#they call each other cringe and then stare into each other’s eyes longingly

[peak-smg4-dumbass]

bi&pan hostility

[0vergrowngraveyard]

“Y’know keed, I think you could reach the stars one day.”

The look Tails gave him made him chuckle. Big blue eyes stared at him with confusion and his head tilted to the side.

“What?” He asked.

“I said ‘I think you could reach the stars one day’.” He repeated, chuckling again at the bland look the kit shot him. Even at just four years old, he had a nasty stink eye.

“S’not what I meant.” Tails hopped off the branch he was sitting on and made his way over to where Sonic was laying in the grass. He sat down next to him and looked up at the beautiful night sky. “I mean what do you mean? That's way too high up! I can’t fly that far!”

Sonic held up a finger, “Not yet, maybe, but someday you’ll be able to!” He tucked the hand behind his hand again as a makeshift pillow,

The kit furrowed his brows as he continued to look at the sky, thinking about what Sonic had just said, until he shook his head. “No, I don’t think so.”

Sonic looked up at the kit next to him. His big ears had lowered against the back of his head as he looked longingly at the sky.

With a sigh, Sonic opened his arm, a silent invitation for the kit to lay next to him. Tails quickly snuggled up next to him, his namesakes draping across him.

“Well, kiddo,” Sonic started, squeezing the kit closer to him, “You could do anything you put that big brain of yours to so yeah, I think you could do it”

The fox didn’t respond right away so Sonic turned his gaze back to the stars above. He almost thought that the kit had fallen asleep until he tensed up next to him.

“But it would be lonely up there…and I don’t want to be lonely…” His words tugged on the young speedster’s heartstrings. The kid had been alone for a while, maybe even longer than he assumed. In a way, they could relate to each other in that way. It’s not like Sonic had parents waiting for him somewhere, the only family he ever needed was laying next to him, cuddled up against his side.

Sonic wouldn’t let Tails be alone, not anymore.

“Then I’ll just have to go up there with you!” He said, giving the kit another squeeze.

Wide blue eyes turned towards him like he didn’t expect that answer. “Really?”

Sonic chuckled, “Absolutely! Always wanted to see what it looked like up there! And what better way to check it out than with my little buddy!”

Tails looked at him, considering his words for a bit before he smiled and nuzzled into his chest. “If you’re going too, then I’ll try my best.”

Sonic looked down at him to the best of his ability. “Yeah?”

Tails let out a big, squeaky yawn. “mhm…”

A fond smile spread across his muzzle as he looked at the stars, holding his baby brother close to him as the kit drifted off to sleep.

“I’m looking forward to it, lil’ buddy.”

——————

This wasn’t the most ideal situation to be in.

The hedgehog sat alone, surrounded by the rubble of an exploded Eggman base.

He wasn’t sure why it exploded. It was a little dramatic, and not to mention totally rude, of the doctor to blow up his own base while he and Tails were inside. All they wanted was to delete a few files and completely trash the place!

Sonic was worried about his brother, they had been separated during the countdown and he had no clue where the kid was.

He would be turning this place inside out looking for him if it wasn’t for the world spinning due to a head injury and his leg being broken.

Oh, and the metal rod stabbed through his side, causing him to quickly bleed out.

Yeah, it was far from ideal.

But it would be better once he knew his kid was safe and judging from the vitals visible on his communicator, it seemed like he was fine.

He just hoped he’d be able to see him before-

“SONIC!” A young voice called out. “SONIC! CAN YOU HEAR ME?”

A smile quirked up in his muzzle. Looks like dying wishes do come true.

“I’m…I’m over here, bud!” He called back. He cringed at how weak his voice sounded.

The sound of the fox moving debris around and making his way towards him filled the area until he watched the kit duck under something as he finally came into view.

A horrified gasp came from him as he looked at the hedgehog who was sitting in a small pool of his own blood.

“Hey, buddy…fancy seeing you here.” He coughed out.

“Sonic!” Tails was at his side in an instant. His breathing rapidly increased as he looked over his big brother, not knowing what to do. “D-don’t worry! I’ll get you out- I’ll get you out of here! I promise! Just hang on”

“Tails.”

The kit brought up his communicator and seemingly sent out a quick distress signal to anyone who would see it. “It’s okay- it’s gonna be okay. Let me…I- I can…“ Tears started forming in the kit’s eyes as he struggled with his words, the gravity of the situation crushing him.

“Tails.”

His little brother looked at him and oh how Sonic wanted to get rid of that expression on his face. He didn’t want those tears to be there at all.

“I’m so, so proud of you, bud.” Sonic smiled at him, “I…I didn't tell you that enough….”

“Shut up! Just shut up!” Tails yelled, tears pouring down his cheek, “You’re gonna be okay! I- I promise! I’m gonna fix this! I- I swear—!“

His breath hitched as the hedgehog’s trembling hand weakly cupped his cheek, his thumb wiping away the tears. Tails held the hand closer, eyes squeezed shut as he nuzzled against it as he whimpered.

“Hey.”

Tails opened his eyes and for a precious second, all Sonic could do was stare into them.

Next to yellow, Sonic’s favorite color was blue. Not because he was blue (at least that wasn’t the entire reason, only part of it), but because whenever he looked next to him, aside from yellow, that’s the color he saw the most.

Those big baby blue eyes of his little brother. He watched them go from dull, hopeless, and terrified to bright with trust and wonder. He would do anything to keep those eyes shining.

Though, they were shiny with tears now, which made Sonic sad. He didn’t want the kit to be upset, he didn’t deserve it. His kid deserved nothing but joy and the best the world had to offer.

“This isn’t on you to fix, lil’ buddy. Please—“ He took in a shaky breath, “p-please don’t blame yourself for this…”

Tails just cries into his hand, tears mixing with his brother’s blood. He chokes out apology after apology. Sonic doesn’t understand why he’s apologizing, he didn’t do anything wrong. The kit could never do anything wrong in Sonic’s eyes. Call him biased or accuse him of having tunnel vision all you want, he could never get mad at Tails.

Especially not for this, not for something that wasn’t even his fault.

“Bud, can I ask you a favor?”

Tails’ nods his head violently, face still nestled in his brother’s hand. “Mhm!”

It took a moment to find his voice.

“I-I want you to explore the world for me…”

He knew it was kind of an odd request to be coming from someone like himself, someone who traveled the world almost daily, but he had his reasons.

It was his way of telling the kit not to shut down when he goes. Not to hide from the world, but to continue to embrace and protect it.

To keep living in it.

Tails pauses as he slowly looks at the hedgehog, confusion etched on his face. “B-but…but you’ve-“

“I know…” Sonic weakly chuckles, “I’ve seen all over Mobius more times than I can count.”

“Th-then why-?”

“Because you haven’t, lil’ bro.” Sonic interrupts him, “I want you to see it all too.”

Sonic fights down a cough before he continues, “So can ya do that for me, bud? Go see the world?”

Continue to live. If not for yourself, then for both of us.

Tails once again nodded, pressing against his hand again, “Yes! I promise! I promise I’ll see everything! The tallest mountain, deepest cave, I’ll be there! I’ll be there…!”

Sonic smiled.

Good

He let out a sob, “But…but I want you to be there with me! I want to see it all t-together…”

The hedgehog let out a chuckle that almost sounded painful, “I’ll be there bud, always…just not, y’know, physically.” He coughed, “But you’ll n’ver be al’ne. I’ll ‘lways be right by ‘ur side.”

More tears fell down Tails’ cheek as his words started slurring. Looks like his time was almost up.

His smile wavered a bit. He wanted nothing more in life than to see what his little brother would accomplish in life. He wanted to stand there with him, to be his shadow for once, to watch the kit shine his light that’s been covered for so long.

It hurt knowing he wouldn’t get to see it. It hurt so much more than the metal rod sticking out of his side. It hurt more than the head or leg injuries he sustained. It hurt more than any little cut or bruise he had on his battered body.

But hey. It’s the thought that counts, right? He sure hopes so.

Chaos, he’s so cold. He didn’t even realize it until now. Someone should turn up the heater in this place or something.

There's only one part of his body that feels warm: the hand his brother is holding.

Tails was always so warm. He was lucky he had such thick and fluffy fur. Sure, it sucked in the summer when he would shed and overheat, but it was nice every other season. He loved his brother’s fur, his namesakes, his big ears and, Chaos, he really did love everything about him.

His kid really was amazing.

He silently beckoned Tails to cuddle up against his side, just like he’d do when the kid was having a nightmare.

If only this could just be a nightmare. Just a horrible, horrible nightmare.

The fox seemed to understand that his brother was freezing and he quickly curled up against his side. His namesakes draped across his lap and curled around him and he hugged Sonic, burying his face into the crook of his neck. He could feel his short fur getting soaked with tears but he didn’t care. He never cared about something like that.

He let his head settle on top of the kit and he closed his eyes. He was warm and cuddled up with his baby brother.

He couldn’t think of a more perfect way for him to go.

So with one last, and long overdue, “I love you” (the pained cry that came from the kit broke his heart), he let himself fade.

He couldn’t wait to watch Tails reach the stars from above.

[nyx-thedragon]

EVEN MORE NEWSIES THOUGHTS RAAHHHHH

noted down a bunch of things while watching again, so strap in for a bit of a long post!

1- reiterating that i love mr kloppman so much omg

2- mush has his fucking hat on before a shirt what's wrong with him /silly

3- "get the lead outta your pants" is such a fun phrase why don't we use it anymore

4- choreo for "carrying the banner" looks so fun

5- jack mocking davey's scoff i love them so bad

6- young christian bale as jack kelly is so charming

7- why is there just a boxing match going on?

8- medda complimenting les's acting skills <33

9- why is there a trolley on fire? why did they set one on fire?

10- "you can meet my folks" this is literally the first day you met him ???

11- esther jacobs is so pretty wow

12- second hand embarrassment/cringing when jack is telling sarah about what words make a headline good

13- les sleep singing and sounding good, i see you kid

14- "why don't you stay here tonight?" bro put the heart eyes away for a second my god

15- "when i dream on my own / i'm alone but i ain't lonely" <333333 love these lyrics

16- will forever be mad about livesies taking away jack's whole cowboy shtick it's so fun why would they take that away

17- how does jack just know how to ride a horse?? was he taught by someone when he was younger??

18- race & jack siblingism real !!

19- johnathon why do you work for pulitzer he doesn't appreciate you like he should

20- i love how natural the dialogue feels in the entire movie. it doesn't feel or sound like they memorized a script

21- "give him some room, let him think" les jacobs you precious little boy

22- jack and davey just make a great team to lead the strike. davey has the words and jack has the confidence and loud voice

23- "no! we can't beat up kids in the street, it'll give us a bad name!" "can't get any worse"

24- davey going from "i was joking" about the strike to helping organize and getting so into it i love him

25- davey wandering through the other newsies during "the world will know" love him (i have no clue why this stood out to me enough that i felt i had to note it down)

26- davey, again with the heart eyes. you're staring longingly at jack. please have some decorum

27- shoutout to denton for helping the boys. love our man denton

28- boots putting his ear up to the door trying to hear something i love him that's so silly

29- the look jack gives davey when he laughs at jack and les being kicked out of The World building

30- "no pictures" "sure" and then there ends up being a picture

31- spot conlon calling jack "jackie boy" oh i feel like they have some history. like friends when they were younger or something. or they've just known each other for a long time

32- mush and race little dance moment during "sieze the day" <3

now would be a great time to take a breather, drink some water, look somewhere other than the screen for a bit to give your eyes a rest

33- jack and davey are always so touchy with each other my god boys can you keep your hands to yourselves for five seconds please (/affectionate)

34- jack already trusts davey enough to let him hold the rope while he dangles like 50 feet in the air. they've barely known each other for two days these boys are lowkey down bad

35- jack and crutchy are brothers for real !!! i love them !!!!

36- snyder hitting the side of the bed to get that one kid to take his hat off why did he do that why did the hat need to be off ??

37- love how the brooklyn newsies' thing is slingshots it's so fun and cool

38- where did these boys learn how to tap dance

39- crutchy you gotta get better at lying, man

40- dude kloppman really is like these boys' father i just love him so much he seems so sweet

41- sarah jacobs why do you not find it a little weird for jack to sleep right outside your window all night?? i know you know him, but that's still a bit odd

42- "this rabble he's roused" pulitzer that's a great line, i gotta hand it to ya

43- love spot conlon's little walking stick/cane

44- the way the boys all love medda and hype her up <333

45- i need warden snyder dead and i need to be the one to do it oh my god i hate him so much!!!!

46- dutchy and specs are always around each other, as far as i remember seeing. they are a pair, do not separate

47- are davey and sarah twins? i've seen people online and in fics say that they are but it's not said in the movie and i am very curious if this is canon or a fanon thing that everyone has agreed on?

48- pulitzer gesticulates a lot. he's a hand-talker

49- "i don't understand" "i don't understand either but just get outta here!"

50- haven't said this before but i love davey's curly hair

51- weasel actually says "tisk tisk" (tsk tsk) he's such a weirdo for that

52- i also need weasel and the delanceys dead and i need to be the one to do it

53- roosevelt calling denton "denty" they're besties bro that's so fun

54- kloppman taking over weasel's job (edit: upon rewatching the movie again, i have realized that it is, in fact, not kloppman who takes over weasel’s job at the end of the movie. my apologies)

whoo. okay. less than the last one. that's good. i hope y'all enjoyed reading my thoughts and getting a little glimpse into my brain. and if someone could tell me the answer to my "are sarah and davey twins" question i will love you forever please i am very curious.

anyway, drink water, get some rest, and i will see you all later. stay cool

[itsallyscorner]

Could you do something where the reader is a marvel actor but crashes a panel that Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan are doing (kinda like Tom Holland did that one time) but the sofa is small so the reader is squished in between them and has to share their mics when asked questions something like that. It can be platonic but they are really close or the reader has a little thing going on with Seb but is really close with Mackie. I hope that made sense!

Oooo this request is so cute! Thank you for the request lovely, hope you like it!💜

a/n: This imagine is HEAVY on the dialogue because I wanted to include some fun questions from the fans and what not, anyway here’s the imagine:) 

💌.

Stackie Sandwich

You watched from backstage as Anthony showed off his thighs to the crowd, you know, the usual. You were currently at ACE Comic Con along with Anthony and Sebastian. You always enjoyed going to these kind of things. Meeting and getting to interact with the fans was always fun, it reminded you of why you did these movies and how thankful you were to have such lovely, supportive fans.

Currently you and the crew backstage were trying to find a way to sneak you onto the stage without interrupting a question.

Anthony sat back down on the small couch as Sebastian laughed at his friend’s antics.

“I’m telling y’all, you wanna have thighs like these, you gotta do leg day. Don’t skip leg day.” Anthony tells the crowd as he nudges Sebastian. You chuckle from backstage as Kevin Smith, the monitor of the panel continues.

“So I know we were supposed to be joined by (y/n) (y/l/n), where is she?” He asked the men.

“Probably on a coffee run.” Sebastian answered immediately shaking his head with an eye roll. The crowd reacts with quiet giggles.

“I swear that woman cannot function without her coffee.” Anthony remarked.

“I’ve known her for years and lemme tell you it’s like her body is going through some kind of error. We were on set for a movie we did together and I was talking to her.” Anthony started as he leaned forward.

“Now I didn’t know she didn’t have her coffee yet. I’ve been talking for like 10 minutes and the whole time she was sleeping. And when she began to like wake up and talk, it was like she was a sloth.” Anthony shared as he proceeded to act like a sloth saying “Error 404” really slow.

You turned to the stage hand and said “I’m going now, he just called me a sloth.”

The man laughed and handed you a mic from the side. Before walking out you say into the mic, “I know you ain’t talking about me, Mackie.” You walk out to the stage and the crowd cheers loudly. Mackie throws his head back as he laughs.

“Hey everyone!” You greet the crowd, waving at all of them. You approached the guys with your arms up in a “fight me” manner, it was mostly for Anthony. You greet Kevin and move to Sebastian, purposely skipping Anthony.

“Hey, dragostea.” Seb greeted you as he wraps his arms around your body. You giggled as you wrapped your arms around his neck and hide your face in between his neck and shoulder.

When you pull away you turn to Anthony who looked offended. You send him a playful smile and smack his arm before jumping on him and wrapping your arms around him. He lets out his boisterous laugh and hugs you back. In the process you drop your mic on the stage causing you to cringe.

You guys settle onto the small couch. You sat in between Anthony and Seb, fairly squished in the middle by the two buff men. Their legs took up too much space on the couch, leaving no room for your own legs. The crowd laughed at your face as you tried to make yourself comfortable in the tight space.

You went to speak into your mic but it didn’t register. Looks like you broke the mic.

“Look at you, haven’t been up here for a minute and you already broke something.” Anthony tisked playfully. Sebastian poked you with his mic and handed it to you. You thanked him with a smile. 

“I’ll pay for that! Just send me the bill.” You yell towards the back. You look at Anthony and raise your brow at him.

“You need to pipe down, son. You’ve been coming at me all morning long.” You acknowledged pointing a finger at him. The crowd laughs along with Seb. Anthony nods as he stifles his laughs to himself.

“(Y/n), thank you for joining us, how are you?” Kevin asks you.

“I’m doing great! I’m so excited to be here and meet all of you! I saw so many of you guys dressed up, and you all look absolutely amazing! I also saw a dog on my way here!” You answered bubbly.

“What kind of dog?” Sebastian asked pulling your hand with the mic towards him.

“A golden retriever and omg he was dressed as Cap!” You squealed.

“I hope that dog is here because I want to meet them and just smother them with hugs.” You add as you motion to the audience.

“Sebastian said you were running late because you were on a coffee run, is that true?” Kevin asks as Sebastian scrunches his nose. 

“I mean he’s not completely wrong. I got coffee before I got here. But the traffic on the way here was really bad.”

“She’s lying, she spent a good half hour at Starbucks sippin’ on her coffee while inhaling the smell of Starbucks like an addict.” Anthony jokingly jabs at her. You were used to the playful jabs from Mackie, it was how you guys were. Knowing each other for years, you guys formed a brother/sister relationship.

“Alright then! So, we’ve got a line forming for the questions! How about we start?” Kevin continued as he motioned to the crowd.

