#they were goners for real Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[jonathanssweatercollection]

Want any more? Nah, man. I’m fucking high already.

As You Are dir. Miles Joris-Peyrafitte (2016)

[norikuna]

MAMA, A DIVA BEHIND YOU! — toji fushiguro sfw!

prologue. → toji loves his son, he really does. unfortunately, young megumi is less than receptive when it comes to toji's efforts to impress the pretty neighbour who just moved into the apartment down the hall.

or five times megumi actively made toji's love life worse. and the one time he actually helped.

pairing. toji fushiguro x afab!reader

warnings. megumi is his own warning. mild age gap implied. non sorcerer au, toji is raising megumi on his own. reader has she/her pronouns. nothing else, just shenanigans :) toji gets knocked down a few pegs by his son 😭 mildly ooc toji <3

word count. song inspiration. paper rings — taylor swift

a/n. this is sooo silly and for fun lol 😭 i feel like you can tell this just isn't my genre or writing style 😭

mp3. i like shiny things, but i'd marry you with paper rings <3

TOJI FUSHIGURO didn't have a lot of treasures in life. he just wasn't that type of guy. treasures were for people with their lives together — the kind who budgeted for organic vegetables and owned matching socks. toji's list of prized possessions was short: a semi-reliable pay check, a fridge that kept his beer cold on a good day, and the one channel that aired late-night baseball games.

oh, and his kid. megumi fushiguro.

the little brat was the one thing in toji's life he could call a blessing without choking on the word. but lately? toji was seriously considering the logistics of international shipping. could you send a five year old punk to siberia? where was the paperwork for that?

everything had been fine. hell, downright manageable. until you moved in down the hall.

at first, toji didn't give a fuck. neighbours were usually either noisy or nosy, and sometimes the tragic combination of both. the last guy had banged on his door at least once a week, yelling about toji's late-night weightlifting sessions and muttering something about 'quiet hours.'

toji had pegged you for the same. maybe with a yoga met and too many scented candles.

but then, you showed up on his doorstep with a kind smile that could probably light up half the districts in the city. and a polite, sweet, "excuse me, but could you help me with my bed frame?"

and that was it.

the universe must've been real bored, because that was the moment it decided that toji fushiguro — self proclaimed expert on not giving a damn, was going to lose his damn mind like cupid has struck him with the painful arrows of a crush. and he was a goner.

take #1 — my neck, my back

spring in tokyo had come into full bloom, the kind of day where the air smelled faintly of sunshine, and the cherry blossoms drifted around like lazy, little freeloaders. below the apartment complex, the park wasn't much to write home about — a scrappy patch of grass, a couple of benches that looked like they'd seen some shit, and a swing set that squeaked like it had a vendetta against joy.

but for toji? it was good enough.

he'd figured this 'let me show you around because i'm so friendly' outing would be low effort. easy. casual and neighbourly, even. except now, he was leaning against a tree which was far harder than it sounded when his lower back was screaming at him louder than megumi had this morning about brushing his teeth.

but you stood nearby, smiling that damn warm and disarming smile of yours, gently plucking a stray blossom from megumi's messy hair. the kid, for his part, was pointedly ignoring you both, kicking rocks with the type of dedication usually reserved for a brat trying to avoid his homework.

toji cleared his throat, "so, uh, the area's not bad. quiet most of the time. that convenience store over there's open late. great for snacks. or milk. y'know, the owner's a bit of a bitc —"

"why are you standing like that?"

megumi's voice cut through his rehearsed tour like a rusty knife.

toji shot him a sharp glance. a look that screamed: keep your mouth shut, kid.

megumi just tilted his head, all faux innocence, and then delivered the killing blow with those sea-green eyes gleaming in what toji was certain was pure maliciousness, "dad, your back hurts again, doesn’t it?"

toji froze, scrambling for damage control, but you were already pressing your lips together, trying not to laugh. trying. but he could see the corners of your mouth twitching.

"back's fine," toji huffed, straightening up too fast. something in his spine must have popped loud enough to startle a crow off a branch, "solid a rock, hah! good as new."

megumi glanced at his scuffed sneakers, and then back up, "you said it was hard getting off the couch this morning. didn't you say you're old now and falling apart?"

toji's entire soul left his body. the punk was a traitor to a family name. he should have just sent megumi back to the clan long ago.

"don't you have a rock to kick?" he hissed.

"already did all that."

and that was it. your laugh finally burst out, bright and loud, ringing through the little patch of a park. toji found himself staring at you like some idiot in a rom-com who’d just realised he was completely doomed.

"kids, huh?" he muttered, throwing megumi a glare that promised revenge.

"kids," you agreed, eyes still sparkling as you excused yourself, something about leaving a pot on the stove. you gave toji one last look as you turned to go, warm and soft with that lingering amusement.

toji leaned back against the tree once you were gone, letting out a long sigh. megumi was still standing there, kicking the same patch of dirt, as though he were trying to discover unseen archaeological wonders underneath the earth.

"you're lucky i don’t sell you to a circus," toji grumbled under his breath.

megumi didn’t even look up, "you wouldn’t get that much for me."

smart-ass kid.

take #2 — the liar's pants are blazing on fire

walking someone home shouldn't have felt like scaling mount fuji, but toji fushiguro was now sweating bullet. the evening was crisp, the air cool enough to keep him from outright drowning in these stupid nerves, but it helped little.

the streetlights flickered on one by one, casting a faint yellow glow over the neighbourhood. nothing fancy — just rows of small apartments with laundry dangling off balconies and the occasional stray cat darting under parked car. it wasn't exactly romantic, but in the soft glow of the spring, it didn't look that bad.

you walked besides him, laughing at some half-assed joke he'd cracked earlier. and damn, toji liked that sound. more than he should've. more than he'd admit to anyone, including himself. now though, the silence had crept back in, and he was left psyching himself up for the move.

just hold her hand, his brain hissed, it's not rocket science. come on, man. no! wait, give her a compliment, call her hot. ugh, idiot. don't say that yet -

his thick fingers flexed awkwardly at this side as he tried to look natural. a valiant losing battle when every nerve in his body screamed, you have one job, fushiguro. don't ruin this.

"dad!"

toji's head snapped up like a startled animal, and there he was. megumi. his kid. his little shadow. gasping, clutching his throat, and staggering toward them like a samurai dying in glorious battle.

"dad! i — i can't breathe!" megumi wheezed, voice raspy as he doubled over in dramatic agony.

toji blinked. what the —

"i think i'm dying!" megumi croaked, collapsing onto the sidewalk with all the subtlety of a boulder tumbling down a hill.

toji sighed, already pinching the bridge of his nose. should’ve known. thid kid had been hanging around that white-haired freak downstairs too much. what had that gojo satoru been teaching him? shakespearean death monologues?

"what is it this time?" toji asked flatly, his voice like gravel.

"maybe, maybe it's the peanuts!" megumi sputtered, clutching his chest now, because why not? "the ones i ate at home! i think i'm allergic!"

toji stared at him, unimpressed. this was the same kid who could inhale salted peanuts by the handful, barely pausing for air, like he was training for some bizarre snack-eating championship.

"you're not allergic," toji deadpanned.

"i think i am!" megumi wheezed, dropping to his knees, his little hands shaking dramatically.

"oh my god!" you gasped, wide-eyed. "should we — i mean, do we need to take him to the hospital? i can drive —"

toji waved a rough hand, trying to salvage what little dignity he had left, "nah, kid’s fine. just go on home. i'll handle this."

"but —"

"it's fine," toji insisted, forcing what he hoped was a reassuring smile, even as megumi collapsed onto the pavement like he’d been struck by lightning.

you had hesitated, clearly torn, but eventually nodded, "okay… but call me if you need anything, okay?"

toji nodded, biting back the heat threatening to crawl up his neck. "yeah, yeah. go on."

the second you turned the corner, toji crouched next to his "dying" son, who immediately cracked one eye open and coughed weakly for good measure.

"what the hell was that?" toji grunted, "what did i say about huffing gasoline in the laundry?"

"don't do it."

toji flicked the punk's forehead, "mhm, so?"

megumi shrugged, sitting up and dusting off his pants. "thought i was allergic."

"to peanuts? that shit you eat everyday?"

"better safe than sorry, dad."

toji huffed, ruffling a hand through his choppy black hair. he glanced in the direction you’d gone, muttering under his breath, "you're lucky you’re cute, kid."

the next morning, toji opened his door to find a basket sitting on the mat. a pristine, gingham-lined basket packed with golden, buttery pastries and muffins that smelled like heaven. attached was a note:

for megumi! i hope he’s feeling better!

karmic justice demanded that toji sit down, scarf it entirely, and leave nothing but crumbs for the little brat. he'd earned that much.

take #3 — they didn't get my nose right!

toji fushiguro didn’t get flustered easily. fights? He could eat a punch for breakfast. bills? well, avoidance was a valid financial strategy. but you, sitting on his couch, smiling at him like you’d never met a red flag you didn’t want to rehabilitate, while unpacking groceries for him and megumi? that was uncharted territory.

terrifying.

the apartment was...presentable. which was more than he could say ten minutes before you arrived, when he'd barked at megumi like a drill sergeant to hide every suspicious stain and questionable stack of dishes. now, the faint sting of cleaning spray lingered in the air, and the tiny place almost looked cozy. not that toji would admit it.

"you didn’t have to bring anything," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

"oh, it's no trouble!" you chirped, beaming like some kind of saint. "i thought you and megumi might like some fresh vegetables. and i couldn’t resist grabbing some sweets for him."

from the corner of the room, megumi's ears perked up at sweets. he dropped the crayon he’d been chewing (toji pretended not to see it) and padded over, all innocent wide eyes and suspiciously good behaviour.

"dad," megumi started, his tone way too angelic for a kid who regularly schemed like a demonic manga villain, “can i show her my drawing?"

toji utterly froze.

megumi never asked to show off his drawings. usually, he just thrust them into unsuspecting hands like a nosy salesman who couldn't take no for an answer. this? this was premeditated.

"uh," toji grunted, squinting at the kid. "maybe later. she’s busy."

but you, bless your overly trusting heart, smiled and said, "oh, i'd love to see it! i'm sure it's adorable."

toji didn’t even have time to stop him. megumi whipped out a crumpled paper from his pocket like he was smuggling state secrets and handed it to you with an air of triumph.

you unfolded it carefully, and toji wanted to crawl into the walls.

there it was: a chaotic, technicolor mess of lines and smudges.

and centre stage?

a terrifyingly accurate caricature of him labeled "dad," locked in what could only be described as a life-or-death struggle with a rabid raccoon twice his size. above his head, a speech bubble screamed, "no!" while the raccoon yelled back, "mine!"

toji groaned so loud it could’ve registered on the richter scale, "kid. seriously?"

your laughter was instant and loud, the kind that made you clutch your sides and tear up. "this — oh my god, this is amazing!" you wheezed, doubling over.

"it’s not even accurate," toji muttered, crossing his arms, his biceps straining against his shirt like they were trying to leave this embarrassing moment behind. "i won."

"dad didn’t win," megumi piped up, as smug as a kid who’d just blown up his old man’s spot in front of a pretty lady, "the raccoon stole the chips."

"megumi," toji growled, pinning him with a glare that would’ve made lesser beings tremble. the kid just shrugged, popping another crayon into his mouth like this was all part of his five-year master plan.

later, after you’d left, still giggling and promising to "treasure" the drawing, toji leaned over the kitchen table where megumi was innocently snacking on his candy.

'kid," toji said, his voice low and dangerous, "if you ever pull something like that again, i’ll eat your crayons. one by one. and i'll make you watch."

megumi didn’t even flinch, cool as a cucumber, "good luck. i hid all the good ones."

take #4 — take your broke ass home!

the neighborhood festival was the kind of event that came together with duct tape and misplaced enthusiasm. a few janky game booths, a cotton candy machine that looked like it ran on prayers, and a ferris wheel that creaked like it was auditioning for a horror movie. but toji didn’t mind. he had a plan.

this was going to be his moment.

he invited you under the pretense of "fun time" for megumi, but really, it was to show you what a catch he was. buff, capable, ruggedly charming — he was ready to prove it all. what better way than with a little festival bravado? he’d win you a giant stuffed panda or one of those oversized bears that could double as a couch. easy.

you and megumi stood by a booth plastered with painted bullseyes, rows of rubber balls stacked neatly on the counter. toji rolled up his sleeves, flexing his arms just enough to catch your attention. he reached into his pocket, pulling out a wad of crumpled cash like he was buying the entire festival, "watch this."

from beside him, megumi crossed his arms. his eyes squinted with the kind of judgment only an six-year-old could muster. then, like a sniper, he fired off the line that would ruin toji's day.

"careful, dad," megumi said, voice loud enough to turn a few heads. "that’s our grocery money for the week."

toji froze mid-reach for the first ball and his jaw clenched. slowly, painfully, he turned to face megumi, who was standing there with a look of angelic smugness.

"megumi," toji growled through gritted teeth, "let's remember who brought you here."

megumi didn’t miss a beat, "oh, right. i'm just worried that dinner tomorrow is soy sauce soup."

"kid’s got jokes," toji muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, his cocky energy now entirely replaced by something closer to "please make this stop."

"oh, i don’t think he’s joking," you teased, tears forming at the corners of your eyes from laughing too hard.

"yeah, definitely not joking," megumi deadpanned, "dad’s gonna start eating protein powder straight from the jar."

"megumi," toji barked, praying for divine intervention that would include his son being carried off by a stork, "you’re grounded."

"for what? telling the truth?"

before toji could escalate into full-on dad-mode, the game attendant — clearly desperate to avoid whatever domestic drama was brewing, handed toji a stuffed panda.

"here, sir, on the house," he said with a strained smile, like he was hoping toji wouldn’t throw a ball through the booth.

toji grabbed the panda and shoved it into your hands with all the grace of a man trying to save face, "here. told you i'd win ya something."

you had just hugged the panda, still grinning ear to ear, "who knew you had a sweet spot? i'll cherish it forever, especially after hearing how hard you worked for it."

megumi, the little bastard, had already wandered off to scope out the cotton candy stand.

toji watched him go, then glanced at you, feeling oddly resigned, "i’m never bringing him to one of these again."

"oh, come on," you said, nudging him playfully, "i'm glad we came. this was fun. besides, he's a sweet kid."

he wondered if you were half-blind, but held his tongue. instead toji groaned, rubbing his temples, 'kid’s not eating for a week."

take #5 — brought the heat back!

it was a quiet thursday evening, the kind of night that lured people into thinking life wasn’t a complete dumpster fire. the sky was fading into a smug sort of pink, and a light breeze was making it just nice enough to forget toji's apartment was a little too warm because he’d cheaped out on air conditioning.

you’d accepted his invitation for dinner, and now here he was, a grown man trying to pretend he wasn’t about to impress the hell out of you with his cooking.

see, toji wasn’t just some dude who could barely boil water. nah, this man knew his way around the kitchen — specifically around a bowl of spicy curry that could win hearts. but he couldn’t let you know that.

toji liked to think that he had a reputation to uphold: rough around the edges, dangerously hot, and way too casual about everything.

so when you walked in, he scratched the back of his head like he’d just thrown the recipe together from a vague memory, muttering, "i dunno, figured i'd try somethin’ new. if it’s bad, there’s takeout."

except this wasn’t new. toji knew exactly what he was doing. his curry was legendary in very specific circles — namely, his own ego.

meanwhile, megumi was hanging around the kitchen like a suspicious little gargoyle, all quiet and sneaky-eyed. that should’ve been the first warning sign.

and when dinner was served, toji had to admit it, it looked perfect. rich, golden curry with just the right balance of spice, heat curling off the plates like a victory lap. hah, an easy win.

you had taken a polite bite, smiling at first. until your face suddenly froze like you'd just been slapped by a fire demon.

"what, it's too spicy?" toji asked, as he watched you struggle to smile. your lips twitching like they were trying to run away.

"no, no!" you wheezed, "it's — it's really good. just got a lil' kick to it, that's all!"

kick? toji blinked. you looked as though you had been delivering a roundhouse to the face.

suspicious now, he scooped up a big bite himself. the moment it hit his tongue, he nearly choked. his sinuses exploded, his tongue went numb, and he could feel sweat instantly forming on his brow.

"what the fuck," he sputtered, slamming down his fork and lunging for his water. toji guzzled it like a man who’d just escaped a desert, while you valiantly kept nibbling as though your dignity depended on it.

megumi, sitting way too calmly at the table, didn’t even flinch. he was eating like the curry was perfectly fine, which made it even worse. this little freak.

toji squinted at his only child, "megumi. what did you do?"

"nothing," the kid said, wide-eyed and dripping with fake innocence. too fake, tsk, toji knew that look. "just...helped with the seasoning."

toji’s stomach dropped, as his blood pressure rose, "how much seasoning?"

megumi shrugged, stabbing at his rice like he wasn’t actively committing a felony, "i dunno. a lot. jus' wanted to be helpful, dad."

"y'trying to kill me? her? yourself?!"

you laughed nervously through the pain, "ah, toji. it’s really not that bad —"

"don’t lie, doll" toji snapped, shooting you a look, "sweatin' like you ran a marathon."

"so are you!" you shot back, snickering. and you weren’t wrong. toji's forehead looked like he’d just finished a full-body workout.

megumi leaned back in his chair, chewing slowly, and said with an infuriating amount of smugness, "i like spicy food."

toji pointed at him, wondering if it would be easier to pick up the kid and launch him out the window, "you better start liking ramen, ‘cause that’s all you’re eating for the next week."

"fine with that," megumi said, clearly unbothered, "isn't that what i eat all the time anyway?”

toji groaned, dragging a hand through his messy hair, which now stuck to his forehead in sweaty, choppy strands.hHe turned to you, desperate for some kind of redemption. "this wasn’t how it was supposed to go. it’s normally amazing. i swear."

