#there’s a part in that AU I made a while back

[shellshocklove]

ridin' shotgun | joel miller

pairing/AU: joel miller x female!reader – post breakout & no ellie AU

summary: as the snow covers the land, joel starts to like his new life on the farm, but is it too good to be true?

warnings: this is an 18+ fic so mdni!!! canon-typical violence, age gap (reader is mid to late twenties), swearing, guns, vomit, use of pet names, fluff, angst, fingering, oral (f receiving), some tags are left out to avoid spoilers, no use of y/n

a/n: this is the second part to this. so i'd recommend reading that before this one. i'm very sorry this took me so long! i'm hoping it was worth the wait! <3 also a big thank you to @dustydaddyyy who's always up for helping me when i'm stuck <3 happy reading!

main masterlist / series masterlist / ao3 / playlist

“Morning, Joel,” Arthur greeted him as Joel entered the kitchen.

Joel felt far from rested. His eyes burned with sleep behind his eyelids. He’d love another hour or two on his pillow, but Arthur’s heavy steps coming down the stairs had woken him.

Damn, these thin walls.

“Mornin’,” Joel said as he sat down at the dining table, looking past the curtain on the portrait of the day. The world was blue with dusk, contrasting the low candlelight inside. Alma stood at the stove, butter crackling in the frying pan as she cracked an egg, then another, two suns in a greasy night sky.

“I think we’ll bring the logging sled today,” Arthur spoke up and gestured out the window, “I think the snow is more than deep enough for the sled.”

“Yeah?” Joel looked out the window again. Assessing the snow, he guessed it was about two feet give or take.

“Yeah, I think it’s gonna be enough– If not we’ll test-drive the sled, make sure it can handle the weight.” Arthur continued, but Joel lost interest as soon as he heard the sound of a door shutting down the hall.

Joel hummed, leaning back in his chair, his eyes flickering to the door of the kitchen waiting to see you walk through. A moment later, you padded into the kitchen in your pajamas, feet clad in soft wool socks. You’d thrown a sweater over your sleep shirt, but Joel remembered how the thin fabric had clung to your skin last night. Remembered the shape of your nipples poking through, the sounds you’d made as you’d whimpered his name. Joel’s cock twitched in his pants at the memory; crashing against the wave of shame and guilt that washed over him when he recalled what he’d done after he’d stepped back into his room.

“Good morning, sweetie,” Arthur greeted you as you sat down, opposite Joel.

“Good morning,” you smiled, resting your chin in the palm of your hand, tiredness like a faraway look across your face.

“Did you sleep well?” Arthur asked.

Your eyes widened at the question, quickly flickering to Joel before they found the table. Your face dug deeper into your hand as you twisted slightly in your chair. A shy smile blossomed across your face.

Huh.

A forgotten tickling feeling of pride filled Joel’s chest as he watched you. The way you avoided his gaze, like your dreams would show through your eyes if you did. But Joel didn’t need to hold your gaze to understand. Something had shifted, both for him and for you. It was different now.

A chuckle escaped Arthur at your motions, “That good, huh?” Arthur teased, “All fairytales and rainbows?”

“Something like that,” you breathed out a chuckle.

Joel cringed. He was closer to a nightmare. Why did he even entertain his thoughts of you? You were the one who was a rainbow, while he’d paint you in a dull grayscale.

Joel let out an inaudible sight, and leaned back in the creaky kitchen chair, as his hands twisted in his lap. He didn’t miss the way his movement caught your eye as he felt the drumroll of your gaze break over him. Joel didn’t dare move, scared he’d scare the warmth of your attention away. But something pulled at his chest, and he couldn’t deny himself to look at you, to drink in your early morning shyness. You didn’t look away this time, instead you smiled. It was a small and polite smile, but it still felt like a kiss to his skin. The small moment between you only lasted a second, but to Joel it felt like an eternity – one he wouldn’t mind spending with you.

You dropped your gaze when Alma placed the breadbasket on the table, and like it had broken a spell, you immediately stood to your feet, “Let me help you, Alma.”

A moment later the table was set and ready, and Arthur was already helping himself to a fried egg. Safe for the sound of cutlery against porcelain plates, a silence fell over the kitchen.

“We uh,” Arthur started, looking over at you, “We were thinking of using the logging sled today,” he informed with a dig into his eggs. “'Could use your help saddling up the horse.”

“Okay,” you nodded, reaching across the table for the butter, “but I need to milk the cows first– you know how they get if I don’t do it first thing–”

“I can do that, sweetie,” Alma interrupted you with a smile, taking a bite of her bread.

“Oh, okay,” you turned your head to Alma as you said it, giving her a smile, but Joel could see the worry behind it. “But if it’s too much I’ll be right there–”

Alma cut you off again, “I can handle it– I did this all by myself before you came along, you know.” She said it with a wink to put you at ease, but Joel saw how your teeth dug into your bottom lip, and he wanted nothing more than to ease it away with a kiss.

No. No kiss.

Shit.

After last night, Joel couldn’t think straight. He wanted you now. He wanted what he knew he couldn’t have– what he shouldn’t have. With his eyes boring down into his plate, he tried to will his wants away. Tried his best to not build memories on things not yet said – to not feel the ache of never having touched you.

The air nipped harshly at Joel’s cheeks. The sun had finally risen over the mountain, shining its light over the crystals in the snow. A thousand diamonds blinked at him as he helped Arthur pull the log sled out of the barn. It was covered in dust and dirt, and the cobwebs stuck to Joel’s mittens like cling film. Clapping his hands, a cloud of dust evaporated from his hands – almost cartoon-like.

Joel picked at the yarn, trying to cover the hole that had become wider and wider every day. He felt bad about it; you’d made them for him out of the goodness of your heart, and now he’d ruined them– or the work had. Sharp branches had hooked themselves through the stiches, and the rough bark had worn the yarn down.

As Arthur checked the sled, and got it ready, Joel felt himself drawn to the open stable door. Leaning against the barn door he watched you quietly. You worked with practiced hands, saddling the old workhorse, Ingydar, as you talked to it in a low voice.

“You’re going to work in the woods today,” you said to the beloved nag, “Work in the woods with Arthur and Joel. Do you remember Joel? He’s a nice man, isn’t he?”

Joel felt his cheeks warm at your words, his eyes falling to the worn wood floor, as he continued to listen to your little conversation.

“Yes, he is! He’s very nice– fed you too many carrots last time he said hello, didn’t he? But you liked that, didn’t you?”

Joel looked up at that, his eyes locking with yours’ as you looked straight at him, a teasing smirk covering your face.

“That ain’t how I remember it,” Joel defended, stepping closer to the open stall door. You tightened the straps on the saddle while your smile grew larger at his words.

“No?” You teased, moving on to checking the straps on the bridle.

Joel stepped closer, his mitten clad hand coming up to pet the old horse. “No,” Joel shook his head, “you kept handin’ me all those carrots ‘s how I remember it.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you laughed, stepping closer.

“Sure, you don’t,” Joel teased, a rare smile tugging at his lips, matching your own.

Locking eyes with you again, Joel felt something light bubble under the surface of his ribcage. You really were beautiful like this – eyes sparkling and smile wide. He couldn’t remember the last time someone looked at him the way you were right now – like he hadn’t lost everything, like he didn’t have blood all over his hands, like he was worthy of a smile.

Stepping even closer, you noticed the holes in them. “Joel, your mittens.”

“Sorry…” he started, trailing off when you grabbed his hands, “They get hooked in the branches ‘nd–”

“Don’t apologize,” you cut him off, with a shake of your head, “I can fix them– it’s no problem.”

The sun shone through a small window in the back wall of the stall. Bright white light lit up the back of your head, crowning you in the morning. You stood so close now, the warmth of your finger brushing over his rough skin through the hole, and his hands suddenly felt heavy in yours.

A burden you shouldn’t bear.

“Uh…” Joel cleared his throat as he stepped away, pulling his hands from yours, “Thank you.”

Finishing up saddling the horse you led it out the stall door, the iron shoes click-clacked against the worn wood floor before it fell silent against the snow when you led the horse outside. With a nod in the direction of the house you told him to wait inside for you.

“Would ya let Arthur know he can go right ahead with the sled?” he asked you, his body half-turned towards the barn house.

You let out a breathy laugh, a frosty cloud of smoke clouding your smile before you nodded.

Inside, he waited for you on the couch, watching you wave Arthur off on the horse through the window. Joel’s heart picked up its beat when he heard your hollow steps across the porch. He shifted slightly in his seat when you walked in, almost standing but then decided against it in the same moment, rubbing his hands over his thighs instead.

Stomping off the snow covering your shoes you smiled at him like always, and Joel didn’t know what to do. A feeling starting to bubble under the surface of his skin. Excitement? Nervousness? Dread? Joel couldn’t tell. Maybe he felt all three at once– if that was possible. Excitement at the prospect of being alone with you, but also nervousness at the prospect of being alone with you. They gathered around his heart, filled his chest, but the dread, it climbed up his spine, bit its cold teeth in the back of his neck.

“Just let me grab my things,” you hurried with a gesture towards your room.

Joel cleared his throat and nodded. It felt clumsy and awkward, and he cursed himself for it while he waited for you. He couldn’t be alone with you. Couldn’t entertain the growing feelings. It wasn’t right – to you – Joel needed to stay away, to keep a friendly distance.

Joel sighed and closed his eyes.

Nothin’s happenin’. 

Like a broken record, those two words spun in Joel’s head in the few seconds it took before you were back in the living room, dropping down next to him with your basket overflowing with yarn.

It felt like déjà vu.

You worked in a comfortable silence, and Joel didn’t know if he should say anything. He watched how you worked your needle with a practiced hand – you made it look so easy – but Joel knew it wasn’t. A lifetime ago he’d spent way too many nights with a needle in his hand trying to mend a hole over the knee of tiny pink pants, his stubby fingers gripping the needle tightly, guiding it clumsily through the fabric until he was red in the face from frustration.

He needed to thank you, but should he say it now or wait until you’d finished? The longer he watched you, the stronger that bubbling feeling felt, bubbling over, up his throat and over the bite of dread.

“There!” you smiled when you’d fastened off the last stich. You grabbed a hold of his hands before he’d had time to think and pulled the mittens over his knuckles.

“Thank you,” he said, voice scruff but tone still shyer than he’d expected.

You smiled at him again and leaned a little closer to readjust the mittens, tugging at the yarn where you’d mended them, pulling them into the right shape.

“You’re welcome, Joel.” You locked eyes with him and suddenly Joel noticed how close you sat. It made him hold his breath as his heart started hammering against his chest.

His gaze flickered towards your lips for half a second, wishing for something he couldn’t have– shouldn’t have. He caught himself quickly, finding your eyes again but they were fixated on something else, his lips. Who leaned in first, Joel would never know, the only thing he knew was the feel of your breath against his lips before they brushed over yours in a soft kiss.

Warm. Joel felt so warm.

His hands worked by their own volition; mitten clad, and soft against your cheek, pulling you closer to him, but not close enough. Your hand grabbed at his jacket in the crook of his elbow, tethering yourself to him, to the moment, like you’d float away if you didn’t. You hummed against his lips, a desperate sound as you shifted closer.

The sound messed with Joel’s head, he wanted to hear more of it, pull it from you again. His tongue teased at the seam of your lips, a distant thought at the back of his head questioning where his boldness suddenly came from, but he ignored it.

It didn’t matter.

The sound escaped you once more and you opened yourself up to him. Joel’s other hand, moving with desperate urgency, found your hip – pulling you even closer. He licked into your mouth, and he fell deeper into you, deeper into the grip you’d snaked around his heart.

A loud slam of the kitchen door pulled Joel away, and the reality of what he’d done trickled coldly down his spine. Out in the kitchen Alma rummaged around while you looked at him with bright eyes, pupils slightly dilated with a hazy smile across your lips.

Joel felt awful.

He shouldn’t have done that.

He’d taken advantage of you. He’s too old for you – none of this was right.

You noticed the change in him, you must’ve, because your eyebrows pulled together in the smallest of frowns as you regarded him.

“Joel,” you started, your voice low and soft, but he just shook his head.

“I’m sorry!” Joel quickly stood to his feet, wiping his hands on his jeans as though that would somehow erase what he’d done. “We– I shouldn’t have done that– I’m sorry.”

“Don’t,” you tried to grab at his hand, but Joel only shook his head again.

“I’m sorry.”

Joel was out the door before he could regret it, lord knows he couldn’t take anymore regret. His life had been full of them, full of ‘I shouldn’t haves’. He dug his mitten-clad hands in the pockets of his jacket, his head hanging low as he headed down the road towards the forest.

A heavy blanket of clouds had shaded the morning sun, the world darkened in the beginnings of real winter. As a snowflake kissed his cheek, his thoughts wandered to the butterfly he’d seen all those weeks ago. How it had rested over his knee– made him think of Sarah.

You’re on the right path.

Joel had never felt this lost.

The kiss.

It took up most of Joel’s mind. When he worked himself hard with an axe in his hand, when he was counting sheep, but most of all, each time he saw you. Then his thoughts had a mind of its own, reminding him of how your lips had felt against his own, the feel of your body under his touch, and the sounds you’d made just for him. The kiss had been the first kiss who’d made him want another. The first kiss where he’d pulled away and not been satisfied. He needed to kiss you again, to feed this new hunger for you.

But it wasn’t right. An old man like him with someone like you. It wasn’t a good idea– would never be a good idea.

So, Joel tried his best to avoid you, but avoiding you was impossible – you lived in the same house, shared a bedroom wall. He saw you every day whether he liked it or not – and he did.

He liked you, and it scared the shit out of him.

He felt like he lived in a cruel state of limbo. He didn’t know what you were thinking. If you were mad (you had every right), if you were disappointed (he hoped you weren’t), or happy (maybe the most devastating thought of all).

The fire crackled loudly, sparks kicking, the sound making you look up from your book. Joel’s eyes found his own book, rereading the same paragraph he’d been trying to read for the last thirty minutes– ever since Arthur and Alma had retired to bed. This was the first time he’d been alone with you since the kiss, and he felt it all over his body. The aftermath of the kiss sticking to his body like the Austin heat had done in the peak of summer – he couldn’t shake it off, couldn’t ignore it.

“When was the last time you cut your hair?” you suddenly spoke across the silence.

Your question was unexpected, and it made him pull his brows together in a frown. “You sayin’ I look bad?” Joel asked, dogearing the page he was on before closing his book.

“No,” you said quickly, shaking your head, “No-no, I mean it’s just a little long.”

Joel looked at you for a second before he ran a hand through his hair. Well, it wasn’t like you weren’t right. Lately his hair had started to get in his eyes, even when he pushed it back. Most days when he was working outside, he could tame it under the knitted beanie you’d made him, but it had started to have a life of its own.

“Boston. I think, Tes–” he cut himself off before he said her name, clearing his throat awkwardly to cover his slip up. He’d forgotten, forgotten for a second that she was dead. Forgotten she’d died for him and his stupid quest to find his brother. Died for nothing.

“I can trim it for you… if you want?” you asked with a bite of your lip.

He couldn’t say no to you.

“Uh… yeah,” he nodded, “Okay.”

As you led him up the stairs to the bathroom, Joel tried not to think too hard about what it would mean – you cutting his hair. He tried not to think about how the last person who’d done something like that for him was Tess, and what it meant that she was gone– that it now would be you.

Your fingers running through his wet hair felt good– what didn’t feel good was the way his back almost gave out from leaning his head in the bathroom sink. The basin was too small, and the tap hung too low for him to comfortably turn his head, instead the water spilled down his face.

Why the hell was he drowning himself for you?

“Done soon?” he grunted, his hands gripping the sides of the sink while he felt your fingers scrub at his roots.

Yes, Joel was uncomfortable, but the way you stood so close – practically leaning on him – it felt nice. So nice that Joel thought that if his eyes weren’t already shut, they’d flutter shut at your touch.

Soap suds ran down the sides of his face as you giggled, “Just a little longer.”

You maneuvered his head back under the tap, your right hand running through his hair under the water while the left covered his eyes in a useless attempt. Then you grabbed the towel resting next to him on the porcelain, the world suddenly silenced through fabric as you dried his now clean hair.

“You can stand now,” you told him with a small tap to his back as you stepped away. You’d laid the towel around his shoulders, ready to catch any excess water.

Joel groaned, “I don’t think I can.”

You giggled again and then your hands wrapped around him, helping him up. Joel groaned again, but this time for show. He liked the way you touched him, gentle – always gentle. He plopped down in the chair you’d brought in from the spare bedroom, while you got your comb and scissors ready. The wooden chair creaked as he shifted his legs, widening them while he rested his hands in his lap.

He’d never seen this chair before, but then again Joel hadn’t explored the house much – it didn’t feel right. He was a guest after all, only staying for a few months– or was he? His eyes found you in the mirror, and then that thought suddenly felt awfully wrong.

“Ready?” you turned around to him, a pair of kitchen scissors in one hand, and an old shaver plugged into the wall in the other.

You didn’t say much as you worked. It was uncharacteristic for a hairdresser, at least from what he could remember. Back before the outbreak he’d rarely gotten his hair cut by someone other than himself. With his clipper guard set to four he’d tidy up the sides when it was needed and called it a day.

Your quietness was also uncharacteristic to you. You never talked his ear off, but you were never this quiet – at least you weren’t before the–

Stop.

Joel tried not to think about that.

He’d gone and fucked everything up now. Instead, he stole a glance at you in the mirror, watched the way your lips pursed in concentration to the metal sound of scissors snipping, and the low buzz of the shaver.

He needed to apologize to you.

“I…” he started, watching your head snap curiously to watch him in the mirror.

No turning back now– just say it.

“I’m sorry ‘bout the other day– It wasn’t right to kiss you like that.”

Your curiosity pulled into confusion across your face, and your eyebrows tugged together in a frown.

“You don’t have to be sorry, Joel,” you told him, your voice gentle, “I didn’t exactly–... well I definitely wasn’t stopping you.” You said it with an awkward laugh. Your kind, always kind, eyes that’d watched him in the mirror, now glued to the back of his head as you gently combed his hair.

Joel felt something bloom in his chest at your words, and despite himself, he felt his cheeks warm slightly as thoughts invaded his mind. 

Maybe he should tell you why he did it. 

Shit, did Joel even know why he did it? 

“I thought you–” Joel felt the words stall in his throat for a second, before he cleared it decisively. 

No going back now, he thought to himself, just rip off the band aid you idiot.

Another part of Joel screamed at him to stop the words before they even left his lips, and his doubts gnawed at his insides with more intensity than ever.

“The other night, when you were asleep,” he paused to swallow, a lump growing in his throat, “I was getting to bed and I heard–... well, y’were sort of having a dream, sweetheart.”

With nervous eyes, Joel found your face in the mirror, and watched the way the smiling expression dropped off your face, quickly replaced by a wide-eyed look of pure mortification. 

“I–” you stuttered out, and Joel rushed to correct himself. 

“It’s nothin’ to be embarrassed about, I shouldn’t a been watchin’ you, I just–... thought maybe y’liked me, or something.” 

His words hung heavy in the air between you, and Joel’s heart picked up its beat as he watched how all your movements suddenly went quiet, along with the shaver, seemingly processing all this new information.

Your eyes found the back of his head again, and when he felt the comb run through his hair again, Joel suddenly felt very guilty for even bringing it up. 

Stupid. Why on earth would he do that? Was he trying to send you into an early grave? 

“I’m sorry you walked in on that,” you finally managed, your eyes fixated on your working hands as you refused to meet Joel’s eye – looking infinitely embarrassed.

You’re sorry? He didn’t want to hear those words leave your mouth ever again – the only person in this bathroom who was sorry, was him.

In the mirror you looked so small, and it was his own doing. Your teeth dug harshly into your bottom lip as your combed, and combed, and combed his hair in a shaky hand. Joel felt his heart break.

He’d dug himself too deep now, Joel thought, he had to tell you, to reassure you it was okay.

After a beat of silence, Joel spoke again.

“I’m not.” 

Your eyes widened at his words before they snapped to the mirror, staring at him as the shears trembled slightly in your hand. Still, you didn’t say anything.

Joel didn’t have the faintest idea where he was going with this, and with the way you looked at him now, his doubts seemed to overtake him as he got the sudden urge to swallow his words right back up. 

“Look, forget I even said anything angel, I didn’t mean anythin’ by it–” 

The word slipped from his lips like the most natural thing in the world. Something flashed in your eyes through the mirror, he could’ve sworn it, and Joel seemed to realize a beat too late what he’d called you. Feeling his cheeks heat up, his embarrassment forced his gaze to fall anywhere but at you, quicklyfinding his hands knotted in his lap.

“Joel,” you said softly, and despite himself, Joel felt the earlier warmth expanding like a balloon in his chest, “It’s okay.” 

He perked up at your words, his eyes snapping from his hands to you as you moved, coming to stand in front of him. Your hands deftly moved the comb through his curls as he looked up at you through the strands. You seemed focused on cutting the ends, before you let out a breath. 

“It would’ve been okay if you had been watching, you know,” you said, your voice simple and even.

Joel felt his entire body tense at your words as his eyes bored into your face. He watched the way your face grimaced slightly; your eyes focused on snipping the strands right.

“I just mean I–” There was a pause as you gave him a half-embarrassed smile, your lips pursed together as you seemed to search for your next words. 

You were standing so close, so close he could smell the sweetness off you. You made him dizzy. Dizzy with warmth. Dizzy with proximity. Dizzy with something heavy in the depths of his chest he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Joel didn’t know why he did it, didn’t know why the way his hands moved felt like second nature, but when the tips of his fingers grazed the back of your knee in an attempt to reassure you, it felt like something was calling to him.

“It’s okay,” he told you, “You can tell me, angel.” 

Finally, your eyes met Joel’s. Those kind sparkling eyes bored into his own as you, in an attempt to gather some courage, swallowed hard.

“I–I do like you,” you said.

The finality of your words lodged something loose in Joel, and something he hadn’t felt in a long time flicker to life in his chest.

“That so?” he asked, his voice a little lower.

Somehow, you were stood even closer, only slightly taller than Joel as he angled his head up towards you. Your chest started to rise and fall in a quicker rhythm at his question. Looking at him, your lips twitched in a nervous smile as you turned slightly away from his, placing the comb and scissors on the sink gently.

You nodded.

Still turned away from him, he watched how you gathered yourself, your hands resting on the porcelain as your head hung low between your shoulder blades.

“When you…” you trailed off, moving the comb and scissors in a perfect parallel line next to each other. “When you,” you repeated, “kissed me… I thought maybe… you liked me back.”

It was now or never.

Joel knew it.

Standing from his chair, Joel’s hand found your shoulder, turning you to face him. You didn’t look at him right away, your head tipped in a bow as you fiddled with your fingers.

“Hey,” his fingers brushed lightly under your chin, tilting your head up. Your eyes were wide, flickering like sunlight over wavy water as you studied his face. His eyes fell to your lips – he couldn’t help it, and the memories of how they’d felt against him resurfaced in his mind. If he just leaned a little closer, he’d feel them again.

“Joel… if you don’t want me– if you don’t like me, you can just tell me– I’m a big girl.” Your voice sounded almost breathless, like you’d run up a flight of stairs or walked miles in knee deep snow.

Joel shook his head before you’d even finished your sentence. Don’t want you? Don’t like you? It was absurd.

“It ain’t that.”

“Then what is it?” The way the words left your lips, broken, beaten, it had Joel’s heart tear apart in his chest.

“It ain’t right, angel. I’m too old f’you– I can’t take advantage of you like that.”

A frown pulled at your face then, “Take advantage?” you questioned with a shake of your head. “I’m a grown woman, Joel. Would it be taking advantage if it was what I wanted? If what I wanted was… you?”

Joel had never thought about it like that before. The thought of you wanting him back had seemed like a fantasy – something that would never even be a possibility.

Your fingers moved a strand of hair out of his face, brushing it away, and Joel held his breath. Hesitating for just a second, you cupped his cheek gently and leaned closer. The softness of your lips over his own had Joel reeling – didn’t matter how quick or chaste the kiss had been – it only left him wanting more.

“I look stupid.”

“You don’t look stupid, Joel,” you laughed, full of joy.

You adjusted the bandana holder and fixed the crooked kerchief around his neck slightly. The red fabric picked up the warmth in his lined leather jacket, and the metal holder caught the shine of the sun.

Joel couldn’t believe he’d said yes.

This morning when he’d gotten up with the sun, Alma had stuck her head out of her and Arthur’s bedroom right as he was on his way out the bathroom. Arthur wasn’t feeling well, and Joel had prepared himself to work in the woods alone. It wasn’t the first time Arthur had gotten sick, and with the way he was looking lately, Joel figured it wouldn’t be the last.

He'd been washing his dishes from his breakfast when you’d padded into the kitchen. With a look over his shoulder, he’d caught the way you’d smiled at him before you padded over to him.

“Good morning,” you’d said and wrapped your arms around him from behind.

“Mornin’, angel,” he’d hummed back. He’d dried his plate and placed it on the counter before he’d turned around, still in your embrace.

Joel wasn’t used to it yet, your affection, he still had a hard time comprehending it was meant for him. That it wasn’t some joke you’d so cruelly played on him. A joke to see how long you could feed him this adoration until he’d get hooked on it, hooked on you, before pulling away.