🕓 Time Skip

It’s half an hour into the panel and you guys have been asked so many questions already. Some about your characters, the relationships off screen, and some new projects. Thankfully the crowd was very nice and respectful to you all, no one asked anything rude or made offensive comments.

The laughs were just dying down after Mackie told another one of his jokes. A teenage girl dressed as your character came up to the mic.

“Hi, my name is Maddie and my question is for (y/n)!” She waved at you with a grin.

“Hi, hun! You look beautiful by the way, I love your costume!” You complimented her, taking Anthony’s mic. She thanks you and continues.

“I—, I’m sorry you’re just so small compared to Anthony and Seb on that couch. You’re so cute!” The audience laughs along with the two men next to you.

You huff and squish your way out between Anthony and Sebastian’s bodies, “In my defense it’s a really small couch! And these guys are so beefy they take up all the space on here!”

“It’s a Stackie sandwich with a side of (y/n)!!” Mackie enthusiastically announced making the crowd go crazy.

Sebastian moved further into the corner of the couch making more space for you. He even moved his arm to rest on top of the couch’s backrest. You could hear some fans point it out and squeal. You thank him by patting his leg as his arm lingered behind you.

“So my question is, how is it like to be around such tall people? Because I’m short as well and I have to always look up at everyone.” Maddie says into the mic.

“That’s exactly how it is! Sometimes I get concerned if I’ll mess up my back because I have to look up at everyone!” You say into Sebastian’s mic, which he voluntarily held up for you.

“We carry her around a lot on set.” Seb chimes from beside you.

“Yeah like a sack of potatoes.” Anthony adds.

You pull on Seb’s arm to talk into the mic, “They also tease me a lot, but it’s all in good fun.”

—•

“Hey guys! I’m Jess and my question is for Anthony! So you and (y/n) have worked on multiple projects together. How was it like to be in Marvel with each other and act along side each other?”

You giggled at the question, turning to Anthony, “How’s it like to work with me, huh?”

“I mean, honestly, it’s always an honor to work with (y/n). I’m glad that I know someone like her in this business, she’s one of the most genuinely nice people you’ll ever meet. And I respect her for that because sometimes it’s hard to not get blinded by the fame and just become a dick, or a diva in your case.” Anthony answered as he threw an arm around you.

“Aww thanks, Mac.” You smile and lean on his shoulder.

“And to add onto that. Our characters in the movie are pretty close as well, so when Anthony and I have scenes together, it doesn’t even feel like acting. It’s always a great time on set when he’s around.” You finished off.

—•

“Hi, I’m Elena and my question is for Sebastian!”

“This is our last question for the panel, so make it good!” Kevin interjects.

“Go ahead, sweetheart.” Sebastian says to the fan.

“Bucky and (y/c/n) have really good chemistry with each other in the movies and the relationship doesn’t feel forced onto the fans. I wanted to know if any of the chemistry on screen is real offscreen?” Elena asked with a cheeky grin. You remained quiet as you felt Anthony nudge you with his knee.

Sebastian longingly stared at you for a moment before answering, “Well it’s not hard to act like you’re in love with (y/n), because everyone on set loves her. She unapologetically herself and I think that’s what makes it so easy to have chemistry with her, it just felt natural with her, you know?”

“To answer your question, Elena. They’ve been on a few dates already.” Anthony blurted out causing the audience to erupt. You looked at him with your mouth agape from your position on Sebastian. You were currently leaning into his side while your arm rested on his thigh.

“You weren’t supposed to say that.” Sebastian uttered as he moved his arm to wrap around your shoulders. You’d be lying if you said you didn’t have feelings for Seb. You guys definitely had chemistry offscreen and everyone knew about it.

“Hey! All I’m implying is that y’all need to both stop beating around the bush and make it official Anthony defended himself.

“Fine!”

“(Y/n), how do you feel about dinner tonight?” Sebastian asked you.

“Sounds good.” You smile at him.

“Great, we have some things to discuss.” He playfully teased the crowd.

“FEELINGS!” Anthony yelled over Sebastian.

Kevin laughed as he ended the panel, “On that note! Our panel has come to an end, thank you everyone for showing up and for your questions! Thank you Anthony, (y/n), and Sebastian for coming here we really appreciate it!”

You guys thank the crowd again and take a group picture with the audience. Anthony leaves the stage first followed by you and Seb. Sebastian helps you down the stairs and keeps a hand on your back.

“Wait, are we actually going to dinner?” You asked looking up at him.

“Yeah, I told you, we’ve got some stuff to talk about.” He winks as he leads you guys to the green room.

dragostea - love

[imagine-a-life-like-this]

What If? (H.JS)

Warnings : mention of divorce 

Word Count : 1897

Synopsis : she had never seen jisung as anything more than just a friend. that is until her and jisung volunteered to do a couples photoshoot for their mutual friend. seeing the way he looked at her, the way they just seemed to match perfectly had her wondering, what if they were more than friends?

“He said my portfolio isn’t good enough. There isn’t enough variety.” Hyunjin whined as he plopped beside me on the couch. I could see the disappointment and exhaustion in his eyes when he looked at me. He had been working on his photography portfolio for months now, hoping to impress his professor.

           “Did he give you any ideas to help expand your portfolio?” I asked, running my fingers through his hair. It’s always helped calm him down, or that’s what he told me.

           “He wants me to try to do a couples photoshoot, since I do a lot of portrait shoots. But I don’t even know any couples!” I slowly began to massage his head as he moved to rest his head in my lap, his eyes closing as he did so.

           “Y/N and I will do it.” Jisung offered from the kitchen. Hyunjin’s eyes shot open, meeting mine immediately.

           “Is there something you two aren’t telling me?” He questioned, causing Jisung and I to burst into laughter.

           “No, but we can act like it front of the camera.” Jisung chuckled as he sat in the chair beside the couch.

           “Besides, most of the school thinks we’re dating anyway.” I joked. Ever since high school, people have thought Jisung and I were couple since we’ve always been so close. Jisung is quite introverted and nervous around a lot of people, and he’s told me before that I comfort him just by being beside him. Growing up, he always clung to me in one way or another, not that I ever minded.

           “Yeah, when I met you two in high school, I could have sworn you two were a couple.” Hyunjin added, sitting up on the couch. “But you two would really do a couples photoshoot for me?” We exchanged looks before nodded.

           “You’re our friend and this is important to you. Of course we’ll help.” I smiled.

           The three of us set out to find some nice shooting locations the next day. It was the perfect day for a photoshoot; the sun shining high in the sky. Every once in a while, Hyunjin would stop us and we’d take some pictures. Jisung and I looked up some references so we knew how to pose and make it look more realistic.

           There was a lot of longing stares and laughter at how ridiculous this felt. Hyunjin was completely focused as Jisung and I posed for him. This was his final project and was worth 50% of his grade, and I could tell it was stressing him out. We tried our best to look as in love as possible, trying to hold in our laughter until the picture was taken, but sometimes it was difficult.

           “Stop looking at me like that.” Jisung chuckled, hiding his face behind his hands. I reached out, taking one of his hands in mine and continued looking longingly into his eyes. “Yah!” I watched as his cheeks became a rosy colour.

           “Let me love you!” I yelled as he suddenly took off running. As I caught up to him, I jumped on his back, thinking it would tackle him to the ground, but I was surprised when he caught my legs in his hands and continued running with me on his back. “Yah Han Jisung!” I shrieked, begging him to drop me.

           “Didn’t think this one through, did you princess?” I cringed at the cliché nickname, lightly hitting the top of his head in protest. “Yah! Don’t hit me!”

           The three of us ended up at a cafe looking through the pictures Hyunjin took throughout the day, after he downloaded them to his laptop. Jisung would point at one he thought was really nice, asking to send them to him later. But I just stared, my heart suddenly picking up pace.

           I stared at the pictures, seeing the wide smiles on both our faces. How perfectly our hands seemed to fit together. Hyunjin even took pictures of us when we were just being ourselves, running around the park with me on his back. You couldn’t tell the difference between the pictures where we were acting like a couple and when we were just hanging out.

           In all the years I’ve known Jisung, I’ve never seen him as anything more than my best friend. But looking at these pictures is like looking into another reality where he’s my boyfriend, and I don’t mind it.

           Han Jisung has always been the person I turn to when I have news to share, good or bad. Through all the hard times and fights, he stuck by me, promising me he’d never leave. He’s the person that knows me better than I know myself. He knows exactly what I need without me asking for it. It’s like he can read my mind.

           There’s no denying that he’s handsome either. He has a smile that can light up a room. Whenever I’m having a bad day, his smile alone can brighten it, bringing a smile to my face as well. And he’s got the cutest cheeks that puff out when he shoves food in his face, much like a squirrel. It’s one of my favourite parts about him. Honestly, I love everything about him.

           There’s no doubt in my mind that I accidentally fell for my best friend. I fell for him a long time ago, but I refused to admit it. But looking at these pictures, my heart can’t deny it anymore. I’m in love with Han Jisung.

           “Hey, Y/N, you okay?” Jisung’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. “Do you not like the pictures? Are we not a cute couple?” He joked, his famous smile dancing across his lips. I couldn’t help but smile back.

           “We’re obviously the cutest! All the pictures are amazing, Jinnie.” Hyunjin smiled at us, the stress seeming to wash off him completely.

           “Honestly, you two would make a really cute couple. Look at this picture.” He showed us a picture he took just a bit ago when we got to the café. Jisung and I were standing in line, waiting to order. As per usual, Jisung had his arm draped across my shoulders, and I was holding his hand that was hanging off my shoulder, our fingers laced together. We were staring at each other, wide smiles on our faces. We weren’t even posing, that’s just how we’ve always been. “You are the happiest with each other.” Hyunjin added, but Jisung and I were both silent, realization hitting us both.

           “Wow.” Jisung breathed out, his eyes suddenly meeting mine. “I’m so handsome!” He exclaimed, a wide smile taking over his face. I let out a laugh, but I could feel my heart drop. It was obvious that I was the only one who fell.

           I eventually excused myself with the excuse of a project due in a couple days that I needed to finish. I put my earbuds in and took the long way home, overthinking every little thing between Jisung and I over the years. When did my feelings change?

           Was it the night my parents divorced and I couldn’t stop crying, wondering what went wrong? Jisung came over after I had called him and he heard I was crying. I told him not to, but he still showed up, drenched from the pouring rain, holding a bag of all my favourite snacks. He held me until my sobs faded and wiped away the drying tears.

           Maybe it was when we were partnered for a project in high school and we were in my room, laughing about something completely unrelated to the project. We stayed up late into the night, until my dad came upstairs, offering Jisung the spare room to sleep in, saying he already called his parents. Jisung was awake before me, waking me up with breakfast in bed and a shy smile.

           It could have been when I was stood up, and instead of just picking me up and allowing me to do the lonely walk of shame out of the fancy restaurant, he barged in, apologizing profusely for being late. I smiled when I saw him dressed in his best suit, his hair a mess from the obvious run he did to get there. He even paid despite the high price and his dwindling bank account.

           Or it could have been a mix of everything. Maybe my feelings were never platonic. I always seemed to laugh louder and smile more when he’s around.

           A short vibration from my phone pulled me from my thoughts. I opened the message from Hyunjin, seeing a couple pictures from today on my screen along with a short message. I don’t think you two are just friends.

           The pictures were ones he didn’t show us at the café, or at least not when I was there. The first one seemed to be from when we were just wandering around looking for a location to shoot. I was looking somewhere off camera, probably looking around for a place to shoot. But Jisung’s eyes were on me. His hands were in his pockets while a soft smile danced across his lips. The way he looked at me was the way guys in movies look at their lover. Eyes full of love and longing.

           The second picture was during one of the moments we were trying to act like a couple, but we couldn’t contain our laughter. His hands cupped my face, our eyes locked together in a sweet gaze. You could practically hear our laughter just by looking at the picture. And in both of our eyes was the same longing look Jisung gave me in the previous picture.

           The final picture was another from us acting like a couple. I had closed my eyes just like the couple in the reference picture, thinking Jisung did too. Our foreheads were touching, his hands cupping my face once again, and my hands resting on his chest. But his eyes weren’t closed. They were open, looking at me with such love that I could feel the butterflies erupt in my stomach.

           I stopped walking, just staring at the third picture, hope building up in my stomach. The lyrics of the song playing in my earbuds was background music to the sound of my heart pounding.

           Just then, Jisung’s contact picture popped up on screen as he called me. He always knew when I needed him. He knew me better than I knew myself. I should have known I couldn’t keep these feelings a secret from him. He could read me as easily as you can read your favourite book.

           “Turn around.” Was all he said before hanging up. Slowly, I listened to his directions, turning around, and seeing him standing just a few feet away. “You felt it too, didn’t you.” He said, neither one of us taking a step. Strangers just walked on by, not paying us any attention, as if they were extras in a drama we were starring in.

           “Yeah.” Was all I could say, and a smile formed on his face. “I think I always have.” I added, surprised he could hear me with how soft my voice was. He finally walked towards me, closing the short distance between us before cupping my face.

           “Me too.” He whispered before pressing his lips to mine in the first of many kisses we’d share.

[kio-may]

The girl that lurks - Prologue

---

Maleficent!AU Malleus x fem!reader

A/n: I watched the movie like 6 times now and i just had to write a maleficent au!! Idk if its already been written but i thought up of a different story that kinda fits them both.

Tags: reader is female,, nothing else :)

--

You awed at the beautiful flowers you passed by, like hidden jewels in the grass at a distance, you were careful with your steps. You clasped your bag securely to your chest, inching towards the river filled with gemstones. The sun sparkled them even more, causing you to flutter your eyes as you picked one up and ran, knowing someone was watching. You ran as fast as your feet would take you, afraid of the creatures that now were alarmed by your presence, you immediately ducked into a sort of den, leafs,vines and moss acting like curtains. You fell on your back and leaned up against the wall as you heard some muttering outside.

You held the beautiful gem in your hands, your dirt caked fingers outlining the curves of it.

You steadied your breath when suddenly you heard a young boy calling to you.

"I know you're there, come out!"

You were dumbfounded.

"..n‐no! They mean to kill me!", your voice cracked at the end, obviously scared almost half to death.

"Stealing is wrong, but we don't kill over it. Now, come out! Come out this instant!"

You slowly got up and hid the gem quietly in your pocket, peeking out and adjusting your eyes to the bright sun before slowly and sheepishly standing face to face with the young boy.

You both stared at each other for a bit, taking in each other's features. The boy was beautiful, he had black horns protruding from his scalp, long silky hair, and huge wings that were similar to that of a raven. His eyes were like green leaves of flowers after a summer rain. 

He cleared his throat and opened his mouth hesitantly to ask, "you're just a girl.. you're not fully grown yet?"

"You're just a boy too" you breathed out, forgetting all your fears in that moment.

---

Having been forced to return the gem, you were quite a bit grumpy, but had a fruitful conversation with the boy. He told you about his wings, his horns, other fae like him and more. You and him both shared a gratefulness of experiencing a green childhood, surrounded by plants and fresh fruits. He chuckled fondly at some of your more sarcastic remarks about how the animals of your barn had been eating up your socks lately, and inquisitively listened as you told him all about your little book knowledge. 

You both finally reached the border of the Moors, where you saw your home in the distance, and took a deep breath, observing in a comfortable silence with the fae beside you.

"That's my home in the distance," you said, pointing at it, your body turned to him. "It's not much, but we're all very happy". He looked longingly at it, then turned to you. "Will you be coming here again?" He asked. "If you'll be here the next time I do." You answered cheekily. He laughed and offered a goodbye-handshake. You gladly took his hand until

"Ouch!"

"What happened?"

You immediately retracted your hand, cringing at the pain you caused him. He held his hand and told you, "Your ring. Iron hurts fae."

You looked at the iron ring with distaste, taking it off quickly and throwing it in the distance, somewhere off in the grass. You turned to him and offered a meek smile, and he smiled back. "I'll see you again sometime soon then. Goodbye, Malleus."

..

The boy sat under a tree, looking at the black and inky sky littered with diamonds of it's own, thinking about the strange encounter, of how you who had so little threw it away just so his hands could touch yours again. And smiled, playfully fluttering a leaf between his fingers.

---

[mrs-miya]

truth or drink → friends with benefits edition

warning: not proofread; alcohol/drinking; mentions of sex and threesome.

genre: angst if u rly squint; fluff; slight suggestive

a/n: reblogs and feedback are appreciated! i had this idea yesterday when was about to sleep lol. i kinda rushed into this as well..? i wanted to post something writing related here hhh

atsumu: i’m atsumu

y/n: and i'm (y/n)

together: we’re friends with benefits!

the two of you laughed before looking at the director to ask if you can drink before the game starts.

y/n: can we? i feel terribly nervous about this.

“go ahead.”

you raised your shot glass as atsumu raised his, clanking it together before drinking the whiskey.

“how did you two meet each other?”

y/n: college. it was our first year and we both had the same class. we never really... conversed that much before unless it’s school-related.

atsumu: she was always present at my club mate’s parties, i’m gonna be honest here, i never really took her as a partygoer until i saw her dancing shamelessly with her friends. nothing indecent, it was actually funny because she doesn’t have any moves.

y/n: hey-!

seeing your reaction, atsumu let out a laugh causing you to pout at him.