"it’s fine," you laughed, even as you sipped water like your life depended on it. "honestly, i think it’s kinda cute."

that threw him for a loop. "cute? what’s cute about this? i just served you a bowl of liquid hell."

you grinned, a little too amused for his liking. "it’s the effort."

toji, for once in his life, had no comeback. he just sighed, defeated, and grabbed his phone to order takeout. megumi, meanwhile, looked entirely too pleased with himself, even lifting the bowl to his lips to smack away the remnants of the soup that he slurped.

interlude: the peace talks

you’re standing outside toji's dingy apartment building, where even the cracks in the walls look like they’ve seen some things. you’re not entirely sure why you’re here. okay, that’s a lie. you’re absolutely sure— it’s because of him. that rough-edged, broad-shouldered man who can bench press your common sense into oblivion. but of course, you’re telling yourself it’s "just to check in."

totally innocent.

you knock. a few beats of silence, then the door creaks open just wide enough for a face to peek out. it's megumi fushiguro, toji's odd kid, and his expression already screams ugh. the kind of look that says, "what does this clown want?"

"uh, hi," you say, suddenly unsure if you’re allowed to be nervous around a first grader, "is toji here?"

megumi stares at you like you just asked if the sky was plaid, "nope," he says flatly, but doesn’t move. he keeps the door partially open, like he’s either waiting for you to leave or deciding if you’re even worth his time.

"oh. okay, that's fine, i'll just —" you motion vaguely toward the stairs, already regretting this whole situation. but then the kid speaks up.

"why do you wanna see him?" his tone is casual, but his eyes? sharp like sea-glass. too sharp for someone so young. he’s leaning on the doorframe now.

you blink, mind going blank.

"i don’t...i mean, i was just dropping by to say hi. that’s all."

megumi tilts his head, scrutinising you like you’re a suspect in a crime only he knows about, "do you like my dad?"

you choke on what must be your last breath on this earth, "what?! no! i mean, what are you even saying, he's..."

you’re spiralling, and megumi's smug little smirk says he knows it. He’s enjoying this way too much.

"sure," he says with a shrug, stepping back into the apartment. he leaves the door wide open like it’s an invitation — or maybe a saw trap. against your better judgment, you follow him in.

megumi plops down on the couch, picking up a laptop like you’re not even there, "you’re not the first," he mutters without looking up.

"what’s that supposed to mean?" you ask, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.

he shrugs again, still not meeting your gaze, "just saying, dad’s got... fans." he says it with the kind of disdain only a kid can muster when talking about their parent, "but you’re, like... different."

"different how?" you ask, instantly regretting it. you shouldn’t engage. this is toji's kid, not your personal gossip columnist.

megumi finally looks up, one eyebrow raised, "you don’t seem as dumb as the other ones."

wow. compliment of the century. "that's way harsh. but thanks," you say dryly, crossing your arms. "and here i thought we were bonding."

there’s a flicker of something else in the child's eyes. a glimmer of protectiveness, maybe, "look, i'm just saying...don’t get your hopes up, okay? i don't think my dad's that type of guy."

you frown, perplexed at having this conversation with a child who barely comes up past your waist, "what makes you say that?"

megumi looks like he’s about to launch into a powerpoint presentation on why toji fushiguro Is a walking red flag, but then he stops. his petulant expression shifts, softens, just a little, "i don't anyone to be sad."

and there it is. the kid act drops for a split second, and you see it. he’s not just being a little punk — he's protecting himself. maybe he’s seen toji screw up one too many times, or maybe he’s tired of people coming and going from their lives. either way, you feel a pang of sympathy.

you sit down on the edge of the couch, careful not to invade his space, "i get it,” you say gently, "and i appreciate you looking out for me, and for your father. but...maybe your dad’s not as bad as you think."

megumi snorts, "yeah, right. i think he's a mess."

"well, sometimes messy people need someone to believe in them," you say, surprising even yourself with the honesty in your voice.

he doesn’t respond right away, just stares at the laptop screen like it holds the answers to life. finally, he sighs, closing it with a decisive snap.

"fine. you can...hang out with him. or whatever. i won't pull any dumb shit,” megumi suddenly pauses at the slip of his tongue, “wait, don't tell him i said that word. but if this screws up, i'm saying ‘I told you so."

he sounds like he’s just agreed to let you borrow his favourite video game.

you smile, relieved, "deal."

just then, the front door opens, and in walks toji, all feathery raven hair, sweat-slicked muscles, and a duffel bag slung over his shoulder like he’s just conquered a small country. he pauses when he sees you, eyebrows raising in surprise. "hey, didn’t expect to see you here," he says, voice rough but warm.

before you can respond, megumi pipes up from the couch, "we had important business."

megumi watches you leave, your footsteps echoing down the hallway. you turn back once, smiling at toji like he’s just said something funny — or maybe like he’s not completely hopeless. his dad stands in the doorway, looking uncharacteristically relaxed, a satisfied smirk on his face that makes megumi's stomach churn.

how disgusting.

the second the door clicks shut, toji sighs like some kind of romantic hero from the bad drama his dad loves to secretly watch, running a hand through his choppy black hair and scratching at the back of his neck.

"isn't she cute?" coming from a guy who once tried to flirt with a waitress by asking her how many push-ups she thought he could do.

toji disappears into his room, leaving young, burdened megumi stranded on the couch with his thoughts. his dad — the six-foot-four slab of muscle and bad decisions who calls protein shakes "wizard juice" — is clearly falling for you. and honestly? megumi doesn’t hate the idea. you’re nice. you don’t talk down to him like other adults, and you don’t smell like motor oil and regret like toji's usual crowd.

but toji? his dad couldn’t woo a cactus. if this is going to happen, megumi's going to have to step in. it's the responsible thing to do.

he grabs his laptop again, boots it up, and clicks on the email icon with all the gravitas of a general preparing for war.

to: thestrongest@mail.com from: demondog02@mail.com subject: hey gojo i need help message: hey gojo i need help.

he hits send, satisfied. within ten minutes, there’s a reply. gojo's always on his computer nowadays, swamped by senior finals.

to: demondog02@mail.com from: thestrongest@mail.com subject: re: hey gojo i need help message: why are u emailing me. i feel weird emailing a six year old.

megumi rolls his eyes. he’s six, not stupid. he definitely thinks he's smarter than gojo satoru.

to: thestrongest@mail.com from: demondog02@mail.com subject: re: re: hey gojo i need help message: i think my dad has a crush.

there’s a pause. megumi imagines goji sitting in his weirdly pristine apartment downstairs, wearing those stupid sunglasses he insists are cool, trying to process what he just read.

the reply comes in two words.

to: demondog02@mail.com from: thestrongest@mail.com subject: re: re: re: hey gojo i need help message: come downstairs.

then another one.

to: demondog02@mail.com from: thestrongest@mail.com subject: re: re: re: hey gojo i need help message: let’s debrief. i got cookies.

megumi shuts his laptop, slides off the couch, and heads for the door. it's time someone with real intelligence got involved.

megumi fushiguro sits at the kitchen table, eating rainbow cereal and trying to ignore the way his dad is pacing the room like a stressed-out gorilla. toji fushiguro, a walking, grunting tank of a man, is mumbling under his breath about "women" and "bad timing" and something about his shirt being "too tight." not that his dad has any normal shirts — just those stupid gym shirts.

megumi, as the only person in this house with half a brain cell, knows exactly what’s going on. his dad's got it bad for you.

not that he thinks that his dad would admit it. no, his dad's strategy for dealing with his obvious feelings is to act like a complete idiot whenever you’re around. last time, he dropped a dumbbell on himself while trying to show off. the time before that, he laughed so hard at one of your jokes he spat coffee everywhere. megumi had to clean it up.

so yeah, his dad was hopeless, and apparently, it’s megumi's job to fix it.

but megumi doesn’t think of himself as a matchmaker. he thinks of himself as a tortured genius, forced to live among lesser idiots. and frankly, he doesn’t even like the idea of his dad dating. because that's gross.

but the truth is, megumi's tired of toji stomping around the apartment like a lovesick rhino, and if getting you and his dad together means toji might finally stop asking megumi if his hair looks "cool," then so be it.

he starts small. when you knock on the door that afternoon, megumi answers and blocks the entrance like a bouncer, just like gojo told him to.

"oh, dad's not here again," he says, casual.

your face falls, and megumi immediately clocks it. bingo.

"you're in luck today, lady. wait here," he interrupts, darting inside, "i'll grab him."

except his dad is in there, muttering something about a broken pipe in the kitchen, while tapping furiously on his phone. megumi marches in, hands on his hips.

"i let her in," he announces, like a town crier.

his dad looks up, like a deer caught in the headlights of his own stupidity, "what? why didn’t you tell me? damn punk," he scrambles for a shirt.

"i'm telling you now, dad," megumi says, dully, "also, you’re acting like a weirdo. just go talk to her. ask her out."

toji freezes, halfway into his shirt, "what's gotten into you, kid? gonna drop a knife on me, huh? what am i supposed to say?"

megumi resists the urge to roll his eyes so hard they fall out of his head, "i don't know. say hi to her. maybe don't mention the gym."

his dad frowns, "you're six, punk. what do you know? people like hearing about that shit."

"not normal people."

once toji is finally presentable — or as presentable as a man with permanent bedhead and a scar on his lip can be — megumi ushers him out of the room. then, like the misunderstood mastermind he is, megumi follows quietly, lurking behind the door to eavesdrop.

toji opens the door to find you standing there, fiddling with the strap of your bag. his usual dumb smirk creeps onto his face, "hey, didn’t expect to see you here," he says, leaning on the doorframe like he thinks he’s starring in a cologne commercial.

"yeah, i was just...in the neighborhood," you say, sounding way too nervous for someone who claims this is a casual visit.

megumi winces. they’re hopeless. this is your neighbourhood, too.

toji scratches the back of his neck, a nervous tick Megumi’s only seen when he’s trying not to embarrass himself, "well, uh, you wanna come in? i was just... doing some cleaning. we can...talk, or some shit like that."

megumi knows for a fact that there's a lie in toji's words. the only cleaning his dad's ever done is shoving everything into the closet and calling it "organised."

but somehow, it works. you step inside, smiling at him like he just offered you free ice cream. now, that would be a decent offer.

from his spot behind the door, megumi mentally pats himself on the back. phase one: complete. he decides to clock out, flopping back on his rumpled bed to pull his laptop back out, immediately logging back onto his game.

but by the time you leave an hour later, toji looks like he just won the lottery. you’re smiling too, waving awkwardly before heading down the stairs. and ugh, gross! you lean in and press a soft kiss to toji's cheek before you turn.

as soon as the door shuts, toji leans against it and lets out the most ridiculous sigh megumi has ever heard.

"hah, kid. she likes me," his dad says, grinning like a lovesick idiot.

megumi, standing in the doorway to the kitchen, crosses his arms, "that's foul. but no thanks to you."

his dad opens one sharp green eye at him, and scowls. "what’s that supposed to mean?"

"it means," megumi says, feeling a lifetime of bribery for ice-cream excite him, "you owe me. big time."

toji’s standing in the doorway, looking at megumi like he just asked him to join some cult. he scratches the back of his head, giving megumi that look — like he’s trying to figure out what the hell his kid is up to now.

"eh, you look weird today," toji mutters, a half-smirk tugging at his lips. he reaches down and ruffles megumi’s hair like it’s no big deal, making it stick up even more. his hair gets all spiky and untamable, and megumi scowls, smoothing it down, trying (and failing) to get his dark spikes to behave.

"yeah, whatever, dad," megumi mutters under his breath as toji turns and saunters off into his room. toji’s probably about to do a hundred push-ups and gloat to himself. megumi can already hear the dumb grunting from the other room.

as soon as toji’s gone, megumi sits back down at the table, shoveling a spoonful of cereal into his mouth.

for once, the apartment is quiet. no random phone calls, no weird people showing up, no random training sessions that sound more like a one-man wrecking crew than “exercise.” just peace.

it’s bliss.

he takes another bite of cereal, enjoying the calm and the fact that someone else is going to have to deal with toji’s nonsense for once. it’s about time.

to: thestrongest@mail.com from: demondog02@mail.com subject: mission accomplished message: it worked. my dad's in love.

a few seconds later, gojo’s reply pops up.

to: demondog02@mail.com from: thestrongest@mail.com subject: re: mission accomplished message: that's great! wanna help me with the guy i like?

megumi squints at the screen, blinking twice. he closes his laptop with all the gravity of someone who has just solved world peace.

to: thestrongest@mail.com from: demondog02@mail.com subject: re: re: mission accomplished message: no.

[x-for-a-y]

god kebian should've won lr4m2. imagine if toby lost twice in a row. imagine if kebian's only loss was to alphagenos. imagine if- okay well losers' finals was going to be both contestants that lost to ag no matter what. i don't think they could've beat dubduo but just imagine

[foreingersgod]

I would love a Georgia amoore fic!! Maybe since they all are at Kelsey Plums class, reader meets Georgia there and they hit it off or something?! You’re so talented 🙏🏻

Sofia . GA

pairing: georgia amoore x reader

synopsis: ^request

A/N: also i’m doing a little name reveal because i don’t want to keep using JUST my initial, so you all can now refer to me as “Gracie” cause thats my real name lmao 😭

You know I'll do anything you ask me to

from the moment she had seen you walk through the doors, bag in hand and hair swept back, she knew she was a goner. you were a goddess in her eyes. the way you sauntered confidently, the way you smiled, the way you talked to everyone (including her) so kindly had her swooning.

she remembers the first day of kelsey’s class. she was nervous and intimidated, and if we’re being honest, she didn’t really want to be there with all of these strangers. georgia wasn’t reserved or especially outgoing either way, but she liked to keep to her small bubble and the people she was close with. in her jersey and basketball shorts, she stood on the sidelines of the court watching all of the attendees chat before the class was scheduled to start. it didn’t bother her that she was alone, but she felt even more anxious just standing there. and then you came along. you were so bubbly and excited to be there as you clambered into the gymnasium. you had noticed georgia from across the room, instantly locking eyes with her, and headed over to her determined.

“just over here by yourself?” your sweet voice wavered into her ears. you gave her a dorky smile, setting your stuff down next to hers.

“oh” she was slightly startled that you had approached her “yea-i um-i don’t know just didn’t really feel like mingling i guess”

she tried to laugh it off, but she could tell her embarrassment was seeping through.

“yea i get you, i don’t really like it either” you shrugged, not even fazed by georgia’s stammering “im, YN, by the way”

she gave you a relieved smile back, nodding slightly “i’m georgia, s’nice to meet you”

you offered out your hand for her to shake and she took it willingly. the sensation of your touch made her brain fuzzy, the way your soft fingers brushed against the callousness of her hands. she watched as you bit your lip, suppressing another smile before releasing her hand.

she was already head over heels for you.

But oh my God, I think I'm in love with you

“hey georgia!” you said, feet planted on the ground as you stood near the net “over here!”

she held the ball, another girl in front of her to guard her. she looked around trying to find someone open when she noticed you. with little hesitation, she passed it, watching as your fingers gripped the ball. you then took your shot, ball falling through the net. the score signified a much needed break and everyone on the court dispersed to the sidelines.

“that was a good pass” you came up behind georgia as she walked over to her bag “you’re looking good out there, g”

she could feel her face grow hot, turning around to face you once she grabbed her water bottle. she tried to hide her flustered demeanor by taking a swig of her water, but it was clearly no use. you were already grinning, tongue darting out to swipe your bottom lip.

“oh, thanks” she managed to muster out, swallowing hard “you too”

“thanks, that’s very sweet of you” she couldn’t tell if your face was just red from running across the court or if she had somehow managed to make you blush too “hey can i ask you something?”

“anything” you had hardly managed to finish your sentence before she was answering. she was quite literally wrapped around your finger. for the past 3 days, georgia had been imploring for an ounce of your attention. wether that meant guarding you, helping you run drills, or try to make small contact with you during breaks. she was desperate to get to know you. so how that you were here, taking the conversation even further, she couldn’t help but feel a little eager.

you chuckled at her reaction “well i, uh, since this is the last day of camp i was wondering if i could get your number? or hang out or something i don’t know? i know that’s really blunt of me but-”

“no yea” she breathed “yea i would love to”

and the rest seemed to be history, in her eyes. after meeting after class and exchanging numbers it felt like her whole world had changed. and in a way, it did.

Standin' here alone now, think that we can drive around

the memory of your first date was engraved in her brain forever. it was like a dream and she had to pinch herself just to believe it. once your time at class together had come to an end, the idea of being able to see you after that seemed surreal.

she had anxiously texted you first, a simple “hey, this is georgia” and you responded in lightning speed. she tried not to be too direct with you, not wanting to scare you off or stress you out, but god did she want to ask you out so bad. she contemplated just getting it over with as the two of you texted back and forth for days. but you had beat her to it, surprisingly. she couldn’t help but smile when she saw your text that one day.

you: hey georgia, do you think that maybe you’d wanna take me up on my offer from last week? get a drink or something?

her mind whirled just thinking about seeing you again.

georgia: i’d like that. could you do 7 pm on friday? we could meet at the bar downtown?

you: works for me! see you then, g <3

her heart felt like it was going to explode, oh how she loved that you called her that. it felt casual, it felt familiar when you would call her ‘g’ rather than ‘georgia’. the little nickname had her leaping off the couch and setting aside the perfect outfit for friday.

the weekend had finally rolled around and georgia was trying so hard to subside her excitement. her foot bounced restlessly as she sat atop the leather bar stool, fingers twisting around each other to try and ease the nerves. her eyes flickered from the door to her phone, trying to pin point any sign of you. she had this lingering fear that this was too good to be true, that maybe, for some unknown reason, you’d stand her up. but you didn’t, she realized quickly, when she saw you walk through the doors as the small bell on the handle chimed loudly.

you waltzed across the tile floors of the run down bar with grace, just like you had done on the first day of class. hips moved side to side, hypnotizing georgia instantly. her breathe caught in her throat once she saw your full figure. you were dressed in a casual yet form fitting little black dress. it’s straps draped over your shoulders and the hem sat comfortably on your thighs. your short heels clacked against the ground as you spotted georgia at the bar, you ran your fingers through your hair as you rushed over to her.