Joel didn’t dare hold you too tightly. Everyone he’s ever held in his arms had been pulled away by death’s hands. Every day since you’d told him you liked him, wanted him, Joel had been afraid to lose you.

Maybe that’s why he’d said yes? You’d convinced him it’ll be safer for you if you knew how to shoot.

Joel didn’t know.

The only thing he knew was that he’d caved under your wide and blinking eyes. You’d looked too cute to say no, and he disliked seeing a frown upon your lips, unless he could kiss it away.

Which he did – but only when you were alone.

You’d both agreed to keep this thing, the fondness, the love, growing between you a secret. It was easier that way, at least until you both knew what it all meant. Right now, it was a thing, a fondness, but not yet a love, although Joel wasn’t far off if he were being honest with himself, especially when you looked at him with those moony eyes.

With a pat to his chest, you pushed off him with a smile. In a closet upstairs you’d found you both a cowboy hat and some bandanas you’d insisted on him wearing. The whole thing was silly, but the way you’d lit up with happiness when you’d placed the cowboy hat on his head, it didn’t matter to Joel.

“C'mon cowboy,” you laughed, and grabbed his hand.

He let you drag him with you before he caught up with you. He pulled at your arm so you crashed into his side, and wrapped his arm around your shoulder. It made you giggle, and the sound bubbled around Joel’s heart.

Ingydar stood waiting dutifully in his stall, where you’d gotten him ready. The saddle bags were packed with your lunches and a box of ammunition, and at the back of the saddle you’d rolled two sheep skins and tied them with leather ties. Everything was ready for your day out together.

Or your date, Joel thought as he trailed after you, closing the stable door behind him as you led the horse outside.

Joel insisted you get on the horse first with his help. He wanted to make sure you were comfortable and sat as safely as possible before he slid his foot into the stirrups. You wiggled around to mess with him, and Joel grabbed your knee to steady you. It made you giggle again, and he earned himself a ‘Relax, honey’. Then you leaned back and made space for him to get in front of you.

Joel liked the sound of ‘honey’.

“Y’alright back there?” Joel said over his shoulder after he’d gotten on the horse. Placing the shotgun over his lap, Joel made sure the safety was on before his hands came down to take yours where they rested over your thighs, and gently guided them to slot around his waist.

“Y’actually gotta hang on sweetheart, or you’ll slide right off the minute he starts trotting,” Joel said, fighting back a smile when he felt your arms tighten around him.

“I know how to ride a horse,” you retorted, and his chest shook with a slight chuckle. 

“Not saying you don’t, angel,” he replied easily, and kicked Ingydar lightly in the sides.

The old horse started walking, and Joel pulled on the reins, steering it down the road and then south towards the woods.

“’Just makin’ sure you ain’t gonna fall off ‘s all,” he said.

You hummed in return, leaning your body against his back. “It’ll have to be a really bumpy ride for me to fall off, Joel,” you spoke, the innuendo not lost on Joel.

He decided to pull at the thread a little, “And I s’pose you’ve had a lot of these bumpy rides, have you, angel?”

Your hands around his waist tightened slightly as he felt you lean over his shoulder, your hat dumping into his. A smile tugged at his lips, and in his side vision he could see you narrow your eyes playfully at him. 

“What are you insinuating, Joel Miller?” you asked him, your tone only half-sharp.

A chuckle rumbled in Joel’s chest, before he bit back a smirk. “I’m not insinuatin’ nothin’,” he replied, keeping his tone as normal as he could.

He felt your eyes study him for a moment before he heard you let out a dissatisfied hum. “You definitely are.” 

“Well, we got an entire horse ride to god knows where to debate it,” he shot back, which made you smile.

You leaned back again, and a second later he felt you rest your forehead against his back. Joel figured you must’ve flicked your hat off; letting it rest against your back tied by the string around your neck.

“An entire horse ride to god knows where?” you repeated half-mockingly, speaking into his back but Joel could hear your smile in your voice, “You really know how to make a girl wait for it.”  

“You have no idea, angel,” Joel replied, an otherwise joking tone overshadowed by something else, something more honest.

Behind him, Joel felt you shift, and a small spark of pride filled his chest. He had an effect on you, the same way you had an effect on him. Quickly, you changed the subject, and that spark of pride grew larger in Joel’s chest.

“Did you have a plan, by the way?” you asked him, your voice light and innocent, “Or are we just riding this horse off into the sunset?” 

“It’s the middle of the day,” Joel pointed out, “And you’re the one who put me in a bandana, so don’t even bother tellin’ me you ain’t the one with the plan.” 

You let out a giggle at this and pressed your face into his back once more. “Just keep going straight for now, you bore, I’ll tell you when.” 

Joel chuckled at you, and did as you said, guiding the horse south at the edge of the forest where the snow wasn’t as deep. He felt you tighten your hands slightly around his waist, before you fell into a comfortable silence.  

The horse held a steady pace, rocking you in a soothing rhythm in the saddle. The day was bright and sunny, almost blinding against the snow. Joel had never gone down this way before, never seen the stone face of the mountain up close, the way it cried glittery winter tears when the sun shone.

“There’s a river down here somewhere,” you suddenly spoke, breaking the silence that had built between you. “There’s a nice little spot down there where we can camp.”

Joel pulled at the reins, following in the direction you’d pointed. “You’ve been down this way before?” he asked.

“Maybe once or twice a year,” you started, “There’s this town, Jackson, maybe a week’s ride south. I’m not exactly supposed to talk about it– they run a pretty tight ship, coming off a little more threatening than they are, but they’re sort of like a commune. Arthur has this deal with one of the ladies, Maria, where we help each other out by trading.”

A frown pulled at Joel’s face, “I thought y’all were all alone out here?” 

“Well, we are, but not really. It’s because of them we still have running water and electricity– we’re connected to the same system they use. And then usually in the fall or in the spring Arthur will go trade with them for things we need like soap, or nails and stuff we can’t make on our own at the farm.”

Joel hummed, and the puzzle pieces of information you’d given him, started to fit into the bigger picture he’d painted of your life at the farm. He could understand why Alma and Arthur still resided at the farm. It was their home, the place where they’d lived their whole life, but for you, for you it was different.

“So… you know ‘em? You’ve gone with Arthur to meet this Maria?” he asked.

“A little, I guess. She’s uh…” you trailed off, resting your cheek against Joel’s back instead.

The river finally came into view, and Joel let you have the silence. He guided Ingydar down towards the riverbank. A wound cut the ice in two where the river poured backwards eternally. The water clucked under the ice as you rode along the edge; was it wishful thinking to think it sounded like the coming of spring?

“She?” Joel prodded gently.

Joel heard you sight before you sat up, no longer leaning your weight on him. “She invited me to come live with them… in Jackson.”

Joel frowned, “’nd you told her no?”

“Well… yes– I just, I can’t leave them alone.”

“Sweetheart–” Joel started, but you cut him off.

“Let’s stop here!”

You didn’t say anything as Joel watched you loosen the saddle bags and sheep skins, while he petted the old horse. He found himself wondering how you’d ended up on the farm, and if you could’ve been happier somewhere else– like Jackson.

He tied Ingydar to a tree, before he waded back to where you were trampling the snow flat. He helped you form a bench out of the snow, cutting through the layers until you found a hard enough crust to hold both your weights. The sheepskin warmed under him, as he sat down with a groan. It made you turn around from where you sat on your haunches in front of the fire you were building, a teasing smile pulling at the corner of your mouth.

“Tired already, old man?” you teased as you stood to your feet and walked closer.

Spreading his legs, Joel made room for you to stand between them, as he tipped his head back to study you above him. Your smile was dangerous, wild and wonderful.

“Old man, huh?” He raised an eyebrow at you, not able to resist the urge to wrap his hand around the back of your knee.

Your teeth caught on your bottom lip at his touch, and a pride swelled inside Joel. Pride at pulling a reaction from you. Before you could answer him, a boldness took a hold of him, and he wrapped an arm around your waist to pull you down into his lap.

You yelped out a giggle and your hands came down to brace yourself against his shoulder. Joel felt a feeling overcome him; one he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Happiness.

It tickled at his heart, teared at something inside, and it scared him.

“You okay?” you asked, your voice coated in concern, and Joel felt his cheeks heat up. He let out a dry chuckle, embarrassed by how easily you could read him.

“Yeah,” he cleared his throat, “I just…” he trailed off, studying your face and watching how your eyebrows pulled together in the smallest of frowns.

He shook his head again, before he leaned forward, not thinking it through as he brushed his lips over yours in a kiss. You reciprocated the kiss immediately, although maybe a little caught off guard. Joel’s arm around your waist tightened, as his other hand brushed up your side. He needed to hold you close for just a second, just to know this was real, that this feeling was real, and that you were real.

You broke away first, breathless with a giggle before you dove down again for another peck. Joel let you kiss him; let you cup his cheek and bring him closer. You shifted in his lap, your core rubbing slightly over his crotch. It could’ve been an accident, but the small gasp you let out told him it wasn’t. His arm around your waist tightened, and he had to pull away.

Wide eyes looked back at him, and Joel couldn’t help but stare at your lips. He felt like a teenager, a teenager sneaking out the house to meet a girl. To finally be with you without the secrecy – to touch you and kiss you openly.

“You’re somethin’ else, aren’t you?” he whispered.

A smile teased at your lips before you leaned in closer, your breath brushing over his ear, “You have no idea.”

Blood coursed south, and Joel felt his cock come alive behind the confinements of his jeans. It was cold enough for a man to freeze his balls off, but desire’s warmth filled him anyway.

He pulled his head away, finding your eyes blown full of lust. A smile teased at the corner of his mouth as he spoke, “Let’me teach ya to shoot before you get too excited.”

“Before I get too excited?” you laughed, and sat up properly in his lap again, “I think that might be you, old man.”

Teaching you to shoot was less of a success than Joel had intended. He’d found a couple of old glass bottles in the barn to use as target practice, but your aim was terrible, missing each shot. To your credit, it wasn’t your fault. He’d taught you how to load the gun, how to stand safely, and with his hand snaking around your body, how to hold it properly.

He could swear his intentions were good at first, he actually wanted to teach you, to make sure you knew how to shoot, and safely, but when he saw how your body shivered from his voice in your ear – he decided to play with you a little.

Maybe he whispered a couple of innuendos in your ear while he dropped his voice an octave just to see your reaction. Or maybe he pressed himself a little closer to your body, showing you how it was done like in those cliché romcoms he’d been forced to watch with Sarah.

It didn’t take long before the empty bottles, or the shot gun was forgotten, as you pressed your lips against his in a desperate kiss, your cold nose rubbing against his own.

But Joel didn’t have it in him to complain.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The sound at the door jolted Joel from his sleep. He’d almost been dragged under, laying in that limbo state between awake and asleep– not yet in dreamland, but not still among the living.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Joel sat up, letting the duvet fall into his lap and exposing his chest as the streak of yellow light coming through the ajar door cut his bedroom in two. Joel had to squint to see you properly in the doorway as he shed the last grip of sleep.

“Angel?” he questioned, as a tight grip of fear ran through him. He sat up properly now, ready to jump out of bed, his hands already searching for his shotgun resting at the foot of the bed.

With his eyes now fully adjusted to the dark, he watched how you quietly stepped inside his bedroom, closing the door as gently as you could – and the panic seemed to seize just a little. You padded to the edge of his bed, still so quiet, with your hands clasped nervously over where the hem of your sleep shirt met the bare of your thighs.

“I couldn’t sleep,” you whispered.

Joel shifted over slightly and lifted the duvet for you to slip under. An open invitation– one you were quick to accept.

“D’you have a nightmare?” Joel whispered, the wolf hour keeping his voice down.  

You shifted closer to him, your head rested on his pillow, and Joel couldn’t help himself from touching your waist gently – his fingers dancing over the soft cotton of your shirt.

“No,” you whispered back, “just couldn’t sleep.”

Joel hummed and shifted over onto his back, extending his arm for you to shift closer. It felt natural now – touching you. You felt like his, and he felt like yours. He didn’t know where it was going, but he was starting to enjoy the road to you. To get to know you more, what made you laugh, your quirks, and the way your body felt under his hands.

The weight of your head on his chest, Joel welcomed; his other hand quick to intertwine with the one you’d slung over his middle. He just wanted you close now, every chance he got.

“’Just try ‘nd get some sleep, my angel.” Joel pressed a kiss to the top of your head before he pulled back and closed his eyes. With you in his arms now, he knew he’d have no trouble falling back asleep.

“I–” you whispered.

Joel hummed; his eyes still closed.

“I kept thinking about you.”

Curiously Joel opened his eyes to find yours. You had tilted your head to look at him, you mouth slightly parted as you studied him with moony eyes. The way you looked at him stirred something inside him, a warmth pooling in the depth of his core.

“Yeah?” he questioned with a slight cock of his eyebrow, “’bout what?”

Then you got shy all of a sudden, hiding your head in his chest. “Thought about how you touched me,” you whispered.

“Touched ya how?” he prodded, gliding his hand up your arm slowly.

He knew it was wrong to play with you like this. Everything was still new, each touch unexplored and seeking. He couldn’t fuck you, even if he wanted to, and he did, badly, but Joel couldn’t risk it. Not in this world, not at this farm, it wasn’t fair to you.

Over him you held your breath as he teased your skin, eyes fluttering shut as his hand moved down the side of your body, and under the duvet.

“Like… like how you touched me in my dream,” you exhaled in a breathless voice.

Now Joel sucked in a breath, holding it in his lungs as he tried to calm himself down. He had an idea on how he’d touched you in your dream, but he couldn’t hold himself back from asking anyway.

“’nd where did I touch ya in your dream, angel.”

You squirmed against his body when his hand reached your bare thigh under the duvet, and soon your fingers locked around his wrist to guide it up over the soft skin of the inside of your thigh.

“Here,” you whispered.

A small gasp escaped you when he brushed his thumb gently over your clothed clit. Joel felt the wet warmth of you against the pad of his finger, making his cock twitch to life in his pajama pants.

“Here?” Joel whispered back, as his thumb started rubbing small circles over your clit.

“Y-yes.”

The noise you made, the noise he pulled from you from his small touch, sounded like the sweetest melody in Joel’s ear, and he wanted to hear it again. He ran his fingers through your cloth covered folds, and felt the wetness already seeped through.

Fuck.

“My angel… You’re so wet already,” he tutted, “Were you touchin’ yourself thinkin’ ‘bout me in that bed of yours?” he hummed in your ear.

A shiver ran through your body when his fingers found your clit again. Slowly, he started circling his fingers again, and the quiet moan that escaped you filled his chest with desire.

“Yes,” you breathed out, almost a whimper.

His teeth caught on his bottom lip, biting down to stave off the groan he wanted to let out at your words. He needed more of you, to feel the softness of you, to pull more of those breathy whimpers from your breath.

“Tell me, angel.”

In a bold move, Joel dipped his fingers into your panties, gliding two thick fingers through the seam of your folds, dipping into your arousal soiling your panties. His touch made you suck in a quick breath, as your eyes squeezed shut in pleasure. A proud grin spread across Joel’s face. It had been a while since he’d been with a woman, even longer since he’d been with a woman he felt something for.

He’d felt something for Tess, but that had been so complicated – it didn’t work right, they didn’t work right together as more than friends, like the puzzle pieces didn’t quite fit together. But the sex had been good, something to make them both forget for a little while.

Everything with you worked almost too easily, and Joel wanted to make you feel good, you deserved it, he thought.

“I-I,” you said breathlessly, as he worked his fingers slowly up and down from your hole to your clit, “I thought about your f-fingers.”

“Yeah, baby? Where?” He whispered in your ear before placing a kiss to the column of your neck. Joel was playing with you now, seeing how desperate he could get you before he tasted you.

“I-inside… I thought about your fingers inside me.”

Joel smiled into your neck. This felt as good a time as any to slip a finger inside you, so he did, slowly. You keened under his touch, and the sound of the small gasp you let out made Joel’s cock even harder.

“Like this baby?” he teased, pumping his finger slowly in and out of your wet warmth. He felt your hand wrap around his wrist, holding his arm, almost guiding him in his movements. He curled his finger inside you, trying to find that spongy spot inside that made you see stars.

“Y-yes, Joel–ah!”

There it was.

He liked the sound of his name falling from your lips like this, and he intended to hear it again. He couldn’t help but think about the way your cunt would squeeze around his cock, how tight you’d feel around him, as he continued to massage the spot with the pad of his finger.

“That feels good, doesn’t it?” he cooed, and placed a kiss to your cheek.

“Uh-uh,” you nodded, your eyebrows pulling together in a frown of pleasure, “Uh-uh.”

He felt your walls flutter around him, and Joel knew he had you just where he wanted you. Quickly, he pulled out his finger before slipping in a second. Your wetness dripped down his hand, coating him in your arousal with every pump of his fingers inside you.

Your breathing picked up, and small moans escaped you in time with the thrusting of his fingers. Joel had to contain himself from rubbing his bulge against your thigh, chasing any kind of relief.

This wasn’t about him, he told himself, he only wanted to make you feel good.

He knew you were close now, with just a flick of his thumb over your clit he’d have you coming on his hand – but Joel didn’t want it to be over yet. He needed to taste you, he’d thought about it as he’d jerked himself of, fantasized about how you’d taste on his tongue.

Suddenly, Joel pulled his finger out of your cunt. A strangled noise of, what Joel could only describe as disappointment, escaped your lips. It made Joel chuckle.

“Joel,” you whined, and squeezed your fingers around his wrist.

He didn’t answer, instead he sat up, a teasing smile coating his face as he shifted down the bed and pulled the duvet with him.

“Calm down, angel, be good f’me, okay?”

His hand wrapped around your calf to spread you apart for him, and he slotted between your legs. He placed a gentle kiss to your knee and let his eyes find yours where they looked back at him wide with anticipation.

“Are you gonna be good f’me?” he asked as he gave you another soft kiss, but this time to the inside of your thigh.

A breath escaped you in staccato, and you nodded, “Y-yes, Joel.”

“Good girl,” he rumbled, placing fluttering kisses up your thigh until he reached your core.

Joel didn’t want to waste any more time.

He stripped you out of your panties, and threw them to the side to get lost in the bedding. Finally, he got a good look at you, and fuck you were beautiful. Your cunt glistened with your wetness in the low white light of the moon coming through the window. Your hole pulsed when his thumb found your clit, where he pulling the hood back slightly as he teased you.

“Please,” you pleaded, your hand wrapping around his shoulder; searching for something to hold on to.

“It’s okay, angel,” he comforted you, as his finger spread your lips apart, and put you on display for him before he pinched them together. Under him you let out the smallest of whimpers as he played with you.

“I’m gonna put my mouth on you now, baby,” he told you, his finger back to circling your clit. “Gonna taste you pussy.”

His eyes flicked from your cunt to your face, searching for any indication that this wasn’t what you wanted. But Joel didn’t find any, your mouth had dropped open in the smallest of o’s, and your eyes were glazed over in lust.

“Please, Joel,” you begged, spreading your legs wider for him.

A grin spread across Joel’s face, and at last he finally closed the distance between his lips and your cunt, placing a kiss to your clit to start.

A hand found his head, as your fingers dug into his hair, which only made him smile wider. He dipped lower, flattening his tongue to taste you properly. You tasted so good, a sweet-salty taste he instantly craved more of. He licked a stripe from your clit to your hole, gathering up the arousal leaking from you, and hummed in contentment.

The fingers in his hair tightened their grip as he teased at your hole, pushing his tongue inside you a couple of times and earning himself the sweetest moans. Joel made sure to remember every twist of pleasure, and whiny moan.

He continued with a lick up the seam of your folds, which made your hips buck, chasing the swipes and zigzags of his tongue.

“That feel good, angel?” he prodded before latching onto your clit.

“Y-yes!” you gasped as he sucked and flicked his tongue.

The noises he pulled from you went straight to his hard cock. He could feel the precum leak from the tip and staining the fabric of his pajama pants. Shamelessly, he started bucking his hips against the bed.

He had to calm down, this wasn’t about him.

With a sudden move he pulled away, making a breathy whine escape you at the loss of his mouth. Joel sat up on his knees, before his hands found the back of your knees.

“Hold your legs f’me, angel,” he commanded, and pushed your legs up towards your chest. You did as he told you, and hooked your arms under your knees to put your cunt on full display for him.

“Fuck,” he breathed out, “so pretty f’me… so messy– listen.”

He ran a finger down your cunt to prove his point, a slick wet sound filling the air.

“Please, Joel,” you begged again, your voice broken with a breathless whine.

“Please what, angel?” he mocked, a spark of pride filling his chest as he watched you bite down on your lip.

“Please… make me come,” you whispered, and Joel thought he’d never heard anything sound so hot in his life.

He dove down again, consumed your cunt. His tongue lapped at your core, his finger teased your hole, pushing the pad just inside your opening; in and out, in and out. His lips found your clit again, where he flattened his tongue before drawing precise circles. Around his finger your cunt pulsed – you were close.

Joel never slowed down his tempo, determined now to make you come. He continued to lick and suck, thrusting his fingers inside you fully now as he pushed up against the spot he’d found earlier. Your breath picked up the pace, small breathy moans and whines escaping you in an increasing tempo.

“R-right there,” you heaved, your face scrunched together in pleasure. “D-don’t stop– I’m gonna c-come.”

Joel hummed against you, continuing his rhythm with his fingers and his tongue, coaxing you closer and closer to your orgasm. You started to mumble something, but Joel couldn’t hear it clearly between your heaving breaths.

He was determined now.

Curling his fingers again, your eyes snapped open, “Joel!”

Your cunt spasms around his fingers, and then you came around his fingers. Your eyes screwed shut as you moaned, as your body squirmed under him.

You looked so beautiful– you sounded so beautiful.

He continued to massage his fingers inside you, thrusting them slowly as you rode out your high. Making sure to drink in every sound, every squirm and twist of your pleasure as he watched you calm down.

When your breath had started to come back to normal, Joel pulled his fingers from your cunt. His fingers were coated in you, coated in your slick arousal and your cum. With a cheeky smile he brought his fingers to his mouth as he locked eyes with you and sucked them clean. The wide-eyed look on your face was the sweetest thing he’d seen.

“Joel,” you begged, your hand pulling him down over you.

He held himself up with a hand digging into your pillow, and he couldn’t help but smile as he looked down at you. He never wanted to forget the look on your face in this moment, never wanted to forget what you looked like glowing in a post-orgasm bliss.

Your hands cupped his cheek and pulled him down to your lips. The kiss was desperate, wet and messy, and it made Joel’s heart soar inside his chest. His cock was so hard. He could slip it inside you just for a moment, only the tip.

“Please,” you said breathlessly between kisses, “you can fuck me, Joel.”

No, not yet.

With a shake of his head, he came to his senses, “No, angel, this was just f’you.”

Your eyes widened with confusion; a slight frown pulled at your eyebrows as he pulled away. Joel bought himself some time by pulling you closer and wrapping an arm around you, careful not to press his hard cock into your ass.

“There ain’t exactly any condoms out here,” he told you, “It’s just too risky.”

It was a sorry excuse, Joel knew it, and he could tell you did too. His boner rubbing into your ass told you as much. Joel wanted to, he wanted to fuck you, but he just couldn’t, not yet anyway. Not until he knew that it was what you wanted, that he was what you wanted.

A moment went by before he heard you whisper, “You can pull out?”

Joel couldn’t hold back the smile threatening to spill across his face, “I’ve heard that one before, didn’t exactly go to plan.”

“What do you mean?” you asked, turning around in his arms to find his face.

Shit.

“Nothin’,” he shook his head. He didn’t want to think about that right now, didn’t want to feel that grief that’s never gone away, didn’t want it to tear at the happiness he felt in this moment. “It’s just somethin’ from before.”

Your interest seemed to pique at that. You turned around fully in his arms and slung your arm around his broad chest. Your eyes glittered with curiosity, “How was it? Your life before?”

Memories flashed before Joel’s eyes; days of hard work under the Austin sun, drunk laughter at the bar with his brother, pink birthday parties, and singing along to girl groups in the truck.

He held his breath for a moment before he let out a quiet sigh, “Normal, I guess.”

When he looked down at you where you rested your head on his shoulder, it seemed his brief answer had disappointed you, so he decided to elaborate, “I worked too damn much– me ‘nd my lil’ brother we uh, had a business together–”

“Contractors,” you remembered.

“Yeah,” he chuckled, “that’s right.”

“What’s his name?” you asked.

“Who’s name?” Joel frowned.

“Your brother,” you said, the ‘duh’ not spoken out loud, but your tone indicative of it either way.

“Uh, Tommy.”

“Joel and Tommy,” he could hear the smile in your voice. “What’s he like?”

Joel sucked in a breath, “A pain in my ass first of all.”

A playful slap landed on his chest and Joel couldn’t help but smile, “I’m serious.”

Interlocking his fingers with your hand on his chest, Joel opened up to you. “Tommy always wanted to be a hero. He enlisted in the army right outta high school, I was… well, it doesn’t matter– they shipped him off to Iraq a few months later and he…” Joel trailed off, his eyes fixating on a crack in the ceiling.

