kid dancing with a random guy at a party.

At some point, Roman had been led back to the chair he’d been sitting in just a bit ago. He felt his back press against the wall, and he glanced up to see Cal gazing hungrily at him. He should have felt fear; he knew that look isn’t anything good, but he didn’t care. Roman threw all his worries behind him as he reached up and kissed Cal.

---

Logan nearly had dozed off on the stairs when he saw a flash of red cross the room. He focused in on the smudge of color and saw Roman being led to a secluded corner of the room by a stranger. Logan jumped up; his protective instincts were kicking in. He’d been so stupid to think that Roman could handle himself while drunk. He knew the effects that alcohol could have on people, and he should have intervened when he saw Roman flirting with a fucking lamp!

Weaving his way through the mass of people, Logan mumbled quick apologies to the couples “dancing” and pushed forward. Finally, he reached where Roman was, but the sight Logan saw froze him in place.

Roman’s hands were casually slung around the stranger’s neck, and the two were making out with passion. The stranger's hands snaked their way up Roman’s shirt, touching the skin of his lower back. The stranger made a move to go in the direction of the stairs, and that’s what finally forced Logan out of his trance.

Anger, worry, and another mystery feeling bubbled up in Logan’s chest. He pushed the stranger away and took Roman by the hand, dragging his small friend up the stairs and into the first bathroom that he could find. He guided Roman in, turning to lock the door behind them, before facing his friend, who was now sitting cross legged on the floor and playing with the hem of his pants.

“Roman, what were you thinking? You don’t even know that guy! He could—and probably did—have malicious intent!” Logan scolded worriedly, kneeling down before Roman. He took his friend into his arms and nearly squeezed the life out of him.

Roman spoke up as soon as Logan let go. “I wasn’t thinking… I was just so caught up in the fact that someone liked me. It was stupid.” Tears began to trail down Ro’s face, staining his delicate features with a harsh, wet glare. “You’re just so good to me, Logan! And I’ve done nothing but hurt you! I’m a terrible friend.” Roman was practically wailing, throwing his head into his hands.

“What? Roman, that’s not—“

“I’ve been lying to you—and Pat, for fuck’s sake—since we met. I just didn’t want to lose you like I lost everyone else! I’m just… I’m a girl.” Logan stayed completely silent, not wanting to interrupt whatever his friend was saying. Ro shook his head and corrected himself. “No, that’s not right. I was born a girl.”

After processing the information for a few moments, Logan spoke. “You’re transgender, then?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m trans. I started transitioning just before I moved to Westview. The kids at my school bullied me for ‘pretending’ to be a boy, and it just got to be too much for me to handle. We moved here, and I had a completely fresh start. I didn’t have to tell anyone that I was a boy now, just that I was a boy.”

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

“I didn’t want to lose you two, or worse… Or…” Roman’s words broke into a sob, and Logan reached to grab Ro’s hand as reassurance. “Just before freshman year, one of the boys at my summer camp sexually assaulted me.” Logan opened his mouth, but he was cut off immediately. “I know that you know, but you don’t know the full story. I always knew who assaulted me, but I lied and told the counselors and the police that I had no idea who it could be. They gave up looking after a while. The boy who assaulted me found out I was trans after the first time, and he blackmailed me with it. He used it to make me feign his innocence and to… He made me have sex with him throughout the rest of the summer. I never wanted to, but I'd convinced myself that it was for the best. I didn’t want to have to deal with the rejection of everyone finding out I was trans. He is the prime example of what I didn’t want to happen, and it solidified my case for not telling you guys.

“I look at my body in the mirror and want to throw up because I remember all the terrible things I’ve done. I hate myself.”

Logan wiped at the tears running down his face. He had never even imagined all the pain that Roman had gone through; it had all been hidden so well. He could have been here for Roman, helping him through his emotional struggles, yet he had been completely useless. And it was made even worse with the knowledge that Roman wouldn’t be saying any of this except for the fact that he was drunk.

“Roman, I am so sorry. I am so, so sorry that you had to live through all of that. I’m an idiot for not seeing the signs,” Lo whispered, tracing circles in the back of Roman’s hand with his thumb.

“I hid it well. I don’t have all those acting awards for nothing, Lo.” Roman’s laugh echoed in the tiled space. It was a ruse, for sure, and it cracked down like the ceramic in the shower. Ro finally let all of his emotions out, ones that he’d kept in for years and years. The two friends embraced once more until Roman’s sobs ceased, and he was gently sleeping on Logan’s shoulder.

Logan pulled out his phone. Shit. His mom had been waiting for nearly ten minutes. He shot her a quick text, and scooped Roman up into his arms. He quickly and carefully made his way down the stairs and through the mob of people, quickly grabbing his and Roman’s jackets before running outside. His mom was, thankfully, parked right outside, and he easily was able to dump Roman in the back seat and slide in next to him.

Mrs. Christiansen gave Logan a worried look. “Don’t worry, Mom. Ro just had a panic attack, and he fell asleep due to emotional exhaustion. He’ll be fine by morning.” She gave up trying to find out more and drove them back to the safety of the Christiansen household.

---

May, 2017 [sometime in the weeks following prom]

“Roman, you’ve been putting it off for weeks now. Virgil isn’t going to make fun of you for being trans,” Logan coaxed, pushing his boyfriend toward Patton’s house. “And if he does, I’ll personally kick his ass.”

“I just don’t want to risk it, babe. What if he doesn’t say anything but he gives me The Look? What do I do then? This could ruin his and Patton’s relationship, and he’s finally found someone that he’s happy with! I don’t want to do that to him, Lo!” Roman pleaded, trying to turn back towards the car.

But Logan had already thought this through. The front door swung open, and Virgil stepped into the warm spring air. “You wanted to tell me something, Knight in Shining Converse?”

Roman froze, slowly turning to face the emo disaster on the front stoop. “Uh… Yeah?”

“What’s up?” Virgil asked calmly, noticing the tension built up in Roman and acting accordingly.

“I’m, uh… transgender… So, like, I was born a girl, and now I’m a boy.” Roman stuttered his way through the explanation, knowing that it was probably unnecessary, but not really able to get out of it.

“Cool. Is that all you guys wanted? Cause Patton and I are watching Big Hero 6, and I kinda want to get back to it. You guys are welcome to join us, too.” Virgil sounded a bit ticked off, but it was pretty obvious that he just wanted to watch his movie.

Roman smiled gently. “That would be fantastic.”

[wonderlustlucas]

joie de vivre - kim yugyeom

⇢ prompt “What an odd individual. What an odd joy.” ⇢ pairing yugyeom x female reader ⇢ word count 10.7k ⇢ genre fluff & comedy ⇢ warnings swearing & a gross amount of fluff ⇢ summary (i couldn’t come up w a summary but camille did so here u go heheh) In this sweet and relatable story of hopeful romance and inner girl power, you find yourself meeting and getting to know the effervescent boys of GOT7. With exotic food orders and the unmistakable heart-fluttering that defines young love, Joie de Vivre delivers a humorous and cleverly fun take on the awesomeness of your favorite K-pop stars.—beach!au ⇢ a/n wow i can’t believe i’m finally posting this. since july i have deserted & gone back to this damn chapter so many times & i’m just so happy i can finally post it. nevertheless, considering it’s almost christmas & i have zero summer vibes left, this is probably going to be on hold for a looong time since i have so many autumn & winter inspired works i wanna write, so i apologize for the tease. i’d also like to give a big shoutout to my friend camille who edited this for me (along with helping me in various other ways) since i didn’t have time:) & last but not least, i wanted to have this up for yugyeom’s birthday but couldn’t make time, so happy belated birthday to my love, i hope your year is full of all the happiness in the world���

i ii iii iv v vi vii

moodboard

Contrary to all the whining and complaining that ensues at the start of each grueling summer year, it truly is the beginning of the most thrilling months.

A time when, despite the startlingly tremendous surge of obnoxious, vape-induced teenagers hoarding the boardwalk like flies drawn to an outdoor barbeque, and the influx of ignorant young children flopping through the ocean waves like they are training to become fish, there is always a milieu of genuine elation hanging in the air.

This constant joy—whether it is emanating from the relaxation that oozes from unwinding vacationers flooding the beach and boardwalk, continuous hours wasted away doing nothing and days melting into one another, or simply the enkindling of town—makes up for all the downsides that arise with the start of summer.

Over years of enduring this unnamed cycle of life, you have come to appreciate that there are four types of joy; the expected, the unexpected, the habitual, and the unknown.

The expected—a joy with which you are familiar and the elation it will give you.

