#this is probably how we know i like two face

[cathnospam]

“One kiss won’t hurt our friendship, right Katsuki?”

You ask him that at least once a week, for the past 4 months. At this point he’s not sure if it’s a joke anymore.

“Shut up and focus!”

It all started at your graduation party, everybody was having fun and kissing each other;

Mina with Kiri

Ochaco with Deku

Jirou with Denki

Even Sero managed to find somebody to make out with in a corner. It left you and Bakugo the only ones out of your friend group kissless during all of that you both just shared glances at them and each other before heading back up to your dorms for the evening, he didn’t care much to continue the celebration and you were just feeling a little awkward seeing everybody paired up.

Later that night Bakugo came to your door to grab an aspirin from you after 1 two many drinks, “Stupid ass music is still playing I’m about to blow the fucking speaker up.”

“Here. Also, eat. You haven’t eaten since this morning so your blood sugar is probably low too.”

He glared at you with an annoyed look of confusion, “Don’t observe me.”

He says as he takes the other half of your sandwhich, eventually he just stayed in your room, making himself comfortable splayed out on your bed as you were finishing packing to leave on Monday back to your parents, and that’s when a night of comfortable silence between you both turned into you making a joke about everybody hooking up in your class except you both.

“Yeah, even Robot legs got some pussy tonight i think.”

Which led you to making a joke about you stealing a kiss from each other, I mean you figured why not, you’re hot, he might have a mean mouth, but your blonde friend was hot too, it wouldn’t mean anything, but Bakugo immediately rolled his eyes and scoffed at you. It wasn’t mean either it was more of a, “Yeah right as if.” kind of thing.

It wasn’t a direct no though.

Since then you’ve had a continuous back and fourth of asking for a kiss, which again he never ends up saying no like any of the continuous fan girls he got during 2nd year.

Once the new semester of Uni started it became a routine and honestly you never thought you’d actually wear him down.

“It wouldn’t hurt our friendship y’know…it’d be something we do once and never speak about again.”

“You’re insufferable.”

“No I’m a good kisser.”

“Yeah right.”

“Yeah too, but you wouldn’t know because you won’t just come here and let me take your kiss virginity.”

You probably took it a little too far with that, because you’ve been friends with Bakugo long enough to know he is a drama. Queen.

“Who the hell said i never kissed anybody before?! I probably have!” His voice cracked, already a sign that he was lying. He definitely never kissed anybody. You knew, he probably knew you knew, but he refused to give you the satisfaction even IF his face became flushed.

He got up from his desk to sit in front of you on the bed, uncharacteristically so he cupped your cheeks, your phone long forgotten between your legs having to be forced to look into his irritated face.

You never noticed how sharp and soft some features of his face were.

And how clear his skin was.

And how pretty his eyes were even if they’re fiery and mad, “Close your damn eyes.”

“I’m not closing shit YOU close your eyes.”

You matched his energy by cupping his cheeks, they were nearly burning to your warm touch, thumb caressing his smooth skin. The tension was so thick between you both, you swore you could hear both your heart beats quickening. His lips were grazing yours as you pulled him closer, your stomach was actually doing backflips seeing as Bakugo had the choice to push you off, curse you out and never talk to you again, but

He didn’t and you didn’t stop either until you pressed your mouth against his. You could taste the mint gum he had in his mouth when you started to move yours, Bakugo’s sweaty hands took grip of your waist, partially holding onto you and also wiping it off on your shirt.

You were surprised when he still didn’t pull away, for an inexperienced kisser he got the hang of the way your tongue was dancing to be let inside, which he finally gave you access, but completely took charge and slid his tongue into your mouth instead.

What turned into an awkward still moment of passion transitioned into a wet, sloppy make out session which him getting lost from what he’d experienced as his first moment of pleasure ever. His hands pushed you on your back firm on top of his pillows, but not disconnecting from your mewls against him.

He tasted sweet and savory, his lips were average sized and hot, but managed to consume you. This was more than a kiss this was damn near foreplay.

Both of your bodies felt so connected though. It felt right, something so foreign felt…comforting. It suckling and moaning noises until the harsh knock on Bakugo’s door broke you both out of your cloud 9.

“Shit—Who is it?” He barked at the door, hovering over your panting body, his chain dangling over your face seeing his sharp jawline clench out of irritation,

“Hey man, we are heading to get some food y’wanna come?” It was Denki and Kiri oh so unknown to the view right behind his door, that if they wanted to barge in because the door was unlocked could see their hot headed friend on top of his own friend and in between her legs.

“No I’m fine. Leave me alone.”

“Wait I’m hungry—-“

“Shut.Up.” He covered your mouth, almost growling at you for speaking, the footsteps eventually fade off and he sits back up. Looking away.

“Well I’ll be damned you are a good kisser.”

“Shut— I know I am.”

“Well. I figured, because I sure as shit didn’t know what I was doing.”

He snapped his head at you, realizing you were lying about being an experienced kisser. He didn’t know whether to feel prideful or mad, “You—“

“Well you lied too. I know you never kissed anybody. Thanks for letting me take your lip virginity though.” You giggle wiping the lips gloss you left on the corner of his lip, you weren’t sure because he had some black joggers, but you tried to not mention the somewhat obvious growing erection from between his legs that made him more embarrassed.

“If you tell anybody I’ll—“

“You’ll what…kiss me again?”

[writerblock]

More Than Fate

I was just so sure.  This was the moment Fate had set aside for me.  Everything that had gone wrong today had been on purpose; to have me sitting here the moment she walked through the door.  She was simultaneously the most beautiful and perfect woman I'd ever seen and the most normal, unassuming on the planet.  There was just something about her that made her shine like a supernova, and I couldn't look away no matter what.  Our eyes met and I smiled at her.  She smiled back and gave me a friendly wave.  For a moment we sat in the room in silence.

"Rough day?" I asked, trying to fill the silence, struggling to get past my own nerves and say anything.

"Yeah, that's one way to put it, I guess.". Her voice was angelic.  "Everything that could go wrong did.  I was supposed to be here two hours ago.  I'm hoping they can still fit me in.  I just need them to take a look real quick at my laptop.  It's just keeps rebooting."

A tech walked out and looked over at me, then her.  "Sorry, I got no more free slots today."

"Actually, she's with me.". I lied.  Poorly, if I'm being honest.  "We're both bringing our laptops in together.  She was just parking the car while I came in to sign in."

The tech rolled his eyes.  "Fine.  What's the problem."

I handed over my laptop.  "Charging port is loose on mine.  She's got an endless reboot cycle."

"Ok.  Hand em over.  I'll call you tomorrow when they're ready.". 

I smiled at her, stood and took her laptop, handing them both to the tech.  As we walked away she, in what I thought was the greatest acting job I had ever seen, put her arm around me as we walked out of the repair center.

Outside, she immediately hugged me.  "Thank you, thank you, thank you!  You saved my butt in there, I cannot be without that laptop over the weekend, I have a huge project due."

"Yeah, um, don't mention it.". I was not good at playing it cool, and this girl hugging me was not making it easier.  "I, um, guess I should get your number so I can call you when they call me."

"Oh, right, duh.  Can you imagine?  I'd be out here stalking you.". As she pulled out her phone I saw the tattoo on her wrist.  "Damon". My heart sank.

***

Nobody knows how or why it happens, but as far back as we can find records, we've all been born with a name tattooed on our wrist.  They say it's the name of your soulmate, the one you're meant to be with.  First name only, which could be difficult.  People get around it by giving their children's names unique spellings.

Some people think it's an old superstition or a really dumb tradition, but the numbers seem to back it up.  Marriages between soulmates are almost always successful.  Marriages that ignore fate tend to end badly.

***

"I never even asked your name." She said as we exchanged numbers.  I'll admit, I was tempted to lie.  But unless the universe had a sick sense of humor, that only would complete half of the circle.

"Asher"

"Lily." She said.  She almost sounded sad, but I was fairly sure I was just projecting.  "So, call me tomorrow when you hear from them and let me know what I owe you.  I can probably kick in a little extra as a thank you."

"You don't have to do that."

"Well, I really appreciate it and I'd like to do something nice for you."

"How about," I took a breath, knowing I was setting myself up for failure.  "How about we grab a drink Monday night?  It sounded like you've got a lot of work to do this weekend but maybe after it's done we could hang out and talk?". The words just came spilling out, and as soon as I opened my mouth I regretted it.

Her face lit up.  "I'd like that."

"Ok.". I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself.  "I'll call you tomorrow and then we can sort out Monday when we see each other.". 

She smiled and gave me another hug.  "See you tomorrow, Ash.". I almost stopped her.   I hated that nickname.  Why did it sound different when she called me Ash?

"Bye Lilly."

***

The next day I called her right after I heard from the repair shop..  We met up, paid our bill and I figured that was it for the day.  But Lily had a different thought.

"I know we were talking about hanging out Monday, but I only have one class today and I'll be done at 2.  I was thinking we could grab lunch today.  You know, if you wanted to."

"It's up to you, Lily.  I just figured Monday you wouldn't have to worry about rushing.  You said you had a lot of work to do this weekend.  I thought we'd have a chance to actually hang out and talk on Monday.". Part of me was thrilled, not just at the chance to see her again, but the spontaneity of it left me less time to overthink things.  Of course, part of me also thought, after a night to sleep on it, she just wanted to get this over with.

She smiled.  "I mean,we could still do that too.  I was just hoping to see you sooner."

"Ok, sure.". Deep breaths, I reminded myself.  "Want to meet at the Bell Tower?  There's a few spots we can grab lunch at nearby.". I was trying not to stutter, but I was more nervous than I'd ever felt.

"Sounds great!  I'll see you there." She hugged me and walked off.  Of course, I was on the way to the only class I had today, so I was now faced with several hours of waiting around and trying not to think about all the ways this could go wrong.

***

I'd always hated the idea of being fated to be with someone.  It was a growing sentiment in my generation to hear the news tell it and, in their words, a problem.  The numbers tell a simple story.  Marry the right person, and it really is 'til death do you part.'  Ignore (or outright defy) Fate, and in a few years you'll be sorting through the rubble, trying to figure out how it all went so wrong.  

Of course, part of that was because the stats on failed marriages between the unconnected and successful marriages between Fated didn't tell the whole story.  Fated marriages tended to see a high rate of suicide; people who couldn't fathom the idea of staying with their soulmate but also couldn't follow through with the idea of divorce.  Unfated, meanwhile, could easily rationalize divorce and split up with little backlash from society.  Divorce was almost unheard of among fated couples, and usually the result of much larger issues.

When you're young, it wasn't uncommon to play the field.  Dating was really just something you did until you met your Fated.  They were practice relationships; you were never supposed to get attached to them.

I wasn't sure what lead to me asking Lily out.  There had been plenty of cute girls over the years that I'd had a thing for.  Maybe it was the way she put her arms around me, the way it just felt normal.  Maybe it was her personality.  Maybe it was that damn smile.  At the time all I knew was I was head over heels for this girl and that scared the hell out of me.

***

Lily's class was apparently in the building right across from the Bell Tower.  Seeing her come out and immediately look around until our eyes met, I finally understood what they meant when they say "my heart skipped a beat.". She had gotten changed in the intervening hours, and wore a dark sun dress and had her hair down.  She looked stunning and I knew I was in love.

Feeling a bit underdressed and more nervous than ever, I waved at her.  She smiled and walked over and hugged me again.  I'd learn later that this was normal in her family, hugging people that you liked.  At the time I saw it as a sign she was really into me.  Not that she wasn't, but the hugs weren't part of that.

"You look amazing." I told her as we walked over to one of the small cafes.  She blushed, and I decided to take a chance, and reached over and held her hand.  When she didn't pull away or scream, I figured I was good, but I certainly wasn't expecting the smile I saw on her face.  The walk really wasn't far, but it somehow managed to feel both instantaneous and forever.

As we sat there eating and talking, eventually she asked the obvious question.  "What's her name?"

"Cristina.". I held out my wrist.  "I saw yours when we first met.  I honestly thought about telling you my name was Damon."

"When we started talking, I just felt something click, and I kept trying to see your wrist.  When I asked your name I kept thinking 'please say Damon, please say Damon.'. But honestly, I didn't really care at that point.  I don't know what it's supposed to feel like when you meet your soulmate, but it has to feel like this."

Oddly enough, there are moments from that day I remember crystal clear, but the rest of it was a blur.  She ended up cancelling a study session with her friends and we just walked around campus for hours.  We grabbed dinner to go and ate on the lawn outside the student center.  Eventually, I told her she had to go study, as much as I didn't want her to go.  We made our plans for Monday, a real date this time.  She didn't hug me when she left this time, instead draping her arms around my shoulders and leaning in close.  I took the hint and kissed her.

Our first real date was wonderful, if anticlimactic.  That first day had been everything you want in a date and more.  Still, walking around together, knowing this was actually real, was special.  She told me she woke up on Saturday morning and checked her phone, rereading the exchange we'd had after we went our separate ways, just to be sure it happened.

***

I remember our first major fight so clearly.  It was just about 5 months later.  Fights happen all the time in relationships, and we had plenty throughout the years.  But every time we both drifted back to the same thought; that this was going to be the end for us.  Not because the fight was that big, but because it was just so easy to walk away from each other because of those damn tattoos.  We talked about it at one point; I was shocked that she felt that way too.  In a way, the fact that we weren’t Fated brought us back to work things out.

We weren’t living together yet, but she was spending more and more time at my place.  I even bought a second dresser so she could leave some clothes at my place.  Sometimes I’d see a shirt I thought she'd like, I’d buy it and stick it in with her stuff. Sometimes, I admit, I’d think about buying other things for her to wear.  This time, I pulled the trigger and bought her something: a little black dress.  Something a little sexier than the first dress I’d seen her in.  Something I was hoping she’d wear when we got to our 6 month anniversary and the big night out I was planning.

She didn’t like my pick, to put it mildly.

“What, you want me to dress up like some cheap whore that you can parade around on your arm?”

I tried to plead my case.  I tried to take into account that she was getting absolutely crushed by schoolwork.  I tried to keep my own emotions under control.

“I should have known this was doomed to fail and just walked away from you at the shop.”  It was one of the easiest ways for her to hurt me, and she knew it.  Knew I loved her with all my heart and was insecure that I was going to blow it all.  

Look, I’m no saint.  We had arguments down the road where I said worse things.  If she hadn’t walked out angrily at that moment, I probably would have had the first entry on the list.  When she stormed out, I wanted to sit down on the bed and just die.  But as I heard the front door close, I ran out after her.

I caught her in the parking lot.  My instinct was to reach out and grab her.  If I could just make her stay and listen.  I couldn’t do it.  Couldn’t lay a hand on her.  Couldn't force her to stay.  Just as she had used all the times we had talked about relationships and Fate to learn how insecure I was, I knew how she felt about people who walked away.  I knew if I could just get her to see that she was doing the one thing she said she hated, she would at least give me a chance to speak.  “You’d rather take the easy way out?”

She stopped, dead in her tracks.  “What?”

“We both knew there’d be bad days.  Fated couples have bad days, why wouldn’t we?  But because my name isn’t on your wrist it’s easy to walk away, isn’t it?  Easy to throw away everything we’ve done together, all those nights out on the balcony, just sitting hand in hand and looking at the stars and talking about the future we were going to build.  It meant nothing because my fucking name isn’t on some mystical tattoo on your wrist?  Cristina could walk up to me right now and be the most beautiful, perfect woman on the planet, and I’d still turn her down because I love you.  I won't give up something great just to chase the chance of something better.

"From the moment I laid eyes on you, I wanted to spend my life with you.  Not because you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, but because there was something more when I looked at you.  Your eyes, your smile, your touch, that little laugh of yours, all of it just melted my brain.  It still does to this day.  I bought that dress because you always talked about wanting to go out on a date and be the girl every guy couldn't take their eyes off of and watch necks snap as you walked by.  So I booked the dinner, I rented the car and I planned to make our 6 month anniversary the night you got to feel like a queen.  Maybe I should have asked you before I bought the dress, but I’d never make you wear something you felt uncomfortable in.”

Lily turned around and looked at me, and I could see the tears starting to well up in her eyes.

“I just,” she tried talking and fighting back the tears, but it wasn’t going particularly well.  “Too many times guys have approached me because of my body.  They weren’t looking for their Fated, just a good time until they met them.  I always told you you weren't the first guy I dated.  But you were the first that didn’t seem to always be trying to sleep with me.  That dress, I thought of all the times I got dolled up to look good for guys that cared about nothing else, and to think that you were looking at me that way too…”

“Lily, I think you are the most beautiful, gorgeous, desirable woman walking this planet.  And I’ll admit I’ve had plenty of those kinds of thoughts about you; it’s hard not to sometimes when I see you in some of these outfits.  Honestly, half the time I worry that I'm not affectionate enough, that I should be holding you more, kissing you more.  That you'd think I don't find you attractive.  I do.  I find every aspect of you incredibly alluring.". I walked over to her, seeing the tears on her cheeks.  "I love you." I told her, wiping away a tear.

"I know.  And I love you too.  I'm sorry I screamed at you.  Sorry I immediately said the most hurtful things I could think of."

This time, I was the one hugging her.  "It wouldn't hurt if we didn't care, right?". I took her hand and led her back into the apartment.  "Let me see if I still have the receipt from that dress.  We can go and return it and you can pick out something else."

"No."

I looked at her, a little puzzled.

"I like the dress.  It's a beautiful dress, and I know you put a lot of thought into it.  I want to wear it.  For you.  And for every guy that we pass that night, so they're all jealous of you."

***

That anniversary date went amazingly well.  She turned a lot of heads in that dress, rightfully so.  I spent most of the night trying not to stare at her.  But two interesting things came out of that night.  The first was I asked her to move in with me, full time, with the idea of starting to look for a place of our own.  The second was when we talked about the possibility that this might actually work out.

***

“I’ll be the first to admit, I’m amazed you’ve stayed with me this long.”  I said, between bites of food.  “I figured we’d go on a few dates, the novelty would wear off and eventually you’d dump me.  My friends had a pool going for how many dates we’d go on.  I think Jeff was the most optimistic at 6.”

She giggled.  “Good, supportive friends, huh?  Did you place a bet?”

