#u know hopefully this makes sense lol

[dangerliesbeforeyou]

these are just rambling thoughts but it does kinda bother me how people will talk about all the bullshit in internet queer spaces (exclusionism, anti-ace shit, anti-poly shit, kink discourse, etcetc) and try to make out this is specifically a contemporary issue and that older, offline queer spaces never had these issues and i'm just always like bitch are we really doing this lol!?! turbulence in queer spaces has ALWAYS existed because surprise surprise queer people aren't a monolith lol!

like dont get me wrong, there's a lot of issues that have been exasperated by the internet and the insular ways people on here or other socials engage with queerness, but let's not try and paint the past as this utopia where all queer people marched in solidarity holding hands and having no issues with each other because it just ain't fucking true lol

[zemnarihah]

just paid 50 bucks for a slowdive ticket at this juncture in my life they are probably the only band that can get me to do that

[pukefactory]

hii!! ik you’ve already done MANY of these, but can you do another salesperson ENA x reader? It can be any scenario , i rlly wanna know what u come up with :D Also, I rlly like ur writing keep up the good work !! (also ty 4 being the first person ive seen 2 make a dream bbq ena x reader lol)

Author’s Note

Thank you for your kind words, friend! I couldn’t think of a specific scenario, so I put together a collection of small moments that will hopefully be entertaining.

- COMET

•☽────✧˖°˖ CLEAR SKIES ˖°˖✧────☾•

★ Summary: A Compilation of Random Headcanons Featuring Salesperson Ena X Reader

★ Character(s): Salesperson Ena (Ena: Dream BBQ)

★ Genre: Headcanons, SFW

★ Warning(s): None - Completely Safe!

★ Image Credits: @JoelG

☆ You made the fatal mistake of showing even mild interest in whatever it is Ena is selling today. Now you’re being followed through the casino, the market, the lonely door, as Ena flips between her red and pale yellow sides, alternating between an enthusiastic business pitch and aggressive interrogation. “Are you seriously passing up this once-in-a-lifetime investment?!” she demands, and before you can answer, the red side leans in, grinning. “Or perhaps… could we negotiate an exclusive partnership?”

☆ Ena decides you’re her new business associate, whether you agreed or not. You now have a clipboard, a suspiciously empty briefcase, and a list of names to track down. What’s being sold? She won’t tell you. “Would ruin the mystique, dear associate! GØD frowns upon spoilers!” But based on the transactions she’s making, you’re 75% sure this is a pyramid scheme. The 25% uncertainty is because you did see one of her customers float away after shaking her hand.

☆ In a casino full of existential horror and sentient human legs, it’s Ena’s personal mission to drag you into the most absurd bets possible. “I wager my entire life savings that I can swallow this dice whole!” she announces to a horrified crowd. When you try to stop her, she spins dramatically, gripping your shoulders. “Darling. Do you believe in me, or not?”

☆ It’s well past midnight, and you’re seconds away from sleep when Ena shakes you awake. “I have a business plan,” she declares. “We buy a haunted mansion, rent it to the emotionally unstable, and profit from their misfortunes!” You groggily tell her this is not how rental properties work. She immediately flips to her Meanie side. “Then you come up with a better idea, genius!”

☆ Mid-conversation, Ena sometimes freezes. Not in a normal way, but in a glitchy, geometric way—like her code is trying to process something too big. “What if I’m just a character in a vast, incomprehensible narrative, doomed to never truly exist beyond my roles?” she asks, unblinking. Then, without missing a beat, she slaps a business card into your hand. “Speaking of roles! You’d be perfect as our company’s new financial advisor!”

☆ Ena thinks she’s helping. She’s not. You find someone attractive? Ena is instantly at your side, loudly pitching you like a limited-time offer. “You see, this lovely entity comes with many benefits! Great conversational skills, a solid survival rate, and—get this—a sense of humor! A rare find in today’s market!” You have never been more humiliated. Ena, meanwhile, is writing down notes for her next attempt.

☆ You complain about a minor inconvenience, and Ena immediately suggests the most dramatic, legally questionable solution. “Your neighbor is too loud? What if we relocate their entire apartment? Quietly, of course. No one would notice, yes?” You tell her this is not how laws work. She squints at you, thoughtful. “Hmm. Sounds like a you problem.”

☆ Ena has a tendency to give things away. Not always hers, either. You’ve seen her hand off priceless artifacts, other people’s hats, and one time, your entire coat to a complete stranger. “It’s called networking, darling! One day, this connection will be invaluable.” (This person never appears again.)

☆ Ena doesn’t say she likes you. Instead, she keeps offering you deals. Discounted scams, highly illegal bargains, exclusive investment opportunities. “Normally, I’d never offer such a valuable package to an ordinary customer,” she croons, spinning on one foot. “But you, dearest associate, are special.”

☆ Sometimes Ena takes your hand and pulls you into a place that shouldn’t exist—a marketplace built from fractals, a forest of mannequins that whisper stock market predictions, a hallway that loops in reverse if you walk forward. “Business never sleeps,” she tells you, smiling. “And neither do the possibilities!”

[222low]

nct 127 hand placement (i love your writing! <3)

nct 127 + hand placement .☘︎ ݁˖

127 scenario on where they put their hands

content: fluff, handsy (?), not proofread (lmk if u find any mistakes!), gn reader

johnny

waist. would def want to make you feel secure, especially when you're with him. if he can't keep you close to him with his arm fully around your waist, he'd at LEAST make sure it was on your lower back. he wants to give you the reassurance that he's always there and not gonna let go, which also gives off confidence.

taeyong

palm to palm. your hands would fit perfectly together, like a puzzle piece. i would say taeyong would have a more extravagant gesture when it comes to his hand placements, but he likes the silent understanding of your connection and the grounding that comes with your palms pressed together, no matter where you are.

yuta

thigh/knee. i think this is a more intimate one, and one that yuta would definitely do. he wouldn't even do this on purpose, it just happens to be where his hands drift when you guys are together, where it feels the most comfortable. he likes the warmth of your skin on his and knows that you do too. he likes to tap his fingers against your skin playfully when he's bored, not even aware of it. you've grown to not acknowledge it as much either, it being a casual thing now.

doyoung

pinkies intertwined. i think that when you guys arent in public for everyone to see, he would definitely want your fingers intertwined, but just feeling each others presence with the closeness of two fingers is enough for him. just to know he's there. he would take your pinkie in his when he knows you're in situations where you're anxious, or if you guys were sitting down or waiting in line together, a promising connection.

jaehyun

your hand around his arm. i feel like jaehyuns arms would sort of act as your arm rest? being so close to him as his body radiates heat for the both of you gives you a sense of comfort and closeness knowing he won't go anywhere. i think he would like when you get tired and rest your head on his bicep as well, knowing that you feel comfy enough to do that.

jungwoo

around the back of your neck. ifykwim? around your neck and holding onto your hand that moves up to him, liking the feeling of your body sinking into his as his frame stand behind you. he loves coming up to you and just throwing his arm around your shoulders, holding you close to him. although casual, when you interlace fingers, you feel his thumb run over the back of your hand making you feel warm and secure.

mark

interlaced fingers. i just feel like this fits mark so well..romantic and traditional. dragging u along with him (or vice versa), but never letting go of each other. casually slipping his hand into yours, you can feel the affection he radiates. he loves interlacing your fingers because he thinks that it keeps you guys even closer, and you don't complain.

haechan

everywhere and anywhere. he'll honestly switch it up depending on his mood or the day. i feel like he would be really playful in a relationship and you would never know where his hands would go when you guys go out. romcom haechan putting his hand in your back jean pocket..around your waist..around your wrist..you never know, and he loves that.

a/n: thanks for reading!! its been a whileee lol..hopefully im back for a bit :3 gonna go work on some dreamie drafts!

[cheolhub]

WHAT YOU NEED — JEON WONWOO ࿐

summary. wonwoo knows how shy you get telling him what you want, but he’ll get you to use your words one way or another.

wc. 2.5k

warnings. mean-ish soft dom!wonwoo, sub! reader, corruption kink + slight humiliation kink! lots of teasing from wonwoo, lots of begging from reader, pet names [love, baby, sweet girl], dirty talk [😵‍💫], possessiveness (reader is so into it), heavy praise, unprotected sex, creampie — MINORS DNI 18+

note. it’s been months… hellooo… i forgot how to write so forgive me for the shitty plot lol. this is me attempting to get back into the writing world 🤓 hopefully ONE of u enjoys this <3 p.s. i’m srsly in my wonu era

“remember what i said, love,” wonwoo murmured, soft lips pressed against the shell of your ear. “if you want something, you gotta use your words.”

you hated this– everything about this– the teasing, the deep timbre of his voice that shoots heat straight to your core, him in general. he’s well aware of the fact that you can’t stand it at this moment, but that doesn’t put an end to his teasing. 

your back arches off his chest as you feel the ghost of his fingers over your painfully wet cunt, covered in a pair of cotton panties. “wonwoo…” you whine, eyes brimming with tears of frustration. “please…”

he merely chuckles, pressing a kiss to the skin under your ear. “please what?”

when you and wonwoo started dating, you were so shy. so shy and so, so sweet. you’d never been with anyone before him, and of course he felt bad that he was the one to rob you of your innocence, but he was filled with a sense of pride (and urgency) when he’d found out he was the one to corrupt you and ruin you for everyone else. 

and he was gentle. yes, jeon wonwoo was so, very gentle, handling you like a pretty doll while coaxing orgasms out of you left and right with his hands and mouth till your body was slack and you were nothing but a puddle of tears. he got you ready for his cock and you took it well. then you took it again. and again. and again, till you and him both knew you were his and he was yours. 

it got to the point where you’d crave him at the most inconvenient times. while you were running errands, at work, at dinner with your friends– it was almost insufferable. 

but he always took care of you. all you had to do was ask and he’d be there at your beck and call with whatever you wanted, whether it was with his mouth, fingers or cock. 

he always makes you ask because wonwoo’s taken a certain… liking… to making  you say the filthiest things. he knows it makes you nervous, but that’s why he thinks he loves it. he loves your stammering and how he can feel the heat radiating from your body. it’s cute.

which is why you’re in your current predicament, sat between his legs, your own spread over his with your back pressed to his chest after sending an innocent ‘come over, please? <3’ text. 

“don’t make me say it, won… it’s…it’s unbecoming. just… please.”

usually, he’s not so adamant on getting you to say exactly what you want. all you had to do was say please, and he was all yours. 

but no, not today apparently. 

“there’s nothing unbecoming about it, my love.” he noses at your neck, his breath fanning over your racing pulse and eliciting your soft shudder. “just tell me what you invited me over for and i’ll give it to you.”

“please… touch me.” you whisper, heat creeping from where his lips are on your to neck all the way up to the tips of your ears. 

you can feel his shit-eating grin and you want to scream at him, but your need for him is much more profound than your desire to slap him in the face for teasing you to this extent. 

his hands rub up and down your arms and you hear his smile when he asks, “like this?”

you groan, shaking your head, “you know what i mean!” 

“i don’t know what you mean, actually. can you dumb it down for me?” 

you mentally curse him out, but you try to steady your breathing before you speak again. “touch me… down… there.” you attempt to say, but it comes out as more of a squeak.

wonwoo’s uncharacteristically large hands find your tummy and you want to sob when he asks, “here?” you shake your head. “words.” the demand vibrates through you and you let you an embarrassing whimper.

“lower,” you whisper, unable to trust your voice. “please, wonwoo.”

he runs his fingers down your abdomen and trails them down your thighs. you can’t help the cry that leaves your mouth. “mean. you’re so mean.”

“you can say it, sweet girl.” he whispers. “it’s not unbecoming. it’s not inappropriate. it’s fucking hot. i want you to tell me exactly what you want and i swear to god i’ll give it to you.”

you sniffle, frustrated and slightly embarrassed, but you stutter out in the softest voice he’s ever heard you use, “please touch my pussy, wonwoo.”

you think it feels awkward and gross coming out of your mouth with your voice, but wonwoo… wonwoo groans, hand immediately slipping into your panties. “good fucking girl.” he grumbles as his fingers find your clit. 

you jolt at the contact but melt into him just as quickly. “fuck,” you whimper, thankful that you’re finally receiving the touch you’ve been craving for the past half hour. “f-faster, please.”

wonwoo’s chest swells with that familiar sense of pride again as he hears your beg. he obliges, the rough pads of his fingers circling the swollen, pleading bud. “you’re so fucking wet…”

you moan, head falling back on his shoulder. your face burns like never before as you get out, “f-for… you. ‘m wet for you.”

wonwoo isn’t always vocal, but when he is? he’s loud. so the moan that slips from his mouth startles you a bit. 

“that’s right, all for me.” he grunts, possessiveness lacing his voice causing the jostling of butterflies in your tummy. “all fucking mine, forever mine.”

you change your mind at this– you love the teasing, the deep timbre of his voice, him especially. 

“always yours.” you nod vigorously, body writhing as he quickens the movement of his fingers. 

wonwoo doesn’t have much self-control when it comes to you, so it’s taking everything in him to not flip you over and fuck you till all you can say is yours, yours, always yours. instead, he opts for trying to get more out of your pretty mouth. “how do you feel, baby? tell me how much you like my fingers playing with this pretty little cunt.”

it’s so filthy, but you can’t help but arch your back at the sound of his words. “love them s’much, wonwoo. feels s’good.”

he’s sure you do feel good, he’s a skilled man after all, but he knows you probably need more. 

“yeah?” he responds breathily, cock aching at the validation and how pretty you sound saying his name. “this enough to make you cum, or do you want more?”

your brain fogs over at the thought of more. you can nearly taste ecstasy on the tip of your tongue and you don’t doubt that you could get off with just his fingers, yet… the idea of being filled to the brim with his fingers or his cock is much more compelling. 

“more.” you breathe in reply. 

“what was that?” he teases, fingers slowing down. 

there’s that wicked sense of humor that makes you want to slap him across the face.

you barred your teeth before gritting, “fuck me, please. i need more. i need you, wonwoo.”

his ministrations stop and before you get the chance to complain, he’s rolling your panties down your legs and guiding you to straddle his abdomen. he slips his sweats down enough for his cock to come out and, even though you can’t see it, you can feel its looming presence. 

“take what’s yours, baby.” he stares up at you while you stare back, eyes wide. 

“y-you… you want me to…?” he knows what your unfinished question translates to and he nods and gives you a lazy smile even though you can see the burning desire in his blown out pupils.

you let out a short breath and nod, more to yourself than anything. he’s never let you have control while you’re on top, but you feel giddy that he’s giving you a chance now. you lift your hips up and take a hold of his hardened length in your hands. you run the blushy tip of his cock through your folds, eliciting a hiss from the man under you, before finally sliding down his cock. slowly, you feel every inch of him invade your pussy and it’s so good, despite the slight burn.

you forget how tight the fit is every time. even with how wet you are, you still feel your walls stretching to accommodate his size. 

you cry softly, body going limp as you finally hit the base of his cock. “won…”

“you feel so good,” he moans softly, hands finding purchase on your hips. “are you alright? does it hurt?” he manages to ask, cock twitching at the way your walls wrap around him.

you shake your head incessantly, hoping he doesn’t worry too much. “no– no, ‘m okay. j-just need to adjust.”

wonwoo nods empathetically, rubbing soothing circles into your skin to ease you. “you’re doing so well.” he whispers after a minute of silence, the only sounds being your ragged breaths and the soft hum of the air conditioning. “gonna make sure you feel so good, baby.”

you feel the heat reappear and a gush of arousal leak at the praise in his hushed voice. it inspires you to take action. 

you press your palms to his clothed abdomen, wishing he’d taken off his shirt so you can feel his skin, but you can’t be bothered to ask him to do so now. you lift your hips up his cock before letting yourself drop, a moan tumbling out of your mouth when you feel how deep he is inside you. 

you repeat the sloppy movements, stangled moans slipping with every sharp thrust as you spear yourself on his length over and over. 

it’s not till wonwoo guides you with the tight grip of his hands on your waist that you find a steady tempo, the sound of skin on skin growing louder with the mixed sounds of his grunts and your mewls. 

you slip your hands under his shirt, craving the closeness, and lightly run your nails down the skin. you feel him contract under the contact and you can’t stop the way your walls tighten around him when his hands squeeze you harder. 

the longer you ride him, the more your thighs burn. it eventually causes your speed to falter and wonwoo, ever the observer, is quick to notice. he decides you’ve had enough and bucks his hips into you, meeting you halfway while groaning out your name. 

the bulbous head of his cock rams into your sweet, special spot as he takes over and you throw your head back in utmost pleasure. tears spring to your eyes and wonwoo finds this to be the most beautiful sight he’s ever laid his eyes on. your tits bouncing with every push, your mouth cracked open as the prettiest sounds leave it, the way your eyebrows knit in pleasure– he makes a mental note to bring his camera next time you invite him over. 

“tell me what you need, love.” he demands yet again, words breathy and clipped as his cock throbs in between your velvet walls. “tell me what this pretty pussy needs and i’ll fucking give it to you.” his sentence ends in a growl when your nails bite into his bare skin, leaving red, crescent shapes in their wake. 

you let out a choked sob, “w-wonu–”

he sits up, using his strength to bounce you up and down at a leisure pace– one that he knows does nothing for your needy body. “don’t get shy on me now, baby, you can tell me.” he coaxes, sultry voice circling your brain. 

you swear if your body burns any hotter, you’ll explode.

your mouth opens to let out a plea, “p-please make me cum– please, i-i wanna–” your words are swallowed by him as he smashes his lips to yours. you moan his name into his mouth and he all but moans back into yours. 

you involuntarily clench around him when he hastily bucks into you while also guiding your hips on his cock. when he pulls back, he sports swollen lips and lust-ridden eyes and it makes you all the more needy for your coveted release. 

“rub your clit and get yourself off for me, yeah?” you pants before his mouth lands on one of your breasts, sucking and tugging at the peaked nipple. 

you follow instructions, two of your fingers moving to circle the swollen bud and your free hand gripping his shoulder for more support. 

at the onslaught of pleasure, the knot that’s been rapidly forming in your tummy all night tightens beyond belief and you know you’re on the precipice of an orgasm. wonwoo, being as perceptive as he is, just moans at the way you pulse uncontrollably around his cock. 

if you’ve learned anything from the teasing and the rather humbling experience you’ve had tonight, it’s that you should definitely voice what you want. 

and that’s exactly what you do. 

“i– fuck, wonwoo. i need to cum, please let me.” you beg as you get closer and closer to your anticipated release. 

he releases your nipple with a pop and nearly growls. “cum for me, baby.” 

it’s all you need to hear before a silent scream leaves your lips and white, hot pleasure runs its course. your body goes taut as the tether in your belly snaps in half, cunt and body practically spasming all the while your brain spins erratically. 

wonwoo is enthralled by the sight and feeling of you. the grip he has on you is near bruising as he watches you fall apart on him– feels you fall apart on him. 

“so beautiful,” he praises, voice strained as he nears his own release. “my beautiful girl. you’re so fucking good for me, you know that?” he rambles, cock twitching as you let out more whines and whimpers.

“c-cum in me.” you demand, voice broken and hoarse from all the screaming. “i-i wanna feel it. i need to.”

an animalistic growl bubbles in the back of his throat and his slow pace and sweet praise disappears, replaced by an unforgiving speed at which he pounds into you. you’re back to broken moans as he lets out labored pants till, shortly after, he’s stills inside of you, cock nestled at your hilt and he’s releasing his warm load inside of your battered walls. 

you collapse on top of him, savoring the feeling of his warmth inside of you. 

“did i hurt you?” he whispers after a few minutes of unsteady breathing from the both of you. 

you shake your head. “just my dignity,” you joke softly, resting your forehead against his. “i’m alright, don’t worry.”

he chuckles, cupping your cheek and running the pad of his thumb over the dried tear streaks, “i was a bit mean, huh?”

“so mean.” you tease, kissing the corner of his mouth. “you’re lucky i love you.”

“beyond lucky.”

