#the way that i’ve been bracing for impact all damn day and she still proves me right

[tobesobri]

Traditions | 17.3k

a/n: it's been a while since I uploaded writing and for some reason I decided to sign up for this challenge and by some miracle actually managed to write something for it 🤯anyways, this is for the Valentine's Day Challenge by @1dffchallenges and it's honestly just a bit of fun, enemies to lovers little bit of angst and some smut! so i hope you enjoy! I'd always love to know your thoughts!! (also pls excuse any errors, I wrote this in a week with little editing lol)

prompt: doube date

dialogue: “So let me get this right. You want to hire me as your date for a Valentine’s Day Party?”

Pink and red were speckled throughout the entire office, whether it was a bouquet of chocolate roses, a banner of hearts, or stuffed bears residing next to bowls full of heart-shaped candies. Every employee’s section of the office had been filled to the brim with decorations as well. Pink and red ribbon taped carefully around the edges of their desktop computer, little store-bought balloons, also heart-shaped, grouped together and tied to desk chairs. 

And Y/N, dressed in her typical all black outfit, rolled her eyes as she paced through the office toward the one section in the back that was immune to all things heart-shaped, pink, or stuffed. 

She sat down at her desk with a loud sigh, her purse hitting the floor in its usual spot just before she slipped out of her jacket and draped it haphazardly between her back and the chair. It’d be wrinkled by the end of the day, but she didn’t care all that much, nor did she put much thought into the stains on her purse from leaving it on the floor. All she concerned herself with, after settling in, was getting straight to work… which was put on hiatus when she came face-to-face with both a pink and heart-shaped sticky note plastered onto the center of her computer screen. 

Groaning, she ripped it off and moved to turn her computer on before she bothered to read whatever was written on the note. She considered three potential suspects while she pulled her keyboard down onto her desk and logged in. There was Kayla, who worked front reception and was one of the main culprits of all the Valentine’s decorations. A strong contender. It could’ve also been Ines or Carmen, her closest work friends whom Y/N knew both owned a pad of pink, heart-shaped sticky notes. 

However, when she finally let her eyes fall to the note as her computer loaded up, the handwriting didn’t match any of the women she knew, and she was quite positive that none of them would have written was was sprawled out in black ink either.

Roses are red, violets are blue. I will fill your office with teddy bears and balloons, if you don’t send me your half of the proposal by two.

Harry.

She crumpled the note and tossed it into the bin under her desk. He could go fuck himself for all she cared. Sure, she was nearly done with her portion of the work and would be able to send it to him before then, but now that he’d pestered her about it, he’d be lucky if she even bothered to send it to him at all. 

She didn’t doubt the promise, i.e. threat, he made on the note, but being surrounded by teddy bears and balloons would be worth making Harry’s life just a tad miserable.

After opening all the apps she’d need to get her work done, namely Photoshop and Illustrator, she connected her drawing tablet and set up the rest of her work station for the day, both on screen and off.

Harry had worked at the company for about two years longer than her and she’d started off as an intern while she was still in college and, after graduating, was hired as a permanent graphic designer. They had never really gotten along ever since Harry—jokingly—asked her to get him a coffee once… or twice. Unfortunately for her, though, they ended up working well together and their boss had stuck them both on the same projects ever since. Especially after the month-long project last spring that had been their most successful one to date. 

While she came up with the design parts of client projects, Harry handled the more technical side of things and they’d never really argued much over each other’s work even though they clashed constantly at a more personal level. 

“I see your feeling festive.” Just as she’d gotten into the groove of her typical morning and had forgotten all about Harry’s stupid note, his voice interrupted her entire thought process. So when she swiveled around to find him leaning into her little office space, it was hardly a surprise when she glared at him, even though he feigned offense at her bitterness.

“You got my note, I presume.” He let himself into her space anyway, holding a mug of steaming coffee she was sure he’d just made in the workroom, and leaned up against the opposite side of her desk that housed a much larger, digital drawing tablet for when she needed to do more intricate design pieces. 

She just swiveled back around to face her computer again and went back to work as if he was no longer there. Pretending to ignore his existence proved to be quite difficult when the very particular woodsy, vanilla scents of his cologne met her nostrils and filled her entire office. Not to mention, the sight of what he’d been wearing singed the backs of her eyelids so that she still saw him every time she blinked. It was as if her brain refused to let her forget what he looked like in his white button-up, sleeves rolled to the crooks of his elbows, all tucked into his fitted black trousers that tended to get the imaginations going of all the women in the building. 

Not her though, of course. She was better than that. Obviously.

He cleared his throat, still very much present in her space and still very much giving her a migraine. “So will it be ready by two?”

“Well, I planned to send it to you before lunch.” She tweaked the spacing between letters of a potential logo for the millionth time. “But now… I think I might need the rest of the day.”

She heard rustling behind her and knew he was shifting his weight impatiently and running a hand through his hair as he often did when he was… displeased. “I told you I’m leaving early tomorrow and I need it no later than two.”

She cocked her head to the side, still staring at her computer screen and not giving him an ounce of satisfaction. “Did you tell me that?” She teased, an amused smirk lifting the corners of her mouth when she heard him groan behind her. “I must’ve forgotten.” Shrugging, she went back to her work.

“Unlike you,” he snapped, “some of us actually have a love life and I’d appreciate you not fucking up mine.”

She froze then, only for a split second, when his words sank in. Two thoughts raced through her head. The first a string of curse words because of his assumption that she didn’t have a love life. But the more prominent and worrisome part of his statement was that he did have one. And that he was leaving early tomorrow—Valentine’s Day—so he could get ready for a date.

Throwing both her prickly exterior and heartbreaking smirk up again, she turned to face him. “I’ve known you for three years now and if anyone has the potential to fuck up your love life, it’s you.”

He narrowed his eyes at her and her gaze fell to the hand that seemed to wrap a bit tighter around his Bugs Bunny mug. His knuckles whitened and she met his heated stare again, pleased with herself for getting him riled up before he’d even finished his morning coffee.

“So,” she continued before he get get a word of retaliation out, and sat back against her chair, crossing her legs confidently as she folded her hands in her lap. “Who’s the poor girl you’ve tricked into going on a date with you this time?”

Harry had a terrible track record. The longest relationship he’d been in lasted for two months, and that was well before she’d known him. Everything else he had was just a one or two night thing and nothing more. Sure, it was all more than she had, but she preferred it that way. Harry seemed to resent the fact that he couldn’t keep a girlfriend to save his life.

“You don’t know her.”

Her smile widened. “How long have you been seeing her?”

“Couple weeks.”

“Ooh, that just might be your second longest relationship, Styles.” 

“Well at least I’ve had one.”

His jab didn’t have an affect on her however, and he knew it wouldn’t because it never did. He knew she didn’t give a damn about relationships, or at least that’s what she claimed anyway. He couldn’t think of many twenty-four year old women who actually wanted to be alone. He actually couldn’t think of a mid-twenties anyone who wanted that.

“You’ll have to try harder than that.” She said nonchalantly, which irked him even more than he already was, and then swiveled away from him one last time, picking up her drawing pen and getting back to work.

“What’s your issue with relationships?” He went on and she knew he was headed right down a path intended to hurt her feelings just as much as she had his. So, she tensed slightly and braced for impact. “Is it a commitment thing? Or can you just not find anyone to put up with you for longer than five minutes?” 

She let his words sink their teeth in and then smiled to herself. “Hm. Seeing as you’ve been in my office now for,” she checked the time at the top right-hand corner of her screen, “eight minutes, maybe we should date.” She lifted a brow, awaiting his next response. 

It felt a bit like a cat-and-mouse chase bickering with Harry and since she was usually the cat, it brought her way too much pleasure fighting with him.

He scoffed. “Like I’d lower my standards for you.”

That one hurt, she had to admit. Not out loud or to Harry, but it still stung because it was true. He’d have to drop his standards to the floor to even consider dating her and she knew it. 

“Maybe,” she began, still half focused on her work, and ignored his comment all together, “some of us like being alone.”

“Nobody likes that.” He responded quickly and she heard a shift of his weight again and then his voice once more a few moments later. “It’s nice to be by yourself sometimes, yeah, but you can’t tell me you don’t want someone to come home to at the end of the day.” He crossed one leg over the other as he gripped the edge of her desk for support and just when she thought he was done, he kept going, “Someone you can vent to about your annoying co-worker.”

She glanced at him through the little portable mirror hanging above her desk—mostly used to make sure she looked decent before meeting with clients or, sometimes, Harry—and saw the tight smile on his lips. Almost as if that’s what he wanted, like he was talking about himself and not her. 

She’d slowed her progress down while he’d talked until she was no longer working at all. She no longer swiped her pen across the pad or had any idea what she was even doing when she focused solely on his words. Because, once again, whether he was talking about himself or about her, he was right.

“Yeah well,” she quickly hid herself back behind her wall and made her hands function properly again. “Some of us also don’t have the luxury of choosing whomever we want.”

She imagined him smirking at that one because, buried deep within her words was a compliment. That he was handsome enough to actually have anyone he wanted.

Instead, when she glanced at the mirror again and found him, there was the complete opposite of a smirk on his face, and as he stared down into his mug, clearly lost in thought, she wondered what the tightness in his jaw and the frown pulling on his lips meant.

She sighed and stole his attention away from his coffee. “I’ll have it to you before lunch. You can go now, unless you’d like to argue some more and slow me down by another…” she glanced at her clock again, adding up all the time he’d been standing in her office, “fifteen minutes.”

Without another word, she listened to the drag of his footsteps as he finally left her office space. And although she was glad to be rid of his distraction, the room felt so much bigger and so much colder and emptier without him in it. Shivering, she slipped back into her jacket and spent the next few hours doing nothing but staring straight ahead at her screen as she made final adjustments to her designs. 

Any other conversations with Harry were had over email as he worked in his own respective office, messaging her with every little concern he had in order to get his work done efficiently so that he wasn’t stressing to finish it tomorrow before he had to leave. Even though Y/N considered not responding to him a few times, just to spite him and slow him down for her own amusement, she found herself feeling guilty after leaving him hanging a couple times. Sure, she hated Valentine’s Day and everything surrounding it, but she’d almost hate even more the idea of both her and Harry being miserable tomorrow, so she inevitably gave in and cooperated with him. She’d probably regret it when he came back on Thursday spreading around the office all the gory details of his date, but at least he wouldn’t also be in a shitty mood. Her days were both boring and slow whenever Harry wasn’t having a good day. And although she’d blame it all on selfish reasons, it did also make her sad to see him frowning around the office and sulking when all she wanted to do was bicker with him and make him smile again, even just a little bit. But it was easier leaving him to his own devices than risk him finding out she cared about him enough to not wish sadness upon him.  

She couldn’t say the same for him. Harry probably relished in the days she came into the office in a sour mood. He probably celebrated and threw a party whenever she was upset, and, even so, it didn’t change how she felt about him.

The sun had long set and most of the office was gone by the time she finally called it quits and began packing up her things and giving her computer a rest for the night. There were still quiet murmurs from other workaholic employees, which comforting her knowing she wasn’t completely alone in the building, since the last time she’d done that, it took everything in her not to have a panic attack all the way to her car. 

Even though her boss told her countless times not to stay past five o’clock, as he told every other female employee that worked for him that he didn’t wish to see attacked after sunset in the city. Of course, when she was the only one who didn’t listen to him, he hired more guards and one of them rounded the corner into her office space, ready to escort her all the way down to her car.

“Figured you were still here.” He leaned against the walls of her cubicle and watched as she startled, twisting to meet his eyes for a moment before she settled and returned to slipping her belongings into her purse. 

“I don’t need you to escort me.” Zipping her purse, she rose from her chair, checking one last time across her desk to make sure she’d grabbed everything she needed to take home with her before turning to him as he still lingered in the opening of her little office. 

William had been hired a couple months ago, and was only a year older than her, but even so he was more than a foot taller than her and his biceps were about as big as her head. While the entire office drooled over him, she tended to keep her eyes and her thoughts to herself. 

“You say that every night you stay late. Just let me do my job and shut up about it.” He smirked at her and when her eyes met his again, sharply, glaring at him, she groaned and whirled past him toward the elevators. He followed swiftly behind, knowing she’d close the doors on him if he didn’t keep close enough pace with her, mostly because she’d done it before.

As he took his spot beside her and she pressed the button for the parking garage at the basement of the building, a familiar voice rang out through the office.

“Wait!” As if she wasn’t already annoyed enough with William’s presence, his stupidly large arm held the elevator doors open as Harry slipped inside a moment later.

“Thanks, mate.” Harry said exclusively to William as he caught his breath and stood wedged in the middle between the guard and Y/N, who was inching closer and closer into her corner to get away from Harry.

“You have any plans tomorrow?” Harry asked, his attention solely on William again while the elevator took off down through the levels of their building. Not fast enough for Y/N, of course.

William sighed, crossing his arms and trying to resist smiling. “Me and my girlfriend take turns surprising each other every year. And it’s her turn this year… so I guess I have plans, but I don’t know what they are.”

“Damn, way to make us feel incompetent.”

Y/N whirled her head to glare up at the side of Harry’s face. “Speak for yourself.” She warned.

Harry just ignored her though. “What did you guys do last year?”

Again, William stifled a grin. “I had been saving up for a while and took us both to Paris.”

“Shit.” Harry’s eyebrows rose and Y/N rolled her eyes away from him, watching the LED screen above the elevator doors as they neared the bottom levels of the building. She knew Harry and William had become friends, mostly because Harry was annoying and befriended everyone. Except her, of course. She heard his stupid voice again and wished she could just transport herself directly into the front seat of her car and be done with the both of them. “And now she has to do better than Paris.”

Y/N glanced around Harry just in time to see William smirk and she should have known what was about to come out of his mouth before it did. “Well, I don’t consider much better than her mouth ar—“

Y/N cut him off. “Ew! Are you serious?”

Both men eyed her curiously just as the elevator came to a stop and, with a ding, the doors opened. She flew toward them quickly.

“Y/N wait, I have to—“

Again, she cut him off, turning once she was out on solid ground. “I’ll be fine, besides trying to rid my mind of that image you just burned into it.” She turned on her heel and headed off toward her car.

William made a move toward her and Harry grabbed his arm, “I’ll walk her. Forgot she’s a bit of a prude.” They shared an amused look and Harry jogged out onto the concrete and asphalt until he reached her side.

“I heard that, you know… and I know for a fact your car is not parked in this direction.” She seethed and he just smiled to himself, happier than ever that she was in the mood to bicker with him, because he wasn’t quite in the mood to leave yet, where he’d have to wait till tomorrow morning at nine-thirty to see her again. And she wasn’t always the most talkative person on Valentine’s Day, either.

“Why are you the only female in our building not foaming at the mouth over him?” He asked instead, referring to William.

He heard her scoff. “Just because he’s attractive doesn’t mean I have to be interested… or want to hear about his girlfriend sucking his—“

“Cock?” Harry finished for her and within a second she spun around to face him, forcing him to stop in his tracks just inches from her now. His smirk only grew when he saw just how quickly he’d gotten her all flustered. 

And then, as they started each other down, the hardness in her face softened and she drew out a breath, forcing his eyes to fall to her lips and his smirk to fall from his mouth. He thought back to last spring, when there were numerous late nights with her just like this one. When he went home and couldn’t stop thinking about…

“Why are you looking at me like that?” She asked and he blinked a couple times before he lifted his eyes.

“Like what?” He furrowed his brows, trying to track down all the resentment he had for her but he couldn’t find it anywhere anymore. He couldn’t summon it and say something that would save his ass from being caught looking at her like he wanted to kiss her.

Like he wanted to taste her and feel her against him, and hear what she sounded like when he tugged at her hair for more.

“Nevermind.” She shook her head, silencing the chaos going on in his brain. And then she turned, continuing the walk to her car with or without him, but, when she heard the echoing click of his shoes against the asphalt once more, she knew she wasn’t rid of him yet.

“I don’t suppose you’ll give me a ride back to my car, will you?” He easily stepped back into place beside her like nothing had happened.

She didn’t say anything for much longer than he was comfortable with. And then, finally, they reached her car and she sighed. “Get in before I change my mind.”

As she went for the driver’s side, he took quick steps to the opposite side, watching her over the top of her little Honda as she unlocked her door, and then, after clicking the button, his door as well. They both slipped in at the same time and while she fastened her seatbelt and settled in for her drive home, he sat perched with his backpack in his lap, knowing he’d be out of her car within only a couple minutes.

He still glanced around at his surroundings as she backed out of her parking space. “Should’ve guessed your car would be as neat as your desk.”

She didn’t say anything as she drove in the opposite direction of the exit toward the section of the garage Harry always parked in. It was closer to the elevators because he always came in before her and snagged a prime spot. She preferred an extra few minutes of sleep over walking an extra fifty steps.

And he started up again when she continued to not talk to him. “Most artists I know of are super messy.”

“I’m not an artist.” She gritted out through her teeth as she came to a stop once she spotted the rear-end of Harry’s BMW. Although she knew it well enough to distinguish it from the other black BMWs in the garage, it also helped that Harry had an old, faded license plate cover filled with a collage of cute pictures of puppies. He’d said it won him bonus points with women, but she also knew his screensaver at work was a picture of puppies as well, and no women he was interested in ever saw that.

He peeled his eyes off his car and looked over at her. “I know you can draw, too.”

She paused, gripping her steering wheel. She did enjoy both art and design and she knew Harry knew the difference between the two. She just didn’t know why he always insisted on bugging her about it. 

“Yeah, well that doesn’t make me an artist.”

When he didn’t say anything, she glanced at him just in time to find him shrugging a shoulder like he was agreeing to disagree. Even if she couldn’t draw, he’d still consider her an artist because the things she managed to design always blew his mind and if that wasn’t art… 

She rolled her eyes. “Are you going to get out, or do I have to drag you?”

He grinned, and it was almost as if her eyes refused to see anything else but his dimples and the bright whites of his teeth, and the birthmark to the side of his mouth… 

“I’m going.” He assured, and yet he still hadn’t moved an inch. “Even though I’d love to see you try to drag me.” With her knuckles whitening on the steering wheel, he chuckled and unzipped the small pocket on the front of his backpack, withdrawing his keys as he finally swung her door open.

Once he was out, he gripped the top of the door and leaned back in to find her staring straight ahead. “Drive carefully, yeah? Would be quite tragic for your bitter ass to die on Valentine’s Day.”

She reached over and, despite having to brush her knuckles along the side of his thigh, grabbed the handle of the passenger door and yanked. His body remained in her way, however, and he was unfortunately a lot stronger than her.

Then she finally looked up at him, and those thoughts he had earlier surfaced again as much as he’d tried to bury them. This time though, he didn’t fight it as he glanced at her lips once more, then back at her eyes, which had widened slightly just before the dimples reappeared in his cheeks. “And I guess I would miss bickering with you every day.”

With that, he was gone and she retreated back to her seat as he shut the door for her. She had no idea what to think about what had just happened. Why he’d looked at her like that again. What that look even meant. 

By the time she reached the freeway, she’d convinced herself she was just seeing things. Harry wasn’t looking at her in any other way he had before when he was intent on pestering her. But, as she took in the scent of him still lingering in the cabin, she allowed a small part of her to hope she was wrong.

Her eyes fell on the man down the hall from her door as she slipped her key into the lock, her brows furrowing as she watched him. It wasn’t unusual for their paths to cross, as they tended to get home around the same time, but it was quite odd to see him sitting on the floor outside his apartment, his head in his hands. 

They’d said hi to each other a couple times in the mailroom, but she definitely didn’t know him well enough to go up and ask what his issue was or try to fix it for him. And after it was confirmed that he hadn’t, in fact, lost his keys, as they sat beside him on the floor along with his phone, she figured it best to leave him be. 

Turning her key, she pulled her gaze from him and disappeared from the hallway.

The second she was inside her apartment, she felt all the weight lift right off her shoulders, especially when her cat came racing up, screaming at her from the floor while also coaxing her toward the kitchen to fill the food bowl. Whatever was going on with her neighbor still very much on her mind, she tried to focus instead on relaxing and getting both her and the screaming Pretzel some dinner. 

She tried to remember his name as she heated up leftover pasta. She knew it started with an A, but her brain was coming up short. So, while Pretzel crunched on his food in his corner of the kitchen, she tried her hardest to remember. 

And it was no question why she cared so much. Her neighbor was someone she was actually interested in, and she had been since she first saw him. Of course, she was never foolish enough to think he was into her, but she still let herself fantasize. He was tall, nearly black curly hair atop his head always in a state of disarray, and he had the most beautiful blue eyes she’d ever seen hidden behind his glasses. And, if she was being honest with herself, he was just a darker-haired version of Harry. Maybe that’s why she liked him.

The beeping of her microwave tore her thoughts from the dangerous path they’d been headed down. Harry’s voice rang in her head a moment later.

Like I’d lower my standards for you.

She’d needed to hear him say that, because sometimes her thoughts got carried away when it came to Harry and sometimes she did let herself be a fool who hoped. But after he’d said that one damning phrase, it was enough for her to stop. She didn’t meet a single one of his standards, inside or out. 

Still, she tried her hardest not to go back out into the hall and make sure her neighbor was alright. Maybe he just needed someone to talk to and it wasn’t like she was doing anything important. Even if she didn’t have a dumb crush on him, as she did Harry, she still didn’t enjoy seeing him in the state he’d been in.

Before she could work up the nerve, however, a knock sounded through her quiet apartment.

She held her breath as she opened her door, really hoping it wasn’t the boy from across the hall, since she was still blanking on his name, but she couldn’t imagine anyone else knocking on her door this late into the evening. 

So when she inevitably found him there, looking down at her through his annoyingly long lashes as she took in the horrible state he was in—red, inflamed eyes and hair that needed to see a brush rather than his hand—she completely lost her breath instead.

“Uh, sorry, I… saw you come in and I know we don’t talk and this is a weird thing for me to ask but…” He ran said hand through said messy hair and she found her breath again while looking up at him like she’d do whatever he’d asked just so he’d stop frowning.

He sighed, glancing down the hall toward his apartment and then met her curious and somewhat concerned gaze. “Can I come in?”

She recoiled. “Um… why?”

“Well, um, I was hoping you could help me with something and I’d rather not have the entire floor know about it.”

She was beyond confused now, but still, she stepped aside and let him pass, assuming that if he was actually a murderer he would have done her in a lot sooner than this. He had plenty of other opportunities. Plus, something in his face just… made her want to trust him.

She closed the door and turned to him, watching as his eyes scanned her kitchen and where her food still sat before he twisted around, eyes wide. “Shit, I’m sorry for interrupting.”

She shook her head. “It’s fine.” And after clearing her throat, she crossed her arms over her chest. “What do you, um… what do you need help with?”

He swallowed and she watched his Adam’s apple budge in his throat. “I don’t imagine you’ll like me very much after I ask but… I need a date.”

“What?” Again, she nearly flew out of her skin.

His eyes darted back and forth between hers, gauging her reactions and very obviously on the verge of seeing himself out and pretending this never happened. Instead, he stuffed away his pride and went on. “My ex… she, uh… well we broke up a few months ago and I saw her the other day and she’s seeing someone and we were talking and I… told her I was seeing someone too and so she invited me to go on this stupid double date with her… but the thing is… I’m not actually seeing anyone and I just told her that so she’d be jealous but she didn’t seem jealous at all and I don’t exactly have many friends to ask for help and I saw you and…” He rambled, but she managed to understand his predicament just fine. 

“A double date? With your ex?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know either. She’s… she does weird shit but… I still want her back.”

Y/N’s heart ached in her chest. As much as she detested relationships, she was a sucker for other people’s relationships and she was definitely a sucker for her beautiful neighbor, even if he was asking to use her to make his ex-girlfriend jealous.

“Not that I’m saying yes but… when? And where?” She finally asked after thinking things over for a moment.

“Tomorrow night… I can pay you. I will pay you, I mean… but, seriously, you don’t have to do it I just thought I would ask.”

“Where is this date at?” She repeated when he didn’t answer that part of her question.

“At this party… and bef—“

She cut him off. “Okay so let me get this right. You want to hire me as your date to a Valentine’s Day party?”

He lifted a brow, “Well, there’s more… she wants to get dinner before going to the party.”

She shook her head, looking away, “I don’t really do Valentine’s Day…”

“You wouldn’t have to do much. I’ll pay for your dinner, too. Whatever you want. I just… really need your help and you’re my only option.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “You realize I’m not exactly…” she waved at her face and his eyebrows screwed together in confusion. “I’m not easy on the eyes and I don’t think taking me will make anyone jealous.”

He didn’t say anything for a while, just stared at her incredulously. She shifted her weight nervously and he finally opened his mouth. “You don’t actually think that, do you?”

Her features scrunched up and she kept her eyes planted on the middle of his chest. And then he realized that she, in fact, did.

“I’m so sorry… I shouldn’t have asked you to do this.” He also realized that using her to make his ex jealous would possibly hurt her more than it would help him and he could no longer fathom putting her through that. “I’ll figure it out. I’m sorry.” He moved to walk past her, back to his apartment but she stopped him before he got far.

“No… I’ll help you.” And then she realized his identity was still somewhat of a mystery to her. “This sounds even worse than what you just asked me to do, but… I completely forgot your name.”

He breathed out a laugh. “It’s Adam.”

She knew it had started with an A!

“Y/N.” 

He smiled wider and nodded. “I know.” And then his face grew sad again. “I am really sorry I’m asking you to do this on Valentine’s Day, it’s definitely not my proudest moment.”

She waved him off. “I wasn’t going to do anything anyway. Just tell me what you need me to do.” She didn’t bother brining up the whole payment thing. She didn’t really care about being paid. He was nice, the only nice person she’d encountered in her apartment building and if getting him back together with his ex meant she’d never have to come home and see him in the fetal position on the floor again, she’d suffer through a date and a party on her least favorite holiday.

It was somehow even worse than it’d been yesterday. The decorations seemed to triple in size. Not an inch of the office was untouched by something pink and she prayed whoever had put up even more decorations had spared her little cubicle.

“Oh, hey, Y/N!” One of the receptionists most responsible for the overflowing decor, Kayla, called her over to her desk not even a minute after Y/N had arrived. And she stalked over until she saw the package Kayla pulled out that instantly lifted her spirits.

She stopped in front of Kayla’s desk and took the thin box from from her, already knowing what it was and thanking god for the timing so that her entire day wasn’t completely miserable. It was a new drawing pad she’d ordered, a bigger one that she hoped would be a bit more efficient to use than her current one.

Even with her back turned to the rest of the office, she sensed Harry’s presence long before he stopped beside her with his mug in hand.

He lifted a brow at the package in Y/N’s hands just as she reluctantly turned to look at him. “Getting gifts sent to the office? That’s a first.”

She rolled her eyes and stuffed the box under her arm, holding herself back from running off to her office to set it up. “Jealous?” She cocked her head.

And instead of his condescending smirk and a hateful response to go with it, the sparkle in his eyes seemed to fade as he eyed the box again, genuinely worried now that it was actually a gift from someone. 

Before either could say anything, they all turned to find a delivery man walking up to Kayla with a giant bouquet of flowers in tow. And so it began. Although, when Kayla took the vase from the man eagerly, a bright smile on her face because Kayla loved love a little too much, Y/N couldn’t help but think about Adam. About how the only time she’d managed to get a date on Valentine’s Day was when it wasn’t even real. Instead, she’d stupidly agreed to help her cute neighbor win back his ex-girlfriend in exchange for a free dinner.

It was… pathetic. To say the least.

She felt Harry watching her, too, while she eyed the bouquet of flowers as they departed reception with Kayla and made their way to their recipient. As stupid as she found everything about the holiday, she couldn’t help but want someone to send her flowers. To give her anything for that matter. To have thought about her for at least a second of their day. Harry cleared his throat and she tore her eyes away.

“So… what’s in the box?”

“None of your business.” She rounded him, heading to her office, but he grabbed her free arm to stop her short and didn’t speak until she met his gaze again.

“Can we meet up in my office to finish the proposal? Think it’ll be easier to get it done than over email.”

She had every reason to be suspicious of him. They almost never worked in each other’s offices. When they did work together, which was often, it was in one of the empty conference rooms and it was usually at the beginning of the process when they needed the space to plan things out. The last time they’d really been in each other’s offices was last spring. Figuring he just wanted to get things done so he could be out of the office on time, she let it go.

“Give me fifteen minutes.”