“What happened when he got back?” you gently asked with a squeeze of his hand.

“Turns out bein’ in the army doesn’t make you feel much like a hero,” Joel sighed, “I watched out for him, kept him outta trouble, made sure he had a steady job.”

“You’re a good brother,” you told him, but Joel felt the opposite.

“I don’t know,” Joel shook his head slightly, “Then the outbreak happens, and Tommy convinces me to join a group makin’ their way up to Boston, which I did, mostly to keep an eye on him, keep him alive. We meet Tess, join a crew ‘nd… did some things I ain’t proud of, but we were survinin’, right?”

You squeezed his hand again, urging him to continue. “Then Tommy meets Marlene. She talks him into joinin’ the Fireflies. Same mistake he made when he was eighteen– wants to save the world. ‘Course, last I heard he quit the Fireflies too. So, now he’s on his own out there.”

“And that’s how you ended up here, looking for him.” You said the words slowly, like you were contemplating each word, “and he’s still out there somewhere.”

A lump of guilt grew in Joel’s throat. Had he abandoned his brother for the safety of your arms? Let Tess die for nothing?

“Yeah,” he swallowed around his guilt, “Last contact I heard from him came from around the Cody tower– in Wyoming.”

“Cody?” you sat up, “That’s not too far from Jackson… maybe that’s where he is? I need to ask Arthur, but there’s no other settlements around here except in Jackson.”

A small glimmer of hope awakened in him, “You sure?”

“Yeah,” you nodded your head, “when spring comes you should go to Jackson with Arthur– maybe he’s there!”

Your enthusiasm was cute; the way you seemed to glow above him. “Maybe,” he hummed, noncommittedly, as he pulled you down to rest against his chest again.

A moment passed in silence before you whispered, “And this Tess… was she your wife?”

“No, she… she was my partner– but she was family.” The words strained in his throat, like they didn’t want to come out, “She’s dead… got bit.”

“I’m sorry, Joel,” you said, your voice gentle as you squeezed him tighter. “I understand… my family–” you cut yourself of, but Joel understood.

Dead.

“Arthur said I wasn’t the first person passin’ through. I’m guessing that was you?”

“Yeah,” you sighed, “I uh, my family and I, we were travelling with a group. It wasn’t very large, but I guess it was big enough to draw attention. One night, uh,” your voice started to tremble, and it broke something in Joel.

“Angel,” he whispered, his hand wrapping tighter around you, “It’s okay, you can tell me.”

“I’m sorry,” you sniffled, “it’s just really hard to talk about.”

“Don’t apologize, I know baby, I know,” Joel soothed before pressing light kisses to the top of your head.

“One night,” you cleared your throat, “We’d camped, had dinner and I… I waited for my parents to fall asleep so I could sneak into the tent of this boy that I liked, Ben. He was the only person my age in our group. I had just turned eighteen and I was in love, I guess.”

You paused, and Joel pressed another kiss to the top of your head. “We were fooling around in his tent when I heard something outside,” you continued, “Ben said I was being paranoid, that I was just afraid to get caught by my parents, but then we heard a gunshot. It was chaos, e-everything, t-they’d killed my family, Ben, e-everyone. I managed to hide behind a tree, my feet were like frozen to the ground, I-I couldn’t run. I saw each and every face of the men who murdered my family. They raided the camp, took e-everything.”

“Angel,” Joel soothed when you started crying, “You’re safe… you’re safe now.”

“I don’t know how I did it, but I managed to get away– I just ran, ran as fast as I could for as long as I could. I’ve never been so cold, or tired or hungry as when I stumbled on this farm. I don’t remember the first days, I was so sick, but Alma and Arthur took care of me– I owe them everything, they saved my life.”

You were full on crying now, and Joel tried his best to calm you. He whispered soothing words in your ear, pressed soft kisses to your skin, and held you in his arm. He let you cry, as he cursed the people who’d done this to you – cursed the world who continued to take, and take, and take.

Joel couldn’t leave you, and maybe deep down he’d know it for a long time. He’d do as you’d suggested and go with Arthur to Jackson come spring, but he was coming back for you.

He wasn’t gonna leave you.

The days came and went and collected into a tranquil rhythm of the cogs in Joel’s routine. He’d wake to the bleeding blade of the sun over the lip of the mountain, or your kisses over his heavy eyelids. After that first night together, you slept in his bed more nights than not, as his bed transformed into a room for just the two of you. A place where Joel didn’t have to think or be anything other than completely himself. A place to laugh and smile, whisper under the bright moon, and hear his name fall from your lips in breathy moans.

Your chest rose and fell in a steady beat, your eyes closed so delicately you looked like a sleeping angel. And you were, his angel. Joel never made a habit of watching you sleep, but sometimes he’d indulge himself in the peacefulness of the hour between night and dusk. By the time the room started to turn blue with the morning light, that’s when Joel missed you too much; wrapping his arms around you with just enough movement to wake you without being blamed.

He’d let you dream for a few moments longer, though. Content to lay in the silence with you before the noise of the day would pull you apart. But the moment of peace could only last for so long, the soft thumps of Alma’s steps down the stairs told Joel it was time to wake up.

Under the crinkling of the sheets, Joel’s hand found the dip in your waist. He was about to kiss you good morning when he heard Alma’s steps come closer and closer. A surge of panic coursed to his chest.

“Joel?” she knocked on his door.

“I ain’t decent yet, Alma,” Joel yelled through the door. The loud bass of his voice made you blink your eyes open, looking up at him with a curious look.

“I’m sorry Joel– I was just letting you know that Arthur isn’t feeling well today.”

Joel sighed. This was the third time in as many weeks Arthur was sick, and now Joel was in for another day alone with the work and the trees.

“Thank you, ma’am. I’ll be out in a second.”

“I’m going to get started on breakfast for you, Joel,” she answered.

When Joel had thanked Alma, and her steps had faded away, Joel indulged himself in a morning kiss. The way your lips slotted against his felt like oxygen rebounding his lungs. 

“Again?” you sighed when you broke away from the kiss, your hand found his hair to brush a curl from his face.

“’s the cold I reckon– ‘nd the work… it ain’t exactly easy on the old man.”

You hummed and cupped his chin. “Maybe I should go with you today? Help you out?” you posed.

Joel heard himself chuckle and shook his head, “That ain’t happenin’, angel.”

A gasp left your lips in mock shock, “Why?”

“’Cause the animals would miss you, and I intend on stayin’ on their good side,” he said, a smile hanging off his face.

You narrowed your eyes at him playfully, intent on making him cave, “They’ll be fine.”

Joel only laughed, “You say that ‘nd the next thing I know I got Colonel Eggsworth on my ass.”

“I don’t believe that,” now you were giggling, “Colonel Eggsworth is the nicest rooster we’ve had!”

“I ain’t takin’ any chances, angel,” Joel pecked your lips.

“Coward,” he heard you mumble under your breath as he got out of bed. It made Joel smile, and a warmth gathered around his heart.

Back in the routine, after another quick kiss, you sneakily slipped back into your room to get dressed. While Joel pulled his sweater over his head, he thought about what it meant to wake up each morning with you and feel three words rive at his heart, never having it in him to say them, to let them spill out his mouth.

Maybe saying nothing was honesty’s default. Maybe it was how he could avoid telling you all the stupid things he wanted to say. So, for now he said nothing. Said nothing at the breakfast table. Nothing when you’d helped him saddle up Ingydar. And nothing as you waved him goodbye.

After months working in the woods, Joel did his work on autopilot. He always started with a reconnaissance round, looking for which trees to chop down. Then, with the weight of the axe in his hands, he’d start his work. Now, after they’d brought the horse out, the work was somewhat easier. He still had to chop down the tree, and clean off the branches, but he could move the trunks much easier now with the horse.

The wind howled like a hound, biting at Joel’s cheeks but the sun was out, and Joel didn’t mind. He’d gotten used to the cold by now, and Arthur had taught him quickly how to layer up. The increasing number of knitted pieces of clothing you’d made him also helped.

By the time the sun was at its highest peak, Joel debated going back for lunch. He’d done so every time he was alone out here, and especially after they’d started bringing the horse. The walk back had been cut in half on horseback, maybe even more than half now that he didn’t have to wade through the snow.

Looking back, Joel almost couldn’t see Ingydar where he’d tied him to a tree. He’d gone deeper into the woods than yesterday. Maybe it wasn’t worth it today? He could eat his packed lunch and finish up a little earlier instead.

The days had gotten shorter and shorter, and the hours of daylight had shrunk in the months he and Arthur had been working. But the sun had turned, Joel felt it. It wasn’t much, maybe a half hour or so, but he felt the difference.

He ate his lunch in the company of Ingydar, feeding him some carrots he’d snagged from the basement. He was a good horse, old and tired but hard working. Joel worked until the sun dropped behind the mountain, a shadow coating the world as it grew darker and darker. He needed to get back before it got properly dark. Joel quickly gathered his things, swinging his gun over his shoulders before he was back on horseback.

The horse knew the way back by itself at this point, even in the dark, but something wasn’t right. What was that smell? Small snowflakes started to fall from the sky the closer he got to the edge of the wood, but the smell only grew stronger.

Smoke.

Thoughts tumbled in Joel’s head, small fleets on a stormy sea. With a kick to the sides of Ingydar, they picked up their pace. The muted rhythm of horse hoofs against the packed snow trail, beat along to Joel’s heart.

A cloud of smoke rose up to the sky, dancing through bright yellow and orange flames. Joel couldn’t get there fast enough, pushing Ingydar to the limit as they galloped up the trail to the house. Joel’s heart was in his throat.

What the fuck was happening?

The flames licked at the sky, devouring the house, moaning and kicking like a beast. The heat was unbearable, the light almost blinding. Ingydar neighed loudly as Joel quickly jumped down, not bothering to tie him to something or calm him down. Joel watched the house burn in total disbelief. Frozen to the ground by shock, his heart beating loudly in his ears.

You.

Where were you? You had to been able to get out somehow, right? Why was everything so quiet?

Something caught his eye then, only a few steps from the porch stairs. His feet carried him without a second thought. Arthur was clad in only his pajamas and his robe. He must’ve been forced out of bed. The snow around him was stained crimson from where the life had spilled out of him.

Joel’s first thought was that he was dead, but then Arthur’s eyes flickered open to find Joel’s. The snow creaking under Joel’s shoes must’ve pulled him from his slowed death.

“Joel?” he croaked, blood spilling from his mouth.

“Don’t try ‘nd speak.” Joel’s voice came out colder than he’d expected. This couldn’t be real. Falling to his knees, Joel worked quickly, placing Arthur’s head gently in his lap as he found the source of the bleeding.

The blood oozed from a hole in his stomach. A bullet wound, most definitely. Joel put as much pressure on it as he could manage. His mittens drank the blood greedily, saturated by red. It just kept coming, the warmth coating his fingers.

What the fuck had happened?

Under him Arthur coughed, spilling more blood down his chin, coating his white beard in red. “Listen…”

Joel shook his head. This couldn’t be happening. This was just a bad dream. If he could just open his eyes, he’d be back in bed with you. He just needed to open his eyes.

“She’s alive,” Arthur managed to say, “They took her alive. Raiders–” another cough, “Broke in. Alma dead.”

The panic in Arthur’s face was almost too much for Joel to watch. His breath was heavy, breathing through this new information as his head spun with questions. Arthur’s eyes glazed over, and Joel knew there wasn’t enough time.

“Where is she?” he hurried, his hand lightly tapping Arthur on his cheek. He just needed to stay alive a little longer.

“Woods.” Was the only word Arthur could manage, as he used the last of his strength to point south.

An awful stench mixed with the smoke, and Joel knew Arthur was gonna die. His body couldn’t control itself anymore, ridding itself of the last of pieces of life. There was nothing beautiful about it. Nothing peaceful or dignified. Not how an old man like Arthur should leave this world.

Joel grabbed Arthur’s hand, it was clammy and cold, but it was the least he could do – Arthur wasn’t gonna die alone. He tried to think of something to say, anything at all, but the words died on his tongue.

“Alma…” Arthur whispered with his last breath, and Arthur’s hand went slack in his hand.

An eerie silence fell over the farm, safe from the fire crackling and moaning. Emotions raged inside Joel, fighting to bubble to the top. Anger, confusion, guilt, grief. A loud crack could be heard, like glass shattering, and it pulled Joel from his shock. He gently laid Arthur down on the ground, before he managed to rise on unsteady feet.

A loud noise started ringing in his ears, and Joel’s breath started coming out in an uneven pace. Shit. Joel tied a fist over his chest, his body tilting forward as he tried to catch his breath over the panic tying up his throat. He took a few shuffling steps before he hurled, gall burning his tastebuds as Joel vomited on the ground.

When he’d thrown up all there was in his stomach, Joel groaned. He ripped off the bloody mittens as quickly as he could, his hands digging into the white snow to wash his mouth of the bitter taste.

Joel burned inside and outside. Standing so close to the house, the heat was unbearable. Everything was unbearable. Sarah was dead, Tess was dead, Alma was dead, and Arthur was dead.

Could he take anymore grief? Joel wondered. How much grief was a man supposed to endure in a lifetime? None of this was fair.

Had he just gone back to the house for lunch, they’d all be alive. Had he not dragged her across the country to find his stupid brother, she’d still be alive. Had he not told that soldier she was hurt, she’d still be alive.

As he stared into the raging fire, Joel felt his own anger simmer to the surface. It pushed away all the grief, and the guilt, and sharpened his senses, made him laser focused. His arms and legs moved by their own accord, tugging the shotgun from his shoulder, before he started moving in the direction Arthur had pointed.

They were gonna pay for this. They’d made his world go up in flames and struck the match on their own life in return.

As Joel vanished into the night, he left a piece of himself behind. He was going to find you. He was going to hold you and kiss you again. Nothing or no one could come in the way of that.

Nothing could come in the way of Joel.

i hope someone liked this? i'm very curious about what your thoughts for the last part will be, so if you have them please leave a comment, reply or an ask. they are always super welcomed, and they make me super happy <3 other than that thank you for reading!!

[corkinavoid]

DPxDC Fae!Danny But Make It Fantasy

I've already made a whole Changeling AU with fae!Danny, but guess what, I have decided not to achieve any level of chill with fae ideas.

We all know Danny is Ghost Kind. Now, what if he is a Fae Prince? A Prince of Winter, to be exact. Imagine all the ice castles (Elsa, I'm looking at you), the snowy lands, northern lights in his crown, a cape made of tiny ornate snowflakes. Crystalline ice swords, skin so white he doesn't even look alive, eyes clear and blue like a frozen lake. Formal gowns, ballrooms, duels and carriages pulled by horses made of snowstorms.

He used to be a changeling, put in place of Dan. Grew up in a village with his parents being witch hunters, or maybe just hunters in general. Meanwhile Dan, a human child whose place he took, grew up in a fae realm, surrounded by magic creatures and miracles.

But Danny couldn't hide he was a fae his whole life. He used to look human when he was a baby, but as the time went by, he started to look more and more fae-like. Jazz was the first to notice it, of course, but this was Danny, a child she practically raised, so she dealt with it. Their parents, though, did not.

Sam and Tucker are in the know, for sure. Sam used this opportunity to learn witchcraft - who is better to learn from than an actual fae? Tucker is a blacksmith, as is his family. The first thing he asked Danny when he discovered he is a fae, was "how in the seven kingdoms are you a fae, and you decided a blacksmith is your best friend?" because, honestly, not even Fentons have so much iron around them as Tucker does.

Now, you may be thinking of where the DC part comes in here.

Well, the Waynes are actually the royal family. Bruce is the King of Gotham, and his children are princes, princesses, and heirs. They are also protecting the country not only by the word of the law, but also from the other, more shady side. I think they should go by Shadows, not Bats, though, since I doubt a name like 'Batman' would fly in the fantasy world.

Constantine is a mage, the strongest one alive, and yet he couldn't care less for his uniqueness if he tried for a week. Diana is the Queen of Themyskira, of course. I think Krypton should be its own country or a continent, ruled by the family of El. Although Jon is the first heir to a throne, due to Kon being, well, a bastard in terms of medieval customs.

After Danny's race is found out by his parents, he leaves for the fae realm, and he offers his friends and his sister to join him. Tucker refuses, Sam and Jazz take him up on that, but Sam leaves shortly after - she mostly used it to get away from her overbearing parents. She is now a witch who lives in the woods all alone, and no one can find her. She keeps contact with Danny, though. Jazz is traveling both the fae and the human realms, just having fun with it.

Jason is part-fae. After he died, a cult has abducted his body - the cult leader being Ra's, of course - and used it for an experiment. They used some fae magic to bring him back, or, maybe, they have tried to merge a fae and a human, creating a chimera. This was the first option of Ra's trying to get closer to Bruce in order to take power. It was not a very successful option since both Jason and whatever was left of the fae inside him decided not to obey the madman.

Damian was... slightly more successful. He was not merged with anything, but his development was magically enhanced.

And now, while Danny is back in the fae realm and he is a crowned Prince of Winter, Clockwork has a problem. He knows humans are afraid of fae, but this is not a very productive way to go. And there is a timeline somewhere there that can fix it.

Of course, Danny is right in the middle of that timeline. Now, Clockwork just needs to find a way to help Danny make an alliance with humans.

[theonlyhonoredone]

My Man

Pairing: Ryomen Sukuna x Reader, Modern AU

Warnings: none

Summary: a sneak peak into your relationship with Ryomen

Masterlist

You’d met Ryomen Sukuna at a house party your freshman year of college. A hundred thousand people warned you to stay away but you never listened to a single one. It didn’t matter what they said because he was enchanting. Sure he was cruel and crass, about as far from prince charming as one could get, but that didn’t matter to you. Always living on the basis of forming your own opinions and giving second chances you overlooked every red flag and let him slot himself into your life without any fight. Slowly but surely he let you in too, letting his tough exterior melt away in favor of a much softer man. 

He kept that part of him hidden away from everyone else, it made you feel special. You were the only one that got to see his real smile, hear his real laugh, to fall asleep next to him. One day he promised to clean himself up, just a bit, if you’d be his. He’d stop seeing his other girls, he’d commit to just you. That promise had sent your heart soaring. It didn’t matter when everyone pointed out he was doing the bare minimum, you knew for him it was much more than that. You didn’t need anyone else to understand your relationship anyway, that was between you and Ryomen.

“I love you,” his chapped lips would mutter into your burning skin late at night, “I love you, I love you, I love you.”

He chanted it like a prayer while you called out his name. Teary eyes burning as you squinted at the ceiling of his old Torino Cobra. So close to touching heaven you’d swear you could hear the angels singing. He’d take you there a hundred thousand times if you asked. He’d let you hang on that crux for the longest minute of your life before he’d bring you crashing back down to earth. It burned like some divine flame, you screamed his name as he drowned himself in you. Once you were back with him he’d ask if you were satisfied, his smile smug and his voice low. 

Under the cover of darkness you’d redress and crawl onto the roof of the car. He’d lay out a blanket for you to lay on and wrap you in his jacket when you began to shiver. A star map you’d had since your childhood was laid out in front of you both. Ryomen would lay his head in your lap while you pointed out different constellations. He’d stare up at the sky, focused much more on the sound of your voice than anything else. Truthfully he was jealous of the stars for holding your attention over him. If he had it his way he’d pluck them all out of the sky and hide them so you’d never look at anything but him with that pretty twinkle in your eye. 

“Stop talking about the stars and lay with me,” he’d demand once the jealousy became too overwhelming.

You’d giggle and fold up the map before laying beside him, your head on his chest and an arm thrown over his middle. He’d wrap you up tight in his arms and press his lips to the crown of your head. Eventually your hands would grow cold and you’d slip them under his shirt. He’d hiss as you warmed yourself on his skin, he always accused you of being cold blooded but never dared push you away. No, he always wanted you as close as possible, he had from the moment your eyes met. He swore he’d keep you with him until the end of time and he had no intention of breaking that promise ever.

[idontcaboose]

Haunted car au, pt 6

The next part is fighting me a bit, so I will just post this one for now.

Previous

Duke reeeaalllyyy does not get paid enough for this.

Good news, he was able to get the names of the dealers and suppliers and also narrowed down the places of interest to three warehouses. All he had to do was drop that info onto the server for the night crew, and that was that, not his problem anymore.

Bad news, the car is becoming his problem.

When Duke entered the cave, he could see the wheels turning, and not in a sick burnout way Jason does anytime he gets behind the wheel, they were just turning left and right. Then to add more insult to Duke's attempt at ignoring it, the car opened its driver door in what may have been a mockery of a greeting. Honestly, Duke could have also ignored that but then it seemed to fucking Panic and set off its own alarms and proceed to flail all the doors open and reverse to the point that the back wheels made it off the platform and into the gutter that runs though the cave. If Duke was a betting man, and he was, he would bet that whatever possessed or replaced the Batmobile was so incompetent that he had to worry more about Its safety from the Batfam. Whether that was protection from arrest or adoption is still up in the air.

Either way, this is becoming Duke's problem. He is really not paid enough for this. Time to calm down a sentient car.

“Hey, car buddy? You ok?”

Duke wasn't sure what he was expecting when he was talking to a car of all things, but absolute silence wasn’t it. Was this thing going to try to play car now? After everything that just happened? Duke slowly walked up to the driver's side door and looked in for the green blob person, only to see them in the back seat sprawled out. Duke tried to not think too hard while putting the car back in its spot, but the list of facts he has so far kept ticking.

1. The Batmobile has a new passenger or has been replaced

2. The thing/person is not good at hiding, so probably not a villain plot

2a. If it is a villain plot, they got the absolutely wrong person to do it

2aa. Possible meta forced to spy?

3. The person just freaked out so hard they fainted after setting off the Batmobile alarms.

4. Alfred will know what to do right?

5. Try to communicate again with the person in the car.

It didn't take long for the blur on the backseat to shift again. Luckily they didn't immediately jump into the driver's seat, where Duke still sat. Duke turned to look in the backseat, time to start this interrogation.

“Hey, you ok?” Duke was happy that he was able to see the head nod that the fuzzy blur gave.

“That's good. Now, I can't see you too well, but we can work out some basic questions, alright?” Another head nod answered him.

"Are you in danger? Like, did someone force you to do this?” The head shake that was produced shook the car. Duke internally sighed in relief, not a villain plot or meta trafficking gone wrong.

“So this was just an accident, and I am guessing you are now stuck?” Duke knew he was not as good at body language reading as the others, but the wave of embarrassment and resignation this blob was giving off confirmed that whoever/whatever this is, was not a total threat.

Next?

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[hannibals-favourite-meal]

Soulmates with Peter Parker? 🥺💕

.⋆｡Arachnophobia｡⋆.

Peter Parker x plus size reader

Who knew that moving to New York could be just the kick the universe needed to fulfil your destiny?

Warnings: fluff, soulmate AU, explosions WC: 876

Library- @hannibals-favourite-meal-library

6k Celebration Bingo

Well this spider doesn’t hate you.

Those were the words that appeared along your collarbone the day you turned 18. The black lettering was just barely visible when you awoke that morning but by lunch time, all of your friends were poking fun at the strange phrase now permanently branded into your skin. You glared at them as you told them to back off and that you at least had an interesting soulmate if their first words to you were as strange as that.

But a nagging part of your mind wondered if they were right, if the person that burned with the same flame as you did was some kind of weirdo. As the months went on, you imagined countless scenarios where those six words would be uttered to you. Maybe at a frat costume party where they would be dressed like a spider. Or they were your next door neighbour and they saved you from a stray arachnid that had made a home in your kitchen. Or maybe they were just really into spiders in general. Needless to say, your obsession with your soulmate's words had slowly developed an aversion to the insects, going completely out of your way to avoid them just in case your soulmate was a weirdo like your friends had predicted.

Three years after you finally escaped the social wormhole of high school, you moved to New York City. With a scholarship under your belt and dreams of going to a college that could handle more than 300 students, you moved into a tiny dorm right at the edge of Columbia’s campus. You were excited to chase your dream but first- you needed groceries.

With headphones fitted tightly against your ears, the deafening sounds of the city blurred around you. You weren’t really sure exactly where you were going but it was early afternoon and your phone was fully charged, so what was the harm in wandering for a while. 

New York City opened up before you, the skyline glittered with thousands of windows and bright lights capturing your gaze no matter where you turned. It was all so exciting and rather distracting. You were ignorant to the commotion building behind you, until a strange heat licked at the back of your neck.

In a second, your world went completely upside down, literally. The only warning you received before the wind was knocked from your lungs was the blast of some sort of explosion and then, the world zipped by you. Someone had a firm hold on your thick waist as dots of light swirled around you. You clung to them, your head spinning as they lifted you higher and higher, until it all suddenly stopped.

Gravel crunched under your shoes as you stumbled forwards. A hand curled around your wrist, keeping you upright. You crashed into his strong chest. Your eyes slowly came into focus as the ringing in your ears faded. Sirens filled the air yet all you could think about was the insignia of a spider splayed across the red suit right in front of you.

“God I hate spiders.” The white eyes of his mask widened comically as you heard his breath stutter. His grip on your waist tightened for just a second.

