#then I always sit during the interludes

[singlethread]

I sat for quite a bit of Cincinnati tho

[loaksky]

— 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒊 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 | 𝒆. 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒎𝒔

collegebff!ellie x fem!reader based on this ask ! fluff / angst / suggestive content / bff2l , wc: 7.1k (sum1 sedate me)

synopsis: since the beginning of college, it’s always been you and ellie. you like to think you’ve got her figured out, but there’s one thing you can’t get a read on and it’s the matters of her heart.

content warnings: language, suggestive content, kissing, ellie’s clueless and reader’s shy. (seemingly) one-sided pining, jazz cabb. this is literally self-indulgent mush.

fic soundtrack: like i want you — giveon / can i — kehlani / electric — alina baraz & khalid / sdp interlude — travis scott / options — doja cat & JID

main masterlist | tlou masterlist

YOU MEET ELLIE BY CHANCE during the first week of freshman year.

It’s a story you recall often in the wee hours of the night, giggling and side-by-side in her full size. The room usually reeks of weed, blanketed by stale incense and Ellie’s favorite cologne.

She’d been skating across the campus quad on her splintered deck in hot pursuit of her mis-located class when she chanced a peek at her cracked phone screen for the time. You’d been equally engrossed, coffee and unread text message from your new roomie occupying far too much attention to realize that Ellie’d been heading straight for you.

Next thing you knew, you were wearing your coffee and Ellie had scraped an elbow and a knee.

“Fuuuuuck,” Ellie moaned, cradling her elbow while inspecting the asphalt burn on her kneecap.

Your quiet sigh of disappointment caught her attention and her eyes were widening when she noticed the growing splotch of milky brown splattering your fitted white top.

“Dude, fuck, I’m so sorry,” Ellie spluttered, scrambling to collect your empty cup and your phone.

She’d inspected the screen to assess the damage, let out a sigh of relief to find it in pristine condition.

“S’okay,” you huffed out a breathy laugh, taking the phone from her as she stretched to grab for her discarded deck. “Accidents happen.”

“Your—” Ellie’s cheeks warmed when she’d noticed the full outline of your bra underneath your top. “Your shirt.”

Your lips parted once, twice, before your arms crossed over your chest in embarrassment. She wasn’t even able to offer you another apology, or anything else for that matter, before you staggered off sheepishly.

She’d redeemed herself, obviously, if your friendship now was anything to go by.

The following week, she’d dipped out of her preluding class a few minutes early to file in line at the student-run coffee shop. She’d taken a snapshot of your coffee cup before throwing it in the bin the week prior, and next thing she knew, she was sitting on the steps of the building you’d emerged from the day of the debacle and hoped for the best.

When she heard the telltale sign of students emerging from the double doors at half past noon, she sprung to her feet so fast, she nearly toppled over.

And there you were, coming out of the math building in a pretty skirt that had Ellie wetting her lips.

“Uh, hey,” she called hesitantly when you blew right by her.

You threw a split-second glance over your shoulder once, then came full stop after the second.

Ellie traveled down the rest of the steps to join you, one hand stuffed in the pocket of her cargo shorts, other practically strangling the poor coffee cup.

“Oh.” You sounded surprised, eyebrows twitching up momentarily. “Hey.”

“This is, uh, for you,” she’d said, offering the drink to you.

“For me?”

“Yeah,” she affirmed. “Y’know, ‘cuz last week and…”

You took the coffee, eyes glancing over the modifications scribbled on the side of the cup.

“How’d you know my order?” Your smile had been enough to make Ellie blow out a shaky breath.

“You left your cup.”

“Right,” you replied shyly. “Thanks, really. You didn’t have to do this.”

“Nah,” Ellie assured you. “I…I—”

And she’d been so fucking speechless because you were staring at her with round eyes through thick lashes. Had her spluttering like an idiot and wringing her unoccupied hands.

The rest—

“Well the rest is history,” Ellie mocks, reciting the end of that stupid story as she takes a deep pull from the skinny joint and watches you through the mirror as you get ready.

You let out a little laugh as you roll a clump of mascara from your corner lashes, the memory fresh in your brain like it’d happened days ago.

In reality, the two of you have been glued for nearly three years. It’s a thought that makes you ruminate a little too much for your liking. Makes you wonder if she’d felt the sparks like you did.

Sometimes you’re convinced that she had. That theses lines you've danced your entire friendship are just ticking moments waiting to detonate. There can’t be any other explanation.

Not when she’d started showing up outside of the math building every Tuesday and Thursday that semester and walked you to your next class. When it’d escalated to exchanging socials medias, then eventually phone numbers, and making plans to eat lunch during a mutual free period. Or hanging out off campus, orbiting each other at gatherings when you find that you've made some mutual friends.

And not now when she shows up every Wednesday evening no later than five past eight with takeout from your favorite spot right outside of campus. Not when she waits for you to finish tutoring outside of the library with your regular coffee in tow (surprise; you haven't changed your order since freshman year). Especially not when she drops what she’s doing, who she’s doing, every time you call.

Course it’s not like she can’t say the same. You’re her biggest supporter, her number one girl no matter what ways the others in your friend group and distant peers try to twist it. You’re there at every one of her research presentations for her astronomy major. Despite not having an athletic bone in your body, you’re at the skatepark with her on the weekends, cheering her on from the stone picnic tables. And when the sun goes down and she’s caked with sweat and dirt, you’re positioned between her knees as she sits on the hood of her car, hissing when you dab a little too much ointment on the cut across her cheek.

To the naked eye, you and Ellie are a lot more like lovers than friends, and the idea is one that makes your gut flutter, makes your toes tingle and your cheeks warm.

But those feelings are tamped down when, like clockwork, Ellie laughs like it’s the funniest thing she’s heard. The picturesque fantasy you’ve built of being with Ellie as more than a friend is smeared. Because even if she doesn’t deny it, doesn’t correct whoever’s made the observation, she’s not confirming it either.

And, Jesus, you don’t want to read too much into it when things are so good between the two of you, but you can’t fucking help yourself when it comes to her. Can’t help but want her when she does what she does, when she looks the way she does.

Your eyes flicker up when the springs in your mattress creak and Ellie’s climbing off your bed to lean against the edge of the desk.

She doesn’t say anything, just swipes the edge of your bottom lip absently, a mixture of your sticky lipgloss and saliva coming off on the pad of her thumb.

“Too much,” is all she says, kicking off the desk to shrug her hoodie on over her black tank top. She’s halfway out your bedroom when she turns to glance at you over her shoulder. “You coming or what? We’re gonna be late, dingus.”

“Yeah...yeah, coming.”

Party’s in full swing when you squeeze in. The bass shakes the grass as you cross the front lawn and the LEDs glow through the closed curtains. For the most part, the festivities are contained, a few bodies on the porch smoking a mixture of cigarettes and greens, but as soon as you and Ellie are sliding through the door, it’s like the vibes start melting and Ellie’s getting into the zone.

She’s in her element like this, couple of prerolls in her pocket for when she’ll find a quiet place out on a balcony or squeeze onto the roof from somebody’s unlocked bedroom and smoke with some friends who’ll either bum a couple passes or pay in full.

“You wanna drink?” Ellie asks you when you guys find a good spot in the living room.

“Sure,” you agree easily. “Seltzer if they have it.”

She nods.

“Gotcha, I’ll be back.”

She’s disappearing into the crowd and you take the opportunity to assess your surroundings. It’s relatively laidback, couple of familiar faces from different lectures and seminars soothing the tiny niggling of anxiety that blooms behind your navel. The living room is shrouded in mood lighting and the vibrations from the speakers rattle the walls.

“Wait, was that Williams?”

Your ears perk when you hear it, eyes flitting to a group of girls that stand in a clump near the stereo.

“Yeah, she’s headed towards the kitchen,” one of the girls says, tall and willowy.

“Think I should?” the girl towards the middle asks.

She’s too pretty for her own good, has glittery shimmer on her eyelids, pearlescent lipgloss and low rise jeans that hug her ass like they were hand-crafted for her.

Something green starts to swell.

“What?” another asks, and you recognize her from discrete calculus.

���Should I talk to her?” Glittery Eyeshadow says.

“Why not?” Your calculus classmate shrugs. “Her little shadow’s not around.”

Okay, wow. Ouch.

You angle your body away, turn your head to hide the burn of your cheeks and to tune in a little better.

“You sure that’s not her girl?” the tall one asks. “They kinda seem like they’re together.”

“Doubt it,” your classmate chuffs like she knows something they don’t. From the corner of your eye, you see them lean in close to each other. “Ellie’s been with a coupla girls on campus. Heard she gives phenomenal head.”

That makes you swallow so hard, your eyes begin to burn.

Ellie usually kept her love life hush, didn’t really mention the likes of anyone else around you, and you’d always been too shy, too enamored to ask. Perhaps too afraid of what the confirmation of her escapades would do to you.

This was Exhibit A.

“Let’s add to that list,” Glittery Eyeshadow says, and your heart absolutely sinks to your ass when you see her walk confidently across the living room and into the kitchen.

You see them from the cutout, and your breath hitches when a switch flips and Glittery Eyeshadow’s tapping Ellie’s shoulder gently, tucking her hands behind her back when she turns on her heel.

Ellie’s widened eyes go soft, a small smile easing its way onto her lips as the girl says something that has your best friend laughing behind a sip of the drink she cracks open. You see the seltzer, the one you’d requested being cracked open and offered to the girl.

“What a lucky fuckin’ bitch,” your calc classmate giggles. “Ellie’s sooo hot.”

“How much do you wanna put on it that it’s not gonna happen?” Tall Girl huffs a laugh.

“No way,” her counterpart scoffs. “Liv’s got infinite ways into anyone’s pants.”

You put a name to the face, find that it’s fitting and feel the envy begin to roil full force.

Tall Girl hums thoughtfully.

“I dunno, Ellie and that one girl are virtually inseparable. Even if they’re not together, there’s something there for sure.”

You peek long enough to see your classmate roll her eyes, but when your gaze swings back to the kitchen, Ellie and Liv are nowhere to be found.

Panic begins to cloud your system, absence of any alcohol or weed making you far too aware of how fucking awful all of this makes you feel.

You decide to stick around for a moment, back nearly plastered to the wall, but after a moment too long passes and you don’t see any sight of Ellie or Liv in the kitchen or through the sliding glass doors that lead to the back porch, you’re peeling away.

The chitters from Liv’s friends die out when they realize you’d only been a few meters away.

The house had seemed like the perfect size when the two of you were walking up, but now, as you weave through every room and poke your head into empty bedrooms, it seems so much larger than you’d expected.

Your last resort is down a set of stairs nestled near the back of the house. There’s more music that bumps from the basement and you figure it’s why it seemed that the grass was rumbling outside.

The basement is finished, paneled and reeks of weed. There’s far less people down here from what you can observe from the railing, but you clock Ellie and Liv before you make your full descent. They’re cozy on a loveseat, one of Liv’s legs is propped over Ellie’s knee while her manicured fingers fumble with some rolling paper.

You hear her over the thrum of the bass.

“You’re so much better at this than I am,” she moans. “Show me how?”

You’re still watching them over the railing, partially hidden by the drywall. And you’re glad, because you nearly retch when you see the way Ellie’s ringed fingers close over Liv’s and they roll the joint together. Ellie’s head is in her space to get a closer look, and it doesn’t take a genius to know that Liv’s pupils are probably blown wide from the proximity.

And fuck, the way the flat of Ellie’s tongue rolls over the edge absolutely seals the last nail just as she does the joint and you’re turning to shakily climb the steps again.

Maybe the two of you were better off as friends. Maybe you were reading way too much into things, into what the two of you could be.

Tonight only solidifies that.

Ellie is stupid, stupid, stupid.

She’d been halfway through the blunt she was sharing with the girl who’d cornered her in the kitchen when she remembers. Remembers that she’d left you upstairs. Only does so because Liv’s taking a swig of the seltzer that was meant to be yours and she’s pushing her leg from her knee and shooting up from the chair.

“Shit,” she breathes. “My bad, I gotta dip.”

Liv’s arched eyebrows raise.

“Huh?”

“I left my girl upstairs.”

And Liv’s eyes narrow.

“Your girl?” she asks, smoke wafting around her pinched expression.

“Yeah, my friend?” she says like you should be common information.

“The girl that follows you around like she’s leashed?” Liv laughs humorlessly.

Ellie’s confused. Like majorly confused right now. Liv had asked her to smoke, had been nice enough when they were chatting in the kitchen, but something’s flipped and it makes annoyance simmer in the pit of her belly.

“The fuck did you just say?” Ellie says stonily.

Liv blinks.

“Dude, fuck you,” she bites, snatching the blunt from Liv’s fingertips. “You owe me forty for the wrapper and the roll. Venmo me by the end of fuckin’ night.”

Liv and a couple half-sober bystanders look stunned at Ellie’s outburst as she rushes from the basement and takes the stairs two at a time.

The first place she looks is where she’d left you, but you’re nowhere to be found. She nearly combs the house top to bottom searching for you, green eyes frantic as she flashes her lockscreen to shitfaced party-goers.

“You seen her?” she asks quickly.

The guy looks at the brightass screen, bleary-eyed.

“Her?” He points to the screen. “Left like fifteen minutes ago…I think. I dunno.”

And that makes it all the worse considering Ellie was your ride.

She’s dodging bodies, moving through the smoky foyer to get to the front door while she shoots you a text.

me: where’d u go bug???

Ellie’s slipping out of the house, taking survey of the front porch and the lawn, gut twisting when she doesn’t see the familiar silhouette of your neck or shoulders among the other bodies.

me: r u still here?

Ellie passes the hedges and jogs down the sidewalk as she presses the phone icon next to your contact and holds the phone between her shoulder and her ear.

She’s so engrossed in getting in contact with you that she barely notices you sitting on the curb a few feet from where she’d parked on the street.

“Jesus,” Ellie sighs in relief, hanging up as soon as the operator tells her to leave a message after the tone. “Been looking everywhere for you.”

You look up at her, blinking quickly like she’d caught you in a daze.

“Huh?”

Ellie’s brows furrow as she lowers herself to sit next to you.

“What d’you mean huh? You scared the shit outta me,” Ellie laughs breathlessly. “Thought you disappeared.”

“Sorry,” you whisper. “Just needed…”

Ellie watches you expectantly.

“Needed a breather,” you admit. “Got a little overwhelmed.”

Her expression falls, eyebrows drawing in concern as she tucks some of your hair from your face. The corners of her lips twitch when a mixture of the pale moonlight and the yellowing streetlights cast a glow over your features. Your lashes are wet and she finds your cheeks warm when her thumb brushes over the skin.

“Did something happen?” she asks suddenly. “Because I swear to god—”

You shrug away from her and stand, unable to stomach the gooey gaze she gives you or the gentle brushes against your skin. It makes you fall back into old habits, into trying to read between the lines.

“I’m gonna call an Uber home,” you tell her. “We just got here and I know the party’s barely started—”

“Nah, no, fuck this party,” Ellie says, standing up to invade your space again. “We can go home, it’s okay, bug.”

And the way she calls it home, like the two of you share, makes that thread tied to domesticity tug entire too hard for you to stand still.

(Perhaps Ellie’s too chicken to admit that home isn’t necessarily just under a roof, but wrapped in the warmth of your arms).

“Ellie—”

“Are you mad at me?” she asks hesitantly, and the look on her face is devastating.

Because no, you could never be mad at Ellie, not when she’s sweet despite being rough around the edges. You can only be mad at the circumstances, at yourself for letting your delusional heart get the best of you.

“No,” you say quickly. “God, no. I’m just not…feeling it tonight, I guess.”

You want to hate Ellie for looking wounded, but instead it makes your heart grow more around the shape of her.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” she almost whines, arms wrapping around your shoulders to pull you into her chest. “We coulda just stayed home and ordered pizza. Watch that stupid documentary you like.”

“S’not stupid,” you say weakly.

“C’mon, let’s go.”

“But—”

“No butts except for yours in the front seat,” Ellie says, opening the passenger side door open for you. When you drop in the seat, she’s plopping her unlocked phone in your lap. “Order pizza. And none of that pineapple bullshit on my side or I die.”

You like to think that you could put the party behind you. That maybe you were being a little overdramatic. But after you’ve settled into your favorite spot on Ellie’s couch, wearing a pair of her sweatpants and an oversized shirt, the final crack shakes the front you’ve been maintaining for the past three years.

Ellie’s dozed off, only half a crust left from her half of the pizza sitting in the open box on top of the coffee table. Your documentary’s playing in the background, lulling your droopy eyes to close, but the faint buzzing of Ellie’s cell has you shifting awake.

You don’t mean to, but your ego’s been bruised and curiosity gets the better of you as you’re leaning forward to capture her phone from where it’s nestled between the remote, underneath the takeout box.

An unknown number flashes across the screen, a succession of texts sending the device fluttering in your sweaty palms.

It feels like the ultimate breach of privacy, like you’re using the fact that Ellie trusts you with her phone password in the worst way possible, and perhaps you are.

(307) 578 9432: got your number from your friend cat.

(307) 578 9432 sent $40

(307) 578 9432: here’s a tip <3

(307) 578 9432 sent a photo.

You don’t know what you expect, but a photograph of a girl’s tits definitely isn’t high on the list. A lump forms in your throat, choking the air from your lungs as the tears begin to prick the corner of your eyes.

You know that gemstone choker, seen the way it gleamed under the lowlight of the party when Liv had taken a deep breath before sauntering over to Ellie. It’s the same one in the racy photo, and it’s the last straw.

Ellie’s phone vibrates again.

(307) 578 9432: don’t let your lil pup see ! xx

And that sends you spiraling. Has you closing out of the text thread, sliding Ellie’s phone back in place, and shooting up from couch.

The sudden movement makes Ellie stir, but she never fully rouses from her sleep, and for once, you thank the universe for being on your side.

You’re collecting your things from where you’d discarded them on your way in, and it feels a lot like things are officially crumbling. And you don’t know why. Should’ve seen it coming, really.

She’d never see you that way. She’s leagues above you, charismatic and cool in a way that has everyone wanting a slice of what it’d be like to be friends with Ellie Williams. Doesn’t help that she’s so painfully attractive, energy magnetic. She’s so kind, too fucking smart for her own good, and a really really good friend.

You realize as you slip from her apartment and make the trek home, that maybe that’s all you and her were ever destined to be.

So you mark tonight in your books.

Tonight’s the night you’re gonna start falling out of love with Ellie Williams.

Ellie wakes up to the soft pings of her alarm and she’s rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she pats the area next to her in search of your sleeping form.

She comes up empty and she squints past the filtering sunlight to find that her apartment is completely still. The television’s been turned off, pizza boxes stacked neatly on the eat-in.

She calls your name, once, twice. But she’s met with absolute silence.

“What the fuck?” she mutters under her breath as she stands from the couch and stretches the sleep from her bones.

A quick glance at the digital clock underneath the TV shows that her 10am seminar starts in about half an hour.

Ellie decides, as she takes a quick shower and brushes her teeth, that she’ll call you on the way to class.

But as she skates across the campus, pushing so hard against the asphalt, her knees hurt, you don’t answer her calls. She’d being sent straight to voicemail and straight to confused frustration.

She’s one of the only people you have set to bypass DND, so she knows you’re ignoring her.

When she makes it to the science building, she kicks off her skateboard, straps it onto her backpack and jogs through the corridors.

Ellie’s sliding into her seat near the back of the lecture hall with a few minutes to spare, so she uses the shortcut on her phone to open your text thread, only to find that there are no new additions.

All that glares back at her are the messages she’d sent you last night when you disappeared from the party.

me: hey bug lunch after my sem? half-off day @ benny’s :)

me: also why won’t u answer my calls, you disappeared on me this morning :/

Just as the professor files in and starts getting ready for his lesson, Ellie’s phone vibrates and she frowns at your message.

lovebug: raincheck on lunch, got a lot of work to catch up on

Something feels way off, makes Ellie queasy.

me: cmon bug jus half an hr, wanna c u :/

lovebug: you saw me yesterday??

me: and ?? ur my best friend, wanna c u all the time

Little does Ellie know that that text makes your stomach roil, makes you curl tighter in a ball in your bed because not only does your room still smell like her from the night prior, but because you don’t have it in you to face the world right now.