He watched her walk away, watched her even as Kayla returned and noticed his gaze and giggled at him as she took her spot back behind her desk.

“It was something she ordered for herself, by the way.”

“What?” Harry whipped around again, not having even realized the other woman until now.

“I know you two pretend to hate each other but I see the way you look at her, Harry.” Kayla lifted a brow at him as she began typing on her keyboard.

He feigned disgust. “I’m seeing someone, you know.”

“Are you?”

“Yes.” He insisted. “I have a date. Tonight.”

She lifted her hands in surrender. “Okay… I’m just saying.”

“I don’t look at her.”

Kayla suppressed a smile and snorted instead. “If you say so. I guess you didn’t also sneak into her office this morning, either.”

“I think all these flowers and stuffed bears and heart-shaped things have gotten to your head.” He pointed around to the decor littering her desk while holding his mug steady.

Kayla met his eyes and her smile slipped off her face. “Harry, please don’t mess with her.”

His face screwed up. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“If you don’t like her then don’t lead her on.”

“I don’t think she’s capable of being led on.”

Kayla froze for a moment and then nodded. “You’re right.”

He wasn’t sure what she meant by that either. “Why are you being weird?”

“Because,” Kayla sighed, brushing her curled brunette hair onto one shoulder and then lowered the volume of her voice. “I happen to know she doesn’t think very highly of herself and I’d rather not see her get hurt, especially not by you.”

Now Harry froze. The hand that gripped his mug tightened and he didn’t even flinch as it began to burn his skin. He heard Y/N’s voice in his head then as he drowned out his surroundings.

Some of us don’t have the luxury of choosing whomever we want.

He had instantly regretted what he’d said to her yesterday when she’d told him that. And now hearing Kayla, in a way, confirm what he’d read between the lines of Y/N’s words… his chest tightened in quite possibly the worst way ever. He’d hated himself most of the day after telling her he’d never lower his standards for her and he could say he was just bickering all he wanted, but he knew now for certain she took it the wrong way. And he wished more than ever that he hadn’t said something so horrible to her, especially when it was the farthest thing from the truth. 

And the real truth, that he was trying desperately to shove away with stupid remarks like that, was that he didn’t meet her standards. She wasn’t into relationships and he knew he wasn’t good enough to change her mind.

“How do you know that?” He finally asked.

“That Christmas party last year… she’s a really happy drunk until she’s not.”

He flinched. “Did she say something?”

“I don’t want to get into it, mostly because I don’t think she remembers and would probably kill me if I told you but… just leave her be.”

He hardened back up again. “She does’t have any interest in relationships anyway, ‘specially not with me.”

Kayla scoffed. “She’s a really good liar.”

Harry stood there for a few more moments, feeling as if his life had just gotten flipped upside down. He’d been in such a good mood mere minutes ago before his dumbass waltzed into reception all because he’d seen Y/N. Because, despite everything and despite the fact he was already attempting to date someone else, it was Y/N he wanted to be close to all the damn time. Groaning, he turned on his heel and left for his office, hoping she wasn’t there waiting for him so he could have a moment to himself to gather his thoughts.

In a hurry to open her package, Y/N slumped down into her chair tossing her purse on the ground at her feet and pulling out her box cutter in a rush of movements. She was so distracted, in fact, that she didn’t even notice the little stuffed frog, the box of chocolates and envelope sitting on the other side of her desk near her mouse. Instead, she unboxed her new tablet and began setting it up, not noticing the gifts until she went to turn on her computer. And then she froze.

With reluctant hands she grabbed the envelope first, her name printed on it in perfect cursive. She knew nobody in the office who had such good penmanship. Opening the card in hopes of finding out who had placed the items on her desk, instead, she just found it signed as ‘secret admirer.’ Rolling her eyes, she set the card down and realized it had to be from her boss. Sometimes he remembered to go around and give everyone little gifts on the holidays. Obviously he’d remembered this year. 

She dug into the chocolates as she set up her tablet and began calibrating it to suit her needs before finally testing it out in the little bit of time she had before she needed to make her way to Harry’s office. 

And once that time came, she left everything in its place, besides the box of chocolates, which she continued to pick at while she made her way through the room. What she didn’t notice while stuffing her face with candy was that… no one else had a stuffed frog or chocolates or a cheesy little card on their desks.

She rounded the corner into Harry’s office, which was a real office and not a cubicle that he usually shared with one other person who was thankfully out with clients for the day. She knocked on the doorframe to get his attention after just watching him focus on his screen for a moment. Harry was cute when he was focused.

But then he turned to her and his eyes fell to the box in her hand.

When he didn’t say anything, she held it out toward him. “Do you want some? I think Andrew was feeling generous this year.”

Harry’s eyes quickly panned up to hers and his brows furrowed as if she’d just punched him in the gut. And she couldn’t make out what that expression meant no matter how hard she tried. 

“He didn’t give me anything.” Harry motioned around his desk.

“Maybe he doesn’t like you.” She shrugged, setting the chocolates down on his desk while she grabbed his office mate’s chair and pulled it up beside him.

Harry sighed, turning to his computer for a moment and then watching her from his peripheral while she picked out another piece of chocolate. “I didn’t see anyone else with chocolates on their desks this morning.”

Y/N just shrugged. “There was a frog too. And a card.”

“And why do you think he’d give you all of that and no one else?” Harry hoped she’d get the hint but he didn’t hope too hard. She was still Y/N after all. And he really didn’t mean to sound so bitter… well, okay, he did. But he knew she’d misplace his bitterness, crushing what little hope there was to bits.

“Maybe he likes me better than all the rest of you.”

Harry scoffed, shaking his head as he put his attention back on his screen. 

“No one else in this office would give me a card signed as a secret admirer so… maybe I did something I don’t remember doing and he’s thanking me?” Now that she really thought about it, and if Harry was right… then it really didn’t make  much sense. It’s not like she was Andrew’s favorite employee.

Harry just lifted a brow and then pretended to lose all interest. 

Sensing the tension, she slipped the box closer to him. “Here. I think you need a knock-off Snickers if you expect me to work with your grumpy ass.” He made no move to indulge her, however. And so she went on, continuing to poke the bear. “Why are you in a lousy mood anyway? Isn’t this your favorite holiday? And you get to leave early.”

His eyes fell from his screen and he stared at the brick of sticky notes below his monitor before mumbling, “I’m sorry about what I said yesterday.”

Taken aback, she searched what she could see of his face for answers to what he was apologizing for. He’d said a few things she could imagine deserved an apology and yet, so did she. Maybe she should have been the one to apologize to him first.

“I didn’t mean to say what I did.” He finally turned to meet her face on. He’d hoped the frog and the chocolates would have been atonement enough, but considering she thought they were from their boss and not him, he just had to suck it up and actually say what he meant.

She shrugged. “It’s fine. I can be a prude sometimes.”

He searched her eyes for a moment and then shook his head, “No that’s not… I meant what I said earlier in your office… about lowering my standards. It was a stupid thing to say and not true in the slightest.”

But then she smiled and he grew confused. “Yes it is. It’s okay to have standards, you know.”

“I know that. But if we… I wouldn’t have to lower my standards. And it was cruel of me to have said that to you.”

She couldn’t stand looking at him any longer and averted her gaze, clearing her throat. “Well it doesn’t matter so… can we just get this proposal done?”

He’d wanted to spend how ever long it took to convince her that it did, in fact, matter, but Y/N was persistent, more so than him, and so he’d given in and they moved on to being productive with their time. And in less time than he’d anticipated their proposal was finished, being sent off to Andrew for approval before their presentation at the end of the week with their clients.

Harry sat back in his chair and she returned her own to the other desk where it belonged, all while he watched her. 

“What do you do on Valentine’s Day?” He asked, just trying to get her to stay longer, knowing that if those were his true intentions, then he was fucked. That he wanted to be around Y/N, even though he was seeing someone else, albeit for just a week so far, even though she’d never want the same from him. 

Maybe he was just as terrible with relationships as she claimed if he always chased after what he couldn’t have.

“That is also none of your business.” She grabbed her box of chocolates from his desk, his voice pinning her in place again though.

“Let me guess… it involves chocolate, your cat, and the most anti-romantic movies you can find?”

He would not think her very prudish if he knew what else she did on Valentine’s Day while alone in her apartment, but she figured it was best to keep that to herself. Instead, she smiled at him. “Something like that.”

He narrowed his eyes and threw his arms up behind his head as he laid back in his chair, watching her curiously like he was trying to figure her out. Meanwhile, she was trying to not make it obvious she was staring at his biceps as they just about bulged from underneath the sleeve of his pink button-up. He’d done it on purpose though, so as much as she tried to hide it, he still grinned with satisfaction when she became flustered.

“Well, have fun with that, then.” He nodded, and for a moment while she was lost in his eyes and growing embarrassingly hot, she wondered if he could read her mind. If he knew exactly what not-so-innocent things she did on Valentine’s Day. Then he brought his arms back down to rest his elbows on the edge of his desk, pinching his bottom lip between his fingers and watching as she rolled her eyes, held her chocolates close, and left his office. 

Adam arrived right when he said he would at five-thirty. It had given her plenty of time to change out of her work clothes and into one of the few dresses she owned, to at least seem somewhat convincing that this was a real date. She also fixed her makeup and put on a pinkish-nude lipstick before switching out her bulky purse for a smaller crossbody. 

When she opened the door to him, he most certainly did not disappoint. She almost let herself get lost in the delusion that it was a real date when she saw him dressed to the nines and cleaned up for the first time since she’d known him. And she especially got a little lost in it when he pulled a small bouquet of flowers from behind his back and handed them to her. 

“You didn’t have to—“

“I know.” He gave her a once over when she wasn’t looking. “You didn’t have to do this for me either.”

She quietly accepted the flowers and let him in while she found a vase and filled it with water. He leaned on the counter, watching her as she did so.

“You look… beautiful, by the way.” He blurted out once she had cut and placed the stems into the vase. Her hands froze, though, and when he met her eyes, he knew he’d made a mistake.

“You’re paying me to make your ex-girlfriend jealous. Please don’t flatter me.”

“Sorry.” He muttered, although he was beginning to wonder if the bigger mistake was not taking her out on a proper date that had nothing to do with his ex. 

She sighed and adjusted the strap of her purse. “Let’s go then.”

He went over all the final details on the Uber ride to the restaurant. Things about his ex he thought Y/N should know about. And he made sure she knew, for about the hundredth time, that she didn’t have to do anything she didn’t want to. And she reminded him for an equal amount of times that she never did anything she didn’t want to do. So, settling that, he helped her out of the back of the Uber when they arrived and opened the door to the restraint for her as well. Everything that she’d expect from a normal date, which only left her disappointed when she reminded herself it wasn’t.

She waited quietly, and tried to catch her nerves, while Adam talked to the hostess and gave her his ex’s name for the reservation. The place was packed and anyone who didn’t call ahead surely would not be getting a table tonight. She’d never been out on Valentine’s Day, though, so it was like stepping into a brand new world for her. And as she followed both the hostess and Adam, she paid more attention to all the couples enjoying their meals than anything else.

Except for when he reached back and grabbed her hand, entwining their fingers just before they came to a stop. She blinked her eyes at their hands for just a moment before he gently pulled her around next to him. And whatever way she’d felt about holding Adam’s hand went right out the window when she locked eyes with Harry.

Shit.

Shit, shit, shit.

The last thing she expected to find, while Laura, the gorgeous blonde ex-girlfriend, stood to hug Adam, was Harry fucking Styles. And what a fucking coincidence it was, almost as if this was her karma for feeling the need to constantly help people. 

Adam’s hand slipped from hers but she didn’t even notice it anyway. She and Harry still stared each other down and neither of them moved a muscle either. Well, besides the one in his jaw as it tightened. Then he did move, glancing over at Adam with a blank expression before landing his gaze back on her again. And then his eyes fell to the glass of water in front of him and she felt like she’d been released from chains he’d tied around her wrists.

“This is Y/N,” Adam’s hand went to the small of her back, guiding her forward to meet his ex-girlfriend and Harry’s current… whatever they were. 

Laura held out her hand, her smile a little too forced. “Laura. It’s nice to meet you. Please, sit.” She ushered them to the table as she took her spot beside Harry again. Adam, of course, took the chair opposite Laura, which left Y/N in the one opposite Harry. 

This would be a long, hellish night.

She couldn’t help but wonder what Harry was thinking. That maybe she’d come to crash his date. Or, even worse, that he’d already figured the whole thing out. That Adam was paying her to be here. She really hoped he’d never find out because it was just embarrassing enough to make her want to change her name and move across the country, thousands of miles away from him. Harry finding out that she couldn’t get a real date to save her life… beyond humiliating.

“This is Harry.” Laura motioned to him and he just barely lifted his gaze, nodding at Adam and ignoring Y/N entirely. “You know,” the blonde went on, glancing between Adam and Y/N, “I was a little shocked when you told me you were seeing someone again.”

Adam just shrugged.

“How did you guys meet?” 

Y/N left all the talking to him. Mostly because she was still in shock that she was sitting across from Harry. And she hadn’t even taken the time to properly take him in and realized he’d also changed his clothes since work. Swapping his wardrobe out for a fitted black button-up, that wasn’t buttoned all the way to the top as his shirts normally were. The sleeves were already rolled to his elbows. He’d shaved off the scruff along his jaw as well and fixed his hair so that it was combed back out of his face, although a a couple rebellious strands hung down onto his forehead. He looked… like absolute perfection. And he was being forced to be on a date with the ex-boyfriend of the girl he was seeing and his annoying co-worker. She felt terrible for him.

“Oh, uh, well we live on the same floor.”

Laura nodded, clearly anticipating more. “Is that it?”

Y/N felt Adam tense up beside her and so she took over, easily spinning a lie. “I ran out of milk one night a few weeks ago. He’s the only one who answered the door.”

She noticed a flash of movement in her peripheral and turned to find Harry’s gaze on her again, one eyebrow lifted curiously. He was either wondering how she hid it so well, or trying to figure out what to ask in order to reveal their ploy. He never said anything, though.

“Sorry, um,” Laura’s tone changed as she glanced between Harry and Y/N, both of them looking away when the other girl interrupted. “Do you two know each other?”

Harry grinned, sitting back against his seat and folding his hands in his lap. “Something like that.”

Y/N rolled her eyes. “We work together.”

“Really?” Although her tone said otherwise, Laura’s face said everything about how she felt upon hearing that bit of information. 

Adam twisted his worrisome gaze to Y/N, but she ignored it. Harry, however, did not.

“Don’t worry, mate. I was under the impression she was celibate up until now.” With that, Y/N kicked him under the table and he sat forward to swallow the groan that very nearly left his lips after she’d jabbed him in the shin with the toe of her heels. “Guess she’s really good at hiding things, though.”

Adam just chuckled nervously and Y/N shot him an apologetic smile, trying to reassure him that this date would still work out despite Harry. 

“What a small world.” Laura laughed, trying to break the tension but dinner hadn’t even started yet. 

Sometime during the main course, Laura excused herself to the bathroom and Y/N almost, in a desperate attempt to flee both Adam and Harry, invited herself along. But she figured it’d be worse to be alone with Laura than with them. Laura might ask questions she wasn’t prepared for. So, she stayed put, as much as it pained her to do so.

“So, Adam, what do you do for a living?” Harry asked suddenly and she wanted to kick him again. Mostly because his tone was that of a jealous teenager and he’d waited until Laura was gone to pester her ex-boyfriend who most certainly did not deserve Harry’s pestering.

“Oh, uh, I’m an artist. I work for an animation studio at the moment but I’m trying to get into freelance.”

Harry’s eyes shot to the suspiciously quiet girl sitting across from him. “So is Y/N.”

Adam turned to look at her, but she just glared at Harry. “Oh, I didn’t know that.”

Harry titled his head as he narrowed his attention in on Adam again. “So you’ve known her for a few weeks and you never asked what she did?”

“Harry.” Y/N warned, trying to kick him under the table again but he dodged out of the way.

“Well… she said she was in graphic design… not art.” She had told him that, during their crash course yesterday while they got to know as much as they could about each other in a span of a couple hours.

“I think it’s the same thing.”

Adam just shrugged. “I guess. I don’t think I could be a designer, though. Most artists make what they think looks good, designers create things to appeal to customers.”

“Just ignore him.” Y/N advised and Harry was the one shooting her daggers and attempting to stomp his foot on top of hers under the table this time.

“You and Laura used to date then? She never told me how you split up.” Harry moved on.

Adam swallowed nervously. “She broke up with me.”

“Why?” Harry pushed and Y/N looked at him like she wanted to kill him, which he ignored.

“I, uh… I had a drug problem for a while. I was not the best person to be around sometimes. But after we broke up, she helped me with rehab and everything.”

“Guess that explains why you’re on such good terms.”

Now Y/N really wanted to do more than just kick him. 

Adam grabbed Y/N’s hand under the table and pulled her straight from her violent thoughts about Harry. And he didn’t lace his fingers between hers, instead, it felt as if he had just been looking for something to ground himself with. And her hand resting on her lap was the closest thing he could find. It didn’t, however, go unnoticed by Harry and his jaw clenched as he stared at the point in the table where, just below, there their hands met almost as if he was trying to set everything on fire.

Laura returned shortly after that. 

As promised, Adam paid the entirety of both his and Y/N’s bill, even though she attempted to snag it from him, seeing as the date had gone to shit and it was all her fault. Well… maybe it was also Harry’s fault a little bit too. But she definitely did nothing to make Laura jealous. Adam, on the other hand, did a great job at making Harry jealous just by existing and being Laura’s ex, whom she was still friends with. 

The four of them stood outside on the curb awaiting their Uber after dinner was over, agreeing upon splitting one car to get to the party instead of taking two. Laura was apparently very cautious about fossil fuel consumption.

Y/N shivered as she stood between Adam and Laura, wishing she’d bright a jacket instead of relying on a long-sleeve dress to keep her warm. Then an arm wrapped around her shoulders and Adam pulled her close, running his hand up and down her arm to form heat. She tensed up, though, forming into an immovable brick. She had no idea the last time she’d been that close to another person, let alone a member of the opposite sex. When he felt her go rigid, he leaned down until his lips were at her ear. “Is this okay?”

She just nodded and tried to relax. Which turned out to be quite easy because Adam was warm and he smelled nice. She, of course, didn’t let her mind wander off too far. He was still in love with his ex. He’d still shove cash into her hand at the end of the night for her troubles and go on with his life.

Adam let go of her when the car pulled up and quickly went to the passenger door to confirm with the driver. Then he opened the back door for the three of them to climb in, Laura going first, then Harry, and, at last, Y/N, while Adam slipped into the front seat beside the driver.

While the car took off, Y/N was shoved into the corner when Harry moved closer to her in order to find both his and Laura’s seat buckles in the dark. Eventually, he settled back into the middle and gave her some space again. When she made no move to do the same as them, Harry turned to look down at her. 

“Put your seatbelt on.” He whispered.

Her eyes whirled up to his. Wordlessly, and of course after rolling her eyes, she grabbed her seatbelt and he made room for her to buckle it in. Then she sat back in her seat, crossing her arms over her chest while she stared out at the traffic through her window.

She would have stayed in that exact position the entire trip, too, if Harry’s knee didn’t insist on bumping into hers constantly. And she couldn’t tell if he was doing it on purpose or not.

When she glanced up at him, and found the corner of his lips curl upward, she figured it was, in fact, purposeful. So, with the hand closest to him as her arms were still crossed, she poked him in the side, right against his ribs, hoping it hurt.

“Ouch.” He whined, covering the spot with his hand dramatically. Everyone in the car glanced at Harry, all except for Y/N who snickered as she returned to staring out the window.

Harry wasn’t giving up, though. This time, with his arms crossed in his lap, and glancing at Laura to be sure she wasn’t watching, he walked his pointer and middle finger up the outside of Y/N’s thigh, close enough to her hip to make her squirm slightly when his touch tickled her. And as soon as he got her attention, he looked down at what he was doing and pressed his middle finger against her, meeting her gaze with a smirk.

In the same moment, the driver turned up the music in the car as they waited tirelessly at a red light. It was better than silence or listening to his passengers breathing. But Harry mentally thanked him and turned his attention back to Y/N, leaning into her slightly until his lips were at her ear and she shivered for an all new reason.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in a dress before.” He whispered for her ears only. The music was especially loud in the back and he wasn’t sure Y/N had even heard him.

Especially since she didn’t respond right away. But how could she? Harry’s fingertips were still grazing her thigh, as if trying to emphasize the dress she had on. And his stupid knee was pressed right up against hers. She couldn’t think straight.

Though when she finally turned to him and whispered back, “Don’t get used to it,” he knew she had, in fact, heard him well enough. 

He leaned again, “Afraid I already am.” 

She hated that there were butterflies in her stomach. That he was saying such odd things to her when his date was sitting just on the other side of him. The date who most definitely met all Harry’s standards.

Huddling away from him, she stuck her eyes out the window and kept them there the rest of the trip.

It was just past eight when they arrived, a fifteen-minute trip up through the city taking half an hour due to all the Valentine’s Day traffic. Another reason she hated this holiday.

The party was being held by Laura’s best friend, who’s name Y/N did not care to commit to memory. In the elevator ride up to the penthouse, though, Harry stood close to Laura, his arm wrapped around her waist and Adam to Y/N, although he didn’t touch her. She wouldn’t have minded if he did, but she figured it was best to keep those boundaries in place anyway.

Pink and golden balloons littered the ceilings of the penthouse. The drink cups were also pink, as was the communal punch bowl that Y/N steered clear of, having no idea what was in it, or who had already spiked it. She knew nobody at the party besides who she’d come with, though she assumed both Adam and Harry were somewhat acquainted with Laura’s friends. 

It was most definitely not someplace Y/N ever saw herself being at, not only because it was a Valentine’s themed party, but also because she wasn’t exactly comfortable around so many people. Especially when those people were all so unfamiliar to her.

“Here,” Adam handed her a drink and then grabbed one for himself. She downed the thing in one go, needing to take the edge off. It might’ve been a slight mistake when the alcohol burned the back of her throat, but she didn’t care too much when she grabbed another.

Then he was leading her into the dancing pit of bodies where they huddled close enough so that his lips were at her ear. “Is it alright if I touch you?”

She glanced over at where Laura and Harry had been left, finding both her hazel eyes and Harry’s green ones glued to the both of them. She wasn’t sure what Harry’s deal was, but this was her moment to fix things and make Laura jealous, so, turning back to Adam, she nodded.

He eased his hands onto her waist as they began swaying to the music. And then he pulled her closer, his hands slipping to the small of her back as her arms wrapped around his neck, being careful with her own movements even though she desperately wanted to sink her hands in his hair.

And, god, he smelled so good as her head rested in the crook of his neck. And he felt good, too, as he moved against her body. She knew it wasn’t real, and that the alcohol was making skewing her perception of things, but it was still nice. Nice to be held and to just let go for a change.

Over Adam’s shoulder, Y/N caught Harry’s eyes again. His jaw clenched and he looked the same as he did back at the restaurant. Angry. And then she realized that maybe she wasn’t really trying to make Laura jealous anymore at all, but rather Harry.

It was dumb, she knew that. He’d have to like her in order for her to make him jealous. But… the way he was looking at her. The way he had looked at her. His eyes lingering too long on her lips. What he’d done in the car ride here. 

She heard Adam in her ear again. “I think it’s working. She just stormed off into the kitchen.” Then he pulled away and she realized she hadn’t even seen Laura. Just Harry. Harry and his stupid, obnoxious green eyes.

“You owe me more than just dinner.” Y/N teased but Adam grew serious.

“I know. And since you refuse to accept my money, I’ll have to figure out another way to repay you.” He smiled and then twirled her around so that she no longer had any line of sight toward Harry. He pulled her close again, one hand going to her waist while the other stayed locked to one of hers. “Suppose I could start with making your coworker just as jealous… although I think he already is.”

Confusion flooded her features as she peered up at him. 

“Oh, come on! He was ready to rip my head off when he realized I’d grabbed your hand. And when I put my arm around you? I thought I might be better off just giving you my jacket and freezing to death instead.”

“I don’t…” she shook her head in disbelief. It was one thing for her to be pretending to make Harry jealous in some delusional hope that it’d work. But this… this was a whole other thing.

“I’m actually quite interested to see what he does if I kissed you.”

She was shocked at first and then, possibly due to the alcohol, just as interested. “Are you asking my permission?”

“Are you saying yes?”

Y/N hesitated. “Is she back?”

Adam’s eyes scanned the room and Y/N realized he hadn’t asked to kiss her for Laura’s sake at all.

“She is.” He finally announced. 

Without any more second guessing, Y/N’s hand slipped to the back of his neck and pulled him in. As soon as their lips collided and she tasted the alcohol on him, she knew that she’d never agreed to this without it. Or maybe she would. Adam spun them back around again, deepening the kiss as her eyes opened and fell into the direction she’d last seen Harry.

He was still there.

Still watching.

His hands in fists. His jaw tightened into a crisp line. His nostrils flared. His eyes… sad.

She pulled away. Adam steadied her, grabbing her shoulders when she swayed. But, as she caught her breath, the dizziness went away. 

“I’m going to find the bathroom.” She told him and after he nodded, she left, forming a rift for herself through the bodies that danced all around them until she was in the clear. Then she was avoiding Harry as she walked past him, not so sure his gaze was still set on her. Maybe she’d gone too far. She didn’t often just kiss people for no good reason and that’s exactly what she’d just done with Adam. She barely even knew him.

She didn’t exactly need the bathroom, just an open, empty and quiet place. And so, she fell back against a wall in the foyer and ran a hand through her hair.

“That was quite the show.”

She startled at the sound of his familiar voice and looked up just as he stopped a few feet away from her. “What are you talking about?”

He lifted a brow. “You expect me to believe that that you, anti everything to do with this holiday and with relationships and romance, are actually dating that guy?”

“Is it that hard to believe?” She crossed her arms, willing to go as far as she needed to before she let Harry see the truth. That she was that pathetic. 

“Yes.” He didn’t even hesitate to respond and she flinched.

“Well, I’m sorry that you have a hard time believing that someone may actually like me.” She had no reason to nearly be shouting at him and no reason to be saying what she was because Adam didn’t like her.

“That’s not what I said. It’s hard for me to believe you just dropped all your ideas about relationships for some guy with obnoxious blue eyes.”

“I didn’t.”

“So then what is this?”

Y/N hesitated. Hating that the truth was about to boil over out of her mouth for him to see all the embarrassing bits of it, but she had no other way of convincing him. And it didn’t really help that Adam was so far out of her league that it wasn’t even convincing to begin with. Nor did she want to convince Harry of anything either. It was clear now that he hadn’t been jealous, he was just trying to figure out when she stopped hating relationships so much.

And the truth of that was she never really hated them. It was just easier telling herself she didn’t want it than admitting no one ever actually wanted her.

She trembled, not even sure why, but he was making her incredibly nervous, so much that she wished she could rewind and stay squished next to him in the back of the car forever. Being that close to him... his stupid fingers on her thigh, whispering things in her ear that made her head spin. She’d much prefer that than standing in front of him now, seeing every ounce of judgment he was about to throw her way.

“What do you want me to say, Harry?” She shrugged and dropped her eyes to the white marble floors between them, focusing on calming her anxiety while she was no longer looking at him. “He needed a date and I felt bad for him.”

“What does that mean?”

Letting her head fall back against the wall, she stared up at the ceiling this time as her eyes burned with embarrassment. “He paid me to be his date so his ex-girlfriend didn’t find out he wasn’t actually seeing anyone. That’s what it means.”

Harry didn’t say anything.

“So, yeah.” She folded her arms, looking down at the floor again, still unable to meet Harry’s eyes and see the look that would be on his face. A smirk of amusement at her expense. Even probably his dimples, taunting her and turning her into the joke she already was. “You were right. I can’t find anyone to tolerate me, which is why I’m on this stupid date that isn’t even real.”

“Him kissing you seemed quite real to me.”

There was more exasperation than humor to her laugh. “It wasn’t.”

Harry seemed to finally understand. “He’s trying to make Laura jealous.”

Y/N just nodded. “I promise I didn’t know you were going to be there, that he was trying to get her back from you.”

“You still kissed him though.”

She couldn’t argue that, nor could she tell him the real reason she’d agreed to the kiss. That it wasn’t exactly Laura she was trying to make jealous. She’d never live that one down, if she ever managed to live any other aspect of this night down.