“Well this spider doesn’t hate you.” The world stilled in that moment. You leaned back just enough to look into his eyes, unable to stop yourself from smiling.

“I didn’t expect this.”

“Neither did I, I mean I am Spider-MAN and you hate spiders.” Heat crawled up your cheeks while you bashfully glanced away but quickly looked at him as he laughed. Something deep in your chest came to life with his laugh, quickly spreading through your veins and making your heart flutter with a whole new emotion. 

His gloved hands slipped down to the small of your back. You could feel the way his body shook with adrenaline, just the same as yours was. “Maybe I don’t hate this spider.”

“I could be venomous.” You shrugged, your fingers slowly creeping up the expanse of his torso, feeling the toned muscle that lay just beneath his suit.

“As long as you don’t bite, I think we’ll be ok.” His mask scrunched up where you imagined his lips would be.

“I-“ Another explosion rocked the building beneath your feet. He tore his gaze away from you. He sighed heavily and reluctantly took a step back. “I have to go.”

Your touch lingered on him for as long as you could, almost fearful that he would completely vanish the second you let him go. “I know.” The tips of his fingers brushed against the swell of your hips.

“I’ll come back, I swear.” His voice cracked. 

“Go save the world Spidey and I’ll let you take me on a date.” And with a gentle kiss to his masked cheek, you fully broke away from the other half of your soul. 

He jumped onto the ledge of the building you stood atop of. “Just so long as there’s plenty of flies for me to eat.” And as he swung away, your laughter still ringing in his ears, Peter was suddenly glad that there was one person in the world who hated spiders.

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[haechaninmyheart]

feel it

the image does not belong to me. credits to the original owner.

summary - during an afternoon spent in a practice room, you learn more than just the dance routine from jeno.

pairing - idol!jeno x afab!reader.

genre - smut, idol!au.

word count - 1.7k.

warnings - accidentally feeling jeno’s boner?, blowjob, a lil bit of facefucking, kinda pinning reader against wall, nipple play, creampie. 

author’s note - bonjours! have some jeno smut hehe >:) also i do apologise for any errors but I don’t have the brain cells to proof read :< hope u enjoy this shawties luv camisole. 

18+ content ahead, minors don’t interact!!!

. . .

Jeno’s body is moving sharply as music blasts from the speakers within the practice room. He’s learning the choreography to the latest song you two have been working on. It's not due to be released until next Saturday, but both of you have been perfecting the choreography for it. The teaser had already received a lot of love and support from fans so you don’t want to fall below their high expectations. 

He continues to carry on as you stroll into the room, the squeaking of his trainers against the floor sounding unpleasant to your ears and making you grimace for a moment but you know you’ll soon be able to ignore the awful noise. 

Setting your bag down in one corner of the room and leaning against the wall with a water bottle in your hand, you watch Jeno complete the last steps of the choreography. The steps he was planning on teaching you today. 

As the room falls quiet, Jeno saunters over to where you’re standing, mirroring your body against the wall as he soon slides down to the floor. The sweat beads on his forehead glisten under the lighting of the practice room, suggesting that he’s been here for a while. 

“You’re better than me.” You chuckle, leaning down to pass him the bottle of water. You’re referring to the earlier parts of the dance routine you’d already learned. 

Jeno chugs it down in one go before responding with a thank you and bounces back on his feet soon after. Squishing the plastic bottle in his hands with ease, before dropping it on the floor. His strength always amazed you and made you wonder what he would be like in bed?

“Right!” You chirp and pace to the middle of the practice room, feeling ashamed as if Jeno could hear your thoughts from how close he was squatting next to you. “Teach me the choreography.”

. . .

It’s 2:35pm when you finally master the whole choreography from start to finish. Your legs are beginning to feel a little weak and you nearly want to fall to the floor when Jeno says- 

“Now, from the beginning.”

You face scrunches into a frown and you want to complain about how you are tired but you understand that your performance was quite soon. Any time spent practising for it was going to help you give a better show to your fans. 

The song starts and before you know it, your body starts moving to the music blaring from the speakers. You even catch yourself mouthing the lyrics as you study your moves in the mirror, your eyes occasionally wandering to Jeno’s figure when he got close. 

You’re more than halfway through the song when you feel a slight pain in your calf and mess up your step. 

Jeno’s awfully fast to notice.

“We were so close!” He cries out, raising both his arms, dramatically flailing them as he falls to his knees. 

You blurt out a long string of apologies but before you can explain that the discomfort in your leg is what led you to mess up, Jeno’s behind you. He begins to guide you through that specific step, his body dangerously close to yours. 

You feel as if you even moved back an inch, you’d be pressed right against him and that’s the only thing that occupies your mind as he directs you with his hands. It’s not until they move to your hips to instruct you that you nearly throw yourself away from him. 

“Jeno!” Your tone sounds panicked when you blurt out his name but you try to hide it with a light laugh. “Not, not too close… ” Your face feels hot.

“Why?” Jeno questions you, innocence and sweat painting his face. 

“Because, uh, because,” You pretend to fan your face, “it’s too hot in here, wow.”

“You can take off your sweatshirt, you know.” 

You pause. 

If there was another level of embarrassment that one could feel, you were surely feeling it at this moment. 

“Uh, I, I can’t...” Nervousness laced in between your words, “I’m not wearing anything underneath.” 

“Huh?”

The song stops, for a moment but it feels too long with how Jeno is staring at you, your confession repeating in his hand. He watches you roll up your sleeves and then the music begins again, automatically. 

You go straight performing the dance routine as if this interaction never took place but underneath your terrible poker face, you want the ground to open up and swallow you whole.  

Jeno doesn’t join you in the choreography this time, instead his eyes remain focused on your figure in the mirror. He’s giving you the same look you were giving him as he crushed the bottle.  

Soon the song reaches the part where you messed up a couple minutes ago and with his full attention on you, he can see your body tense up. He guides you once again but this time there’s a few more inches of space between the two of you. 

However, it doesn’t stay this way for long. With an unfocused mind, you find yourself tripping over your own feet and falling backwards- How unprofessional- but the cherry on top? You bring Jeno down with you and in doing so, his boner presses against you and you feel it right against your ass. 

Jeno tries to hide it, adjusting his t-shirt and moving onto his feet before asking if you were alright. 

“Oh my god, you’re hard.” 

Jeno’s cheeks begin to go pink. 

“Are you?” 

He can’t believe you’re actually asking him that after nearly taking a seat on his lap as if it were free real estate but gives the slightest nod down. 

“Is this… just from watching me dance?” You harshly whisper, covering your mouth. Unsure if to apologise to him or thank yourself for being clumsy. 

Another subtle nod. 

“I’ll be right back.” You watch Jeno stand up, the shape of his cock visible from underneath his top and he begins to pace towards the door. 

“Wait!” Your voice causes him to stop mid step and he turns around. “I can help.” 

Jeno turns around and your eyes go straight down to the bulge in his joggers. 

“If you plan on jerking off in the toilets… I can give you something better.” 

Jeno doesn’t even think twice when you offer, not even questioning what you may have on your mind. Right now, anything you could give would be better than his own hands. 

Soon you have the man against the wall with you kneeling by his feet and his cock in your mouth. He’s packing more than you had thought but you weren’t an amaetur to blowjobs. Deep throating his length as you looked up at him. 

Jeno could just cum from the way you were looking up at him, your glistening pretty eyes and his cock stuffed into your mouth. Your pretty lips wrapped around his dick made Jeno want to facefuck you until his climax. 

Whilst one hand holds up his t-shirt, the other plants itself in the roots of your hair. Jeno’s tugging at the strands gently but when he feels his orgasm creeping up on him, his grip tightens and you move back. 

“Take your sweatshirt off.”

You pull it over your head with caution, trying to avoid getting the mixture of precum and saliva on your lips and chin, on your clothes. You’re down to your bra and leggings. 

Jeno gives you a hand, pulling you up before pushing you against the wall. It feels cold against your back as Jeno tugs down the straps of your bra before he begins to kiss and suck your boobs. Whilst his lips were on one, he massages the other, a few times tugging at the nipple but not too harshly. He didn’t know what your pain tolerance was but still he enjoyed being mean in the sheets. 

One of his hands trails down to your core and his palm massages you over your leggings, leaving a wet spot from your arousal. Jeno hears you let out a moan, the sound like a melody to his ears and his dick twitches against your thigh. With one swift movement he flips you around, your face against the cold surface and your ass against his cock. 

Something in you makes you want to push your ass back against his length, so you do and earn a warning from his. 

“Don’t.” For the first time in a while you’re intimidated by Jeno. 

He yanks down your leggings with such force, it’s got you wondering if he’s mad at you and more importantly, if he plans on showing you an mercy as he fucks you. 

The answer was no to both.

The mix of precum and saliva of his cock acted like lube, but it’s not like you needed any with how damp that one spot on your leggings was. 

When Jeno pushes himself inside of you, you let out an even louder moan and he urges you to keep it down. You two were still in the practice room and the song wasn’t repeating to drown out your lewd noises. Your moaning, his grunting and groaning, you two hoped that these noises went unnoticed by anyone walking in the hallway. 

Since you wanted to push your ass back, Jeno would gladly have you doing that with his hand on your hip yet again and the other on your wrist. Your left arm lays flat against the wall and your other hand is down, massaging your own clit. 

“Oh god, this feels so, so fucking good.” Jeno groans as you pant, you pussy squeezing his cock so nicely. 

“Yeah, yeah, so good…” You gasp, “Jeno, Jeno, I’ll cum… soon, Jeno please.”

“Cum, cum, wherever you want.” Jeno tries to maintain the steady pace of his thrusting but he could feel himself nearing his own orgasm. He tries to delay it, but with the force of your squeezing he could only put it off for so long. 

Even after climaxing Jeno doesn’t stop fucking you. His hand moves from your hip to your clit in such a subtle manner, you don’t notice until you feel him push your hand away. The way his fingers circle your most sensitive spot, have you going numb with pleasure against the wall. 

His cum drips out onto your leggings and the practice room floor and finally, he’s got you to cum as you chant his name like a mantra.

As you lean against the wall, Jeno’s own body pressed against your back, you think that this may be a regular occurrence if you keep messing up the choreography. 

You can feel it.

© haechaninmyheart — all rights reserved. reposting or modifying of any work posted on this blog is not allowed (including translations).

[wren-kitchens]

I believe you (i'm not wrong)

2042 words

gem winces as she nicks her finger with the hammer for what she's pretty sure is the fourth time tonight, but she's not really been keeping count. it might be the fifth. it- okay, gem knows she should sleep, but she just- it- she doesn’t like the idea of sleeping right now. you can’t keep your mind off stuff if you’re asleep—they just turn into nightmares, and gem really doesn’t want to have another nightmare again. it's- she doesn't want to bother scar again.

this will make no sense if you don't know this au, and it is so self indulgent, but it's easier to format fics on tumblr than on discord GKFHD

anyway this is an au that me and stiff came up with and then made increasingly more angsty. this is the happiest part of the whole plotline if you can believe it

cw: panic attack, hurt/comfort

gem winces as she nicks her finger with the hammer for what she's pretty sure is the fourth time tonight, but she's not really been keeping count. it might be the fifth. it- okay, gem knows she should sleep, but she just- it- she doesn’t like the idea of sleeping right now. you can’t keep your mind off stuff if you’re asleep—they just turn into nightmares, and gem really doesn’t want to have another nightmare again. it's- she doesn't want to bother scar again.

she could bother joel. hypothetically speaking, gem could go up the mountain and knock on his door and awkwardly explain at three in the morning why she can’t sleep and that she needs his help, but- void, there is nothing she wants to do less right now. she loves joel- really, and it's more than likely that he'd be pretty helpful actually. it's- it's just too much right now. gem would rather build her problems away.

it takes longer than it probably should have done for gem to realise that her hand is bleeding, but she can’t be bothered to do anything about it; it doesn’t hurt much. besides, it's just another scar to add to the list of silly accidents she's had while building—like that time she almost took her finger off because she wasn't paying attention when she was dismantling some iron bars with less care than she should have been.

wiping sweat off her forehead, gem steps back for a second, taking in her work. her very wonky work. void, gem really needs to sleep soon, but there's no way that's happening without at least four nightmares, regardless of how much she tries to keep her mind occupied by something else. it's all she can think about- she's barely even done anything, despite 'building' for at least six hours now. the wood is unevenly cut, the moss is slowly dropping chunks into the sand from the roof, and the whole house looks like it's about to collapse on itself. that's- okay, that's the look she was going for, but it was meant to be structurally sound in actuality.

this was a bad idea- building a town that reminds her so damn much of where she grew up. it wasn't- it's not like gem really thought it through until it was too late to change her theme, and now she's kind of stuck. how in- anyone's name did she not even realise what she was building until after the nightmares started again?

.. don't answer that, actually. she doesn’t want to know.

maybe if gem sits down here, she'll fall asleep before she can start thinking about.. anything she doesn’t want to be thinking about. it feels like her limbs are made of lead, and gem has begun to debate on which sleep deprivation is worse: the exhausted building or the nightmares. maybe she'll flip a coi- what the fuck was that.

a figure- there's something- it's coming-

she hasn't- why the fuck didn’t she sleep- she knows what happens if she doesn’t sleep. can it reach her? can it make it onto the sand- can it outrun her? what if- what if it can walk, and she just never- gem never knew because she only encountered it whilst sailing but- she's endangered the whole server because of her stupid mistake-

stealing a glance behind her, gem's heart drops into the abyss- it's gaining on her. she's dead, she's going to die, she's doomed everyone, there's no escape-

something grabs her arm.

a strangled scream forces itself out of her tattered lungs, and she swings- desperation flooding her mind. she's gone- she's going to die- she's going to die-

"gem! please- it's me! it's me."

she opens her eyes, breaths still tearing their way through her throat, and- when did she get on the floor? her vision swims, body shaking too violently to steady herself and she thinks she must be drowning. there's a figure above her- there's- there's something above her.

her hands are numb and she's shaking and she's on the floor and she's not drowning, but she may as well be because she can’t fucking breathe. she's going to die and she's going to deserve it- she's- it's all- there's nothing left-

someone is holding her hands. she is having a panic attack and someone is holding her hands. she's not dying- she wishes she was dead. why would- who is- where is she? who is talking?

there's- there's her name. she feels like she's falling, but someone is talking and holding her hands and she's not drowning. did she- did she break something? was it her fault? she didn’t mean to.

a hand- a thumb against her face. gem was- she is crying. her vision is clearing but nothing will process and she just- she just wants to go home. she doesn't have a home anymore. she broke her home.

she didn't mean to. she's sorry- she just wanted to fix it. she's sorry. she is breathing, and she's not drowning, and she's not dying. right? is- is she right?

"right." there's a voice, and it sounds like home. she is crying again. "you’re okay."

no that's- she's not- she can’t be okay, ever again- she ruined it. there's nothing- she can’t- there's nothing left. she broke it- she ruined it. she's sorry.

her hands are warm. someone is holding her hands, and she's breathing and she's not drowning. there's a figure in front of her- there's scar in front of her.

"i’m sorry." gem's voice is sore, and comes out quieter than she expected it to. she's not drowning. "I never- i’m so sorry."

scar is crying, and gem is holding his hands. "I know." he says, and he’s quiet too. "I didn’t- void. I don't think i’ve- ever been on the receiving end of that."

it takes gem a moment to understand what he means, and her chest fills with emotion. she tries to say something, but nothing comes out.

"what-" scar's voice breaks, and gem wants to hug him. she doesn’t know if she's allowed. "what did you think I was?"

gem takes a shaky breath, shaking her head. "I never- I never knew what they actually were." she whispers. "they'd- if you didn't sleep, they'd appear."

scar is silent, and gem almost apologises, but her voice seems to have abandoned her. maybe this is all she can ever have- was she asking too much of him just now? void- the whole plan was to avoid pestering scar, and now she's had a panic attack because she mistook him for- that- okay, it doesn’t matter what, but now he’s dealing with her and she doesn't know if he even wants to, or if he just feels obligated-

"can you stand?" scar asks suddenly, and gem takes a second to recalibrate. can- what? can she stand? of course but- why is she standing? gem doesn’t actually ask any of this, of course, but the questions arise nonetheless.

gem lets go of scar's hands and pushes herself upwards on weak legs, but she doesn’t let it show. she wipes her face and takes a breath, bolstering herself for whatever it is she has to do next.

but scar just holds his hand out. "can you come sleep?"

gem is so surprised, she takes half a step backwards before she realises how rude that looks, and steps forward again, hoping she can play it off as rocking. "I don't- what?"

scar looks almost embarrassed, and gem finds herself getting even more confused. "well- if you-" he clears his throat awkwardly. "if- I can’t, um. I can’t be mad if you're.. not sleeping."

is scar being deliberately vague, or is gem's brain just too tired to understand what is going on? she shakes her head, still trying to process what scar could possibly mean. "I don’t- I don’t know what you-"

"I don't want you to stay up so late." scar says, and his voice is soft like gem hasn't heard it in months, and she might cry. again. "I just- I know you can’t sleep unless you have a distraction. I was trying to ask- can I be the distraction?"

gem takes a shaky breath. "oh." it's all she can manage- it's all she can think right now. gem is tearing up again and she wipes her eyes hurriedly. "I- are you sure?"

scar nods, smiling tearfully. "I miss you. I never- I didn’t expect how much." he holds out his hand again. "will- will you come with me?"

there's a moment of hesitation, of is she allowed, before gem slips her hand into scar's and squeezes. "i'd be happy to."

-

the conversation between her and scar on the way to his base was awkward and best, and plain old silence at worst, so gem was a little nervous for what it'd be like when they tried to go to sleep. what if scar changed his mind- or if one of them had another nightmare and suddenly both of them couldn't sleep? what if scar was just- lying, or something, and he was just expecting gem to say she was fine on her own?

gem has never been happier to be so wrong about something in her life.

in all the time she's known scar, gem has never seen scar transfer into bed so fast—and he practically pulled her after him before she'd even got her shoes off. once gem crawled under the duvet, she and scar may as well have just become one body. it's so bizarre, how easily they can pick up where they left off, even after so much time, and when gem rests her head against scar's chest, it feels like home.

and- void, gem missed this so much. the way they fit against each other like they were made for each other, the feeling of scar's hand in her hair, the warmth in her stomach as she burrows under the duvet- it's the closest to perfect that gem thinks can exist. it feels as if she could close her eyes and drift off in an instant, she feels so safe.

scar buries his face in gem's hair. "I love you." he mumbles, and gem almost starts to cry again.

"I love you too." she holds scar tighter, voice wavering embarrassingly. "i’m sorry- i’m so sorry. it- for everything."

"i’m sorry too." scar whispers, sounding close to tears. "I shouldn't have- i’m so sorry gem." he presses a kiss to the top of gem's head.

gem's throat is tight, and she swallows a sob. "it- it's okay. I didn't- you didn’t mean it."

"neither did you." scar's voice is painfully soft, and gem blinks back tears. "it wasn't- I have to-" scar gives a little huff—the one he does when he's tripping over his words. "I- gem, I forgive you."

it hits her a moment later, like something melting in her chest, and the tears that had been threatening to spill over come clawing back up her throat. I forgive you.

gem is sobbing into scar's shoulder, and scar is holding her tight and he’s crying too, and she knows that if she asked why, he'd say that if she's crying then he's gonna cry too, and she's missed him so much. her chest aches with each breath, and she doesn’t care because he forgives her, and she doesn't deserve it, but scar thinks she does, and there's nothing in the world more important than that.

"you’re- you’re so important to me, gem." scar says, voice thick with tears, but gem can hear his smile—which only wants to make her cry more. "I couldn't- there was nothing that would have kept me from you. not even myself."

"I love you." gem is still crying, and she's smiling, and she's hugging scar, and there's nothing that could ruin this moment. "i’m- I could never-" she chokes on her words and dissolves into another sob, holding scar like a lifeline.

"if- if you keep crying, i’m not gonna be able to stop." scar says, hiccuping a weak laugh.

"that's- that's your fault." gem manages through sobs, half laughing. "I blame you."

scar pulls her closer, and gem melts into him, tension she didn't even know she was holding leaving her. "you're so wonderful." he says, and gem almost sobs.

"you’re not- i’m gonna keep crying if you say stuff like that." gem says, and scar is laughing, and she's a mess but she doesn’t care.

scar forgives her.

[shippingmyworld]

Youtuber!Danny AU

Don't think I have the creative energy to expand this brainworm into an actual fic so ya'll just have to read a wall of text instead.

After a few close encounters where Danny's halfa identity almost gets revealed, Sam suggests the trio start a Youtube channel where they go about investigating all the so called "Ghostly Encounters" around Amity Park. Their goal would be to debunk as many ghost sightings as possible and establish themselves as well-known ghost deniers. After a bit of debate they eventually settle on naming the channel Chasing Phantoms.

Tucker really gets into it and eventually becomes the face of the channel. With Sam's coaching he learns how to play devil's advocate extremely well and figures out exactly how to craft his questions to manipulate people's responses. This way they can make these supposed "witnesses" discredit themselves within just a few minutes; Tucker will make them get worked up, angry, and confused about what they saw and trick the witnesses into making contradicting statements. This way they can throw out the witness statements as shoddy evidence because they're nothing more than a stress-induced hallucinations brought about by a gas leak. (They accidentally lean into the gas leak story a little too much in their early days - Danny uses his ghost powers to safely break piping in the places they're investigate to create evidence to back up their claims - thus triggering a mild panic in the citizens of Amity Park because one town should really not be suffering from this many gas line breaks.)

Sam is the director and editor, and has them film everything like it's in the style of found footage (she got the idea after watching The Blair Witch Project). They’re constantly making the "Looks directly into the camera like they're on The Office" joke whenever they interview someone who claims to have been attacked by a ghost.

Danny is the cameraman for the channel, but never shows his face because every time they tried to filmed him, his eyes would flash green in the lens flare and cause them to have to scrap the footage. He's still pretty chatty and viewers latch onto his sassy and sarcastic nature. They love his one-liners and the top comments of each video are usually just a repost of something witty he said (Sam leans into it and start naming the videos after lines that Danny drops while filming). Fans of the channel are constantly asking him for a face-reveal in the comments section. In fact, there's a whole subset of viewers that are dedicated to figuring out what he looks like. They have a poor quality jpeg file that's passed around and updated whenever a glimpse of Danny's appearance is reflected in a puddle of water or broken glass (which means Sam has to comb over the videos about ten times before they post them to make sure she didn't miss anything while editing).

Any time Danny ends up fighting a ghost and there's a witness, the trio will break into the site of the fight the next day (using Danny's ghost powers off-camera of course) so they can do an overnight stakeout. It always just amounts to the three of them goofing off and finding no evidence whatsoever. They do all the standard ghost hunting stuff but have to fib the data because Danny’s presence alone triggers the EMF reader and if they try and take the room temp anywhere near Danny it’s always like 10 degrees colder.

As time goes on, the channel starts to really kick off as people latch onto their goofy energy and start to get invested. However, they've also made themselves a lot of enemies within the student body at school, as most of their classmates have become discredited witnesses on their channel (with a few unfortunately souls even becoming trending memes for a few days). This also means Jazz learns about it and keeps volunteering to tag along or help out. She even gets Mr. Lancer to recognize the four of them as an official school club (she took initiative and made herself a part of the club AND club president without asking them), which he gladly approves since he doesn't believe in any of this ghost nonsense either.

Jazz is just really happy that there’s finally someone else in the family that is willing to stand up to their crazy parents' belief about ghosts, so she wants to be the supportive older sibling. However, she literally will not give the trio any space to deal with the ACTUAL ghost stuff. There are several pieces of unedited footage that lives on Sam's computer of Jazz showing up unannounced to an overnight stakeout asking Tucker and Sam “Where’s Danny?” and the camera would catch a glimpse of local menace Inviso-Bill getting his butt kicked by Skulker in the distance.

To get her off their back, Danny ends up publishing an hour long video essay about how ghosts ARE real, but that everything happening in Amity Park is just people making up bullshit for attention. He has to really commit to the act at home, but Jazz will eventually drop it and leave the trio to their own devices. This backfires however, as Danny's parents now believe he’s interested in ghost hunting and try to join him as well. Thankfully Danny is able to deter them by suggesting that they should all do their own research and compare notes later. You know, the more data the better, right? However, this means that in addition to his chores, homework, ghost fighting as Danny Phantom, and ghost hunting as Chasing Phantoms, he also now has to peer review his parents work so he's constantly exhausted. Tucker and Sam will usually let him copy their homework when the time crunch becomes really bad, and they will let Danny conk out for a much needed nap whenever the group gets together to brainstorm channel content or edit footage.

Following one of his encounters with Plasmius, Danny decided they should follow up the "Ghosts ARE real" video with a clickbait video titled “Top 10 places in Wisconsin that are ACTUALLY haunted!!!” They make Vlad’s Castle is #1 on the list and offer a reward to anyone that can bring them proof of a ghost haunting. They include a photo of Plasmius (that's been edited to look like bigfoot photos) so that people know what to look for. This means Vlad now has to hire extra security because the video triggers a mass influx of people that are constantly trying to break into his house and find evidence of this ghost for the reward.