The unexpected—aware of the plan, but not expecting the joy that will result from it.

The habitual—occurring so frequently that, while still appealing, is more of a routine rather than a new and exciting experience.

And the unknown—any choice resulting in a different ending, a different joy.

However, despite recognizing these, the unknown sort of joy is the most enigmatic because, named for this specific reason, you never know when it is happening or when it will be.

Even so, one such occurrence is most certainly not a habitual joy. Rather, a royal pain in your ass: when Kim Jinae, in an effort that you could never grasp entirely, decides to wake not only herself but also the two of you up at a time that you should most definitely still be dead asleep nearly every day during your months off.

“You know,” you huff, deeply inhaling the morning ocean hair to fill your lungs. Your body is sagging in sheer exhaustion as you follow her peppy steps—how is she still so fired up?—a few feet behind, sneakers skidding lazily against the worn wood of the boardwalk. "I really miss when your shift was in the morning, and we worked out at night. I hope you know I hate you for guilt-tripping me into this."

Jinae scoffs, coming to a stop and whipping around. “I’m sorry, but who wants to spend the whole damn day down at the beach? And who guilt-tripped who into switching shifts?”

You huff heavily, accepting defeat because she's right, but you would never tell her. You look away to peek at the waves approaching the shore nearly a football field away that reflect apricots and azaleas on the horizon from the remaining sunrise. Your irritated thoughts are replaced with the wonder of today’s plan. “Speaking of, what are we doing today?”

“I don’t know,” she shrugs. You make a mental note to never ask her anything again because—Lord knows—Jinae is zero help. “I assumed we were just doing the usual.”

You sigh, following her silently down the wooden steps from the boardwalk, the ocean now faintly hushed behind you. You wipe away a bead of sweat dripping down from your hairline. “Can you make breakfast before I have to leave?”

Jinae mutters something under her breath, then twists around to face you. “You’re a real brat, you know?”

You beam. “Learned it from the best.”

Your first joy, practically your best friend since you could walk, quite possibly your soulmate—Kim Jinae.

While some days do in fact seem to drag on endlessly, working only four hours a day and four days a week during the summer months is a bargain worth paying for and an opportunity sent by the heavens. It pays what your parents don’t, you tell yourself when service is slow and customers bark at you as if you’re the one doing the cooking. A little extra in the cookie jar, you whisper under your breath after covering eight tables at once, shifting uncomfortably in your uniform as perspiration dribbles down your spine while darting from the sweltering kitchen to each consecutive table.

However, most days seemingly fly by. After all, eight to twelve are prime breakfast hours, and so the quaint diner is not half as cruel as some prior jobs. Not to mention, it is right on the boardwalk, which makes meeting up with Jinae for the rest of the day well spent at the beach even simpler.

Upon setting down the check for your last table and offering a polite farewell, you scan the room curiously until, after a few seconds of concern, your gaze lands on a certain busboy setting down silverware on a recently cleaned booth. "Hey Markipooh," you coo, greeting the unacceptably gorgeous brunette and sliding across the tiled marble floor to stand beside him and to help finish laying out paper placemats.

Mark Tuan—the Devil in Disguise. During your first few days at the new job, you were quietly aware of the only other employee that took advantage of the locker room, initially an exceptionally attractive blonde who had not even graced you with a glance since you started.

That was, until hardly a week later, you found yourself packing up for the day when he entered to do the same.

“Woah, you’re a brunette now.” It slipped out before your brain could truly even process the sentence, gears positively malfunctioning in your head because God, he’s hot but God, you’re an idiot. He blinked, running a hand through his darkened locks and eyeing you curiously for an agonizingly long heartbeat before he straightforwardly said, “It’s pink, actually.”

Oh, so he’s sarcastic. “Hilarious,” you retorted, watching curiously as he made way for his own locker. “I’m glad to see that you do in fact talk, though.”

He laughed lightly, a percussion that made your heart soar. He disregarded a chiming notification from his phone to stare intensely back at your inquiring gaze, saying, “Is that what keeps you up at night? Whether or not your incredibly hot co-worker is mute?”

You wrinkled your nose. “Don’t flatter yourself, you're not that special.”

And so, it came to be that the busboy was not who he seemed to be. Like two puzzle pieces that fit together seamlessly, you clicked with Mark so quickly that even Jinae seemed to impatiently grow jealous. Tirelessly cunning, Mark is a perfect force against your own quick-wittedness. However, he is a precious munchkin of a boy when he wants to be. The fact that he has not only been to but has lived in so many places in the span of twenty-four years, plus his expansive knowledge of more languages than you could ever possibly grasp, has heartily drawn you in until, you have realized your second joy—Mark Tuan.

And here you are, hardly two months later.

Instead of replying verbally, Mark only glares at you coldly before, finally, "You're going to use that against me for the rest of my life, aren't you?"

You grin mischievously at the mathematics major—well, the mathematics major working on his Master’s, as he likes to remind you at every chance that presents itself—and follow him once he makes way to the otherwise empty locker room.

“Probably,” you chuckle while slipping the suffocatingly hot sneakers off your feet. You check the door behind you once more before peeling your top and bra off and replacing them with the navy-blue bathing suit top shoved haphazardly into your locker. You add, “It’s really funny seeing you get annoyed.”

“It’s really funny seeing you get annoyed,” Mark mimics under his breath, voice uncharacteristically high to impersonate your own, as you slip a plain tee-shirt from high school over your head. “I had to become friends with the spawn of Satan, of all people.”

You laugh, shimmying out of your pants and underwear and swiftly pulling up the matching bathing suit bottoms. “You know I love you.”

“Nuh-uh,” Mark grumbles from somewhere behind you. You are too preoccupied with trying to fold your clothes as nicely as possible into your bag. He continues, “Don’t pull that shit on me. Just ‘cos you’re a senior now doesn’t mean I’m gonna deal with your crap.”

“Just because you’re a senior now,” you mimic as he had, only he interrupts your shenanigans with a hard punch to your arm as the two of you head outside. “Anyway,” he sighs, ignoring your scowl and pausing to inhale the briny aroma that never seems to leave the thick ocean air, “I don’t know what your plans are, but some of my friends are working at a joint that opened recently, and I was hoping you’d come?”

“Is this just another sneaky plan to hang out with Jinae?” You chuckle, digging into his side with your elbow. He gasps, “Hey! Maybe I’m just being a nice friend.”

“Oh, yeah, a friend,” you snort. At the genuine pout that clouds his expression, however, you stop and hook your arm through his. “Don’t worry, I promised I would be your wingwoman, didn’t I?”

Mark sighs, shrugging. Then he says, “Why couldn’t I have fallen for you instead?”

With a noise of amusement and disbelief that sounds like something between a snicker and a choke, you rest your head against his bicep momentarily before glancing up at him. “You’re too hot for me.”

“Sure, and pigs fly. I’m actually kind of worried that my friends are going to pounce on you.”

You scoff. “Yeah, okay. Speaking of, who are these friends of yours?”

“Oh!” Mark exclaims, visibly brightening, his white teeth dazzling as he smiles. “So there’s six of ‘em. We all ended up meeting each other at the studio for the first dance class.”

“Pause,” you interject, surprised. “They all go to the same school as us?”

He nods eagerly. “They’re all getting their Master’s, too. Youngjae just graduated with Jinae, and I think BamBam is in your class. Yugyeom is a grade below, I believe.”

Your jaw nearly hits the floor. “BamBam? Like, the—”

“The really cute, bubbly loudmouth?”

“Yeah! You’re friends with BamBam?” You gape. What a small world, you think. When you glance up you happen to notice Jinae waving like a madwoman several feet ahead. You wave back, however, Mark’s snort interrupts you. “What?” He says. “Am I not cool enough to be friends with him?”

You giggle. Though it is tempting to agree, you do not feel like delving into a full roasting session. You instead opt for, “No, shut up and stop being insecure. I was just surprised. I never spoke with him, but we had calculus together.”

Mark only hums in agreement. You assume that by reaching Jinae he has suddenly clammed up. You clear your throat. “Jinae! Mark has plans for us!”

Whether Mark notices it or not, you certainly catch the way Jinae’s face brightens, her enchanting brown eyes scrunching in delight. They’re so into one another, you think, just as she gushes, “No way! Let’s go, then! Where at?”

Your gut truly twists as a result of the saccharine sweetness between the two, an indisputable and perpetual attracting force that all people but the pair can recognize. In an instant, you clear your throat after a disgustingly long amount of time passes of them just staring at each other before you end up with a cavity. “C’mon, then. I’m not going to wait all day.”