“how long have you been friends with benefits?”

atsumu: almost 2 years now. started when we were in our last year of college.

atsumu: you ready for the first question?

he glanced at you for your approval before grabbing a card from a container.

atsumu: what should we call our relationship?

y/n: like i- we said, we’re friends with benefits!

atsumu only laughed at your answer.

y/n: rate my- oh wow, this early in the game?

you looked at the stage crew then to atsumu who seems to be clueless at the current situation

atsumu: go on, rate your what?

you shook your head, trying not to cringe at the question that you’re going to ask out loud.

y/n: rate my performance in bed...

atsumu stared at you for a millisecond, processing the question in his mind. then, with a smirk on his face, he folded his arms and looked at the camera.

atsumu: oh that’s easy. she’s an 11— 11/10. i wanna say a bigger number but it might sound cheesy.

y/n: when was the last time you’ve slept with a person that’s not me?

atsumu: 3 years ago, at suna’s party.

y/n: that was before we had... this relationship. You’ve never really slept with anyone else recently? or last year?

atsumu shook his head, smiling at you.

atsumu: you?

y/n: well i don't think i did. unless i was too drunk to remember – hopefully that didn’t happen.

atsumu: as far as i know, it didn’t.

y/n: oh, well, thank God.

atsumu grabs a card and his eyebrows perked up at the question he’s now going to ask

atsumu: oh~ this is an interesting question.

y/n: you’re making me nervous, tsum.

he looks at you, a smirk formed on his face as he read the question outloud.

atsumu: have you ever thought about having a threesome with me and a friend?

now it was your turn to get flustered, you held up your palms and covered your face to it, contemplating if you’re going to drink to it or not.

y/n: well, i’d be lying if i said i haven’t.

atsumu: really? with who?

y/n: yeah. but to answer your second question, i’m going to drink to that.

atsumu leaned back on his chair, groaning at your answer. he makes a mental note to pester you about it later.

y/n: now it's my turn to ask a spicy question.

atsumu: ask it away, ’m not afraid to answer ‘em.

y/n: yeah you never drank to a question.

y/n: anyway, name your favorite and least favorite place we had sex in.

atsumu: hmm, my favorite would be the kitchen counter. but my least favorite...

he dragged out the last word, shaking his head at the same time.

atsumu: i can’t believe i’m going to do this...

atsumu takes the shot glass beside him, drinking the whiskey in one go.

y/n: hey, if it makes you feel better i wouldn’t answer that too!

when atsumu picked the top card, he let out a sigh as he mentally read the question.

atsumu: are you afraid of commitment?

y/n: you know full well i’m not.

you gave him a soft smile.

“how about you atsumu?”

atsumu: ... before, yes. i was afraid of commitment, like really afraid of it. but now... i’ve been thinking about it and maybe it doesn’t sound so bad.

atsumu let out a quiet chuckle, avoiding your eyes.

y/n: this is why 2 of his exes left him.

atsumu: hey now, those are all in the past!

y/n: after a few months of being friends with benefits with him, i asked him a question - only out of curiosity. i asked him if we could be... something more and he said that he doesn’t see us being ‘something more.’ it’s understandable, honestly, considering the relationship we’re in.

you smiled at the card in front of you before looking at atsumu.

y/n: do you think i love you?

atsumu: i do. in fact, i’ve known for a while, not to sound too cheesy but i can see it through your eyes. it shines differently than when we started.

a small gasp came out of you before mumbling a “how?” to yourself.

“what about you (y/n)? do you think atsumu loves you?”

the way you’re playing with your fingers as a sign of nervousness didn’t go unnoticed by atsumu.

y/n: i’m not sure, to be honest. sometimes, i feel like he loves me and wants us to be ‘something more.’ but when i think about that, i also think about what he said a year ago. i don’t know..! he makes me confused.

you covered yourself with a laugh, hoping you weren’t assuming the wrong things.

a woman from backstage handed you two cards, one for each of you.

y/n: this is the last question right?

the woman nodded at you before leaving the set. you gestured atsumu to go first, his mind preparing for what’s about to be asked and answered. he took a short breath before flipping the card to read the question

atsumu: do you love me?

y/n: now that the cat’s out of the bag... yes, i love you.

atsumu: okay... your turn.

the set was still, the two of you talking to each other almost in whispers. as you flipped your card, you suddenly felt like your stomach was filled with butterflies.

you bit your lip in agitation before looking at atsumu.

y/n: it’s— it’s the same question.

atsumu positioned himself properly, both arms on the table. he exhaled as he gazed at you longingly.

atsumu: if you think i don’t... then you’re wrong. i love you too. probably more than how i think i do.

extra:

y/n: did you just ask me out? in a video?

atsumu: i guess so. i can ask you out again later if you want.

you both let out a hearty laugh causing the stage crew to laugh with you.

y/n: i’m gonna come over later and we’re gonna talk about this properly.

atsumu: come over? just live with me, most of your clothes are there anyway.

y/n: are you now asking me to move in with you..?!

[spcncershybrid]

Amortentia -Fred Weasley Imagine

GIF IS NOT MINE

(Summary: A certain Weasley let’s his feelings about you slip in the most inconvenient way.)

Fred Weasley X Reader

This is based on a few tik toks and probably some imagines I’ve read. Might post another imagine tomorrow but if not I hope you all have a great day this week for whichever holiday you celebrate!! Love you all!

“Are you ready for potions today?” Angelina said, nudging me as we walk to class.

“Not really I’m pretty sure Snape hates me.” I laughed as we walked into class.

Angelina and I stopped in confusion as our girl classmates were huddled around a cauldron. The boys stood to the side brewing something.

“Where’s Professor Snape?” I ask walking up to them.

“Not sure.” A girl said, turning to us.

“What are you lot brewing?” Angelina said as we walked up to them.

“Amortentia.” Another girl said giggling.

“And you boys?” I asked looking over to them.

“Same thing.” One said scoffing as he sniffed the cauldron.

“Y/N, try it first. You’ll probably smell you know who.” Angelina said as she moved to the side.

“Not that you know who Angelina.” I say laughing.

“Right sorry.” She said giggling lightly as she realized what she said.

I leaned my head over the cauldron and sniffed. Fireworks, smoke, and wood.

“So what do you smell?” Angelina said looking at me.

“A variety of smoke items and wood- like our brooms.” I say looking at her as I tilted my head. 

I smelled Fred Weasley.

I look at the other girls who are occupied with smelling the cauldron. I step away from the cauldron and pull Angelina to the side with me.

“I think I smelled Fred.” I said looking at her in shock.

“At least your feelings are confirmed.” She said excitedly.

You see here’s the problem, the twins are my best friends. Like all love cliches I fell for my best friend.

“But Angelina what if he doesn’t smell me. The smell varies for everyone.” I say as I run my hands over my face.

“He probably doesn’t even like me. This is setting me up.” I groan as I look over at her.

Angelina knew otherwise. Being on the quidditch team made her form a bond with the Weasley’s twins. Over a night of team celebration and firewhisky that was snuck in, secrets from both of the boys were revealed.

____________

“So boys, any girl caught your eye?” Angelina asked as she took a swing of firewhisky before handing it over to Oliver.

“You already know who.” George said winking at her as he tilted his head towards Fred.

“Fred?” She said as she looked at him.

“Who do you fancy?” She continued as she watched him take a sip of his drink.

“Nobody.” He said.

“Really weren’t you boasting about-” Oliver started before Fred cut him off with a glare.

“You guys are still down here.” Y/N said walking down the stairs of the common room.

“The celebration died down a bit. There’s still some left if you’d like.” George said, handing her the bottle.

She happily took the bottle and took a swing feeling the liquid burn her throat.

“That’s always so awful.” She said, wiping her mouth.

“I think we should call it a night, we have practice tomorrow.” Oliver said standing from the floor.

Everyone nodded their head before leaving besides Angelina, Fred and George.

Fred stared longingly as Y/N walked back up the stairs. He sighed as he watched her leave. He shouldn’t feel this way, she’s his best friend.

“She’s the one he fancies.” Angelina said as she leaned over to George.

“Now you notice. He’s been this way since third year.” George said chuckling.

“Oh dear that long. He should make a move.” She said crossing her arms as they watched Fred leave the common room.

“Contrary to popular belief Johnson he won’t do it. He complains often about how she wouldn’t like him.” George said.

“Well he’s wrong!” Angelina exclaimed.

“She fancies him too?” George said in slight confusion.

“You don’t share a dorm with her. If you did you would hear nonstop on her feelings. Half the time it’s like a broken record.” Angelina laughed.

“Let’s make a bet.” George said placing his hand out.

“One sickle that they get together by the end of term.” George continued as he kept his hand out.

“You’re on Weasley.” Angelina said as she shook his hand.

With that they both separated and went to their dorms and the night was filled with an earful of complaints from their dorm mates.

_____________

“This is bad Angelina.” I say as I look around the classroom. I went to my usual seat and sat down.

“No it isn't, wait for them to come and let’s hear what he smells.” Angelia reassured me as she sat down beside me.

As if on cue the twins ran into the room smiling.

“Y/L/N lay off the perfume for a while. I can smell you from here.” Fred exclaimed as he sniffed the air in confusion before laughing loudly.

I felt the color drain out of me and my mouth grew dry. Everyone else stifled a laugh as they looked at us.

“What?” Fred said as he looked around the class.

“That isn’t her perfume Fred. We’re brewing Amortentia.” A girl said laughing. 

Now it was Fred’s turn to grow pale. His cheeks turned red like his hair.

“Unauthorized use of brewing materials is strongly prohibited without a Professor present.” Snape's dull voice said as he walked into the classroom.

“10 points from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff.” He continued as the students scurried to their seats.

“At least it's mutual.” Angelina said laughing slightly.

“That doesn’t make this situation better.” I say biting my lip anxiously.

“Talk to him after class.” Angelina said as she began writing on her parchment.

“You’re right what’s the worst that can happen.” I say laughing nervously.

_____________

Fred stared blankly at his parchment as he felt himself slowly die of embarrassment.

“That’s not too bad mate.” George said as he looked over to his brother.

“Not too bad. George this is awful.” He said as he scribbled aimless things on his parchment.

“You didn’t hear it from me Freddie but she fancies you too.” George said leaning over as he glanced over towards Angelina and Y/N.

“You reckon?” Fred asked as he looked over.

“Talk to her after class and you’ll see.” George said as he began writing.

Soon enough the bell rang out.

“Class dismissed.” Snape said as he closed his book.

Students ushered out the room and into the corridors.

‘Now or never.’ Fred thought as he watched Y/N and Angelina leave the classroom.

_____________

I walked beside Angelina and felt my hands grow cold.

“You talk to him all the time.” Angelina scoffed as she laughed lightly.

“This is way different Ang.” I say as I play with my robes.

I grew silent as Fred and George walked beside us. 

“Angelina we should check if Oliver needs us.” George said as he grabbed her arm and dragged her away.

“So what’d you smell?” Fred asked as we walked beside each other and into the courtyard.

“I didn’t smell anything Fred.” I blurt out quickly. I cringed lightly as we walked.

“Oh. You don’t fancy anyone?” Fred said, scratching his head.

“No Fred I don’t.” I say stopping and stare at him. I felt bad for lying to him but I need to preserve our friendship.

“I should probably check if Oliver needs me too. Bye Y/N.” Fred said jogging back into the school.

I huff in anger and felt tears prick my eyes. Stupid Amortentia!

_____________

I walk into the quidditch locker room shielding my eyes.

“The boys are on the field already, it's just me.” I heard Angelina say. I put my arms to my side and sat on the bench next to her.

“I messed up everything.” I say putting my head in my hands.

“What happened in the courtyard?” Angelina asked as she sat next to me.

“He asked me if I fancied anyone and I completely lied to him.” I say looking at her pouting.

“That’s all?” Angelina asked as she strapped her gloves.

“He asked me what I smelled in the Amortentia and I lied to him saying nothing.” I say leaning my head on her shoulder.

“Why’d you do that?” Angelina asked as she comforted me.

“I didn’t want to ruin our friendship.” I huffed.

“You wouldn’t have Y/N.” I heard Fred say as he walked into the locker room.

“What are you doing here!” I exclaim as I stare DF at him in shock.

“I forgot my bat.” Fred awkwardly said as he pointed to his locker.

Angelina stared at the both of us before leaving the locker room.

“You wouldn’t have ruined anything if anything you would’ve made it easier.” Fred said as he went and sat beside me.

“Fred you’re my best friend I can’t lose you like that. I guess I was just scared.” I say looking down at my lap.

“You scared blimey Y/N fancying me isn’t that bad.” Fred laughed as he placed his hand on my leg.

“To answer your question earlier, I fancy someone and I smelled fireworks, wood and smoke. Do you reckon I smelled George? He is quite cute.” I say jokingly as I look at him.

“I'm pretty sure you smelled his twin brother the one that actually likes you.” He said rolling his eyes.

“Tough luck on my end.” I laughed as I heard Oliver yell outside.

“You should probably go. Oliver might hit you with the bat.” I say standing up.

Fred stood up and stared at me. I gave him a quick peck on the cheek and shy away as I felt my face heat up. Fred smiled and walked away towards the door.

“W-wait Fred I have a question.” I say stopping him.

“What?” He said turning to me.

“Why me? There are so many other girls at Hogwarts.” I ask as I watch him open the door.

“Not all girls can handle a prank. I can dive more into it on our Hogsmeade date.” He said winking before leaving the locker room.

“Those damn Weasley’s.” I smiled before walking out of the locker room and going to the common room.

Meanwhile…

“You seem giddy.” George said as he and his twin flew to their post.

“I just scored a date with Y/N.” Fred said as a slight blush flourished on his cheeks.

“I knew you could do it Freddie.” George smiled. His smile grew wider as he remembered a certain thing.

“Oi Angelina! You owe me a sickle!” He yelled, making the girl flip him off laughing as she waved the coin in the air.

“For what?” Fred said as he stared at his brother in confusion.

“Sometimes love has a price brother.” George laughed as he flew over to Angelina making Fred just scratch his head.

taglist: @hpbitch​

[forthehpfanboys]

I’m Sorry

Pair: Ron Weasley x Reader; he/him.

Summary: You hate Ron, Ron hates you. Pretty simple. It only becomes complicated when the bloke says something about your cologne in Potions class.

Warnings: Swearing, insults, fighting.

Notes: Requested! Probably my favorite so far? I don't own the gif, I just couldn't find it in the suggestions-

~DO NOT REPOST ANYWHERE~

-

The rule of thumb that everyone in Gryffindor gets along is far from true when it comes to you and Ronald Bilius Weasley. You guys clashed harder than the titanic and that iceberg. Honestly, no one remembered how it started, but they could remember the insults thrown back and forth. You didn’t exactly hide your hatred for the red-head and he was the same.

The two of you would fight deep into the night, effectively keeping up the whole tower with your insults and burns ringing in the empty common room. When fellow Gryffindors saw you two starting to get in a heated argument, most fled to avoid the damage. Sometimes it came to blows, leading to Fred and George or Hermione and Harry splitting you two apart, but it was mostly the older twins. 

You two don’t even remember why you hate each other, at this point, you just do. At least, that’s what you told yourself every time you caught yourself staring at him from across the library or when you’d shove into him in the hallway. His smile was softer than freshly fallen snow and his eyes could rival the ocean with their beauty. You had absolutely no clue he was battling the same feelings. 

Ron wished you would smile sweetly at him instead of sneering insults that made him want to hex you into next Tuesday. He wanted to hold your hand instead of get hit by it, but he figured this was best. He did start this. He was the one that turned cold toward you on the train one random year to avoid his feelings for you.

Today was one of the tenser days where you and Ron were inches from ending each other's blood lines. Everyone in the tower could already feel it and you weren’t even in the same room yet. You’d woken up a little bit later than usual all because of your Scream Off™ with the short Weasley the night before. You walked down the stairs of the boys dormitory, your hand running through your messy hair. Insults from the night before rang in your head like a bell.

“What did I do to deserve being trapped with the human embodiment of ginger ale?”

“Since when do you know things? I thought your brain was filled with cobwebs and moth balls?”

“We both know your face looks prettier after my fist has kissed it.”

It made your stomach twist with guilt, but the guilt melted into pure hatred when a cocky voice rang through the common room. You wanted to knock his lights out before your foot even hit the last step of the staircase.

“Finally awake, eh, (L/n)? Only took forever, lazy arse.” Ron was snickering on the main couch right in front of the fireplace. The atmosphere in the common room immediately shifted. You rolled your eyes as you walked up to the couch, standing right behind him.

“Shut it, Weasley.” You grabbed his hair, forcing his head back to look at your glare. “I hope you fall off a broom during Quidditch today.” Your voice was laced with a false sweetness. Your glare shifted to a dark smirk before jerking his head forward. After letting go of his hair, you walked past him, flipping him off. “Good morning Granger. Have a good game, Potter!” You smiled and waved goodbye after they said good morning and a quick thanks. 

You got along perfectly with 2/3 of the Golden Trio. They were always polite to you, even if you would throw hands at their best friend. They didn’t play favorites though, which was nice. If one of you started the fight, they’d make it known when they broke it up.

“Oi! Don’t be a basta-!” Ron stood up quickly, going to run after you as you left, but was stopped by Harry’s hand pulling him back down onto the couch. “Ronald! Not today, please!” Hermione spoke up, rubbing her temples. “We already have to deal with Slughorn. I’d rather not also have to deal with your pathetic excuse for flirting.” She sighed out. Poor girl already had a headache and it wasn’t even 10 oclock.

Ron crossed his arms over his chest, his face heating up some. He cringed at the mere thought of finding you romantically attractive… Ok, he would admit you did have a nice ass, but not out loud. 

“I’m not flirting. I hate his guts, Mione.” 

“Yeah, sure.” 

“I’m serious! How could anyone find that twat even remotely attractive or adorable? He’s the bloody worst!”

Harry and Hermione shared a look before turning back to Ron. Harry and Hermione both knew better than that, this was a classic Enimies-To-Lovers scenario, at least that’s what they hoped, if not.. This was going to be a long, long, long year.

“No one said anything about him being adorable OR attractive, Ron.” 

“Sod off, Harry, I know it was implied. You both know what I mean anyway.” Ron stood up, heading for the portrait hole.

“Where are you going?” Hermione groaned out. Her headache just got worse. “To get payback for the hairs that git ripped out.” 

-

Ron walked down the hallways of the castle. He was so determined to find you he skipped breakfast, leading the remaining additions of the Golden Trio to come hunt him down. With some help from the older Weasley Twins, they managed to catch up with him pretty easily. Getting him to go to class, however, was a lot harder. Ron looked between his friends, then his brothers standing behind them for reinforcement. The keeper wasn’t moving an inch, not without seeing you first.

“No.”

“Ronald-”

“No, don’t Ronald me!”

“Ron! Come on! We have to go to potions in less than 5 minutes!”

“No! I’m just going to end up sitting next to that git and his stupid attitude the entire class! It’s going to be worse torture than seeing Snape everyday.” Ron crossed his arms over his chest. “Besides, my fist has a date with his lips and I’m not going anywhere until that date happens!”

