#thirteen years worth of nothing

[hitorimaron]

thirteen years

[hotchfiles]

— help me hold onto you • aaron hotchner

fem!reader, unprotected vaginal sex, a bit of angst.

      He knew he would be in trouble whenever he turned those keys. What he wasn’t expecting was how big the trouble would be. He had no idea he would open the door to three bags full of clothes and other things he left at your place as the months passed, waiting for him.

      “Darling? What–What are these?” He asks even though he knows the answer, hoping you want to at least talk about it before making any harsh decisions. You’ve been in a relationship for almost a year now and it works. It always worked.

      Normally you wouldn’t drink before an argument, still when he gets to the kitchen he sees you calmly sipping on a tall glass of wine, fingers tapping on the table, hair up, face clean but red, you were in your pajamas already, nothing like you probably looked hours before.

      “What’s the only thing I asked of you, Aaron?” You don’t move, don’t glance up at him, eyes focused solely on how the purplish red liquid moved in your glass, taking a big sip right after.

      Aaron sighs in frustration, he didn’t want this to become a fight. He was so tired. “I know, I’m sorry–”

      “Answer the question, please.”

      “Don’t make promises I can’t keep.” He takes his tie off quickly, suddenly feeling suffocated by the fabric surrounding his neck. That’s why your relationship worked, you knew he was busy and his schedule was unpredictable, so very early on you accepted it as it was, saying you wouldn’t be mad at him as long as he didn’t break any promises. If you’re not sure, don’t promise me you will be able to make it.

      First months he wouldn’t promise you anything, too afraid to break it, to disappoint you.

      He watches as you take the wine in a mouthful and refills the glass, the bottle now empty and starts getting frustrated, you’re a loud drunk and you’re surely already getting tipsy.

      This was the first time he slipped up, it didn’t need to be such a big deal, it didn’t avail to having his things right at the door as if he was getting kicked out. All the other times he promised he could take time off, he did it. Just–Teens were getting kidnapped, the team needed him.

      “We saved two girls today.” Low blow. But it was true, he wasn’t back in time because of that, he got on the jet instead of staying back to do that. To save two thirteen year old girls. Not some futile reason. It had to count for something.

      “I’m proud of you for that, Aaron. Are you proud of me? For the promotion we were supposed to celebrate with my boss? Or are our accomplishments only worth it when it’s about saving someone?” You raise your voice only slightly, the alcohol from the sweet wine getting to you slowly and then all at once.

      You always tried your best to keep your voice down when arguing with him, simply because he never raised his, and it could be an endearing feature if it didn’t look like he did it to look like the rational one, the right one.

      “That’s not what i said–”

      “I know what you said. You want to make the fact you let me down okay because you did a wonderful thing someplace else. That’s not how it works.” You open the second bottle of wine of the night, feeling his eyes on your back. “I want you to leave.”

      “You know this is ridiculous, you’re acting like a child.” Sore spot. You were a few years younger and that had never been a problem. But he couldn’t go back now, he could see the anger darkening your eyes, your knuckles turning white by the strength you’re using to grip on the edge of the table.

      “How am I a child?” You begin slowly and keeping your voice down, you get up finally from the chair you had been sitting, facing him directly, his instincts make him try to touch your arms, but you dodge it quickly. “We had an agreement. You broke it. Am I a child for not giving you permission to hurt me again?”

      He knows you’re about to snap, your chest coming up and down in rapid breaths, and he doesn’t feel particularly in the right, he knows he screwed up and he’s sorry, but your reaction is out of proportion to him, an exaggeration made to make him feel more guilty than he already does. “I said you’re acting like a child. The one time things don’t go your way and you’re packing me out?” Aaron almost feels the sharpness of a slap but he’s quick enough to grab your wrist. “See? proving my point.”

      “How many times do I have to accept you screwing up so I can be seen as mature?” You yank your arm out of his grip and go back to your drink, “Same times as Haley? How many times did she forgive you so you could go around and do it all again?”

      Lower blow.

      Hotch feels it right in his core and he’s angry at you for bringing up but more so angry at himself because you were right. Still, it is anger nonetheless that guides his next actions, quickly and firmly walking up to you, caging you against the table in sudden movements.

      Your breath hitches from the surprise, and your attempt to move is stopped by his roughed hands on your chin, firm but never close to hurting. “I’m not leaving.” You wince, not in fear of him, but of how easy he can make your mind go blank when he’s that close.

      His eyes go from your eyes to your lips, he notices your failed attempt to conceal the way you licked your lips, he glances at your chest, heavy breathing under your thin pajama shirt, nipples hardening against the fabric.

      Damn you for choosing wine.

      Hotch reads your mind almost, but his smirk doesn’t last too long displayed on his lips, your hands pulling him by the neck, a low groan followed by a “Fuck this” leaving your wine tasting lips just mere seconds before gluing to his.

      Eager to get your forgiveness, he is quick to follow your lead, both hands sneaking under your clothes, one down the waistband of your shorts, grabbing hard on the flesh of your ass, the other drawing soft circles on your nipple.

      You melt into the kiss, his lips, his hands, his scent, him. And you have no time to feel bad about it, pulled up to sit on the table, legs around his waist, you can feel how hard he is against your wetness.

      A pained whimper leaves his lips when you use the new position to grind onto him, needing something, anything against your clit at this point.

      Aaron sinks his teeth into your bottom lip to get your full attention, earning a loud moan in response, his hands travel your thighs and you pull his shirt out his pants so you can feel his skin under your fingertips, not bothering to unbutton them and working with what you got under it.

      His lips travel your neck and your collarbone, “I love you, so, so much”. His declaration comes in between kisses and the sucking of your skin, “Please don’t make me leave after this.” It comes in a whisper now, but he doesn’t stop, pushing your shorts down and sliding it down till it drops to the floor with your help.

      “Just shut up and take your pants off.”

      “You know I can only do one of those.” It makes you laugh and you sink your nails to the bit of fat on his side, the tiniest bit of annoyance at how easy he had you in the palm of his hand and how he didn’t even seem to know it truly.

      On the edge of the table sliding his hard cock into your folds was an easy feat, pants, shoes and his boxers long gone, his socks stayed on almost making him lose balance as he feels just how wet you are. He drops his head, forehead on your shoulder

      “Fuck—Oh my god, you are so wet, you’re always so wet for me.” It isn’t arrogant, it’s appreciative almost, you move his head so you can look at him, hot, sweaty already, cheeks so red as his eyes were glassy, the mix of lust and love and regret clear in his dark caramel irises.

      You kiss him once more, sweet, forgiving and he takes this as his sign to continue, pushing you down the table, Hotch holds your thighs for support, plunging his cock into your wet cunt with ease, bottoming out at the first thrust. You enjoyed the stretching pain and you never had the patience to wait.

      Lower lips between your teeth, you slide one of your hands to your clit, two fingers working your arousal, quickly replaced by Aaron’s calloused fingers. You arch your back and moan loudly, “Fuck, yes, and move.”

      It feels like an order and for Hotch it is one, he is delighted to oblige, maintaining the same finger moves on your clit and beginning to fuck your pussy, strong, firm and precise at first.

      “Honey, fuck—Please…” His begging is meant to warn you that if you keep clenching around him he won’t be able to control himself, you almost don’t listen, fingers working on your own nipples enjoying the high he is always able to get you in.

      “Aaron—I’m… Fuck, don’t stop, you’re so good.”

      The praising, the guidance, the reassurance, it makes the moans leaving his lips seem like whining, he enjoys it too much.

      “Yeah? Like this?” The way your hands try to grab him is enough answer to him, along with how tight your pussy is throbbing against him, you’re almost there, he can feel it.

      His movements on your clit get sloppier, the sight and sound of your wetness against his digits making him go insane. Your back arches once more and your whole body begin to squirm, the tight coil in your lower belly finally ripping, “Yes, fuck—“ You’re breathless, weak, but you still have it in you to edge him in, “Aaron, baby, cum for me, please.”

      He would be crazy to do anything but, so quickly you ask him and his hands are hoisting both your legs over his shoulders, getting a new, deeper position, it doesn’t take long for you to feel him filling you up, “I can’t live without you, you’re so, so good for me” His lasts broken words before letting himself go.

      You don’t move and neither does he, his dick softening inside you, his hands caging you in the table and his head dropped to his chest, both just trying to recover.

      “Aaron?”

      “Yes, sweetheart?”

      “You can stay.” He looks at you with nothing but love and happiness and gratitude, “But if you screw up again do not try fucking me into forgiving you, I’ll chop your dick off.”

      “You like it too much to do that.” His grin is sincere, feeling finally free to joke around you, he gets out of you and you whine at the loss. “See?”

      “Bite me.”

      “Gladly.”

[sicko-central]

also speaking of birthdays and because this is overshare.com i haven’t celebrated mine since i was like 13 maybe? and it was because i was “waiting to have something worth celebrating” and i still don’t celebrate it because it’s not like anything has gotten better and why start now but it’s like so so funny that my parents were like well okay drama queen 🙄 el oh el

[batmanisagatewaydrug]

hi sex witch,

how can I ethically continue to be a slut if i have hpv? I have the gardasil-9 vaccine and I've never had any symptoms (and i was told its not the strains that cause cervical cancer), but knowing that I could potentially continue to spread it even if i have safer sex and let everyone I hook up with give informed consent - what if im hooking up with people with penises who can't be tested and could then spread it further? the only person I feel comfortable sleeping with anymore is the person ive been hooking up with for 2 years who probably gave it to me, but i don't really like that person outside of sex and I want to hook up with people i like more. but I don't feel comfortable hooking up with multiple people because I might spread it.

any words of wisdom?

hi anon,

the use of the word "ethically" is so interesting here. personally I don't see anything unethical about being sexually active as a person with HPV, especially given that alternative seems to be penning up people with STIs and denying them the experience of sexual intimacy. in addition to being cruel this would be fairly impractical, as the CDC estimates that something like 85% of sexually active people will be infected with HPV in their lifetime - although those infections are rarely permanent, as around 90% of cases clear up on their own within two years, so the pen would also have a hell of a revolving door.

the vast majority of HPV infections do absolutely fuck all to the people infected; after the strains that cause cervical cancer (which you don't have), the next worst effect is likely to be uncomfortable but thoroughly nonfatal and utterly treatable genital warts. it's worth noting that even this is unlikely; there are nearly 200 known strains of HPV and only two are known to cause genital warts (as opposed to the thirteen that can cause cancer).

even if you do - what, that's one extra nugget of information to slip into conversations prefacing future sexual encounters? "I have HPV, it's not really a big deal, there's a very slim chance you MIGHT develop genital warts in a few months but probably not, would you still like to have sex?" and that's assuming, again, you have a warts strain; if not, the conversation goes more like "I have HPV, it does absolutely nothing and will probably go away on its own even if you get it. would you still like to have sex?"

you're not a toxic waste dump; you're a human being with an incredibly common infection. you can ethically be a slut that same way you did before, by talking honestly with your partners and taking their needs into account alongside your own. fundamentally not a single thing has changed about you as a person.

[fandom-lover-extra]

DP X DC Prompt: Conspiracy Cryptids - Soultouch

Soulmate bonds were looked upon as a blessing. For they were rare and few and far between.

With the added presence of extraterrestrial lifeforms, there was a guarantee that it made it even more difficult to find any potential Soulmate that someone might have. 

And of course, not all Soulmate bonds were the same, most differing in variety. The point being, it was very difficult to find one's soulmate if one did have them. 

However, the media stated that it was always worth the effort. Soulmate bonds always worked out, either that be platonically or romantically, soulmates would be with each other for life.

So, what exactly did one do if their soulmate kept dying over and over again?

Tim, Bernard, Danny, and Wes all shared a soulmate bond. A touch-bond based Soulbond. They could feel anything their soulmate physically came into contact with. Skin on skin. And they could also feel any injuries their soulmate acquired.

Which, wasn't inherently an issue.

At first, the group couldn't actually tell how many soulmates they had once they realized what the soulbond was. The general consensus amongst them all was that they at least had more than one soulmate.

Danny didn't look to deeply into it. Wes and Bernard had been curious but had also left the detail alone. And Tim was the one that had been the one that had actually spent hours upon hours of sleepless nights trying to figure out just how many he had.

(He had even learned morse code in the hopes of communicating with his soulmates, but not being able to actually get his soulmates to do the same thing had more or less ruined the point.)

Everything, other than that, had been fine for the most part. Besides the general occasional scraps and bruises, everything had been fine. That was a normal occurrence amongst a touch-bond based Soulbond.

And then, Tim Drake became Robin at thirteen years old. And the injuries got a bit more severe. They were much more serious. 

This started Bernard down the path of looking into Gotham's vigilante's. It was no secret that Batman took on Young prodigies, that other heroes at times would do the same. With the injuries his soulmate was receiving, Bernard began his search.

Danny and Wes had considered that their soulmate might be apart of an abusive household. But besides hugging themselves, they couldn't add much for comfort.

And then, Danny died when he was fourteen. His end of the bond going quiet. Tim, Bernard, and Wes all assumed one of their soulmates had died. That was until Danny's end of the bond came back as if nothing had happened. Sometimes with even more bruises they didn't feel happen originally, or completely unharmed.

Tim and Bernard assumed their soulmate was in the hospital, going in-between life and death. Tim doing more than a few illegal things in an attempt to find one of his soulmates. Wes had thought the same until he had saw Phantom bleed once. Noticed how Phantom always appeared when that end of the bond went quiet and was nowhere to be seen when it came back. He drove himself insane looking for Phantom.

Danny decidedly, did not in fact know of the frenzy he was putting his soulmates through. Or the fact that he was apart of making his soulmates as insane as they are about their conspiracy theories.

[gojos-thot-patrol]

I got an ask for a Bully Sukuna x Reader, and while I AM ACTIVELY WORKING ON IT its got me thinking so many thoughtsssss.

I'm thinking about Bully! Sukuna, that made thirteen years of your life miserable. Who had a habit of alway pushing you around, and calling you thr cruelest names, and scaring away any potential romantic partner you had ever had.

Bully Sukuna that you started to develop reluctant feelings for at some point. Wires crossing in your brain and finding some version of control in pretending he covted you- not hated you. You imagined what the world would be like of he used his natural charisma and imposing figure for good rather than evil. If his strong arms protected you rather than hurt you.