Mark jolts, turning to you as the apples of his cheeks bloom pink. He scratches the back of his neck. “Yeah—Yeah, let’s go.”

You cannot help the satisfied smirk that comes with him rushing ahead and Jinae positively melting into a pile of mush. You snort, patting her flushed cheeks and following Mark’s speedy path ahead of Jinae’s delayed trailing.

Like most shops and grills lining the boardwalk, JJ’s—as you learned several minutes later once the two bounced back after whatever happened moments ago—is just the same.

With an entirely open entrance, aside from two small table-and-chair sets halfway on the boardwalk and halfway under the ceiling and walls painted butterscotch orange, the grill is squeezed between an unnecessarily expensive jewelry store and a bustling candy shop. The mouthwatering aroma of bulgogi and honey soy filling your senses is a grand contrast to the briny odor from outside. It’s so small you wonder if customers even order to stay, yet it is not cramped in any way—within a space of ten feet, give or take, there is shelving on each set of parallel walls, wide enough to dine at, with two metal chairs tucked in front, a black refrigerator stocked with cold drinks, the counter, which is checkered marble and decorated with a change jar and a vase of snapdragons, is to the right of a sliding barn door painted with doodles of the beach and a lighthouse.

Beyond the counter is a small kitchen with deep fryers to the left and three large aluminum dishes full of fried chicken resting on an island in the middle of the room. The archway that leads to an unknown area occupying the rest of the space is blocked by a plain maroon curtain; with one last scan of the quaint space and another deep inhale, you conclude that, even before tasting anything, this may be your new favorite place to eat.

Your captivated daze is cut short by the voice working behind the counter.

“Mark-hyung!” None other than BamBam calls from his perch on a stool, silver hair pushed up and over his forehead in a messy comma-shaped style. Mark scoffs, “Stop calling me hyung in front of my friends. It makes me feel old.”

“Is that Mark?” Shouts a disembodied voice as BamBam hops from his seat and slides open the drawn-on door. You glance to Jinae, whose baffled expression most certainly mirrors your own, just as said voice bolts over to greet your eldest friend.

“Mark!” Roars an unreasonably attractive brunette, shoving BamBam to the side so roughly that you lean back a bit just to make sure he doesn’t hurt himself.

“Jesus, you guys are so fake. Stop putting on a show. My friends are normal,” huffs Mark, sending the loud newcomer a condescending glare. Just as you begin to think you have gone invisible, he twists to you with a beaming boyish grin that reaches his eyes. “Jackson, BamBam, this is ___,” he says, introducing you and resting his palm on the small of your back. “and Jinae,” he adds.

“Hello!” Shouts another figure who you had not spotted working behind the counter. Like BamBam and this Jackson, he too is classically handsome, and you practically feel your stomach twist into knots at the sudden intensity of it all, not one but four strikingly gorgeous young men—where have they been your whole life?—in one room that is most definitely tinier now, and you cannot breathe, and there’s still three more you have yet to meet?

“Hey.” BamBam’s chirpy voice—having not heard it since sophomore year, you reckon that it matches the sweetness of his facial features—interrupts your short-lived tizzy of emotions. “weren’t you in my calculus class?”

“Yeah, that would be me,” you nod, smiling in response to his own heartwarming grin. “I didn’t know you lived around here.”

“Youngjae?” Jinae’s gasp cuts into BamBam’s potential answer. Evident surprise is laced in her tone as the aforementioned employee rounds the counter. Your gaze flicks back and forth from her and Mark to his three friends, not knowing where to focus. You decide on Jackson—Hell, he’s nice to look at—and find yourself thanking the heavens that fate has made it so Mark entered your life and has ultimately led you to a much too small grill, containing way too many blessed genes all at once.

“You look lost,” says the brunette god himself, catching on to your hazy staring and shuffling to stand beside you, “not that I blame you.” You laugh lightly, dragging your gaze from the distracting way his dark hair falls over his forehead to Jinae and Youngjae bubbling away, something about not having seen one another since graduation, and how they both will be working on their Master’s. Finally you look to Mark, who stands beside BamBam with an expression of delight gracing his features, watching two separate groups of friends intermingle.

“Yeah, this is a bit much,” you admit at last, refocusing on him once the cogs inside your brain begin working again. “I like it, though.”

Jackson grins widely and you positively swoon. He laughs. “Sorry to break it to you, but if you’ve survived three years avoiding Bam, your life is probably going to go downhill from here.”

“Hey!” The plump-lipped model—oh, he could definitely be a model parading down the runway with that face—cuts in, his brows drawn together in mock irritation. You choke, making a noise of surprise when he continues, pulling you into a tight side hug. “This is the beginning of the best chapters of their lives.”

“Keep dreaming, bud,” Mark snorts, slapping his shoulder. You watch from under his chin as BamBam frowns, shooting your friend a glare that could most definitely kill if it weren’t for the dazzling grin that follows.

“Where’s everyone else?” Mark questions as BamBam unwinds his arms from around you—why do they have to be hot and nice?

“Dad and Dad are trying to fix the sink and Yugyeom is...” Jackson says. Rubbing at his bottom lip, he trails off, looking to Youngjae and BamBam. “Where is Yugyeom?”

“I think he went to get chocolate milk,” Youngjae chuckles, dark hair falling over his eye as he does so. “You know how he is.” You look to Jackson, whispering, “Who’s Dad and Dad?”

“Jaebum and Jinyoung. They own this place, plus we’re all pretty certain that they’re an item, so we call them that. They’re in the back,” he explains, nodding to the archway. At this, you hear the muffled noises bustling from behind the curtain that you had not noticed beforehand.

“And Yugyeom?”

“Oh,” Jackson smirks again—trouble—and makes his way back to the counter, “He’s the big ol’ goof. You’ll like him.”

“You guys have bubble tea, right?” Mark changes the subject as Youngjae and BamBam follow Jackson. With them not clustered around you any longer, you take another moment to glance all around, pausing your meandering to glance over the options on the menu. Fried chicken, tacos, rice bowls, kimchi fried riceballs... kimchi cheese fries? You jab your elbow into Jinae's side, nodding to the overhanging menu, "Kimchi cheese fries, dude."

"That's definitely not part of my diet."

"Oh, fuck the diet," you hiss, earning a sharp glare, but you roll your eyes nevertheless.

"No, the bubble tea menu is just there for fun," Jackson snorts, finally responding to Mark’s question and grinning like a madman. Youngjae is howling, smiling so bright you fear his whole jaw may break. "Hilarious," Mark grumbles, turning to you for backup. When he finds you mirroring Jackson's expression, though, he frowns. "This was a mistake."

"Oh, lighten up," you coo, ruffling his parted hair, but he smacks your hand away with a huff. You roll your eyes and look to BamBam, who stands ready for your order. You say, "I'll have a large black milk with tapioca and, uh, hm—a chicken rice bowl."

"Sure," he hums, tapping the screen. "That's gonna be fifteen ninety-one.”

"Make it ten," Jackson butts in, grinning like he just won the lottery. Oh, you're burning up now. You smile to the floor but hide it as you fish for money in your pocket. "Thanks," you manage to croak out, passing the cash to BamBam. After he’s finished, he smacks Jackson on the shoulder, muttering something about his discounts for hot girls putting them out of business, which causes the elder to howl in faux pain while shuffling to the archway to yell back your order. You watch the entire episode with an amused smile that can’t seem to leave your face. You shake your head and at last move to sit on one of the barstools while Jinae orders.

“Should I pay for hers?” Mark whispers, leaning onto the ledge with an expression of apprehension etched onto his face. He chews on his lip. “Yeah, that’s sweet,” you grin, and with an encouraging squish of his cheeks, you push him forward.

You watch, utterly zoned in and praying to every god out there that he does not turn into an awkward pile of mush. The grin can’t seem to leave your face when he steps up beside her and—

“Oh my God, he’s become a man,” says a voice from beside you suddenly. You nearly jump out of your skin, jerking in your seat. “Holy fucking shit!” You wheeze, clapping a hand over your heart but, alas, this does not comfort the additional torment your essential organ faces once you look up to said tormentor.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you,” the boy-man-squish giggles—he giggles—with pinkpinkpink, heart-shaped lips pulling back to reveal quite possibly the cutest and most endearing smile you have ever seen.

