#this chapter was hard for me and I don't know why

[ariestrxsh]

dealer!chris x dealer!reader

💸 content warning: smut/suggestive, dry humping, mentions of hard drugs and guns, enemies to lovers, slow burn

💸 summary: you and chris celebrate with a joint on the beach after selling all your product

there will be several parts to this story, and they will contain sex, drugs, violence, use of weapons, and a lot of things that could be triggering if you've ever been apart of the drug world or loved someone with an addiction. i don't mean to glorify drug use, selling, or anything like that, but i wanted this story to be realistic, so it does appear like a somewhat "glamorous" lifestyle to chris and the reader in the first few parts. i want to make it very clear that when you get involved in the drug world in real life, you usually end up in one of two places: the ground or prison.

WHEN SPARKS FLY

chapters: | intro | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |

You and Chris had successfully moved all your product in three days, a personal record for you with twelve kilos. The two of you stood in your living room, staring into the duffle bag full of cash sitting on your coffee table after the final sale.

"Holy shit, ma," Chris whispered, staring wide-eyed at the several stacks of hundreds before his gaze flicked up to you. "I know. It never gets old," you mumbled, picking up a stack of cash and holding it to your nose. You deeply inhaled, your eyes nearly rolling to the back of your head. You were so infatuated with everything about money. It was almost like being reunited with an old lover every time you made it all back.

You couldn't deny that you wouldn't have been able to do it without Chris. He'd spent more hours with you, bagging up product and helping you move it than he'd spent sleeping the past three days. You admired his charming demeanor and his strong work ethic, you knew he could make you a lot of profit, and you wanted to keep him happy.

You started separating out the cash, putting your portion in one pile and Chris' in another. Once you'd finished divvying it up, you motioned towards the pile of money nearest Chris. "Here. Here's your cut."

"Ma.." Chris started to say. "What?" You asked without looking up at him. "You gave me half," Chris quietly answered, wondering if it was a mistake. "You do good work, Chris. I want to keep doing business with you. You deserve half," you told him, your gaze still fixed on the money in front or you.

"Oh, my god, ma!" Chris exclaimed, his face lighting up as he wrapped his arms around you. "I don't do shit like this often, so don't get used to it," you replied, not reciprocating his hug, but it was hard for you to conceal your grin with Chris beaming with excitement.

"Thank you, ma. I can't believe you already gave me a raise. We should go celebrate!" Chris declared. "And do what?" You inquired, giving him a perplexed look, worried that he was going to suggest a crowded place with loud music.

"I was thinking of something low-key. Let's go smoke a joint on the beach or something. I mean, you don't have to smoke, but the offer's open, and it is a special occasion," Chris rambled. You contemplated it for a moment. After all, why not celebrate? The two of you were making more money than you ever had in your life, and it was just the beginning. Plus, it was a chance to bond with your business partner.

"I'll get us home safe. Take the night off. Leave your gun at home," Chris said, looking into your eyes. "Chris, what if something bad happens? What if I need it?" You wondered with an urgency in your voice. "You've got me. If anyone messes with you, I'll protect you," Chris told you, taking a step closer to you and looking you in the eye.

The way he said it made you feel safe, like he really meant it. It was at that moment that you decided maybe you could trust him. Maybe you had to. Maybe you'd already let him in too much. After a few minutes of deliberation and a few more convincing words from Chris, you agreed. "Fine," you responded after taking a deep breath.

You weren't typically the spontaneous type, but there was something about Chris that brought out that side of you, and in some ways, you liked that. The two of you drove out to the beach, listening to Chris' favorite Arctic Monkeys album on the way there.

Tonight, you weren't a dealer. You weren't a hustler, and you weren't on guard. You were just a human being. Now, the two of you were side-by-side on the shore under a blanket of stars as the sound of the waves crashing echoed in your ears, enjoying the simple pleasures life had to offer.

You kicked off your shoes, feeling the sand beneath your feet. You hesitantly glanced down at the cherry and the smoke that slowly drifted into the air as Chris passed you the joint. "C'mon, ma. It'll be fun. Let loose for a bit," Chris urged you.

You didn't like to feel out of control. You knew getting high could be dangerous for you. You couldn't let your guard down. You couldn't let yourself slip up, admit your growing feelings for Chris, and possibly ruin your business relationship with him.

All the possibilities of all the bad things that could happen if you let yourself fully relax ran through your mind, and for a second, you thought, so what? "Fine," you sighed, taking it from him.

You held it up to your lips, the smoke stinging your lungs as you took a slow, long drag before exhaling with a cough. The dopamine flooded your system immediately, leaving you with a warm, fuzzy feeling. It was nice to have a night off from being a dealer and instead finding yourself on the other end as a consumer. It was nice to let go of the rigidity of your lifestyle and finally get to just be.

You took another puff, allowing yourself to sink into the sensation. You gave Chris back his weed. "How do you feel?" He wondered. "I feel high," you murmured, a smile spreading across your lips and your eyelids growing heavy. He grinned back at you, admiring how cute you looked in the moonlight, the light breeze gently catching your hair.

Chris pulled from the joint, inhaling smoke into his lungs. The two of you sat quietly for a few minutes, enjoying each other's company and listening to the soothing sound of the ocean's tide being pulled by the full moon that illuminated everything around you.

"Daisy broke up with me last night," Chris quietly chimed in, breaking the silence between you. "Oh, shit. Chris. I'm so sorry. What happened?" You replied in a soft, sympathetic voice. "What always happens, ma," Chris answered you, his gaze fixed on his ring that he was fiddling with.

"I didn't mean to make you tell her before you were ready," you leaned over and placed a reassuring hand on his back, feeling somewhat guilty for their relationship ending. "It's alright, ma. You were right. She was going to leave anyway. I should have told her sooner. It's for the best," Chris said in a solemn tone before taking another hit.

You didn't know what to say, and so you didn't say anything, fearing you'd make it worse if you opened your mouth in your current state of mind. You just sat next to him quietly, passing the joint back and forth, gently running your fingernails in a repetitive pattern up and down his back. He relaxed into your soothing touch.

"Ma, that feels so good," he said in a soft voice. A quiet whimper escaped his lips, and his eyes fluttered shut as you continued to caress him. You inched a bit closer to him and rested your head against his.

There was a small, sick part of him that was relieved. He could indulge in his late night fantasies about you and let his gaze linger on you without feeling guilty about it.

The two of you glanced up at each other simultaneously, and for a moment, the sexual tension between the two of you was undeniable. The look you each gave each other of burning desire didn't need words to be expressed and understood. A silent agreement was made.

Without thinking through what you were about to do, you just followed where temptation led you. You shifted, swinging your leg around Chris and straddling him. You stared deeply into his blue eyes, placing a hand on either side of his face as he sat quietly, gazing at you as his heart began to thrum in his chest. Your nose brushed against his as you leaned in, and the two of you each hesitated for a second, acknowledging that once you opened this door, it couldn't be closed.

You savored the moment before the kiss, the anticipation, and the way Chris' warm, shallow breath felt against your lips right before giving in. Not a single force on Earth could interfere with the magnetic pull, drawing the two of you together.

The kiss was tender at first, your soft lip grazing his, and it slowly grew deeper and more passionate as your tongue slipped into his mouth. Your trembling hands traveled to his chest as you stabilized yourself.

You could feel his hardening cock pressing against the front of your jeans, and you just couldn't help yourself. You found yourself rolling your hips forward and shifting your weight onto his lap, earning a sensual moan from Chris that vibrated against your lips.

You continued grinding against his bulge, and Chris' curious hands found their way to your waist, the half-smoked joint still wedged between two of his fingers. He guided your hips as you continued your movements, the added pressure feeling incredible every time his hard cock rubbed up against the seam of your jeans, stimulating your swollen clit.

You shuddered at the sensation, melting into the boy beneath you that you hadn't been able to keep your mind off of. You loved the feeling of kissing him, his pillow-soft lips, his velvet-like tongue, and the soft hums he elicited as you practically rode him with your clothes on.

"Can't resist me, can you, ma?" Chris rasped in a low voice as he pulled away from the kiss, reaching up to caress your cheek with his free hand. You firmly grabbed his wrist and started gently suckling on the tips of his fingers. "Oh, shit," he whispered, watching your mouth as you slid down to his knuckles, feeling the cool metal of his rings against your lips.

You could feel his cock jerk underneath you as you repeated this motion, alternating between a few of his long, slender digits, pressing your body weight against his dick. He loved every second of it. "Good girl," he quietly praised you as he imagined you sucking on something else. His words sent an electric surge straight to your clit, and you could feel the wetness between your legs that was likely seeping through your clothing by now.

Chris felt the heat from the joint as it widdled down towards the end of the paper, but he was too wrapped in you to care if it burned him. You brought your behavior to a stop, a wave of embarrassment overcoming you as you reflected on how impulsively you'd acted and how pathetic you probably looked humping Chris like a dog in heat after just a few puffs of weed.

"Fuck!" You exclaimed after pulling Chris' finger out from behind your lips and climbing off of his lap. "I don't know why I just did that," you muttered, completely humiiated as you retreated back to your spot in the sand. Chris stayed put for a moment, looking at you wide-eyed with his hard cock straining against his pants.

"Fuck, ma. I don't know why you stopped," Chris whispered, still processing what had just happened. "That was so inappropriate of me. I am so sorry," you mumbled with your face hiding in your hands.

"Why? Because I've been single for less than twenty-four hours or because you're kind of my boss?" Chris chuckled after taking a final hit of the joint and putting it out in the sand. You laughed with your embarrassed expression still buried in your palms.

"Either way, ma. I really liked it," Chris replied, nudging you in the arm as a smile spread across his lips. You picked your head up to finally look at him, face flushed and finding it rather hard to maintain eye contact. You wanted to kiss him again, but it felt like the moment had passed, and you were still embarrassed about how you'd thrown yourself at him.

Suddenly, you felt violently high, your heart beating in your ears and your head pounding. "I don't feel very good," you mumbled under your breath. "Here, give me your keys. Let's get you home," Chris said, springing into action once he recognized that you were most likely greening out.

He picked you up and carried you across the beach back to the car as you incoherently babbled about how sorry you were for crossing the line. He hushed you and assured you that you didn't have anything to apologize for.

He helped you into the car, and as soon as he got into the driver seat, you were softly snoring with your head resting against the window. Chris kept the music at a low volume and drove carefully as to not wake you. Once he pulled into your driveway, you began to stir. He reached over and caressed the back of your hand with his thumb.

"We're here, ma," he softly told you. "Here? Where?" You asked, still feeling heavily intoxicated. "Your house, ma," Chris giggled, shutting off the car and getting out so that he could help you into your place.

"Chris, that was so nice. You didn't have to take me home," you grumbled to him as he guided you through your front door. "You're right. I should have left you stoned on the beach by yourself," he laughed, knowing that of course he had to take you home, and just because he knew he had to, didn't mean that it was an inconvenience at all.

Chris carried you up your stairs and set you down softly on your bed. "Goodnight, ma. I hope you get some rest. I'm sorry for pressuring you into smoking," he said, shaking his head and feeling guilty for the state you were in.

"I chose to smoke, Chris. You couldn't pressure me into anything if you wanted to," you mumbled, slipping out of your jeans until you were in just a t-shirt and your underwear. Chris diverted his gaze as you started to undress, and he made his way towards your bedroom door to give you privacy.

"Where are you going?" You asked him as he started to close the door behind him. "I'll just walk to Dais -" he started to say, but then he remembered that walking to Daisy's wasn't an option anymore. "I'll just call an Uber, ma. Don't worry about me."

"Chris," you whined, reaching for him like a toddler asking to be picked up as you laid helplessly on your bed. "What is it, ma?" Chris asked, poking his head back into your bedroom. "What if you stayed the night here?" You wondered. "I mean, yeah, sure. If you're offering. I wouldn't mind crashing on your couch. It would save me a trip," he responded.