Bully Sukuna, who you're unbelievably relieved to get away from after graduation, and absolutely devastated to find at college.

He corners you at a party, drunkenly eyeing you up. "You look good for once." His words are terrifying- because he's never said anything that nice to you before.

"Thanks." You grumble, trying to leave only for him to hold out an arm and stop you. He takes a second to finish off his drink before continuing.

"Where do you think you're going, loser?" He scoffs, haphazardly throwing his empty plastic cup behind him. Which- disrespectful- but you expect nothing less from him.

"Back to my dorm?" You mumbled sheepishly.

"Why? You should just come back to mine instead."

I'm thinking about Bully!Sukuna who always had a desperate crush on you. Who found your charming smile and dazzling eyes irresistible. Who only bullied you because he had no idea how else to get your attention- and bad attention was better than nothing.

Bully Sukuna who made your eyes water, just so he could imagine them later when he was fucking his hands. In his fantasy, they're tears of pleasure- not pain.

Okay, maybe a little bit of pain.

Bully Sukuna who's already drunk when you get to the party, filter long since discarded. Who with the social lubricant of alcohol in his veins actually finds it in him to openly thirst over you. A part of you hates it. A part of you loves it.

A part of you uses this revelation to finally take some control in this dynamic.

You're in his dorm, but you're on top of him. You're riding him for all he's worth, finally using his stupidly sculpted body for your pleasure. And he's crumbling under you, feeling the total bliss that being enveloped in you brings. Your chest fills with pride as he begs you to let him cum. Finally, you have some power here.

Bully Sukuna who won't stop texting you after your little rendezvous. Who wants so desperately to meet back up. And you, dear reader, who reads his texts and never responds. Who gets a little shot of serotonin when you remember the power is finally in your court. You meet up every once in awhile- enough to keep him addicted. But never enough to fully satisfy his need to be with you.

You're starting to wonder who's really the Bully here

[ts19009]

Seventeen Fic Rec's Part 3

(CONTAINS SMUT AND MATURE SUBJECT MATTER)

(Bold title means favorite)

(UPDATED: September 22nd, 2024)

OT13

seventeen as teachers @fairyhaos

seventeen as dads headcanons @bbyobbyo

Back to School with Seventeen (Seventeen TA Collab! Take a look at our Course Options collated by your favourite writers, taught by your favourite members!) @camandemstudios

Seventeen's reaction to you asking them for a baby @j0shuasw1fey

Tales from Camp Masterlist (Thirteen friends reconnect on a camping trip, reminiscing about their times as camp counselors when they were in college.) @kwanisms

✤ Losing It. (masterpost) ✤ (A series of having virginities given to you. Sometimes they throw said virginity at you with full force, other times, they lovingly hold your hand, bat their lashes, and say some of the dumbest shit you’ve ever heard a man say in regards to getting laid for the first time. ) @ncteez

Kim Mingyu

kmg x reader: healing comes in small doses masterlist (husband! dad! kim mingyu x afab! mom!reader) @tomodachiii

Food Wars pt. 1 (You and Mingyu are rival but friendly chefs competing for a spot to be an executive chef at a new location in Madrid. This position would change your life; no matter how attractive he is, you WILL get that spot) @beomcoups

Crossing the Finish Line (Winning is the only thing that matters, except if you're raising money for a charity event with an infuriatingly good-looking swimmer.) @mr-cha-n

Statistically Speaking... (TA! mingyu, fluff, smut [minors DNI], angst, statistics, ur honour they're stupid for one another, descriptions of stress exhaustion and burnout, academic burden, disagreements, mingyu is smart as hell, shitting on bad professors, smut but its a surprise) @gyuswhore

Always // oneshot (Sometimes, one man's burden is everything another man has ever wished for.) @spamgyu

When I Kissed the Teacher (science teacher mingyu, grammar teacher reader, meddling students, crushes, flirting, lots of candy and coffee) @highvern

Read All About It (Anonymous Life and Sex writer, Not Carrie Bradshaw, takes on a 30-day challenge with her boyfriend, Min. How wild fans would go to find out they're none other than Kim Mingyu and his girlfriend?) @highvern

Hot Wheels [M] (Co-Workers to Lovers, Fluff, Humor, Smut 18+) @milfgyu

𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖶𝖺𝗒 𝗈𝖿 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖧𝗈𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝖧𝗎𝗌𝖻𝖺𝗇𝖽 (fake marriage au!, fluff, angst, smut (18+ mdni) @wonustars

There's a snake in my pants (Crack/humour. Some fluff. Established relationship. Himbo Mingyu! [I love himbo Gyu]) @whipped-for-kpop-fics

Cross My Heart (Your crush Mingyu wants (to eat) you.) @minisugakoobies

Like A Cowboy Part 2 of 4 (Mingyu only needs to wake up with you once to decide he'll do whatever is necessary to do it every day; even if it means letting you help him outside and figuring out how to help you inside, it's worth it.) @sluttywoozi

Let our lips lock, baby (Friends to lovers smut. Fluff. They are in LOVE okay. Birthday boy Gyu <3) @whipped-for-kpop-fics

I can do it for you (After years dealing with everything alone, you stumble upon an old wishbook from your past. And you jokingly writes down your ideal boyfriend, Mingyu. To your surprise, Mingyu magically appears in your couch.) @hoshifighting

here and now. (secret!agent!mingyu x secret!agent!reader, established relationship) @writingmeraki

Jeon Wonwoo

into the night | jeon wonwoo (when you call wonwoo late at night telling him you're stranded, he drops everything to make his way to you (and bring you home safe)) @etherealyoungk

CLOSER (f2l!wonwoo, softdom!wonwo) @hannieehaee

HER | part six (m). (wonwoo, a heartbroken and burnt out writer nearing the end of his math degree, wants nothing to do with the seemingly perfect, intimidating girl who has everyone under her thumb. you. unfortunately, his literary talent has got him shoved him between a rock and a hard place when you want to write a book and require his expertise. you two are the furthest from compatible. wonwoo can’t see this going well. at all.) @chocosvt (HOLY SHIT, THIS SERIES HAD ME CRYING. SNAPS TO THIS AMAZING WRITER!)

𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 (though it didn’t bother wonwoo that his girl wasn’t a gamer like him, he was over the moon when one day she proudly declared she started gaming. one thing he forgot to ask - what kind of games she was playing.) @babyleostuff

knight in shining armor (non-idol! wonwoo x f!reader) @heartsfromia

endpoint (Senior year of college is meant to be full of celebration and smooth sailing. Years of work culminating in the final semesters that will send you off into the real world where clubs, sports, and weekends packed with hungover volunteering to pad your resume no longer mattered. It’d be a piece of cake if it wasn’t for your fuck buddy turned coworker having the same plan. But only one of you can get the department’s most coveted recommendation that all but guarantees your acceptance. Tension rises and the nearly four year thing you’ve had with Wonwoo approaches its endpoint.) @highvern

heads up! stardew. they r gaming. @nonranghaes

Cookies and Cream (academic rivals to lovers, smut, heart wrenching and tooth rotting fluff (wonwoo is down bad bad)) @seokgyuu

April Shower (Wonwoo meets a lot of people through his career as a travel photographer. Not one of them has ever made him want to stay in one place, until he met you.) @sluttywoozi

HEAVEN (wonwoo has a reputation for being distant, quiet and a bit mysterious. once you get to know him better, though, you come to find the sweet, shy boy underneath the surface.) @sanakiras

Patterns (Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is a pattern. So what does it mean when you find yourself in Wonwoo's bed over and over again?) @highvern

Daylight (between the endless flirty banter or secret looks of longing, the line between you and your boss had always been slightly blurred. But when a night out with friends has you and your boss meeting for the first time outside of the workplace, that line starts to become nonexistent as mutual feelings are brought to light.) @moonscriptsx

✦ sugar & spice (bodyguard!wonwoo x celebrity!reader) @etherealyoungk

Hong Jisoo

New in the Suburbs – New Neighboor! Joshua @hoshifighting

distracted (husband&dad!joshua, wife&mom!reader, established relationship) @eomayas

SUMMER KISSES (joshua coming home is a pleasant surprise) @arafilez

richhusband!joshua headcannons (just some headcons, but i'm obsessed with them) @number1mingyustan

still the one (5 years after your break up, Joshua tries his best to get your attention. May it be creating a new instagram to get you to notice him, making your brother (Seungkwan) secretly invite him to his birthday party, and his latest act: begging you on his knees in front of your door to get him back. He just never gives up!) @bratzkoo

city lights series | joshua hong (M) [ongoing] (rock singer joshua, neighbours with benefits) @hannieween

best friend’s brother (This had me crying ugly tears. its my fav) (imestep, romance, angsty angst, major feels abt having a crush, lots of flirting, smut, drama, happy tears.) @chocosvt

not according to plan | hjs (fake dating, strangers to friends to ?? | fluff, slight angst, smut) @the-boy-meets-evil

Expiration Date (2/2) (artist!joshua x model!fem!reader) @number1mingyustan

Birds of a Feather ( joshua hong x f reader) @onlymingyus

Timestamp! Aquamarine Au! @mysafehaneul

on second thought (where your roommate, wonwoo, has an interesting solution to all your bad dates. nothing can go wrong with two friends crossing a line, can it?) @the-boy-meets-evil

Yoon Jeonghan

BITE (idol!jeonghan x hybeidol!reader, f2l, meet-cute, very unrealistic schedules for idols lol, jeonghan is a menace, a lot of will they wont they, reader plays hard to get, afab reader, small age gap implied, one mention of the word oppa as a honorific (sorry</3), reader is mentioned to be international (no specific race, just not born in korea), smut, dry humping, penetrative sex, etc.) @hannieehaee

building blocks | yjh (agreeing to be the teaching assistant is the last thing you want in a semester where you're already swamped with work. but, you need a letter of recommendation from the professor and you're out of other options. enter jeonghan, the menace who signs up for the class seemingly on a whim and disrupts your entire routine.) @the-boy-meets-evil (OBSESSED WITH THESE TA SERIES)

"lovie" (all the ways jeonghan uses your nickname) @cherryredcheol

Titty-Shirt! (18+) (pervert!rollercoaster operator!jeonghan x bigtiddie!fem!reader) @beefboyandbabygirl

love café (while you’ve spent the last few months pretending the love café doesn’t exist, you realize you need its services now more than ever. this brings you face to face with jeonghan, the son of a luxury fashion designer who’s got money to burn. your exchanges are strictly business. until they’re not) @chocosvt

five ways to say "i love you" - jeonghan (how jeonghan shows his love to you, through all five love languages) @p0ckykiss

Xu Minghao

Meet Me In Amsterdam (Artist!Minghao x Artist!Fem!Reader) @okiedokrie

GOODNIGHT N GO (idol!minghao x hybeidol!reader) @hannieehaee

To all the love letters I wrote but never sent (fluff, best friends to lovers) @welcometomyoasis

Birthday Gift l Xu Minghao (It's your birthday and Minghao wants to give you your present!) @jenoslutie

Lee Seokmin

through a different lens — l.sm (meet cute, strangers to something) @miniseokminnies

after dessert (just pure smut lol, but it was good XD) @xurengu0

behind the stands (Seokmin, Gryffindor's star chaser, is widely known as your rival. What everyone doesn't know is that before every game, his lips are always on yours.) @xurengu0

Beautiful Liar (mafia au, dark romance? angst, smut.) @starlightx

Epistolary Yearning (epistolary form, historical fantasy, romance | smut) @himbocoups

Nice Guys Finish First (After a first date with the sweetest man you've ever met, thanks to a mutual friend, you're more than willing to silence his doubts and show him how sexy he was to you.) @celestiababie

midnight rain | lsm (after seven years away, you finally return home. meeting seokmin again wasn't in your plans, but life wasn't willing to let you have it your way.) @wongyuuu

[gallaghersgal]

Smoke & Mirrors || Lip Gallagher

chapter one of BORDERLINE.

pairing: lip gallagher x fem!reader (nickname: MK)

warnings & tags: the start of a SLOWburn. idiots with tension. mature for mentions of violence, smoking, swearing, canon typical dialogue and whatnot. y'all've seen the show!

chapter summary: lip gallagher has been your best friend since before you could remember. he's the smartest person you know, so it astounds you how someone like him can be oh so stupid. you're committed to investing in his future, even if he isn't. you won't let your best friend end up stuck on the southside.

a/n: ummmm hi!! wrote basically this whole thing in the last 24hrs. it's unedited and tbh if i look at it for one more second im gonna explode!! enjoy <33

wc: 2.9k

The crisp October air sends a chill down your spine as you usher your younger sister Caroline out the door for school. She groans and rolls her eyes when you grab her by the handle of her backpack, pulling her back to adjust her scarf. At a mere thirteen years old she already carries the same attitude you did at sixteen. “Whatever you’re gonna say, I don’t wanna hear it. You were just sick, dad’ll have my head on a platter if I don’t make you bundle up.”

She stomps her foot, a stupid, childish action that has you mentally swearing to never have kids of your own. Helping raise this one was enough as it is. “It’s not even-” she starts, but you cut her off.

“I said I don’t wanna hear it. Wear your fucking scarf or I’m telling mom you make that tutor kid do your math homework.” You shove her head gently after securing the scarf around her neck and let her stomp down the stairs. “Don’t be a brat.”

She doesn’t answer, instead starting down the street towards the bus stop. Cigarette smoke wafts over the morning air from the Gallagher house. You turn to see Lip on the front stoop, blood shining on his brow as he smokes. You feel a twist in your gut. What did he get himself into this time, you think. The repetitive motion of locking the door comes like second nature and you spend the thirty odd seconds it takes worrying about the boy across the street.

When you turn towards the Gallagher house Caroline is already ahead of you, not waiting until she passes the chain-link fence to call out, “what happened to your face?”

You catch up in time to hear him scoff, “good morning to you too, Kit-Kat,” pulling out her childhood nickname, the one she still hates, that he gave to her when she was barely four. “‘S nothing. Battle scars an’ shit.”