“sorry to keep you waiting!” you had panted, a little out of breathe “traffic was ridiculous, i wasn’t too long was i?”

georgia wanted to laugh, you were too sweet for your own good “no, not all! …could i get you a drink?”

and you smiled, nodding your head quickly and telling her your usual drink order “please, thank you”

“my pleasure”

I just wanna say how I love you with your hair down

“no really georgia,” you mumbled, laughter fizzling from you voice. after a few drinks, you and georgia grew weary of the crowded atmosphere of the bar and decided to ditch it for the night. instead, you opted for a stroll around town, enjoying each others company and the small city’s lights. you could have gone home by now, georgia too, but it felt so nice talking to each other that you didn’t want the night to end “you’re amazing, i mean it! you’re so talented and funny and-and just so admirable! i’m glad you agreed to go out with me…i, um, i really like you”

georgia had stopped in her tracks, now standing in the middle of the sidewalk. you noticed this and slowed down as well, standing in front of her. you knew it was probably stupid, confessing something like that on the first date. quite the rookie move indeed. when she stopped so abruptly, you watched for a change in her expression. you worried that she might be mad or put off by your statement, but it had slipped out and you couldn’t help yourself. but to your relief, the ends of her lips twitched into a faint smile and her eyes glimmered as she looked you up and down. suddenly, you felt vulnerable. having been completely on display to her, your dress riding up ever so gently, her jacket that she had given you to keep you warm still wrapped around you, your hair pulled to one side to keep it neat despite the mildly windy night. she was taking in every inch of you, you could tell.

“i might be crazy for this” georgia whispered “but i think i’d regret it if i didn’t say it”

she thought for a moment, pulling her eyes away from you briefly, closing them and taking a deep breathe. she seemed to be searching for confidence that she truly didn’t need, you were just as consumed by her as she was by you.

“what is it? i’m sorry if said something wrong or if that was too forward to say on a first date i’m sor-”

“could i kiss you?” she interrupted, stepping closer to you “please?”

Baby, you don't gotta fight, I'll be here 'til the end of time

it was positively electric, that kiss. something out of a fairytale, you would continue to tell people when they asked about how the two of you came about as a couple.

standing under the flickering street lamp, georgia leaned into you, hands coming up to rest again your cheek. both of your eyelids lowered, not wanting to look anyway from each other, but closing all the way when your lips touched. she closed the little bit of space between you when she pulled you in gently. her lips felt like heaven against yours, the taste of your cherry lipgloss lingering on her tongue as she fought for dominance in the kiss. and you allowed her to, feeling her tongue snake in between your lips. a soft moan escaped from somewhere deep in your throat which only encouraged georgia to pull you closer. her hands now found their way to your hips, roaming over the fabric of your dress.

you could have kept going all night if it wasn’t for the inconvenience of needing oxygen. you felt her lips pull away from yours, teeth catching your bottom lip as you both opened your eyes. you and georgia smiled, almost gasping for air from the passionate kiss.

“wow” you chuckled.

“yea,” she replied “was that…was that ok?”

“georgia- it was more than ok”

and before she knew it, your lips were back on hers as you went in for another kiss. she would forever be grateful for kelsey’s class, that you decided to talk to her that one day. because little did she know, that’s were she would be meeting the love of her life.

Wishin' that you were mine, pull you in, it's alright.

[rosemariiaa]

~All Eyes on You~

part: 3

a/n: okay last chapter, i really enjoyed writing this its new and soo fun lol idk i love you guys wtf! i’ve tried to write smut the best i can so let’s give it a second go? it’s like i’m experienced but i CANT put it into words on here for NOTHING lol? okay happy reading lovelies 💌

warnings: angst, fluff, sexual content

Enjoy!!!

Tori lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, her mind running wild. Her stomach felt weird, and her chest was tight—like something was trying to claw its way out. What the fuck is this? She had never felt anything like it before. The tension between her and Paige had been electric from the start, but now? Now it was terrifying.

She rolled onto her side, pulling the blanket tighter around her. The memory of Paige kissing her, the way her lips lingered, how her touch made her heart race, played on a loop in her head. It was… too much. Paige was confident, self-assured, and so damn attractive—it was hard for Tori to think straight around her. But this? Feeling this way about a girl? She’d never even entertained the thought before Paige.

It was too much too fast. The feelings were crashing into her like a wave she couldn’t swim out of. She was overthinking everything now—what if she messed it up? What if she wasn’t enough for Paige? What if Paige wasn’t even sure about this? The doubt churned inside her like a storm. I need to just sleep this off, she thought, shutting her eyes tight and forcing herself to sink into the mattress, praying for sleep to take over.

But sleep didn’t come easily.

———-

Meanwhile, across town, Paige was lying in her own bed, the complete opposite of Tori’s emotional chaos. A small smile played on her lips as she stared at her ceiling, her body still buzzing from the time she’d just spent with Tori. Her fingers absentmindedly traced her own lips, remembering the feel of Tori’s against them.

Damn, I’m a fucking goner, she thought with a smirk, shaking her head at how fast she’d fallen. She’d been with people before, sure, but never like this. Never with this intensity. It scared the shit out of her.

Paige wasn’t dumb. She knew Tori had been through a lot of shit with Jason and his bullshit. That guy was toxic as hell, and the thought of Tori having to deal with that for so long pissed Paige off. She deserves better than that. So much better. And Paige wanted—no, needed—to be the one to give her that.

But what if she couldn’t? What if she fucked it all up? Paige’s heart tightened at the thought. I’ve never done this. Never fell for someone so fast, never felt like this about any girl either. She ran a hand through her messy blonde hair, letting out a soft, frustrated sigh. Fuck. Tori was vulnerable, even if she didn’t want to admit it. And Paige knew she had the power to break her heart, which scared her more than anything. The last thing she wanted was to hurt Tori, but she couldn’t deny the pull between them. It was so strong, so fucking real.

She turned onto her side, clutching her pillow tighter as she closed her eyes, trying to calm the whirlwind of thoughts. All she knew was that Tori deserved everything good in the world, and Paige was determined to give it to her, no matter how terrifying this was.

Because, at the end of the day, she was already in too deep.

———-

The morning light filtered into Tori’s apartment, but she couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling from the night before. Her body still felt heavy, like she hadn’t slept enough, even though she had collapsed into bed right after Paige left. Lying there, staring at the ceiling, she kept replaying their kiss. The softness of Paige’s lips, how her heart raced, the warmth that spread through her body—it felt so intense, so foreign. She’d never felt like this with anyone before, especially not a girl.

Her thoughts circled back to that kiss over and over, making her chest tighten with both excitement and fear. This is too much, she thought, forcing herself to push it down. She didn’t even know what to make of it, so she just tried to ignore the confusion.

Tori sat at the kitchen table, pushing her half-eaten breakfast around her plate. The toast was cold, and the coffee had lost its warmth. No matter how hard she tried to focus on the food in front of her, her mind kept drifting back to the ESPYs later that night. The award for Best Comeback Athlete loomed over her like a dark cloud, reminding her of all the doubts that had surfaced since her injury. It wasn’t just the public’s skepticism that weighed on her; even her own parents had questioned whether she could return to form.

She sighed and decided to text her stylist. Maybe thinking about what to wear would distract her from the mess swirling in her head. As much as she loved the thought of stepping out and looking great, her mind still wandered back to Paige and, even worse, Jason.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed on the table, breaking her train of thought. It was a text from Paige.

Hey, are you excited to see my beautiful face later?

A small smile crept onto Tori’s face at the sight of Paige’s name.

More than you know. What time are you getting here?

Whatever time you want me to come get you.

With a frustrated sigh, Tori set her fork down and closed her eyes. She couldn’t shake the image of Paige’s warm smile or the way they had teased each other so effortlessly. But there was still the matter of Jason. Their relationship felt like a heavy anchor, holding her back when all she wanted was to soar. She hadn’t officially broken up with him yet, and the thought nagged at her.

Taking a deep breath, Tori picked up her phone, her fingers trembling slightly as she dialed Jason’s number.

“Hey, what’s up?” Jason answered, his voice filled with confusion.

“Hey, Jason, I… I think we need to talk,” Tori said, trying to keep her tone steady.

“What do you mean? Is this about the awards? I thought you were excited!”

“I am, but I can’t keep pretending. This isn’t working for me anymore.”

“What are you talking about? We’ve been through so much together!” Jason’s voice grew defensive.

“Exactly. We’ve been through a lot, and I think I need to move on. I’ve been feeling lost in this relationship.”

“What? You can’t just throw this all away because of some doubt! We can work through it, Tori! We always do!”

Tori felt her frustration bubbling over. “It’s not just about doubt, Jason. It’s about how I feel when I’m with you. It’s exhausting, and I can’t keep pretending everything is okay when it’s not.”

“Is it because of that girl?” Jason asked, his tone shifting to something sharper. “You’ve been hanging out with her a lot. Is she the reason you’re suddenly so unhappy with us?”

“What? No! This isn’t about her! it feels like we’re going in circles, and I need to focus on my career right now.”

“Then let’s figure it out together! you’re just shutting me out! It feels like you’re picking her over me,” he shot back, his voice thick with emotion.

“Jason, you’re not listening to me! This isn’t about choosing anyone over you. I just need space to figure myself out. Can’t you see that?”

There was a pause on the other end, the tension heavy. Tori felt a knot tightening in her stomach.

“I can’t believe this. After everything we’ve been through, you’re just going to give up?” he said, his voice now barely above a whisper.

“I’m not giving up; I’m trying to be honest. I think it’s best for both of us if we break up,” Tori replied, her heart racing.

Jason let out a sharp breath. “So that’s it? You’re done?”

“Yes, I think I am,” she said softly, her resolve solidifying.

“Fine. Whatever. Just know that you’re making a huge mistake,” he muttered before hanging up.

Tori stared at her phone in disbelief, the weight of the conversation crashing over her. She tossed it onto the couch and changed into a pair of comfy sweats and a cozy hoodie, trying to shake off the unease.

With her heart still racing, she sank back onto the couch, staring at the wall as she waited for Paige to arrive.

————-

Paige lounged on her couch, scrolling through Tori’s Instagram feed, a mix of admiration and nerves bubbling up inside her. She couldn’t help but wonder what Tori was thinking about, especially with the ESPYs so close. Should she text her? Was she overstepping?

Just as she was about to put her phone down, a notification pinged. Tori’s name lit up the screen: “I’m ready”

Paige’s heart fluttered at the message. A smile spread across her face as she quickly typed back, “Omw”

She stood up, shaking off the nerves that had settled in her stomach. Tonight was important, not just for Tori but for them. She knew she had unresolved feelings, and the thought of finally addressing them sent her heart racing.

As she made her way to the car, she tried to push any doubts aside. Tori needed her support, and Paige was determined to be there for her. The drive to Tori’s house felt like it took forever, but as she pulled into the driveway, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement. Tonight was going to be a turning point—she just hoped Tori felt the same way.

Paige stands at Tori’s front door, her excitement about the night ahead quickly fading into confusion. She hears Tori pacing inside, and her heart races with anticipation. “Tori? Are you okay?” she calls, hoping to ease the palpable tension. Silence hangs in the air for a moment before Tori finally speaks from behind the closed door. “Yeah, I’m fine,” she replies, her voice shaky and muffled.

“Are you ready to go?” Paige asks, smiling at the thought of spending time together.

Tori hesitates, the weight of her feelings pressing down on her. “Actually… I think I’ll just drive to the hotel by myself,” she states, her voice firm yet betraying her anxiety.

Confusion washes over Paige. “What? Why? You wanted me to come over.”

Tori grips the doorknob tightly, feeling panic rise in her chest. “I know, but I just need some space. Can you just… leave?”

Paige’s heart drops at the request. “Tori, I don’t understand. You asked me to come. We were going to go together.”

“Things have changed,” Tori responds, her voice tight. “I’m just not ready to see you right now.”

Paige’s brows knit together in confusion and hurt. “What do you mean? I thought we were making progress.” Her voice trembles slightly, reflecting her vulnerability.

Tori turns her back to the door, feeling the tears well up. “It’s not about you, Paige! I just… I can’t handle this right now. I can’t face you. Not like this.”

“Not like what?” Paige presses, desperation creeping into her voice. “You can talk to me. Just open the door, please.”

Tori shakes her head, the fear of confronting her feelings overwhelming her. “I can’t. Just please go. I don’t want to talk about it.”

Paige’s heart aches at the rejection, the confusion growing. “Tori, don’t shut me out. I came here for you. I thought you wanted to be together tonight.”

The silence stretches painfully, filled only with Tori’s internal conflict. “I need you to leave, Paige,” she finally says, her voice barely above a whisper, tinged with guilt.

Paige’s eyes well with tears, and she can feel her heart shattering. “If that’s what you really want…” she replies softly, her voice breaking. She takes a step back, feeling the sting of rejection deep within her.

Tori presses her forehead against the door, feeling the weight of her decision crushing her. “I’m sorry,” she whispers, tears slipping down her cheeks as she hears Paige’s footsteps retreating.

Paige walks away, the weight of disappointment heavy on her shoulders. Each step feels like a defeat, and she fights to keep her composure, knowing that leaving Tori behind is the last thing she wants to do. She gets into her car, frustration bubbling within her as she grips the steering wheel tightly. “What the hell is happening?” she mutters to herself, feeling lost and heartbroken.

Meanwhile, Tori sinks down against the door, her frustration boiling over. “What’s wrong with me?” she whispers to herself, wishing she had the courage to open up to Paige instead of pushing her away.

Paige gripped the steering wheel tightly, the soft hum of the car’s engine barely audible over the chaotic thoughts swirling in her mind. What just happened? The image of Tori behind that closed door replayed in her head like a broken record. Why wouldn’t she open up? It was supposed to be a night to celebrate, to get ready for the ESPYs together. Instead, they had just fallen apart.

She felt a sting in her chest, a mix of confusion and hurt. Was it something I said? Tori had asked her to come. So why was she the one being shut out? I thought we were getting somewhere. The frustration built inside her, leaving her feeling powerless. Pulling over to the side of the road, she fished her phone out of her pocket and quickly dialed Nika. I need to talk to someone.

“Hey, P! What’s up?” Nika’s cheerful voice came through the speaker, instantly brightening the dark cloud hanging over her.

“Hey… it’s about Tori.” Paige took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “I thought we were making progress, you know? But she just… she wouldn’t even let me in.”

Nika paused for a moment. “What happened?”

“I went to pick her up, and she just locked me out. She told me she needed space, but I’m worried that means she doesn’t want me around anymore. I don’t know what to do.”

“You can’t give up on her, Paige. You both care about each other. It’s just… a lot. Give it time.”

“But what if she really doesn’t want me?” Paige’s voice cracked, revealing the vulnerability she had tried to keep hidden.

“Then she’s a fool for letting you go,” Nika replied firmly. “You’re amazing, and you deserve someone who sees that. Just keep being you, and let her figure it out. I promise it will work out.”

“Thanks, Nika.” Paige felt a bit of warmth return to her chest. Nika always knew what to say. “I’ll try. I just wish I knew what was going on in her head.”

“Just focus on yourself for now. You’ve got the ESPYs tonight! Go get ready and have fun. You deserve it.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” Paige managed a small smile, feeling a bit lighter. “See you soon.”

After ending the call, Paige took a moment to collect herself, breathing deeply. I can’t let this ruin everything. With that thought, she turned the car back on and made her way to the hotel, determination growing with every passing second.

————-

As the evening approached, the hotel buzzed with energy. Stylists and assistants flitted through the hallways, preparing for the night ahead. Tori stood outside her hotel room, fiddling with her phone, her heart racing. What was I thinking? She couldn’t face Paige right now. The mere thought of it made her stomach twist in knots.

With a deep breath, Tori turned to head inside when she nearly bumped into Paige, who had just stepped out of her own room, her expression a mix of surprise and something deeper—hurt, maybe?

“Oh, Tori…” Paige started, her voice soft yet uncertain.

Tori’s heart sank. She felt frozen in place, her mind racing as she struggled to find words. What do I say?

“I… I was hoping we could talk,” Paige continued, taking a step closer, her vulnerability palpable. “I don’t understand what happened earlier. I just want to—” “I can’t,” Tori interrupted, her voice barely above a whisper. The weight of her emotions pressed down on her like a suffocating blanket. She wanted to be brave, to express everything she felt, but the fear of rejection held her back.

Without waiting for Paige’s response, Tori turned and rushed into her hotel room, shutting the door firmly behind her. She leaned against the door, her breath shaky, frustration and self-doubt flooding her senses.

On the other side, Paige stood frozen for a moment, hurt written all over her face. The sound of the door clicking shut echoed in the hallway, leaving her feeling more alone than ever.

As Tori sat in the stylist chair, she struggled to focus on the soft chatter around her. The makeup artist carefully applied foundation, but all Tori could think about was Paige. Why did I push her away? The guilt gnawed at her, a persistent reminder of the warmth and closeness she craved yet denied.

The stylist fluffed her hair, curling it into soft waves that cascaded over her shoulders. Tori forced herself to smile as she glanced in the mirror, trying to prepare for the onslaught of cameras and questions that awaited her on the red carpet. This night is supposed to be about celebration.

She took a deep breath. “Okay, Tori. You can do this. Focus on the award. Focus on the interviews.” But her heart wasn’t in it. The thought of facing Paige—of addressing what had happened between them—hung over her like a dark cloud.

“You okay?” asked her stylist, glancing up from their work. “You seem a little distant.”

“Yeah, just… nerves, I guess.” Tori forced a smile.

“Just remember, the spotlight is yours tonight. You’ve worked so hard. And, who knows? Maybe you’ll find love again after all this.” The stylist teased, a playful grin spreading across their face.

“Ha, yeah, right.” Tori couldn’t help but chuckle, but the anxiety lingered. I want it to be Paige.

————-

In her hotel room, Paige paced back and forth while her stylist, Brittany, worked on her hair. What am I going to do tonight? The thought of seeing Tori again, after their awkward confrontation, sent butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

“Okay, but seriously, Paige. You’ve got to chill,” Brittany said, glancing up from the curling iron. “Just because you’re going to see Tori doesn’t mean the world’s going to end.”

“I just… I don’t know how it’s going to go.” Paige ran her fingers through her hair, trying to suppress her worries. “What if she doesn’t want to talk to me? What if she hates me?”