"No. I want you to sleep right here," you mumbled, patting the empty side of the bed beside you with a playful smile on your face. Chris raised an eyebrow, and a smirk tugged at the corner of his lip. He could already tell what you were about to say next based on your body language.

"Please, Chris. I want you to fuck me," you begged him, biting your lip. "Ma, you're really messed up. I can't take advantage of that," Chris responded, taking a seat beside you on your bed and choosing his words carefully because he didn't want you to think he was uninterested. He just didn't want your first time to happen under these circumstances.

"Please. I need you," you replied, your voice saturated with lust as you started to take off your panties. "Woah! Hey," Chris exclaimed, stopping you from slipping them off. "Not like this, ma. If you still want to when you're sober, we can, but not when you can barely stand on your own. I'll lay in bed with you if all we're doing is sleeping."

"Okay. We can just sleep. I just want you here next to me," you whined, clutching your pillow in your arms and pulling it into your chest. "Alright, ma. But no funny business. Let's get you some pants," Chris replied, picking up a pair of sweatpants off of your floor and tossing them to you.

You slipped them on and curled up under your blanket. Chris crawled into bed beside you after shutting off your light. He pulled you close and kissed you on the forehead. "Night, ma," Chris whispered before closing his eyes. A few minutes later, he heard the sound of your soft snoring as you drifted off to sleep beside him.

When he was certain you were out, he slipped out of your sheets, snuck downstairs, and made his way out the door. As he waited out front for his uber, lighting up a joint, he smiled to himself, reflecting on the night and how boldly you'd climbed onto his lap and started making out with him.

He hoped that you were developing feelings for him the same way he was for you and that it wasn't just a purely lustful gesture earlier, but he couldn't be sure. Hell, he couldn't even be sure that you'd remember any of it in the morning, which was part of the reason he didn't want to be in your bed when you woke up.

[katiascraft]

- chapter six - and there was happiness  because of you too, right?

✐ᝰ "You knew all too well i was right where you left me" | CL16 ࣪𓏲ּ ᥫ᭡ ₊

parings: retired!charles leclerc x writer!ex!reader

summary: carlos confronted y/n in front of charles in the worst way possible. but fortunately (or unfortunately) he made what needed to be done to put the two together "by (twisted) fate".

series masterlist

BLOG MASTERLIST

Charles was scared and worried when he saw your light turning on by the minute. His eyes wanting to leave his face when he saw you in your marvel pajamas again. Your hair was a mess and your face had the darkest circles under your eyes. Your face puffy as if you were crying or you did before you went to sleep and then they woke you up. He felt as guilty as when he realized he left the love of his life stuck in that fucking restaurant you both loved so much. 

His heart was racing in a way he hadn’t felt for so long. He got scared it was about to have a panic attack in front of your house. In front of you, showing how weak he still is for you but like in a very twisted way. Carlos’ voice got him out of his mind abruptly. 

“What the fuck is wrong with you bitch? Huh? Stop torturing my friend!” Carlos said aggressively to you when you opened the front door of your white and pastel green beach house you owned. 

If you thought your day couldn’t get worse, then you were oh so wrong. 

There he was. Standing and cheeks red. His face showed panic. You could feel he was scared by the way his eyes went bigger listening to what his friends had said. Carlos’ face was a work of art. Rage all over his face. His body language was violent. He hated you so much, it was visible. Palpable. Evident. Heartbreaking too. 

Your whole face just hurt. Tears irritated your skin so you looked red. And you were sure you looked terrible. Whole face was swollen and puffy. You felt more depressed in that instant. There so vulnerable in front of two men. And one of them being the love of your life. Or… your past love of your life? You weren’t sure at all after last weekend where you touched and have seen franco in a different light. Your heart still heavy about it and how you treated him. You hated yourself so much. You just couldn’t believe you could make yourself be even more miserable. 

 But you had to stand up for yourself because you were also confused by what Carlos just said. 

“I really don’t know what you’re talking about carlos. And i don’t know what charles told you but we didn’t even talk… and i don't even know why the hell i'm giving you an explanation you don't deserve” frustration was visible in the way you voice sounds deeper than normal. Different from what he heard at the ice cream shop and the way you talked to him. And also your smile was gone. Like every time he appears in your life. Because he only brings you pain. And nightmares. Or at least that’s what he thought. 

“Um, y/n I'm really sorry, really” Charles said, panicked and then turned over to Carlos “c’mon mate, let’s go. Don’t do this. There’s no need, you know?” He grabbed carlos’ wrist and pulled him a bit away. But Carlos was looking straight at you. Hate was converting him into the devil. 

“Don’t play the fool, darling. You know what I'm talking about. You love to make him feel miserable by the mistake he committed! You’re evil! Twisted! Stay away from him!” Carlos was out of control. Charles shook his head not knowing what to do. He looked at you ashamed that he even blushed. Seeing him like that broke your heart. You swallowed hard and just so fed up with everything and anything related to Charles and the bagage of your story, you closed the door on their faces, determined to go to bed and cry. You closed your eyes for a second because your head was pounding. All you could see were his eyes.

But you just couldn’t be like that for long because Carlos started knocking on your door and telling you to open the door right away. You could hear Charles telling him to calm down desperately and telling him to go home. But Carlos was so drunk he couldn’t even think straight. You could hear it in his voice. You sighed not knowing what to do. 

But then silence took all over the place like they were never there. And that’s when after a few seconds you hear deep breathing.

“Just please Carlos, let’s go home” charles’ voice was broken and after hearing him talk you could hear him sobbing. Carlos was silent. Your heart started racing. 

It didn’t feel right  so you opened the door. 

They looked at you. Charles was a wreck. Carlos seemed calmed but worried. He was holding charles’ arm. 

“I��m sorry mate” Carlos finally said.

“Charles, you wanna come in? For a glass of water” you finally spoke out loud without thinking. Like you kinda surprised yourself. Charles looked up at you a bit confused but then he nodded. You gave him a soft smile. And awkward too. 

This whole situation was weird. 

Carlos was about to say something but you interrupted him “you’re not invited. Sorry not sorry” you told him and snapped the door on his face. Asshole. He didn’t even know you and that’s his presentation card? But he knew my name. That must be charles’ work. This is insane though. You turned away from the door to find Charles awkwardly standing there in the middle of your living room waiting for instructions or permission. 

“Sorry” you said softly but he shook his head gently. 

“No problem, it’s okay. He sometimes is an asshole” he explained more calmly than a few seconds ago. 

“Feel at home” you finally said after a few seconds of just looking at each other. It felt strange yet nice to have him in your place. “Take a seat i’ll go for a glass of water” you said to go running to the kitchen to say so. 

Charles looked around. There were a lot of frames of your nephews almost everywhere. He sat on your couch. It was really comfy and soft. Your perfume was everywhere and it was the same perfume you used back in the day. For a moment he felt safe and that weirded himself out a bit. He is supposed to hate you, right? He tried to wipe his face dry. He felt ridiculous there in his ex’ house again after so many years. He knew all too well he shouldn’t be here. But he wanted to. 

He heard how you took a glass from the counter and poured water straight into it from the sink. He played with his fingers nervously waiting for you to come back. He was trying to think straight because he was really drunk as well. Although he was hoping you didn’t notice, it was probably obvious. 

“Here you are,” you said softly, handing him the glass that he took gently. A tiny smile appeared on his face. 

“Thank you, y/n. And I'm sorry again for what Carlos did. I really don’t know why he did that” he tried to explain nervously. You shook your head with a half smile. 

“It’s okay. To be honest, he's an asshole but I am as well. I would have understood if you thought that about me too. So it’s okay. No bad blood. I get you were partying” he watched your lips while you were talking. They were dry and pale. Then he looked at your eyes. “And, sorry for calling the cops i was having a really shitty day to be honest and i needed to sleep”

“I’m sorry, i can go” he was about to stand up in a rush but you took his arm softly not letting him stand up. 

“Stay. it’s fine” he looked at you and sat down in slow motion almost.

·”you’re apartment it’s really nice” he didn’t know what to say. You gave him a real smile now. One he thought he was daydreaming of how beautiful it looked by the warm lightbulb that was involving you two in that living room. 

“Thank you. It took me a few years to figure it out but now I'm really happy with it” you explained and he blushed.  

“It really represents you… I think” he thought this could be taken as disrespectful because he didn’t know you in the current. But he went with it anyway. He spoke before even thinking about it. So many years of pe training yet with you apparently doesn't work. 

“Yeah… I guess” you looked away just trying to think what to say or what to do. 

“I read your book” what he said came out of nowhere and it felt like an ice bucket challenge. You looked straight at him. Not knowing if it was good or bad or why he even mentioned it. “I loved it to be honest. I didn’t know you liked writing but I wasn’t surprised it was so well delivered because you were always good with words and feelings. You’re so talented” he expressed his hands shaking a little for some reason. 

“Thank you” you said through a dry laugh. “Guess I’m not really good with words really, like in real life. And they were never really useful either nor that they were important” you shrugged. 

“They did matter and they do matter i'm sure” he intervened.

“Did they?” You didn’t want to be a snake but you were still hurt and you hated still being hurt because it was ten fucking years ago yet he is still here and now it’s not only on your mind but in your stupid couch as well. 

He adjusted himself on the couch, nervous and uncomfortable with where the conversation was going. 

“I regret it,” he said after a long silence. “I fucking regret taking that decision and leaving you. I don’t even know why I thought at that moment that was the best but I did and I can’t change it but I wish I could. and I know now it’s like a joke that I'm telling you this and I'm the same man that left you there alone and broken. But I can’t stop thinking about you. What you wrote in that book was so beautiful and devastating I hate myself that I put you through all of that. That I hurt you so much that you had to write that. You were important. You mattered to me. But I was stupid. And I’m still am for feeling stuck in that fucking restaurant. I looked for you. Since I saw you that day I looked for you the following days at the coffee shop. I went there and read your book. I wanted to see you again and then I saw you at the ice cream shop. Like fate it’s cruel and twisted. I thought those kids were your children. And I thought about all of these dreams I have mostly every night where we are happily ever after and I wanted to die. I really did. Because I committed the greatest mistake of my life. Losing the only girl who saw me for me and made me feel all those things I never felt again. Everything was just so empty and blue-“ he had to stop when he saw you crying. 

“Stop Charles, please. You can’t come and tell me all of this. Like it is nothing like it can be fixed because it can’t be. You broke me in so many ways you can’t say all that shit, please. You don’t mean it” you just couldn’t keep on listening to him. His words cut through you like daggers. It was painful and unbearable. 

“Nono, I do mean it. I really do, y/n. And I know and I get it - I don’t deserve your apology and I know like saying sorry won’t fix anything I know it won’t but I feel all of these things I need to tell you. I've watched you from Carlos’ house and -“ 

“And are you a creep as well?!” 

“Nono, y/n, please. No, I am not a creep. I just - I didn’t know you were carlos’ neighbor. But he wanted you, that he didn’t know it was you either, to meet our friend Lando and you were there writing in your balcony and my world just went upside down from there. Out of nowhere you started to be everywhere and… and I don’t know what that means but I’m like… I really want it to mean something”

You looked at him not believing your eyes or your ears. You just stood up confused and tried to wipe your face and get yourself together. “You don’t mean that Charles, you don't. Please, just, don’t play with me like this” you were almost begging your drunk ex and you felt pathetic. He stayed silent just watching you. 

“Please, y/n… can we try to be friends at least?” He said with a shaky voice almost in a whisper. He was about to cry as well. You just couldn’t deal with any of this no more. Your brain was rotting. You felt like you were about to die. 

“I can’t do this right now Charles. Just… rest till your head is clear again. There is the guest room, use it as your own. There are pijamada and everything. I need to sleep. Goodnight” you just run up your stairs leaving him behind like some funny paradox. You just throw yourself into your bed not wanting to think or feel anything probably forever but at least till the next day. 