“What the fuck kinda battle did’ya get yourself into?” you ask, leaning down to take his chin between your thumb and forefinger. The cut isn’t too bad, a lot of blood for a relatively small abrasion, but the skin around his eye is already blossoming a dark bruise. Lip stares at you as if to say ‘not in front of the kid,’ and you nod, fishing a five dollar bill out of your pocket. You were saving it for work, but Caroline’s silence is worth more. She raises an eyebrow, to which you snap, “just don’t tell mom, ‘kay? And don’t skip just ‘cause I'm skipping.”

Caroline turns to leave and you extend a hand to Lip, pulling him to stand. Eager fingers reach for his burnt-down cig when he goes to drop it, taking the final hit for yourself before stubbing it out on the sidewalk. “Greedy. Gotta buy y’own pack,” he remarks with a smirk. All it takes is a second to get back across the stress, and once you’re inside he unwraps the scarf from his neck. 

Your eyes catch on his bruised knuckles and you tilt your head to the side with a silent question, you gonna tell me what happened? He sighs, hearing you loud and clear despite not speaking a single word. “Got into it with Frank. He was givin’ Ian shit for no fuckin’ reason.”

“Mm,” you nod, and catch his hand after he runs it nervously through his curls. The bruises there aren’t as bad as the one on his eye, Frank must’ve only gotten one good, drunken swing in. No cuts either, which was good. For all his tough guy exterior, Lip Gallagher couldn’t stand the sting of peroxide. The less you need the better, you think, and a grin plays at your lips when you glance up at him, holding his injured hand up. “Think y’can roll a joint with these?”

His laugh is like music to your ears, revelling in the first grin you’ve seen from him this morning. “Yeah, yeah I can do that, y’wanna jus’ skip the whole day? We could catch a movie ‘r somethin’,” he suggests, following you upstairs to your room.

You shake your head, opening the door to your room for him. “Can't. Calc test in third period. Sit down, ‘m gonna get the first aid kit.” While you get the kit from the shelf in your closet you hear him open your desk drawer, pulling out the grinder and weed jar you keep hidden at the back.

“You got a shirt or somethin’ I could change into? This one smells like Frank’s fuckin’ booze,” Lip scoffs. He shrugs the tee over his head and lights another cigarette, his eyes following your every move with that same boyish twinkle you’d grown fond of over the years. It was always good to remember things weren’t getting to him, not too bad. 

You cast a glare in his direction, silently scolding him, ‘you know better, let me open the window,’ but he only grins in response. Pale morning light illuminates the room when you pull back your blackout curtains and crack the window. The city is still quiet–or, as quiet as it gets in Chicago–and the sounds of gentle wind and birdsong fall softly on your ears.

You settle at his side, first aid kit in one hand and a gray and black sweater of his in the other. Curious fingers reach for a small cut on his shoulder. “What’s this one from?” You trace the gash. It isn’t deep either, but it’ll need to be cleaned so it doesn’t get infected.

“It’s, uh, ’s nothin,” he brushes you off, to which you shoot him a glare. That sets him straight. In a low mumble he simply states, “beer bottle.”

Rage seethes inside you, your jaw tensing as you wet a cotton ball with peroxide. You keep any comments to yourself, not sure how LIp will react. You’re aware of his more than complicated familial relationships–you’d grown up with thim, seeing Frank’s drinking get worse, and the aftermath of Monica leaving–but if there was one constant with the Gallagher kids, it was family first, above everything. You had your opinions of Frank, and you knew Lip shared your distaste more than anything, but that didn’t take away the sensitive nature of the topic. So, you stay quiet, dabbing at the wound with a gentle hand. The sting draws a sharp hiss from him, and it’s then that you realize how flushed he is, his cheeks, neck and chest are a soft pink color. Graciously, you pretend not to notice, so as not to embarrass him further.

When the cut is cleaned and covered with a bandage Lip takes his sweater, pulling it over his head. It leaves his hair mussed and he smoothes a hand through his curls while you tilt his chin up, inspecting the cut on his brow. Blue eyes stare up at you with a vulnerability you’re not used to seeing from the boy you grew up with. At least you know he’s comfortable with you. That’s all.

Comfortable. Friendly. Nothing more. The same as it’s always been.

The way it’s meant to be.

“Quit starin’, get me fixed up so we can smoke this,” Lip grumbles, gesturing towards the rolling tray in his lap. You laugh at that, heart quickening in your chest. Tensions between the two of you had been thick as of late, but underneath it all things remained the same.

“Glad to know you’ve got your priorities straight,” you snort, cleaning up the second wound with peroxide. He takes it better this time, more prepared for the sting, but you still catch the way a few pained tears brim in his bright eyes. 

Soft, parted lips rest under your fingers as you clean the final abrasion. The bruising is the worst here, deep purple hues present across his mouth and down to his chin. He finishes rolling as you’re wiping at the blood that pooled below his lip, a deep red trail spilling down his chin. Your delicate motions are interrupted by Lip bringing the joint up to seal it, licking along the edge of the rolling paper. 

“‘M almost finished, be patient,” you murmur, focused on keeping the disinfectant out of his mouth. A moment later you pull back, swiping vaseline over the split before wiping the excess on his jeans. Payback for interrupting your tending to his wounds. “There. All patched up. Say ‘thank you nurse,’” you tease with a grin.

He’s already flicking the lighter on, holding the flame against the end of the joint to take the first hit for himself. You busy yourself with cleaning up the first aid supplies until he passes it off to you. Thick, earthy smelling smoke flows from his parted mouth, which lifts into a mischievous grin as he hands you the joint. “My lip’s busted up pretty fuckin’ bad. Think y’could kiss it better?”

Your cheeks flush with embarrassment at his blunt proposal. “Shut up,” you retort with a sharp laugh, before you can even consider it.

Lip throws on an exaggerated frown, “oh, c’mon MK. You know it’d be so fucking hot- ow!” He flinches, chest shaking with laughter as you throw your remote at him. “Okay! Okay, I know I know. You’re not one of my g-”

“Little ghetto girlfriends,” you tease, repeating the drunken dig an alibi patron had once thrown at Lip. 

“Exactly.”

You shake your head, laughing at him for a moment. “You’re never getting in my pants Gallagher. I’ve known you since we were three. It’s wrong,” you lie. Lip is your best friend, the same role he’s filled your entire life, side by side since the two of you were in diapers. But your rejection stems from something deeper than that.

Lip Gallagher is inconsistent. You can’t exactly call him unfaithful if he never truly commits to one girl, but he’s not one for relationships. He’s flighty. He runs from affection. More often than not he buries his true feelings under snark and insults, weed, booze, and–when all else fails–aggression. That doesn’t mean you didn’t love him, it doesn’t mean you had no feelings for him, it just gives you reason to brush off his advances. For now, it can remain a little game between the two of you.

Months ago, when these unwanted feelings began to blossom in your chest, you’d promised yourself you wouldn’t be just another girl he messed around with. You aren’t willing to let him mess this thing up for the both of you.

Eager to change the subject you move to your desk, pulling out an informational packet from MIT. Before you can get a word out Lip is shaking his head, casting a skeptical glare in your direction. “Hey, come on. I just want you to apply.” You lean to hand the packet over but he reaches for the joint instead, which you pull away quickly.

“No you come on, why would I apply to MIT, seriously,” he shoots back, refusing to take the folder from your hand. He settles more comfortably in your bed, laying back against the pillows and staring up at the ceiling instead of meeting your eyes. “Bunch ‘f ivy league reject pricks ridin’ on daddy’s money. You’re lucky I’m even applying to schools in town.” Greedy hands reach forward for the joint again and you yield with a sigh, passing it over. As an afterthought, you toss the packet to him as well.

“Just consider it, alright?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll think about it,” he says. You don’t need anything but the way he avoids your eyes to know it’s a lie. 

You purse your lips, throwing an icy stare his way. Lip Gallagher may be your best friend, but you’re not going to take any of his shit. “Have you even got any applications in?”

The question seems to take him by surprise, tendrils of smoke curling from the corner of his parted lips. “I’ve got a few,” another lie.

“Really? What schools,” you question, head tilted to the side with a knowing look. “Don’t lie to me, I know you better than anyone. I can tell.”

He laughs at that, shaking his head in disbelief. “Fine, you got me. I haven’t applied anywhere yet.” The end of the joint has a good stretch of ash, which he’s trying to keep precariously attached while he takes another hit. 

“Scoot,” you mumble, grabbing your own binder of college information packets. He stretches one arm back towards your desk to snag your heart shaped ashtray and knocks the ash off, then lays the tray in the space between your bodies. You settle in beside him, your knees propped comfortably over the throw pillow that always ended up in the middle of your bed. One hand takes the joint and the other opens your binder. 

Pages upon pages of information, campus maps, scholarship pamphlets, and your hand written tuition calculations make Lip go a little cross eyed as you flip towards a page with a yellow tab. “Okay. Here, look,” you point at the information you’d circled, reading Engineering B.S., training the Innovators of Tomorrow. “UI Urbana-Champaign. Great engineering program–” you flip the page over “–and scholarships for kids from underserved communities.”

You settle the joint between your lips, flipping through a few more pages. After a deep inhale you use it to gesture towards the page. “Or UChicago, that way you’d be close to home. They’ve got this thing called inner city promise. Smart kids, like you, from certain high schools with certain academic records and test scores can get full rides.” You run a finger down the short list, stopping at a familiar name and tapping it. “See? Lincoln Grove High School. You’d qualify, Lip.”

“‘M not some fuckin’ charity case,” he grumbles, snatching the burnt-down joint from your hand. “You’re a pain in my ass, y’know that?”

“Oh I’m a pain?” you snap, turning on your side to glare at him. “For what, believing in you? For not taking any of your self-deprecating, avoidant bullshit?”

He shrugs then, and the action is almost shy. He’s embarrassed. You have this innate ability to see him, the way no one else does. You scare yourself with it sometimes. “Just don’t know why you care so much,” he mumbles.

The sigh that leaves you is a deep, tired one. Convincing him of these things has always been difficult. For as smart as he is, Lip can be so infuriatingly stupid. “You’re smart, Lip. You’ve always been smart. I dunno what I would do if I went off to college and you stayed here. In this shithole.”

He doesn’t laugh the way you expect him to. He doesn’t brush it off. He just stares.

“We made a pact, did you forget?” you continue. He shakes his head silently, the far off look in his eyes letting you know he’s remembering that day. 

The day the two of you spent drinking by the pool. Making promises to each other. You’d said you would make it out, and you would do it together. You’d made Lip promise you that he’d give it a try, and stupidly you believed him. Or was it stupid? You’re not ready to give up yet. 

“I don’t want to do it without you,” you admit to him.

Lip looks at you, his blue eyes softening. “Do what without me?” You shake your head, scooting closer to rest your head on his shoulder. He stubs out the joint and wraps an arm around your shoulders. Friendly, comfortable affection. The kind you were used to. “C’mon MK, spit it out.”

“Any of it,” you return. “Don’t think I could get through another four years of school if you’re not doing it with me.”

“Yeah? What if we’re at different schools, dumbass,” he retorts, but his palm soothes across your arm, a contrast to his words. “You gonna follow me to MIT, since y’want me to go so bad?”

You can’t help the laugh that bubbles up in your chest, turning to look up at him with a grin playing at your lips. He got what he wanted. He made you laugh. “I’ll call you every night.”

“Every night huh?” he says with a smirk. “Cockblocking me from a thousand miles away is just like you, isn’t it.”

You shove him playfully, sitting up to move the ashtray off your bed. The MIT packet lays somewhere at the foot of the bed and you search through the pillows to find it. Instead of handing it to Lip, you just tuck it into his backpack, handing the bag to him after. “Well yeah, can’t have you getting distracted by the chess team girls,” you joke back. 

He lays there in your bed, looking up at you with that stupid grin of his. All bared teeth and mischief, the same one you’d seen all those years ago. You stay silent for a moment longer before you stand, holding out a hand to pull him up. 

“You sure we can’t just skip?”

“No, ‘ve got a test, remember? Gotta keep my grades up if ‘m gonna follow you all the way to MIT,” you say, and shakes his head with a laugh. Maybe he’s coming around to the idea. “Come on, I’ll drive us.”

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[literaila]

stay

gojo satoru x fem!reader

summary: you're in denial (no you're not)

warnings: pining, no plot

a/n: i had to give you a little look at what they do when they're alone

last part | next part

*

year two.

“what?” satoru asks, his voice blurred in the haze you're thinking in. 

honestly, you haven't been looking at him for that long. 

you've only been watching his arms as they move across the sink, veins drenched in water, hands scrubbing at a pot that you've made his responsibility. 

you've only been thinking about him for the past five years. the way his mouth moves when he's focused, the subtle curve of his jaw from this angle. 

and you're only staring now because you don't want him to mess up the kitchen. god knows how much it's worth. 

you shake your head, subtle grin disappearing automatically. “hmm?” 

“you’re staring at me.” 

you blink. “oh. sorry.” 

you and him both know that there's no denying it. 

“and you think i’m spacey,” satoru mutters, turning to you with his arms crossed, a smirk adorning his lips. apparently, he’s perfected his dad stance. “what do you want?” 

“what?" you look away, for one moment, when your heart feels a bit warm, then back to him. "why would i want something?” 

“that’s what tsumiki does when she wants something.” 

“well, unlike tsumiki, i’m not a child, so…” 

“i beg to differ,” satoru leans towards you, raising a brow. “what are you? thirteen?” 

he's different like this--when he knows that you're paying attention. 

so ridiculously stupid that you can't look away from him. 

“you are a single year older,” you tell him, “and i had to teach you how to do the dishes. our age gap is easily filled by my years of experience—“ 

“blah blah blah,” satoru interrupts, rolling his eyes, “hard work, torture, bills to pay. we get it.” 

you shrug, lip twitching. “you started it.” 

“by being born?” satoru asks, fluttering his eyelashes, trying his hand at flirting with you. 

unfortunately, he's dreadful at it. even with his waggling eyebrows and throat when he swallows. 

“oh my god,” you put a hand to your chest, mock shocked. “did i forget to become clan head the second i was born? my bad.” 

“seriously. slacker.” 

you roll your eyes.

then you turn to the counter again, messing with a stack of bills satoru has left there. you're probably going to be the one to deal with them anyway. 

it's been twenty minutes since you put the kids to bed--frowning at satoru when he swore that they'd already brushed their teeth (they hadn't)--and you've already lost sight of getting out of his house. 

some small part of you wants to stay, just so you can sneak some more glances at satoru.