When you don’t reply to her message, she huffs out a frustrated breath just as her closest friend after you takes a seat next to her.

“Oh, boy,” Jesse comments. “This can’t be good.”

Ellie falls back in her seat, frustration seeping off her in waves.

“She’s being weird as fuck,” she sighs.

“Who?”

“________,” Ellie fills.

“Oh, your lil’ girlfriend,” Jesse snorts. “Why, what’d you do this time?”

“Nothing, nothing!” Ellie whispers. “And stop calling her that.”

Jesse rolls his eyes.

“Don’t know how many times I gotta tell you it’s not like that,” she grumbles, closing out of your text thread in fear that it’ll drive her even more crazy looking at the Read at 10:01am.

As the professor begins his lecture, Ellie continues fumbling with her phone, only to see a thread from an unfamiliar number. Her brows furrow at the most recent message: don’t let your lil pup see ! xx.

Liv.

It had to be.

She hears Jesse choke on a gasp when she opens the thread and a 4K photo of Liv’s tits flash the screen.

“No fuckin’ way,” Ellie hisses under her breath.

Jesse’s snickering beside her, eyes wide as she accepts the forty dollars into her account and deletes the entire thread altogether.

“Hate that stupid—”

“Shh!”

You avoid Ellie like the plague.

It’s a difficult feat on its own considering Ellie knows your schedule like the back of her hand and she’s waiting outside your lectures for you to surface.

But you adapt quick and you’re taking side exits and different routes while you collect yourself enough to face her.

Nearly a week out and you find that the wound’s still too fresh to pick. Realize as much when Ellie finally corners you during a vulnerable moment in the late afternoon on the way to the library.

“Where the fuck have you been?”

The voice startles you so much, you trip one foot in front of the other, and Ellie’s catching you before you can faceplant on the smooth concrete.

She’s righting you, hands dusting your shoulders off before bumping your dipped chin up to look down at your flushed face.

“Hello?”

“Around,” you answer meekly. “Been busy.”

“Alright, cut the shit,” Ellie sighs. “Last year you had that two week auditing BS and we still made time to see each other. You think you’re slick, but your location’s been pinging from home.”

“I can be busy at home,” you argue quietly. “And if you’re so hellbent on seeing me and you knew I was home, why didn’t you stop by?”

Ellie’s face softens.

“‘Cuz something’s obviously bothering you, bug,” she says, smoothing your hair from your face. “And I’ve been waiting on you to be a big girl and tell me what’s up, but it looks like I have to use other tactics.”

“Nothing’s bothering me,” you try again, gently guiding Ellie’s hands away and making a move to side step her in pursuit of the library.

“Bug, come on,” she groans, turning on her heel to watch you walk away. “I’m trying my best here, what’s got you pent up?”

“Nothing, Ellie!” you say so forcefully, she flinches. “I told you nothing’s fuckin’ wrong! Maybe I just want to be left the fuck alone!”

Ellie blinks hard.

“Oh.”

You take in a deep breath, closing your eyes in defeat as your body goes slack.

“I- fuck, I’m sorry, I didn’t–”

She shakes her head.

“S’alright,” she assures you, taking a step away. Suddenly, the air seems to thicken. “Sort yourself out. Call me when you need me, I guess.”

“Ellie–”

She’s turning, dropping the board in her grip down onto the asphalt and mounting before the downslope and your eyes begin to water as you watch her figure grow smaller in the distance.

At first Ellie’d been a little disgruntled, maybe a little frustrated, but her feelings have since simmered and now all that remains is lingering sense of sadness.

There’s a you-shaped hole in her life, one that makes her stare at the swirling ceiling of her living room as she smokes through a joint by herself and wonders what the fuck happened to the two of you so suddenly.

She’s almost embarrassed with how quickly she launches from the couch when she hears three quick raps against the front door. Her yearning heart could only hope, but she’s deflating when she finds Jesse and Dina on the other side.

“Oh,” she sighs in disappointment.

“Oh?” Jesse huffs. “Oh?”

Ellie’s grumbling as she leaves the door open for them as a silent invitation, padding back into the living room to continue her moping session.

“We bring you Benny’s and it’s oh?” Jesse continues.

“Not hungry,” Ellie gripes, forearm draped over her eyes.

“Why the fuck not?” Dina whines. “We got so much food ’cuz you eat like a man.”

“Just not hungry,” Ellie mumbles.

She hears the plastic crinkling and then the telltale sign of Jesse throwing his body weight into the right side of the loveseat.

“Alright, what the fuck is going on?” he prods. “You’ve been weird and mopey for the last two weeks and it’s gross.”

Ellie’s arm falls away and she’s sitting up.

“I don’t fuckin’ get what her issue is!” Ellie moans, throwing her hands up in the air. “One day everything’s fuckin’ great and we’re good, but then it turns on a dime and she won’t even look at me!”

Dina and Jessa share a knowing glance.

“Okay, what’s that supposed to mean?” Ellie grunts.

“Walk me through the last time the two of you talked and things were good,” Dina says, taking the arm rest next to Jesse.

“I think, like, two weeks ago at the party? We were at her house and I was smoking and then we just showed up to the party?” Ellie recounts.

“Okay, what else?” Jesse pries.

“Uh, I dunno, we walked in and I asked her if she wanted a drink,” Ellie continues. “While I’m in the kitchen, Liv comes in and asks me if I wanna smoke. Obvious yes, duh.”

Jesse raises an eyebrow.

“The girl who sent you a picture of her tits?”

“Ew, yes. But that’s besides the point,” Ellie huffs. “I rolled and smoked a little with Liv when I remembered leaving ________ up on the main floor, so I told Liv I had to dip to go get her.”

“You left the girl you’ve been in love with since freshman year all alone at some seedy party—”

“Not seedy, it was Marco’s!” Ellie argues. “And it was like fifteen minutes, tops!”

“Ellie!”

“What? I didn’t stick around anyways,” Ellie says like it assuages the entire situation. “She was being a cunt about me being friends with ________.”

“Okay, well there’s your issue,” Dina says matter-of-factly.

Ellie looks clueless.

“You’re really gonna make me spell it out for you?”

“Well obviously because I’m lost as fuck right now,” Ellie bites.

Dina rolls her eyes.

“You ditched her to smoke with some bitchy mean girl!” Dina says like it should make all the sense in the world. “And then said mean girl sent you a picture of her tits!”

“Okay, well how would—”

It clicks. Like an epiphany, Ellie’s shooting to her feet.

“Oh, fuck.”

It really does make sense now. Why you hadn’t been around the morning after, why she hadn’t seen a notification for Liv’s messages on her lockscreen, why the thread had already been marked as read.

“She saw the messages,” Ellie says, horrified. “Fuck, probably thinks me and Liv were making fun of her.”

Jesse groans.

“It’s way fuckin’ more than that, dipshit.”

Ellie’s brows furrow.

“Huh?”

“Christ, are you actually this airheaded or—”

“Okay, unnecessary,” Ellie interrupts.

“Do you not realize that the two of you have been in love with each other for the past three years?” Jesse cracks. “Of course she’s gonna be upset when you ditch her for other girls, when they send you nudes and—”

“I didn’t—”

“She’s jealous, Ellie,” Dina says. “Probably under the impression that you’re fucking around with Liv and she doesn’t know what to do with herself.”

“Dude, there’s literally zero chance she likes me like that,” Ellie says hesitantly.

“I actually want to play in seven lanes of traffic right now, holy shit,” Jesse scoffs. “You have to be unforgivably blind to not see how fucking down bad that girl is for you.”

“Am I the only one not seeing this, like—”

“Yes.” Jesse and Dina are in unison.

Ellie shifts uncomfortably, rolling her lips as she collapses back in her seat.

“She’s my best friend,” Ellie sighs in defeat. “And I don’t want to ruin things with her. What if she…”

“You gotta take the plunge, Williams,” Jesse encourages. “There’s a lot more than something there.”

Ellie opens her mouth to argue again, but Dina’s cutting her off.

“Stop being such a pussy.”

“Wait, I don’t understand, you said it’s at the student planetarium?” you ask, rushing briskly across the campus.

“Fuck,” Dina mumbles over the receiver. “Yeah, almost positive. Astronomy club was having free donuts during lunch hour and I think I left it in the back row.”

“D!” you whine.

“I know, I’m so sorry,” she moans. “I’m the biggest idiot.”

“No, no,” you breathe, tote bag tight in your grasp as you break into a jog. “I get it, D. It’s the shark-shaped one, right?”

“Yes,” Dina confirms. “God, babe, I really owe you one.”

“You’re okay,” you assure her, climbing the steps to the science building. “I’m going in now. Should be there in less than ten.”

“Okay, I’ll be outside of the lecture hall.”

You hum your goodbye, line going dead as you enter the modern atrium. The area’s spacious, a replica skeleton of a massive dinosaur spanning the center of the entrance.

A digital directory built into one of the imposing square pillars indicates that the planetarium is on the third floor.

You’d only been in twice, both times for research presentations Ellie’d given. Her talk of the the stars and the vastness of the universe made you feel so small. So silly. Now you feel infinitely more silly hunting for a shark-shaped pencil case that houses Dina’s flashdrive she needs for her evening lecture’s slideshow presentation.

You decide to take the steps two at a time, choking for a breath by the time you make it up the third flight of stairs. The double doors to the planetarium are at the end of the hall, and if Dina’s directions are correct, the pencil case should be among the first few seats walking in.

Past the double doors, you find that Dina’s pencil case is, in fact, nowhere to be found in the first aisle that you check. But as something rustles down near the semi-illuminated podium, you find your Ellie standing from one of the front row seats. She turns to face you from the bottom of the auditorium, something akin to nervousness etched into her features.

“Ellie…” you swallow.

“Hey, bug.”

“What are you doing here?” you ask, brows furrowing as you fidget on the first step down, hand gripping the armrest of the last seat.

She rolls her lips, plays with the string of her hoodie as she sucks in a deep breath.

It’s now or never, Jesse pep-talked her on the way here, folder full of coordinates and computer commands pushed into her chest as he bounded away.

“There’s something I need to tell you,” she starts. “I…I—”

“I have someplace to be, Ellie,” you interject. “Dina needs me.”

“Dina doesn’t have a presentation,” Ellie sighs guiltily. “She’s probably sitting on my couch eating my Doritos as payback for getting you over here.”

You look lost.

“Huh?”

“Listen, I knew you weren’t going to talk to me, let alone come all the way here if I asked, so…I got some help.”

And the thought makes you guilty. You and Ellie have been best friends for years. Have seen almost every ugly part of the other. But you don’t know how long you can handle being just that.

“It’s not…” You don’t even know what to say, how to deny the blatantly obvious.

“You’re my closest friend,” Ellie says. “I genuinely don’t know what I’d do without you, and…and these past few weeks have been so shit because this has felt like the end and I didn’t know why.”

You murmur her name, taking a step down.

“I have to ask you something.” Ellie’s throat bobs as she slowly climbs the steps. “And you have to be honest.”

You hesitate before nodding, breath hitching when she stands on the step below you, gazes eye level.

You’re sure she can practically feel the vibrations of your heart nearly beating from your chest, pounding against your ribcage and begging to intertwine with hers.

“Okay,” you whisper.

“Did you leave because you saw Liv’s messages?” she asks bluntly.

Your cheeks warm and your gaze falters, fingers fidgeting with the hem of your shorts.

“I—”

Ellie’s eyes are unblinking, sage and searing.

“Yeah,” you admit hoarsely. “You were asleep and she…she…yeah.”

“Why?” Ellie asks, watching you with bated breath.

This is it, she’s got you right where she wants you and this moment could be the final fissure that cracks the very facade of your friendship and sends the two of you as you know it up in flames.

Her face softens when she notices the tears welling in your eyes, the way your body language has shifted so much in these passing moments. It’s unfamiliar.

“It makes me sick,” you mumble in embarrassment, knuckling the brimming tears aways. “It’s so fucking stupid, but the idea of you with anyone else makes me fucking sick.”

Ellie’s stomach is in knots, knees like jelly and heart squeezing in anticipation.

“Why?” she repeats, voice catching in her throat.

“You know why,” you croak in defeat, expression crumpling.

Your name leaves her lips firmly, hands coming up to grasp your biceps.

“Don’t be cruel,” you hiccup.

Ellie’s biting the inside of her lip, eyes searching yours in contemplation before she’s digging in the pockets of her hoodie and producing the remote to the projectors.

She’s brushing past you, up the steps to hit the lights and fully submerge the room in a split second of darkness. Then a heartbeat passes before a constellation blooms near one of the edges of the domed ceiling.

August 20th, three years ago, labels the smattering of stars and the alignment of the planets.

“What’s this,” you whisper, breath hitching as Ellie leans against the back wall.

“The day we met, first Thursday of freshman year,” Ellie says shakily. “With that stupid fucking coffee. You were wearing that white shirt.”

Your throat tightens when another constellation appears, labeled a few weeks later.

“When we first talked. I got you another drink and started walking you to class.”

You realize that every knitting of stars and planetary bodies are captures of the skies in each labeled moment.

“There was something about you,” Ellie says. “There still is. But this one—” She clicks a button and the projection ripples, clouds rolling and stars twinkling like you’re looking up at the real night sky. “This is when I knew.”

Her voice is dangerously close, a hairsbreadth from your ear. You can feel the warmth of her body enveloping yours, toes curling as you look up to the date marked and mentally sort through your thoughts.

Her first research presentation.

“I was so fuckin’ nervous, bug. And I thought I was gonna shit myself, but then you came in at the last minute and you smiled at me and it felt like we were the only two people in the room,” she admits. “And when I finished that stupid presentation and you found me after those higher ups were talking my ear off about my findings, I—”

Your eyes are glassy as you remember the way Ellie seemed to deflate in relief when you slipped into the auditorium with seconds to spare.

“You…?”

“I realized that maybe you were it for me.”

The breath’s knocked from your lungs as Ellie slides her fingers through yours and tugs you down the shallow steps of the planetarium.

The both of you stop at the beginning of the podium’s circle, sheen of tears blurring your vision as you watch more projections sprout onto the screen like fireworks.

They’re all memories, ones that you’ve cherished since the beginning. You just hadn’t realized that Ellie held them as dearly as you did.

She sucks in a deep breath, hand squeezing yours. And god, she wants to look you in your eyes when she says it, but you make her weak and she’s losing courage.

“Guess what I’m trying to say is that...” She licks her lips, pushes the words out through the nausea. “I love you. A lot. And not just as a friend."

“Oh.”

And Ellie wants to shrink at your response, palms clammy as her fingers loosen.

She feels the dread filter in, mixed with a curdling feeling of regret. But something like sick relief floods her system all the same because this feels like a semblance of freedom.

“Ellie—”

It’s her final shot in the dark.

“Tell me I’m not reading into this wrong,” Ellie says softly. “There’s something here, right? I’m not batshit crazy, am I? I— I—”

Ellie’s frequently wondered what your lips taste like. How they would feel against her own. She’d always figured it’d be a good experience, something she could kick her feet to in the dead of night, but this? God, nothing compares to this.

You taste like peach chapstick and wintergreen, lips plush against hers and Ellie’s pounding heart stutters when your hands cup her cheeks.

You kiss her so fervently, she nearly misses it, the way you murmur against her mouth.

“I love you, Ellie,” you whisper between a breath. “Love you so fuckin’ much.”

You feel her giddy grin, feel the way her hesitant hands finally find purchase, fingertips searing the curve of your waist and the small of your back as you eliminate every space possible.

As the two of you meld together under the stars, Ellie realizes that, that maybe this is what coming home feels like.

neng © 2023

[fatuismooches]

fabulam diu oblitus - sequel.

synopsis: The tale of the raven and the sparrow has ended, but that doesn't mean it can't start again.

includes: dottore w/ gn! reader

notes: This is the fifth and final part of this fic, please read the other four before this! This is a fluffier continuation of the last part in order to soothe your hearts from the last part. Thank you to each and every one of you who supported me with this fic, it was a wonderful experience and I hope you all enjoyed it! Now, let's wrap up the tale of the raven and sparrow once and for all. (Also, I realize that this part may seem a bit reader-centric, but I hope it's still good!)

prelude. first interlude. second interlude. postlude. sequel.

It had been years since the Traveler had attended their first Akademiya Extravaganza. It was a marvelous experience. It had also been years since the old sages were overthrown, the Balladeer’s attempt to become a God, and of course, the deletion of the Doctor’s segments as well as the death of the Omega build.

But why was the Traveler still in Teyvat? Since they still had yet to find their treasured sibling, their journey persisted. And so they and their traveling companion had found themselves back in Sumeru for another fun festival. Paimon had already had her fill of games and yummy food, so now they were going to see a performance, by the one and only Nilou. Their friend often danced, but today would be a special one since it was during the festival.

“Oh wow! Zubayr Theater is so much more lively than usual!” Paimon exclaimed. Indeed, there was a large crowd gathered below the stage, all of them excited to watch the dancer’s performance. But there was one person who caught Paimon’s eye. Someone was sitting by themselves, away from the crowd.

“Huh? Look over there, someone is sitting all alone. Do you think they’re okay?”

“Paimon, just because someone is by themselves doesn’t mean they’re in trouble. Maybe they don’t like being around large groups of people.”

“Oh… Paimon knows that! But maybe we should check on them, just in case. We still have some time before Nilou’s performance.” The Traveler gave in to their friend’s request and the pair made their way over to you. But you were too lost in your thoughts to notice them coming.

Your illness still remained, but with all the years that had passed by, at least it wasn’t as bad as it was before. It didn’t totally dominate your life, and you were able to do some things by yourself that you couldn’t do before! It wasn’t a cure, but it was something. Though of course there were bad days, the good days were the ones you focused on more. Good days such as today.

You were back in Sumeru after hundreds of years. You never thought it would happen but, one day your husband came to you and told you the news so casually, you thought you were dreaming. You? Leaving Snezhnaya? It felt unreal! If you were stronger, you would have tackled him to the floor with your love, but alas you had to settle for squeezing him as hard as you could. 

Though, to be honest, you weren’t sure if the Fatui actually had business there, or if he wanted to bring you there since you’d been longing for it for so long. (But it seemed unlikely that Pierro would give him vacation days…) Regardless, your joy was received by him adequately as you peppered his face with kisses.

So now you were here, in your home country. Of course, there were numerous top-tier Fatui agents assigned to you in disguise, always trailing behind with great skill, since Dottore was never going to let you be by yourself. But you didn’t really mind. The past few days had been the most fun you’d had in so long! (If only Dottore could join you. Obviously, he couldn’t in broad daylight… not to mention whatever duties he had.)

As you remember it, each Darshan had set up booths for the Wisdom Gala with a ton of interesting mini-games and other stuff. Though the concept was the same, you were once again realizing how things had changed over the centuries you were asleep… these games were truly novel! You were impressed at the creativity because it was nothing like this when you were a student!

One that was funny was when you were given a mallet… yes a mallet, to hit these little wooden fungi that kept popping up and down in different spots. You were given a question and each of the fungi had a different answer. You had to whack the one with the right answer. Now, figuring out the answer wasn’t the question, but rather hitting them. With your illness, lugging this thing quickly enough to smack them was not an easy task… but it was fun! Hehe, you knew Zandy would have whacked all of them anyway. Ugh, you were really feeling robbed now… the best things always happen in school after you already left.

Though your favorite game was the gear puzzles. You were given multiple gears of different sizes and had to insert them to make all of them eventually turn. You ended up finishing them at record speed, causing a whole swarm of Kshahrewar students around you, begging you to join their Darshan. It was a good thing one of your agents caused a distraction elsewhere for you to swiftly escape… Hmm, maybe you should ask Dottore to make these for you, so you could occupy your mind.

Ahh, not to mention the food… the delicious, authentic Sumerian cuisine that you missed so much. Although some things had naturally changed over four hundred years, it was as yummy as you remembered it. You always packaged some so you could share with Dottore (especially the sweets.) At the end of the day, or when you were tired, you were always escorted back to him. The location was secluded of course, for privacy and safety reasons. Your husband would listen to you ramble about quite literally everything, as you explored Sumeru City thoroughly, not just the festival. Even though he already knew everything you spoke about, he liked seeing your curiosity be indulged in.