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[kinichval]

all at once, everything is different

he finds no meaning in celebrating the day of his birth (or creation), yet this year he finds himself whispering a wish — please don't ever become a stranger whose laugh he can recognize anywhere.

content. wanderer x rtawahist!fem!reader, wanderer is addressed as hat guy, reader can see aranara, not dating but clearly in love ykwim, one (1) kiss, hat guy hates his birthday, not-so-mean because his soft spot is showing lol, mediocre writing, slight angst if u squint. | 3.5k words

“hat guy, you have a visitor!”

the said man groans and shuts his eyes, displeased with the interruption. if ignoring the knocks were not enough to convey the message, then he will not be liable for his harsh tone over the unwanted company.

except, well, the visitor on the other side of the door happened to be his new friend — durin.

wait, what the fuck is he doing with nahida?

“hat guy!” the little dragon's enthusiasm explodes across the room. he quickly flies over to the indigo-haired scholar, taking a peek at the paperwork on his desk. “what are you doing?” his curiosity is rather adorable, though hat guy would not let that thought slip out his lips (and hopefully the dendro archon wouldn't attempt to read his mind).

“i'm working on a new thesis.” he simply responds, durin lets out an innocent ‘woah’ although he knows he doesn't fully grasp the concept. nahida giggles; the thesis proponent has been cooped up in this room for days, it's a given that scholarly papers and academic writing generally takes months before completion, but it's also clear to her that his response was merely an excuse.

“let's go out, hat guy!” durin initiates, flipping in the air as excitement rushes through his little body as he expects his first friend to agree — only to frown when hat guy scoffs, “i'm busy right now. let's plan another time.” hat guy hopes the compromise would convince his dragon friend to leave him alone and so will the dendro archon.

but no, both of them are determined to reign victorious against his convictions.

hat guy knew what day is it today, he sighs heavily, eager to stay put in his lair doing whatever academic duty there is just to avoid the light of day and utmostly reject the idea of celebration.

it's as if a simple greeting of ‘happy birthday’ bears no sense of something, it feels awkward to receive such words when he feels nothing about the beginning of his existence. was he supposed to say ‘thank you’ when in the first place it's an unsolicited message?

one of these days, he's sure to receive a smack on the back of his head if this attitude continues.

(he'll just protect his head then.)

(unless the prevailing lord of sumeru casts a more perilous punishment when he wears her patience thin.)

durin's crimson eyes dulls, the drop in his float and lowered head presents his broken heart, “allow me to go through your progress and i'll leave my own criticisms, take it as a partial checking. we wouldn't want to finish a thesis then realize the whole paper is wrong, would we?” nahida suggests, her eyes round and pleading. hat guy stares down at his desk, almost praying to some other god — probably the anemo one, though he doesn't have much faith in the freedom archon — to make nahida and durin realize that he is unavailable at the moment.

“come on, hat guy, today looks like a good—” nahida's words are immediately cut off when hat guy finally looks at their gazes, “fine!” he abruptly stands up with his palms on the desk, the split second of his widened eyes being enough evidence for nahida to see his true feelings without needing to use her mind-reading prowess.

“really?!” durin's eyes sparkle and wings flap in triumph, hat guy groans in defeat, and nahida smiles brightly. “but i'll decide when the day is over.” his tone is as cold as his color palette, but durin does not complain about his condition, his little cheers soften hat guy's bleak exterior.

hat guy detests walking around the heart of sumeru during this time of the year, he remembers in the previous year when akademiya students ambushed him just to get him to blow a sickeningly sweet birthday cake. he lowers his head, until now he can't fully comprehend the nature of birthdays and its significance — for mortals, it may be because their lifespans are merely a flick of a finger compared to non-human races.

he has already lived for so long and will continue to do so, but what part of birthdays satisfy fulfillment if he rejects it himself? it's even so absurd that he is expected to extend gestures to others on his own day.

“hey, hat guy, do you know those tiny things with hats and a smiley face?” the little dragon's query snaps hat guy out of his zoned out state, he momentarily pauses to think what creatures he is referring to before furrowing his brows at the unsure conclusion in his mind, “what things?” the boy envisions the forest spirits around sumeru, the aranara. he doubts durin means the smiles as they do not have a smile, still he remarks those elemental clusters as cute.

“those little things! with hats like yours!” durin tries his best at composing his description, “wait, they have pointy hats, yours is flat.” his voice is small at the realization of the difference in design, “you should know what i mean, right?” he flies right in front of hat guy's face, hoping that his thoughts will get through to his friend.

“perhaps you mean the aranara? they're plant-like forest spirits in sumeru. where did you see one? they don't often show themselves as i've known.” hat guy explains, he sees the bright grin on durin's face, the sight melts him.

he knows the aranara only allows their presence to be known by children (adults can see them but terms and conditions must be met first, e.g. the traveler), and deep down he hopes for durin to take sight of those little things. he believes that durin is a child at heart, not only his small size and curious nature, but his core is akin to a little kid who dreams and hopes.

“they're called aranara? it sounds adorable!” durin giggles, “i saw a couple of them tailing behind the archon! do you think i can befriend them?” hat guy smiles, his sentiments mirroring durin's aspirations. “you can go find them and ask for a friendship contract.” he smirks, obviously teasing the little dragon, though his words carry genuine wishes for durin to create friendships.

“do we like call for them? i want to talk to one!” durin's eagerness at meeting the aranara spreads warmth in his chest, “you have to be patient. they'll appear whenever they deem right.” hat guy responds, he's not entirely knowledgeable about their decisions when or when not to appear, but he knows enough that the aranara values the people of sumeru — even if they're unseen, they're the nation's closest companion.

and he's assured enough that the aranara will welcome durin just as much as he was accepted as their friend.

“there you are!” a deep voice pipes up nearby, durin hastily flies behind hat guy to hide from the unknown voice. “who's there?” the little dragon closes his eyes, the fear of being judged is still within him, hence hat guy extends out both his arms as an act of protecting durin as his gaze seeking out who had spoken to them.

the general mahamatra comes to sight, albeit the most distinguishable factor for hat guy is the tall ears poking out from his hat. his right eyebrow is raised, posing a skeptical expression at the big-eared hat guy's presence and intentions with him.

“ah, the famous hat guy of the vahumana darshan. i believe you remember me from the interdarshan championship last year?” cyno utters, there's a prideful look on his face that makes hat guy even more wary of where this is going. “i recall our sparring moments during the competition, yes, you were the representative for spantamad.” hat guy responds, he knows this man is a big persona in the nation although he couldn't dig it in his memory what his name was.

“speak your intentions, i do not have the luxury of time right now.” hat guy asserts, he watches as cyno takes a deep inhale — and wonders what it's for — before he takes hat guy's hand and slaps down a stack of cards (dear archon, how did he manage to hide a tall stack?)

“do you know about genius invokation tcg? i've been meaning to find you and discuss the game. i have high hopes that you'll be a prodigy of a player, so please hear me out. i have read a few of your research, i applaud your intelligence and critical thinking for curating reasonable claims and powerful arguments. you know what else uses the same strategy? tcg! with your keen observation, wits, and quick analysis, i'm sure you'll be sumeru's second best player — i'm the first, of course — please accept my offer and play with me, i assure you that it is an efficient mental exercise outside of the akademiya. furthermore, playing with others allows a space for building relationships and strengthening bonds. what do you say, hat guy?”

oh, cyno definitely needed that deep inhale. hat guy, on the other hand, is bewildered.

“hat guy, what is he talking about?” durin whispers in his ears, still out of sight.

“you should take upon his offer, hat guy. not only will you gain friends in sumeru, but also acquire a reputable image across teyvat.” the green-eyed desert guy (who hat guy knows as the one who's oddly interested in his hat) shows up and backs up cyno's claim.

right now, he feels like nahida casted him in some weird dream spell because what the hell is going on?

hat guy scoffs, “only brains as small as a sweet flower seed would reckon that a measly card game is enough to be a backbone of life-and-death bonds.” still, the stack of cards remained in his hand.

as if cyno was about to take no for an answer, “keep the stack, hat guy. maybe one day you'll have a change of mind, come find me if you find it in yourself to admit that this game is—”

“hat guy!” another voice pops up in the scenario, but rather than having his guard up higher, hat guy's shoulders seem to relax upon hearing your voice.

as you enter the scene, you immediately realize the situation. there's a look of dread in hat guy's eyes that shows his disagreement towards card games. “general mahamatra, pardon for the intrusion, but please do excuse hat guy and his… displeasure with tcg. i'm sure there are other skilled scholars who are more interested in playing a match with you.” you intervene, a nervous laugh at the end because despite this silly interaction, cyno still holds a high position and you know the power this man has.

cyno was about to respond, but sethos — the green-eyed desert guy — beats him to it, “apologies, my lady. the general here just wants a formidable opponent because apparently i don't play enough tcg.” sethos explains as he casually points his thumb at cyno, “i'm not interested to be your opponent.” hat guy coldly rejects.

“no! you will play tcg with me one da—” sethos covers his mouth that he almost stumbled backwards, they bicker among themselves.

“hey, yn! long time, no see!” you hear durin's little whisper, you assume he's hiding behind hat guy, a giggle passes your lips and the endearing thought. “hey, durin. i missed you!” for a moment, you reminisce the first time durin visited the real world — you met him them as he and hat guy relayed to you the tales of simulanka and all the shenanigans that occurred.

“anyways! hat guy, you know you'd be so cute with your hair tied up.” sethos grinned, the change in topic also brightened up his aura however it only dimmed hat guy's. he takes off hat guy's hat, now he's just guy, and his fingers swiftly grabs a portion of his midnight-hued hair and ties a little bun.

and the cherry on top, a bow.

“...tch.”

hat guy never had his hair tied, you had played with a few strands whenever he lays down on your lap, but that's the closest his hair ever got touched. mini durin struggles to hide his laughter at the sight of his best friend's angered face being ten times more adorable with the new hairstyle.

he's extra convinced that this is just another dream simulated by nahida.

“i wonder what you would look like with your hair braided.” you giggle, envisioning different styles on his jellyfish-like haircut. “whatever it is, don't.” hat guy rolls his eyes.

you, hat guy, and mini durin continue to walk to whoever knows where, your path has strayed away from the city but it's no issue when hat guy finds relief in not having to be jumped on by scholars.

along the way, laughter and banter were thrown back and forth. “don't pretend it's erased in history that you broke my favorite pen!” you nag him, “it was already cracked, it just happened to break apart in my hand!” he defends himself, this argument has been going on for months now, it's your personal grudge against him that you bring up whenever he tries to drag you down.

“it's raining!” durin points out as the rain loudly splatters on the ground, “oi!” hat guy yelps as you take his hat and hovers it over your heads. “c'mon it's big enough.” you reason out, he sighs and rolls his eyes, durin is in between you two as you walk to find a better shelter.

until a small meow catches your attention, as if on instinct, your eyes darts toward the sound's origin. it didn't take long to find a small cat inside a pot, wet in the rain. the little guy seemed to be alone with no owner or parent cat around.

and it didn't take another thought for hat guy to grab his hat and cover the white cat's head, leaving you and durin exposed to the rain, “i'll take you to the shelter. follow me if you want.” he says, but instead picks up the cat in his arms — talk about personal autonomy, no?

shortly, he returns to you and durin, the hat barely covering your group but settles with whatever his hat can provide. it's a wondrous sight, no words were spoken at this moment, even durin who enjoyed conversing let the serene silence overpower the rainfall.

and hat guy realizes that not a word had fallen off your lips about his birthday. you certainly had not forgotten, right?

suddenly, his chest feels empty, which is weird enough for he doesn't even possess a heart. a human heart. his ribs feel tight, as if clenching on nothing; he doesn't understand the anomaly taking place within his core, the cat meows and snuggles against his chest, serving as a temporary remedy for the internal ache.

sometimes you were infuriating. not for reasons that are shallow and certainly he doesn't wish for your demise; he finds you the cause of the berserk inside him, for whenever you two are within each other's parameters, suddenly he's at ease and for some reason that he time and time again fails to provide an answer for, troubled.

dear archons, hat guy could almost solve all of sumeru's political issues — if he dared to — but this predicament that involves you bears no fruition to his efforts in understanding the effect you have on him. the lack of an emotional organ within him feels more and more apparent when there's a rampant of feelings flowing in his blood.

is this what a heart is for?

“the sky's clearing up!” durin beams, flying forward. “don't fly too far, you don't know where you're going.” hat guy scolds the little dragon who muttered an apology and returns close to him. 

you settled in an abandoned hut, based on the nearby surroundings, it's safe to assume you're around the region in between avidya forest and vanarana. “are you hungry little guy?” durin converses with the lone cat that chooses to stay on hat guy's lap, rendering him immobile until the cat is satisfied with its rest.

“say, durin, do you know what today is?” you ask the dragon, he tilts his head in response, “hat day, is today a special day?” you softly smile at how closely tied durin is to hat guy, you've known him since the day he started as an akademiya student, you were together at the same table in the library. he wasn't the sociable type, he made that clear, but you were persistent to break into his personal bubble until you finally claim a spot in his vicinity.

“it's just a normal day.” hat guy rolls his eyes, but the slight tint of pink on his cheeks doesn't go unnoticed. for hat guy, you were like a cat that demands to be paid attention to, a ginger-colored one that he can not seem to predict. 

“really? the sun seems to be too bright just for today to be normal.” he's confused, were you about to break open the forest and have the entirety of sumeru to sing him a happy birthday or there's something else up your sleeve that he can't guess.

“is that an aranara?!” durin squeals upon the sight of a blue aranara walking towards the group, hat guy follows durin's line of sight and spots not just one or two, but a small group of aranaras… and origamis?

his brows furrowed in disbelief, “what's going on?” hat guy looks at you with a puzzled face, you want to snort at his expression because clearly he's trying to avoid his birthday.

and you were not about to let him disregard his day like that.

the army of aranara and origami surrounds hat guy, the aranara orients a necklace of origami flowers around his neck. their little squeals speak of their joyous sentiment for this moment, a moment that belongs to hat guy.

“happy birthday.”

hat guy is stuck in a trance when he finally hears you say it.

“happy birthday, hat guy!” durin exclaims, he's flipping in circles, finally releasing the words he desperately tried to hide since he saw him.

“happy birthday, blue nara!”

“happy birthday, hero of simulanka!”

hat guy puts his hand on his chest as the greetings continue to echo in his ears, is this what happiness feels like?

“thank you.” he simply responds, clearing his throat to regain his usual composure. 

“we have gifts for you!” you crouch down in front of him, a big smile on your face. you gesture the aranaras and paper squirrels to come forth, they carry boxes filled with secret stories whose main character is hat guy.

“i got one too!” durin flies down to sit beside hat guy, his own little gift in his embrace.

“why would you celebrate my birthday?” his voice falters as he lets the question fly past his lips, “because i care for you, hat guy. you're special to me.” you simply reply, hoping that it delivers the deeper meaning of his existence to your life.

you love him, you will forever do so.

hat guy hums, unsure how to reply when he's fighting his innermost turmoil of crystalflies. he resorts to opening the gifts instead, one box containing a hand-crafted paper doll of himself, the enraged expression has him instinctively mirroring the same look, “is this how you see me?” he scoffs, but they let him tell his rough comments and cold feedback as he continues his unboxing spree.

“i've got plenty of unusual stuff from you and you still haven't run out of ideas? even durin has his own contribution.” he sighs, his indigo orbs lingering on the gifts you prepared. the stack of tcg cards from cyno still in his possession.

“because you deserve to be reminded that you're loved and wanted.”

loved and wanted, huh?

hat guy quietly apologizes as he moves the cat off his lap, he leans down to you and his hands cup your cheeks. “last time i checked, you're one of the top rtawahist students, but i must refute your claim on that one.”

“then i'll defend my argument, the absence of a physical heart does not restrict your emotional intelligence and morale. your ribs may not house an organ, but your embrace has proven otherwise.”

you may not know the burden that he hides underneath his facade or the weights that made him believe that love is an outerworldly entity, but one thing you will attest to is the hat guy who knows how to love.

even if it takes years for hat guy to realize and admit that he loves, you will continue to be the one to assure him that it's alright.

for the love he yearns and continues to long for is the birthday gift you promise to give him every year. for as long as you live, and in every reincarnation, you will love hat guy.

hat guy covers durin's eyes as he leans down to collide his lips on yours. the crystalflies in his stomach explode, but it's soon replaced with fulfillment. maybe, he doesn't need a heartbeat to tell him that he can love when he's capable of choosing to love.

there's light in his life when you arrived that one afternoon asking what thesis he was working on, there was you who appeared to hold him when the akademiya felt suffocating, and there will always be you beside him who loves and teaches him love.

if the dendro archon is reading his mind right, he would like to say that he doesn't feel lonely now. he has you now. and even without a birthday cake, he'd like to make a wish: please don't ever become a stranger whose laugh i can recognize anywhere.

“it seems like you're the one who's looking forward to my birthday.”

[hereforuconnwbb]

Unexpected Halt - CHAPTER TEN

paige x azzi (pazzi)

au fic!

~paige plays for uconn and azzi plays for stanford~

word count: 10k

warning: language

sooo this is the 2nd last chapter for this series (99.9% sure) kinda crazy how it’s almost over 😭 hopefully u guys enjoy this chapter and that it makes sense 😓 i tried my best to make everything come together, and fingers crossed there aren’t any mistakes lol but thank you for sticking with this story it means a lot to me 🫶🏽

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The morning light filtered through the blinds, casting a soft glow over the room. Paige stirred first, blinking against the brightness as she felt the familiar warmth of Azzi curled against her. Their legs were tangled beneath the blankets, Azzi’s head tucked against Paige’s shoulder, her slow, steady breathing the only sound filling the quiet space.

For a moment, Paige didn’t move. She just let herself be—savoring the peacefulness, the way Azzi fit so perfectly against her. It was one of those rare mornings where everything felt right, like the past few weeks hadn’t been filled with so much uncertainty.

Azzi shifted slightly, a quiet hum escaping her lips as she blinked up at Paige sleepily. “Morning,” she mumbled, voice laced with sleep.

Paige smiled, brushing a few strands of hair away from Azzi’s face. “Morning.”

Azzi let out a small yawn, her hand absentmindedly resting against Paige’s stomach as she got comfortable again. Then, as if remembering something, she lifted her head slightly. “What time’s your flight tomorrow?”

Paige exhaled, her fingers trailing lightly over Azzi’s back. “Uh… I think around noon. Gotta be at the airport a little before that.”

Azzi frowned slightly, her brows drawing together. “That’s so soon.”

Paige sighed, knowing Azzi wasn’t happy about it. “I know. I wish I could stay longer, but Geno wanted me back in time for practice.” She gave Azzi a small squeeze. “I’m just glad he and CD even let me come here instead of flying back with the team.”

Azzi huffed, burying her face into Paige’s neck for a moment before mumbling, “Still too short.”

Paige chuckled, pressing a kiss to the top of Azzi’s head. “I’ll take what I can get.”

Azzi pulled back just enough to look at Paige. “Me too,” she admitted, her fingers tracing absent patterns on Paige’s arm. “Guess we better make the most of today, huh?”

Paige smiled. “Yeah. Let’s make it count.”

—--------------

They decided to take a walk to the nearby café for breakfast, the cool morning air a welcome contrast to the warmth of the room they had just left. The streets were still quiet, the soft hum of early risers beginning to fill the air as they strolled side by side, their fingers naturally intertwining. The simple act of holding hands felt like a quiet promise—a comfort they both needed after the whirlwind of emotions they’d been through.

Paige glanced over at Azzi, a soft smile tugging at her lips. Azzi caught her gaze, offering a grin of her own as they continued walking down the path, their steps in sync.

“Think they have good coffee here?” Azzi asked, breaking the comfortable silence.

Paige laughed softly. “I’m betting they have great coffee.”

Azzi rolled her eyes playfully, squeezing Paige’s hand. “That’s a lot of pressure, P.”

Paige winked at her. “I’m sure you’ll survive.”

The café came into view ahead, a cozy little place with plants hanging from the windows and the faint scent of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air. They reached the door, and as they stepped inside, the warmth of the café wrapped around them like a hug.