“Nah, they weren’t giving odds that we’d never get to a second.”  I laughed.  “No, I never did.  You remember Dave’s Fated, Candace? Early on she was my sounding board for a lot of stuff.  She kept telling me I had to live in a positive mindset when it came to us, so I had to not think about how it could all fail spectacularly.  But they’ve all been supportive, which surprised me.  I told them I honestly could see us having a real future together, and nobody laughed or told me it would never work.”

“Well, I’m glad your friends are that way.”

“Your friends weren’t?”

“Most figured you were just another fling, I think.  But even from the beginning I talked about you differently.  Kelly, I don’t know what her deal was.  She’s never made a big deal about relationships with non-Fated before, but I guess this bothered her.  She told me I was playing with fire by flipping off Fate.  We really don’t talk anymore; it’s crazy to think she just cut me out of her life over who I’m dating."

"That's a shame.  It's not like you did anything that would hurt anyone.". We both got quiet, but I had to ask the obvious question.  "Lily, did you think this would work when we started?"

She set her fork down and wiped her face.  "I hoped it would.  I'm not sure why.  You know you're not my first.  But this felt different, from the very start.  When my friends doubted us, I wanted to work even harder to make this work.". She looked at me, and I could see her mulling over a question of her own.  "You never told me why you helped me that day."

"Part of it was very much an attraction to you.  But we had both had pretty lousy days.  We weren't supposed to be there at that moment.  It felt like, well, Fate.  I felt something from the moment our eyes met.  And then you put your arm around me, and I was so damn sure you were Cristina."

"Were you disappointed that I wasn't?"

"Not in the least.  If anything it made it better because I knew my feelings were real.". I smiled and reached across the table and took her hand.  "You didn't have to go along with it that day.  Not to the level you did."

"You were cute.  You were sweet.  There was something about you from that first look.  And then, for you to stand there and lie for me, to help out someone you didn't even know, I figured it was worth the chance.". She reached across the table and took my hand.  "You proved me right too."

"When I did it, I was just trying to help someone who had the same kind of bad day I had just gone through.  I never thought about asking you out, that thought came when we walked out of the store and it felt so nice having your arm around me.  Those words just came out.  I regretted saying them immediately because I felt like I was going to scare you away.  I was just hoping to talk and see if things went anywhere.  Even in my wildest dreams I never imagined we'd get here."

***

While Lily hadn't gotten any support from some of her friends, her family was wonderful.  I mean, her Dad told me they'd never find my body if I hurt her, but that's to be expected for his only daughter.  But neither of them seemed bothered by the fact that she and I were seriously trying to make a relationship work; down the road her Mom helped us get through a few of our inevitable rough patches.

To say things were different with my parents would be an understatement.  I had a feeling things would be rough at the start, but hoped they would come around.

As we got closer to that first get together, I thought a lot about my parents' relationship.  Growing up you tend to be only slightly aware of most of the fights that happen.  I definitely knew that they had their moments.  But reflecting on things I started to wonder if my parents were the type that stayed together simply because they were fated to be together.

So I tried to keep expectations low.  I told them Lily and I were seeing each other, but neglected to mention how serious we were.  My mother, of course, figured things out pretty quickly and stopped me when I went out to grab something to drink.

"What the hell is going on with you?"

"What's your problem?"

"My problem is my son is apparently in a serious relationship with someone he's not Fated to.  Moving in together?  What about Cristina? Can you afford to break the lease on the apartment when she comes along?  You can't make these big decisions without thinking about her."

I took a deep breath.  "Actually, I can.  It's very easy once you stop caring about what it says on your wrist and just start living life.  Lily makes me feel alive.  I don't know where or how our story ends, but I like that.  I like not being tied to one ending.  Not being stuck with someone that makes me miserable."

Yeah, in hindsight, that last part was a mistake.  When I get angry sometimes I think the part of my brain that keeps me from saying things like that just shuts off.  But hearing her talk about how I should be prepared to just throw Lily to the curb, discard her like a toy I didn't want to play with anymore, it hurt.  So I said it, and I learned that I get my temper from my mother.

"You think this is easy, don't you, living with someone?  Sure, it's all sunshine and rainbows at first.  But the bills, and the responsibility of being an adult puts a strain on any relationship.  Maybe that's my fault, not raising a son with an understanding of responsibility.  Your father and I sacrificed to make sure you had a good life, an easy life."

I should have held my tongue.  I should have let her vent her frustration and maybe we could salvage things later.  In the back of my mind I knew the best thing to do was shut up.

But I didn't.

"I'm sure you sacrificed so much for your loving marriage.  You were both always so happy and pleasant to be around.  Please.  You two are proof positive that Fate has a sick sense of humor.  You are the most miserable couple I have ever seen and if it wasn't for some misguided belief you'd have gone separate ways long ago.  And just like marriage, it was some duty the two of you carried out.  Marry your Fated.  Have a kid or two.  That's how the world works.  I guess because Fate never told you to be happy, or enjoy your life you never bothered to do it.  Well fuck all of that bullshit, I'm going to focus on being happy and finding someone that brings out the best in me, Fate be damned."

She smoldered for a moment, and I braced myself.  That's when dad walked in the room and stepped in between us.

"You need to leave."

I wasn't sure if he thought he was saving me, or if he knew no matter how bad I got it, he was going to get worse when we left.  Didn't care much either.  I took Lily's hand and walked to the door.  I stopped, fully prepared to say something I'd regret.  'Don't expect an invitation to the wedding.' was on the tip of my tongue when Lily squeezed my hand and led me out the door.  She brings out the better side of me, brings that balance.

She finally stopped me when we got to the car.  "I've never seen you like this.  What happened?"

I put my arms around her and held her.  "I love you, Lily.  They don't understand it.  And I think it scares them, that happiness is possible without Fate.  She totally dismissed us, told me to build my life so that I could drop you the instant Cristina came along and brace myself for you to do the same to me.  To hear what we have, what we've built together be dismissed so casually, it hurt and it made me angry.  I lashed out, worse than I should have at her.  I had hoped, maybe, if she met you, I could change her mind.  But I always knew this was going to end badly, even if I didn't want to admit it.  I knew what we have, they could never accept.  I knew I might have to make a choice, and I'll always choose you over anyone."

***

Losing my family hurt.  I threw that in Lily's face once during a fight, that choosing her had cost me them.  It was stupid and hurtful and she'd have been right to leave me then and there.  But just like when I had fought to keep her, she fought for me.  We thought we were pretty battle tested and bulletproof.  After graduation, we started making plans for the wedding.  And that's when things went to hell.

***

 We found this beautiful little bed and breakfast in the countryside on a weekend drive.  As we walked up to it, Lily told me that this was the place.  We weren't looking for a place for the wedding at that moment, but I knew she was right.  

The best part was they had done plenty of weddings.  They had someone that handled everything, all the planning.  Lily and I were fine with that, until we met her.  Tall and athletic, with jet black hair, she was every pin-up girl I'd fawned over as a teen.  And when she introduced herself as Cristina, I was ready to run out that door and never come near this place again.

Lily and I had taken to wearing matching wristbands that covered our tattoos in place of engagement rings.  So, thankfully, Cristina couldn't see her name on my wrist.

But Lily definitely noticed mine on hers.

"Ok, then we change venue.". I said to her later that day.  "We ask for someone different.". I was trying to calm Lily down and ignore my own panic.  I had feared this moment for years, feared that I wouldn't be strong enough.  That I'd break my promise.  And when Lily started to cry, I knew what I needed to do.

I went to see Cristina the next day.  She smiled as I walked in the door, alone.  Before I could say a word, she put a hand on my chest.  

"I'm sorry to break you two up.  She seems really sweet.  But we both know this is how it's meant to be."

"Cristina, don't take this the wrong way, but that's not why I'm here.  We're going to do the wedding somewhere else.  I know the deposit we put down before we met with you is non-refundable, and that's fine. If there's anything I need to sign, let's get it over with."

"Asher, that's not how this works.  I have waited my whole life for you to come along and this is what I get?  We finally get a chance to talk and the first thing you say isn't 'I've waited my whole life for this moment'?"

"Look, I'm sorry.  I honestly never thought about how this would affect you.  Selfish as that may be, you weren't ever a consideration, not once I met Lily.  She and I are happy.  We're in love.  Not because of some mystical tattoo, but because we genuinely developed a real relationship."

"I'm not asking you to kill her, for God's sake, Asher.  I'm asking you to be realistic and accept your fate.  You said you didn't think about me then.  Think about it now, about the fact that this affects 4 sets of lives.  Think about the domino affect you're having, destroying other people's lives."

"Because I found someone who makes me happy, someone that I make happy?"

“You were supposed to wait for me!”

“Why?”

“Because we're soulmates.  That's how it works!”

"Yeah but, why?  Why should I have passed up the chance to be happy with her for a chance to be happy with you?”

“Because our relationship will work; yours is destined to fail.  They always do.”

“Because they're supposed to or because people have a way to rationalize walking away from random relationships, but can't be the weirdo who leaves their soulmate?”

“You can't fight fate!”

“So, you're telling me, because you're my soulmate, we'll never have a huge, devastating argument?”

“Yes”

“We're having one right now.”

Cristina threw her hands up in disgust. “How did I end up with an asshole for a soulmate?”. She glared at me.  "Fine.  I'll cancel everything.  It'll be like you guys never were here.  But when she leaves you, don't come crawling back to me, just because there's a tattoo on your wrist with my name on it."

***

"You cancelled it over her?  You could have said something to me about it beforehand, Ash.  That's a lot of money we just threw away."

"I know.  I did the math.  I'm going to pick up some extra shifts and go back to packing lunch like when we first moved in together.  I'll make it work without you having to make any sacrifices."

Lily put her arms around me.  "You don't have to starve yourself, or work yourself to death.  We'll figure it out together.  Like we always have.". She kissed me on the cheek, the way she always did to cheer me up.  "How did she take it?"

"To say poorly would be an understatement.  I probably didn't help matters by being a smart ass."

"You, a smart ass?  I find that hard to imagine."

"Regardless, that bridge is very burned.  I'm 100 percent yours, same as I always was."

"Thank you, Ash.  For choosing me."

"I'll always choose you."

***

I thought, once we got past that we were in the clear.  For a while we were.  We still had our fights and our bad days, especially when money was tight.  But our good days were always amazing, and things kept getting better.  We both got decent jobs out of college.  She was the main bread winner, I had better benefits and things balanced out.  We decided to put marriage on the back burner for a little longer and started looking to buy a house instead.

We tried realtors, but most were pushing us to buy cheap fixer upper types, or houses that were far too big for the small family we hoped to start one day.

It was by chance we drove past one of the first houses we looked at.  Or maybe it was Fate.

Detours, one way streets and a spotty cell phone signal had gotten us lost in a small town just north of where we lived.  We drove through the main street all the time, but in all that time we never looked around.  But as we drove around the surrounding neighborhood, we found a beautiful little house with a for sale sign out front and decided to make the best of the opportunity and knocked on the door.

A man answered the door; he was about our age.  And as soon as he walked through the threshold, Lily took a step back.  I didn't think anything of it at the time.

"Can I help you?" He said, smiling at us, his eyes shifting instantly to Lily.  That I noticed, but it wasn't the first time I caught someone checking her out.

"Yeah, we saw the for sale sign out front, but there's no realtor number to call, so we wanted to see what you were asking."

"Hey, Ash, I just realized I forgot my purse at home.  We should probably head back and we can come bother this gentleman another time.". She turned and started to walk away when he spoke up.

"I was kinda hoping we could at least talk this awkward situation over Lily."

As I looked at him, my first thought was that he was an ex.  A fling from before we met.  Until I looked at his arm, leaning against the doorway, and on his wrist I saw her name.

"I'm sorry Damon.  There's nothing to talk about.  I'm engaged, and happily so.  I know that probably hurts, but please, don't do this."

"I just was going to ask you to tell me what happened.  How I missed out on my soul mate."

***

I could hear them talking in the kitchen.  I had feared this day for years, and the meeting with Cristina had compounded my fears.  It had honestly been very difficult to turn her down.  It's why I had reacted the way I did.  I was pushing her as far away as possible in the most blunt, mean spirited away I could.  It wasn't the nicest way to handle things, and I wasn't proud of it, but in my mind it was the only way.  Pushing away anyone that might upset what we had.  But I couldn't push Damon away.  Lilly had to do that.

I gave them space to talk, but I could hear every word.  The house wasn't that big, and with all the windows open the words carried.

“So, why him?” Damon asked, more curious than anything it sounded.  Unlike Cristina, he was taking all of this pretty well.

“What?”

“What made you decide to be with him rather than wait for me?”

“Well, for one thing, I knew him.  I didn't know you.  You were just a name.  He and I went through a lot together.  It brought us closer.  And, honestly, I never believed in all this Fate stuff.  Neither of us did.  He felt like he was my soulmate, despite what my wrist said.”

“And now?”

“I'm not sure.  It's gotten very complicated.”

“I knew the moment I saw you.  I didn't need to see your wrist, I didn't need to know your name.  It was a feeling, like nothing before.  Did you feel it?”

“Honestly?  I felt sick.  Torn.  I think a part of me knew.  A part of me was afraid you might be my soulmate.  That I might have to choose.  Ash isn't perfect, but we've been through so much together.  He's been so good to me, I don't want to leave him.  I can't hurt him like that."

There was an air of inevitability in her voice.  She sounded resigned to her fate.  Defeated.  Still, I sat there.  I would not force her to choose; she needed to make this decision on her own.

"Look, I'm not trying to break things up between you guys.  I mean, you've made it this far and bucked the odds.  If you want to stay with him, I'll understand.  Just, think about it, ok?"

"I will."

I heard the chairs move and stood, walking out of the house and waiting to accept the inevitable.  It was hard to believe this was how it would end.  After everything that had happened, this was what was going to destroy our relationship.  I'll admit, my mind raced with a million thoughts, most of them bad.  But when she walked out the door  and smiled at me, I felt that familiar buzz return.  She was as beautiful as the first time I saw her, maybe more so because I knew every scar that had made her into the woman before me.   And I did something I'd never done before.  I walked over, I grabbed her and I kissed her with every ounce of my being.  The kind of kiss you save for the wedding.  I poured my soul into her.

She stepped back, looking half confused and half excited.  "What brought that on?"

"I love you.  Always have, always will."

Her smile faded.  "I know, Ash.  I love you too.  And we've had a lot of wonderful times together.  I never imagined anyone would make me feel the way you do.  When he opened the door and spoke, I understood what you talked about feeling the first time you saw me.  That's what makes this whole situation so difficult."

"I just-". I stopped myself from saying that I didn't understand.  No, I understood.  I'd felt it when I saw Cristina.  She was like a living fantasy, standing before me ready to be mine.  There had been significant portions of my brain telling me to end things with Lily, to reconcile things with my parents.  To be normal.  "No, that's not it.  Lily, look, you make your decision.  You're not wrong, to want to not have to deal with explaining this to your children, to not want to have to cover up so people don't ask questions.   I understand if you choose normalcy. We chose a difficult path.". I leaned back against the trunk of the car.

Lily settled in next to me and leaned her head against my shoulder.  "We did.  And I don't regret a minute of it.  The arguments, the bad days, the screaming match in the living room of that first apartment.  I slowly realized why I got upset with you, why your words hurt like nobody else's.  Why things felt different with you.

If I go with Damon because of fate, then what's the point of life?  Everything is already planned out, and nothing I do matters.  It's all out of my hands, all preconceived and written in stone.  And yeah, maybe on some primal level we don't yet understand, there's something that makes this automatic connection between two people who are meant to be together.  But that isn't love, not like what we have.  That takes time, struggle, passion and pain.  All the things we've been through, all the times it would have been easy to walk away meant nothing if it ends here, over some cute guy I just met.  If I end it here, then I have been lying to you and to myself for the last few years when I tell you I love you.

I never intended to leave you, but I couldn't just crush him, not like you did with Cristina.  I had to talk with him.  I wanted to know what it felt like to spend your whole life searching for someone.

But in the end,I knew we had something special.  Something more than Fate.  We have true love, and I want us to keep writing our story."

I was almost in tears.  This woman, who meant more to me than anyone ever had (and, save for our kids down the road, more than anyone ever would).  She had stared her fate in the eyes and not blinked, not backed down.  I knew it wasn't an easy thing to do.  That she did it successfully made me love her more.

***

Lily and I had 3 kids; Ada, our oldest girl was the spitting image of her mother and Daddy's little girl.  Eva, our youngest, was a tomboy and a wild child; my mother would have adored her.  Leo was the apple of his mother's eye; he stole her heart with that first look just like his Dad.  When they got to the point they were old enough to date, we told them the truth.  Told them the tattoo on their wrist was a suggestion, but that there was no predestined path.  Life, it turns out, is about the choices you make along the way.  Enjoying the company you keep and the ride you take and making your own decisions.

Life is about more than Fate.

Everyone has the name of their supposed soulmate printed on the inside of your wrist. You, however, are defiant, and begin dating someone that’s not your soulmate. It turns out that not meeting someone with the magic expectation that you’re ‘meant to be for each other and will get married and live happily ever after’ actually made you two get along pretty well, and you’re now deeply in love with them. However, after several years of dating this person, both your and your S.O.’s real 'soulmates’ find you, and they’re both furious that you didn’t wait for them.

[hughes-your-daddy]

Idk if you listen to Sabrina but in good graces where she says “break my heart and I swear I’m moving on to your favorite athlete” and now popstar!reader is in a happy but private relationship with Quinn. Her ex thought he could win her back after buying backstage passes and thinks he’s lucky to also meet his favorite athlete backstage only to find out Quinn and reader are together and Quinn is lowkey pretty protective of her

good graces

pairing: quinn hughes x singer!reader

summary: requested above

warning: creepy ex, mild sa

“i’m excited to see you perform baby,” quinn smiles, thumb running over your knuckles as you drive to the arena in the uber.

you had been asked to perform at the nhl all star game at half time, so here you are arriving at the arena for a sound check, ahead of tonight’s performance.

a few of the hockey players would also be there to do some pr, but hopefully none of them should be watching. well, quinn has made it his mission to sneak a peek since he won’t be able to watch tonight.

you quickly arrive, hopping out and grabbing your bag. thankfully there isn’t any paparazzi yet so getting inside is easy. you get taken through to a dressing room area where you and quinn dump your stuff before he moves to meet some of the other players for their pr.

you meet your manager at the rink, seeing the stage set up ontop of the ice like it will be tonight.