And, just like that, you sit there, dumbfounded, positively enamored by this—this attacker, with every last working brain cell stuttering to a halt to admire him. “Oh,” you laugh—or was that another wheeze?—with a cough, then you clear your throat, squinting in some sort of weak attempt to make eye contact instead of gawking at his windblown, light golden brown hair that, conveniently, falls right into his eyes. However, as soon as you focus on the darkness of his irises, you realize you are totally, unquestionably screwed, lost in the depths of his nearly black eyes—obsidian is a better word—and even though there is nothing astoundingly exceptional or different about him, you simply cannot help feeling absolutely overwhelmed within a matter of seconds.

“That’s okay,” you finally force out. “I just didn’t see you come in.”

He smiles softer this time, and while your heart still jumps at the expression, you force yourself to look back to Mark and Jinae before a heart attack ensues. You come to find you missed whatever proceeded Mark’s initiative. However, judging by the threatening smiles and rosy cheeks, you assume it had to have gone well, and so your interest that's burning like a wildfire to peek at the boy that remains beside you proves to be preeminent.

Upon twisting back around, you take notice to the plastic twenty-two-ounce convenience store cup, full of what looks like chocolate milk, gripped lazily in his hand, an outrageous juxtaposition to his height and strong features. Condensation drips from the bottom and onto the tiled floor. You ask, hardly without thinking, “Are you Yugyeom?”

“That’s me,” Yugyeom hums, eyes scrunching into precious crescents as he smiles. “How’d you know?”

“They were talking about where you were earlier,” you say, waving your hand to the others. “Mentioned chocolate milk, so I assumed that was you.”

“Of course. That seems to be my only known trait,” snorts Yugyeom, sending his friends a condescending glare despite them being deep in their own conversations. You snort out a laugh, covering your mouth with your hand when his eyes fly back to soak in your reaction. You compose yourself, then say, “That’s not true. Jackson called you a goof.”

“Wow,” he sighs, frowning, and you watch with a grin etched onto your face as he slaps a hand over his chest. “What did Jinyoung say? Do I have to kill him?”

Snorting quieter this time, you shake your head. “I haven’t met him, so he didn’t say anything. Homicide is not necessary today, bud.”

Yugyeom beams—fuck, it is so unfair to be this good-looking—lifting his cup up to take a long sip. “Hold up,” he pauses, chewing on the straw, “are you ___?” Upon hearing your name fall from his lips, you sit up straighter in your seat as if being on a name-basis suddenly changes things. “Yeah. How’d you know?”

“Mark has a habit of talking about you and Jinae when he’s with us, seeing that you’re his only other friends,” Yugyeom says proudly, diverting his gaze to the aforementioned boy who is settled beside Jinae at the other seats. He takes another sip of his drink. “Well, it’s mostly about your friend, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget how many days he went on about there being a girl in the locker room.”

Your mouth falls open. “No way!”

“Totally serious. He was annoyed about not having the room for himself for a while, but he always whined about you being pretty, and then one day he started complaining about how sarcastic you are and how he can never win with you, so I guess his little crush ended. And then he met Jinae,” Yugyeom explains, grinning mischievously. “And we all know how it is now.”

“I’m—wow,” you whisper, flabbergasted, mostly from the clarification but also, deep down, hearing the unfairly tall boy use the adjective pretty while talking about you. “I’m glad they met, then. He’s too stinky and old for me.”

“Wait, aren’t—”

BamBam’s sudden calling of your name interrupts whatever the blonde was about to ask. You nearly stumble out of the barstool but relax upon realizing he has only placed your order on the counter, ready for you to grab. “I got it,” pipes Yugyeom from beside you and, heart hammering in your chest, you watch with starry eyes as he places his cup beside you before skipping over and taking your tea and a disposable paper bowl from the counter.

“Thanks,” you smile appreciatively as he places the order in front of you. You twist to sit correctly in your seat. Instead of staring at the wall, you watch curiously as the iced chocolate boy shimmies onto the chair next to you. You clear your throat. “You were saying?”

“Hm?—Oh! Yeah, aren’t you in the class above mine?”

You nod, tearing open the chopstick packet and diving right into the dangmyeon and honey soy chicken. “That’s what Mark told me.” You pause, stuffing food into your mouth. “Although, if I were to judge you by your height,” you chew, letting out a mesmerized sigh at the unacceptably delicious flavors,  “I would have thought you were older.”

Yugyeom, smiling charmingly once more, breaks into laughter. “Would you want to try that again without your mouth full?”

You gape, kicking his shin before silently realizing you’re not close enough with him to do that. Grumbling, you say, “What else am I supposed to do when you’re trying to talk to me when I’m eating?”

“Sorry, sorry, I’ll leave you be,” he chuckles to himself, taking a slow sip of his milk, and you look back to your meal, digging down to the rice and prodding tacky clumps into your mouth. Your neck suddenly begins to prickle at the notion that you’re being watched. With another mouthful, you slurp up a dangling noodle before building up the courage to look at the blonde only to find him already watching you intently, a lazy smile softening his features.

“You know,” you say as he raises a brow. You take a sip of your tea for effect, nearly choking on an unexpected tapioca ball. You continue, “A stranger watching you eat is rather uncomfortable, especially when it comes to noodles.”

“What else is there to do? Talk to Mark and his girlfriend?” Yugyeom retorts playfully, nodding to the pair, and you smack yourself when the idea of pushing away a stray strand of hair that falls into his left eye arises. Instead, you follow his gaze to Jinae and Mark cheerfully talking away.

“Point taken. Don’t you work here, or something?”

“I get out at one,” he confirms, chuckling when you oh-so-gracefully miss your mouth. Rice lands on your bare thigh. His gaze trails the grains and, upon realizing your lack of clothing, his cheeks flush cherry red, and you fight back a laugh. Deciding to save him from his internal, middle school boy panic, you continue, checking the time on your phone, “It’s one now. Yet when I got here, you weren’t working.”

“I had to get my iced choco.”

“But… don’t you need to work?”

“Eh,” he twists to look at the three behind the counter. “They don’t need me.”

“I don’t think that’s how jobs work, but okay,” you laugh, picking up the dumpling—Jesus, why is everything so good?—and, panicking over the fact that the conversation is ending, you opt to continue, devouring your meal in silence.

Barely two swallows later, a hand slaps against your shoulder and you drop yet another mound of rice as you lurch in surprise.

“Do you like swimming? In the ocean?”

Jackson, looking way more handsome than your average employee should—you’d love to meet the parents of everyone in this room—grins mischievously down at you, dropping his hand.

“Of course. My parents practically threw me into the sea the day I was born,” you joke, slapping yourself on the back when he rears his head to let out a roaring, high-pitched laugh. “Why?”

“On days when we get out at the same time, we always head down and stay until, like, seven. Do you guys want to come with us?”

“Oh.” Nearly choking on the lack of a response, you twist to look at Yugyeom, who watches with the same gentle smile that has not left his face. You cough, turning back around. “Definitely! That’ll be fun. Who is us, though?”

“Me, Jackson, Youngjae, and Bam,” Yugyeom interjects. Once more you turn and offer him a thankful smile before glancing back to Jackson, then past him to Mark and Jinae still chattering away over their meals like two doves sharing a bird bath. You sigh, half out of the dejection that comes with achieving the role of a third wheel but partially over the greedy realization that this means you may have these new friends to yourself. You clear your throat, glancing back between Yugyeom and Jackson before you say, “Are you the type of guys who like to yell ‘shark’ when we’re swimming?”

Jackson smirks. “Shit, are you not into that?”

Within the span of the time it takes for the foursome to change behind a dumpster outside of the grill and join you on your walk down through the sand, you have come to learn four things.

One—these five boys together are louder than any colony of seagulls fighting over a half-bite of a sandwich (if you have ever been the victim of that scene).

Two—Youngjae and Mark are co-parents to a fur child.

“You’re a dad?” You initially hissed, nearly dropping all the belongings you carried. “Coco is a dog,” Mark sighed, clearly exasperated by your conclusion-jumping. You rolled your eyes. “You never told me you had a dog.”

Three—Mark’s friends have a very in-depth plan to give him and Jinae their final push.

“You have to stay as distant from them as possible. We’re going to be your new best friends,” Jackson whispered once you fell in step beside him. “How do you plan on getting them together?” You whispered back, laughter lacing your tone at the idea of scheming on their future relationship. Jackson paused, blinking. He looked to Yugyeom on your side, who casually shrugged.

“We’ll have to leave during random times so they’re left alone together,” BamBam piped up from beside Jackson, nodding to the aforementioned pair walking ahead.

And four—when you are not used to it, insecurity has the claws of a vulture and the weight of an anchor.