But today was different. Today you decided to witness the performances going on in the theater. You had always liked watching them (Columbina often invited you to them) in Snezhnaya, so now you wanted to see what Sumeru had to offer. Four hundred years ago, the Akademiya looked down and shamed the arts far more than they do today. Non-academic writing, drawing, sculpting, acting, singing, dancing, you name it. There was no such thing as the Grand Bazaar or Zubayr Theater. Though you didn’t live here anymore, you were very pleased to see how much the arts were appreciated now, as they should be. Especially that red-haired girl, her dancing was awe-inspiring. You had seen her practice before the performance for a few days, and it was beautiful! If only things were like this when you were a student here…

“Hello there! You’re sitting all the way over here by yourself, are you okay?” A squeaky voice interrupted your reminiscing and you turned to see who it was.

The Traveler and Paimon… It seemed that you were blankly staring at them for too long because the floating one spoke again.

“Um… are you okay?” 

“Oh! I’m fine, sorry, sorry, I just spaced out for a second there,” you apologetically waved them off. This was going to be a bit annoying.

A while ago, you had decided to let go. Let go of the pain, of any possible thoughts of revenge, of the sheer grief you suffered from your loss. Because continuing to work yourself up like that would only worsen your illness and mental state. For the most part, you’d been successful, living each day as best you could along with your husband. You still thought about the segments though, always thankful for what they did for you.

But now that the Traveler stood in front of you in flesh and blood, your composure wavered a little. This was the same person who killed Omega. You couldn’t help but feel a twinge of hatred, but you relaxed with a deep breath.

“That’s okay! Well, Paimon is Paimon, and this here is the Traveler. We saw you here by yourself and just wanted to see if you were alright!” The blonde nodded in affirmation.

“Ah, I see. There’s no need to worry about me. My body can’t handle standing for so long, so it’s better for me to sit, even if I’m a bit far away from the stage.” There was no harm in telling them right off the bat because you had a feeling that Paimon’s line of questioning would make you reveal your illness anyway. She talked a lot, according to your fellow Fatuis.

“Huh? Are you injured?”

“No, it’s just my illness. My body struggles to do many things a healthy person would, so I need to be careful.” The pair nodded at you in sympathy.

“Oh… Paimon is sorry about that. That sounds really tough…” 

“It’s alright. It’s been like this for many years, so I’ve grown accustomed to it.” The fairy placed her hand on her chest in understanding before she brightened.

“Ah, Paimon has a good idea! Why don’t we keep you company during the performance? You know, we’ve been here loads of times and are even friends with Nilou! We can definitely tell you some cool things!”

“Oh, that sounds… nice.” You smiled at them, not because you liked them, but more because you were interested in their stories about this place. Paimon cheered and the Traveler took a seat near you. It made your skin crawl a bit, but you didn’t show any outward reaction.

“Say, Paimon never asked your name.”

“You can call me [Name].” The only person who knew you in this country was the Dendro Archon, and you doubted they would tell her about you, so there was no point in using another name. Also that was too much work.

“So [Name], is this your first time in Sumeru? We can show you all the best restaurants if you need it!” Ah, so the agents were also accurate when they said she liked food a lot. And the fact the Traveler was silent most of the time.

“No, I used to live here. But, I moved away a long time ago, so this is my first time back in many years.”

“That sounds nice. It must feel good to be back, huh? It’s too bad the Interdarshan Championship isn’t taking place this year. That would have been lots of fun!” Paimon sighed, memories of the last one flowing through her mind. Ah yes, you remember that as well. You and Zandik were never chosen as nominees of course… but it was a fun event to observe. For you at least. Zandik would always go on about how foolish the competitors were, how they couldn’t see how simple the seemingly difficult challenge was. You always laughed at his criticism.

“Mhm, it’s too bad. Maybe I can come back another time to see that.”

“Yeah, you definitely should! Speaking of, did you come here with anyone?”

“Yes, my husband accompanied me here. But he’s working right now, so I’m by myself.”

“Aww, that’s too bad. It must be lonely to enjoy a festival by yourself, huh?”

“Perhaps a little bit, but I do not mind. He’s taken care of me for countless years along with his work duties, it’s more than enough for me to even have the opportunity to experience this festival.”

“Wow, you two really do sound like a loving couple!”

“Hehe, yes… yes, we are,” you had started to smile loopily at the thought of Dottore and ignored the look the Traveler and Paimon gave you. But your attention returned when the stage lights flickered on and the crowd started to simmer down.

“Looks like the performance is starting! Oh, Paimon can’t wait to see what Nilou has in store this time!” You were excited to see it as well.

—

The performances were delightful. The play was well-acted and interesting, and the red-haired girl’s dance at the end was beautiful. Huh… you wish they had more festivals like this in Snezhnaya. Or maybe they did, and you didn’t know about them. You’d have to ask Bina about that when you return.

“That was so, so touching,” Paimon sniffed as the Traveler comforted their friend. You couldn’t help but agree as well. “We have to go say hi to Nilou now!” The Traveler and Paimon rose as you watched them.

“Just stay here [Name], we’ll be back in a few minutes!” You smiled at them as they went off to greet their friend before you quickly dropped your expression. Stay? With them? Nah, you had enough for today. You wanted to go back to Dottore now and bother him to let you cuddle him on his lap. So when they weren’t looking, you slipped out of the theater, and your bodyguards slyly followed, attracting the attention of no one.

Ah, you had a lot of things to say to Dottore now, didn’t you…

—

“Huh? Where did [Name] go?” When the pair returned, you were gone.

“They must have left. I bet it’s because you were asking them so many questions, Paimon,” the Traveler teased her.

“Hey! Paimon was being friendly and they didn’t seem to mind! Anyway, let’s go outside. It’s only been a few minutes, maybe they’re still around.” The pair exited and walked around the city for a bit, but you had already disappeared into thin air.

“Traveler, Paimon! It’s nice to see you again!” A gentle voice called out to them. It was Nahida, who walked up to them with a bright smile on her face. The other two responded in kind.

“Oh, hey Nahida! Long time no see, huh?”

“Yes, it’s been quite a while. You must come over for a bit and tell me about your travels sometime. I guess you’ve been enjoying the Akademiya Extravaganza, right?”

“Yup! Traveler and Paimon enjoyed a lot of fun games and delicious food! And then we went to see some performances at the theater, and now we were looking for someone, but eh, it’s not really important anymore.”

“Hmm? Looking for who?”

“Just someone we met a few hours ago at the theater. Their name is [Name].” The Dendro Archon’s eyes widened at the mention of your name, immediately straightening up.

“[Name]? Did you say [Name]?” The Traveler and Paimon noticed the God’s surprised expression and inquired about it.

“Yeah, do you know them, Nahida?”

“I… I can’t believe it. Do they happen to look like…” Nahida then went off to give a brief description of you, and the Traveler confirmed that you indeed matched her words. Paimon was a bit worried.

“Nahida, why are you asking us this? You’re making it seem like we were talking to a long-lost criminal or something.”

“Well, I suppose that wouldn’t be too far off. This [Name] that you’ve met is… part of the Fatui. But that’s not the big part. They’re the Doctor’s lover.” It was silent for a few seconds before Paimon responded, nearly yelling as the Traveler’s jaw dropped.

“The man [Name] is married to is THE DOCTOR?!”

“Oh, so they’re married now? Last time I heard they weren’t.”

“Nahida, surely you must be mistaken, right? You’re far too casual about this, no one could be dating the Doctor of their own free will!” Nahida was about to respond when yet another voice interrupted.

“She’s not lying.” A familiar voice echoed from somewhere and the group turned to face it. It was the former Sixth Harbinger, standing to the side, braced against the wall. “That [Name] is indeed the partner of Dottore. I met them while I was in the Fatui.”

“Ahh… Paimon’s head hurts…” The Traveler nodded in agreement as they too rubbed their head at this revelation. “But why? Why would they want to be with the Doctor?”

“It’s futile to ask me about their relationship,” the puppet scoffed. “I cannot begin to comprehend how the two of them supposedly love each other. I’ve spoken to them a few times…” the puppet thought back to those encounters in the lab, “but our conversations did little to enlighten me on the nature of their relationship.”

“[Name] and Dottore have a long history together. It’s… complicated, but I’m not lying when I say they’ve been together for centuries. But what concerns me is that if [Name] is here, then the Doctor must be close by as well… and the Fatui too… He wouldn’t let them roam around all by themselves.”

“Oh no! That’s right, [Name] said that their husband accompanied them here. So that means the Doctor is in Sumeru!”

“I see… the Matra would have noticed if a boat of Fatui arrived at the port… so that means the other agents must be well disguised. But nothing has happened lately. Sumeru has been at peace like usual, there’s nothing that the Fatui have been digging their nose into recently. I wonder…” the God of Wisdom began to mumble to herself while Wanderer merely looked on.

“Paimon would have never guessed they were in the Fatui… do you think they were lying about their illness too?”

“No, they are indeed afflicted with a mysterious illness. From what I know, [Name] used to be quite a formidable force four hundred years ago. But their illness gradually sapped their strength away from them, leaving them as they are now… so they have virtually no physical prowess anymore.”

“Oh… that’s quite sad. Wait, but that doesn’t change the fact they’re part of the Fatui, with the Doctor no less! They’re our enemy, no doubt!”

“That’s not to mean [Name] is weak. Although their mind has certainly been ravaged by many things, they possess a strong will. Not to mention, they are the one and only Doctor’s close confidant. I’m sure if pressed, they have some tricks up their sleeves.”

“We have to do something! The Fatui are always up to no good, I bet they have some horrible, evil plan to… to… ruin the Akademiya Extravaganza! We can’t let them do that!” Paimon exclaimed while the Traveler nodded in complete agreement. “Nahida, what’s the plan?”

“The plan is to let them be.”

“H-Huh? Nahida, you’re just going to let them go?”

“That’s correct, Paimon.”

“Lesser Lord Kusanali, are you sure?” Even Wanderer, who usually went along with the God albeit with some moaning and groaning, had an objection.

“The festival has been going on for several days now, and tomorrow is the last day. If the Fatui truly were planning something, it would have been done by now. And to be honest, I suspect that the only reason the Doctor made the trip here was for…” You, Nahida wanted to say, but then decided against it. She wasn’t one hundred percent sure, after all. “Actually, never mind. Don’t worry about it, Traveler, Paimon. But if you happen to see them tomorrow, you could speak to them again. I am admittedly… interested in [Name].”

“Well… alright Nahida. We trust you.”

—

While the group was busy chatting about you, you were making your way back to Dottore. It was already evening, and all you wanted to do was relax in the embrace of your beloved. However today, the Fatui agents were escorting somewhere else rather than your temporary home. Where? The more you walked, the quicker you realized.

The large Ruin Golem in the mountains of Sumeru’s forest.

Seeing it from a distance brought back fond memories for you. You remember the first time you and Zandik entered it. He was incredibly fascinated with it and literally spent hours in it. Of course, you were forced to stay with him and help him with all the research and note-taking. But looking back, it was fun. And you may or may not have kissed him a lot in there, and he was very annoyed at you breaking his focus, but did nothing to stop you.

This same spot, near the Ruin Golem, was also a frequent star-gazing spot. Because he would spend so long there, even until night fell, and you kept insisting it’d be romantic to watch the stars here. He didn’t really agree but… Zandik surprisingly indulged you more than you realized.

Soon, you were much closer to the Ruin Golem and Dottore was in sight, waiting for you. The Fatui agents bowed to you as you dismissed them and made your way over to your husband, who was patiently waiting for you while gazing at the large robot in front of him. You wondered if he had finished his work, for him to be wasting time like this.

(In reality, there was no real mission in Sumeru. The five-day long trip was done to indulge your long-time wishes. Pierro had only let Dottore go on it if he managed to finish at least three-quarters of his paperwork before the trip, and the other quarter during it. So needless to say, Dottore had worked quite hard to acquire this time off, but you didn’t need to know that because then you would feel absolutely terrible and he’d have to deal with your countless apologies.)

“[Name],” he greeted you.

“Zandik!” You immediately hugged him to which he reciprocated and patted your head. “I missed you! Oh, I have so much to tell you. You wouldn’t believe what happened. I met the-”

“Traveler,” Dottore interrupted.

“You know already?”

“Of course. I was notified the moment it happened.”

“Oh.” Well, now that you think about it, that made sense. Of course, Dottore would be aware of everything that happened to you… you were alone, but in a way you weren’t. He still had that overprotective and possessive streak, and rightfully so. He chuckled at your reaction.

“But, I believe your point of view will be far more eye-opening. So please, do tell.” You brightened and immediately began prattling about everything, not before you two laid down on the grass and got comfortable, the same as you did four hundred years ago. Though Dottore wasn’t particularly worried about the Traveler doing anything to you, no, of course, he had planned for this possibility (unlike you) and already had measures in place just in case anything happened. 

So the conversation began to move onto softer things. Like you bringing up old memories every five seconds. For example, you two also used to come here frequently to investigate the forest for classes. Zandik usually found these ones boring and was much more interested in Ruin Machines, so you often sped through these boring expeditions in record time so he could do more “fun” things.

“Perhaps we should do that again.”

“Do what? Investigate the biodiversity of Sumeru’s forest?”

“Correct.” You laughed at his words but Dottore looked rather serious about it.

“Isn’t the sun going to set soon? And I thought you weren’t interested in that stuff anymore.” 

You were surprised he was doing this, but Dottore had already risen to his feet and stuck out his hand to you expectantly.

“No matter. We can still see, no? And I do believe it will be interesting to see how it has changed over four hundred years.” That was a lie. He didn’t actually care about the plants of the forest. He was only doing it because he knew it was something you would like. And he was right of course, for you smiled happily and took his hand, clasping it tightly.

“Alright then! I’ll lead the way, just like old times,” you puffed your chest out. “Just follow me, Zandik. And you’re taking notes this time! You don’t know what you put my hand through all those years ago!” Dottore only chuckled at your huffing. You were always on note duty because he kept breaking his pens and spilling ink everywhere, much to your dismay.

But regardless, you two spent an evening examining Sumeru’s fauna, the conversation turning surprisingly rather intellectual. But it soon turned quiet as you two ended the night off by gazing at the stars, just like old times. 

The stars may be a lie, but sometimes lies are still beautiful.

—

Today was the last day of the Akademiya Extravaganza, and you decided to spend the day enjoying the city one last time. You were set to leave with Dottore this afternoon, so you only had about half a day to do what you needed to do. You didn’t know when you’d be back again, so you wanted to imprint it into your mind, and maybe get a few souvenirs as well. It all went well, you did what you needed to do, bought what you wanted and passed it on to your agents to keep for you, and were actually about to head back to Dottore when you met some familiar faces.

The Traveler and Paimon… again. It seemed like the Gods really did hate you, huh? 

“Hey [Name]!” That familiar high-pitched voice waved to you and called out your name… ugh. Just as you were about to go, too. But you pretended otherwise.

“Hello Paimon, Traveler. It is good to see you again. I must apologize for leaving yesterday. I had… matters to attend to,” you apologized.

“Don’t worry about that! Paimon understands.” You smiled back in response and waited to see if the pair would say anything else, but they just… stood there for a few seconds and looked at you.

“Well, if that’s all…” You turned to leave, but Paimon blurted out a strained response unusually quickly.

“Wait! Paimon means, would you like to take a walk with us? Our conversation got cut short yesterday, it would be nice to talk a bit more.” You squinted a bit at Paimon’s expression. It seemed a bit… off. Regardless, you did have some more time to kill, and perhaps they would tell you something of amusement you could relay back to Dottore. So it wasn’t too bad of a decision.

“Alright, that sounds fine,” you nodded in agreement. Paimon had to hold in her sigh of relief. And so the three of you began to walk, taking in the sights of the city. Paimon asked you some more questions, but she seemed a bit… nervous? You weren’t dumb, the more she talked the easier it was to notice. The Traveler was good at keeping a poker face, but Paimon on the other hand, was not. She was nervously looking back and forth between you and the blonde. Which could only mean one thing. 

They knew your real identity. 

Ah, so they found out. Huh. You weren’t expecting that, but you didn’t care much. They were bound to find out eventually, so long as they kept fighting the Fatui. You didn’t know if they were going to confront you right now or not, but you weren’t going to wait around for it. You knew your Fatui bodyguards were close by somewhere, but you didn’t want them to get hurt by the Traveler, so you stretched your arms out, a signal for them to back away a bit. Because you already had a defense mechanism readied that you didn’t want to affect them. Courtesy of Dottore, of course.

So before Paimon could ask another question, you abruptly stopped. You two had exited the city, so there were no regular civilians around either.

“[Name], why did you-”

“There’s no need to pretend anymore. You know who I am, don’t you?” The looks on their faces gave it all away, and the Traveler instantly put up their guard, which you chuckled at.

“Now now, there’s no need to get all worked up. Surely the ever-righteous Traveler won’t hurt a poor, defenseless soul like me, right?” You simply smiled at them, and Paimon was immediately on the verbal defense.

“Hey! You’re in no position here to be saying stuff like that! The Traveler here has taken out countless Fatui, you’re no different,” the travel guide bluffed. She remembered Nahida’s instructions to let you be, but how could she let you talk to her like that?! “And, and,” she scratched her brain for another warning, “we’ll take you to the Matra for questioning!” Paimon blurted out her best threat, which you only laughed at.

“Oh no, I’m so scared…”

“Hey! We’re not joking! You’re connected with the Doctor, they’ll lock you up!”

“Mhm, you know all of that, don’t you? And yes, I’m well aware of your martial prowess,” you looked directly at the blonde. “The same hands killed Omega, didn’t they?” At the segment’s name, the Traveler stiffened. The look in your eyes wasn’t the same as it was before. It had a carefully veiled sense of loathing that had come up to the surface.

“You know, for years I wondered to myself, how did Omega look like in his last moments? What did he think of? What did he do?” Your voice gradually became a soft whisper. “These questions used to drive me mad, but I don’t think I want to know the answer anymore.” The two were shocked at the clear love and longing you had in your voice for the deceased segment. It wasn’t fake at all.

“But why? Why would you willingly be with someone like the Doctor?” Earlier that day, the Traveler and Paimon had decided to scout Sumeru again in hopes of finding notes that you left behind, and after careful exploration once again, they did. Your notes, however, always had careful logical additions left by Zandik. And then, in response… you’d flirt with him on the note, to which the scholar never responded. The pair didn’t know what to feel or say to that.

“Ah, there it is. The same question I receive every time. But it’s okay. I can understand your confusion. Though if I were to stand here and tell you every reason why, it would make you only more confused. So let me answer your question with the simplest answer of them all. I love Dottore. Dottore loves me. That is the foundation of our relationship.” Unfortunately, that answer seemed to only make the two more confused. 

“… It seems that you still do not understand. But that’s okay. It’s not like it matters anyway,” you supposed they were unconvinced a man such as Dottore could love, but you weren’t here to convince them of that. So then you turned to leave before Paimon spoke again.

“Where do you think you’re going? You are coming with Traveler and Paimon!” You let out a sigh at this creature’s persistence. Looks like you’d have to do something.

“You know, I was really hoping I wouldn’t have to use this,” you mumbled under your breath before you retrieved a pill from your pocket and swallowed it, although it was a different color from your regular ones. The Traveler continued to watch on carefully, ready to summon their sword at any second.

“Hmph! Any last words?” Paimon put her hands on her hips as she stared at you. You thoughtfully looked up and began to think, before you came up with something. You despised the Traveler, but a question couldn’t help but linger in your chest. And hey, they’ve helped Childe and Arlecchino in the past, despite nearly being killed by them, right? And that Electro God too. You didn’t know if they were stupid or just too nice. It was worth a shot. And, you didn’t care if you were selfish or not. You were tired of being nice.

“Traveler… may I ask you a favor?”

The Traveler raised their eyebrow, partially offended and shocked you would ever ask them that considering the antagonistic stance you took. That was the last thing they expected, but you took their silence as an opportunity to continue.