“ok so we have a lineup of taste, good graces and espresso, we’ll just need to sound check good graces since it’s a new one.” the stage manager says as you nod, pulling your hoodie tighter around you as you step out onto the ice, uggs keeping your feet warm and stepping onto the stage.

you say a quick hello to your band before starting to check vocals a little bit, saving your energy for tonight you just stay by your mic stand.

you finish good graces and before the music cuts out you hear clapping. confused your eyes drift over to the side of the rink where a group of players are stood, quinn at the centre of them clapping.

you see his smile, wide across his face. as he cups his mouth sending a whoop your way. you giggle slightly at the group before going back to sound check mode, your manager speaking over your in ears.

“we good?” you ask down the mic, your sound desk man sending you a quick thumbs up. you give them one back before handing the mic off to a sound tech and hopping down heading over to quinn.

“you were great baby,” he smiles, pulling you in for a tight hug, pressing a kiss to your temple, “i love that new song,” he whispers making me chuckle.

“you like your line?” you ask seeming him grin wide, nodding his head.

“that’s my sister in law everyone.” you hear jack call out making everyone laugh.

quinn sends him a glare, luke knocking him over the head, as his teammates giggle. quinn hasn’t asked you yet, but there’s been subtle signs, from both of you even his family that you’re ready to take it to the next level.

you say a quick hello to all the other players before you heading back to the dressing room, quinn trailing behind.

“i’m gonna head back to the hotel, do you know how much longer you’ll be?” you ask, grabbing your bag and sliding quinn’s jacket on.

“probably an hour or so.” he smiles, coming up to wrap his arms around your waist, resting his heirs head in the crook of your neck. you let your hands come up tangling in the curls at the base of his neck.

“want me to grab you some lunch on the way back?” you ask, feeling his smile against your neck, nodding.

“that would be insane thank you.” he mumbles before pulling away pressing his lips to yours. you smile into the kiss letting your hands tangle further into his curls before pulling away.

“i’ll see you later baby.” he smiles before you press one more quick kiss to his lips and leaving. you stop by a small cafe on the way back getting two chicken salads and a smoothie before heading back to the hotel.

you decide to just lounge abit, watching a bit of netflix while eating and then showering, before your glam team arrive, starting to set up in the room. you change into a small tank top, easy to take on and off after your makeup and hair when quinn comes back.

“hiya baby.” he smiles pressing a quick kiss to your lips before heading off to the bedroom to have his pre game nap.

your makeup artists does your signature rosey glam, with your hair stylist doing some hollywood curls, setting them in place with some hairspray.

your hairstylist is just finishing your hair when quinn pops in, still half asleep from his nap.

“i’m gonna shower now babe, jack and luke are gonna come up so we can head down together.” he smiles as you nod.

“i just need to get my dress on so we shouldn’t be long.” you smile before he disappears to the bathroom, jumping in the shower.

your hairstylist finishes and your given your dress to change into. you quickly thank them before heading through to the bedroom, hearing the shower in the en-suite still running.

you take off your sweats and tank top, also removing your bra since you can’t wear one with your dress before jumping at the sound of a wolf whistle.

“jesus christ quinn.” you laugh, seeing him walk out with a towel hung low around his waist. he comes over, setting his hands on your waist, a few water droplets covering your chest.

“baby, i got to get ready.” you smile, pushing a few wet curls off his forehead to stop them from dripping.

“do we have to go?” he whines causing you to laugh.

“well i think your captain if you team and im performing under a contract so i think so.” you reply sarcastically before he pressing a kiss to your neck, nothing sexual, just loving since he knows he can’t actually kiss you because your makeup artist would kill him.

“hurry up and dry off so you can zip me up.” you smile, patting his chest as he laughs, moving away to get ready.

you change your panties as well, before moving across to slide your dress on. the gold slip dress, corseted top slides on over your body, opting for a strapless look.

“can you zip me up please.” you ask quinn through the mirror. he walks over, shirtless in dress pants, zipping up your dress before pressing a kiss to your shoulder.

“you look beautiful baby.” he whispers, wrapping his arms around your waist, letting his head rest on your shoulder, looking at you through the mirror.

“mmh, you should go for the shirtless look.” you giggle causing his to laugh before pulling away to finish getting ready.

you move back into the open area of your room, your stylist tying the corset before help you step into your loubiton heels.

you stand to take a few pictures before quinn comes out of the bedroom, dressed in a black suite, with a matching black tie, letting his curls breathe today, no beanie.

he stands back watching you for a bit before you motion for him to join you.

“just a few pictures babe?” you smile and he hesitates for a moment before joking you, letting you team take a few pictures before jack and luke are coming in, smiling when seeing both of you.

“hiya.” you smile giving each of them a hug.

“yous both look great.” jack smiles, pulling away as luke hugs you.

yous take a few pictures all together before your driver is ready to take all of you to the arena.

you head down to the lobby where there is a few paparazzi waiting outside the hotel since most of the players are staying here. you wave to a few, quinn’s hand staying on your lower back, offering a hand to help you into the car, before jack and luke hop in as well.

the drive isn’t too long and soon enough your stepping out heading onto the red carpet. you take a few solo pictures before quinn joins you, wrapping his arm around your waist, yours moving to the middle of his back, tapping your fingers gently, a little code you both have when in public situations.

he looks over to you, matching your smile before continuing to move down the line, jack and luke joining again for a group one before heading inside.

“love you baby, i’ll see you at half time ok?” quinn says, pulling you aside from the hustle and bustle, slipping into a side corridor.

“i did t get to tell you but you look really handsome tonight quinn.” you smile, a blush creeping on both your cheeks.

“not as hot as you though,” he smirks, leaning down to press a kiss to your lips, “can’t wait for tonight.” he mumbles against your lips before pulling away and heading down the corridor to the players room.

you giggle to yourself before heading down to your own dressing room where your glam team are setting up.

they help you out of your dress and get into some sweats and a shirt to wait in before having to get ready. you watch the game on a small monitor on the wall, before needing to get into your performance outfit, your team doing a few touchups and heading out to the arena.

you see the teams heading off before being escorted to the side of the stage which is being pushed onto the rink quickly by tech teams.

you begin performer “good graces” a new song with your back up dancers hearing the arena roar at “Break my heart, and I swear I'm movin' on with your favorite athlete.”

yours and quinn’s relationship hadn’t been quiet as such but you hadn’t made a big thing about it in public, simply just letting the public see whatever they see, you and quinn just being a regular couple, so hearing that line made the fans go crazy.

you finish up your set, waving goodbye to the arena, but one person catches your eye, someone who you thought you’d left 4 years ago, someone quinn saved you from.

your breath catches in your throat as his eyebrow raises at your eye contact before you keep your composure moving off the stage quickly walking through the corridors.

you space out, letting people move around you, someone taking your microphone, removing your mic pack before your free to go. you find your breath for a minute heading back to the dressing room, your glam team waiting outside.

“give me a minute yeh?” you say politely, flashing a small smile as they nod, letting you inside.

you quickly head in, leaning back against the door closing your eyes and taking a breath. you try to take a few calming breaths before jumping at a voice.

“very nice performance y/n.” he says, and you freeze, looking forward and seeing him, stood there, hands in pockets smirk on his face.

“that lyric huh? you knew hughes was a favourite of mine?” he asks, slowly walking over. your hand darts to the handle, but his is quicker grabbing your wrist.

“what do you want?” you ask, voice wavering of slightly, his grip tightening around your waist.

“i want you back, fuck that hughes boy.” he says getting closer, before he drags you away from the door, flinging you into the small sofa, your head hitting the wall, sending you into a dazed world.

he lets out a small chuckle before you see his blurry figure walk towards you again, towering over your figure.

“you always were good to me.” he says, leaving down, as you try to squirm away. you feel your breathing pick up, his grip tightening one again on each of your wrists, pining you down from moving. you feel tears well up and slowly fall, as your body starts to succumb to what’s happening.

“get the fuck off of her,” you hear a voice yell before he’s being pulled off of you by security, quinn wrapping you up in his arms, “baby, i’m here, breathe baby.” he soothes as you break in his arms, hear still half off from the break.

he holds you for a few minutes before you find your breathing begin to settle again, the room now empty of security, just you and quinn.

“that’s it baby, just keep breathing.” he says, grand brushing over your hair.

“i tried to get away quinn.” you whisper, his lips finding your temple, pressing a soft kiss to it.

“i know baby, but they’ve got him now,” he whispers, letting his head rest on yours as you pull away wincing, “baby, you hurt?” he asks, quickly pulling away at your flinching.

that’s when you realise how deep the ache is in your head.

“i hit my head, he through me against the wall,” you mumble, his hand coming up to check your head, his brows furrowing at the small bump starting to appear on the back of your head.

“i’m gonna get a medic to come check you baby.” quinn says, finger gently grazing over your head.

“don’t you have a game to play?” you ask, sniffling slightly, wiping your nose.

“they can go one without me, just an all star game, nothing serious.” he says sending you a soft smile, before moving to poke his head out the door calling for a medic.

they come in and check your head, doing a concussion protocol to see you have a very small one, nothing too serious but they tell quinn to keep an eye on you.

“let’s get you changed baby, we’ll head back to the hotel.” he smiles, moving across to your bag, pulling out your sweats and his hoodie, helping you get changed out of your outfit into some comfier clothes.

“give me 5 mins baby, im gonna go grab my stuff and ill be right back.” he says, pressing f a soft kiss to your forehead before quickly leaving, letting you rest against the couch, holding a small ice pack the medic gave you against your head.

as promised quinn is back in no time, hurriedly dressed in a hoodie and some shorts, sliders on, hair tossled from the sweat of the first game.

“ok baby, got an uber waiting outside, you think you can walk?” he asks and you nod, quinn moving to pack a couple things in your bag before slinging it on your shoulder and moving to help you up. he slides an arm around you waists before you walk out, security buzzing around the building each sending you a sympathetic smile as you pass.

quinn helps you into the uber before your back off to the hotel, your head falling to rest on his shoulder, as you drive back.

“you gotta stay awake baby.” quinn mumbles, gently nudging you as your eyes start to droop.

you manage to stay awake for the rest of the ride before you heading back up to your room, quinn swiping you room card and guiding you inside.

“lay down baby, i’ll order us some food, you’ve got to eat something.” he smiles, laying you down on your bed. you climb under the covers, letting your head fall back into the soft pillows.

you feel the bed dip beside you, your eyes fluttering open, moving to rest your head on his chest, his arms wrapping around you.

“they’ve arrested him.” he mumbles, you nodding against his chest, “gonna make sure he can never find you again ok?” he says, as you move to look up at him.

“that’s twice now you’ve saved me.” you say huffing out a small laugh, quinn copying.

“mmh, knight in shining armour.” he smiles, brushing your hair back, “i’ll always be here baby, but hopefully it’ll never happen again.” he says, hand moving to cradle your cheek, “i promise.” he says before leaning down to press a soft kiss to your lips.

“relax baby, i’ll wake you when the food gets here.” he smiles before you rest yourself back against his chest, letting yourself relax a bit for the first time since he appeared.

[chancloud8]

PART 21.

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series masterlist.

series summary: you and chan get matched up on a forum for people who suffer with insomnia and spent most of your sleepless nights texting each other. neither of you expected to fall in love..

pairing: bang chan x reader

tags: smau, written part, fluff, just 1k of fluff

You wake up feeling warm and well rested and for a moment you’re confused about where you are. You don’t recognize the ceiling and there’s an arm around your middle that’s keeping you pressed against a solid chest. 

Chris. 

Slowly the memory of last night fills your brain, making you smile. You’ve never felt as comfortable with someone like you did with Chris yesterday, especially not this fast. After the tickle attack and the kiss, the two of you had talked for hours about everything and anything. You don’t even remember falling asleep and at one point the two of you must have tangled together above the sheets. 

Chris is still sleeping, his breathing slow and little puffs of air tickle your neck whenever he breathes out. His arm is wrapped tightly around your waist and his legs have intertwined with yours. You’re fully pressed against his front and it feels good. It feels right, like you belong here. The clock on the bedside table tells you it’s almost nine in the morning and you have absolutely no idea what Chris's schedule looks like today. 

You carefully turn around in his arms, your face only inches from his and for a moment you take in his peaceful face. Everything in you screams to let him sleep, but you don’t want him to be late if he’s supposed to be somewhere. You lift your hand and gently touch his cheek with the outside of your palm.

Chris stirs and mumbles something you can’t quite make out. You repeat the movement and then slowly move the tips of your fingers over his forehead, his brows, nose and and then back to his cheek. A deep sigh escapes Chris’s lips and then he slowly blinks his eyes open. 

‘Good morning,’ you whisper with a smile, pulling back your hand. 

Chris blinks again, probably having the same cloudy brain you had when you woke up, but then his lips curve up in a smile and he closes his eyes again. 

‘Good morning,’ he says, his voice laced with sleep. 

‘Did you sleep well?’ 

‘So well,’ Chris hums, tightening his grip around your middle. ‘I can’t remember the last time I slept this good.’ 

‘Me neither,’ you whisper. ‘Seems like we acted as a human sleeping pill.’ 

Chris chuckles and presses a soft kiss against your temple. ‘Seems like it. We’ll definitely have to try this again to be sure.’ 

You laugh and cuddle further into him, pressing your forehead against his chest. ‘I’d like that very much.’ 

‘How long are you staying?’

‘I think we will fly back tomorrow afternoon, but Ava arranged all of this so I’m not completely sure.’ 

‘So we get another night together?’ 

You lean back a little so you can look at him. ‘Looks like it.’ 

‘Oh no,’ Chris grins, his eyes lightening up. He looks absolutely adorable with his sleep tousled hair. ‘However will I survive having you with me for over twenty-four hours.’ 

‘Hmm, I don’t know,’ you shrug. ‘I could always just hang out with Innie.’ 

Chris gasps in mock horror. ‘You dare replace me with my youngest child?’ 

‘He’s cute,’ you shrug again while trying to keep a straight face. ‘And I have his number.’ 

Chris his eyes narrow playfully and before you can even blink, he’s on you, easily maneuvering your body so you’re under him. His hands are pining your wrists down to the mattress while his legs are on either side of your hips. 

‘Say that again,’ he challenges you, leaning down further so his nose almost touches yours. ‘Or do I have to tickle you again?’ 

‘Noooo,’ you squeal, squirming underneath him in advance. ‘Please, have mercy.’ 

‘Hmm that depends on what you say next,’ Chris purrs.

Your eyes widen at the way his voice sounds and you stop squirming, suddenly very aware of his body on top of yours and his fingers around your wrists. Your skin tingles where his body touches yours and it takes a lot of self control not to arch your back or buck your hips. You’re not a hundred percent sure if he knows what he’s doing to you, but the glint in his eyes tells you that he’s at least feeling some things himself as well.

‘Christopher Bang Chan is the sexiest man alive?’ you try, grinning up at him. 

‘Better, but I’m not sure I approve of how you make it sound like a question,’ he smirks, raising his eyebrows at you. 

You roll your eyes at him and stick out your tongue. ‘Not my fault you interpret it that way.’ 

His mouth makes an ‘O’ and the dangerous glint appears in his eyes again, so you turn serious before he decides to tickle you breathless again. 

‘I’m here for you and only you,’ you say, your voice soft. ‘I like you, Chris. A lot.’ His grip falters and his eyes soften. ‘If I’m indeed staying until tomorrow then I want to spend as much time as I can with you. If you let me, that is.’ 

‘Let you?’ Chris snorts. ‘Baby, you’re not getting out of my sight unless you absolutely have to. I’ve been waiting way too long to have you with me and if it was up to me I’d find a way to make you stay even longer.’ 

Your eyes widen and butterflies erupt in your stomach. ‘Possessive much?’ you tease. 

‘Oh yes,’ Chris smiles. ‘Whipped too, but I don’t care.’ 

‘Cute,’ you smile back, booping his nose with your finger. ‘I like it.’ 

Chris shifts and lets his body fall next to you on the bed again. ‘Good, cause you’re stuck with me now.’ 

‘Oh no,’ you gasp in mock horror like he had done before. 

He giggles and you can’t help but join him.

a/n: i did not mean for this to be 1k of pure fluff, but it just happened? i didn't fight it cause I'm way to happy words flowed out of me again <3 It's a bit of a short chapter, but I wanted to give you guys some cuteness after the long wait. Happy sunday! taglist: @tirena1 @vampzity @anoca250318 @kaqua @stars4jo @skzswife @hyunjinvoid @nightmarenyxx @sellomaybe @eastjonowhere @finnbbl @staysweird @0sunshinecryptid0 @blckchrryy @idiotmaterial @energyjuice4life @forever-atiny @cafffeineconnoisseur @farfromsugafanfic @nybrolocolo @chanssmiles @modesttiger @lausnotverybright @mushy-mushroom04 @stilldontknowhoiam @luvv1anime @jjwhorehouse @sincerelyvani @darkwitchoferie @r1nstaaa @hannamoon143 @hopelesromanticy @ilovedallywinston @hannieslovebot @liknws @imeverycliche @emilyhadenbaker @ebnabi @mladyluna @n4tr3ad5 @gncbnahc @channiecreme @supersonika143 @4ng3l-ch1ld @drewsandsebastianswife @thisrandombitch @mythicmochi @geni-627 @ravengxbss @cookiemonstermusic258 @wondering-out-loud

[thesharktanksdriver]

Devils may love?: thirst for connection, tearful goodbyes and trying despite the odds

Here’s part 2 by popular demand! I’m gonna start writing dmc1 soon and I shall be making a masterlist for this. Btw, comment if you’d like to added to a tag list or comment to give me ur opinions because I shall very much appreciate it and I love answering questions or geeking out over stuff especially with dmc now lol.

Links for: Masterlist, Part 1

Your not sure how your still alive 

At this point its illogical 

Vergil has the amulet and knows Dante will come after him no matter if he even has you alive anymore 

So why are you still alive currently? 