Charles was left with his heart on his hand and his words on the top of his tongue. He watched you while you headed up stairs and disappeared. He was left alone in your empty and unbearably silent living room. He then looked at the door you indicated was the guest room. He took a really deep breath. Was he about to sleep at your place? Funny, huh? He felt stupid. What was he thinking? 

Finally with no other remedy, he got into the guest room. It was beautifully decorated with a lot of paintings. He looked at them closely to see that it was your signature at the bottom of each of them. You painted them. You painted flowers and landscapes. The Mónaco view. The beach. Autumn. All of your favorite things he thought. They were beautiful. Then he turned to the bed, it spooked really comfy. But first he needed clothes so he walked to the closet and when he opened it, there were as you said a lot of pijamada in different sizes. It was a bit weird but maybe you liked to be ready and prepared for anything that happened unexpectedly. Like your ex sleeping here. Totally normal. He laughed to himself a bit. He was sure he was going mad. He finally got changed in the guest’s bathroom and laid in bed. Even the ceiling was judging him. He didn’t feel okay with this but his blind needed to rest so he fell asleep almost immediately. 

⋆˚࿔ 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

‘maybe the invisible string does exist and maybe that’s why he is back at my house snoring loudly in the guest room’

You sighed when you finished writing in your journal like every morning. You were fried. You couldn’t sleep that much because memories of what you and Charles used to torment you all night. But at least two hours are two hours of sleep. You had a few meetings today so you hoped Charles woke up in at most an hour. You are drinking water on your couch, not hungry at all. But you obliged yourself to prepare breakfast for Charles. 

You decided to prepare waffles with berries and blueberries, and a latte. You guessed it was still Charles' favorite type of coffee to drink in the morning. And you hated yourself for remembering that too. For remembering all too well. 

“Morning” his deep voice echoed in the kitchen and you turned around to greet him.

“Morning, Charlie. I made waffles and latte, you want some? I bet you are hungry… and also I have aspirin if you are hungover” you said light and smiley. You didn’t want it to be weird even if you thought of it like it. 

“Wow, thanks. I’ll take everything” he said, showing his dimples. He was already wearing the clothes he wore yesterday. You handed him the aspirin and a glass of water and while he took it, you set his breakfast in front of him. He observed you. You looked beautiful even like this. He saw it was breakfast for just one person. “Aren’t you hungry?” He asked and you denied with your head. He sat in front of you in the aisle and started eating. “Thank you for letting me stay, the bed was more comfy that the one I use at Carlos’. It’s really nice of you all of this and again… i’m sorry but I hope we can talk about it someday if you want to” he said while enjoying what you cooked for him. You half smiled. 

“Yeah, it’s okay. Maybe we can talk about it tomorrow or when you’re able. I think it would be nice if we talk things through and make things clear” you agreed with him. After having the whole morning by yourself, you came to the conclusion that you need to talk about everything. You owe yourself that. The opportunity to clear your mind with him and finally move on. 

Right?

⋆˚࿔ 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

⋆˚࿔ 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

⋆˚࿔ 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

yourusername made a post

liked by nikbff , francolapinto , agosbff , charlesleclerc and other 765,435 users.

yourusername: just a bunch of meetings and watching hours of footage of castings for all too well the movie cast 🤓☝🏻who would you like to see?????

view all comments

agosbff: could you also be casted?

⤷ yourusername: I can’t even lie and you want me to ACT

⤷ francolapinto: stick to writing books ur good at it

⤷ yourusername: die 💋

⤷ francolapinto: but you admitted it! and we still need to talk

⤷ yourusername: we are on main 🙃

⤷ francolapinto: I KNOW 🥰

⤷ yourusername: talk to me in YOUR dreams BYE

⤷ agosbff: can you both talk already?

⤷ nikbff: THAT’s WHAT I SAID

⤷ francolapinto: NO🩷

⤷ user1963: TALK ABOUT WHAT?!?!

⤷ user23: is this a soft lunch?

⤷ user1: talk about when are you going to say ur dating??? That’s it?

⤷ user865: THEY ARE FRIENDS EVERYONE CALM DOWN

arthurleclerc: can I send my casting to play the main character’s brother? I think I can be good at it :)

⤷ jadedistinguinn: I wanna be part of it too :3

⤷ user861: im confused

⤷ user975: still can’t believe bro reads girl books

user089: anybody is gonna talk about CHARLES LECLERC in the likes???? I see you buddy

⤷ user752: maybe Arthur know things

⤷ user23: HE KNOWS

taylorswift: think I’m perfect for the main role actually 🤓☝🏻

⤷ yourusername: check your dms princess

zendaya: girlfriend 😍 ur so pretty marry me

⤷ tomholland: EXCUSE ME ????

⤷ zendaya: sorry im gay just for HER

⤷ yourusername: I LOVE YOU LOVE OF MY LIFE

⤷ tomholland: I want the ring back

user885: if anybody cares i would like to see chris evans and scarlett johanson *like by yourusername*

⋆˚࿔ TO BE CONTINUED 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

tag list: @a-beaverhausen , @annaluna12 , @thehoplessromanticclub , @emryb , @hadids-world , @kaztheemyth , @freyathehuntress , @diorbrxtz , @theseerbetweenus , @sie17136 , @leila-030304 , @charlesgirl16 , @ricciardosheart , @weekendlusting , @flowerpotterr , @aundercover ,

don’t forget to like, reblog or comment! And follow me so we can be friends :3 (and drink mate together)

[rosedere]

Sea dew and the Benevolent Sea Witch

Sea God! Azul Ashengrotto x Shrine maiden (Afab) Reader

Summary: Every spring the benevolent Sea Witch of the Coral sea requires a young maiden to be married to as a deal for centuries to protect the small alcove hidden from the rest of the world; most women are courted and picked using a similar method to the Sea witch by recieving a Brooch from their bethrotled. Shocked when a intricate and beautiful Brooch finds itself to you the mystery deepens when said brooch is the chosen one from the one and only legendary Sea witch of the Coral sea.

Gen TW: Yandere Content, Dubious consent, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Stalking, Violence, Hypnosis.

You are here: Prologue: Tears of a Single Maiden

Next chapter: The Shrine above the Sea witch

-

My Sea star, The connection to the small world above. Will you finally come with me to the bottom of the endless Oddessy I rule?

The tide came to your feet, the brine stinging your legs as more seaweed hit between your clothed thighs.

His hand crept closer to you under the rushing waves; gently running over your own as he sat with his legs parallel to yours, currently tucked underneath you in a blanket of sea green.

“I think I love you (Name)”

You didn't bother to look at the mist-haired boy.

Enjoying the blue hour, casting upon you the distant cry of seagulls cawing to signal the return to their home in the rocky cliffs above you both.

“You love my company, not me.”

Gazing upon the horizon breaking over the water, ignoring his hand creeping to hold your left pinky fingertip, experimenting, feeling it under the waves hitting you once more.

“I do enjoy your company—but I don’t think I can part without you either.” He sighed.

“I'm sure there are other eligible brides you'd prefer over me.” You shrugged.

“Speaking of, why don’t you ever go into the village?” You looked over to the boy's ethereal face; his unnatural blue irises were already looking at the side of your own tired and worn face.

“It's like you live under the sea witch's arc or something.” 

He only chuckled, leaning into you, feeling him, his touch leaving delayed responses onto yours.

“Maybe I do—you never take me up on my offer to come over anyway.” He purred, “You know I'd love to come home with company.” 

Dismissing him, you only looked away, escaping his gaze, looking back at the sea.

“It seems next week is the start of May,” he said.

His finger running over yours in a soothing motion.

“Don’t remind me,” you exhaled.

I know I'll never be a perfect bride.

“Why so? I heard it's exciting for every woman of the village to have a chance to meet the sea witch.” He chuckled.

“Not I—do you realize it's my last year to be considered a bride to be offered to anyone?”  You felt a tear prick your tear ducts.

“I thought by now someone would have been swept off their feet and picked me.” You sniffed.

Embarrassing… crying in front of this guy

“I don't even want to try again anymore; I just want to live my life and forget about these stupid traditions.”  You swallowed the sob, focusing on the fading light on the horizon.

He didn't say anything for a long time.

You thought maybe he finally got annoyed with the theatrics, if only you found the secret to getting him to leave you alone earlier…

“What if I choose you as my bride (Name)” You felt your heart drop into your chest.

“You're worthy of being a wife to me; if all of those fools up on the mainland can't see it, that's on them.” 

He began to close the distance, his hand still clasped over your hand. The tension between him and you was boiling, trying to close the gap between you and the push and pull of the rising tide.

“I have to go,” you stuttered, standing up, letting you both part from each other.

He stood up as well, trying to match your pace as you raced back to the empty sandy shore behind you both. Making the way back over the sandbar to the shore was hard with the new shells washing up, a prime opportunity if only your strange friend wasn't here tailing behind as you looked for your ragged canvas bag still sitting against the rocks.

“(Name), just consider it; I don't want to see you sad like this during a joyous month,” he called over the rushing waves.

You didn't bother answering, only grabbing your canvas bag and drying the worn, frayed ends of your shorts from the salty water.

“You realize even if I wanted to, I couldn’t—” 

“But why? You dont care that much for rules of your town here instead of being in the village” he snided

“Or is it because you want to win the sea witch's heart?” His lips curled into a smile, the beauty mark on his chin stretching.

“No—” you exhaled a breath you didn't realize you were holding. “I just want to leave this island.” 

You looked back at the boy, who was now clearly unamused. “I've already made myself a fool for a long time, hoping to be picked by anyone.” You looked out at the changing dark obsidian water now out on the horizon.

“I want to see the world beyond the coral sea. I heard there's actual music you can listen to whenever you want and actual things called phones I want to try,” you dreamily sighed.

“Here it's just so boring.”

He only watched and didn't say anything else, his bare feet still as a statue.

“You understand, right? I'm not alone in my thoughts." You merrily grabbed your hair tie, taking care to twist it into a low bun.

“You are alone.” 

He gazed harder at you, his pale crystal eyes boring into you.

“The outside world is even more brutal than here—at least you're protected from danger and can live properly here.” "You can say that because you're young; there's still hope you can pick a maiden whenever you want.” You rolled your eyes. Slipping your sandals next to you, you checked all of your things were still in there bag, His eyes watchful over you as he stood with his bare feet on the shore.

“Goodnight, I've got a long day tomorrow scavenging.” You turned around to face him, giving a wave.

You were about to walk towards the cliff climbing back up to the rocky path leading to your small hut a few miles nearby.

His hands brushed over your outstretched wrist. Stunned, you looked over your shoulder to see him confused, mostly by how strange he was being.

“(Name)”

He pulled you away from the cliffs to face him under the moonlit sky.

You could see his cheeks flushed as he held onto the sleeve of the thin cotton shirt. The way he maneuvered awkwardly, his eyes focusing hard over your face. Slightly parting his lips to say something before restarting and then finally taking a deep inhale. “Please come with me to my home, just one night.”

Bewildered, you only felt your face frown immediately, not portraying the true feeling of discomfort to him.

“Maybe another time.” You truly didn't even mean those words, but if it meant you could go back home and forget whatever was going on with your nameless friend.

His eyes gazing hard into your own, but he decided to let go.

And with that you climbed back home to the lonely coast path into the young night.

-

…

He was able to slip his skin off with ease, under the solace of the arc that protected his kingdom and people from intruders.

His long tendrils uncurling around him, the true size of his body being revealed underneath the large pool leading to the tunnel of his kingdom only he knew.

“Eh, back already, Azul?” the nasally voice belonging to his twin eels.

His lazy eyes watched as he transformed into his mythical form, the large spidery arms he took on crawling underneath him as he made his way into the burrow further into his private chambers.

The eel followed behind with curiosity; his brother was most likely somewhere tending to his royal garden off in the surface of hollow coral reefs.

“So did you convince her to become a mer yet?” The twin twirled underneath the large, colossal-sized tentacles waving to be in front of him in the rocky crystal hall.