“You hop to different worlds, don’t you? Different universes?” The Traveler nodded, unsure of where you were going with this. Your gaze flickered to the floor, eyebrows furrowing before you made up your mind.

“Then, when you leave Teyvat, could you… look for me?” Out of everything that could have come out of your mouth, the Traveler could not have expected that.

“I want to know… I just want to know if there exists a world, where none of this happened. Where I was never sick, where he didn’t have to do all of this to find a cure. I want to know if there’s a world where everything is okay for us.” Your eyes fluttered shut as you spoke, loads of memories flashing through your head about everything you’ve gone through. The Traveler and Paimon remained speechless because they truly did not know what to say, before you cringed at yourself for saying something so stupid.

“Ah, what am I saying? I know you have no sympathy for us, it was dumb to ask,” you waved it off. “Forget it. But I’m afraid I’ve wasted too much time here with you. I have things to attend to.” At that moment, you reached into your pocket and produced a strange device, and before the Traveler could summon their sword, an irregular, headache-inducing sound echoed throughout the area. Instantly, the Traveler knew it was the same sound device Omega had used to put them to sleep all those years ago. But it was too late, as their mind became foggy and their knees buckled to the floor.

“To think that you fell for the same thing twice… that’s kind of embarrassing for you, mighty Traveler,” your laugh was the last thing they heard before they fell into a dream. “It’s a good thing Dottore told me to carry this thing… and made a pill so the effects wouldn’t work on me. Well, bye now.”

—

After rendering those two unconscious, you made your way to the boat you and Dottore were going to leave in. Your agents had caught back up to you and you swore you heard them mumbling about how “cool” you were. It was cute.

You saw your husband standing leisurely on the boat. You guess he had no reason to disguise himself considering he was already about to leave. You immediately smiled and climbed onto the boat with his help.

“I guess you were immediately notified of what happened, weren’t you?” You teased. 

“Of course,” he went along with your tone. “I am always aware of what hindrances may plague my spouse.” You hummed in acknowledgment as you watched the Fatui prepare to set off.

“You know, this whole trip, I’ve been thinking something stupid.”

“No thought from you could be stupid. Do tell.”

“I’ve been thinking… that I love you so much that it may begin to physically hurt me when you’re not around.” Dottore seemed amused.

“Is that so?”

“Yes, really! All those times when you left me alone in the lab, I swear I started developing some side effects!” You pouted as Dottore found himself laughing at your pain.

“Well, not to worry. I am a doctor, after all, I know very well how to treat this ailment.” Dottore ran his fingers up and down your neck, leaving behind a tingling sensation.

“Oh, do you? Well, go ahead, doctor. Make me feel better.”

“I would be delighted to but, the treatment is a little… hands-on,” his deep voice made your heart race with excitement.

“Aren’t you the one who always gets mad at me for trying to skip my medicine? I see no reason to hesitate.” You smiled boldly.

“As you wish. But don’t say I didn’t warn you…” Dottore then pressed you against the railing of the boat, holding you down so you wouldn’t tip over, and then began to lean into your lips.

(The Fatui agents kept their heads turned the whole time.)

—

That had happened years before the Traveler defeated the Doctor, and consequently killed you in the process. Sometimes they wonder if things could have turned out differently. Especially since some of the other Harbingers were certainly not pleased with them when they finally fought, namely the Third, but she too eventually met her demise. But what’s done is done.

The Traveler thought that would be the last they ever saw of you and the Doctor, but they were wrong. As one would expect, Dottore was connected with many of the events in Teyvat, and so he popped up here and there again throughout the rest of the Traveler’s journey.

But one thing they did not expect was to see you and Dottore again. Where? The Ley Lines had somehow shown them people from the past, as they once did with the Shogun. 

It was… strange. Strange to see the two of you just be normal. Normal people, normal students before it all changed. You, a stark contrast to the person they saw before - energetic, bubbly, handling your weapon with ease as you protected Zandik from any possible danger. Zandik, a lot more grouchy and less suave, morally ambiguous but not quite evil yet. Two people who were alone and found company in each other’s likeness. It created a sort of… understanding for the Traveler. Not forgiveness. Understanding.

So when they finally left Teyvat, they decided to fulfill that favor you had asked them. To find you in another universe. It was also to satisfy a sort of curiosity they had themselves. Would you two truly be happy in another world? They would find out as long as they continued to journey with their sibling. So they traveled and traveled and met many new people, and went on many new adventures, your request lingering in the back of their mind every time they visited a new planet.

Admittedly, it was actually kind of… sad to see your fates in the other universes. In many universes, you died, or he died, leaving the other all alone unable to come to terms with their fate. In some universes, you were ill again. You did not survive. In others the relationship did not last, breaking it off due to numerous reasons out of your or Zandik’s control. And maybe the worst fate of them all… you two never crossed paths. Never able to give the other a chance at love.

If the Traveler had a Mora for every time fate divided you two, they might be as rich as Pantalone. They wondered if your request would ever be finished. So when the Traveler entered the next universe, they weren’t expecting much. 

This world was a bit different from the others. It had no supernatural powers, but it had great technology. Things like “internet” and “phones” and “computers.” But they had gotten accustomed to it quickly, as they always had. Right now they were at an outdoor cafe, waiting for their sibling when they heard a familiar voice.

“Ugh, I swear, as soon as the term ends, I will be running to give that guy a scalding rating!” The voice spoke with annoyance and a slam followed soon after, presumably textbooks dumped onto the table. This cafe was frequented by students, so this was no surprise for the Traveler. Cheap, yummy, and a good study spot is what they heard from passersby. 

“I told you not to take him,” another grouchy voice replied. “You brought this on yourself.”

“You know that he was my only option! I literally got the last seat in the class,” you whined back, the chairs dragging across the concrete. “Besides, I don’t want to hear that from you when you complain about your professors every single day, Zandik.” That name nearly made the Traveler choke on their drink.

Zandik? Did they hear that right…? They turned around, hoping not to arouse attention, and then their eyes widened as they looked at the pair that just arrived.

They were the spitting image of the [Name] and Dottore from Teyvat, although these people were dressed in different clothes that were normal for this planet. There were a few minor differences that the Traveler only recognized because they were familiar with Teyvat’s version of you, but there was no doubt about it.

These two people were this planet’s version of you and Dottore. But the question was, were you two happy together? The Traveler needed to find out, and this position wasn’t good for spying so they moved to another inconspicuous location.

Zandik only rolled his eyes at your defiant quip before opening his heavy textbook, which you soon followed suit. The friendly banter between the two of you flowed naturally. When the food came, you tried feeding him the piece of cake which Zandik tried shooing your hand away, but had to give in after a while with slightly red cheeks. Your hands occasionally brushed against each other, but neither of you pulled away. Interesting, very interesting. Could this be the universe…?

After you two left the cafe, the Traveler decided to follow. This was probably a bit stalkerish, but they just needed to confirm. (Good thing they had skill in this area.) 

In the busy public streets, your shoulders only brushed, but when it became more deserted, you reached out to hold hands with Zandik. He huffed and mumbled something to you, which the blonde could not hear, though you only responded with a laugh as you squeezed his hand tighter. But then your attention was diverted by something else.

“Oh, look there Zandik! Do you see that?” You whisper-yelled, drawing his attention to a tree branch. “It’s a raven and a sparrow! Together! The thing is on top of the other’s head!” You couldn’t contain your amusement. “Isn’t that really strange? Don’t ravens eat sparrows sometimes?”

“Yes, and the sparrow must be rather stupid for allowing itself to get so close to something that can kill it,” Zandik said bluntly.

“That’s not nice,” you poked him for that comment. “Just because they’re different doesn’t mean they can’t be friends. Just like us, Zandik!”

“The world is not that nice, [Name],” he sighed, your optimism causing him great headaches sometimes.

“Yeah, I know thatttt~. But you never know! Hehe, you know, this reminds me of the time a few months back when a butterfly landed on your nose. You looked so cute! Ah, I’m so glad I got a picture.” Zandik immediately scowled, because you set the bloody thing as your wallpaper, so anyone who looked at your phone’s home screen could see the embarrassing moment. Ajax and his wretched finance and theater friends did not let him hear the end of it. Your boyfriend then started walking much faster, dragging you along as you yelped at the increased speed.

“Stop babbling and hurry up, otherwise I’ll leave you behind.”

“Okay, okay! Just slow down!!”

Soon, the two of you reached your newly rented apartment. Both of you had only recently moved out of the dorms, but it had been a lot of fun decorating and growing accustomed to this new life. The Traveler watched as you disappeared into the building, and then noticed your figure again through a window near the upper level. You were cradling an animal, a cat actually, and kissed it gently. Zandik then made his way over, uncharacteristically scratching its chin as well, before saying something to you. (Perhaps scolding you for giving your pet too much attention. A very Zandik way of saying he himself wanted more attention too.) You only shook your head with mirth before pressing a kiss to your lover’s lips, and the two of you moved away from the window, now out of sight.

Well, the Traveler’s job was done now. You and Zandik were happy. Maybe not in Teyvat, maybe not in any other world but… you two were happy in this one. And that was all you wished for.

[Name] and Zandik were happy.

And that’s the perfect ending for a fairy tale, right?

[redrose10]

I’m still working on a couple requests I got this past weekend plus the next chapter of The Interlude Inn and I’m thinking about posting the original ending of Cinnamon & Vanilla that I had planned before it went in a completely different direction.

But here is just a small little thing I’ve been thinking about lately that hopefully helps at least one other person feel better!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Warning: Mentions of anxiety, hints of a panic attack

Yoongi knows something is wrong. Normally you’d come running up to him to throw your arms around his neck while peppering him with kisses before he could even get his jacket off. Or you’d be in the kitchen cooking him a seven course meal even though he’s told you a million times that he’d be perfectly happy with a package of instant noodles as long as you were sitting next to him. But right now he finds neither of those.

The kitchen is untouched. No lights are on. The house is quiet except for the shower which he hears running the closer he gets to the bedroom. Double checking his watch he sees that it is indeed only 5pm. Yoongi knows that you prefer to shower right before bed so that you are all clean and moisturized and warm before getting under the covers and it’s still way to early for you to be getting ready to go to sleep.

He also knows that when your anxiety is getting the best of you that you like to take a long hot shower. He’s seen you get up and shower at 2am even though you just showered a few hours before. He’s seen you get up during the middle of a movie only to hear the shower click on minutes later. He never stops you or questions you. Instead he lays there and waits for you to return to see if you need anything or to ask if you’d like to talk about it. Sometimes he just opens his arms and lets you fall into his embrace. He knows all the ways to help you get through your moments of darkness.

Gently he pushes open the bathroom door just to check and make sure you’re okay. His heart cracks as he sees you sitting on the floor of the shower letting the hot water cascade down your body while your head hangs low, your shoulders heaving with sobs.

Yoongi softly taps on the shower glass to let you know he’s in the room, but you already knew. The heat from the shower amplifying the smell of his cologne and you could feel the aura of comfort that just seems to follow him around. You need him. “Yoongi please.”, is all you manage to get out before your voice breaks, but he still knows what you want. Quickly he removes his uniform discarding it in the hamper. He pulls open the shower door, the steam taking his breath away for a second. He sits down cross legged in front of you, but doesn’t move or speak. He wants to give you a chance to acclimate to his presence.

When you look up and make eye contact with him you cry a little harder. He doesn’t force you to move or try to get you to talk. He just wants you to know that he’s there so he simply sits on the floor of the shower with you until you’re ready to get out. Whether it’s for another five minutes or forty five minutes he’ll be there.

After the water has long run cold and you’ve cried as much as you could, he gets both of you out of the shower. He rubs your body down with your favorite moisturizer to make sure your skin doesn’t get damaged from the hot water and then he hands you your favorite hoodie of his that he makes sure has a light spray of his cologne. He’s runs off and throws on a tshirt and a pair of sweats and when he returns he finds you sitting on the floor leaning back against the bed. He can tell you’re still in your thoughts and close to going back to the darkness.

He’s sits down next you and helps you onto his lap. Softly he grasps your hands and places them on his cheeks encouraging you to squish them, something you used to do whenever your anxiety would get bad. He’d always pretend to hate it, but you both knew that was all an act. It was a silly thing, but when all else failed it seemed to be the one thing that always worked. As you watched his chubby cheeks squish together over and over and he playfully rolled his eyes your chest began to feel a little lighter and once you saw his gummy smile it was like you could feel the bad feelings and thoughts being pulled from your body and releasing you from their grasp.

“Thank you”, you whispered before you snuggled your face in to his neck. He rubbed small circles on your back before placing a kiss to the top of your head.

Yoongi knew something was wrong. He knew that when you were ready you’d talk to him. But until then he knew he’d be there for you any way he could, even if it meant spending the night sitting on the bedroom floor while his cheeks became your own personal stress relievers.

[imaginesbymonika]

From the dining table | Part 4

Pairing: Damon Albarn × Gallagher! Reader

Plot: Everyone's favorite topic during the '90s and 'OOs; Y/N Gallagher. The mysterious and beautiful younger sister of the two loud brothers rarely spoke during interviews but played the guitar like no one else. And even though she never said a word about her dating-life, the list of her rumored boyfriends kept growing longer with each passing year. Yet, there was one name in particular that just kept on popping up...

Read Interlude

(1997)

Y/N is laying backstage on the big couch in their dressing room. Her tired eyes are concentrating on a small spider that’s crawling across the wall, while her two brothers are arguing about something insignificant.

She’s grateful that their focus is on anything but her, so they don’t realize that the skin around her eyes is red. Last night she had a really nasty fight with Damon and it’s still lingering in her bones.

„Well, I don’t get why we can’t just- you know.”, she was sitting on her bed, watching how Damon was pacing around her bedroom. Every few minutes his hands were running through his blonde hair and she was convinced that he was ripping out a lot of it doing that. “Will you please stop and just look at me for a second?”

While letting out a frustrated sigh he halted and turned to glance at Y/N. “I just- you know I want us to you know.”

“What do you want?”, he asked crossing his arms:” Say it.” He sounded meaner than intended.

“W-what?”, she forced a smile. “You want something you can’t even say out loud. Say it and we’ll do it.”, at this point, his heart was beating furiously against his rip-cage. In some egocentric way, he was hoping she wouldn’t say it. Damon wasn’t sure if he was prepared for that. But luckily she stayed silent. He let out a scoff, knowing that he wasn’t playing fair. But it’s always easier to be mean than kind to someone you understand you never had a future with.

All this sneaking around. Dancing around the topic of something fundamental was easier than actually committing. She was the love of his life and he can see that he has been hers. It was visible in the way she was looking at him.

“Damon, you-.”, she stopped and looked down at her hands, hot tears were arising in her eyes and it took only a second for him to reach the bed. He dropped to his knees in front of it. “This is over now, isn’t it?”, she asked, almost whispering the words she already knew the answer to. Damon only nodded.

“You know, I do love you.”, she let out after a few seconds. “I love you too.”

(2024)

The sun is shining through gaps in the clouds while Damon parks his car in front of a beautiful house. It’s an old cottage on a small hill near a beach. When he opens the car door he is immediately welcomed by the sound of seagulls flying through the sky.

He shuts the door and anxiously makes his way over to the small wooden gate, it squeaks loudly when he opens it and makes a harsh metal noise when it falls shut again. Damon takes a deep breath while walking over the cobblestone to the front door.

He looks at the nameplate before hesitantly ringing the bell. Then he waits. One minute, then two. His fingers push down on the button again and a sigh flees his lips when no one opens the door. “Shit.”, he whispers and turns back around.

However, he instantly stops dead in his tracks when he makes eye contact with Y/N. His heart drops and he feels how there’s a lump forming in his throat that prevents him from saying a single word.

D- Damon?”, Y/N asks as a disbelieving chuckle escapes her. She opens the gate and holds it open for a moment longer to allow her two dogs past her. A sausage dog and a German shepherd walk up to him and start to sniff his jeans, but he can’t be bothered. Damon’s eyes are motionless fixated on Y/N. She’s older, and her voice is deeper than it used to be, but she’s still beautiful. So beautiful.

She slowly walks up to him, while taking her keys out of her purse. “I don’t-.”, she exhales sharply:” What are you-.”

“Noel told me to say hello.”, Damon blurts out and she stops walking. “Did Noel give you my address?” He nods, which makes her roll her eyes in reaction. “Typical.”, she mutters and takes a deep breath:” I-.”

“I came here to talk to you.”

[thetravelingtyper]

Our Shattered Heart Interlude (Part 2.75) JM (GN! 'Heart' Reader x Taskforce 141)

Loading Track 3 - Electric Feel by MGMT (Johnny Soap MacTavish One Shot) - After returning from base you and Soap decide to take the night to go out...

Warning: Possible OOC, Suggestive Content, fluff, Possessive Soap

Part 2.50, Part 3.00 Masterlist

Our Shattered Heart 2.75 Interlude John MacTavish (...Loading Track 3…)- Electric Feel by MGMT

The bar was bustling under the star-lit sky. You pulled a tipsy Johnny along with you as you basked in the chill. You pulled further into Simon’s jacket, catching the smell of his cologne. You were perfectly sober while Johnny had a few beers. You had returned later in the day from base with the Sergeants giving you smirks. 

“You finally got the Captain.” Kyle smiles at you brightly. He’s radiant as you bring the bouquet in. 

“These are from a Corporal-” The flowers are taken from you by a scoffing Johnny, you give him a look and he grumbles, setting the flowers down a little heavily. He then proceeds to wrap himself around you, pressing a kiss to your temple, then peppering kisses all over your face while you giggle and push against him. He doesn't budge. 

“Let us get you flowers hen.”

You laugh lightly, running a hand up and down Soap’s firm arm as he spins you around, 

“She’s married Johnny, Down boy,” he muttered something Scottish before kissing you firmly.  You return the energy, parting when you're out of breath. Soap keeps you bundled in his arms. 

“Let's go out hen.” He murmurs it in your ear. You return with a ‘sure’ and a smile. You look to Kyle in question but he just waves you guys off.

“You two go have fun, I’ll get my turn.”

And with that and preparation you both set off into the late afternoon. 

All along the Western front

People line up to receive

She got the power in her hand

To shock you like you won't believe

Saw her in the Amazon

With the voltage running through her skin

Standing there with nothing on

She gonna teach me how to swim

You grab Johnny's hand and tug him into the bar, eyes searching and to your pleasure finding the singer. He notices you during a verse and shoots you a smile that widens when he sees Johnny’s hand in yours.

He continues singing while you pull Soap to the bar and sit down. He settles on a barstool and instead of letting you sit, he pulls you to his lap, chin settling on your shoulder. You sigh but the bartender just smiles and laughs.

“He’s like a puppy. I saw the other night.” You look to them, finding a younger red-headed woman in her mid to late 20s. You just nod to her and order a drink. You get something a little fruity and sweet and settle into Johnny’s lap as his arms wrap around you. You chat with the bartender in the meantime, before your name is called and the singer approaches. 

I said, "ooh, girl

Shock me like an electric eel

Baby girl

Turn me on with your electric feel"

I said, "ooh girl

Shock me like an electric eel

Baby girl

Turn me on with your electric feel"

Your eyes light up at the man and you go to stand and greet him but Johnny’s arms tighten. You murmur to him but he just shakes his head stubbornly. 

“Johnny.” You say it more sternly and he turns to you with stormy eyes, pupils dilated from the alcohol and feelings. The bartender turns to the singer then Johnny, then laughs.

“Don’t worry lad,” she says good-naturedly as the singer approaches and pecks her on the lips. Your eyes widen before you turn to her.

“Good for you two! Happy now, Johnny?” 

The man grumbles again but lets you up. You give the singer a swift hug before you take the stool next to Soap and begin to chat. During conversations on the local area and their relationship Johnny’s hand seeks you in constant contact that makes your heart feel like putty. He was always an affectionate drunk but after the kiss, he practically glued himself to you and the others. If he wasn't next to Simon or bickering with Kyle, the Scot usually had a hand on your arm or shoulder and a smoldering look to anyone other than the 141 that approached you. The hour passed quickly, nearing 10 o'clock when the singer needed to return to the stage. There was a clamor at the entrance and a call of your name again as the girls entered. Your face lit up and you look at Johnny with an eager smile. His eyes are clear as he sips some of your drink, seeming to have sobered up some. He lets you go and you look at the girls with a few cheers.  