Not that your complaining per say but your severely confused 

Even that Arkham guy seems to be thinking it as well

Speaking of which the more you look at him the more familiar he looks 

You can’t quite place it though 

But it’s something with his face that’s familiar 

Well it’s something you’d rather not think to hard about when the guy is stabbed in front of you by Vergil 

If your opinion of Arkham was bad before hearing he literally sacrificed his wife to become powerful or something certainly made you internally cheer as he fell to the floor

Blood pooling around him as Vergil remarks he has no use for the man anymore 

And yet 

“Keep moving, lest I have to carry you again” 

It stirs you from your thoughts as the twin looks at you 

Wordlessly you nod, stepping past arkhams body 

When Vergil turns he doesn’t see you drip your foot in the man’s blood 

Intentionally leaving a trail for Dante to find 

“If….if you killed him can you kill the jester next?” 

Whatever Vergil expected you to say it seems like that wasn’t what he thought 

Though you hope your unpredictability is seemingly a factor keeping you alive

“Jester?” He scoffs “you mean my brother?”

At that you can’t help but raise and eyebrow “no, I mean the weird ass jester demon. The one with the long nose, and annoying penchant for appearing out of nowhere. Have you not had to deal with his annoying nagging yet?”

“Evidently no since if I had we wouldn’t be having this conversation” 

“Fair. restrains or no restrains though, I will be finding out a way to curb stomp him if he pops out of nowhere again” 

“You’re a human. If he’s a demon your too weak to kill him let alone make a dent”

You shrug at that “I might be nothing more than an insect to him…but it doesn’t hurt to at least try. That’s all we can ever really do anyways. Keep trying even if it’s meaningless because there’s nothing else we can do. It’s what I do anyways. Things get hard, parents kick you to the curb yelling to never come back unless you decide to give up your “useless” dreams and everything looks like shit” pausing for a moment you can’t help but smile “keep trying even though every job turns you away and you have to drop out of school to try and get a full time job to afford a roof over your head and food…and despite it all you find a sketchy job advertisement for a business without a proper name yet and somehow end up with the most obnoxious idiot with a heart of gold as your boss who annoyingly calls you “honeypie”. And even if his family drama gets you wrapped up in getting kidnapped and brought to a demon tower, you keep trying even when the situation is against you. Because maybe that’s all you have”

Vergil stays silent after that, just ends up tugging you closer as he leads you to wherever he’s headed 

Somehow trauma dumping on him was kinda reliving even if he would probably kill you later

Best get shit off your chest than leave it bubbling in you

A trail of red follows behind you for your red coat idiot to hopefully find you 

Fortunately if you did make it out of the your now a pro at washing out blood so your shoes would probably be ok

Walking closely behind Vergil the two of you enter a large chamber

Carved stone and a chiseled floor lead to the centre of the room

And at that centre was a circular basin?

Your not really sure how to describe it

Or this place in general

The tower was old, that was certain with its general architecture and material wise

But walking though the place there was also an odd sense of foreign technological aspects to it

It was definitely too advanced for humans especially at the time it seemed like it was erected 2000 years back or so

So with that logic it was likely demonic related

Which made sense considering the purpose of the tower in the first place

A thrumming sound echos before that of heavy footsteps that makes you turn around just as Vergil does

A demon, a big looking one as well that walked on all 4

“I found you, seed of Sparda!. I told you that I remembered your rancid scent! No matter where you run to. You can never hide from me! And what’s this? A human pest as well?” It walks forward, bloody red eyes bleeding out as a singular curved horn tilted along with its head movements.

Before you have much time to react its claw comes down towards you and Vergil, but the blue half-demon pushed you back as he jumped to eliminate his threat

You watched him fight Dante atop the tower and seen his cut down smaller demons on the way here, but seeing him fight truly was something

Clean slices compared to Dante’s showy flare

Landing atop the demon as it crumbled beneath his feet

“Y-you are not the one I faced before…but this smell…there are two of them! That excrement of Sparda had two sons!”

“Yeah bud, you didn’t figure that out by looking at him. He didn’t just change wardrobe-“

A clink of a sword and its head splits leaving a gushing waterfall of blood to spill onto the ground

Vergil flips off its back, now back to your side

A glow emits from the body, blue and blinding

Vergil extends out a hand and it pulls itself to him

Seemingly absorbing it a pair of gauntlets and boots that keep their blinding glow

You can only watch what happens next

Vergil shows off and kinda plays? With his new weapons??? Like Dante does???

He kicks around the demons corpse and shows off his new gear

All while you watch dumbfounded

You also swear he’s watching your reaction?

Getting a small flicker of pride after another show of moves?

Was this like…a fear tactic or something?

A threat to keep you in line and not to run?

Because you already weren’t going to do that

Not when demons crawled around and every corner and for some reason he still needed you alive and eliminated them

Why would you leave when at least for now he was your reluctant bodyguard?

A spray of feathers waft around in the air and cascade down around you as Vergil watches your reaction

Yet again for something?

His brow twitches and his near permanent scowl returns, maybe you didn’t look afraid enough?

Two perfect halves of a beautiful red stone combine to make one 

Two remnants of a mother lost come together in the worse way possible 

Blood rains down the ceiling into a small pool in the middle of the circular room 

You and Vergil watch with anticipation 

Gritting your teeth waiting for something 

Anything big to happen 

And yet nothing 

You wait for a solid minute with the very quickly becoming agitated Vergil 

And nothing 

The irritation and anger rolling off him is palpable in waves that rivalled tsunamis 

You smartly make the decision to try and take a few precautionary steps away 

Especially as he mutters to himself if maybe more blood was needed 

You take a particularly large step away at that comment 

Shit, maybe while he was in this mindset you could slip away 

Dante was surely not too far behind-

An arm slides itself in a familiar manner across your shoulders 

Nearly instantly making your stress melt away as red leather and the overwhelming scent of blood, sweat, gunpowder and cheap cologne invade your senses 

You’d never thought you’d be this happy to smell Dante’s disgusting ass work Oder 

Something that he knew got on your nerves when he got back from a job and would chase you around trying to give you a big hug 

Just so you could smell the disgusting mix of scents under the excuse of “come here and give me some sugar, i missed you honeypie. Oh how the hours dragged on and on from my departure-“ 

Every time he did it you had half the mind to choke him out but instead you alternated to spritzing him with water like a cat 

It worked surpassingly well 

He even ended up hissing sometimes like a disgruntled cat, though you assumed that was either his inhuman traits peaking out or him playing along with the bit 

The ropes that rubbed so uncomfortably against your wrists the entire time that it slowly became a numbing pain

It’s notable though when the rope is cut and falling to the floor with a small thud 

Allowing you to see the redness of chaffed skin that would probably blister 

Before Dante addresses his brother he seems to take a careful moment to look you over 

Blue eyes tracing your body though not with his usual joking flirtatious edge 

This time it’s worry 

Anxiety that looks too foreign to be on his overly confident face 

You step behind him when the two begin a verbal exchange

A verbal exchange that once more become psychical while you watch again from the sidelines 

Mentally halfway through you kinda check out from the exhaustion 

It’s been a way too long…however many hours you’d been stuck here 

To be fair you had better things to worry about like survival than trying to figure out just how long you’d been kidnapped 

And then an unfamiliar shot rings out 

Not from ebony or ivory 

But instead a new smoking barrel from a familiar face beside you 

Two toned eyes stare at you in a mixture of surprise and confusion 

Holy shit-

“Mary?! The hell are you doing here?!?”

“We’ll talk later.” She briefly looks at you but then directs her angered gaze to Vergil “You force my father into this and kidnap my friend?!” 

she joins the fray despite being told off by Dante

Joining in on the battle with a certain rage in her eyes 

Two toned eyes that you now realize were the same as Arkham’s 

You think you now get why she talked about her mom and not her creepy ass dad

Wait that means that means her mom was-

Clapping then rings out 

The familiar grating voice of the jester filling the stone chamber 

His annoying voice mocking Mary and then Vergil as he makes quick work of the two 

And in the brightly coloured demons place once more is Arkham 

Keeping up the creepy performance before changing back to the jester and slamming her face into the ground 

You yell out for her, wanting to race over but Dante holds you back 

A look in his eyes that makes you pause 

exhaustion that rivalled your own 

He’s been fighting whatever was thrown at him up to this point 

Stabbed, impaled, clawed, shot at and everything else your mind can picture 

Not to mention him just duking it out with Vergil moments before the clowns arrival 

As the long nosed bastard pointed out, their both weak 

Something even more apparent as he then curb stomps Dante into the ground 

The impact of which sends you flying to the floor like everyone else in the room 

He switches back to the bald bastard 

Explaining why it didn’t work despite the two halves of the amulet and some sort of blood of Sparda

Apparently they needed the blood of a priestess just as Sparta did to seal off the demon world 

Something that is then quickly remedied with the bastard stabbing his own daughter in the leg to obtain it

Because she had the blood of that sacrificed priestess, due to her being that woman’s descendant 

Red streams through the small canals in the floor of the room to the centre 

Pooling like a ruby lake 

He monologues more as the jester about his plan of making sure everyone duked it out 

Then turning to you with a yellowed grin 

Apparently he kept you around as an entertainment factor but grew tired of how Vergil kept you alive for some reason 

Something he chides the half demon for 

But he’s tired of you

The one rogue misstep in his elaborate scheme 

Something he was going to make quick work of correcting if not for the 3 others in the room getting the jump on him 

But a red glow fills the room 

A platform rises and he ascends as everything shifts 

He kicks the others off the stage but you 

Leaving you clinging to consciousness as it ascends 

You reach out a hand with blurred vision hoping for anyone to grab it 

At the top of the tower Arkham boasts of becoming the new god of this world 

Statues surround the circular platform as he struts around 

But not before giving you a good kick in the gut 

The strength of which sends you rolling across and hitting the pole that begins a mechanism to pull up several bells

Bells you’d once thought to be statues 

Looking behind you see city lights twinkle like stars dotting the night sky 

Clouds circling around 

How you haven’t yet died from the oxygen being thin is beyond you but you attribute it to either demon nonsense or adrenaline pushing you past average the human limit 

Maybe both 

Blood spills out your mouth in painful coughs

Of course he had to aim for the lungs 

And while you cough he says you should be grateful 

Grateful to see the new god of this world before he ends your existence 

Grateful you get to be the first sacrifice of many 

Grateful he’ll do it in front of Dante to give you a chance to say goodbye 

What an ass

The sky shifts as he names the seven deadly sins 

A hellish portal opening up above and letting red aura flow down into him 

Surrounding him as the wind howls and demon screeches join in a symphony 

He begins to float and your left to cling to the support holding the bell 

His laugh echoing out as he ascends 

It makes your stomach curdle 

Doesn’t help afterwards that you begin to follow him upwards as well 

You nearly puke 

Son of a bitch-

The demon world isn’t what you expect it to look like 

Less fire and brimstone with the scent of rotten eggs and smoke 

But more like weird impressionist painting of jutting stone, flowing water, diamond-like sky and purple 

Just purple 

Blue and red 

A irony not lost on you 

It would’ve made you laugh in a mixture of hysteria and dread if you weren’t 90% sure that his kick earlier broke a rib and it was currently jabbing slightly into your lung 

Something even more apparent when you drop down and land harshly on a jutting slab of stone 

Talk about a rough landing 

And rough time for your lung because that rib has definitely now punctured it a bit more 

Dear god if you survive this your hospital bills were gonna be abysmal 

Arkham stands not far away in the form of some sort of demon 

Large imposing horns and insect-like wings 

He monologues about how this was Sparda’s true form

It explains why Dante who just joined the show seems less than amused at the spectacle

Even having the nerve to call him a backed up toilet 

That gets a laugh from you, a laugh you regret a moment later when you nearly cough up a lung 

Damn your hysteria making stupid decisions 

And damn Dante for actually being funny for once 

The fight between them is a blur once more 

Clashes of swords 

Yada yada 

Your vision is getting a bit more blurry than you’d like to think about 

Black dots appearing at the edges of your sight 

But you find the will to stand 

To get up 

To try 

Because what else can you do beside laying there 

This entire time you couldn’t do anything but be a punching bag, hostage, potential therapist and yelling for Dante 

If you were gonna die you might as well die trying

You get up just in time to see the fucked up copy of dante’s dad melt away into some amorphous blob of spasming shape 

Purple and glowing 

And plain ugly and kinda more pathetic than anything 

This is what he spent years obsessing over 

What he scarified his wife for 

What he nearly killed his daughter for 

God you hated this guy more than anything right now and all you wanted was to see him die 

And by god would you try to kill that fucking clown if it was the last thing you’d do 

“Dante! Got any spare guns?”

Briefly turning away from his fight with the blob he sends you a smirk “Sure thing honeypie! Curtesy of lady!” 

He throws you the weapon you’d seen Mary with earlier, some sort of canon. Her blood still stains the bayonetta in which Arkham stabbed her in the leg with, a reminder of who’s place your also fighting for “this one time I’ll let that slip! Don’t think it’ll happen again though you ass!” 

With Dante taking an up close and personal approach it distracts Arkham from you 

Too occupied clearing the bigger threat than the sniper

But that doesn’t mean it isn’t messing him up 

You aim with your admittedly unsteady vision when he’s about to get a hit on Dante 

Distracting him enough for the red coat devil to evade and get a hit in 

Dante can’t help but make a few quips here and there 

Somehow finding ways to make even the shitiest of situations the butt of the joke 

It was perhaps his greatest talent 

And perhaps his greatest cooping mechanism 

Though beside trauma responses you’d 100% agree the complete joke of what was Arkham 

The punchline though is when Vergil arrives just in time 

Putting aside even his weird rivalry with Dante to beat arkhams ass 

Though not enough to not talk about retrieving his rightful power 

Baby steps? 

Well whatever it’s something you guess 

At least he isn’t stabbing Dante again and hurtling down into hell with you thrown over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes 

The two work together nearly seamlessly to take him down 

Stabbing into the blob that is Arkham as you shot yet another shot at him 

All this combines in making him flail around 

The twins push their respective swords through him to the others side 

Either grabbing the others sword

Hacking and slashing once more at the pathetic excuse for something that was once a man

With only a shot left you line up a your final shot despite how shaky your body is 

Waiting at the right moment as the twins of Sparda slice at him once more 

And you pull the trigger 

Sending yet another explosive shot at him 

He screams out 

Dange pulls out ebony and ivory, spinning them before looking briefly over his shoulder to send you a smirk 

It gives Arkham enough time to send ebony out his hand though luckily Vergil takes it 

Sending his brother an unimpressed look 

But still sending the briefest of glances your way for a split moment 

A smirk on his face as well no matter how minuscule it was 

“I’ll try it your way for once”

“Remember what what we used to say?”

“DoNt dO iT”

“Do it!” 

Vergil crosses ebony over ivory, you see both twins smirk 

“Jackpot”

The bullets swirl around one another like ribbons 

Creating a blinding light as they collide into Arkham 

His final words once more about having the power of Sparda 

He dies like a pathetic loser, shocking really 

The man who obsessed over a dead guy for years, sacrificed his wife and attempted to kill his daughter died as a pathetic blob 

You have to agree with Vergils dry remark of his final words not being classy 

It gets a chuckle from you as you scale down the stone debris while ebony is tossed back to Dante 

The odd spirit water surges around your ankles as Arkham melts away

Becoming nothing in the end, a fitting fate for someone like him 

Above a gaping hole where the water pours into The two amulets and a sword fall into a abyss that both of them jump into 

But not before Vergil grabs you to drag you in with him 

Again

“Motherfucker again?!? Come on-“

The moment Vergil’s feet splash on solid ground your let go off and fall very not so gracefully to the ground 

He runs to the sword before Dante can get it 

Pulling it from the ground and gazing at Dante’s half of the amulet that his twin was able to snatch 

Two pairs of Blue eyes narrowing at one another 

“Give that to me” he extends out his hand motioning for the amulet 

At that Dante looks at the necklace before tucking it behind him “no way, you got your own” 

Children, both these men were god damn children 

Getting up from the demon water you safely decided to limp off to the side 

You smell a fight coming just like how you can smell rain before it pours

You’ve gotten your wish of helping kill the clown, now your letting them finish their business 

It already felt as if you were intruding as it was 

Better not get involved 

“Well I want yours too” the sword is pointed out to Dante as the two circled one another 

“What are you gonna do with all that power, huh? No matter how hard you try, your never gonna be like father” that taunt even from your distance seemed to piss off Vergil royally with how you see his grip tighten on the demon blade

“You’re wasting time!” He makes the first move, running with the blade held ready to strike yet there’s no clang of metal hitting one another hitting your ears all the while water coursed passed them, rushing off the cliff down into the unknown of hell itself. Instead both caught the others swords with their bare hands. 

“We are the sons of Sparda!” Both begin to push the others blade back “within each of us flows his blood but more importantly his soul!” 

At that both successfully push the other away 

Sending water spraying everywhere 

For a moment Dante’s eyes connect with your own 

You see a spark in them you hadn’t seen once before 

“And now my soul is saying it wants to stop you!”

“Unfortunately our souls are at odds brother” Vergil raises at hand up to his eye level clenching it dramatically as he continued “I need more power” 

Did these two both go to acting school at some point?

Was being melodramatic as hell a demon thing? 