The host led them to a booth by the window, sunlight filtering in and casting a golden hue over everything. They slid into the booth, still holding hands as they sat down. Paige was the first to let go, reaching for the menu as Azzi leaned back against the booth, glancing around casually.

“What’re you thinking?” Paige asked as she skimmed through the menu.

Azzi looked at her for a moment before answering, her voice light. “Maybe some avocado toast? Just something simple.”

Paige raised an eyebrow. “Avocado toast? You’ve changed.”

Azzi grinned, nudging Paige playfully. “Hey, it’s good. Plus, they probably have the best toast in the area, so I’m taking advantage.”

Paige laughed softly and nodded. “Alright, alright. I’ll get the same. Can’t go wrong with toast.”

Their waitress came over a few moments later, taking their orders with a bright smile before disappearing into the back. Azzi looked at Paige again, a mischievous glint in her eye.

Without saying anything, she leaned over the table, brushing her lips against Paige’s in a quick, gentle peck. Paige smiled against her lips, her thumb tracing lightly over Azzi’s hand.

Azzi pulled back just enough to meet Paige’s gaze, her eyes sparkling. “What?” she asked, a teasing lilt in her voice.

Paige chuckled, leaning in to kiss her again. This time, it was a little longer, their lips moving together, slow and easy. They didn’t pull away completely, lingering there for a few moments, pressing little pecks against each other’s lips, smiling between them. The simplicity of it all was grounding—the softness, the connection, the way everything just felt right in that moment.

When they finally pulled away, their foreheads rested gently against each other, and Azzi grinned. “You’re never getting rid of me, you know that?”

Paige laughed, her hand sliding back to rest on Azzi’s. “Good. I don’t plan on it.”

The waitress returned with their orders, placing the avocado toast in front of them, but neither of them was in a rush to eat just yet. Instead, they lingered in the space between, taking in the quiet, the smiles, and the soft rhythm of their breaths, enjoying the feeling of just being together, in the moment, with no rush to move forward.

—--------------

The conversation flowed easily, but underneath the surface, there was an unspoken weight Azzi couldn’t quite shake. As much as she appreciated Paige’s efforts to come here, to make things right, a nagging feeling lingered in her chest. She wasn’t blind to the fact that it had been Paige who took all the steps to fix what had been broken between them. Paige had messaged first after everything happened, flown out to be with her, and even asked if they were still together.

Azzi couldn’t help but feel a little guilty. She had waited—waited for Paige to make all the moves, even though Azzi knew, deep down, that she should have been the one to step up sooner. That responsibility was on her too, but she’d let it slip by. She hadn’t been the one to check in emotionally on Paige, especially after everything that had happened with Lexi, and it bothered her.

She wanted to be the one who took the initiative next time, to show Paige that she wasn’t just waiting for things to fall into place, but actively working to make sure Paige was okay. Because Paige deserved that—she deserved someone who would care for her the same way she had for Azzi, someone who would prioritize her emotional well-being, not just let her do all the heavy lifting.

As they continued to eat, Azzi’s thoughts drifted back to the night Paige had arrived. She remembered how the sight of Paige walking through the airport had sent a strange relief flooding over her, but it was also when Azzi had realized just how much she had been holding back.

She caught herself staring at Paige for a moment, the quiet hum of the café providing a background to the way Paige looked at her—relaxed, calm, content, but there was still something in her eyes, something guarded that Azzi hadn’t been able to reach yet.

Taking a deep breath, Azzi set her toast down and looked at Paige seriously, her heart beating a little faster. “I need to say something.”

Paige looked up at her, a small crease appearing on her forehead. “What’s up?”

Azzi swallowed, feeling the weight of what she was about to say. “I’ve been thinking… I’m really thankful that you came here, that you did all of this. It wasn’t easy, and I’m just… I don’t want you to feel like you’re the only one trying, you know?”

Paige furrowed her brow. “Azzi, what are you talking about? You’ve been trying, too.”

Azzi shook her head, her voice quiet but firm. “No. I haven’t. Not in the way you have. You messaged me first, you flew out here, and you asked if we were still together. You’ve been the one making sure everything was okay. I should have been the one checking in on you, especially after… everything with Lexi.”

Paige’s expression softened, but she didn’t interrupt. Azzi took a deep breath, continuing, “I’ve been kind of a passive participant in all of this, and I don’t want to keep doing that. I want to make sure you’re okay, too, and I want to be there for you in the same way you’ve been there for me.”

Paige reached across the table, taking Azzi’s hand in hers. “You’re here, Azzi. And that’s all I need. I’m okay, I promise. I’m just… still getting over everything.”

Azzi squeezed her hand, her thumb brushing lightly over Paige’s knuckles. “I know, but I need to do better for you. I need to make sure you feel heard, and I need to take the lead in some things too. You’re not the only one who has to fix everything.”

Paige smiled softly, her eyes warm. “I’m not worried about it. We’re doing this together, right?”

Azzi nodded, her chest feeling lighter. “Yeah. Together.”

There was a long pause, and Paige squeezed her hand again. “And I’m glad you’re doing this, Azzi. I want us to be stronger because of it. I’m here for you, always.”

Azzi smiled, the uncertainty still there but fading little by little. She leaned over and pressed a kiss to Paige’s cheek, her lips lingering for a second longer than usual. “I’m here for you, too.”

The quiet moment settled between them, but this time, it was different. There was no tension, no confusion. Just understanding. And that was enough for now.

—--------------

After they finished their breakfast, Azzi couldn’t help but feel a little more at ease. The conversation had cleared the air in a way, and though there was still work to be done, she knew they were heading in the right direction.

“Want to take a walk?” Azzi asked as they stood up, pushing her chair in and grabbing her jacket. “The weather’s nice, and it’s just a short walk to a park nearby.”

Paige smiled at her, a look of warmth and appreciation in her eyes. “Sounds perfect,” she replied, letting Azzi take the lead.

They left the café together, stepping out into the crisp morning air. Azzi linked her fingers with Paige’s, not shy about initiating the closeness this time. The soft touch of their hands intertwined was comforting, a small, intimate gesture that grounded them both.

As they walked side by side, Azzi looked over at Paige, feeling a strange mixture of emotions. There was gratitude, yes, but also a need to prove that she could be the one to take charge when it counted.

She squeezed Paige’s hand gently. “So, I’ve been thinking,” Azzi started, her voice steady but with a touch of uncertainty, “you know, we talked a lot about everything that happened with Lexi, but I don’t think I really asked you how you’re feeling, like emotionally. After everything you went through, I want to make sure you’re okay. I mean, I can’t imagine what that must have been like.”

Paige looked at her in surprise, her brows knitting slightly. “I mean, I’m alright. I’ve had some time to process it. You know I’ve got my own way of handling things.”

Azzi nodded thoughtfully, stepping off the curb as they neared the entrance to the park. “I know you do, but I want to make sure you’re not just brushing it off, you know? It’s important. I’ve seen how tough you are, but you don’t have to do everything alone. I want to be there for you, too. It’s not just about me anymore.”

Paige’s heart skipped a beat, the sincerity in Azzi’s words hitting her in a way she wasn’t expecting. “You’re right,” she said quietly, squeezing Azzi’s hand. “I’ve been trying to handle it on my own, but… I guess I could use someone to talk to about it.”

Azzi’s eyes softened, and she stopped walking, turning to face Paige fully. “I’m here, Paige. You’re not alone in this. Ever. I know I should have been the one to ask you how you’re feeling sooner, but I’m asking now. Really, how are you feeling? About everything.”

Paige hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to open up fully. She had never been good at expressing vulnerability, especially not about something so raw. But something in Azzi’s gaze—the way she was looking at her, not with pity but with genuine care—made her feel safe.

“I’m still working through it,” Paige finally admitted, her voice quiet. “I mean, I’ve never been in a situation like that. It fucked me up, and it’s still hard to process, especially with the way everything happened. But… I’m getting there. And I’m glad I have you here to help me through it.”

Azzi reached up and gently cupped Paige’s cheek, her touch tender but firm, grounding Paige in the moment. “You don’t have to carry all of that weight by yourself anymore. I’m not going anywhere. I’m not just here to fix things; I’m here to be with you through everything. I want to make sure you’re okay, truly okay.”

Paige leaned into her touch, her eyes fluttering closed for a brief second. When she opened them again, her gaze met Azzi’s, and her lips curved into a small smile. “Thank you. I really mean that.”

Azzi grinned back, feeling a warmth spread in her chest. “You’ve been there for me, now I get to be there for you.”

They resumed walking, the park now spread out before them, the paths winding through rows of trees and manicured grass. The sun had fully risen, casting a gentle glow over the world around them. They took their time strolling along, the conversation ebbing and flowing naturally.

Azzi took a deep breath, letting the air fill her lungs. “I’m glad you came here, Paige. I know it wasn’t easy for you, but… I’m so glad we’re doing this. I mean, I don’t want to jinx anything, but I think we’re finally on the right track.”

Paige looked over at Azzi, a look of fondness crossing her face. “Me too. I’m really happy we’re doing this too.”

Azzi’s smile widened, and she squeezed Paige’s hand again, feeling more certain in that moment than she had in a long time. They didn’t have everything figured out, but they were in it together, and that was enough.

As they continued to walk, Azzi found herself leading the way a bit more, guiding them down the winding paths of the park, her confidence growing with every step. She was taking the lead now—not just physically, but emotionally as well. Paige deserved that. She deserved someone who would actively show up for her.

And as they walked hand in hand, the world seemed a little bit lighter, a little bit more hopeful. Together, they were going to figure this out, one step at a time.

As they walked through the park, Paige’s mind began to wander, and a new idea crept in. The thought had been lingering in the back of her mind for a while now, but she hadn’t brought it up to Azzi yet. Now, with the peaceful walk and the conversation flowing so easily, it felt like the right time.

“So,” Paige started casually, glancing over at Azzi, her tone light but with an underlying eagerness. “I’ve been thinking… you and Caroline, you both in the transfer portal. I know things with your team aren’t exactly… great. And I get that it’s a tough decision, but I just wanted to say—have you considered coming to UConn?”

Azzi slowed her pace, her brows furrowing slightly as she turned to look at Paige, trying to gauge the sincerity in her words. She didn’t want to show too much of her hand just yet, but Paige was looking at her with such hope that it made her chest tighten a little.

Paige continued, almost as if she couldn’t stop herself now that the words were out. “I mean, Geno’s been telling me to try and convince you. He really wants you there, Azzi, you and Caroline. And, you know, if you came—well, we’d be together. Like, on the same team. We’ve never played together before, but imagine that. We’d be unstoppable, right?”

Azzi stayed quiet for a moment, letting the idea sit in her mind. Paige was right; they had never been on the same team before, but the thought of playing with her—of being on the same court, really sharing the experience—sounded like something they could both excel in. And UConn’s program? One of the best in the country. It wasn’t just about playing with Paige, though that was certainly an exciting prospect—it was also about the opportunity to play for such a legendary team.

“I’ve been thinking about it,” Azzi said slowly, her voice giving nothing away. “Caroline and I have talked about it a lot, actually.”

Paige’s eyes lit up, but she tried not to push, not wanting to make Azzi feel pressured. “I get it. It’s a huge decision, and you’ve got to do what’s best for you. But I just think about how good the program is, the competition, everything we could accomplish together. Plus, I’ll be there. We’ll be together.”

Azzi glanced down at their intertwined hands as they walked, her thoughts swirling. She could feel the pull to UConn—it was a chance to grow as a player, and even more importantly, it was a chance to be closer to Paige. But there was still a part of her that hesitated. She wasn’t ready to fully lay all her cards on the table, especially not when it came to something so personal.

“Yeah,” Azzi said, a soft smile tugging at her lips. “I mean, I’ve been leaning that way for a while now. But it’s not just about that, you know? It’s about finding the right place for me. For both of us, really.”

Paige’s heart skipped a beat at Azzi’s words. She was leaning towards it. That was more than she had expected, and it gave her hope. She squeezed Azzi’s hand tighter, wanting to convey her support.

“Whatever you decide, Azzi, I’ll support you. No matter what. I just want you to be happy. But yeah, I really hope you’ll come to UConn. We’d make such a good team.” Paige smiled, a little nervous but mostly excited. “And hey, we’ll finally get to play together. I’ve always wanted that.”

Azzi smiled back, the warmth in her chest growing as she looked at Paige, knowing how much this meant to her. “I’ll keep thinking about it,” Azzi said quietly, her voice soft but carrying an undeniable sincerity. “And I appreciate you, you know? For giving me the space to figure it out.”

They continued walking, the sounds of the park around them calming the air. Paige felt content, knowing she had put her feelings out there and had shown Azzi how much she cared—not just about their relationship, but about her future, too.

“I know this is a big decision,” Paige added after a beat, her eyes scanning the trees as they strolled. “But whatever happens, I’ll always be here for you. You’re not in this alone.”

Azzi’s heart swelled at Paige’s words, and she leaned into her slightly, her shoulder brushing against Paige’s. “I know. And that’s more than I could ever ask for.”

As they continued to walk through the park, their pace slowing as the conversation turned to other things, the uncertainty about the future lingered, but there was a new sense of confidence in Azzi’s heart. No matter what happened with UConn, she knew one thing for sure: she wanted to figure it out with Paige. And whether they played together or not, they’d be a team. That much was already certain.

—--------------

When they got back to Azzi’s dorm, the atmosphere had shifted into a comfortable, familiar rhythm. Paige had made up her mind to pack her things in advance, knowing she had to leave the next day to head back to UConn. She headed to Azzi’s room, gathering her bags and making sure she hadn’t forgotten anything. Meanwhile, Azzi and Caroline stayed in the common area, lounging on the couch, talking quietly.

As Azzi sat down next to Caroline, a small sigh escaped her lips. She leaned back into the couch, feeling the weight of their conversation earlier still hanging in her mind. “So,” Azzi began, glancing over at Caroline, “Paige had a talk with me today about the transfer portal. She’s been trying to convince me to come to UConn. And… I think she really wants us both there.” Her voice had a mix of thoughtfulness and uncertainty as she spoke, but the more she said it, the more it made sense.

Caroline raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “Really? She said that?”

Azzi nodded, rubbing her hands together absentmindedly. “Yeah, and Geno and CD have been telling her to try and get us both to come. She said that she wants us to be on the same team, you know, with her.” There was a softness in Azzi’s voice as she continued. “She said she wanted to play together, and so did Geno and CD. She really believes we’d be a great fit there.”

Caroline was quiet for a moment, her thoughts clearly racing. “I’ve been thinking about it, Azzi,” Caroline finally said, her eyes meeting Azzi’s. “I mean, UConn would be amazing for both of us. It’s such a great program, and we’d have a real shot to show what we can do. Plus… we’d be together. It would be nice to not be apart, you know?”

Azzi’s heart skipped a beat at Caroline’s words. There was something comforting in hearing that—something that made the decision feel less like a leap and more like a natural step. “I was thinking the same thing,” Azzi admitted, the realization settling in. “And… I think we’re both leaning in the same direction, right?”

Caroline smiled a little, her expression softening. “Yeah. I think we are.” She leaned back into the couch, her arms stretched out behind her. “I think we should go to UConn, Azzi. It feels like the right choice.”

Azzi met Caroline’s gaze, her lips curling into a small, thoughtful smile. “I think so too.”

For a few seconds, there was silence between them, both of them processing the weight of the decision. Azzi then looked down, her hands resting on her knees. “But…” Her voice faltered slightly. “I don’t want to tell Paige just yet. I don’t know… It feels like we should figure it out for ourselves first. Not just because she’s been pushing for it, you know?”

Caroline nodded in understanding, a knowing look crossing her face. “Yeah, I get it. You don’t want it to feel like it’s because of her. We’ll make sure it’s the right decision for us.”

Azzi smiled gratefully at Caroline, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. “Thanks. I just want to be sure, you know? I don’t want to rush into it.”

Caroline gave her a playful nudge. “It’s not like we’re in a rush. Let’s figure it out and then tell Paige when we’re ready. She’ll be happy either way, I’m sure.”

Azzi nodded, still processing everything. It felt good, talking this out with Caroline—knowing they were on the same page. But a part of Azzi still wanted to take her time before sharing the decision with Paige. She didn’t want it to feel like it was just following along with Paige’s desires. It was about what was right for both of them, not just for one person.

Meanwhile, Paige was back in Azzi’s room, busily packing her bags. As she zipped up her suitcase, her mind wandered back to everything she had shared with Azzi earlier. She couldn’t help but feel hopeful, imagining the future they could have, together at UConn. But even though she was excited, she also didn’t want to put any pressure on Azzi to make a decision before she was ready.

Paige shook her head, finishing up the last of her packing. She stepped out into the common area, where Caroline and Azzi were sitting, both looking up as she entered.

Azzi smiled softly at her. “All packed?”

Paige nodded, giving her a small grin. “Yeah. It’s always a bit of a pain, but I’ll survive.”

Caroline gave Azzi a knowing look before standing up. “Well, I think I’m gonna head out for a bit. You two probably need some time to talk about the next steps, right?”

Paige chuckled, but before she could respond, Azzi quickly added, “Yeah, we’re just going to chat for a little bit. We’ll catch up later.”

Caroline grinned. “Sure thing.” And with that, she slipped out, leaving Azzi and Paige alone in the quiet dorm room.

Azzi turned to Paige, her expression thoughtful. “You know… I’ve been thinking about everything you said today. About UConn and the transfer portal. I think it could be a really good opportunity for both me and Caroline.”

Paige’s eyes brightened at Azzi’s words, though she kept her tone casual. “I’m glad to hear that. I just want you to be happy with whatever decision you make, Azzi.”

Azzi met her gaze, her smile soft. “I know. And I appreciate that. I think I’m ready to make the decision soon.”

Paige smiled back, her heart racing a little, not knowing just how close they were to both making that leap—together.

—--------------

Azzi had been planning the arcade date for the entire morning ever since breakfast, wanting to surprise Paige with something fun and lighthearted before the end of her visit. As they walked hand-in-hand to the arcade in the early afternoon, the sun was high and warm, and a gentle breeze followed them. Paige was practically bouncing with excitement when Azzi told her the plan.

“An arcade date?” Paige grinned, her eyes sparkling. “This is gonna be so much fun.”

Azzi chuckled at Paige’s infectious energy. “I thought you’d like it. We can get competitive, you know, and I’ll beat your ass at everything.”

Paige raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk forming. “In your dreams, Fudd. I’m definitely winning this one.”

The two of them strolled inside, the arcade filled with the sound of flashing lights, clinking coins, and the familiar electronic music of machines. Azzi immediately led Paige to a row of games, and soon enough, they were caught in a whirlwind of competition, teasing each other between rounds.

They started off with air hockey, their faces intense with focus as they smacked the puck back and forth. Paige managed to win the first round, but Azzi was quick to challenge her again, and this time, she came out on top.

“Ha!” Azzi laughed, sticking out her tongue. “I told you I’d win!”

Paige groaned in mock defeat, but she was grinning. “That was such a fluke. But I’ll get you next time.”

They moved to the next game, skee-ball, and Paige was already sizing up the machines with a determined look. The two went back and forth, trying to see who could get the highest score. Azzi tried to focus, but Paige kept giving her teasing side glances, distracting her.

“Wow, I didn’t know we were playing for real,” Azzi said, acting surprised.

Paige raised her hands in mock surrender. “I’m just too good. You know that.”

Then they headed over to the racing games. Paige was particularly competitive with this one, and she immediately hopped into the seat. Azzi grinned and slid into the seat next to her, revving the virtual engines as they both raced on the screen, each one determined to beat the other.

“Ready to lose?” Paige asked, hands firmly gripping the steering wheel.

Azzi leaned over and whispered with a sly grin, “You wish.”

As the game began, the race was neck and neck, but Paige somehow managed to edge ahead in the final lap, her fingers flexing over the buttons in excitement as the virtual car zoomed past the finish line.

“I win!” Paige exclaimed, raising both hands in the air as the screen flashed.

Azzi laughed and shook her head. “Fine, you won that one. But I’m getting you next time.”