They look at you and Soap and one whistles with a laugh and you blush while Soap gives them a cocky grin, pressing a kiss to your cheek and then lightly pushing you towards them. They accept you with open arms and you all go to dance.

All along the Eastern shore

Put your circuits in the sea

This is what the world is for

Making electricity

You can feel it in your mind

Oh, you can do it all the time

Plug it in, change the world

You are my electric girl

If anyone liked watching you dance the most it was Johnny. He was an energetic person, and unlike Price and Simon, he thrived in a club environment. Seeing your eyes light up and moving with the crowd was a treat. You swirled and bobbed, moving amongst the waves. A period passed as the bar got more busy when someone took the seat beside him. He doesn’t notice until there is a hand on his arm. He turns in his stool to find an attractive person, green eyes burn into his. 

“Hey handsome.” their voice is smooth as they ask Johnny his name. He shuffles back out of their touch and replies with a simple John before he looks back to you. Green eyes follow this but they question your sergeant who replies politely to each. He wants to go and join you but you seem to be having fun. Time passes as he and the stranger make a sort of conversation as you dance, all the while Johnny sends you looks but he doesn’t want to leave your spot or your drink unattended. 

About 20 minutes in his patience is tested when, while laughing the stranger sets their hand on his knee. He jerks away with sharp eyes. 

“I am here with someone.” He says it politely but firmly. It's said during a break of songs and one of your girlfriends at the edge of the crowd catches it and Soap’s discomfort. She gets you as things suddenly escalate.

Driven either by alcohol or pure whim the stranger pulls Soap in for a kiss just as you break from the crowd. Seeing it you freeze, a chill running through you before a hot-headed anger and possessive feeling coils in your gut. Johnny immediately pushes against the stranger and stands. You practically materialize at his side. The stranger is not expecting this and hikes it out of the bar at the glowering look you shoot them. You turn to Johnny riled up. He wipes his lips and downs the rest of your drink in disgust. But seeing your darkened eyes he smirks.

“I'm all yours hen.” He cheekily adds,

“Though they were fine.”

You hiss at this and tug the man away from the bar, a smile growing on his face as you pull him out of the bar and into a side alley. Johnny smiles at you but his eyes are dark with arousal as you pull him in for a possessive kiss, chasing away the taste of the stranger. He does you one better spinning and pinning you against the wall as your lips dance together. His heart pounds in his chest, never thinking he’d see you crack but the role reversal was doing things to him. You pull away only for Johnny to latch his lips to your ear, nipping then stringing kisses down your neck like starbursts.

“That was so hot hen.” it was breaths as the scent of both you and Simon drove him insane. He pulls the neckline of your shirt down and neck to the chain of your dog tags he sucks and bites leaving a mark. You arch against him but he just rolls his hip against you. You try to move for some friction but his thigh comes between your legs. He coos as you whine, 

“Sweet, I want te ravish ye.” His accent is thick as he pulls you back to him and about drags you along. When you reach the flat, he tears the door open and about flings you inside, closing and locking the door behind him. He then turns to you with maelstrom eyes igniting a fire in the pit of your stomach. Having heard the noise Simon and Kyle pop out of Kyle's room, having been finishing work. They both freeze seeing your heaving form littered with marks.

I said, "ooh, girl

Shock me like an electric eel

Baby girl

Turn me on with your electric feel"

I said, "ooh girl

Shock me like an electric eel

Baby girl

Turn me on with your electric feel"

Simon sees his jacket skewed on you and curses with a groan. You and Johnny are in a standoff, looking that if you even move he’ll pounce. You look between Simon and Kyle, both sets of dark eyes on you, watching, waiting. You're feeling hot as Johnny begins to slack forward, shoulders set and confident. His hair has grown out giving him a wild look and the few buttons of his shirt are open showing a smooth collarbone next to his dog tags. You almost want to run, to give into the chase but you stand your ground as he starts backing you towards the table. Kyle and Simon just watch as Johnny then corners you against the table.

He stares at you, hands reaching to touch your thigh and trace up your body. They soon fist into Simon's jacket and yank you forward to him in another kiss. 

Plush lips mix with your own before you find his tongue delving into your mouth and you moan into the kiss. Johnny growls parting before hiking your legs up and setting you on the table. 

“You are mine.” he hisses into your ear, something triggered in his mind, your hands shoot to his hair and you pull it in a way that has him hissing and breaking up the kiss.

“Fucking Hell you two, away where but there.” Simon finally steps in and Johnny quirks at the older man's eyes, pupils dilated and breathing coming out a little staggered. Johnny takes the chance and pulls you up, holding you against him easily as you yelp in surprise.

“Johnny!” Your voice is breathless before he nips your lips. 

“That's my name sweetheart, don’ wear it out, Unless you're screaming it.” Your eyes shoot open and he gives you a sultry smile before chuckling into your neck. You narrow your eyes and then dipping your head bite a mark to match the one he gave you. He hisses, hands clenching you harder. Kyle laughs, something breathless as he approaches you.

“Good to know you bite back baby, showing Johnny what for. The filthy mouth of his.” 

Johnny laughs then, the moment catching his heart racing and he lets you down but not before a final cheeky kiss. You part with half-lidded eyes and set your forehead against Johnny, you whisper to him.

“I love you.” 

His heart stutters, warmth gripping his chest as he stares into your eyes,

“Aye, I love too, hen.”  

Do what you feel now

Electric feel now

Do what you feel now

Electric feel now

Do what you feel now

Electric feel now

Do what you feel now

Electric feel now

Do what you feel now

Electric feel now

End Track - Taglist:

@ghostlythots, @00ops1e, @rafaelacallinybbay, @iloveslasher, @character---obsessed

, @ashy-kit, @fruitymoonbeams-blog, @my-amazing-nerdyness, @star-struck-universe, @br0ken-rec0rds,

@buckysjuicyplums, @cod-z

[dfortrafalgar]

I'm Losing You... (But We're Filling the Cracks)

Having a family isn't always as easy as fairy tales make it seem.

Warnings: read chapter 1 for warnings

Taglist: @phsycochan | @mirillua | @augustanna | @chaixsherlock | @whore-of-many-hot-men

Interlude

[Prev] [Next]

Law hated change.

Even the slightest shift in his day-to-day routine had him crawling into his protective shell of a mind, keeping him away from any potential harm.  If the weather app on his phone predicted wind gusts of 19 miles per hour, and they ended up being 20, that was enough to ruin his day.

Needless to say, he was not enthused by the new addition to the study group he had formed with Shachi, Penguin, and Penguin’s girlfriend Ikkaku.  He had arrived at the usual study room about 15 minutes before his friends did, as was his usual routine.  He enjoyed the fleeting time spent alone to organize his classwork as well as his racing thoughts.  He couldn’t do that with a new pair of eyes staring at him, also having arrived early.  At first, he thought that you were using the study room by yourself for a different reason, unaware that it was rented out for the next hour and a half.

“Who are you?” he asked, dry and monotone.  The average person would have probably taken great offense to his offputting and sour demeanor.

With skeptical confusion, you stated your name.  “I’m Ikkaku’s roommate, I take the same class as you guys, just a different section,” you explained.  

Law’s jaw clenched.  So much for his assumption that you had no affiliation with any of his personal connections.  “Who invited you?”

You cocked one of your eyebrows.  “Ikkaku.”

Figures.  “Why?”

“... Because I’m taking the same class and wanted to join a study group?” you offered, seriously growing skeptical.  “Do you have a problem with that?  Do you want me to fork over a down payment for your time or something?”

Law’s eyes narrowed at your attitude.  “I don’t appreciate the lip.”

“And I don’t appreciate your exclusion from a study group,” you stated back, matching his energy.  “If you really don’t want me here, then I’ll leave.  But I really don’t see what the problem is.”

Law wanted to tell you to leave.  He wanted to tell you to never come back to this study room during his specifically designated hours, effectively closing his life off from you for good.  He had no room for new relationships.  He had his two friends from childhood, and that was all he needed.  He was even reluctant to bring in Penguin’s girlfriend, but the desperate man pestered until Law couldn’t stand his moping anymore.  Just as the black-haired man was about to open his mouth and bark at you to get out of his room, a firm hand smacked the back of his shoulder.

“Hey, Law!  I’m a bit early, so I grabbed some snacks from the cafeteria.  You know, some brain food.”  Shachi pushed past him, slapping a granola bar into his chest.  “Oh, hey!  You decided to join us!”

Clearly, you were already familiar with Shachi, much to Law’s chagrin.  You nodded excitedly as the redhead took off his pointed shades and plopped his small backpack down next to your seat, rummaging through his mess of disorganized papers and taking out his class materials for their study session.

“I’m excited to finally have a group to study with, I’ve been struggling in this class,” you added, smiling brightly at the man next to you.  You tossed a sour side eye towards Law who still stood frozen in the doorway.  “I hope I won’t be too much of an issue for you guys.”

Now you were playing dirty.

His thoughts were once again interrupted, though, as Penguin pushed his way through the heavy private room’s door with Ikkaku in tow, who quickly plopped herself next to you, pulling out her phone and talking about a meme she saw earlier that she couldn’t wait to show you.

Law was officially trapped in this predicament.  There was nothing he could do but sit down at the end of the table and deal with the cards he had been dealt.

—

About a week had passed since you joined Law’s thrice-a-week study group, and for the most part, you had kept to yourself.  It seemed you were either genuinely anxious over Law’s distasteful attitude towards you, or you just couldn’t care enough to give him the time of day.  Whatever it was, the human health sciences and biology undergrad was more than pleased to not have to speak to you.

Until you sat across from him at his small, solitary table in the corner of the south campus dining hall.

“Before you say anything,” you began, shrugging off the angry glare he shot your way.  Law was a bit taken aback by how… anxious you looked.  “There’s a guy that’s been following me around all day.  I’m starting to get kind of scared and you’re the only person here right now that I’m vaguely familiar with.”

Law felt his eyebrows crease.  “Following you?”

You anxiously unpacked your small lunch box, removing a tupperware full of what appeared to be some form of leftovers.  “He asked me out a few days ago and I rejected him… and he hasn’t stopped lowkey stalking me since.  Yesterday, he tried to get into my dorm building.”

The black-haired student’s golden eyes darted around the open dining hall, searching for anyone who appeared even slightly suspicious.  “Do you know where he is right now?”

“In the lunch line, I think.”

It was then that Law spotted a gangly-looking student, a few inches shorter than himself and fairly unkempt, step out of the lunch line with a metal tray sporting a single dry apple and freezer wrapped peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  The kid tossed a few analytical glaces around the dining hall before his eyes landed on Law’s, followed by the back of your head.

“Found him,” Law muttered.

Your shoulders visibly stiffened.  Something in his chest clenched.

The imposing student began clearing the dining hall with long, desperate strides, his eyes growing angrier the closer he got to you.  He slammed his tray down on the table, rattling your’s and Law’s lunches.  The motion made you flinch and you instinctively moved further against the wall.

“Why are you running away from me?” the stranger growled.

You kept your mouth shut, awkwardly pushing your leftovers around your tupperware with your fork.

The biology student cleared his throat.  “Can I help you?”

“This is none of your business, prick,” the kid spat, grabbing an empty chair from nearby and swinging it over so he could be seated directly next to you.  “Did you block my phone number?  All I wanted to do was talk.”

Law didn’t know what came over him.  He didn’t like you, and frankly, he wanted nothing to do with your business.  But the sight of your harasser’s distasteful language and threatening posture towards you as you appeared to be shrinking into your clothes made something snap in Law’s head.  With one smooth motion, he yanked the metal lunch tray off of the table, sending it to the ground with a large clattering noise that made you jump in surprise, alerting students at nearby tables and turning all the attention toward him.  A few nearby conversations halted, surprised by the sudden clamor.

“I’d appreciate it if you could leave my girlfriend alone,” he spat.  He had officially lost control of his life.

The kid finally turned his attention away from you.  “What?”

“You heard me.”

You anxiously darted your eyes up toward Law, frazzled by the suddenness of his statement.  He shot you a look that made you keep your lips sealed.

“You didn’t tell me you were dating someone,” the kid suddenly turned back toward you.

“It’s none of your business,” you shot back, finally recovering from your frightened demeanor and pushing yourself further into the wall, backing away from the kid.  You had an inkling of what Law was trying to convey with his words.  Portray you as taken to get the man threatening you to finally back off, and give you a sense of comfort and protection that you didn’t actually have.  The thought made your heart swell.

Law finally stood from his seat, towering over your harasser.  “Leave.  Us.  Alone.”

The kid stood up as well, attempting to square off with the taller boy, but Law’s threatening glare and the shadow cast over his eyes by his shaggy black bangs did numbers for the stranger’s withering self confidence.  With a huff, he bent down, snatched his tray and food from the ground, and stalked off.  Conversations at nearby tables finally resumed, students pleased to be able to go about the rest of their lunches without any sort of commotion.  When Law sat back down, he found himself surprised at how pleased he was when your shoulders slumped with relief.

“I’m so sorry to have dragged you into that…” you muttered, closing your tupperware.  You had officially lost any and all appetite.  “I don’t normally get scared when I’m followed, but…”

Law shrugged, filling in the silence of your words trailing off.  “It’s fine.”  He didn’t miss the way your gaze anxiously turned to look behind you, watching as the kid dumped his uneaten food in the trash and sulked out of the building into the mid-autumn chill.  “You can stay here if you want.”  His voice left his lips before his brain could fight back against his words.

You stared at him, wide-eyed.  “Are you… sure?”  To say you weren’t expecting his suddenly cordial behavior was an understatement.  Just a week ago he was treating you like the dirt under his shoe, ruining his day with the inconvenience of your presence.  “You’re not having a brain aneurysm or something, right?  Or some tumor?”

The black-haired man snorted.  “Not that I know of.”

With a swelling in your chest, you dug through your lunch box and pulled out a smaller snack, something to at least tide you over until your appetite hopefully returned.  The two of you fell into a somewhat comfortable silence as Law picked through his meal, flipping through a small textbook.  He was eating some kind of orzo dish, taking small bites out of a metal spoon.  It was then you finally zoned in on the tattoos on his hands.  The backs of his hands had an interesting four-pronged cross design, and the ends of each finger spelled out the words ‘DEATH.’  You had seen him in a t-shirt at the last study group meeting, where you learned he also had matching tattoos on each forearm.  The low-hanging collar of his cotton shirt had also revealed hints of a chest piece.

“Do you mind if I ask you something?” you spoke up, keeping your voice fairly quiet.

Law tore his eyes away from his textbook.  “Yeah?”

“Shachi told me you want to be a medical student, right?” you asked, keeping your eyes trained on his lanky fingers rather than his face.

“What about it?” he asked, slowly growing impatient.

“Do you think having ‘DEATH’ spelled out on your fingers will make it harder for you to become a doctor?”

Law paused.  He had only had that fleeting thought once or twice since getting his hands inked when he was 18.  Shachi and Penguin had begged him to reconsider, stating adamantly that they wouldn’t trust a doctor who had ‘DEATH’ quite literally on his hands, but he had gone through with it anyway.  “I sure hope not,” was all he replied with.

His words made a small smile break out onto your lips.  “I think I’d trust a doctor who had ‘DEATH’ written on his hands.  At least it would make more sense if he killed me.”

Something in Law’s mind flipped at that moment.  The way that small grin tugged on your lips followed by your cheeky words made his chest flutter in a way he had never experienced before.  He stared at you as you turned your attention back to your snack, pulling your phone out of the back pocket of your jeans, idly swiping through it while you ate.  He turned his attention back to his textbook, trying once more to focus on his studies.  His eyes darted from the words on the page to the letters inked into his fingers.

He suddenly wanted to see that smile much more often.

[riddle-me-ri]

a/n: don't mind me being super self indulgent again asdfgh. I just really enjoyed the dynamic I made in Zeroing In with Bigby and a singer/performing reader. I may or may not make a smutty part two we will see lol. Hope y’all enjoy!

Content Warning: Strong language, attempted sexual assault, brief mentions of sexual harrassment, some violence.

Word Count: 2.3 k

Bigby Wolf x F!Reader - Take Me Home

As a long time performer, you know how to work the crowd with your musical numbers.

You knew you should probably be looking around and engaging with other audience members.

You just couldn't help it though.

Especially when he was around and seemed to genuinely be enjoying himself for once.

Bigby Wolf kept his word when he said he would come around and see you perform whenever he had a chance and not just show up searching for perps.

He's managed to come by at least once every other week, and needless to say, it always was the highlight of your week.

You two have tried to make plans outside of both your work schedules, but it's been difficult to manage between the long nights you both kept and Bigby occasionally dipping in and out of the picture.

Don't let him be on a case either. He stays clear of you like a bad omen. You know he's worried about getting you somehow involved in whatever the case entails, but you did wish he could share more of his worries onto you so he didn't have to carry so much.

You two managed to settle somehow with these interludes of eye contact and small knowing smiles.

At least until one night when you weren't smiling anymore.

During your act, you got close to the edge of the stage and teased those up front, just like any other night–

Until you felt a sweaty palm clamp around your ankle and almost yank you into the audience below.

You barely remember hazy glimpses of everything that happened afterward.

A shrill sound rang through the live band and filled the club.

It took hours later for you to realize that was…you…screaming in shock.

The man's other hand barely touched your inner thigh, clear intent of fully grabbing and dragging you into his lap until he instantly let go.

Before you even tried to push the man's hands away, he let go.

You saw Bigby hovering over the man.

He had slammed the man's face into the hard wood table, the cheap white linen doing nothing to comfort the assault as it started to stain with blood.

You caught a glimpse of yellow in Bigby’s eyes.

You couldn't make out any words anyone was saying. It was all a murmuring cacophony of surprised, worried, and tense patrons.

Your skin ran cold, and your breathing hitched.

The next thing you recall was getting up and darting back towards your dressing room.

Anything to get away from what just happened.

~

“Aww man, I think you broke my fucking nose.”

“You're lucky I don't break every bone in your goddamn body, starting with your grimy little hands.” Bigby snarled, with half a mind to slam the asshole's face again.

He did settle for twisting the guy’s arm tighter as he slapped handcuffs on him.

“Hey, hey, what the fuck man? I didn't do nothin’!” The man defended as he tried to sit back up, blood dripping down his nose and over his lips.

“You touched her inappropriately, pretty sure that files under assault.” Bigby roughly lifted the man up from his seat and dropped him to his feet, causing the man to stumble some.

“Oh please, she was teasing me! Practically asking for it!” The man spat as he got his footing before Bigby dragged him out of the club.

Bigby tried to keep his growl down but whether or not he succeeded he frankly didn't care at the time.

At least until he was out of public view.

As the two began the walk to the Woodland and the coast was clear, Bigby snatched the man by the baby hairs on the back of his neck and pulled his head back.

The man yelped in pain.

“Listen here fucker, she didn't ask you for fucking shit. She was doing her job, last thing she needs is a bunch of grabby dickheads like you that can't keep his hands to him-fucking-self.”

“Is she your’s?”

Bigby blinked. “What?”

“You fuckin’ her or somethin’, Wolf? Never seen you get all up in arms over some whore.”

Bigby dragged the man into a nearby alley and smacked the man's body and face directly against a damp cold brick wall.

“Ow! The fuck man, you-aaah?” The man winced in pain as claws began protruding from Bigby's fingers, pricking the skin of the man's neck.

“Listen here, you sorry piece of shit. Doesn't fucking matter who she's with or what she does. You don't get to fucking touch her–you don't get to do what you damn well please. Understand?” Bigby growled, his teeth slowly growing into the “what big teeth you have,” territory.

For the first time since the encounter started, the man began quivering in terror.

“Y-y-yeah, yeah, understood…just-just do what you gotta do…please don't hurt me, man, please! It was a mistake, h-honest!”

Bigby got closer to the man's face one last time and snarled. A final warning.

Usually, Bigby would feel bad about making anyone beg for him not to hurt them. He'd be disappointed that they would automatically assume he would.

For this guy however, he wanted to muster up that same level of fear you likely felt when he grabbed you and then some.