Because this was borderline Shakespeare level dramatics 

Or maybe you were hallucinating this due to the blood loss

Or because you were tired as all hell

Or maybe because you weren’t paid enough to deal with this-

“And we’re supposed to be twins”

“Twins…right” 

They might not see it but you can definitely see how their both twins with how overly dramatic this all was-

Blades clash and the smell of iron and gun smoke fill the air 

Blood flies 

And your left to watch it all from the sideline 

The adrenaline was beginning to ware off as the pain of your body sets in 

Every breath felt like glass was pressing in your lungs 

Jabbing at every inhale and exhale 

Blood being coughed out in between the flurry of gunshots and swords clashing 

God this sucked 

You think back at your entire life up until this moment and wonder if this was worth it all

Back to your childhood filled with expectations already laid on your shoulders 

The loneliness of parents who brushed your passions aside in favour of a letter on a piece of paper determining your worth to them 

The way in which high school was stress upon stress with few things to relive it 

Things like Mary’s company and the few electives you got to chose of your own volition 

No complicated science equations or mathematical formulas to memorize 

Just your own passions 

Like that poetry class 

And then it comes back to that night 

Collage applications in their hands that they tore in front of your face 

The ones you had picked on your own 

The fighting with your parents 

The way they threw you out without so much as a second thought 

Just saying to come back when you became sensible 

When you’d abandon your dreams to pursue what they’d decide for you 

How you could see in their eyes they expected you to come grovelling back after about a week 

Begging for them to take you back in 

But then came that rush of resentment 

You wouldn’t let them win 

So you moved on 

Tried to live because that’s all you could try to do 

Even if it meant dropping out in 12th grade to try and find a job to cover for an apartment and necessities 

Even if it meant abandoning everything else to at least try and make ends meet 

Even if it meant getting rejected from place to place until you found that fateful advertisement 

And the pain in the ass of a boss you were currently watching brawl with his brother 

The same boss who made you laugh 

Who walked you home on late nights and looked after you that one time you got sick 

The red coat wearing idiot who’d always offer you a slice of pizza or spoonful of his strawberry sundae 

Grinning all the while 

The boy a the same age as you yet had lived more than a lifetimes worth of fear and trauma, the same one who’d cling to you in moments of silence like you were his only lifeline 

And maybe he was yours as well 

Anchoring you when all the thoughts of doubt began to set in 

Of what you lost when leaving home 

But then pulling you back to realize you didn’t loose much at all besides Mary 

Because you never really had a home, nor parents or security 

You just had yourself and the weight on your back 

A weight now gone letting you decide what you wanted to do 

No matter how stupid it was to stay at a store that still didn’t have a proper name 

No matter how idiotic it was to stay with Dante with the risk because

He was the one person who hadn’t abandoned you

Who didn’t give up to save you from this nightmare tower 

Maybe if you’d stayed with your parents your life wouldn’t have ended up this way 

You’d be stuck as a lawyer or doctor but you’d have avoided this 

Probably later on settled down at 25 with a match they’d set you up with 

Expecting grandkids by 29 or something 

All the while you lived like with a good paying job and maybe a decent person you’d have to deal with for at least the next 40 years

Yet Somehow the thought of that left you more unhappy than your circumstances now even with all the pain 

Because for as shitty as this all was you’d at least lived for yourself for once 

Taken the reigns of your life in your hands instead of them being in another 

And you didn’t regret that 

Not one bit 

Hell, the only thing you regretted was not punching Arkham in his stupid jester face 

Because even if you died here in pain and coughing up a lung 

At least you died knowing it was your own choices leading up to here and not those of your parents 

And that was a lot more satisfying than anything 

Especially when you got to meet the dumbass you called both a boss and friend named Dante, meet Mary again and talk about poetry once more 

Somehow that had made you happier than anything 

Water splashes once more yet there’s no more clatter of swords and your attention is diverted to Vergil kneeling in the muddied water

Blood mixes in it 

Though your unsure if it’s from your own or a mix from both from the showdown between brothers 

Either way it runs down past Vergil to Dante at the edge of the waterfall

This felt like the end of this all 

With heavy difficulty you get up, using a stone pillar to support yourself 

“Am I….being defeated?” It’s uttered in disbelief as he stares down into the waters reflection 

“What’s wrong? Is that all you got?” Dante moves forward in a mix of mocking and anger, “come on get up, you can do better than that” 

With shaky legs you move toward the red stained twin, nearly toppling over when the ground rumbled beneath your feet.

“The portal to the human world is closing Dante.” Briefly he looks to you, something flashing in icy blue eyes as you stood a few feet from Dante using Mary’s gun to keep yourself propped up“because the amulets have been separated”

“Let’s finish this Vergil” there’s a pause “I have to stop you. even if that means killing you”. The look in his eyes is something akin to pure conviction and yet in the small shake of his grip you could see the hesitation he steeled away.

You remember the nights in which Dante would tell you about him and his brother when they were younger 

He bragged he’d always won when they’d fight with wooden swords 

His bravado and general overconfidence made you remark sarcastically that you were sure that had happened 

Getting in response an arm thrown around your shoulder and him resting his head atop yours 

A complaint of falling from his mouth yet he still looked satisfied with himself 

The same grin 

The same blue eyes that peaked past untamed white hair with a certain nostalgic haze 

Yet now those eyes hardened themselves 

And you can’t help but both hope and dread if he was right 

If he really won all those matches as a kid when Vergil readies his blade and Dante readies his own 

They charge 

Boots creating large splashes 

Water rushing past them 

Dante running away from you and Vergil headed to your direction near the edge 

Both yell while charging yet all you can focus on is the water and sickening slash 

Metal glimmers at the perfect angle to create a horizontal line of light

And then red 

Red spews across the air and mixes once more into the water 

With baited breath you wait and neither move 

Until the pained groan of Vergil stumbles from his lips and his necklace clatters along with the blades 

He picks it up as Dante puts away his sword 

Vergil takes a step back 

Clutching the necklace in a near crushing intensity 

Trying to convince him this isn’t the way would be for naught with him 

Vergil is someone who’d died of his own stubbornness and with his ideals 

It’s something both maddening and something you can’t help but respect in a odd way 

“No one can have this Dante. It’s mine, it belongs to a son of Sparda!” He takes more steps back towards the edge, shit no-

“Don’t do it!” Despite the pain you push forwards, despite the fact you know you won’t convince him, once more you try

Dante realizes what he’s about to do as well, surging forwards as you did but you’re both met with blade pointed to your necks. “Leave me and go, if neither of you want to be trapped in the demon world” eyes flicked between you and his brother as he clutches the amulet tightly “I’m staying, this place was our fathers home”. He gets closer to the edge, nearing the tip off point.  He leans back as you and Dante move forwards, hands outstretched to try and grab him. Though one is cut whilst the other is left untouched. 

Staring down as he’s encompassed by the unknown of hell you keep your eyes locked with his. Though he was an ass, an egocentric focused on a vain goal of his own pride you still can’t help but cry for him as your knees hit the hard rock and you reach your hand out despite the fact he’s too far gone to save. Because for as much as he detested his humanity, he was undoubtedly human in the most tragic sense. He was human in his pain, human in his hate, human in the way he held a passion for old poetry and longed for connection even if he’d never admit it. And he was certainly human when in the last moments before he disappeared into darkness his eyes stared deep into your own. Widening ever so slightly at the fact you still outstretched your hand to him, that you cried for him despite it all.

In those eyes in those last moments you see the human longing for companionship, of not wanting to be alone anymore. Whilst in your tear stained ones he sees the truth of the matter. You wanted to save him. Both here as he plunged into hell and back when you warned him of opening Pandora’s box, you did it because you wanted to save him. Because For some foolish reason you cared for him. 

(And that sticks with him far more than you’d ever know) 

Blood stains your shoulder as he places a hand on it 

The one Vergil sliced yet was healing and closing into a faded memory if not for the slice on the glove as well 

It snaps you from staring down into darkness, hand still reaching to grasp a hand that you’d never hold 

It closes tightly, leaving crescent indents in your palm 

“Let’s go” his words remain empty. Gone is his usual playfulness or lighthearted tone. Just empty and desolate.

Quietly you nod, getting up once more despite the pain with a small grimace 

You’d rather not let him know right now how injured you are 

He lost his brother again for fucks sake 

Hiding your limp and the strain of carrying Mary’s weapon you watch him pick up the sword he and Vergil raced to obtain earlier 

It’s not triumphant in any sort of way 

It’s just a tragedy 

One giant tragedy of two brothers

The sky back home is darkened by clouds as the destruction of the tower and demons loom like a veil of grief 

Wind blows through now abandoned buildings 

And silence permeates just about everything besides yours and Dante’s footsteps 

You nearly cry when you see Mary 

Her mismatched gaze locking with yours after a brief moment of surprise 

“Phew, What an ordeal” Dante acts nonchalant but you know he’s hiding his hurt. Mary’s canon is slung over his shoulder after he saw you struggle in carrying it awhile back. “You’re still here?” 

“I need that back” her eyes leave yours to linger on her canon before returning to you “and I need some answers from you later”. You nod, and Dante goes to hand her back the canon-

He pulls back at the last second “no late charges I hope. I also let them borrow it as well though seems like they already have the friend discount” 

Mary hums, “I’ll think of your charge. But for them it’s free”. Getting back her weapon she handle it with care, slinging it onto her back.

Dante moves and you stand beside him watching the sky, “we should be fine for now. But I’m sure they’ll be back soon, very soon”. Your hand grips his coat sleeve, and you feel his arm shake slightly.

“Are you crying?”

“It’s only the rain” the answer is immediate and yet despite the cloudy sky no water poured.

“The rain stopped already Dante” it comes more like a pained wheeze which gains a concerned look from both of them. They look like they’re gonna stop their conversation but you just grin in a silent gesture for them to continue. they need this, Dante needs this, and you won’t let yourself be the reason they stop.

“Devils never cry” 

“I see….maybe somewhere out there even a devil may cry when he loses a loved one. Don’t you think?” 

“Maybe…” there’s the slightest bit of hope in the response that makes you smile ever so slightly as you grip on his coat goes slack and your legs give out.

Distantly you hear both of them yell your name before succumbing to darkness.

As a kid the only activity your parents signed you up for that you enjoyed in any capacity was choir 

It was a pastime that had you away from under their thumb 

A small haven from the empty crypt you called a home 

It felt nice being apart of something as a collective and not on a stage alone with the spotlight solely on you 

All the other activities they had signed you up for were individual

So the attention was on you constantly 

If you messed up it would be noticed 

And if you faltered for even a moment their eyes would scowl from the crowd 

But in choir it was different, You harmonized with others 

Joining together no matter how small your role was to create a beautiful symphony of noise that echoed in the halls 

A lot of what you remember is just vague notes and melodies 

Latin dripping from your tongue and becoming garbled to the sands of time 

But you can’t help but think back to one song though

It was old and fractured and broken 

You couldn’t remember the lyrics but you did remember the melody and solemn organ 

your choir teacher at the time insisted you all try it 

At least to give it a chance despite its broken nature 

That melody of garbbled sounds you’ll never know the meaning to stuck with you in the depths of your mind 

And even when you forgot how you knew the melody in the first place it had remained 

That minute long chorus into some greater song dances in your mind once more 

You hum to it 

Singing with it as though you were back in those piers in white robes and little angel wings 

A halo of golden tinsel above your head 

But in that mass of voices you hear a familiar one 

Dante-

It pulls you from unconsciousness 

At first you feel before you properly understand anything around you 

Soft material under you 

Something heavy but warm laid over you 

And the rough material of bandages compressing your chest 

Distantly you hear the song quietly sung 

And then comes sight and your met with the sight of the wrecked store 

The jukebox is busted 

Pool table in two with the balls scattered on the floor 

Desk splintered in half 

Drum set and guitar smashed in the corner 

The fan was in pieces on the dirty and broken floor

Yet somehow miraculously the couch you were on was alright minus the greasy pizza stains you’d failed previously to wash out

Trying to sit up is met with instant regret, a sound of pain escaping you 

The material covering you that you now realize to be Dante’s jacket falling off to the ground 

The song stops 

But with that came the jingle of a familiar chain to a necklace guarding a key to the underworld 

“Easy there, you need to rest up before you start trying to do anything. Doctors orders” 

Gently, hands that had killed so many demons and spilled such blood pushes you back into laying down properly 

Then draping his coat back over you 

Thankfully it seemed he had the foresight to wash it 

A small victory

“How do you feel?”

“I’d say like hell but that be ironic” 

That gets a small chuckle from him 

On the small couch he sits himself by your legs

Not sitting in his typical spread out manner to ensure you have enough space to laze comfortably 

“Where’s Mary?”

“Mar- oh right lady. She’s off to get you some prescription. I opted to stay here and make sure you didn’t wake up and start trying to fix the place when half dead” the last part comes out a bit harsh but you guess you kinda deserve that.

“Ah…what’s with you calling her lady?”

“Said she preferred that now….that Mary died a long time ago” 

It goes back to an awkward silence 

Your mind racing with thoughts

His as well with how he tapped his finger against his leg 

Silence permeates with nothing to fill it

It’s uncomfortable

Not like the silence you’d used to have sparingly with him, especially when he once had a need to fill it with something

Yet again a tactic he used to defuse nerves

But now there’s nothing

He wants to say something

He always wants to talk but now he genuinely wants to say something

Yet he holds back

Let’s it die in his throat when he tunes his gaze to you

Guilt creeping up in him evident by how he quickly then averts his gaze

Unable to look at you

There’s a moment it looks like he wants to reach a hand to you 

To place it on your leg as a means of comfort

Yet he hesitates Pulling back as if his touch would burn you

All the while you lay on the couch with him by your feet 

This feels so weird 

You want to move but you know the reaction and answer you’ll get 

So you lay there 

A pillow propped up against the arm while his jacket acted as your blanket 

And silence permeates for minutes on end as he sits there

Observant and looking as if a single sound would send him into fight mode

A bit paranoid even for his traumatized teenage mind 

The juxbox is broken 

So there’s no way he can play something to calm himself down

A habit you noticed when he was particularly stressed 

But maybe-

“Were you singing earlier?”

Your voice feels raw, you hadn’t noticed it until just now 

Like you had garbled sand into glass 

You can’t sing like this 

But maybe he could 

“Yeah, why?” 

“What….what was that song you were singing?”

“It was something my mom taught me, uhhhh something like “devils never cry”? They made it into a kick ass rock song-”

“I learned it in choir class, it was my favourite. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard it….can you sing it for me Dante?” 

He quirks a brow “you’re full of surprises you know. I’m not gonna lie and say I remember it well or that it’s accurate because I think it’s a translated version I was taught. but, whatever the patient wants I guess…All days, I'm looking in the Deep water flowing into me, Where are all tears, are they fallen? Tell me why I feel them in me? One day, they'll tell me what I'm exactly, Tears don't fall, I'll never heal them”

Mary- er lady helps with Dante in taking care of you 

Apparently after you passed out the two had rushed to a hospital while dealing with demons 

And your prediction of a rib poking into your lung was correct 

A bit too correct for your own sake 

Safe to say the bills were expensive and in the crossfire of all that your apartment wasn’t exempt from the destruction the hell tower you now learned was called the “temen-ni-Gru” had caused

Aka your building was destroyed in the madness and now you had to find someplace else to crash  

You’d be more upset if you had more to move and mourn

But honestly you had bare necessities 

And your apartment admittedly sucked so much so you were already looking for another place 

So for now you were crashing at the store 

That now finally had a name

Devil may cry 

A fitting name and much more easy to use instead of “the store”

Like you’d had to use for months up to this point 

Made you sound ominous when you said you worked at “the store” 

Anyways 

The two took shifts and turns 

One staying while the other went out to do whatever 

Presumably killing the few straggler demons that didn’t go down with the tower

Dantes been more silent than usual but at least for now you excuse it 

He lost his brother and now he had to look after you 

Not exactly a fun combination with the fact of the store needing to be fixed 

But with that comes talking with lady 

Catching up on what had happened 

And finally the talk you’d both been needing to have 

One seemingly long overdue when she sits down beside you 

Hands folded and the canon you now knew as Kalina Ann propped up on a folding chair 

You’d have to add buying new furniture for dmc to the list of stuff to do later 

“So….why’d you do it?” Lady is quiet, her words more like a secret than anything 

“Do what?”

“Run away?”

So they told People you ran away instead of them kicking you out?

You aren’t exactly surprised but did they really think it would make them look much better? 

A sigh voluntarily leaves you 

Depending on the lengths they went missing posters might be up 

You hope to whatever god there may or may not be that they wouldn’t that go that far

But considering this is the first time you’d stood your ground against them and didn’t come crawling back…

Well, control freaks will do what they can to reel you back in no matter the cost 

Especially since they were hinging on a cushy future in which they retired early and relied on you as an atm 

“Sure running away, that’s definitely what you call throwing your kid out to the curb because they won’t become a lawyer and saying not to come back until they changed their mind” the tone is slightly bitter but not aimed to her, moreso the circumstance

At hearing that you see her mismatched eyes widen a bit 

Pits of Emerald green and ruby red peering into that of your own 

Seeing truth and bitterness stew in them 

But at their core was sadness and hope 

Bitterness at the memories 

Yet a hope for the future 

Something she’d never quite seen in your eyes 

And it’s something you can’t see in hers anymore 

For the whole she’d been looking after you it’s been present 

Looming over the girl that had been your friend 

Grief

Loss 

And an overarching sense that she’s on the brink of collapse 

Can’t blame her either

Not after whatever she’s been through up till now 

All on her own after her mom died left to stew in anger 

Only for now the grief to hit her full force for not only Miss Ann

But also for the memory of what once was her family 

For her kind mother whom she talked about in earnest 

Who despite never meeting you always packed extra snacks for Mary to share with you 

For a father there but always absent

Nose stuck in his studies whom she talked of in hopes of earning his attention 

Until that faded as years passed 

And what’s left is a bitterness to the man who took everything 

Who tried to kill her 

Who killed her mom 

His own wife 

All for the sake of an obsession that would be for nothing because ultimately he only experienced the power he wanted for mere moments 

Leaving Mary the unfortunate victim in it all

You don’t have the right to continue complaining about your parental situation to her 

Not with what she’s experienced 

Not with what she’s lost in such a short period of time 

But her eyes are what stop you 

Brimming with emotion 

Two toned eyes of emerald green and ruby red 

They shine like jewels too 

Pretty and glimmering in the dull lighting of devil may cry 

“Why did you never tell me how bad they were to you?” Her question is quiet at first but gains volume from a faint whisper to a steadfast tone as she then asks “why didn’t you come to me when you were kicked out?”

“I just….at school and with you I wanted to be normal. I didn’t want to think about what’s at home when I walked through the doors I wanted to be my age for once, and I felt that way only with you till now.” As for that second question, it’s a bit of harder thing to admit to her let alone yourself “i was panicked…I didn’t know what to do and I didn’t want to be a burden-” 

“Burden?” It’s uttered in disbelief “how can you think like that! You’re never a burden to me! I was worried sick and they said you ran off! And I was alone and then I lost my mom”she pauses at that, going suddenly quiet as the words died in her mouth.

Your not really sure what to say after that 

Neither is she

She just stays motionless besides the shake in her hands

In all your years of knowing her you’d never seen her like this 

Even when she scraped her knee on the playground 

She’d always been strong 

Always held back tears even when her boyfriend in first year dumped her just before winter break 

Always had been the strong shoulder for you to lean on when you were upset 

And yet that girl is gone 

Mary is dead and lady is what’s left of that girl 

The bitterness 

The resentment 

the overwhelming grief of loosing both her parents 

And most importantly the loneliness of it all 

And your left to hold those pieces of her

Both emotionally as she breaks from the strenuous weight of everything crashing on her now 

And physically as you push past your discomfort and pain to hold her close 

She hesitates for a moment 

Unsure and unsteady 

But eases and pulls your closer 

Holding you as if you were her last lifeline 

Because in a way you are her lifeline 

You are the last good thing from Mary’s life that still remains 

And though that girl is dead, lady clings to that barest pinprick of light 

Because when being born again from rage and anger with her revenge now satiated 

What more does she have?