Azul didn't say anything, only weaving past the eel mer gliding to the large open cavern that was his room; the piles of gold shipwrecked treasure and the large amount of gems sparkled a path leading to the large shelf wall enough to fit his large body inside, his prized treasure hidden underneath the blinding treasure and relics.

The one he was supposed to give to you when you stopped being so stubborn.

“Floyd, I need you and Jade to do something important for me.” He stopped in front of a large bubble in the middle of the room; flicking a hand over the ball, an image was cast all around the room. Azul peered into your eyes; you were almost home, sneaking back into your temple without any of the sisters knowing you were with Azul.

He'd only smile to himself; let them catch him with his bride-to-be. He was also done with traditions passed from his grandmother and mother for generations.

It simply wasn't going to work to have a disposable maiden he didn't want to entertain and pretend to play husband and wife with only for the sake of tradition.

“How do you feel about having two legs instead of a tail?” Azul's beauty mark curled higher up his cheek, the grin of pure glee.

“What? Like we can go up to the surface?” Floyd excitedly swam in a circle. “Oh, I'm not falling for it; what's the catch, Azul?” Floyd narrowed his eyes at the giant being.

“You may or may not like being in disguises, but I'm sending you to capture my bride.” Azul bluntly ordered, conjuring a gold magic to his fingertips. A vial was revealed after the flicker was done.

The liquid is a bright gold, shining like shimmery sand under a blue sky.

“(Name) is who I need you to do anything to bring her to me before the ceremony in May.” He shifted a large eye down to the patiently wagging eel below him.

“Do you think you could do me this one favor? I can let you two go out to the surface more often if you succeed.”

“I'm in,” Floyd excitedly swam by

"Besides, “you don't even have to ask Azul; we just want you to be happy, he chirped before clicking back into Mermish.

Azul couldn't hold back his powerful smile; he knew that his two confidants from childhood would be the ones to fulfill his desire.

He just had to sit a thousand leagues under the sea for you to return to him.

-

Note: btw forgor insp by these few Request if unaware for the real inspiration of this series 🖤

The Pearl Brooch

The Fisherman

Eclipse (havent posted on this blog as of posting but will update the link for the Tumblr post once I catch up with crossposting ✊)

[vampseasoned]

𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗬 𝗞𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗦: 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝘅 𝗥𝗵𝗲𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝘅 𝗝𝗲𝘆 𝘂𝘀𝗼

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 3,776

Chapter three ; you won't believe this false hope

Jey pov:

I've been watching Rhea and Roman's relationship dynamic with a mix of fascination and concern. As Rhea's best friend, I've seen her go through a lot, but this... this is different. There's something about Roman that draws her in, something that makes her want to stay despite the obvious red flags.

I remember the first time Rhea told me about Roman's controlling behavior. She brushed it off as "caring" and "protective," but I knew better. I've seen the way he looks at her, the way he talks to her. It's like he's trying to own her, to keep her trapped in this bubble of his making.

But Rhea's not stupid. She's strong, smart, and capable. So why is she still with him?

I've tried talking to her about it, but she just gets defensive. She says I don't understand, that Roman loves her in his own way. And maybe that's true. But love shouldn't feel like a prison sentence, should it?

I've been keeping a close eye on their relationship, making sure Rhea knows I'm always here for her. But Roman's getting more and more agitated. He doesn't like that I'm around, that I'm a influence in Rhea's life.

One night, I saw him yelling at her in the parking lot. I didn't intervene, knowing that would only make things worse. But I could see the fear in Rhea's eyes, the way she cowered under his angry words.

After that, I knew I had to do something. I started discreetly digging into Roman's past, looking for any dirt that might help Rhea see the truth. And what I found...

Let's just say Roman's not who he says he is.

I'll have to tread carefully, though. If Roman finds out I'm snooping around, he'll stop at nothing to silence me. But I won't back down. I'll do whatever it takes to protect Rhea, to help her see that she deserves so much better.

I gathered all the evidence I could find and carefully planned my approach. I knew Rhea wouldn't take it well at first, but I had to try. She deserved to know the truth about Roman.

I waited until we were alone at my place, just the two of us, before bringing it up. We were lounging on the couch, binge-watching our favorite TV show, when I casually mentioned Roman's name.

"Hey, Rhea? Can I talk to you about something?"

She looked at me warily, sensing something was off. "What is it, Jey?"

I took a deep breath and dove in. "I've been doing some research on Roman. And let's just say I found some... interesting things."

Rhea's expression turned defensive, just as I expected. "What are you talking about, Jeys? You're just being paranoid."

"Roman's not who he says he is, Rhea," I said gently but firmly. "He's been lying to you about his past, about his family, about everything."

Rhea laughed, a hard, bitter sound. "You don't know what you're talking about, Jey. Roman would never lie to me."

I pulled out my phone and showed her the evidence I'd gathered. Articles, police reports, witness statements – it was all there, in black and white.

Rhea's face went pale as she scrolled through the documents. Her eyes widened, and for a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of doubt.

But then, her expression hardened. "This is all just a coincidence, Jeys. You're just trying to ruin my relationship because you don't like Roman."

I sighed, feeling a pang of frustration. Why couldn't she see the truth?

"Rhea, listen to me," I said, taking her hands in mine. "I'm not trying to ruin your relationship. I'm trying to save you from him. He's controlling, manipulative, and dangerous. You deserve so much better than that."

Rhea yanked her hands away, her eyes flashing with anger. "You don't understand, Jey. Roman loves me. He would never hurt me."

"I hope you're right, Rhea," I said, my heart heavy with concern. "But if you're wrong... if he hurts you... I'll be here, waiting to help you pick up the pieces."

Rhea glared at me, her face twisted in a mix of fear and determination. "I don't need your help, Jey. I can take care of myself."

I nodded, feeling a sense of unease. I knew Rhea was stubborn, but this was different. This was about her safety, her well-being.

As she stormed out of my apartment, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd just lost my best friend to the clutches of a monster.

Rhea's POV

I stormed out of Jey's apartment, feeling angry and frustrated. How could he do this to me? How could he try to ruin my relationship with Roman?

I knew Jey didn't like Roman, but this was taking it too far. He was trying to control me, to tell me what to do, just like Roman said he would.

I walked home, my mind racing with emotions. Part of me was angry with Jey for interfering, but another part was scared. What if he was right? What if Roman was lying to me?

I pushed those thoughts away, focusing on the love and care Roman had shown me. He was the first person to really understand me, to really get me.

When I got home, Roman was waiting for me, concern etched on his face. "Hey, what's wrong? You look upset."

I told him everything, leaving out no details. Roman listened attentively, his expression growing darker with each passing moment.

When I finished, he took my hand, his grip firm but gentle. "Rhea, I'm so sorry. I had no idea Jey was doing this to you."

I felt a wave of relief wash over me. Roman was on my side, not Jey.

"What am I going to do, Roman?" I asked, feeling lost and scared.

Roman's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched. "We'll take care of Jey, don't worry. He won't bother you again."

I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Roman. He was protecting me, looking out for me.

But as I looked into his eyes, I saw something there that made me pause. A glint of anger, of possessiveness.

And for a moment, I wondered if Jey was right.

As we walked into the arena in Philly, I could feel the energy coursing through my veins. Roman was pumped up, his eyes blazing with determination.

But before the arena opened, Roman pulled me aside, his hand on my arm. "Wait here for a minute, I need to take care of something."

I nodded, watching as Roman walked over to Jey, who was standing by the ring, stretching his arms.

Their conversation was brief, but intense. Roman's face was red, his jaw clenched, and Jey looked like he was refusing to back down.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as Roman walked back to me, his eyes glinting with a fierce light.

"What was that about?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Roman's smile was tight, his lips pressed together. "Just a little wager, Rhea. Jey and I are going to have a match tonight. If I win, he has to stay away from you. And if he wins..."

Roman's voice trailed off, and I felt a sense of unease growing inside me.

"If he wins, then what?" I pressed, my heart pounding in my chest.

Roman's eyes flicked to mine, and for a moment, I saw something there that made my blood run cold.

"If Jey wins, then I'll tell you the truth about my past," Roman said, his voice low and husky. "But I won't lose, Rhea. I won't lose."

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. What was Roman hiding from me? What secrets was he keeping?

As we entered the arena, the crowd erupted into cheers, but I was too stunned to react. I was trapped in a world of uncertainty, with Roman's secrets looming over me like a dark cloud.

The match began, and I watched in a daze as Roman and Jey faced off in the ring. The crowd was on their feet, cheering and chanting, but I was frozen, my eyes fixed on Roman's face.

What would happen if Jey won? What secrets would Roman reveal?

And what if Roman won? Would he really keep me trapped in his web of lies?

The outcome of the match was far from certain, but one thing was clear: only one of them would emerge victorious. And I was trapped in the middle, torn between the two men in my life.

---

The bell rang, and the match began. Roman and Jey faced off in the ring, their eyes locked in a fierce stare. The crowd was electric, chanting and cheering as the two men circled each other. I watched in awe as they exchanged blows, their movements quick and precise. Jey was giving Roman a run for his money, but Roman was determined to win.

As the match wore on, I found myself on the edge of my seat, my heart pounding in my chest. Michael Cole, the commentator, was shouting in my ear, "It's anyone's game, folks! These two are giving it their all!"

Suddenly, Jey landed a series of rapid-fire punches, sending Roman crashing to the mat. The crowd erupted into cheers as Jey climbed to the top rope, his eyes fixed on Roman.

"Here comes the finisher!" Michael Cole shouted, his voice hoarse from yelling.

Jey launched himself off the top rope, landing a picture-perfect 450 splash. The crowd exploded, and I was on my feet, screaming along with them.

Roman kicked out at the last second, but Jey wasn't deterred. He hooked Roman's leg, and the referee counted to three.

"It's all over, folks!" Michael Cole screamed. "Jey has won the match!"

I was stunned. Jey had actually done it. He'd beaten Roman in the ring.

As Jey celebrated his victory, he made his way over to me, a sly smile spreading across his face. He leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear.

"I told you I'd do it, Rhea," he whispered, his voice husky.

And then, he kissed me. The crowd erupted into cheers, and I felt my heart skip a beat.

But before I could process what was happening, Roman stormed over, his face twisted with rage. He grabbed Jey, slamming him against the ropes.

"You think you've won, Jey?" Roman snarled, his eyes blazing with anger. "You think you've beaten me?"

The referees came running out, trying to break up the fight. But Roman and Jey were beyond reason, their anger and adrenaline fueling their brawl.

Finally, the referees managed to pry them apart, holding them back as they shouted and snarled at each other.

The crowd was on its feet, chanting and cheering, but I was frozen, my heart pounding in my chest. What would happen next? Would Roman finally tell me the truth about his past?

And what did Jey's victory mean for our complicated web of relationships?

As the referees dragged Roman and Jey out of the ring, I was left standing alone, my mind reeling with questions.

I walked backstage, my mind reeling with thoughts and emotions. What had just happened out there? Why had Jey kissed me? And what was Roman going to do now that he'd lost the match?

I felt like I was trapped in a whirlwind, with no idea what was coming next. My heart was racing, and my mind was spinning with questions.

As I turned a corner, I almost collided with Jackie, the journalist. She was always snooping around, looking for a scoop, and I knew she'd be all over this story like a vulture.

"Rhea, what happened out there?" Jackie asked, her eyes snapping with excitement. "What was going on between you and Jey?"

I hesitated, unsure of what to say. I didn't want to fuel the gossip mill, but I also didn't want to lie.

"It was just a celebratory kiss," I said finally, trying to downplay the situation. "Jey was just excited about his win."

Jackie raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Save it, Rhea. I've been watching you two, and I know there's more to it than that. What's going on between you and Jey?"

I sighed, feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. Why couldn't people just leave me alone?

"Look, Jackie, I don't know what you're trying to dig up, but there's nothing going on between me and Jey. Roman and I are still together, and I'm happy with him."

Jackie's face fell, but only for a moment. Then, her eyes lit up with a mischievous glint.