Bigby backed off once he began smelling the unmistakable hint of piss through the night air.

“Just keep your mouth shut the rest of the way, or it'll be the last mistake you ever make.”

The quicker he locked this asshole up, the quicker he could get back to check up on you.

~

You sat there in front of your vanity with your head hung low and the lights dimmed.

Still frazzled and stunned from the moment.

Somehow, the man's slimy touch lingered on your skin, and you wanted nothing more than to dip your leg into some kind of disinfecting acid.

You took a deep breath and admitted that the second best option besides the acid is to go home and take a long scolding shower until the hot water ran out.

You rose from your seat and began shedding your clothes that used to make you feel so confident and sexy…but in the moment you just felt disgusted.

Then you heard a knock.

You assumed it was your boss checking on you. “I'll be out in a minute, Carol…just gimme a second..”

“Uhh…it's Bigby.”

You freezed for the second time that night.

You had completely forgotten about him. Until his voice reminded you of what he did, how he saved you, how he looked when he did it.

“Bigby? Oh, uh, hang on.” You darted across your dressing room and snatched a silky maroon robe that hung over your dressing screen.

You took a deep breath, a desperate attempt to calm your shot nerves.

Suddenly, a comforting warmth draped over your body as you laid eyes on Bigby. Like somehow, he could protect you from this lingering fear that resonated in you like he did before when it happened.

“H-Hey…”

“Hey,” he responded. “I wanted to check in on ya…how are you holding up?”

You gulped. “F-Fine I suppose, all things considered…I know it could have been worse, and I always knew I was at risk, but nothing prepares you for when it happens, you know?”

“Yeah, but you shouldn't feel at risk for something you do for a living.”

You exhaled a chuckle. “Says the sheriff who's at risk quite literally all the time.”

Bigby shook his head. “You know what I mean. That asshole had no right to be touching you…”

He sighed. “What happened tonight was not your fault…I hope you know that at the very least.”

You hugged your arms around yourself, your hands sliding up and down your upper arms as you gazed at the floor. “Yeah, I know…”

There was a beat of silence before you felt a warm hand lightly squeeze your shoulder. You followed the hand with bruised knuckles back to Bigby's face.

One of your hands came up and rested on top of his hand that was on your shoulder.

“Thank you, Bigby…” You squeezed his hand back gratefully. “At the end of the day…I'm just grateful that you were there.”

Bigby can't recall the last time anyone ever said those words about him or his help. He always made things worse, more difficult, or made Fables regretful for getting him involved.

It felt nice to be appreciated, and it felt even more sweet and genuine coming from you.

“I'm glad I was there too…”

He allowed you to drag your soft thumb along his knuckles for a moment. Both of you enjoyed the soothing silence and close proximity. You found yourself feeling more at ease each second he was there.

Until a question popped into your mind. “C-Can I ask what happened to him? Like where he is now?” Suddenly, the thought of trekking home became cumbersome.

“I've got him in a holding cell for now. I'll be presenting the case to the Business Office tomorrow morning some time…”

Bigby reluctantly pulled his hand back, you already missing its warmth and soothing weight.

“Although, full disclosure, even if he is found guilty… the time and punishment for sexual harassment is ridiculously short and sweet…”

You nodded. “I had a feeling, but Carol told me he won't be coming around anymore. She has started a banned list and is trying to invest in more security.”

“If you need me to…”

“Bigby, I can't ask you to do that. You already have every other Fable to worry about…”

“I do, but you come first….or at least that's how I wish it could be, if I can help it.”

You blinked, your mind racing with countless meanings to what he was implying.

“Besides, I think you're the only one that really appreciates my help anyhow.” Bigby muttered into his shoulder, but still clear enough for you to hear.

“I'll always appreciate you Bigby…like how I appreciate your offer, but I still can't ask you to do that…I know you will protect me when you can and that I can rely on you and honestly in the world we live in now, that's more than enough.”

Your heart swelled at the soft smile that stretched across his face.

“I guess I can accept that.” He reluctantly conceded. “Is there at least anything I can do for you now? Anything at all before we both call it a night?”

After talking to him, you have begun to feel much calmer, like you could shake off tonight's events. You know you could have gotten to that point yourself, but Bigby made it a whole lot easier and quicker.

You almost felt childish and selfish for this request, but you didn't want the opportunity to have him to yourself longer pass.

“I, uh, still have to walk home….if you don't mind walking with me? It's not far from the Woodland, just one block before it…”

“You don't have to convince me, and I did say anything. Just let me know when you're ready.” He offered a sincere smile.

“You wanna wait inside? I didn't even realize I didn't invite you in.” You giggled as you realized he was still standing in the hallway across the threshold of your dressing room door.

“Uhh…sure, if you're fine with it.” Bigby walked in and took a slow glance over your dressing room.

“More than fine. Here, you can have a seat on the sofa over there. I just gotta change real quick.” You explained as you rounded the corner and went behind your dressing screen.

You couldn't fight the pep in your step, having him back in your vicinity. You didn't feel on edge or uncomfortable to be yourself. You felt safe.

Bigby kept looking around. He was observant to a fault, especially thanks to his senses that don't let him miss anything.

He noticed the Polaroids of you and likely your co-workers and friends bordered along your vanity mirror.

He took note of a couple empty bottles that were in your trash can, he deduced it must be a favorite of yours.

He also caught an almost empty container of your body spray that was the source of your sweet scent.

Not that he'd say it out loud, but if you asked him you didn't need the spray, your own scent was intoxicating on its own.

Bigby shuffled a bit in his seat as your own smell became more prominent once he saw your robe hanging over the screen folds you hid behind.

He kept darting his eyes around the room, trying to distract himself from thinking of you so intimately despite the close quarters and the small distance between him and your naked form.

Bigby shook his head to try and shake the thoughts out. He doesn't want to screw this up, not like how he always does. You've been through enough as it is.

Thankfully, you came out soon from behind the screen. You wore a long sleeve sweater of your favorite color that revealed your shoulders and some pants.

“All right, I'm ready…thanks again, Bigby.” You stood in front of him and rubbed your hand up and down your arm, playing with the sleeve.

“Hey, like I said.” He stood up at his full height, and you had to look up instead of down at him. “Not a problem.”

He walked over to the door and swiftly opened the door. “After you…”

“Why thank you, sir.” You giggled bemused before walking out the door with Bigby walking beside you.

Carol waved to both of you and told you to take the next couple of days off to recover and not worry about anything.

You sighed. Another small weight taken off your shoulder, you weren't sure if you would be able to get back on stage, so it was relieving to hear you had the next couple of days off.

As you and Bigby exited the building, the cold night air hit both of you. Almost instinctively, you grabbed for Bigby's hand, who didn't seem to mind, and gently returned the grasp.

Bigby gave you a supportive nudge.

“Well, lead the way…”

[crazycurly-77]

The bet - Chapter 2

After this brief interlude you joined Abby in searching the databases again and tried further to calm yourself down. 

It was not unusual that your boss was standing close to you, but with the bet from Abby in the back of your mind, you were still trembling all over your body. 

This would be a really hard task, but you had to do one out of the two options. And one thing was as sure as hell, no matter which you choose, there will be consequences, whatever form they take.

So you had to ponder this matter really well and decide which consequences are easier to bear. But since Abby presented you this bet you were constantly on edge - especially near Tony and Gibbs, but for whole different reasons. 

Yes, Tony would drive you insane, but Gibbs….??? He had his rule 12 in place and expected his team to follow his rules no matter what happened. 

Sooo….what could he do? Definitely not shooting you, but firing you. 

So it's insanity or losing your job, really a hard decision. 

In the afternoon you found the searched fingerprints in the database of the agency. The person who you are searching for was a civilist and he was located in the next city. 

Abby immediately called Gibbs to tell him the news. 

“Good job, Abs. Y/N come up, you're coming with us." Then he hung up. 

Abby smirked at you “bye! And don't forget the bet!” she said and winked. 

But you only rolled your eyes and waved her goodbye. 

A few minutes later you walked into the bullpen and immediately were ordered to go to the car park. 

Since there was no car available, you took the truck. So far, so good. Tim was in the back, Gibbs took the driver's seat and Tony and you had to sit beside him. 

You tried to get into the truck after Tony, but he insisted that you got in first. So you had to sit squeezed between Gibbs and DiNozzo. Just great. Since there wasn't much space, the legs of the two men and yours inevitably touched each other.

You felt like you were in the hot seat and were grilled.

As always, you were all silent during the drive, probably because Gibbs was driving like a sore thumb again. 

Arriving at your destination Tony got out of the truck first. And just as you unbuckled yourself Gibbs was leaning over you to search something in the glove compartment. 

Your faces were very close to each other.

This was THE opportunity to kiss him without anyone knowing about it.

You froze, but your heart and your mind were racing: 

“Okay, it's now or never and he's only a few inches away.”

You tried to gather all your courage to kiss him. But boy, you were really nervous and more than that and you were totally on edge. You were going to kiss your boss, after all!! 

“Oh my gosh, how embarrassing!” you thought, slowly beginning to wring your hands because of nervousness. 

“Maybe I just…but no, I have to do it.”

There was no way out of this, because then you had to watch movies with Tony which was not really good, too. 

So you had to go through this and afterwards hope that he would forget that this happened and not fire you as you would try to forget it, too. And you would bury your crush on him deep down inside of you like you had done the last months, too. Because of rule 12, you know. 

He was still right in front of you and smelled wonderful like sawdust and was so kissable. 

But then you thought suddenly horrified

“How will he react? Will he reprimand me? I can give him only a little peck, maybe that would be okay for him.”

He was sighing because he was still searching and he was so near to you. 

“Yes, I will do it.” 

Nothing will come out of it. There will never be anything between you two. This will be a once in a lifetime moment, but you will remember it forever. 

Shortly you closed your eyes and dreamed. Once you will feel his lips on yours, if only for a short time and consequences be damned. 

You inwardly tried to gather all you had

“Yeah, just do it girl. He's right here in front of you only a few inches away!!!” 

Meanwhile he still rummaged, but didn't find what he was looking for.

Your pulse raced as was your mind, but you were absolutely frozen.

Then you decided “Okay, I will do it.”

Right at this moment he gave up his search and got out of the truck.

The opportunity was over and you had to summon yourself and follow your colleagues.

(To be continued...)

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Here you will find the other chapters of this story and the other stories I've written to date.

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Tags: @ilovemark1951, @hobby27, @ladyzombiielove

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[chigirisprincess]

　 ˚ ᡴꪫ You Could Be Mine Tonight; Interlude I

— Chigiri Hyōma

⊹ Details. 18+ minors dni, gn!afab!reader, chigiri puts the go in egoist, first meetings, author self insert, selfship lore heavy, reader is italian-american living in italy, set in verona, some italian dialogue, first meetings, ⊹ Run time. 1.4k ⊹ Note. Fawn is back again with yet another series of sorts. This is my selfship lore with mister Chigiri Hyōma and will be expanded upon whenever I am inspired so enjoy! <3

The fair city of Verona fed the romantic daydreamer that crawled into the deep recesses of your chest as a child. In spite of spending your last six months settling in, you couldn’t fathom ever tiring of waltzing through the old, cobbled streets and imagining the lives led by those living over five hundred years ago in the middle ages. Idling wonder if they too ran their fingertips across the smooth, rosy marbled walls. Or, if they gazed upon the stars while resting in the Piazza dei Signori as you did when your red wine tinged evenings drew to a close.

You supposed the reality of those living all those years ago were far more bleak than proposed by the Middle English romances you studied during your undergraduate. Still, it didn’t mean you couldn’t imagine a display of courtly love spilling over the aged edge of Juliet’s balcony; a gallant knight who was far more romantic than the whiny Romeo, and a demure lady who was more akin to a blossomed flower than a person. With the sky, a most remarkable shade of blue– far more dazzling than anything you’d seen back home– and the scent of sweet flowers carried on the breeze, it was difficult not to lose your thoughts within a fairytale-like dream.

A rich waft of freshly brewed espresso rouses you from your thoughts, bringing you back to the small café you’ve made into your home for the afternoon. Sparing a glance back to your laptop where your latest novel sits open, you sigh before snapping it shut. As romantic as Verona was, your fantasies failed to inspire an ending to the chapter you’ve spent the last month working on. You blamed the lack of direction on your recent move, halfway across the world from North America to Europe but in the droll truth you suspected your lack of romantic experience was beginning to impede upon your ability to write a romance novel. Shoving your things into your bag, you offered a wave to the barista before clearing out.

The next building over was calling your name.

It was a small, family owned bookstore that had been passed down at least six generations and resided between two restaurants. The current owner, Signor Fiorentino seemed perpetually miffed by the constant racket amassed by the staff when on break but was always amenable when offered fresh biscotti. Which was precisely why you picked up an extra one at the café in case you decided to head over.

The small bell above the door rings as it opens, announcing your presence, “Ciao signore!” You greet, shuffling through the cramped rows of shelving. 

A smile tugs at your lips as you reach the small checkout counter where he sits. Signor Fiorentino is perched upon a well worn stool, thumbing through a copy of today's newspaper.

“Buonasera Signorina,” he grins at the sight of you, his smile growing wider when he takes notice of the biscotti in your hand, “Is that for me?”

You hold your hand out in response, passing it over to him, “You know it is,” you say, resting your elbows on the counter, “So, have you gotten anything new in stock?”

Your hopeful tone dwindles when Fiorentino narrows his eyes at you.

“Buttering  me up with sweets are you?”

“What! No!” You frown, “But … I was wondering if you’d heard back about that custom bound copy of Romeo and Juliet?”

The expression he wears tells you he hasn’t. With a sigh, he shakes his head, “The seller says it's on their backlog and they’ll get back to me soon.”

You wear your emotions on your face as if it were your favourite sweater, never one to masterfully disguise the disappointment you felt. It was your greatest flaw that loved to rear its ugly head at the most inopportune moments. Like now. The corners of your mouth dipped into a petulant frown, your bottom lip jutting out. You became a mirror image to the kindergarteners you taught English to. They were cuter than you when they did it.

“Cara mia do not stress!”

Sometimes, he speaks to you as if he were your family. You allow him to far more often than you should. He reminded you of your nonno, you supposed that you reminded him of his children and grandchildren who had long since immigrated to North America. Reaching over the small counter, he rests a weathered, spotty hand onto your forearm.

“I’m not,” you mutter with a small sigh, “I’m just frustrated.”

He gives your arm a sympathetic squeeze.

“I know.”

Returning his smile, you turn to the dozens of book lined shelves in search of something to satiate the burn of disappointment you wished to mask. Your fingers graze against the lip of the dust covered shelves as you pass through them, floating around the shop as though you were a spectre rather than a customer. You settle in front of the stack of mediaeval literature. Pursing your lips, you tilt your head to get a better view of the title, Amorosa Visione. A long, narrative poem. It wasn’t exactly your first pick, you much preferred Middle English romances but you needed to branch out every once in a while. Pulling the book off the shelf, you took a step backwards as you skimmed the blurb printed on the back.

Another step backward causes you to bump into another person.

So engrossed in your reading, you hadn’t noticed they joined you in the aisle. Dipping your head down in apology, you offer them a smile.

They scoff, looking you up and down.

“I’m sorry,” you apologise, hoping they spoke English, “I didn’t see you there.”

His expression only worsens, “Yeah, right like I’m supposed to believe that,” he snips in English, flicking a strand of bright red hair from his eyes. 

He turns toward you, standing with their arms crossed over his chest. His sunglasses slip down his nose as he peers at you. You blink in shock, face warming at the sight of him. He was pretty, unfairly so. With long, pretty lashes that frame sharp magenta eyes which cut right through you with his glare. Shaking your head, you remind yourself that he was a jerk who was irrationally annoyed over you accidentally bumping into him.

“I … I don’t understand what you mean,” you frown, “It was an accident, I promise I wouldn’t bump into a stranger on purpose.”

“You don’t recognise me?” The man asks, pushing his sunglasses further up the bridge of his nose with his middle finger.

You shift uncomfortably under his gaze. He seems to pick you apart with his clipped words and harsh stare as if he were given hours to scrutinise each miniscule part of you rather than a few measly minutes.

“Am I supposed to?” You cock your head to the side, “Are you an influencer or something?”

You give him a once over, taking in his attire. He was dressed fairly casually but still looked rather put together. The accent that shrouded his words told you that he too wasn’t from Verona, but nothing in the way he carried himself struck any ounce of familiarity. The arrogance and accusation that lingered in his narrowed gaze seemed to align with your view of celebrities and micro influencers. 

Disgust flashes in his eyes,“No, I’m a professional soccer player,” he explains, “Manshine City, ever heard of it?”

“Okay …”

“I thought all Italians were huge soccer fans,” he says with a shrug of his shoulders.

You stifle an eye roll,“That’s a kinda a misconception like how not all Canadians are obsessed with hockey and say “aboot”” your comment doesn’t elicit a laugh like you hoped it would, instead he gives you a strange look, “Besides, even if it wasn’t we tend to be pretty nationalistic.” 

“Right.”

A lull passes between the two of you before he speaks again.

“I apologise,” he says, almost begrudgingly, “For assuming you were some desperate fan.”

Biting back a snarky remark, you laughed to yourself. Were all athletes this full of themselves? 

“No apology needed.”

He purses his lips before nodding his head.

“Just uh, don’t give the shop owner the same attitude unless you want to be chased out of here with a broom.”

The corners of his lips quirk up into the smallest of smiles, “I’ll try to keep that in mind.”

Tucking your book beneath your arm, you slink out of the aisle with a relieved sigh. You hoped, whatever other soccer players that may have been crawling about this fair city were certainly less egotistical than him.

© all content belongs to dearbraus. do not modify, repost, or redistribute.

networks; @houseofsolisoccasum @interstellar-inn

[railmerosalie]

Okay let's get something straight, i wrote this during a 10 hour car ride. Not proof read we die like tributes. @mystargirl-interlude i hope this isn't too shit my dear.

Peeta is mostly a soft dom y'all, I will die on this hill. Now we all know he's a smooth talker and my god does that extend to the bedroom. "Shhh pretty girl, keep your eyes on me" , "just like that angel, you feel so good". This man will praise anything you do, sometimes he will just babble out words like 's-so good' even if he's doing all the work. Would 1000% stroke your cheek with his thumb while moaning in your ear. Has a thing for hair pulling, either yours or his own, he doesn't care. Speaking of hair, he would softly brush yours out and braid it during aftercare, you don't ask him too, he just wants too :)

Holds your hands while ramming into you while in missionary. Wants you to mark him, to have good memories associated with his scars. While this man is a soft dom he will put you in your place, however, he hates the idea of hurting you/causing you pain. He would hold your arms around your back in a soft grip while rocking into you slowly, "hmmmm, what happened to my good girl?". You could try and struggle against him, to make him move faster, but good luck, he'll maneuver you as easily as a sack of flour.

Eye contact !!! Loves seeing your pupils dilate when he hits that certain spot. He also finds it reassuring, it keeps him grounded. Now dont get me wrong, he lovvves getting his dick sucked, but there's something about eating you out that really gets him going. I think it's despite being a baker, he's never tasted something as sweet and addicting as you. He's a pussy pleaser idk what else to say 🤷🏻‍♀️.

He loves drawing you naked. You guys would be relaxing in a field, you reading while he scribbles away. At first you think he's drawing the wild flowers you're sitting in, peaking over to see that he's drawn your torso, tits and neck with one hand wrapped around your waist and the other at the base of your throat. Despite the dirty image he somehow makes you look angelic. If he gets up before you he'll leave them on the kitchen table along with a fresh pastry from that morning's batch, and a note telling you how beautiful you are <3

He LOVES manhandling you, picking you up and throwing you over his shoulder or carrying you bridal style while hugging you to his chest. Will hold up your entire bodyweight while jack hammering into you. Speaking of manhandling, he would hold your writhing body against his as he fingers you.

His chest is super sensitive, something as simple as softly dragging your nails across his skin would make him moan. If you licked his nipples he would start to whimper, now pair that with covering him in hickeys and a handjob, he would cum soo fast. If you were to smack his ass in a causal show of dominance he would blush. Oh and he likes holding your tits, no matter how big or small they are (they're just soo warm) either his hands or face always seem to find them.