“I…I’m sorry” she’s desolate, quiet and a tad withdrawn until you pull her close. She’d always been the one you leaned on, but Mary was gone and it was time for you to repay the favour to what’s left of her.

“No, I’m sorry too. I should’ve contacted you, did anything sooner….i was scared and wanted to start over now that i had the chance. I should’ve thought of how you felt”

She’s silent for a few moments, but draws herself closer into your embrace. “We’re both pretty messed up huh?”

You can’t help but laugh a bit at that. “Yeah…guess we are. But we have each other again, and I think that’s what matters most right now”

She nods, and that’s all that needs to be said

….Well besides “I can get revenge on your parents-“ and “how about we talk about that later Lady”

He’s distant and stuck in his head more than before

It’s something that most wouldn’t notice since he tries to act like his typical self

Lady falls for it, though reluctantly because she doesn’t know him well but writes off why his smiles don’t reach his eyes

But you’d known Dante for about a year now

You’d known him long enough to notice when he’s off

It’s in the way his jokes aren’t the same

How he can’t properly look at you as he did before, with a sense of ease and joy that’s now damped

The drumming of his fingers and the thump of his boot against the floor creating soft creaks in the hardwood

you can tell whatever he didn’t say before was eating away at him

This wasn’t just grief (though that was still heavily apart of this) but rather something else that you can’t name until he was honest with it

Now, you wouldn’t particularly call yourself a confrontational person

You’d rather roll over than raise your voice or objection to your parents until that fateful night

And even then you mostly stood there being yelled at

You’d hardly name that a battle of words

But when it came to you, you wouldn’t do much to stand up for yourself

But this wasn’t about you

This was about Dante

And for as much as you could rot in silence like a forgotten fruit at the back of the fridge, you wouldn’t let Dante do the same

Not with how you see it absolutely eating at him

Just as it did to you before

Because you can see yourself so badly in him

And it hurts more than your currently broken chest

So when it’s finally his turn to stay with you while lady was out you take the chance

Because you can lose your apartment, your cold childhood home and what little shit you had

But you couldn’t lose him

You wouldn’t let him slip through your fingers and plunge into a different darkness that was all to similar to that of the hell Vergil voluntarily fell into

Not if you could do anything about it

“You’ve been more quiet as of late…”

“Really?”

“Yeah…”

It goes back to silence for a few minutes

This idiot isn’t taking the bait to air out his thoughts

Maybe you’d have to go the direct route instead

“So….are you gonna tell me what you wanted to say a few days ago?”

“Who’s to say I had anything on my mind”

You can’t help but roll your eyes at that, then reaching over to grab his shoulder. He was gonna run and you’re not letting him. “I know you well enough to know when you stuck in your head about something Dante…just please be honest and tell me. I don’t like seeing you distant like this”

There’s a pause in his actions at your touch, whatever was compelling him to run being stopped in his tracks. And then he answers “why’d you not say anything?”

“About what”

“Your injuries! You were hurt and on the brink of dying and you didn’t say anything about it!” 

“Dante you had just lost your brother. You had other things to deal with-“ 

“And I could’ve lost you too on top of that as well! Because I didn’t notice you were on the brink of dying and you didn’t say anything!” 

His eyes are clouded now in tears, glossy and making the blue shine like jewels

In any other scenario you’d admire the beauty in them

Yet all you see is pain refracted in the pools

Dante looks less his age and more like a scared little boy

But maybe that’s what he’s always been at heart

A scared boy still trapped in that hiding place as the house burned around him

Arms wrapped around himself to try and feel the fleeting warmth of his mothers touch

Loss drenches him to the bone

And you now realize that you’d nearly made it worse by brushing it off

But you can’t be fully to blame

Not when all your life you’d been raised to push away your own feelings

Your pain for others around you

And yet now he wants you to bare it to him

To ripe yourself open at its most tender

Because he was scared for you

Because he truly cared just as lady did

“You nearly died because of me, you were dragged into this because of me. Because I was selfish and couldn’t let go even when I knew it’d be dangerous. I….I shouldn’t have….you’d be safer if you left. Found another job and got away from here” it come out as a quiet whisper from him, his hair overshadowing his face and obscuring his eyes. You’d known him well enough though to know they were brimming with tears. You knew at the end there was also the unsaid notion of “away from me” Did this goof really think that after all this you’d leave? Knowing how much pain he was going through and had admitted to you he was scared of being alone again. Shaking your head your hand finds his, fingers linking together.

“You’re an idiot you know? You think I’m gonna leave you here when you still need me to remind you of the overdue bills? This place would go under if not for me. I’m not going anywhere” 

“I’m being serious here for once-“ 

“I know damn it, but you listen to me for a minute before you get it all up in your head and make a decision without my input” it’s a bit sharp but you need to right now, he’s spiraling and already trying to decide to push you away. With a groan you slowly lift yourself up, getting a sound of protest from him before you silenced him with your open palm telling him to stop. Hesitantly he does so, watching you struggle but eventually sit up, hand clenching his. “I’m happy here Dante” 

“Your happy here?” It’s spoken in disbelief. Maybe all your bitching had made him think otherwise but you did enjoy your time here, you wouldn’t trade it for the world or whatever cushy future your parents wanted. “Your happy here after all this? After you nearly died because of m-“

“I’m gonna stop you right there. We’ve had this conversation before and I didn’t know then but I know now why I want to stay despite the risks. Dante I never really lived before now. My life was made up for me and my outcome was predetermined before I was kicked out. And sure, maybe staying here is dangerous” you think of that future if you’d stayed and done what your parents wanted, an older unhappy version of you staring blankly in your mind “but danger is apart of life, you can’t live without it. And I’ve never been more happier, more free than I am here. So no, I don’t care about the danger I’m staying…understand?”. You see his eyes, they’re brimming with tears and more emotions than you can processed. But beneath it all you see Dante. The kind annoying dork who like his brother longed for companionship. His lips upturn ever so slightly as your free hand not entwined with his gently finds itself cupping his cheek, thumb wiping away a tear he didn’t realize had fallen. 

“I’m staying and I don’t intend on leaving anytime soon even when things get dicey….understand?”

“Yeah…loud and clear honeypie” 

You let the use of that horrid nickname slide once again with only a roll of your eyes. You’d never admit that it maybe made you smile, something you’ll deny vehemently when he inevitably brings it up later.  But for now at least it’s ok. 

You’re both gonna be ok.

“Hey Dante?”

“Yeah?”

“It’s good to be back”

…….“good to have you back hon-“

“Finish that sentence and I’ll make you sign all the work orders required to fix this place”

[sqgeism]

Hi! I hope you're doing well!

I have a bit of a specific Anaxa request: we all know this guy is prickly like a cactus, and probably wouldnt show any kind of physical affection/be overly affectionate whatsoever. maybe the reader can be lightly airing all their frustrations to an unsuspecting dromas/chimera they stumbled upon, and anaxa happens to walk right by when they say "I don't know why he feels he needs to keep me at an arm's length, in the end, all i want is to be loved; and i wish the same for him."

I just feel like that sentence would make anaxa flabberghasted and make him rethink some things.

ty for reading!!

𐙚 𓏵𓏵𓏵 𐙚 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧 | anaxagoras x gender neutral reader

💌 — ; as tipsy as a boat on unforgiving seas, you rant your heartaches to a cute, clueless chimera. (that weirdly looks like your boyfriend) not knowing that the very man stands behind you, listening to you pour out every feeling he'd never want to subject you to.

love mail — say yes to me. i haven't done an event in a while, would people be interested in that (*ﾟーﾟ)? sigh finally anaxagoras solo post without the other two added LMAO this guy is so popular on my account its kind of insane. thank u anaxa... for reviving sqgeism in the big 25.. i thought this was long but it's acc kind if short forgive me anonnie LMAO

for all the good moments in your relationship with anaxagoras, there were still bad. and the bad.. could get really awful very quickly.

even if he was growing to be careful, changing, being better, he still had his 'demise'— as he called it. he was set on a mission long before you, and you've accepted that. it didn't mean that it didn't hurt when you knew he was trying to keep you away, though he says it's to keep you safe, you knew it was for another reason.

anaxagoras wasn't—for all his genius as a scholar and a teacher—very good at things that involved vulnerability. it was something he'd ripped out of his cold, dead heart, leaving it whatever remaining feelings he had left to rot. clearly not enough, he'd remark, if he could still feel it beat every time you came close. fingers brushing over his own, lips getting too close for comfort, despite being together—he was still afraid. very.. very afraid.

but you weren't angry at him for being so, how could you? for all the hurt he's faced, the terrors that follow him like his shadow, you just can't. but you feel neglected, left to freeze in an unforgiving winter. you craved warmth, but no flame could thaw your loneliness.

and so when anaxagoras, once again, locks himself in his lab for aeon's know how long.. you're off. you had the control to at least leave a note where you're going; a bar close by to let loose. but you clumsily throw it on the nearest table and walk out. the tears were becoming overwhelming, and you just needed to cry. it felt cruel to be mad, but your heart knew what it wanted. it wanted someone badly, drawn to a rose with far too sharp of thorns. but you didn't care. you knew it was a part of him, and you chose him regardless. you wonder if he knows that he's loved, and how much he truly is.

and he does. in a way that overwhelms him, that makes him be the way he is. he knows you care, and that's why when he leaves his study hours earlier, the note unseen by his sharp gaze, he panics. you're not in bed, nor the living room, you're not home. thunder claps break him out of his thoughts, and he realizes you could be out there, in the rain, for who knows how long.

he runs out without hesitation.

doesn't care if he's soaking wet, or his students that may see their half-gone professor running through amphoreus in the rain, he's afraid. for once, his cowardice it isn't of the idea of you, but losing you. he's beginning to realize that there will be something worse than his fears destroying him.

it's having you slip away from his grasp.

he's afraid of affection because he might lose you. he's afraid of everything about loving you because he might lose you. he's lost so much, it scarred him. that the closest thing to paradise surely should have been an illusion, that it was all just a ploy to put him back together and break him apart all over again. he thought it was stupid, the obvious plan set by the 'gods'.

but he was just in love, so very in love. and it could never be stupid if the center of his affection was you.

and there you are, thank goodness. you're laying against an elevated tile as you're on the floor, arms on the said tile, and underneath the bars cover as a chimera sits by your head. you're clearly drunk, cause even if his heels splashed against the puddles towards you, failing to notice. gaze fixed on the little creature as he hears you speak.

"i just don't.. understand." you slurred, your face pressed against your arms as the chimera chirps. i don't know.. why" hic "he feels he needs to keep me at an arm's length.. in the end, all i want is to be loved; and i wish the same for him."

you don't even know what those words do to him. a man of many words, brought to silence. you look like a fae in the moonlight, ethereal and breathtaking. and anaxa's sopping wet in the rain, refusing to be under the bars covers as he feels he doesn't deserve it. the harsh weather prickles his skin, but he feels nothing. nothing but the cruel twist of a dagger through his heart.

he falls to his knees, the water around him makes a large splash as you turn your head. in your dazed state, your eyes don't recognize him, but your heart does. and you move without even realizing. "anaxagoras, my love?" he feels something cover his head, and he looks up to see you fussing and using your jacket to shield him from the rain. even if you were frustrated, venting about him, you still had the heart to worry. you still tried to help him, and he's such a fool to only appreciate that now. "what did i tell you about calling me that? to you, i'm anaxa. stop.. stop forgetting."

he doesn't know what to say, and he's thankful for the conditions so you don't see the way he starts to cry. his lips are trembling as his hand slowly stops yours, guiding it to his cheek and leaning into your palm. it isn't flowery words, he's bad at anything that isn't statistical or academic, but it's a gesture of something more. "i.. i'm so sorry." he muttered sorrowfully. "i've been taking you for granted. i didn't mean to, but i did. and that's unforgiveable. you don't deserve this life, and i—"

you cut him off by pulling him in, away from the world, under the shelter and into your arms. you two probably look silly, two influential figures in your own ways in amphoreus, snuggling up outside a bar in the rain. but anaxa has long discarded the idea of caring of others opinions, all he can focus on is how your heart begins to race. like you're as startled as he is. that he isn't alone in taking this leap. and for once, he's okay with that. having someone.. to truly take care of.

you wake up in bed the next morning, your head painful and your throat dry, but you're warm. and that's when you notice anaxa behind you, arms wrapped around you securely and his head partially buried in your hair. he's.. fast asleep. which is a first, you can't remember the last time he chose the bed rather than his office chair.

but you don't complain, aeon's, how could you?

you choose to fall back into the gentle hands of slumber, looking forward to waking up next to anaxa.

[onlyheluvsme]

⇢ ˗ˏˋellie wakes up before you ࿐

˗ˏˋellie fluff!´ˎ˗ mdni, lowercase intended, elliexfem!reader, fluff, seattle!ellie, i cant stop writing her in bed lol *ೃ༄ pls leave reqs!!

the warmth of the sun hit your cheek as you slept next to ellie in a house you found on your way to seattle. yet it was the feeling of fingers brushing against your face that woke you. your eyes slowly blinked open, blurry at first but correcting themselves to find ellie only inches from your face.

"good morning my sweet girl" she brushed her nose lightly back and forth across yours.

"mmm.." you moan out and wrap your arms around her warm neck, "why'd you wake me up? you okay? do we have to leave?" you mumble having closed your eyes again.

you receive no answer as she returns to your face, now leaving soft kisses on each of your cheeks, nose, forehead, eyelids, anywhere she could reach. she pulled back to stare at your face, you now having fallen back asleep.

the warmth of the sun heating the side of both of your faces, she puts her hand up to block it from your sleeping eyes. when the warm breeze came through the window, ellie wished she could hold you like that all day. she desperately wished to keep both of you there, protected from anything and everything. away from a world where revenge drives her, not the deep heart-aching love she has for you.

"when all this is done..." she starts staring at your sleeping face, brushing a stray hair behind your ear, "we're going to go far away from here" she kisses the corner of your mouth.

"...and were going to have a farm with lots of sheep" she says with a sigh, "nothings going to touch you, i promise" she kissed your sleeping lips and slowly removed herself from your sleeping form.

it only took her a few minutes to collect herself, grabbing her cut up flannel and her converse she turns to look at you knowing she should probably get you up; the faster you guys get to seattle, the faster she has you back to safety.

yet your face looked so innocent and soft in that moment how could she wake you up knowing what was ahead of you two? so she took out her map, walked to your side of the mattress, and sat herself on the floor next to your head.

as softly as she could, ellie took one of your hands and put it to the edge of the mattress. she then pulled out the half broken pencil she found and laid the map flat on the floor, putting her head to the mattress and her cheek to your hand, she spent the next hour going over and critiquing the routes you two would take to seattle. letting you sleep for just a few more minutes.

[kedreeva]

Someone in the notes asked what a Spalding is, and if you haven't been here before, a Spalding is the peafowl world shorthand word for "a hybrid between a blue species (pavo cristatus) peafowl and a green species (pavo muticus) peafowl."

Spaldings range in phenotype from looking like a standard cristatus bird (virtually indistinguishable except by genotyping them) to looking like a standard muticus bird (virtually indistinguishable except by genotyping them) but most fall in the low end of the spectrum, where they look mostly like a blue, but have some signs (crest shape, barring pattern, leg and face color, facial marking shape, tail feather barring, extra color, skull shape.... LOTS of tells) of not being a pure blue. Since we have no way to genotype on a consumer level, Spaldings are rated either by fractions (if you know the lineage back to the first 50/50 cross), or by percentage (of green showing in the phenotype). So, a high percent Spalding would look more like a green than a blue, and a low percent Spalding would look more like a blue than a green. These are mid-range; they don't look more like one or the other, although the hen is probably a higher percentage than the male. She still doesn't have barring, however, which is how you know she's only mid range.

MOST peafowl you see in the US are Spaldings, due to how carelessly the two have been bred. There are no papered blues that I know of, and papered greens that can trace lineage back to import run thousands of dollars.

Spalding is always capitalized, as it is a proper name, given to hybrids after Madam Spalding, who first hybridized the two.

I had some unexpected visitors today when I went out to do goat chores!

That's a nice pair of Spaldings. A BS male and a hen. Some idiot just lost $600+ because they thought peafowl were like chickens and could instantly be free ranged.

If they stick around and you'd like to capture them (and they should be captured even if you don't intend to keep them, they do not know where they are and will not be adept at finding food and water and are susceptible to predators), they can be offered game bird feed or dry cat food or whole corn or peanuts, and led into an enclosed space. Shut the door behind them and capture them in the dark (it will be easier to grab them when they can't see).

If you'd like to keep them I can give housing advice, otherwise either contact your local humane society/ASPCA or drop me a PM and let me know where you are and I'll see what I can do about helping you find a place for them with new owners.

[musicforastylesrestaurant]

If you’re still taking ideas for tonight 🫶🏻 maybe H and y/n going on their first walk as a family - either baby in the carrier on Harry’s chest or y/n pushing the pram, all wrapped up warm on a winter walk then going to meet Anne for a coffee so baby could have nanna cuddles 🥰

Spring Walks.

masterlist || ask me anything <3

my blurb masterlist is here!!

in which, it’s your’s and harry’s first walk as a family of four, and even though it’s spring, the weathers very chilly and your little one is in the pram whilst your four year old is sat on his daddy’s shoulders.

word count - 1k.

It’s just past ten on a chilly spring morning, the kind where the sky is washed in soft blue and the clouds seem like afterthoughts. The forest trail beneath your feet is damp from last night’s rain, but it smells incredible—earthy, fresh, and full of that green-sap scent that only comes with early leaves.

You wrap your coat tighter around you and glance down into the pram. Your daughter is sleeping soundly, her tiny chest rising and falling under the knit blanket Anne gave you just before she was born. Her face is impossibly small, features still undefined in that newborn way—more like a dream than a person just yet.

“S’out cold,” Harry says, leaning over your shoulder to peek in at her. “Like her mum, snoring by nine.”