"Well, I'm sure Roman will be thrilled to hear about that kiss," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'll make sure to get that quote in my next article."

I rolled my eyes, feeling a surge of annoyance. Why did Jackie always have to stir up drama?

"Thanks, Jackie," I said, my voice heavy with sarcasm. "I'm sure Roman will just love reading about this in the tabloids."

Jackie grinned, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Hey, someone's got to keep the drama alive, Rhea. And right now, you're the queen of drama."

I muttered under my breath, shaking my head as I walked away. Why did I always get stuck in these situations.

As I disappeared into the backstage area, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of a very long, very complicated night.

Roman's pov:

I stormed into my locker room, slamming the door shut behind me. That match had been a disaster. I couldn't believe I'd let Jey get the better of me.

I needed to get my mind off it, to clear my head and refocus. A shower was just what I needed.

I stripped off my gear and stepped under the hot water, letting out a deep breath as the tension began to melt away.

As I dressed and towelled off, I felt a little better. But my mind was still racing, still replaying the match and all the what-ifs.

I needed a distraction, something to take my mind off things. And then I remembered the old photos I kept locked in my phone.

I pulled out my phone and began to scroll through the photos, nostalgia washing over me. There were pictures of my family, of my old life before the wrestling world.

As I scrolled through the photos, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. This was what I needed, a reminder of where I came from and what I'd overcome.

But then, I heard the sound of the door opening, and I looked up to see Rhea standing in the doorway, her eyes locked on mine.

For a moment, we just stared at each other, the tension between us palpable. I could see the questions in her eyes, the doubts and the fears.

And I knew that I had to tell her the truth. I had to tell her everything.

I saw the questions in Rhea's eyes, the doubts and fears that Jey's victory had stirred up. But I knew that I had to reassure her, to make her see that everything was going to be okay.

I walked over to her, my eyes locked on hers, and gently cupped her face in my hands. I could feel the tension in her body, the uncertainty that was eating away at her.

But I knew just what to do to calm her down.

I softly kissed her forehead, my lips brushing against her skin in a gentle, soothing motion. I felt her relax, her body sagging into mine as she let out a deep breath.

"Sit down, Rhea," I whispered, my voice low and husky. "Let me get dressed, and then we'll talk about everything that's going on."Rhea nodded, her eyes still locked on mine, and I guided her over to the bench in the locker room. She sat down, her eyes never leaving mine, and I could see the trust in her gaze.

I smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. I knew that I had to be honest with her, to tell her everything. But for now, I just wanted to take care of her, to make her feel safe and loved.

I turned to get dressed, my movements quick and efficient as I pulled on my clothes. Rhea watched me, her eyes following my every move, and I could sense her emotions, her uncertainty and her fear.

But I knew that I could make it all better. I knew that I could make her feel safe again, that I could make her trust me.

And as I turned back to her, my heart pounding in my chest, I knew that I was ready to do whatever it took to make her happy.

I finished getting dressed and turned back to Rhea, who was still sitting on the bench, her eyes fixed on me.

"Roman, I need to know the truth," she said, her voice firm but her eyes pleading.

I hesitated, feeling a pang of guilt. I knew I should tell her everything, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

"Rhea, I promise you, everything will be okay," I said, trying to placate her. "Let's just focus on us, on our relationship. We can work through anything as long as we're together."

Rhea looked at me, her eyes searching for the truth. And then, she seemed to make a decision.

"I need some time to think," she said, grabbing her things and standing up.

I felt a surge of panic, realizing that I'd said the wrong thing.

"Rhea, wait," I said, reaching out to her.

But she was already gone, storming out of the locker room without looking back.

I was left standing there, feeling stunned and guilty. I knew I'd made a mistake, and now I was going to have to pay the price.

Just then, the door swung open again, and Jey walked in.

"Hey, is Rhea in here?" he asked, looking around the locker room.

I shook my head, feeling a sense of unease. "No, she just left."

Jey's eyes narrowed, and he seemed to sense the tension in the air.

"What happened?" he asked, his voice neutral.

I hesitated, unsure of what to say. But then, I heard the sound of Rhea's footsteps, growing fainter as she walked away from the locker room.

"Nothing," I lied, feeling a sense of desperation wash over me.

Jey looked at me, his eyes piercing. And for a moment, I thought he saw right through me, that he knew I was hiding something.

But then, he turned and walked out of the locker room, leaving me alone to wonder what I'd just done.

Jey's pov:

I walked out of Roman's locker room, feeling a sense of unease. Something was off, and I could tell that Rhea was upset.

I quickened my pace, trying to catch up with her. I could see her ahead of me, her long legs striding purposefully down the corridor.

"Rhea, wait," I called out, trying to get her attention.

But she didn't slow down, didn't even look back. I could tell she didn't want to be bothered.

I followed her, my heart pounding in my chest. What had Roman said to her? What was going on?

As I caught up to her, I could see the tension in her body, the stiffness in her shoulders.

"Rhea, please," I said, trying to get her to stop.

But she just shook her head, her eyes fixed on some point ahead of her.

"I don't want to talk about it, Jey," she said, her voice firm but her words barely above a whisper.

I hesitated, unsure of what to do. But then, I saw the tears in her eyes, the sadness and desperation etched on her face.

And I knew I had to do something.

"Rhea, please," I said, my voice soft and gentle. "Let me help you. Let me be there for you."

Rhea stopped walking, her body frozen in place. And for a moment, I thought she was going to turn around, going to let me in.

But then, she shook her head, her eyes flashing with anger.

"Just leave me alone, Jey," she said, her voice cold and hard. "I can take care of myself."

And with that, she turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, feeling helpless and unsure of what to do.

I sighed, feeling a sense of frustration and helplessness. I'd tried to reach out to Rhea, to get her to open up to me, but it was clear that she wasn't ready to talk.

I watched as she walked away, feeling a pang of disappointment. I'd thought that we'd finally gotten to a point where she trusted me, where she'd let me in.

But I guess I was wrong.

I shook my head, feeling a sense of resignation. I knew that pushing her wouldn't do any good. Rhea was stubborn, and if she didn't want to talk, then I wasn't going to be able to make her.

But I also knew that she wasn't going to be able to keep this inside for much longer. She was going to need someone to talk to, someone to confide in.

And I had a feeling that it wasn't going to be me.

I thought about Jimmy, about how close he and Rhea were. She trusted him, looked up to him as a mentor and a friend. If anyone could get her to open up, it would be Jimmy.

Or maybe Naomi. Rhea had always been close to Naomi, and Naomi had a way of getting people to talk.

I nodded to myself, feeling a sense of determination. I may not be able to get Rhea to talk, but I could make sure that she had someone to turn to when she was ready.

And with that, I turned and walked away, leaving Rhea to her thoughts and her secrets.

Rhea's POV:

I walked into my tour bus, feeling like I was escaping from the drama and chaos of the arena. I tossed my belongings onto the counter and made my way to the shower, feeling like I needed to wash away the tension and frustration of the past few hours.As I stepped under the hot water, I felt my muscles begin to relax, my mind begin to quiet. I closed my eyes and let the water wash over me, trying to clear my head and calm my thoughts.After the shower, I changed into a pair of comfy jeans and a soft t-shirt, feeling like myself again. I curled up on the couch, staring blankly at the ceiling of the tour bus. My mind was still racing, still trying to process everything that had happened. Roman's secrets, Jeys' kiss, the conversation with Roman in the locker room... it was all swirling around in my head, making me feel dizzy and disoriented.I didn't know what to do, didn't know how to make sense of it all. Part of me wanted to confront Roman, to demand the truth from him. But another part of me was scared, scared of what I might find out, scared of what might happen.I sighed, feeling a sense of frustration and uncertainty. I didn't know what the future held, didn't know what was going to happen next. All I knew was that I needed to take some time for myself, to figure things out and get my head on straight as. I lay there, staring at the ceiling of the tour bus, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. I knew that I would get through this, that I would come out stronger on the other side. It was just a matter of time.

A MONTH LATER

I pulled into the arena in New Orleans, feeling a mix of emotions. It had been a month since I'd last been here, a month since everything had fallen apart.

I'd taken some time off for my mental health, needed to get away from the drama and the stress of it all. And now, I was back, ready to face whatever came next.

As I made my way to Hunter's office, I couldn't help but think about Roman and Jey. I hadn't spoken to either of them since that night, hadn't wanted to deal with the drama and the feelings that came with it.

But now, I had to face the music. I had to talk to Hunter about the storyline, about what was going to happen next.

When I arrived at Hunter's office, he greeted me with a warm smile. "Rhea, it's good to see you. How are you doing?"

I shrugged, feeling a sense of uncertainty. "I'm doing okay, I guess. Still trying to process everything that happened."

Hunter nodded sympathetically. "I know it's been tough, but we need to talk about the storyline. You know that Jey's kiss was a huge hit with the fans, and we've decided to run with it."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised. "What do you mean?"

Hunter leaned forward, a gleam in his eye. "We're giving you and Jey a nickname, Rhea. The fans are calling you 'Jhea' now."

I felt a sense of shock, of disbelief. "Jhea?" I repeated, trying to wrap my head around it.

Hunter nodded. "Yes, and we're going to run with it. We're going to make Jhea a huge part of the storyline, and I think it could be really good for both of you."

I wasn't sure what to say, wasn't sure how I felt about it. Part of me was excited, excited to see where this new storyline would take me. But another part of me was scared, scared of what might happen next.

"I don't know, Hunter," I said finally, feeling a sense of uncertainty. "I'm not sure if I'm ready for this."

Hunter leaned forward, his eyes locked on mine. "Rhea, this could be huge for you. This could be the break you need to take your career to the next level."

I sighed, feeling a sense of unease. I didn't know what to do, didn't know what was right.

But as I looked at Hunter, I knew that I had to make a decision. I had to decide whether or not to take the risk, to see where this new storyline would take me.

And with that, I nodded, feeling a sense of determination. "Okay, Hunter. Let's do it."

I walked to my locker room, lost in thought. As I turned a corner, I saw Jey and Jimmy passing by me. I gave Jey a slight look, but didn't say anything. I just kept walking, not wanting to deal with any drama before my match.

I got to my locker room and started getting ready, putting on my gear and preparing myself mentally for the match against Becky Lynch. I was determined to win, to show everyone that I was still a force to be reckoned with.

As I walked to the gorilla area, I saw Jey waiting for me. He gave me a warm smile and wished me good luck. Then, he put a hand on my shoulder and kissed my temple. I felt a flutter in my chest, but I pushed it aside.

Just as I was about to respond, I heard the sound of a camera clicking. I turned to see a photographer snapping a photo of us. I rolled my eyes, annoyed. This was not what I needed right now.

Jey seemed to sense my frustration and gave me a reassuring smile before walking off. I watched him go, feeling a mix of emotions. I didn't know what to think or feel anymore.

Before I could process anything, my music started playing and it was time for me to go out to the ring. I took a deep breath and made my way out, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

I walked out to the ring, ready to take on Becky Lynch. The crowd was electric, and I was determined to give them a show. We started the match, and I was in my element, performing move after move with ease.

But then, disaster struck. I landed a little too hard on my ankle, and I felt a shooting pain go through my leg. I tried to shake it off, but I knew something was wrong.

Becky caught on to my weakness and took advantage of it, delivering a series of vicious kicks to my injured ankle. I cried out in pain, unable to defend myself.

The referee called for the bell, and the match was over. I lay on the mat, clutching my ankle in agony.

Jey and a few referees rushed out to check on me, concern etched on their faces. Jey carefully made his way over to me, helping me sit up and examining my ankle.

"Oh, Rhea, I'm so sorry," he said, his voice full of empathy. "Let's get you backstage and get you checked out."

I nodded, wincing in pain as they helped me up. Jey held my hand, supporting me as we made our way backstage.

As we walked, Jey slightly placed a kiss on the top of my hand, sending a flutter through my chest. I didn't know what to make of it, but it was a small comfort in a moment of intense pain.