And yet, insecurity may be the wrong word. Whatever it is, it sparks a small fire in your tummy, and butterflies are gradually coming to life at your obvious delay, barely there until you proceed to remove your tee. At this, you are startlingly aware of the quick glances thrown your way, and this is when it grows. Or, were there even glances? Had you imagined it? Yeah, that’s what happened, you tell yourself, laying your blanket onto the lumpy sand with unexpected accuracy that only comes with years of doing so. No, they’re staring, definitely staring. An internal panic—an unknown panic—now a forest fire, heart thumping against a glass ribcage. No, nobody is even looking.

You cast an inspecting glance over your newfound group, all mindlessly busy with their own belongings, until—there it is!—there's a fleeting peek from choco boy. You gulp, catching the way the right side of his mouth quirks up. Once you catch his agonizingly long stare, you look away, focusing on flattening the edges of the blanket until you realize, fuck, your boobs, practically spilling out like the Niagara Falls broadcasted on television for all to see with this position. Scrambling to stand upright—fuck the blanket—you skip on the sunscreen orgy and hurry towards the white blanket of froth that forms as the tide gradually approaches the shore, sighing in relief as your toes come into contact with the nippiness of the waves.

So. That’s what it was. Who it was. Shivering against the waves, you trudge on, dodging a wailing child who stomps madly toward his mother. You sigh blissfully as the burning temperature of your skin—whether it be from your fizzing nerves or from the sun beating down relentlessly—drastically cools once you duck through a wave.

In the past you were able to brush off passing thoughts of those around you, those watching you and possibly judging you, by starting up a conversation with Jinae, and even when Mark began joining you, he was so enamored by her that you knew you had nothing to worry about.

However, this is the first time in years you are at the beach with a group predominantly male.

Pushing back your now saturated hair and kicking your legs to stay afloat, you spin to look for your crowd, squinting at the shore that fades into liquid gold, vivid in the brilliant light, and search through the masses of gaudily colored umbrellas and chairs until you catch sight of your blanket and what looks like Mark practicing a backflip in the sand. Mark, Jinae, Youngjae, BamBam… fuck. Recounting, with your fingers this time, and still coming up with a measly four, you shudder into a silent panic all over again, rifling through the clustered vacationers for two certain boys. However, once you do in fact locate the duo resurfacing after diving with aesthetic synchronization under a wave, it seems to only benefit in their search for you, seeing as the older of the two beams like a star and quickens his pace.

“Thought we lost you there for a second,” Jackson greets. At this, you conclude that you may never get over his smile, and you force yourself to turn to the horizon in order to gather your thoughts. “Well,” you grin, looking between him and Yugyeom, both tanned honey gold from daily exposure to the sun, “You found me.”

“What happened back there? You looked like you saw a ghost,” Yugyeom continues, staring up at him. You wonder whether or not the glint in his eyes is innocent but brush it off as simple, playful banter. “I don’t know,” you lie, shrugging. “I think I just got really hot.”

Jackson hums, oblivious to the unexpected tension that has you longing to swim off to another nation and never return. “Do you think it’ll work?”

Yugyeom shrugs, finally breaking eye contact in order to look to his hyung. “Yeah, I mean, at least in the beginning. Don’tcha think they’ll catch on eventually, though?”

In the midst of focusing on jumping up with the current of the waves, you process their words, realizing you really do not even know what they are talking about. “Does this have to do with Mark and Jinae?”

“Mhm,” Jackson starts. “While we’re here, Bam and Youngjae are conveniently going to take a nap.”

“Oh, smart. You guys are really serious about setting them up, aren’t you?”

“At this rate, they aren’t going to do it themselves,” Jackson chuckles, running a hand through his darkened locks, pushing wet strands back. Your gaze absently follows the action. Barely a heartbeat later, salt water is splashed at your face, stinging at your eyes, but you are quick to squeeze them closed. Upon opening them again, you come to find Jackson, eyes wide and honest, and Yugyeom, biting down on rosy lips to hide his laughter.

“Did you just—” splash.

He does it again!

“Oh, you ass!” You yelp, lunging forward and reaching out for the younger boy’s shoulders. No matter how new of a friend he is, this is war. You fight against the strong tug of the ocean at your body. Cackling like a hyena, Yugyeom dodges your weak attempt of a punch, smacking away your insistent hands and shit, you can’t touch the floor anymore. In a split-second decision, you dive beneath the surface and peel open your eyes as much as you can despite the salty sting prompting you to close them. You swim toward your assailant, wrapping your hands around his leg, just above the knee. When you dig your nails lightly into his skin, you nearly choke on a mouthful of water at just how muscular his thigh is. When he starts to squirm away from your grasp, all mouthwatering daydreams about the thighs your new friend possess disappear, and you regain your pose, releasing his leg for hardly a second, just long enough to dig your fingers instead into his side and resurface.

“Stop!” He whines, thrashing away from your tickling. He splashes more water your way as a result. Once he finally trips over his own feet and his head submerges under an approaching wave you finally relent, backstroking away from him to an amused Jackson. “What a thot,” you grumble, rubbing the sting away from your eyes and warily watching the child as he recovers from your attack. “I met you guys hardly an hour ago and suddenly we’re close enough to beat one another up.”

Jackson shrugs, flicking your shoulder, and you shoot him a warning glare.

“I told you we’re going to have to be your new best friends,” he says.

“You! I could’ve died!” Shouts a bewildered Yugyeom as he swims over, looking way too gorgeous for someone who just got knocked by a wave. Despite his playful exaggeration, you smack away the finger he waggles in your face with an eye roll. “You splashed water in my face! Twice!”

“You were staring!”

“Staring? Staring at what?” You snort, unable to even recall what was happening before he suddenly splashed you. “I—hm. Nothing,” he sighs, the apples of his cheeks blooming pink. He looks down and focuses on the ripples of the water. “Never mind.”

“Ooh. ‘Kay,” you laugh awkwardly, looking to Jackson, who mirrors your puzzled expression. Finally letting silence settle in comfortably, you look to the shore in search of Jinae’s obnoxious rainbow umbrella to find all four lying on their towels.

“Anyway, I’m going to see how things are going. Try not to kill each other,” Jackson smirks—how dare he—before moving with the current to shallower waters.

Now what?

Praying to every god out there that conversation will come as fluidly as it did back at JJ’s, you look to Yugyeom, only to witness him with his leg held to his chest as he pulls a shell from between his toes. You wrinkle your nose, laughing, “Did you just pick that up with your foot?”

“It bit me!” He whines, frowning.

“The shell bit you?”

“No,” he caves, grinning stunningly. “It’s a hermit crab.” As he speaks, he moves closer to you, rolling the small cerith shell onto his palm before holding it out to you. “Aw,” you pout, pushing your wet hair away from your face to lean closer as the crab hesitantly taps Yugyeom’s hand with its claws. “They’re so cute.”

He snorts. “Not when they bite you.”

“That’s called karma,” you smirk, cupping your hands for him to drop the crab into. “People who splash their new friends and practically blind them get bitten by crabbies.”

“You’re very dramatic,” Yugyeom says, watching you the same way you adoringly watch the hermit crab. Your attention, however, is not so fixated on the small crustacean in your hand as it is on the slow rise and fall of Yugyeom’s chest—right there in front of you. Tears of water race down the toned muscles of his stomach each time the water level climbs and retreats. You’re just in the middle of ogling when you take notice to the sharp, black edges of tattoos on his sides, more so to the intricate pattern you can only partially see on his right. No, you scold yourself. What are you doing? You just met him today. Shaking your head to rid your mouthwatering daydreaming, you say, “So are you, Mr. I-splashed-you-for-staring. By the way, let me see your tattoo.”

“You’re not going to have it pinch me, right?” He chuckles cautiously, casting a wary glance to said it, and you laugh, gently letting the waves take the hermit crab out of your hands with a shake of your head. “I said I wanted to see it, not pinch it.”

Rolling his eyes, Yugyeom finally lifts his toned arm up to offer a better view to the precise design of a flower, a rose, on his side. You ignore his quiet intake of breath when your fingers subconsciously trace at the detailed ink. “It’s so pretty. I’d kill to do something like this.”

Yugyeom shrugs. “You should, then.”

You scoff, finally stepping back. “I wish, but then I’d have to deal with my parents. They already threw a tantrum when I got my first.”

“Can I see?”

“Oh,” you chuckle, heat rising to your cheeks—God, how old are you?—at the realization that answering his question would take a bit more effort considering you’re shoulder-deep in the ocean, “I’ll have to show you when we get out.”

“Sure,” he hums with a pretty smile, looking around quietly as you drop beneath the surface to once again cool the heat scorching your body. Then, when you come up, he says, “Do you want to get out now?”