You laugh quietly, nudging him. “I do not snore.”

“Y’do a little puff. Like a baby hedgehog.” He makes a tiny snuffling sound and then grins, proud of himself.

“You are so lucky I’m sleep-deprived and too tired to argue.”

He chuckles and shifts his grip on your four-year-old son, who is perched high up on his shoulders, little wellies bouncing lightly against Harry’s chest with each step. His tiny hands are tangled in Harry’s curls, his cheeks rosy and wind-bitten.

“Daddy, look!” your son shouts, pointing toward a squirrel sprinting up a tree. “He’s got something in his mouth! Is it a sandwich?”

Harry squints. “Looks like a bit of leaf or something, buddy. Probably not a sandwich. Squirrels don’t have lunchboxes.”

“They should,” your son decides seriously. “We could give them some snacks.”

You join in, “That’s how you make forest friends, you know. You leave them tiny peanut butter sandwiches, and they send thank-you notes made of twigs.”

“Really?” He gasps, eyes wide.

Harry laughs, “Well, sort of. But you’ve got to be very, very quiet so you don’t scare them.”

Your son nods solemnly and immediately whispers, “Okay.” Then, a second later: “BUT IF I SEE A FOX I’M GONNA SCREAM!.”

You and Harry both burst into quiet laughter, trying not to wake the baby.

You fall into step beside him, the gravel crunching underfoot. The path is scattered with fallen blossoms from some early-flowering tree, pink petals caught in puddles and clinging to your boots.

“Can you believe we’re here?” you say softly. “Family of four. Two whole kids.”

Harry exhales, long and warm, like he’s been holding that feeling in his chest and is only just letting it out. “I know. Feels unreal. Like we blinked and suddenly… we’re outnumbered.”

You laugh. “You’re the one who wanted more chaos.”

“I did,” he admits, smiling. “And I’d do it all again. Every nappy, every midnight bottle, every ‘I want juice’ at four in the morning.”

You glance at him with a smirk. “That last one was you.”

He shrugs. “What can I say? Apple juice tastes better at night.”

A soft wind stirs the leaves around you. You adjust the pram handle, and Harry watches you for a moment before speaking again.

“Y’amazing, you know,” he says quietly. “Like. I watch you with them, and I think—how did I get so lucky?”

You look over at him, touched. “You were charming. And tall. That helped.”

“That’s it then?” he laughs. “Tall and charming?”

You lean into him a little, shoulder brushing his. “And you make a very good climbing frame.”

From above, your son yells, “I’m a tree-climber! I’m on top of Daddy Mountain!”

“Hold on, little explorer,” Harry says, pretending to wobble. “Daddy Mountain’s feeling an earthquake in his back.”

“Don’t fall, Daddy! I’m too small to raise a baby!”

That has you both laughing so hard you have to stop for a moment. You reach up and steady your son’s leg while you catch your breath.

The trail starts to widen, and ahead you can see glimpses of the high street through the thinning trees. The edge of town greets you with the smell of fresh bread from the bakery and a faint bell from someone opening a shop door.

Harry glances over. “Mum said she got us the corner table outside. Figured we’d want space for the pram.”

You nod, grateful. “She always thinks of everything.”

“She’s been dying to show off the baby,” he adds. “I think she’s printed pictures for strangers on the bus.”

“She’s so excited to have another granddaughter, she’s got so many plans already.” Harry adds. “For both of them.”

You smirk. “Like what?”

“She wants to take her first grandbaby to the petting zoo, just them two. And she said we should have a nap together while she watches the baby.”

You blink, surprised. “A nap together? Like… sleep?”

“I know,” Harry teases, “remember that?”

You let out a soft laugh, feeling the warmth in your chest bloom. You’d give anything for just one afternoon of that quiet kind of closeness again. But for now, this walk—this moment—is enough.

As you turn onto the main road, your son gasps. “There’s Nana! I see her!”

Anne is already waving from her spot at the café, wearing a scarf you bought her last Christmas and holding a takeaway cup in one hand. When she sees you, her whole face lights up. She stands before you even reach her, arms out.

Harry gently lifts your son off his shoulders, setting him down. “Go on then, give Nana a cuddle.”

He doesn’t need to be told twice—he races ahead, nearly colliding with her in a hug. Anne laughs and scoops him up effortlessly, planting a kiss on his cheek.

Then she turns to you, eyes misty.

“There’s my girl,” she says, kissing your cheek, then leaning over the pram. “And there’s my littlest love. Oh, she’s perfect.”

Harry wraps an arm around your shoulders, drawing you into him. “We made some good ones, didn’t we?”

You lean into him, smile tugging at your lips as you watch your family. “We really did.”

Anne looks up. “Well, I’ve ordered you both tea, and I got extra pastries because you’re both barely eating anything proper—”

“We eat!” you protest.

“You nibble. Like nervous mice,” she says, waving her hand. “Now sit. Warm up. I’ll cuddle this one in a minute.”

[superhoeva]

Adding to the freak! Jack Abbot thots…Jack Abbot who does anal with his freak gf…yeah…NEED DAT IMMEDIATELY! I’m talking he eats ass, uses plugs, double penetration, and fucks you in the ass after you beg him for it. Yeah…Yeahh. And yes; we already have DMs about this but idc I need dat man bad!

tw: language, smut, porn with a little plot, freak!abbot, butt stuff/anal, bodily fluids (mentioned), f!reader, oral (f receiving), rimming (f receiving), toys (plugs), unprotected sex, creampie; please remember this is fiction <3 mdni/+18.

there’s an odd sense of beauty in the fact that jack senses you’re ready for it before you do. the man has eyes everywhere, and with most of them pointed at you, it doesn’t take long for him to pick up the hints that your body bares free to him.

though he waits until you actually say it to take the next steps.

little by little, jack breaks you open. slobbering all over your pussy and thumbing at your ass until you're sobbing out a beg for him to stick something inside you. dragging the slick from your slick down to your puckering hole with the tip of his tongue, and circling it with soft laps.

he damn near cums in his pants the first time he fingers your ass. god, the noises you make as he uses lube and gentle gotta relax for me, darlin's to coax you open well enough to take two of his fingers. it takes a thumbs and a few wet kisses of your clit but you do just as he requests–relax enough through a few waving orgasms to take his third finger.

even jack switching from his fingers to plugs is a process.

he tongues your hole and stretches you with his thumb before sliding in the plug with the help of a mixture of spit and lube. soon after taking a moment to admire how the protruding jewel looks against you, he slides into your pussy, and fucks you at the edge of the bed from behind.

you make jack's head toss and hands grip at your hips like he'll never let you go whenever you cry out how full you feel. how much you like how full you feel. he fills your pussy that night, afterwards slipping out the plug at the same time he slurps his dripping load from your slit.

the first time he fucks your ass, there's a literal ton of lube and you're in charge. you control it all and he doesn't move until you tell him. he's already breathing hard breaths through his nose with just the head inside but he doesn't push anymore until you whimper out for him to keep going.

you both groan loud when he's fully inside.

you're shaking at the stuffed feeling, while jack's clenching his jaw and trying not to burst. his cock moves slow but firm inside you, only able to pull out a third of the way before he sinking back balls deep.

it's after a few thrusts that jack has to pause with a hand on your stomach.

"s'alright if you can't..." he starts, huffing through his strained timbre with a pinched brow. "...but i need ya to relax, gorgeous, or i'm not gonna last worth a damn."

"'m trying," you whine out, and he can barely rip a hand from your waist to cradle your face. "it's just a lot."

jack would chuckle if he could think of something other than the manner of him twitching inside your ass.

"i know, baby. i know," jack nods, "but i can't–fuck... i'm, like, this close to losing my god damn mind..."

shit. now, there's a twinkle in your eyes that tells him he probably shouldn't have said that–

a long fuuuck groans out of jack at a shifting of your hips, cock pulsating as a wave of unexpected static eclipses him. a broken, beautiful chorus of moans exit him. in fact, a few borderline on being whimpers.

he doesn't realize the tender thrusting he's started until he sees you halfway through his climax, your body jerking with rolling eyes as his balls empty themselves inside you.

he'd have a half a mind to lean over and grab the vibrator but the fingertips he's slathering over your sopped clit are enough to get you there. pussy leaking and spasming around nothing, you're coming with a clench tight enough to make jack lightheaded.

"hoooly shit," he has to blink a few times, collapsing half his weight on top of your body as you settle in the w.

the both of you are trembling, and jack makes you take two more deep breaths as he inches himself out of you. his cock slides free a mess, covered in a mixture of his cum and stringy lube, and he shakes his head when he looks at you to find you already peeking down at the sight with a pleased grin.

jack snorts, exhaling an astonished huff before kissing you deep.

"sorry," he mumbles, forehead glossy with a layer of sweat. "i'll try to last longer next time..."

(spoiler alert: he does not.)

freak!abbot tag | freak!abbot asks

© 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐯𝐚

[heavenlybodies333]

Jealousy is a Hell of a Drug - S.R

Spencer Reid x jealousgf!reader

You didn’t plan on drinking tonight.

Honestly, you thought it’d just be a casual get-together—Emily had called it “team bonding,” and Rossi was buying, so who were you to say no? Spencer hadn’t been able to stop rambling about this new book he’d read, you’d teased him for talking through the appetizer menu, and everything had been perfect.

Until she walked in. Dr. Madison Keane. Nuclear physicist. MIT doctorate. His “joint dissertation partner,” whatever the fuck that meant. All you knew was she was tall, gorgeous, and practically hanging off of Spencer’s arm like she belonged there.

“Oh my God, Spencer?” she gasped, her hand finding his bicep. “I didn’t even recognize you without the curls!”The rest of the team greeted her, cordial and curious. Spencer was glowing—introducing everyone, detailing exactly how he and Madison had co-authored some impossible dissertation about nuclear subparticles. And when his eyes finally turned to you, “This is—”

You didn’t let him finish. You looped your arm through Emily’s and flashed him your sweetest, fakest smile. “We’re getting a drink.” Two absinthe shots later and you slammed the glass down and glared at the mirrored wall. “Do you like her?” you asked Emily, too loud.

She choked on her shot, laughing behind her hand. “Is this a trap?”

“She’s not even that pretty,” you said, narrowing your eyes. “And what kind of bitch doesn’t understand personal space why is she touching him like that?”

“She probably earned it,” Emily teased, nudging your shoulder. “Co-writing a dissertation’s practically marriage.”

God that made you angrier, “She talks to him like I’m not even real. Who even says 'nuclear physics' at a bar?” Emily patted your back. “The kind of girl who wants to fuck your boyfriend.”

“Exactly!” you said pissed off. You turned around. They were still talking—too close, too intimate. You saw Madison’s fingers trail down his arm again, and that was it.

You stormed back to the table with an empty smile and a new drink. “So how do you two know each other again?” you asked, cutting Spencer off mid-sentence.

He blinked at you. “She’s from MIT. We—”

“Oh, right. Nuclear physics,” you said, taking a long sip. “Because quantum entanglement just isn’t sexy enough at parties.”

Madison laughed politely. “It’s more fun than it sounds, I promise.”

“Sure,” you smiled tightly. “I’m sure you two had so much fun.”

Her voice sweet, her smile practiced. You knew girls like her. Hell, you used to be girls like her. Overly confident. Insecure in the worst way—like she needed you to know she had history with Spencer. “You must be his… coworker?” she asked, voice sugar-laced poison.

You smiled back tightly. “Girlfriend.”

Her mouth twitched. “Oh! I didn’t realize…”, eyes flicking up and down like she was scanning for weaknesses, and said sweetly, “It must be so nice dating someone so smart.”

“Mhm,” you hummed, completely ignoring her. You looked her up and down. “You still in academia?”

She smirked. “Of course. Published just last month, actually. I’m surprised Spencer hasn’t mentioned it. But then again… maybe he’s just too busy.”

You tilted your head, biting your cheek.

“I mean, I can’t imagine it’s easy to have a relationship when one person’s reading quantum mechanics before breakfast and the other’s... tagging along.” You lasted another 30 seconds before she leaned in to whisper something into Spencer’s ear, fingers still on his sleeve, and that was it. Your drink flew. Straight into her smug face.

You didn’t wait for the gasp or the splash or Spencer’s stunned voice. You just turned on your heel and walked out the front door, head held high, fury burning behind your ribs like napalm.

Behind you, you heard him—“Madison, I’m so sorry, she’s—” You heard him apologize to her—apologize to HER—and your stomach flipped with betrayal.

Fuck him.

You were halfway down the block when you heard his voice behind you. You didn’t slow down. Not until his hand caught your wrist, pulling you gently but firmly to a stop on the sidewalk. “Baby wait—”

You yanked your arm free. “Go back to her, Spencer.”

“What? No. No—fuck—don’t do that.” His voice cracked with confusion. “Why did you throw a drink at her?!” You ignored him, continuing to walk away from him, tears welling up in your eyes.

“Stop walking! Jesus—would you please talk to me?”

“Talk to your dissertation partner!” you snapped, spinning to face him. “You two can split atoms together and jerk each other off over how smart you are!”

Spencer blinked. “Are you seriously mad that I ran into a colleague?”

“You apologized to her,” you hissed. “She had her hands all over you—”

“She hugged me—”

“She touched your bicep, Spencer!”

“I didn’t ask her to!”

“But you didn’t stop her either.”

Silence.

“I don’t like her. I don’t want her. I want you,” he said, voice low, pained. “God, baby. I didn’t even notice she was touching me. I was trying to introduce you.”

You turned around and wouldn’t face him, arms crossed and as you went to sit down angrily on the curb you lost your balance falling back on the sidewalk right on your ass.

Spencer’s mouth opened and closed. “You’re drunk.”

“No.” you answered hotly.

“Jesus,” he muttered. “Let’s go home.”

“I’m not done yelling at you.”

“You can yell at me all you want. Just not in the middle of the street.” He stared at you, jaw clenched. Then he pulled out his phone and ordered the Uber without another word.

You didn’t speak again until you were inside his apartment, shoes off, arms crossed, fuming. “I hate her.”

“She’s not important.”

You turned to him. “Then why did you defend her?”

“Because she didn’t deserve to get humiliated in public.”

“What about me?” your voice cracked. “Do I deserve to feel like I’m second best?”

His expression softened instantly. “No. God, no. You’re not—”

“I can’t believe you apologized to her.”

“I had to,” he said tightly. “You threw a drink in her face.”

“She deserved it.”

“She didn’t.”

“She was all over you.”

“She was being friendly. She was an old colleague.”

You scoffed, turning away. “Right. Another genius. Maybe you’d be happier with someone like that. Someone who understands your fucking dissertations.”

Spencer didn’t reply. He came up behind you instead—his hands sliding around your waist, his voice soft in your ear. “You’re the only one I want baby, I promise. And I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to understand every part of you—because every time I do, I fall in love all over again.”

You let him guide you to the bed, fingers pulling your dress up as he kisses down your thighs. Gasping as he pulled your panties down, lifting one of your legs over his shoulder. When his head dipped between your thighs, he held your legs open, eyes locking with yours.

“Let me make it better,” he said. His fingers dug into your thighs to keep you in place, and he moaned against your cunt like he needed this, needed you. His mouth was heaven—soft, insistent, relentless. He licked and sucked like he had all the time in the world, humming when your thighs clenched around him, praising you between licks.

“God, you’re so good for me. So sweet when you’re not being a brat.” He grinned against your skin. “My perfect girl.”

You whimpered. “Don’t think about her,” he said, tongue circling your clit. “She’s gone. Only you now.”

“Spence,” you moaned. He flattened his tongue, slow strokes that made your head spin. Your fingers tangled in his hair as your head tipped back, heat coiling in your belly. “I’m sorry,” you whispered. “I was so—”

“Don’t,” he said gently, curling one finger inside you now, his mouth still relentless. “You don’t ever have to apologize for loving me like that.”

You cried out, hips twitching, the world melting into the feeling of his mouth, his hands, his praise like poetry spilling from his lips.

“Fuck, that’s it,” he moaned. “Give it to me, baby. Let go. That’s my good girl.”

Your hips bucked. “Spencer—oh—fuck.” legs shaking, thighs clenching around his head.

When he pulled back, lips glistening, he pressed soft kisses to your thighs and looked up at you with those impossibly kind eyes. “I don’t care how many dissertations I wrote with her,” he went on, his thumbs brushing your cheeks. “I love you, I love how you dont like pickles with anything and always give me your extra one, I love how your favorite things to collect are those little teacups, I love getting to cook for you, I love that you’re smart in ways that can’t be measured with letters after your name. I love you now and forever. ”

You finally exhaled. “I love you too.”

He was yours. Nuclear physics bitch be damned.

a/n: okayyy papiiiichulo

⋆•★⋆ MASTERLIST ⋆★•⋆

[pearlescentparade]

Ur probably gonna ignore cuz it’s kinda boring but can i request two time x reader angst ?

Two and reader spending time together, reader trying to enjoy snuggling up to their partner yet two time isn’t returning any of the affection. Just sitting with their hands to themselves with no attempt to do anything besides watch whatever was in front of them.

Basically reader trying to cope with two time not actually returning their feelings despite dating and probably terrible communication.

up to you if two time loves them back.

light years 🔄 two time x reader angst drabble❤️‍🩹

it's cold tonight.

you shouldn't complain, considering it was your idea to go star-gazing. but in your defense, it sounded cute in the moment.

the blades of grass uncomfortably drag against and poke your skin, prickled with goosebumps, as you shift to turn on your side to face two time. they only blankly stare up at the eternal night sky.

"timey?"

they hum, but are complacent in making any other effort beyond that to acknowledge you.

"i'm a little cold.. can we cuddle? ...please?" your whispered pleas could've been mistaken for the ambient howling of the wind. perhaps that's why they don't answer you. but there is much shame to be had in asking again, you think.

hesitantly, and with much space, you reach your hand out to them.

nothing. no acceptance, no rejection.

then, you dare to slink your arms around their body, loosely embracing them as if unsure whether to commit fully to it. you think you feel colder touching them than not.

their body tenses under your touch. did they feel disgusted by you?

you shakily exhale, trying to ignore the deep pain rooting in your heart and constricting your throat. times like these, you wish that they'd start yelling how much they hate you. at least then, you'd know for sure, and you'd know how they feel or think for once. but instead, you are left in the dark, blind and guessing, and playing a game meant for two alone.

a familiar sting burns your eyes, and you take it as your cue to distract yourself.