When she didn’t say anything, he stepped closer. “Why did you kiss him?”

“I’m sorry, Harry I just... I don’t know.”

He shook his head and took another step, making her eyes widen when he was close enough that she had to crane her head back to meet his gaze. “Seemed like you were trying to make me jealous.”

She swallowed, not exactly in the position to laugh it off and argue with him when he was this close and all she could feel were the traces of his fingertips on her thigh. Her voice was quiet when it finally came out. “Making you jealous would mean I assumed you liked me in the first place... which I’m definitely not stupid enough to assume.”

A crease formed between his brow and his stupidly perfect jaw hardened as if he was biting his tongue from saying something. And fuck him for choosing then to finally stop opening his mouth.

Just then, a pair of drunk guys, one on the other’s back, came racing through the foyer, screaming at the top of their lungs while a few others followed quickly after them. It was enough to force Harry away from Y/N again, enough for the both of them to step out of the little bubble they’d been in together the past ten minutes.

Once they were alone again, their eyes gravitated toward each other and just when she thought Harry might say something after all, he flipped around on his heel and left. And she watched as he turned the corner and mixed back into the party.

After a few moments to gather herself, she followed him, not exactly sure what she was going to do now that Harry wouldn’t talk to her and it felt weird being with Adam while Harry knew everything. But, whatever plans to keep herself occupied no longer matted when she spotted Laura.

Making out with Adam in the middle of the room. 

Without even thinking, she turned to locate Harry and he might as well have been a source of gravity because her eyes fell right to him within a second. And he was watching them too. He knew. 

He met Y/N’s eyes and she wasn’t quite sure if he was upset or not. She couldn’t really read anything on his face, and stopped attempting to when he moved towards her and she had other things on her mind, like where he was going and if he was going to bother taking her with him.

Shortly after he stormed past Y/N she made sure he wasn’t going to leave her behind and chased after him. She didn’t know Adam very well and definitely not Laura to want to stay with them. And everyone else in the room were complete strangers to her. Adam had promised he’d take her home, but he probably hadn’t expected to be making out with his ex by the end of the night, either.

Harry didn’t say anything, not even when they’d reached the foyer and Y/N asked where he was going. He just located his jacket and slipped it on before making his way out the front door.

And right when she thought he really was going to leave her behind, since she was the reason he’d just lost Laura to her ex, he held the door open and glanced over his shoulder at her while she still stood on the other side of the threshold.

“Are you staying?”

Without a word, she sprung into motion and trailed right behind him into the hallway like a lost puppy, letting the door shut behind her that cut them off from the music as it faded into the background behind them.

It was a silent trip down the elevator, mostly because she had no idea what to say that would sound sincere and he didn’t say anything at all. At least not until she followed him through the lobby until he stopped on the curb just outside the main doors.

She took up the spot next to him, eyes glued to the side of his face as he took in a deep breath of fresh air, or at least as fresh as traffic allowed it to be.

Then he spoke, and it seemed like the first time she’d heard his voice all night. “I’m the one who gave you the chocolates and the frog.”

She narrowed her eyes, both not exactly sure why he’d just said that or if he was even being serious. “What?”

He looked down at her. “It wasn’t Andrew, it was me.”

“Why?” She breathed and while she was positive she’d be freezing cold soon, the fresh air after being surrounded by so many people felt good. It felt freeing and she wondered if he felt that way too.

His eyes scanned hers before he looked away. “Well partly to apologize for what I said.”

“What’s the other part?”

Sighing, he turned his entire body to face her now. “Something else entirely…” He trailed off, only confusing her more as he stuffed his hands into his pockets and stared at his feet. “I didn’t tell you because I know you don’t like all this stuff, but seeing you with him tonight... I wish I had.” 

“It’s not that big of a deal. It’s just a frog.”

He shook his head, grinning. “It’s not just a frog, Y/N... because the thing is,” he paused to catch his breath, “I’ve been in love with you for... a really long time… since last spring. But with you being the way that you are, I never thought you’d feel the same way.”

She opened her mouth and then closed it.

“And then you come in with that guy and...” He pulled his fingers through his hair. “I don’t think I’ve ever been more jealous in my life... because all this time I thought you weren’t interested in relationships, but you just weren’t interested in me.”

Inhaling, she summoned every ounce of courage she could fathom. “You were right about why I kissed Adam.” He lifted a brow, waiting for her elaboration which never came. “You were right about other things, too. I wish I had someone to come home to almost every single night I got to bed alone. No one—“ She cut herself off, trembling again as tears stung her eyes. “I pretend not to be interested so I can ignore the fact that no one’s ever wanted me.”

“That’s not true.” He had that same look on his face as before, when she’d told him she wasn’t stupid enough to think he liked her.

She just nodded. “And I’m sorry but... why would you want me when you could have someone like Laura?”

“Y/N...” He huffed and stepped closer to her, the heat from his body making her shiver. “This is not the first time I started seeing someone to get over you... in fact, all my relationships since I met you have been shit.”

“Why didn’t you just tell me?”

“Well you’re very anti-relationships so I think I was justified in wanting to avoid you rejecting me… especially since we work together and it would have been really awkward.”

“I don’t, uh... I...” She stammered, not really sure what to say to him even though her heart was screaming at her in full volume. 

He held his breath and then, in almost a whisper, “Is this the inevitable rejection?”

“No.” She didn’t even hesitate that time and at this point, her mind no longer controlled the words coming out of her mouth as she let another organ finally speak for itself. “No, I liked you the second I saw you, Harry... and at no point tonight was I ever trying to make Laura jealous.”

The corners of his mouth began to curl into a smile. “That was very cruel of you to do to me.”

“I didn’t think you liked me at all twenty minutes ago, Harry.”

“Twenty minutes ago,” he fully invaded all of her space now, leaving the smallest gap between their bodies as he could get away with, lifting his hand to her jaw and rubbing his thumb over her cheek. “I was still on this date with the wrong person.” 

“I think the date is over now.”

“No,” his eyes fell to her lips just like they had before. “It’s not.” 

“You’re looking at me like that again.” She mumbled, out of breath.

He lifted a brow and didn’t once remove his eyes from her lips. “Like what?”

“Like…” she trailed off, not having the courage to say it in case she wasn’t right. 

“Like I’ve wanted to kiss you for a very long time and I’m tired of pretending?” 

“Something like that, yeah.”

He grinned, both of his dimples making an appearance just before he leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. And once her brain realized what was happening, she sunk right into him, letting his arm wrap around her waist as his other hand tangled its way into her hair to bring her closer. She threw her arms over his shoulders and he hunched lower to meet her. She staggered back a step when he did, nearly losing her balance but he caught her instantly and then drew his lips back as he laughed.

“This is not how I expected tonight to end.” She couldn’t help but think the way he struggled to catch his breath was possibly the hottest he’d ever been. Not to mention the tiny bit of her lipstick smeared on his face. She could look at him just the way he was right there and then for days and be perfectly satisfied.

“It doesn’t have to end yet.” She fully blamed her sudden burst of confidence on the cold, but refreshing February night. And maybe she also just wanted to get out of it before it caught up to her and she would, yet again, regret not having a jacket.

“Oh?” She wanted to smack the mischievous smirk off his face and leave him there on the curb. “And here I thought you were a prude.”

“You thought a lot of things about me that weren’t true, Harry.”

He thought about that for a moment and after realizing she was right, he then wondered just how wrong he was when he’d called her celibate. “I suppose… I’d quite like to find out just how wrong I was.” He slipped a loose strand of her hair back behind her ear, which is where his lips ended up as he whispered softly, “And I’d also quite like to show you just how wrong you were about me not liking you.”

They stumbled into her bedroom in the dark, Pretzel racing out between their twisted feet in a hurry, screeching at them in the process. Harry giggled against her lips, “Your cat sounds friendly.” 

“Well, since I was supposed to be spending tonight with her, and chocolate, and anti-romantic movies…” She pulled away from him, watching as his smile spread further. Maybe she could actually believe he’d been in love all this time. 

“Right… I’d be upset too.” 

She shook her head and kissed him again, then pulled back a second later. “You know that’s not actually what I do on Valentine’s Day.”

He lifted a brow and waited for her to explain but she didn’t.

“And what is it that you do, then?” He finally asked, curiosity getting the best of him, although he had some inkling as to what she was talking about.

Her smile was devoid of innocence as her hands fell to his belt. Harry’s shirt had already been lost to the kitchen floor. Her dress hardly covering what it was supposed to once Harry had gotten his hands on it. 

“Maybe you’ll get to find out.” 

When she brought her lips back to his, after undoing the buckle just under his navel, he spun them around and led her backwards to the bed. He wasn’t sure how far it was, but hoped he was headed in the right direction. And because of that, when her knees did finally bend over the mattress, he practically came flying down on top of her. 

She squirmed out from under him, crawling back towards the pillows as she watched him at the end of the bed while he stood and removed his belt completely, trying not to drool at the sight of him. At the sight of Harry, her fucking annoying ass, perfect, beautiful, coworker standing shirtless at the end of her bed where he was also about to be…

He pushed his trousers down off his hips and they fell to the floor with ease, almost with the same amount of ease that her eyes fell to the tight boxer-briefs he wore underneath. She swallowed as he adjusted the waistband back into place, quite certain that, even in the low light, her eyes were not deceiving her.

The bed shifted at her feet as he joined her, and then it took all her willpower to not fling herself at him as he crawled up the length of her. As he settled himself between her thighs and she felt every last, very hard, inch of him pressed against her. She couldn’t be blamed for the whining moan that she let out in his ear as his lips became familiar with the shape and taste of her neck. She also couldn’t be blamed when her hips instinctively collided with his.

He just giggled again and shook his head, the loose strands of his curls tickling her forehead. “Easy now.” He warned in a hushed mumble, his lips vibrating right against the vein in her neck that pulsed so much faster the more his free hand began to wander up underneath her dress.

He left her speechless for multiple reasons, but the main one was when she felt his fingers tracing down her thigh and then, moments later, after he shifted his weight and used his knees to keep her legs open, she sucked in a breath of air as she felt him pressed against her clit, forcing her nails to dig into his back but he didn’t seem to mind.

Coming back down to kiss her, he began moving his hand in expert little circles, grinning against her mouth every time her body begged him for more. It wasn’t long that he complied, either, when he sat back on his knees between her legs and tugged her underwear off for good, throwing it to the depths of her bedroom floor. He wouldn’t have known where they landed even if he tried because his gaze belong to her only as he lowered himself to his elbows before her, kissing his way up her thighs until he reached her center.

When she squirmed away from him, he wrapped his arms around her thighs and pressed his hands into her hips after gently moving her dress out of the way. 

“You know when we used to stay late at the office working?” He asked suddenly and the heat of his voice against her made her squirm again, but he held on tight. “And you would get sick of sitting in an office chair and made me promise not to tell Jim when you sat on his desk instead?” She had no clue where he was going with it, but still, she nodded. “Every single time I turned to look at you, I thought about doing this.” Before she could get words out or even a coherent thought, she felt his tongue on her. And this time when she jerked against him, she nearly slipped out of his hold until he grabbed her again and pulled her back down, digging himself further into her as she struggled to breathe properly.

She dug her fingers into his hair when he brought her close to the edge and showed no mercy. And somehow, she’d managed to get the sole of her foot up onto his shoulder in order to kick him away, but it didn’t matter much because he never budged. Not that she wanted him to, but he just felt so good… 

“Harry!” She shouted, pulling at his hair and making matters worse for herself when he moaned against her sensitive bundle of nerves. He let her come, never once lifting his mouth from her even as her hips jerked off the mattress and she very nearly pulled his hair out. When she stopped screaming, her voice caught in her throat because she was lost to her own orgasm, is when he lifted his mouth, replaced it with his fingers and watched her as she came down. As her eyes fluttered shut and her chest heaved, her lungs struggling to get oxygen back into her system. Her hold on him loosened as she came undone around him, melting into his hands it seemed like.

And when he began rubbing his index and middle finger into her, once she was far and beyond overstimulated, and he knew that, she reached down with a whine and grabbed his wrist with what little strength she had in her and pulled him away. His hand fell to the other side of her hip, which he used to his advantage to pull himself up over her again, his other hand taking her dress with it until he was able to tug it over her head and toss it. Then he came back down to kiss her, letting her taste herself on her lips. He rubbed his thumb across her cheek and when he pulled away, found her looking at him finally. Although it was with heavy lids as she still struggled to regain her bearings.

Before they could get much further, a loud crashing sound from the other room made both of them nearly jump out of their skin. She shot up instantly, grabbing hold of Harry’s bicep before moving him out of the way and sliding off the edge of the bed. 

“It’s just the cat.” Harry would have probably said the same thing even if it was not just the cat, he’d say anything just to get her to stay with him.

“I know but it sounded like…” her voice trailed off as her feet hit the floor and the moment she went to stand on her own two legs, her knees buckled. He reached to grab her waist but she righted herself before he could. She didn’t see the way he hid his cheeky smirk at the fact that he’d been so good, she was still dizzy.

“You good?” He asked as she stumbled her way into a shirt. With only a groan in response, and what he was sure was her middle finger, she left him alone in her bed to investigate the noise. Sighing, he laid on his back and got comfortable amongst her pillows. And after about three minutes, decided to locate the remote to her TV to entertain himself. 

He flipped onto his side and felt around her bedside table, but his fingers never landed on anything remote-like. So, frustrated, he reached up and switched the lamp on. Again, he found nothing. Looking further, he realized the table had a drawer and so he pulled it open in hopes of finding the damned remote before she got back. 

But what he found instead was so much better than turning on late night news.

“Fucking cat knocked over my vase.” Y/N was back within ten minutes. Harry had left the light on, but made sure it wasn’t obvious he’d gone snooping into her drawer, at least not yet anyway. She crawled back into bed beside him and it was then he noticed the bandage on her thumb.

“Are you alright?” He forgot all about what he planned to tease her with when he gently grabbed her hand to inspect the damage.

“Yeah. I was in a bit of hurry trying to clean up the glass…” 

Harry rolled his eyes and dropped her hand. “I would have come help you.”

She just smiled up at him as he fit his arm around her shoulders, his bicep under her neck. “That’s alright.”

He shrugged. “It was for the best anyways that I didn’t.” When he smirked, she narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him.

“And why’s that?”

She followed his other hand as he reached for something and then, moments later, it reappeared with a very familiar pink object clutched in his grasp. “Because then I wouldn’t have found this.”

Her first reaction was to pry it from his snooping fingers, but when she reached across him to grab it, he way too easily held her back and, at the same time, held it far out of her reach. 

“So this is what you do on Valentine’s Day, then?” He flicked his wrist back and forth, waving her vibrator in the air as he taunted her.

“If you don’t give that back to me,” she reached for it again to no prevail, “you won’t be doing anything, least of all, me.”

He clicked his tongue. “Why would I give it back when I plan on using it?”

She froze and he chuckled at her reaction.

“Would be rude of me to break your traditions, wouldn’t it?” 

She swallowed, her eyes slowly meeting his again. The appearance of his right dimple told her he wasn’t playing any games. She had no idea how many times he planned to make her come tonight or whether or not she’d even be able to walk tomorrow at work. But, given the stupid look on his face, she almost began making plans to call out sick instead.

“Do you actually know how to use that thing?” She finally asked, glancing at the wand still held very firmly in his hand.

He looked at her like she was crazy moments before he pivoted and pinned her onto her back, settling himself into the position they’d been in before the interruption of the cat. 

Just, this time… he was clicking on her vibrator and watching her face as she began to regret her words. 

“‘Course I know how to use it. The real question is,” he brought his lips to her ear, the soft vibrations and the sound of his voice mixing together like sin itself. Even more so when he nipped at her earlobe. “Do you know how to handle it?”

[wizkiddx]

hiii could you do one of tom asking your dad to marry you?? thankuuuuu

okay so I don't believe in boys having to ask the dads, because we are strong independent QUEENS and no man owns me ever, but I hope this is still okay <33

not proof read and written super quick so sorry!

summary: Tom's terrified to ask your dad a very particular question question

///////////////////////////////////////////////

“Mr Y/l/n” Tom called your dads attention from the dishwasher he was loading up. The holidays spent at your parents meant a lot of good things- but mainly food. So much so the dishwasher was almost continually on, just so you didn’t run out of crockery.

“Its Y/d/n Tom, we’ve been through this.” He was joking but with your Dad - Tom could never really tell. At heart your dad was an absolute softie, except no one really saw that except your mum and you. Always a daddies girl, Tom knew how much your dad had meant to you. He had guessed before he’d met you parents , that he would be protective.

And that he was, never frontally rude or cruel. It was more subtle - though to Tom it was very damn clear, he had his doubts. As a people pleaser, Tom didn’t like the fact he didn’t like him. Time and time again, he’d tried to prove just how much you meant to him and yet it seemed to fall on deaf ears. So three years down the line, it was safe to say he was bloody terrified. Heart-in-mouth sort of event. Tom did a lot of ‘terrifying things’: talking to massive studio heads; going on stage with thousands of people screaming; jumping out a plane even.

But no, a single conversation with your dad had his adrenaline going like nobodies business. Asking to marry you.

“You going to just stand their gawking? I hope the moviestar doesn’t make my Y/n do all the housework?”

“No sir I-of course I don’t” Stammering his way through with wide eyes, Tom practically leapt across the kitchen to the opposite side of the dishwasher to your dad. Secretly your Dad was chuckling away to himself, taking absolute delight in how terrified the ‘movie star’ was of him, but managed to keep a steely outershell. In silence, the two uunloaded the dishwasher, Tom desperately racking his brains for conversation starters.

This is what he did for a living, learnt the speech he’d spent hours preparing, then retell it. Why then, was Tom having such an issue with the script he’d arguable practiced the most? Deciding he needed a buffer, Tom went to the safe space of small talk.

“So how was the pub? Y/n said you were meeting some old friends?”

“Watched the match, bloody awful game and Wilks was crap, I don’t know why he even started.” Now this football talk was something Tom felt safe in. He had learnt as much as he could about your dads team - just so there was some mutual conversation.

“Yeh tell me about it, I caught the last half. Though the ref made so bad decisions too, that penalty never really was VAR or not.”

“Thats the most respectable thing I’ve ever heard you say.”

The next couple of minutes were spent with both men raving fanatically, letting all their anger out on the pretty subpar game this afternoon. In fact, Tom swore your dad actually laughed along with him at one point. Admittedly he’d caught himself almost immediately- but for two seconds, he had cracked it.

With the last mug placed in the cabinet, Tom was quite frankly shocked at what your dad said next. He had presumed that since it was late and everyone else was in bed, Y/d/n wouldn’t want quality time with his daughters boyfriend.

“You fancy a nightcap son?”

He’d never called Tom that either. Frankly, you dad preferred the nickname ‘moviestar’ because he knew it infuriated Tom. Made the tips of his ears flush bright red, that was Toms tell - one that your dad had noticed too early on.

Jerkily Tom nodded, swallowing down the lump in his throat as he followed the elder man to the sitting room - where he kept the scotch glasses and bottle. No sooner had the drinks been poured, that Tom practically exploded with his thoughts.

“Mr Y/l/n-sorry I mean Y/d/n I-I um I needed to ask you something.” All he got was a long sigh and a nod, encouraging him to continue. “I-uhm….”Tom scoffed, clearing his throat because all of a sudden it felt like he hadnt had a drink in 10 hours, mouth completely dry.

“Well first off-and all respect. I know I don’t have to ask you. Y/n is the most independent and strong woman and we aren’t living in the 1950s. But, well but she loves you alot.” Tom stressed that last point especially, looking up to your dads poker face. It put him off for moment.

It was just how grumpy he looked, it was bloody terrifying. Taking a big gulp of the malty liquid, Tom steeled himself once again. “ And she respects you, your opinion always matters and I’d never come between that. And Y/n, she likes her traditions right? Like the stupid hat game you all play at Christmas dinner which makes no sense to me? Or the puzzle that you don’t start till everyone’s pretty drunk and tired at 3 o’clock in the morning on christmas? So that is… uhm thats why I’m asking you.”

Again all Tom was met with was a stern gaze, once again taking another generous sip of the scotch.

“Look I know you have your doubts about me- “ That got a response, a snort of agreement from your dad as if saying ‘you think’.

“But-but I really love your daughter. She’s my whole world and I can’t imagine being without her. And I know my lifestyle probably doesn’t fit with how you imagined your daughter to have. I mean-I’m not always at home and I’m away for months but- but…. look.” Tom sighed, shifting awkwardly on the sofa to directly face your dads armchair. “When I’m homesick and tired and grouchy from filming and I get back to the hotel I facetime Y/n. Everyday. And just seeing her smile, you-you know, the really soft small one that makes her dimples pop out? One look at that smile and everythings fine. Because all I’m thinking about is seeing that smile for the rest of my life. When she finds out she’s pregnant with our kid, when we’re taking them to college. I mean even when we’re 80 and probably sick of each other- she’ll still have that little smile that puts me into this sort of stupor. I just- I love her. And I’d do anything for her, I always will, I promise you that. So-so” With a shaky breath, Tom delivered his hitline.

“This is me just letting you know that I’m going to ask her to marry me and- I really hope she says yes.”

Tom was almost out of breath, and the breath he did have was shaky, looking up desperately at the older man across from him. He watched with wide eyes as your Dad placed his glass back on the drinks table with a clink, before leaning forward and standing up from the chair. He groaned slitghtly at the movement (his knees werent what they used to be) and took the two steps forward to be stood right infront of Tom’s seat. In that moment, Tom honestly thought he was getting a punch to the jaw at the very least. Afterall, he had just pretty much demanded that he were to propose to you.

As he braced for impact, tensing all his muscles, instead what he felt was a light pat to his right shoulder. Tom trailed his eyes up your dads figure to see what he thought was a gentle smile on his face too. Though he hadn’t ever seen your Dad smile at him before, so couldn’t say for certainty.

“You’re a good kid Tom, and you make Y/n very happy. Just pull yourself together when you ask her alright son? Didn’t think moviestars got stage fright.” And with that, your dad turned his back, heading toward the doorway that lead to the stairs to the bedrooms. Stunned, it took a moment or two before Tom processed - long enough that he had to leap up and call your dads name to get him to halt in the hallway.

“So is that a yes? You’re giving me permssion?”

“Oh Tom….” Your dad sighed in the lowlight of the hallway, in a more muted voice - now they were closer to the bedrooms where both you and your mum were sleeping peacefully. “ You already said, Y/n is strong and fiercely independent. I don’t control her, heck I don’t think she’s ever listened to me and never will. But…. for the record, I hope she says yes too and… I know she will.”

Scoffing in excitement, Tom combed a hand through his scalp, feeling such a wave of relief it was almost indescribable as your dad turned and trudged up the stairs. Once he heard the door of your parents bedroom close, he couldn’t help himself. He ran back into the kitchen, where he preceded to do an excited jumpy dance thing.

Because it meant a lot. To have your dads approval, to have your dads support. That meant the world. Not only for the sake of proposing but also, everything Tom said was true. He wanted to build a family with you - which meant that man was going to be the grandparents to your kids one day. That man had helped to craft you into the person you were today - his ‘person’. His perfect angelic, sweet woman.

Whenever he felt this excited, this happy, this elated - theres only one person he wants to be with. So, after turning all the lights off and checking the doors were locked (with a very obvious spring in his step) he then hopped up the stairs. Tiptoeing around, he got ready for bed in no time, before getting to the highlight of each evening.

Delicately he crawled into bed, sliding under the covers, so as to not disturb you. Naturally though, feeling the bed dip made you turnover- hooking your legs round his and resting your head on his chest. Tom chuckled quietly at your cuteness, stroking your cheek lightly with his thumb. It was enough to rouse you awake, enough to make you acutely aware of the thundering sound from his chest. With tired eyes, you propped your chin on his breastbone looking up at him with concern.

“You alright T? Hearts really racing.” He only replied with this loopy lovesick grin, his right hand coming to cup your cheek.

“Go back to sleep darling, I’m okay.” He did look okay, but he was almost too smiley and even with a foggy sleepy brain, you were still suspicious.

“Whats going on, you’re being weird?”

“Nothing…. your dad and me just had a chat… He called me son.” That shocked you too - clearly the conversation you’d had with him about being nicer to Tom had rubbed off.

“He did?”

“He did…. you are beautiful you know?” Now he was definitely being weird. You furrowed your eyebrows, as if trying to read his mind because something odd was going on in there.

“Now you’re just being creepy. What’s up?”

Tom just leant forward to kiss your forehead, then pulled you down onto his chest.

“I just love your family and I love you, you know that?”

“Are you trying to get into my pants? Because my parents are literally in the next room.”

“Oh shut up and kiss me.”

[liliesoftherain]

My Hero Academia Main 3 Boys x Reader

Ch. 16 Bakugou vs Todoroki(Who’s the greatest, no one knows-)

Masterlist

A/N: Another short chapter but this is the last of the fight scenes- well, for this arc anyways fufufufu~ We’re finally going to get into the juicy drama and I love it. Be prepared~ 

If anyone wants to be added to the taglist, or if i missed you, please send an ask and I’ll add you!!

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“With this, the final match-up will be between Todoroki and Bakugou!”

You awaken feeling cold, a nice contrast to the heat of your skin. You let out a groan, sitting up to see Recovery Girl giving you a smile.

“Welcome back dearie, how are you feeling?”

You look around the room, vision a bit fuzzy but you easily blink it away.

“Fine, not as warm,” you glance down, spotting an ice blanket over your form, “Thank you.”

She smiled again, checking your bandages and giving you a once over before nodding to herself.

“You seem well enough to go back and finish watching the match, I don’t believe they’ve started yet. Now, you can’t let your body overheat, you need to make sure you’re staying hydrated okay?”

She gives you a bottle of water and tells you to be careful. 

You thank her once more, picking up your jacket that had been removed to help combat the heat in your body, and flung it over your shoulder before leaving.

“It’s finally the last battle of the U.A. High School sports festival! The top of the first years will be decided with this one match! The finale, so-to-speak~”

You make your way to the balcony just as the announcement was being made, the cheering from the crowd deafening at the final match of the day for the first years. You spy an empty seat next to Eijiro at the top row, and quickly sit down by him. 

“(y/n),” he exclaims in surprise, a grin on his face, “we all figured you would be knocked out a little while longer, good to see you back on your feet!”

The rest of the students turn to face you and you blush at the attention, scratching the back of your head with a nervous chuckle.

“Yea, uh, well,” you stutter on what to say, “how could I miss this last fight?” 

“From the hero course, Shoto Todoroki! Versus! Also from the hero course, Katsuki Bakugou!”

“That was one hell of a match, you almost had him at the end too. Bakugou is just one crazy machine, I tell ya.” Sero grinned as he twisted in his seat directly in front of you.

“Yeah, we all thought you were going to win that one,” Denki said from beside him, “Shame though, Bakugou really doesn’t know how to hold back.” He sighs dramatically.

You roll your eyes playfully, shushing him as the fight was about to start.

“He doesn’t need to hold back, it wouldn’t have been a good fight if he did. Now shush, it’s starting.”

You go to look down at the arena to spot green eyes staring intensely into yours, making you blink slightly. You smile softly, reassuring Izuku through eye contact alone that you were fine, and he gives a shaky smile back before turning around in his seat.

He was worried for you, while he knew Kaachan didn’t hesitate, it was also clear he wouldn’t do anything too bad to hurt any of his classmates unless they could handle it. Still, seeing his explosions knock you out of the ring like that, to have them rush you away while throwing a medical ice blanket over your body wasn’t a pretty sight. He was nervous, knowing the effects of your quirk and what they could do to you if you were overheated-

He was just relieved to see you were okay.

“Now, START!”

This battle was the best one to watch yet, and you were lucky to have woken up in time to see it. 

Todoroki started by immediately creating a large wall of ice, Bakugou letting off as many explosions as he could but was completely covered after a split second. However, the giant tremors you felt let you know he wasn’t sitting idly by, getting himself out and lunging at the other. 

Shoto stuck out his right side, to set off another attack most likely, but Bakugou quickly dodged it and grabbed onto the boy, using him as a leverage to jump over and throw him with momentum. You felt your jaw drop at how precise Bakugou was, you knew he was good but he was almost scary good. However, Todoroki caught himself using the ice move that you had borrowed, allowing his ice to brace his impact but then riding it like a wave to get some distance between them and to block him in.