“why are you staring at me?” he asks, nudging your arm with his hand. "get lost in my eyes?" 

you scoff. “i just zoned out, satoru.” 

“looking right at my face?” 

you smile deviously, reaching a hand out to trail a finger across his cupids bow. “i was contemplating the different plastic surgeries that could improve you.” 

satoru does nothing to push away your hand, but you snap it away when you feel him shiver. 

“please," he frowns. "we both know there’s no room for improvement.” 

you raise your brows. he says it more like a question than a statement, so you keep the same teasing smile on your face. 

“don’t be mean,” he says, pouting. 

“sorry.” 

“no, you’re not.” 

your smile brightens and you walk towards the door--listening to his heavy footsteps as he follows--and reach towards the hook for your coat.

you better leave before he convinces you to touch him again with nothing but his eyes.

“where are you going?” satoru continues pouting. 

“home? the kids are asleep.” 

he huffs. “but i’m not.” 

“do you need me to tuck you in?” 

“what if i do?” 

“tough luck, satoru," you shove his hand away from where it grabs your jacket. 

“c’mon,” he says, pulling at your wrist instead. “stay a little bit longer. let’s talk.” 

“all you ever want to talk about is digimon," you answer, rolling your eyes. 

you deny the fact that you'd probably listen to him talk about anything, just to hear the slight drawl in his throat or the teasing in his voice. 

“well, duh.” 

“and i don’t understand a single thing you say.” 

satoru pulls you towards him, even when you dig your heels into the floor. “you think after five years you’d trust me enough to take one of my recommendations," he says, chiding you. like he's the most trustworthy person you've ever met. 

like you might trust him with your life (you would). 

“last time i trusted any of your recommendations i almost got kicked out of school," you finally pull away, smoothing out your sleeves to put your jacket on. 

“first of all, that was your idea—“ 

“i was kidding.” 

“and i was just trying to cheer you up," his hands gesture to you, obviously, "plus yaga didn’t even care that much. it’s not like we crashed the car. he just had to threaten us or he would’ve gotten fired.”

you roll your eyes, zipping up your jacket. 

“stay,” satoru whines. “i get lonely when you’re not here.” 

“that’s because you’re supposed to be asleep.” 

“i can't sleep without you.” 

you scoff. “we’ve slept in the same room twice.” 

neither one of you dares to mention the several nights you’ve spent together on the couch or the brief moments when you wake up in the morning and realize who you’re clinging to. those are brief lapses in judgment. nothing more. 

“third times the charm,” satoru says, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. 

despite his age, he is still a teenage boy. 

the same one you've liked since you were fifteen. 

“goodnight, satoru," you whisper, turning around. 

“don’t you get lonely in your apartment all alone?” he asks, almost pleading, spinning you around again from the hem of your jacket. “what if you have a nightmare?” 

because satoru has ever been concerned about a single thing that happens to you. 

you roll your eyes. “i wake up, like an adult, and remember that it’s not real.” 

satoru raises a brow. 

“seriously, it’s late. i need to go before—“ 

“stay.” 

“we’ve talked about this.”

“no. i make a suggestion, and you don’t listen.” 

“because i already know what you’re going to say.” 

“no, you don’t.” 

“‘c’mon, y/n, i have a bedroom just for you. it can even be mine if you want.’” 

“i don’t sound like that," he says frowning. though how could he deny the obvious?

“satoru, we need space--" more like you need space from him. several decades of space, just to catch your breath. "i can't spend every waking moment with you. i have a life.” 

“yeah, me.” 

you laugh, shaking your head (he's not wrong).

“just for tonight?” 

“no.” 

“just for an hour? what if one of them wakes up? you know i don’t know what to do," he says, very convincingly. his voice is quiet like he knows some sudden movements will scare you away. 

you pretend to pause, humming. “send them back to their rooms…?”

“please," he begs you, so close that his breath is almost yours. 

“no.” 

“we never get alone time anymore,” he pouts, “i miss you.” 

you know that he's using this to his advantage. like he's sure that his quiet voice and soft mouth will get you to break, will get you to stay here like you already want to. 

but you refuse. 

“stop.” 

“and it’s cold. you don’t want to go home yet," he acts like he can read your mind. 

“i promise you that i do," you reassure him, taking a step back. satoru only follows. 

“we can watch a movie or something," he answers like you've already agreed to this. "i saw a trailer for this dumb comedy and it looks—“ 

you groan. 

“what if i promise to sit on the other side of the couch?” he bargains.

“no," you frown, "you’re a liar.” 

“what if i let you pick the movie?” 

“no.” 

“what if i pay you to stay?" 

you flick his forehead. “are you kidding?” 

“please,” he repeats, softly, leaning even closer. “you don’t have to stay for long…” 

and it reminds you of every other time you've felt like your heart has disappeared. like your head has been eradicated by his low voice and his sparkling eyes. 

it feels like being the same teenager you might still be, hoping that something will come from his pleading. from yours, however unspoken. 

and you almost break, almost push him so far away--

but then there’s a tiny cough. and a sniffle. “y/n?” a voice asks, so soft you almost can't hear it over the sound of satoru’s ego. 

over the sound of your own beating heart. 

satoru smiles like he planned this all along. 

you sigh. “an hour,” you tell him, sternly. 

he only smiles, slinging an arm around your shoulder, spinning you both towards tsumiki. 

* 

you don’t say a thing when you wake up the next morning, sweat staining your neck, legs tangled in much longer ones. 

your head is pounding from a night spent on the couch. from so many hours spent laughing at satoru, at the stupid things he says. 

and he’s already looking at you like he could sense this moment coming. 

like he can see beyond you, into your soul. into the very wanting you're sure is on your face. 

you don’t say anything as you stare back into his eyes.

this is the one moment where he’s not allowed to comment on it. to make fun of you for your small smile, or laugh at your bed head. 

this moment is just for the two of you. the rest of the world can disappear, right now. every terrifying thing, every horrible mistake, completely eradicated by the sound of satoru's heart, his eyelashes as they flutter open and closed. 

you breathe in, almost about to say something. to break this thing before it can form. 

and then you hear something banging in the kitchen, and it’s time to get up. 

*

next part | series masterlist

[bugflies00]

something about cwilbur that i find really interesting but i think could be explored more in fics is that, realistically, after thirteen years of sensory deprivation where he had no bodily needs and felt nothing besides "cold", basic physical sensations would be utterly foreign to him when he's revived.

it wouldn't just be sensory overload from the sights and sounds and smells and light of the overworld; it means he would have to relearn to identify and interpret basic physical sensations.

if we're going off the basis that limbo is somewhere where your body requires nothing at all and cannot be hurt or modified (which is the position ive seen most people adopt, but of course you could just assume cwilbur was in a state of perpetual hunger cramps thirst exhaustion etc, tantalus style), then having to relearn having a body and taking care of it would be a very arduous process, more than i think is depicted in fics.

i think a large reason for that is, like others have said, for cwilbur to be an interesting character minecraft rp wise, he needs to be able to be interacted with; and so a degree of non-realism is necessary in regards to the absolutely horrific state he would realistically be in after going through limbo.

but i still think it's worth exploring cwilbur not just be absolutely starving for attention and interaction (let alone affection), but also completely lost in the world he's found himself back in again.

i mean relearning to eat, to sleep, to recognise when he's cold and warm and thirsty? those are hard. especially for someone who already had a tendency to ignore those needs when he was alive, out of general lack of self-care, then learning to be so much as a functional person would be tremendously hard

[donnalawliet]

Some people have claimed that Klaus being dead when thirteen year old Five finds him in the apocalypse is a plot hole, since he‘s confirmed to be immortal. I actually don‘t think so.

While coming back to life for him is partly instinct, it‘s also a decision. He asks God “Where do I have to go to get back?“ and when he trains with Reginald later on, he gets faster, so it must be something he doesn‘t do purely automatically. After the world gets kugelblitzed, he also chooses to remain with Luther in the afterlife for a bit, meaning he isn‘t forced to come back.

So tell me- After Viktor destroyed the world, every human was eradicated and almost his entire family stayed in the afterlife with him…

What would Klaus find on Earth to be worth living for again?

Exactly. Nothing. So he chooses to stay dead.

[devildomwriter]

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause | Diavolo x Reader

900+ words | GN reader | warnings: Diavolo and reader have a child

The towering pine tree shone brightly in the ballroom of the castle. Barbatos had given in this year to Diavolo’s pleas for an unreasonably large Christmas tree and now you both got to enjoy it reflecting the ornaments across the room.

“I told him it was worth it,” Diavolo, dressed as Santa, grinned proudly. Barbatos sighed and brought in the last stack of gifts you’d prepared for everyone.

“This is all of the gifts. Are you certain you won’t be needing my services anymore tonight, Young lord?” Barbatos asked Diavolo with a worried frown.

“Yes, ___ and I can handle the rest. You like organizing the gifts right?” Diavolo double-checked with you and you nodded enthusiastically.

Diavolo chuckled and Barbatos bowed and made a swift exit, ready to turn in for the night.

“Okay, so they’re in different wrapping paper for different people right?” Diavolo asked and you nodded and began sorting them.

“Where’s Luci’s pile?”

“The dark blue ones with peacock feathers.”

Diavolo started laughing and began to guess the others. “Golden ones for Mammon, Ruri-Chan for Levi, Christmas Cats for Satan….let’s see, the pink ones with kiss lip stains must be Asmo’s. Where did you find such perfect paper?” He asked as he looked everything over.

“The internet.”

“Yes that would make sense…no food ones for Beel?”

“Not all his stuff is food and we don’t want him eating it. The perishables are in the walk-in freezer.”

Diavolo nodded, agreeing with your choice. “So…his paper must be Devilcat? Wise decision! He truly loves that mascot, doesn’t he? And Belphie here must be the clouds, right?” He continued talking to himself as he delighted in the choices of wrapping paper.

He burst into laughter as you handed him one of Luke’s gifts, wrapped in chihuahuas of course.

“Thirteen is the octopus one, Solomon is the magic wands, Raphael is the music notes, Simeon is the quills, Mephistopheles is the My Little Pony—“

“Bahahahahahaha,” Diavolo burst into laughter strong enough that tears streamed down his cheeks.

“Lastly, Barbatos is the British tea set paper, mine is the royal cats, yours are the cutesy animals, and—“

You reached for a gift simultaneously, touching hands. You smiled and took the gift and placed it in the nicest pile. “And these, are Chao’s.”

Diavolo smiled and pulled you into his chest as you sat on the large tree skirt.

“He’s gonna love them,” Diavolo smiled and kissed your forehead.

“It’ll be hard to top Barbatos, I don’t know how he does it,” you sighed. Chao may be yours and Diavolo’s son but every year Barbatos seemed to outshine the two of you gift-wise.

“Barbatos is still hiding his gifts in his room for Christmas morning,” Diavolo shook his head. “He really won’t give us a chance to outdo him, will he?”

You shook your head in agreement, “he’s currying favor already,” you joked and Diavolo laughed and kissed the back of your neck.

You eyed Diavolo up and down, letting your eyes linger long enough for him to notice and he grinned playfully.

“Done delivering gifts for the night?” You asked him sweetly and he nodded, got to his feet, and pulled you up with him.

“There’s just one more thing I want to do for the very special person at the top of my nice list,” he whispered into your ear. “Can you guess what that is?”

You blushed and nodded, “I think I can.”

Diavolo leaned in to kiss you when you both heard an ornament jingle and fall to the floor. Diavolo turned around to investigate and you followed but saw nothing.

Diavolo smirked and chuckled. “I think someone’s being naughty, should we go and see?” He asked and you shook your head.

“No, I’d rather have Santa to myself right now,” you teased and he nodded eagerly as you both left to your room.

Meanwhile, Barbatos, settling into bed was disturbed by the tapping of quick footsteps and loud banging on his door. He sighed, slipped on his shoes, and opened the door to see Chao looking frantic. His eyes shone like his mother’s and his hair was red and messy like his father’s.

“Oh my, whatever are you doing up at this hour Young prince?” Barbatos asked, feigning concern.

“Out there! Out there! It’s Mommy,” he sputtered in between gasps. Barbatos picked up Chao and prepared to investigate when Chao revealed his secret, “Mommy was kissing Santa! I saw it! We have to tell Daddy!”

Barbatos stopped in his tracks and started laughing. “Oh my, is that what happened? Don’t worry, I’m sure Daddy doesn’t mind a greeting kiss.”

Chao looked even more concerned, “Does Daddy like that kind of stuff?”

Barbatos’s eye twitched. “Whatever could you mean by that…”

“Uncle Asmo said—“ Barbatos covered Chao’s mouth.

“Listen to me Chao, this is very important.” Chao nodded, hand still over his mouth. “We will never ever listen to anything Uncle Asmo tells us. Understood?” Chao nodded again. “And if Uncle Asmo tells you anything weird, come tell me, okay?”

Chao nodded again and Barbatos took his hand away. “Now then, why don’t we get you back to bed, we have a busy day tomorrow, six of your uncles will be here for their gifts from you and we want you looking your best.”

“Don’t you mean seven uncles?”

“No, I meant six. Now let’s tuck you into bed little one. it’s nearly Christmas Day.”

[uwupaige]

the nanny [paige bueckers] part eight

[chapters 13 & 14]

‘the nanny’ master list!

chapter thirteen: thanks for picking up.

paige smiled at the small girl in the seat next to her, mouth agape and eyes closed. madison was sound asleep with her repunzel themed headphones snug against her head, still playing the movie she had put on earlier. the blonde gently shook her daughter awake as the pilot just announced over the intercom their preparation for landing.

madison stirred in her seat a bit before her eyes eventually fluttered open, grimacing at the ache in her strained neck.

"wake up, babe. we're gonna land in a little." paige spoke softly to the small girl. madison's once tired and painful look quickly turning to that of excitement as she swiftly moved to open up her window.

the pair peered over the window, admiring how small yet beautiful montana looked from so high up. the sun was beginning to set and it beamed a beautiful, warm shade of orange across the fields of orange grass they were passing over, complimenting the hues of the red and brown dead leaves.