They both took a few steps away from the racing game, their competitive energy still buzzing in the air. But then something caught Azzi’s eye in the corner of the arcade—a vintage photo booth. The faded pink and blue lights surrounding it made it look nostalgic and inviting. Azzi’s face lit up as she tugged Paige toward it.

“Let’s take some pictures!” Azzi suggested, her voice playful.

Paige raised an eyebrow and smirked. “You mean… you want me to get into that tiny booth with you?”

Azzi laughed and gave Paige a wink. “Come on, it’ll be fun! We can make silly faces.”

Paige hesitated for a second but then grinned. “Fine. But I’m not making any stupid faces.”

They squeezed inside the photo booth together, and Azzi quickly slid the curtain shut, leaving just enough room for both of them to fit. Paige was already trying to adjust her hair, making sure she looked good for the photos. Azzi leaned back against the corner, her eyes twinkling. “Okay, first one—smile!” she said, leaning into Paige with a playful glint in her eyes.

The camera clicked, and they both smiled wide, their eyes meeting as they giggled. The first photo came out, and both of them took a moment to adjust their hair and faces.

“Alright, let’s try something silly for the next one,” Azzi suggested, her hand resting lightly on Paige’s arm.

Paige nodded with a grin. “Ok ok, I can do that. Watch this.”

They pulled exaggerated faces for the second photo—Azzi sticking her tongue out and Paige crossing her eyes and sticking her tongue out as well—just before the camera flashed again, capturing their silliness. The second picture came out, and both of them burst into laughter, the silliness only making them feel closer.

The third shot was more relaxed. Azzi turned slightly toward Paige, her smile softening as their shoulders brushed. Paige rested her hand on Azzi’s thigh as they posed for the photo, the warmth between them growing with each passing second. Their laughter died down into a contented silence as the camera flashed once more, capturing the ease between them.

When the fourth picture began to print, the playful atmosphere shifted slightly. Azzi leaned in close to Paige, her lips parting as if she were thinking about something, but before she could speak, she met Paige’s gaze. There was an unspoken connection in that moment, a quiet tension that felt electric.

“Okay,” Azzi said softly, “let’s make this last one a bit different.”

Paige raised an eyebrow, sensing the change in the air. “Different how?”

Azzi didn’t answer with words—she simply leaned in closer, her lips brushing Paige’s ear. “Let’s kiss for this one,” Azzi whispered, her voice low, teasing yet full of affection.

Paige’s heart raced in her chest, and without thinking, she closed the distance between them. She leaned in to kiss Azzi softly, their lips meeting gently at first, then deepening as their chemistry sparked. In that moment, it felt like time slowed down, their connection more palpable than ever. Paige’s hand, still resting on Azzi’s thigh, gave a subtle squeeze, and she felt Azzi respond, shifting ever so slightly to press herself closer. The last click of the camera echoed in the small booth, capturing that intimate moment between them.

They didn’t pull away immediately. Instead, they stayed there, lips still pressed together in a slow, tender kiss that said more than words ever could. The photo booth printed out the final picture, and when they finally broke apart, they both took a deep breath, their faces flushed with the warmth of the kiss.

Azzi smiled at Paige, her hand reaching for the prints. “I think this one’s going on my wall.”

Paige laughed softly, a light, affectionate tone in her voice. “I think you might be right. I’m keeping mine, though. It’s too cute.”

They each took a copy for themselves of the strip of pictures, sliding it into their pockets for safekeeping. 

After they left the photo booth, the playful mood between Azzi and Paige hadn’t worn off in the slightest. They wandered through the arcade for a bit longer, trying out a few more games and chatting between rounds. But eventually, Azzi’s eyes brightened when she spotted the sign for Laser Tag.

“Laser tag?” Azzi asked with a grin, raising an eyebrow. “What do you think, should we do it?”

Paige’s eyes lit up. “I’m so in for that! Are we going to be on the same team, or are you going to try to beat me at that too?”

Azzi smirked. “Oh, we’re definitely not going to be on the same team. I want to see how good you are under pressure.”

Paige scoffed, looking playfully offended. “Oh, it’s on now. Prepare to lose, princess.”

Azzi chuckled, nudging Paige in the ribs. “We’ll see about that.”

They made their way over to the laser tag area, where a group of other players was already waiting for their turn. Azzi and Paige signed up, each selecting their color-coded teams. Paige was assigned to the red team, and Azzi to the blue.

Azzi glanced over at Paige with a smirk as they suited up in the vests and strapped on their laser guns. The arena was dimly lit, with neon lights and fog machines creating an atmosphere that felt like they were about to step into another world. The air was electric with excitement, and the other players buzzed with anticipation, too.

“Don’t get too cocky, Bueckers,” Azzi teased, her voice playful yet serious. “I’m going to outmaneuver you.”

Paige raised her eyebrows as she adjusted the vest. “Bring it on. Just remember, you started this.”

The game started, and they both split into their respective teams. The arena’s lights flickered, and the countdown echoed through the room as the buzzer rang.

“Go!” someone yelled, and in an instant, the two teams scattered.

Paige didn’t waste any time. She dashed into the maze of ramps and pillars, scanning the area for opponents. The beams of light from the laser guns shot across the dimly lit arena, creating a chaotic but exciting battlefield. Her heart pounded, adrenaline rushing through her veins. She moved with purpose, keeping her eyes open for the first person to get in her sights.

Meanwhile, Azzi was just as focused. She ducked behind a structure and carefully checked her surroundings before making her move. Azzi’s competitive streak had come alive, and she wasn’t about to let Paige have the upper hand. She spotted someone from the other team and quickly aimed, her laser gun firing with precision. The target lit up, and she grinned in satisfaction.

Paige was on the move again, keeping her eyes on her own team’s progress as she searched for Azzi. She knew she couldn’t underestimate her—Azzi was good. Very good. She quickly darted into a new hiding spot, pressing her back to one of the pillars.

Then, from across the arena, Paige saw her. Azzi, seemingly out of nowhere, had appeared near the top of one of the ramps, aiming at a member of Paige’s team. Paige’s eyes narrowed, and she adjusted her grip on her laser gun. She had to be fast.

Without thinking, Paige sprinted toward Azzi’s position, ducking behind obstacles and leaping over ramps as she closed the gap. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. The moment she peeked her head out to line up the shot, Azzi saw her.

“Not fast enough!” Azzi yelled, smirking as she fired her gun, hitting one of Paige’s teammates.

But Paige was quick to retaliate. In a blink, she aimed and fired directly at Azzi, and she saw the confirmation light blink on Azzi’s vest.

“Yes!” Paige grinned, sticking her tongue out. “Gotcha.”

Azzi playfully pouted, then flashed Paige a teasing smile. “Okay, okay. You’re good.”

The game continued, both teams getting a few more shots in, each side trading victories and near-misses. Paige and Azzi were clearly having a blast, but there was still an unspoken tension between them, the desire to outdo each other making the experience all the more thrilling.

When the game finally ended, the announcer’s voice boomed through the speakers, letting everyone know the results. Paige’s team had won by a narrow margin, but only because Azzi had spent a little too much time enjoying the competition with Paige.

Azzi shot Paige a look of mock annoyance as they met up at the exit. “Okay, fine. You won. But only because I was distracted by you.”

Paige smirked and shrugged, a playful gleam in her eye. “Distracted by me, huh? I guess I’m just that distracting.”

Azzi crossed her arms and pretended to glare, though her eyes softened with affection. “Whatever. Just wait ‘til next time.”

Paige laughed and nudged her. “Next time, you’re going down, Fudd.”

The two of them laughed as they walked back toward the exit, their hands finding each other naturally. Even with the teasing, the competition, and the game, it was clear that they were enjoying each other’s company—more than ever.

“We need to do this again,” Paige said, still grinning.

Azzi nodded enthusiastically. “Absolutely. But next time, we’ll be on the same team. No more winning at my expense.”

Paige raised an eyebrow playfully. “We’ll see about that.”

As they made their way out of the arena, the air still electric from the game, Paige couldn’t help but feel a warmth spread through her chest. It was moments like this—simple, fun, yet undeniably special—that made her grateful for the time they had together.

—--------------

The air outside had started to cool as the sun dipped below the horizon, leaving a gentle twilight settling over the city. Paige and Azzi, still feeling the lingering energy from their afternoon together, stood on the sidewalk, looking at each other with that familiar spark in their eyes. The tension between them hadn’t completely faded—it was still there, hanging in the air, but it was different now. It was playful, teasing, and a little flirtatious.

“So, what do you think? Should we keep this night going?” Azzi asked, her voice light but laced with a hint of mischief.

Paige raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips. “What did you have in mind?”

Azzi grinned. “Karaoke.”

Paige chuckled, her eyes lighting up with excitement. “Oh, you want to embarrass me in front of a crowd, huh?”

Azzi shrugged, feigning innocence. “Nah. I just want you to have fun, babe. It’s all about enjoying the moment.”

Paige couldn’t help but laugh. “I should’ve known you’d be the one to suggest karaoke.”

“Come on,” Azzi said, pulling her by the hand toward the bar just a block away. “It’ll be fun. And I’m way better at singing than you.”

Paige rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. “I’ll believe that when I hear it.”

They entered the bar, which had a cozy, yet buzzing vibe. The lighting was low, and the sound of laughter and chatter filled the air. A hostess greeted them at the door and led them to a private karaoke room at the back. The room was plush, with soft leather seating along the walls and a screen in the center where the lyrics would appear. A microphone sat on a stand in the middle of the room, and a small table in the corner was already stocked with drinks and snacks.

Azzi flopped down onto one of the seats, kicking off her shoes. “I’m telling you now, Paige, I’m going to crush you in this. Prepare to be impressed.”

Paige rolled her eyes but plopped down next to her. “We’ll see about that. I bet you can’t even hit the high notes.”

Azzi grinned, teasing her with a playful look. “I’m just setting the stage, Bueckers. Let’s start with something easy. You do like SZA, right?”

“Of course,” Paige replied, grabbing a drink and taking a sip. “But you do realize, I’ve got a mean voice, right?”

Azzi raised an eyebrow and picked up the karaoke remote. “You’re about to find out.”

She quickly selected a song—“Good Days” by SZA—and the intro began to play. Both of them exchanged looks before bursting into laughter.

“Oh god,” Paige said between giggles, “this is going to be hilarious.”

They began singing, but for the most part, neither of them took it too seriously. They belted out the lyrics, off-key more than once, while cracking up every time they hit a wrong note. Azzi’s voice was smooth and confident, but Paige’s enthusiasm more than made up for it. They harmonized when they could, but mostly they were just laughing, goofing off, and having fun.

At one point, Azzi was in the middle of a line, and Paige couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “Wait, hold on! I wasn’t even ready for that note!” Paige’s laugh was infectious, and soon, they were both holding their stomachs as they tried to get through the chorus.

“You’re terrible!” Azzi said, wiping tears from her eyes. “I thought you said you could sing!”

“I never said I could sing well!” Paige retorted, still chuckling.

Halfway through the song, they’d both abandoned trying to sing properly, instead focusing on cracking each other up. The karaoke machine flashed “Singing with Heart!” as a message to remind them of their lack of effort, but neither of them cared.

When the song finally ended, they collapsed into their seats, catching their breath from all the laughing. “Okay,” Paige gasped, “that was actually fun. And maybe you’re a little better than I thought.”

Azzi grinned, pleased with herself. “I told you.”

Right as the laughter started to subside, a server brought in their order—pizza, chips, and a few more drinks. “We’re going to need some fuel for the next round,” the waiter said with a smile before leaving the room.

Paige immediately reached for a slice of pizza and handed one to Azzi. “You know what this night needs? A banger.”

Azzi raised an eyebrow, taking a bite of her pizza. “What’s your idea of a banger?”

Paige smirked. “How about some I Don’t Fuck With You by Big Sean?”

Azzi nearly choked on her pizza. “No way! You want us to sing that?”

Paige shrugged, a mischievous gleam in her eye. “It’s perfect. You’re already getting the hang of this, and besides, we’re having fun.”

Azzi thought for a second, then grinned. “Okay. Let’s do it.”

Paige selected the song, and the beat kicked in with the iconic intro. Azzi’s eyes lit up. “This is going to be great.”

They both got into it, rapping the verses and shouting the chorus with all the energy they could muster. Neither of them could keep a straight face, especially as they got louder and more dramatic with every line. They didn’t take themselves seriously at all, but the playful energy between them made it even more fun.

When they hit the part  “I don’t fuck with you,” they both leaned toward each other, laughing so hard they couldn’t catch their breath. It was obvious neither of them knew every word perfectly, but they made it work with their laughter and exaggerated moves, practically throwing themselves into the performance.

Every now and then, Azzi would bump her shoulder into Paige’s, and Paige would wink at her. Every time they shared a look or a laugh, the chemistry between them was undeniable. They didn’t even realize how close they were, how their bodies naturally gravitated toward each other, the touch of their hands becoming more frequent. By the time the song was almost done, Paige was leaning into Azzi, her arm wrapped loosely around Azzi’s waist as they rapped the last few lines together.

Paige’s thumb brushed across Azzi’s side, making her shiver slightly, and for a second, the fun vibe shifted. They shared a look, the air between them suddenly heavy with something more than just laughter. It was that undeniable, quiet tension—something they’d been dancing around for a while during the day today. Paige’s hand settled more firmly on Azzi’s side, squeezing gently, and Azzi’s breath hitched.

Without a word, Paige leaned in slowly, and before either of them knew it, their lips met again, this time with more intention. It was soft at first, but then Azzi pressed in closer, one hand resting on Paige’s shoulder while the other found its way to Paige’s neck, pulling her in deeper. Paige’s hand slid down Azzi’s side, fingers grazing her hip, their kiss growing more heated and intimate by the second.

They broke away for a moment, both of them slightly breathless, but neither of them moved far apart. Their foreheads rested against each other, both of them smiling, yet something unspoken lingered between them.

“Looks like we might’ve just started a new tradition,” Azzi whispered, her lips barely brushing Paige’s.

Paige smirked, teasing. “Only if you promise to let me win next time.”

Azzi chuckled, shaking her head. “I’ll think about it. But for now…” She kissed Paige’s forehead. “I think we’ve earned another round.”

And with that, they dove back into their playful, intimate moment, lost in the music, the laughter, and each other’s company.

—--------------

As the night continued, the atmosphere between Paige and Azzi grew even more intimate. The playful teasing from the karaoke room began to shift into something deeper. Their laughter died down, and in its place, an undeniable connection between them was more palpable than ever.

Azzi’s hand found Paige’s again as they sat side by side, the energy between them quiet but intense. Every touch, every glance, seemed to carry more weight now, both of them aware of the sparks they were playing with. Paige, still feeling the warmth of Azzi’s touch, leaned closer to her, her voice softening.

“Thank you for today,” Paige said, her words sincere as she gently squeezed Azzi’s hand. “This has been so much fun, seriously. I needed this. I needed you.”

Azzi smiled, her eyes softening as she gazed back at Paige. “I’m happy to see you happy, Bueckers,” she replied, her voice low but filled with affection. “You deserve it, after everything. I’m glad you came here.”

Paige couldn’t help but smile back, her heart swelling at the sound of Azzi’s words. She tilted her head slightly, letting her gaze linger on Azzi for a moment before she leaned in, brushing her lips against Azzi’s in a quick but sweet kiss.

The moment was perfect—filled with warmth, tenderness, and the undeniable connection they shared. But as time wore on, reality slowly began to sink in. They checked the time and saw that it was getting late. Paige had to leave soon, her flight back to Storrs looming in the morning. The thought of leaving was bittersweet.

Azzi gently pulled away from Paige, her hand still resting on Paige’s, and stood up. “We should probably head back to my dorm,” Azzi said with a soft sigh, her voice tinged with a bit of reluctance. “I don’t want this night to end, but I know it’s getting late.”

Paige nodded, her smile soft. “Yeah, I know. But it’s been a perfect day.” She rose to her feet, following Azzi as they left the karaoke room, the energy still lingering between them like a comfortable warmth.

They walked back to Azzi’s dorm, hand in hand, the night air cool against their skin as they moved through the streets, neither of them wanting to let go of the closeness they’d found. It felt like time had slowed down, giving them just a little more time to savor the moments they had left before Paige would have to leave.

Once they arrived at Azzi’s dorm, they slipped into the common area, where Caroline was lounging on the couch. She looked up at the sound of their footsteps, her face lighting up with a smile when she saw them together.

“How was your guy's day today?” Caroline asked, her tone warm and teasing, clearly knowing something had shifted between them.

Azzi and Paige shared a knowing look, both of them grinning. Azzi pulled the photo strip out of her pocket, her fingers brushing over the small pictures they had taken together earlier. “It was amazing,” Azzi said softly, handing the photo strip to Caroline. “We took these. Look.”

Caroline took the strip, her eyes flickering over the pictures as she smiled. “Aww, you two are so cute,” she said, her voice light with joy. She looked up at them, her expression genuinely happy. “I’m really glad you both figured things out. You two deserve to be happy.”

Azzi and Paige exchanged a quiet, contented smile, both feeling the weight of Caroline’s words. They hadn’t fully realized how much they’d needed to hear that until now. Azzi squeezed Paige’s hand gently, her eyes flickering with affection.

“Thanks, Caroline,” Paige said, her voice soft but sincere. “I’m glad I came here… for her.”

Caroline beamed, clearly happy for them. “Well, I’m glad you did, too.”

With a soft chuckle, Azzi led Paige down the hallway to her room. “Come on,” she said, her voice playful but full of warmth. “Let’s get some rest. I’m pretty sure we’ll need it.”

Once they reached Azzi’s room, the door shut behind them softly, the sound of the lock clicking into place. Paige turned to Azzi, her smile soft, her heart full. She glanced at the photo strip again, tracing the edges of the pictures with her fingers.

“It feels real now,” Paige whispered, her voice barely audible. “Like, really real.”

Azzi nodded, her gaze steady on Paige. “It does,” she replied quietly. “And I’m happy it is.”

The two of them stood there for a moment, the weight of their connection settling between them. It had been a long journey to get here, full of ups and downs, but now—here, in this moment—it felt like everything had fallen into place.

“I’m gonna miss you tomorrow,” Paige said after a beat, her voice soft but laced with sincerity.

Azzi smiled, her eyes softening with affection. “I’m gonna miss you too.”

They lingered there for a few more moments, the tension in the air now replaced with something much more tender. Paige reached out, gently cupping Azzi’s cheek before pulling her in for a soft kiss, feeling the warmth of Azzi’s lips against hers. The kiss was slow and sweet, a gentle affirmation of everything they had between them.

—--------------

As the night stretched on, Azzi, exhausted from the day’s adventures, slowly settled into the bed, her head resting on the pillow. Paige, watching her, smiled softly, her heart swelling with affection as she saw Azzi’s peaceful expression. Azzi’s breathing began to slow, and within moments, she was fast asleep, the gentle rise and fall of her chest signaling her deep slumber.

Paige took a deep breath, glancing over at Azzi one last time before pulling her phone out of her pocket. She unlocked it and opened the group chat with Geno and CD, her fingers hovering over the screen for a moment before she started typing.

Paige: Hey, so I’ve been convincing Azzi and Caroline about UConn. I think it’s working. They seem to be leaning toward it.

She sent the message, her eyes briefly scanning over the words, her thoughts briefly drifting to the possibility of everything working out the way she hoped. Her thumb hovered over the screen again, typing out another message.

Paige: They’re still undecided, but I can tell Azzi’s starting to warm up to the idea. We might just be able to pull this off.

A few seconds later, Geno’s reply pinged back, followed quickly by CD’s.

Geno: Good. We’ve got a good program, and I think they’d be a great fit. Just keep doing what you’re doing.

CD: Yeah, keep at it. Glad to hear it’s working. See you soon at practice.

Paige smiled at their responses. She’d been nervous, unsure if her efforts would be enough, but now that she had some reassurance, she felt more confident. She put her phone down on the nightstand, her heart at ease.

Turning back to Azzi, Paige pulled the blanket up just a little higher, ensuring she was comfortable before lying down beside her. The soft sound of Azzi’s steady breathing was soothing, and Paige couldn’t help but smile as she closed her eyes. It had been a long journey, but it felt like things were finally falling into place.