“Bastard, I’ll show you what happens if you make a fool of me! I’ll kill you, I want an indisputable first place! I can’t get that if I beat some scum who underestimates me! There’s no point if I can’t get higher than Deku; everyone I've fought, cheeks, shitty hair, GLOW WORM-THEY’VE BEEN GIVING IT THEY’RE ALL,” Bakugou thinks back to each match, he feels himself linger on the memory of you being thrown out of the ring, how your eyes struggled to stay open until your body collapsed, “IF YOU HAVE NO INTENTION OF WINNING, IF YOU WON’T FIGHT LIKE SHE DID, THEN DON’T STAND IN FRONT OF ME, DAMN IT!”

The slip up went unnoticed , he charges, mind only focused on winning. 

Todoroki felt stuck, he wanted to prove that he was his own person, that this was his quirk..

But the looming presence of his father over his shoulder made that impossible to do so.

He thought back to Midoriya’s helpful words during their match, he thought back to you; you had shouted at him during his fight before, as if you understood him completely. You even had spoken to him before his first match of the games, telling him how he didn’t need to feel trapped-how he was his own person. 

He wanted to believe in your words, in the words he’s been told, but he couldn’t.

His father still had a hold on him, and he couldn’t shake it off. So with a silent apology to the ones who have been encouraging him; Midoyria, you, and even Bakugou in his own way, he reluctantly lowers his left arm.

He won’t use his fire. 

“TODOROKI!” 

You saw the hesitance, you knew why- you knew this was hard for him to overcome, you were both alike in that very way. You surprised yourself as you shouted, voice in sync with Izuku’s.

But you weren’t focused on that, all you could do was picture the soft smile on his face when you had that conversation with him before his battle with Sero. He had looked so surprised, as if he were really questioning if this was real; that little smile he had burned itself as an important memory in your mind and you didn’t dare forget it. 

You wanted him to smile like that again, you wanted him to smile without the worry and fear and hatred of his father weighing on him. 

You wanted him to win; win the fight with father, with himself.

“DON’T LOSE, DO YOUR BEST!” Izuku shouts,

“PROVE THAT YOU’VE GOT THIS, YOU GOT THIS, TODOROKI!” You scream along with him.

You smile, brilliant flames come forth from below--only to frown in sorrow as it quickly dies out. Bakugou’s special attack quickly ended the match, Todoroki was knocked out of the ring. You could tell Bakugou was pissed, shaking the unconscious boy till Midnight had put him to sleep as well. 

A hand goes over your mouth, your silence contrast the screams of wonder and triumph that surround you. Your heart was heavy in your chest, for what exact reason you weren’t sure.

[dadgonedeku]

Celebrating Bakugou’s Birthday Headcanons

💥🎊~SFW (very fluffy...the most fluffy)

💥🎊~Bakugou x Fem!Reader (mutual pining)

💥🎊~Happy Birthday to the little rat, here are some hcs to celebrate! 🥳

💥🎊~Tbh I should have just made this a oneshot because that’s basically what it is but in HC format because it’s easier for me to write whoopsies...🥴

💥🎊~I wrote this in like four hours so I’m super sorry if it sucks...it was honestly really hard for me to write with no motivation what so ever but I just wanted to make sure I got something out in time for the baby’s b day! Double whoopsies 🥴

💥🎊~Also long post triple whoopsies 🥳

💥🎊~ “Here we go, today is the day!” You say to yourself as you wake up in the morning, already excited for what’s to come.

💥🎊~ You see reader, you and the rest of 1A (mainly the bakusquad) decided to surprise the gruff explosion boy for his birthday.

💥🎊~ And as you got ready that morning, you decided to take a little extra time in making yourself look even more beautiful than you already were, examples being putting on a little more makeup than usual or even taking some extra time to learn a new hairstyle.

💥🎊~ You’ve had a crush on the ash blonde for a while now, ever since the beginning of the school year, and it only continued to grow as you watched him become stronger and develop more of a gruff softness with his classmates.

💥🎊~ So this was the perfect opportunity to show him how much you cared, and on top of that you had an excuse for you lookin even more ‘like a snacc’ than usual.

💥🎊~ “Y/N!!!! Come on hurry up!!” You hear you’re best friend Ashido knock at your door, you quickly finish whatever you’re doing and pull yourself together, taking a quick glance at how you looked in a mirror before opening the door.

💥🎊~ “Geez girlie, you look bomb, get it, bomb?” You huff a laugh at the bad joke as she takes in your appearance.

💥🎊~ “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this spruced up before, well except for that one party you got to go too. Lookin good, ready to try and reel him in?” She teases as she takes a quick snap of one of your bra straps under your shirt.

💥🎊~ “Ashi!!! No. And besides, I’m sure he doesn’t even like me back anyways.” You shoot back as a bright pink blush paints itself on your s/c cheeks. Ashido was the only one who knew about your longtime crush on the ash blonde, and frankly she was the only one you trusted enough. Fortunately for you, she proved liable.

💥🎊~ “Ha, I wouldn’t think so, have you seen the way he looks at you whenever you’re paired up in a match or even during the sports fest?” She asks excitedly as she steps into your dorm room, following you over to your bedside table as you open the top drawer, retrieving a medium sized box wrapped in a bright orange paper, a green bow attached to black ribbons sitting on top of it.

💥🎊~ “No Ashido, and ya wanna know why? Because I’d be in the middle of a FIGHT then!” You playfully yell back as she lets out a laugh at your flustered face. “Plus, I’m sure that’s not even true anyways, there’s nothing special about me that would make him ‘fall in love’” You quote with your hands as you take the gift from your drawer, tucking it under your dominant arm as you grab your purse with the other.

💥🎊~ “Alright, think what you want. Just know that you are a tasty lady with a tasty bod and personality and if he don’t like it back, he doesn’t deserve you.” She chuckles with her hands on her hips as you roll your eyes amusingly in response, nudging her out of the door as you close it behind you.

💥🎊~ “Where is he right now anyways?” You inquire as you and Ashido make your way down the fourth floor hall to the elevator, “Doesn’t he get up really early in the mornings?”

💥🎊~ “Yep, sure does. To be fair I don’t really know what he’s doing right now, but he’s not in the common room.” She responded as the two of you stepped in the elevator, pressing the lobby button that would transport you to the common room.

💥🎊~ “Oh, well I hope someone came up with a good enough distraction so we have enough time to get everything ready.” You say hopefully as the elevator drifted downward, Ashido nodding in agreement. The rest was silence, a few moments going by before the familiar ‘ding!’ sound of the elevator alerted the two of you that you had arrived to the floor.

💥🎊~ You took a deep breath and fiddled with a necklace that hung around your neck, anxiety building of the unknown, and if your secret plan would actually work. Ashido placed a comforting pink hand on your shoulder and flashed you a small smile, you shot one back and took a deep breath, closing your e/c eyes for a moment before stepping out of the elevator.

💥🎊~ “There you guys are!” Kaminari waved happily from the common space, alerting the rest of your classmates that you and Ashido had finally shown. Well...all except for two?

💥🎊~ “Huh? Where’s Kirishima? Wasn’t he another mastermind of all this?” You ask curiously, placing your box on one of tables and signaling to Urakaka to keep an eye on it, to which, of course, she saluted with a bright smile.

💥🎊~ “Oh he’s keeping Kacchan occupied for now, they went to the gym for a workout an hour or two ago.” Your vibrant green-eyed classmate Midoriya replied with a grin, also holding a small box in his right hand.

💥🎊~ You took a sigh of relief, thankful that Kirishima had bought some time...but wait...Midoriya said a couple hours ago...

💥🎊~ oh no...

💥🎊~ “Wait?! A couple hours ago? That means that they’re almost done by now right?” You ask suddenly, startling a few of your classmates in the process, a couple seconds go by before all hell breaks loose, Iida resorting to shouting out orders to his various fellow classmates.

💥🎊~ You and the other girls were tasked with setting up tables and helping hang streamers from the ceilings, Urakaka’s quirk coming in handy as she would hold onto you as you attached the fragile paper material to the bland, off white ceiling.

💥🎊~ Orange and Black sheets were draped over the kitchen tables as Sato and Momo worked in the kitchen, whipping up tea and desserts for the class to enjoy during the party.

💥🎊~ To be fair, all of them would probably be chewed out by said birthday boy for ‘doing too damn much’ but deep down they all knew that he would appreciate it.

💥🎊~ Bakugou, however, never really thought much about his birthday, sure he celebrated it as a child but once he became a teen he kinda dropped it. He never really saw the appeal, I mean...all a birthday means is that you turn a year older right? To him it was just another day, so why did it matter so much to the rest of his class?

💥🎊~ Well, all of you had been through a lot as a class, with all of the villain attacks and heartache never seeming to end. It was rough, and it was hard to deal with. But the 21 of you still managed to get through it together, but part of you feels like Bakugou was hit the hardest by it all. Him and Midoriya of course.

💥🎊~ You’d never really seen him show any emotion aside from anger or brashness, maybe you’d even experienced some sass or a few cocky comments. But that’s about it....

💥🎊~ So why did you care so much about him?

💥🎊~ Why did your heart flutter every time you saw him?

💥🎊~ Why?

💥🎊~ You never realize that you had subconsciously tuned out the happy smiles and giggles and shouting as you don’t pay attention to the front doors opening and the immediate echo of “Surprise!” that comes right after.

💥🎊~ “Y/N!! Look out!” Urakaka shouts from below you, snapping you out of your thoughts, which only resulted in you to beginning to fall from the ceiling as you hear your female friend shout “release!” from underneath you. A scream rips from your throat as your body fails to react fast enough for you to catch yourself. You clench your eyes shut as your vision catches quick blurs of your classmates scrambling after you.

💥🎊~ 1000 thoughts rush through your brain as you brace yourself as best you can for impact in those quick couple seconds.

💥🎊~ But the impact never...came?

💥🎊~ “Oi, the hell was that for dumbass?” You hear a gruff voice say as your eyes open in shock, your mind drawing a blank as you stare up at none other than Bakugou himself, who had caught you in the heat of the moment with that sexy rapid reaction time of his-

💥🎊~ “I....uhhh...” You fail to answer as your eyes dart around the room, only for them to land on Ashido trying her best to hold in a laugh. “ I don’t really...know?”

💥🎊~ “Hah?! Whattaya mean you don’t know? You just fell from the ceiling! Watch how you release your quirk pink cheeks!” He shouts as he gently places you back on your feet, keeping a strong hand on your back to make sure you’re steady before removing it.

💥🎊~ Embarrasment rushes through your body, giving you shivers and goosebumps as you quickly look for Urakaka. “Urakaka what happened?” You unintentionally shout in her direction. She flushes profusely and shakes her hands in front of her before moving to cover it.

💥🎊~ “There was a huge spider right next to you on the ceiling, and I didn’t wanna startle you but I know how much you hate them so-“ She starts but interrupts with a very profuse “I’m so sorry I panicked!” that you can’t help but chuckle at. You calm down a little more and thank her for looking out for you before apologizing yourself, but you still can’t help the huge blush that rushes to your cheeks.

💥🎊~ ‘Omg omg omg that did nOt just happen he did nOt jUsT cATCH mE I-‘

💥🎊~ The worries voices of your fellow classmates snap you out of your thoughts once again as you rush to reassure them you’re okay.

💥🎊~ “Y/N are you okay?!” Midoriya and Kirishima ask in unison.

💥🎊~ “Ah! I’m fine! I promise!” You say, only before turning to face Bakugou, who was looking away...almost as if...

💥🎊~ ‘he was embarrassed too...’

💥🎊~ “Thank you, Bakugou.” You say lightly as you flash him a small smile of gratitude, only for him to reply with a rough ‘tch’.

💥🎊~ “Okay! Now that that’s over let’s get this party started!!!” You hear Ashido yell eagerly over the rest of the class, soon enough shouts of agreement could be heard as Sato and Momo appeared from the kitchen with Tea and Cupcakes, along with an actual birthday cake that was hidden in the back of the kitchen.

💥🎊~ You hear a “Tch, nerds” from behind you as you rush to the goods, your classmates following close behind as you help Momo and Sato set up the food and drinks.

💥🎊~ The day continued on with Bakugou putting up an annoyed front as you all agree in shouting happy birthday, blowing kazoos and pulling strings on confetti poppers as he reluctantly blows out the array of candles that are placed on the huge 3-tier cake that Sato had been working on all day. It was truly magnificent, white fondant draped over each of the layers, decorated with orange and green stripes with black frosted roses trimming the third tier, ‘Ground Zero’ written in cursive along the top of the cake that was encased in the roses.

💥🎊~ “Holy crap Sato!! You really went all out!!!” You hear Kaminari say behind you as you hear the clicks of phone cameras sound off around you, all of your friends recording and taking pictures to remember the happy moment.

💥🎊~ A few more minutes pass and each one of you has a cup of tea and a cupcake in hand as you all parade around the birthday boy, much to his surprise and slight annoyance, but he’ll never admit that deep down he was thankful for the enthusiastic celebration.

💥🎊~ Cheap, plastic party hats are passed around and even Mr. Aizawa partakes in the festivities, wishing the ash blonde his own happy birthday as he retrieves a cupcake and teacup himself, much to your surprise.

💥🎊~ Soon enough it’s time for present opening as Kaminari nudges the birthday boi over to the couches, the other 19 of you taking sitting positions accordingly around a coffee table that was filled with presents from everyone.

💥🎊~ “The hell is all this for?!”

💥🎊~ “For you Bakubro, duh.”

💥🎊~ “You extras do too damn much.”

💥🎊~ “But you still love us anyways.”

💥🎊~ “Tch.”

💥🎊~ His gifts include all different items, from boxes of pocky and video games, to even hoodies and fitted shirts and sweats, and of course a custom pair of black crocs with the words ‘ground zero’ spelled across the front in the little attachments...wonder who those could be from?

💥🎊~ “You’ve gotta be kidding me Shitty Hair...”

💥🎊~ “Don’t hate the player man, hate the game.”

💥🎊~ Your eyes widen as you see him reach for your gift to him, and you immediately find the courage to speak up and excuse yourself to the bathroom, when really, you were lying and choose to sneak outside instead.

💥🎊~ “But Y/N isn’t that your gift?” You hear Sero inquire.

💥🎊~ “Yeah but it’s fine! I really gotta go though.”

💥🎊~ “If you say so...”

💥🎊~ You quickly look back and notice that he opens it slower than the other ones, taking out a small index card you had placed in the lid of the box, you quickly glance through one of the window, only to see him reading it before you hide yourself from view.

💥🎊~ ‘Meet me outside, it’s important’ The card read, written in messy f/c gel pen.

💥🎊~ He sighs before quickly standing up and brushing off anyone who questions him, he grunts out a “Ill be back soon, screw off and don’t worry about it.” Before walking towards the front door.

💥🎊~ To his and your surprise...no one followed, and no one even seemed to question it.

💥🎊~ You feel your breath hitch in your throat as you hear the front door open and see Bakugou step out, turning to face you and letting the door close softly behind him. He flashes you the card and you give a small nod in response, almost as if the two of you had just silently confirmed the reason why you even wanted him here in the first place.

💥🎊~ “Well, what is it?” He asks with his usual gruff tone, but for some reason it feels much softer than earlier.

💥🎊~ “Umm...well I-“

💥🎊~ The worry comes up again as your mind decides to draw a blank on you once again, and you can’t help but blush profusely and look away. Why? Why are you like this? Why can’t you just say what you want to say? You hate it, you dread it. This empty and tingly gut feeling in your stomach, almost as if it is truly churning to the sounds of your embarrassment.

💥🎊~ “Well? Out with it already, don’t have all night ya know.” He replies bluntly as he leans back on the rails of the front porch, crossing his arms in front of him as he switches his gaze to the wooden ground instead of your flustered form.

💥🎊~ ‘Come on, out with it already y/n! He’s right here, right in front of you. He paid attention, he didn’t come out here for no reason. Just come on...say it....do it.’

💥🎊~ “Alright, think what you want. Just know that you are a tasty lady with a tasty bod and personality and if he don’t like it back, he doesn’t deserve you.”

💥🎊~ ‘fuck it, here goes nothing...’

💥🎊~ “If you’re not gonna say anything then I’m just gonna go back inside, this is a waste of my time.” He says, causing you’re eyes to widen and tear up. You shake your head silently as he turns his back to you, walking toward the door and reaching his hand out to the handle.

💥🎊~ ...but you grab it just in time...

💥🎊~ “Stop...” The word that exits your lips is barely audible as he feels the shake in your voice.

💥🎊~ “Hah? What is it then? You wanted me to come out here? So if you’re not gonna say anything then I don’t see the appeal in wasting-“

💥🎊~ “ I like you.”

💥🎊~ You feel the world stop around you and the silence that immediately follows as you prepare yourself for the worst. Good lord, the words just came out...they just escaped your lips and you could barely even handle it.

💥🎊~ “What?” Is all you hear back...

💥🎊~ ‘screw it, it’s too late to go back now...’

💥🎊~ “ I like you...Bakugou. I do...and I’m sorry if it’s weird or anything and honestly I’m okay if you don’t feel the same way...but I just want you to know anyways...”

💥🎊~ He only stares in silence, crimson eyes widened with shock.

💥🎊~ “I’ve felt like this for a long time to tell you the truth, and if I’m being honest I’ve tried to shake it off countless times but i just can’t get you out of my head. Whenever you show up and show out, whenever you talk about your dreams of becoming the number one hero...I can’t help but smile and think about how hard you must be working, and how far you must be pushing yourself to get stronger. And I feel it in my heart whenever I see you look my way or whenever you stand tall with a huge boasting smile after you’ve just won a battle. You’re amazing Bakugou...and I know that you’re gonna make it. I know that you’re going to get where you want to be, and I can’t help...but...we’ll I can’t help but long to be there with you as your journey continues...”

💥🎊~ more silence...

💥🎊~ “and I want to be there for you when you finally reach your goal...if you’ll have me of course.” You can only look down at the ground, twiddling your thumbs in anticipation as you let the words just explode from your lips...silence...more and more silence...“I love you...Bakugou.”

💥🎊~ The moments pass painfully slow as the silence fills the air and you feel heartache set in again.

💥🎊~ “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say all of it at once. I’m sure it’s a lot and I don’t want to-“

💥🎊~ “Shut up.” Is all you hear, and before you can even register the sound of Bakugou’s boots hit the wood...you feel strong and calloused hands engulf your face and wipe away your tears.

💥🎊~ tears you didn’t even know you were shedding...

💥🎊~ “Baku-“

💥🎊~ “I said shut up...ya damn nerd.”

💥🎊~ And you do...as you instinctively reach for his waist, wrapping your arms around it as your bury your face in his chest, finally letting out the sobs that you had kept in for so long...it was finally out...and he finally knew. And all you could feel was relief as you felt his right hand come up to rest on the top of your head.

💥🎊~ “Tch...you girls...always so damn emotional...just like Deku....” You hear him huff out in a short chuckle as you giggle slightly through your tears.

💥🎊~ “I’m sorry...”

💥🎊~ “You know...I’ve been thinking about it...”

💥🎊~ “Oh?”

💥🎊~ “and I think I love you too...Y/N.”

💥🎊~ It takes you a few seconds to even register the words that come out of his mouth. He lets you pull away from his chest and take a few steps back...e/c eyes meeting crimson ones as you stare at him in disbelief, mouth agape.

💥🎊~ “Yo- Your- hold on...you’re joking right?” You whisper with a shaky voice, just loud enough for him to hear as you bring a hand to clutch your chest.

💥🎊~ “Do I look like the type of person who jokes about shit like this? Idiot, of course I’m not joking.”

💥🎊~ “Then that means-“

💥🎊~ “Yeah...I like you too, dumbass.”

💥🎊~ “Holy shit...” You don’t even finish your sentence as you squeal, your hands rushing to cover your mouth, tears starting up again.

💥🎊~ “Oi...” “Holy shit.” “Oi!” “Holy shit.” “Oi!!! Y/N!” You finally snap out of it as your gaze switches back to his, he gives you a look that means it’s time to go back to being serious and you do, pulling yourself together before turning to face him again.

💥🎊~ “So are we gonna do this or what?” He asks bluntly, holding out a pale, calloused palm your way.

💥🎊~ It takes you a few moments to respond...but when you do-

💥🎊~ “Yeah...let’s do it.” You say as you take the hand that reaches out to you, only to be pulled into a deep, sweet, and intimate kiss as the sun sets on the horizon.

💥🎊~ Your first...and his first.

💥🎊~ “Happy birthday...Bakugou.”

💥🎊~ “Katsuki, call me Katsuki.”

💥🎊~WOWIE ITS FINALLY OVER WOOO!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE RAT AND IF YOU SOMEHOW REACHED THE END OF THIS POST I APPLAUD YOU! This took so much thinking for me to write out the way I wanted and honestly I’m pretty darn proud of it...so I hope you enjoyed it too! If you like it then please lemme know what you thought!!! I love talking to you guys! Have a good night and happy 4/20/20!!!🥰🎊💞

[goldandbluesmiles]

Bloody Courting

Summary: “There are two types of omegas that make it in our world and especially in Gotham. There are the ones like me that wrap Alphas, Betas and even other omegas around their finger, make them dance to their tune. You will not be that omega. You are too brash and forward to it. You will be the omega that goes ahead with the sheer force of will. They will respect you and if they do not, they will fear you,”

Jason had nodded, listening to him with rapt attention.

“And remember, if any of them think they are worth you, make them prove it no matter than their designation. Do not ever settle for less than what you want,”

These days he was really wishing that he hadn’t driven the last point very hard. Because really the dead bodies were getting a bit ridiculous.

Note: This is part 2. You can read part 1 here.

TW: Mention of death, blood and dead bodies. Nothing graphic. It’s Earth 3 so things are a little messed up/

Ao3

xxx

The crime syndicate usually left most of Gotham alone, content with the reports Owlman brought them.

The only time they interfered was when someone stepped out of line and it involved Gotham city.

And Lex Luthor had stepped out of line. The Queens and Waynes were the ones who usually handled Luthor's little shows of rebellion. So Arsenal was sent to Gotham to follow the rumours of Lex bringing supplies there. Usually, Talon would work with him. However, Talon was unavailable so the syndicate was looking to the other Wayne protege to partner up with the alpha.

"I hate it when they interfere with us," said Jason, "I could handle it myself,"

"The investigation was started by the Queens, Kiddo," Bruce told him, "And it could be worse, they could have sent one of the Lanterns or god forbid, the Kryptonians. Their egos are unbearable. Anyway, Roy's a good kid, about Dick's age. Loves murder and mayhem as much as you do. I think you might like him,"

"Hmm," was all Jason said

It was the calm before the storm.

xxx

A week into the investigation, Jason and he were having dinner when the subject of Roy Harper same up.

"I haven't really head from you since the whole situation started. How's it going?"

Jason grinned, "Pretty good. You were right, I do like him,"

Bruce tilted his head. Interesting.

It wasn't that Jason hadn't ever proclaimed to like someone before, platonic or otherwise. It was just that he had never said it like that.

A pretty smile on his face, eyes flitting everywhere and light pink ears.

Interesting.

Either way, Jason was an adult. He could handle his own affairs.

xxx

The bouquet of flowers was beautiful. Red roses, white lilies and pink orchids, all tied together by a black bow.

It was lovely, really.

Except that it was clutched in a severed hand.

An expertly cut and embalmed severed hand.

But it was a severed hand.

It had been a while since a gift like this had ended up on his doorstep but it could only be for one person.

Good thing he was here today.

"Jason!"

Jason came running out and grinned when he saw the bouquet.

"My favourites!"

"Who are they from?" Bruce asked

Jason checked the note attached to the small finger.

Wait-was he-was he blushing?

"They're from Roy,"

Oh yes, definitely blushing.

Roy didn't need favours. Roy wouldn't disregard the Queen/Wayne alliance for a night of fun. Roy had deliberately sent the flowers over to Bruce's place on a night that Jason was there.

Well shit.

xxx

Bruce and Jason had lived together long enough that even apart their heats synchronized. Bruce usually spent it with one of his Alphas and Jason spent it with whoever had given him a nice gift that month.

But this time both Talia or Selina was unavailable so Jason had come over.

Bruce had always loved heats spent with his little pup, inhaling his soothing scent of lemongrass and sweet tea. Right now Jason was cuddled into his side, nuzzling at his neck and letting out small purrs.

So adorable.

"Hey B," he said, bumping his head against his chin

"What is it, baby?" asked Bruce, running a hand through his hair.

"I think Roy wants to court me,"

"Oh?"

"And the syndicate wants to shut down Lex's whole side operation but you already know that,"

He did know that.

"And well, Roy's probably gonna end up staying here for a while since Gotham seems to be the base, Lex probably thought he could hide from Owlman,"

"Jason, point?" asked Bruce

Jason raised his head so Bruce could see his face.

"Roy. Courting. How do you feel about it?"

Oh. Wow. Okay. Jason was actually serious about the older alpha.

"I trust your judgement, kid,"

Jason flashed him his brilliant smile, "Okay!"

Bruce gently rubbed Jason's back as he snuggled down again.

Jason liked bloody gifts and a courting would entail many more of them.

But Bruce had put up with them for this long. He could do it for the duration of the courting.

How bad could it be? It's not like Jason even lived here anymore.

xxx

There was a dead body in his living room.

Bruce recognized the man. He had put a hit on him a few days ago. He would have loved to go after him himself but that's not what was expected of Bruce Wayne and Jason was busy. So, in his brother's and the Talon's absence he ha ordered a hit with a reward.

Usually, anybody who completed the hit would bring proof to an agreed-upon location and then would be given compensation.

This time the body was in his living room. And it was dripping blood.

And Roy Harper was standing over it. Kori right behind him.

"You know if that's for Jason, he's not here and probably wrong...subject,"

"Oh this is for you," said Roy

Oh. Bruce looked from the body to Roy to Kori.

"Sit down, please,"

Roy and Kori took the matching armchairs while Bruce took the love seat.

"I'm going to assume you somehow got access from Dick," said Bruce

"Yes," said Kori

"Explain this to me," he told Roy though he had an idea of where this was going. Some alphas liked to ask permission to court young omegas. Now Jason didn't need anyone's permission to do anything but Bruce could respect Roy's desire to deal with any possible issues.

"Well," said Roy, "As you know, Jason and I have become close while working together and I've been thinking of he was to give us a chance, we would make a good match,"

Bruce waited for the next bit but nothing came. Roy just sat there looking at him expectantly, an impassive look on his face. Kori looked a little like she was bracing for impact.

He took another look at the body, at the alpha in front of him and-

Oh.

Oh.

This Bitch.

This alpha had specifically gone hunting a man Bruce wanted dead.

This alpha had broken into Bruce's home with the body of a man Bruce wanted dead.

This alpha had brought Bruce's future daughter-in-law with him to break into Bruce's house with the body of a man Bruce wanted dead.

Roy wasn't asking permission. Roy was informing Bruce of his intentions.

In Bruce's house. With a dead body. And Bruce's oldest son's fiance.

God Damn. Bruce had to admit he was impressed.

Didn't mean he had to leave the alpha unscathed.

"You know Roy," said Bruce, "This reminds me of the time Talia courted me,"

"Oh?" said Roy, looking mildly surprised

Bruce smiled. Jason had obviously told him that his dad wasn't the mild-mannered omega the public thought he was.

"Well, on one of our dates she took me out on an outing," said Bruce, "You know, a late-night picnic, some stargazing, walking hand in hand in a field-"

Bruce paused and looked up.

"Some murder under the moon,"

The jerk Roy's body gave was positively amazing. Kori was starting to look amused, probably remembering the first time she and Bruce had had a similar conversation.

"At one point Talia sat down and just watched me slash people's throats. Said I looked pretty doing it. Though, I was also very young back then,"

Bruce gave the alpha a winning smile.

"What do you think Roy?" asked Bruce, "Would I still look good killing people with a blade?"

Rou gulped, "I'm sure Talia and Selina definitely think so,"

Bruce gave him a wide grin, one he had been told made him look manic.

"Good answer," he said, "Speaking of Selina, we once after this man that had dared to betray the Owlman. I still used to be a 'field agent' back then, if you know what I mean. Do you want to know what we did to him?"

"Did you kill him?" asked Kori

Oh, she was definitely amused.

"No. I personally consider killing someone as mercy," said Bruce, then looked at Roy, "Let's just say, he can no longer feed himself,"

"Oh," said Roy, starting to look a little green

"Ooh," said Bruce, sitting up as if excited, "This one time all three of us went after this woman who had seen something she wouldn't tell us about so to make an example of her we gouged her eyes out,"

Bruce gave another grin.