The camera man followed us, capturing every moment of my agony. I didn't care, I just wanted to get out of there and get my ankle checked out.

Finally, we reached the exam room, and the medical staff rushed over to examine me. Jey stayed by my side, holding my hand and offering words of encouragement.

As they began to examine my ankle, I looked up at Jey, searching for answers. What was going on between us? Why did he keep showing up for me, even when I was hurt and vulnerable?

I didn't have the answers, but I knew one thing I was grateful to have Jey by my side, even in the darkest of moments.The doctor came over to examine my ankle, gently prodding and manipulating it to assess the damage. I winced in pain as he touched certain areas, but I knew it was necessary.

"After the initial examination, I think it's best if we take some X-rays to rule out any fractures or breaks," the doctor said, his face serious with concern.

I nodded, feeling a sense of dread wash over me. I didn't want to think about the possibility of a broken ankle or worse.

The doctor nodded and summoned one of the medical assistants to wheel in an X-ray machine. I was helped onto the machine, Jey still holding my hand and trying to reassure me.

As the X-rays were taken, I couldn't help but think about the worst-case scenario. What if I was out for months? What if my career was over?

The doctor came back into the room, his face solemn as he examined the X-rays. I held my breath, waiting for the verdict.

"Well?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

The doctor took a deep breath before speaking. "It looks like you've got a pretty bad sprain, Rhea. You've got some ligament damage and possible tendonitis. But luckily, there are no fractures or breaks."

I let out a sigh of relief, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. It could have been so much worse.

"What's the prognosis?" Jey asked, his voice firm with concern.

"Well, Rhea will need to take some time off to rest and recover," the doctor said. "We'll need to immobilize the ankle and get her on some pain management. But with proper treatment and care, she should be able to make a full recovery."

I nodded, feeling a sense of determination wash over me. I was going to get through this, and I was going to come back stronger than ever.

And as I looked up at Jey, I saw something in his eyes that gave me hope. Maybe, just maybe, this injury was the wake-up call I needed to realize what was truly important in my life.

After getting the diagnosis, Jey helped me out of the exam room and we made our way to my locker room. I was still in pain and feeling a bit dazed from the medication, but Jey was supportive and gentle, helping me every step of the way.

As we walked down the hallway, Jackie the journalist appeared out of nowhere, microphone in hand. "Rhea, can you tell us what happened out there tonight?" she asked, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

I shook my head, not wanting to answer any questions right now. I was still trying to process everything that had happened, and I didn't feel like talking to the press.

Jey stepped in, his voice firm. "No questions right now, Jackie. Rhea needs some time to rest and recover."

Jackie looked disappointed, but she nodded and backed off. "Okay, Rhea. Get well soon."

Jey helped me into my locker room and closed the door behind us. I collapsed onto the bench, feeling exhausted and overwhelmed.

Jey sat down beside me, putting a gentle hand on my shoulder. "You're going to be okay, Rhea," he said, his voice soft and reassuring. "We'll get through this together."

I looked up at him, feeling a surge of gratitude. I didn't know what I would do without him right now.

"Thanks, Jey," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Jey smiled and squeezed my shoulder. "Anytime, Rhea. Now, let's get you out of those gear and into some comfortable clothes. You need to rest."

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. With Jey by my side, I knew I could face whatever challenges lay ahead.Jey packed my clothes into the suitcase, his movements quiet and efficient. I was already asleep, exhausted from the events of the evening.

Just as Jey was finishing up, my phone rang. He looked at the screen and saw that it was Roman calling. He hesitated for a moment, then decided to answer it.

"Hey, Roman," Jey said, his voice low and cautious.

I didn't stir, too deep in sleep to be disturbed by the sound of Jey's voice.

Jey listened to Roman for a few minutes, his expression growing more serious by the second. Finally, he hung up the phone and finished packing my stuff.

When he was done, he came over to me and gently shook my shoulder. I groggily opened my eyes, feeling disoriented and confused.

"Hey, Rhea," Jey said, his voice soft and reassuring. "It's time to go. We need to get you to your tour bus."

I nodded, still feeling a bit dazed. Jey helped me up and we made our way to my tour bus. He helped me inside and settled me onto the couch, then turned to leave.

"I'll grab my things from my locker room and then I'll meet you back here," he said, smiling and closing the door behind him.

But as Jey entered his locker room, someone attacked him from behind. The camera man rushed over, filming the whole scene as the staff and Nick Aldis rushed to Jey's aid.

Hunter stormed into the locker room, his face furious. "What happened?" he demanded. "Who attacked Jey?"

The camera man kept filming as the staff and Nick Aldis tried to help Jey up. He was bleeding from a cut on his forehead, and his eyes were glazed over with shock.

"I don't know," one of the staff members said, shaking his head. "It happened so fast. We didn't see anything."

Hunter's face turned red with anger. "Find out who did this," he growled. "I want them caught and punished."

As the scene unfolded, I watched from my tour bus, feeling a sense of horror and outrage. Who could have attacked Jey? And why?

I knew that I had to find out. I had to make sure that Jey was safe, and that justice was served.

I was still waiting in the tour bus, trying to rest and recover from my injury. But as the minutes ticked by, I started to feel a growing sense of unease. Something didn't feel right.

It had been 15 minutes since Jey left the tour bus, and I hadn't heard from him since. I knew he was just going to grab his things from his locker room, but something in my gut told me that something was off.

I slowly hobbled out of the tour bus, my ankle throbbing in pain. I ignored it, my concern for Jey overriding my own discomfort.

As I reached Jey's locker room, my heart sank. Jey was sitting on a bench, a gash on his head and blood dripping down his face. The staff and medical team were surrounding him, trying to clean and dress his wound.

Jey looked up and saw me, his eyes flashing with concern. "Rhea, what are you doing here? You shouldn't be walking on your ankle."

I hobbled over to him, ignoring the pain and discomfort. I moved his hair aside to get a better look at the gash, and my anger surged. Who could do this to Jey? And why?

"Jey, I'm so sorry," I said, my voice shaking with emotion. "I had no idea. Who did this to you?"

Jey's eyes filled with determination. "I don't know, Rhea. But I'm going to find out. And when I do, they're going to pay."

I nodded, feeling a sense of solidarity with Jey. We would get to the bottom of this, together.

But as I looked at Jey's injured face, I knew that this was more than just a random attack. This was personal. And I was going to make sure that whoever did this paid dearly.

After getting 6 stitches and some meds for the pain, Jey was left sitting on the bench, looking a bit worse for wear. I sat down next to him, my ankle still throbbing in pain, but I didn't care. I was more concerned about Jey than I was about my own injury.

I slowly reached out and grabbed his chin, making him face me. "I don't care about my pain, Jey," I said, my voice firm and serious. "I don't care if it sets me back from recovering. I'd rather make sure you're okay first, because I care about you as a friend, Joshua."

It was the first time I'd used his actual name, and Jey's eyes locked onto mine, a look of surprise and gratitude flashing across his face.

After a few moments of silence, I reached out and hugged him, pulling him into a tight embrace. Jey snuggled his face into the crook of my neck, his arms wrapping around me tightly.

"I'm sorry, Rhea," he whispered, his voice muffled against my skin. "I'm so sorry you got hurt because of me."

I held him tighter, trying to reassure him. "It's not your fault, Jey," I said. "We're in this together, as friends. We'll get through this together."

As we hugged, I felt a sense of comfort and security wash over me. It was like we were two old friends, comforting each other in a time of need.

And as we sat there, holding each other, I realized that my feelings for Jey went far beyond friendship. I cared about him deeply, and I would do anything to protect him.

But I didn't say anything, not yet. I just held him, and let him hold me back.

After the hug, Jey gathered his stuff and I slowly hopped off the bench, almost falling forward. Jey caught me, chuckling and saying "Careful, Ms. Clumsy!"I shyly laughed and said "Maybe I should get some crutches..." as Jey helped me steady myself.

Just then, someone walked into the locker room. It was Roman, and I blinked in surprise. Roman says "I know now's not the right time, but at some point, Rhea, we need to talk. You can't ignore me forever."

I felt a surge of anxiety at the mention of talking to Roman, but then he continued, "Don't worry, I know about the whole Jhea storyline. I was the one who brought it up to Hunter, but I'm glad you're happy with him."

Roman said all of this calmly and matter-of-factly, without any hint of malice or jealousy. It was almost as if he was genuinely happy for me and Jey.

I was taken aback by Roman's words, and I didn't know what to say. I just nodded, still feeling a bit stunned.

Roman smiled and nodded back, then turned and walked out of the locker room, leaving me and Jey alone again.

I turned to Jey, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. "Well, that was unexpected," I said, laughing nervously.

Jey chuckled and put his arm around me. "Yeah, I guess Roman's not as bad as we thought, huh?"

I smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Roman. Maybe he wasn't the villain I thought he was. Maybe he was just a guy who cared about me and wanted to see me happy.

After Roman's unexpected visit, Jey and I decided to get out of the arena and head to my house in Orlando. We boarded my tour bus, exhausted but relieved to be leaving the drama of the arena behind.

As we settled in for the long ride, Jey and I decided to pass the time by playing Uno. I was determined to beat him, and I played my cards strategically, trying to outmaneuver him at every turn.

But Jey was no slouch, and he put up a good fight. We laughed and joked as we played, our competitive spirits clashing in a fun and lighthearted way.

In the end, I emerged victorious, much to Jey's chagrin. "You're cheating!" he joked, laughing.

I grinned, feeling proud of my win. "No way, I'm just better than you," I teased.

We played for hours, taking breaks to rest and snack on food from the bus's kitchenette. As the sun began to set, we grew tired and decided to take a nap, curled up together on the bus's couch.

The ride to Orlando was long, but with Jey by my side, it felt like a breeze. We chatted and laughed, enjoying each other's company as we traveled through the night.

Finally, we arrived at my house in Orlando, tired but happy to be home. We stumbled off the bus, stretching our stiff limbs and yawning widely.

"Welcome home," I said, smiling at Jey.

"Thanks," he replied, smiling back. "I'm glad to be here with you."

Since Jey couldn't drive due to his injury, I offered for him to stay at my house in Orlando until he was able to drive back to his house in Pensacola.

"I don't want to impose," he said, but I could tell he was relieved at the offer.

"Nonsense," I said. "You're my friend, and I want to take care of you. Besides, it'll be fun to have you around for a few days."

Jey smiled, and we hugged it out. As we walked into my house, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and joy. This was going to be a fun few days.

As we settled in, I had an idea. "Hey, let's take a pic together and post it on my Instagram," I said.

Jey agreed, and we snapped a selfie of us cuddled up on the couch, both of us grinning from ear to ear.

I captioned it "Recovery mode with my favorite person" and posted it on my Instagram.

The comments started rolling in immediately. "Aww, they're adorable!" said one fan. "Love the #jhea vibes!" said another.

Jey and I laughed and joked as we scrolled through the comments, enjoying the attention and adoration of our fans.

As the night went on, we ordered pizza and watched a movie together, just relaxing and enjoying each other's company.

It was a peaceful, quiet night, but one that I would always remember. And as I looked over at Jey, I knew that this was just the beginning of our adventure together.

It got late, and Jey and I fell asleep watching a horror movie. We were both exhausted from the long day, and the comfortable couch and soft blankets didn't help our sleepiness.

As we dozed off, Jey's phone rang, piercing the silence of the night. Out of habit, I answered it, my eyes half-closed and my voice groggy.

"Hello?" I mumbled.

"Hey, is Jey there?" a voice asked, sounding eerily familiar.

I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the sleep. "Jimmy?" I asked, my voice still drowsy.

"Yeah, it's me," Jimmy replied. "I just wanted to check in and make sure Jey made it home safe."

I looked over at Jey, who was still fast asleep beside me. I smiled, feeling a warmth in my heart.

"Yeah, he's here," I said. "He's been staying with me for a few days."

"Oh, okay," Jimmy said. "Sorry to wake you, Rhea. I just wanted to make sure he was okay."