“He was at breakfast, you missed him. You can fight him after potions. Can we go to class now?” Harry tried to reason with the hot-headed idiot, but alas, nothing is ever that easy. He groaned when Ron shook his head no, causing the twins to step into the picture. If anyone could get him to go somewhere, it was them.

“Wow, Hermione, you're right.” Fred started, turning to his twin.

“He’s got it bad and he doesn’t even know it yet.” George finished, while Fred shook his head in dismay and muttered a quick ‘shame’.

“I do not, nor will I ever, like him. Ok? Get that into your thick skulls!” 

“No one believes you, Ickle Ronniekins! In fact, most of Gryffindor Tower has a bet that you two will end up shagging in some broom closet in less than a week!” George stated while he rested his arm on his brother's shoulder.

“What?!” Ron’s face was turning pink again. “No! Ew!” Ron faked a few gags. “No! That would never happen!” 

“Hey, if you don’t want him, can I have him? I’d love to see how he’d look on his kne-” 

“OK! I’LL GO TO CLASS IF YOU SHUT UP-” Ron didn’t hesitate to cover his ears or turn briskly on his heels. The red-head hurried in the direction he came from, his two classmates following after him who both called out a thank you to the mischief masters. “Godric, why’d you ask them for help? Now I have that gross image in my head.” 

“We both knew it’d be the only way to get you to Potions. Now hurry up! I’d rather not be late!” Hermione grabbed her friends wrists and dragged them down the intermixing hallways until they stood right outside the classroom, only then did she let go. Harry handed Ron his potions textbook while Hermione patted down her hair and walked in, trying to act like she didn’t just sprint across the school. 

The two boys looked at each other, one rolling his eyes while the other snickered before walking in after her. The snickering red-head paused when he walked in, getting hit with a strong smell of mixed berries and fruit, almost like shampoo. He actually didn’t hate it, in fact, it made his heart beat a little faster. It was familiar. The idea had Ron lagging behind his friends. 

Once he joined the crowd in the back of the classroom and stood beside his friend at the edge of the crowd, did he notice the scent almost shift. It was your cologne. It made him gag with how powerful it was. Godric, did you pour an entire bottle of cologne on you? It was literally making him feel sick. He was going to lose every marble he had if someone didn’t open a window for him. 

When Slughorn began talking about today's lesson, it went in one of Ron’s ears only to travel out the other side. Your cologne was close to killing him and everyone was acting like it didn’t exist.

“Do you see (L/n)?” Ron whispered to Harry. 

“He’s across the classroom, Ron, why?” Harry whispered back. The two continued to whisper over Slughorn. They’d end up asking Hermione for help anyway. “Worried about him?” Harry grinned until his friend jabbed him in the side with his elbow.

“No, just wondering so I can rag him on his shit cologne.” Ron made eye contact with you across the classroom. He stuck his tongue out when you discretely gave him the bird. “I’m so gonna beat his ass.”

“What? Ron, what cologne?”

“You can’t smell it?” 

Harry was about to answer when he got interrupted by Slughorn abruptly asking everyone to take their seats and start the project. Neither of them noticed that pack of girls staring longingly at the bubbling cauldrons in front of them while they took their seats next to each other. 

See, the thing that sucked the most about this is Slughorn was determined to make you and Ron basically best friends, so he stuck you at the Golden Trio’s table for the whole year, which led to more trouble than good. Luckily, he paired you up with Harry and Ron with Hermione so you didn’t ruin each other's faces or potions. However, today, the bickering began before you sat down. 

“How’s your head feeling, Weasley?” You smirked, walking over with your brown side bag.

“How’s your shin feeling, (L/n)?” Before you could question what he meant, he kicked your leg before sitting down. You let out a grunt and sat down in your own seat before rubbing your now sore and most likely bruised leg. 

“I can’t wait for this class to end so I can rip out more of your stupid ginger hair, Ginger Ale.” You pulled out your textbook and flipping to the page. 

“Don’t bloody call me that, besides, why not just use that horrid cologne as pepper spray. With how much you wore today, it’s already doing the job for you.” Ron scowled at you from across the table, but his demeanor shifted ever so slightly when you dropped your quill and looked at him with wide eyes. He blinked a few times before looking around the room then behind him. “What?”

“Red, I.. You smell my cologne?” Your voice was filled to the brim with turmoil.

“So what if I do?” Ron’s face scrunched up with confusion. 

“Have you heard of a potion called Amortentia?” You spoke up, covering your rapidly heating up face. 

“A-amor- What?”

“Look, Red. Long story short, it’s a love potion. It’s strong enough to change love to obsession. It emits a smell that’s different for everyone and mimics the smell of your crush.” You looked at him between your fingers, seeing his confusion still so clear on his face.

“Ok.” Ron snorted. “What does that have to do with your shitty cheap cologne?” 

“Weasley, mate, I know the cogs in your brain are super rusty, but just try to use ‘em ok?” You slammed your hands against the table as you spoke. “I’m not wearing my cologne today. I ran out last night. Slughorn had an open cauldron filled with Amortentia in class today.” 

“S.. So what your saying is-” Ron’s brain was trying to process everything you’d said. He was still refusing to believe he loved, liked or tolerated you.

“You fancy me, you idiot.” You spoke up, louder than you intended.

Ron stared at you with wide eyes. His pale cheeks turned red, out of anger or embarrassment he wasn’t sure. He looked between Hermione and Harry before looking back at you.

“What? No I don’t. That’s ridiculous, borderline mental!”

“Then why did you smell my cologne?” You questioned, leaning over the table some. Ron went back to glaring at you, his arms crossing over the table.

“Probably because you're lying about having none.”

“Ok, say I was lying, Harry would smell it, yeah?”

“Yeah and I don’t smell anything besides the potions brewing.” Harry shrugged while Ron’s jaw dropped.

“Harry! Don’t encourage him!” Ron slammed his book shut, drawing more attention to the bickering table.

“I’m not encouraging anyone. Just being honest.”

“No, you know what? This is a load of bollocks! I do not like you, (L/n). In fact, I loathe you!” Ron stood up quickly, his stool tumbling to the ground with a bang. “I feel anything, literally anything except affection for you!” 

You watched Ron storm out of the classroom and looked down at the table. You ignored the students and Slughorn staring at your table and, instead, focused on your bruised knuckles. Were you supposed to tell Ron you smelled his own stupid cologne, broom polish from Quidditch, chocolate frogs and hits of firework ash? 

Before you knew it, you were running out of the classroom, ignoring the calls of your name. You spotted a glance of him rounding the corner and sprinted after it. 

“Ron!” You called out, rounding the same corner. He turned around, his eyes narrowed. This was the first time he heard you say his first name and he wasn’t going to let his shock show through.

“What? Here to make fun of me? Well, go on. You’ll end up doing it anyway tonight. Don’t hold back now.” Ron’s hands balled up into fists. 

“I’m not going to make fun of yo-”

“Yeah, and my hair isn’t red. Don’t bloody lie to me!”

“I’m being serio-”

“No, you aren’t!”

“Ok, you know what?” You stepped forward, grabbing a bunch of his shirt and slamming his back into a wall. He raised his fist to throw a punch, but your free hand caught his wrist. Before he could do anything else, your lips slammed against his. 

He froze against the wall, his skull filling with emptiness at the feeling of your soft lips against his chapped ones. He couldn't stop the questions tumbling through his lips when you separated. He managed to stop when you pressed your forehead against his.  The red-head didn’t have to strain his ears to hear your whisper in the empty hallway but shuddered when your hand threaded through his hair, gently massaging where you pulled earlier.

“I’m sorry..” You pulled back a tiny bit to look into his blue eyes, only now noticing the green flecks twinkling like stars in the night sky. “Does it still hurt?” Your voice was so soft it made his heart ache. He would’ve shaken his head, but didn’t want you to pull your hand away.

“No, it never really hurt.” Ron confessed, his shaky hands awkwardly landing on your waist.

“But you said-”

“I said a lot of things I didn’t mean..” Ron chewed on his bottom lip, his eyes dropping to your sneakers.

“Yeah, so did I.” You whispered awkwardly, just staring at the red-head against the wall. It was a good few minutes before you spoke up again. “Broom polish, earth and chocolate frogs..”

“What?” 

“The um- the love potion.. That’s what I.. That’s what I got from it.” 

“I’m co-”

“Ron, please. I smelled your cologne, the stupid sweets and your broom polish. Idiot.” You chuckled a little.

“Well excuse me, I haven't gotten my brain cogs oiled yet.” Ron smiled a little, desperate to hear more of your laugh. He mentally fist pumped the air when you did, in fact, laugh louder. “Seriously, though, I’m sorry.”

“So am I, Red.” 

“Soooo..” Ron dragged out the o as he tapped his fingers along your waist. He gave you a lopsided grin as he continued. ”Should we go on a date or kiss more?” 

“Why not both?” You leaned in again, stopping just before his lips.

“I like both.. We could go swimming in the Black Lake?” The pale boy grinned wider as his fingers tugged your shirt free from your trousers.

“Ron, it’s like 10 degrees outside- you just wanna see me shirtless!” You pecked his lips, chuckling when he faked a gasp, his hands now resting under your shirt..

“That is entirely not true, (L/n)! Where is your sense of adventure?”

“Not here, Weasley. I might’ve left it in the classroom, ya know, with my books since I had to chase your ass out here.”

“I’ll make it up to you.” It was Ron’s turn to kiss you.

“We have a lot to make to each other already. Let's just start at the basics.”

[akechi-if-he-slayed]

Firewhiskey Lips

CW: not really nsfw, but just some brief mentioning of nipple caressing during a make out scene

-

Hermione shifted in her seat, her eyes boring into her half-full cup. The contents were firewhiskey, and even though she despised the stuff, she contemplated slamming it just so she could have as good a time as everyone else appeared to be having.

Hermione switched her gaze and viewed the room at large. It had been Ernie Macmillan’s idea, a house unity party for the eighth years, to get everyone more social, she guessed. She hadn’t even wanted to come in the first place, but Harry and Ron practically begged her too. Now, as she watched a drunken Harry snog Malfoy in a corner, she regretted not hexing them to leave her alone.

She crossed her legs and stared longingly at the door, and just when she had decided to simply leave and return to her dormitory, someone slid into the seat next to her, causing her to jump.

“Granger.” A smooth voice said, one that Hermione instantly recognized with a taste of displeasure.

She swiftly turned her head, and it was just as she had thought: Pansy bloody Parkinson was leering at her over the top of her own cup. Hermione folded her arms, ready to ask her what the hell she wanted, but her words quickly died in her throat.

Parkinson looked rather interesting tonight.

Parkinson looked rather pretty tonight.

She was wearing a tight black tank top that stretched across her chest, and as Hermione looked for a bit longer it become apparent that she was not wearing a bra. Averting her eyes downwards to not make it seem as though she was staring, she saw that Parkinson was wearing a dark-green leather mini-skirt that was undoubtedly shorter than the standard Hogwarts ones. Combined with a pair of black fishnets and combat boots, Hermione simply couldn’t tear her gaze away, and she swallowed anxiously, all her nerve gone.

“Like what you see?” Parkinson drawled, startling Hermione back to reality. She slammed the rest of her cup and gently placed it on the table next to her, leaning closer to Hermione.

Hermione blushed furiously as Parkinson got closer, scooting away from the dark-haired slytherin. She shook her head slightly and narrowed her eyes at her, having regained her composure.

“What the hell do you want, Parkinson?” Hermione said seethingly, hoping that her voice accurately displayed her irritation.

Parkinson laughed and locked bloodshot eyes with her, toying with her shimmering necklace as she smirked.

“It’s truly quite hilarious, really, that after all this time, all these years that we’ve been at this bloody school,” she leaned still closer, so that her face was inches from Hermione’s, the scent of too much firewhiskey on her breath making it clear that she was at least partially drunk. “Anything I say still manages to get a rise out of you. And please, I think you can call me Pansy by now.”

Hermione’s nostrils flared, as she realized that Parkinson, Pansy, wasn’t entirely wrong. She took a deep breath before she responded to calm herself.

“You still haven’t answered my question. What. Do. You. Want.” She said in the coldest tone she could manage.

Pansy bit her lip.

“I want you.”

Hermione didn’t know if it was the little alcohol she had consumed, or the fuck-it attitude that she’d somewhat adopted over this year, but before she knew it, she had tossed her cup to the floor and smashed her lips against Pansy’s.

She hated the girl, she despised her, but somehow, that made everything about her taste so much better. They breathed heavily against each other as they dove in and out, Hermione letting her teeth bite Pansy’s lip, the taller girl moaning a bit in response. Hermione was normally repulsed by the flavor of firewhiskey, but tasting the fierce cinnamon flavor combined with the pure taste of Pansy Parkinson had her thirsty for more. They continued their passionate exchange, and it was clear that neither girl could get enough.

Hermione slowly lifted Pansy’s tight tank top top to gently rest her own fingers around the short-haired girl’s pale waist. Her fingers were cold, and Hermione took pleasure in the way Pansy’s skin tensed up at the intimate touch. From there, she worked her way up, until her hands were cupping Pansy’s unrestricted breasts, and she began to run her fingers in a circular motion around her nipples. Pansy then gave a quiet gasp that only Hermione could hear, but she reveled in it nonetheless.

Hermione could hear her lightly panting, but Pansy moved closer to her ear, whispering, “My turn.”

All of a sudden, the power that Hermione had once had in this exchange was yanked out from beneath her, and Pansy laughed haughtily at her clear surprise.

“Oh, did you really think you were the one in control here, Granger? How naïve. Let me show how a Slytherin does it right,” she all but growled into her ear, and Hermione felt a shiver creep up her spine. 

Hermione was quick to learn that when Pansy was in control, she was by no means gentle. She had started by giving Hermione rough hickeys all over her neck and collarbone, each bite and suck giving her more ecstasy than the last. In the back of her mind, Hermione knew that she was going to have a real job charming the hickeys away before anyone else saw later, but she didn’t care right now. Honestly, she didn’t care about anything right now, she just let her mind focus on how good it felt to be bitten by Pansy Parkinson.

She experienced fulfillment like never before, and she wanted to tell Pansy not to stop, but all that managed to escape from her lips were occasional moans. It ended all too soon though, as Pansy had harshly pulled away right after Hermione had groaned once more.

Pansy removed herself from her lap, and Hermione found herself missing her firewhiskey-induced breath as soon as she had gotten up. Both girls eyed each other for a moment, before Pansy swiftly turned on her heels and started to walk away.

Hermione could’ve sworn she heard her whisper, “Until next time.”

She watched her disappear into the enormous crowd once more, leaving Hermione alone with her slowly decreasing heart rate and semi-rapid breathing. She could still taste the other girl’s flavor on her lips.

Hermione had no idea what in Merlin had just happened, but she knew one thing, and it was that she sincerely hoped that would not be her last encounter with the infamous Pansy Parkinson.

-

A/N: woah another one-shot so soon??????? on a roll babeyyyyyyyyyy ok so anyways I looked up tips on how to write kissing scenes and stuff so i hope it wasn’t horribly cringe to read lmao. as always u r welcome to submit requests for stories in my inbox!!!!! adiós!!! REMEMBER TO DRINK WATER IF U HAVENT TODAY OKAY!!!! I LOVE YOU !!!

[sibsteria]

pretty little angel eyes [steve rogers]

[I apologize for the cringe, this was written quite a while ago]

(Inspired by the Showaddywaddy/Curtis Lee song 'Pretty Little Angel Eyes' it just seemed like what Steve would say to his significant other)

''The day you showed up at headquarters I was...in awe.'' He starts off, being with Steve was a ride, it was moments like this we both appreciated. Standing in my room at the Avengers Tower, swaying with Steve to soft melodies, a rare occurrence but one of my favourites none the less.

''You had a certain presence that intimidated people but brought comfort at the same time and when I took time to get to know you, you gave me a sense of home and love.'' All I could do was stare into his eyes, adoration seeping through like an open wound.

He spun me out and pulled me close to his chest. ''I really love you so Y/n, always remember that, not like I'm ever going to let you go. Not any time soon, not ever, I'm gonna make sure you're stuck with me forever.'' He mumbles into my hair.

''I love you Steve, with absolute honesty, there's no one I would rather be stuck with.'' I could feel his smile, even though I was buried into his chest. I felt a real ecstasy when I was with Steve, nothing could ever compare, nothing ever will.

''I just knew that you were sent from heaven above, you are the true meaning I think of when I hear the word perfection. You truly do rule my life with your wonderful love, when I'm with you, I know that we'll be happy for eternity.'' When he says this, I can't hold in the tears of pure happiness. I knew that I would get his shirt wet, so I lifted up my head, to see his face staring down at me.

''Why you crying darlin'?'' He smiles longingly.

''I just...I love you so much, to hear that your love for me is up to par with mine? It just...makes me feel all happy and stuff, like, I've never felt this boldly about a person before. It blows my mind that I'm with you, every single day.'' I sniffle.

He brushes the hair out of my eyes and kisses my forehead, his lips linger for a few seconds before he pulls back.

''My love, your eyes are the most perfect shade of e/c to ever exist, like an angels.'' He bites his lip and smiles.

''I remember when you used to call me angel eyes.'' I laugh at the nostalgia.

''Maybe I should bring that back, my angel eyed soulmate.''

''I just hope that we never cease.'' I feel a wave of sadness but it's replaced with confusion. Steve lets go my waist where his hands previously were.

''Let's make it that way,'' he pulls something from somewhere and in seconds, he's on the ground, on one knee. I widen my eyes, my brain is going a mile a second, is this happening.

''Look, I know we've had disputes in the past but there's nothing I'd rather do than be bound to you forever,'' He leads, ''so...please, if all of what we have is true. Marry me. Be with me till our lives fade away, you don't have to make your decis-'' I cut him off immediately.

''Are you crazy?! The answer is yes! You silly old man, you are my dream come true, mi vida.'' I laugh with tears in my eyes.

''Oh my god!'' He picks me up and spins me around. He sets my down onto my bed and slides the ring on my finger. I watch it glisten in the golden sunlight, admirably. I look at Steve with unconditional affection.

''I'll love you till the end of the line, even if you called me a silly old man.'' He hugs me so tightly I could practically feel my back against my bellybutton.

''Amando, easy there.'' I rasp out. He let's go of me and I take a deep breath.