“Pfft, she doesn’t hate you. You’re amazing! Besides, there are plenty of fish in the sea if things go south.” Brittany smirked as she added the finishing touches to Paige’s messy low bun.

“Yeah, well, I don’t want any other fish. I want her.” The frustration bubbled in Paige’s chest.

Brittany stopped for a moment, studying her. “You need to be honest with her, okay? And remember, you both deserve to be happy. You might not have the answers tonight, but don’t lose hope.”

“Thanks, Brit. You always know what to say,” Paige said, feeling a bit lighter.

As Tori stepped into the sleek, black strapless dress that hugged her curves perfectly, she felt a mix of excitement and dread. She took a moment to admire herself in the mirror. This is my moment.

But as she walked out into the lively atmosphere of the ESPYs, the weight of her feelings for Paige returned. She tried to shake it off as she mingled with other guests and posed for photos. When she caught sight of Paige, her breath hitched.

Paige stepped onto the carpet, wearing a lavender kid super suit that made her stand out. The messy low bun with braids tucked in and the playful strands framing her face was effortlessly chic. She looks incredible. Tori couldn’t help but smile as she turned to face the cameras, forcing her mind to focus on the event. But every glance in Paige’s direction sent her heart racing, the admiration blooming within her.

As the awards ceremony progressed, Tori and Paige found themselves seated at different tables, close enough to share glances. Tori caught herself looking at Paige, her heart swelling with admiration as she thought about how stunning she looked, even amidst the glitz and glamor surrounding them.

When the award for Best Comeback Athlete was announced, Tori was shocked to hear her name called. It felt surreal as she stood, dazed and unable to move until Nika gave her an encouraging nudge.

“Go, Tori! You’ve got this!” Nika cheered, her excitement contagious.

Tori took a deep breath and walked to the stage, the sound of Paige’s enthusiastic clapping echoing in her ears. She’s here for me. The realization filled her with a rush of emotion as she stood before the audience.

“Wow… I can’t believe I’m standing here,” Tori began, her voice wavering slightly. “This award represents more than just a comeback for me. It’s about proving to myself and everyone who doubted me that I could rise again. The past months have been tough, and I’m so grateful for my supporters who stood by me when I felt so alone. My journey wasn’t easy, and honestly, I didn’t think I would get here without my family and friends.”

Tori paused, her eyes scanning the audience until they landed on Paige, whose smile lit up the room. “There’s someone special who has been a constant source of strength for me these past few days. Thank you for believing in me and always being there.”

Paige’s heart swelled, a mix of happiness and longing flooding her. That’s for me.

————-

After the ceremony, as Tori walked back to her hotel room, she spotted Paige heading in her direction. This is my chance. With newfound determination, she approached her.

“Paige!” Tori called out, her heart racing as she tapped Paige’s shoulder.

Paige turned around, and for a moment, both of them stood there, emotions swirling in the air between them.

“Congratulations on the award. You were amazing up there,” Paige said, a bright smile on her face, but Tori could see the hurt beneath it. “Thanks, but I wanted to talk to you about earlier…” Tori hesitated, feeling the weight of everything she needed to say.

Paige looked at her, anticipation mixed with uncertainty. “I—”

Before Paige could finish, she reached for the doorknob to her hotel room, intending to step inside for a moment to gather her thoughts. But Tori, suddenly feeling a surge of courage, stepped forward and held the door open, slipping inside before Paige could close it.

“Wait, Tori!” Paige called after her, surprise flooding her expression. She didn’t want to miss this chance to clear the air between them.

Tori stood in the center of the room, her heart racing as she looked at Paige, who stood in the doorway with an expectant expression. After a moment, Tori broke the silence.

“Can you… can you sit on the bed?” she asked, her voice a mix of vulnerability and hope.

Paige nodded, slowly walking over and sitting down at the edge of the bed. She watched Tori closely, her heart pounding as she waited for her to speak.

“I’m really sorry for pushing you away,” Tori started, her voice trembling slightly. “I knew it was wrong, but I was scared.” She paused, taking a deep breath as she fought back the tears that threatened to spill. “This is all so new to me. I didn’t grow up with people who treated me with love or care. When I started dating Jason, I thought he would change that for me, but he didn’t. I was a coward for staying with him as long as I did.”

Paige listened in silence, absorbing every word. She could see the pain etched on Tori’s face and felt a pang of sympathy for her.

“I broke up with him earlier,” Tori continued, her voice shaky. “I finally realized that I deserve better than someone who doesn’t see me for who I am. But it’s more than that. When I’m with you, I feel different. I never knew I could feel this way about someone. I love talking to you, being around you… it makes me so happy.”

As Tori spoke, her voice wavered with emotion. Paige felt her heart swell at the sincerity in Tori’s words.

“I like you so much, Paige,” Tori admitted, tears beginning to pool in her eyes. “I’ve been scared to admit it, but I do.”

Moved by Tori’s honesty, Paige reached out and took her hands, pulling her close. “It’s going to be okay,” she whispered, rubbing Tori’s back soothingly. “I’ve had my doubts too. I don’t want to hurt you. I want to be there for you, through everything. You deserve love, Tori. You deserve all of it.”

A soft smile broke through Tori’s tears, and she leaned in, capturing Paige’s lips with her own in a gentle, sweet kiss. It felt like a promise, a reassurance that they were both willing to work through their fears together.

When they pulled away, Tori’s smile widened. “Thank you for understanding. I really want to try this… us.”“Me too,” Paige replied, her heart swelling with hope. “We’ll figure it out together.”

As the air between them thickened with unspoken tension, Paige’s heart raced, the warmth of Tori’s body pressed against her sending jolts of electricity through her veins. She could feel the weight of Tori’s gaze, filled with mischief and desire. Without thinking, Paige grabbed Tori’s face, her fingers gently caressing her jawline, pulling her closer. Their breaths mingled, and with a boldness she didn’t know she had, Paige leaned down to capture Tori’s lips in a fierce kiss.

The moment their mouths met, Tori melted into Paige, her lips parting with a soft sigh. Paige’s tongue slipped inside, and Tori responded instantly, deepening the kiss with a desperate urgency. Tori moaned softly into Paige’s mouth, the sound sending a rush of heat through Paige’s body. A smirk tugged at Paige’s lips as she felt the effect she had on Tori.

“You look so good tonight,” Paige murmured between kisses, her voice low and sultry. She couldn’t help but let her hands wander down to Tori’s waist, pulling her closer. “That dress, that ass fuck… it’s driving me insane.”

Tori’s eyes sparkled with playful defiance as she kissed Paige back, her hands roaming up Paige’s arms, reveling in the connection. “Oh really?” she teased, breathless and slightly teasing. “What do you plan to do about it?”

Paige’s gaze flickered down to Tori’s lips, her pulse quickening. She leaned in, their foreheads touching, and whispered, “I might have a few ideas…”

Suddenly, Tori leaned back, a wicked grin spreading across her face. She lowered her voice to a sultry whisper, her breath tickling Paige’s ear. “Just so you know… I’m not wearing any panties.”

Paige froze, her breath hitching in her throat as the words sank in. The playful tone mixed with the confession turned Paige on more than she anticipated. She pulled back slightly, eyes wide with a mix of surprise and excitement. “You’re lying,” she challenged, half-laughing, but Tori’s smirk told her otherwise.

“Why don’t you check for yourself?” Tori teased, her voice dripping with seduction.

Paige pulled back slightly, her eyes dark with desire. The playful atmosphere shifted, and she felt a surge of confidence wash over her. “Strip. Now,” she commanded, her voice firm but laced with eagerness.

Tori’s breath caught in her throat, excitement flickering in her eyes. She loved how assertive Paige was being, how the dynamic between them had shifted from playful teasing to something more intense. A slow smile crept onto her face as she realized she had wanted this—to be commanded, to let go of her inhibitions.

“Right here?” Tori replied, her tone teasing but her heart racing with anticipation.

Paige nodded, her gaze unwavering. “Yes, right here. I want to see you.”

With that, Tori stepped back, a slow, deliberate movement as she began to peel the dress off her body. She felt empowered as she revealed her skin, the soft fabric sliding down her curves until it pooled at her feet. She stood in front of Paige, bare except for her heels, feeling vulnerable yet exhilarated.

“God, you’re stunning,” Paige breathed, her eyes wide as she took in the sight of Tori’s body. The sight made her heart race even faster.

“Do you like what you see?” Tori asked playfully, her confidence blooming.

“Like doesn’t even begin to cover it,” Paige said, stepping closer. “You’re absolutely perfect baby.”

Tori raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a mischievous smirk. “Bite me,” she challenged, her tone playful yet daring.

Paige’s smirk widened, her eyes glinting with mischief. “If you insist,” she replied, leaning in closer. The air between them buzzed with tension, anticipation hanging thick as Paige gently nipped at Tori’s neck, eliciting a soft gasp from her.

“Oh, that’s what you meant,” Tori breathed, a mix of surprise and excitement flooding her senses. She felt the heat rise within her, the playful bite igniting something primal. “I didn’t think you’d actually do it.”

Paige pulled back slightly, her lips hovering just inches from Tori’s. “I don’t back down from a challenge,” she said, her voice sultry. “And I definitely won’t be gentle if you keep pushing me.”

“Then I guess I should keep pushing,” Tori teased, her heart racing with adrenaline and desire. She leaned in closer, challenging Paige with her gaze, daring her to take the next step.

Without breaking eye contact, Paige pressed her lips against Tori’s once more, the kiss deepening with urgency. She could feel Tori’s breath quicken against her mouth, and the thrill of their playful banter fueled her desire even more.

Tori’s hands tangled in Paige’s hair, pulling her closer as the kiss became more heated. “Tell me what you want, Paige,” she whispered against her lips, her voice low and sultry. “I want to hear you say it.”

Paige pulled back slightly from the kiss, her eyes darkened with desire as they locked onto Tori’s. She leaned in close, her breath warm against Tori’s ear. “I wanna fuck you right against the glass,” she whispered, her voice low and rough with intention. “So everyone can see how good you take it.”

Tori looks up at paige with those doe eyes she knows paige can’t handle. “What are you waiting for then?”

In a flash Paige picks tori up and wraps her legs around her waist while kissing the life out of her as they make their way to the big glass window.

Paige’s hands gripped Tori’s waist, her body pressing Tori’s back firmly against the cool glass of the window. The contrast between the cold pane and the heat of Paige’s breath on her skin made Tori shiver, her pulse quickening.

“I’ve never wanted to fuck you more than I do right now,” Paige growled, her voice deep and almost possessive as she kept her piercing blue eyes locked on Tori’s. Every inch of her body screamed with tension and want.

Tori let out a shaky breath, her head tipping back against the glass, eyes fluttering shut for a moment. She couldn’t stand the ache any longer. “I’ll let you do anything,” she whispered, her voice barely holding back her desperation, “if you just touch me now.”

Paige’s breath hitched at Tori’s words. The desperation in her voice stirred something primal inside her. She tightened her grip on Tori’s waist, leaning in closer, her lips brushing against Tori’s ear as she whispered back, “Anything?”

Tori’s head nodded quickly, her hands gripping the hem of Paige’s shirt, pulling her even closer. “Please,” she breathed, her voice raw with need.

Paige smirked, eyes dark with desire as she slowly slid her hand up Tori’s thigh, deliberately teasing. Her lips found the curve of Tori’s neck, pressing a heated kiss there before she bit down lightly, earning a soft whimper from Tori. “I want everyone to see how good you take it,” Paige murmured against her skin, making Tori’s body tremble.

Without warning, Paige slipped her hand down tori’s body until she got to her wet aching pussy, her fingers brushing just where Tori had been aching for her touch. Tori gasped, her back arching against the glass as her fingers tangled in Paige’s hair. “Oh, God…”

Paige’s smirk grew wider as she felt Tori’s reaction, moving her fingers against her clit just enough to drive her wild but still withholding the full pleasure. “Tell me how you like it baby,” Paige demanded, her voice low and commanding, teasing every inch of Tori’s control.

“Like this—exactly like this P,” Tori whimpered, her breaths coming in short, desperate gasps. She could barely think straight anymore, the ache too overwhelming. Paige pressed her fingers harder, making Tori shudder as her lips found Paige’s once more, kissing her with the same fervor she felt building deep inside.

Tori’s breath caught in her throat, her words barely above a whisper as she said, “I want you inside me.”

without hesitation, she took Tori by the waist, guiding her to the bed. The air between them was charged, thick with anticipation as Paige gently laid Tori down, her hands caressing Tori’s thighs.

Paige stood at the edge of the bed, her gaze never leaving Tori’s as she spoke in a low, commanding voice. “Be a good girl and spread your legs.”

Tori’s heart raced, her body tingling as she followed Paige’s instructions, slowly parting her legs while keeping her eyes locked with Paige’s.

Paige’s voice dropped to a husky whisper as she leaned in close, her breath warm against Tori’s ear. “I want you to touch yourself,” she said, her tone both commanding and teasing.

Tori’s pulse quickened at the request, her chest rising and falling as she swallowed nervously. She hesitated for a moment, her eyes searching Paige’s for reassurance, but the look of hunger in Paige’s gaze gave her all the confidence she needed. Slowly, Tori brought her hand down between her legs, her touch tentative at first, but she then she starts rubbing her clit in small circles, definitely not how paige would do it.

Paige leaned back, watching every movement, her eyes dark and focused. “Good girl,” she murmured, her voice thick with desire. “Show me how bad you want it.”

Paige’s eyes roamed over Tori’s body, her voice dropping even lower. “You’re so beautiful, all spread out like this… just for me,” she said, her gaze intense, drinking in the sight before her.

Tori’s breath hitched at the words, her hand still moving slowly as her eyes fluttered shut. The mixture of Paige’s voice and the way she was watching her made her body ache for more.

“mmph fuck..” tori breathes grabbing her boob and massaging it. Paige leaned in closer, her hand brushing over Tori’s thigh, sending shivers through her. “Keep going,” Paige whispered. “I want to see how good you are for me.”

Tori’s voice was breathless, her eyes locked on Paige’s. “I want you now,” she whispered, her tone laced with desperation.

Paige raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips as she leaned in even closer. “Tell me what you want, ma,” she teased, her voice low and tempting.

Tori’s breath hitched again, her eyes pleading. “Your tongue… please, I want your mouth, P,” she begged softly, her need evident in every word.

Paige’s smirk grew as she trailed her fingers down Tori’s body. “Anything you want, baby.”

Paige didn’t waste another second, her lips trailing down Tori’s stomach, planting soft kisses along the way. The heat between them was palpable, and Tori’s breath grew more erratic with every touch. When Paige reached her destination, she paused, taking in the sight of Tori’s body laid out before her.

“God, you’re so beautiful,” Paige murmured against her skin, her voice thick with desire. “All spread out like this… just for me.”

Tori whimpered, her hips shifting slightly, desperate for more. “Please, P,” she whispered again, her voice breaking with want.

Paige’s smirk returned as she dipped her head lower, her breath hot against Tori’s skin. “I’ve got you,” Paige whispered, before her mouth finally found its mark, toris wet cunt right in her face, drawing a soft moan from Tori’s lips. The sound only fueled Paige more as she began to give Tori exactly what she’d been begging for.

Paige didn’t slow down, her mouth working faster, tongue flicking with precision on tori’s throbbing clit , while her hands gripped Tori’s thighs to keep her in place. Tori’s back arched, her hands tangling in the sheets as the overwhelming sensations built up inside her.

“Paige… I can’t… it’s too much!” Tori gasped, her body trembling, trying to pull away, but Paige wasn’t letting up, pushing two fingers inside.

“You can take it,” Paige said, her voice low and commanding between breaths. “You’re doing so good for me.” She tightened her grip on Tori’s hips, bringing her closer to the edge, refusing to let her escape.

Tori whimpered, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes from the intensity. “Paige… please…” she cried, her body quaking, but she didn’t really want Paige to stop. The feeling was too intense, too consuming, but she was right on the edge, and she knew it.

Paige felt the way Tori’s body was responding to her, pushing her even harder, mouth, fingers, and tongue working relentlessly until she felt Tori’s thighs begin to shake violently.

Paige could feel Tori trembling, every muscle tensing under her touch. She knew Tori was close, so she kept going, her tongue moving faster, pushing Tori right to the edge.

“You’re so close, baby,” Paige murmured against her, her breath hot as she took Tori’s clit between her lips again, sucking gently before increasing the pressure. Tori let out a strangled moan, her back arching off the bed as her hands clutched at the sheets, her mind spinning with the intensity of it all.

“I… I can’t—fuck it hurts so good..” Tori stammered, the pleasure overwhelming, her legs trying to close around Paige’s head, but Paige was having none of it. She gripped Tori’s thighs tighter, spreading them even further apart.

“You can,” Paige whispered between strokes, her voice low and encouraging. “You’re gonna come for me, just let go.” She kept up the relentless pace, refusing to let Tori shy away from the overwhelming pleasure.

Tori’s whole body was trembling, the build-up too much to bear. Finally, with one last flick of Paige’s tongue, she cried out, her body shaking uncontrollably as she came hard, the release hitting her like a tidal wave.

Paige didn’t stop until she felt Tori fully ride out her orgasm, her body going limp beneath her. Slowly, she pulled back, pressing soft kisses to Tori’s thighs as Tori lay there, breathless and spent.

“You did so good, baby,” Paige whispered, leaning up to kiss Tori softly on the lips.

Tori, still catching her breath and lost in the afterglow of pleasure, looked up at Paige with wide eyes. “What about you?” she asked, her voice soft and a bit breathless. “You deserve to feel good too.”

Paige smiled, a glint of mischief in her eyes. “Don’t worry about me, babe,” she replied, her tone teasing. But then, without missing a beat, she stood up, taking off her clothes in one smooth motion. The sight of Paige’s body made Tori’s heart race even more, her desire reigniting as Paige tossed her clothes

Paige settled back onto the bed, positioning herself between Tori’s legs in a scissoring position. The contact sent a rush of heat through both of them, and Tori could feel the electricity in the air.

“I want you to see how good this can be,” Paige said, her voice low and sultry as she leaned in closer, their bodies just inches apart.