I yawned, trying to wake myself up a bit more. "No worries, Jimmy. It's okay. I was already half-awake anyway."

"Thanks, Rhea," Jimmy said. "I'll let you go. Tell Jey I said hi."

"Will do," I replied, hanging up the phone and snuggling back into the blankets.

I looked over at Jey, who was still sleeping peacefully. I smiled, feeling grateful for our friendship and the concern of his twin brother.

As I drifted off to sleep again, I knew that this was where I belonged - with Jey, surrounded by the people and things I loved.

I tried to go back to sleep, but I couldn't shake off the feeling of restlessness. After a few minutes of tossing and turning, I decided to get up and make something to eat. Maybe the kitchen would be a better place to find some peace.

As I moved around the kitchen, I was careful not to wake Jey up. I didn't want to disturb his sleep, especially after the long day we'd had. But as I started to cook, I heard a faint stirring coming from the living room.

I turned around to see Jey slowly waking up from the lack of warmth. He realized I wasn't laying next to him and his eyes scanned the room, searching for me. When he saw me in the kitchen, a soft smile spread across his face.

He got up and padded towards me, his eyes half-closed and his hair mussed up. He looked adorable, and I couldn't help but smile back at him.

As he reached me, he slowly wrapped his arms around my waist and laid his head on my shoulder, gently. I felt a warmth spread through my chest at the tender gesture.

"So... you were just gonna cook something without me?" he chuckled, his voice husky from sleep.

I laughed and wrapped my arms around him, hugging him back. "Maybe I was," I teased. "But I knew you'd wake up soon enough."

Jey leaned in closer, his forehead resting against mine. "I always do when you're around," he whispered, his breath sending shivers down my spine.

I blushed at the intimate moment, but I didn't pull away. Instead, I savored the feeling of being close to him, of being wanted and needed.

As we stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, I knew that this was where I belonged - with Jey, in this kitchen, surrounded by the warmth and love we shared.

After I made the four grilled cheese sandwiches, we sat down to eat them. Jey stared at me in a way that made me slightly blush, but thank God it was slightly dark enough in the kitchen that he couldn't see my face turning red.

As we ate, the only sound was the occasional clinking of plates and utensils. The silence was comfortable, but I could feel the tension building between us.

As soon as we finished eating, I hopped up from my stool, eager to clean up the mess. But in my haste, I almost tripped over the stool leg. Jey rushed over to grab me, his hands wrapping around my waist to steady me.

We were inches away from each other, our faces locked in a fierce stare. I could feel the heat emanating from his body, and my own heart was racing like crazy.

For a moment, we just stood there, frozen in time. The air was thick with tension, and I could feel the sparks flying between us.

It was as if the entire world had come to a standstill, and all that mattered was the electricity crackling between Jey and me.

I felt like I was drowning in his eyes, like I was being pulled under by the undertow of his gaze.

And yet, I didn't want to look away. I didn't want to break the spell that had been cast between us.

We stood there, suspended in time, our hearts pounding in unison.

What would happen next? Only time would tell.

Jey's POV:

As I stood there, wiping the crumbs from Rhea's mouth, I couldn't help but feel a strong urge to kiss her. Her lips looked so soft and inviting, and I could smell the sweet scent of her breath.

But I didn't want to rush things. I didn't want to scare her off or make her feel uncomfortable. We had only just started to develop feelings for each other, and I wanted to make sure that we took things slowly and naturally.

So I resisted the urge to kiss her, and instead stepped back and smiled. "Come on, let's clean up this mess," I said, trying to sound casual.

As we worked together in the kitchen, I couldn't help but steal glances at Rhea. She was so beautiful, even in her messy, sleepy state. And I couldn't help but feel grateful that she was here with me, that we were sharing this moment together.

As we finished up the dishes and put them away, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. This was what I wanted, I realized. I wanted to be with Rhea, to take care of her and make her happy.

And I knew that I would do whatever it took to make that happen.

[wings-of-ink]

Hi!! I have a bit of constructive criticism, if I may 😅 English is not my first language, so pardon me if I sound rude, it's definitely not my intention!

Something that confuses me is how people act when the MC has to lift their shirt, when in comparison characters like Oswin and Duri can be shirtless/completely naked and people not batting an eye at it. It's funny and confusing why people jump at MC taking out their shirt as if it's scandalous 😅. I guess if that was the reaction to all the characters it wouldn't be as weird, but MC seems to be singled out. For example, on that scene where the characters ask to analyze MC's mark and they say "I can just cover what I'm not comfortable showing", that answer doesn't really make sense to MC's who consider "it's just skin", as can be stated if you choose to take a bath on the river after meeting Nathan; I'd imagine my MC just lifting it naturally, or even taking out his shirt completely without any problems, going as far as being confused as to why Oswin is making a big deal of it. This is just one example of something that happens some other times, if you want I can list them, so it's easier for you to check them out! The characters reactions seem pretty on point, tho! Zahn and Duri don't seem to mind anyone naked, Rune is respectful regardless, and Oswin seems to only be affected by MC's nakedness (which can be explained by his apparent feelings for MC? I'm not on his route but it looks like he has a crush on MC, I could be wrong😆). The problem comes mostly to how MC responds, I think? As in, couldn't they be as comfortable about being naked as Duri is? So just a bit of a twist on MC's answers and it would flow naturally! Coding wise, maybe putting a choice of how comfortable your MC is with showing their body at some point in game/the beginning? Like, "never comfortable", "uncomfortable with strangers", "choose as happens if they're comfortable or not", "always comfortable", etc.

Anyways, sorry for the long text and thank you for your time! I absolutely love the game and constantly replay it, thank you for your hard work and good job! :)

Hello dear and thanks for stopping by! And not to worry, I didn't think your message was rude. Below I've explained where my thinking is in the way I've written what you're discussing.

The reason those parts are written that way is not because it is intended to seem "scandalous." Nudity in general isn't really considered as such in the world and it's entirely up to personal preference. The reason those scenes are written in such a way is that I'm writing from the eyes of many MCs with many different possible comfort-levels. I didn't find it necessary to track code for the MC's feelings on being exposed when it is easier to write a general statement that suggest the MC does or does not cover themselves and the like (where I could, I added reaction choices). And sometimes, it's better to error on the MC being a little bit discreet because of that. Could I add code for this? Yes, but overall I didn't see the purpose in it (I have a mountain of variables as is and some things just need to be trimmed).

I also need to consider that situationally, each MC will react different. With the variety of situations in the story, even when MC is comfortable, there could be situations that they would not be. Getting an exam from a stranger is different from your crush walking in on you or you wanting to tease and such.

During the forest-bathing scene, the MC also needed to take consideration for keeping their mark concealed. Oswin was cautious because they just met Zahn and he knows that Nathan has a unique curiosity for magical goods. As we learn in later chapters, this is wisdom since some people covet magical things and are willing to do horrible things to get them.

Oswin also has a particular protectiveness over MC, especially depending on a few choices about MC's feelings for him he may react different in certain scenes.

I hope that covers it in a satisfactory way. At least for now, I don't think I will set any code variable for this at least for the time being. I'm not sure how often MC will end up nude either, lol. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me! I'm glad you're enjoying the game! ^_^

[wickedsick]

WITCH WATCH wins "god I hope they stick the landing, or this is gonna get really weird"

This series has always been straddling a weird line between "Nico and Morihito love each other" and "Nico is a child now". As we seemingly start to wrap up the child arc, and the feelings return, Shinohara-sensei needs to do a good job not making it creepy.

Kagurabachi wins "Images that go hard"

Iori's dilemma is interesting to me, and I hope she does get to escape the torment nexus.

I also appreciate the explanation of whatever the hell Hiruhiko's doing, and how he beat Sengoku.

Spy X Family wins "new ensemble cast"

These new kids don't immediately grip me the same way Becky and Damian did, except for Connie. Connie is funny.

SAKAMOTO DAYS wins "Oh you got one of them traumas"

This is genuinely a really compelling backstory for Shin. Mister Ando is a very engaging character, and we now fully know why Shin believes himself to be irredeemable.

Star of Beethoven wins "freak unleashed"

Yaso's backstory did get to me here, but once again the moment Beethoven got to talk he stole the show. He looks genuinely menacing in every panel and it's so funny that he's the deuteragonist.

Embers wins "best new dynamics"

This chapter got several genuine laughs out of me. Takami, Haitani, and Yukizuki are all fun and flashy characters, and I like how they're all a bit stupid.

RuriDragon wins ":("

This is kinda sad, but it also makes a bit of sense. I do hope there's some kind of reconciliation here, though.

Desscaras wins the Desscaras Award for Excellence in Desscaras

She's genuinely hilarious, but she manages to not be annoying in her narcissism because of the context we're afforded from last chapter

Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi wins "look at them go!"

This is an excellent way to give these two a powerup. It keeps their shape language and makes excellent use of Jack Joe's design, and making them fight Yoraku is another great choice. Like I always say, Usui has the aesthetics down pat.

Blue Box wins "Chinatsu-dorable"

This chapter is just cuteness after cuteness after cuteness. Chibi-natsu is especially cute.

[j0kers-light]

Two Steps Forward

Oh this chapter. This one right here had me evil laughing at my computer. What a time.

I dunno why I love writing the interrogation scenes out. Maybe because I like reminding the reader Joker is retelling the story of us and that everything is the past tense? This is him confessing, coming clean about his Light and that does something to me.

You spoiled him rotten on life and he couldn't, in fact he didn't want to go back to the way things were before he met you.Unfortunately that wasn't meant to be. He was Gotham City's most wanted and you were a mere (semi-famous) citizen.

OOOOH! I can’t wait to reveal why Joker turned himself in!!!

"I told you, Bats. I would never hurt her. I... heh, well I made a promise noT to."

Could this be a clue? 👀😏

“Depending on the time... she could be in one place or another, so I can't answer unless ya tell meee."

“Are you implying she's in multiple places? I won't fall for that again." A brief memory of having to choose between two people came and went.

RACHEL!!! I’m sorry I had to use the movie reference!

Joker just wanted you safe. You meant more to him than you'd ever know. He never felt this way for someone before so pure possessive instincts forced him to put your safety above his own in any situation.

Joker, the man you are. I won’t let anyone talk trash about you!

The way you acknowledged his character flaws, (you knew in the end Joker wouldn't change) but you treated him like a normal human being, and it meant everything to him. Joker felt like he changed as a person while remaining true to himself and he would cherish that feeling forever. It was hard to describe the way you loved Joker and he felt like a fool for throwing that bond away, but he had to. It was all to keep you safe.

👀 hehe…

“Not at first. I was many things to her but never the bad guy. I tried so hard to make her hate me but she's.. something else. She would cry and get mad— but she always forgave me afterwards. Nothing I did scared her away. Say Bats! Would you believe me if I told you My Light and I started out as..."

THAT FLIPPING TRANSITION WAS SMOOTH CHAOS!

Joker merely smiled wide. God, you so desperately wanted to brush his teeth. But that was another fight to get into later. He would probably threaten you again but you didn't care. You hoped they weren't permanently stained.

Confirmed: they are not.

Your bathroom was straight out of a magazine. Joker whistled lowly. "How much are your uh, royalty checks? I should change professions."

I’m so glad I created this apartment in the sims 👏🏾👏🏾

“Don't you wanna stay? I might.. slip and hit my head on your opulence." He grumbled, looking around the fancy room. You never knew when Joker was living up to his name or just being honest. His sardonic humor was difficult to pinpoint. "I hope the towel rack takes you out on the way down. I'll be outside."

Writing their banter is so fluid. They just click. ALTHOUGH I would love and stay J.. 👀 if you want me to hold it for you just lemme know 😭

“So.. this is where your ideas are stored. My, my Y/n.. you have quite the uh, imaginative brain." Oh god what did he read? You forgot to hide your notebook earlier! You felt like a teenager catching your mother reading your first WIP for the first time.

We’ve all been there.