''I love you too, amore mio, I've never been happier.'' I kiss his cheek and and stand up to get a drink of water from somewhere, needing a moment to cool down.

Steve grabs my wrist and pulls me into him, he captures my lips in a swift movement, letting his hands wander up to my hair. He wades them through the locks and brings them downwards to settle on my, improbably scarlet, cheeks. His surprisingly soft hands brush past me shoulders and neck, sliding down my side until they reached my waist. I let my hands travel around his neck as our tongues start to collide. Our noses brush past each other quite a few times as we melt together seamlessly. I let out for breath, only to be pulled back in by my alluring captain. Just for fun, I tug on his hair, receiving a soft moan from the blonde haired man before me. This takes me by surprise and I pull away to stare at Steve in shock. He turns away, embarrassed, I give out a small laugh before kissing his cheek.

''Do that again sometime, nino bonito.'' I wink jokingly at him and try my second attempt to leave the room. I almost succeed until a pair of hands start grabbing my sides and light movements are made. My laughter erupts furiously and I can't seem to stop, being tickled by a super soldier isn't ideal.

''That does not leave this room-'' He kisses my neck, ''Okay?''

''Ok-k-ay.'' I manage.

''Good.'' He chuckles and lets go of my body.

''The engagement or the moan at me pulling your hair?'' I tease, running out the door.

I hear a padding of footsteps behind me. Bad decision to do that on my part.

''You know full well!''

[killingkueen]

Fic: Nooner

Summary: Belle wants to ask Gold something. It’s very important and can’t wait. Obviously. || A companion to Seeing Red, but you don’t need to have read it.

Rating: E (this is just porn); specifically mutual masturbation and a tiny bit of cum play

AO3 link

Thank you to the spectacular @paradigmparadoxical, who keeps the world turning.

OOO

“—but close enough in shape and color.”

“That’d be great! Honestly, whatever you have to do, you know? Mary would be devastated if nothing was salvageable.”

Belle closed the door behind her, the bell chiming merrily.

“A moment, dearie,” Gold called absently, bent over the display case inspecting whatever David Nolan had brought in. “Most of them aren’t,” Gold continued with David. “But if Mrs. Nolan doesn’t object to a couple glue lines on the ones that aren’t shattered, there shouldn’t be a problem.”

“That’s more than we expected, honestly.”

She hovered at the door, wondering if she should come back tomorrow—her lunch break was only so long—and perhaps she would have, if the view were different. Belle liked watching Gold in his element: behind his counter, the sun just missing him as it stretched across the floor of his shop. It left him in shadow, despite the lights overhead. He might not enjoy working with the public, but he was good at it, letting his knowledge and expertise guide him.

Gold wrapped the glass pieces back in the towel that David had brought them in, placing the bundle carefully in the shoebox. “I’ll dig around for the figurines I have,” he said. “They might be too small, but I have a few sources that would likely have more appropriate sizes. If it comes to that, I’ll call you with an estimate.”

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it,” Belle could hear the relieved grin in David’s voice as he reached out a hand to shake Gold’s.

Gold’s lips twitched into a polite smile. He let go and turned to greet his new customer, finally spotting her.

“Miss French,” he said, voice deepening. His smile became no less placid, but he looked more present than moments ago, his eyes brightening. “What a surprise.”

“Hey,” Belle sighed, smiling in return. There was no way there was enough time left on her break—even taking the rest of the day off wouldn’t suffice. 

David coughed, catching the changed air between them. “Well, now that I got the mobile squared away, I think I’ll be leaving. Thanks again, Gold.”

“You’ll be hearing from me,” he said automatically, eyes glued to Belle. He didn’t turn to watch David leave.

For that matter, Belle wasn’t inclined to do more than offer David a quick smile in goodbye when he passed her. She made quick work of flipping the closed sign and lock, before prancing up to the counter.

“Can you fit me in, Mr. Gold?”

“It’s quite short notice, Miss French. I’m afraid I have to charge a fee.” 

“And what would that be?” she asked slowly. She relished the way his eyes trailed down to her lips.

“Nothing too steep, I hope,” he said, leaning forward.

Belle happily met him for a sweet peck. When they parted, she bit her lip. No, there was not enough time in the world with this man.

“Tea, sweetheart?” Gold asked.

“I was thinking lunch? Maybe? Eventually.”

He raised an eyebrow, gaze darting to his locked door.

Belle cleared her throat. “Let’s talk in the back.”

“Talk, hm?” There was the beginning spark of mischief in his eyes as he swept the curtain aside, holding it for her pass by him.

“Yes. Talk.” Belle put on her most stern face. It was hard to keep up when he was smirking like that, when he popped his hip as he stood in the backroom, waiting for her first move.

She cleared her throat. “So,” Belle began. “I want to see your—cock.” 

She hoped she wasn’t blushing. It would be really silly if she were blushing, considering all the things they’d already said and done to each other. But Gold murmuring dirty things so sweetly into her ear while he moved in her felt vastly different when she tried to say the same things in the light of his backroom while they were still fully clothed.

Instead of cringing in secondhand embarrassment, Gold’s smirk deepened. “Do you, now?” He hooked his cane on the edge of the worktable and reached for her waist. Belle accepted the kiss, letting it deepen. She sucked his bottom lip until his wandering hands trailed to the zipper on her skirt.

Belle stepped away reluctantly, her hands running down Gold’s arms until she was loosely holding his hands—and it was with a huge amount of self-restraint that she didn’t abandon her plan right there and let him have his nefarious way with her.

“I mean, I want to actually see it.” Belle pushed her bottom lip out in a pout. Gold’s eyes strayed to her mouth longingly.

Gold turned their hands so his thumbs were rubbing circles into her wrists. The gentle movement belied his filthy smirk.

“You’ve seen me plenty,” he said.

“Yes, that’s true.” Belle trailed her eyes downward. “But, see, I had this completely random thought while I was doing something very important at the library,” she started.

“Reading on the job again, Miss French?”

“And,” she said, admitting nothing. “I realized I have never seen a hardening cock.” At least her  voice was steady, even if she had to dart her eyes away from his face.

Gold gave her a blank look, his thumbs pausing.

“I’ve seen you hard, but never how you got there,” Belle elaborated.

“Huh.” Gold thought on that as she took a deliberate step back, his hands brushing against hers as they let go. She then took another, until she could lean against his work table.

“If that’s what you want, I suppose I have no reason to say no.” Despite his confusion, he started to work at his belt buckle, so that was something.

“It really is,” Belle said, toes curling as she watched.

He got as far as unzipping his trousers before asking, “Do you mind if I sit for this?”

“Not at all,” she said, but Gold was already limping to the cot. He waved away her help as he settled, slipping off his jacket and placing it carefully on the pillow. He unbuttoned his waistcoat, folding it on the jacket. 

Next, he toed off his shoes, then toed them to the side so they wouldn’t get in the way. His fingers fidgeted with the top buttons of his shirt, not sure if that should go, too.

“The point is to be seen, yes?” He glanced at her, still against the table, but couldn’t hold her gaze. It dropped to his feet, and he focused on peeling off his socks instead.

“Do—do you not want to?” She thought they had gotten past his initial shyness; considering how often they’d seen each other naked, she thought this request would be easy.

Gold opened his mouth, but then seemed to think better of whatever he was going to say. “I guess you could say I’m not a fan of being scrutinized,” he finally admitted.

“I have already seen it,” she reminded him. “And I like how it looks when it’s hard. I only want to see how it gets there.”

“Do you?” Gold asked. 

“Yeah,” Belle said. If Belle were to rank the aesthetic appeal of a human body, a penis would rank near bottom—dicks were strange and beyond the obvious use for them Belle never understood their appeal. Not that she saw the point in mentioning that. 

She was still honest when she said: “It’s yours, that’s why I like it.” 

Gold, thankfully, believed her; he undid the trouser button, and lifted his hips so he could slide them and his briefs down his thighs, letting them pool at his ankles.

He smiled at her, and it was less the filthy smirk of minutes ago than the tender melting of his eyes, a soft tilt at the corner of his lips. A wonder (a privilege, an honor), that such a small assurance from her was enough to get him to look at her like that.

It was really, really hard for Belle not to walk over and straddle him. It would be the work of moments to push her panties aside and sink onto him like a rock at the bottom of an ocean. She just had to remember she wanted to see this through more. 

He spread his knees, welcoming her greedy eyes, but the tails of his silk shirt obscured his lap.

“You’re still hiding,” she accused.

He hid his grimace well with a smile that reached his eyes. Before Belle could offer an alternative, his hands were already sliding each button through the eyehole, and then his front was bared to her. 

Gold was a slim man by nature, his thin frame hinting at a wiry strength. His skin was smooth and tanned, framed by the shirt he left hanging off his shoulders, open. He was welcome to leave it on; the purple was a good color on him.

Belle was too far away. If she was going to watch the show, she needed a front row seat. Slowly, as if to keep from spooking a wild animal, she crouched to her hands and knees. Crawling was the work of moments in the cramped space of the backroom. She stopped as she reached the cradle of Gold’s knees, her eyes never leaving his cock.

He made a noise in his throat at her approach, and his cock gave an interested twitch, but otherwise stayed very pink and very soft.

Gold blew out a breath of air from his nose. She watched as he ran one hand down his stomach, over his hips, then cupped his sac underneath. Before his other could grab hold of the shaft, Belle stopped him.

“No hands,” she ruled, tapping his knee until he let go of himself. “I can’t see.”

Gold frowned. “How do you think this works?”

“I don’t know. It just happens, right?”

“Sometimes, yeah,” he said, shifting his hips.

A few moments passed.

“Aw, does he not like being put on the spot?”

Gold snorted. “Keep staring like that, it’ll perk up.”

Belle regarded his nethers curiously. “Usually you get hard so quickly. You’re almost always ready to go by the time I get your clothes off. It’s actually quite flattering.”

“Happy to please,” he murmured.

Belle had never been this close to his flaccid member before. It wasn’t exactly shriveled, but it was limp like a deflated balloon, pillowed on his balls, head pointed down. It humored her to see that it fit quite neatly on top of his scrotum, the dick being a little narrower, a little shorter—like nesting dolls.

Her gaze broadened slightly, taking in his spread thighs, the hair he kept trimmed, the V of his hips that stood prominent, despite the rounding belly above. Belle knew exactly how the skin below his belly button tasted, knew how he’d jolt in pleasure if she cupped his sack in her hand or trailed two fingers behind to tease at his perineum. 

“He is shy, isn’t he?” she said, her mouth feeling dry. She was getting impatient.

“Stop calling it a ‘he,’” Gold huffed, trying to smother his indulgent smile.

“Maybe I can help?”

“Your, ah, mouth, perhaps?” Gold said promptly, licking his lips. He spread his legs further, an invitation for her to settle between them.

It was a tempting offer. “I would feel it, not see it.” 

A fascinating sensation, surely—to put her mouth on his soft cock and feel it harden, lengthening against her tongue. How different would his skin-warm flesh feel before the blood warmed it further? Would the heat of him burn her? And if she palmed his balls, if he thrust his hips, how long until he grew too big to fit completely in her mouth?

Belle leaned forward on her hands, watching him twitch. “Next time, definitely,” she promised.

“Your breasts, then,” 

She realized then that she had him at a disadvantage, what with being fully clothed while Gold was very nearly naked. And that sent something through her, didn’t it, a heat that was as familiar as her hands. She was warm before, but now felt a blaze alight under her skin, right in her groin.

They could play with that later. Belle started to undo the buttons on her blouse, pulling at the fabric to release it from the waistband of her skirt. She’d leave it on though, like his was. Her bra was not front latching; she shrugged the straps down her shoulders, then pushed the cups down. She wished, not for the first time, that she was better endowed. Never would her breasts be described as being contained by her bras; they were comfortably blanketed.

From the look of rapture on Gold’s face, he didn’t mind. His hands were squeezing his knees, likely to keep from pulling her closer and ruining her game. His eyes were dark and hungry, focused entirely on her chest.

Belle bit her lip, cupping herself in her hands, pushing the mounds up and then together. At his groan of approval, she flicked her nipples with her thumbs. The welcoming pull that sent through her was almost enough to close her eyes, but she couldn’t forget her purpose.

Her eyes trailed down, back to Gold’s cock. Was it bigger than it was, moments ago? She pinched her nipples, pulling them out, then pushing in, leaning into the movement. The jolt was deeper than her belly; she could feel it right in her cunt. She couldn’t keep her mouth from opening in a silent gasp of pleasure, but her eyes stayed focused on Gold.

And there, finally—he began to swell, his cock growing and lifting off his balls as it filled with his hot blood. Slowly, it came to swing between them, long and hard. If he gave his length a pull or two (with a slight twist at the head that she knew he favored), maybe it would fall back against his belly, sitting as he was.

 And wasn’t that an idea.

“Did you know erections produced from oral sex are longer than erections without?” she asked without thinking.

His answering laugh was surprised, short. His eyes, still dark, still heated, melted somewhat into a look of complete adoration.

“If you want it longer, by all means,” he panted.

Belle hummed, eyes scanning up and down his length carefully. The skin was flushed like the sky at sunset; the tip darker than the peach at the base.

“You’re already perfect,” she decided, leaning forward to press a sweet kiss to the tip. Her tongue flicked over him, teasing inside his slit.

His hips twitched, and he released a rush of breath at the contact that turned into a moan of disappointment when instead of taking him into her mouth, she leaned back on her heels.

Belle gave him an encouraging smile, mischief dancing in her eyes. “Go on, then.”

He looked at her blankly. “What?”

“I want to watch.”

“Watch what?”

“What do you think?”

She hadn’t had a plan when she first walked into the shop. Nothing concrete beyond asking for what he so delightfully just delivered. But the view was too good to pass up, and ordering him around sent such a delicious thrill down her spine. Belle settled back on her heels, expectant.

Gold’s throat bobbed. His hand loosely gripped his shaft. He took to this request with a surprising but welcomed ardor.

“There’s lotion. In that drawer." He nodded to the cabinet by his chair.

“Unscented?” she teased, slipping off her heels before standing up. She didn’t trust herself to walk in a straight line in this state.

She found the bottle near the front, brandishing it proudly when she turned back to face him. “The question is—” she started.

While she was digging through the drawer, Gold had freed his ankles from his trousers, his shoulders and arms from his shirt. He now sat bare and hard on the cot. Belle froze—couldn’t help but stare.

“Take a picture,” he teased. “It’ll last longer.”

“Maybe I should,” Belle murmured. “Give me something to keep me warm when you leave me cold and alone in my apartment.”

Gold whined. He held his hand out for the lotion, and when Belle gave it to him, he grasped her hand in his, turning it so he could press a hard, needy kiss to the palm of her hand.

“I love your cock,” Belle said, getting comfortable at his feet. “I don’t tell you enough, just how much.”

He whined again, fumbling with the bottle. When he was lubed, he wasted no time wrapping a hand around himself. To Belle’s delight, he started slow, with firm strokes. His other hand cupped his balls, fondling himself as he stared at her with open want.

“It’s so hard and thick. I love how it feels in my hand, how it tastes in my mouth.” The words came much easier than before. Gold leaned forward slightly, desperate to hear them. “And especially my wet, hungry cunt.”

Belle was wiggling her hips before she realized she had started tweaking her nipples again. Fuck, but she wanted him so much. She could feel the moisture that had seeped into the gusset of her panties. 

She spread her legs wider, giving herself more purchase to run her hand up and down her thighs and then hike up her skirt. As Gold twisted his hand at his tip, she pushed her panties aside so she could swirl her fingers through her moist curls. 

Gold’s grip was firm as his hand gripped his cock and he pumped it a little faster up and down, watching Belle the entire time. “Fuck, Belle,” he moaned when she used two of her fingers to open her cunt lips, showing him how wet he made her.

Smooth and musky, she could smell her scent mixing with his, and she inhaled deeply, wanting more of it. 

He squeezed his erection, hand tightened on his balls, and Gold watched, rapt, as Belle slipped a finger inside of herself, where she desperately wanted him; his fingers, his tongue, his hard cock. 

He was leaking precum, could see it glistening on his fingers. She pictured him sliding against her labia, how it felt to grind against his shaft. Her thumb pressed gently across her hard clit, finger pinching and twisting her nipple. She watched his hand work himself, matching his pace as she added another finger.

“Belle, love,” he panted in answer, stroking himself harder and faster, listening to her sweet moans as she brought herself closer and closer to orgasm. She knew he was close, could almost see his cum boiling in his sac.

Gold’s eyes stayed trained on her cunt, to the gushy slide of her fingers and fuck, she can practically feel herself dripping on his hardwood floor. She gasped, cunt squelching at the image of making him lick it up.

She made a sound, drawn out and low, as her fingers curled in her just there. She desperately tried to keep her eyes open, to keep watching as Gold fisted his cock, and she nearly succeeded. Wave after wave rushed through her, and she felt electric and loved and beautiful. With a final gasp, she fell forward, catching herself on Gold’s good knee.

His movement had slowed at her orgasm, but picked up with a frenzy when she sucked her fingers into her mouth with a happy hum.

“Belle, please,” he cried, desperate. “Please, fuck.”

“Anything,” she promised, looking up at him with hooded eyes, mouth already watering at the thought of swallowing him down.

“Your chest,” he said. “Please, please, may I?—”

Belle blinked, surprised, but straightened enough so she could settle in front of his frantic hand. His eyes were glued to her tits as she bared herself, making sure her shirt and bra were out of the way.

The first ropey splash at her collar bone made her toes curl, the warmth surprising her more than it should. The second, the third, accompanied by a low groan. Gold squeezed his cock in one hand, cradled his scrotum in the other, making sure every last drop was wrung from him.

Belle felt the cum cool even as it dripped down her chest, but she wasn’t paying much mind to it, not when the lines had disappeared around his mouth, when he was so lovely and content, the sweat making his hair stick to his face. 

Their eyes caught, and he smiled. Belle let the laughter burst from her, and she ran her hands up and down the insides of his thighs, kissing his knee.

She was probably hours late to the library. Her clothes were disheveled and if she got cum on her shirt she was going to die of embarrassment, but she didn’t care. She was laughing with the man she loved, who loved her back.