Tori swallowed hard, her eyes locked on Paige. “You’re incredible,” she breathed, anticipation flooding her senses.

Paige and Tori moved together in perfect harmony, their bodies intertwined in a rhythm that felt primal and intoxicating. The air was thick with heat, and the room was filled with soft groans and breathy whimpers, each sound echoing the raw desire that charged the atmosphere. Tori’s skin glistened under the dim light, every curve highlighted as she arched her back, pushing her hips against Paige’s.

“Paige… you feel so good,” Tori gasped, her breath hitching as she pressed closer, their bodies fitting perfectly against one another. She felt alive, every nerve ending ignited with pleasure. “Please, go faster.”

With a wicked smile playing on her lips, Paige obliged. She felt the intensity of Tori’s body beneath her, the way Tori responded, each gasp and moan urging her on. “Like this?” Paige teased, her voice thick with lust as she quickened her movements, the sound of their skin slapping together echoing in the room.

“Yes, just like that!” Tori moaned, her fingers digging into the sheets as she surrendered to the pleasure coursing through her. The heat between them was almost overwhelming; every thrust sent waves of ecstasy rippling through her. The way Paige’s body pressed against her made her heart race, and she couldn’t help but rock her hips in time with her partner’s desperate movements.

“God, you’re so beautiful,” Paige murmured, her breath hot against Tori’s ear. She captured Tori’s gaze, holding it with a fierce intensity that sent a shiver down Tori’s spine. “I could get lost in you forever.” The sincerity in her voice wrapped around Tori, igniting a fire deep within her.

Tori felt herself teetering on the edge of bliss, every thrust sending her spiraling closer to release.

“Paige… I can’t—” Tori whimpered, her breath hitching as she felt the pressure building, the heat pooling low in her belly. “I need more.”

“Tell me what you want,” Paige urged, her tone sultry and playful, eyes darkened with lust as she watched Tori’s face contort in pleasure.

“I want you,” Tori gasped, urgency lacing her words. “I want to feel you—everything.”

With a smirk, Paige adjusted her position, angling herself just right. She locked her gaze onto Tori, making sure she could see the raw intensity in her eyes. The sensation of their bodies moving together, the way Tori’s skin felt beneath her fingertips, sent Paige into a frenzy of desire.

Tori’s hips instinctively bucked up against Paige, driving them both deeper into the intoxicating rhythm they’d created. “Faster, please! I want to feel you—” Her voice trembled with desperation, her heart racing as she drew closer to the edge.

Paige leaned down, kissing Tori passionately, their lips melding together in a hot, messy kiss. As they kissed, the intensity of their movements grew, each thrust filled with urgency and hunger. Tori’s moans vibrated against Paige’s mouth, spurring her on even more.

“God, yes… you’re incredible,” Paige breathed between kisses, her hands roaming Tori’s body, exploring every curve, every soft inch of skin. She felt the heat radiating off Tori, the way her body responded so eagerly to every touch. “I want to make you feel good.”

“Just keep going,” Tori begged, her eyes sparkling with need. “You’re so close, just a little more…”

“Paige… I’m so close!” Tori cried out, the heat building in her core becoming nearly unbearable. “Don’t stop!”

“Then let go with me, princess,” Paige urged, her own breath quickening as she pushed them both to the brink of ecstasy. With one last thrust, Tori finally surrendered to the waves of pleasure that washed over her, her body trembling as she cried out Paige’s name. Paige followed soon after, their bodies entwined in the aftershocks of their passion.

Paige locked eyes with Tori, a smirk dancing on her lips as she leaned in closer, the atmosphere thick with anticipation. “You ready for more?” she whispered, her voice low and sultry.

Before Tori could respond, Paige plunged her strap into her with no warning, a sudden thrust that left Tori gasping. “Oh, fuck!” Tori moaned loudly, the sensation overwhelming her senses. The pleasure was intense, sharp, and electrifying, sending shockwaves through her body. “Just like that, huh?” Paige teased, her tone dripping with satisfaction as she began to move, finding a rhythm that made Tori writhe beneath her. Each deep thrust was deliberate and powerful, and Tori could feel herself surrendering to the pleasure.

“Paige, oh my god,” Tori gasped, her nails digging into the sheets as she tried to ground herself. The feeling was unlike anything she had ever experienced. “Don’t stop please!”

Paige grinned, her confidence soaring at Tori’s reaction. “I won’t,” she promised, increasing the pace. “fuck you’re taking me so well.”

Paige drove deeper and deeper, each thrust making Tori’s breath hitch, the overwhelming pleasure washing over her like a tidal wave. Tori’s eyes rolled back as tears streamed down her face, the sensation so intense that it felt almost too good to bear. Every thrust filled her completely, igniting a fire within her that she couldn’t control.

“Does my cock feel that good, baby?” Paige asked, her voice sultry and teasing, as she leaned in closer, capturing Tori’s gaze.

“Yes,” Tori managed to whimper, her voice trembling with pleasure. She felt so full, so alive, but words were escaping her as the sensations took over.

Paige smirked, enjoying the sight of Tori lost in ecstasy. “Did Jason ever fuck you like this?” she asked, her tone laced with possessiveness, wanting to know just how different this was for Tori.

Tori shook her head vigorously, unable to form a coherent response, pleasure consuming her senses. All she could focus on was the plastic hitting that same sweet spot over and over and over again.

“Use your words, baby or I’ll stop,” Paige prompted, her grip tightening on Tori’s face, forcing her to look her in the eyes. “Did he ever make you feel this way?”“No,” Tori gasped, her pussy clenching around Paige’s strap, the pressure building within her as the pleasure intensified. The simple word sent a rush of satisfaction through Paige, but Tori’s response came out more as a moan than an answer.

“Say it again,” Paige urged, her voice low and sultry, enjoying the power she had over Tori. “Tell me how good I make you feel.”

“No!” Tori cried out, her voice louder now, the combination of pleasure and desperation threatening to send her over the edge. “Paige, please—”

“Please what?” Paige pressed, her thrusts growing deeper and faster, pushing Tori closer to the precipice. “Tell me, I want to hear you say it.”

“Please… it feels so good!” Tori moaned, the pleasure overwhelming her. “You’re so much better than him..”

A wicked smile spread across Paige’s face at Tori’s confession. “That’s right, baby. now just let go, let me see the pretty pussy cum for me” she coaxed, her voice a mixture of warmth and teasing authority. “You’re safe with me. Just keep clenching around me like that fuck you’re so tight.”

Tori’s body responded involuntarily, her walls tightening around Paige’s strap as she surrendered fully to the ecstasy. “Oh, God, I can’t take it!” she cried, feeling the heat coiling tightly in her core.

“Good,” Paige said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “I want you to let it all out.”

As the pressure built higher and higher within Tori, she felt herself teetering on the edge of bliss, and all she could do was moan Paige’s name over and over again, completely lost in the pleasure.

“Come for me, Tori,” Paige commanded softly, her voice a sultry whisper that ignited the fire within Tori. “Let me feel you.”

With a final, desperate cry, Tori let go, cumming hard all over the strap, her body shuddering as waves of ecstasy crashed over her, leaving her breathless and trembling beneath Paige’s touch.

Paige, still holding her close, leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Tori’s forehead, the warmth of her lips leaving a lingering softness that wrapped around Tori like a warm blanket.

“Wow,” Tori breathed, still trying to catch her breath as she gazed up at Paige, her heart racing.

“Yeah, wow,” Paige echoed, a smirk tugging at her lips as she sat up slightly to dispose of the strap. There was a sense of satisfaction in her movements, knowing they had crossed a line that brought them even closer together.

Once the strap was set aside, Paige returned to the bed, sliding in beside Tori. She pulled the covers over them, and they nestled into each other, Tori instinctively curling into Paige’s warmth.

The room was quiet, the only sounds were their hearts beating in sync and the soft rustle of the sheets. Tori couldn’t help but smile, feeling safe and cherished in Paige’s embrace.

“Are you okay?” Paige asked, brushing her fingers gently through Tori’s hair, her voice soft and caring.

“More than okay,” Tori replied, her eyes shining with vulnerability and warmth.

They fell into a comfortable silence, Tori’s fingers tracing patterns on Paige’s arm as they enjoyed the warmth of each other’s presence.

Paige leaned down, brushing her lips against Tori’s softly. “You’re incredible, you know that?” Tori’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she grinned, “I could say the same about you.”

With that, they settled back into their cozy spot, enjoying the quiet intimacy of the moment, their hearts intertwined as they embraced whatever the future held for them.

————-

WELL.. that was a lot!

tags: @thaatdigitaldiary @patscorner @ohbueckers @mrsarnold

[sourbites]

If ur okay with doing headcanons do you have any honeymoon ones for james please and thank you

HIIII ANON! thank you so much for my first headcannon request. also, thank you for asking for something sweet which cheered me up. been brushed with the kiss of plague since last week (i have a cold), so i haven't been up to writing much. with that being said, if this is sucky, i am lowkey whiskey-drunk, so please blame it on that. i didn't know if you wanted anything smutty, so i left it at the end— feel free to skip it if you didn't want it. enjoy! <3

Honeymoon James HCS:

Big ole sweetie pie. From the second you guys hop on the plane to the second you get home after the festivities, he's doting on you. He's probably still suuuper loved up from the nuptial thrill of getting married, and we all know he's real sentimental, so he really, really wants you to have a phenomenal time. In his eyes, the honeymoon sets the tone for the marriage, so a good honeymoon is essential to a thriving relationshsip. Every second he's like, "Can I get you a drink?" "Are your bags too heavy?" "Too cold? Want my jacket?" He lives and breathes to see you happy right now.

He's content to go anywhere for a honeymoon trip, so long as there's things for him to do. If you want a beach resort, he'll pack his fishing rod. If you want to cosy up in a winter cabin somewhere, he'll bring his ski boots. He just wants you happy. You get first pick of everything.

James is a very tactile guy, especially with someone he's so smitten with. He's touchy all the time. But with the person he loves, on their honeymoon, with that belly-fluttering dreaminess of having the new weight of wedding rings on fingers? Yeah, he's a goner.

Will find any excuse to touch you. If you wear makeup, he's watching you in the mirror, sweeping his hands all over your sides. If you got some food on your lip, he's brushing his thumb against your skin so sweetly that he just ends up letting his wandering hand trace over your jaw, your throat, until he kind of just... forgets there's something on your face.

His wedding vows to you were wholly original, and very genuine. Every night, he scoops you into his arms in bed, and through warm kisses to your temple, he whispers them to you. James brushes his lips against your slow, easy pulse, and presses kiss after kiss after kiss, so lazily that he's just mouthing your skin at this point. With every pause of the beat of your heart, he kisses your skin. "You are safe with me," Kiss, "You are loved by me," Kiss, "You are welcome to me." It's his new routine.

He's a pretty private person, so he probably would only share one or two, but he'd take so many photos. Mostly of you. Some of the landscape, of activities you do together. He just wants to document everything. He's never been so at peace, so he doesn't want to forget a single second of the honeymoon. If you printed out his photos and put them in a cute photo book or even framed a few of them, he'd probably want to marry you all over again.

James wakes up each morning wanting you. When you first started dating, it was your voice. Then your opinions on matters. Your skin, your scent. Now it is your heart, your hands, the peace your presence brings him. Would definitely be the type of guy to want to start his days of being your husband by having your naked body on his. Sure, sometimes he's just incredibly horny— but a lot of the time, sex also brings this intimacy that he's never felt in his life before you. Your bodies just blur together and he's obsessed with it. His libido is all-consuming, especially now he's married. He'd wake you with the usual hungry kisses, and if you ran your hands along his scalding muscle, threaded them through his dirty blond hair, he'd take the hint. And it'd make him so giddy the rest of the day. Even though you're married, he still lights up at your touch, he swoons at any morsel of flirting you feed him. His whole expression is just puppy-dog awe, practically saying: 'Oh, you want this! You want me!'

Even after the honeymoon, James is still amazed that he's your husband. If you end up taking his surname, and he'd see letters addressed to your new name, he'd just trace over the printed out letters. He might have the urge to kiss the paper, just to get a slight taste of his love. It looks so right on you, his surname— your surname. Sometimes he'd just think to himself, what did his name mean before you? What did his fingers do before they held you? How was he even alive before he got a taste of this love?

When he gets a teensy bit more secure that yes, you have accepted him, and that you two are forever, he's fully comfortable with everything. He never really shook off that schoolboy shyness until he married you. But the guy definitely has a breeding kink. He cums a lot anyway, but especially when he can fill you up with it. Something about seeing your skin, your spent cunt all leaky with his opaque, milk-tinted cum is so satisfying to him. Feeling raw flesh, all hot and wet and aching, being able to empty everything within you, see your tummy bulge with him, it drives him crazy.

Following that note, he'd have this weirdo fetish (that isn't actually weird at all) of cumming on your wedding ring. He'd lay his hard cock on your slit, gathering your slick and his precum until he hits that sweet spot of delicious friction. He'd interlace his hand with yours, because he can't breathe without you. He'd paint your abdomen and wedding ring in those hot ropes of cum, saturating the sparkling stones in the wedding band until it doesn't shimmer with those glittery rainbows anymore. But don't worry, he'll clean it for you afterwards. And then do it again.

[the-kr8tor]

Can we have a Hobie x reader where the reader doesn’t want to kiss him because they have sharp teeth and doesn’t want to cut him or anything

Thank you for requesting, hun! I hope you like it ❤️

Pairing: Hobie Brown x shy! gn! Reader/ Spider-Punk x shy! gn! Reader

Word count: 1.2k

Synopsis: 3 times you didn't kiss him properly and the one time you did.

Tags: no use of Y/N, no specific physical description of the reader, blood mention, FLUFF

ʕ⁠·⁠ᴥ⁠·⁠ʔ

You've been dating Hobie for quite some time now, went on numerous dates, but there's one thing you haven't done yet, and it's probably the most important part of cementing your relationship, and it's kissing him, for real, not like a quick peck.

It's not like you don't want to, (you really want to) it's just you're too afraid of accidentally cutting him with your sharp canines, you were born with them, the only thing for you to blame is your genetics.

Sure it looks cool, but when it comes to finally showing your affection to someone, you avoid kissing deeply, opting for a quick peck on the cheek or a tight-lipped kiss.

You're grateful for Hobie, he's been oh so patient with you, you haven't told him about your predicament, afraid of his reaction. Maybe you should tell him, as he's dropping you off on your doorstep, fingers looped through your necklace, casually flirting with you.

"The movie was great and all, but it's still a giant advertisement" he caresses the chain, eyes glued to your lips. Your face heats up at the closeness.

"Y-yeah, but I liked the ending, it subverted my expectation" you try to act nonchalantly, but the lilt in your voice betrays you, your knuckles shake as you're clutching on to your bag a little too harshly.

"Mm-hm" Agreeing with you, Hobie notices you take a peek at his lips, your eyes quickly darting back to his forehead, clearly avoiding eye contact. He figures you're too shy to lean in, but you want to, so instead he initiates, slowly leaning towards you, just in case you want to stop him.

You beat him to it, darting your face quickly towards the side of his face, you peck him on the cheek, careful not to graze him with your sharp teeth.

"Goodnight! I'll call you,okay?" You say it too fast, opening your apartment door, stepping through it "only if you want to?" You turn back to him.

Hobie doesn't look too disappointed, he looks at you with endearment, eyes softening at your shyness.

" 'Course" He smirks, raising your bashfulness level up to a hundred "I still owe you that museum date you wanted" Hobie remembers your conversation a few days ago.

Your legs turn to jelly, holding on to the wall for support, "okay" you can only manage a meek reply, oh you're a goner.

"Later, sweets" Hobie winks at you, walking backwards, eyes glued to your form.

"Okay" you softly say, god, how is he this cool? You thought, gripping on to the doorknob for support, you wave goodbye, watching his smirk get bigger.

—

"Did you see that?!" Hobie jumps down from the stage, post show sweat clings to him. He runs towards you, hugging you, your feet lifting a few inches off the ground. "Love, did you see that?!"

"Yes! You were amazing!" For a second it's just you and Hobie, no crowd screaming for an encore, no nosy stares from strangers. You hug his neck tighter, nuzzling the crook of his neck.

Hobie puts you back down, cupping your jaw, it's now or never, he leans towards your lips, your eyes widening, but you really want to kiss him, he looks so good like this, happy and passionate, it wouldn't hurt to brush your lips against his, right?

You position your lips, closing them tightly so your teeth wouldn't accidentally poke him. Hobie crashes his lips to yours, but he feels you're not as eager as him, so he settles for a quick one.

He clearly doesn't care though, Hobie feels giddy, finally able to kiss you, he thinks you deserve a proper one, maybe when you're as eager as him. He bounces on the balls of his feet, unable to stay still.

You hold on to his waist, feeling dizzy with affection, you just wanna grab his face and kiss him deeply, but alas your insecurity wins this round.

You wipe at the bead of sweat on his forehead, careful of his piercings "you were truly amazing" your eyes are practically shapes like hearts as you look at his proud grin.

—

You're cooking in your modest kitchen, the savory smell wafting through Hobie's nose, he's been helping with setting up the table, since he insisted on coming in early.

"Where's the bowls at?" he searches your bottom cabinets.

"Here" you point at the top cabinet, conveniently placed just on top of the stove, and above your head.

"Excuse me, lovey" Hobie shields your head with his hand, his big hands covering the top of your head, so that the swinging cabinet doors wouldn't hit you.

"Oh thanks–" you pause, finding his face really close to yours. Oh shit

Warmth clings to your cheeks, breath hitching in your throat. He has no idea the effects he has on you (he definitely does though)

His eyes land on your lips, you squeak out, fumbling with an excuse "ah, gotta turn this over before it burns" quickly turning your head back towards the stove.

Hobie's left confused standing at your side, holding on to your bowls. Do you not want to kiss him or something? This wasn't the first time you turned away from him, do you not fancy him anymore? So what is it?

Instead of asking you these questions, he turns away, feeling dejected.

"Right" he clears his throat. You feel the shift in the air, you read his slumped posture, how his face is hiding (and failing) to hide his true emotion.