Eventually Valerie and her dad end up on Chasing Phantoms as well, but as some of the discredited witnesses. It pisses her off so much that she starts up her own ghost hunting channel, Ghost Hunter Grey. She's constantly discrediting Chasing Phantoms in her videos and is very vocal on social media about how they give actual ghost hunters a bad name. Every time Chasing Phantoms uploads a new video, she stakes out the same place they did and uploads a video of her own a week later that includes all the evidence they clearly missed and a genuine, uncut interview with witnesses. She doesn't reveal her face (because of the reputation Chasing Phantoms has within the school) and uses a voice modifier when she edits her content.

Grey's videos aren’t nearly as popular as Chasing Phantoms content because Valarie tries to keep her videos more grounded in facts and backs everything up with proven science (unlike the trio’s videos which are just a constant barrage of ghost-themed brain-rotting jokes and funny reactions). It only frustrates her more and so she leans into the Popular Kids clique in order to low-key bully them as an act of revenge. 

When the trio catches wind about Ghost Hunter Grey's channel, they will film a fake video and wait the next day to see if someone shows up. Sure enough, Valerie makes an appearance shocking all of them. Sam holds the braincell and say that since they know, they can just be careful and the group shouldn't try and provoke her anymore. Tucker agrees, but Danny has other ideas and starts greifing her as Phantom. At first he will purposefully reveal himself to her when he knows she doesn't have a camera on her, but once he starts getting a little more bold he will start to photo bomb her with the dumbest expressions and just being an overall annoyance. It basically boils down to him doing shit like saying "Nobody will ever believe you." or "It's been five years, you have to let me go." before slowly turning invisible and flying away.

[redrose10]

Yoongi x Female Reader. Soulmate AU

Summary: There’s no one on this planet you hate more than your coworker/secret crush Min Yoongi. He’s an arrogant, rude, womanizer who gets under your skin every single shift and you can’t wait for your day to be over so you can get away from him. Unfortunately when Jimin, your caseworker from The Ministry of Adoration, shows up offering you both a raspberry jam filled cookie, things take a surprising turn for the worst and you can no longer get away.

Warnings: Swearing, hints of smut (nothing graphic or really detailed), a little angst, Yoongi gets around, small hint to homophobia, mentions a guy not taking no for an answer. Might get updated later

Tag list: @kam9404 @yoongisducky @farfromsugafanfic @welcometomyworld13 @viankiss @ktownshizzle @bear8585

(I think I got everyone. If I missed someone I’m sorry and please let me know.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 3- Tea and Tteok-bokki

Word Count: 3,702

When you woke up the next morning you felt a little guilty for being so harsh towards Yoongi the night before. Maybe you did overreact a little because why did you care that you weren’t his ideal type? Even though you had a massive crush on him and you technically were soulmates you still had a deep seated hatred for him or so you thought.

You also woke up and regretted asking Han out and thought about canceling, but then realized maybe it would be good for you to actually go out, meet other people. Especially since Yoongi clearly wasn’t interested.

A knock at your door caught your attention and got you up out of your still semi induced sleep state.

Waking Yoongi was harder than you expected, but you finally got him up and followed behind him as he opened the door.

A smiling Jimin greeted you both. “Here have some breakfast. I got you some bagel sandwiches and two green teas. I thought you might be sick of coffee.”, he said handing over the packages.

He let himself in and took a seat before clapping his hands together, “So I think we need to have a little meeting because you two are one week down and have made zero progress from what I can see. If anything you went backwards.”

“We know.”, you both nodded.

“So then why am I hearing about hook ups with blondes in lingerie, and club girls, and why is Y/N going on a date with some other guy?”

“Wait how do you know all of that?”, you asked.

“I know everything.” Jimin replied.

“Okay but ho-“

“E V E R Y T H I N G”

You had to admit seeing this side of Jimin was a little intimidating. He was normally bubbly and smilly, but he was completely serious at the moment making you realize just how alarming this whole situation was.

He popped a donut hole in his mouth before continuing, “So what is the plan? How do we get you two to actually start trying to make this work?”

“I don’t know, but we’ll make it happen.”, Yoongi nodded.

“Good because I don’t want to have to make another early morning visit over here to voice my frustrations. I am not a nice person before 8am.”

“Yeah I’ll say.”, Yoongi replied while you nodded feeling like a scolded child.

“Y/N can I have a few minutes alone with Yoongi please?”, Jimin asked. You looked around confused as to where he wanted you to go since you couldn’t walk that far away from them.

Spotting your solution you grabbed a pair of headphones off of the table showing them to Jimin for approval which he nodded for so you placed them on your head and began streaming some music to drown out their conversation.

Once he was sure you couldn’t hear anything he turned his attention to Yoongi, “So how did you manage to mess up last night? I thought you were supposed to bring another date to the wedding to make Y/N jealous? Why didn’t it work?”

Yoongi nervously scratched the back of his neck, “Well I ended up not asking the other girl and just taking Y/N as my date instead.”

“And why exactly did you do that? That wasn’t part of the plan.”

“I don’t know. I guess I just wanted her to be my date for the night. I didn’t want to take anyone else. I wasn’t sure she’d even get jealous if I did anyways.”

“Okay then… so how did things end so badly that she asked another guy out?”, Jimin asked frustration evident in his voice.

“Everything was going great and then she overheard my cousin talking about how she isn’t the type of girl I usually go for and then I don’t know what happened. She just stormed off and has barely spoken to me since.”

Jimin sat with his elbows on his knees looking between the two of you before bringing his fingers up to rub his temples, “How did I end up assigned to a case with the two biggest idiots ever?”

“Excuse me. Who the fuck do you thin-“. Yoongi began, but Jimin cut him off.

“Let me spell this out for you as simply as I can. Everything was going just great between you two yesterday. Then Y/N got upset with you when she overheard your cousin saying that SHE wasn’t YOUR ideal type.“

Yoongi nodded his head, “Yeah I don’t get it either.”

“Oh my god. You two are starting make me rethink my career choice.”, Jimin huffed.

Then he continued, “Y/N got upset when she heard she wasn’t your ideal type…meaning you wouldn’t be interested in her.”

Jimin watched closely expecting Yoongi to come to the same conclusion, but instead he just sat there in silence sipping on his tea.

“I am not paid nearly enough for this.”, Jimin sighed.

He sat forward a little to pull Yoongi attention in, “Yoongi, firstly I want to start by saying that you’re lucky you are so attractive because of it wasn’t for your looks I don’t know what you’d bring to the table. Secondly, Y/N likes you. You big doofus.”

Yoongi continued to stare at the floor until Jimin’s words finally clicked.

“She likes me?!”

“YES! Why else would she be soooo upset thinking that you would never like her back.”

“So then I should just kiss her!”, he exclaimed.

But Jimin shook his head, “Not exactly. You both need to come to terms with your feelings and the kiss needs to be mutual. You can’t just ambush her.”

“Why are there so many fucking rules?”, Yoongi groaned.

“Don’t know. I didn’t make ‘em, I just enforce ‘em.”, Jimin replied popping another donut in his mouth.

“So what do we do now?”

“Well you and Y/N have two weeks to figure it out. Let’s hope her date goes poorly and maybe you could try actually being pleasant to her. Maybe try and woo her.”

Yoongi chuckled, “I’ve never had to woo anyone before. I don’t woo.”

“Trust me, I noticed.”, Jimin rolled his eyes.

“Maybe try some flowers just because. Tell her to her face that she looks pretty instead of drooling over her when she’s not looking. Maybe compliment her in public. Take her on an actual date. Try to hold her hand. You know…relationship things.”

Yoongi pondered for a moment, “Okay I’ll try.”

“Good boy! That’s what I like to hear.”

Jimin caught your attention signaling for you to remove the headphones which you happily obliged.

He grabbed his things and began walking towards the door before spinning around, “Okay both of you promise me that you’re actually going to try and make this work.”

You nodded your head while you heard Yoongi scoff next to you earning him an elbow to the ribs before he finally nodded as well earning a smile smile Jimin.

The following days Yoongi was uncharacteristically nice to you. Like sickenly sweet, lovey dovey nice to the point you offered to take him to the hospital because you were worried he somehow had a head injury even though you knew he hadn’t even come close to hitting his head at any point.

On Monday you woke up to a giant bouquet of roses being delivered to your front door with a card from him. He even sprung for a little teddy bear to be included. You thought it was super sweet, but really weird. Especially when you thanked him and he turned the same color as the roses.

On Tuesday he took you to your favorite lunch spot. He encouraged you to order whatever and how much you wanted and paid for all of it without even a snarky remark. Afterwards he also stopped for ice cream and a walk through the park.

Wednesday was a terrible day weather wise so the two of you stayed in and watched tv. Out of the corner of your eye you saw him consistently move his hand ever so slightly closer to yours his fingers twitching before he’d end up pulling away. He did this close to twenty times before letting out a long sigh and resigning to crossing his arms on this chest as you finished up the next episode. You knew it was odd, but didn’t want to start an argument by asking.

Now it was Thursday and the two of you were working a double shift together.

It was super busy thanks to the hot weather and a buy one get one half off promotion going on.

You had just finished up with a customer when you heard Yoongi clear his throat next to you.

“Can I help you?”, you asked amused.

He remained silent staring out the window while fidgeting with the end of his apron, a nervous habit of his that you had noticed a long time ago.

“Umm well I uh I’m…”

“Are you having a stroke?”, you giggled

“Just forget it.”, he whispered before turning away from you.

“No I’m sorry.”, you said grabbing his arm.

“What did you want to tell me?”

He took a deep breath, “I just wanted to tell you that youlookreallyprettytoday.”

“I’m sorry Yoongi I couldn’t understand that.”

“Why is this so hard?”, he mumbled before turning to face you, “Y/N, I think you look really pretty today.”

Your eyes widened in shocked. The Min Yoongi giving you a compliment without being provoked? And in public like this?

“Oh yeah I’m sure I look great after sweating and being soaked in coffee and sugar for the last 8 hours.”, you chuckled.

You expected him to laugh or even make a sarcastic remark, but he just nodded, “Yeah I do think you look pretty like this.”

“Oh oh okay, well thank you.”, you whispered feeling your cheeks heat up both in embarrassment and confusion.

You went to try and give a compliment back when you heard someone say your name grabbing your attention.

“Oh hi Han”, you forced a smile.

“Hi Y/N, ready for our date tomorrow?”

“Oh of course! Can’t wait.”, you exclaimed a little too excitedly.

You heard Yoongi snort next to you causing you and Han to both look in his direction. Han visibly tensed up once he noticed how close Yoongi actually was which you had to admit made you smirk a little.

“What can I get for you?”, you asked trying to get Han out of the cafe.

“Umm what do you suggest? Like if Y/N was going to order a drink using her pretty little mouth what would she have?”

This time it was Yoongi’s turn to tense up before turning to Han, “She’d have a large cup of fucking order something or get the fuck out.”

Han stepped back in surprise. You were no stranger to seeing Yoongi or one of the other guys put Han in his place, but something about the way he snapped back at him this time really stirred up some feelings in you.

Wanting to just make the sale and move on with your day you continued, “I’d probably just get a black coffee and add some hazelnut creamer. I’m pretty easy like that.”

“Mmhhhmm I hope so.”, Han replied as you quickly finished up at the register wanting out of the situation. You had missed the way Yoongi gripped the counter until his knuckles turned white thanks to Hans little comment.

You handed him his drink and as he was leaving he turned to you, “So we’ll meet at 6pm? At that Italian place I told you about?” You nodded as he turned and happily walked out the door.

“Seriously you’re still gonna go out with that creep?”, Yoongi suddenly spoke making you jump a little.

“Yes. I like him. Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”, you asked secretly hoping he’d give you a good reason not to go.

“Yes because I love you and I want you to stay home with me forever.”, he said internally, but outwardly he just shrugged, “I don’t know. Do whatever you want. You’re an adult.”

You simply nodded while trying to ignore the way the atmosphere shifted between you two and how Yoongi suddenly became cold and callous towards you. He remained that way for the rest of the shift as well as at home.

The next day you woke up determined to enjoy your date. Maybe Han came off kind of creepy and forward, but you were hoping he was just an awkward idiot who was actually a sweet guy.

Yoongi sulked on the bed as he watched you go through your closet. He couldn’t believe he was going to have to sit there alone at a restaurant while the love of his life goes on a date next to him.

“Okay pink or purple?”, you asked holding up two different dress options.

“I don’t care. Whatever you want.”, he spat back.

You licked your lips in annoyance before deciding on the pink one.

Once at the restaurant and after a very awkward conversation of having to explain to the hostess that Yoongi had to have a seat as close to you as possible, but still at a different table you were sat across from Han. You felt overdressed once you realized he had shown up in jeans and a dirty tshirt. He didn’t even bother to shower or comb his hair. You were appalled at his lack of effort.

He was going on and on about some video game that you’d never even heard of and your mind drifted over to Yoongi.

You snuck a peak and saw him reading through the menu while he sipped on his drink. Even though he was sat alone he wore a crisp navy blue dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up that he paired with a dark wash jean. His hair was lightly styled and you knew he smelled amazing because you couldn’t stop thinking about it as his cologne filled the air of the car on the drive over.

“Will the Mrs. be joining you this evening?”, you heard the waitress ask him.

He smiled, “No dining solo tonight.”

“Oh that’s too bad. I bet she’ll be so devastated that she missed out on a date night with you.”

You rolled your eyes at the waitresses clear attempt to flirt while confirming whether or not Yoongi actually had someone.

You saw him smirk before he replied, “There actually isn’t anyone. But uh maybe that could change tonight.”

The waitresses cheeks turned pink as she scurried over to the next table. You felt a wave of jealousy and a maybe a little hurt wash over you. You were no stranger to watching Yoongi flirt, but for some reason that time it really struck a cord with you. You were also currently on a date with another man so you had no idea why that little interaction made you feel such a way and you felt a little guilty for feeling so because if you could go out with someone else then so could Yoongi.

You turned your attention back to Han for a while before you decided you need a break and pulled out your phone sending a text to Yoongi,

You: I need to go to the bathroom.

Demon Kitty: Okay? Here’s a cookie 🍪

You: 🙄

You: As much as I would love to, I can’t go without you. So please get up and I’ll follow right after.

Demon Kitty: But my dinner should be here any minute 🥺

You were about to reply when Yoongi stood up and slowly started walking towards the restrooms.

“I’ll be right back. I have to use the restroom.”, you let Han know before you stood up waiting for a group of women clearly from a bachelorette party to pass you before quickly catching up to Yoongi who had hid himself off to the side to wait for you.

Yoongi was as close up to the bathroom door as he could be while you quickly tried to do your business.

“Hurry up Y/N! I’m pretty sure this old woman is about to call the police on me.”, he hissed through the door.

“Sorry sorry, this dress is a pain.”, you said opening the door.

“Yeah well I did tell you to wear sweatpants remember?”

“I’m not wearing sweatpants on a dat-“

Yoongi suddenly stopped in front of you causing you to crash into his back, “What the hell Yoongi?”

Quickly he turned around, “Uhh let’s go home.”

You shook your head, “No I want to go back to my date.”

“Please Y/N, let’s just go.”

“What has gotten into you?”

“Diarrhea. I knew that calamari tasted weird.”

“Eww tmi. But let me at least go grab my sweater.”

“No need. I’ll buy you a new one.”, he said trying to pull you away.

You managed to slip out of his grip though and when you looked around the corner you saw Han sitting at the table making out with one of the women from the bachelorette party. Your mouth went dry as you watched the two of them going at it.

Yoongi cleared his throat and motioned for you follow him which you did. Once back in the comfort of his vehicle he looked you over.

“Are you okay? I know you liked him.”, he softly spoke.

He wasn’t expecting you to chuckled, but you couldn’t help it, “Honestly I didn’t even really like him. I just wanted to prove that I wasn’t some stuck up prude, but I guess I won’t even get that chance.”

Yoongi watched you as you fidgeted with your fingers while staring out of the window. He really hoped it wasn’t his worlds that made you feel like you needed to prove that. Even though deep down he knew they were.

He started up the car and began driving.

“Where are you going?”, you asked realizing he wasn’t going home.

“You’ll see.”

Not long after he parked at one of the local night markets that was packed with various street vendors selling goods.

“Neither of us ate dinner so I figured we could get some food before going home.”, he said.

You nodded, “Sounds nice.”

You both talked for what felt like hours as you walked around the market stopping at various stalls. You really got to know a lot about each other that neither of you ever bothered to do before.

You were getting full, but agreed that you couldn’t leave without getting an order of tteokbokki.

You had begun to stare off into the night sky when you heard Yoongi clear his throat. You looked over finding him holding out a single piece of tteokbokki, “A tteokbokki for your thoughts.”, he smiled.

You laughed before taking the toothpick and popping the cake in your mouth.

“What’s wrong with me Yoongi?”, you asked after swallowing it down.

His eyebrows furrowed, “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know. I asked out Han because I thought he would be an easy hookup, but that clearly didn’t work out. Even someone like him didn’t want me. Jae didn’t want me. My two boyfriends before that didn’t want me. Even my own soulmate doesn’t want me.”

Yoongi could feel his heart shattering. Gently he grabbed your chin turning you to face him, “Y/N, please don’t ever feel like that. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you. You’re smart, funny, a hard worker. You’re beautiful. All those guys are big fucking idiots.”

“You were include in that group you know?”, you giggled.

“Yeah and I’m the biggest idiot of them all.”, he laughed back.

You felt like your heart was going to explode. You weren’t completely sure, but a part of you felt like this was his way of admitting that he loved you. You wanted to confess and say something to confirm it, but there was that little part of you that was worried you were misreading everything.

As you were having an internal debate about whether or not to confess Yoongi leaned in ever so slightly. Everything in his body was telling him to move closer, confess his love for you and then gently pull your face to him so that he can lean in and kiss you like he’s always wanted to. Then take you back home and show you all the ways that you were perfect to him.

He leaned in a little closer waiting to see if you’d back away and when you didn’t he took that as his sign.

“This is really hard to say even though it shouldn’t be so I’m just going to come out and say it.”

Your heart felt like it was beating a million beats per second and Yoongi was starting to worry that he really did get poisoned by some bad calamari judging by how his stomach felt like it was doing flips.

He managed to push through though and continued, “Y/N, I know I don’t really act like it, but I really do lo-“

“There you are! I have been looking everywhere for you.”, a high pitched voice exclaimed next to you.

“Rose? What are you doing here?”, Yoongi asked looking very confused.

“You told me to meet you here silly!”

Yoongi remained silent.

Rose pulled out her phone, “Yeah see here. You texted me yesterday at 9:07pm. Wanna meet up? It’s been a while. Need you baby. And then I said of course my little suga cookie. And then you said great. Meet me at the main night market at 8:30. Wear something easy to take off.“

Yoongi was speechless as you stared at him in disbelief.

“So here I am! Just like you asked.” Rose continued oblivious to the situation.

You swallowed the lump in your throat the best that you could. Apparently you had 100% completely misread the situation.

“Soooo are we going to head to the car or where did you want to do this?”, she asked excitedly.

Yoongi cleared his throat, “Um Rose I’m sorry but I actually think that maybe we shouldn’t continu-“

You cut him off, “Continue this here. He means continue this here. Come on. I know a place you both can go.”

You stood up and tossed the rest of your garbage in the trash. Rose happily followed after you while a confused Yoongi was forced to trail behind feeling like the biggest idiot in the world, a feeling he was getting quite used to.

[drunk-person]

The party (Modern Au) P.2

Pairing: Aemond Targaryen x cousin!reader

Summary: One of the most talked about gossips among the lower class servants in Kings Landing is the fact (or not) that Aemond Targaryen got involved with his cousin Y/n Targaryen when they were both teenagers. Mainly due to the fact that at the age of 17 she was sent to Old Town overnight. Some employees claim that Aemond was caught between her legs. Some say that, like her father, she had had a horrible fight with her uncle and uncle and was sent away. And other than that none of this happened, she just became interested in the course offered at the Old Town conservatory. But now five years later, Y/n Targaryen is back, and rumors haunt those who favor them.

This chapter is a part of a main story The gossip, you can find the previous chapter, summary and general tags by accessing the link.

Summary of the chapter: After five years of no contact, Y/n and Aemond meet again at Cece Lanister's birthday party, and the sparks can be seen from miles away.

Warnings of the chapter: 18+ mdni! Smut, p in v, fingering, Oral Sex, excessive teasing, breeding fetish (only at the end) no description for reader.

A/N: Want to listen to music while reading the chapter? Problem By Natalia Kills will definitely hit. Comments and suggestions are welcome 💕

Word count: 4.350

Cece Lanister's house was brightly lit outside and dark with flashing lights inside, it was filled with the highest class people in Westeros, and Y/n smiled sweetly as she entered the house attracting looks from all sides.

Her innocent and sweet smile didn't match at all with the short black dress with thin straps that she wore for the night, nor with the silver heels that made her legs even more beautiful than usual.

-Y/n! -Cece's voice came, walking towards her with a glass of gym in her hands, even more smiling than before. - You came!

-But of course. -She gave the girl a hug when she responded, and when she let go she handed her a golden package. - Happy birthday Cece.

-Thanks! - She replied, already opening Y/n's gift and smiled widely when she saw a gold bracelet with a ruby ​​lion pendant, and placed it on her arm at the same moment. - I loved it Y/n, and it matches my outfit!

-That's good, Cece... - Before she could say anything else, Cece pulled her through the crowd of people dancing around the large living room.

-Come on, let's get you something to drink.

Curious eyes followed her, and Y/n just smiled at everyone as was common for her, Cece guided her to a bar that had been set up close to the main staircase of the room. And after receiving a cup of Gym from Cece's hands, she distanced herself a little, going in the opposite direction, taking advantage of the fact that her friend had gone to receive more newcomers.

Y/n watched the party attentively, her eyes wandering from side to side in search of silver hair among other so common ones, the minutes passed and she still hadn't seen any sign of his presence. And just as she was beginning to think that going there had been a huge waste of time, she saw him. Stopping near the bar with his typical look of superiority observing the environment, clearly not happy with being there.

Bingo.

She felt her heart fail momentarily when she saw him after so long, her eyes watered a little and she quickly wiped them away. Aemond was even taller than before, which she thought would be impossible, his hair was also longer and tied back in a half ponytail. He was wearing black pants and a button-down shirt with a leather jacket over it, and Y/n lost her breath a little at the sight.

And after taking a breath, Y/n downed the last sip of Gym that was left in the glass and headed towards the bar again with a wide smile on her face.

❦❦❦

Aemond couldn't believe he was at that stupid party at that time. He would wait a few more minutes and leave as quickly as possible, Helaena had just left, nothing was keeping him there now. Maybe Floris, but he didn't care enough to make any kind of sacrifice for her, and certainly not enough to stay at a stupid birthday party.

Floris made a sign pointing to the stairs as she followed one of her friends upstairs and Aemond just rolled his eyes without paying much attention, while shaking the glass of drink in his hand. And it was then that his eyes went up to the room again and he saw her.

Walking towards him with confident steps and a sweet smile on her face. Aemond felt his whole body heat up the moment he laid eyes on her, Y/n looked even more beautiful than before. Her hair was longer and fell in cascades to frame her face, she wore a tiny black dress with high heels, and Aemond couldn't help but think that she had dressed like that on purpose to tease him.

The closer she got, the more he felt his blood boil under his skin, unable to take his eyes off her. And when she got to him and hugged him in front of everyone with that sweet smile, he thought he was going to explode.

-How long cousin. - The sweet voice caused goosebumps on his skin and tremors in places he didn't want to mention.

Aemond wanted to be strong enough, but her perfume invaded his nostrils and he couldn't help but breathe deeply in search of more of her scent as he hugged her back, trying his best not to pull her too much towards him.

-Really a long time. - He said with a restrained voice as the two let go of the hug.

Y/n furrowed her eyebrows when she noticed his indifference towards her. Aemond was never indifferent towards her. He was passionate, angry, fiery, hateful, but never indifferent. He could be indifferent to everything and everyone, but not to her.

-Did you miss me?

She looked at him with that sweet look that could fool anyone by making her look so good and innocent, but Aemond could see right through it. He could see the malice burning through her eyes, he could see the subtle bite on her bottom lip, he could see her slightly curving her left eyebrow as she stared at him. This could never end well.

-Because I missed you, every day. - She said, getting even closer to him, making Aemond's gaze fall on her breasts, which were certainly bigger, and on them the beautiful silver necklace with a heart-shaped sapphire as a pendant.

Y/n smiled when she noticed where Aemond's eyes had gone, staring at her cleavage as if he were going to devour her breasts right there. He wasn't so indifferent after all.

-I missed so much that look you have when you want me.- She whispered close to his ear amid the loud music.

-Don't talk about it in public. - Aemond growled at her tensely while Y/n kept smiling.

-He doesn't even look like the same guy who stuck his fingers in me in the middle of a dance floor in Harrenhall, and only didn't stick something else in because the party ended early. - She spoke softly while pouting, teasing him.

-Y/n. - Aemond growled her name between his teeth, sawing his hands into fists in an attempt not to drag her away.

-Okay, if you don't like showing off anymore, let's go somewhere more solitary. - She said, turning her back and walking towards the furthest coat closet on the other side of the room next to the door.