˚✧.*

the rest of the day came and went with a quickness for catherine, walking around her apartment, never once feeling as if she had nothing to do. all she did her entire life was be busy. but now? she had no homework to finish, her apartment was clean, and her bags were packed. though she would normally spend her breaks from school working at vinyl, the woman had been convinced otherwise by her best friend.

her packed bags waited for her at her front door, prepared for her departure the following day. though she lacked an invitation from her mother, molly was excited for catherine to finally come up and see her in new york for once.

catherine figured the three hour drive wouldn't be horrible. besides, it was worth it to see her best friend. the two women haven't seen each other in a few years, both of their lives happening at different times, never finding open opportunities in their schedules that lined up.

the woman did one final lap of her apartment for the night, making sure all doors were locked and window blinds were shut, her stove was off and her flat iron was unplugged. her feet were protected by fluffy socks, tiny candy canes printed across the white cloth.

that was the one thing she did with her free time—get in the christmas spirit. having not grown up with the cheeriest of holidays, the moment catherine moved out, she went all out always for any and every holiday. she had the funnest valentine's day parties, the best easter egg hunts, and the most delicious fourth of july barbecues. but the one holiday she shined the brightest in was christmas.

she spent a good chunk of her time digging through all of the closets in her apartment, pulling out her decorations from last year. throw blankets and string lights to the fake tree she bought the first christmas she spent away from home, her apartment looked like a hallmark movie.

content with her surroundings, catherine flipped the light switch off and made way to her bedroom. she was quick to crawl into her bed, kicking off the sweats she had chosen to wear after her long shower, head snuggling deeper into her pillow as she searched for the most comfortable position. moments passed before she finally did, a satisfied smile appearing across her face as she reached out for her night stand. a hand came up to pull the cord on her bed side lamp, moments away from a good nights sleep.

that was until her phone began to ring, buzzing obnoxiously against the wooden table. peering over, catherine caught a glimpse of her phone screen, an even bigger smile in response. the screen showed an expanded picture of the blonde woman catherine had become so accustomed to, the contact photo she chose for her one random day smiling back at her.

"hey," the woman started once she pulled the phone close to her ear.

"hey," paige's voice rang through the device, sounding a bit tired, but happy nonetheless.

catherine turned to lay her back flat against her pillows, seemingly awake again. "how was the flight? was maddie good?"

"it was aight.." paige trailed off, looking up at her rearview mirror to find madison sitting calmly with her ipad snug in her hands. "we landed sooner than we thought, and maddie slept for the last half of it."

"that's good.. what're you doing now?" catherine continued, already missing the pair and their presence.

paige cleared her throat, eyes steady on the road and the traffic on the highway heading to her mothers home. "we, uh, just left the airport not too long ago.. we're on our way to my mom's, now."

catherine couldn't help the small chuckle that left her lips, knowing her question was rhetorical. "you excited?"

"yeah.. yeah." paige agreed, as if she was trying to convince herself.

catherine could read the woman even over the phone, not believing her for a second. "sure about that?"

paige paused, unsure how to answer. "i.." she sighed, "i don't wanna say i'm not excited to see my family for thanksgiving."

"that's not why you're not excited, though." the brunette explained to the woman. paige stayed silent, only the sound of a moving car on catherine's end of the line. "you can say you're not excited to get in an argument with your mom."

the blonde sighs, "every time i see her, she has to criticize me or what i'm doing." she explained, "it's draining."

catherine nodded though paige couldn't see her. "i hear you." she assured. "maybe try to voice that to her. she might be more receptive than you assume." catherine encouraged, paige just shrugging in response. at the lack of a verbal response, the woman continued. "you'll survive this."

paige chuckled, "i don't think i will."

"does that mean maddie can come live with me? if you don't survive?"

paige let out a full laugh this time, giggling through her words. "you wish."

"i miss her already." catherine admitted. and it was true, she hadn't stopped thinking about both paige and maddie since they left for the airport earlier that day.

paige smiled at that. knowing that catherine missed madison warmed her heart, only further proving how strong their bond was. it was endearing to paige. "wanna say hi?"

those words were like music to catherine's ears, nearly sitting up in her bed. "please?"

catherine listened to mumbling through the phone, and a quick, "speak up, babe," from paige before she could hear madison.

"hi, cat!"

her heart swelled instantly, pouting as she fought back imaginary tears. "hi, mamita. how are you? how was the plane?"

the call delayed a second before the girl could respond, "the plane was so fun! they gave me cookies and apple juice, and mom let me watch all the ipad i want."

paige could feel catherine's judgmental eyes through the phone, holding back laughs as she heard the woman scoff on the other end. "did she?"

"you try traveling with a five year old." paige spoke to her defense, catherine just giggling on the other end.

a moment of silence fell upon them, madison once again consumed in her small device, paige and catherine both waiting for the other to continue their conversation.

"i miss you guys already." catherine finally spoke.

paige grinned at that, looking down at the call screen on the rental car she was in as if catherine was right there. now that she was included this time, she felt even more sheepish, ignoring the small amounts of heat that rose to her cheeks. "we miss you, too. right, mads?"

"we miss you, cat!" her small voice chirped up, to which catherine just giggled once more. even listening to her laughs over the phone were enough to have paige cheesing.

"i'll talk to you guys soon, okay?" catherine started, her way of ending the conversation.

"talk soon, cat." paige ended, the chime of the phone call ending a reminder she'd be out on her own without catherine for the next few days, which wasn't an ideal thought to come to terms with.

something about catherine's presence calmed her. like she was the perfect opposite to help balance paige. she made the whole single mom-college student thing easier. though it was her job, something about everything felt different to paige. something genuine that she couldn't quite place.

a few more minutes passed before the two arrived outside of her mothers house, pulling into the drive way as casually as possible, not wanting to alert anyone of their arrival just yet.

sighing, paige let her head rest against her seat, eyes closing as she relished in the almost silent moment. the only noise being the quiet disney music playing in the background that madison requested they played, and the sounds of her small fingers tapping against her ipad.

taking a few deep breaths, paige opens her eyes and turns to look back at her daughter. she smiled at how focused madison was on whatever game she was playing, admiring her and her beauty.

"aight, babe," paige started, causing madison to look up. she found the woman waiting for her with an arm extended and an open palm, asking for her device with few words. "you can play on it later, just not in front of grandma."

"why does she and cat not like the ipad?" madison inquired genuinely.

paige giggled, shrugging as she shoved her newly retrieved ipad into her backpack. "because they're meanies."

madison laughed at that, going to unbuckled herself, now eager to leave the car.

paige wanted to stop the girl, to have just a few more minutes of peace, but she was out of luck. the sound of madison's door opening had the woman leaning her head back once more, not wanting to move. however, the sound of the small girl shutting her door was what made her look up nervously.

her family definitely heard that.

"shit." she mumbled to herself, knowing it was now time to face the worries that have been gnawing at her for the past week.

as if she just knew her family all too well, she soon saw her mother emerging from the front door, arms open wide for madison to run to. paige reluctantly made her way out of the vehicle, knowing she'd have to face the woman at some point.

"madison!" the older woman, amy, cheered as she squatted down to madison's height, pulling the girl in for a hug.

"hi, grandma!" the girl cheered just as enthusiastically, happiness filling her senses.

"how's my big girl?" amy started, pulling away from her big squeeze, "paigey hasn't brought you to see me in forever."

paige already wanted to roll her eyes. instead, she opted to start unpacking the car, pulling out their bags and suitcases as her mom and her daughter talked.

"want some help?"

paige looked up from the trunk of the car to find her brother ryan waiting there, a smile on his face at his sisters arrival.

paige smiled as well, going to pull the shorter boy in for a hug. "ryan!" she exclaimed, hugging him tightly, her chin resting on his shoulder. "how you been, bro?"

"i've been alright." the boy answered, truthfully, "glad you're here, though."

paige looked past his shoulder, watching her mom and madison again. pulling away, they just shared a look. a look between siblings that only they understood. taking in a breath, paige stepped back and began reaching in the car for her bags. "help me bring these in?"

ryan was quick to grab a couple of bags from his sister, walking them to the front door and inside the decently sized family home.

at this, paige saw her younger sister lauren walking out of the front door, gasping loudly and excitedly when she saw madison. paige watched as the two girls embraced, smiling even more.

closing the trunk, paige walked up the driveway, meeting up with the girls, her mom off to the side as well. lauren had the same reaction as she did with madison when she saw paige, hugging her sister instantly, rambling on about how much she missed her and such.

when lauren pulled away, paige wasn't surprised at the dramatic throat clearing that came from her mother. turning to the woman, paige tried on her best smile. "hi, mom."

the blonde spoke as she went in for a hug, amy's eyes darting her as she did. "well, it's about time you said hello." the woman mumbled, though she was meaning for paige to hear. "hi, paige."

˚✧.*

catherine arrived at her best friends home in new york a few hours before sundown the next day, excitement overtaking them both the moment they finally saw each other. it had been a little over a year since they last saw each other in person, and a couple of months before they found time to talk to one another for more than a few minutes over text at a time.

catherine sat on molly's couch with her legs curled up to her chest, her best friend opposite of her. the woman had been chatting with one another for the past few hours. the sun had set and the new bottle of wine molly just purchased was now empty, the remnants filling the glasses in their hands half full.

the two had been giggling about something molly said, going back and forth about how their lives had been going. molly was telling a story about her new boyfriend, antonio.

ever since catherine started nannying, their communication dwindled, leaving for much to be discussed. and to no fault of their own—just the way life played out of them.

"okay, so," catherine started, her grip firm on the glass of wine in her hands as she shifted to find a new comfortable position on molly's couch. "he's all moved in?"

"as of last week." the woman across from her confirmed, a nod to follow as she sipped from her glass.

"aw, oh my gosh," catherine cooed, a warm, happy feeling soaring through her at the thought of her best friend's happiness. "so it's serious, huh?"

molly nodded, a far away look in her eyes as her mind fell to the man she started to fall deeply for. "yeah.. i really love him." a pout formed on catherine's plump lips as her hand rested on her heart, her eyes doe. "but, i haven't exactly told him that yet, so don't say anything." molly finished, eliciting a few giggles from the pair.

"where is he, anyway?" catherine asked, then pulling a sip of the alcohol from her glass.

molly looked past her shoulder, her black hair falling past it and her lips turning into a frown. "he should be home soon."

catherine shrugged, her light drunken state taking her mind to new places in the matter of seconds, almost forgetting what she asked molly in the first place.

and she wasn't sure whether a minute or ten had passed before they heard the front door open and slam shut, catherine just assuming it was antonio.

molly looked up excitedly, a huge smile on her face when the man greeted her, a similar smile on his tired face. the couple greeted each other as if they were alone, the thought of their possible pda not bothering them one bit. it was when catherine could see molly going in to kiss her boyfriend that she cleared her throat obnoxiously and fast.

molly quickly threw her best friend an unimpressed look before she pulled away from the man before her. "'tonio, this is my best friend, catherine."

antonio walked over to the couch where catherine had been sitting, reaching a hand out to shake. "it's nice to finally meet you."

the pair carried a short conversation of pleasantries, his accent throwing the woman for surprise.

the group then conversed for a short while before antonio excused himself to bed, giving molly a short kiss and catherine one last nod for the night.

the two woman waited for the sound of their bedroom door to shut before they geeked out, catherine the first to break as she dramatically threw her head back, acting as if she fainted. molly did a gesture similar as they both shared giggles of amusement.

"oh, my god," catherine started, "who knew mo could bag a hot, italian boyfriend?"

"you mean the man of my dreams? i've been manifesting him for years." the woman joked back before another fit of laughter fell over them. once their laughs subsided, molly continued, "what about you, mama? any lucky men catch your eye?"

it was then that catherine's heart sunk. the entire evening, she avoided the topic of her love life as much as possible. molly could always see right through her, and ever since her small realization for the possible, tiny feelings she had for paige, she knew she couldn't let molly know. that would just confirm it further, which was something she did not need.

the brunettes face changed drastically, her brows jumping and eyes widening. the alcohol in her system was not helping with the calm and collected persona she had been trying to convey. she cleared her throat as if it would help her spit out an answer even faster.

"uh, not really." catherine replied as she nervously took a big gulp from her glass, leaving it empty.

molly watched how catherine's face changed, knowing her best friend all too well. "oh?" she questioned, challengingly. "not a man." she says matter of factly, catherine's eyes bulging. her lips parted, but nothing ever came out of them. she really wasn't helping her ever growing case, now biting down nervously on her plump, pink lips.

molly reads the girl for a few more seconds—how she won't look at her, the way she's tapping the rim of her glass nervously, the way her lip was now caught between her teeth—before she gasps dramatically.

"shut the fuck up!" molly sits up in her seat excitedly, catherine desperately trying to catch up with her best friends rapid thought process. "it's paige." she spoke matter of factly, making catherine's eyes bulge once more and her stomach drop. that fact that it was obvious to the woman was mind blowing to catherine.

catherine could only scoff in response, unsure what to say.

"i'm right?" molly asks, catherine just shaking her head disappointingly.

"i hate you." was all catherine could answer with, furthering confirming molly's correct suspicions.

molly gasped again, "i am so fucking right!"

"we're not talking about this." catherine stated surely before standing up from the couch, walking over to molly's kitchen to pour herself another glass of wine. now that molly knew, she was gonna need it.

molly was quick on her feet, following catherine closely. "uh, yes we are."

"mo—"

"i'm kinda shocked. you never were a blonde hair blue eyes kinda girl." the woman began to ramble, talking over catherine's pleas to drop the topic.

shaking her head, catherine responds, "how do you even know that?"

molly just shrugged, leaning against her granite kitchen counter. "paige is very easy to look up—"

"no, i mean how do you know my type?"

"cat." molly spoke, unimpressed. "you've never dated a white person in your life."

if this were a sitcom t.v. show, molly was sure this is when the laughing track would play. and the unimpressed look on catherine's face only made this moment that much better.

"shut up," catherine scoffs, pouring the new glass into her cup. "and we're not dating." she states. "and we're not going to date."

"she doesn't feel the same way?" molly inquired, sipping the last bit of wine from her glass.