"With our fingers. Well," he said, waving his hand around a little, "My fingers,"

Roy nodded quickly

"Either way. We got off-topic. I think Courting is a lovely idea. Thank you for him. Could I interest you in something to drink?"

"No thank you, sir," said Roy, quickly getting up, "We should really be going,"

"Of course I understand," said Bruce, "I'll walk you out,"

Once the two had left, Bruce stayed by the door long enough to hear Roy screeching to Kori about not telling him how scary Bruce was.

Bruce chuckled and dialled a familiar number on his phone.

"Hi, Arrow. It's me. I think I might have traumatized your protege,"

xxx

Jason was in the den room. That itself wasn't an unusual occurrence.

The body packed in a plastic bag was.

At least this one wasn't dripping blood onto his floor.

"Jay, baby, what is that?"

"Oh, a dead body," said Jason, cheeky smile in place

Bruce snorted, "You know what I mean,"

"Roy gave it to me," said Jason, "It has art on it. Wanna see?"

Bruce sighed and went to sit by him, "Why not kiddo. Show me,"

Roy had used a blade to carve an intricate rose design into the skin. The carvings were deeper in some areas and barely there in others. They were also in crying shades of crimson. He would have to let the blood settle in some areas while carving some areas while the body was still fresh.

All in all, it looked like hard work.

"I'm guessing this is one of the people taking part in Lex's little operation,"

"Yup," said Jason, "Roy interrogated him and that did this. Amazing, right?"

Bruce chuckled and shook his head, "I really don't understand your interest in these courting presents,"

Jason just gave him an impish grin.

Bruce sighed gain and mentally braced himself.

This was only the beginning after all.

xxx

There was another dead body in the room.

And Jason was-uh-working on it.

"Jason, sweetheart," said Bruce, "Explain to me what you're doing,"

"Creating a gift for Roy," said Jason, "I mean who said that the alpha's the only one who has to give courting gifts, right?"

"Right," said Bruce, "And why are you doing this here?"

"Roy drops by my place too much, it would be better here. Also, it'll probably take a few days,"

Bruce refrained from asking what exactly the present was supposed to be or mentioning that Jason had numerous safe houses. Instead, he quickly went to his room and dialled two numbers.

"Oh hi Talia, Selina. You both picked up. Great! I need a vacation. Please take some pity on your dear, wonderful omega and take him on vacation. Yes-yes Selina. I am referring to myself in the third person! That is not the point!"

xxx

Vacation had been wonderful, filled with warm beaches, open skies and the two of his smallest pups.

They had dropped off Talia and Damian with the League and Selina and Helena had opted to also be dropped at their place instead of taking Bruce home. Which was great anyway. This way he had time to relax before-

"Uh, what are you doing?"

Jason and Roy instantly looked up from the dead body their hands were buried in.

"Oh, Hi dad," said Jason, I'd give you a hug but-uh,"

Roy had gone very very still.

"That doesn't answer my question," said Bruce

"I thought you were supposed to come home tomorrow," said Jason

"I was," said Bruce, crossing his arms.

Roy carefully took a step back.

"Sorry about this," said Jason, "We'll clean it up,"

"You better," said Bruce, "Also I think Tim is probably available. It's been too long since I've spoken to him. I'll go see him,"

"Yeah," said Jason, "Drake Holdings landed a pretty big deal while you were gone. He'll probably want to tell you about it,"

"Right," said Bruce, going backwards out of the house

Maybe he could stay somewhere else for a while.

xxx

"I mean I like a little blood and death as much as the next person but I like to keep it out of my house. Bloody life outside, inside I'm a normal rich person. These two keep bringing-hey! Are you even listening to me?! Timmy!

"You could just tell him to not bring his 'dead body' presents to your house, or at least the den and nest room,"

'...'

'...'

"How dare you?! I can't do that! It'll break his heart,"

'...'

'...'

"You're a mess, B,"

xxx

"Dad! Dad! look what Roy made me!"

Bruce took a deep breath and brace himself for another dead body in his den.

It-it wasn't a dead body.

It looked like a large snow globe.

Well not a snow globe, since it didn't have snow in it.

The globe was about the size of a human head. It seemed to be a part of Gotham, holding two figures standing over a third. Going by the uniforms, it was Arsenal and Red X, chopping off the head of someone.

"That's a gruesome scene," said Bruce

"It's the first outing we went on," said Jason, "But you haven't seen the best part,"

Jason twisted a key and the two figures started beating the first, there seemed to be an explosion in the background and line of-

"Is that real blood?" asked Bruce incredulously

"Yup, Roy installed a system in the bottom so it doesn't go stale," said Jason, "Amazing isn't it?"

Bruce had to admit, it was impressive.

"You really like him, don't you?" asked Bruce

"Yeah," said Jason, his voice suddenly shy and soft

Bruce smiled and kissed his forehead, "I'm glad. He better not hurt you though, otherwise, I'll be making a globe with his blood,"

Jason's laughter was like magic.

xxx

Jason had been quiet the whole day, mumbling when asked a question, barely speaking up and playing with his food.

It was when he was about to leave that Bruce finally brought it up.

"What's up with you, Jay?"

"Nothing," he muttered, pulling on his shoes

"Jay," said Bruce, gently taking his hand, "Talk to me,"

"The whole Lex thing is over and Roy is going back to Star," said Jason, "And I know we're good but at best we do long-distance and I just don't know if I can take that. I'll miss him,"

"I'm sure it'll be okay, Jay,"

"I'm not like you, dad," huffed Jason, "You don't see Tal and Sel for months at a time. I can't do that,"

Bruce sighed, "Have you talked to Roy about it?"

"We're doing that tonight," said Jason, "Kinda scared of the outcome,"

"It'll be fine," said Bruce, "And if not, you know where to find me,"

"Yeah," said Jason and opened the door. And stopped.

There was a body on their doorstep.

Tied up and obviously dead.

"Who's this," said Bruce, not even surprised at this point

"Traitor," said Jason, kneeling down and picking a note from the bodies' fingers.

"Your favourite stabbing place," read Jason

Bruce was about to ask what the hell was going on but Jason was already taking out a knife and slicing open the inside of the man's right thigh. He reached in and took out a clear plastic bag. Inside it was two keys.

"I'm guessing one's from Star and the other from Gotham,"

Jason smiled, "Yup,"

Bruce shook his head, "While I'm happy that your stress in elevated, couldn't he have sent them in some normal way,"

"You don't get it, dad," said Jason, "I never told Roy my favourite stabbing spot,"

Bruce had nothing to say to that.

xxx

Lex Luthor went quiet for about a year and then came back with an army of robots.

And since the Waynes and Queens had been in charge of subduing him in the first place, they were once again sent in. Since there was an army, everyone had gotten involved.

Bruce had even gotten both of his alphas to join in.

The battle took days but they had succeeded without any casualties on their side.

"Well," said Oliver, "This seems to be- oh you have got to be kidding me!"

Bruce followed the other omega's gaze and found Arsenal kneeling on the bloody ground in front of Red X. Bruce looked back at Oliver to see if he was upset but he only looked amused. Probably thinking the same thing as Bruce.

Why here?

"Well, at least Roy won't be sending me any more pictures of his courting 'presents'"

"Pictures," screeched Bruce, "You're mad at pictures! I had to put up with dead bodies in my house. Dead bodies with art, dead bodies with book quotes, severed hands, cut out hearts- don't even get me started on the intestines! And the blood!"

Oliver grimaced, "At least they seem happy,"

Bruce looked back to where Jason had now jumped into Roy's arms everyone around then cheering and applauding,"

"Yeah," murmured Bruce, "They're happy,"

xxx

The wedding was beautiful, both him and Oliver having pulled out all the stops for their boys. The suits were red instead of the traditional white. The theme set in the colour of the sunset. The wedding party was huge, composed of their siblings and the pack they had accumulated over the year.

Really, Bruce couldn't be prouder.

When it was time for the dance, the grooms first danced together and then their fathers and then their siblings. Eventually, Bruce ended up with Roy as his partner.

The young man grinned at him, "Hey Bruce,"

"Hello, Roy," said Bruce, "How are you feeling?"

"Right now," said Roy, "Kinda glad I can still feed myself,"

"Well, don't get comfortable. That can still be changed,"

Roy laughed as they changed partners again, having moved on from being afraid of Bruce's mere presence.

Later, both Oliver and Bruce were discussing the honeymoon with the newlyweds.

"I still don't know why you didn't let us pay," said Oliver

"Where are you going anyway," asked Bruce, "You never said,"

"Oh, Talia helped us plan it,"

Talia had good taste in vacation spots, maybe she recommended the beach resort at-

"We're taking a job for the League," said Jason, "In Paris. I mean we've mixed both things this long. Why change it?"

Before Bruce could say anything, someone else was pulling the two away for a picture.

"I'm seriously starting to reconsider our parenting of them," muttered Oliver

Bruce sighed and shrugged, "At least they're happy"

Olive smiled, "Yeah. Did I ever tell you how Roy became my protege?"

"You saw his talent, right?"

"Well, yes but there were a lot of alphas that wanted him considering he was one and I was an omega. But he refused to cooperate with anyone. He'd only work with me,"

"Loyalty," said Bruce

"Yup,"

The two omegas spent the rest of the time quietly talking about their perspective boys, laughing at their stories.

So what if the courting had been a little bloody, thought Bruce, their boys were happy. That's all that mattered.

Still, Bruce was glad they now had their own place and pack to show off their bloody presents.

His floor couldn't take much more. And he liked that floor.

[skylarmoon71]

Rafael Barba Imagine (Extra 2)

“Rookie.” You groaned, sending a glare in Nick’s direction. He just smirked. “You know what, how about we settle this in a little one on one.” You were in one of the training rooms. 

Liv thought it would be smart to brush up on your strengths since the annual physical was coming up. It was stressed that all officers were fit to perform adequately in the field. You had just finished a sparring session with Amanda, who proved to be a formidable opponent. Liv was even more of a challenge. 

After about ten minutes with her you were fighting to hold your ground. When fifteen minutes passed you called it quits, declaring Liv the champion. She patted you, helping you to your feet after a not so graceful fall. Now you were challenging the guys. If you couldn’t earn respect through rank, you would do it through a little brute strength. 

“I don’t want to hurt you (Y/N).” Carisi and Fin laughed at Nick’s statement. 

“Maybe you’re just afraid to get your butt kicked. “ you taunted. You knew Nick, he’d never back down. Too much testosterone rolling around in his brain. “Alright then.” he shrugged off his hoodie, nothing but a white fitted vest underneath. He circled around with his fists raised and you did the same, sizing him up. Everyone else stepped back, giving you the space you needed to spar. 

He was the first to make a move charging with a punch. You countered, sidestepping and spinning around, nudging him on the back roughly. He stumbled, catching himself at the last minute. Amanda giggled. “Seems she’s got you riled up Nicky.” He chuckled. 

“Very funny Rollins. “ His eyes focused back on you. “Nice counter.” you didn’t pay mind to the compliment. He was just trying to throw you off your game. You’d been so immersed you didn’t see someone else walk into the room. 

“Eyes up, mind focused.” Liv encouraged. You smiled. She always said then when you fought with her. It was a chant of sorts. Even on the job. You lost count of how many times that mental mantra got you out of sticky situations. You needed an effective way to take him down, but he was bigger and knowing Nick he’d brace himself, if for nothing more than his ego. 

You grinned internally, an idea springing to mind. You moved in, faking a punch to his face, he blocked his jaw as anticipated, so you took the opportunity to strike him in the stomach. Twisting on your feet and planting a swift kick to his abdomen. 

He staggered back in surprise, just about ready to fall. You turned again, this time dropping low and kicking his feet right from under him. He fell flat on his back, grunting on impact. Fin and Carisi were laughing loudly, they had been recording the entire thing. 

Liv folded her arms, smiling at you and Amanda sent a thumbs up. It took you a while to realize that they weren’t the only ones there. Your cheeks colored instantly when you saw the suited attorney. His case was hanging from his hand, eyes glued to you. The way he was admiring you made your stomach do flips. 

“Smile pretty boy.” Fin sang. 

You wiped the sweat from your brow, moving over to him with a hand outstretched. He grinned, still a bit winded from the fall. He took your hand, when you tried to pull him up, he pulled you down into a bear hug. 

“S-Stop!” you said between laughs when he wrapped his hand around your body tickling you. “That’ll teach you, no one kicks my butt.” he said playfully. 

“O-Okay N-Nick stop I’ve had enough!!” you screamed through your wild fit of giggles. You had a feeling they got that on tape too. 

“I believe she said that was enough.” Barba’s stern voice broke the sounds of laughter and Nick released you. 

“Alright Counselor, we’re just having fun. No crime in that.” Nick spoke. When you caught your breath, you looked at Barba, really looked at him. He was almost leering at Nick. Your brows knitted in confusion. His green eyes focused back on you in something keen of possessiveness. Your heart leapt at the intensity of his stare. 

He couldn’t have been...jealous? That was crazy. Everyone who worked in NYPD knew you and Nick were close, in the sibling sort of way. Nick was like your older brother, nothing more. You cleared your throat, trying to ease the now strained atmosphere. 

“I-I’m going to hit the showers.” you muttered, rushing passed everyone. You didn’t even look at Barba, you were afraid he would see what his eyes did to you. When you left, Amanda and Liv exchanged a look, somehow putting the pieces together. They smiled at each other, both reaching a sort of realization. 

~~~

“How the hell does this stuff pile up so quickly.” you stared at the documents, wishing that if you looked at them long enough they would disappear. Nick turned his chair in your direction with an understanding look. “Tell me about it.” He had a pile equally as high as yours. You snickered, pulling open your desk to get another pen. 

Your eyes widened and you jumped out of your seat. Nick rushed to your side furiously. You clung unto him. “What is it!” he looked panicked. When he saw what you were so terrified of he blanked. “Are you serious, an insect.” he huffed out a laugh. You cringed. 

“J-Just get it out!” you whined. He took up a napkin from your desk, grabbing the spider into the paper. He crumpled it up, tossing it into the trash. “Better?” he asked, amused. You nodded, a bit embarrassed that he was now aware of your fear of bugs. The both of you were oblivious to a pair of eyes that was practically glaring in your direction. 

After the little inconvenience you went back to signing off documents. Amanda was smiling behind her paper, and Olivia walked passed, giving her a low five behind her back. 

~~~

“Damn it why do they put the coffee so high up!” you were standing on your toes, yet you still couldn’t reach it. Some idiot decided to place it on the top shelf. “Need a hand?” someone called. Nick walked up behind you, plucking the glass bottle from it’s spot easily. You grinned. “Thanks Nick.” you turned, going to take it out of his hands. 

He just raised it over your head. “Nu uh, maybe you should work on getting taller rookie.” he teased. You were still pressed to the counter, leaning on Nick’s chest to get the bottle. “Nick, do you really want me to floor you in the middle of this precinct.” He didn't take your threat seriously, still holding the coffee away from you. 

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” A voice hissed. There was so much venom in those words and you leaned to the side, catching Barba standing in the doorway of the kitchen. Nick turned with a raised eyebrow, lost. 

“Something you need counselor?” The tension that rose made you uncomfortable. Amanda was peaking from her seat, watching the scene unravel. 

“No, just waiting for you both to stop flirting and do your jobs.” That made you angry. Nick stepped back with a laugh. “We weren’t flirting.” he didn’t sound embarrassed either, because you and Nick both knew what type of relationship you held. It was completely platonic, and it hurt you to think that Barba didn’t trust you to be alone with a guy. Especially Nick. 

You didn’t even want coffee anymore. You stormed off, sending a pissed look at Barba. 

~~

“Hey, you okay, you’ve been sulking since this morning.” Nick asked. He really was a darling, if only Barba could be so understanding. “I’m fine, I just had a bit of a spat with a guy.” you didn’t collaborate on which guy it was. Your relationship was still very much a secret.  Luckily Nick didn’t push. “Well if he needs a stern talking to just let me know, then again I know you could handle yourself. “ you smiled. 

“Thanks Nick.” He returned your smile as he started packing his things to turn in for the day. “See you tomorrow, I hope you work out your guy troubles.” you sighed. “Me too.” you replied as he walked off with a wave. 

Your eyes moved back to the fairly smaller pile of paperwork on your desk. Even if you tried you wouldn’t be able to focus. Your phone vibrated on the desk. You looked over, your previous anger returning at the sender of  the text. 

“We need to talk.” it read. He had some nerve. When you got a hold of him you were going to give him an earful. 

“Your place?” you texted back. 

“Yes.” Was his only response. You didn’t answer after that, just shoved the phone into your coat pocket. Since clearly no work was going to be done now, you stacked the papers into a pile, leaving them for a later date. Grabbing your coat from the back of the chair you stood pulling it onto your body as you made your way out of the building. You were working up what you were going to say to Barba as you stepped into the elevator. 

~~

Standing outside his apartment you knocked twice. He was at the door in ample time, opening it. You stepped in silently, and he closed the door, following you inside. He still had his suit on, and you noticed a glass with what you assumed was scotch on his table. 

“So, care to tell me what that was about with you and Nick.” you scoffed. You couldn’t believe he was interrogating you. 

“Are you really questioning me, am I a suspect in some crime sir.” you bit back. His lips were in a straight line, eyes flaring. “I think I’m allowed to be angry with the way you and Nick act around each other. I respected your need to keep us private, but touching him like that. If you’re tired of me just say so!” he was yelling now. 

“Are you kidding! I only said we should stay private because I thought that’s what you wanted. Besides, Nick and I are friends, we don’t see each other that way!” you were fuming.

“Right, with what I saw in the training room and then today in the kitchen. If I didn’t know any better I’d say the both of you were sleeping together. “ His accusation made you stop short. 

“Do you...really believe that?” That stung. Did he really think you were some cheap girl that sleeps with every guy in the precinct. Barba must have sensed how much his words hurt you, because a look of regret crossed his face. He looked down. “I-I didn’t mean that I just, I feel threatened, and I can’t tell you how much I want to hug you or kiss you and claim you as my own in front of everyone. Nick gets to touch you so freely and it irks me that you encourage it.” 

Your eyes stayed glued to the ground for a while. “The reason I’m so fond of Nick is because I...h-he reminds me of someone I lost.” your throat tightened, unsure if you could continue talking. 

Barba was struck with a sudden realization. He remembered what he said about you having a hard past, maybe this was linked to that. “M-My little brother h-he..I lost him when I was younger. Even though he was the younger one he always looked after me, he was practically the adult in my life. Nick he just..sometimes I swear I can see him in Nick. I told him that too and he just..he just smiled at me and told me if I was ever in need of someone, to call on him. He’d be the little brother I lost. “ tears streamed down your cheeks. It felt nice to finally tell someone. 

“I had no idea..” you shook your head and Barba pulled you into his arms. 

“I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions. I know you’re not that type of person. I guess I just let my pride get the best of me.” 

“Yeah you did.” you giggled, wiping at your eyes. Barba chuckled, running his hands down your back soothingly. You leaned back a little to look at Barba, without a word you leaned in, pressing your lips to his. He returned it, hand running up your back and into your hair. Your hands lifted, pushing the suit jacket off his shoulders. It fell at his feet and you started to back him up unto the couch. He fell back a bit surprised. You stood there, undoing the buttons of your blouse. 

Barba took your hands to stop you. “(Y/N), you don’t have to..” you bit your lip. It felt like so long since you touched Barba, which in fact had only been a few hours. You needed this. 

“W-We don’t have to do anything, I-I just..I really need to feel you right now..” you pleaded. How could he say no to that. When you got through all the buttons you shed the article of clothing. Standing in your bra and suit pants. You lowered unto the couch, knees on either side of his waist. You dainty fingers moved to his shoulder again, pushing the red suspenders off. When they were down, your attention shifted to his shirt. Barba didn’t say a word, just watched as you undressed him. 