And he told himself he wouldn't follow, but he couldn't help it. It was as if he no longer had control over his own body, being guided exclusively by the swing of her hips. Y/n entered the closet and shortly after Aemond followed her, entering and closing the door behind him, facing her in the dark.

-Do you know the consequences of all this if it comes to light in the media? Besides the fact that it's wrong, we're cousins Y/n, my father and your father are brothers, we can't do this. Not anymore. - His voice was irritated while his eyes burned, making Y/n smile.

-My father and Laena are cousins ​​too. - She rolled her eyes using a statement that Aemond himself had made a few years ago.

-Y/n that's wrong and you know it. We both know, we are adults now.

-And what about the things we did together? And all the dirty things you said to me? And when you came into my room in the middle of the night after fighting with Aegon and I let you do what you wanted with me? - She spoke ironically with arched eyebrows. - It didn't feel wrong at all when you were practically begging to be between my legs.

-We shouldn't have done those things. - Aemond spoke while staring at her lips and Y/n pouted when she heard him say that, Aemond bit his own lip at her gesture and then spoke slowly, holding his breath, as if the mere act of breathing in her presence hurt him.

- It was all wrong, a perversion.

-Are you repeating everything your mother says now? -She asked laughing as she looked at him.

- So answer me Aemond, if all this is so wrong and dirty, why did you come after me?

Aemond had no response and Y/n knew why. She then approached Aemond, leaving her lips close to his ear, almost brushing him.

-I didn't let anyone put their hands on my body Aem. - She practically purred. - Not even once. Only your hands have touched me. But since you don't want me anymore, then I'll look for someone who does, because it's been so long and I'm so needy. -At this point she was almost rubbing her own body against his while she spoke in his ear.

Aemond lost his temper. He grabbed her by the sides of her head tangling his hands through the strands of her hair, his fingers against her chin pressing firmly as he looked into her eyes with his own gaze burning in fury at the idea of ​​someone else touching what was always his.

And unable to contain himself, he pushed her against the door and kissed her roughly, taking her lips on his in the way he had wanted to do for the last five years. The kiss was wet and angry and they both bit each other's lips hungrily. Y/n pushed his jacket off his shoulders and Aemond let it fall to the floor, still kissing her lips furiously.

He ran his hands down Y/n's body, squeezing every curve again, every place he knew made her crazy with desire. And she released him from the kiss, sighing and throwing her head against the door when she felt his demanding touch pulling her more and more towards him.

-Always such a wanton whore to me, aren't you? - He asked, biting her earlobe, and Y/n agreed, nodding her head eagerly.

Aemond's head was spinning, and the only thing he knew at that moment was that he wanted her. And with that thought he kissed down Y/n's neck and shoulders until he reached the neckline of the black dress she wore. He pulled the straps down releasing her breasts to him, and Aemond automatically sighed at the sight.

-They're bigger. - He said, extending his hands and caressing them as if he missed them.

-Five years. -She moaned when she felt his mouth on her breasts and Aemond smiled as he sucked her right breast and squeezed the left one with his hand.

-They're still perfect. - He hissed as he moved his mouth to her left breast and sucked it too, making Y/n sigh and pull his hair making a mess.

Aemond then guided his left hand between Y/n's legs, moving her panties to the side and extending his fingers towards her intimacy.

-Always so wet for me. - He moaned against her breasts, sucking and nibbling them hungrily.

-Just for you Aemond. - She squirmed against his fingers.

-Damn. - Aemond cursed as he inserted two fingers into her heat. - So tight.

He then dragged her arousal further up and caressed Y/n's bud slowly as he admired the expressions of pleasure on her face. Little by little he increased the speed, just as he knew she liked, and she softly moaned his name as she whimpered needily, pulling him closer and closer.

-Aemond, inside please.

And he turned his hand down, sticking two fingers inside her while he continued stroking her clitoris with his palm, and Y/n screamed softly in his ear as she squirmed. He could feel her walls compressing against his fingers, he could feel her spasms against his palm and when she came almost collapsing against him, Aemond kissed her again and bit the lipstick-red lips still caressing her in the midst of her climax.

Aemond practically ripped the zipper off his pants and then pulled them down as he roughly lifted Y/n's dress up to her waist leaving it stuck there. And without warning, he pulled her legs up by his thighs and roughly invaded her while he moaned with his head buried in her neck. Y/n threw her head against the door and clung tightly to Aemond as she whimpered.

-It's bigger. - She moaned against his ear and Aemond laughed lightly.

-Five years.

-Idiot..

He didn't let her finish as he began to fuck her brutally, squeezing her thighs and hips as if her life depended on it. The loud music outside drowned out the noises of pleasure they both were making and the wet sounds that came from the act. Aemond bit Y/n's neck and her breasts, leaving love marks everywhere, and she scratched his back, pulling him closer and closer to her while she bit and kissed her jaw and neck.

-More more. - She begged him.

-Fuck, love, I won't last long, it's been so long. - He sighed, biting her ear.

-Okay, I'm almost there. - She said, tangling her hands in his hair and pulling him into an animalistic kiss.

Aemond moved trying to alter her position a little and then penetrated her again and Y/n had to bite his shoulder when he hit that perfect spot inside her that made her see stars. The older man smiled victoriously and picked up speed again while Y/n restrained herself from screaming, he felt her pussy twitching against his dick and he moaned uncontrollably against her lips, and once again he lowered his lips to her breasts and He started sucking them greedily.

Y/n was so close, she could feel the pressure in her belly pulling her down, the uncontrollable tremors, her legs pressing more and more against Aemond's narrow hips.

- Aemond, please. - Y/n sighed and he squinted his eyes when he heard the sound. - Cum inside me, I want to feel you so much, I miss you so much. - She begged in his ear, and Aemond exploded inside her, making her come soon after with the sensation of Aemond's essence spreading inside her.

Aemond writhed with pleasure, her pussy was milking him firmly and he thought he could die at that moment, because if he died with his cock buried in that delicious pussy he would die happy.

The two were panting against each other, still holding each other, Y/n still with her legs firmly crossed against Aemond's back. He slowly released her, and recovering his rhythmic breathing, Aemond gently pulled her legs from her back, lowering her back to the floor and took a step back, admiring her, while Y/n tried to stay standing with her wobbly legs.

And when Aemond looked at her he couldn't help but sigh. Y/n was standing against the door, her hair was a mess, her makeup was all smeared, her neck and breasts were covered in red marks. Her dress was gathered at her waist and her breasts were exposed, with her erect nipples rising and falling with her still irregular breathing. The panties still on were stuck between her crotch and thigh, leaving her pussy exposed with their mixed fluids leaking down between her thighs.

Y/n, realizing where his gaze had gone, took her right hand to her own intimacy and using her index and middle fingers, she rubbed Aemond's seed against herself, moaning his name in the process.

Aemond advanced on her again at the same moment and knelt on the wooden floor, pulling her panties down and putting them in the pocket of the jacket he had thrown on the floor. He then pulled her thighs, pinning them against him neck itself.

-What will you do? - She sighed even though she already had an idea, Aemond always loved sucking.

-Finish what I started that day. - He replied, then sucking her sensitive pussy greedily, making her scream his name without caring about the other guests at the party.

He continued sucking and kissing her as he felt her shudder and heard her screams and moans without caring if anyone else could hear. The music was very loud, and so was the noise of people, but at that point Aemond didn't know if he would care if it wasn't. He penetrated her spongy interior with his tongue and with the movements he made, his nose pressed against her clitoris in the exact way he knew drove her crazy.

-Aemond I can't. - She sighed.

-Another. - He begged against her intimacy. - Let me feel your taste, I missed your sweet taste so much. Let me taste you.

And when she heard him saying those words, Y/n came against Aemond's lips, contorting in pleasure with tears running down her cheeks. Aemond tasted her against his own tongue, groaning with contentment and absorbing every drop of her essence.

-Delicious. - He groaned finally, leaving a kiss on her sensitive button and she gasped at the feeling.

He stood up again and helped Y/n remain standing as she balanced herself against his body. Aemond readjusted the straps of the dress on her shoulders and lowered it again to cover her thighs. And then he picked up his own jacket from the floor and put it on again.

-I can't stay here like this. I look like…

-Fucked? - Aemond asked with a malicious smile.

-Very well fucked. - She purred at him, boosting Aemond's ego even more.

-Let's get out of here. - He said, already pulling her towards him and opening the closet door.

The two crossed the crowd of people dancing and shouting in the dark and quickly headed towards the door without saying goodbye to anyone.

❦❦❦

Aemond's apartment wasn't too far away, being in one of the city's privileged areas. The car ride there was short as the two talked and laughed.

-What is Aegon doing? - She asked laughing.

-Nothing, as usual. - Aemond laughed back, looking really only 23 years old now. - Our offices are on the same floor, he arrives after 12:00 pm and leaves at 4:00 pm.

-Typical Aegon. -She rolled her eyes, still amused, but suddenly becoming more interested as she looked at him from the corner of her eye. - But what about you? How's work? Have you reached the vice presidency yet?

Aemond smirked as he turned the steering wheel while making a left turn.

-I have a lot of work to do, and I think it's unlikely that anyone will be vice president at my age.

-Ah, but not you. - She smiled beautifully at him, making Aemond's hands tingle. - I think I can see you performing any role without any problems Aem.

-I'm the deputy director of technology. - He smiled looking at her sideways.

-I knew it, he's already vice-president of something, he never does anything halfway. -She rolled her eyes and Aemond murmured softly while he smiled sideways.

The car entered the building's parking lot and the two went towards the elevator, at a safe distance from each other, and when Aemond opened the door and the two stepped into the apartment he barely finished closing it before jumping on it again. , grabbing Y/n hungrily as if the two hadn't just been on top of each other.

-I thought that all of this was a mistake, and that we were both young and perverted. - Y/n spoke against his lips.

-Screw this. I do not care. I just want you, I just want your body. Let me have you again. - He said, already taking his hands to the hem of her dress and ripping it off over her head, leaving her naked in the middle of the living room, wearing only her silver high heels and the sapphire necklace.

-You can have me whenever you want, and however you want. - She said, pulling him by his hair for a slow and wet kiss. - You know that.

Aemond threw her over his shoulders and carried her towards the bedroom while Y/n screamed and laughed in his arms. He violently dropped her onto the bed while he ripped his own shirt over her head, looking at her naked with just those heels and the necklace lying on the bed looking at him while biting her lip.

-Seven hells how can you have become even more beautiful? - He said as he took off his pants ready to take her for himself, and then he noticed her thighs still with traces of his seed and a thought struck him.

-Are you taking contraceptives? - Aemond's voice was fearful as he remembered this question.

Y/n bit her lower lip with a mischievous smile, shaking her head as she removed her shoes and threw them on the floor. Her eyes shining with that malice that drove Aemond crazy, her hair falling wildly across her face, framing it, her naked body spread across the sheets.

Aemond really wanted to feel angry, he should have felt angry at the prospect of getting Y/n pregnant, but the only thing he felt was a twinge in his lower abdomen when he saw her deny it.

-Y/n. - He practically growled her name while staring at her without knowing if she was serious or not.

She knelt on the bed without bothering to cover Aemond's own nakedness and faced him smiling while she crossed her hands behind his neck and pulled him close to her.

-What's it? - She bit his ear. - Have you changed that much, Aem? - She asked in a sweet voice, looking up at him under her long eyelashes.

-I remember when you begged me to let you come inside me, asked me to plant your seed in my uterus. You said he didn't care if we were only 17, because you wanted to see me grow up with your son. That you didn't care about anything else because then everyone would know that I was only yours…

Y/n barely finished speaking when Aemond pulled her by the knees, knocking her back onto the bed and climbing over her.

-How can you be such a bitch? - He asked and without giving her the chance to respond he kissed her again passionately, biting her lips and sucking her tongue.

Aemond didn't give any warning, he just penetrated her, throwing his head back and rolling his eyes while he moaned with satisfaction at the feeling of her wet heat around him.

-Damn. You bring out the worst in me. - He moaned as he gave a strong thrust inside her, making her gasp and dig her nails into his back.

-I don't care, I like your worst. - She whimpered. - Give me more, be the worst it can be, I can take it.

And Aemond slapped her in the face, making her moan as she rolled against his cock. He pulled out of her, making her say his name in protest, but before he could say anything else he roughly turned her onto her stomach, throwing her against the sheets and penetrating her again without warning, making her scream with the new depth.

-All right? - He panted against her back.

-Yeah. - She sighed. - I want you so much, I missed you so much.

Aemond bit her back and thrust hard into her making Y/n gasp beautifully for him. He slapped her left ass cheek and fucked her hard right after, setting a brutal pace that made the bed creak beneath them as they both panted desperately.

-Whore. Always a greedy whore who doesn't know when to stop.

-I am. - She gasped with tears streaming down her face. - You whore, Aemond. Only yours. Please…

He gave her ass another slap making her gasp as more hot tears ran down her beautiful face.

-You will look so beautiful when you are carrying my child. And then you won't be able to pretend to be so sweet and good when you're in public, everyone will know that you let me fuck you and do whatever I wanted with your body. That you begged your own cousin to give you his seed. - His voice was crazy amidst the pleasure and the panting. Sweat dripped down Aemond's chest amid the thrusts.

-Imagine when it comes out in all the newspapers and magazines that you are pregnant and I am the father. No one will ever dare try to take you away from me again, you will be all mine forever. Even more beautiful than she already is carrying my children. - Possessiveness dripped from his lips with those words, and he squeezed her hips with such force that they would certainly leave marks the next morning.

Y/n cried with pleasure as she writhed beneath Aemond as she heard him saying such dirty things, her entire body went into a frenzy of uncontrolled pleasure, and the coil of growing pleasure in her lower abdomen exploded all at once as she she screamed Aemond's name amidst the pleasure, digging her nails into the sheets and pressing her face against the pillows.

-Imagine when the news reaches Old town. - He sighed evilly, fucking her during her orgasm. - That the very sweet Y/n who spent five years studying at the septa conservatory left her own cousin to fuck and get pregnant. Everyone will know, I will make sure that everyone knows that the baby that will grow in you is mine.

-Aemond. - She whimpered against the pillows. And he came deep inside her, leaving a bite on her right shoulder lost in the midst of the pleasure.

-Take all of me. - He panted while still inside her. - All for you.

And after that he collapsed on top of her exhausted with heavy breathing, he knew that Y/n was joking, since her favorite pastime was teasing him, but Aemond couldn't really care about the fact that she was possibly being serious and he actually getting pregnant at that moment. He then turned them on their side while still inside her hugging her from behind and buried his head in the crook of Y/n's neck feeling that delicious orange smell that he had missed so much, and finally slept completely peacefully after years.

And only the next morning did Aemond vaguely remember, Floris.

tag list: @fan-goddess @afro-hispwriter

[peachhcs]

high school signing day | the wonder years

hughes!sister x will smith au (samy + will)

samy's feeling lost with her college decision, so she looks to the three people she admires the most.

1.5k words

this is totally not samy and will, but this was requested!! there's like a little small bit of angst, but only if you squint. btw i'm not 100% sure how high school signing days work bc my school never had them really, so i just guesses lol

au masterlist

the hughes sibling group chat burned into samy's skull while her thumb hung over the facetime button wondering if she should call them or just figure it out on her own. she hated bothering them, especially if they were out doing something because who wanted their younger sister bugging them when they were hanging out with friends?

that felt like the worst part about all of this. samy was the last one left out of her brothers. all of them were on their own now and while luke was still in michigan, it felt like he wasn't a lot of the time because of him being busy with college. the connection the four of them once shared slowly dissipated despite the promise they all made before quinn went to college.

"i promise we'll still talk everyday. we can't get rid of each other that easily. we're family," quinn glanced between his siblings as they stood in his freshly decorated dorm room.

"yeah, promise. we're all still in michigan, so we're not even that far away," jack had said with a slight eye roll. he wasn't as emotional as luke and samy were about their oldest brother leaving home.

talking everyday slowly turned to texting everyday which turned into twice a week if samy was lucky. she knew their lives would start becoming more important than texting the groupchat everyday, but when one of the most important things was hanging in the balance of samy's life, she wasn't quite sure if she could bring herself to call the three people who had been there for her entire life.

"just call them," samy muttered to herself.

somewhere, she gained some courage and clicked the facetime button where her screen split into four boxes waiting for them to pick up. her lip slipped between her teeth as she anxiously hoped one of them would answer.

luke connected first.

his face appeared with a small smile while samy watched him stick his airpods into his ears and walk somewhere which definitely meant she interrupted him from something.

"what's up?" the older boy wondered.

"hi, sorry. am i interrupting something?" the girl immediately asked.

"oh, no. i was just playing video games with some of the guys," luke shook his head, relieving some of the worries in the girl's chest.

quinn's square connected a second later. he looked quite comfortable in what must've been his apartment couch. "hi, what's up guys?"

"hi quinny," samy hummed, smiling at her oldest brother.

"hey squirt," quinn's little nickname made samy chuckle.

finally, jack joined the call from his new jersey apartment. he waved to the group, "whole gang is here. what's up?" the middle hughes wondered while their gazes fell to samy since she started the call.

"hi, i just wanted to talk if you guys aren't busy?" samy wondered.

"sure, what's up? is something wrong?" quinn's protective older brother instinct kicked in almost instantly making the girl smile a bit.

"no, not..not really. i'm just..thinking a lot lately with..signing day coming up," the younger brunette explained making her brothers quickly understand.

"oh right, mom mentioned that. have you picked a school yet?" jack asked.

"uh, that's the problem. i-i don't really know," samy frowned.

she'd been back and forth between michigan and boston for weeks now. both of them were such great schools and amazing soccer programs, she didn't know how to pick one. if she went to michigan, she'd continue her brother's legacy, but if she went to boston, she'd get to stick close to will and the guys she's grown so close over the last two years.

"what's got you stumped?" luke raised his eyebrow.

"i-i don't really know. they're both such good schools. i feel like i'm gonna let people down no matter which one i choose," the girl sighed a bit.

"wait, who are letting down? mom and dad?" jack grew confused.

"well, yeah, if i don't go to michigan and you guys in a way and i let down will and the guys if i don't choose boston," samy sunk down into her bed.

"wait, no, no, you're not gonna let us down if you don't go to michigan. you know that, right?" luke quickly cut in.

"i-i mean.. yeah," samy's voice grew quiet.

"we don't care where you go, samy. as long as you're happy that's all that counts. would it be awesome if you came to umich? yeah. my heart wouldn't be broken if you chose boston though. plus, i know mom and dad will be happy for you no matter what?" luke quickly reassured his sister, but she only shrugged.

"i just feel so..lost, i guess. i mean how did you guys even choose?" she mostly asked quinn and luke since jack didn't go to college.

"quinn sort of influenced my decision, but i guess i just loved the atmosphere michigan brought. it's like home to me. you just gotta choose where you most feel at home," luke hummed.

"if that's boston, that's great. if it's still here, that's also great. no one's gonna hate you if you choose one or the other," quinn added in.

a little smile danced across the girl's lips. "yeah, i guess you're right. maybe i'm a homebody, but michigan will always feel like home to me."

large smiles grew across her brother's lips hearing her say that. they would've been happy wherever samy ended up, but all of them were secretly hoping she'd land on michigan.

"you guys sure you can't come out for my signing day?" samy asked half joking, half not. she was mostly asking quinn and jack since luke would most definitely be there living so close to home.

"sorry, squirt. i'm not sure if i can get the time off," quinn frowned.

"yeah, me neither, but we'll be there in spirit. maybe mom can facetime us in!" jack exclaimed, trying to lighten the mood.

facetime us in. that phrase was common in the household nowadays. there were a lot of things samy's brothers have missed because of their obligations which she completely understood, but sometimes it hurt. she never once missed any of brothers most important days, yet they seemed to have missed nearly all of hers.

not to mention, facetime calls got old really fast.

"that's okay. i'll think of you. i better let you guys go though. thanks for talking," samy put on her best smile despite the pit in her stomach.

"of course. anytime, squirt. love you," quinn said while jack and luke echoed his sentiments. samy hung up first leaving the other three still on the call.

"are you guys for real not coming down?" luke wondered, tone somewhat bitter but not quite.

"i mean..i would if i could, but with a game coming up i just don't know if i can swing it," jack began.

"come on, she's been there for us our entire lives. she's been dragged to more of our shit than us to hers. the least we could do is be there for her for once," luke didn't mean to sound so angry, but he couldn't help it because he too was one of the forgotten siblings jack and quinn slowly stopped showing up for when they left the house.

quinn and jack's expressions fell soft and it seemed to ebe decided then as texts and calls were quickly sent.

—

samy sat at the table with her parents making up the last of the display. they all sported the infamous blue and yellow colors along with a banner laid over the table saying university of michigan. the decision seemed so easy after that conversation with her brothers and samy was glad.

she spotted will, gabe, ryan, drew, aram, jacob, and will vote up in the gymnasium stands watching down with proud smiles on their faces. sure, it hurt that they'd be separated in the fall, but the brunette knew they were all extremely proud of her.

samy's eyes weren't on the doors that opened a few seconds later with three very special guests walking in. instead, she watched her mom fix more things on the table that she also didn't catch her dad recording her.

"i'm glad we have another baby wolf in the family," quinn spoke first, instantly catching samy's attention.

she probably gave herself whiplash with how fast her head swiveled around to meet all three of her brother's gazes.

"o-oh my god. what are you guys doing here?" the girl exclaimed, jumping up to collect them into hugs.

"you'd really think we'd miss something like this?" jack laughed, nuzzling his head into his sister's head.

"i'm really glad you guys are here," samy grinned.

"wouldn't miss this for the world," quinn beamed as well.

after the hugs and reuinions, the entire family crowded around samy's table as she got the paper ready alongside the woman's soccer coach. her high school coach also stood behind her while the photographer got ready for the big moment.

they staged a handshake pose before samy began signing her name across the paper, beginning her contact with the ncaa.

"samy hughes, university of michigan women's soccer!"

[yongbokkk]

by the waters, part 1

pairings: lee know x m!reader

genre: fluff, mermaid au

a/n: hi im back i think... my apologies

stray kids had been waiting forever for their vacation, so they decided to spend all their peaceful time on an island. not many people were touring and the water was still fresher than ever. not to mention, the nature here looked amazing.

the eight of them have already gone to their chosen rooms, beginning to unpack. minho went to the balcony to stare at the scenery, the ocean waves crashing into each other as the water sparkled.

jisung came up to him, "yah, i bet you there's a mermaid out there." he leaned on the glass fence, joining minho.

"mermaids? you're crazy." minho shook his head.

"can't be always wrong." the younger one lightly gasped, "how about you drown, and then a mermaid would come and save you!" he teased.

"you want me to die or something? it's so unlikely they exist, it's just a fairy tale." minho kept denying.

"hmm, okay, believe whatever you want ~" jisung waved him goodbye and went back inside the house.

the older sighed, before heading back in since it was getting late.

it was the morning, and minho went out for a long stroll outside on the island. the breeze was cold but very refreshing. this island was such a good pick for them.

the brunette found two stray cats, which was weird for them to be here. nonetheless, he fed and played with them for almost an hour.

it was a struggle for him to not scoop the kittens up and adopt them, he felt bad he had to leave the two cuties. minho eventually got bored and decided to go fishing, not the best, but he liked to try.

minho went by the waters with a fishing rod, he tied the hook on with the fish bait and threw it into the water.

After a few minutes of waiting, there was a huge tug on the string. he must've caught a big one, he'll definitely tell this to the members.

but as he was pulling it up, streams of crimson blood were found at the surface of the water. did the fish bleed that much?

he was wrong, it wasn't a fish he had caught.

minho's eyes widened as he pulled up a bleeding man, with fishtails for legs.

jisung was right, mermen and mermaids were real.

minho panicked, watching the person hiss at the hook painfully attached to his skin. he couldn't just sit there in shock, he needed to do something.

he quickly unwrapped the scarf that was on his neck, rushing to the merman. minho carefully took the hook out and wrapped the scarf around the boy's bleeding arm.

"i'm sorry, i'm sorry, i'm sorry..." minho kept apologizing for hurting the person, but all the merman did was stare at the human.

finally, he took the time to look at the merman, and boy, he was the most beautiful thing minho's eyes ever laid down on.

"it's okay, you didn't mean it. right?" the merman was unsure whether to trust the human or not.

"never in my life will i hurt anyone intentionally." he finished tying the scarf around the arm securely, "..are you fine with getting medical help?" he looked around, trying to see if he could find anyone.

"no! don't let them discover me!" the merman sounded scared and nervous. minho understood and dropped calling for help.

"how are we gonna patch that up, then?" he questioned, pointing at the deep wound underneath the cloth.

"the water helps me heal, it'll take a while but you don't have to worry." the h/c put a reassuring smile, which the dancer found ethereal.

"ah, alright." minho was still shocked that he had witnessed a real-life merman, he thought it was all a fairy tale. "do you have a name?"

"y/n, what about yours?" y/n's mesmerizing eyes sparkled in minho's view.

"minho." he smiled, wanting this moment to last forever.

"...promise you won't tell anyone about me?" y/n practically begged, making a stern and serious face.