She whispered softly to herself, “This is just the beginning.” And with that, she let sleep take over, her hand finding Azzi’s beneath the covers as they drifted into a peaceful slumber together.

—--------------

The next morning, the sunlight filtered through the blinds of Azzi’s room, gently waking the trio. Paige stretched as she yawned, glancing at the clock. Her flight wasn’t until later in the afternoon, but it felt like time was slipping away too quickly. She didn’t want to leave just yet, but at the same time, she knew she’d be back soon. The thought of going back to Storrs felt distant, almost surreal, after the whirlwind days spent with Azzi.

Azzi and Caroline were already up, chatting quietly as Paige stood in front of the mirror, brushing her hair. The sound of laughter from the living room filtered in, and Paige smiled, knowing that no matter what happened next, this trip had been worth it.

“Hey, breakfast?” Azzi called from the kitchen, a mischievous grin on her face. “You can’t leave without one last good meal.”

Caroline nodded, walking past Paige to grab her jacket. “Yeah, let’s go. We’ll make it count.”

The three of them headed to a nearby café that Paige and Azzi had gone to yesterday, a cozy spot with warm sunlight pouring in through the windows. They settled into a booth near the front, the smell of freshly baked bread and sizzling food making Paige’s stomach rumble. They ordered savory items—toast with avocado, scrambled eggs, and a side of fruit.

As they ate, Caroline, ever the photographer, pulled out her phone. She leaned back slightly in her seat, waiting for the perfect moment.

“Alright, you two, smile!” Caroline said, her camera poised. “You both look adorable together. Just one for the memories.”

Azzi and Paige shared a glance, their smiles easy and natural, just like the connection between them. Paige leaned in slightly, their shoulders brushing, and Azzi tilting her heads towards Paige as they both grinned at the camera. Caroline snapped the shot quickly, satisfied with the candid moment.

She looked down at her phone, scrolling through the picture. “This looks perfect. Mind if I post it?” she asked, showing them the image.

Paige and Azzi shared another glance before nodding in agreement.

“Go for it,” Paige said with a shrug, though her eyes softened as she smiled at Azzi.

Caroline quickly typed a simple caption: “Breakfast with my faves🥰.” She posted it, keeping things lowkey—nothing too obvious, just a casual shot between friends.

“Alright, let’s go,” Caroline said, tucking her phone away after the post was live. “We’ve got a flight to catch… eventually.”

The three of them drove to the airport, the air crisp and cool as they drove through the parking lot. The drive had been lighthearted, filled with music and jokes, but now that they were here, Paige couldn’t help but feel the weight of leaving. She wasn’t leaving because she wanted to—it was just a part of the plan. She had her responsibilities back at UConn, but a piece of her wanted to stay longer, savor the quiet moments with Azzi.

When they reached the airport, they said their goodbyes at the entrance, but Azzi and Caroline insisted on staying with Paige until her flight was ready to board.

“We’re not saying goodbye yet,” Azzi said with a soft smile, her fingers grazing Paige’s.

Caroline nodded in agreement. “We’ve still got time. No rush.”

They lingered in the airport, walking through the terminals, talking, and enjoying the last little moments they had together before Paige’s departure. It felt like they had all the time in the world, but Paige knew it was slipping away. The departure was inevitable, but so was the promise that this wasn’t the end.

—--------------

As the time ticked by, they finally reached the gate, and Paige checked in for her flight. There was still a little time before boarding, and she knew Azzi and Caroline would be with her until the very last moment.

The hum of the airport was steady, but the quiet between the three of them was filled with unspoken words. It was one of those moments where they all knew what was coming but didn’t want to acknowledge it just yet. The announcement for Paige’s flight echoed through the speakers, snapping the silence into focus.

“Attention, passengers on Flight 1264 to Hartford, we are now boarding. Please make your way to the gate.”

Paige took a deep breath and glanced down at Azzi, who was standing beside her, her eyes filled with something softer than sadness. There was a quiet strength in the way Azzi looked at her, the kind of look that made Paige feel like everything had fallen into place, despite the uncertainty of their situation.

“Guess this is it,” Paige said, her voice light but carrying a weight. She turned to Caroline, giving her a quick but sincere hug. “Take care of her, alright?”

Caroline smirked as she hugged Paige back tightly. “You know I will, but you better not forget about me when you’re back at UConn. I’ll be watching.”

Paige chuckled, ruffling Caroline’s hair. “Don’t worry, you’re impossible to forget.”

As Caroline stepped back, she pulled out her phone, her eyes twinkling with something mischievous. “You two,” she said, her voice quieter now, “are perfect.”

Paige turned toward Azzi, who was standing close by, her gaze full of quiet affection. There was a pause, a heartbeat where neither of them wanted to let go of the moment they were in. Then, without a word, they embraced, and Paige pressed a soft kiss to Azzi’s lips.

“Bye Baby,” Paige whispered against Azzi’s lips, her voice laced with affection and a little sadness. “I love you.”

Azzi smiled softly, her fingers brushing the side of Paige’s face. “I love you, too.”

The words felt like a promise, like a bond that had only grown stronger in the time they had spent together. Paige pulled back just enough to look at Azzi’s face, memorizing the look in her eyes, as if trying to hold onto that very moment.

Caroline, ever the observer, was quick to snap a picture of the two of them, capturing the warmth in the hug, the quiet kiss, and the gentle affection that surrounded them. She knew this moment was for them, something for just the two of them to keep.

As Paige pulled back from Azzi and turned toward the gate, she shot one last smile at both of them. “Remember what I said about you two at UConn. No funny business, alright?” she teased with a wink.

Azzi’s laugh rang out, full of fondness. “We’ll see,” she said playfully, but there was no doubt in her voice—only the quiet understanding that they had something real.

With one final wave, Paige turned toward the boarding tunnel, her heart heavy but light all at once. As she walked away, the image of Azzi and Caroline remained in her mind—two people who had become so much more than just friends. The connection between Paige and Azzi had only grown stronger, even with the distance between them.

In that moment, Paige knew that no matter what the future held, what they shared would always remain. It was a bond forged in something deeper than time or distance. As the plane’s engines roared to life, taking her further away, she carried that strength with her, knowing Azzi was just a heartbeat away, no matter where they were.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[mangocurist]

ngl i almost forgot about this wip because of yesterdays excitement LMAOO anywayyyyy MORE ZINCEWAM CONTENT (followup to the prev drabble i wrote, but like. longer this time)

before we start though. @daylilie @jumped-for-the-yaoi @nevervoterfrauded You two. Be Normal. no more than 30 max reblogs for u two each or i will NEVER post again. got it ? Okay now have fun reading !!!! (sowwy for the ooc aspect thats just inevitable LOL . on the bright side i did get through wemmbus first vid w zam on uu soooo hopefully ill get more in character after that!!)

𓇢𓆸࿔°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:˚°❀⋆𓇢𓆸𓇢࿔°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:˚°❀⋆𓇢𓆸𓇢࿔°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:˚°❀⋆𓇢𓆸࿔𓇢

“So the server mechanic is that when you kill someone, you gain an extra life?” Wemmbu asks as he trails behind the green-clad version of a person he swore to never think about again, doing his best to focus on the surroundings instead of the Prince stood in front of him. 

They’re walking back to the place they’d spawned, and Wemmbu is… nervous. 

“Huh? Oh, yeah. Pretty simple, I think. Way easier to keep track of than something on like, I dunno, Bliss or something,” Zam— not the one he knows, but a different one, who he’s not (yet?) sure he can trust— says, picking at the thrice-bitten nails on her one remaining hand (his Zam had also had a problem with nail-biting, but he had stopped letting Wemmbu see his bare hands about a week before the betrayal, so Wemmbu supposed he would never know if that was still true) nervously as they stand by the border of the spawn chunk, waiting for the person who’d dropped them off here— which, according to Zam, was another SpokeIsHere— to show up once again to take them back to her home server. 

(Ironic, wasn’t it. He met his Zam searching for Spoke to kill and ban him, and he meets this one because Spoke, a friend that Zam trusts found them— found him, somehow, and brought them here.)

He’s still not sure if going to Zam’s home server is a good idea, but… for all his possible misgivings about his own Zam, there’s no reason not to give this one the benefit of the doubt. If worse comes to worse… Wemmbu still has ways to get out. “Oh, though, it’s not… it’s not really like, a life, though. It’s a heart. You know. Like with gapples, but, uh, they’re permanent— or as permanent as long as you can keep yourself alive. And it’s not hardcore, so at least you’ve got that going for you! You know, not having to worry about permanent death if you get farmed a few times. I’d… know about that last bit.”

“Yeah, okay. I think I get it.” Wemmbu’s voice is still a little raspy and his nose irritated from the conversation they’d had only thirty minutes ago, and it’s a little embarrassing to be face to face with Zam when he’s like this, so he turns away, trying to make sense of the things she had told him. “Uh. You– Zam. Can you, uh, give me a second? I think I need a second. You know, to. Uh. Think, and stuff.”

“Sure! Sure. I… I’ll go, uh. Over there. By the, um, the crater-pond thing, can you see—? You can see it from here, I think.” Zam waves his hands over at a small pond off in the distance, just barely visible in the chunk border. “I’ll just— yeah. Um. Go ahead, I won’t be listening. Take your time, man. Um. And let me know if you… you know, change your mind on going to Lifesteal. I won’t be mad, I promise, I just… don’t really think it’d be good to leave you here.”

Wemmbu wants to tell Zam just how right she is, that it’s probably one of the worst ideas to leave him alone back on Unstable, after everything that’s happened— but he doesn’t. Instead, he just watches as Zam starts to jog off over to the pond, the scrappy green cloak around his shoulders billowing in the wind as he runs. 

It’s so… unfamiliar to him. 

He’s not sure what to make of it, what to make of Zam and the fact that there’s a pin on his cloak of Wemmbu’s face even despite her own misgivings about him (because this Zam’s Wemmbu wronged her badly, too, and he doesn’t know what to think about that either. He isn’t sure what to make of Zam at all, and the worst part is, even though the likelihood of Zam lying is as high as he’s ever known it to be, Wemmbu believes him almost fullheartedly). He’s not sure what he should think about the ribbons and hairclips and trinkets that represent the people this Zam loves (or loved?) and how she wears her hearts on her sleeve, literally, with a heart count of fifteen hearts earned from people who cared about Zam enough to give him a part of their own vitality.

How was it that someone who lived on such a seemingly cruel server had turned out better than the Zam Wemmbu knew? Why didn’t he get to meet this version of Zam earlier? Why did it have to be another version of him, with cruelty running through his veins and bloodshed in his heart, that met Zam for the first time on Lifesteal?

Goddammit.

Wemmbu doesn’t know what he wants. 

He buries his head in his arms as he sits down by a rock next to what looks like a man-made explosion. Oh— wait, that’s right, hadn’t Zam said something about this too? Something like how this was one of the servers used to test for her Wemmbu’s orbital cannon nuking. Which… yeah, okay. That was totally something he would’ve done, before the Prince Zam Empire and everything that happened afterward.

The Prince Zam Empire… no. Nah. Let’s not— yeah. Don’t think about that, man. Just don’t even go there. 

Wemmbu slouches forward slightly, lifting his head just so to see if he can catch sight of Zam instead of getting himself stuck in his head again. 

She’s made a fishing rod, somehow, and is currently looking like he’s going to town on the tiny pond. The green cloak— so very unlike the Zam he knows, with a deep crimson red cloak trimmed with fur and decorated in jewels upon jewels— pools around her shoulders as he yanks back fish bit by bit, the metal arm where his left hand should be glinting in the sunlight as the eternal sun beams down on them. 

He sighs, and stands up, stretching each of the spider legs he usually hides underneath his shirt as he does so. Depending on how long Spoke’s going to take to pick them up, Wemmbu may as well spend some time getting to know this Zam better. There’s no use speculating about what is and isn’t there, if he doesn’t know anything about her besides her trauma.

“Hey, Zam,” Wemmbu calls as he nears the little pond, giving Zam a nervous wave as she smiles back awkwardly at him. “Uh. Can I…”

“Yeah! Yeah, uh, feel free to join, if you want. I— I’ve fished a few rods out already, so let me just, uh—” Zam places down an E-Chest (which Wemmbu now belatedly realizes is probably where he’d gotten the rod from in the first place) and pulls out an anvil, a shulker with a few books inside and three fishing rods, before combining them all and handing Wemmbu a new enchanted fishing rod. “Here. Use this.”

“Thanks,” Wemmbu says, the word feeling unfamiliar on his tongue, not only because he doesn’t usually thank others genuinely, but also because he can’t remember the last time he thanked Zam. “Uh. So… do you… ugh. Do you like fishing, usually?”

Zam laughs at that, a mannerism so similar to the Zam Wemmbu knows (no, knew) that it makes his heart clench. He— fuck. He has to stop associating them with each other. It’s seriously not good for his heart. “Oh, not really, but it’s funny cause recently, a lot of the more serious convos I’ve had have been while fishing. I guess it’s just cause there’s just like, nothing else to do here. I mean… unless you could figure out how to get the orbital cannon working.”

“Huh? Orbital cannon? What do you— what do you mean, man?” Wemmbu glances over (perhaps a little quicker than he really should) at Zam, who shrugs. He hopes he doesn’t sound too desperate to her to start on a new topic. No offense to fishers, or anything, but. They’re kinda boring, just a bit.

“I don’t really know much about it, cause I was usually, uh, you know, doing my best to like, not exploit— actually, you don’t know because I didn’t go into detail on the Season Four stuff— but. But! This used to be the testing server for hacks and stuff. When, uh, Wemmbu… Lifesteal… was president season five, he used this to test out his cannon thing. And Squiddo— I did tell you about her, right? She kind of also found admin powers and used this server to test her stuff out too. That’s where the elevator down to the void came from,” Zam points over at a deeper crater hole some blocks away from them. “And, uh— yeah. So, I guess, if you could figure out how to build your own little cannon here then there’s that to keep us busy until Spoke comes to pick us up.”

Wemmbu glances down at the fishing rod in his hands, almost missing the tug of a fish on his string. In the shaky reflection of the water, the red of the salmon’s scales in his hand looks almost like the blur of blood. “I… well. I guess I don’t… really know.”

Liar.

“Well… well, I mean, that’s okay too!” Zam clasps her hands together, fishing rod left forgotten at their side as he takes the salmon away from Wemmbu’s hand, depositing it in a bucket that he hadn’t noticed before. It swims around the bucket excitedly. He wishes he could be like that salmon. “Um. You know! Like, whatever you wanna do is fine by me.” 

“I want…” Wemmbu sighs. Whatever, sure, he’ll put all his cards on the table. Who even cares anymore? Not him. “Fuck, dude, I— whatever. I wanna like, get to know you, but it’s like– I just don’t know where to start.” 

Zam looks at him, short golden curls falling into her eyes as he does so. “That’s okay. That’s, like, totally okay! It’s great, even, cause I want to get to know you too, Wemmbu. And I don’t think we, you know, have to really know where to start with this stuff. We can just– you know. Go. Like— like, you know, right now! What’s your favourite colour and stuff, you know?”

Despite himself, that manages to wrench a laugh from Wemmbu. “What’s— what’s my favourite colour? Dude, is that— is that the best you can manage?” 

Zam beams. It makes Wemmbu’s chest hurt a little. “It made you laugh, didn’t it? That means it’s pretty great, in my eyes.”

“You know— you know what?” Wemmbu says, and then, because he can’t help himself but try to ruin every nice thing that comes his way, adds on, “I can see why, uh, why people liked to torment you, back on your home server. Like— like, dude, you’re… seriously… way too open. Too… you’re too…”

“Loud? Unusual? Trusting?” Zam shrugs. “Well, I know that already, dude. But I don’t care.” 

She doesn’t look affected in the slightest by his words, and— god fucking dammit, Wemmbu, god dammit, stop thinking. Just stop thinking. He reminds Wemmbu so much of his Zam and yet at the same time, when she says things like this… it makes him want to mace something. Maybe himself. 

“I just… you know. I think I want you to be happy. You— you know? And I think… I think we can try working on that, you know, if you come back to Lifesteal with me. It’s… well, actually, it kinda sucks, and all that, but, like. It’s my home. And everyone on there isn’t trying to kill each other for real unless we are, but like, we’re not right now, and I’m doing a really bad job of selling this shit so I’m just gonna stop now,” Zam says, practically all in one breath. “I just think. I think I want to see you be happy. You know? And I want to be your friend, and it’s not because I couldn’t make peace with the other you or anything, and— are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Wemmbu says, and yet, even as he says it, he can feel the wet trail of tears making their way down his face. He sniffs— his nose is still fucking irritated from half an hour (or more?) ago and it makes him feel honestly disgusting, and he tries to wipe away the tears staining his face and collar. “I— I just—”

“Do you want, like, um— a handkerchief or something?” Zam looks so concerned, and it makes Wemmbu almost choke on an irrational peal of laughter, because she’s never been concerned for him, but this is a different Zam who’s kind and bright and so much like the Zam that Wemmbu misses, and he can’t fucking deal with it. “I can— fuck, dude, I dunno what you, uh— fuck! Fuck, I’m sorry, I’m just not good with this kind of stuff—”

“You’re— you’re fine,” Wemmbu coughs, and he brings up a hand to his face. “I’m. Fine. We can— um. If you want me to go— to— uh, your—”

“Lifesteal,” Zam says. “You want to come back with me to Lifesteal?”

“I— can give it a try,” Wemmbu manages to choke out, and even through his tear-blurred eyes, he can clearly see Zam’s radiant grin.

[d33pwithinmys0ul]

୨★✧.*party 4 u ✧★.*୧

Jean Kirstein x Reader, one shot

★ recreational drug use, angst, fluff, post break up, kissing, ex boyfriend, insecurity and anxiety, no smut

Ik the song is trending but when I tell you it's been a fave with me forever.. this WIP has sat with me for a while, and I changed my mind with a lot of it but hopefully u all still like it! (If I had a nickel for every Jean fic I wrote inspired by a charlixcx song, lol) Who said you can't make corny songfic in 2025??

┈➤here's the ao3 link or read under the cut :)

Jean thought you were the most beautiful he’d ever seen. 

Silver confetti fluttered around you, the echoes of the crowd and thudding bass were overwhelming. You felt weightless and free as you danced in the darkness. The strobe lights made you see spots, highlighting the smoke that spun into the air, and for the briefest moment, everything was fine.

You couldn’t believe you almost didn’t come. 

Hitch barely managed to persuade you to skip your 8 am tomorrow, just so you could all get fucked up tonight. 

You took an Uber so none of the group would have to drive from the pregame near campus to Jean Kirschtein’s obnoxiously large house in the country.

You and Jean had a complicated history—Hitch and Annie didn’t know, because you hated the drama of it all. 

All your freshman year at Paradis State, you were inseparable in puppy love, and so unprepared for the consequences of it. You weren’t the best at expressing your feelings and boundaries, and Jean was eager to please you. It should have worked better, and you tried not to linger on that fact. He was breathtakingly handsome and had lots of friends, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise that you eventually just stopped seeing each other. 

Well, you stopped seeing him. 

You practically ghosted Jean when you found out about his weird feelings about Mikasa. You couldn’t unsee his crush whenever he was around her, and it killed you. You weren’t even angry with her for it, since Mikasa was happily infatuated with Eren, though you wished you could tell her plainly that you harbored nothing against her for it. 

You were young and emotional, and let your hurt get the better of you. It didn’t make any sense, and you didn’t even give Jean a chance to explain himself, ever. 

The aftermath was awkward considering how many mutual friends you had, so you just avoided him entirely. You started going to clubs in the next town over instead of bars and parties around campus, and you were content with the new friends you made in Annie and Hitch, despite their connections looping back to the same place. 

You supposed for as long as you lived in Trost, everyone you knew would lead you back to Jean. He was a good guy. You kind of freaked out, and got too embarrassed and proud to go back to him and apologize. 

“C’mon man, are you gonna try to enjoy yourself?” Connie gave him a light punch on the shoulder. 

“I am,” Jean said, irritated, and glanced outside again. “Are you sure she’s coming?”