Utter embarrassment flushed the tip of your ears scarlet red. The situation became worse when you jumped up and down trying to snatch your journal away from Joker. If you weren't so hellbent on retrieving your notebook, you would've noticed the height difference between you and him.

Size kink activated. No I’m not sorry.

Were you just imagining it? Perhaps, but when you walked towards Joker with arms open wide, he didn't take your pre-offered shoulder to lean on. Instead he didn't move at all, causing you to awkwardly hug him. Only then did he wrap his arms around you and bend down to whisper in your ear. "I happen to like the err story idea on page nineteen. Mind sharing your thought process on how that came to be, hmm?" He pulled you closer, urging you to rest your head on his chest.

Joker, Gotham City's most wanted criminal, was holding you in your bathroom and subtly sniffing your hair. It smelled divine to him and he subconsciously squeezed you tighter because of it. You smelled like rosemary, lavender, peppermint, and some kind of fruit he couldn't quite name. The combination was intoxicating and before he knew it, his hand was snaking up your back and into your hair.

I think you dropped this J

“Stupid jerk reading my stuff, being so freakishly tall, and ugh!" You yanked the last article of clothing out the dryer and into a basket before slamming the door.

Fun fact: this is actual dialogue I said as I was writing this rough draft. The more you know how Chaos brain works, the better. 🤣🤣🤣😣

The quicker he was healed, the faster he could be out of your life, so why did he find himself getting used to staying here? More importantly, why did he want to see you happy again?

Yeah? Why are you getting attacked Joker?

“Do I looK like someone who watches tv?" Joker grimaced. Your left eye twitched but you didn't argue with him.

Do I look like a guy with a cable plan? 🤣🤣🤣🤣 yes.

You yawned. "Real Housewives of Gotham City." Joker resisted the urge to smother you with a pillow. He did however smack your hand away from his plate. He tried to ignore your puppy dog eyes but caved in. The plate had two servings of food, he just wanted to mess with you.

HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE THEM?! Look at my babies! Two steps forward!

The plate of food was long gone and he didn't realize he had sat up halfway into the season in suspense. Joker underestimated just how fascinating a group of housewives could be until today.

Every guy talks bad about reality tv but slick be invested in it!!

You heard him sigh on his end. You still failed to use his first name. "I must confess Y/n, I grew tired of waiting for you to call and asked Barbara for your number. I hope that wasn't too intrusive of me."

Oh Bruce. The lowkey creep you are. Stop acting like Batman. Still love you tho 👀

You whirled around in shock only to find Joker, arms crossed on the couch, looking every bit the murderer he was. His narrowed eyes sent a clear message. He was no joke to be taken lightly.

Hands down, I adore a jealous Joker. He does it so well ugh.

“Oh my dear Y/n... it's you who doesn't know a thing about Gotham's wannabe savior. What has he done for Gotham other than sign a check?"

Ooooooh get em Joker! Bruce is just a pocketbook!!!

“Do you like living, Y/n?" Joker asked. You scoffed. "What kind of dumb question is that?"

Now, I had an anon ask me what I was thinking about with this. We had a dm discussion about it and Joker is trying to pick apart Y/n here. He wants to find her flaws so he can break her. He wasn’t asking if she’s suicidal.

Just what was it about you that made him act so unlike himself? You had a way of confusing Joker.

Our man is going through it you hear me?

But first these ridiculous emotions you stirred up within him had to be eradicated. He would not be distracted by romance and lose sight of his goal. That was his plan– yet you made him toss logic out the window.

“Quit acting like somebody's daddy. The city is on a curfew so no one will be out anyways. The most dangerous criminal is currently sleeping on my couch, scolding me like a strict parent."

Girl you wish J was yo daddy 🤭🤭🤭 IN TIME HE WILL BE! 😏

“Where else am I supposed to sleep bunny? With you?" You saw his grin backlit by the bright tv light, making you roll your eyes. You really hoped that nickname didn't stick.

It does.

Your back hit the bed followed by the heavy weight of Joker landing on top of you. For someone so tall and lanky, his full body weight knocked the air out your lungs.

I created this scene simply because I’m petty. Pinned to the bed under Joker? Yes please.

‘Be a good girl..' It was official, you were a goner.

He forgot what he had asked you. He forgot his own name really. The only thought on his mind was what your lips would feel like. He wanted to find out. He would find out.

Haha remember when I teased yall for the longest? I said slow burn.

His Lighthouse Re-Read Thread

Hey hi my loves!!! I've read my own story 14 million times but I never did an official reread thread so thank @jaysmentalspace for what's about to happen! 🖤✨

This will be an interactive thread. Yes, you can join in with your own comments, reblogs, whatever! I will start from chapter one and I guess, review/commentate my own story! I hope you enjoy the ride. There's gonna be fun facts, behind the scenes commentary, who knows. 🤷🏾‍♀️

His Lighthouse masterlist let's get started.

[flying-cat]

People don't want character redemption they want a revenge plot from a story that was never supposed to be about revenge

[unweavinglies]

I’d like to ask a question about Kokichi’s character in Chapter 4, specifically with him seeing the “Truth of the outside world.” Yes, it was a big shift in his character to suddenly want killing, but I’m not entirely convinced that it was because of him losing his mind from seeing the outside world. I think at least some of it was a facade to make others think of him as a bad guy/the mastermind; to make his Chapter 5 character more believable so his plan would work. What do you think?

Well, I'm not here to convince you one way or another.

My theories and personal interpretations are just that--personal interpretations and theories. The narrative is web of interpretations and I only hold a single thread of it.

To me, personally, I think Kokichi's behavioral shift is far too drastic, going from "I'm going to beat this killing game" to "I'm going to become a blackened and kill someone", to plotting with Gonta to mercy kill the whole class. I think this jump has only one true source--the madness of seeing the end of the world you and your fellow classmates have been killing each other over.

I know it's a difficult feeling to imagine--but that's probably why you think differently than me. I cannot fathom what it's like to see the end of the world--and how I personally would react to that, aside from pure devastation. I don't think any human being can truly comprehend what "the end of the world" would look or feel like--which is why the concept often appears in horror plots and the sort. I don't think our brains can truly comprehend becoming an endangered species, the world we knew to be suddenly inhabitable, to be on the brink of death and demise and know that everything you once loved has already left you behind.

So I ask you this as my answer: Do you really think that any human being on this earth could handle the end of the world?

My answer to my own question is: No. I don't think any human could mentally handle seeing what Kokichi saw--and that's why I don't think his "I am the Mastermind" plot is the cause of his personality shift during chapter 4.

It just doesn't make sense to me.

I'm sorry if this comes off as curt or rude--but the amount of asks I've gotten specifically about Chapter 4, and about my Mercy Kill Theory, with the sentiment of "Oh your theory must be incorrect, somehow", is far too grating on me. Never the mind asks that go and try to find loop holes to prove the theory wrong, but I digress--that is neither here nor there.

[afantasyoffiction]

me, deciding to write a political ya fantasy novel: wow i love worldbuilding wow i love political themes wow i love magic

me, writing a political ya fantasy novel: why the FUCK is this so difficult who the fuck decided i was gonna write in this genre

[reinedeslys-central]

when it's been so long since you've read a fic that you forget about it and you find it in the search tags and start reading it again

and it's great, if a little familiar, but you've read a lot of these sorts of fics bc you like this tag a lot, so you assume it's nothing

but then the deja vu starts adding up and you start to wonder

and then moments before the great big Plot Twist Reveal happens you're suddenly like ah hell this is the bloody sundial fic again isn't it

smh this has to be the fourth time yet

[moyazaika]

will you appear again before Christmas?🥲

YES HI!!!! WOWEE sorry for being away longer than i intended! estranged family member showed up on my front door after 18 yeARS of no contact?!?!? went to bali and lost my pasSPORT?!?!?! failed my driver's TEST!?!?!?!

#life

[mossyinkynebulous]

Guys, I have to admit something. You may think less of me because of it and I understand if you leave, but felt it best to be upfront with it than not.

I...was in the Hetalia fandom. I know a tragedy. It's been years since I moved on. I was really in the fandom during 2015/2016, which dwindled in 2017. I wrote and read fics for that fandom, drew fanart that I never posted online and never will, and made ocs. I've become a better person since then, but I cannot say that present me wouldn't be where I am today without it. I cosplayed one character from the show, Iceland and had casually worn his fit to school. I wasn't a part of that side of the fandom, I didn't even know about it until years later.

I have since grown to know that the show is extremely problematic and harmful and have since distanced myself from it and the fandom. I thank the it for the few short-term friends I had made through it and the Wattpad dms, but I will continue to bash the show if ever brought up in conversation.

For those who read all of this, thank you. Also, this is meant to be a joke. I feel that fandoms people were a part of when they were kids don't define a person for who they are today or even a fandom someone was in over 5 years ago. Like I was a fan of Blood Lad in that same time period, thought it was so cool; My partner and I watched it this year and it was funny, but in a 'it's so bad it's funny' way. People grow and they change. I'm not the same person I was 2 years ago, much less 5.

[mercuriallily]

Thinking about the Moment of Clarity today

[punch-love]

hello !! i hope you are well !! ive been curious about something for a tiny bit now, with works like Love Punch that you don’t have quite the same spark for, how does it feel immediately after uploading a chapter? is it like submitting homework? do you feel more energized or tired? do you wait for comments or just put everything down and go do something else?

I was just talking about this with a friend. I don't think uploading any piece of work feels like submitting homework. It's always exhilarating to put something out there that you've worked hard on. I think....it's not as fun to work on something that you don't have quite the same spark for, but the act of sharing it always going to be really fun for me. I know that my readers have to wait months between updates so the first flood of "I was so excited to read this after work!" or "I can't believe this updated!" comments is always so heartwarming. Just because I don't enjoy writing it as much as I used to, my initial feelings toward the reception of it is always going to be very positive.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a writer who isn't anxiously checking their in-box for new comments to see how someone receives something they've worked so hard on. That being said, I absolutely dread getting new comments on OLD chapters. I feel like the patience I had with bad takes or "update when?" (which was nearly non-existence already lol) now makes me occasionally considering comment locking it until it updates. I don't care what people have to say on them anymore unless what they have to say is interesting or thoughtful. I also mostly get the same "this was so good. update this immediately." and it drives me up the wall + makes me want to work on it less. Seriously. If you want someone to do the opposite of what you want, comment ‘update when’ and see what happens.

Here's the thing though - positive attention is a drug like nothing else. It doesn't matter where it comes from or how you get it, if I worked hard on something that I think is good and people are engaging with it I'm pretty happy no matter how much of a spark I have. The actual process of writing is significantly more difficult now that I have less interest (it is very hard to write a romance when you're like I don't know if these people should be together. actually - uh - ) and it does feel like the boulder I have chained myself to until I roll it up fourteen more hills but -

The day I upload is always going to be serotonin city. I prepared this stupidly difficult and purposefully delicious meal for you I am so excited to hear how much you enjoyed it.

[bigcats-birds-and-books]

Books of 2024: THE ART OF EXCESS by Tom LeClair.

Another day, another "requesting niche out of print nonfiction from the library that they have to borrow from the Library of Congress, because of course they do"! I didn't actually read the whole thing because I'm not familiar with six out of the seven books he analyzes, but I did read the preface, the introduction, and the chapter about Le Guin's ALWAYS COMING HOME (which was really the epilogue lol).

His framework of "systems novels" was fascinating to me and my biology-oriented brain, and he flagged a lot of the same things I transcribed for my "le guin posting" tag, which I thought was neat! Unfortunately: he nerfed himself by spending most of his time on behemoth novels by six white men as Representative of Excess as Mastery, so I found his overall conclusions lackluster--like, dude, really, broaden your sample size if you're trying to generalize to American Literature Going Forward (it's no wonder Le Guin was the most hopeful and reconstructive of the lot, given the synopses of the other bricks he discussed). Neat intro and preface! And I found myself nodding along to a lot of his insights on Le Guin, but I also found myself rolling my eyes at how he tried to generalize from the texts he selected.