"of course, i wouldn't tell the world."

minho kept his word and never told anyone about the encounter. when they asked about the missing scarf, he made the excuse of accidentally leaving it somewhere.

jisung wasn't that convinced, he couldn't have just left the scarf somewhere.

"i don't believe you, bet you left it in someone's bedroom." jisung smirked suggestively, making minho scrunch in disgust.

"no, i'm telling the truth." he rolled his eyes, returning back to cooking for the members.

"have you seen a mermaid yet?" jisung asked, catching minho off guard as he made a cut in his fingers with the knife.

"ow!" minho hissed. "l-like i said, mermaids don't exist." he said, causing jisung to sigh loudly.

after eating a delicious meal, all eight of them went to their bedrooms for slumber, except for minho.

his mind was stuck on a certain merman from earlier, he still couldn't believe there were actually living mer-creatures, and that he was lucky enough to meet one.

that next day, minho told the members that he'd be going for another walk again. they didn't care much but to wish him safe.

well, his heart had other intentions. he found himself sitting on the tough but comfortable rock, staring off at the far sea, waiting for y/n's arrival.

since it was unplanned, it was very unlikely for him to show up. so why did minho feel the need to come by?

he waited, and waited, to the point where the said 'walk' he told the other members was now considered a lie. minho slightly had his hopes up for the beautiful creature to pop up.

seeing as it has been almost an hour, he was bound to give up. minho stood up from his seat on the rock, but before he could turn away, the water sparkled.

he was there.

[simjaexy]

Notice Me!

Pairing: Crush! Kim Sunoo x Fem! Reader

Synopsis: Having a huge crush on the most popular boy in school was troublesome. Knowing that girls would swarm him within seconds. Kim Sunoo was a nice, charming, handsome boy. You wished he could notice you, but who said he hasn’t?

Genre: Fluff, High School au

Warning: None!

Notes: Kinda long. Not proofread!

The birds chirped softly outside while you viewed the mountains near your school. It was the last period before you get to go home. You urgently shook your leg as you waited for the bell to ring.

The sound of the bell ringing snapped you to reality and got up from your seat, grabbing your bag and heading towards the door.

Students gathered around each other to walk each other home while you walked by yourself. You had friends, but from different schools.

In reality here you don’t really talk to anyone. You like being alone and find comfort in that. Walking in the halls, you didn’t notice a specific someone walking past you.

Almost immediately girls started running past you causing you to get pushed back. You gasped and almost tripped if it weren’t for the blonde haired boy helping you from falling.

“Are you okay?” A sweet tone voice asked. You immediately knew who it was and felt your face getting red. You immediately let go of him once you noticed you were gripping his arm.

“U-Uh yes! I’m fine! Bye!” You hurried. You ignored the glares and strange looks from other people. You already wanted to go home.

Once you made it home, you went to the kitchen to find a snack. Your mom peeked out from her room.

“Y/n-ah? Is that you?” She yelled. You put a piece of bread roll in your mouth.

“Yeah!” You said. Your voice muffled. You past her room and went to yours, shutting the door. You took off your backpack and plopped on your bed.

You took another bit out of your bread before taking out your phone and going on social media. You noticed a notification on your phone.

Sunoo_Kim posted a new photo!

You immediately clicked on it. There in the photo was Sunoo and a girl. You noticed the girl had the same features as him. You looked down at the caption.

Sister is finally back from America!

As much as you wanted to like it, you didn’t want to be a weirdo. You shut off your phone and decided to get some sleep. Besides, tomorrow is gonna be a new day.

You sighed as you walked to your locker, putting notebook away you didn’t need for your next class. Students were messing around with each other while some other ones gossiped.

You closed your locker and headed towards your next class which was with your crush, Sunoo.

You won’t lie and say that it’s not your favorite class cause in fact, it’s your most favorite class. Although he sits kind far from you, you still like the fact you’re near him.

You walked past the door and headed to your seat. You sat down and took out your stuff. Just in time, Sunoo came in with his friends laughing.

His laugh is so pretty, you thought. You averted your gaze and decided to look outside. You felt the urge to draw the mountains that shown outside.

Unknowingly, you started to slowly draw the mountains one by one. You didn’t notice a specific someone behind you, watching you draw.

“That’s really pretty.” A familiar voice said. You froze in your place. You turned around and saw Sunoo standing behind you, smiling.

You gulped hard, “O-Oh. Thank you?” You replied. You mentally slapped yourself for making it seemed like he was a creep.

He giggled and sat next to you. You watched his every movement from the way he lay his head on his hand to staring at the drawing with curiosity.

“I wish I could draw like that. The only thing I can draw is a stick person!” He beamed. You let out a nervous laugh.

“I-It’s not that hard o-once you get used to it.” You muttered. He grinned. The bell finally rang. Apart of you was relieved while the other part of you wasn’t, since this was the actual first time Kim Sunoo wanted to talk to you.

Sunoo got up and gave you a cheeky smile, “I’ll talk to you later, okay?” He said. You didn’t get to answer cause he was already walking to his seat.

You looked down. What the heck just happened?

You took a bite out of your sandwich. The cool breeze blowing your hair. You like sitting outside under the tree behind the school. It was one of your favorite places to sit.

As you continued to take little bites out of your sandwich, you didn’t notice a certain someone was walking up to you.

“Boo!” A voice yelled. You yelped and jumped. Sunoo threw his head back laughing. You stared shock.

“W-What was that for?” You mumbled. Sunoo sat next to you smiling.

“You just looked so cute eating! I couldn’t help it.” He teased. You blushed and stared down at the grass.

It was silent for a few seconds until Sunoo spoke up, “What are you eating?” He asked. You poked at your food.

“Um, turkey with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and mayonnaise?” You said. Sunoo hummed.

“That sound good.” He simply said. You glanced at him.

“Have you eaten?” You whispered. He looked at you.

“No, wasn’t in the mood for school lunch.” He replied. You let out an ‘oh’ and glimpsed at your food.

You thought for a moment before ripping your sandwich in half and giving him one. He furrowed his eyebrows, giving you a confused look.

“Y-You can have some of mine, I was getting full anyways.” You admitted. Sunoo gave you an enthralled look.

“Really? You don’t have too-“

“No. Have it.” You said. He slowly took the piece of sandwich out of your hand and took a bite. His eye went wide.

“It’s so good!” He chimed.

You smiled, “I’m glad you like it.” You spoke. He continued eating eat until it was all gone. He must’ve been really hungry, you thought.

Sunoo noticed you staring at him and turned at you. You made a squeak and looked away. He let out a breathy noise.

“Do you have any socials? I’d love to be your friend on them.” He exclaimed. You started to choke on your food at the sudden question. Sunoo eyes went wide and patted your back.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t know that would make you uncomfortable!” He said. He sounded urgent and apologetic.

You shook your head and put your hand up, “No! It’s okay. I just didn’t know you wanted to be my friend.” You admitted. He gave you a confused look.

“Was it not obvious?” He said. You slowly shook your head. He took out hit phone and gave it to you.

“Do you have Instagram? Let’s be friends on there!” He suggested. You took his phone out of his hands and typed your username. You gave it back and he clicked the follow button.

Ping!

You took out your phone from your pocket and seen it said he followed you. Sunoo smiled.

“Perfect! Now we’re friends!” He said. You smiled at him and nodded. He looked at your profile.

“Y/n. That’s a pretty name. You don’t post anything?” He questioned. You shook your head.

“I don’t really like showing my life. It’s boring.” You said. He stared at you for a quick second and grabbed your phone from your hands.

He took out your camera app and faced it towards you guys. You furrowed your eyebrows.

“Let’s take a photo together and you can post it on there.” He said. He posed with a peace sign while you didn’t know what to so you just followed what he did and offered a shy smile.

He snapped a few of them and gave your phone back, “Post them when you have the time.” He smiled.

You felt your cheeks heating up at his smile and nodded.

After getting done taking a shower you opened your phone and viewed the photos from earlier. You felt like kicking your feet and twirling your hair.

You selected the ones that looked cute and posted them. You shut off your phone and headed downstairs to get a glass of water.

Once you came back you saw a notification popped up on your phone. You opened it.

Sunoo_Kim and 78 others liked your photo!

Your jaw dropped. Sunoo really was popular. You smiled seeing that Sunoo was the first one to like your photo.

You shut your phone off for the night and headed to sleep, for the first time you fell asleep with a smile on your face.

You woke up to over two hundred likes on your photo. You couldn’t believe you had that much likes over your first photo, and it was all thanks to Sunoo.

You got dressed and went downstairs, bidding your mom goodbye. You walked out the door and headed towards school.

Upon arriving, students stared at you and whispered. You held tightly on your backpack while walking to class. You felt nervous as if you did something wrong.

You set your backpack down and waited for the teacher to arrive. You still felt stares when the teacher came in. You ignored them and began writing down notes.

While writing you noticed a group of girls staring at you and whispering. You bit your lip trying to concentrate.

They snickered and whispered. You knew they were talking about you. Your hands started to shake and your heart raced. What were they talking about?

You knew it was probably about you and Sunoo, but you were hoping at the same time it wasn’t. All you had to do was to wait thirty more minutes.

That’s not so hard right?

It was the hardest thirty minutes you had in your whole life. The whole time they were just talking about you while you tried to pay attention on the lecture.

You had a pout on your face while walking to your next class, the one you had Sunoo in. When you finally got there you put your head down on your desk.

“Someone’s not feeling well?” Sunoo asked. You sighed. You put your head up and looked at him.

“I’m pretty sure I have people that dislike me.” You admitted. Sunoo stared at you with pity.

“Who could ever dislike you?” He questioned. You giggled at his honesty.

“Well ever since I posted those photos of us I’ve seem to be getting hate for it.” You said. Sunoo crossed his arms.

“Let them be haters. There’s a reason why they’re insecure and jealous.” Sunoo ranted. The more he was being honest the more you laughed.

The bell rang and Sunoo stood up and clapped his hands together.

“Let’s hang out tonight! Just me and you.” He marveled. Your eyes went wide.

“Hang out? Why do you wanna hang out with me?” You said.

“Because I want too.” He spoke. He went back to his seat without letting you answer him, again. You sighed. You could never win against him.

Choosing an outfit for a hangout was not for the weak. For the last two hours you’ve been looking for clothes to wear and not one caught your eye.

Ever since you left school you rushed home to look for clothing only to find one that looked somewhat cute but weird at the same time. You really needed to go shopping for clothes.

You whined as you sat down on your bed. You looked on social media to find some inspiration for a clothes. Nothing. All the ones you seen were too revealing, and all you and Sunoo were gonna do was go to was a cafe.

You calmed your self down and looked around. The weather is quite cold so a jacket would be good. You looked around your closet once more and finally after hours you found an outfit.

A pink crop top with black shorts and a white jacket. You decided to wear white shoes for the outfit. You brushed your hair down decided to leave it down.

You grabbed your purse before going downstairs to see your mom watching TV.

“I’m gonna get going mom!” You said. You kissed her cheek as she said bye.

You opened the door to already see Sunoo. He was wearing a grey sweater with black pants. You both had somewhat of the same idea. Sunoo smiled at you.

“You look pretty.” He said.

You blushed, “Thanks Sunoo! You look don’t look bad yourself” You joked. Sunoo threw his head back and laughed.

“Should we get going?” He asked. You nodded and asked next to him.

You both talked about random things and laughed at jokes along the way to the Cafe. It was calm and peaceful.

Once you made it to the Cafe the waitress came up to you guys for your order. You both ordered your favorite drinks.

The waitress left causing silence between you two. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence. More like a calm atmosphere.

You looked outside and noticed couples walking around together holding hands and flirting.

You softly smiled while staring at them. You didn’t notice Sunoo was staring at your side profile with the same smile you had on your face.

The waitress finally came back and gave you guys your drinks. You both thanked her and started drinking them.

“Wow they really did a good job on mine.” Sunoo said. You giggled.

“Mine is pretty good too.” You replied. Sunoo eyed your drink. You bit your lip and gave him your drink.

“Wanna taste it?” You said. You could’ve sworn you saw a blush on his face as he grabbed your drink and took a sip.

He let out a ‘mmm’ noise and smiled, “They really did a good job.” He laughed. He picked his up and gave it to you.

“How about you try mine too?” He offered. You grab his and took a sip. Your eyes went wide.

“Woah.” You said. He laughed and put his drink down.

You both continued laughing and talking about things that created memories of your day.

You both finished your drinks and left, but not forgetting to tip them. Sunoo opened the door for you as you walked out.

You both didn’t know where you were walking too, but was enjoying each other company.

“You know, I never knew you were this funny.” Sunoo said. You gasped and elbowed him.

“Hey! I’ve always been this funny!” You whined. He giggled.

“You’re just so quiet most of the time in school. The only time you were ever funny was when you ripped your test in half.” He said.

You remembered how awful that memory was. You had to redo the test cause the teacher couldn’t see the answers.

“That was not funny! I had to do it again!” You said. He shrugged his shoulders.

“Well it was still a funny memory.” He replied. You pouted. He stopped walking causing you to also stop. You looked over at him confused.

“Y/n, do you remember that one day you almost tripped but I caught you?” He said. You nodded your head.

“Yeah. Wait, don’t say that was a funny memory-“

“It wasn’t funny, but it was one I’ll remember forever.” He said. You furrowed your eyebrows.

“What do you mean?”

“I tried to find many ways to talk to you, but you never looked my way. I thought I should just give up and let you be, but I couldn’t help but get at the chance when you almost fell. I’m not saying I was gonna let you fall cause that would’ve been rude of me, but I felt like it was a chance for me to talk to you.” He confessed.

You were at loss for words at his sudden openness. He’s been wanting to talk to you before that incident? You watched as he got closer to you.

“Y/n, do you like me?” He said. You felt your breathing stopped as you let out a raspy breath. You didn’t know what to say. The only thing you could do was be honest.

So, you slowly nodded. His eyes lit up. He grabbed your face with both of his hands. And that’s when you felt his soft plush lips on yours.

Your eyes widened before they slowly closed as you wrapped your arms around his neck. His kiss sending electricity down your body.

You felt butterflies as you both parted ways catching each others breath.

“Am I your first kiss?” He breathed out.. You nodded, knowing that if you said something you would most likely have a voice crack. he grinned.

“Good, cause you’re mine too.” He said before pulling you into another kiss.

You didn’t know that your life would switch during these few days, but you’re glad you almost tripped that day.

[thatforkedroad]

always in reverse

[also on ao3] Siblings Marian and Garrett Hawke are so similar, and yet they’re as different as night and day (2!Hawkes au character study)

----

Marian is born exactly fourteen-and-a-half months before her brother. It’s long enough for her to claim absolute superiority as the eldest Hawke sibling, but not quite long enough for her to remember a life before Garrett. 

She has their mother's eyes and he their father's, but they share Malcolm’s thick sheaf of black hair, untamed and always unkempt despite their mother's best efforts. When Marian cuts her hair with the kitchen knife, they could be mistaken for twins. 

The similarities run deep and shallow. She and Garrett are both brash; they always have been, as if it was a part of the bloodstream tying them together. They both run straight into trouble, but brother is brash in that dashing hero sort of way, and he talks his way back out of trouble with an easy grin. Marian is brash, but not in the way people like. She learns to fight dirty in back alleys and the schoolyard, and an insult is met with a fist long before she can even consider a witty remark. 

He tracks mud in the door after a hunt, but he always cleans up after himself. He doesn’t leave blood or dirt on the table or ruin his third shirt that month. If he does get into trouble, he has their mother’s smooth speech and noble posture mixed with their father’s quick wit and brilliant smile. All Marian has is two hands and a bright-red temperament. He’s made for building and she for breaking. 

Sometimes it’s a wonder they’re related — a wonder she’s related to anyone in her family, even. She is not a mage or healer like her father, and she is not a proper lady like her mother. At least it gets easier with the twins. Sure Bethany’s even worse than Garrett, the perfect daughter for their highborn mother and the perfect student for their healer father, but Carver’s like Marian. Not by accident, either; he watches Marian practice — all jabs and sharp swings — until she takes pity and shows him a few sword stances she picked up in alleyways. 

Still, he’s more of a Hawke than she’ll ever be; he fights to protect, never to break. He shadows their parents as much as he shadows her. 

Marian is fourteen-and-a-half months and five years older than all of her siblings — so when Father dies, it would only be natural if she took on his roles to help her mother. That’s what the eldest is supposed to do. 

In some ways, it’s what she does; she’s the one who takes on more work to make up the coin they need, she’s the one who keeps the family safe when some idiot tries to nick Bethany’s purse. But Marian has spent her life trying to be anything but her parents and all she does is break things. So when someone has to take Malcolm’s real role, when someone has to care for the twins and fix the hole in the roof and make sure their mother is eating enough, Marian can only watch while her brother takes it upon his shoulders. 

He takes to older-brother-father with the same smooth ease he takes to everything. He comforts his younger siblings with stories and corrects Bethany’s form when she casts (even if he’s barely been practicing himself) and loses arm wrestles to Carver on purpose. He encourages Bethany to go for that apprenticeship with the apothecarist on the edge of town and congratulates Carver when he eventually gets his commission in the army.

Marian knows Garrett’s trying to fill the grieving hole in his chest with responsibility, but she doesn’t know how to stop him. All she has are two hands, and it’s oh-so hard to save someone from drowning when you’re nose-deep in the water too. 

In all his new responsibility, Garrett forgets to shave a few too many days. His thin stubble begins growing out into a thick black beard and Marian keeps spotting a dead man out of the corner of her eye. Nobody says anything. She supposes that in the mirror, it must be harder to notice the similarities between her brother and the corpse in Lothering cemetery. Garrett can’t see how it looks when he leans down to point at Bethany's book or when he claps Carver on the shoulder with a laugh. Doesn’t see the heartbreak in their mother's eyes or the way Marian’s heart tightens.

The twins don’t seem to notice either, or at least don’t seem to mind. Maybe it makes things easier for them, smoothens the transition from child to half-orphan until grief is hardly visible in their gold-and-blue eyes. 

But all their mother does is notice. Garrett smiles like a ghost and Mother treats him like the sun, something that will burn her eyes red if she looks for too long. Before Father, Marian would have asked her brother what it was like to be a vessel for their mother’s grief. After, now, everything has changed and she finds the question dying on her too-different tongue.

Besides, it doesn’t take long before she learns the answer for herself. 

They’re one of the last families to leave Lothering. It’s not like they take long to pack; they’ve been preparing for a moment like this since before Marian was even born, in case Father or Garrett or Bethany were seen by some nosy neighbour or lucky Templar. They’ve always known something would happen, always known there was something temporary about this house — even if they didn’t think it would end quite like this. 

But they’re Malcolm Hawke’s family and he taught them to help before he ever taught them to hide. When word and panic reaches the town, the Hawkes reach their neighbours — the old lady opposite whose children haven’t visited in a decade, the young parents four doors down, the veteran with the poor leg the next street over. They help them pack onto the few carts in town and assure them it will be fine. They stay until the darkspawn are visible from the highest hill and don’t look back when the monsters drown their home in Blight. 

Marian leads her family and the meagre few belongings they carry across Ferelden. They’re sore and tired and in the early stages of a new grief, but none of them complain about the hard paths and miles to go.

Marian wonders later if leaving earlier would have made a difference. If she should have ignored their father’s old lessons of compassion and just grabbed her families’ hands and ran. Some of the smaller darkspawn might still have caught up, yes, but surely not that ogre. Or if it had, maybe they would have been less tired when it did. And maybe, he would have…

When the ogre rises onto the plateau with a deafening roar, Marian grits her teeth and readies her sword for the first strike — but Bethany and Carver rush in before she can even react. She’s not sure how it happened. She’s not sure if it was because Carver was a faster runner or because Bethany has always been more careful or because twins don’t share their luck in equal parts. She just knows that within moments, she goes from being the eldest of four to the eldest of three. 

The siblings kill the thing they don’t yet realise is their brother’s murderer before they rush over to their mother and Carver’s not-quite-corpse. It is not an easy battle, but it seems too simple for what they know has happened. 

Marian drops to her knees by Carver’s torn chest. She vaguely registers Bethany’s distraught mumbling about healing spells and Garrett's too-wrong silence. But she can't take her eyes off her littlest brother’s red face. 

Carver reaches blindly up to his eldest sister with a bloody hand. In his dead-man’s-clumsiness, he smears it on her face before she can catch his hand and hold it for dear life. He returns her grip for a dear few moments — and then his fingers go loose and his eyes glaze over. 

The four of them stare at the body— no, at Carver, at Marian’s baby brother — until they really realise he is not going to move again. Little Carver, who would tumble and scrape his knee and always get straight back to running, is not getting up this time. Silence reigns over the family of now-four for minutes. They all know the darkspawn are coming, Marian knows she needs to tell them to move, but they– they can't leave him, can't carry him, can't save…

The silence is not broken gently. It is snapped in violence when Leandra looks up with fury in her ice-cold eyes and tells Marian this is your fault.

Garrett then says something, pulls their mother from the body (no, Carver), but Marian doesn’t hear or notice over the wide-eyed ringing in her ears. She lacks the words to defend herself — or worse, she lacks the will. Maybe, somewhere in her heart, she agrees. Maybe this is her fault, because Marian is the eldest by fourteen-and-a-half months and she is not her mother or her father, and all she has ever done is break things. 

[threadbaresweater]

Nightswimming | Shouto Todoroki

Every summer, your family visits the same lakeside resort. It's a nice way to unwind after a busy year of college classes and part-time work, not to mention indulge in your love of swimming alone while the rest of the world is fast asleep. You're pleasantly surprised when an old friend from your childhood shows up one evening, and you find that nighttime in the water is more magical than you've ever dreamed. Written for @andypantsx3 Pretty Boy Summer Collab, and was also a sponsored WIP for @ficsforgaza. Thank you all for your support!

The details: gn! reader (no pronouns indicated, but written with afab reader in mind); no quirks au, childhood friends to lovers, discussion of family dynamics (this was supposed to be sexy and fun, how did this happen?) 5.4k words (help) . The title and fic were inspired by an old favorite song by R.E.M, aptly titled Nightswimming.

You envy families who can afford to spend the entire summer at the lake. Your own family manages to squeeze in a week at the end of the summer, when the August air is dry and nearly suffocating on the hottest days, when the grass is brittle and the leaves begin to rustle, signaling the beginning of another season. The cabin is cheaper because it's off-peak, and it's always one of the smaller ones. Your parents work hard, and you know they don't have to take you now that you're an adult, but it's been a tradition since you were just a baby. Even before you were born, your parents would vacation here as a newlywed couple. You'd feel bad for not coming, and you don't think you could handle the disappointment in your father's eyes if you told him you'd like to stay at home this year. So you load up the family van and head out. It's a half day's trip with a few pit stops along the way, a couple of heavy summer rainstorms, and nostalgia on the radio. 

It's nearly sunset when you finally arrive. The air hangs humid and heady around, carrying the scent of jasmine and wisteria and pine; the crickets sing, the frogs trill, an owl calls out nearby. You're immediately transported back to days gone by, your childhood summers flashing before your eyes as you look out across the lake. 

It's the closest thing to an ocean you've ever seen in person, and you know it doesn't compare, but it still makes you feel so small. The water laps gently up to shore while families with small children build sandcastles and eat hot dogs and drink lemonade. You smile fondly, remembering the summer your dad bought a kite and spent a good hour trying to catch enough breeze to fly it for you while you sat, bottom planted in the sand, clapping your little hands to cheer him on.

You learned to swim here. Your parents encouraged you, always made certain you were safe and grew confident in the water. As a result, your passion for competitive swimming was nurtured over the years. At home, you joined the swim team in both junior high and high school, going on to win several first place trophies and a full ride scholarship to university. Swimming to you was as important as breathing. Nowhere in the world did you feel as peaceful as you did when you were one with the water. At home, you were limited to the Olympic sized pool at the local athletic center, but here, you had the entire lake at your disposal. 

You help your parents unload the van and get your room set up, then grab a towel and your sandals and make the short trek down to the boat dock. 

“It's dark, honey,” your mother protests. “There won't be anyone else down there at this hour.”

“That's the point,” you say with a little smirk. She begins to say something else, but stops herself and waves you on instead. “Enjoy. You deserve some quiet time after being holed up with your dad and I for ten hours.”

The surface of the lake shimmers with yellow and gold light from the nearby cabins. Moonlight dances there as well, striking blue and white on placid waves. The water otherwise is dark and fathomless. The grass crunches with your steps until you hit the coarse sand of the little beach and you kick off your sandals and drop your towel, eager to touch the earth with the soles of your feet.

This time of year, the water is warm and inviting. As soon as the tide kisses your toes, you're almost tearful with relief. Welcome home, the water seems to say. It's been a long year without you. 

I missed you, too, you think, toes curling into the wet sand as you step out into the lake. It's a warm embrace, a comforting and familiar reprieve. You wade further until you're waist deep, then push off and swim out a little further. 