He had spent the first hour of the evening hovering by the windows. They were tall and wide, so he would have seen you perfectly from the other end of the room, but as soon as he heard that you were coming, he was a wreck. 

He insisted on picking out the decorations instead of letting Sasha take the lead, like she usually did. He couldn’t help himself from the excitement that blossomed in his chest at the idea of seeing you, really seeing you. 

As the others around him began pregaming, Jean really drank. 

He didn’t want to get his hopes up, but he couldn’t help it. His heart raced all evening, resounding all his longing, begging, willing you through that door. Come to my party. Come to my party.

Jean felt like he was always catching glimpses of you, and no matter how hard he tried to move on, the way you seemed to, there was always a remaining trace of bitterness. You were barely there, yet not close enough for him to properly ignore the way you made him feel.

It was years ago, and should mean nothing. It meant nothing. 

“Look man,” Connie put his hand on Jean’s shoulder, his breath fanning the scent of beer over to his friend. “Just relax! Either y’talk to her, or you don’t. I don’t think you should waste your night being emo about it. Make a decision. Do something instead of moping around.”

Jean shoved his hand away, a little harsher than he intended to. He couldn’t gauge his own strength—or temper–when he got drunk like this. 

“Yeah, I know.”

By the time you arrived at the sizable mansion, up a long winding driveway lined with trees, you were so high, you didn’t give Jean a second thought. 

You walked in with the girls, immediately enamored with the superfluous decorations, the colorful, ambient lighting, and the blasting music. Balloons hung from the ceiling and littered the floor, and it seemed like over a hundred people were crammed into every crevice of the house. 

“What the hell is this party for again?” You yelled to Hitch, despite her face only being a few inches from yours. Her eyes were hazy and distant, as she’d shared some molly with you earlier, the dose she took was far more. 

“Uhh, I think Jean said he just needed a pick me up for the new semester,” she shouted back and slipped her sunglasses over her eyes. “I think it’s pretty.”

“I’m getting jungle juice,” Annie said boredly. She’d taken more shots than any of you, and remained composed like it was nothing. “Come with?” 

Hitch nodded. 

“Y/n? You rolling?” 

“Not yet. I’ll catch up with you in a bit,” you shook your head and gave them an encouraging smile.

“Fine, but if I leave here alone, I’m killing you both,” she stuck her tongue out at you playfully, and gripped Annie’s arm as they went off. 

You smiled and decided to occupy yourself by weaving through the crowd, people watching. 

There were people taking shots, legs in tall boots and short skirts, groups smoking cigs and rolling up by the staircase. A throng of people surrounded the DJ on the raised platform by the living room. 

Your senses were pleasantly heightened, you felt warm and light. The mixture of drugs kept you at ease, though a part of you ached, and seemed to search for a certain familiar face.

You pushed away the thought and made your way across the floor. 

You saw Historia posing as her girlfriend took photos of her, the flash briefly blinding you as you stumbled past. You waved at Connie and Sasha, the former shotgunning a beer as his friend timed him. It was always nice seeing them. 

“Hey Y/n!”

You turned to find a buzzed, cheerful Marco, with a solo cup in hand, and he leaned in for a hug. 

“Hey!” You said, surprised, and squeezed him tight. 

You liked Marco a lot, and despite being Jean’s best friend, he was one of the kindest people to you throughout the past few years.

“I’m great, did you just get here?” He asked. 

“Yeah. Looks like you guys went all out,” you grinned and gestured at the crowded room. If it wasn’t silver or gold, it was sparkling or glowing. 

“It was all Jean’s idea,” Marco rubbed the back of his neck, stumbling over his words. “I dunno. He’s uh– excited. Probably on a second bottle by now.” 

“Oh,” your eyebrows betrayed your concern. “Um, is he alright?”

“It doesn’t seem fair to… sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything,” Marco was pink from the alcohol, and seemed to turn a little redder. “You should enjoy yourself!”

“Well, where is he?” Were you beyond being subtle about this?

The temptation was killing you. Was Marco trying to say that Jean wanted to talk to you? Why else would he suggest it?

“Um, outside, I think,” he gave you an apologetic smile. “Really, he’ll be okay. You should enjoy your night. He sent me away to enjoy mine.”

You swallowed and watched him disappear into the crowd. 

You were fucking out of it. Maybe any mistakes you made tonight could be reasonably excused. Besides, you were friends with Jean long before you fucked things up. 

You made your way through the sea of people and to the back door, an angelic synth swimming in your ears. 

You stepped outside, and shivered from the biting February breeze. 

The pool shone blue in the night, casting a glow that shimmered and shook with the water. It was quieter in the backyard, the thudding music and chatter was muffled and seemed worlds away. 

You braced yourself to see Jean around the corner, or on a chair, but you were completely alone. 

Your head was pounding from the powerful speakers. You took a deep, shuddering breath, allowing yourself to feel. Maybe you shouldn’t have gotten so fucked up, knowing that Jean would be here. You kind of walked into this. Yet, you think you might’ve felt the same sober. That was sadder. At least with this, you could blame it on the drugs. 

Fuck. You couldn’t let yourself spiral and lose it. You felt like shit ruining girl’s nights like this, even if Hitch and Annie were preoccupied elsewhere. 

You sank to your knees by the pool, and took off your heels. You dipped your feet in the water, grateful for the cold, tranquil distraction. You closed your eyes, and took deep breaths. With the muffled crowd and the occasional car passing in the street, the moment felt a little more real. 

Jean was always good at helping you calm down. When you managed to convey the times you were overwhelmed, he was a saint, rubbing your back and keeping you hydrated when you got too high or anxious. 

Tears leaked down your face before you could stop them. You didn’t want to ruin your makeup, after using so much glitter, but your cheeks were wet and your vision blurred. You hadn’t thought about this, or him, in years. 

Did you overreact? You let your jealousy get to the better of you. God, you sucked. Maybe you should have stayed home. Maybe it’s just been too long, or you were high, and lonely, but the idea of Jean holding you close now made your heart ache. 

You heard the back door slide open, spilling more heavenly electronic music into the air until it shut again. 

“Hey.” A familiar voice called your name, nearly cracking. 

“Hey,” you said, hastily wiping your face, staring straight ahead at the water. “Are you alright?”

“I think I should be asking you,” Jean slurred and sat down on the pavement. He had a bottle in his hand, and wore a button down with the sleeves rolled up, his hair tousled and sticking slightly to his forehead from sweat. His legs were crossed, and he leaned down while he spoke, his posture ruined in favor of staying at your eye level. “I di–um..” He cleared his throat. “I didn’t think you’d come.”

“Seemed like fun,” you laughed, despite the salty taste in your mouth. “It’s all beautiful, Jean. You always throw one hell of a party.”

His eyes were pained, and it sent a stabbing sensation to your chest. 

“Thanks.” He seemed very tempted to say more, but instead took a swig and passed you the bottle. 

“No I’m good, I’m rolling,” you pushed it back to him. 

“Oh,” he said, surprised. “Any.. particular occasion?”

You shrugged. 

“Hitch offered.” You tried not to read too much into his question. You rolled very rarely—partying was always magnified by a little molly every now and then. You likely flattered yourself too much as you wondered if he was thinking you came out tonight to fuck someone, with its reputation as a sex drug. 

“Sounds fun,” he said, jaw tight. “So… why are you out here?”

“Marco kind of sent me,” you laughed. “Obviously, I was too late. Thought you’d be somewhere else by now, and the pool’s nice.”

“Well, here I am,” he said bitterly. He swept a hand through his hair, pushing it away from his eyes and ruining the near-perfect coif. You liked it better that way, messy and long, you didn’t think the perfectly combed look really fit him. 

“How–how are you?” You said lightly. His lashes framed his sad eyes, brushing his cheek with every blink. 

“Second semester always sucks,” he shrugged and took another swig. “Thought something extravagant would lighten everyone’s spirits.”

“Yeah,” you exhaled and laughed nervously. You were chewing your lip as you kicked your leg gently against the water, watching the small droplets flick away from you.  “I think it was a great idea. And it’s stunning– inside, by the way. It’s gorgeous.”

There was a trace of a smile on his lips from your compliment. He couldn’t make himself say that it was really all for you. 

Your features were glowing from the light refracting off of the pool, your short dress rode up your thighs, and Jean couldn’t help but stare. He wondered if you sensed it too, the tension—not from the awful history, or the unsaid professions, but the near tangible desire.  

“I’m glad you made it,” he said softly. “It’s really nice to see you.”

“Of course,” you said quickly. You averted your eyes, your hands in your lap. 

The drugs were heightening all your emotions, and all your senses—the tinge of chlorine in the air, mixing with Jean’s familiar scent, the faint thudding of music from inside the house, the cool water against your skin. 

“Um,” your breath was shaky, your hands clenched into fists. “I’m sorry, by the way. A-about freshman year.” You nearly choked on the words as they bubbled out of you. “It’s—I was really dumb and jealous. You’re a great guy, Jean. You’re an amazing, sweet, romantic son of a bitch. You deserve the world.”

You tried not to stare, but it wasn’t like he was returning the favor. You were both shamelessly memorizing each other's features, a mingling of fear, apprehension, and desperation. You felt so wretched, to pretend like he was someone you never loved. 

“Do you wanna dance?” Jean said pathetically. It was all he could manage, despite everything he wanted to say. 

You blushed and tried not to smile too hard. That was more than enough for you. 

“Yeah, I’d like that.”

You ignored the tossing in your stomach as Jean held the door open, leaking sound and smoke into the air before sliding it shut. 

It was a small, guilty pleasure, feeling him guide you through the mass of people, dancing, thrashing bodies and balloons. 

You found a small opening, nearly thrown together from the crowd. 

You spent the night with your arms at Jean’s shoulders, and his hands at your waist. The strobe lights nearly blinded you, but you couldn’t look away from him. The adoration in his eyes, the curve of his lips. Maybe he was thinking the same thing, that you were both ridiculous, cowardly idiots. Maybe you were just delusional. 

You couldn’t stop yourself when you leaned into him, taking in his scent, yearning to feel his heartbeat, as if you were the only people in the room. It was like time stopped and everyone else faded away when he closed the space between you, his lips warm and rough and they met yours, finally reuniting after all the heartache. 

Jean tasted like home. His hands roamed your body, through your hair, and you clung to him, kissing him and forsaking your breath. It all felt so good, so right.

“Oh my god,” Jean groaned, thrilled by the taste of you, the way you felt against him and in his hands. He tried to be gentler, but he was too excited by your shallow breaths, your impossibly soft skin, your moans urging him to be more and more indecent. 

You nearly stumbled, getting shoulder checked from a nearby dancer, and your tall heels failing you. Jean’s grip at your waist was firm, and he led you to the corner and pinned you against the wall. He kissed you until you gasped for air.

“Uh, should we do something?” Sasha nudged Connie with her elbow as she spotted you both from a distance, making out passionately, for all to see. 

“Are you kidding?” Connie snorted. “They need that shit. I’ll find them an empty closet myself.”

[1onelypoet]

sweet tooth (for you) pt2 || lando norris smau

a/n: part 2 is doneeeee! thank u guys for all the reblogs n likes n comments, i love u all sm ❤️ it literally makes my day omg. anyways, idk if i'm losing it but this part feels shorter than part1 but who knows. also it does sorta jump around a bit in time so if ur confused abt the timeline n stuff hopefully the dates will help? 😭 part 3 will (hopefully) come before valentines day -- also i might do a vday special or smth idk -- but i'm trying for sooner 💪 i did not mean to write this much lol but anyways have an amazing day/night ❤️❤️

pairing: lando norris x singer! ex-leclerc! reader

fc: reneé rapp

warnings: cursing

taglist: @drunkinthemiddleoftheday @kapsylia, @i-wish-this-was-me

disclaimer: this is completely fictional. no hate meant towards anyone mentioned.

part one, part three, part four

charles_leclerc August 24

liked by scuderiaferrari, manonsworld, pierregasly and others

tagged arthur_leclerc, leclerc_pascale, joris__trouche, hugomicallef, riccardoberetta, guizou02, nico_noaro, thomascretot, traininginexcellencemc

charles_leclerc Fun times 🙃

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arthur_leclerc ❤️

user1 weird way to propose but okay!

user2 honey he's gonna cheat on u three years in 😔 ↳ user3 with ur friend too...

joris__trouche Con i ragazzi 🔥 trans: With the boys

user4 glad your summer break was fun 💕

user5 ummmm... anyways stream tummy hurts by y/n!

yourusername August 24

liked by leclerc_pascale, lilymhe, danielricciardo and others

tagged sethmyers

yourusername thanks for having me :)

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leclerc_pascale Belle ❤️

yourusername merci ❤️

user6 post break up glow is real

lilymhe cutie

yourusername no u ↳ lilymhe no, no u

yourbff mother.

user7 he fumbled a baddie fr 🔥🔥

f1gossip August 25

liked by manonsworld, user8, f1gossipgirl and others

tagged manonsworld, mlnmarta

f1gossip Manon spotted in the paddock today

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manonsworld ❤️❤️

user8 NAHHHH

user9 this is not the serve you think it is, babe...

user10 the dress 😍😍

user11 y/n did it better.

user12 she's really wasting no time

user13 no fr just popped out of nowhere

user14 who's that next to her?

user15 marta, the wife one one of charles's friends ↳ user14 ahhh okay ty

yourusername added to their story August 25

seen by landonorris, sabrinacarpenter, manonsworld and others

f1gossipgirl August 25

liked by f1gossip, user16, user17 and others

f1gossipgirl Charles and his girlfriend, Manon, were allegedly spotted by the paparazzi in Corsica on August 7th and 12th. However, some fans noticed that the photos taken on the 12th had a resemblance to a photo featured in Charles' annual summer break photo dump on Instagram.

Most, if not all, of the photos on Instagram were taken by Antoine Truchet (Charles' friend and a professional photographer who has shot with Charles many times in the past). We this as on August 21, Antoine posted a series of photos, with a caption saying "corsica with CL". Some of the photos posted here were also posted on Charles' Instagram, further confirming Antoine's presence on this trip. It can also be assumed Antoine took most, if not all, of these photos as he is not actually featured in any of the pictures, which is strange as he is quite close with Charles and his friends. This all makes sense when you assume that Antoine was the one taking all the photos. Also, the photos are clearly taken by a professional.

So now we've established that Antoine, a professional photographer, was there in Corsica, and he likely took all of the photos posted by Charles.

Going back to the photo that sparked recognition, it can be seen that in the picture Charles is wearing a white button-down shirt, and is sitting on a green-and-white striped beach chair. Similarly, in the photos taken by the paparazzi on the 12th (not the ones in the water, but the ones sitting in the chair with Manon), Charles is seen wearing a white button-down as he sits in a green-and-white striped beach chair. These photos were taken on the same day.

All of this has brought fans to speculate that Charles was the one who notified the paparazzi of his presence, which would explain how the photos were even taken (the paparazzi are good, but are they that good..?). It would seem that Charles decided to have a little "photoshoot" and, as his summer break is probably busy, he wanted to get it done in one day. Expose the new girlfriend and take quality pictures for fans!

Many are still confused in regards to the reasoning behind him tipping off the paparazzi and exposing his infidelity.

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user17 lol why can't it be a coincidence

user18 THISSS!!! not everything is a conspiracy!!! ↳ f1gossipgirl this is a gossip channel babes... it's what we do...

user19 why would he even do this?

user20 celebs do weird shit all the time 🤷‍♀️

user21 it could've been for PR? ↳ user22 I mean it's not like Charles/Ferrari is lacking attention ↳ user21 that's true

user23 im so confused why does antoine being there mean he called the paps?? 😭😭

f1gossipgirl it's just weird that his photographer was there the day he gets papped. and we've seen this happen before (*cough* Becky and Carlos *cough*)

yourusername August 31

liked by theestallion, landonorris, charles_leclerc and others

yourusername music video for pretty girls out sep 5th 0:00 CET

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yourbff try not to say mother challenge (IMPOSSIBLE)

yourusername marry me. ↳ yourbff bet.

spotify we're ready 🥴

caradelevingne ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

user24 damn we're being fed WELL

scarlett it was great working with you ☺️

yourusername tysm scar!!! i loved working w u too 🫶

yourusername September 5

liked by caradelevingne, yourbff, instagram and others

tagged caradelevingne, scarlett

yourusername out now ;)

huge thank u to everyone who made this possible 🩷

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user25 I love women so much

rachelzegler oh u ate that up

landonorris slay 😋

user26 HELP LANDO WHAT ↳ user27 slay 😋

instagram she's an icon, she's a legend, and she IS the moment!!!!

user28 now come on now!!!

landonorris September 17

liked by yourusername, carlossainz55, team_quadrant and others

tagged carlossainz55

landonorris Carlando podium let's gooooo

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yourusername ate

user29 I agree!!

mclaren What a weekend 🔥🔥

team_quadrant LFGGGGGG

oscarpiastri 🏆🙌

user30 oscar using emojis is my roman empire

user31 SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP

September 20

yourusername added to their story September 24

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y/nupdates September 25

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tagged yourusername

y/nupdates Y/n with a fan at the Suzuka Circuit yesterday

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user34 STOP SHES SO GORGEOUS

user35 nah imagine going to a gp AND seeing y/n. I would die.

user36 ok but going to the gp is such a girlboss move

user37 LITERALLY

user38 she's out here winning the idgaf war

user39 do we know if she saw Charles there?

user40 i don't think so

October 11

[congratufuckyoulations]

i LOVE my 2 boyfriends~🤍

SORRY FOR GRAMMAR ERRORS

Sanji x reader, zoro x reader, zosan duh. Zosan x reader idek if thats a things tbh but like thats basically accurate so idek. Sanji is lowkey a switch? , Zoro! Top as always,but lowkey he soft, the reader is a switch idk lowkey. kinda slow start srry

a/n: I was scrolling on TikTok and saw these pics. It makes perfect sense honestly. You can see the watermark on the pics too so yeah. Anyway love u TikTok, thank u for this random idea lol. writing this in my notes rn I honestly only know how I’m gonna start this. Praying for an ending to appear at the end of this. hopefully i post this. I also only know how to write decently long fanfics sorry bout that.....Also kinda took inspo from challengers. With zendaya making the two guys kiss in the movie. It was so real, so iconic. The scene was deadass great thank yewwww and I will be putting a scene like that IN HERE 😮‍💨😏😇

Warning- HEAVY SMUT??! , girl idk it gets freaky??! PORN WITH PLOT BASICALLY . deadass don’t know what people consider SUSSY help. Just read with an open mind!?? ANAL!!! sanji and reader. yeah ik sounds crazy. Just be very open minded i know anal isnt taken lightly💔 not that ive done it. Thats me having an open mind

THEY ARE BOYFRIENDS. 

Zosan truther🙌👏

-ofc I gotta add sum with the outfits, so here it is. I know the shoes are impractical. But let’s just look at Namis and Robin's shoes. Right ,okay , so yeah enjoy. The heels are just too cute. they are like a more stable heel too i love them. im broke.

  You sway along in the breeze of the evening. Your feet dragging against the stone path. Feeling every small rock you step on with your heels.  Some even cause you to lose balance here and there. But never enough to fall over, only losing balance for a quick second. The people of the town your crew saved dance into the next day. You never knew so many people could keep up the fun for so long. I mean a party longer than a day let alone going on the second one already.

Forgetting about all your responsibilities for a second. You smile feeling great with all the new memories being created. Forgetting about the unstable path for a second feeling a strong breeze pick up. Making you realize this little brown cover-up wasn't gonna cut it. This trip back to the boat needs to go by faster. You thought to yourself as you picked up the pace. The cool breeze nipping at your exposed legs. Your heels click against the stone path. Echoing through the empty spaces between the townhouses you pass by. You can see the silhouette of the sunny as the sunsets past the horizon out of sight. As you hurry away from all the loud music and laughter. The sunny growing bigger the closer you get.

Previously this morning when waking up and changing into shorts and the halter top. It never passed your mind how easily the weather would drop as the sunset.