Finally free of the buttons, your hands slipped under, sighing at the warmth that emitted from his skin. He let out a pleased sound, hands skimming over your shoulder. You dove forward, kissing him passionately. Barba matched you, maybe craving this as much as you were. The skin on skin contact made it that more delicious. Your body rocked into him, hand grabbing at his short dark hair. Barba welcomed every movement, every kiss with just as much urgency. Who knew this was how the night would end. 

~~~

When you walked into the precinct the next day, to say you were walking on air was an understatement. You and Barba didn’t even sleep together. After your very heated kiss, you just held each other until the morning. It was exactly what you needed. 

“What’s got you all smiley?” Amanda pressed. She was spinning from side to side in her chair. You tried your best to wipe the swooning look off your face. Amanda was way to perceptive. 

“Nothing.” you evaded. Nick was sitting there all smug. He was the only one who knew for certain you had a boyfriend. Your eyes shifted when Barba walked in not long after. 

He had a similar look on his face. One of pure euphoria. Olivia stepped out of her office with her glasses on, briefing you on the new case. You tore your eyes away from Barba, trying to focus on the case. You were startled when Barba marched over in your direction. 

As he got close you started to visibly panic. “C-Counselor is there something we can he-” his hand reached out, slipping  a hand into your hair and pulling you forward. A squeak left you at the sudden move as Barba kissed you right there, in the middle of the precinct. It took you awhile, but you responded. Arms wrapping around his neck as you melted into him. A couple of whistles and a few cheers were heard in the background. Amanda and Liv high fived. 

“I knew it!” you pulled back, gathering your thoughts. You turned at Amanda’s words. 

“Y-You knew?” 

“Well, I had a hunch. I’ve been trying all week to get Barba to come clean.” 

“All week..” wait. “Y-You were the one that put the spider in my desk, and the coffee, I knew it usually wasn’t placed that high!” you accused. She smirked. This whole time she was trying to make Barba jealous. Barba laughed too. 

“Well at least now they know who you belong to.” he growled into your ear.” 

You swallowed. He finally released you, sending you a wink as he headed to his office. You just stood there flustered. You couldn’t believe that just happened. 

Nick walked over nudging you. “I guess you worked out your guy problems.” you sighed, laughing under your breath. 

“I guess I did.” 

[yoshimickster]

Rwby Volume 7 Episode 1 “The Greatest Kingdom”-MICKSTERECAP

Wiggity what, what’s that, its the Micksterecap, wiggity what, what’s that, ITS THE MICKSTERECAP!

HEY everybody,  how y’all been? I’ve been good, working a lot, the usual. For anyone who doesn’t know,all Micksterecaps will be aired a WEEK after they air on Rooster Teeth and Vrv to avoid spoilers, and so I don’t have to tag as spoiler as HEY HEY I don’t get as many notes logically. With that-CLICK THAT READ MORE BUTTON AND LET’S LOOK AT SOME SHIPS!

HELL YEAH-aircrafts!

0:41 We then see the first shot of Team RWBYQOMJNR looking ALL sorts of terse about flying into the the occupied as ALL HELL kingdom of Atlas.

Weiss: I’ve never seen our forces deployed so aggressively before.

Ruby: What about at the Vytal festival? Bunch of ships there.

Weiss: Trust me, that was SLIGHTLY less aggressive than how aggressively they’re deployed here, its like coke and pepsi, a SLIGHT differentiation. 

The crew then decide to go seek out Winter(the only Schnee besides Weiss still worth a damn) and then get distance from the fleet and THEN WE SEE-

1:31 -one HELL of a cityscape, man I’d love to Batman that shit in a video game, just grapplin’ around like a fool, it’d be SWEET. We ALSO see-

1:54 -JAMES VIA BROADCAST-in all his bearded glory, a beard that I REALLY  hope he doesn’t shave off dramatically to signify that he’s getting better or some shit because DAMMIT-beards are not a symbol of depression their just awesome facial hair! You know what movie I’m talking about.

The crew then get told by the radio-lady that they gotta dock their ship, but its okay because Weiss says her sister will TOTALLY let them sneak in-

2:57 Winter: -failure to cooperate with Atlas military personnel is a punishable offense. 

Aw man, I wanted to see Winter and have her conspire to murder her and Weiss’s terrible dad. *SIGH* Maybe next episode.

Maria then decides to take them to a totally not important person with relevance to previous characters, docking their ship, and then meeting some of the local flavor of Mantle including:

3:57 Loose exposition about the current political state that wasn’t lazily explained by a main cast member(for ONCE)-

Antles Joe, preparing to play his Banjo-

-random graffiti that the show focuses on for NO foreshadowing reason, none at all so stop talking about it-

-A camera drone whose JUST two weeks from retirement.

Yang: GAH-my visage, it has been stolen!

Yang: YEET!

*SMASH*

Yang: OOH. Maybe we should pick up the pace?

Ruby: Maybe YOU shouldn’t kick surveillance drones!

Weiss: For real, that shit gets uploaded to the cloud IMMEDIATELY.

Yang: I DON’T LIKE SUPRISE PHOTOS OKAY?!

The group then continues their leasurely stroll and see NOTHING that bums them out about the city they’re i-

-ooooooooooh right, exploited Faunus workers...’dat not good.

After Blake makes a light comment about the crappyness of the city, they are THEN verbally acosted by-

-DRUNK GORDON FREEMAN! Man, the wait for the final Half-Life game is messing him up to huh?

Seriously, TELL ME this dude don’t look like Gordon’s shitburg little brother, its un-CANNY!

Blake being the nice young lady she is apologizes for insulting his hometown, and then Drunk Gordon fucks up in the worst way possible.

*PTOOIE*

Anytime a character spits after someone talks, you KNOW their gonna start shit.

Gordon: Shtupid faunus like you, wouldn’t understand-

It was at this point Drunk Gordon realized, he fucked up.

Weiss: Ain’t NOBODY shit-talk my girlfriend’s girlfriend.

After giving a drunk racist what for, the group then go to-

6:00 THE HEALING STATION-to replenish the HP and MP! I just hope it works Toad House rules where you don’t gotta pay, at least until the NEXT game where you pay for replenishing, which I GUESS was okay given you can earn more coins but BLEH.

Its here where we meet-

-PIETRO-absentminded genius of Atlas, and adjuster of Maria’s cybereyes and that is all he is, stop asking if he’s related to someone important SO THERE!

Pietro then gives them the straight shit telling them that after the fall of Beacon, James got SUPER paranoid given that whoever hacked Atlas’s codes was either a genius...or one of their own. And I just can’t even IMAGINE who it could be-Watts, its gonna be Dr.Watts, the trailer pretty much proved it.

Its at this point, where Pietro FINALLY realizes that he’s talking to Team RWBY, and given his absentmindedness he’s the ONLY  person I’ll allow for not recognizing said celebrities right away. And when Yang tries asking  him about Mantle he goes all-

Pietro:...you PAINTED it...and added bad ass scratch marks!

Yang: Well the scratch marks were an accident, but I’m not sure why you’d care abou-HOOBAZAWAH?!

The team is surprised he knows them(for some reason despite celebrity status) due to his daughter telling him about them, said daughter baring...NO meaning...to...the plot(KEEP IT TOGETHER MICK). Right before Rubalubes asks about his daughter-RANDOM GRIMM ENCOUNTER TIME-to which EVERYONE is fully armed fo-

10:07 Blake: DAMMIT-my blade is still symbolically broken, guess its bullets only.

And then Team RWBYQOMJNR just kics EVERY Grimm’s ass, Ren goes that way, Ruby goes the other, just a BILLION awesome attacks I’m not even gonna BOTHER clipping because this is just a still recap blog post and their all really fast and the next episode is 20 minutes after I’m finishing this so don’t call me lazy.

HOWEVER-I will show ONE awesome clip, LASER TIME BABY!

11:45 NICE cuh-leeeeeeeeeeeeeean cut!

Then lasers here, lasers there, LASERS EVERYWHERE! WHO-is the bad ass laser lady? Like I EVEN need to FUCKING say it!

12:15 Ruby:...Penny?!

Jaune: Oh so YOUR almost-girlfriend gets to come back to life, that’s fair.

SHE’S ALIVE MOTHER FUCKERS! Brought back to life by sacrificing a Maximal protoform, ALSO giving her flight capabilities! And yes I’m comparing Penny to Optimus and you can’t stop me.

And the next scene is JUST adorable.

Penny: Sal-

Ruby:...huh?

Penny: UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-

Ruby:(...OH SHIT-)

Penny: -TATIONS!

*PFFT* Paused at the RIGHT moment yo!

Ruby: AAAAAAAAAAAAH-INCOMING GIRLFRIEND!

Ruby: Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh.

Precious.

13:04 Pietro(who is also her dad if you weren’t paying attention) than reveals that after the fall of Beacon, they were able to recover her Spark Chamber, I MEAN Core from the arena and fixed her RIGHT up! Even gave her flight abilities that look NOTHING like in the manga, but that’s loose canon at best so whatevs.

After Penny flies off to fight the rest of the Grimm, Nora then channels the ENTIRE Rwby fandom in one sentence:

13:46 Nora: I can’t tell if I completely understand what is going on, or have like a MILLION questions!

After that craziness, the team then follows Professor Polendina to his house where nothing else bad happe-

SHIT-anime streaks, BRACE FOR IMPACT!

14:15

DAMN-critical Dexterity fail all around.

Close it out with the team being arrested for saving the day because television, and that’s EP ONE yo! Really fun, glad Penny’s back, and can’t wait to see Ironwood either apologize or shittalk the team for doing their jobs because as said, TELEVISION! EITHER WEITHER-see you next week on MICKSTERECAP!

[reluctantrenegade]

365 Day Writing Challenge,  Day 238 & 239

Kill a character./Save a character. 

(6x13 redux) 

Bonnie is drunk, but she wishes she were drunker. She’s never been the type. Never blacked out, never done anything she’s forgotten the next morning. She wants to get there now. She wants the alcohol to run its course through her brain: first her frontal lobe, where it will take away her ability to make rational decisions. Then to the parietal lobe, where it will take away her speech, her feeling. Then her hearing and her eyesight. And then, if she can just keep drinking, it’ll reach back to her brain stem, take away her breath and her heart and then she’ll finally have nothing left to give. 

She studied the brain in psychology 101. She’d been thinking about majoring in it. It doesn’t matter now. 

She knows that the alcohol won’t be enough, that she’ll have to do it properly. 

She’s crying. It’s stupid. It’s expected, she thinks. 

“Well...” she says to an empty room, empty house, empty world. “I think it’s time that I cut...myself off.” She wants to laugh at her non-joke. The word ‘cut’ catches in her throat. 

She feels Damon’s bourbon in her hand, not even half empty, but she can’t bring herself to drink the rest. The bottle of weighty amber liquid sloshes in its bottle, and she can barely lift it. She’s so tired all the time. She picks it up and smashes it on the ground, and the silence afterward nearly kills her right then and there. 

She thinks she sees someone standing before her. Dark hair, dark clothes, like they’re dressed for a funeral. The image passes before she can process it fully.

Good, she thinks. I’m hallucinating. That might make it easier. 

--

“Kai! Kai, come on, you asshole, wake up.” 

The dark kitchen comes back into focus--dark, dark, why is everything in this damn house so dark?--along with Jeremy’s face. It’s looking down at him with those serious, set eyebrows of his. His hair is dumb, Kai thinks idly. And oh yes, that’s right, I’m bleeding out. 

He remembers why he passed out in the first place now. He’s slumped against the counter, blood blooming all over his white shirt. The fabric is sopping wet. Doesn’t seem good. 

“Jer, first thing’s first, all right? Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman would always apply pressure to the wound in a situation like this...” 

“We don’t have time! Bonnie is going to kill herself!” 

Jeremy’s voice bangs like a cymbal inside Kai’s head. He just wants to go to sleep. That’s probably bad. 

“Fine. Fine fine. But look...I can barely make a candle go out right now. Much less carry your meaty body between dimensions.” 

Jeremy, who has been grasping Kai’s arm to keep him semi-upright, tightens his grip. 

“It’s gotta be me,” says Kai. “Just me.” 

Jeremy doesn’t say anything, and Kai watches his panicking mind work furiously. 

“You can trust me,” Kai says. 

“No I can’t!” says Jeremy.

“Mm. Yeah. Probably not,” says Kai. And he performs the spell, feeling Jeremy’s grip, the cold kitchen tile, the screams from one door down all fade away. 

--

Bonnie’s got the keys in her hand. They’re jingling in an almost merry sort of way, which is funny, she supposes. They’re jingling because her hand is shaking so badly. The sound starts to irritate her. She twists her wrist, and the car growls to life inside the closed garage. 

Good, she thinks. That was the hardest part. Now I only have to sit and wait. She slumps on the floor, her head against the driver’s side door. I’ve been sitting and waiting for so long. What’s another few minutes? 

She toys with the camcorder in her hand. There’s no point recording anything. If she’s lucky, nobody...except maybe Kai...will ever come here again. 

Kai appears then, though she doesn’t realize it. He staggers as he finds his feet in this dimension, his hand instinctively going to press against the wound in his stomach. The bleeding has slowed now. 

“Bonnie,” he says, pointlessly. “Hi.” 

She stares into space, as she had been doing for the past few minutes. There are tears rolling down her face, but she doesn’t seem to notice them. Kai begins to notice the plumes of exhaust swirling around the room, the gentle hum of the engine running. 

“Bonnie!” he runs to her now, crouching down to meet her. His hands pass through her like a bad dream. “Bon, come on, stop it. Get up. This isn’t you. You’re too stubborn for this, right?” 

She blinks slowly. 

“HEY! I’m talking to you! Bonnie, come on! Can you listen to me so we can get out of here please? You know I hate it here.” 

Nothing. She opens up the lens on the camcorder idly. 

“And you hate it here, too,” says Kai. “Don’t you?” 

“Hey everyone...” she says. Her voice is thick with unshed tears. “On the off chance you ever feel like stopping by this hell dimension sometime...long after I’m gone...thought I’d leave you this little note.” 

“Don’t...” Kai begins to say, though he doesn’t know how to finish. 

“Um...” Bonnie says. She pauses for a long time, unable to speak. “Just wanted to let you guys know that I love you. And...it’s not your fault. I know you did everything you could. And I know...I know you were counting on me to wait...to hold on until you could find something. And I’m sorry that I couldn’t do that for you. It’s just...this place...the loneliness...it’s too much. This isn’t living anyway, you know? I haven’t been living, really, for a very long time.” 

She pauses, a sob overtaking her body. When she draws breath again, it’s shaky and heaving, and Kai wonders if it’s the exhaust beginning to do its work. He swears he can feel it taking the air out of his lungs, too. 

“So. Don’t worry. This is on me. But it’s okay. I’ll be okay. And I want you all to be okay, too. I want you to live your lives...and be happy...” 

Bonnie’s hearing her breath coming in and out now, a harsh rasp. She turns the camera off. 

“Oh, so what, you weren’t gonna mention me in your little speech?” Kai says sharply, standing. “I’m the one who left you here, Bon-Bon, or is that gas making you stupid? ‘This is on me’?” 

He tries to kick the car door beside her head, but it’s as insubstantial as air. It makes him angrier, the lack of anything to hold, to push, to hurt. “Bullshit, Bon. That’s bullshit and you know it. I’m the reason you’re here, okay? You believed me because you’re a decent person and I left you for dead.” 

He stoops down again, tries to grab at her shoulders. He feels hysterical, teetering on the edge of some emotion that is too big for a name. It’s all new to him, this emotion thing, and he’s starting to hate it. “It’s on me, okay? It’s on me.” 

She starts to cough, small at first, and then very quickly turning to heaving gasps that wrack her body. Kai watches, feeling himself growing cold. “Bon? Bonnie! Come on, listen to me! You need to get out of here! You’re not dying in this shithole dimension, you hear me?” 

She’s curling up on herself like a burnt page and Kai struggles to reach for her hands. He can feel his magic growing weak, but he can be stubborn too, he’ll prove it. He’s not leaving, not yet. 

“Bonnie, come on! You were always fighting me. Always getting in my way. So fight back!” He slaps her face, his hand fading into her like she’s nothing. “Fight back!” He hits again, and he hears the sound of flesh against flesh before he feels it, the coolness of her cheek, the resistance. She slumps over from the impact, holding her face. 

She braces herself against the cement floor, still straining to catch her breath. She turns to look at whatever it was that just hit her. There’s nothing there. 

“Kai,” she says. It isn’t a question. 

Something steels inside her. She staggers to her feet. Leans against the car for support. She’s half-delirious. 

“Leave me alone, Kai,” she says, and she slowly moves her body against the door, into the passenger seat again. She turns the keys, and the hum of the engine dies.  

“I can’t--” she breathes, her voice barely a whisper. “Can’t do it...” 

The garage is still filled with carbon monoxide, and her eyes are closing. Kai races to her. God, he wishes he could fall asleep, too. 

“Bonnie, no no no, don’t. Come on, you can’t--” 

He tries to reach for her. It won’t work. He thinks he could, maybe, for a second...

He can feel her breath on his hand. He touches her shoulder and it’s there, she’s still solid and present and alive, still alive. 

He doesn’t think. He’s so tired. He just wants them to go home. 

“Phasmatos reditus.” 

There’s a flash of nothing, of darkness and soundlessness, and then the feeling of the kitchen tile against his back again, the blood getting cold against his chest, and Bonnie-- 

Bonnie’s hand in his. 

Bonnie, coughing and gasping for dear life, and Jeremy backing away like he’s seen a ghost. 

“Oh my god. Bonnie!” Jeremy rushes at her, wrapping his arms around her, and her eyes are wild, taking in the scene before her. She’s not alone. She’s home. She’s still holding someone else’s hand...

“Bonnie, oh my god, I never thought--Elena! Damon! Get down here!” Jeremy rushes off down the hall, and Bonnie looks to her left. The hand she’s holding is very cold. 

“Kai?” she croaks out. 

He’s lying with his head awkwardly set against the counter. She sees that he’s soaked in blood, his own. He opens his eyes, just barely. 

“Hey, Bon,” he says. His voice is weaker than hers. “Bet you missed me.” 

“What happened?” she asks. “What are you--” 

“I feel weird,” he interrupts. His voice is slower than she remembered. “You ever use a lot of magic and then feel all cold and weird?” 

“You’re bleeding,” she says. She doesn’t know whether to call for help. She barely knows where she is. She knows that a minute ago she was dying, and Kai did something to pull her out. 

“Oh. Yeah. Ugh, sisters, am I right?” 

She can feel his pulse with his wrist against hers. It’s slowing. 

“Kai, we need to get you--” she starts to get up, call for someone. 

“Wait, no, just wait here a second, okay?” He pulls weakly at her hand. “Don’t leave me alone.” 

“Kai--” 

“I’ll be fine in a second, okay, I just...I really want to fall asleep...” 

She hears his breathing slow like a soft tide, and then it stops altogether. 

“Kai,” she says. “Kai! Wake up!”  

He doesn’t stir. His hand has gone slack in hers. 

She wants to cry, wants to scream at him to come back and explain himself. She doesn’t know where to begin. But he’s on the other side of a different dimension altogether now, and there’s no reaching him. 

[barpurplewrites]

Dithering

Gold has a task to complete and he is doing everything he can to put it off.

-x-x-x

Procrastination. Gold carefully printed the word on the doodle filled page. A fifteen letter word, worth nineteen points in Scrabble, and that was just the face value of the tiles, depending on the multipliers it would be worth much more. Of course the odds of having the correct combination of tiles on the board and in one's hand to make the word would have to be rather small. On the other hand, the amount of games played around the globe in English each year meant that the right conditions had probably cropped up a surprising number of times.

Gold was good at working out loan rates in his head, but the maths for those probabilities was a bit beyond him. He drew a dark cloud and a lightening bolt on the page, and then some lotto balls, he guessed the odds were some where between those two things happening. Someone would have worked out the maths, there was bound to be a website listing the chances of getting a certain word on a Scrabble board. He glanced at his computer and groaned out loud. He was actually considering searching for the site.

This was ridiculous.

A glance at the clock on the wall told him he'd sat here dithering for almost an hour. It wasn't the first time he'd had to serve an eviction notice. It wasn't as common occurrence as the gossip in town would have most believe. Having properties without tenants simply wasn't good business practice. Occasionally he'd experience a sting of bitterness that all and sundry recalled each eviction he'd served over the years, but none cared to remember all the times he'd helped tenants get their finances in order so that they kept a roof over their heads.

Frustration caused him to score a deep mark across the page. The nib of the pen bit through the paper and left a trail of ink on the page below. He tossed the pen onto the desk and sat back in his chair with a huff. The chair squeaked a little as he rocked himself from side to side, he'd have to oil this soon. Did he have any oil?

“Oh for pity's sake! Get a grip, Gold!”

Oiling his chair? Scrabble scores? He'd be alphabetizing his books next. All he had to do was pick up the buff envelope on the desk and walk across to the library. He'd be done in ten minutes, maybe fifteen. A distasteful task would be over and he could go home. The envelope should have combusted under the scowl it was receiving.

He did not want to do this, and damn her Regina knew that. Madam Mayor was clever, and this time she'd outmanoeuvred him. Privately he had a grudging respect for her handling of the library situation, red hot coals would never get him to admit it aloud of course. His foot started tapping against the floor as he considered the problem for the hundredth time.

Fact; he owned the library building. Regina's father had sold the building to him when he had been Mayor. The sale injected much needed funds into the city coffers and moved the responsibility of maintenance to Gold.

Fact; a town covenant stated that the building could only be used as a 'free library for the public good'. Gold had known this before he signed the deal with Henry Mills Sr. He wasn't a fool. The rent he made from the building was nominal, but he'd been more interesting in keeping a fully functional library in the town he now called home. Public libraries had been a haven for him as a child, and as much as people might believe that this arrangement was some sort of elaborate tax scam, he actually wanted to give something back the community.

Fact: the town was supposed to finance the running of the library, which it had done for many years.

Fact; Regina had cut the budget for the library, claiming the funds needed to be injected into the harbour redevelopment. He still had his doubts about the truth of that statement.

Fact; Regina hated the library for reasons he'd not yet discovered. She also loathed him and the delight she was taking in him having an empty building that he was unable to develop on his hands was bordering on shameful.

Fact; he had to serve the eviction notice to the librarian who's flat was part of the library, and who would be unable to pay her rent by the end of next month.

“Fact; I don't want to do that to Belle.” Gold aimed a petulant kick at the leg of his desk and swore under his breath as his toe throbbed from the impact. With a sigh he rested his elbows on the desk and slumped his chin into his hands.

That was the truth of the matter. Oh, he didn't want Regina to get one over on him in their never-ending battle of one-upmanship, and he didn't want the town to lose the library, but the main reason was Belle French. He sank his fingers into his hair and groaned. He liked Belle, she was an intelligent, friendly ray of pure sunshine. If the library closed she would leave town to find another job, and he would lose a friend and a great Scrabble opponent. There had to be something he could do! But what?

The tinkle of the chimes above the shop door were a welcome interruption to his hopeless swirling thoughts. With a sigh he heaved himself to his feet and made a token attempt to smooth his ruffled hair.

“Gold? Are you back there?”

The sound of Belle's voice had him hurrying to the front of shop; “Belle? How are, wait are you alright?”

Belle was flushed and out of breath, but there was a smile on her face. She stepped towards the counter and placed the armful of folders she was carrying on the glass top. Gold had a sudden urge to brush the loose lock of hair that had escaped her ponytail from her forehead. Where the hell had that come from? He diverted his hand to the pile of folders instead.

“So, what do we have here?”

Belle had her breathing back to normal now; “I've found a way to save the library,” she bit her bottom lip, “but I need some help with the forms.”

“Of course anything Belle, anything at all.”

Her enthusiastic smile proved infectious, Gold felt himself grinning like an idiot, and found he didn't care in the slightest.

-o0o-

One month later Belle ran into Gold's shop again. This time she had only one slim envelope and a few sheets of paper in her hand. She ignored Regina's sneer and rushed behind the counter, throwing herself into Gold's arms.

“We got the funding!”

Gold had managed to keep his balance as Belle jumped at him by wrapping one arm around her waist and bracing the other against the counter. Her smiling face was so very close to his, and he could think of a million reasons why he should step back, should put some distance between them before he did something foolish like...

“Oh.”

His tiny gasp of surprise was muffled as Belle's lips met his in a soft kiss.

“For goodness sake! Must I be subjected to such a disgusting display?”

Regina's huffed complaint made them step back from each other. Gold felt cold now Belle was standing at a socially respectable distance from him, he poured all of that ice into his tone as he turned a shark-like grin on Regina and said; “For once your intrusion is well-timed Madam Mayor. Your presence here will save either of us a trip to city hall. Belle? Would you care to share the wonderful news?”

“I'd be delighted. Madam Mayor, we have secured funding to keep the library open for the next five years...”

As Belle explained the various grants and endowments they had successfully applied for Gold watched the smirk slide off Regina's face. It was interesting how quickly she pulled the mask of polished politician back into place and offered Belle her hand.

“Congratulations Miss French. The town will no doubt thank you for your hard work and dedication.”

Regina gave him a curt nod that promised retribution at a later date and left the shop. After watching the door close gently behind her, Belle turned her eyes back to Gold.

Neither spoke, the crackling tension in the air between them needed no words. Gold reached for her waist as Belle reached for his shoulders. Their second kiss was as gentle and brief as their first. A short shared breath later and they were kissing with passion and need; kissing as if they had waited their whole lives to do so; kissing as if they had always done this; kissing as lovers, as they would for the rest of their days together.

[whumpmakesmesquiggly]

Hi!! I'm not v active in the community I LOVE your ocs and I saw you were looking for prompts? Okay so: A knows B can't be doing too hot--not according to that excruciating voicemail B left. A heard C's voice, knows what C is capable of. A finds B, fearing the worst, when B makes some sort of tiny noise or movement to let A know they're alive. It's open ended from there! And if you ever want a writing partner please hmu, I have SO many ocs that I love to use and I def want to learn about yours!!

Ah, I love writing with people and I’m so glad you like my ocs! I was a little hesitant to add them, I mostly share fanfics online so it’s fun to think about doing original works too. 

As for your prompt, your wish is my command. (Feat. an oc belonging to my friend elphaba-fang, because our ocs are all interconnected)

Character A: Ammy (elphaba-fang’s creation)

Character B: Connor

Character C: Unspecified baddie

Ammy slammed a file onto the front desk and glared at the sergeant on the other side. “Paperwork done, sir.”

The old man grinned crookedly at the beat cop. “Thank you, officer. Now get your scrawny ass out of here.”

Finally. The people around her gave her a wide berth as she stormed out of the station, eye twitching and teeth set in a grimace. Ammy was tired, she could still feel the mud and slush in her hair and all she wanted was to go home. Never mind that they’d accidentally stumbled into a drug bust, that her partner had pissed off the narcotics detectives and gotten sent home, the highlight of the day was definitely when that purse snatcher had tackled her into a snow drift while trying to escape. She felt like there was snow in her damn underwear.

Pulling on glasses to negate the way that the sun made the white ground nearly blinding, Ammy began to head down the street and turned on her phone. It was nice to see it working again after the beating it’d taken in her spill. There were two messages, the first from her bank wanting to talk to her about something or other, and then the second one…

///Hey, Ammy, pick up please…/// She stilled to a stop, the foot traffic around her continuing on its way as she listened to her partner’s voice. Connor was whispering and there was an edge to it… ///So, I did something stupid. I went to confront Mathews,/// The lead detective, her mind supplied. ///and obviously that didn’t go well and I think I’m suspended now, but on my way home I thought I saw the guy with the beanie from the warehouse and I’m not totally sure but I think he’s following me.///

The man with… Oh, shit, the man who’d run from the bust. She could hear the sound of a door being unlocked over the tinny voice message. ///I dunno if I’m actually as paranoid as Johnny says I am but I’d really feel better if you’d pick up–/// Then there was another voice on the phone and Ammy began to run. That was him, that was definitely the man from the warehouse. She’d approached him about a busted tail light, how was she supposed to know that there was a deal going on and one of the other men was an undercover. She heard Connor react in surprise, then a sound of movement, sounds of flesh impacting on flesh, an unfamiliar grunt of pain, crashes and then a thud before the message cut.

Connor only lived a few blocks away. He wasn’t far. He wasn’t far but the message was from forty minutes ago. One block to go. He fought back, Connor’s self defense skills were a lot better than when they met. Ammy barreled into the apartment complex, almost running over an older woman in her haste. Dammit, why’d he live so far up and why was the elevator never working?

As she pounded up the stairs to the third floor, it didn’t occur to her to call for backup, she just wanted to get to her partner as soon as possible. Door 305…door 305…

The door was open and she stumbled into the room, pulling her personal piece as an afterthought even as her eyes were desperate for signs of the younger man. The couch was moved out of place and a chair had been upended while the coffee table was shattered into kindling. The porcelain vase that Anne had gotten him for his birthday was also in pieces, the aloe plant lying limp on the carpeted floor. Ammy gritted her teeth as she stepped over the tipped over lamp and around a pile of books that had fallen from the bookcase by his TV. Miraculously, the electronic devices were all intact. It had been one hell of a struggle. She scanned the room to make sure it was clear and stalled at the sight of Connor.

The younger man was curled up behind his couch, his back to the door and completely still. There was another lamp on the floor next to him, incriminating crimson stains on the heavy base. For a second Ammy couldn’t breath; it was as though her body was trying to mimic the stillness in front of her, to prove it didn’t have to mean he wasn’t breathing himself. Connor wasn’t dead, he couldn’t be dead, she couldn’t have to tell his brother, she couldn’t go to their co-workers and–

Then his foot twitched.

Scrambling to his side, she hesitated before trying to pull him onto his back. Connor let out a muffled sob and curled further in on himself and she jerked her hand back as though burned. She couldn’t tell what kind of injuries he had and the likelihood of some of them being internal was too high to move him. So she scrambled for her phone and punched in 911, rattling off their address and that there was an officer down while trying to think over the pounding white noise in her ears. The blood matted in his hair was scaring her the most, she knew head wounds bled a lot but… He twitched again with another little moan and she shuffled over again.

Ammy grabbed his arm as he began to shiver, he flinched away and whimpered again so Ammy made a soothing noise as she rubbed his shoulder. “Easy, easy. It’s okay, help is coming…” She tried to help prop him on his side, worrying about his unsteady breathing. He groaned and she braced herself against the guilt that swirled through her. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry Con. I’m just trying to help.”

Most likely recognizing her voice, Connor’s head moved slightly as he tried to look up at her and she smiled at him. “Hey, it’s okey. Help’s on the way.” There was movement at the door and two EMTs entered, quickly taking control of the situation but Ammy continued to hold on to his shoulder as long as she could. “It’s going to be okay, Con. I promise.”

The ride to the hospital was a blur, Ammy unable to look away from Connor’s pale face. The mask that was helping his thin chest move up and down covered much of it but couldn’t cover the blood and bruising. The noises of the car and the bright colors marring her partner’s face all started to blend together, creating a static that covered her eyes and filled her ears until–

“Ma’am?”

For a second Ammy couldn’t think of where she was, the dull walls and gentle noises throwing her off. Then she realized she was seated in the waiting room, had been there for a while based on the clock, and a doctor was watching her carefully. He smiled once he knew she was aware of her surroundings again. “Your partner’s been brought out of surgery and his brother has been contacted. He’s listed you as one of his next of kin so would you like to go over his condition?”

“Yes. Please. I-Roy’ll be a while. He was away on-Yes, please tell me.”

“Alright. He’s got quite the concussion but the bleeding is under control and we’ll keep him under observation. He’s broken several ribs and fractured one of his wrists.  Lots of bruising, little worried about his kidney but overall this could have been a lot worse.”