“Yeah. We should tell Jackson we smacked each other or something,” you grin, beginning to head back to shore with him trailing a few steps behind. Once you get to the point where the waves start to break, you cross your arms over your chest to keep the girls in place, angling your body to avoid being knocked to the ground for an inevitably sandy, humiliating death.

“Oh, yeah, we’ll think of something,” says Yugyeom.

The sarcasm lacing his tone has not even registered in your brain when his hands are on your waist, shoving you forward until you helplessly trip over the force of the current, flailing ungracefully into the sand with a cry that only gets smothered with the wave passing over your head. That son of a bitch.

When you surface and rub the stinging water from your eyes, you watch unamused as he reels back in laughter, louder than any of the children around you, and with him not paying attention you grab at his ankles, tripping him into his own sandy misery and ignoring all the judgmental stares from bothered teenagers sent your way. Although, you realize much too late that you should have taken him falling on you into consideration. This still does not prepare you for an elbow in the gut and his unfairly giant build squashing you further into the sand. To make it worse, as a wave recedes and another surges forward, all you can focus on is the gritty sand smearing your skin as you tussle in battle with Yugyeom.

“You are,” you spit, finally shoving him off once you’ve gained some safety from the waves, “a royal pain in the ass.”

Unable to contain his laughter, Yugyeom stays on the ground. You wrinkle your nose grossly at the sand not only coating your hair but also his lightened locks. At his lack of a reply, you scoop up a handful of wet sand and slap it onto his stomach. “Hey! That wasn’t cool,” he whines, reclining up on his elbows and glaring at the glop of sand spreading over his abdomen, torso heaving with laughter, “c’mon, that was pretty funny.”

Your irritated façade finally breaks once he flashes an unfairly adorable, boyish grin, and you finally join in with his laughing, scooping up more soppy sand and dribbling it on his toned arm. It does not hit you until he only frowns playfully instead of stopping you how unexpectantly intimate yet natural it is for someone you just met. “I like the tattoo,” Yugyeom suddenly states, poking at the lavender and coral shaded scallop shell right above the waist of your bottoms. You jolt in surprise, cheeks burning at his friendly gesture that only further supports your earlier thoughts.

“Thanks,” you smile. With the last bit of sand glopping onto his stomach, you cringe at your own state of filthiness. “c’mon, we should wash this off. And no more tackling.”

With another quiet laugh, Yugyeom stands to his feet, watching sickeningly as wet sand slides off his body and back into the shallow water with an unpleasant plop! Then, much to your surprise, he reaches his arm down to help you up. “I think your knee went up my ass,” he giggles once you’re up, walking ahead and using the waves to wash off. you grimace at the thought while walking out further to rinse out your hair. “Yeah, and you nearly pulled my top off,” you scoff, cupping water into your hands and scrubbing the sand off your skin. “You’re like a little kid.”

“And you complain too much,” he fires back once you start heading back. This time you keep a watchful eye on him in case he tries to pull another stunt. You gasp playfully, slapping a hand over your heart. “Ouch.”

“Don’t worry,” Yugyeom says. You look over to catch his playful expression. His lips are curled up into a sly smile and his dark eyes twinkle mischievously. “it’s hot.”

You blink, suddenly overwhelmed. Walking alongside the unfairly tall boy you look back to your feet, wary of holes dug and left exposed as a tripping hazard by reckless children. You scoff. “Since when is being a bitch hot?”

“Technically I paused in between those phrases, so I could’ve been talking about the temperature,” Yugyeom says, smirking like the little jerk he is as you lean down to pick up your towel. “What are the first three letters of assuming?”

Scowling, you contemplate kicking up a shower of dry sand if Jackson was not snoozing peacefully next to your own layout. Instead, you punch his arm and watch in satisfaction as he grimaces. “Ha, ha. Very funny. Please leave me alone now.”

“I need help putting on suntan lotion, though,” he pouts just as you plop down onto your blanket, towel wrapped snugly around your shoulders.

“Jesus Christ, how old are you?” You groan, falling back and glaring upside down at him, biting back your laughter when he lets out a loud sigh. “Please? Just my back.”

“Oh my God. Fine, you big baby. I’m not moving, though, so pop a squat.” Finally giving in, you lean up with a defeated sigh, scooting over to leave enough room for his tall ass. You watch disgruntledly as he drops beside you, crossing his legs with his back faced to you. Once he passes back the bottle, you give it a good shake before twisting the cap off. Spraying routinely over is skin, you mutter an apology when he breaks out in goosebumps. “Here,” you mumble, tossing the bottle into his lap before rubbing the greasy spray further over his back and shoulders. You cringe for a millisecond before quickly swiping over the lowest area at the waistband of his bottoms and slapping his shoulder. “Begone, thot.”

When he spirals to face you, you are momentarily whiplashed, and you almost—almost—tell him that he’s so pretty with the mole under his eye and indisputably gorgeous face. However, you quickly remind yourself, oh yeah, you have only known him for a few hours. Fortunately, he replies to your banter, concluding your drool-worthy trance.

“I’m not moving. Just because you called me that.”

You watch, dumbfounded, as he casually flops over and onto his stomach, burying his face between crossed arms without another word. “You—You’re despicable. You have a whole towel to yourself. Leave me be,” you protest, poking his ribs with your foot, still wrapped cozily in your towel.

At your insistent jabbing, he finally pulls an arm away and seizes your ankle, holding it still with an amused smile while he stares up at you. He looks way too hot for someone so incredibly, undeniably annoying. “Yugyeom,” you whine defeatedly, poking his thigh with your other foot. You watch the confidence only grow over his features. You say, “Stop being an ass.”

“Jesus Christ, I thought we were here to set up Mark and Jinae, not you two children,” BamBam suddenly grumbles from beside Jackson, leaning up on his elbows and scowling in your direction. “We’re the same age as you,” Yugyeom retorts, looking to him with a glare. You wait for him to deny BamBam’s accusation, heart thumping loudly in your chest, and yet he doesn’t. “Shut up or I’ll kill you,” BamBam grumbles, realizing it’s not worth the fight. He returns to his interrupted napping.

Laughing, you accept defeat as well and remove yourself from your towel’s shielding concealment, crumpling it into a ball as a pillow and placing it down a few inches from Yugyeom’s head. You lay on your stomach beside him. “Your friends threaten to kill you a lot.”

“It’s because I’m the baby,” he grumbles, resting his head on his wrists to look at you. You do the same.

He continues. “It’s whatever, though. They’re just jealous I’m taller than them.”

“No, you’re just annoying,” faintly, you hear BamBam mumble. Laughing, you cover your mouth with your hand. “I agree with him,” you whisper, the smirk growing harder to hide when Yugyeom frowns in playful hurt. “Shut up,” he grumbles, kicking your ankle with his own. “Don’t you need sun lotion?”

“I put some on before work.”

“But you went in the water,” he pouts, “and that was hours ago.”

“It’s fine,” you smile, heart warm at his concern. “It’s almost four, anyway. The sun isn’t as strong.”

“Oh,” Yugyeom seems to accept this, eyes traveling to your shoulder and lingering there long enough until you feel the heat spread from your head to your toes. Then he looks back to your face, expression soft. “You don’t actually mind if I nap here, right?”

Smiling against the dampness of your crumpled towel, you quietly say, “I don’t mind. As long as you don’t kick me, or something.”

“I can’t make that promise,” he smiles once more before finally resting his forehead on his forearms. You study what you can see of his relaxed silhouette for a moment before messily tying up your damp hair and comfortably burying your face into the towel with a peaceful sigh. What an odd individual.

What an odd joy.

Two hours and a series of blurred insignificant events later, you find yourself lying on your back. A hand jerks your shoulder and brings you back to blurred consciousness. “What?” You grumble, your mind hazy as a result of a long, hot nap that has your brain momentarily reeling at where you are. “It’s a little after six. I’m leaving. Are you good?”

Squeezing your eyes as a sort of fine tuning to get your mind back into business, you finally blink up to Jinae. Holding beach items in her arms, she tells you she's heading back up to your apartment. “Um,” you pause, straining to sit up and scan to see if the others are up. “I’m good. I’ll see you tonight.”

Once she’s off, a tired sigh escapes from your lips as you flip back onto your stomach. You easily drift off for another fifteen minutes or so before waking once more, this time to a screaming baby. Rubbing sandy knuckles over your eyes, you look to your side. Yugyeom, still fast asleep, remains spread out across your blanket, right hand positioned into a small hole in the sand an arm’s length away. You wonder if he dug it in his sleep.