"I should've asked Nami about the weather today" you grumble to yourself. Nami was great not only being an excellent friend. But overall she was a girl with a strong head on top of her shoulders. The weather never made much sense to you. Thunderstorms didn't scare you into a panic, but it was a little unsettling at the loud strikes of thunder. Weather never passed your mind as much of an interest. When Nami talked about it though you could listen for hours. It was all second nature to Nami. (Nami x reader??) Soon gaining a pep in your step at the thought of your ginger friend who you loved dearly. Your mind wanders off easily making the trip back to the boat seem more quick than you remember

Walking back to the sunny letting your body take control. Only a few feet away from the ramp leading to the sunny. Putting full trust in your body to get you onto the boat.  Going to the sunny not only meant changing into warmer clothes to party with through the rest of the night, but you knew two particular guys would be there too. Or at least you hoped that was the case.

Now that your thinking about it throughout today's party events the two were nowhere to be seen. The excuse of going back to the sunny to change into warmer clothes was an opportunity to break away from Luffy which wasn't hard at all, not when meat was involved. You felt bad leaving Luffy, but knowing the boy he was bound to make a new friend in seconds. But now you could go and confirm your suspicions. Knowing the two probably snuck off to enjoy time with each other. And the FOMO was real. 

Since the three of you had some weird alliance. You were all comfortable with each other and cared for each other a little more deeply than most crewmates. Mostly because most crewmates don't sleep around with each other….. was it a relationship? or a situationship? None of you knew the answer.

 It started with just you and Sanji making out here and there. After the first exchange, you both covered up this “fling” as both adults using each other for pleasure and nothing more. You both agreed that the two of you were just pirates who often spent many days at sea. Who needs some stress relief during those times? Both the others type. Not because you like each other or anything. And it was consensual, so who was it harming? Soon Zoro found out the situation between you two. Coincidentally catching the two of you in the act of the heated exchange.

Flashback onto a random day 

 One day when Sanji was stressed out over how he was gonna portion out servings with such a low food supply. (Due to Luffy…) you decided to be there to support him. Somehow that ended up in an intense make-out session in the kitchen where you were consoling him. If this even is consider consoling. Soon the kissing takes a turn for the better.  With Sanji lifting you on the counter. Your Back to the door.

With Sanji between your legs. His body spreads them further apart. His left hand is on your hip. Rubbing his hand back and forth in a soothing motion. You don’t realize the key detail in the heat of the moment. But your body shows Sanji a reaction you're unaware of when his hands rub against you. Your lips always curled up whenever his hands grabbed your hips or waist. Your body always seems to relax into putty at this action.

 Sanjis hand traveled up your torso, to your neck. Soon finding its way to cup your cheek. As his hand traveled into your hair pulling you deeper into the kiss. Teeth clashing. Tongues deep in the other's mouth. Trying to savor every drop of each other's salvia. It had been around a month since the last session. Both never being able to catch a moment alone. Now finally getting a quick chance together. On the kitchen counter. Not the ideal spot but it was better than going even longer without something.

Your hands explore the cook's body as well. Your hands find his chest and glide them down his dark blue suit. Your arms grasping at the waist trying to pull him closer. Your legs soon follow suit. Lifting them to wrap around the blonde's waist. Feeling like he couldn't get any closer. You both need this. Both of you relentlessly grinding on one another. Your arms come back up to wrap around his neck. You felt so desperate for a release.

God Sanji's cock felt so good against your shorts. You couldn't help but glance down between the two of your bodies. Your chests rise up and down as you pant from the small workout. Admiring the bulge rutting against you. Stomach filled with warmth at how great Sanji looked as his pants grew tighter. Your mouth salivated at the outline of the bulge and the way Sanji slide perfectly against your clothed clit. Causing your body to jolt and tighten your thighs around Sanji.

“Mon amour, you feel so great I cannot get enough~” Sanji coos down into your ear. 

“G-god Sanji, just keep doing that~” You whine back. Feeling like an amateur who just found out about dry humping for the first time. Chasing the amazing feeling of the fabric between you. Rubbing together against your most sensitive areas. The two of you rutting against each other trying to get as much friction as possible. Sanji softly laughs before leaning back in to capture your lips in another passionate kiss.

He loved how you often told him what to do. Your simple and small demands he could so easily fulfill. Knowing at the end he would be rewarded with the sight of your face with pure bliss. How your skin becomes damp and how your cheeks puff out from every orgasm. You often were very serious and liked taking control when with Sanji. But you had to admit he does know how to make a girl feel good. And you couldn’t complain about that.

As the kiss deepens and the room grows hotter. You hear the fridge door open from the left of you. The way Sanji freezes mid-kiss lets you know he also heard the fridge door opening. Both your bodies coming to a complete halt.

Both your heads snap to see Zoro leaning over halfway looking into the fridge, grabbing something from inside. Soon standing up straight. His hand swung the fridge door shut. A cold sake bottle in hand. Staring blankly at the two of you. Taking in the sight of you on the counter with Sanji between your legs. A full display of the cook's erection. Both of your hair messy from letting your hands roam freely. Your top pushed up showing your stomach slightly. With Sanjis suit jacket on the floor. You're pretty sure you pushed that off in the heat of the moment.

“You forgot to lock the door”

Zoro speak up. His face never changing, looking completely serious while you and Sanji stare back in total terror. You could see Sanji's face turn red with anger and you knew a handful of insults were about to come from the blonde's mouth.

“IDIOT YOU THINK I DON’T KNOW THAT NOW!” Sanji yells at Zoro who is already walking back to the kitchen door. Getting ready to take his leave. Looking back to the two of you

“Next time I’ll show the shitty cook how to treat you,” Zoro says as he walks out the door. Leaving you with a grumpy sanji grumbling about how that "moss head is the last person to know how to any girl." Especially you, out of all people.

Let's just say there did end up being a next time only a day later. And ever since the three of y’all used each other to fulfill any sexual desires. There was supposed to be “no feeling involved” but deep down you all knew you did. You all did have feelings for each other but you all had yet to figure something out.

Back to the present

Now as you reached the top of the ramp, slowly steeping onto the deck of the sunny. You notice how the sunny seems so much more calm without your crazy captain running around. Or a skeleton bugging you about your panties. You frown missing your crew members already. Even though you know they aren’t too far away throwing another one of their super parties. 

This trip to the boat to change would be over soon and you would be back with your group. But your stomach brewed with warmth at the sight of light peeping through the bottom of the door leading to the kitchen. If both guys weren’t here. You at least knew one of the guys was. And that was Sanji. You could always rely on Sanji when you wanted somebody who would listen to what you say right away. Sanji listened to you.

Zoro not so much both of you often butting heads and getting into small little arguments. Both of you have very dominating personalities humor and love-wise. Even though you and Zoro were both dominant. The two of you learned to open up with each other throughout this whole situation. It was most common for you and Zoro to overpower the chef. It was like good cop and bad cop. You treated Sanji the way he deserved making sure to pamper to his every need. While Zoro played the bad cop. Often being rougher with Sanji and throwing insults around casually.

The combination was overwhelming for Sanji. Getting controlled by a beautiful lady and a decent swordsman. The three of y’all experimented in many different ways. Sometimes the two boys team up to pleasure you as much as possible. Making sure you feel appreciated. You especially liked it when both of the boys just wanted to be taken care of by you. Letting you do whatever you want to them. The trio using up their free will as much as possible to discover new things

Your feet move on their own at the thought of the two guys passing through your mind. Your legs pick up speed as you approach the door turning the knob. Letting your body be greeted by the warmth of the kitchen. (erm why are we always in the kitchen) As the door swings out of the way. You see two familiar figures to your left. You knew them all too well. Of course, this is where they would be. Seeing the two in a very scandalous position leads your smile to grow as you turn to lock the kitchen door.

Seeing Zoro pressing into Sanji as he was sat on the counter. This position was all too familiar to you. Having been caught in the same one with Sanji the day Zoro decided to join this...…situation. Except Sanji saw as you entered with Zoros back to you. Sanjis right leg wrapped around the swordsman's waist. While the other was in between Zoro's legs.

The scene itself sent heat straight from your face down to your core. The two guys using each other to get off. Zoros hands tightly on the blonde's waist. Sanjis's face is flushed red. It was amusing seeing Sanji in the position you once were in. Only a couple of counters away from where the two of you were caught by Zoro.

Sanjis hips slowing down against his was enough to catch Zoro's attention. Following the cook's eye line he turns his head behind him to see you standing there with your cheeks flushed. You begin to walk closer, making your way to the right of Zoro. As you approach the pair your hand slides along Zoro's back. Feeling the muscles underneath your fingertip through his green kimono. Letting your hip rest against the counter. Now with your body facing them. Both boys turn their heads to look at you.

"I think you forgot to lock the door~" you tease the two guys.

"You can blame Moss Head for that this time" Sanji replies. His voice shaking a little at the actions that took place not long ago

"oh shut it cook. Y/N are you gonna join or not" Zoro mutters looking back to the boy in front of him.

As Zoro looked away, you watched as he began picking his pace back up. Zoro continued to grind up against the cook in a desperate chase of relief. His cheeks were well flushed. His eyes started dropping making him look delicious. Sweat forming on his neck. You could eat him up right now if he let you. Your hands coming up to cup his face. Turning his head to you as he leaned down to kiss you.

Your hand finds its way into his green hair. The other finds his neck resting around it. Nothing intense though, just a light hold on his neck not wanting to hurt the swordsman. Not like you really could hurt the brute of a man.

While making out with Zoro he held onto Sanji keeping up his thrust against their clothed bulges. Sanji felt so good already and the sight of the two of you making out right in front of him. It was enough for him to almost come undone right there. He could feel his orgasm creeping closer. As you and Zoro pull away. A string of salvia connects the two of you. Zoro and your lips curved into a slight smiles at the lewd sight

Sanji was entranced with how well you and Zoro looked together. He might’ve said he hated the swordsman. But he couldn't deny the guy's good looks. The two of you together looked amazing. It was a dream for Sanji. Sanji was broken out of his trance as you and Zoro turned your heads to look at the blonde. As he sat on the counter with Zoro's pace slowing down against him.

You spoke up

“Sanji has been working extra hard lately. Don't you agree, Marimo?”

“You think so, huh? If you’re so sure then you must be correct~” zoro replies

“I think that deserves a reward~” you coo

You and Zoro glance at one another quickly before locking back onto Sanji

“How does that sound sanji~” you purr

As your right hand travels up his arm, going up to the nape of his neck. Your fingers twisting his blonde hair at the back of his neck

“My love that sounds more than delightful~” Sanji whisper out.

That’s all you and Zoro needed before beginning to work the cook. Zoro began undressing himself between the cook's legs. As you and Sanji leaned in sharing a kiss. It was slow and loving. Zoro watched intensely watching how you and Sanji worked each other's mouths.

Your body leans down a bit to meet the cook halfway. You slightly overpowered the cook. One of Sanjis's hands holding your waist while the other is placed behind him to keep him upright. After a while of being consumed by the sight of you two.

Zoro begins helping the chef out of his shirt. Then turning his attention to you. Leaning over slightly to kiss your neck from behind. His hands traveled up the small of your back to your shoulders pulling off the small brown cover-up you wore.

Throwing it off somewhere. His hands travel down your back. Once halfway down your back, you felt his bigger hands wrap around your front side. His hand finds the button of the shorts. His fingers worked to undo the button of the small shorts you wore. Allowing you and Sanji continue your turn making out

Zoro was dominant, yes but he still cared. Even though his introvert personality made him always seem grumpy. The guy was a complete idiot and often cracked small jokes here and there. It would be a shock to many to see how the man cared for Sanji and you.

With the small act of helping you two out of your clothes. Zoro always enjoyed watching even though he wouldn't admit it. Zoro felt himself grow even more hard at the sight of the pair growing more relaxed. As they let Zoro take control of them. Allowing him to undress the two of you.

You smile into the kiss feeling Zoro's rough hands against your legs as he slides your shorts down. Feeling his hand travel up the back of your legs, tracing your body from your thighs, up the spine of your back coming back up to your shoulders. His fingers quickly undo the top tied around your neck. Pulling away from Sanji feeling the support from your shirt disappear. You glance down and then right back up to Sanji.

His face flushed. A lazy smile across his face. His eyes were glazed over with lust. Looking back down getting ready to remove to the top yourself. You felt both the boy's hands at the bottom of your halter top. Pulling the shirt up and over your head. The two doing all the work for you.

You giggle as you lean up kissing Zoro. Before pulling away and turning your head to make out with Sanji. It wasn't too long before you pulled your head away from Sanji. Your left hand finds the back of Zoros's neck and your right hand finds its way to Sanjis as well. The three of your faces burning up. You slowly pull away, leaving only the boys face-to-face. The two caught the message. Your hand only rested on their necks as they leaned in to kiss each other. You would be lying if you said this didn't make you hot.

As your eyes dropped lower you realized the two men were both only in their boxers now. Looking at yourself you stand only in your underwear and well your heels. Looking down at your shorts now pooled around your heels. Stepping out of your heels leaving them in between the shorts. Pushing the pile of clothes to the side with your foot.

As you looked up from moving your shoes and shorts out of the way. You caught the eyes of Zoro and Sanji looking at you. While undressing yourself the two at one point realized you were no longer touching them. Or even paying attention to them.

"Oi, I thought you were joining in?" Zoro says with a smirk

"Does it not look like it" You reply, as you give him an, Are you serious? Look. you stood there naked. It was obvious the two of you were just joking around. Zoro may have a bad sense of direction, but that didn't mean the man was stupid

Zoro reaches his arm out to grab you. Pulling you closer to the pair you've grown very fond of. Sanjis hand reaches out hooking his finger around the side of your underwear

"My sweet these might get in the way" Sanji coos in your right ear

"The cooks right, I thought I removed those with the shorts" Zoro agrees, his smirk growing. His hands find their way to the sides of your body. Pulling your underwear down letting them fall onto the floor. While Zoro helped you out of your underwear, Sanji was quick to get rid of his boxers. The two of you are now completely naked in the kitchen. Thankfully you locked the door and there was a huge party going on at the moment. Otherwise none of this would be able to get past the crew.

Zoro had stepped out a little from between Sanjis legs. His hands guide you to stand in his spot. With Sanjis sitting on the counter leaning back on his right hand. His head tilts back due to the pleasure his other hand is giving him. You were right in front of Sanjis exposed legs, his hardened cock on display. Lewd moans flow out from between the cook's lips as his gaze settles on you.

"You get top," Zoro says in your ear, as he lifts you by the waist helping you onto the blonde's lap. Sanji arms stretched invitingly. His arms pulling you close as you settle down.

You never liked dominant guys, but Zoro was so different. He was soft when it came to intercourse. His demands come out softly never raising his voice at you. He was firm with what he wanted. The gesture of him easily lifting you was impressive. Lifting you on the counter to straddle the cook sitting on it. Zoro casually shows off his natural strength to you and Sanji.

As you are now straddling Sanji on the counter with Zoro behind you. You get a little shy with your bare back end exposed to somebody. But you remind yourself that these are the guys you've seen naked a couple of times already. The feeling of Sanjis's hard cock on your clit helps you easily get distracted

The two of you locking lips again as you slowly start to rock on his cock. Feeling his length slide easily between your lips. Your slick provides a natural lubricant allowing you to slide back and forth easier. You pull away looking down admiring the way his cock glides perfectly against your clit.

"Sanji, my love, I can feel how hard you are with no clothes between us," you say

"M-Mon Amour, keep moving like that" Sanji whines, as you grind down harder onto the blonde. It was way too hot for you and Sanji to handle. Your minds are both fuzzy at the sight of his hardened cock almost entering you. Only to hump into your folds with the tip of his cock hitting your sensitive clit perfectly

Behind you, zoro watches for a while enjoying the show once again. His cock throbbing brought him back to reality as his hand pumped up and down his shaft. His hardened cock grew in size at the sight of you grinding slowly against the chef's cock.

Not allowing him to enter you just yet. Zoro opened his mouth allowing himself to spit down onto his hardened cock. Feeling a quick cooling sensation on his cock from the spit before it disappeared. As he rubbed the spit onto his aching cock. Zoros's left-hand finds its way to your thigh from behind. The sight of you grinding on Sanji from behind made the swordsman go crazy.

His left hand moved to your ass grabbing some in his hand before moving over to your wet folds. Inserting one finger slowly pumping it in and out before adding a second in. Seeing the way your back arched at the feeling of his fingers inside you. Your chest going forward as you arch, pressing against Sanji. Whose hands came up, happily cupping your breast. Immediately massaging them while peppering kissing along your chest and up

"God Y/N your dripping all over the place" Zoro says from beind you.

Turning your head over your shoulder. Pulling your attention away from Sanji who is kissing all over your neck. Glancing back at Zoro raising an eyebrow at him.

There he was in all his glory. His tan looked great in this lighting. With his green hair messed up. Pieces of his hair sticking up in the air here and there. Zoro was a sight for sore eyes truly. And here he was behind you stroking himself in one hand, while the other fingers in and out of you. You back arching trying to take more of the swordsman. Fingers were not gonna be enough, you thought to yourself as you moved back and forth on his fingers.

"Could y-you blame me?" you say looking straight back at Zoro. Turning your head back to face Sanji. The cook holding you up in his lap. His arms wrap around your back. Your right tit in his mouth. The blonde hugging you closer to his naked frame. Soon feeling Zoros fingers leave you. Disappointment washes over you but knowing you're about to have way more fun.

You began to rock your hips against Sanji again teasing him as his cock slides past your entrance. Both let moans fall from your lips. Until Sanji lets out a louder moan as he whines "IDIOT, at least tell me when your gonna put a finger in!"

"You knew this would end up happening you idiot!" Zoro fires back

You glance back to see Zoro inserting his fingers into Sanji's hole. Pumping his fingers very slowly in and out. Noticing he using the same finger he used for you. You felt yourself dripping even more against Sanji at the thought of your slick being used as lube for Sanji.

Your perverted mind grows hazy as you keep rocking against his bare cock. Watching him lean back. His shoulders hit the wall as he was slouched on the counter. You leaned further down taking Sanjis left nipple in your mouth sucking on the area. Your right-hand finds the other one, pinching and teasing the nub

Sanji was in pure bliss having you grind against him coating you with his slick. Getting pampered all over by you and Zoro. Now with Zoros two fingers dipping in and out of him. Moans flowing from the three of your mouths.

Zoro soon entered himself into Sanji who took some time to get adjusted to the feeling of Zoros hardened cock inside of him. You helped the cook by comforting him with kisses all over and you whispered how good he was. Mentioning how good boys get good rewards. Which was him being allowed inside of you. You never held it above Sanji's head though. Since you had a big soft spot for the chef and often gave in. Always wanting to be able to pleasure the hard-working blonde.

When Sanji got comfortable, he felt your hand grab the base of his cock slowly aligning yourself right above it.

"Enjoy your reward for being so hard-working, chef~" you coo into his ear as you lower yourself onto his hardened length. Letting out a moan adjusting to the size of Sanji. Your hands wrapping around his neck trying to find comfort from the passing pain. Sanjis's hands lift to cup your face as he kisses you slowly. Like he's trying to distract you from the pain like you did for him

You can feel zoros large hands on your thighs drawing small circles with his thumbs hoping to comfort you. While kissing Sanji you felt one of his hands drop settling on your hip. Helping you sink further down onto him. Feeling your warmth spread open around him. Feeling the shape of his length inside of you. You moan as Sanjis's body begins rocking back and forth due to Zoro starting to thrust into the chef. The movement of Sanji's body caused you to also move back and forth on Sanji.

"Oh f-fuck you both feel amazing" sanji moans from underneath you.

You could hear Zoro let out a soft chuckle. And in this moment it was one of the sexiest things Zoro could've done at a time like this. Everything was a turn-on to you. Your pace begins to pick up as you ride Sanji. Using what strength you have to lift yourself up and down. Your hands planted on Sanji's waist dragging them up his stomach to plant on his chest. Your nails slightly dug into his skin as you use his chest to stabilize yourself and you lazily bounced on his dripping cock.