Ammy slumped forward, head on her knees. He smiled kindly and patted her on the shoulder. “He’ll be in a lot of pain for a while and need help and care. We’d like to keep him here at least for one more day to make sure everything’s where it should be. Would you like to see him? He won’t wake up for a while but it might be good for you to be there when he does.”

She agreed quickly and soon found herself seated next to the hospital bed with one hand grasping the limp one resting on the white sheet. Trying to ignore the various tubes and wires attached to her partner she let out a long breath. Connor was cleaned up but the bruising on his face still stood out against his pale skin, the white of bandages peeking out from under his gown. Impulsively Ammy reached out and ran a knuckle over his brow, noticing the lack of tension that normally characterized her partner. “They must have you on some damn good drugs.” Unsurprisingly Connor didn’t react but she continued anyway. “I shouldn’t have let you leave like that. I mean, I know you had to go home but I should have driven you there and made you stay there because of course you would have this happen. You just…attract crazy, you know that?”

“…would…explain why you…’re still here…”

She grinned, squeezing back as he held her hand. “Hey.”

“Hey, did they get the make and number of the semi that ran me over?”

“Funny. He’s a damn comedian. No!” He had slipped his hand out of hers to try to take off his mask and she quickly stopped him. “Keep that on, idiot. You broke some ribs, you need the help.”

“Knew I felt like crap.” Connor looked up at her blearily. “What happened?”

“What happened was that I got a very disturbing voicemail and found you half beaten to death in your apartment.”

“Oh.” Connor nodded slowly. “Yeah, no, I think I’m starting to remember. They catch the guy?”

“I dunno, I’ve been a little busy!” Ammy huffed and rubbed a hand over her face. “Con, new rule, if you think you’re being stalked you go to the police office, not a secluded spot where they can corner you. Got it?”

“How often do you see this happening? Don’t answer that…” Connor shifted slightly and his eyes widened. “Please don’t tell me…”

“They’re worried about your kidney.” Ammy grinned.

Connor groaned, flopping back. “Shut up.” He tested his other hand, wincing at the pull on his fractured wrist. “I bet this is going to start feeling a lot worse before it gets better, huh?”

“Just imagine how it’ll feel when the bosses find out what happened.”

“Oh man…” Connor sighed. “I forgot about Mathews. Dammit.”

“Brought that one on yourself, partner.” She stood up. “I’m going to get the nurse okay?”

Before she could step away, Connor put his free hand on her arm. “Hey, thanks. For finding me.”

She moved her fingers through his hair for a moment, indulging in his rare openness to being touched. He leaned into the contact slightly, letting out a little sigh as she grinned. “Every time Connor, every time.”

[snipsnsnailsnwerewolftales]

No Matter What - Part 7

A/N: Based off of the song “One Call Away” by Charlie Puth, this will be a multichapter fic with a line of lyric being the headers to break down the thought process of the chapter. None of the lyrics are mine, and they are all in bold - Again, I do not claim to own them, all credit where credit is due.

I do not own Teen Wolf or it’s characters. Sadly.

Word Count: 2,627 (Not including lyrics.)

Warnings: None that I know of. Mild language? Some slight angst, and mention of violence, but mostly fluffy. Mention of possible death. I think that’s it?

Beautiful people who helped me when I came to them with this crazy idea and said to run with it: @wheresthekillswitch @aworldmadeforme​ @faith-pixiedust-and-trust

How to be a Werewolf 101: Getting bitten was the easy part. Controlling the shifts that come after? Not so much. It’d been a long, hard road for you once you were bitten, never quite being able to control the shift even now, almost a year later. 
You were always told that Beacon Hills would hold a handful of people willing to drop everything to come an help you, no matter the situation, all you had to do was let them know, and they’d be there. So far you hadn’t had to ask a single time. 
But when pride becomes a bigger issue, and the war raging inside of you becomes more and more of a losing battle, you find yourself having to let go, and give in, putting your trust in others once again, instead of yourself, and believing they will do what is best for you, no matter what.

Series Masterlist

Xxx

I'm only one call away

Looking down at your phone in your lap with knit eyebrows, you took a moment before finally pressing the accept button, slowly raising the phone to your ear, and staring straight ahead with the confused expression firmly on your face. Waiting several seconds before finally addressing the person on the other line, you sighed before muttering a defeated, “Hello?”

“Y/N.”

You kept your expression bland, your gaze never moving from the vacant space across the room. “Derek, why are you calling me, I am literally across from you in your own damn living room.”

In your peripherals you could see him turn and look your way from his kitchen on your left, smirking at you as he held the phone to his ear with his shoulder, both hands busy with cooking food for the two of you.

“You’re no fun,” he mumbled, trying to hide a smile growing on his face.

“No. I’m not. I’m hungry. Chop chop, Hale! Before I die of starvation over here!”

I'll be there to save the day

You had to stop meeting like this. Normal people bumped into each other with their shopping carts at the grocery store. You, on the other hand, kept bumping into Derek Hale while staring in the face of danger, backing into his back as he did the same.

Doing normal things seemed to be the most unlikely thing in your life these days, unable to even go to a movie or out to eat, because of the constant threat being hurled at your home town.

Circling to scan the area, keeping your backs to one another for protection, you shook your head gently in annoyance as you surveyed the area, hearing growls and various sounds of fighting somewhere nearby as members of the pack took out the threats one by one.

“Did ya miss me?” Derek’s tone was heavy with a smile, his amusement at the situation contagious.

Throwing away your vision of a normal life, you embraced your new reality as you sunk into a fighting posture, bracing yourself against the charging bad guy heading your way, and smirking as you said, “Took you long enough.”

Superman got nothing on me

Walking into his loft unannounced, you ignored his glowing eyes and ready to strike posture without a second glance, studying the floor as you walked through to the table by the large windows, hoping you were walking a straight line as you clutched your left arm tightly to your side with your right, ignoring the likely trial of blood you were leaving behind you.

“What happened?” Derek said to your back, but you ignored him, making it to the table, grimacing as you climbed the two steps up to the new level as pain shot through your body. Sliding the first aid kit so it sat directly in front of you on the large table, you messily tried to open it with one hand, finally succeeding, rifling through the contents until you found a gauze patch, lifting it to your teeth and ripping the package open before fumbling to get it out and open enough to cover the wound.

“Are you bleeding?” You snorted at his question, arching your eyebrows when you realized you didn’t have a blood trail behind you. “Y/N! Speak to me!” You jumped at his outburst, closing your eyes as you let out a sigh, your hand holding the gauze resting on the table.

Opening your eyes, you looked straight through the large windows in front of you. “Yes, okay? But not because of hunters.” You paused, looking down at the gauze and feeling a sense of embarrassment crawling up your spine. “Or a bad guy. Or a trap.”

“Then what?”

Still looking down, you studied the grain of the wood before looking back up through the windows. “Because I’m stupid and decided to play baseball with Stiles, and thought I could epically slide into home plate, but I’m me, so you know how that went.”

There was no response except Derek’s heavy breathing as he obviously was trying to contain laughter. Suddenly Stiles appeared in the doorway, breathing hard as he stumbled his way to the couch before collapsing onto it. “Oh, I’m glad she made it. Have you ever thought about fixing that elevator? So many stairs….”

You and Derek shared a look before you both broke into fits of laughter, your cheeks turning bright pink as you looked to the floor, Derek’s shoes coming into view as he took the gauze from your hand and began to grab other supplies out of the kit.

He chuckled as he spoke, making his words sound strangled. “Look, I’m not a superhero! I’m not gonna just be able to always save your ass.”

You smirked at him, unable to stop laughing yourself. “What a shame. I’ve been told I have a great one.”

I'm only one, I'm only one call away

Walking into his loft after a long day, Derek sighed as he tossed his keys somewhere to his left, groaning as his sore muscles protested when he tried to remove his leather jacket, about to toss it the same place as his keys when he felt his phone vibrating in the pocket. Fishing it out with knit eyebrows, he hit answer as he tossed the jacket to the side, slowly making his way further into the loft.

“It’s been five minutes, Y/N.” He couldn’t help the small smile climbing up his face.

“Exactly. Five whole minutes, Hale.” He could tell there was a smile on your face, too.

“What is it now?”

“Is it a crime to just want to hear your voice?”

“It is when the rules clearly dictate that a time period of at least fifteen minutes has to have passed first.”

You hesitated a moment. “What are these rules you speak of?”

“The ones I am talking about,” he said matter of factly, smirking.

“Why must you be so infuriating?” you huffed before hearing his soft chuckle and hanging up.

I'll be there to save the day

Scratching on your back door woke you up. Silently making your way downstairs, you switched on the kitchen light before listening for whoever was on the other side of the door. Hearing a frantic heart rate, your eyes glowed bright yellow and you immediately opened the door.

A black wolf ran in, dashing up the stairs towards your room, and you took off after it, slamming your kitchen door behind you.

Just as you reached your doorway, the wolf’s eyes glowed a bright blue, and it morphed into Derek’s human form, his eyes still glowing bright blue, his breathing heavy. His eyes darted around the room, glazed over and distant, before they landed on yours, fading back to their human shade and panic painted his features.

Walking toward him, you grabbed a pair of his sweatpants he kept here for this reason off of the back of a chair, and tossed them to him. He put them on quickly, just finishing pulling them over his hips when you reached him, immediately pulling him into a hug, letting him squeeze you to the point where it was almost painful.

His breathing was still frantic as you gently rubbed his back, and you shushed him, slowly sinking down until you both sat on the floor, you on the ground between his legs still holding him tight as he held onto you like you were a lifeline. He slowly rocked back and forth, the sound of gentle crying beginning to make his breathing irregular.

“Derek, it was just a bad dream. I’m right here. Calm down.” It had started with phone calls in the middle of the night, but when they were especially bad, he just came here. Eventually it had morphed into only coming to your house as the phone calls stopped all together.

He was shaking his head, staring at the ground, his eyes wide and fearful. “I can’t lose them. I can’t lose them all. Not again.”

Your heart broke for him. “Who, Derek? Your family? Your pack?”

He looked at you, his eyes still wide. “All of them.”

Superman got nothing on me

Running toward the commotion, you weren’t surprised to see Derek in the middle of it, facing down the most powerful of the group, and wearing the bloody claw marks to prove it.

Launching yourself at the last second, you landed a punch to the side of the evil asshole’s head just as he pulled his own fist back to strike Derek. His head snapped to the side with the impact, his body freezing in place as he wobbled on now unsteady feet before falling to the ground out cold.

Derek looked at you with wide eyes, back down to the bad guy, and finally back to you before letting out a loud breath, his body relaxing, and eyes shutting in relief. “You’ve kinda got this ass saving down now.”

You smirked at him, getting down on your knee to tie up the unconscious bad guy’s hands, taking special care to dig your other knee into his rib cage, earning a groan of pain from him despite his unaware state. Cinching the ties as tight as they went, you looked up to Derek, the smirk still firmly on your face. “Well when I have a friend like you, I kind of have to.”

I'm only one call away

You had successfully made it through a full moon without shifting. Your first time. Stiles had slid the door open to your cell you sat in every month, Parrish standing guard at the doorway like always, shifting his weight from foot to foot in nerves.

“Stiles, I told you it’s not safe!” You backed yourself into the corner of the cell, curling into a ball, your eyes glowing and voice sounding more on the demonic side, meaning a shift was well on it’s way.

Stiles just stood in the doorway of the cell, smiling gently. “Well, I think it’s perfectly fine. You asked me to do this because you said I knew what I was doing. Do you still think that?”

You huffed, your voice slightly more normal but your eyes still glowing. “I’m beginning to doubt that.”

“Ha, ha,” he said sarcastically, his smile growing. “Well, I do, and I don’t care what I have to do, this is the first day you get to walk under a full moon again without attempting to rip me to shreds.”

“Don’t discount that outcome yet,” you mumbled, smiling at the groan of agitation Stiles let out.

Slapping his hands back down to his sides, he leveled his gaze on you once again. “Are you feeling homicidal?”

You hesitated. “No….”

“Agitated?”

You leveled your now fully human gaze on him, your tone bland. “What do you think?”

“Twitchy?”

“Twitchy- Stiles! This is serious! I could rip you to shreds before you got three steps into this cell….” You trailed off, eyes going wide when you saw Stiles begin to take a step forward.

Planting his feet and smirking your way, he said, “One,” before tilting his head to the side playfully.

Another purposeful step, “Two,” and an eyebrow cocked up in humor.

Another step, “Three,” before his head straightened back up, and his other eyebrow shot up to meet the other. “Well, would you look at that?” He looked around the cell for emphasis, hands spreading at his sides. “No shredding…. I have all my limbs….” He patted down and back up his body, as if double checking. His arms stopped on his chest. “Whaddya know? I’m alive!” You snorted in unamusement, making him drop the act with a smirk. “And you are completely human.”

You snapped your eyes to the space right in front of you, staring at nothing in particular as you took in the cell bathed in moonlight for the first time through completely human eyes. Well, as completely human as a werewolf could be.

Jumping up, you wrapped your arms around Stiles’ neck, squeezing him with all you had, laughing and apologizing profusely as you released him, his overdramatic choking sounds turning into laughter.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you….” You said over and over again, pulling him close once again, being careful not to squeeze so tight.

“I told you you could do it.”

“And you were right. I’ll never doubt you again.”

Pulling back to arms length, Stiles asked playfully, “Uh, can I get that in writing?”

You threw your head back and laughed, the situation making you deliriously happy.

Giving Stiles a final squeeze, you mumbled as you pulled away, “I need to call Derek….”

Stiles held his phone out to you, Derek’s contact info already pulled up. Reaching for the phone, you scowled Stiles’ way when he pulled the phone just out of your reach. “First, give it to me in writing, then- Ow!”

“Oh, that didn’t hurt,” You mumbled, pressing send on the phone you had swiped from Stiles’ hand.

“Says the werewolf to the human.”

“She also says this,” you held the phone to your ear, holding the mouthpiece at a slight angle away from your mouth as you spoke to Stiles, “get over it.”

Stiles mock gasped. “Well there’s no need to be rude about it,” he muttered, turning to leave the cell as you turned your attention back to the phone.

A female picked up, causing you to stumble for words for a moment. “Hello?” She repeated her greeting, with a little emphasis.

Shaking your head gently, and closing your eyes for a minute, you studied the floor as you searched for the right words. “Um, hi! Yeah, I, uh, I think I may have the wrong number….”

You met Stiles’ eyes as you hung up, seeing his eyebrows knit in confusion. “Has Derek changed his number recently?” You studied the contact info once again on the screen.

“No….” Stiles sounded even more confused than you were.

Calling again, the same female voice answered, but somehow you forged on.

“Hello, is Derek there?”

The silence before her response was probably only a second, but it felt like an eternity, before it was broken.

“I can take a message.”

I'm only one call away

The pack was worried, they hadn’t been able to get ahold of you in days.

Trying for what felt like the millionth time, Derek dialed your number, noticing his battery was almost dead, and he just hoped it made it through until he got ahold of you.

He stopped his pacing when an unfamiliar male voice answered, causing him to knit his eyebrows together in confusion.

“Hello, is Y/N there?”

The voice sounded jostled, like the person was running, and their heavy breaths began to become more pronounced, their voice fading as if they turned away from the microphone periodically. “I’m sorry sir, I don’t know a-” The voice stopped suddenly with what sounded like an impact, the sounds of the mic hitting the ground causing Derek to wince and pull the phone away from his ear.

More jostling like the phone was being picked up, and your voice muffled on the other end, “That’s what you get for stealing my phone, you imbecile.”

“Y/N? Y/N!” Derek called into the phone, almost laughing when he heard you mutter, “What the hell?” before the phone was being fumbled with again. “Shit. The idiot was on a phone call….” The sound of another punch was heard somewhere in the background, and a groan followed.

“Derek? Are you still there?”

“Yes! Yes I am, Y/N! Where are you? The pack is looking everywhere for you, and-” Derek’s phone died before he could finish his sentence, and it was all he could do to keep from throwing it across the room and shattering into a million pieces, and instead made it to the charger, where he glared at it until it turned back on. After that all calls went directly to your voicemail.

Xxx

Tags: @evyiione​ @mayahart02​ @palaiasaurus64​ @shydinosaurcandy​ @lucyqueenofthestars​ @storytelling-reader​ @jazzrivera27​ @c-breanne1999​ @bless-my-demons​ @hoehoehoechlinhale @l4life​ What’s this?

[spn-one-shots-and-imagines]

The Greatest Hunter to Ever Live.

Summary: Dean x Reader, Sam. You and Dean get into an argument. Dean makes an ass of himself. You've had enough but will you really leave this time.

Warnings: cursing, canon level violence, fluff, smut, unprotected sex(don't be a fool cover your tool).

You swore as Sam pinned you to the mat for what felt like the hundredth time. Sweat was pouring off you as Sam released you. You sprung up onto your feet.

"Again." you demanded. Sam looked at you worriedly.

"Y/N, maybe we should call it a day." He said softly trying not to upset you.

You had been training your ass off, trying to get the hang of combat. You were relatively new to the hunting life and the Winchesters had saved your bacon nearly a year ago. You huffed out a breath angrily.

"Damn it Sam no. Do you think the monsters are going to say 'oh she looks tired better give her a break.' ? No I don't think so. Again." You urged. Without warning Sam swung at you hard. You had just barely dodged it. His huge fist singing past your ear. You took your opening and jabbed him in the ribs. He backed up a pace. You continued your assault. Sam easily deflected the rest of your attack. Finally getting bored he came charging at you. You tried to dodge him but there was so much of him. He tackled you to the ground. Using his own momentum you rolled him onto his back. Without giving him time to counter. You pulled your fist back and let it pound into the mat right next to his face. You flung yourself backwards and did a happy dance. Shaking your hips.

"How do you like those apples Winchester?" You taunted. Sam rose from the mat and held up his hand for a high five. You slapped his hand, but before you could pull away Sam grabbed your arm twisted it behind your back and took you to the ground.

"That was really good Y/N/N, but I'm still better." Sam chuckled into your ear. Normally that would have pissed you off but, you just laid there. This was Sam after all and he was more forgiving than the oldest Winchester. He let you up. You gave him a small smile.

"Alright I think I'm ready to hit the shower." you said walking away.

"Yeah, sure." Sam said. You opened the door to the training room and there stood an angry Dean. He brushed past you and went straight get in Sam's face.

"Sammy, what the hell? I thought we agreed no more training Y/N! She's not ready." Dean began raising his voice.

"No, Dean. We didn't agree. You ordered me to stop training her. She pinned me today, she just needs extra time. " Sam said defensively.

"She pinned you once? How many times did you pin her? 10 times? more? It's not good enough Sammy!" Dean yelled. You took a couple steps towards Dean, your anger building.

"Enough! Sam just stop. I think what Dean is trying to say is, I'll never be good enough." You looked Dean right in the eyes and could see that what you said was true. "I'm never going to be fast enough, strong enough or smart enough to handle what you guys do." both brothers stayed silent. So you continued. Yelling now. "A poor little girl could never do the job of half a Winchester. The greatest hunters to ever live! Well fuck that and fuck you Dean Winchester! All you want me to do is stay here and be your research bitch. Well I've had enough of it." you turned to walk away. Dean made a sound of disgust.

"This ain't gender studies sweetheart. Women can do the job fine. Your not ready." He said walking closer. You kept walking for fear of turning around and seeing pity on the face of the man you loved and hated with all your heart. Dean grabbed your arm and spun you around. Instinctively you punched him square in the jaw. Anger coursed through you like an old friend.

"Well, don't worry about it anymore because I'm leaving." You hissed. You shook yourself free of Dean's grasp, only for him to grab you again. You resisted the urge to punch him again.

"Hey, come on Y/N don't be like that." Dean said, a little more calm than before.

"Do. Not. Touch. Me. Again." You ground out from between clenched teeth. You ripped your arm away from him one last time and stormed to your room, slamming the door with a resounding thud.

You proceeded to shower. Washing away the sweat and also covering the sounds of your sobs. Dean was an asshole but you loved him so much. Too much. You had never told him how you felt but, over the past year you fell head over heels. Tonight proved that he didn't care for you the same way. He didn't want you around. You pulled yourself together and turned off the water. You wrapped a towel around yourself and walked into your room.

Dean was sitting on your bed holding the picture of the three of you at the beach. You had convinced him to take a break from hunting and go have fun. It was the only picture you had. You gripped your towel tighter around you. Dean looked up at you, and smiled sadly. A bruise already forming on his jaw. He drank in your form. You tried to look mad to cover up the fact that you had been crying.

"What are you doing in here Dean?" You asked sternly. He shrugged and shook his head.

"I don't know, not really." He said lowly.

"Well, if you don't mind I'd like to get dressed." you said tightly.

"I do mind, Y/N. Look I'm sorry. I'm not any good at this stuff." Dean looked away.

"Obviously." You agreed.

"Can we not fight? I want to try and explain somethings. Will you just hear me out?" He asked. Some of the sadness from before leaking back into his voice. You took a deep breath. This was it. This was how he'd tell you you should go and never come back. You steeled yourself. Braced for impact.

"I'm listening." You said in a defeated voice. You went and sat next to the hunter. His whole body seemed to stiffen. He got up and stood in front of you. were you really that repulsive? He took a deep breath and began speaking.

"Look, I know we haven't gotten along the greatest and part of that is my fault. I had to keep you at arm's length. You probably hate me. The reason I don't want you to be a hunter is because I don't want you to get hurt." he paused for a moment when your eyes snapped up to his. Determined he continued

"From the moment I saw you and we saved you from that witch. I've been in love with you. I couldn't show you how much I cared because everyone I care about dies. I don't do good at chick flick moments, and I know I've been a jerk but please don't leave." Dean said nearly begging. You wiped the tears that you hadn't realized were falling. You couldn't believe it. Dean Winchester just told you that he loved you. "Please, Y/N. Say something." you were at a loss for words. Dean looked like he might cry.

You stood from the bed, still wrapped in only a towel. You walked up to the hunter and wrapped your arms around his shoulders. He froze for a second before melting into the hug.

His arms slipped around you and crushed you to him. The tears were still falling from your face as you pulled back to gaze up at him. He looked confused but glad to be holding you. You grabbed the back of his neck and crushed your lips to his. It only took him a second to respond. Dean threaded his hand in your still wet hair. a soft moan escaped your lips. You let the towel slip from your body. You ran your hand up Dean's chest and cross his jaw. When he winced you pulled away to look at him.

"I'm sorry I hit you." you said lowly. You placed soft kisses across the bruise. Dean hummed.

"S'okay, I've had worse." Dean said capturing your lips again. Dean let his other hand travel south. Grabbing a handful of ass. You leaned yourself harder against him. You could feel the hard length of him pressed just below your navel. You ran your hand under the hem of his shirt. Relishing the feeling of warm skin. Your tongues tangled together. He tasted like mint and sunshine. Having enough, you lifted his shirt as far as you could before needing his help. He released your hair long enough to push you into your bed, and to strip off his clothing. In ten seconds flat Dean was on the bed. He pulled one of your nipples into his mouth. You gasped in shock. Then in pleasure as his tongue swirled the hard peak. Just as suddenly he was hovering over you. Your legs apart and his cock pressed at your entrance. He looked into your eyes.

"You want this Baby?" His voice was husky and ultra sexy.

"Yes. I want you." You responded without hesitation. Dean sank into you.

"Oh fuck, you're so tight." Dean groaned. He gave you both a second to adjust. Then his hips began moving. The drag of his dick was heavenly. You grabbed a handful of his hair and tugged gently. Dean's hips snapped forward making you moan loudly. After a few more thrusts he was pounding into you making you moan his name. Your legs locked around his hips and you arched into him. You felt your release building as his lower abdomen put pressure on your clit.

"Hey open your eyes. look at me." Not having realized they closed, you gazed up at him. Sweat had formed on his brow. His green eyes burned with a fire you hadn't seen there before. Your eyes locked with his and you were tumbling over the edge. You screamed his name, and clawed at his shoulders. As you clenched around him and a couple more thrusts. He came with a strangled yell. His cum pumped into you filling you full with his seed. He collapsed on top of you. You kissed his neck as his cock twitched inside you, sending pleasant aftershocks through you. He carefully slipped out of you and pulled you on your side with him.

"Am I forgiven?" Dean asked. Breathing heavy.

"Oh yeah, If that was an apology then your gonna have to piss me off more often." you laughed.

"Tomorrow, I'm going to train you myself. I promise. I'm not going to leave you behind anymore. You're part of the team. No matter what happens I want you by my side." Dean said turning serious.

"Well, I've got a good shot. The greatest Hunter to ever live is going to be my teacher." you sighed. Dean's soft laughter was the last thing you heard before you fell asleep.

[ladyvegeets]

Letting Go - 4 Striptease

for @tpthvegebulsmutfest

He stood in her lab, eyeing the equipment and half-put together machinery. He had seen similar rooms before on Frieza’s outer stations. He did not much care for them. The room smelt unpleasant, of strange chemicals, motor oil, and burnt wires among other things. Bulma had asked him to take a seat but Vegeta remained standing, waiting for her to return from wherever it was she had ducked off to. He didn’t know why he was humoring her.

[Read more under the break or over on AO3. Read from part one here.]

Well no, he knew perfectly well why. He was here because it meant putting off another day of self-inflicted torture that would result, like all the others, in nothing. Another futile day where he didn’t become Super Saiyan, where no matter how much he hurt or sweated or bled or screamed, nothing he did made a goddamn difference.

“Ta da!”

Bulma returned from a side room carrying a long rectangular box. She bounded up to his side and handed it to him with a beaming smile, her face flushed in expectation. Her expression threw him. Her smiles were normally more mocking, or so he thought, as if she were privy to some amusing secret that he wasn’t. But now she looked so genuine, so radiant. 

He distrusted it. It needed to be crushed.

“Here,” she insisted, thrusting the box as this chest. “It’s for you, dummy. Go on, open it.”

Vegeta didn’t like surprises but he also didn’t like secrets, so he took the box and cautiously opened the lid.

Bulma couldn’t stand still for her impatience. “Well? What do you think?” she gushed.

“It’s… my suit,” he said, staring at the familiar blue fabric. His battle suit was neatly folded in the box with a pair of pristine white gloves on top.

“Pfft, please!” she scoffed. “Your suit, if you remember correctly, was a complete wreck. But I used it to formulate you a new one. A better one. See? This is lighter, stronger, more breathable and weather resistant. It won’t stain or tear easily, and it’s totally seamless for maximum comfort.”

She leaned in, digging under the suit to reveal his white and gold chest armor. 

“And look here! I made you a new breastplate too. It’s also lighter and more flexible, and way more durable than your last one. You’re really going to have to work hard to break this sucker.”

Vegeta stared dumbly at her gifts. She was giving him battle armor, the same that he had died in while attempting to defend his people’s pride. She hadn’t just fixed it, she had recreated it and made it better. So much of his heritage had been taken from him over the years, so much lost, but with this gift Bulma had given him the chance to fight again in his royal uniform. His hands tightened on the box.

She was still prattling on about her improvements. “—it’s even impact resistant and—”

“No,” he said, cutting her short.

Bulma blinked at him, bewildered. “No? What do you mean, no?”

He threw the lid shut and shoved the box back at her. “No to this.”

Bulma caught the box on instinct, her face paling in shock. 

Vegeta crossed his arms. “Is that all?” he asked curtly. If she had nothing else to show him then he had no further need to stick around.

Her cheeks flushed and her gaze narrowed. “Is that all?” she repeated, her voice rising dangerously high. “I’ve worked my perfect ass off to make this for you, and that’s the thanks I get? ‘No’?”

“I never told you to,” he said coldly.

“You’re not supposed to. It’s a gift, you jerk!” she snapped back.

“A gift?” he sneered, his temper rising to meet her own. “More like a debt I’ll owe you. Isn’t that your thinking?”

Bulma threw the box on the ground between them. “Is that what you think I’m doing? Because if you want to play the debt game, how about the debt you owe for my hospitality, huh? You’re living in my house, eating my food, using my inventions and equipment, taking up my time and barely being civil to my parents. But have I once asked you for anything in return?”

Vegeta thinned his lips and looked away, having nothing to say in his defense.

“Well?” she demanded, not letting him get away with silence this time.

“You invited me, remember,” he replied sullenly. 

“Well if you can accept that, then you can accept one stupid present!” she shouted with exasperation. 

Vegeta kept his eyes down, refusing to meet hers, his arms tightening over his chest defensively. An awkward silence stretched between them. It was abhorrent. He needed to leave.

“Enough of this nonsense,” he spat, and tried to step around the box for the door but Bulma side-stepped in front of him. She put her hand on his arm, and though her strength was minimal, something in her touch kept him in place. 

“Vegeta,” she said, trying to catch his eyes.

He looked away, feeling suddenly queasy. Claustrophobic. Trapped.

“Hands,” he snapped, desperately latching on to anything to regain some control of the conversation. “You promised no touching.”

Bulma let her hand fall away, but she didn’t back down. “I don’t think that’s the problem, is it?” she asked, her tone unnervingly soft. “Vegeta, why won’t you accept the gift?”

He stayed silent, refusing to talk.

“Why aren’t you training today?”

Still silent. Why couldn’t she fucking leave things alone that weren’t her business!

“Why won’t you even look at me?”

Goddamn her. To prove her wrong, Vegeta looked up.

And instantly regretted his decision. 

Her blue eyes shone with worrisome concern. The thought that she, a mere human, would pity him was more than he could bare. He mustered what pride he had left and took a threatening step towards her.

“I owe you no answers.”

“Vegeta, what are you afraid of?”

How dare she. 

“I AM AFRAID OF NOTHING!” he screamed at her, his anger kicking in from 0 to 100 within nanoseconds. “The only one I was afraid of is dead, defeated at the hands of two men who are more jokes than Saiyan, yet somehow they achieved a legendary power that I, the last true surviving Saiyan, haven’t been able to achieve no matter how much I bleed for it!” He bent down, snatching up the blue suit and shaking it in her face. “So what fucking good is this, Bulma? I don’t even have the right to wear it. They’re not the jokes, are they? I am.”

With that, Vegeta threw the suit at her feet and stormed out.

~xox~

 The sky was painted in pinks and oranges by the time Vegeta returned to Capsule Corporation having finished his not-so-little temper tantrum against a few mountains in the middle of a desolate desert. Or if it hadn’t been desolate before, it certainly was now.

Covered in dirt and sweat he headed straight for the bathroom to wash off, then for bed, too drained to even muster the energy to eat.