"i don't know.. doesn't matter." the brunette spoke sheepishly with a shake of her head. "i already decided i'm not going down that path."

molly shrugs with a sigh, grabbing the new bottle from catherine's hands to refill her glass as well, "i think you should. you always talk so highly of her."

"i do not." catherine defends—or deflects. her and molly would disagree on which she was doing at the moment.

"oh please, yes you do." molly stated, more unimpressed now than she was before. "even the internet thinks you guys are a thing."

shaking her head, catherine asks, "how do you even know that?" the woman was shocked once again, before she could really comprehend what she said. "wait—they do?"

molly was surprised that she was still shocked at catherine's lack of knowledge. of course she didn't know. "how do you not know this?.. i swear you only use instagram to stalk chris."

gasping offendedly, catherine's eyes bulged and her jaw fell. "i do not— take that back!"

molly shrugged, "you're not over him and that's fine.. not!"

catherine let her eyes roll, "you think you're hilarious."

"i do."

"i'm not doing this with you." the brunette shook her head once more, grabbing her now full glass of wine, walking in the direction of her room.

"you're not over chris and that's why you don't want to accept that you like paige," molly said matter of factly, "which is fine and all, but at what cost?"

"i am over chris," catherine stated, convincing both herself and her best friend, "and i don't like paige."

molly sighed, "okay fine.." she trailed off, sighing. "we can talk about something else."

"really?" catherine asked with a sigh of relief.

"no," molly laughed. "fuck chris.. and you should fuck paige."

catherine's eyes widened once more that night at molly's bold claims, almost forgetting who her best friend was deep inside—messy. "go to bed, you drunk dumbass." the woman laughed through her words.

"fine, but we will talk about this tomorrow."

"i'm sure of it." catherine shook her head before heading towards the guest bedroom she would be residing in.

˚✧.*

catherine rolled around in her temporary bed uncomfortably, growing irritated with her mind's unwillingness to let her sleep. her mind was running at several miles a minute. all she could think about was what molly said, and worst of all, paige.

she hated that the blonde only ever consumed her thoughts. she hated that she was aware of her growing feelings. she hated how much of a comfort paige had become to her. she hated it all so much, she decided to call the hated woman in question.

in her drunk state, that made the most sense.

a few more rings than catherine's would've liked passed before paige picked up, but she picked up the phone nonetheless.

"hey, cat." paige answered, her voice soft and sleepy, but catherine didn't notice.

"why didn't you tell me people thought we were a couple?" the woman inquired intensely, putting paige in the hot seat without even a minute to think.

"huh?"

catherine continued on, wondering how long until paige could read her. "how do i not know this?"

"uh, i mean.." the blonde trailed off, unsure how to answer, sitting up a bit in her bed. "people.. think i'm with everyone, i didn't think it was a big deal?"

the brunette scoffed, "oh, it's not a big deal?"

"not that it's not a big deal," paige corrected herself quickly, growing more nervous by the second. she wondered where this was all coming from and why catherine was mad at her for it. "but, y'know, it's not true, i thought i wouldn't have to tell you."

catherine sighs, nodding even though paige couldn't see her. "y'know, i never really was into blonde hair and blue eyes."

paige was even more confused now, her brows furrowing as she looked at the screen with catherine's contact photo up. she couldn't help but giggle even just a little. "what are you talking about?"

"i've never dated a white person in my whole life." the woman continued.

paige laughed again, nodding at no one, "oh, we're messing around?" it was then paige finally understood catherine. reading her was easier than either of them would've hoped. "you had a hard night?"

catherine sighed, choosing to not say anything.

"what happened?" paige asked, more serious and sincere this time.

catherine scoffed, throwing her head back against the white pillow beneath her. "oh, you just know me so well."

the blonde shrugs. "yeah, i'd say so."

"you're so annoying." the woman mumbled, unamused.

"c'mon, what's wrong?" paige encouraged, willing her to open up.

catherine wasn't sure what to say exactly, the alcohol in her system blurring most of her coherent thoughts, only molly's voice and words circling her mind. "apparently i only use instagram to stalk chris."

paige nodded, again, understanding more now. "fuck chris."

catherine couldn't help but laugh at that, paige happy to hear her giggles. she couldn't explain to paige how she was really feeling. she wanted to change the subject. "yeah.. how was your day?"

"it was alright." paige answered truthfully, "now, stop ignoring my question."

catherine sighed, shaking her head. paige could hear the woman shift in her bed momentarily before she responded. "nothings wrong."

"i disagree."

catherine scoffed. the fact that paige knew her almost as well as molly did infuriated her. "okay, and?"

"you drinking? you're meaner than you normally are."

"fuck you."

the blonde just giggled, knowing she was right. rolling onto her side, paige pulled the phone to her ear again. "how's molly?"

"she's good." catherine replied, happy the subject was changing. "she has a boyfriend."

"yeah? is he hot?" paige asked jokingly.

"like an italian vinny hacker."

"oh, send him my way." the woman joked, desperately waiting for catherine's disgusted response.

"that's repulsing, p." catherine joked before laughing along with the woman on the other end.

moments of comfortable silence passed once their laughs died down, catherine now ultimately happy she called paige in the first place. that was until her fun drunk mood turned into that of an overly emotional and overly critical one.

"i miss you." the brunette admitted, "and i wish you missed me back." the woman whined with a crack in her voice, an overwhelming feeling of being emotional crashing over her at the mere thought of paige.

"i do miss you," paige assured her sincerely with a soft voice, her heart swarming at catherine's confession, hoping it wasn't just a drunken thought. the whiplash she received from catherine feeling irritated to emotional made her head spin. "a lot.. i wish you were here."

"you do?" catherine asked, her voice sad.

"mhm." paige assured her.

catherine sniffled and sighed, her face laying against her pillow sleepily. "i really love having you around."

now it was paige's turn to question the woman's integrity, "you do? feel like you been avoiding me lately."

catherine knew paige could feel her distance. it made her feel worse about it. "i'm sorry."

"don't be." paige assured her. "did i do something?"

shaking her head no, the brunette answered with a simple, "i just don't know what to say to you."

"why?" the blonde asked, genuinely curious.

"i.." have the biggest crush on you? i am falling for you and i don't want to? i think you're beautiful and it makes me tongue tied? "..don't know."

"well.. i'd be really happy if you stopped avoiding me." paige assured her. "i really like having you around, too."

catherine grinned from ear to ear, her heart swarming with even more feelings for the woman, deciding she needed to call it a night before she said something she would regret. "thanks for picking up."

"i gotchu."

paige grinned at her phone once catherine hung up, shutting it off and getting comfortable in her childhood bed. however, she began experiencing the exact same issues catherine was merely ten minutes ago.

she couldn't get catherine off of her mind.

paige wondered if what catherine was saying were her true feeling or just drunken thoughts. perhaps they were feelings that were never meant to come out. now, she was desperate for catherine to say more. she needed to know more before her mind wandered too deep—before she got her own hopes up.

suddenly her smile fell, and falling back asleep after catherine's call woke her up sounded harder than it originally did.

chapter fourteen: the ketchup song.

six years ago..

the dallas cowboys played on the large screen in amy's living room, paige laid out across the dark, leather sofa. she had been feeling especially sick that day, compared to the many days of sickness she'd been experiencing before. the smell of the thanksgiving food made her nauseous, sending chills down her spine continuously.

the girl assumed the flying she had done a few days prior heightened her queasiness. it was odd because all she wanted to do was stuff her face with as much thanksgiving food as she could, but her body wouldn't let her.

maybe the sudden break up with alex was messing with her, too. she's been feeling down ever since he up and ghosted her.

only moments passed before amy entered the room, a glass of water in hand. "hey, hun," the woman started, looking down at her daughter. "here's some water, and tums.." the woman explained, "it should help with the nausea, and then maybe you can join us for dinner later."

paige sat up, the ill feelings already subsiding. this roller coaster sickness was starting to annoy her. some days she was fine, others she felt bedridden.

"thanks, mom." paige smiled, leaning against the brown, leather couch cushions. "it's weird, i already feel better." the girl explained.

amy shrugged with a smile, "planes will do that to ya."

paige and madison sat comfortably on amy's brown, leather couch as they watched the football game displayed on the large flat screen television. well, paige watched the game while madison was busy coloring, curtesy of paige's mother.

the smell of thanksgiving food lingered throughout the family home paige visited almost every thanksgiving break each year.

though she was raised primarily by her father and stepmother, she shared meaningful and intimate life moments in this home.

the biggest, however, was finding out that she was pregnant with madison only six years ago this thanksgiving day. the words, "i'm pregnant." were words neither paige nor her mother expected to hear for another ten years.

the memories flashed in her mind as the entire family gathered around the dinner table, plates in hand as they all got comfortable in their designated seats.

the family went around saying grace and sharing what they were thankful for, a tradition they normally did over every thanksgiving dinner, one madison knew paige or amy would never let her skip. she was always ready to eat.

paige smiled at madison as it was her turn to share what she was thankful for, "what're you thankful, mads?"

"um," the girl starts, "i'm thankful for mom, and cat, and grandma, and aunt lauren, and uncle ryan, and papa, and uncle drew, and allison from kindergarten, and my sports friends." the girl went on for a while, naming everyone and everything she was thankful for, all the adults just sharing loving and comedic smiles. "and i'm thankful for skittles the cat.. and skittles the food.. and that's all."

paige couldn't help but chuckle at her daughter, her heart swelling with nothing but overwhelming amounts of love for the girl. there was nothing paige loved more in the world.

the rest of the day went by without a hitch. paige's presumed stomach bug or motion sickness had seemed to fade just in time to sit down with her family for thanksgiving dinner.

it was the conversation with her mom after that changed the trajectory of her entire world.

paige had been stood in the kitchen, helping her mother clean up dinner for the night, her stepdad and siblings off to their rooms for the night as they would be up early the next day for all the black friday shopping you could ever imagine.

it wasn't until paige felt a huge cramp in her stomach that her mother began worrying and questioned.

the blonde stood over the kitchen, placing down the plate she was once washing off to hold her stomach, wincing momentarily at the weird jolt of pain.

amy looked over from the food she had been packing into tupperware containers at paige's sudden pause in words and the sound of groans coming from her.

"are you okay, hun?" the woman approached paige slowly and gently, lightly placing a hand on her back. "is it cramps?"

paige just grimaced as she made eye contact with her mom, nodding soon after but the pain too much to speak.

"oh, honey, i didn't know you were on your period," amy started, her hand rubbing up and down paige's back to comfort her. "that's probably why you've been feeling so sick."

"i'm not on my period, though, so i'm still confused." paige admits, the realization not hitting her as fast as it did amy, her hand stopping on her back and pulling away.

"well, when did you last get it?"

paige shrugs, the pains from her cramp attack subsiding. "dunno.. like, august?"

the older woman's eyes widened, stepping back from her daughter. "three months?!"

paige didn't see the problem in anything that was being spoken, amy's reaction catching her off guard. "i mean, yeah, they do that sometimes." the girl spoke in reference to her menstrual cycle.

amy looked like she had seen a ghost, slight panic taking over.

"mom, chill," paige reacted poorly to her mothers reaction. "why're you freaking out?"

amy had more or less began to grow frustrated, a hand falling to the counter to support her weight. "come with me."

paige quirked an eyebrow, hesitant to follow the manic woman. 'why is she tripping?' paige thought.

moments passed before the girl heard the screech of her mothers voice, echoing off the walls of what she assumed to be the hallway bathroom.

again, she hesitated to move, scared of what she was about to face.

to say she wasn't expecting amy to slam a pregnancy test down on the counter would be an understatement. the blondes eyes widened, looking between the test and her mother confused.

"wha—"

"take this." amy demanded.

"mom—" paige exclaimed, shaking her head, confusion being the only thing she felt.

"now, paige!"

"i'm not taking that, what the fuck?" the girl refused and insulted. maybe she felt embarrassed, or maybe she didn't want to realize the truth she's been questioning for a while now, but amy even suggesting that she was pregnant offended her.

"yes, you are!" the woman shouted back.

and she did.

and it was the most life changing day of her life.

two blue lines fading into place, a bright indication of what her life was about to become, and how she'd change as a person. oh, and how mad her mom was.

paige's mind wandered back to that night often, especially every thanksgiving getaway she spent at her mothers house since then. like an anniversary of sorts, a moment she'll never forget.

the blonde was sat at her mothers dining room table, surrounded by her siblings and her daughter, her mother and stepdad sitting directly across from her. she had seemed to have lost the conversation a bit, not chiming in as much as the memories playing in her head became bigger than her mind.

amy noticed, clearing her throat immediately to bring paige back. "paige?"

the woman looks up to meet eyes with her mother, flashing her a stale smile, then turning to look at her younger sister. "sorry.. what were you saying, laur?"

lauren noticed, her heart tugging for her older sister, only understanding the issues between paige and her mother more and more as she got older. "i was just wondering what you and maddie do for fun?" the teenager starts, "y'know, does storrs have any cool amusement parks or anything?"

paige shrugs, looking down at her plate, "there's not much to do in storrs, but maddie did start a sports program, so it's been a good way for her to get out. we've been having fun with that, right mads?"

madison nods enthusiastically, a smile appearing on her face, excited to be apart of the conversation. she sat up in her seat, eventually on her knees so she could see everyone better. "mhm, i get to play basketball with mom, now." the girl starts, "and soccer with cat."

amy listened in on her granddaughter, trying her best not to grimace at madison's new name for paige. "that's nice, hun." the older woman nodded at the young girl.

everyone could feel the tension between paige and amy, and something about thanksgiving day always heightened it, neither of the woman every fully moving on from that night six years ago.

"uh," amy starts, her pitch high, looking to make more conversation at the dull table, "paige?"

"hm?" the woman hummed as she chewed on some mac n' cheese.

"how's alex?"

paige stopped chewing the moment madison's dads name left amy's lips. that question alone would always make paige stop in her tracks. she didn't move, but her eyes raised from her plate to find amy's innocent and expecting ones. they stayed like that for a moment longer before paige finished chewing, swallowing her food before she clears her throat.

"uh," paige started, not knowing what to say. the amount of times her mother tried to talk about alex were way too many for paige's appreciation. "i don't know, mom. we don't talk."

amy sighs, a hand coming up to 'fix' her perfectly styled blonde hair, then crossing her hands together. "families are supposed to be together on thanksgiving, paige."