“He sleeps like a dead man. Once we left without him and he came to me and Mark’s apartment at, like, two in the morning ready to kill us,” a voice grumbles ahead of you. Jackson is lying just as you are with a messy case of beachhead, strands dried and awkwardly sticking up in all directions. You laugh, momentarily looking away from the brunette to the dimming sun, which is much lower in the sky at this point. You finally respond, “I can tell. Every time I woke up, he was still knocked. Also, I didn’t know you were Mark’s roommate.”

Wrinkling his nose, Jackson glances over his shoulder to the other three boys still passed out on the sand. “Is that good or bad?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I just hear a lot about you. And now I have a face to match all the stories with.”

“Gosh, what does he say?”

You contemplate it for a moment. It's not like Mark has ever really talked shit. You decide on messing with him. “He says when you sleep, you talk about feet.”

Mouth hanging open, Jackson absorbs your bullshit before his face drains of color, spewing nonsense like a child caught in a lie. “What? Oh my God, you’re joking. You’re joking! Shit, you probably think I have a thing for feet or something. I swear I don’t, oh my—oh my God, bro. I definitely don’t talk about feet.” In an attempt to hold back your laughter resulting from his panic, you force your gaze elsewhere. You focus on Youngjae’s hair billowing from the light breeze until Jackson has exhausted himself breathless.

“I was joking,” you finally cave, but only when you glimpse the deep puppy frown he holds. “All he’s ever said it that you’re too loud in the morning.”

It takes Jackson a few seconds to process your trickery. He blinks. “Wow,” he heaves, sitting up onto his haunches. “I see how it is. You have betrayed me. I guess we’re enemies now.”

“Ha!” BamBam roars somewhere behind. “You really had him!”

“That was pretty good,” pipes Youngjae, sitting up and lifting his sunglasses to push back his hair. He pokes Mark beside him. “Yo, your side girl just flamed Jackson.”

“Side girl?” You snort just as Jackson flails to stand up, kicking sand in the process.

“No, she didn’t!” Jackson shouts defiantly, hands on his hips.

“What’d she say?” Mark grumbles tiredly, blinking to keep his eyes open. He reclines on his elbows.

While Youngjae fills him in, you look to Jackson, who shoots daggers your way but fails to hide his own humored grin. You stifle a laugh as Yugyeom stirs beside you. He mumbles, “What’s all the commotion for?”

“She,” Jackson says, looking at Yugyeom and pointing a finger at you, “is a bitch.” He smirks, flicking your forehead on his way back to his towel. You stick out your tongue. In response he adds, “But a smart bitch.”

“I thought we already established that.” Yugyeom sighs. You shoot him a glare, and he returns the gesture with a sleepy smile that extinguishes your urge to smack him.

“Hey,” you wrinkle your nose. “Since when is it ‘national attack ___ day?’ For a group of guys, you sure are babies.”

Jackson gasps. “Shit, she’s Jinyoung in female form.” He shakes BamBam by the shoulders. “We can’t let them meet. They’ll be too powerful.”

“You’re so whiny,” Yugyeom says sharply. All eyes fly to him. He shrugs. “They’ll be too powerful.”

“Oh shit,” BamBam snorts, moments before Jackson shoots up and charges for the younger boy. Yugyeom flounders away in time to run away. You dodge the sheet of sand sent your way with a prepared duck and watch the two sprint up the beach. “Tragic,” Mark comments as Yugyeom stumbles face-first into the sand and Jackson hops on top of him to choke him in a headlock.

“Well, that’s my queue to go,” you quip, patting around for your crumpled tee shirt, finding it, and pulling it over your head. “This was fun. We should do it again sometime.” Shaking the sand out from your blanket, you become startlingly aware of the sudden silence hanging over the four like fog. You realize before Mark even speaks up that, chances are, this will be a regular thing.

He hesitantly says, “Well, I was thinking… maybe we could—”

“Yes. I know what you’re gonna say. I don’t think Jinae would mind hanging out, either. Anyway, I feel like I’ve known everyone for years, and the teasing is kind of fun,” you say, cutting him off. You return the smile he tries to hide before swinging your bag over your shoulder and waving to the others. “See you tomorrow, then.”

“Wait!” Youngjae yelps. You watch with wide eyes as he jumps up and gives you a warm hug, encasing his arms around you only for a moment but still long enough for your heart to warm. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” you smile, patting his cheek and waving once more to BamBam and Mark. You start up looser sands when Jackson finally separates from Yugyeom after shoving him once more into the sand for good measure. “Careful you don’t kill him!” You shout over, watching with a laugh as the older boy whips his head up like a dog summoned by the shaking of the treat bag.

“Are you leaving?” He shouts, bouncing away from Yugyeom and jogging to you. Abs. “Yeah,” you say once he has reached you. “A shower is calling my name.”

“Are we hanging tomorrow?”

Looking to the three still lying out a few yards away, you shrug. “I’ll be here. Who knows with Jinae, though. Sometimes she gets bored of beachin’ every day.”

“Oh, well, whatever you guys decide to do, we’ll be here,” Jackson grins sinfully, slapping your arm before walking away. Of course you couldn’t have gotten a hug from him. “Keep your eyes out for the baby!” He suddenly calls, and you twist around to dumbly watch the tanned boy return to his friends. Your heart is suddenly beating loudly in your ears, and your internal fire only intensifies when said baby whines, pulling you into his chest, “Why are you leaving?”

Sucking in a necessary breath, you practically fall limp against Yugyeom’s hold, pressing your cheek against his chest but turning away from his friends in fear that they’re looking. “I want to shower. And eat. Plus, I have some dramas to catch up on.” At this he leans back, gazing down at you peculiarly. You’re painfully aware that his arms are still looped around your waist. He’s just a touchy guy, you tell yourself as he continues to groan like a child denied what he wants. “We could get food together.”

“Don't fret; I'll be back tomorrow,” you offer, satisfied when his lips quirk up and the corners of his eyes crinkle. “And probably all the days after that. Also, when school starts, I bet we’ll all be hanging together. We have plenty of days to get food.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” He smiles, his expression soft. Then he pulls you in for another hug. “Text me when you get home.”

Flustered, heart beating frantically, you choke out, “I don’t have your number?” Grunting in realization, Yugyeom reaches for your phone in your hand. You watch with a held breath as he tries each of your fingers for the correct fingerprint scan until it unlocks. He goes into the Messages app and puts in a new number. “You do now,” he smiles, irises reflecting gold specks. He hands your phone back, and it’s not until you cross both arms over your chest that you notice the goosebumps painting your skin. “Thanks,” you force, spinning on your heels and making way for the sandy walkway up the dunes.

“Come back to the grill tomorrow with Mark and Jinae!”

“I will!” You shout back, not daring to look back for fear that the tall boy will make your heart hurt more, in a way that it most certainly should not. You sigh and concentrate on the sand dried on your feet rather than how you hope he will decide to crash on your beach blanket again tomorrow.

“Pussy,” Jinae taunts as you crash onto her mattress. You struggle to stretch your leg out far enough to give her bare ass a feeble kick as she changes out of her uniform. Scoffing, you tumble to lie on your stomach, twirling a strand of recently washed hair in between your fingers. “Like you’re any better. I just met him today while you and Mark have been galloping around each other like eighth graders since summer started.”

“Touché,” Jinae says, accepting defeat. She tightens the strings of her sweatpants before thumping down on the bed to be beside you. The bed dips as she rolls to curl her form around your own. “I bet you’ll both be in love with one another by Saturday.”

You laugh and wrap your arm around her shoulders, running your fingers through her dark corkscrew curls, the only thing she fully acquired from her mother’s genes. “You and Mark already are in love. You just refuse to act on it.”

“Yeah, whatever, I don’t wanna talk about him.”

Sighing, you tug harshly on a curl. “It’s gonna happen this week. You and Mark will be official.”

“Mhm,” she hums, smirking. “And so will you and Yugyeom, Miss We-Practically-Fucked-In-The-Ocean.”

“Stop,” you whine. You retract your arm and drape it over your face, shielding the burn that is creeping its way up. “Seriously, though,” Jinae giggles, tugging at your elbow. “I can’t believe you met each other today. The attraction was unbelievable. Chemistry classes across the world are quaking.”

“Shut up.” Groaning, you roll away from her relentless probing. “Listen, he’s cute. Really cute and yeah, sure, we got along great. But who said that I’m ready to date again? And you don’t even know if he would be interested.”

“You could always ask Mark,” Jinae says as you struggle off her bed, leaving her sprawled out alone. “Double dates!”

“Yeah, sure, Jinae. Keep dreaming.”