“This is called something,” she said, when her laugh subsided. Her cheeks hurt from smiling, her knees felt a little raw from kneeling unprotected. She felt better than she had all week.

“Ah, a necklace, of some sort.” His hands found hers on his thighs. He laced their fingers together.

“Opal necklace, was it?”

“Pearl, I think,” Gold said. The crow's feet at his eyes crinkled. It suited him, this contentment. The blush of his orgasm was clearing up, his cock drooping down again, yet he kept the rosy glow, the liquid adoration in his eyes.

“That’s right,” she murmured. With her finger, Belle smeared some of the mess across her collar bone, careful to miss her blouse. “You’ve given me a pearl necklace.”

It was getting tacky. It’d dry soon. She wondered what it would feel like to have to peel it off her skin. She had to admit, the image was a lot less fun than how it was put there.

Gold watched her fingers, chest rumbling with a sound that wasn’t quite a growl. “I’ll buy you real pearls. As many as you want.”

He’d look at her the same, she knew; whether she was spread out on a bed wearing nothing but a dozen strings of pearls, or here in the back of his shop with her shirt hastily opened, her skirt hiked up around her hips.

“I’d rather you make me dinner,” Belle decided. She pushed herself up just enough to press a kiss to the side of his mouth. 

With an anchoring hand on the back of her neck, he took her hand—the one she’d used to finger herself, the one smeared with his cum—brought it to his lips and sucked them into his mouth. 

Belle could only sigh in approval as his tongue licked her clean. When he finished, he placed an open-mouthed kiss below her collarbone, sucking in her skin, their moans mingling as he cleaned her there, too.

Soon her chest was wet and sticky with his saliva and what cum he hadn’t licked up. She was quite pink, too, from his love bites. With a final kiss over her heart, Gold reached over to his suit jacket so he could pull the handkerchief from the front pocket and started in on the mess still on her chest.

“No, you’ll ruin the silk,” Belle protested half-heartedly.

Instead of answering, he flashed her a crooked smile. 

“I’m making fish tonight. With broccoli and potatoes. You should come.”

“But it’s your week with Bae.” She hadn’t been serious about dinner, at least not immediately so.

“The lad should get used to you being around, don’t you think?”

“I don’t think he likes me much,” she said, chewing on her lip.

“He doesn’t know you well, is all.” He kissed her temple. “You tend to flitter off every time he shows up. He thinks you’re avoiding him.” Anxiety had creeped into the corner of his eyes, dimming the warmth.

“I’m trying to respect his boundaries,” she said weakly.

She liked Bae; it was hard not to. But she was also keenly aware that Gold was the stable parent, and that the life of a single father and his teenaged son might not always have room for her. But perhaps that was a tad short-sighted. There would never be room for her if she didn’t stick around long enough to get comfortable.

“Come to dinner, Belle.”

She hummed. “What kind of potatoes?” 

“Roasted,” he said. He kissed her below her jaw. “With garlic and herbs.”

“And for dessert?” she asked, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, skin still bared and warm.

“I’m sure we’ll think of something when Bae goes to bed.” He caught her mouth in a kiss, swallowing her laugh as it bubbled from her chest.

[redisriding]

The Right Swipe - Chapter Four

A Court of Thorns and Roses Modern AU Fanfic

All character’s belong to the wonderful Sarah J Maas.

Tag List: @superspiritfestival  @duskandstarlight @perseusannabeth​ @courtofjurdan​ @omg-aelin​ @keshavomit​ @rainbowcheetah512​

“What about this one?”

“No, it still doesn’t look right.”

“How are you both bigger and smaller than me at the same time?”

“All my suits are tailored to me, they’re not the cheap off the rack stuff you buy.”

“You say that like I own more than one suit.”

“Don’t you?”

“Nope. One suit. I wear it weddings and funeral, that’s it.”

“Then why do you need to wear one tonight?”

“Because, Rhys said this place is fancy, as in dress code fancy. They have some stupid rule about wearing jackets.” Cass sighed. He thought it would be easy to borrow something of Az’s to wear tonight for his date with Nesta, they were roughly the same size. Turned out Az was both leaner and slightly taller than he, and when the former got his clothes tailored, they looked stupid on the latter. There was no point asking Rhys, if Az’s jackets didn’t fit Cassian, Rhys’s definitely wouldn’t.

Az cocked his head to one side surveying Cassian. “Why are you bringing her to this place anyway?”

“Because it’s fancy and she’s the kind of girl who you have to bring fancy places.”

“Perhaps, but you’re not fancy—.”

“Thanks?”

“No, hear me out. You have been talking to this girl and you like her, correct?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re getting dinner so you can get to know each other better, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“But this guy,” Azriel gestured to Cassian standing in front of him in an ill-fitting suit, “Is not who you are. You don’t go to fancy restaurants that have dress codes and names of food you can’t pronounce or alcohol you can’t afford. And this girl…Nesta?”

“Nesta.”

“She has been getting to know you over the last week and a half too. She must like you if she’s agreed to go on a date. Do you not think she’s going to realise pretty quickly that a fancy restaurant is not your scene at all.”

Cassian sat down on the end of Azriel’s bed and put his head in his hands. He did not need this right now. He was nervous enough about his date with Nesta he didn’t need his best friend to undermine his plans for the evening with logic. 

“I don’t stand a chance with her if I don’t take her somewhere nice. I know she’s been on dates with other guys, I’m sure they’ve brought her to the best places in Velaris. I need to go all out if I want to impress her.”

“Who cares where other guys take her, she’s single and going on a dat with you, so it clearly hasn’t worked out with them.”

“All the more reason to go all out.”

“Be real Cass, you don’t stand a chance with her at all if she thinks that you really are whoever you’re pretending to be tonight. Sooner or later it’s all going to come tumbling down.” 

When he looked back on it later Cassian would realise that not only were Azriel’s words true, but they weren’t really intended for Cassian. They were words that he wanted to say to someone else. Someone who had lead him to believe that they were one thing, a thing that Azriel fell in love with, and when that person revealed their truth, his whole world crumbled. 

But in the moment, confronted with his own insecurities, Cass didn’t react the way he wished later he had. 

“That’s the thing though Az, girls don’t like the real me.”

“Girls like you—.”

“No Az, they don’t! Girls like you, they always have. Mysterious Azriel, he’s so handsome, he’s so smart, he’s so talented,” Cassian was aware that his tone had turned mocking but it was too late for him to roll back on it, “they liked you before you had fame and money, they sure as hell like you more now. If you weren’t so terrified of having your heart broken again then maybe you would see it too.”

He knew he had said the wrong thing the second the words were out of his mouth. Regret flooded Cassian as Az recoiled from him as if he had been dealt a physical blow. 

He stood from the foot of his bed where they both sat and headed for the door. 

“No, Az, I’m sorry I didn’t mean that…I just—.”

“Good luck on your date tonight Cass,” Azriel said cutting him off. “I hope for your sake you don’t fuck it up.”

Azriel’s words, his wounded expression, bounced around in Cassian’s head an hour later as he stood outside the entrance to the House of Wind. 

Okay, that was a lie. He couldn’t standing still. He was pacing up and down the sidewalk, no doubt wearing away the soles of Azriel’s shoe’s he had stuffed his feet into. They were the only thing he wore that fit. 

Cassian didn’t think he’d ever been as nervous in his entire life. Then again, he had never been on a proper date before. 

He’d had drinks before. When they were in school, he would hound Az into asking one of the girls who hung around the hockey team out for milkshakes, and convince her to bring a friend for Cassian. It always ended the same though, he would gaze longingly at the girl, trying to strike up conversation, while she would have eyes for no-one but Azriel. It was pathetic, and Cassian remembered being awkward, but never nervous. Maybe because Azriel’s presence meant there was no real chance of anything happening. No risk of being rejected by someone he really wanted. 

Later he would sometimes ask Emerie for a drink as a prelude to their evening. He liked the company. 

But he had never been on a ‘try to find out if we’re compatible enough to spend the rest of our lives together over the course of a dinner’ date before. 

And he was terrified. 

He desperately wanted to run his hands through his hair, a nervous habit of his. He had tried a couple of times too. Only then to remember that he had gelled his wild mane in place in order to look presentable for tonight. 

The doormen eyed him as he paced back and forth, like they knew he didn’t belong there. If there was one thing that Cassian learnt living in the mountains however, was that you should never show weakness. Not to the wild creatures that lived in the forrest, not in the face of the potentially deadly weather, and certainly not in front of the battled hardened locals. 

So, he met those stares right back with a menacing one of his own. 

His fingers found the soft petals of the rose he held. He had bought it for Nesta from one of those carts that rolled around the city, catching men unawares as they strolled with their ladies. He knew it was an over priced and cheesy but it had felt right. 

He might not be the kind of guy who wears suits and eats in fancy places often, but he knew that if he had a girl he would absolutely dote on her. And so a single rose seemed like a good place to start. 

It was on what felt like his millionth time passing the restaurant that he saw her. Crossing the road towards him, she emerged from the bustle of pedestrians like Aphrodite from her shell. 

Cassian’s world seemed to slow. The nerves that flooded his body became still. The only thing that he was aware of was his breathing and her. 

Nesta. Nesta. Nesta. 

Something deep inside of him was called to the surface at the sight of her. 

She was every bit as stunning if not more than she was in her pictures, brought to life by movement. 

Dressed in a simple, yet elegant grey dress, her hair was coiled on top of her head. It was then that he remembered her bio, how apt it was, a queen that he would have to earn.

“Cassian?” She asked, her expression quizzical as she neared him. 

“Hi—,” Cassian squeaked. Squeaked! He hadn’t heard his voice that high since his balls had dropped. Loudly clearing this throat, he tried again. “How are you?”

Better. 

“Good thanks. How are you?” She came to a stop, looking up at him with deep stormy eyes that cut right to his core. 

His head emptied as he gazed down at her. She was so much smaller than him, her head reached the middle of his chest. Her body was soft and curvy; deliciously feminine, but her face…the pictures didn’t do her beauty justice. The depth of her eyes, which she had lined with kohl for dramatic effect. Her high cheek bones. And Cassian didn’t allow his gaze to drop to her lips, which she had painted a deep red. It was sinful.

He was still motionless, gaping like a fish, when she moved. Stepping closer to him and rising up onto her tiptoes, she placed a hand gently on his shoulder to steady herself. A jolt of electricity shot through Cassian, his senses suddenly shocked back into action. 

He leaned down to meet her. He went to his left as Nesta went to her right. Instead of bussing cheeks, he ended up colliding with her mouth. 

His lips met hers. 

It was only a gentle brush. 

And only for a second. 

But it was fireworks. 

Like a star exploded somewhere inside of him.

Cassian’s fists clenched as he tried to restrain himself from grabbing Nesta and pulling her onto him right in the middle of the busy street. 

A small laugh came from Nesta as she stepped back. Her cheeks were stained faintly pink. 

It only added to her beauty. 

Cassian felt his own cheeks heat, and knew that in comparison he resembled a tomato. 

He looked down, away from her for a moment, and cringed. The rose was a crumpled mess in his thick palm. He flushed further. He wished he could hide it, or dump it in a bin somewhere, but Nesta had already seen.

“Eh…this is for you,” he thrust the rose awkwardly at her. 

Nesta accepted the rose with a wry smile, “You shouldn’t have.”

“I really shouldn’t have,” Cassian sighed, “I’ve already ruined this date and it hasn’t even started properly.” 

Nesta didn’t seem to hear. She looked down at the rose, rubbing one of the crushed petals between her finger tips. 

Cassian just watched her for a moment, unsure what to say. Maybe he should call the whole thing off now, to save whatever dignity he had left.

But when Nesta looked back up at him, something in her face had changed. “So, shall we go in?”

————

Nesta had to suppress a laugh. The date was going badly. Terribly even. It was categorically, beyond a shadow of a doubt the worst date that she had ever been on. 

Cassian was not what Nesta had expected at all. The person sitting across the table from her was not the sexy mountain man from his pictures, whom she had been messaging for the last week and a half. 

Another lesson in online dating, she supposed, you really need to meet a person in order to get to know them. 

But that was just it. Nesta didn’t think she was getting to know Cassian at all. 

Instead, she was on a date with the person Cassian thought she wanted him to be. 

She should have guessed when he had first suggested that they get dinner at the House of Wind that it was somewhere he thought she expected to be brought, rather than somewhere he would ever actually go. 

Nesta had been to the House of Wind on many occasions, most recently a few days previously when she had met another Swipe date, Eris, here for drinks. A fact that Nesta thought was best not to mention to Cassian. 

The House of Wind might be fancy, but it was cliché. The kind of place men brought women to lubricate them - socially, with alcohol - before they brought them home to their bed. 

Sure, that was what Eris had done, wasn’t it?

On the many previous occasions that Nesta had been at the House of Wind she had never seen a guy like Cassian there. 

The type of guy who, in an attempt to look presentable, used so much gel in his wild hair that it more closely resembled a helmet. Who cobbled together a suit, that clearly neither matched nor belonged to him, in order to meet the dress code.

The type of guy who brought his date a crumpled rose to impress her. 

The gesture was so tender that something hard inside Nesta’s chest had cracked at the sight of it.

Thomas had only bought flowers to appease Nesta after an argument. ‘Now let us forget about all that’ he would say to her. Flowers were a sign that he was done arguing and wanted to sweep the matter under the rug, resolved or not.

Nesta glanced at the rose that was lying on the table beside her. She knew, regardless of how this date ended, she was going to bring it home and put it in water. And then, when it eventually died, she was going to press it gently between the pages of a book and keep it forever. 

A memory of this night. 

That she was deserving of someone who cared about her. 

Cassian cared. He cared about impressing her, about making sure she had a good night. He cared so much about what Nesta thought of him that it was stifling any attempt of getting to know him. 

And he was nervous. 

That much was apparent when he clumsily bungled their greeting. 

He still had lipstick on his face from when he’d accidentally kissed her. It had only been the faintest of brushes of their lips, but Nesta’s heart had leapt. 

Something had ignited inside of her like a burning fire. 

More than it had when Devlin had taken her to his bed the night before. Even with his head between her legs she hadn’t felt that much of thrill. 

So Nesta didn’t tell Cassian about the lipstick.

“Everything okay?” She asked, as Cassian looked up from the bill that had been handed to him.

“Eh…yeah. It’s just…” he blanched. 

“Yes?”

Whatever he was going to say he decided better of it. “Nothing,” Cassian shook his head, “I just need to make a quick call. I’ll be right back.” 

Cassian hurried away from the table, towards the door. Once he was out of view, Nesta leaned across the table and picked up the bill. 

Ah. 

She figured she hadn’t known he was ordering $100 glasses of whiskey. She probably should have said something, but she didn’t want to emasculate him. Other men she dated would not have reacted well to that. 

Beckoning for the waiter, she pulled her credit card from her purse. 

The date was truly awful, and yet Nesta found herself utterly endeared. 

———--

Across town, squeezed into a tiny little sushi restaurant, Elain laughed. Harder than she had laughed in a very long time. 

Maybe it was the foreign feeling of food warming her belly, or the Sake that she had been sipping, but Elain was pretty sure it was the company itself. 

“That’s not true!” She giggled at Lucien’s latest punchline. 

“I swear it on my life,” he said, his eyes going wide, sincere. 

“I still don’t believe you.”

“Scouts honour!”

“I bet you weren’t even in the Scouts.”

Lucien laughed, raising his hands in the air, caught. “Okay, I was not in the Scouts…But that doesn’t make it any less true.”

Elain giggled again. Lucien was not only more handsome in person, but his easy and charming nature had put Elain at ease from the beginning. 

“Elain.” Lucien said, his laughter dying. 

“Yeah?”

“I think this place is closing.” 

“What? Oh!” Elain looked behind her to find the restaurant empty and the staff beginning to clean up. Tucked into a little nook, Elain felt like her and Lucien could have been in a world of their own. 

Elain glanced at her phone. There was a text from Feyre in their sister group chat, wishing her and Nesta good luck on her respective dates, but it was the time that had Elain jumping up. 

“Oh figglesticks, the time! I must hurry if I want to make the last train.”

Lucien gave her an amused look. “Figglesticks?”

Elain felt herself blush, “Sorry, I’m just used to being with children all day. It’s bad to swear.”

“I think it’s very sweet,” he said with a soft smile, “Let me just pay and I’ll walk you to the train.”

Elain made a move to pull her purse from her bag but Lucien stopped her with a gentle hand on her arm, a shiver went through her. “This is on me,” he said. 

“You’re very kind,” she said, blushing again. 

It had been a long time since a man had done anything like that for her. In an instant the warm mood of the evening evaporated, fear overtaking her. What if Lucien was only paying because he wanted something from her in return? Was she safe walking with him to the train stations? What if he dragged her down an alleyway and had his way with her? Leaving her cold and crying with no way to get home. 

Elain closed her eyes and focused on her breathing. This were the kind of intrusive, anxious thoughts that she had been working to overcome with her therapist. 

There was nothing in Lucien’s behaviour tonight to suggest that he was anything other than a nice guy.

“Ready?” He asked, returning from paying for their meal. 

“Yes.” 

He offered her his arm as they stepped out into the cold autumn night. 

“The nights here are beautiful,” he said, gazing up at the clear nights sky. 

“Velaris is the best place to go star gazing.” 

“Sure looks that way.” 

“Have you been here for Starfall?”

“Not yet, I’m looking forward to it.”

“My sister always throws a huge party to celebrate. It is really spectacular.” 

“I can only imagine.”

The continued like that, strolling along on the empty streets, looking at the sky, chatting about nothing in particular until they reached the train station. 

“So…” Lucien said, coming to a stop, “I had a really great time tonight.”

“Me too!”

“You sound surprised?”

Elain shrugged, “I guess I didn’t really know what to expect.”

“Would you maybe like to do it again sometime?”

“Yes, I would really like that.”

“Good,” Lucien smiled. 

He hesitated for a moment, before deciding to lean in.

Elain held her breath, her fingers wrapping around the keys in her pocket. A pathetic weapon, but one that might make the difference if she needed it. 

But Lucien simply brushed his lips to her cheek before pulling back. “Safe home, Elain.”