It's a leisurely dance, one you've executed a thousand times or more. The water flows through your fingertips, around your arms and legs, and you're weightless as you turn over onto your back, eyes trained toward the sky. Out here, it's a vast indigo blanket studded with diamond stars above. There's no one but you and the water and the sky. Tomorrow, you'll cook out with your parents and sunbathe on the deck of your cabin, maybe play a few rounds of gin rummy and catch a few fish for dinner. It's a peaceful, easy existence here– a welcome (and much needed) slow down from the hustle and bustle of your work and school schedule. 

Time is irrelevant when you're in the water. You pay no mind to how late it becomes until your fingers prune and most of the lights in the homes have been extinguished for the night. You propel yourself back to shore, properly tired out and satiated, not expecting to see anyone else. 

You're rightfully startled when you notice a fresh set of footprints in the sand, a few feet from your own. They disappear into the water and you squint into the darkness to make out the shape of another person, cutting through the water with long, graceful strokes. Your mother's worry about you going alone rings in your ear, so you hurry to shuffle your sandals back on your feet, wrap your towel around your waist, and get the hell out of there.

Though you're startled, you're not frightened. Anyone who comes out for a swim at this time of night must have the same desire as you– to be in the water undisturbed, to swim without the risk of sunburn and screaming children and fishermen casting their lines. And though you know you ought to just turn and walk back, something compels you to stay. So you hang near a majestic old maple tree, hoping to catch a glimpse of the stranger in the water. Sure, it's a little creepy, but– well, you don't really have any way to justify it.

The person swims a little longer, and your patient curiosity is rewarded when he wades to shore. Under the brilliant full moon, he cuts a striking figure. His skin seems to shimmer as he pushes his hair back, rivulets of water tracing down his neck and chest. You suck in a breath and try not to stare, but you're drawn to him. The ripple of muscle in his thighs as he walks, the beautiful profile of his face, the ease with which he carries himself on the uneven sand.

A midnight breeze rustles through the trees and drops a friendly little spider on your arm. You barely contain a squeak of surprise and flick the little guy away. The swimming stranger stops and peers in your general direction; he can't quite see you, but he knows you're there.

“You're still here,” he says quietly.

You don't know what to say. He caught you. But you caught him, too. As if it was a crime to swim under the stars. “It's– I– dark. I'm– It's dark out here.” Duh.

He steps a little closer to you and you take a couple of steps back, retreating further into the safety of the thicket of trees that surround you. Your parents cabin is just a few yards up the hill. “I enjoy swimming at night more than any other time of the day,” he says. His voice is low and calm, soothing in a way that's disarming to you. It's then that you realize you've been holding your breath, so you let it out in a long exhale, your shoulders relaxing significantly. “You're new here.”

That makes you smile a little. “We just got here tonight. I come every summer, actually.”

“We used to. Before my mom got sick.” His voice takes on a different timbre; more somber, a little far away and softer. “This is the first time in a while that we've made the trip.”

Your interest is piqued even more, and you peer at him a little closer. Here in the shadows, it's hard to make out his features. There are several families you've gotten to know over the years who frequent this location and you remember most of them. Though your time spent at the lake is usually brief compared to some of the other visitors, you've managed to make some good friends over the years. 

“I remember you,” he says. A few more steps, and he's visible in the moonlight. You could never forget that scar on his face. 

“Shouto?” You whisper. The last time you'd seen him was the summer after you'd both turned ten. He'd been so small then. Quiet and awkward and seemingly shy, he'd latched onto you and followed you around while his older siblings had their own fun. Two older brothers and a sister. The oldest had a mean streak and had a habit of getting into trouble. Shouto always seemed to mind his own business and could often be found swimming or lounging under a shade tree with a book. You had passing, polite conversation with him but never it never really amounted to much more than that. He was nice enough, but you usually spent your time with your parents or another group of girls you looked forward to seeing every summer. 

“It's nice to see you again,” you say with a smile, fiddling with the frayed edge of your towel. 

You think he returns your smile, but you can't be sure. His expressions have always carried an undertone of melancholy, and it's a little bittersweet to see that it hasn't changed after so many years. His face is less round, more angular and masculine, his hair a little longer, his shoulders more broad. “How long will you be staying?” he asks.

Your stomach flips, a hopeful little feeling. “Just a week.”

“That’s hardly enough time,” he says, turning his gaze toward the water.

“It’s never enough.” 

He nods in agreement, then turns his attention back to you. “Were you leaving just now? I can walk you back to your cabin if you like.”

You trip over your words again, feeling like an utter fool. “Yeah, no, I– sure, I mean. That's– that'd be fine. Great, actually.” Heat rises up your neck and onto your cheeks. You puff them out and blow out a breath as Shouto walks next to you.

“It's just me and my sister this time,” he says. “We are also leaving at the end of this week.”

Questions begin to form in your mind, but you don't ask them because you don't want to be invasive. Though you were young the last time you saw his family, you could tell that his family's dynamic was a little unconventional. His mother always seemed quiet and sweet– perhaps a little bit too nice– and his father scared you. Large and loud and intimidating, he wasn't someone you'd want to upset. And as a kid who was taught to respect authority, you made sure to always be on your best behavior around him.

“What are you doing tomorrow?” you ask.

Shouto gives you a little smirk and studies you out of the corner of his eye. “I'm on vacation.”

You huff out a nervous laugh. “Well, duh. But like…what are you doing tomorrow? Do you have any concrete plans?”

By now, you're close enough to your cabin that the soft yellow glow of the porch light illuminates his face, and it takes your breath away when you dare a glance at him. He's breathtakingly beautiful. Your heart climbs to your throat and you swallow around it.

“I'm catching up with an old friend,” he says simply. Nervous as you are, you're disappointed at first and he reads your face immediately. It isn't until he steps a little closer and lays a hand on your shoulder that you realize he meant you. You're the old friend.

You nod and laugh a little. “Sounds like a plan.”

“Meet me down by the boat dock at sunrise.” It isn't a question, but there's an air of hope in his words, in the way his eyes don't leave your face.

“Yeah, okay. Sunrise.” Nevermind the fact that sunrise is less than six hours from now and one of your favorite things to do on vacation is sleep late.

He lets his hand slip off your shoulder. His smile is more easily noticeable now. “Goodnight.” 

“Night, Shouto.”

Your parents are awake, having coffee on the deck overlooking the lake when you leave in the morning. 

“Where are you headed so early this morning?” your dad asks, grinning at you. “It's not like you to be up with the chickens.”

You giggle at the old idiom. “I'm going down to watch the sunrise. I found an old friend last night and I think we're going to catch up today.” You hope he can't discern the spike in your heart rate when you think about Shouto.

“Oh! Was it that sweet Ashido girl? She always seemed like so much fun!” Your mother smiles fondly and reaches for your dad's hand. He threads his fingers through hers and gives her a squeeze, then sips his coffee with a little affirmative grunt.

For a few summers, you and Mina had been inseparable from the moment you arrived at the lake. You hadn't seen her yet this time; hers was one of the lucky families who spent a good chunk of time there each summer, and you kept in touch with her periodically throughout the years. 

“No. Do you remember the Todoroki's?” 

Your dad bristles. Your mother looks out over the lake and doesn't say a word.

“It's Shouto,” you murmur.

Your dad nods once. He doesn't look happy, but his shoulders have relaxed considerably. “Just be careful,” he says. 

“Of course, dad.”

You hug them both and fast walk down the path to the boat dock, where Shouto waits for you. He's sitting on the little wooden platform, bare feet tickling the surface of the water. The lake is calm this morning; you see the occasional bubble of fish feeding at the surface, and birdsong fills the air. The first rays of sunlight begin to filter through the trees, and Shouto regales you with a smile that rivals its brilliance.

“You came.”

“Of course I came.” You sit next to him and lean back on your hands, head tilted toward the canopy of trees at the other side of the lake. A boat is tied to the dock. It's small, but it looks expensive. “Are we going out for a ride?” You nod toward the boat, and he hums in response. 

“The best view of sunrise is just around those trees,” he says. “When I was little, my mother and I would wake up and watch the sky before the rest of our family got out of bed.” 

You smile, watching his face as he must recall the feeling of that time with his mother. You get the impression that he must have enjoyed spending time with her more than any other member of his family. “Let's go.”

It takes you a moment to find your footing. The boat rocks side to side as you step in, and Shouto reaches out a hand for you to take to steady yourself. You accept with a smile and lower yourself comfortably, though even after you're sat, your hands remain together. There's a beat of something that passes between you, then you pull back first with a nervous, short laugh. Shouto, however, just looks at you. It's both intense and nonchalant all at once.

It takes a few cranks of the engine to get the boat running, but once it roars to life, you're on your way. With each passing second, the sunlight shimmers more and more brightly on the surface of the water. You have to raise your voice a little to talk over the sound of the motor, so you find that it's just easier to sit back and enjoy the ride and the view. 

The sky is brilliant. Orange and red and pink and intense, you're mesmerized by the colors so much that you barely register that you've stopped coursing through the lake. Shouto shuts the engine off and glances at you for a moment, then turns his attention to the sky. An old rhyme your father taught you comes to mind as you watch the colors begin to fade as the sun climbs– red sky at morning, sailors take warning. 

“We'll have a storm today,” Shouto says quietly as if he's read your thoughts, his eyes tracking the clouds. He seems disappointed at that. 

You shrug. “‘s not such a bad thing. The grass is crunchy. We could use the rain.”

He makes a noncommittal sound. You wish there was something else to say, to fill the silence. It makes you a little uncomfortable to sit and not speak, but Shouto doesn't seem bothered by it at all. He's in his own thoughts, mesmerized by the scenery. You tap your fingers on your thighs and sigh, watching heavy clouds move as a heady breeze picks up into a more intense wind.

“Are you bored? We can go back, if you'd like.”

You gasp, as if to protest, then offer him a smile. He relaxes a little. “No, it's beautiful out here! I just– well, I don't know what to talk about.”

“We don't have to talk. We can just listen,” he says. 

But you want to talk to him. You don't know much about him beyond the quiet boy you knew when you were both kids. You want to ask him what he's studying at school. You want to ask what happened to his mother. You want to ask why just he and his sister made the journey here this summer and not the rest of his family. The rational part of you says there will be time for that later. It's early enough in the day that you have hours to spend with him (if, indeed, he plans to spend the day with you, and you certainly hope he does) and you know there's no need to rush. It goes against every instinct you have, but you sit and remain silent, trying desperately to not feel uncomfortable in the silence. 

Shouto seems at ease, despite your internal struggle. He squints into the morning light, one hand shielding his eyes from the most offensive rays. Your eyes are drawn to the scar across the left side of his face, and before you can overthink, you blurt out, “How did you get that scar?”

“It was an accident.” He doesn't change his posture, doesn't seem annoyed by your question or otherwise bothered. You nod, accepting that he isn't going to elaborate. “Do you want to swim here, or head back now?”

If he's upset by your question, he doesn't show it. He calmly waits for your answer, and you're so disarmed by his demeanor that you don't know what to do. “I didn't mean to pry,” you offer.

“It's just not something I like to talk about, that's all.” He lets his hand graze the water as if he's checking the temperature. “We should probably swim now, in case there's a storm later.”

Before you can suggest anything else, he's shirtless and diving into the water. The boat rocks precariously in his wake, and he surfaces a few feet away. “It's cooler out here than it is closer to the shore,” he says. “You should see for yourself.”

He treads the water for a moment, watching you. Your eyes flit from him to the sky and the tops of the trees, then back again. You shrug and strip down to your bathing suit. “Here goes nothing,” you mutter to yourself before taking to the water. 

“I learned to swim when my brother would throw me in,” Shouto says, floating on his back, his eyes trained on the sky. “Our father used to say that there's no better way to figure it out.”

You're alarmed at the mental image of a little Shouto flailing through the water while his brother stood by and watched. You imagine it was the oldest, the one who had a devious glint in his eye and always seemed to find trouble in the most peaceful places. “That's awful.”

“Not as bad as you'd think. I learned quickly.” He kicks his legs and pushes through, a little closer to you. “What about you? When did you learn?”

You smile fondly at the memory of your parents, always encouraging, always standing by, proud and supportive. “I learned here, when I was really small. My parents were really good at being helpful without being overbearing.” 

Shouto seems to consider this for a few minutes. He rights himself and cocks his head at you. “I wish I knew what that was like.” 

It's such a sad thing for him to say. You've always tried not to take your relationship with your parents for granted, but to come face to face with someone who very obviously didn't have the same childhood experience as you is humbling in the strangest way. “I'm sorry,” you offer.

There's a slight downturn of Shouto's mouth. “Why?”

“I–” Why are you sorry? It isn't as if you're the one who has caused his experience to be such a difficult one. Not that you know for a fact that it was. You only know small details, things you remember from years ago and the few tidbits he's provided in your stilted conversation up to this point. You're assuming things that may or may not be true, and–

“You think too much. Look up.” You're distracted from your derailing train of thought when Shouto taps your forehead and points to the horizon. You gasp and watch as the sun climbs to her full glory, casting rays of golden yellow and orange to ignite the sky. Out here, you're closer to the majesty of nature, surrounded only by the basic tenets of earth. The sun gives life to all of it, even you and your unlikely companion. 

You realize in that moment that you need to worry less and listen more to what's going on around you, not inside you.

You find in the next several hours that Shouto is nothing if not endlessly patient. The more time you spend with him, the more you come to know of his life and his experiences, you find that his view of the world is quite simple. And what he lacks in common sense, he makes up for in a profound sense of purpose. In the wake of his mother's illness– the details of which he is vague about– he grew up fast. He's still the baby of the family, but with a delinquent brother and an absent father, he's taken on the important role of peacemaker. He has an air of gentleness around him, a kindness in his eyes that softens his sometimes deadpan stare when you stutter over your words and feel foolish in the presence of his mature calm. 

You spend the day with him hiking through trails in the woods, taking shelter under broad tree limbs when it rains, talking about school and friendships, about future plans and past mistakes. All the while, you grow more fond of him and his deadpan sense of humor. He's witty and intelligent, and the more you get comfortable with making eye contact, the more handsome you see he really is. Your mind begins to wander when evening settles in and you're walking back to your respective cabins. He's quiet and contemplative as you meet his stride; his pinky brushes yours, and you think (you hope) it's intentional. You decide to test your theory and “accidentally” brush against him again, and your heart skips a beat when he hooks his finger around yours.

“There you are!” His sister jogs to greet the two of you as you make your way up the hill. Her smile is laced with laughter, her eyes reflecting relief. “I was just about to send out a search party!” Her tone is teasing when she adds, “Glad you found some company. Who's your friend, Sho?”

When her eyes flit to where your hands are touching, Shouto lets go and introduces you by name. “This is Fuyumi, my sister,” he says.

“Well, are you hungry? I just made dinner if you want to stay.” Her smile is warm, and her eyes gleam as she looks to Shouto and then to you.

You tell her that you'd love to, but that your parents are expecting you. Shouto frowns a little. “Will you come down to the lake tonight?”

“Haven't you been in the water enough today?” Fuyumi asks. 

“We didn't swim all day. Just this morning.” Shouto turns his full attention to you. “Will you?”

You nod. “I'd love to.”

Shouto's smile is as brilliant as the sunrise. “I'll bring a jar to catch fireflies.”

Fuyumi laughs. “Twenty-two years old and still a kid at heart.” 

You think it's sweet, and maybe even a little bit romantic. The thought of catching fireflies with the most handsome guy at the resort makes your heart race. “Growing up is overrated,” you say with a shrug. Shouto nods, Fuyumi winks. 

You have a quick dinner with your parents, whose adventures of the day consisted of a mid-afternoon lap around the lake and a nap on the sun porch. They're a little disappointed that you don't plan on staying home after you eat, and your mother begins to give you a little guilt trip.

“We've hardly seen you,” she says, worrying her brow. Your dad reaches for her hand and gives her a look, shaking his head to keep her from saying anything further. She sighs and presses her lips together. “But go. Enjoy yourself. And be careful. That Todoroki boy–”

“Don't,” your dad interrupts. 

“You're right,” she says with a nod. “Go get ‘em, tiger.”

“Mom.”

She laughs lightly and pours herself a second glass of wine while your dad gives you a wink. You wave and take off before they can protest any further.

Shouto is in the water already when you get back down to the lake. You toe off your sandals and leave them in a pile with your shorts on the shore. It's dark, but still early enough that there are still lights on in most of the homes up the hill. 

He surfaces and pushes his hair away from his face, then swims toward you with practiced strokes while you wait patiently for him.

“What happened to catching fireflies?” you call. Your voice echoes out over the water in delicate ripples. 

“Couldn't find a jar. Besides, you like swimming at night, so don't complain.” 

You gasp and splash at him a little. “Hey! I am not complaining!” you laugh.

He recoils slightly, then shakes the water from his face like a dog would before splashing you back with more vigor. “We have tomorrow, too.”

You sputter and blink the drops away from your eyes, shocked that he'd return the gesture. When you look at him, his eyes glimmer with moonlight and mischief. “Don't you want to hang out with your sister?”

He treads closer to you, and you maintain your position. “I see her all the time. I haven't seen you in twelve years.”

“Has it been that long?” you wonder aloud.

Shouto nods. “At least that long. Maybe more.” He lowers his voice to a more intimate volume now that you're face to face. “I thought about you every summer I didn't get to come here.”

“You did?”

“I did. You were the only kid who ever wanted to talk to me.”

He's closer now, and it's hard to breathe. “Oh.”

“I never felt lonely when you were here. All summer, I'd wait for your family to come so I could see you.” He reaches out to thumb away a droplet of water from the end of your nose, and you flinch at first. His eyes widen slightly and he gasps, then lays a cool hand against your cheek. Your eyes haven't left his face, and you're impossibly close to him now. You wish you were close enough to shore to find your footing, because you feel like you might drown if he's about to do what you think he's about to do.

“I wasn't sure I'd ever see you again,” he says. You're both still weightless in the water, but you realize in a moment of clarity that he's guiding you closer to the sandbar. Your toes graze something solid, and suddenly you're aware of Shouto's arm around your waist.

You scoff playfully, hoping to soften the mood. “You're the one who stopped coming.”

“Not by choice.” 

“I'm sorry.”

He's so close now that he whispers, and his lips bump yours. It's electric. “‘s okay.”

His kiss is tentative, soft, all things tender. You don't really kiss him back at first. You allow him to take the lead– applying pressure, tilting his head a little to the left, curling his fingers just under your chin to guide you where he wants you. You sigh into him, eyes fluttering shut, arms weightless in the water as your feet sink into the sand. You're barely cognizant of anything besides the plush silk of his mouth on yours and the gentle ripple of water against your skin.

He draws back with a muted, wet sound of his lips disengaging with yours. “You're not kissing back,” he says, eyes trained on your mouth. “Did I do something wrong?”

You can't speak. All you can do is shake your head slowly, mouth slightly agape; you thread your arms around his shoulders and kiss him back, nearly knocking him under the water with how eager you are. Shouto laughs into your mouth and the vibration on your tongue makes you giggle. You wrap your legs around his waist and allow him to wade up to where the water is barely above his knees. He nearly stumbles once or twice, but you hang on for dear life until he's steady. When you stand on your own, he still doesn't let go of you.

“Did you really think about me?” you question, watching the way his eyes seem to reflect his smile.

“All the time.”

“We should have stayed in touch.” 

Shouto brushes his thumb over your cupid's bow. “We were young.”

You giggle. “My friend Mina had a crush on you.”

“Did you, too?” he asks, hopeful.

“Not back then. I was too busy swimming.”

He pouts. But there's a playfulness to it, and you flick his forehead lightly before kissing the expression clean off his pretty face.

“What about now?” he asks.

“Hmmm, maybe a little,” you tease.

“Only a little?” His lips graze your jaw, then feather over the side of your neck. 

You suck in a shaky breath. “Maybe more than a little.”

You kiss and kiss and kiss him, trying to convey just how much you like him in hopes that he can feel it through your actions. He responds in kind, his hands wandering down your spine, around the curve of your waist, hot against the cool, damp fabric of your bathing suit. He overwhelms you in the best way.

There's no doubt in your mind that he feels much the same when he pulls away from you and studies your face. He's flushed and intense, eyes scanning yours, one hand resting on the side of your neck. “Do you want to stop here?” he asks. 

No. Yes. I don't know. Take me here. Take me now. I want you. We should stop before– “Do you?”

“We have a few more days here,” he whispers, kissing the apple of your cheek, your temple, your forehead. It's as if he's trying to cool himself down, talk himself out of doing something irrational. 

“What about after?” you ask. 

He stiffens a little, and you wish you'd kept your mouth shut. You've always wanted to be the kind of person who lives in the moment, and here you are, pushing ahead. Searching for answers before you've allowed yourself to enjoy what's happening right before your eyes. You feel bad for taking his beauty for granted.

He grins and blushes a deeper shade of red. “I'd like to think we'll have plenty of time.”

You let the implications of his words sink in, a slow realization that brightens your expression and makes a giddy giggle bubble up from your chest. He kisses you again, confirming his sincerity, and you're comforted by the promise of summer bleeding into fall with Shouto at your side.

[moonami]

PART 1 OF A LITTLE IDEA FOR A NEW HETALIA FAN WORK WITH A HORROR ELEMENTS PRESENT, TAKING CERTAIN INSPIRATION FROM ANALOG HORROR, THE NEXT PART WILL CONTAIN SHORT DESCRIPTIONS OF ILLNESS AND BLOOD. I am doing this for fun so sorry if there are any errors english is not my first language, lol, but i would be really grateful if you guys shared this so i can feel encouraged to write and draw more for this AU and if any other artist wanted to collab to do more about this idea, my DMs are always open. I hope you enjoy.

THAT MORNING

...

During a winter morning on 11 January 2001, a phenomenon of unknown origin was sighted and documented around the world, which, upon further investigation, would be named "The First Baptism".

Several days before the event, sudden changes in temperature had been observed, decreasing alarmingly, but finally stabilizing the night before, during which it snowed, however, the weather forecast had already informed the public of the possibility of more snowfall during the remainder of the week and that hail showers were not ruled out.

11 January, 8:00 AM

It was snowing again; classes had been cancelled, but there were children in the streets. playing, people were late for work.

While mortals went about their business, the nations observed from their offices, homes, gardens, wherever they were, the occurrences of the peculiar day, some with surprise, some with satisfaction, and a few with childlike wonder.

And then, as soon as the clock struck the hour, it happened.

9:00 AM

What had begun as a quiet morning turned into a snowstorm, which the witnesses described as the heaviest of their lives, and when they looked up into the sky, their eyes could focus enough on the middle of the blizzard; they saw, amidst all the whiteness, a huge line stretching across the heavens. All describe seeing the same line; some say they believed it was caused by the wake turbulence of a plane or something similar, or that their eyesight deceived them, which was proved to be untrue, as the line in the sky began to "open up," now being described as an "incision" in the sky, a wound, which opened its maw and poured over the cities and them. inhabitants, its contents.

… One of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance (λόγχη), and immediately there came out blood and water.

John 19:34

…

The contents were black particles, which tainted the snow, causing it to change colour. to a dark jet, and for the next half hour, the wound in the sky continued to fester, and the cities were covered by thick blankets of dark snow.

The black snowfall, nowadays known as The First Baptism, lasted for the course of a week. During which time the world was brought to a complete standstill due to the possibility of side effects from exposure to the phenomenon.

Initially it was thought that the possible cause were black coal emissions, but this was quickly ruled out as no black carbon was found after samples were analyzed.

Everything seemed to be trapped, frozen in time, all except for the fine flakes falling to the earth because of gravity.

And the immortals were the most affected, acting like statues; they remained in the same position ever since, with their feet stuck in the ground as if they had taken root, immobile except for their lips, eyes, and small involuntary movements of their hands.

People close to them, such as their bosses or assistants, describe the immortals being suddenly drawn to the dark snow from day one, leaving their homes, abandoning work, looking up with lost eyes and expressionless faces, stretching out their arms trying to reach whatever flakes they could between their fingers, removing parts of the clothing for better contact with the snow and breathing rapidly, they were described as out of their minds, babbling unintelligible words.

When attempts were made to convince them to go back inside, they did not respond. And if attempts were made to force them inside, they became violent, so to prevent the situation from escalating further, it was decided to allow them to stay that way.

This was until the seventh day.

Where, inexplicably, every nation moved towards their capitals abnormally fast.

It was not so common these days to observe them using any of their supernatural qualities, let alone without any warning.

Although there are records of these mobilizations, there are few reports of the concrete actions of the immortals, as the capitals had been the areas most affected by the storm, and despite attempts to observe closely what they did there, it was impossible to get close enough to discern, and they were lost from sight.

That is, with about three exceptions that were much later made available to the public and other nations.

The United States of America, the Russian Federation, and Great Britain.

Washington D.C. America could be seen heading towards the White House in the middle of the storm, and once he arrived at the North Lawn, he stopped moving, with the use of a camera it was possible to observe his face closer, he was observed with had a manic expression and seemed to have say something.

Moscow Russia was spotted in the red square along General Winter, who was described as "Odd," and unlike America, he wandered around the area for several minutes, running around like a madman, until he crossed his gaze with the tomb of the unknown soldier, at which point he ceased his activity and calmed down.

No information was provided on the specific location of the event.

England interrupted his journey midway, being drawn to sources of water, plunging into a semi-frozen river, he was quickly rescued.

No other reports are available for the other cases due to a lack of information.