You breathe out, you can't continue to tiptoe around him, you need to tell him, especially when you see yourself loving him (in the very near future) call yourself crazy, but you see him loving you too.

You shut off the stove, reaching out towards the sleeve of his jumper. "Hobie, wait"

He turns towards you, questions swimming in his eyes.

You bite the bullet, (hopefully not his lips too) you cup his face gently, staring directly into his eyes, you wait for him to say yes. Hobie doesn't hesitate, he pulls you towards him by your waist, closing the small gap.

You brush your lips against his tentatively, he answers back by placing his lips against yours, unmoving, waiting for your next move. You close your eyes, finally deepening the kiss.

He chuckles softly at your eagerness, your lips move with his, Hobie feels your exposed skin on your hips where your shirt has ridden up, he stops his thumb right on the small of your back making small circles over the soft skin.

You completely lose yourself, Hobie gasps out when a sharp sting hits his lip. You quickly pull away "shit" you watch in horror as he touches his lips, leaving a drop of blood on his finger.

You push yourself off him, "oh fuck, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to"

"That was fuckin' hot" Hobie grabs your waist, pulling you back in.

"But–" you manage to gasp out before he collides his lips to yours. He holds the back of your head, you hold on to his jumper with a grip.

He kisses you most fervently, but you hold back, afraid to hurt him again.

Hobie reluctantly stops, "don't hold back" he whispers against your lips.

"But my teeth, I don't want to hurt you again"

"I can handle a little blood, is that why you avoided kissing me?"

"Yeah" you confess, eyes darting everywhere but his face.

"You're fucking adorable, did you know that?" He holds your chin, getting your attention "can I kiss you again?"

"You're really okay with it?"

"I'm more than okay with it," Hobie chuckles deeply.

You smile, a heavy weight lifting off your shoulders, "kiss?" You sigh out, great, he's given you a taste and now you're addicted. Good thing the cure's right in front of you, and he's more than willing to give it to you.

"Can't say no to that" he leans in, twin smiles on both of your lips.

ʕ⁠·⁠ᴥ⁠·⁠ʔ

Thank you for reading! Please consider reblogging if you enjoyed it ❤️

[dystychiphxbia]

☆ - Gym crush! pt. 3

this sucked but im so busy with uni aaa

gn!reader

characters: isagi, reo, nagi

Isagi Yoichi:

this guy is new to the gym

he catches your eye, mainly because his form is horrifying at first

where did bro learn how to squat...

you try your best to help him!!

and wow he learns super fast

like...when one is new to the gym they usually progress fast but he's on another level...

you are honestly impressed

and he's so nice too??

except when he has progressed enough to attempt a pr...yeah it's the same level of focusment as when he's playing football

and he can get angry at you for bothering him

but he will always apologize afterwards and say that he just really needed to focus

he really enjoys your company...he was a blushing mess when you first approached him and he still struggles to keep his composure when your hands accidentally touch

always spots for you but first you have to teach him how to do it

definitely talks about you to his friends

they try to get him to ask you out but he always says that you are just his gym crush, no way you return his feelings (but you do)

and your thighs...he WILL be looking at them.

Mikage Reo;

now let's be real...this guy has his own personal gym for sure

but let's say one of his friends drag him to a regular gym....for plot reasons

rich boy is shocked

but you catch his attention...you are so elegant...you dont fit in with all the gym bros

now the problem is he wants to talk to you...would it be weird? can he just invite you to his gym instead?

he overthinks too much

you notice him too, he looks out of place and his gym etiquette is lacking

he forgets to rerack his weights and you immediately go remind him

"oh...im used to not having to rerack them at my own private gym...thanks for the heads up."

nah not the entitled rich boy

but you are a bit jealous...especially when you are waiting for the leg press to be free

reo hates working out in a packed gym but he just cant get you out of his mind even couple days later

his friend says you come often during the peak times and always seem pissed off about having to wait between machines...

so, he returns to the gym once more with a plan

and there you are....waiting for a free squat rack

you were quite surprised to see him...why would a rich boy with his own gym return to a regular gym during peak hours?

once you start racking your weights, reo comes up to you asking how many sets you have left

"bro. i just started. you saw me." "well lemme squeeze in between ur sets yeah?"

you dont like sharing. but the gym is packed. so you give in.

reo keeps talking to you and you realize that he's actually nice

sure he's rich and entitled and has no clue about how the life of a poor commoner is, but you enjoy talking with him

and the way he throws in a few flirts, and makes sure to compliment you...you are a goner

you end up doing your entire routine with him, getting to know him more

you can't help but notice the way he looks at you...and your body

by the end of the workout, he drops the big question

"wanna ditch this gym and workout at mine?"

he promises you can workout for free...ofc you say yes cause that means you can save money

so you save money and he gets to see you almost everyday...an ideal situation!

honestly in the end you care more about seeing reo than saving money...

Nagi Seishiro;

nah who got this man to the gym

again...let's say a friend forced him to come along...for plot reasons...

he does not want to be there

like yes he has his goals that he wants to achieve, but a packed gym is just too much

you see him occupying a machine you need for like 10 mins just being on his phone so you go up to him

he's confused but lets you have the machine, he wasn't really using it anyway

honestly he seems kinda lost

like he doesnt actually know what to do. since he was already dragged to the gym, he should do something useful but he doesn't know what

and you notice...and kinda feel bad for him...he looks like a lost puppy

so!! you help him out!!

you dont know much about football but you help him figure out what he should do at the gym to improve :)

he actually appreciates your help. and you see him come to the gym more and more

this is nagi we are talking about so it's a miracle that he actually keeps coming back

but the thing is that he really wants to see you!! you motivate him

you always smile so brightly when you see him. he just can't get enough of that smile.

everything is less of a hassle with you around!

[f3mme-f4tale]

something wlw! with ellie! and valetines-esque!!

of course! my mind jumps directly to clairo :) specifically the song north (have i listened to the song twenty times today bc i have a crush? yes) & also (you) on my arm by leith ross ✧˖*°࿐

pairing: bestfriend!ellie x female reader word count: 1.3k warnings/tags: just fluff rly, mild suggestive content :3 summary: possible unrequited love (hehe), ellie is in love her with best friend, love confessions via literature, friends to lovers

Ellie was overwhelmed. She felt the emotions racing through her like a waterfall. She could practically imagine feeling her friend's warm hands on her thighs, and she was paralyzed with uncertainty. For the first time, she was unable to turn a blind eye because she was afraid of what it all meant. She was starting to have serious feelings for her friend.  It didn’t help that you would give her various homemade trinkets, such as the ceramic dish that you painted to look like her cat or knit beanies you just kept making.

So when you had handed Ellie a box wrapped in newspaper for her last birthday, dated from the day you met two years prior, that’s when Ellie knew she was a goner. As her fingers slid under the taped corner, careful not to rip the paper (to which you told her to hurry up), she felt like kissing you right then and there.

She imagined a hot summer day with you two together. Her hands wandering all over your body in an intimate moment as you both shared the summer heat together. The scent of sweat as she felt the hot touch of you. Ellie had always felt comfortable with her best friend, but now this was crossing the line. 

She wanted to take you to parties, adorned in a tight dress. She wanted to watch you curl your hair, hold your hand as you fell asleep beside each other. Ellie could picture pinching your cheeks, hearing you giggle in response. And god, did she love your laugh. Your eyebrows would furrow together, your head thrown back and hair a mess.

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, Ellie wanted to make something that showed deep appreciation and an understanding of just how much she cared for you. So when you had revealed to her two weeks ago one of your all-time favorite books – Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller – she was set.

Ellie spent the last few weeks learning how to bind a book, how to weave together an intricate cover, and how to make paper look old. She also spent days reading your favorite books, looking for the perfect moment to pull a quote from them, that she would then include in the card for the book. She spent so much time on the book that it was becoming an obsession, and she wasn't sure if she was ready to actually give it yet. 

Written on the inside cover, Ellie inscribed “In the darkness, two shadows, reaching through the hopeless, heavy dusk. Their hands meet, and light spills in a flood like a hundred golden urns pouring out of the sun” in black ink, trying her best to heart the I’s like you like her to. She hopes it's not too cheesy, too overbearing. 

Ellie’s face was smashed against the unmade bedspread, her vision impaired slightly, with her hand beginning to lose feeling. The pin pricks shot up and down her arm, the nerves screaming at her to move. The bed linens, which held your scent, were causing her heart to race. You were face to face; her eyes scanning your features. A stray piece of hair fell over your nose and moved slightly with each exhale. The other girl wanted desperately to reach out and push it behind your ear, and before she could stop herself, she was doing exactly that. 

She struggled to stay centered – the real word fading away. Her eyes took in the beautiful curve of her friend's hips, the soft skin of her arms, and the way she curled her fingers against her own cheek as she sighed in her sleepy daze. The scent of coconut shampoo tickled her nose, not wanting to leave your peaceful figure. As if on cue, your eyes slowly open, a yawn capturing your mouth. You gaze at her curiously, feeling her hand on your face. You flash her a toothy grin, making Ellie blush a deep crimson.

“Hi,” you whisper, the sunlight pouring in from the window behind you. It was pushed partly open, not a single car rumbled down the street and the birds were just beginning to wake. The soft rays frame your silhouette, the dewy grass outside cold and wet to the touch.

With early spring seedlings beginning to sprout and the quietness of the wind, when everything is silent, Ellie wishes she could stay here forever. She wishes for her familiar early morning, even when the world is anything but. Everything is so different in the morning, and Ellie is determined to soak in it all.

“Hey,” she voices back, removing her hand from the warmth of your cheek. You stick your tongue lip out, the pink of your lips making Ellie’s heart swell. Neither of you meant for her to stay the night, but at some point during your heated discussion over which Beatles member was the best, Ellie had fallen asleep and you didn’t have the heart to wake her. So now here you were, squashed and tangled together on your full sized mattress, a thin blanket encapsulating both of you. 

“Got somethin’ for you,” Ellie mumbles, sitting up and stretching her arms. Your eyes selfishly stare at the patch of skin that becomes visible when her shirt rises slightly, the band of her boxers tight against her hips. You drop your gaze quickly, hiding your guilt with the safety of the blanket. 

“Els, you didn’t have to get me anything,” you reason, not wanting her to feel pressured to get you anything. After all, you were just friends. Close friends, sure, but that didn’t warrant an exchanging of gifts on romantic holidays. However, Ellie was a lovestruck lesbian and you had already made her a small present last month. 

As Ellie handed you the leatherbound object, you stared at her in confusion, forcing yourself to sit up. You were awestruck by its perfection. The stitching, the color, the engravings. Nothing about it was off-putting or made it look like it was done hastily. It was meticulously crafted.

"This is incredible!" you said excitedly, looking up at Ellie with a wide grin on your face as she looked down nervously, fingers fiddling with the strings of her sweatpants. 

Your hands graze over the cover, opening it up to a quote written unmistakably by Ellie. As the last words of the quote fill your mind, you can feel yourself getting flustered. This was the last thing you expected, this level of detail surpassing the sketch you drew of Ellie playing guitar with Joel. You jump forward, wrapping Ellie in a tight hug, catching her off guard.

You’re sitting on your knees, arms encircled around Ellie’s front, her sitting before you and faltering before returning the gesture. The blanket falls into a pool around your bodies, Ellie noticing how the shorts you’re wearing hang loose and the soft fabric of your underwear peeks out. She has to force herself to look anywhere else, because of course you’re wearing the most lacey pair she's ever seen. You’re breathlessly reciting thank you's, which come out high pitched and jumbled, causing the other girl to chuckle. 

“Your body is against my own, our breaths mixing as one. I see no end to this feeling, just the warmth of your touch,” you whisper softly, burying your head into her neck. Ellie stiffens at this, suddenly very aware of how your fingertips are on her back and having to bite down on her tongue to keep from confessing every thought she’s ever had about you. And then suddenly you’re sitting back, inches from her face, looking at her so gently that Ellie swears she might just melt then and there. 

With a hand placed gingerly on the side of Ellie’s face, you bring your lips to hers, saying everything with that simple touch. 

[acciocriativity]

hii!! i saw ur ateez bf headcanon on san and mingi,, can u also do for seonghwa and yunho? i love it so much⊂⁠(⁠´⁠･⁠◡⁠･⁠⊂⁠ ⁠)⁠∘⁠˚⁠˳⁠° thank you in advance! have a hreat day!♡⁠(⁠˃͈⁠ ⁠દ⁠ ⁠˂͈⁠ ⁠༶⁠ ⁠)

Hey there, anon 👋 Thank you for your support, have a lovely day 💕

N/A: I just want to thank you all for the overwhelming amount of love San's and Mingi's headcanons received. The next are going to be Yunho and Wooyoung's version! I'll get to all of them eventually <3

Ateez as boyfriend's - PSH & KHJ headcanon

Yeosang and Jongho's version

Yunho and Wooyoung's version

San and Mingi's version

Ateez Masterlist

Park Seonghwa (박성화)

So, I'm not gonna lie, you had a long way to walk with this one.

It's a known fact Seonghwa is not the best at making friends, he has some insecurities, now, can you imagine if he has to talk to someone he has a crush on?

Of course he needed some Wooyoung magic to get you to talk to him, he was way too shy to approach you first.

There were too many possibilities, you could be in a relationship already or liking someone else already and he couldn't just ask out of nowhere. SO, he befriended you with the pure intention of being just your friend, he did want that, he wanted to close to you and to get to know you better.

But it was harder than he thought.

You two clicked right away, you have similar hobbies and taste for music, it was easy to talk to you, the real problem was he was falling way to fast and way too deep and didn't know that to do with himself.

As your boyfriend, things were so much easier. The heavy weight was lifted of his shoulders and he was able to relax around you.

He'd drop the whole "cool guy persona" he thought he needed to woo your heart over and be more of himself very fast tho, so don't worry about it.

Now, he is used to be the one taking care of everyone and he wholeheartedly doesn't expect anything in return, yet, here you are, taking as much care of him too.

He's mushy in your hands whenever you do it, even if it's subtle like fixing his hair or brushing something off his clothes. Acts of survice it's his main love language, after all.

Also if you cook for him ( or get delivery before he arrives home if you don't cook) he's a goner. Food is a love language on itself, one he is quite fluent.

He'll cook your favorites foods and you better bet he's buying a cook book full of recipes from your home country (he doesn't trust internet recipes to get everything perfect).

He's a very sweet lover in general, he just wants you to know every single day how much he appreciates you and your relationship with him.

Also one of the biggest with petnames!! I see him being more of a classic one, so 자기야 will be his favorite (an equivalent to honey), also darling, just because he'll like the sound of it.

I do believe a big fight will be rare for you both. Mostly because he rather straight up tell you if there's something bothering him and talk through it.

He hates yelling, big fights, hurtful words, it's his nightmare. He doesn't see himself as someone who does that nor he wants to do it.

If a heated discussion were to happen, he'll just hear you out first, although he wants to interrupt from time to time.

After you finish, he tries to calm both you and him first. These situations stress him and nothing good comes out of that.

Then, he'll tell his side and would take what you said in consideration to have an agreement.

If it's serious of course!

Because is it's not?? He's full on taking personally as if you just insulted his mother, but you just said you don't like his favorite flavor of pizza.

And I mean pacing around the room, hands on his hair, asking himself how he was able to date someone with a horrible taste for pizza and so on, until he can't anymore and starts to laugh.

I see him as someone really private in general, so although everyone close to him would know he is a relationship, he wouldn't expose too much of it to his parents nor to the boys in the beginning.

With time, he'll introduce you to both of his families little by little, until you are interacting with them like you always been there.

An important detail! He's still an extravert and he has a lot of energy to spend. It's a wild ride, but he'll appreciate if you match his energy and go with the flow.

Also if you also a lego person or a star wars person? He'll love to share his hobbies with you. Yes, that means movie marathon on his breaks and he'll let you build with him, he just loves you that much.

He rather stay home for safety, but when you two go out, he searches carefully for a quiet and private place, where you can enjoy each others company in peace.

Kim Hongjoong (김홍중)

This dude right here? No problem taking to you at all. He'll be the one starting everything in your relationship without even realizing it.

The funny thing is, he's the type to fall hard, but not fast.

He is the definition of friends to lovers. He may feel something, but he'd brush it off as a fleeing thing. It wasn't.

He was scared to say something because he didn't want to come off like those dudes that befriend a girl because they were interested and she wasn't available for whatever reason. He wasn't trying to wait for an opportunity "to attack" or something like that.

Still, he is not a patient person and he reached his limit quite fast, specially if you don't pick up the hints he's dropping.

I see him being a bit shyer as your boyfriend in the beginning, just because of the change in the dynamics between you two.

He was the one who initiated, yet he still had to remind himself that he WAS allowed to touch you more and express how much you mean to him now, since he was holding some of that in.

But omg, now that you two are together??? He's not holding anything in at this point. Again impacient man, but also because he's falling hard than he thought he would.

We know he's not that much into physical affection, so you waited for the green flag on his side for that and he did realize soon he enjoyed a lot more when it was with you, actually, he craved it.

I can see him sticking to a nickname of yours or the classic 자기야 to call you. I don't see him that into petnames.

He's love language is quality time and acts of service, which is quite ironic since he doesn't have as much time available as he would want to.

Still, he is a dedicated boyfriend. He works his schedule to give you at least 2 hours everyday, sometimes it's easier and you have more time together and other times it's harder and it's less time.

When he is at the studio, he likes to make little productivity sessions with you, so you are able to be close to him and still do your thing as he does his.

(A whole headcanon about this is coming soon!!)

Also, he is passionate about art, any kind of art, especially the one's he creates, so share that with you before anyone else it's his ultimate demonstration of love and trust.

He trusts you to give him honest opinions and takes, but also to be vulnerable with you, to show a more sensitive side of himself, because he knows you'd understand and listen.

We know he's not the greatest at taking care of himself, so if you choose to do that willingly, he's so so thankful.

He does feel bad to give you extra trouble, even he doesn't in your point of view. He tries to be better so you don't have to do as much as you do for him.

I'm so sorry but if you reach a point of really fighting, it's going to be bad.

Like, he usually is good at managing a heated discussion. He knows when he's getting really frustrated and most of time he kinda pauses everything and takes a break from you and the situation. He always comes back to finish it with a lighter heart.