"he's not family, mom." paige responded quickly.

"we spend important days with cat, she's like family," madison chimes in, "like on mom's birthday!"

amy cringed at madison's use of the word mom, visibly this time, then looking between the two of them confused. "who is cat?" the woman asked, frustrated at how madison kept talking about this anonymous person the last two days.

paige knew if she told her mother who catherine really was that it would only lead to more arguments, which is why she spent the last couple of days avoiding talking about her as much as she could. paige tried desperately to speak before madison could, but to no luck.

"she's mom's friend that hangs out with me when mom is at school." the girl spoke innocently, picking at the food on her plate.

paige sighed at this, awaiting the lecture to follow. unfortunately, amy was not stupid, and she knew exactly what that meant.

amy scoffed, her eyes darting to paige in an instant. "that's what you're doing with your NIL money? you hired a nanny?"

paige shakes her head, unamused, "i don't even know why i told you about that."

"you're leaving madison with a stranger all day long?" amy spoke, ignoring paige's comment, shocked at the mere thought.

"what did you think i was doing, mom? bringing her to class with me?" paige sassed, scooting back in her chair as she grabbed her plate, excusing herself to the kitchen.

amy didn't want to just drop the conversation the way paige had wanted, following her daughter into the next room. "why didn't you leave her with your dad?" the woman criticized.

"because she's my kid, and i'm in a better place to take care of her."

"you hired a nanny, you're not in a better place, paige." amy criticized, to which paige just shook her head, disagreeing. "i see you out there with your brand deals and events. you're leaving madison with a stranger while you go party?"

"catherine is not a stranger. she's great with maddie." paige defended catherine's name before moving on to her own. "and i'm not just out partying. i'm working. constantly."

silence fell upon them, paige turning back to the sink as she washed off her plate.

amy sighed to break the silence before shaking her head at her daughter, her arms folding across her chest. "you should have reached out to alex."

"stop saying that!" paige turned to the woman, frustrated. "i'm not just gonna reach out to him. he can reach out on his own. i'm done reaching out."

"madison needs a paternal figure in her life."

"he doesn't want her, mom." paige explained as simply and harshly as she could. "he just doesn't want her."

amy shook her head again, disagreeing everything leaving paige's mouth.

the two went back and forth a moment longer before madison's small voice interrupted them.

"mom!" the girl whined.

paige turned frantically to the girl, sighing as she felt stress wash over her. "what, maddie?"

"can you play me the spanish song?"

paige's brows furrowed, completely lost at madison's request, shaking her head and she spoke. madison had been asking for days, to which paige would play a series of random latin songs, hoping she'd find the one. "what?"

"the spanish song cat lets me listen to."

paige sighed, "later, maddie. i'm talking to grandma."

"please," the girl continued to whine.

"in a second, baby—"

"mom!" the girl complained again, and again, and again.

"madison, i said no!" paige went back and forth with her daughter, until madison dropped to the floor, her tantrum dramatic and unnecessary,

paige groaned, pulling out her phone, "stop, stop," the woman started, "i'm calling cat, look." she put her phone close to madison, showing her she was calling catherine. that seemed to calm the girl down for a little.

it rang and rang but no answer, to which paige frowned, "fuck." she muttered, going to call the woman again.

the older woman sat back as she watched this interaction, shaking her head disappointingly and with much disapproval.

"you don't even know what she likes paige, that's a problem." amy criticizes paige for not knowing madison's favorite spanish song as she kneeled by her granddaughter, comforting her during her tantrum.

paige learned from catherine that is definitely not how you're supposed to react. who was she to step in the way of grandma, though.

paige just rolled her eyes at the woman's comment, shaking her head. she scrolled for catherine's contact once more, having lost her in the flood of her teammates and family members texting her that day.

the older woman continued to criticize paige further until paige decided to just walk away. she needed a break.

she made her way out of the kitchen, definitely not missing the sympathetic looks she received from her siblings as she made her way to her childhood bedroom, phone up to her ear as she like the tone ring.

and by the grace of God, catherine finally picked up. the phone clicked as paige shut the door of her room behind her, catherine's sweet voice interrupting the chaos in her home.

"hi! happy thanksgiv—" the woman's voice sang her words excitedly, but paige wasn't in the mood for the pleasantries.

"whats the spanish song maddie likes?" the blonde cut the woman off, sighing into the phone as she spoke. "she's been yelling for it and i can't figure it out."

all paige could hear on the other end were fits of laughter, that being catherine's only response as she teased the woman lightly.

"she's been asking all week." paige sighed, "i swear i've played half of daddy yankee's discography."

the woman on the other end snorts to herself, "paige, define discography."

paige's faced resembled that of offended, responding quickly. "shut up, that's just what it says when i look him up." she rambles.

catherine smiles into her phone, the device also held up to her ear so that molly and her boyfriend couldn't hear the conversation. they all were sat in the kitchen, having finished cleaning up most of their mess, but still snacking on bits of food with their drinks. "look up the ketchup song on spotify."

as catherine spoke, she nodded to the couple in front of her, and threw up a single finger to indicate she'd be right back, excusing herself to the other room.

"i use apple music." paige spoke plainly.

"eugh, you're disgusting." catherine teases, as the platform in which she looks up the song isn't very significant, paige forgetting to laugh. catherine originally excused herself to have a more private conversation with paige, immediately noticing how down she sounded, and the way all of her small jokes were being ignored. that wasn't like paige at all, she usually had something way meaner to joke in response, and they'd keep going until someone couldn't. "jeez, lighten up, grinch who stole thanksgiving."

paige sighed once more, shaking her head, "sorry, it's just.. been a long day."

"yeah?" catherine pries, closing the room to molly's guest bedroom behind her.

"mhm." paige sighs out.

"what happened?" she asked, her voice soft and comforting like it always was, one of the only things that could get through to paige that quick.

the blonde began to rant, all of the small jabs amy had made over the past couple of days that lead to this moment.

paige sighed into the phone once more, her back still against her bedroom door, "it's so unfair.." she started, a hand coming to her forehead, her long fingers rubbing circles on her temple to soothe her incoming headache. "and she keeps talking about alex."

catherine audibly gasped at this, "what the fuck?" she asked rhetorically, disgust in her voice.

"i don't understand," the blonde mumbles, "how does he get to leave.. and i get stuck with all the blame?" she asks, voice cracking.

this was a question that she often thought about whenever her mother would give her unsupportive looks or criticize the lack of a father figure in madison's life to paige.

"i'm.." paige starts, "i'm so fucking tired.. and all everyone does is criticize me.." the woman admitted to her friend, breathless.

catherine was quiet on the other end because only she could hear the sounds of her own heart breaking. hearing paige so down made her frown like she never had. she wasn't sure it was empathy she was feeling, but she too wanted to start crying.

"i'm so sorry, paige." catherine tells the woman, genuinely. "you're one of the best moms i've ever met, she's just bullshitting."

something about hearing those words from catherine did actually make a difference to paige. maybe it was because she had learned so much from catherine over these last three months. she trusted her judgment more than she'd ever admit.

"you think so?"

"i know so." the brunette assured.

paige smiled into her phone for the first time tonight, "i wish you were here.. you make raising maddie alone easier. i feel like i don't ever have to worry." the woman admits sadly.

"you're not raising her alone, p, i'll always be here to help.. and i'm not the only one."

a moment of comfortable silence fell upon them, and paige relished in the quiet she'd been seeking for days now. though she loved being around her family and friends more than anything, she still desperately needed her alone time everyday.

"i miss you, cat." paige spoke to break the silence, her voice sad, a huge contrast to how she normally was. however, not only was this statement true, she wanted to know if how catherine was acting the night before was how she really felt, or just drunken nothings.

"i miss you guys," the woman on the other end responded, her heart now beating faster. paige missed her. "i'll see you soon, p." catherine added in hopes to cheer paige up.

paige chuckled, knowing catherine too well. knowing why she did the things she did or says the things she says. she also chuckled at how well catherine knew her. she didn't want to admit it, but she always know how to cheer her up in mere minutes.

"so.. it's called the ketchup song?"

catherine laughs again, "yes, i know it sounds silly."

the blonde chuckles, "why does she like it?"

catherine shrugs to herself, "there's like a fun dance that goes with the chorus.. i don't know, she just makes me do it."

paige laughed to herself once more, biting her lip to hide how much happier she was now from just talking to catherine. it was the way basketball made her feel, but better. more intimate.

"thanks for picking up." paige repeated catherine's words from the night prior, still cheering to herself, thanking God that catherine wasn't here to see—her smiling, or how rosey her cheeks had become.

paige could hear catherine's smile through the phone, her voice lighten yet still sweet, "don't thank me.. and, happy thanksgiving. tell maddie for me, too."

"i will.. happy thanksgiving, catherine.. goodnight."

"night, paige."

paige's phone clicked at the sound of catherine ending the call, pulling the device away from her ear at the indication. paige's smile faltered just a bit as she stared at her now blank screen, knowing she still had a couple more days without catherine.

the blonde stuffed her phone into her hoodie pocket, finally picking herself up from where she had spent the last few minutes leaning against the door, just to stalk over to her twin sized bed. she allowed herself to flop in it before eventually leaning on her side, back facing the door. again, relishing in the much needed silence. she decided to focus on the sounds of her breathing, enjoying every second of it.

though it didn't last long, the sound of the door opening interrupting.

paige turned to look at the door, looking up, expecting amy to be standing in the doorway. however, she had to divert her attention down, where she would find madison standing hesitantly.

paige turned to the door fully, heart tugging at the sad look on madisons face, concern displayed across her own. "hey, babe. come in."

madison stepped in the room, slightly closing the door behind her, walking towards paige's bed. the girl took her time climbing up, then sitting next to where paige laid as she pouted.

the girl just leaned to plant a kiss to her mothers cheek, the same way paige would whenever madison was sad, then sitting back up to say, "i love you, mom. i'm sorry i throwed a fit." that was all that left her lips as she tried to comfort paige to the best of her abilities.

paige smiled once more, the sweet gesture enough to make her want to start sobbing. "i love you more, mads. don't be sorry.. i'm sorry i stormed off and left you with grandma." paige dramatized her words, making madison let out some giggles

"la diabla." madison agreed, which threw paige off completely.

the woman laughed through her words, her brows furrowing, "what?"

she made a mental note for catherine to give her a heads up on the spanish words she taught madison. she couldn't keep up.

madison just shrugs, also unsure of what she said. "that's what cat calls mean people."

it didn't hit paige until she sat on it for a second, knowing she's heard it before. the woman laughed to herself again at the realization, trying not to giggle too much.

"what's it mean?" the girl asked.

"nothing." paige continued to laugh to herself.

madison pouted, knowing paige was keeping a secret. the woman couldn't have madison look at her like that much longer, starting to feel bad for excluding madison from the unknown inside joke.

"hey, look what i found." paige spoke, scrolling on her phone momentarily before the ketchup song starts to play. this caused madison to gasp and for the pout to dissolve instantly.

"yay! the ketchup song!"

the blonde scoffed, "you knew the name the whole time and you didn't tell me?"

"i didn't know it was the name." the girl shrugs, sass lacing her words as she begin muttering the words to the best of her ability, paige just laughing once more.

authors note!

hii.. it’s been a minute lol. i’m better about posting on my wattpad than on here so i’m sorry to my tumblr peeps haha (wattpad is uwupaige)

as usual, tell me all ur thoughts!!

thank you for reading! 🩷

mari 🫧

8.8k words.

[moriitis]

Knight!Toby Rogers. HCs. Medieval AU. 18+

¬ Comes from a very poor background, lived in the poorer district.

¬ His dad a drunk, his mother passed away during childbirth. Lyra had found work and gotten married, thus leaving him with his father.

¬ His dad nothing but a low life farmer who used what money he got on alcohol. Claimed he fought in the 'big war' but Toby never believed it. ¬ Finally snapped one night and killed his father in a fury of rage. When his fathers taxes weren't paid, the local guards discovered the murder. ¬ Toby is now labelled as a criminal and is sentenced to death. ¬ But the day of his execution, the King's Knight decides that Toby deserves a chance and convinces the King to send Toby to Knight school for the rest of his childhood; serving his sentence to be trained as a Knight. ¬ At the age of thirteen, he narrowly escapes the death sentence and is sent to Knight school. ¬ Knight school is rough and brutal and Toby faces countless bullying from the fellow boys due to his tics. Finds himself getting beat up a lot there, chased out into the woods or even spat on as they walked past. ¬ 'You'd never make it as a Knight.' They would sneer at him. ¬ Six AM starts, running until his lungs could collapse. They'd deny breakfast if you couldn't complete the laps around the fortress, which was perched atop a mountain. ¬ Many boys fell to their death, each morning a boy missing from the treacherous paths and rocky climbs. ¬ Three hours of learning the art of combat. Swords, axes, fist to fist. Each wound nothing but a lesson to become better. ¬ Toby finishes Knight school at the age of eighteen. ¬ He's immediately employed by the same King that spared his life, now finding himself in chains of loyalty to the crown. ¬ Toby is devoted to the crown and the King. ¬ He's put on wall duty, executions at first and ensuring safety within the kingdom and its citizens. ¬ But really proves his worth when he takes an arrow that was meant for the King, saving the King's life. ¬ Ranked up to now Knight for the King himself, attending high court meetings, the feasts and following him on horseback when needed so.

¬ Becomes nothing but a loyal dog. ¬ Upon his rank up, Toby shaves his head. A sign of his devotion to his king and a renewal of his vows as a Knight. ¬ A quiet, dead, brown eyed boy that lost his innocence young. ¬ Doesn't speak unless spoken to, but as the years tick on he will begin to advise for the King. ¬ Adding inputs in council meetings, helping avoid another great war. ¬ Becomes witty, smart and dangerous the more he works alongside the King. ¬ A small part within him desperate to be loved, looked after. ¬ A very broken shell of a man. ¬ Does not attend chapel as he is not religious.

Scenario...

You are the Princess/Prince. HCs.

¬ Loving you is strictly out of the question. It's forbidden, you were due to be married off to another. ¬ But Toby couldn't deny the feelings he felt each time you looked at him. Like he was being.. noticed? ¬ You looked through his armour, you saw nothing but a touch starved mutt. ¬ Each time he was instructed to guard you or accompany you, he'd feel such a sense of duty that weighed on him, greater than any other.