With only a towel about his waist, his skin still warm from his shower, Vegeta paused when he entered his room. A suspicious looking long box lay on his bed. He approached it slowly. Sure enough, when he reached inside he found the blasted battle armor. That cursed woman. Was she mocking him by leaving this here?

He grabbed the blue suit in his fists and wrenched but the fabric merely stretched accommodatingly.

Someone laughed. 

“I told you it wouldn’t tear easily,” Bulma teased, leaning in the doorway.

Vegeta glared at her over his shoulder. “What’s the meaning of this?” he demanded, holding up the suit in accusation.

“Who else am I going to give it to?” she asked, letting herself into his room. “It’s made for you.”

“Tch.” 

He dropped the fabric back in the box and headed onto the balcony to escape both suit and woman. The soft pat of feet on tile told him he was only half successful.

“You know what I think?” Bulma announced, bracing her arms on the railing next to him and looking out at the backyard. Vegeta grimaced, preparing himself for her lecture. “You’re trying too hard.”

Come again? He looked at her suspiciously from the corner of his eye. Of all the things he expected her to say, that wasn’t one of them.

Maybe it was weariness. Maybe it was knowing that Bulma wouldn’t leave unless she had said all that she came to say. Whatever the motivation, Vegeta found himself asking her, “…What makes you say that?”

“Buddha.”

“What?”

“Not what, Vegeta. Who. The Buddha is a very wise and holy man. Do you know what he says?”

He glared at her. Of course he didn’t fucking know.

She smiled and turned to watch the colors of the sunset. “You only lose what you cling to.”

Vegeta frowned, trying to process that. “Is this another stupid Earth lie you tell children?”

Bulma laughed and turned to face him straight on. “No. In your case, I think it means the harder you try to control something, the more it’s going to control you.”

Vegeta didn’t much care for that logic. “What kind of nonsense is that?”

She shrugged. “Well, I thought you might like to think on it. After all, your method isn’t working, is it?”

“My method?” he sneered.

“Mmm.” Her eyes roved over his half-naked physique appreciatively. “You’re in great shape, Vegeta, and if the gravity readouts are anything to go by, you’re stronger than Son was when he transformed. So it really makes no sense that you can’t. That leads me to believe there must be some mental or emotional component you’re overlooking.”

He narrowed his eyes, thinking over what she said. It sounded plausible, except for one matter—

“Are you suggesting that Kakarot is mentally superior to me?”

Bulma laughed again. She looked so carefree it hurt. “Oh my god, no. Don’t get me wrong, Goku understands fighting like I understand quantum physics, but you and I both know he’s about as mentally complex as a peanut when it comes to anything else.”

Vegeta’s mouth twitched, almost smiling. His esteem for Bulma went up a few notches. 

“So what then?” he asked.

“So, what I’m saying is, Son transformed, not because of this,” she tapped her temple, “but probably because of this.” She tapped her chest. “It just… happened. You’re overthinking things. You need to embrace the moment, not strangle it. Just… let go.”

“Let go of what?” he huffed.

Bulma shrugged. “Who knows? That’s the mystery, isn’t it? But maybe it’s worth experimenting. It’s got to beat throwing yourself around in the gravity room for 18 hours every day, willing something to happen that won’t.”

She had a point. They stood in contemplative silence for a while, the sky bleeding red to purple to blue. A soft breeze cooled the lingering water on his skin and tugged at her curls.

“…What do you propose I do?” he finally asked, his voice quieter than usual. It wasn’t easy for him to ask for help.

Bulma turned over, leaning her back against the railing so that she could get a good look at him. “Well, maybe you should start with something small. Ease yourself into the habit of letting go a bit. Let’s see… What’s something you’ve been denying yourself? Dessert? A rest day?”

Did today count as a rest day? Not exactly. Today had been more about giving up than giving in. But she was right, he needed to try something different because the more he struggled to stay in control, the less he felt he had.

Letting go, giving in, embracing the moment. Was that really the answer he had been missing?

“Oh!” Bulma announced, flashing him a cheeky look. “I know. You could start by accepting a present from a certain smart, beautiful lady-friend? And telling her how amazing she is, and…”

Her voice trailed off as Vegeta approached, placing his arms either side her on the railing. He leaned over her, biceps flexing powerfully.

“I have a better idea of how I could ease myself in,” he suggested in a low voice.

“Oh,” Bulma stuttered. There was just enough light for him to see her blush. When she did not push him away, he inched closer.

Her soft curls danced in the wind, beckoning him, so he pressed his nose against her temple and breathed deeply. His eyes fell half-closed, and he allowed himself the luxury of enjoying her scent, sampling it, burning it into his memory until every cell in his body thrummed from her. She was a woman, young and fertile and blooming open just for him, growing sweeter by the second. She wanted him, and fuck if he didn’t want her too.

Bulma’s breath caught in her throat. She tilted her face to meet his, her petal-soft lips brushing sensually against his cheek. The tiny caress sent sparks of electricity right down to his cock. Pressing his advantage — and his body against her — , Vegeta carefully drew her in. He cupped her face in his palms so that he might relish her scent more. She was overwhelming, like a fruit he wanted to sink his teeth into, and without meaning to he found himself mouthing the pulse in her neck. Her skin tasted like sunshine and syrup.

Bulma whimpered. He swelled in victory when she titled her head to the side, letting him do as he pleased.

Clever fingers soon found the towel at his waist and tugged. The fabric fell to the ground between them, releasing his pent up need.

“I have a confession,” she moaned, stroking his hips, her breath hot against his cheek. “I was hoping for a striptease when I made you that suit.”

He should have known. The sneaky wench. He growled against her throat as if to reprimand her, but it came out far too playful to be threatening.

When the scent of her arousal was so thick he could taste it, Vegeta picked her up and carried her inside. Bulma wrapped her limbs around him and crushed her mouth to his.

Letting himself go, Vegeta kissed her back.

 ~xox~

 AN: I heard you guys like cliffhangers. 

[otakucaboosewrites]

Lulu’s Growing Desires, 5

Doctor’s Notes

Formerly Pinnacle Rock, Day 4

Holy. Fucking. Shit. It’s not every day you wake up to find a goddess-damned LANDMARK leveled by a monolith of flesh. I have no words left to describe how massive that sea-cow has gotten, but at least her food intake has slacked off somewhat and the immediate problem of her blowing up seems to have abated. I’m not separating those two for more than a day ever again, that was too close. I don’t care how big the boy makes her, it’s FAR better than the alternative…

In other news, that selfish little remora Iko has had some interesting developments! She seems hooked on our dear goddess’s milk, and I’ve got nothing better to do with the excess we pump out of her except give it to Iko. After seeing what overdosing does to someone, it’s slaked my appetite…

~

Ophora opened the door to the lowest room in the central tower, which Iko had picked out for herself on their first day. She was greeted with a grumbling noise as the room’s sole occupant heard her drag in a huge sealed jar of holy milk.

“Hey Iko, I have your dinner!” Ophora said, bracing herself to see what changes had befallen the woman since lunch. From a side chamber, she caught a glimpse of blue flesh bounding out before she was bowled over.

“Thank you soooo much Ophie!” squealed the woman sitting on top of the doctor, no longer a fit and trim specimen of a fishwoman. Her formerly muscular physique was hidden under layer upon layer of thick, jiggling fat. Her hips had flared immensely, and were the reason she was dependant on Ophora bringing her milk, as her massive breeding hips were too big for the doorway. Her breasts weren’t far behind, two massive globes hanging from her chest, but bone dry. Her belly had actually gotten away with the least change, a tubby potbelly just barely hiding her pronounced abs. “Yay Lulu milk! You know just what I like!” she said as she hefted the jar, popped the seal and began to chug.

“Well I’m just thoughtful like that.” Ophora said, gently pushing Iko off and edging for the door as Iko’s belly began to balloon with it’s dairy cargo. “I’ll be back with your breakfast tomorrow morning. Remember to take your measurements!”

“Mmhmm!” Iko mumbled around her feast, nothing more important to her at the moment than getting milk into her stomach.

~

Doctor’s Notes

Fort Ophora, Day 5

If she weren’t so FAT she’d crush me with those silly tackles… wonder if she’ll get plush enough to lose buoyancy control? Only time will tell.

As for my developing couple, the boy has been coming by every evening for ‘lessons’ and every evening I have to let my sweater and skirt out. I’ve been teaching him how to take care of a woman as well as trying to tutor him in Sheikah arts, but the former is having a lasting impact. He’s blowing me up, and I’m sure he thinks I’m doing it to myself because he’s always out of the room before it happens. Still, it’s worth it. The boy’s a natural at eating fish, and he’s supernaturally good at working my swollen tits. Oh goddess, I need relief… and the boy is out HUNTING! Maybe I can play with my ball…

~

Ophora waddled her way up to the ‘roof’ of the underground outpost, pausing mid-step when the cerulean-streaked cyan surface came into view. No matter how many times she saw the blessed mother, the sight still took her breath away as her brain tried to make sense of the woman’s girth. She began the long paddle upward, slowing down when she heard a pronounced sigh behind the twin globes that were Lulu’s luxuriously soft cheeks. Ophora gently set herself down on one, provoking a squeak as she opened up with some pleasantries.

“Hey Lu, what’s with the sighs?” she asked as she snuggled into her personal chair.

“I miss Fel… and I’m hungry…” she pouted. “I know he hasn’t been gone for long, but that just makes it worse!”

“Would you mind if I subbed for him? A doctor should keep her patient healthy…” Ophora asked, rubbing wide swathes of Lulu’s sensitive ass.

“Oooooh that would be niiiice…” Lulu purred, throwing a bottle over her shoulder. “Fel was in such a hurry this morning he forgot to rub me down.”

“I hope you’ve used more than half a bottle so far.” the doctor snarked, looking out over the vast expanse of blue. “You can’t skimp if you want your skin to heal up right.” Two empty bottles sailed past her as the immense woman chuckled.

“Third one, actually. Fel loves an excuse to get his hands on me. He knows he doesn’t need it, but he really wants to prove he’s being helpful… mmm that feels nice…”

“Ha, he’s such a kid! Glad to see he’s still a cutie. Just curious, but have you two done it yet?”

“Ye… w-well, strictly speaking, no…” Lulu stuttered, caught off guard by the smaller woman’s bluntness.

“You really should seal the deal with him Lu. If these eggs are anything like a normal pregnancy then they still need a father, and could you lay there and tell me you have a better person picked out? And even if they don’t the boy deserves all the love you can give him, right?” Ophora said, planting seeds in the mother’s mind.

“You’re right about that… I suppose it's long overdue…”

“Well you just think about that, I’m not the one who’ll need to hear your answer. But that’s all Felice stuff, how are you holding up?”

“I’m... managing…” Lulu said with a sigh.

“What’s eating you, Lu?” Ophora asked, her sincere worry surprising herself.

“I’ve just had too much time to think, Ophora. Last time I had kids was very much like this. I’m just worried about something happening to the little ones, or those I care about… or even myself.” the large woman muttered, a thousand-yard stare on her face.

Ophora was quiet for a moment. The singer’s first pregnancy had started unexpectedly and ended with the death of her beloved, the loss of her voice, and the kidnapping of her children. As far as she knew, the kids were still being watched at the lakeside laboratory where she had learned most of her craft, the crotchety old scientist there still convinced the water in the bay wasn’t right for Zoran tadpoles. She wondered if Lulu had as much as held them before…

“Everything will be fine Lu. Just fine. You’re healthy as a seahorse, and you’ve got me and Felice. Nothing bad will happen to any of us. Not on my watch.”

“...thanks doctor. You missed a spot, by the way.” Lulu joked, her friend still working on the first quarter of her colossal womb.

~

Doctor’s Notes

Lulu Village, Day 5 addendum

I am putting my previous potion plan on hold. Until I give birth I don’t know how it would affect anything beyond egg size. I can’t do that to her in good conscience. Heh, look who has a conscience now! Got too close to my subjects I guess, I can’t view her or the boy objectively anymore. Guess I really am just Doc Opho. Nothing wrong with that, just a little boring.

Fel-Fel is coming over for another lesson soon, so I’d better get back. He’s a quick study, he might not be able to make elements from nothing like the warriors of legends, but he’s got manipulating what’s around him down-pat. Might be able to keep up with Zora swimmers if he makes his own little current. On the other side of his studies, I should teach him a little more than just sex… there’s so much to properly pleasuring a woman…

~

Ophora closed the door behind her, waddling into her study to put down her notepad when she was grabbed from behind. Offending hands clutched her swollen breasts as the person cuddled to her back, something hard pressing against her fleshy glutes.

“Ohhh jeez Fel, you really know how to surprise a girl! I thought you were out hunting!” Ophora whined, the boy’s grip kneading her tits as a cloudy white liquid seeped out the front of her sweater.

“We got back early, but I didn’t wanna interrupt you and momma so I waited here. This is what you meant by ‘surprising your lover’ right?”

“Someone’s been paying attention, but this might be a bit literal. A more high strung Zora might have gone into labor if you did that.”

“Sorry Ms. Opho…” the boy pouted, prompting Ophora to giggle at him.

“It’s quite alright Fel-Fel. Now come into my bedroom, today’s lesson is going to be a little different. And grab that rope, we’ll need it.” she ordered, waddling into her room and quickly shucking her clothing. Laying out on her bed, her hefty belly eclipsing the door entirely as her boobs pooled over her chin, she waited until she heard the boy’s breath catch in his throat. “Enjoying the view? You have the rope, yes? Tie my ankles to the bed poles down there.”

“Y-yes Ms. Opho!” he chirped, fumbling with the smooth thread as he roped her legs to the bed.

“Now do the same to my hands.” She commanded, and he just as quickly complied, tieing her down completely.

“N-now what Ms. Opho?”

“Now I want you to do whatever you want to me. I can nudge you in the right direction, but I want to see what you can do. If you think it’ll be sexy, do it. There’s more to sex than the sex, and there’s no better teacher than experience. Just one rule, if I say ‘seabreeze’ stop what you’re doing and let me go.”

“O-okay Ms. Opho…” Felice stuttered, uncertainty flowing from his tone.

“...on second thought, two rules. No ‘Ms. Opho.’ I’m your toy for now, call me something dirty like your ‘baby factory.’ Maybe some roleplay or something, just let go, do whatever makes you feel good. Be selfish. I promise you Lu loves this kinda stuff, so practice with me.”

Hearing him take a deep shuddering breath from behind her fertile mounds, she wondered what the boy would come up with as he loudly exhaled. She felt his hands grace her stuffed womb as he cleared his throat.

“H-how is my baby factory doing today?” he asked, trying to remember what he was taught about roleplay.

“I’m doing well master.” Ophora purred, wiggling her hips to shake her belly at the boy. “Look at how many eggs I’m making for you.”

“I suppose that’s nice… I feel like you could handle more though…” Felice muttered, hesitant.

“Oh no, I disappointed master! Are you going to punish me? Slap my naughty, tiny belly?” the tied doctor teased.

“Y-yea, I will!” the sheikah shouted, pulling his hand back and tapping her tummy with a light pat. “Oh goddess I’m sorry Ms. Opho are you ok!?”

“You don’t have a mean bone in your body do you?” The zora sighed. “Forget the act then, just do things. You have a preggo all to yourself, no one's going to stop you. If you’ve ever dreamed about doing anything, now’s the time to try it.” His face turned red as he thought back to a stimulating night when he was stuck on land, and he quickly undid his trousers. Hopping up onto the bed between her legs, he stood and grabbed the sides of her belly, looking into her eyes over the crest of her swell. She felt his hard shaft on her underbelly as it began to rub forward and back, sliding along her velvet flesh.

‘He just wants to dry-hump my tummy.’ she thought, somewhat bored. ‘Oh well, I guess I expected too much from him. He’s just too nice and too inexperienced…’ She felt a warmth spread over her dome as the boy cried out, a weight settling on her legs as he slumped down. “Did you have fun?” she said, bemusedly waiting for his ragged panting to subside.

“Yes… Miss Opho…”

“Good. Now if you wouldn’t mind letting me uuuuuuunf~” Ophora moaned, a familiar pleasing warmth bubbling up from within. She struggled against her bonds, futilely trying to grope herself as her body began to expand.

“What’s wrong Miss Oph-oh my goddess!” Felice yipped, his eyes wide as he watched the blue spheres before him inch larger.

“Guess the… mmmmm… catfish is… out of the net…” the growing woman grunted, feeling the boy’s hands caress her womb as a hard tube once more smacked into her belly.

“I did this… I can do this…?” the white-haired boy mumbled, the blood rushing to his member beginning to blur his vision. His hips thrust on their own, slowly dragging his rod across the ballooning ball before him.

“F-fellllll… stoooooop…” she moaned, her lust-addled state keeping her safeword just out of mind, and his preventing him from hearing her groaning pleas as he soldiered on. He looked towards her, but what was once a view of her face was now blocked by quivering teal breasts as they greedily searched for more space. She bucked against her bindings, twin geysers of milk shooting from her breasts pushing Felice over the edge as his own mound jets another spurt of white onto the slope before him. His knees buckle, his body spent as his partner’s womb absorbed his magic-infused leavings and her growth spiked. Ophora could do nothing but moan in ecstasy, her body burning hot with pleasure while it gently rounded out. Felice watched her belly as it tightened up, a rubberized shine glinting off its surface as a single dark-blue mark began to appear down the center. His eyes snapped open from their drowsy state as a blue blush settled onto her skin and her growth stopped, thinking back to similar events two days ago.

“Seabreeze!” he shouted, fumbling at her restraints as he vomited out apology after apology, helping Ophora into a sitting position to free her from her new weight.

“Feellll it’s oooookaaaayyy…” she groaned as the hormones, tightness, and pleasure conspired to draw out her speech. She pet him as he babbled, riding out the aftershocks as the fish-woman took stock of her new body shape. Her forward view was entirely obscured by her massive milkers, propped up as they were on her egg-bloated belly. Taking a cleansing breath, she turned to the damp-eyed boy, “Fel, can you get me my sewing kit and floor mirror? I’m gonna need to let out my sweater.”

~

Doctor’s Notes

Oasis Felice, Day 5 addendum 2

With a little help from the boy I’ve got my measurements and it looks like I’ll be sewing for awhile. My belly measurements match Lu’s when she last came to my clinic, but my boobs and tush are so much bigger! Everything’s still about the same relative size, so it looks like my equal proportions are holding no matter how big I get. Gonna need help getting milked from now on, but I’m sure Fel will oblige me. I sent him off to play with Lu for now, can’t have him ignoring her for my sake and I’m sure he can skip one evening of magic practice. Even gave him a tip on how to rile her up. I wonder if she’s going to act on her feelings…

~

Lulu lay out on her side, as close to purring as a Zora could get. Ophora had been very thorough in her work, coating every last inch of her egg-filled sac and leaving it at a mirror sheen. She snuggled into the soft pillow of her breast as the evening sun beamed down on her cyan flesh, suffusing her with a gentle warmth. The great egg-maker felt a tickling irritation on her navel, almost hesitant in how brief it was. She drowsily reached out to scratch it, her sleepy mind not understanding the fruitlessness of the task as she rubbed her flank. Her half-hearted mumbled was cut off by a quick intake of air, followed by a pleased sigh as the irritation was replaced by a sharp pinch on her fleshy nub.

“W-whoooo’s there?” Lulu shouted, her volume necessary with how far away the intruder was from her torso. She moaned aloud as she felt them push against her navel, the deep tissue massage quickly working the Zora into an amorous mood. The masseuse worked their way down her belly, following her linea until the small hands were pawing at her panties. She shuddered at the brief touch across her most sensitive spot as they moved along her fluffy buns, a flash of white visible over her shoulder. “Fel, is that you?”

“Yes ma’am!” the boy cheerily replied, taking no small satisfaction in seeing the blush on her face. “We found lots of food today, so we came back early.”

“That’s wonderful dear, I missed you today!” She beamed at him, her thoughts drifting to her conversation earlier in the day. “Hey Fel, do you know how people become daddies?” Felice thought for a moment, the puzzled expression on his face forcing Lulu to stifle some giggles.

“Well… when a mommy and daddy love each other very much, that’s how babies are made… so if someone has a baby with a mommy, it makes them a daddy?” he puzzled out.

“That’s about right. Do you know how a mommy and daddy make a baby?” she asked, her mind made up.

“They do something special… I don’t know what though…” he asked, a little crestfallen that he was so quickly stumped.

“I can teach you, if you want. Just answer this one question: Do you want to be their daddy?” she said, patting the side of her eggy mass. This caught the small Sheikah by surprise; he had not long ago thrown a fit about sharing his momma with the impending clutch.

“But would you still be my momma then?” he asked, trying to reconcile his thoughts.

“I’d be their momma, and you’d be their daddy. But to you, I’d be your Lulu, and you’d be my Felice.” she stated, warmly smiling at him. He floated about for a bit, weighing the options.

‘I don’t get to call her momma anymore… but I get the whole momma?’ he pondered. “So you’re all mine?”

“Yes dear, the babies would have a momma, Ophora has a friend, but you would have everything.”

“...ok… but what would I call you then?” Felice asked.

“How about ‘lover’?” Lulu whispered, bringing a blush to his cheeks. “Now call the others, I want to be on my front for this.”

“Actually… I think I can do that myself.” He said, grinning as he put his hands together.

“What are you dooOOOOOOOOING!?” Lulu yelled as a strong current formed as if from nothing, rolling her along the seafloor until her navel rested against the stone.

“Ophora’s been tutoring me in magic!” he chittered, his exuberance in his ability clear.

“So that’s where you’ve been wandering off to! Now, I need you to take off my panties.” she ordered. Felice blushed abit as he lay hands on her plush rear, pulling gently down causing the fabric to quickly bust at the seams and free her deceptively large tush. The blue flesh impacted him with an audible ‘fwomp’, intensifying his blush. He grew even more flustered as she spread her hefty hips, exposing a small slit hidden beneath her massive thighs.

“What’s that?” Felice asked, somewhat perplexed. ‘Girls don’t have a toy?’

“Think of it as a lock, and your toy as the key. Stick it in, and the rest should come naturally.” she instructed, looking demurely over her shoulder. She cooed as he rested his weight against her buns, the coo transforming into a moan as he began to drive his pole into her depths. He squeaked as her inner warmth enveloped his length, grunting as he drove his way hilt-deep. Natural hip motion took over as his mind was awash with sensation, the couple reduced to animalistic grunts and the slap of flesh-on-flesh. It wasn’t long before both let out a cry as they reached their limits, Lulu first as her belly massage had her on edge, then Felice as her internal spasms pulled him to his crescendo.

“Oooooooh yesssssss Fel… that was great…” she moaned, limp with pleasure as his seed rushed into her like egg-seeking missiles. A fulfilling happiness washed over her as she anticipated meeting her little ones. She felt a warming tingle within the sphere as the magic did its work, but then something happened that no one had foreseen. A dull roar of clattering eggshells began to issue forth from her enormity, followed by deft cracks and distinct shapes gliding about the surface. “Unf… what’s… going on… in there…?” she groaned as the heat migrated to her breasts, its job in her womb complete. “So much movement… mmmmmmmmmmm…”

“Are you alright?” Felice asked, eyes alight with wonder as he watched her belly become a whirlpool of life, the ever increasing activity flexing her flesh more and more as the hatching tadpoles wiggled their tails for the first time in their lives.

“I’m fine… I’ve never heard... of them hatching inside… but I’m ok…” she grunted, the familiar heat in her chest giving way to an even more familiar stretching sensation. “Ooh! I guess… I’m still not making enough… food for their taste!” Her breasts crept forward on her rowdy tummy at a slow and steady pace, a cloud of white issuing from her nipples as the contents overfilled their growing container.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” the young father-to-be asked, eye warily watching her busom for signs of stress.

“Could you be a dear… mmmmmm… and get Ophora for me… I need her to… examine thiiiiiiiisssss!” she shrieked, her face turning bright aqua as her babies swam about her amniotic sac, the feeling an indescribable mix of pleasure, strain, fulfillment, and many other battling emotions.

“Go get Miss Opho, right away!” Felice yipped, swimming off as the moans and squeals behind him turned his face rupee red.

[jlawrence10]

A Spring Softball Story

By any measure other than wins, runs scored, and runs allowed, it had already been a successful spring season for the legendary Gil's Speakeasy's Box Knockers softball team. A sponsor bar had been found. Four pitchers awaited the team after every game. Four pitchers. Exactly the same amount of different pitchers used in most games by the team. In the dugout, the team continued to insure the future of Irving Park's homeless population by creating dozens and dozens of empty Pabst Blue Ribbon beer cans every week, leaving them considerately piled BESIDE the trash can, for ease of collection, and redemption. Speaking of redemption, the team's second baseman had curtailed the nasty habit of ducking when a double play ball was tossed his way, and had been turning in solid innings all season at the two bag. The uneven dirt area around third base had taken its toll on the team, already having caused two right ankle sprains, in eerily similar slide/don't slide split second decisions. Ironic that third base, a base visited so rarely by the team (at least ON the field), would have had such an impact on this team.

Sunday, May 9th. Mother's Day. The texts started rolling in early. Milon was a no-go. Junior had to visit his mommy and couldn't make it. Carrie, such a staple of this team in right field and at home plate, would be 1700 miles away, in Washington state. And our fearless, vocal, strong kneed Captain and leader, Elliot, would be missing the game.

Four of the players and our dugout manager had just come down from a 6000 vertical foot climb of nearby Mt. St. Helens. Nick was raccoony. Bob had a dress tan and was groggy from his nappy. Josh was fighting a cold. K kept the PBRs full despite a fatigued pouring hand after such a weekend. And Carla... Well, Carla wasn't tired at all. Carla's weariness would later be recognized as a ploy to keep the opponents off guard to her sly base running tactics late in the game.

Help was enlisted. Reedy Dan came strolling in shortly before game time - "I've played softball once or twice." Not like this, Dan. Not like this.

Without guidance from Elliot, last minute changes were made. KJ was moved in to play short center field, even though she's not really that short. A last minute switch putting Josh in the third batting spot and dropping Nick into cleanup would be talked about as perhaps the managerial coup of the day, second only to throwing Scissors in the fourth and fateful Rock, Paper, Scissors round, after three draws. "HOME," we chose, realizing only after choosing that this meant we would get to bat last.

The game begins. The pitcher is getting battered. The batters are getting bitchy. The bitches are getting pitchers, after the game, at Gil's Speakeasy on SE Taylor and 7th.

In the third inning, it’s 15-2, bad guys. A snide comment to the ump from the Box Knockers' dugout: "When do you stop announcing the score out loud?" is answered, seriously, with a sobering, "Now."

A couple calls go the wrong way. One inning at bat for the Knockers lasts about 20 seconds. One inning at bat for the Purple Team lasts about 20 minutes. It isn't looking good. But then, hobbling up the hill comes TJ, crutches and an air cast! Can he really play? Is it possible!? No chance. But he does drink a couple beers and gets to hang out with K in the dugout, so that's cool.

Somewhere around the 5th inning, something is in the air. Nick has taken over mound duty and has fallen into a slow pitch groove. Bob and Brian in the outfield are making plays, catching fly balls! (Sounds easy but you try it, jerk...) Dan shakes off the rust and locks down the right side of the infield. Josh at shortstop makes a play or two without breaking or spraining anything. Liz is digging balls out of the dirt at first base, and Brian cools off the hot corner with a couple strong stops.

The bats heat up. A pre-game comment from a fan - "Is that bat from 1980?" - comes back to mind, as this 30 year old bat starts knocking balls through the legs of infielders, proving that 30 years isn't that old. Nick, swinging lefty, cracks a home run and then runs up Josh's back on the way to home plate. Hustle prevails as our two favorite C words, catchers Caitlin and Carla, reach base multiple times. Brian H. is hitting solid liners, and Dan's unorthodox, Liz inspired running swing seems to be working. Suddenly we've got a ballgame on our hands. It's 18-13, bad guys. It's the bottom of the 7th.

Something else is in the air: thunder and lightning. The Underdog League Commissioner is present and warns us that this game could be called at any moment if there is any sign of lightning in the area.

Famous hardball manager Leo Durocher once said, "God watches over drunks and third basemen." Well, we may not be great third basemen...

But the Box Knockers have paid their dues. They had been to the mountain top, and peered into the steaming, seething crater, and laughed, sipping Mimosas all the while. They had visited their mommies and taken their nappies. Faces were sunburnt, legs were tired, ankles were sprained. Boring graduations were being endured in the name of family. This wasn't just about the 10 women and men out there that day, it was about all Box Knockers, back through history. This was for Elliot, the lifeblood and founder of this team, 4200 miles away in Washington state. For K, passing out the cups in the dugout, meant to disguise the alcoholic nature of the beverage held therein, but, sadly, transparent, and labeled clearly with a COORS LIGHT logo. This was for Alex, the estranged former pitcher and second baseman, long since cut from the roster. For TJ, on the bench, crutches and aircast and beer. For under-appreciated KJ, reliably holding down the outfield week in and week out, and getting solid base hits every game. For Milon, who takes his knocks at second base and some shit from his teammates, but we wouldn't trade him for anyone, unless the right deal is offered next season. And for that guy who showed up one time with Brian, whose name I don't remember but he was wearing a green shirt and weirdly got into the team picture. This was for all of them.

There would be no lightning on this Mother's Day, but around Northwest Portland that day, the reports of thunder would come rolling in from all corners. Some described it as a cracking sound. Some thought it had a sort of 30 year old, aluminum feel to it. I guess by now you've figured out that that wasn't thunder that people were hearing. We're still actually not sure exactly what people were hearing that day, but we do know this: Gil's Speakeasy's Box Knockers started getting some hits.

Down by 5 in the last inning. Brian H. smacks a home run. Caitlin hustles out a grounder to reach first base. Dan gets into the action with a base hit. Brian A. legs out an infield single to keep the inning alive. KJ goes down (if you know what I mean) but goes down swinging. Josh turns in his 5th single of the game, and Carla sneaks home, narrowly beating the throw to cut the deficit to 2. Up steps Nick. 2 outs. Runners on second and third. Down by 2. Well, Nick's having a pretty damn good weekend. He climbed his first mountain the day before, enduring thigh cramps and a beating sun that has turned his forehead the color of Purple Team's t-shirts.

An observer standing on second base, representing the tying run, remembers thinking not merely, "This is going to happen," but actually feeling as if it already had. We had already won. We had been down 15-2 to a team that wasn't drinking any beer, probably hadn't climbed any mountains the day before, likely wouldn't be hanging out playing shuffleboard after the game, and had definitely weeded out some of the weaker players to get a team of folks that had played before, and could play well. But, no matter what happened with Nick's at bat, we had already won because damn it we're a bunch of friends out there on a Sunday having a hell of a good time. That's what I felt standing out there on second base as Nick's hit sailed over my head, then over the head of the right fielder, and that's what I felt as I defiantly stepped on that goddamn third base with one of my two braced ankles, and that's what I felt when Nick crossed home and we all ran over and hugged the team as they poured out of the dugout to greet us. And perhaps it's appropriate that we weren't totally sure if we had won the game or just tied it, but who cares? We had already won by being out there that Sunday, by hustling out the grounders down by 13 runs, by drinking the beer and climbing the mountains and visiting our families and having some fun. And, well, it IS more fun when you win actually as well as figuratively, so that was like icing on the cake. Now, who's coming to Speak?