[venusandromedadjarin]

Bogota, Colombia

Ch. 2, Mi Cielo

18+, angst, brief sex, language, smoking, canon timeline, 1.7k words

The plane touches down in Bogota, Columbia at 7pm sharp, right on time, which means you had all of thirty minutes to find your way through security, baggage claim and down to the waiting area before Agent Murphy is due to pick you up. If your instinct is right, as soon as you hand over your credentials, Escobar would know you had landed in his country and there was nothing you could do about it. At security, you hand over your I.D. and passport, they give you some bullshit excuse about needing to check it in the back, and just like that, you know you’re on the radar. Sighing, you wait and check the time. Fifteen minutes and counting down. 

The kid finally returns, apologizing and handing your items back to you. You wave him off, “Sólo estás haciendo tu trabajo.” He gives you a small smile before motioning for you to pass. The baggage claim isn’t incredibly difficult to find, but you have to wait for the slow machine to spit out your bag . Another time check shows five minutes to spare. Rushing through the crowd, you descend the stairs and spot the whitest guy in the airport. Your heels click on the floor as you walk over to him, “Hola, gringo. Murphy, I’m guessing?”

He grimaces and takes your bag, normally you would contest the action but you’re too tired to argue. “Not you too, Lucio. Is it that bad?”

“Eh, could be worse,” you say as you make a show of looking him over. He’s tall and handsome, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Definitely sticks out like a sore thumb in Columbia. He chuckles as the hot air greets you both outside. It’s early evening but the humidity immediately cloaks you both. “Headquarters?”

“No, the ambassador told me to just come get you. We can celebrate tonight and then work tomorrow I guess.” He stops in front of an inconspicuous black jeep before unlocking the back and lifting your suitcase into it before moving to get in the driver’s seat. Observant, you think as you silently thank whatever God there is that he didn’t open your door, too. 

“Celebrate?” You lift a brow as you climb into the jeep, your skirt riding up on your thighs. 

“We’ll let you get settled first then drinks are on Peña,” he looks extra concentrated as he weaves through the narrow streets.

“Glad to see you volunteer him for shit too.” You put a cigarette between your lips, rolling down the window, “¿Te importa?”

He waves you off as you light it, blowing the smoke outside. “You know Peña?”

“Javi and I go way back. We were DEA in Texas.” Nervous to change the subject, you motion to the outside as you pass a clinic, “Where are we going exactly?”

As if he also doesn’t want to talk about Javi, he ignores your comment, “The apartments. They’re pretty nice. Connie said she can help you decorate if you want.” He huffs out a laugh.

“Connie’s your wife right?”

He pulls up in front of a dingy building with a gate out front, “Yeah, she’s the greatest. You’ll like her I think.” You smile at him, the nerves bubbling up in your abdomen at the thought of seeing Javi. He goes to unlock the door as you grab your purse and luggage, following up the stairs behind you. “Here’s your key, it’s down the hall and to the left. Javi is here,” he points at a door to the right which definitely has sexual noises echoing from it. You both cringe. “Connie and I are upstairs.” He glances down at his watch in the crappy fluorescent light, “Say we hit the bar in an hour?”

“Sounds good,” you turn to walk down the hall as he climbs the stairs but pause and call out to him, “and, hey, you can call me your y/n.”

He sarcastically salutes. “Steve,” he laughs and then runs up the stairs. A minute later you hear a sweet voice and then the door closes. Rushing inside your own apartment, you go to the phone, dialing quickly. 

“Val,” she picks up after three rings, “I’m here, chica.” She rambles on and you answer in the spaces of her breaths: “No, I haven’t seen him yet.” “Yeah, tonight.” “Drinks I guess.” “No, no, you’re the only one with this number.” “Si, claro. Y tu, Val.” 

The click of her receiver echoes into the silence of the apartment as you look around for the first time. It’s not much, but it’s home for now and it could be worse. Being an agent sometimes had its perks. You spot the radio in the corner and immediately dial it to the liveliest station you can find, cranking the volume up. Stripping, you find the shower and wash the sweat of the flight off, your stomach doing flips as your mind races between the job and the life you’re embarking on. 

————————————-

The leather of the couch sticks to both of their bodies as Javi grips Helena to him with a strong arm, their moans echoing through his apartment as he pounds into her. Breathing heavy, he collapses on top of her, kissing her neck as she revels in the orgasm he just gave her. He knows it, too. “Mejoramos cada vez que practicamos, ¿eh?”

“Ay, eres increíble, Javier.” She’s still breathing heavy, her fingers tangling with his brown hair.

“Bueno… No te pases, eh.” Helena leaves the couch as Javi lights up a cigarette, taking a drag before standing to pull on his jeans. 

“Es la verdad. ¿Qué me ofreces para tomar?”

“Whisky o agua de la llave.” He leans back on the couch, hearing music from somewhere down the hall. His thoughts wander as Helena starts getting dressed, complaining about his apartment needing a woman. She refuses the money he tries to hand her, instead taking his cigarette and puffing out the smoke. He watches her intently, before she leans over him.

“Dame un beso,” when he doesn’t make a move, she repeats herself, gently cupping the side of his face and kissing him. As she leaves, she gives him a crumb of information that would help the investigation and he looks longingly after her when the door shuts. That damn music echoes down the hall and he grunts, deciding to take a shower before going to get drinks and having to see you. 

————————————-

You hear voices outside near the gate when you close your door behind you, double checking the lock before descending the concrete steps. His back is turned to you right now, but you recognize his brown curls and that damn leather jacket he wears everywhere. The signature stance of standing with his hand on your hip makes you blush, but before he even has the chance to turn around, you’re being enveloped in a hug while Steve calls out to his wife. You laugh against the blonde woman, nervous but hugging her back.

“You must be y/n, I’m so excited to meet you. When I found out Steve was going to have a female partner, it made the move down here easier since there’d be another girl. I’m a nurse, so I’m not as badass as you but hopefully we can still be friends.”

“You must be Connie,” you pull back from her and hold her at arm’s length, “and by the way, nurses are still badass. Don’t let these boys make you think any different.” She smiles at you and you wave to Steve as she goes to grab his hand, Javi finally turning around and letting his eyes hungrily slide over your body. “Where are we going?” You decide to play with him a little longer, not saying anything but also not missing the questioning glance Connie shoots at Steve who just shrugs. 

“A little hole in the wall down the street. We can walk.” Connie looks a little nervous, but tucks herself into Steve’s side as they lead the way, your heels clicking as you walk behind them, Javi taking up the rear. You can practically feel his eyes on your ass. Once the couple in front of you is deep in conversation, Connie whispering about safety and Steve assuring her you’re all armed, Javi grabs your wrist and pulls you to a stop.

“You want to tell me what the fuck you’re doing here?” He hisses, careful to keep his voice low. Finally, he puts his hand on the small of your back, telling you to keep walking so it doesn’t look suspicious. 

“First off, he knows we know each other, pendejo,” you shrug out from beneath his hand, embarrassed by the physical reaction you have to his touch. “I’m guessing the Ambassador told you I’m your other partner. I called to tell you myself but you acted like a dick, as usual.”

He angrily rubs a hand over his face before pinching the bridge of his nose, “Did you ask to come here?”

“No, Javi. I’m not a lovestruck little girl. I got assigned here and I accepted. It’s fucking Escobar, did you think I would refuse it because of” - you gesture wildly between the two of you - “whatever the fuck is going on between us?”

“There’s nothing going on,” he whispers.

“If that’s easier for you to believe then fine, say the words.”

He’s quiet for a moment as he stares at you underneath the neon light of the bar, Steve whistles and waves before ducking inside. Javi’s brown eyes search yours, pleading with you and you’re suddenly struck by how much you missed him. Job or no job, he’s standing right in front of you and neither of you can admit that simple fact. You shake your head, ready to go down shots inside and forget you even asked, the anger bubbling inside your chest, “Maldito, Javíer.”

Just as you turn to pull open the door, he yanks you back to him, his forehead meeting yours, and whispers, “Mujer hermosa, obstinada.” Taking your hand in his, he gives it a squeeze before pulling open the door and leading you inside. 

[lightininglydia]

Illicit Affairs - Rafe Cameron

Summary: after months of sneaking around with Rafe it was getting harder and harder for you to do

Based off the song by Taylor Swift

WC: 1.6 k

Warnings: cheating, mentions of sex, slight swearing

Pairing: slight John b x reader, John b x Sarah Cameron, Rafe Cameron x reader

You didn't mean for this to happen.... no one ever means for it to happen but you had noticed how he looked at her.

He looked at her as if she was the only thing in the world.... he used to look at you that way but over the years the sparkle in his eyes every time he looked at you dwindled until it no longer existed.

Sarah Cameron, the kook princess , was the only one he had eyes for. You knew, he knew it... hell everyone knew it. John B just didn't seem to have the heart to break up with you. He soon began lying to you and sneaking off and you had a funny suspicion he was going to see her but you didn't care and you most certainly couldn't be one to judge.... not when there was Rafe.

Rafe Cameron.... you never thought in a million years you would have ended up cheating on your long term boyfriend with him but one night at a kegger you had caught John B holding hands with Sarah and you couldn't bare to stand the sight so you found yourself walking along the beach.

It's born from just one single glance

Your eyes met Rafe's and from there it was nothing but a downward spiral and complete mess if you were being honest.

It had started so beautifully, the two of you confided in each other during your late night hotel visits and everything felt perfect. A part of you felt bad about cheating on John B but then you would remember he was doing the same thing.

Rafe made you feel things no one else ever had. The way he touched you set you body on fire and left you at a loss for words. What was supposed to be a one time thing quickly turned into more and you found yourself consumed by the boy.

It dies and it dies and it dies a million little times

The beauty of the relationship quickly faded however and what had started in beautiful rooms ended with meetings in parking lots... both of you craving one another and needing a quick fix.

You couldn't count how many times you had lied to your friends... using the lame excuse that you were going for a run so they wouldn't question when you came back slightly disheveled and flushed. You used the roads less traveled by so you wouldn't get caught sneaking off to meet Rafe.

You would tell yourself that you didn't need this.... that you wanted it and could stop anytime you wanted but the truth was you couldn't. Rafe was like a drug as he consumed every aspect of your life and always left you wanting more and more. You craved him more than you craved anything and you found yourself purposely doing things to gain his attention.

At parties you would look longingly at him hoping no one would catch you. No one ever did... at least that's what you thought but truth be told a few people had seen the way you looked at Rafe. One of them being Sarah Cameron, she slowly began piecing things together. She saw the stolen stares between the two of you as they revealed the truth of what was going on. She didn't dare say a word to John B.... she couldn't judge you when she had done the same.

The three of you found yourself in a cycle of cheating and secrets. Sarah was cheating on Topper, you were cheating on John B and John B was cheating on you. The three of you were too cowardly to gain up the courage to break things off so you would simply continue these affairs.

That's the thing about illicit affairs

Affairs.... you knew what John B and Sarah had was much more than an affair. You longed for it to be that way for you and Rafe but it wasn't that simple. These clandestine meetings were nothing but sex and therapy for Rafe.... he trusted you and enjoyed how he made you feel but that was it. He could never love you.

You on the other hand had fallen for him... it was so easy to fall for him when he looked at you in the way he did. The sad part of it all was that you knew you weren't special and that Rafe looked at every girl like that. You had seen it first hand at a party months before this all began.

Rafe Cameron gives you this one look and you're putty in his hands. You so desperately wished that you hadn't fallen for him and his tricks as it put you in the position you were in right now. You had gone so far to buy a perfume just for him... you never wore it anywhere else in case one of his friends recognized the scent you had left behind in his car.

Like you don't even exist

You would sneak out of your house, making sure no one saw you leave. Your hood would be up to disguise yourself as you made your way to where you and Rafe normally met up.

You saw his truck parked in a dark corner of the parking lot and made your way over, taking a deep breath as you pulled open the door and climbed in.

You didn't even have a second to breathe as the moment you shut the door his lips were attached to your neck. You fought back a moan as you tried to pull away. You couldn't do this anymore.... you couldn't pretend you weren't in love with him.

A drug that only worked the first few hundred times

You couldn't go on like this... lying to your friends, to John B... to your family. It had to stop and you were the only one that could stop it.

" Rafe " you breathed out trying to get his attention

" we have to hurry " he muttered as he leaned forward again but you just pulled back

" What's with you tonight ( Y/N ) " Rafe huffed as he sat back in his seat feeling frustrated with you

" I can't do this anymore " you whispered

" what do you mean you can't do this anymore? Is it guilt? Do you think John B feels guilty he's fucking my sister behind your back? Do you think he cares about you ? " Rafe spat, the harshness of his words making you cringe

" No... this isn't about John B it's about us Rafe " You sighed

" Us? ( Y/N ) there is no us " he said harshly causing you to scoff

" Then what's this Rafe? What are we doing? " You asked

" hooking up... i mean you're a kid ( Y/N )! You're barely 18 and I'm 21 almost 22.... there is no us " he spat as he looked over at you. He noticed the tears falling down your face and in return his face softened. He didn't mean to make you cry in fact he didn’t ever want to make you cry. While he meant what he said a part of him still cared for you and didn’t want to see you walk out of this hurt.... that however seemed impossible at this point.

" Baby- " he started but you cut him off

" no don't do that Rafe! Don’t call me kid, don't call me baby! I mean look at me! I'm a mess oh my god I cheated on my boyfriend I've been lying to my friends and family just to be some meaningless hook up to you? " you exclaimed as you fought back tears

You showed me colours you know I can't see with anyone else

" ( Y/N ) you knew what you were signing up for! " he shouted feeling frustrated

Don't call me kid, don't call me baby

" Look at this idiotic fool that you made me! I really thought I meant something to you... I'm so fucking stupid " you spat wanting nothing more than to get out of the car and run... run and never ever look back.

" no you know what this is just as much your fault! If you weren't so desperate for attention we wouldn't be in this situation in the first place " he said, voice filled with venom and you broke. You couldn’t stop the sobs from falling from your mouth.... you felt broken and used and like no one truly cared for you. Like you didn’t matter.

Rafe's face softened once again as he looked at you, feeling a pang in his chest knowing what he was doing wasn't right. He knew he was using you for his own selfish needs because he didn't need to put up a front with you. He could be himself and you still wanted him but he didn't want you, not like that at least.

You taught me a secret language I can't speak with anyone else

You didn't know what to do when he reached over and wrapped his arms around you. He whispered apologies in your ears, promising to do better. You knew that was lie... the two of you were stuck in a cycle that neither one of you dared to break. Both replying on each other for something. You also knew that you would never stop.... as long as he was willing to do this you would do it. You would let him string you along for as long as he wanted to... you would let him use you until there was nothing left to use. You knew it and he knew it.

You know damn well for you I would ruin myself

[lovelivingmydreams]

Okay so here is part two of this promt of mine to thank my now almost 250 followers. First part here. Enjoy!

Remus had a lot of fun stating the facts to the others. When they finally put everything together their faces will be even more hilarious! For now the others remained clueless though. For a little while Remus thought they'd all be old and grey by the time anyone figured it out.

Luckily they did get a clue about a week after Remus learned the exciting truth.

It was the evening before the premier of a project they'd been working on for ages. Roman was going over everything in the common area with everyone else as practice audience. Remus was playing heckler. No one asked him. He just did. He probably should have noticed Virgil tensing up with each comment. But he didn't. After Remus shouted something about a possible wardrobe malfunction Virgil shot up. "We have to cancel. We're not ready!"

Everyone looked up at Virgil in surprise. It'd been a long time since last he demanded skipping or postponing any type of commitment. It was always an option to him, but this wasn't a suggestion. It was a demand so strong that Thomas actually was thinking of what to tell Joan already.

No one knew what brought this on or how to resolve it. But Roman was still going to try.

"What do you mean? I'm sure we can see to any doubts you have and blow everyone away tomorrow."

Virgil balled his fists and shook his head. "Too much can go wrong..." he hissed through gritted teeth.

"Certainly. But we mustn't let down our audience for mere chance of failure.," Roman countered gently. "You think I'm being paranoid?" Virgil snapped accusingly.

Roman looked taken aback. "Virgil you are overreacting. I am merely trying too help!"

Virgil huffed, threw his hood over his head and stormed off to his room.

"Virgil!?" Roman called after him, but he didn't follow him up the stairs. He remained behind until they all cringed at the sound of a door slamming shut.

The prince's shoulders slumped and his head lowered dejected. "I'm... I'm going to reread the lines again..." he muttered before heading to his own room.

Patton reached out to Roman's retreating frame but came up short on things to say. The silence remained until a gentle click signaled that Roman had entered his room.

"That was fun," Janus muttered sarcastically as he got up, intending to talk to Virgil.

"Snakey, he just had his first fight with his boyfriend. He isn't up for 2 lies and maybe a truth," Remus pointed out. "Just like how my bro isn't going to appreciate playing tag with me."

Everyone stared at Remus, surprised he was capable of such insightful comments.

"Well that leaves us Lo," Patton observed looking up towards the private rooms tensely. Roman and Virgil argued a lot. Even now that they were all friends. Such was their nature. But those arguments were usually loud and full of Virgil's quips and Roman's dramatics. This one was unnervingly quiet in comparison.

"It would appear so. You should check on Virgil, I shall attempt to reason with Roman," Logan suggested. Patton nodded and together they headed to the opposing rooms. "Good luck," Patton smiled at Logan before knocking on Virgil's door.

"Virge? Mind if we chat for a bit?" A moment of silence before the door was opened. Patton hadn't heard him walk over... had he been by the door?

The question was forgotten when Patton saw Virgil's make up was running.

"Come in Pat..." he whispered softly, though he wasn't looking at him. Or rather past him at Logan.

Once more that puzzle was put asside in favor of cheering up his kiddo.

They sat on Virgil's bed, V curled in on himself Patton Indian style.

"I know I shouldn't have ran off... and that Roman wasn't calling me paranoid. So if that's all you wanted to say..."

"Actually," Patton started, interrupting Virgil before he could even start whatever self depreciating train of thought he was starting.

"I wanted to ask why you are so worried about this performance. It's not a big event and we are well prepared. Remus was only trying to get Roman of balance you know?"

Virgil dug his fingers in his hair in frustration. "I know! But what if it happens for real!? Roman'll get hurt!"