His prosthetic leg gives him more trouble than he lets on. So for the love of Christ make the poor boy comfortable and take it off while riding him. It means he can focus just on you without the pinching on his thigh.

Okay i need sleep

[mimisempai]

Closing time

Summary

After a long day at work, what could be better than coming home to your favorite bookseller, waiting to take care of you?

Notes

50 Types of Kisses - Writing Prompts

Kiss #37: Cleaning the other person’s lips with a lick and a kiss.

On Ao3

Rating G -  619 words

"Aziraphale, I'm home!"

Crowley closed the bookshop door behind him and basked in the feeling that was beginning to become familiar.

The feeling of being home every time he entered the bookshop to join Aziraphale was so strong that it erased all the exhaustion of a day's work.

As he entered the kitchen, Aziraphale spun around when he heard him, a bright smile on his face, "Finally you're here!" 

Aziraphale rushed to him and hugged him, Crowley welcoming the warm, tender embrace that lingered. 

They'd seen each other during the day, of course, but this embrace, this contact, this intimacy, this warmth, was for them alone. 

Then Aziraphale stepped aside and gently pushed Crowley into a chair before pouring him a glass of wine. He took two empty plates from the cupboard and divided the food he'd prepared between them before setting them on the table.

Crowley looked fondly at Aziraphale and smiled softly as he watched him tend to him while his lover placed the plate in front of him before sitting beside him. Crowley reached out and intertwined his fingers with Aziraphale's between their two plates.

Aziraphale asked him gently: "So, how was your day? You look tired, my dear. "

Crowley kissed Aziraphale's hand before taking a bite to eat, and when he had swallowed, he replied, "I am, it's Friday, the end of the week is always busier, but now that I'm home, I'm already feeling much better. He pointed to his plate with the tip of his fork, "And besides, you take such good care of me."

Aziraphale saw the smile on his lover's face, tired but happy. That smile was probably one of his favorite things in the world. Aziraphale loved it so much that sometimes he'd do anything to get it on Crowley's face. 

Crowley really did have such a sweet smile when he was with him. The way his eyes crinkled gently, the way his nose turned up, the little dimples on his cheeks, it was all adorable.  He would always do anything to make him keep that smile.

Aziraphale realized he'd been staring at Crowley for too long without saying anything, because Crowley asked, "Hm? What's the matter? Do I have something on my face?"

"You have a crumb in the corner of your mouth."

Crowley started to brush it off with his hand, but Aziraphale playfully shook his head and said, "No, no higher.

The florist wanted to raise his finger a little higher, but Aziraphale continued, "Let me.”

He brought his face close to his lover's and ran his tongue lightly over the corner of Crowley's lips, who, realizing he'd been fooled, exclaimed, "Aziraphale, you little--"

But he could not continue, for the bookseller's lips had moved and were now pressing against his for a tender kiss.

A few moments later, when Aziraphale pulled away, he said cheekily, "There, all clean."

Crowley chuckled softly and said, showing his plate with his fork, "Not that this interlude wasn't delicious, but I'm really hungry and it would be such a shame to spoil what you have so nicely prepared for me."

Seeing the expression of fake disappointment on his lover's face, he added mischievously, "But I wouldn't mind a dessert of that sort."

Crowley licked his lips ostentatiously, causing Aziraphale to laugh, and the bookseller replied, "Let's see if you still have the appetite when you're done with dinner."

"Oh, believe me, my angel, I always have plenty of appetite for your lips."

He took his lover's hand and planted another kiss on it before continuing to eat, both of them enjoying the bliss of being together, even for something as simple as dinner after a hard day's work.

_________

Still not beta'd

Still not my native language

Still hoping you'll enjoy this story  🥰

Still thanking you for bearing with me 😝

Ineffable kisses series : here

Ineffable Husbands masterlist : here

The florist and the booksellers series : here

[gingerbreadmonsters]

captive audience

or: refreshments will be available during the interval!

gn!reader, standard vega content warnings, saturday morning fluffy stuff. i’ll buy you an ice cream if you sit still. a brief interlude for breakfast in bed - is this what slice-of-life is? the concept of a ‘psychic scream’ is borrowed from the lovely @starlitangels, who wrote an excellent fic with geordi and cutie all about it that i thoroughly recommend. warden having a lie-in in just over 3800 words.

series masterlist

main masterlist

Good morning, darling.

It’s cold. Hm. Still tired. Why is it cold? That’s not right. Where did-

Did you miss me?

Oh. It’s Vega. Sulkily, you bury your face a little further into the pillow, eyes still pointedly shut and arms unfairly empty. So rude. He should know better than to leave you to wake up alone. What’s the point in having this nice bed if he’s not going to sleep in it with you?

Mmmm… You pretend to think about it for a moment, before grabbing the edge of the duvet and tucking yourself back in. That’s better. No. Sleepy.

Still sleepy? He sounds sweet, too sweet, and you don’t need to have your eyes open to see that look of false, mocking pity on his face. Poor thing.

(You’ll never admit it, but you… um…)

(Well. You do kind of like it when he does that condescending thing with his voice - you know, the one where he kind of talks down at you and he’s all fake-sad and indulgent and it’s a little bit patronising? It’s probably not meant to be as hot as it is.)

(God, you really are in deep, aren’t you?)

The mattress dips beside you as he sits down, one hand stroking gently over what little of your shoulder he can see. Just because it’s Saturday, it doesn’t mean you can spend the whole morning in bed, you know.

You huff. Someone kept me up late.

And someone kept asking me for more, he replies, more smugly than should be possible at whatever ungodly hour of the morning this is. Or were your desperate cries of my name unrelated, then?

Bastard. You don’t look up, but your hand moves under the duvet - a weak echo of psychokinesis thrums through the air, and you smile into the sheets at the soft thump of the pillow next to you smacking into the back of Vega’s head. Revenge is sweet.

Go ‘way. ‘M sleepy.

Oh, don’t be like that, darling, he says, lightly chastising, but you can hear the smile in his voice at your antics. Would breakfast make it up to you?

Hm. Only if it’s nice. Vega likes to share breakfast with you, but it doesn’t always taste so good. You’ve grown used to the bitterness over time, but it’s too much first thing in the morning - generally, you try and find something a bit less sour to start the day.

He leans down and kisses your horns, once on each side, before getting up from the bed. Anything for you, dear.

You feel his aura disappearing through the door and down the stairs, presumably to go and get something to eat. The sound of him moving around downstairs is strangely soothing, and you find yourself lightly dozing in the warmth as you wait for him to come back.

The blackout curtains keep the room dark, so you don’t have to worry about the light getting in as you nestle yourself nice and deep into the softness of the blankets. Mm, cosy. Soon, all that’s visible of you is the tips of your horns, peeking out from the duvet, and the shape of your tail flicking lazily back and forth underneath it.

You don’t quite fall asleep completely, drifting in the happy darkness with a small, sleepy smile on your face. Before long, you hear the door open, and the sound of something heavy being dragged along the floor. Amusement flickers in Vega’s aura when he spots you, curled up under the covers like a spoilt housecat, which you magnanimously choose to ignore.

Two light taps on your back through the duvet, like he’s knocking on a door. May I come in?

No. Warm.

Rude. He huffs, and you pull the edge of the duvet closer to you with your tail. He always lets the cold air in when he tries to join you. I’m more than happy to keep you warm, if that’s what you want.

Mm. You’re not dignifying that with a response. It’s a very nice offer, but he can’t get you that easily.

He doesn’t say anything for a minute, but through the duvet you hear the muffled sound of a chair being moved across the floor. There’s a sort of quiet thump, like something heavy being put down, and then the mattress dips again as Vega settles down next to your covered form.

Are you sure I can’t persuade you?

On the other side of the room, you’re suddenly aware of a faint stirring of consciousness. Not much, but something. Dim, fuzzy thoughts ripple against the web of magic that fills this room, this house, like a pebble dropped in water.

So that's why he sounds so pleased with himself. I brought you breakfast in bed, you know.

Now that he mentions it… oh, that does sound good. Tentatively, the tip of your tail nudges his side from under the duvet, and you can feel the smile spread across his face.

Be quick. S'cold.

You don't have to tell him twice. To a human eye, it would probably look like a blur, resolving into the lean shape of him sitting up against the headboard, under the covers next to you. He does a decent job of not letting the cold air in, while he does it - pleased, you deign to rest your sleepy head in his nice warm lap.

There’s my darling.

Deft fingers stroke along your horns, scritching lightly around the bases where they meet your skull, and you can’t help the satisfied purr that vibrates low in your chest as your whole body just melts. Soon, you’re just a heavy, happy puddle in Vega’s lap, settled safely in the dark comfort of your duvet, totally content.

His tail curls around to lay gently across your back, curving down over your side. In return, you drape your tail languidly across his legs, the spade at the tip resting on his ankle. It feels good - satisfying, like the feeling of a warm bath.

My sweet, he murmurs into your mind, low and soft and melting. So lovely.

A faint question bubbles through his aura, thrumming in time with yours - with a hum, you give a tiny nod. This is very nice, but you are starting to get hungry now.

He coos gently down at you as he peels back the covers, one hand slipping around your back to pull you up against him properly. At the same time, he knows that sitting up too quickly makes you dizzy - with a little bit of manoeuvring, you're soon settled comfortably against his body as he sits back again.

Enjoying yourself, my love?

Mm-hmm, you nod, lazy smile pressed against the line of his neck and enjoying the warmth of his arms around you. Was nice.

Good.

Wordlessly, he offers you a glass of apple juice with a straw, but you shake your head - he taps the side of the glass, and it turns to orange instead. That’s much better. Your tail sneaks out from under the blanket to take it from him, and you sip delicately at the sugary, delicious juice.

Weak, half-hearted struggling against the rope that binds him to the chair. From this angle, draped against his side with your head on his shoulder and his arm around your back, you have a wonderful view of the tied-up human sitting opposite the bed. Yum.

(He doesn’t tell you where he gets them from, and you don’t ask. You just wave your hand in the direction of the basement door, careful to avoid the soundproofing, and the bloody fingerprints he always leaves on the door handle disappear.)

Vega rests his head lightly on yours, careful not to accidentally impale himself on the sharp points of your horns. Would you like to start, or shall I?

You can go first, you say, gesturing to your unfinished drink. Gonna finish this first.

Turning his attention to the human at the end, you watch as Vega’s eyes narrow. Magic swirls around the man’s body, soaking through his skin, until he’s thrashing in the chair - blunt fingernails scrape at the sides of the seat and stifled growls tear from his throat as the human tries to break free of the bindings that hold him still.

He feels angry, vengeful glare aimed straight at Vega, and you can imagine the sort of memories that are being broadcast into his head right now. Replays of past sessions, perhaps, or maybe some from Vega’s personal collection - humans tend to get all self-righteous and cruel when he shows them memories of their predecessors. Before long, the familiar sadistic urges kick in, and the demon beside you sighs happily as he begins to eat.

You - mmm… His contentment bleeds into your aura as he swallows, greedy and grasping and totally delightful. Sure you don’t want any, darling? It’s delicious.

‘M sure. You’re saving yourself for something sweeter. For now, the secondhand satisfaction of feeling Vega eat, sating himself on this writhing prisoner at the foot of the bed, is a wonderful way to whet your appetite - if you had a real stomach inside your tummy, you’re sure it would be rumbling.

Your arms are curled around his shoulders to keep you close to him - idly, you fiddle with the collar of his shirt, before stroking your claws up over the nape of his neck and tangling your fingers loosely in his hair. It’s so soft, shiny and smooth as you run your fingers through it. He doesn’t say anything, head tipping ever so slightly back as he relaxes into your touch, and the warmth of his scalp is strangely comforting.

The two of you stay there in comfortable silence as Vega eats, broken only by the occasional hiss or snarl from his meal across the room. He takes his time, leisurely drinking in the sadistic energy that permeates the air, and you sip quietly at your glass of orange juice. Is this what humans mean by domestic bliss?

Mmm… Soon enough, he’s eaten his fill, the flat of his tail swishing contentedly back and forth over your tummy. Lovely.

The magic spearing the human in place dissipates, and he slumps heavy against the bindings of the chair. Ready yet, darling?

Nodding, you finish your juice with a final sluuuurp, looking up at Vega with a big, sticky smile. Ready.

Anything in particular?

You take a moment to think. What would you like for breakfast?

Umm… Something happy? Like the, uh… Oh, what's the name of it again? You've seen it in humans before, but it's not one of the usual ones they teach you at the Department. You know when they see something cute? And it’s so cute that it makes them go all weird?

I’ll try, he replies, though he sounds a little unsure. Weird how?

They sort of go a bit… violent? Like it’s so cute that they just want to cuddle it and crush it and kill it?

Oh, I know the one. Does it go like this?

Your empty glass fizzles away into nothing as he suddenly sweeps you up towards him, gathering you up tightly in his arms and kissing you all over your face. His claws twist in the back of your shirt, and his tail twines lightning-fast around and around with yours - in a flash, you're flat on your back against the pillows.

Wh- Vega! You laugh as he smothers you with kisses, flailing wildly in a half-hearted attempt to fend him off, but you don’t really mean it. You - no! - Vega, Vega, it tickles!

Is that so? he replies, smiling wickedly down at you as he easily pins your struggling form to the mattress. Vaguely, you feel your horns tearing through the fabric of a pillowcase, but neither of you really notice. I don't believe you…

He teases you with the promise of a real kiss, pressing his lips lightly to yours over and over, pulling away just before you can do anything - it’s torturous, not being allowed to kiss him the way you want to. Playing along, you melt back into the pillows, letting him think you’re giving in before-

Ha!

Determined, you twist up to throw your weight as hard as you can against his shoulder, knocking him back in surprise. He recoils and you’re able to quickly wrestle your way on top of him, climbing over him like a cat until you’re perched atop his hips, leaning forwards to grab his wrists and trap them either side of his head. Gotcha!

So you have, he says, and you watch appreciatively as he makes a show of resisting, arms flexing and muscles tensing with faux-struggle. Even though you both know how much stronger he is than you, you’ll still enjoy the view if he wants to show you. Consider me your prisoner, my little warden. Whatever shall I do?

Pretending to think, you tap your chin lightly with the tip of your tail. Maybe I’ll make you beg for mercy.

Oh, I’m always at your mercy, darling. He grins, fangs on full display, cruel and charming and ever so handsome. Didn’t you know?

The sweet spotlight of his attention, and it’s so, so bright. You throw your arms around his neck, abandoning the pretence, and kiss him properly - his hands fall to your waist in return, palms warm against your skin, and you sigh contentedly as his tongue runs gently across your bottom lip.

Love you.

Your claws catch in the sheets, pulling him up to you with your quiet admission. Eyes closed, you don’t know if he’s looking, but you feel it - the subtle sting of flattery, that turns quickly to a deep, aching fondness.

Closer, closer, your tail sneaking down to wrap around his. His horns click against yours, and it satisfies something deep and instinctive inside you. As I love you, my sweet.

Something faint bounces off your aura from behind - irritated, you can’t help but hiss at the interruption. What is that?

Ah.

He doesn’t stop kissing you, but you can feel that stupid smirk pulling at his lip as your tongue brushes over his fangs. I think your breakfast might be getting a little restless.

With a start, you remember - fuck, that human’s still here! Vega jolts back in surprise as you suddenly whip around to glare at the interloper, annoyed at by the interruption to what was shaping up to be a very nice kiss indeed. He’s clearly been watching you two, but he can’t hear your conversation - the chair he’s tied to wobbles as he startles in fear, recoiling from the sight of your bared fangs and eyes that must surely have turned black.

Now, now, my love, Vega murmurs into your mind, a faint spark of amused pride smothered beneath a thick layer of faux-gentility. It’s not nice to play with your food.

It’s not nice to get in my way, you grumble, wrinkling your nose in distaste. Stupid human.

Slowly, Vega’s tail curves around your middle, guiding you gently down to sit next to him against the headboard. Stupid or not, you need to eat.

He doesn’t sound like he’s going to budge on this - and anyway, you really are quite hungry now. You scowl at the human once more for good measure, relishing the terror in his face as your lip curls and your claws dig into the duvet, before giving in with a low huff.

What was it you wanted, darling? He wraps an arm around your shoulders to pull you into him, settling you comfortably with your back to his chest. Oh, yes. I remember.

You’re still not sure what exactly the one you asked for is called, but it’s clearly not an emotion this human is used to. Vega skewers him with a hard stare as the room grows thick with magic, fragments of borrowed memory jammed into the brain as he tries to stimulate the right flavour of feelings for you.

After about thirty seconds, he manages to get the feeling right - you feel it click, the slightly-hazy sensation of induced emotion. Go on, he says. There’s plenty.

Relaxing into Vega's chest, you reach out and start to eat. The taste isn't quite as clear as natural emotion normally is, a little blurry with magic, but it's still delicious. Hungrily, you gulp down the smooth, beautiful lightness, like sweet meringue and cream - the mixture of aggression and adoration makes it crispy and chewy all at once. You curl up in his lap as you eat, pleasantly warm, watching the tiny dust motes tumbling through the air and licking your lips after every bite.

After a little while he laughs, and you’re briefly confused until you notice what he’s laughing at - your tail, softly swaying from side to side behind you with satisfied contentment. Embarrassed, you smack him in the side with it, before pointedly turning your nose up at him and going back to your tasty breakfast.

When you’ve had enough, you flop back against Vega with a big smile, luxuriating in the lovely fullness of your tummy and the warmth of his body against yours. Yum. Thank you.

You’re welcome, darling, he replies, abandoning the stream of magic that’s been powering your meal in favour of cupping your face in both hands. Now, I believe we were interrupted…

Finally! He meets your smile with his own, kissing you hard and making your body go all hot and tingly from tip to tail. With the duvet tangled around your legs, the angle is a little funny, but your fizzy mind doesn't care. You slide your hands up his chest only slightly clumsily, over his shoulders and up into his hair, just as his tail starts to sneak under your shirt - and you’d let him, if you weren’t so annoyingly aware of the pair of curious eyes on your back.

What - mmm… You trail off as he starts to kiss down your jaw, eyelids fluttering as he nips teasingly at the soft spot just under your ear. What about the human?

He doesn’t respond out loud, but one hand flicks carelessly towards the end of the bed - there’s a sudden shimmer of cloaking magic, before an almighty thud! echoes through the house from downstairs. You jump out of reflex, startled, but Vega’s strong hands keep you just where you are, not letting you out of his grasp to turn around.

I’ll deal with him later. He kisses you again, deep and hungry, and it’s an excellent distraction. There’s something else I want to do first.

Something?

He shrugs mischievously at your raised eyebrow, eyes bright and wicked as they rake over your body. Someone.

Is it bad, the flattered feeling that you get whenever he just… says things like that? Even if it’s not, it’s almost enough to make you forget about the faint whimpering coming from the living room below you - it sounds like the human must have fallen, phased, through the floor of your bedroom and hit the carpet downstairs. Although it sounds like he won’t be going anywhere soon, you’d rather not take any chances. A little bit of telepathic magic should do the trick.

Closing your eyes, magic starts to build under your skin, before being channelled into the human downstairs. It washes around inside his skull, filling it up and up and up with more telepathic power than his human brain can handle. You’ve heard humans call it a ‘psychic scream’ for the way it tends to manifest in their heads as a painful migraine - it seems like a pretty accurate name, although you’ve always known it as ‘overloading’. Demons and humans often have quite a few names for very similar magical techniques, so it’s not surprising that it would be called something different here on Elegy.

(You’d asked Vega what he calls it, but he wasn’t very helpful. He just calls it effective.)

The scream builds and builds, approaching its peak, and you feel the human’s mind begin to collapse - just a little more, and he’ll be nicely unconscious. Carefully, you pour more and more magic into the human’s mind, gushing and splashing through his brain until-

-ahh!

Sharp fangs break your concentration, a sudden spike of pleasure igniting your body as Vega’s teeth dig into your neck - instinctively, all of that magic rushes out of you like a tsunami, ricocheting out at full strength in all directions. Your head spins as you feel the human downstairs lose consciousness, and with a dizzy wave of dread, you realise that half the houses on this street have gone the same way.