¬ Being near you, near your presence, it did things to him in a way he couldn't describe. ¬ Was it the lack of sex? ¬ He'd spent some nights in the brothels, but the idea of you, how wrong it would be. It lulled him in more. ¬ Each time you grazed fingers, he'd look at you in a way that longed for desire and you felt it too. ¬ He spent more time alone with you, even in the chapel. ¬ And he wasn't sure what happened, but now you were pinned against the chapel wall and he was helplessly attacking the flesh of your neck. ¬ And it wasn't just that instance where he'd taken you helplessly. ¬ The empty armoury, hell with it, the stable even. ¬ And it was wrong, so wrong, but the thought of it only encouraged him more. ¬ He'd watch in jealousy as your hand was given away, the thought to kidnap you and make him his own becoming a thought that kept him awake at night. ¬ How he could make it work, how he could be a good husband, how he could protect you.

[maybeiwasjustjade]

The High King theory truly makes me ill.

And knowing SJM and her obsession with making certain characters superior and/or have some kind of divine right to rule, I know she’ll try to make it happen at the expense of literally everyone else.

Moreover, I don’t see how it can happen without a major war. They just got out of 50 years under Amarantha, I doubt the courts are itching for another incompetent warlords’ attempt at HK/HQ.

Who exactly would bow to Feyre and Rhysand? The High Lords meeting showed that barely anyone tolerated them, nor did they have any actual allies that wasn’t Helion. And I doubt Helion would be so forgiving when he finds out about Lucien. Tamlin and Eris would never, so they’d have to die. Neither would Tarquin or Kallias agree, so that’s a given war with the Seasonal Courts. Dawn would stay neutral, or end up the rebel court. It really is the only toss up.

And even with Gwydion (which rightfully belongs to Nesta alongside the Trove) as some kind of divine symbol, feysand genuinely sucks at ruling. Conquer Prythian—yes, conquer because the other HL would never submit if they asked nicely—when they can’t even rule or play nice with their own people. Enough with the HK dreams, Amren; Rhysand would be lucky if Illyria and Hewn City don’t band together soon to stage a massive uprising.

(Y’know I’m not surprised nobody in the IC can empathize with the CoN citizens. They were all trapped in Velaris for fifty years, where they were free and the sun still rose. Imagine if they’d been UtM with everyone else; maybe then they’d get it. That life where even the sun and trees and anything worth living is out of reach at the whims of a dictator is no life at all.)

And I’ve seen theories floating around that the HK plot is set up for Nyx instead, because he’s destined to inherit all seven powers of the court. Yeah, that’s equally terrible. Divine right to rule and conquer is bullshit. Balance is something that should exist but doesn’t in Acotar. If it did, Feyre wouldn’t be as powerful as she is. 7 drops is not a lot of magic; so tiny and miniscule that each HL didn’t even really notice they lost it. It doesn’t make sense that she could go toe to toe with them with just a singular drop.

Which is baffling when the same author wrote ToG. Everything that was given was scraped together and fought for miserably, and even in all that power, they had to sacrifice so much. Aelin Settled and got her kingdom back, but at the price of losing almost all her fire and getting to keep one drop of water. Dorian still has most of his magic, but at the price of being made a demon slave, committing fratricide, and having the sole responsibility of redeeming his kingdom ala Zuko. Manon fulfilled the prophecy and united her people, allowing them the chance to return home for the first time in 500 years. All it took was losing the Thirteen, who would never see that dream come to life.

Nothing came without cost.

And while yes, Feyre deserved to be remade after her death saving Prythian, the amount of magic she wields is the issue. Nesta having so much magic made sense given she stole most of it; we have yet to really see how much is left. But where’s the balance if Feysand does end up HK/HQ, or Nyx does. What have they given up that makes them more worthy to rule the entirety of Prythian than literally any other character? Because I can argue that they’ve lost a lot lesser. Whatever rights feysand believes they have is no more than a lot of other characters.

And the bloodline of Theia? Yeah, I’m pretty sure the important ones are her female descendants, like Bryce. And Bryce gave Gwydion to Nesta for a reason. If SJM wanted me to believe Feysand was the best choice, she should’ve made Nyx be born full Illyrian. Or better yet, mostly High Fae but with no magic. That would’ve been a much more interesting story to follow, given that Nyx might not be the next inheritor of the Night Court. And what it would mean for the Hewn City. She’ll never do it of course, but it would be fun.

[hlficlibrary]

HL FIC LIBRARY ☕ Coffee Shop Fics

Remember to leave kudos and a comment on the fics you enjoyed to show your appreciation! You can find the library's other recs here.

☕ I’d Still Dance With You by kikikryslee / @flamboyantommo {M, 57k}

“Liam, if you met someone that you really liked, would age matter?” Louis asked. “I suppose so; to a point, anyway.” “Like, how young would you go?” Liam thought it over. “Uh… I don’t know. Like, 24?” Louis groaned and dropped his head in his hands. “Why? How old is this guy you like?” “Twenty-one,” Louis muttered. “Hang on. He’s 21, and you’re… what? Twenty-eight?” “Yeah.” “Wow. Um… well, OK. That’s a, uh, that’s a gap.”

Or, the 21/28 age difference fic where Harry is younger than Louis thought he was, and even though Louis’ head is telling him not to pursue anything, his heart doesn’t seem to agree.

☕ I Really Like Your Styles: The Baking Advent-ure by @homosociallyyours {T, 34k}

Louis isn't much for frills, and the coffee shop he co-owns with his best friend Liam is evidence of that. Yes, it's got a decent sized, well-kept industrial kitchen, but Louis insists that people come to coffee shops for coffee, not mediocre pastry and plastic wrapped cookies. When Liam's campaign for serving treats turns into watching a few baking accounts on whichever popular app he's on, there's one that really gets on Louis' nerves: "I Like Your Styles." With his chipper demeanor and over the top descriptions of the food he makes, Louis is sure that the (unfortunately cute) baker is full of it. Nothing that adorable could possibly be worth the hype.

It doesn't actually take much for him to eat his words...and some quality baked goods, while he's at it.

☕ love drunk, waiting on a miracle by @hellolovers13 {E, 30k}

Christmas inspired Coffeshop AU

Harry has a bit of a crush on a customer. Thankfully, the feeling is mutual.

These are their first 24 days together.

☕ And That’s The Tea by @2tiedships2​ {M, 27k}

I’d like an Earl Grey with milk and sugar, please.

Louis had the phrase memorized, even though it had disappeared off its place on his upper arm over thirteen years ago now.

At fourteen he didn’t understand. Soulmarks don’t just disappear. Not unless…

Unless one of them dies.

Or, the one where Louis loses his soulmate before even getting the chance to meet them, and he is in no way prepared for the kind of distraction his new friend Harry proves to be.

☕ Friday I'm in Love by @perfectdagger {M, 25k}

It has a pattern, Harry has noticed.It’s not that he has been observing the guy who regularly comes to the coffee shop for the past few weeks; but he totally has.It’s also not Harry’s fault that he’s infatuated with the guy who apparently follows a very repetitive schedule.

Or the one where Harry works at the coffee shop and Louis goes there almost every day and Harry is head over heels for him, making his love life look like a The Cure song.

Inspired by Friday I’m in Love by The Cure (obviously).

☕ From The Heart (series) by jacaranda_bloom / @jacaranda-bloom {E, 24k}

Every Tuesday, Louis spends his day off holed up in his favorite coffee-come-bookshop, writing his little stories as part of the WordPlay challenge while daydreaming about the resident barista, Harry. Each week a new word prompt is revealed and Louis adds to his series of short stories about Henry, the owner of a B&B in the Cotswolds who has curly hair and dimples, Lewis, his long term guest who just happens to be a writer, and Tigger, Henry’s cat.

As Louis and Harry’s friendship develops, could his fantasy world spill out into real life? And how does that reader who leaves the lovely comments with the teacup emoji seem to be able to read Louis’ mind?

☕ ever since new york by @sunflower-live​ / sunflower_live {NR, 22k}

Louis works at a coffee shop in NYC and he pines endlessly after the boy who lives above it.

☕ blend into my favourite colour by rainbowninja167 / @rainbowtitania {T, 19k}

Harry often wonders if they’ll ever meet in real life. And if Harry will recognize Tommo the instant they see each other, like somehow their souls will just know. Or maybe Harry’s soul is shouting “Louis!” too loudly for any other signals to go through.

Harry is a barista with a secret Werewolf High fan blog, a desperate crush on a customer named Louis, and a best friend on Tumblr who always makes him laugh. Louis can't figure out why the barista at his favorite coffee shop keeps creepily staring at him, and to make matters worse, he may be slightly in love with a friend he met online.

A love square involving two boys, one TV fandom, and one food fight.

☕ The Importance of being Earnest by @louloubabys1992​ / louloubaby92 {NR, 16k}

Harry cannot help but pay extra attention to Louis' order, even if it is just a warm cup of tea with a dash of milk and no sugar. He also makes sure that the Danish Louis asks for is warm and fresh from the oven and not the one in the display, even if it means delaying Louis a bit when he fetches said Danish from the kitchen. It's all worth it when Louis smiles his crinkly smile at him before he rushes off to work.

Man, he's hot, he cannot help but think.

Or Harry is a barista who's been harboring a crush on Louis for months. Little does he know that Louis actually likes him back.

☕ Before We Ever Wrote a Song by @casuallyhl​ {E, 13k}

Harry just can't be around Louis when he's flirting outrageously with Chad Michael Murray. So what if he's the star of one of the country's most popular shows? Harry's seen an episode or two and it's not that great. Sure, the drama is exciting and all the actors are attractive and it’s shot in his hometown, but still. Not that great. Certainly not great enough for Louis to fall over himself every time Chad enters the coffee shop.

Harry doesn’t want to watch the over-the-top spectacle, which is why he usually retreats.

And besides, it hurts to see the boy he’s in love with flirting with someone else.

Or, Harry and Louis work in a coffeehouse on a film studios lot, and Harry wishes Louis would pay half as much attention to him as he does the famous actors.

☕ A Love Stronger Than Espresso by tempolarriefics / @tempolarriefix {G, 12k}

Louis is entirely dependent on caramel mocha in the mornings, but soon he finds that there's one thing at the coffee shop he needs more than coffee - a cute barista named Harry.

aka: The one where Harry is a cute barista guy and Louis plays hard to get by using a different name to order coffee each day

☕ John Doe by FitzAndLarry {G, 12k}

John Doe I don't even know you, but I know fo' sho' That you are beautiful, so baby let me know Your name Damn what's his name?

xxx

There's a boy taking the stand at the open mic night where Harry works as a barista, and he's going to find out the boy's name if it's the last thing he does.

An ode to Never Shout Never, and a story about finding a new home.

☕ Coming Home Through the Dark to You by LadyLondonderry / @londonfoginacup {G, 6k}

Harry Styles works at the Fox in the Snow, the most hipster coffee joint around. He's got too many roommates and a best friend he met his first day of university who he might very well be head-over-heels for.

☕ ‘Sup by MediaWhore / @mediawhorefics​ {G, 6k}

Gemma really wants her little brother to sign up for a dating app and get back in the game after a messy divorce. Harry thinks he’s way too old to swipe. They compromise to devastatingly embarrassing results.

Meanwhile, all Louis wants is to finish the play he’s been commissioned to write, but one of the regulars at his local coffee shop keeps distracting him.

ft. older larry, pushy gemma, harry being a disaster gay and silver fox louis.

☕ Time Of The Season by alienharry {NR, 6k}

When writer's block stands in the way of Harry completing his second novel, he turns to the sweet-smelling omega behind the counter of his new favorite coffee shop for inspiration.

☕ I Kinda Need A Hero (Is It You) by @fallinglikethis {NR, 5k}

Louis is a barista who’s had his heart broken. Harry is the boy who wants to put the pieces back together.

☕ That's Not My Name by @lululawrence {NR, 3k}

He froze for a second, because he hadn’t expected to be hit with such an intense gaze. Green eyes beneath a beanie and loads of curly hair made Louis miss a beat before coming back to himself.

“Uh, hi. Sorry. Can I take your order?”

The boy (man?) gave a shy smile and said, “Just a caramel macchiato, please. Grande.” Louis nodded as he scribbled onto the cup and punched it into the register.

As the boy held his phone to the machine to pay, Louis asked, “Name please?”

“Oh, uh, Marcus.”

Louis scribbled Marcus on the cup and handed it off, but not before giving the boy a smile and nodding over to where he’d be able to pick up his drink. Louis watched him a bit longer than he probably should have, then forced himself to move on.

Or the one where the cute boy coming into the coffee shop gives Louis a different name every time...for over a month.

☕ A Cuppa Courage by @juliusschmidt {G, 3k}

Liam kicks Harry's shin, picking up another cup to fill. “He seems like he’d be a good catch, if you liked guys, I mean.”

I do like guys, Harry does not say, even though he’d like to shout it at the top of his lungs. I DO LIKE GUYS.

[a fluffy lil' fall coffee shop coming out au.]

☕ cursing the cosmos by 5sexualhomos / @hogwartzlou {NR, 3k}

In a world where people have timers counting down to when they meet their soulmate, finding love is easy. Harry meets Louis in a coffee shop one day. They slowly fall in love, the only thing holding them back is that they aren't soulmates.

☕ baby baby, you're a caramel macchiato by @missandrogyny {T, 3k}

So, yeah, Harry doesn't think it's that far of a stretch to call himself a good barista. There are some particularly bad ones, and some particularly good ones, and, with his work ethic, his skill, and his charm, he'd probably be lumped in with the latter group.

☕  tell me what you need by @disgruntledkittenface​ {G, 2k}

“And a fresh cherry?” he asks, pinching his bottom lip between his fingers. He waits as Louis stares him down, his brow furrowing.“No? What the fuck,” Louis rasps, looking bewildered.

coffeeshop AU based on this iconic prompt:

harry: can i please get a semi-iced half caramel half vanilla decaf latte with no foam using fresh almond milk with a small swirl of whipped cream covered in a pinch of cinnamon and a fresh cherry? louis: ...no? what the fuck