But sometimes he won't do that for multiple reasons, stress, tiredness, etc. If you really want to fight because of something, ok, great, you're are fighting then. That's his mentality, because he's tired of holding back.

He's a stubborn mf, so he'd fight with every fiber of his body and he'd say it whatever it is like he's 100% in the right.

It's like a explosion really. Also he's the type to recall things and throw it in your face. I'm sorry, he's petty like that.

He could be the one apologizing first, but you have to approach him first. Again, stubborn. He'd think he's right, until you start to talk and then reality will hit him like a truck.

He'd make the effort to fix his wrongs as long as you're willing to do the same, so it would work out.

He would also waits longer than Seonghwa to tell more about you to his members and family. He wants to feel like he's 100% secure in your relationship to do that and that for him means time.

The boys would be little shits tho so he gives up little by little. They regret that, because now they'd have to listen Hongjoong talking about you all the time and he doesn't even realize it's too much, but when he does, he keeps going on purpose.

His perfect day it's you two together, although he rather a quiet and secure place like his or your home, or his studio if it's late in the night.

Reblogs are highly appreciated. Thank you for reading! (^o^)

[sofasoap]

Miss Sunshine

Pairing : Kyle “ Gaz” Garrick x F!reader

Summary: How Mr Sunshine met Miss Sunshine

Warning: Alcohol used. M theme. 

A/N: My first time attempting to write Gaz! I hope I did him justice. 

I decided to write Gaz route for my Mini MacTavish verse, I just love the photo of Elliot Knight big cute smile!  As always, Thanks to mother of my Mini MacTavish @saltofmercury for lending me the character “ Mini” from her story. <3 Go read her  “The Favorite MacTavish”  !

“masterlist” for other stories to this Mini MacTavish expanded verse.

Gaz knew he was a goner the first time he saw your photo. 

“That’s your sister?” “ Yep, my dear baby sister, I am so proud of her… finally graduated from her degree!..I gave her a surprise… “ Soap is famous for being a doting big brother. Most of the time he couldn’t shut up about his younger sister, affectionately nicknamed “Mini”, for being the youngest in the family.  Everyone on the base had to endure his non stop blabbering about how wonderful you've been everytime he comes back from holiday. 

In your cap and gown, arms wrapped around Soap’s muscular bicep and that brilliant wide smile on your face. That beautiful smile. 

“... Luckily she looks nothing like you.” Gaz mocked.  He knew he had to keep his lips tight. Keep his heart tight. 

Soap was also famous for being fiercely protective of his sister. The last brave soul who tried to ask Soap for your contact ended up scrambling away everytime Soap walked past him. Rumour has it that Soap didn’t go lightly on him during sparring and field training exercises. Other rumour said Soap tried to throw him into the dirt pond in the mock up battlefield beside the base with stone tied to his legs.

He doesn’t want to endure Soap’s wrath. Nor ruined the friendship or team dynamic. Besides, photos might be different to real life right?

He was right. You were even more beautiful in real life. Gaz introduced himself, holding out his hand.  Hoping they weren’t drench in sweat with all his nervousness. 

Was that a bit of hesitation he observed before you reach out and return the gesture? His heart dropped a bit.  But as quick as the hesitation appears, the smile reappeared on your face. Two of you became two peas in a pod. Sharing jokes and embarrassing stories of Soap. He sat on the sideline, cheering you on while you had a drinking contest with Ghost. The cocky smile, how he loves a woman with outright confidence.

You came back to sit beside him, clearly tipsy, after losing to Ghost. Oh how Ghost isn’t impressed one of the MacTavish nearly bested him. Gaz can feel Ghost’s eyes narrowing on both of you.

  “AH well, that was a pity! I lossssttt.” You giggled while leaning into Gaz’s arm.  Not wanting Soap to get the wrong idea, Gaz quickly pushed you upright, and grabbed you a glass of water from the counter.

“Well, that will still be a good story to tell. Not everyday you can boast about nearly besting the legendary Ghost. Even if it’s not on the battlefield. Here.” Pushing the glass into your hand, 

“But I am so full of liquid already…”

“You better drink this if you don’t want to get a massive hangover tomorrow.” You pouted, “You nag like Soap.” 

“Trust me, his nagging is nothing like our Captain’s nagging.”

Under his watchful glance, you force yourself to take a big gulp of water.

“... he should have a contest with my Ma then.”  You mumbled as you let out a little burp. “What about Ma?” Soap suddenly appeared in front of Gaz and you. He looked down, frowning at Gaz as he noticed how close you two were sitting. 

“I am telling Kyle he nags me just like you nag meeeeeee..” You jumped up and hugged your big brother before he could make another comment. “ Alright Mini, you are clearly drunk. Let’s go home.” Soap sighed. 

You huffed, letting your brother go before announcing you going to do a bit of “ ladies business” first before heading off.  Stabilising yourself as you grab onto Soap’s shoulder,  slowly waddling towards Ghost, giving him a surprise hug before moving towards the toilet.  “Well thanks for the fun boys, I will see you next time!” “There’s no next time if you're gonna get plastered like this.” Soap grumbled. 

Ghost mumbled in agreement. You turned to Price bidding him goodnight, in a surprising sober manner, and at last turning to Gaz, giving him a tight hug. Gaz could feel you slipping something into his pocket. Only after he returned back to his room did he have a look at what you put in there.

He can feel his cheek burning, written in clearly hurried manner, there was a phone number and a message:

“ I had fun tonight Mr Sunshine, message me sometime!”

Gaz, just like Soap, need more love! Any likes, comments and reblogs always appreciated :)

[chryblossomjjk]

bts fic recommendations | 03.14.23

→ hi friends! this is a little segment i do every tuesday (reviewsday get it, aren’t i funny, pls tell me how funny i am) where i read and review two-three fics. as a content creator, i know how big of a role other creators play in your growth, therefore, i want to do my part in making sure everyone gets the recognition they deserve! so with that being said, please check out the amazing fics listed below. make sure to like, reblog, and leave feedback! ♡ #reviewsday #kikirecs

banana clip - @vvh0adie (jhs x jjk x reader | angst, fluff, smut)

summary: nature is great at putting you to sleep. but man-made objects are just as good at waking you up with annoyance. and they’re even better at messing with your senses overall. but nature also made the two most wonderful men who you get to call your boyfriends, and they know just how to comfort you.

for one, let me just say this graphic goes crazy eep!!!

also let me just say, you would write a mean fantasy fic bc the scene setting in the first segment is so good. YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT WORLD BUILDING?? YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT WORLD BUILDING???? YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT MAKING THE SETTING REFLECT THE CHARACTER??? THIS IS IT!!

also i think the representation in the fic is so fucking important like- to have the reader be queer, chubby, and neurodivergent and then depicting in detail the things that come along with it is really great!! especially bc so many young adults read fanfic and thats such a complex time where you're juggling different parts of your identity and how they coexist!! just seriously thank you for writing this!!

"His large hands make haste of grabbing as much of your ass as he possibly can and giving it a good squeeze, oil slick painted nails leaving crescent indentation on your melanated skin. The succulent pain causes a moan to escape your lips. You always knew how to break them down, but he could play too."

oof when i tell u i read this paragraph multiple fucking times bc YOU PICKED OIL SLICK NAIL HOBI I COULD DESTROY MY FUCKING ROOM RN LMAO

“Ah, fuck, it’s times like these when I remember how much of a slut you are.”

dom hobi rattles the fucking peanut in my skull bc i know for a fact that man is the kinkest dom sex freak out here PLS!!! and the mentions of kook throughout made everything incredibly hotter like uGh!! and then i really love when sweet aftercare n cleaning up is added into fanfic after a dommy moment :') <3 overall, this was the hottest shit ever pls fucking read this yall NOW I SAY NOW LMAO!!

paired & pierced - @yoon-kooks (jjk x reader | college au, smut, fluff)

summary: when your professor assigns a collaborative midterm project, you’re paired up with jeon jungkook, the quiet grumpy smartass who keeps to himself and doesn’t fuck with popular kids like you. if you can win him over, he might give you a taste of the tatted and pierced body he’s carefully tucked away beneath those oversized hoodies.

so as soon as i saw that pairing i knew i was a goner!! but babe, this fic made me discover kinks i didn't even know i had like erm?? CAWK TATTOO??? OF A SNAKE???

I HAVE A NEW FETISH LMAO!!! thats like one of the hottest visuals i've ever read in fanfic and it will plague my daydreams from here on out!

where does one find a friend like oc who hooks you up with men like JUNG HOSEOK ?? she is so real for that (one is incredibly lonely despite having friends and never gets checked on by those around her unless they need something which i feel like is so relatable to so many people like i can totally tell why so many readers were drawn to this fic)!! and tim can catch this knuckle sandwich bc FUCK HIM >:(

also the newborn joke made me audibly crack up like the bleak dry humor is fucking hilarious to me-

and i just love their dynamic? like the way you wrote their dialogue is just so natural, which seems simple on the outside but as fic writer i understand that writing believable dialogue is so INSANELY difficult like you literally have to be an a1 writer to nail it as good as you did in this fic!! the talent is screaming!! same goes for the smut!! it was so fucking hot and everything kook said had my coochie wet pls!! i just love the switch for apathetic to complete sex god uGh! i love u n this saur fucking much!!

nature cafe - @virgodolls (jjk x reader | s2l)

oh my goodness i love this so much! like when you told me you were a new writer on here i was already extremely excited, but after reading this, my excitement for your future works has doubled, TRIPLED! you are bringing something new and refreshing to the table! like don't get me wrong i looooveee smut (legit all i write is smut-) but slice of life content is kind of hard to find on this platform! so reading this was such a welcomed change and i loved it wholeheartedly!

you really have a knack for writing in the perspective of the character, which is not an easy thing to do AT ALL! ITS SO DIFFICULT! AND YOU EXECUTED IT SO FLAWLESSY HERE AND ITS ONLY YOUR FIRST FIC? PLS THE TALENT IS UNREAL!!

i also really loved this oc! as someone who is also v sensitive and easily overwhelmed, i didn't find her annoying at all, just incredibly endearing and relatable! THIS JUNGKOOK IS ALSO SUCH BOYFRIEND MATERIAL AND SO SWEET LIKE IM TRYING TO PICK HIM UP TOO UM??? anyways, thank you for sharing your writing! its definitely so scary at first but you did it and you should be v proud of yourself!! i am proud of you!!

[dragonbma]

Reasons why I firmly believe Vos didn’t perish initially in the Sea Temple and instead survived (if even for a short while) inside: This is going to be a rant so bear with me…

The subtle hints in the game dialogue reveal a lot despite us never finding his inventory or concrete evidence suggesting how Vos died:

1) In the emporium when you first consult Jack about going to the Sea Temple, he mentions his friends Vos and Sammy were killed during the first adventure. He doesn’t explicitly state he saw them both die, just that “neither of them made it out alive.” (More on this in 2)

2) After freeing ‘Vos’ in the temple, Jack seems more excited than confused that his buddy is alive. In fact, Jack asks him no questions. (I can dismiss that as Jesse needing the dialogue options, but Jack’s lack of suspicion is either because Vos had an ambiguous death or he’s in denial that his friend is dead.) Jesse mentions to ‘Vos’ that “Jack said he saw you die.” But from all the game dialogue I’ve seen, Jack never says he saw that.

Full Quotes:

3) “Whatever’s left of Vos must be somewhere down here too…” -Jack after picking up Sammy’s inventory in the Sea Temple

He says “somewhere.” Almost as if he’s not even sure where his other friend died. Huh, kind of like he didn’t see it…

Yes I know that upon entering the guardian room of the temple, he says that everything is a blur, but after picking up one of your friend’s inventories, wouldn’t memories come flooding back? I feel like that would have been a crucial memory even if it was repressed.

Side note: It’s kind of weird he doesn’t go looking for Vos’ inventory. Idk if this is because he genuinely doesn’t know where it is or because he’s so distraught after finding Sammy’s inventory that he needs some time to think before he can handle seeing Vos’ as well.

4) “I thought you were a goner, man!” -Jack to ‘Vos’

Note how he says “thought.” What happened that made you think he died? Because seeing him die wouldn’t merely leave you thinking your friend died. You would be 100% sure-

Jack doesn’t say “I saw you die!” Or “How did you survive (insert whatever killed him)?”

5) “The real Vos would never have survived in my Sea Temple that long!” -Romeo post-reveal

HE. SAYS. “SURVIVED.” That’s a weird thing to say if Vos had really died initially along with Sammy.

He doesn’t say anything like: “You really thought I was your friend? After you watched him perish?” or something implying Jack saw it occur. Because knowing Romeo, he would absolutely jab at a blunder like that and belittle Jack for believing his disguise after seeing his friend die.

So, yeah. Our favorite sea temple adventurer lived in that death trap of a Brita filter for Admin knows how long until his eventual death by… starvation? Temple traps? Both? Maybe the guardians still killed him but later? My main guesses are he got trapped in the obsidian cages, or separated from Jack while they were escaping. Either way, Jack accidentally abandoned him after thinking he was killed. Such a shame we never find his inventory pile or anything because that would answer so many of my questions- Romeo give back Vos’ inventory challenge (impossible.) I know you have it.

Idk if we’ll ever know what actually happened but here’s my ten cents. ^^ I am so very mentally well as of now. Thank you for coming to my TellTalk /j

[Or another rant if you want:]

[bromfieldhall]

PYEWACKET - Chapter 1 -

(A Polin Fanfic)

Can also be read on AO3

Ch. 2, Ch. 3 & Ch. 4

Penelope is in love with Colin. Colin is in love with Penelope. Both think that their love is unrequited and don't want to act upon their feelings in case it ruins their friendship Enter, Pyewacket...

Bridgerton Modern AU

Pairing: Colin/Penelope

My submission for Polinween Week 2 - 'What's a Little Fur Between Friends'

Chapter 1 - Birthday Girl

It was on a warm, slightly humid, evening in late July that Penelope Featherington fell completely and utterly, head over heels, in love for the second time in her fairly young life.

He was a handsome boy, brimming with confidence and gorgeous green eyes that bordered on hypnotising. As soon as he’d sauntered in through the open back door of her modest, two-bedroom house, she’d known she was a goner.

She’d always loved cats.

Purring loudly, his black, glossy fur had tickled as he’d rubbed around her bare ankles before he’d jumped up and settled himself down on her old, comfy settee, like he’d lived there for years.

That had been a month ago. She’d put up notices, had him checked at the vets but with no microchip and nobody calling to claim him, he was now officially hers…or maybe she was officially his really.

Whatever way round it was, ‘Pyewacket’, as she’d named him, was here to stay.

“A pie-wotsit?” her friend, Eloise, had quipped with an incredulous laugh when Penelope had told her.

“It’s an old name for a witch’s familiar,” the redhead had explained. At Eloise’s blank look, she’d shrugged and added a little defensively, “Well, I like it.”

“It’s great, Pen, honestly,” Eloise had assured her with a grin. “I would’ve probably called him something boring like John, but Pye…”

“…wacket,” her friend had supplied helpfully when Eloise had trailed off with a frown.

“Yes, Pye, really suits him.”

Penelope had simply shook her head and smiled. She’d take that.

And now, to celebrate, she’d bought Pye a dark green collar with a little bell, a new catnip toy and a small tin of tuna. He ran over as soon as she opened the can and paced around her legs with the odd little mew as he waited impatiently for his treat. She placed his bowl on the stone tiled kitchen floor, then put the kettle on and herself a m ug of tea.

She’d just sat down with her steaming brew when her phone went off and she smiled when she saw the name that flashed up. No matter what continent he was on for work, he never forgot her birthday.

Ever.

“Hi Colin.” A loud rendition of ‘Happy Birthday to You’ came back at her and she laughed when he held the last ‘you’ for far longer than she thought was possible. “Thank you for reminding me I’m another year older, but sadly not any wiser,” she quipped when the singing had ended.

“Oh, that sounds rather ominous,” he replied, suddenly serious. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah. Of course,” she said in what she hoped was a dismissive tone.

Apparently, it wasn’t…

“Penelope, I know you. What’s happened? Is it your mum? What’s she said now?” he fired off, already getting angry on her behalf.

“No, it’s not mum - or Prudence or Philippa,” she added before her friend mentioned her sisters.

“Well, it’s something,” he prodded. Colin paused, but when Penelope didn’t speak, he asked flatly, “Is it Alan?”

Penelope sighed heavily and shook her head at his continuous propensity to get her boyfriend’s name wrong.

Well, ex-boyfriend now.

“It’s Alfie, Colin and yes, if you must know we broke up last week,” she told him unhappily.

“Switch to facetime,” he demanded suddenly.

“Colin…”

“Pen, switch to facetime. I want to see you so we can talk properly,” he told her firmly.

“I’m sure you have better things to do than listen to me having a moan,” she argued without any real heat, “and I thought you said were meant to be filming some secret lagoon today or something?”

“That’s later. So, I’m exactly where I want to be. Talking to you on facetime, Pen,” he retorted.

She tutted but pulled her phone away from her ear and saw that he had already made the call. She hit accept and his face came into view.

‘Well. Happy, fricking, birthday, to me,’ she thought, drinking in the sight of him.

From his chestnut brown hair – that was slightly too long and curling up at the ends in a way that made her fingers itch to reach through the screen and just tug – to his ridiculously deep blue eyes, lightly stubbled chin and golden tan.

He looked gorgeous…and of course he was shirtless.

Her gaze dropped briefly to his chest, skittering over the liberal covering of hair there. Dear God, if he only knew what that did to her, he’d probably wear a polo neck for the rest of his life.

They were only friends, after all. Something that she constantly had to remind herself of when her mind – or gaze – wandered off to their own little fantasies. It didn’t matter that she’d been in love with him for forever.

Well, years, anyway.

And honestly, she’d long since made peace with her unrequited feelings in regards to Colin Bridgerton.

Mostly.

He’d been out of the country for a couple of months now. Said he’d had an idea for a new book and had left with barely a few days notice.