Vega! Half-panicked and half-embarrassed, you slap his shoulder hard with the flat of your tail. Now look what you’ve done!

He has the gall to laugh, the bastard, easily tugging you back into bed with one hand when you make to get out and check if you’ve accidentally knocked out the whole fucking street. God, this is a covert nightmare - what if someone reports it as suspicious? Oh, you’ll have to go and wake them up again - and the memory modification, you’ll have to make them forget - or maybe come up with a reason? A freak accident, or a gas leak or something - yes, a gas leak might be a good one, or should you-

You worry too much, my love.

Vega’s voice knocks you out of your thoughts, frustratingly calm as he envelopes you in a soothing haze of serenity that forces your racing mind to slow. Here. Let me.

His eyes close, magic surging in the room, and it’s so thick that you feel it on your skin like a lightning storm about to strike. Slowly, house by house, you feel the humans waking up again - no panic, no fear, just carrying on as they were before. You shake your head slightly in what might be disbelief, or perhaps resignation. Of course he can just fix it without even trying.

Once all of the humans - except, obviously, the one downstairs - are back on their feet, he drags you properly back under the covers. Better?

You nod, relieved, fidgeting around until you’re back to your prior, very comfortable position laying on top of him. Yeah.

Good. Vega’s tail curls smoothly around your ankle before slowly starting to drag up the inside of your calf. A silent question, and he can feel exactly what your answer is. Now then, where were we…?

At last, you’re properly alone. His head falls back in delight as you press a thank-you kiss to his cheek, one hand coming up to cup the back of your head as you slowly make your way lower and lower, and it’s a good thing you’ve already had your breakfast. Something tells you it’s going to be a very, very long morning in bed today.

this is an original work by @gingerbreadmonsters - please do not repost or misattribute

in the mood for more? here's the series masterlist

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[redrose10]

The next chapter of Cinnamon & Vanilla should be out mid-to the end of next week. We’re getting close to the end and I really appreciate all the support on that one. Here is a little sneak peak at the next story that I plan to release. As you can probably tell I’m very Yoongi biased. This one will probably just be one big story instead of a multi chapter thing, but that could change. Let me know if this is something you’d actually be interested in reading!

Inn Keeper Yoongi x Female Author Reader

Summary: You have never experienced true love which is hilarious considering you write romance novels for a living. When you end up staying at The Interlude Inn located in Holly Falls you start to wonder if maybe the answer to your newest love story is sitting behind the welcome desk. Quickly, you find out that Min Yoongi hides a lot of pain and sorrow behind his shy smiles and quick glances.

Warnings: (may get updated) Swearing, character death, very very angsty for a while, mentions of physical and verbal abuse, bullying, a really mean letter, panic attacks, eventual light smut, it will get better

Teaser Below The Cut

Once you arrived at the airport you really wished you’d done a little more research about Holly Falls. After some digging and a conversation with a very outgoing Uber Driver you found out that eleven months out of the year the town is very low key and relaxed, but for one month it is a tourist hotspot thanks to the insane amount of blooming cherry blossom trees. According to your new Uber friend, people come to Holly Falls during this month to see the fields of trees blooming in all their glory. The normally quiet town embraces the crowds providing various festivals and parades and gimmicks to draw in the guests as well as their wallets. And of course you just happen to travel over there smack dab in the middle of it all.

The driver dropped you off in the middle of the fun so with your bag slung over your shoulder you started heading into different hotels trying to book a room. In the city you could walk into pretty much any hotel at any time and book a room. You had assumed it would be same in this small town so you had decided to wait to book a room until you could see them in person wanting to get the feel and make sure you chose the right fit. You imagine in any other month it would be much easier to obtain a place to stay here, but due to the large tourist presence every single hotel was completely booked for the entire month.

You were just about ready to give up and head to the airport to see about booking a flight home when an older gentleman came up to you carrying various handmade trinkets for sale.

“See anything you like miss? All of these are under $10.”, he asked.

Politely you smiled, “No thank you. Not right now.”

You thought he had left until you saw him dangling a hand painted sun catcher in front of you. The design a beautiful beautiful cherry blossom. Trying to bite your tongue and not snap at the elderly man you again shook your head.

“Here have it for free. You seem to need a little cheering up.”, he smiled.

Reaching up you grabbed the delicate glass from him, “Thank you. I really appreciate it. I’m sorry if I came off rude. I’m just really stressed out right now.”

“Didn’t know about the cherry blossom season and now you can’t find a place to stay?”, he asked.

“How did you know?”, you replied wide eyed.

The elderly man chuckled while taking a seat next to you, “There’s always at least one person that gets stuck here with nowhere to stay because they didn’t know how crazy things can get around here this time of the year.”

“Mmh yeah that would be me this year. I need somewhere to stay for a couple weeks or I’m going to have to head back home.”

“You know there might be somewhere that still has a room available. It’s just outside all of the hubbub. About ten miles just over that hill. If you get to Taehyung’s Strawberry Farm then you’ve gone too far.”, he said pointing in the opposite direction of the festivities.

“Really? You think they’d have a room? I wonder why they wouldn’t be booked like every other place.”

The gentleman stood up from the bench you were both on, “Its worth a shot. It’s a little farther away from all the action than people like to be. Plus the owners are a little on the unique side.”

You were concerned at this statement. The last thing you wanted to do was end up being the story line of a true crime documentary.

He continued, “They are very nice people. A young man and his grandmother. They just tend to be very secluded and to themselves. It’s called Interlude Inn. You can’t miss it.”

You thanked him for the information and watched as he walked into a large group of people trying to sell the rest of his merchandise. Placing the delicate sun catcher in your bag you ordered another Uber to take you over to the inn. A familiar vehicle quickly pulled up in front of you with the same talkative man from earlier. You wondered how there weren’t any other drivers available, but you smiled as you slid in the back seat anyways.

“Leaving so soon?”, he asked.

You chuckled, “No I just need to find somewhere else to stay. Can you please take me to The Interlude Inn?”

Suddenly the man stopped, turning to look back at you.

“Miss you don’t want to stay there. Surely there’s somewhere else around here you can stay.”

“Every hotel is completely booked. If this inn doesn’t have a room then I’ll have to just go home.”

He sighed, “Alright miss. If you insist.”

He began the drive to your location. His words about finding somewhere else stuck in your mind.

“Sir?”

“Yes Miss”

“What you said earlier. What is so bad about this inn?”

“Well, the grandma, I think her name is Mae, is very sweet. She’s done the best she can with what she had. But that Min boy, he’s a little odd.”

“Ohhh…Like serial killer odd?”

The man chuckled, “No not that kind of odd. He’s just very quiet and keeps to himself, but he is polite. He’s never seemed to have any friends and I doubt he’s ever had any kind of relationship. He comes into town only a few times a year, mostly when his grandmother needs something. He doesn’t acknowledge anyone, even when they speak to him directly. People usually only stay at the inn as a last resort during this busy season.”

From what you’re hearing he seemed like just a quiet introverted person who loves his grandma. You weren’t sure why everyone seemed so leery of him.

The car pulled up infront of the inn. The large wooden sign out front verified you were indeed at The Interlude Inn. Thanking your driver you grabbed your bag and made your way up to the entrance.

The Inn looked cozy and welcoming. It was smaller than you had imagined. There couldn’t be more than three or four rooms. Off to the side you noticed a little garden with various plants starting to bloom.

On the door hung a welcome sign adorned with hand painted lady bugs and butterflies. Turning the handle you gently pushed in the door being greeted by a heavenly aroma making your stomach grumble. The entrance room which also doubled as a living room had two couches, one on either side of a coffee table. A television hung on the wall above a fireplace. In the corner was a small desk which you assume would be where you could request a room.

Walking over you noticed a younger man crouching down so he was eye level with one of the drawers. He appeared to be about your age, mid to late twenties. Black hair with a slight curl to it hung over his forehead. Beautiful cat like eyes and his soft lips formed into a deep pout. You wanted so badly to reach over and squeeze his chubby cheeks, but you knew that was a weirdness you didn’t want to invoke. He was fidgeting with a drawer that seemed to be stuck and you could here the argument he was having in soft whispers,

“Come on you stupid thing.”

“It shouldn’t be this difficult.”

“Please, I just need a pen and then I’ll leave you alone for the rest of the day.”

You chuckled hearing him begging the drawer to cooperate. Reaching into your bag you grabbed one of your spare pens and set it on the desk, “Here I have a pen you could use.”

The young man let out a sudden squeal after you startled him. He jumped backwards and landed on his behind with a loud thud.

“Oh no I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I thought you had heard me come in.”, you apologized feeling terrible.

The poor guy sat on the ground trying to collect himself before bringing himself back to a standing position. That’s when you noticed his cheeks were a bright shade of red, making you want to squeeze them even more. The man didn’t say a word. His eyes were barely able to focus on you, instead they would move around the room before returning to you for just a second before he’d quickly look elsewhere.

“Ahh this must be the Min boy the driver was talking about?”, you thought to yourself.

[laura1633]

Rock band - Omegaverse - Omega Max

I sent this anon message myself because I know that the previous anon meant to request omega Max rather than Charles 😂 So here is a very quick rock band omega Max summary

Thirteenth Random Lestappen AU summary: Rock band

Lead singer alpha Charles dashes off stage with the rest of the group during a quick interlude and spots that Omega Max is dripping with sweat. It’s not immediately concerning given Max is always a little flush mid way through a set but as Charles gets closer he can practically feel the heat radiating off of the omega and smell their scent turning sweeter and sweeter. 

Max whines and buries his head into the crook of Charles neck as he tries to get his body to cool down. Its too late though. As Charles and the rest of the group get ready to call off the rest of the show Max adamantly protests despite the fact he now has slick dripping down his thighs. 

Charles grabs Max’s hand and leads him through to the dressing room where he works a vibrator into the omega and immediately turns it on. Max whimpers helplessly and feels his legs go to jelly but feeling full up helps. As the music starts back up Max and the rest of the group go back out on stage. 

As Max sits down at the drums he feels the vibrator pressing against his insides and starts rocking his hips as he plays. Each song feels like an eternity and Max’s muscles clench each time Charles deems it appropriate to up the vibrations using the remote. The Omega comes within minutes, biting down into his cheek so he doesn’t moan obscenely from up on stage. The vibrator doesn’t let up though and by the time the encore comes around Max is dripping in slick and sweat and come and his body is shaking so much he can hardly play. He feels deliriously happy, the adrenaline coursing through him and the sound of the music making his whole body pulse. There’s something thrilling about getting off in front of a stadium of thousands and thousands of people.

As Max staggers off stage Charles drags him back to the dressing room and fucks and knots him whilst praising how well he did up there and how amazing he looked and how proud he is of his pretty little omega for carrying on 

[annakie]

FIXING THE HOUSE: PART TWELVE - We Can Make It on the Outside

Part One: I Do Not, In Fact, Have the Power

Part Two: Let’s Spend Lots of Money!

Part Three: All These Things That I’ve Done

Part Four: I Really Want to Stay At My House

A little interlude.

Part Five: Power Down

Part Six: You Will Leave Some Paint

Part Seven: Backwards to go Forwards

Part Eight: Master of Bathrooms

Part Nine: Within a Room, Somewhere

Part Ten: Rooms With No View

Part 11: Big Bang Room Part A and also Part B!

Hi, I know it's been like a week and a half but I was damn busy. I went to Minnesota and saw my buddies @ahab99 and @gloriousclio for a long weekend and it was fantastic! And then just generally busy since I got home, doing lots of projects for home and other personal life reasons. But there's still two posts to go after this one, so let's actually finish this!

Today we're going to talk about the garage and I think also just like, outside in general? And we'll leave the two biggest reveals for last.

Let's leave the living room and first head into the garage!

Look, the garage is not that exciting. The most exciting thing tbh was the fact that I got it like, halfway cleaned out back in July.

It's been too damn hot, YES EVEN IN OCTOBER to really finish the job after I, tbh, worked too hard on it in July, but I'm still glad I did that because of how bad it needed it, but we covered that already.

So I said this before but I made enough space to easily walk around, I put up some metal shelving for more storage/organization, and did some general tidying, so hey you can walk through it now.

There's a significant amount of stuff sitting in it that I'm waiting for a friend of mine to come get, idk when that's going to happen but I hope soon. Like a loveseat, a vacuum cleaner, a small desk etc. When those things are out, it'll be even better.

There's also several bags of clothes that need to go get donated and one bag of fandom-related shirts I was going to sell cheap here on tumblr maybe if I ever get around to it.

So one big improvement was just the fact that the drywall was starting to get real iffy. Some of it was straight up threatening to fall down. So that's fixed. I do not care that the new drywall is blue. It's a garage, I'll deal with it later, maybe. Also hey, shelving! Still messier than I want it to be. At least all that crap isn't on the floor anymore.

Also, no pic for this but apparently one of the beams across the ceiling in the garage was either loose or had come completely off the joist, maybe during the re-roofing? Anyway, Arturo fixed that, too.

So yeah, the workbench is still messy BUT.. remember way, WAY BACK in Part Two when I had no internet one night because the plug for this internet box was on the ceiling over my garage and it'd come loose, but I couldn't plug it back in because it was right over my car, which was blocked in by a dumpster?

Yeah, well, see, that won't be a problem again. Yay, I have power next to the workbench! A brand new outlet.

Crazy that there wasn't one there before. The only actual outlet nearby was against the back wall, pretty far away. And that outlet was SCARY. Very loose, felt really unsafe. It's been rewired and looks good now, too.

The most noticable improvement was this...

OK, see? Still TUFF there. It's actually a little better now. BUT... the windows! You can see through them! They don't have paint smeared on them! None of them have been shot through with a BB gun!

Look I love the kids who live across the street (and there are ALWAYS kids in that house, the kids who were kids when I moved in 21 years ago now have their own children, and there are always other kids there.) But occasionally they cause mischief and at SOME point someone shot a BB through my window and also into the siding a bit. I don't have any proof who did it or honestly exactly when, so I never confronted them, but it irked me for the last 2 or 3 years when it was there.

They were also just original to the house, and needed replacing. So now they've been replaced and look nice!

OK, enough of the dirty, stinky garage, at least until it gets actually cleaned out more.

-----

THE FRONT EXTERIOR!

The picture at the top of this post was the last picture I had from "Before" and that was taken day one of roof work back in late June or early July. The old roof, old gutters, old windows... etc. Just old and tired looking. You can see huge cracks in the driveway.

TBH it was starting to just look run down. Other problems were like, the garage door needed painting, honestly everything except the poles needed painting and that's only because they'd gotten so bad a couple of years ago that I had asked my lawn guy do it.

Obviously most of the things that improved the interior along that wall improved the exterior, like the windows and door.

All of the black trim along the fake shutters and next to the door got a fresh coat of black paint. The windows got touched up. I thought about replacing the light fixture but it's only like 10 years old so I didn't.

TBH the brick and cement could use a power wash, I need to talk to my neighbor's son about that since he does power washing. The new door especially looks so pretty. It also needed to be swept in that pic, it has since been, and the bushes trimmed.

My neighbor Veronica keeps reminding me that the bushes out front are too high, and she's right. I talked to my lawn guy about it and we decided to cut them way down in the spring when they'll start to grow back again.

Another improvement outside is security. I have a door lock camera, another camera you can't see in these pictures covering the front porch. There's a motion sensor spotlight camera over the driveway. And more stuff you'll see.

See? Camera.

New windows! Painted garage door!

The plan had been originally to power wash the driveway here. But there were those two HUGE cracks that were a problem. We filled them in with caulk(?) and cement but then you got... well, what's there. Also looked real bad.

Arturo ended up with a couple of extra bags of cement from another project. So he ended up putting a new entire layer of cement over the driveway.

He said it won't last forever, probably in the next couple of years we'll need to do a new driveway in order for it to look good, but by the time we got to this, the money was really starting to run dry.

So here's the front of the house now! It's so much better! Still has a little ways to go, but definitely not in the running for the shame of the block anymore.

Couple of other small things happened, including me washing the glass in my little lamppost, and spending $34 on ONE replacement pane that had broken long ago but it now looks fresh and whole.

There's also now a little sign you can kind of see on the door in a pleasant script that says "NO SOLICITING! Family, friends and Neighbors welcome!" I'm not sure if it's actually working or if people are just skipping my house now that it's clear I DON'T need new windows, but I haven't had any randos knock in a month or two since it went up.

---

Had Arturo make a small improvement to my gates -- there were just BIG gaps between the doors and the walls. Like you could pretty easily see my entire backyard if you wanted to peek in at either door.

So he bought and installed a border around both doors of the same cedar wood, and I had saved a quarter bucket of the stain from Joel so it got painted. I also put locks on the gates because the locks the gates came with seemed pretty easy to open from the outside with like, a coat hanger. Now... not possible.

The sidewalk is swept and most of that junk is gone now, though I'm still waiting on my friend to come get the extra granite that he requested Arturo bring for him. STOP CLUTTERING UP MY HOUSE!! :D

But tbh, I don't have the funds and haven't had the time to pretty up the sides of the yard yet.

BUT... big improvements have been made on the patio!

---

You may recall that the patio was in various states of looking pretty much like this all summer.

Eventually, as we finished up projects, the patio started getting a little cleaner and a little cleaner, combined with Monday or Tuesday Morning cleanups.

Hey, an empty, but ugly, patio floor! You may recall the patio ceiling got painted and the ceiling fan went up very early.

What's this? It's just ONE color instead of three or four worn through colors? I love it!! A nice green, which, again, was a darker shade on the same card as the ceiling color. I'm probably going to need to do yearly touchups but I have the can of paint for that for at least the next year or so. Believe it or not, these are not the same greens as in the dining room, nor the master bath, or the k-- wait we'll get to that. Just a lot of shades of green in the house, all different!

The patio furniture I think I mentioned at some other point got painted from stained red to the same color as the patio ceiling. I bought new grey cushions that look fantastic with them.

I also had taken the rug that had been under my computer desk the last couple of years and washed it off in the backyard, let it dry, then rolled it up and put it in the corner of the patio and forgot about it for a month or two.

When I was finishing the final cleanout of the patio for the painting I had an idea of what to do with it!

I also, back when all this started, had bought an adirondack chair. I wanted a nice lounger to relax on in my backyard, even though I had four perfectly good matching chairs already. But I wanted to lounge. I bought it in like... June, I think? The box arrived, I dragged it to the patio and it basically became a table for two months.

Just this last week I finally unboxed it, and spent three hours putting it together. I do love it!

The rug really adds a bit of homey-ness to the patio I think. It'll probably be need to tossed in a couple of years, but for now, I really like the look.

Hey, you can also see the new bathroom window from the outside here!

I really think the patio came together well. There's an element or two still missing.

And also... what's this?

I bought a house for my feral boys Buster and Peter for the winter! I really wanted them to have somewhere protected from the elements for those long week or three where it's actually cold in Dallas in the winter. I also wanted something that looked cute and gave them both their own space.

Still working on getting them to understand that it's for them, but Peter has at least checked it out!

Buster is under a chair over there being unimpressed. But also it's still in the 60's or 70's at night so they haven't needed it yet. I'm sprinkling food and treats in and on it to get them to try to investigate at least. There are warm beds on both the top and bottom levels for them. And you can see they also have beds in the chairs/floor where I see them sleeping.

They get oral flea medication every month or so btw.

The backyard is covered with cameras covering every inch. Nice cameras that solar recharge and are in high resolution. Every entrance of the house has at least two angles on it now. I'm really happy with that setup. Plus of course monitored alarm system.

There's no perfect home security, but I feel like I've made my house an unattractive target, at least. There are also generic signs posted about the video/alarm surveillance.

ANWYAY...

Fry and Pemily have also been enjoying supervised visits outside!

Fry loves dirt. Pemily loves just chilling out. I love hanging out out there after work and chilling with them. I do want to get a little side table for the lounger, but in due time. And YES I WEAR CROCS AROUND THE HOUSE. They're comfortable, ok? :D

Still gotta get the generator hooked up, and at some point actually finish beatifying the outside, but that's gonna take more money han I have left over now. I'll keep working on it, but also right now I'm letting myself just enjoy it.

OK! Back inside next time for the last two updates!