She pouts. “You’re no fun,” she huffs, reaching for her phone. “Get out, it’s almost two-thirty, and we have to get up soon.”

“Can’t we skip the jogging for one day? Sleep in? No one wants to see the literal ass crack of dawn,” you yawn. Folding your hands in prayer, you beg her to give you a break for one day. Jinae ponders it for a moment, rubbing her bottom lip with her index finger, before an open-mouthed grin evilly lights up her features. “Sure.”

Squinting, you waggle an accusing finger at her while slowly backing out of her room. “I don’t trust you. Try anything, Kim Jinae, and your ass is out on the street!”

“You can’t kick me out!”

“Yes, I can!” You shout, finally allowing your grin to show once you have closed her door.

Maybe some days are just a tad more joyous than others.

[thecreativeangel]

Hijacked Suit (Peter Parker x Reader)

Peter Parker x Fem!Reader

*Please don’t plagiarize my work, thank you :3*

Summary: Everything was fine until Peter felt the need to be noble. 

Warnings: Swearing. Otherwise just bad vine references. This is an entry for @spectacular-spiderboy and @yourtomwritings, author’s note to them is at the bottom. Prompt: “I don’t want to call you stupid, but...”

Word Count: 1,442

That day had been a nice day. A calm day. Your mind was in a serene, floaty place and your shoulders bore no weight of anxiety. Classes had been stress-free, your projects were all finished and Mr. Bittner agreed to give no more tests for the remaining two weeks of class. And hell- if school was easy, life was easy. That's just a basic principle of high school. It was a good Friday to finish off a good week…

Until Peter “I Can't Lie For Shit” Parker decided to open his mouth.

Your first indication of danger? Shuri. The only warning you got was her distant shrieks of laughter, getting louder and louder as she got closer. You stopped in the middle of the Avengers Facility hallway, ears perked, confused. Shuri turned the corner and almost toppled you over in her hurry, a string of quick apologies leaving her.

“Fucking run!” she yelled over her shoulder, sprinting towards the main exit. You blinked twice and stared after her, feet stuck to the ground.

A hand latched onto your arm and you lurched forward with the force of the pull. Well I guess we're fucking running now, you thought angrily. Peter ran like he was about to be jinxed by the Dark Lord, panting and tugging you along with him.

“I'm sorry!” he yelped, taking a sharp detour from the main lobby into the laboratory wing. Agents and construction workers alike gawked at the three teenagers running for their lives. Your arm felt ready to pop out of its socket as you struggled to keep up with him, but Peter was still rambling breathlessly. “-and it wasn't my fault! I mean- kinda? I should've kept my mouth shut, I know! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!”

“What the hell are you talking about?” you yelled over the screams of “You little assholes!” and “Shuri come back here!”. Stress crept into your system, a nasty contrast to the previous state of calm. Peter’s hand gripped your arm harder. “R-remember when you pranked T-Tony and T’challa a-and Rhodey and-”

Your felt your soul bleed out of your body. “Oh no.”

Peter thrust open a random door and threw you inside, pushing you past rows of DNA samples, beakers of steaming chemicals and a caged mouse. You started to duck under a table when he pulled you up and pushed you into a particularly large lab coat closet. Darkness enveloped both of you, but at least you were safe from whatever Peter was to terrified of. You rounded on him. Well, probably him. It was almost pitch black and you could only sense him by his heavy breathing.

“Peter. Benjamin. Parker,” you seethed quietly, feeling him wince at the use of his full name. “Did you rat me out?”

“N-no?”

A low growl rumbled in your throat.

“Maybe?”

You batted away lab coat that kept swinging into your face. “Peter I swear to God-”

Peter clamped his hand on your mouth and turned to look for Rhodey and T’challa through a crack in the closet doors. He spoke in a rapid, hushed voice. “Yes! I accidentally told Tony, okay? Now please, please be quiet.”

You pried his hand from your mouth. “You jerk! Tony had no idea about that! What did he do to get the information- torture you?”

With what little shred of light the crack between doors provided, you saw Peter look down sheepishly, his cheeks darkening. You huffed as the annoying lab coat swung again on its hanger and hit you in the eye with a button.

“Tony didn't actually ask,” you concluded, tone dripping malice. “Did he?”

“W-well he kind of did,” Peter's voice cracked a bit too much. You raised an eyebrow at him.

“Peter, I don’t want to call you stupid, but…” you poked him in the chest. “-wait, yes I do! That was so stupid of you! What happened that you couldn’t keep your mouth shut?”

“Alright, alright- stop poking me! Just listen! We were talking about Queens and school and stuff, right?” Peter explained, rubbing the spot where you poked him. “And Tony asked ‘do kids still play pranks?’ and I said no. And then he said: ‘funny, because I think you're lying.’”

“You're a terrible liar, by the way,” you added spitefully, crossing your arms.

Peter sputtered indignantly, running both hands through his messed up hair before resting them on the back of his neck. “Well if someone programs a prototype suit to throw random shit and yell ‘this bitch empty’, I think Tony would figure it out! Of course he thought it was you and Shuri!”

“It's ‘this bitch empty’, and then ‘yeet’,” you corrected him snidely.

Peter blanked. “What?”

You licked your dry lips. “We programmed it to scream ‘this bitch empty- yeet’. It’s a joke.”

“Who cares?” Peter cried softly, still painfully aware that you were hiding.

“Okay, okay-” you said calmly, trying your best to appease him. “If Tony didn't want us to do that, would he have added a new A.I. to the suit? No, he'd have stuck with FRIDAY.”

Peter blinked at you, put his head in his hands and let out a long groan. You grinned in the dark, knowing full well your logic was bullshit. But a frustrated Peter was a cute Peter. “I- How- You're going to give me a heart attack, y’know? Oh fuck.”

“Such dirty cursing for such an innocent snitch,” you said passively, craning your neck to see through the crack. No one had entered the lab yet.

“I'm not innocent!” Peter all but squeaked, making you laugh under your breath. “Y-you're just dirty minded and dirty mouthed-”

“Ooh, Itsy Bitsy Spidey’s afraid to talk dirty?” It was slipped out before you had the sensibility to bite your tongue. You slapped your hand over your own mouth as soon as the words left. Peter’s eyes widened comically as your ears and neck grew hot. All of a sudden, you were the one who was stuttering.

“I didn't- I uh, that…” you ran out of excuses. “That came out wrong.”

Peter was deep in thought for a moment and you could see the mental gears turning just by looking him in the eyes (they were dark like fireplace ashes, only because everything was dark because y’know...dark closet). He finally moved, leaned closer until his mouth was right next to your ear- but he wasn't touching you at all. And yet you shivered, grasping the hem of your own t-shirt for support as his warm, panting breath heated your skin.

“I can handle dirty talk,” he whispered, the tip of his nose brushing your neck. “Can you?”

The way your throat hitched was pathetic, to you at least. Maybe the momentary distraction was good; the hand that you'd places lightly against the (not locked) closet door searched for a stable surface that wasn't there. You yelped as the door opened, making you fall out of the tiny damned closet and land on your ass. Peter still stood in the closet, still leaning slightly, now with a terribly smug grin.

Shuri burst into the lab and ran to your side, pulling you up. “There you are! My brother has not seen me yet but he was putting on his suit I think, so we should really go-”

She spoke fast, almost too fast for your dazed mind couldn't comprehend the words. You glanced back at Peter, who looked like the purest image of filth. His curls were disheveled, cheeks pink, jacket and shirt wrinkled, breathlessly gasping for air; the perfect image of “suddenly interrupted”. Shuri, bless her, was too busy shoving you out the lab’s back door to notice.

“Come on, come on!” she urged, pulling you out until the crisp October air pleasantly cooled your overheating body. “We're out of options, if you want to know. Tony is guarding  our lab and rooms.”

You squished your cheeks in both hands, wishing for them to stop burning and managed to speak without sounding winded. “The invisibility cloak I made?”

Shuri giggled at your obsessive love of Harry Potter. “Couldn't get it. And T’challa took my sneakers! He's being overdramatic- it was funny!”

Your turn to laugh at her pout. You crouched behind a decorative bush and motioned for her to follow. Sitting on dirt and mulch was less than fitting, especially with an aching tailbone. Not the best place for hiding, but it would do.

“Peter was ve-ery red when you came out,” she said slyly. You shot her a halfhearted glare. “Care to explain?”

“We ran from Rhodey,” you said flatly.

Shuri only snickered. “Sure.”

Author’s Note: Sorry to the lovely spectacular-spiderboy for taking so long. Hope this follows all the rules...Love ya.