"..that's orion's belt. it's thr-three stars." you point to the constellation, light years away. two time blinks, inches away. it's less about telling them, and more about telling yourself.

"over there is gemini. it--hic--has the twin stars, castor and- and pollux-" despite your futile attempts, the tears fall anyway. and when one slips out, the rest comes in a flood. it takes only seconds before you're uncontrollably sobbing, muffling your cries in two time's arm.

yet, even as you wet their arm with tears, snot, and saliva, they say nothing. no comfort, no disgust, simply silence.

they couldn't say anything.

not when fear paralyzes them.

they've messed this up before. it's not out of the question to say it could happen again. the same voices that lead them to atrocity chatter viciously in their mind, angry wasps rattling in the nest, urging for another sacrifice.

to once again spill blood, warm with infatuation. to take advantage of this golden opportunity to present their devotion to the spawn by stealing the love they hold with you and metamorphosizing it into the love for their god. one wrong move, and their ghostfire dagger will plunge right into your heart.

to two time, inaction is the greatest reciprocation of love they could offer you.

without turning their head, their eyes flick to glance at your blubbering form.

it's cold tonight.

(parade postscript: sorry this one is a lot shorter mostly bc reader is talking to a fkin brick wall and yk dialogue carries all my mfin writing and also i js thought itd be fitting that everything is all short and lacking bc of the whole two time not showing reciprocation thang [me pulling out a million bullshit excuses out of my ass for why ts is so short and pretending im being a literary genius]

also fun fact! castor and pollux look close together from earth but are farther from each other in reality! castor is actually 51 light-years away, while pollux is closer at 33.8 light-years)

[thebucketpail]

Hi, sorry, the brain worms got me.

There was a crash, a bang, and a loud whirring that sounded suspiciously like one of Dr. D’s inators firing up. A disappointing and concerning series of sounds considering Danny had just stepped into the other room to find that socket wrench he could’ve sworn he saw on the coffee table. 

Another crash and Danny was bolting back into the lab to make sure his boss hadn’t somehow toppled the humongous machine they had been tinkering with for the past seven hours. What he found instead was something his brain could only classify as a ‘scuffle’.

Also a platypus. For some reason. It was wearing a fedora.

Both sets of eyes snapped to him. A tiny teal fist stopping midair on its way to punching Dr. D in the face.

“Oh there you are Danny!” Dr. D exclaimed, his collar still caught in the semi-aquatic egg laying mammal’s tiny fist. “Danny, this is my nemesis Perry the Platypus. Perry the platypus, this is my new intern Danny!” he introduced. 

The platypus looked between the two of them before settling a glare on Doofenshmirtz. 

“What, he’s paid! Benefits and everything! Tell him Danny!” The platypus raised an eyebrow condescendingly (Do platypi even have eyebrows?? Can they even look Condescending?. Danny didn’t even know at this point.)

“Um,” he cleared his throat. “Yeah, benefits; I get them. A whole hour for lunch, uh four weeks PTO a year. Up to date OSHA compliance..” he listed feeling one hundred percent not at all weird or judged by this tiny teal thing.

“See, Perry the Platypus!” Doof yelled, probably too loud for their proximity but Perry the Platypus didn’t so much as flinch. “I may be evil but I still pay my employees well. That’s better than stuck up Monobrow can say!” 

Perry rolled his eyes (Seriously! Could platypi even do that?!?!) and jumped of Dr. D’s chest, stepping back to cross his arms grumpily as if waiting for something. That something soon happened as Dr. D pulled a remote out of his lab coat and pressed a big red button, springing a cage around his nemesis with entirely too much zeal.

“Aha! Perry the Platypus you have fallen for my trap once again!” He shouted. Perry looked very unimpressed and, in fact, rather resigned. Danny got the impression that this was somewhat of a routine for this Mad scientist and-

“Sorry, what are you?” Danny interrupted. 

Dr. D looked over at him confused. “He’s a platypus?” 

“No no, I got that part but what’s with the fedora?” he pointed. 

“Oh, well, how do I explain this-” The Dr. was cut off by the platypus pulling out a pamphlet from his hat and holding it out to Danny. Danny took it.

‘So You’ve Got A New Nemesis!’ It read in bright bold colors. The pamphlet itself outlined the specific of what to expect from a nemesisship as it was so called, and the different regulations that a ‘Secret Agent’ was expected to follow. Danny flipped through it in interest before handing it back to Perry the Platypus who nodded in appreciation and slipped it back into his hat.

Danny turned to Doof. “Is fighting secret agents in my job description?” he asked. He hadn’t seen it on the job listing but he needed to ask in case it was one of those implied duties that all the other jobs he applied to had. 

Dr. D looked scandalized. “Of course not! I would not require you to fight my nemesis, you’re just my lab assistant!” He shook his head, “You’re welcome to take your lunch now if you want, this shouldn’t take more than an hour. Now Perry the Platypus, where were we? Ah Yes! Behold! The dead-leaf-crunchinator!”

Danny shook his head as he wandered back to the kitchen where he’d left his bag that morning. He’d already listened to Dr. D rant about how disappointed he got when some fallen leaves gave a less than adequate crunching sound when you stepped on them; and quite honestly, he didn’t need to listen to that again. But he supposed such was to be expected when you answered a job listing for a mad scientist’s lab assistant. 

Maybe he’d get sushi for lunch, there was this great place a couple blocks down.

Whenever I get a new hyperfixation I immediately start brewing crossovers with whatever my special interest at the time is. Which is kind of unfortunate because it can result in the most off-the-wall nonsense shit

Anyway I just think it would be fun for Danny to work as Doofenshmirtz’ intern (a PAID intern because he might be evil but he’s not as evil as Major Monogram!)

Danny could technically stop Perry from wrecking Doofenshmirtz’s shit but he just kind of. Doesn’t. It’s not his job to fight off Doofenshmirtz’ nemesis, his job is to troubleshoot Doofenshmirtz’s plans so he stops missing obvious problems

(Vanessa has been lodging complaints)

Danny just wants some formal work experience and Doofenshmirtz was impressed by the things he talked about doing in his parents’ lab and also by his tragic backstory (required)

Doofenshmirtz- also you were the only one that applied

Side effect of this is that Doofenshmirtz starts having to comply with OSHA safety standards because if he doesn’t then Danny refuses to eat lunch at work and Doofenshmirtz doesn’t like it

Doofenshmirtz- I’m not going to give you radioactive food!

Danny- I literally just don’t believe you

And yes Doofenshmirtz DOES immediately start trying to unlock more of Danny’s tragic backstory just because it seems like the thing to do and then proceeds to wheedle him into talking about it during nemesis fights (“You need to communicate!”)

Danny reminds Perry of his boys so they have an unspoken policy of ‘Danny won’t stop Perry and Perry leaves Danny alone’ which Doofenshmirtz appreciates. Perry absolutely realizes that Danny could be a much bigger threat if he wanted to but he also clearly doesn’t want to so Perry’s not really worried about it

Danny doesn’t really interfere either way because honestly the balance these two have going on is impressive. Doofenshmirtz makes his ‘evil’ inventions to work out his trauma and Perry makes sure no one gets hurt from them. No interference needed

This is probably some sort of tragic 18-19 year old Danny that’s really just trying to move on from everything that happened at Amity Park and doesn’t really want to think about it anymore

And yes half of this is just because I think it would be fun for Doofenshmirtz to have a slightly smaller younger assistant with a marginally less tragic backstory

…God why is there so much to this AU

[betweensnoopy]

crush!hamzah

summary: hamzah has a secret crush on you.. not really a secret tho.. (headcannons)

crush!hamzah always looks for you in a crowded place or a party and STAYS. BY. YOUR. SIDE. for example, last week at party of mutual friend of you and hamzah—you showed up to the party and thirty minutes later hamzah found out you, making your night even better. don’t worry about martin he’s probably dancing with mandy or having a drink with her so he occupied the whole night and not worried about hamzah. and if it’s a lame party then you and hamzah are in y’all’s own world, and you like it that way.

ଂ ❀.ྀི

you and hamzah sit on the concrete stairs in front of the loud house playing music, sharing a blunt.

“lowkey this is party is lame..” you say quietly, taking a hit of the blunt. hamzah already looking at you, nods his head and looks away once you look at him “yeah lowkey… um.. you wanna go get some mcdonalds? they close in like an hour.” the nervous boy asks, looking at the time on his phone

you look at hamzah and smile “you always read my mind, let’s go.” you say—standing up and holding your hand out for hamzah to grab—and with no problem hamzah took it and you guys abandoned the party.

crush!hamzah always looks at you. well, not in a creepy way of course, but in a admirable and sincere way. you could be talking about anything and this man looks at you like he wants to marry you. he always looks away when you catch him or look at him but he’s subtle with it most of the time. if your across the room—he’s staring. hamzah could be having a whole conversation and looking at you the whole time while your doing what you’re doing and sometimes martin, chase, or whoever has to shake him out of the stare, just for him to miss the moment where you looked at him back.

ଂ ❀.ྀི

“and it’s so.. lik-” chase stops himself abruptly and gives hamzah a weird look after he sees that hamzah is definitely not interested in this conversation. following hamzah’s eyes, he sees that he’s staring at you. watching you as you talk to mandy and claire about your new shein cart you just bought and can’t wait to show it off, and apparently hamzah can’t wait either. hamzah watches how you talk with your hands, laugh at almost everything, and fidget the matching bracelet on your wrist.

“um hello creeper? you wanna go have girl talk over there?” chase teases, snapping hamzah out of his thoughts. hamzah looks at chase and clears his throat “what? sorry i zoned out.” boy.. no you didn’t.

speaking of matching bracelets, crush!hamzah and you got matching bracelets one day out of nowhere. and no, they’re not like those cringy bestfriend bracelets, you guys literally got matching hawk tuah bracelets—you getting the hawk and hamzah getting the tuah..

ଂ ❀.ྀི

strolling around the mall, you and hamzah stop but this store and look around until something caught your eye. “hamzah come here!” you squeal and hold up the two bracelets. setting down the shirt he was looking at—hamzah walked over to you and laughed as he saw what was in your hand. “oh my gosh, we have to get these.” he laughs and takes the tuah one.

hamzah buys them (such a gentlemen) and puts your wrists together to take a picture. being this close to hamzah never made you this nervous before, after the picture we guys admire the bracelets and look at each other. faces literally almost touching.. you two awkwardly move away and laugh it off.

being around crush!hamzah always give you a weird feeling in your stomach. not a bad kind but weird.. you don’t know why it happens you just know ever since that moment at the mall you’ve felt very unusual around him. it’s not any better now that you’re at his house and literally only 2 feet away from him.

ଂ ❀.ྀི

you and hamzah always hang out on the weekends, it’s just a thing that you guys do. but this weekend felt strange, you and hamzah keep looking at one another when the other is not looking and you’re so close you can hear him breathing… (girl move a little..)

“Um so.. is it just me or has it been weird lately..?” you say and look at hamzah. he turns away from the tv and his brown eyes at you. he looks in your eyes, then your lips, and then looks away. “uhh.. i mean.. a little bit.” he mumbles. you hum and press your lips into a thin line realizing this conversation is going no where.

you open your mouth to say something but hamzah beats you to it. “I can’t take this anymore.. y/n i like you. like really like you, like a lot um.. shit.. i don’t know if you feel the same way… but i always look forward to seeing you every weekend and joking with you and laughing with you. i hope this doesn’t ruin our friendship” hamzah says quickly before covering his mouth.

your eyes go wide and your heart beats faster. not only did your best friend confess his love to you.. but your secret crush just confessed his love to you.

you guys just sit there for a moment in silence—taking in what just happened. hamzah looks straightforward trying not to make eye contact with you while you stay in your position, still looking at him. “hamzah,” you say softly and turn his head towards you. you look into his eyes and then his lips, not even realizing y’all are getting closer.

you hesitate but hamzah puts his hand on your cheek and smashes his lips into yours—you quickly kiss back and close your eyes. the kiss was slow and soft, you turn your head to the side to get more access. hamzah guides your hips on top on him—now straddling on his lap.

you two slowly pull back from the kiss, realizing you just kissed the boy you’ve been feigning for months.

“that took long enough” hamzah smiles

you chuckle and pull him into another slow kiss again.

hi guys! i made this a little longer because the last one was a little short but thank you for all the notes on my last post! I hope you guys like this one, if you want to request something don’t be afraid to ask!

-reneé

[everrinsly]

a/n: i'm glad there's a few of you who also love sugar daddy suna, thank you; i really need him in this economy. we all need him haha ╰(*´︶`*)╯

~~~~~

suna may be a famous pro athlete, but he is first and foremost your best friend vibes.

and he loves spending money on you (especially on your weekly grocery hauls).

sugar daddying part 3 (450 pieces of candy and a pack of chuppets in aisle 8) with suna. long drabble. fluff. fem!reader. | not proofread.

sugar daddy suna | part 1 | part 2

more reads!

~~~~~

Maybe your first mistake was letting Suna push the cart. And your second mistake... was becoming his best friend because he had all your favorite foods and snacks memorized now—

"There's those peach-milk candies you like. Lemme grab them real quick."

"You want those fancy-ass yogurt drinks, angel? What flavor?"

"I'm gonna grab your favorite brand of udon, so we can make it later, yeah?"

"Mochi ice cream. Vanilla or matcha—actually, nah."

(He threw them both in the cart).

—so what started as a 'quick grocery run' turned into him casually knowing all the likes and dislikes of your tastebuds, speed-running your entire favorites list like it was a shopping game show.

You adored Suna, really. But it gets to a point where you're going to have to fight him at the cash register because you can't afford all of this.

"Rinnie," you sighed softly, tugging on the rolled-up sleeves of his hoodie.

“Hm?” He didn’t even turn, just kept scanning the candy aisle like a predator tracking prey, probably looking for those Hi-Chew candies he knows you love so much (he's right, it's your second favorite).

You leaned over the cart. “Why are there five packs of those fancy yogurt drinks in here—and..." you trailed off, counting. "One... two... three... four—eight?!"

You gave him a look, one that made him just want to squish your cheeks (you don't know that though).

"Rin! Why are there eight packs of peach-milk candies?!"

"You said you liked them," he said blandly.

"There's fifty pieces in each pack!" You slapped a hand against his chest.

Suna hummed, then shrugged, tossing another into the cart anyway. “Well, now you have nine. 450 pieces total. Stay sweet, angel.”

You flushed, groaning into your sleeves, which only made him grin as he pushed the cart forward with the lazy swagger and nonchalance of someone who had way too much money and not enough shame.

And then, when he tossed in your favorite seaweed snacks, your arms flailed.

“Rintarou! No—”

He blinked innocently, green eyes twinkling with mischief. “These? Oh, my bad. Thought they were for me.”

“You said they're too salty for you.”

“Yeah... but you like them. And I like you.”

Your breath caught. He didn't even look at you when he said it, too busy grabbing three of your go-to instant ramen cups.

You squinted at him, heart fluttering in your chest, just begging to be released to Suna's arms.

Suna stared down at you, like he was mentally asking 'you got anything else to say?'

You sputtered. No, you didn't have anything else to say.

Suna smirked like he'd just won a very quiet war. Then, he reached for your favorite brand of fresh milk bread and tossed it in the cart without a word.

"…You don’t even know how much this is gonna cost," you mumbled, trying to sound annoyed and failing miserably.

Suna finally turned to face you, leaning over the cart, his arms folded on the handle like he had all the time in the world.

"I literally make more per match than this whole store makes in a day."

“Still. You don’t have to—”

"I want to," he said simply.

And that shut you up again. Because you knew he meant it. Just like he meant it when he ordered your favorite takeout when you were sad. Or when he kept your favorite playlist downloaded on his phone even though he 'hated that shit.' Or when he drove forty-five minutes to your college campus just to bring you a new laptop charger because yours broke.

You sighed, cheeks warm. "You're really annoying, you know that?"

Suna smiled, a real one, slow and soft. "Yeah. But I'm your annoying."

And just like that, in the fluorescent lights of aisle 8, with your favorite snacks piled high in an overflowing cart, you felt your heart flutter in that dangerous, hopeful way it always did around him.

You didn’t say anything. He didn't say anything.

But you reached out, plucked a bag of his favorite multiflavored chuppets from the shelf and piled it on top of your snacks. Then quietly mumbled, “…Thanks, Rinnie.”

And in true Suna fashion, he pretended not to hear you, but the way his lips twitched gave him away.

Though, you weren't sure if that was caused by you or the chuppets.

[le-trash-prince]

I know that, based on what's been said in promotional material etc that Alan is probably gonna make some poor choices under duress this season, but I am so interested in the potential he has for growth at this very moment.

Because Kim just left X-Hunter based on Alan's favoritism, and despite Alan's reassurances, you can see it on Alan's face that he's thinking of Dean and how hurt Dean was by everything, and Alan is realizing that, even though Kim is handling the situation with more maturity and immediately setting boundaries for himself, Alan has put Kim through the same thing.

Anyways it's really interesting that right as Alan is thinking about the ways he failed Dean, we are headed right into a reunion between the two of them, bc this shot in the teaser is at Alan's house.

And Dean is wearing the same hooded jacket as when he escaped from Manit, and he just so happens to look like someone just tried to kill him and he didn't know where else to go.

I'm climbing the walls at the thought that, despite everything that's happened, despite everything he's done, Dean goes back to his family when he's at rock bottom. And that it happens right after Alan has had Kim tell it to him straight, that Alan plays favorites and expects people to put their careers on hold for "the team."

I really hope that Dean and Alan are able to take this second chance that they've got and to be more honest and open with each other. Because I know that's the back of Dean's head in the preview for ep 2.

Alan, you've been told what you need to fix, and the opportunity to fix it is right in front of you!

I also just really hope we can explore Alan's flaws this season bc we talk a lot about how he's treated as this super old man when really he's like 30 in s1, and how ridiculous that is. But I feel like it gets discussed more often as "silly Thai BLs don't know the meaning of Old" and less as "Alan has been pushed by his slightly-younger-than-him teammates into a Father Figure position that he is not actually equipped to handle." He's collected all these strays, who he loves, but he really truly doesn't know how to take care of all of them.

I am stressed about how badly things could go with Alan, but I also genuinely hope we see some growth from him and from Dean.