She understood. Like him, she was a writer. Romance novels that sold surprisingly well, considering the lack of any real lasting relationships in her personal life to draw upon. Still, her books had ensured her bank balance was very healthy and when the writing bug bit, she knew you had to go with it, wherever it took you.

For Colin, that just happened to be the other side of the world more often than not. New places to see, new experiences to catalogue. He thrived on the adventure and it clearly showed…if his sun-kissed beach body was anything to go by. Not an ounce of fat anywhere from what she could see…

“So,” he said, drawing her attention back to their conversation. He had a small, sympathetic smile on his face and tilted his head slightly as he continued, “do you want to tell me what happened?”

Not really.

She certainly wasn’t going to tell him that Alfie had become very suspicious of her feelings for Colin and was oddly convinced that the love of her life also felt something back.

 She’d quickly brushed that notion off as ridiculous but then, with impeccable timing, several messages had suddenly pinged through on her phone from Colin. It was merely a rundown of his day with some photos of things he thought she might like to see. For her, that was normal. For Alfie, not so much it seemed…not for a long while.

In the end, listening to his reasoning, even she had to begrudgingly admit that, from the outside, it had kind of undermined her argument.

And, to top it all off, Pye hadn’t liked him. Not one little bit.

“There’s nothing to tell. It just didn’t work out and he…we decided it would be better to end it,” she finally replied with a shrug.

Colin’s eyes narrowed as he assessed the truth of her words. He didn’t quite believe her but, at the same time, she didn’t seem particularly upset, so he reluctantly decided not to push the reasons why. He was just unaccountably pleased that the idiot was gone.

“Well, having never spoken to the guy, Pen, I can safely say that he’s a fool,” he told her wryly. He was rewarded with her laugh and grinned. “So, what are your plans for your birthday? Going out somewhere nice tonight?” he asked, changing the subject.

“No, not now. Alfie was taking me out for dinner, but I’m going to get a pizza in and open a bottle of wine instead,” she replied with a smile.

“Sounds like that that’ll be a far more interesting night,” he commented with a chuckle. “Is Eloise joining you? How is she? I haven’t spoken to her recently.”

“She’s good, but I haven’t told her about Alfie and me yet because she’d already made plans with Phillip for this evening,” she explained with a sigh. “I know she’d cancel on him just because it’s my birthday and I don’t want her to. He’s a nice guy and I think she really likes him.”

��Poor chap,” he commiserated with a huff of laughter. He loved his sister but she could be…difficult at times. 

“She’s not that bad,” Penelope rebuked lightly.

Colin merely raised his eyebrows at that and they both shared a laugh.

“So, since El is busy, what about one of your other friends?” he asked, bringing the conversation back around to her. “You can’t be alone on your birthday, Pen.”

“Oh, I’m fine. It’s just another day at my age and, anyway, who says I’m going to be alone? I’ll have you know I’ll be spending the evening with a very handsome fellow,” she told him rather smugly.

On the other end of the call, Colin’s hand tightened around his phone as felt his stomach drop – and then churn unpleasantly. She’d met someone else already?

“Well, that was rather quick,” he muttered to himself.

“What was that?”

Colin’s eyes widened as he realised he’d spoken louder than he’d imagined and felt heat start to warm his cheeks.

She was staring at him with an expression that told him she wasn’t quite sure that she’d heard, what she thought she’d heard.

“Oh, uh, nothing, I just said that...um…I’m sure you could have your pick,” he covered relatively smoothly and even managed to summon a charming smile.

At least, he hoped it was charming because it felt like the skin on his face was so taut it might actually tear apart if he tried to force his mouth any wider.

Penelope regarded him for a couple of seconds longer then suddenly giggled.

“I’m pretty certain he picked me.” She glanced away for a moment then looked back at him happily and added, “Hang on, he’s just finished eating. I’ll go get him and introduce you.”

What?

He was there?

All this time?

Colin’s heart stuttered along with his words. In the end all he managed to get out was an odd, strangulated sound that really had more to do with the fact that Penelope had leaned forward to prop up her phone against something on the table. It had afforded him with such an appealing view of her ample chest that he’d been rendered momentarily speechless.

Good Lord, if she knew just how much she affected him, she’d be horrified. Rightly so. Friends didn’t ogle friends – even if one the friends desperately wished they could be more.

The sound of footsteps made him focus back on the screen. She was returning with her new…whatever. Shaking himself mentally, he tried to adopt a neutral expression so that he could at least appear to seem unbothered by this unexpected turn of events.

“Here he is,” Penelope gushed as she came back into view. She sat down on the settee with a big bundle of fur in her arms and turned him so that Colin could see his face. “Meet Pyewacket, the new addition to the Featherington household.”

Oh.

A cat.

If he hadn’t already realised awhile ago that he was in love with his friend, the ridiculous amount of relief that flooded through his system in that single moment would’ve been a huge wake-up call. Even for him.

He watched as Penelope stroked him, the cats back arching under her ministrations. Pyewacket was clearly enjoying all the attention and purred loudly as she scratched lightly behind first one ear, then the other.

Colin smiled a little at the obvious tenderness on her face as she fussed her new pet. He’d be a very happy man indeed if she ever looked at him like that.

Suddenly, Pye stopped purring and stared unwaveringly into the camera, directly at Colin. He wasn’t sure if he’d made a noise or had moved slightly, but whatever the reason, he’d definitely grabbed the cat’s attention and as he stared back, he was taken with how very green his eyes were…and how they seemed to pierce straight into his soul.

It was a distinctly unnerving feeling that had him clear his throat a little in discomfort. He tried to look away but couldn’t. Something held him captive, like an invisible hold and then, one blink, and it was gone.

Pye turned away and after circling in Penelope’s lap a couple of times, he settled down, seemingly falling into an instant sleep.

“Well,” Colin began, still trying to get his head around what had just happened, “he’s a handsome devil.” He forced a grin. “Great name. Witch’s familiar. Suits him.”

Penelope beamed and he relaxed a little.

“I guess that’s my outfit sorted for the Halloween party this year then,” she commented with a chuckle.

“Oh, you’re going as a sexy witch, huh?” he teased, his grin easier now. “Good thing I’ll be back in time. I very much look forward to seeing that costume on the night.”

Her eyes widened as a delicate blush stained her cheeks and he belatedly wondered if he’d overstepped - but needn’t have worried. She was apparently more surprised about him returning.

“You’re coming? Really? But…I thought you said we wouldn’t see you until Christmas?” she exclaimed in confusion.

“I did, but I’ve actually made much better progress than I thought I would, so I should only be gone a few more weeks,” he explained, keeping it vague.

In truth, he’d only just decided to return and it was primarily because her prat of a boyfriend was no longer around.

On screen her expression softened as she smiled.

“That news is probably the best present I could’ve had for my birthday,” she said sincerely. “It’ll be good to have you home again, Colin.”

Home.

Where the heart is...and his heart, he now knew, had always been hers.

“Pen…”

Before he could say anything more, there was a loud knock on his hotel room door.

“I’ll go and let you get that,” she said, picking up her phone.

He sighed and nodded. He wasn’t really sure what he’d been about to say anyway. Although the urge to blurt out his feelings had been strong, there was no way he was going to make that kind of declaration over a bloody facetime call. Penelope deserved so much better than that.

“I’ll be in touch,” he assured her instead, “and let me know when your real present turns up. I think you might like it.”

“Present? What present?” she asked perplexed. “Colin?”

“Happy birthday, Pen.”

Grinning, he gave her a wink and a little wave, then ended the call.

“Infuriating man,” she muttered as she tossed the phone down beside her on the settee.

Pye lifted his head and mewed softly as if in agreement.

“Exactly!” she replied with a curt nod.

Absently, she started to stroke his fur, her mind running over and over the unexpected phone call. After a few moments she let out a groan of frustration and moved Pye gently off her lap so that she could stand. She refused to waste any more time torturing herself by reading anything into Colin’s meaningless flirtations. He probably didn’t even realise he was doing it at this point. They’d known each other for so long it was second nature for him.

Picking up her now lukewarm mug of tea, she took it over to the sink and tipped it away. Flicking the switch on the kettle, she leaned back against the counter and waited for it to boil to make a fresh cup.

She’d just added a dash of milk when her doorbell rang. Answering the door, the postman handed over a small parcel that needed her signature. She duly complied and walked back into the kitchen where she placed the box on the counter.

She could see it was from Colin and a dart of anticipation rose within her as she carefully opened the parcel. After putting most of the packaging to one side, she found a note and a small ornament wrapped in tissue.

She opened the note and read it quickly.

‘For your birthday, Pen. I saw this and knew it belonged with you. Love Colin x’

Intrigued, she pulled off the tissue and stared at the beautifully carved wooden figurine in amazement.

It was of a cat. Seated with its tail curled around its paws. Black, of course, with deep green, painted eyes.

She let out a delighted laugh. What were the odds? He couldn’t have known about Pye because she knew that he hadn’t been in touch with any of his siblings recently. In fact, she was the one that tended to update them as Colin often spoke to her because she was always so interested in what he was doing.

“Look, it’s you!” she declared, turning to show Pye the ornament.

He was sat on one of the breakfast stools and eyed the figure a moment before leaning forward and giving it a cursory sniff. He pulled back and looked at her then let out a little chirrup.

“I agree, it is beautiful.”

Still giggling to herself over the uncanny coincidence, she went and got her phone from where it lay on the couch and quickly typed out a thank you message to Colin. He replied almost immediately saying she was welcome and that he was looking forward to seeing her in a few weeks.

Penelope sighed and sat down. Seeing her. Not simply looking forward to coming home, but to seeing her. And so was she. Looking forward to seeing him. More than she knew she should allow herself too really. She didn’t want get her hopes up anymore.

As if sensing her sudden sombre mood, Pyewacket jumped up beside her and reached out a paw, gently touching her arm. She gave him a scratch on the head and smiled a little sadly.

“Oh, Pye, all these years and I’m still such a fool for him,” she muttered with a shake of her head. “As if this time will be any different from all the other times he’s come home, right?”

He mewed a response and she turned her head to look at him in amazement. It was the damndest thing but she could have sworn that it sounded like, ‘yes’.

She suddenly laughed at the absurdity of the notion and gave him a little pat.

“Come on, let’s find your toy and have a play,” she said, dropping a kiss on the top of his silky head.

Pye regarded her a moment as she went off, then trailed after her, tail upright, the tip twitching slightly.

Humans were a funny lot, he decided. But he liked this one and he knew the other one did too. A lot.

And come All Hallow’s Eve, Pye was determined that she would know just how much the other one did as well.

[lmskitty]

Helloooow From the anime ask game, 12, 17 and 29 !!

Have a nice day <3

Hello!!!

12. anime that should get more attention from others

My Love Story!! It's a perfect romance that defies expectations and is SO funny.

17. biggest anime crush

Id love to be cool about it but I can't. It's Gojo. We all know it, the thirst is real. I found him hilarious before and then the moment I got hit with the "you cryin?" I was a goner. He's so pretty and I wanna see Geto rail him and make him cry through his brattiness. I'm a simple woman, I have simple needs.

29. anime that deserves another season

YURI

ON

ICE

I will take this pain to my grave we were ROBBED of more content.

[shootingstarpilot]

Fic Writer 20 Questions

Thanks for the tag, @merlyn-bane!

1.) How many works do you have on ao3?

Eight!

2.) What's your ao3 word count?

217,911

3.) What fandoms do you write for?

*sobbing* Star Wars, my beloved. The brainrot is real; I am consumed. When I was still on FF.net, though, I had stuff up in Harry Potter and How to Train Your Dragon.

4.) What are your top five fics by kudos?

back then, i was dauntless

how to bring him home

if i don't make it back (from where i've gone)

though some would harm you

like lightning changing hands

5.) Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I absolutely do! I feel bad because I know I've gotten some lovely comments on chapters that aren't the most recent one, and those tend to get lost in the inbox, but I promise I'm working on it- if you get a response from a comment you left a year and a half ago, don't hold it against me 😅

I do it because I want so badly to build community here! I love getting comments from people, responding to something with a wee hint of a tease because I'm AWFUL and then getting a keysmash of a response and then exchanging snippets in the comments, truly, it fills me with delight- and I've met some absolutely wonderful people who I got introduced to by responding to comments-

Anyway. Community. That.

6.) What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Oh. Hm. Hm.

I... guess it would have to be though some would harm you? Although I'm not sure if I feel confident in that designation, because it's very much part of a multi-work series. And I'm too much of a sucker for happy endings to write a stand-alone fic that doesn't have one, I think.

7.) What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Oh, neural plasticity, for sure! Short and sweet <3

8.) Do you get hate on fics?

A bit. I can brush off the "actually the Jedi were the real monsters" assholes easily enough, but honestly, the comments that hit the hardest are the ones that clearly come from people who think they're offering ✨constructive criticism.✨ Not only because I didn't ask for it, but also because saying my work is "fatiguing" or "I'm sure there's a decent story here, but it's being buried under what you're trying to do with it-" there's nothing constructive there.

Side note: the person who left that last comment deleted it about half an hour later, because when I went to reply, it had vanished from my inbox. I don't know if they did that because they didn't want me to be able to reply, or if they realized that what they said was unhelpful and mean, but if they ever happen to see this-

I still got the email, prick.

9.) Do you write smut? If so what kind?

Write? No, I haven't quite worked up the panache to try. Reading, on the other hand...

10.) Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

I do have snippets of one crossover that I actually posted in an anonymous collection, ha- an old BBC Merlin/ Good Omens/ Supernatural fic that I dug out of my old documents. Other than that, no- unless you count the Prequels and the Clone Wars as different enough to qualify as a crossover.

11.) Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of!

12.) Have you ever had a fic translated?

Also not that I know of- very much open to it, though!

13.) Have you ever cowritten a fic before?

Since I don't think taking drabbles in tumblr chats to ridiculous lengths counts, I'd have to say no- I'd like to, though!

14.) What's your all time favorite ship?

Codywan. Fiercely, unwaveringly Codywan.

Just to reinforce this- 292 of my bookmarks consist of Cody/Obi-Wan. The next most common romantic pairing (Aziraphale/Crowley) has less than half that, at 121.

I'm a goner, and I can't even bring myself to regret it.

15.) What's a WIP you'd like to finish, but doubt you ever will?

OKAY SO I've written snippets of a modern AU focusing on Helix, Needle and Stitch, and I'm totally gonna take this opportunity to rage about it. I'm probably never gonna finish it, but it gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling, so, hey- what else is fic for, really, if not for indulging yourself?

At first, it's just Needle and Stitch. It's just been the two of them, for as long as Stitch can remember. Needle's only a few years older than him, but he's raised him, kept him in school, kept a roof over their heads and food on the table-

Food on Stitch's plate, at least.

Then, one night, Needle does not come home.

A hit-and-run, the nurse tells him, although the words will not trickle through until much later. A coma.

He will not, they say patiently, come home for some time.

(There is so much that needs doing.)

Helix, meanwhile, is studying physical therapy at the local community college and working part-time at his brother Ace's bakery.

It's during one of these shifts that a skinny little twerp comes in and hands him a job application.

(Rent and bills and Needle Needle Needle-)

It doesn't take Helix long to realize something is... off.

Ace tells him not to push it, but-

The kid's a good worker. Great, as a matter of fact. He's never late. Stays past closing, too, if they've had a rush. He tells Helix about his brother and nothing else.

(His brother hasn't come to visit.)

Everything that's not sold at the end of the day gets packaged up and given out. They only toss in the dumpster what's really, truly inedible- stuff that got dropped in the kitchen, scraps left over from customers-

He thinks it's raccoons, at first, until he peers in and sees Stitch flatten himself against a heap of bags in the corner.

They package up leftovers for him, after that. A bit more than leftovers, maybe. Ace sets aside sandwiches. Helix buys him a thermos and tells him it's been in the lost and found for over a year. They make sure he eats.

(Needle's getting transferred out of the ICU.)

Stitch is trying. He's doing everything he can, and more besides. But Needle's life is too expensive and he's buckling under the weight.

(He hasn't even grieved. Not really. No room. No time.)

Eventually, something has to give.

He does.

(He hadn't expected someone to be there to catch him.)

Featuring:

Helix stumbling into adopting first one, then two idiot kids

Ace being a supportive brother

Needle finding his way home

Mace Windu as Needle's (unfairly attractive, Helix thinks) neurologist

Obi-Wan as a hospital social worker who gets assigned Needle's file

Cody as Obi-Wan's husband, Helix's cousin, and children's book author (Stitch's favorite)

(listen I am WEAK for author!Cody, truly)

(Helix was totally the one who got them together and he regrets it every day of his life.)

Sheev Palpatine as the epitome of the evil of the American healthcare system

The Melidaan crew running a long-term, non-profit care facility that offers both in-patient and out-patient rehab services

16.) What are your writing strengths?

(I'VE PUT TOO MUCH THOUGHT INTO THIS. SHIT.)

17.) What are your writing weaknesses?

I am, apparently, really good at writing breakdowns. >:3

18.) Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

Dialogue does not come easily to me. I have to work a bit to hit my stride. But I think it turns out well enough!

Hm. Coming from a purely technical perspective here, I think the reader should be able to understand everything that's spoken in a fic. If a character says something in another language, then I think the best way to convey that is, "X muttered something Y didn't catch," or, if the listener recognizes that it's at least in another language, "X muttered something in French."

If the reader should understand it, then something along the lines of: "'I knew we shouldn't have trusted him,' X muttered in French."

If the POV character doesn't understand the language, it doesn't make sense to provide the reader with a perfect transliteration of what the other character is saying. The character wouldn't have that knowledge. It can really take me out of the fic when two characters suddenly start conversing in written-out sentences in another language, and I have to scroll all the way down to the footnotes for translations.

19.) First fandom you wrote for?

But then again, that's just my opinion- I'm sure others have their own thoughts on this!

20.) Favorite fic you've ever written?

Harry Potter.

Hell, I have to say like lightning changing hands, if only because whatever fic I'm writing at the moment is my favorite. It's the act of creation that does it for me!

(Also because it's such a good opportunity to explore so many relationship dynamics.)

No-pressure tags for @jedi-enthusiast, @themonopolyhat, @shadow-pixelle, and @foreverchangingfandomsao3!