Patton blinked in surprise. He expected Virgil to be worried about Thomas first and the rest of them second. Prioritizing Roman like that... was Remus onto something? Patton always thought Virgil and Roman would make an absolutely adorable couple.

Virgil sighed and wrapped his arms around his legs to pull them tightly against his chest.

"Ever since you guys accepted me... I've been patching Roman up when he got 'bruised'. And even before I tried to check up on him... it's my fault when he gets hurt Patton. Because I didn't push Thomas hard enough, or too hard... anything I do wrong ends up hurting him. He was right to hate me. And when he realizes that I'll lose him and then you guys will stop talking to me and..."

"Kiddo hey... you're spiraling buddy." Logan said it's important they tell Virgil when he's trapped by his own head and how. "Breathe."

Virgil nodded and took a few deep breaths while wiping at his eyes.

"Virgil, none of us would ever blame you for trying your best."

Not even Roman. He knows you always act with our best interest at heart. And if you tell him you were worried for his safety, the whole thing will be forgotten," Patton assured the anxious side gently, secretly hoping that getting Virgil to open up towards Roman this way might help them get closer. Prinxiety just might set sail after all.

"You think so?" Virgil asked, not convinced.

"I know so. Take it from your old man kiddo. Roman cares about you. He has a funny way of showing it sometimes, but he does."

Virgil's face relaxed his eyes softening and his lips pulling into the tiniest smile.

"Yeah... I'll talk to him," Virgil nodded getting up and walking to the door with Patton. 

Logan frowned, confused by the strange look Virgil had cast at Roman's door. Fearful yet almost longingly...

He must be mistaken. Emotions were not his area of expertise after all.

Instead of pondering the question any further, he turned and knocked on Roman's door.

"Roman? I wish to discuss something with you,"

A moment passed. "It's open."

When Logan entered he found Roman sat at his desk, his notes in front of him and his hands in his hair.

"I... can't figure it out Logan... I turn the conversation over and over in my head... what should I have said?"

When Roman looked up it was evident to even Logan that he'd been crying though he was doing his best to hide it.

Logan sat down on the bed his body angled towards the desk.

"Virgil was not mad at you Roman. It would seem something triggered a negative thought process in his mind which he tried to hide as not to disturb us. In doing so though the thoughts were not addressed and instead were left to build up tension which got released all at once. Even if you said exactly what he needed to hear, he was not in a mindscape to accept any of it. I am sure Virgil regretted what he said as soon as he said it. I theorize that he took distance in order to calm down before talking to you again," he explained.

Roman nodded allong to that. "So... I haven't ruined everything?" he asked almost timidly.

Logan shook his head. "You know I am not good with feelings. But i have observed that you and Virgil have grown close since he got accepted. Especially in recent weeks he is calmer and less prone to negative thinking when he interacts with you. Likewise he has clearly helped you be more focused and keep a level head, some of the time at least. You two have built something strong. And one fight like this won't end that."

Roman was tearing up again, but this time he was smiling.

"Truly? You believe I am good for him?"

Logan nodded his head, eyeing Roman curiously. He might be wrong but it almost seemed like...

"By Neptunes swimtrunks!" Roman exclaimed wide eyed. "I thank you for your aid Logan but I must make myself presentable and talk to my Emo post haste!"

His emo? Logan almost wished he was wrong. If Remus was right in any capacity he'd never let any of them live it down. But Roman and Virgil finding happiness with each other might just be worth it.

Logan let Roman push him to the door and let himself out as Roman was already hurrying to his bathroom. In the hallway he found Patton being led out of the opposing room by a nervously shifting Virgil.

"Is Roman mad at me?" he asked nervously.

"Of course not. He is worried about you," Logan assures his friend warmly.

Virgil relaxed at that. "Thanks guys. I think we'll be fine," he told them as he headed to the door. Logan got the hint and led Patton down the hall. He heard Virgil knock at the door an call out Roman's name. If he or Patton had turned back they would've seen how Virgil kissed Roman as soon as he opened the door.

Roman kissed his boyfriend back as he walked them both inside and closed the door.

"Not that I'm complaining but... what if someone saw?" Roman wondered quite happy actually with the bold gesture of affection. Virgil's role usually made him extremely cautious, which made his bouts of impulsivity even more surprising and delightful.

"Well if they did then I get to take you out to make it up to you," Virgil shrugged.

Roman chuckled. "You have nothing to apologize for mi corazon. But the thought is greatly appreciated. Want to talk about this over pizza and Disney?"

Virgil smiled and nodded. "You pick the first movie." 

Logan and Patton voiced their suspicions to one another as well as Janus. All three agreed to wait with intervening and giving the two a chance to figure things out for themselves.

The tipping point came when they had a scheduled meeting with Thomas to discuss an upcoming colab he was nervous about.

First Roman and Virgil weren’t to be found anywhere. And then when Thomas pulled called them up by force they looked… disheveled.

“Good timing Thomas. One second later and… I honestly don’t want to think about that,” Virgil muttered as he straightened his hoodie and hair out.

Roman looked rather sheepish as he tugged at his sash and combed trough his hair.

“Where did you two come from?” Patton asked astonished.

“Imagination,” Virgil huffed as he turned to Roman, avoiding everyone else’s eyes subtle enough to be considered a coincidence.

“I told you we should have waited until after the meeting,” he told him, though he didn’t seem to be as mad as he was trying to be.

“I didn’t think we’d take that long,” Roman tried feebly.

“I did! You have no self control! Always have to go the extra mile don’t you?” Virgil pointed out. Roman looked back at Virgil now, a lot more confident.

“I didn’t hear you complaining,” he pointed out with a smirk.

Virgil rolled his eyes, but stuck his hands in his pockets and looked down. “I was kind of distracted,” he admitted.

“It’s no matter, we are here in one piece and there are more urgent matters at hand. Shall we, my stormy knight?”

Virgil sighed dramatically. “You are lucky you are so cute.”

Everyone in the room looked on incredulously. How were these two so clueless?

When the meeting ended, Roman and Virgil picked up their hike where they left off. On a blanket on top of the hill, ignoring the sunset in favor of making out.

“They need help Logan. Desperately! I am all for letting my kiddo’s take their time but this is too much! They are obviously in love!” Patton pleaded.

“Even I can’t stand watching them make eyes at each other any longer. Virgil is… taken with Roman. And Roman appears to be returning those feelings,” Janus admitted reluctantly. Virgil’s eyeshadow had been lilac more often than not when around the creative side. Only a complete idiot would keep denying it at this point.

“Told ya!” Remus grinned.

“Okay, fine… So how do we go about ‘setting them up’?” Logan relented.

Remus giggled manically. This was going to be so good.

“We make them spend time together! They have to realize they are meant for one another if they spend time one on one!” Patton exclaimed.

“But they are already together most of the time?” Logan objected.

“They are always working though. We have to pull them out of their comfort zone!”

Janus and Logan exchanged looks. “I’ll give an example,” Patton decided.

“Kiddo’s will you come down please!”

Roman and Virgil appeared almost at once, side by side, smiling brightly at Patton, Virgil’s eyeshadow bright and shiny as any of them had ever seen it.

“s'up pops? Virgil asked casually.

“Family picnic. You two take care of deserts!” Patton grinned brightly. “me and the others are going to put a basket together. Kitchen is all yours.”

And before either of the happy couple could respond Patton had pushed Janus and Logan out, followed closely by Remus. “have fun you two,” the green twin winked before rounding the corner.

“Are they seriously setting us up?” Roman whispered in astonishment.

“That’s hilarious,” Virgil grinned before turning to the kitchen counter where a cookbook laid open on a cake recipe. “Think you can handle this clever scheme o unconquerable prince?” he teased.

“Oh ye of little faith. It is I who shall thaw thine frozen heart with true loves kiss,” Roman grinned back.

“Do you think they've confessed yet?” Patton wondered as he placed nervously in Logan's room ten minutes later. The room calmed him down mostly but not near enough to be considered calm.

“Let's find out!” Remus exclaimed. Before anyone could stop him he was gone.

“That'll end well.” Janus groaned as he followed behind with Patton and Logan. To everyone he’s surprise they found Remus watching the kitchen rather discreetly. They joined him and were left speechless.

Roman and Virgil were both wearing aprons and chefs hats that matched their styles perfectly, both disregarding their usual top attire for simple t-shirts. Which was a good thing because there was an abundance of flower, chocolate and egg all over them.

Virgil was currently scolding Roman who was  trying to take the mixing bowl from him. Neither was cross with the other though. In fact, both were nearly dying of laughter.

“Truce! Truce!” Roman called out as he managed to get a hold of himself. “Let’s compromise. Lest we get poorly mixed batter added to  our canvases. How about I show you what I mean?”

Virgil relaxed his protective hold on the bowl and let Roman step behind him. Roman adjusted Virgil’s grip and laid his hands over his aligning their arms. He gently guided Virgil in mixing the batter.

“See?” Roman asked softly after a bit.

“um… wait almost. Show me that last bit again.” Janus quirked a brow. That was a lie. And if that was a lie, then Virgil just wanted… Oh boy his ray of stormshine had it bad.

Patton was nearly vibrating. Surely they'll realize…

“and there. Now it can be baked and we can get clean!” Roman declared satisfied as he stepped away. Virgil nodded and sighed in relief. “Finally, I’m more beat than the batter,” he joked. Roman snorted but he wasn't the only one.

“Oh hey Padre!” Roman greeted innocently. “ The cake will be done soon!” 

Logan was up next. He reasoned that the key was physical proximity. He had observed that as light as the two acted about it afterwards it had clearly gotten to them. Remus suggested locking them in a closet until they ‘made out’ but Logan was sure he could be more subtle than that.

“What? But organizing the thoughts is your job!” Roman complained.

“It is and I apologize. I've been falling behind on my duties. Please, I am sure that if the two of you worked together it will be done quickly.”

Both Roman and Virgil sighed. They knew this was a set up, so they'd get away with more flirty behavior. But it was also work. And the room where the thoughts were being kept was so full of cabinets and boxes that it was near impossible to move around on your own let alone… oh.

If Logan thought he was being more dignified than Remus would be by disguising it as an accident he was wrong.

Roman wasn't even surprised to hear the door click shut as soon as Logan was “out of ear shot".

He was surprised to find that Logan had arranged the cabinets and boxes in a manner that would make them topple over and trap him and Virgil on the ground. Virgil on his chest as he'd pushed Roman to the ground and his arms wrapped protectively around his body to cushion his fall as much as possible.

They were stuck in that exact position for as long as Logan seemed necessary.

“Do you think either of those schemes would've worked if we weren't already dating?” Virgil wondered. Roman thoughtfully played with the hairs at the base of Virgil's skull for a bit.

“Not sure. We can both be stubborn. I’m kind of glad that I’ll never know,” he confessed.

Virgil sunk deeper into his embrace. “Me too.”

It wasn’t as fun as the baking scheme, but it was nice to cuddle with nothing else to do. Virgil usually got fidgety after a few minutes, even if he wanted to stay forever.

Roman wasn’t much better at staying still. But this… This might just convince the both of them to do this more often.

“I don’t hate this,” Virgil sighed after laying in silence for a while.

“I do make for a handsome pillow,” Roman joked as he pulled Virgil in closer.

“You do. But I mean… Usually silences are terrifying to me. But this? I don’t mind. I don’t worry about what you’re thinking. Or that I’m supposed to say something. It’s just… us and that’s enough. You know what I mean?”

Roman thought it over for a moment. “Yeah… I do. This is… As close to perfect as life is going to get,” he sighed contently.

It was something close to 30 minutes before they heard the door open and a moment later the room rearranged itself. “Tell me this isn’t something we could’ve done this entire time!” Virgil groaned as he got up, not showing his reluctance to do so.

“This is Logan’s domain. He maintains order in here. I have no power,” Roman huffed pretend offended, he was less successful in hiding how perfectly content he‘d been with their predicament.

“Indeed I do,” Logan agreed, flanked by Janus and Patton who both saw the look on Roman’s face. Again almost but not quite. What would it take?

Logan apologized for their predicament and assured them that he would complete the task. If they’d bought into the ruse for even a second this would have definitely tipped them off. But they let Logan think he was successful at least in hiding his intentions.

Janus initial idea was to simply impersonate either of the boys and using that form to get the other to confess. He never tried. And if he did he wasn’t found out almost right away.

So his second attempt he didn’t disguise himself or his intentions. Not to Roman at least.

And so the theater was left to fade away. It’s purpose fulfilled in an unexpected way.

“What exactly are your intentions with Virgil?”

Roman looked up from his vanity comb still in hand.

“After what you tried to pull yesterday, I’d say you know what my feelings are. As for my intentions… I won’t do anything that’ll make him uncomfortable. Don’t you worry,” he said as he returned his attention to the mirror and hummed ‘Once upon a dream’.

“So you are in love with him,”  Janus drawled studying his nails. Though he glanced up to see Roman’s face flush. “Well…” the prince hesitated for a moment but then a blissful smile broke free and he leaned back with a sigh. “Yes,” he confessed dreamily.

“So tell him.” It was not that hard! He was the romantic side wasn’t he? Shouldn’t he be all for grand gestures like this?

Roman pursed his lips and shook his head, sitting up again and returning to his beauty routine.

“I’m waiting for the perfect moment.” Their first official date actually. If the other’s hurried and put the pieces together, they might be able to go on one for their 2 month anniversary.

He might already have something planned out. He had little doubt he’d be the one to crack first.

“I thought you’d say that. Come on, he’s waiting.”

Roman shot up. What was Janus planning?

The serpentine side led him to the imagination where a theater was set up. They entered stage right where Roman saw Virgil was waiting on stage.

“What is this about Jan?” the emo growled, eyes darting towards Roman and to the audience. Patton and Logan who looked about as confused as Roman felt. Remus was behind them just munching on popcorn.

“Remember the valentine’s episode?” Janus asked, everyone nodded, still confused.

“Well Virgil never got around to showing you all how he’d go about wooing someone. So I figured he could show us with Roman as an example crush. Thomas is getting ready to ask Nico to be his boyfriend. Might as well have all the possibilities out there. Direct, from the heart, grand gesture… You two have already shown that my methods of evasion and deception won’t work on Nico. He seems to find Thomas charming when he’s honest about his flaws, so we aren’t even going there.

Virgil, you have the floor,” Janus smirked smugly before getting of stage and joining the others in the audience.

Virgil took in a deep breath and glanced up at Roman as he let it all out.

Clearly he was nervous.

“Okay… So first…” He took hold of Roman’s hand. And it wasn’t the first time, this shouldn’t be a big deal. But doing it in the open, with this unexplained tension in the air, and his own confession in his head, it made Roman beyond flustered.

“Is this okay?” Roman pulled his eyes away from their joined hands as Virgil gave his a squeeze, looking at his boyfriend’s face instead. He looked so nervous.

“Of course,” he sighed breathlessly smiling warmly at the boy who completely owned his heart.

“Good… Roman… You know I blow at putting my thoughts in words. But this is something I need to say. Because just showing you feels like it isn’t enough.” Virgil took a deep breath and tugged at Roman’s arm, turning them to face each other.

“I like you,” he murmured, looking down “I like everything about you even the parts that drive me nuts. I like the way I feel around you. I like arguing about stupid things and laughing about it later. I like making messes with you and not worrying about cleaning it up. I like how you make me forget how scared I am sometimes. I like being myself with you, and feeling like that’s enough. I…”

Virgil might have a lot more to say than that but Roman wasn’t giving him the chance.

He pulled Virgil in and kissed him soundly. Virgil didn’t even pause before returning the kiss.

There was a loud wolf whistle, Remus clearly, but other than that complete silence.

After an infinite moment they pulled apart and smiled at each other.

“You can’t say things like that and expect me to just not kiss you mi amor.” Roman could hear the loud gasps from their audience.

“Wait! Are you saying…?” Patton started.

“We’re official,” Roman confirmed excitedly before returning his attention to Virgil.

“And that means, I shall be planning our first date. Be ready at six this evening, wear something semi-formal. No ties no monkey suits. But something nice. Understand?” Roman checked, not wanting Virgil to worry too much about what to wear, but needing him to not wear the hoodie just this one time.

Virgil nodded. “I think I can do that.”

Roman turned back to their audience. “I’d almost forget. Padre, may I take Virgil out?”

Patton was still  in shock but nodded. “Of course, um have fun.”

“Told you all!” Remus shouted satisfied.

“How long?” Janus demanded, not a fan of secrets he isn’t privy to.

“Almost two months,” Virgil smiled making everyone go back in their head and see their interactions in a new light. They could see the moment they thought ‘How did we not figure this out,’ crossed their minds. Oh they’d been right. This was hilarious.

Roman chuckled fondly at their friends’ faces, before gently gazing down at Virgil and stroking his bangs out of his eyes/

“As much as it pains me to part my darling. I must prepare our evening.”

“Wait! Wait! You two… You two are boyfriends!” Patton exclaimed vibrating with excitement as that discovery finally registered. He jumped out of his seat and rushed over to the stage to hug them.

“Oh my goodness I’m so happy and proud!” he gushed. Both of them chuckled.

“Well, while I wish we had not wasted time on attempting to help you, I too am glad you have found happiness with each other,” Logan allowed.

Janus remained stubbornly silent, realizing Remus had known and had not told him at the very least.

“Thanks guys, that means a lot. And we were just messing with you guys, we weren’t keeping it a secret cause we didn’t trust you,” Virgil assured them as Patton finally let go and Roman put an arm around his waist, both excited that they could now do this in public.

“Oh you rascal! You really had us good. You have to tell me how you got together now though!” Patton insisted.

“Perhaps, once we return from our date Padre. Which I’ll have to start preparing for,” Roman reminded them reluctantly. He let go of Virgil’s waist and took his hand to place a kiss on it.

“I will count the minutes,” he muttered to his knuckles and exited stage left.

It took everything Virgil had not to start squeeling.

“Oh M G! We are going to pick out an outfit!” Patton giggled dragging Virgil along.

“I’ll lend you a hand. Obviously I have the most style,” Janus insisted as they too left the theater.

Logan sighed as though resigning himself to his fate. “Roman is bound to skip over practical details. I better ensure the date is a success or we’ll never hear the end of it.”

“Just admit you want to be part of it Nerd. That’s what I’m doing,” Remus grinned as he pulled Logan along.