From behind you feel Zoros arms wrap around you. As he plunges in and out of Sanji's aching hole. He needed something to ground him as well. And you were perfect as his hands wrapped around your torso. Zoro lets you lean back onto him not needing to dig into Sanji's chest no more. Zoros hands at your waist lifting you up and down. Doing all the work for you. Allowing you to gain your energy back slowly. Zoro lifted you up and down on Sanji as he fucked into the blonde on his own.

From Zoro's point of view, he got a clear view of you bouncing up and down onto the cook's cock. Your moans grow loud, mixing in with Sanji's whines and the sounds of your juices mixing. It reeked of sex in the kitchen. As the three of you hump against one another. Your sex crazed minds are taking over completely forgetting about everything.

Zoro's hands leave your waist allowing you to slowly grind back and forth on Sanji's cock. Zoro watches his hand travel up across your body to your right breast As his other hand dips down between your legs. Coming in contact with your wet folds His two fingers find the bundles of nerves. Drawing slow circles. Zoro gaze slowly lifts to look at Sanji who’s watching intensely.

“S-shit guys I'm getting close~” Sanji whimpers out slouching further back into the counter. Sanjis body couldn’t concentrate with Zoro filling him up and you wrapped around him

“You’re doing so good for us, Sanji” you praise as you watch from above

“Zoro, why don’t you tell Sanji how good he’s being” You turn your head to your left. Zoros's head was right above your shoulder. Being very close due to his arms wrapping around your body.

“Yeah cook, I think you’ve been real good. Working hard to pleasure our princess~”

Zoro says in that dam teasing tone of his. The one that drove both you and Sanji to the edge. Zoros' voice was affecting you two. And as you feel Sanji's cock pulse inside you. You were sure about your previous statement

“You like being praised, right? f-fuck you just got so tight~” Zoro hisses into your ear at Sanji. Not knowing you had the same reaction to his tone of voice as you clenched around Sanji's cock hearing it

“O-oh im getting close Sanji” you whine to the guy below you. Sanji was on cloud 9. The view of you bouncing on his length looking down at him. Your head falling back onto Zoro's shoulder as you feel your orgasm coming closer. Zoro is behind you with his fingers picking up speed on your clit. His hand moves away from your breast. The hand grabs your face. Turning it to the left, making you look directly at him as he was quick to take your lips.

As you lean back onto Zoro your head turned to the side making out with the male that was behind you. You can feel zoros pace pick up from behind as he pumps into Sanji. His chest knocks into your back as you lean onto him. Your hips thrusting upwards taking full advantage of the support you were getting from Zoro's frame.

You and Zoro pulled away from the kiss turning your gaze down to the guy beneath both of them. Sanji felt like prey under you eyes. The two of you had hunger written all over your faces. As you both fucked Sanji relentlessly. One of Sanji's arms came up to cover his eyes. Avoiding the gaze of the two who were running him like nothing.

“Sanji, my love, don’t hide~” you pur

Your hand moves his arm away from his eyes as you lean over him. Your hand on his left cheek as you kiss along his jaw on the right side. Leaning back slightly to look him in the eyes

“I want you to see how good you make us feel~” you coo as you sit back up leaning up against Zoro again. The two of you taking full control of the cook. Sanjis whines were loud. Zoros groans about getting close. You moaned praises to the two boys as you reached your high

“Y-Y/N im nngh cumming~” Sanji whines loudly as his hands on your waist tighten. Releasing his load inside of you. His head tilts back with his mouth wide open. Thrusting up trying to ride through his high His legs try to close together but are blocked by Zoros's body.

“You two are doing so well, I’m g-gonna cum too” you moaned, feeling your walls clench around his length. as your head flies back onto Zoro's shoulder. Your body shudders from the high of the orgasm. Soon slowly leaning forward onto Sanji. Leaning in to kiss him. Giving him comfort as he settles down from his first orgasm. Knowing Zoro is close and with the way Sanji was moaning you knew he was too.

You smile as Sanji moans into your mouth while you make out. Your right hand slowly slides down his torso testing to see if he's not too sensitive. As you touch his length gently. His hips thrusting up into your hand and a head nod from Sanji as you kiss was more than enough confirmation to continue.

As your hand wraps around Sanji's hardening length you pump your hand up and down his cock. Drawing more moans out of him as you pick up the pace. The blonde's lips find their way to your breast alternating between the two. Moaning between him sucking and kissing all over you.

"S-shit Im gonna cum a-again-" Sanji was cut off by his orgasm. Head falling back again as he reaches his second high as you pump his member and Zoro soon releasing his load not too long after.

"S-hit i'm c-close" Zoro groans out as he reaches his high

His body leans forward onto yours as you lean on Sanji. You sandwiched between the two. The three of you panting in silence. Trying to catch your breath

“This counter is gonna need some intense cleaning” you speak up in the middle of silence. Pushing your body up signaling to Zoro to get off you. He stands up straight now feeling whole after the intense orgasm.

You sit up slowly pulling yourself off Sanji. Standing back on the floor in front of the counter. Standing between Sanji's legs like earlier. You smile as you pat the cook's thigh

“Come on there's a party to attend,” you say to Sanji turning around to walk away but Zoro was standing in your way.

"I think we have time for one more don't you think, curly brows?" Zoros eyes looking behind you meeting with Sanjis

"I think you might finally be right about something, moss head" Sanji chimes from behind you. Zoro leans down to capture your lips. His hand goes into your hair, finding the back of your neck. Deeping the kiss his hands lifted you once more but now instead of straddling his Sanjis lap. Your back is towards him. Sanji lined himself up with your back entrance slowly inserting himself. You wince adjusting to his size. As Zoro pulls away from the kiss, you both look down as he inserts himself into you. Watching his hardened cock disappear back and forth into you.

"i-I don't think I'm gonna l-last long this round" you whine out, which soon turns to loud moans mixed with curses being thrown around. Shit, fuck, you name it.

The three are completely captivated by the feeling of another orgasm forming. The two guys thrusting up into you. As you now lean back onto Sanji who holds your waist with one hand the other teasing your clit. Your legs spread wide open in the air. Zoros arms are hooked at your knees. Your hands clawed at Zoros's body trying to find something to hold with how intense this orgasm was already feeling.

One after the other you, Zoro, and Sanji ended up finishing around the same time. This time taking an even longer break before standing up. Feeling extra worn out this time. The 3 of you slowly gather yourself and get dressed. You all take turns washing your hands, Sanji even getting a cup out of the cabinet for some water. The first to break the silence was Zoro

"Does the party still have booze?" he questions

"uhm. Well earlier they seemed to still be serving drinks so I don't see why not" you reply looking up at the moss head while drying off your hands

"yeah i might take a nap before i go to the party" zoro mentions

"I could go for a nap right now, what about you sanji?" you say, as you turn your head to look at the cook.

"With you, my love? of course" Sanji coos while smiling down at you

"Don't try to cuddle with me you pervert cook" Zoro teases while making his way out of the kitchen. Most likely leading you three to the men's quarters for the nap. Which might just turn into a whole night's rest, to be honest

"AS IF YOU IDIOT" Sanji yells chasing Zoro out the door to argue over something silly. The arguing often turns to normal conversations after time. You follow behind the two watching the way they walk down the stairs.

You stand at the top as they descend watching Sanji leaning over while walking holding his stomach. Zoros's head shakes from side to side, his shoulders going up and down. Watching the two reach the bottom of the step as they laughed about some joke you didn't catch. You never knew what you were with the two.

Eventually, you wanted to figure it out. All you knew was that at this moment, this was the closest thing to happiness. Seeing two of your favorite people laughing together. Joking through it all as if they don't argue constantly.

Picking up your pace you feel your body bloom with warmth at night tucked together with Sanji and Zoro

The end. Sorry i write a lot. I cant just end my stories short or without detail. THANK U SO MUCH FOR THE LIKES. I only posted because i thought maybe one or two people would like my idea. But so far 30 of you liked it. I knew yall were freaky (i forget tumblr people lowkey freaky.. me asff) While writing this i found out i cant write smut lowkey ermm. this was stressful but im glad i found out about tumblr drafts this shit handy.

me rn-

[yellowjacketsfashion]

Idk if custome analysis and style analysis are the same thing but if they are not could u do a custome analysis for any of the yjs?

Preferently Jackie or Lottie? Lol

Sure, this is a costume analysis for Lottie’s doomcoming outfit! (Includes MAJOR Spoilers for Season 3)

The outfit is not only one of the most iconic clothing pieces in the entire show but also serves a very important role in understanding Lottie as a character and how she moves through the group as well as signifying her relationship with It.

The term “Antler Queen” was coined by fans but originally the masked figure was called the Shaman/Oracle. Shamans and Oracles are spiritual figures who can commune with higher beings and foresee the future, if anyone on the show fits that description it’s Lottie. She apparently has the ability to foresee events/predict the future and actively speaks for the wilderness during the seance in bloodhive when she says “It wants blood.” She is also the one who is most in tune with the wilderness and this connection is explicitly connected to her doomcoming outfit.

Costume designer Marie Schely has mentioned a in a couple different interviews that Lottie’s Doomcoming outfit is intentionally a callback to the antler queen costume. The white dress is supposed to resemble the cloak and of course the headress is a more direct reference with the antlers.

According the Schely the Doomcoming headdress was actually made not of antler but of fiberglass to make it lighter to wear. Additionally, the headdress was supposed to look more like an alter piece rather than a hat because in the story it was originally intended to be decoration only for Lottie to more “intuitively” put it on.

Whether or not she put the headdress on under direction of the Wilderness, Lottie literally crowns herself and signifies herself as the new leader.

After the events of Doomcoming come to a close the dress continues on and is often worn in key moments for Lottie’s character such as the scene where she kills the bear (an act cementing her as a leader in the eyes of many teammates), and throughout season 2 as she navigates being the spiritual leader of the group.

The Dress stays with Lottie even after she is no longer the “queen.” Interestingly, as of season 3 Lottie has been the one to “crown” every queen. In season 2 she passes on leadership unto Natalie and in season 3 she chooses that Shauna will lead them moving forward.

While she is no longer the “leader” in a traditional sense, she is still the spiritual leader of the group who many in the team still listens to. She has power and sway over the team, even when the team falls out with her she still ends up with the final say as to what the group does.

While she ultimately wasn’t revealed to be behind the Antler Queen mask she is still intrinsically tied to the queen. Before Shauna dawns the outfit Lottie has a vision of the queen emerging from the cave. As Lottie outstretched her hands the queen does the same, mirroring her and acting as one. “My will is your will” is what the figure says and that seems to connect with what Adult Lottie says to Callie about becoming one with “it” when your will is the same.

Does this suggest that Lottie is in tune with the wilderness on a deeper level? Or maybe suggesting that while Shauna wears the mask Lottie is the one behind the Queen? It will be interesting to see how this dynamic will play out as they enter the second winter and the Antler Queen comes more into fruition in Season 4.

Hopefully this was the kind of thing you were wanting! I also have some style analysis posts linked here for a variety of characters if that’s more of what you were wanting. If you have any other questions or if I didn’t really provide the answer you were looking for just let me know!

[toxintouch]

Yooooooo, you write fan fictions, don't you? Halloween is, like, right over there *points*. would you be willing to do one of mhin taking sparrow ghost hunting? and maybe even having a "guest appearance" of a certain shadow manipulator?

if this has already been done, could you point me in the right direction?

thank you~

I've never seen a fic like that but omg. This is such a brilliant idea, I love how all the pieces come together so perfectly–Vere being said to be responsible for his fair share of local ghost stories, mentions of Mhin and haunted houses in the Uquiz results… Premium thoughts.  I had a lot of fun writing this, ty for giving me the prompt!! :>

It took a couple of extra days but it's also longer (~2900 words) so hopefully that makes up for it.  p.s sorry if u meant it to be more gen bc I wrote romantic pining lol Volume Warning! Ambiance (~BEAUTIFUL FOX NOISES) for y'all /j

Cold Spots

You pull your cloak tighter around yourself, sheltering your remaining body heat from the howling wind.  

You ignore the shiver that creeps down your spine.

You’ve been warned that the night is chilly in Eridia at this time of year, but you haven’t quite scraped together enough coin to afford more layers.  So you huddle closer to the swaying lamplight of the Wet Wick, attempting to leech warmth from the cheery (if occasionally overwhelming) atmosphere of the bar.  You’re on edge, wary about straying too far from the Wick’s affable open doors and the balmy light spilling out of them.

You crane your neck to peer as far as you can around the corner without moving, eyeing the myriad of nearby alleyways, all full to the brim with shadows, searching for a familiar splash of moonlight and blue sweeping through the night.

 That’s when you feel eyes on your back.

You freeze, all of your senses on high alert.

“You’re where I asked you to be.”  Mhin says in lieu of a greeting.  You startle, reeling around to face them.  Even when you're expecting them, they have the uncanny ability of sneaking up on you.

“You say that like you’re surprised.”  You chide, in mock affront.  “You’ll notice that I’m also on time.”  Your giddiness shows on your face, a smile tugging at your lips.

“Don’t act so pleased with yourself,” they snipe while rolling their eyes, “for anyone else, that’s the bare minimum.”  They frown, looking you up and down with their arms tightly crossed. “...Is that what you’re wearing?”

Any further quips you have for them die in your mouth, drowned out by nervous chuckling.  You realize they must be asking (in their own way) if you’re not going to get too cold.  You know you could just ask Leander or Kuras for some seasonally appropriate attire but you’d rather not rely on further charity if you can’t help it.  Hence: “I’m, um, warm blooded?”  You mean to inject an appropriate amount of bravado into your voice, but it comes out as more of a question.

Mhin sighs, long eyelashes brushing their cheeks as they close their eyes for one long moment.   “Sometimes I wonder…  Fine.  Let’s just get going.”

The floorboards shriek beneath your feet as you step across the threshold.  The entire shack seems to groan and sway, protesting audibly against the wind.  You stick close to Mhin’s back as they hold their gas lamp up, casting an eerie glow about the interior of the abandoned building.  Their keen eyes do a quick sweep before they nod decisively and usher you inside with a single precise motion.

The bellow of the wind sounds almost like a scream as the door shuts behind you.

“So, what are we looking for, exactly?”  Your voice comes out hushed, the haunting atmosphere insisting that you behave accordingly.

“Likely nothing.”  Mhin responds.  “Actual ghost sightings are very rare.  And of those, few recorded instances come from trustworthy sources.  People in Eridia can be quite superstitious.  Count on rats or other pests.  It’s more plausible that this is a mere infestation rather than–”

The roof above your heads gives a long, low creeaaaak.

You both pause for a beat, listening to silence.

“How would we know if it's a real ghost?”  You ask, more out of curiosity than anything.  You’re not about to waste the opportunity, if Mhin is willing to keep talking.

“Depends on the type of ghost.”  Another protest from the floorboards as Mhin wanders further into the dark.  Since you don’t have a lantern of your own, you have no choice but to follow close behind.  Unless you want to stumble around with nothing but the shatters of dusty moonlight cast through the cracked windows to guide your way.

Mhin and you make a quick round of the small building, finding it mostly empty, only a few pieces of broken furniture left behind.  You draw closer to the back wall, carefully avoiding moth-eaten curtains, heeding Mhin’s warning about a small step.  Based on the layout, you think this place might have been a bar or entertainment hall of some sort.  You imagine it had a nice, cozy parlor at one time, though now it’s fallen into squalor.  As Mhin examines the walls for signs of pests and other clues, you examine the graffiti strewn across them: crude jokes and lewd drawings, mostly.  Some scattered names, belonging to people and gangs you’ve never heard of before.  

Framed in the center, though, there's a huge riot of colorful paint.  An abstract painting with no proper canvas.  It's beautiful, somehow, though hauntingly morose.  The artist has contained their work in a neat square, not a single streak of color escaping the precisely imposed prison.  You’re not sure what the intent of the artist was choosing somewhere like this to display it…  

“Is there a type of ghost that makes artwork?”  You wonder aloud.  You almost wish that Mhin would hand you the lantern so you can get a better look.

Mhin clicks their tongue, sparing barely a glance toward the makeshift painting.  “I wouldn't define that as art.”  Mhin follows the line of the wall to the corner, their lantern held up to the wall.  “That’s just…paint.  If you’re looking for ghosts, try looking for scratch marks.  Those are a possible indicator, though not always a reliable one.  A sudden feeling of hot, or cold–any otherwise unexplainable temperature change.  A strange odor…”

You give the air a sniff.  “...I don’t smell anything.  Do you?”

“Dust.  Rotting wood.  And you’ve stopped using Leander’s bath soaps, which I’ll commend you for.  Why anybody would want to smell that strongly of–”  Mhin stops and gives a short whiff, their mouth slightly parted.  Their brows furrow. “It is unusual…I don't see or smell any signs of rats or roaches.  No vultures either…”

“Maybe something else scared them away?”  You posit.  You shuffle closer to Mhin, not liking the way the shadows around you seem to flow and ebb the longer you look at them, your mind making up shapes.  There’s a silly part of you that wants to feel Mhin’s cloak between your bandaged fingers as reassurance that they’ll stay close.  They’d probably hate to know that you see them as something to cling to–a source of comfort, safety.

You try to take another step closer to further dampen your trepidation, but instead you trip over– something–and stumble directly into Mhin.  They catch you on impulse, strong and quick enough to steady you with one arm while holding the lantern with the other.  You breathe an apology, your lips bumping against their chin as they help you get your feet back under you.  

You both search the ground to determine what knocked you off your balance.

It's a dirty old rug, rucked up at one edge.  

A long line of what appears to be claw marks lies half uncovered below it.  Mhin kneels beside the marks, studying them intently, carefully moving the rug to reveal yet more splintered wood.  “I’m not sure what could have done this,” they admit.  “The marks are fresh, but none of the dust was disrupted…”

The floorboards groan another protest, though it bounds off the walls in strange ways, making it difficult to pinpoint exactly where the sound originated.

“Aural contortions.”  Mhin announces.  “And a feeling that you’re being watched.  Reflective surfaces will behave oddly as well.  Hold this.”  Mhin hands you the lantern (more: shoves it into your grasp, really) reaching into their satchel.  Their nimble hands pull out a handful of alchemical concoctions, one which shines like the inside of a seashell, a tiny silver locket, which they flick open to reveal a small mirror.  There’s symbols etched into it, so old and worn away you can’t make them out.

You draw the lantern closer at their behest, illuminating a small smile spread across their face.

Is Mhin …Having fun?

“Is there anything I can do to help?”  You ask, hoping they don’t notice the warmth in your voice. Getting scolded would kind of ruin the mood.

Mhin glances up, blinking at you like they almost forgot you were there.  Their tongue peeks out, wetting their lips as they consider.  “Yes,” they finally agree, “would you–”

The lamplight is smothered by an unknown force.

The cracked streams of light from the window are gone, leaving you in darkness.

Mhin swears, their voice distorting as if they are suddenly very far away.  A moment ago they were crouched beside you, but the shadows surrounding you are so inky you can’t make out their silhouette at all.  Instinctively, you reach your hands out in front of you before freezing and reluctantly forcing them back down.  If both you and Mhin end up stumbling around with hands outstretched, there’s a possibility that they might accidentally grasp onto you and disrupt your bandages.  (You wish you had given into your desire to hold onto them earlier.)  

You whisper their name, frantic, hoping they can hear you.

“I’m here,” Mhin assures you, their voice pitched low and cautious.  You feel the gentle press of a foot against yours, a light tap of reassurance against the side of your sole.  “Stay close.”  There’s a brush of fingertips against your back.  “If the entity is particularly powerful, it will be able to move objects,” Mhin cautions, “but a ghost should never be capable of causing harm to humans directly.  And there’s not much in here that it could throw.  Just stay calm.  If you don’t keep your emotions in check, it will only be more incensed.”

Light flashes through the room again in a spotlight, guiding your gaze to a particular area of the building.

The abstract mural is defaced, dripping black liquid splattered boldly across the wall like arterial spray.  You retreat a step, feeling something wet beneath your feet.  There’s a sharp, astringent tang in the air.  Musty and earthy-floral.  Old velvet and leather, parchment and fresh paint.

You realize, with a sinking feeling of cold terror, that the black ichor on the wall spells your name.

    Eyes on you.  

Touch like a gossamer spider web.  Brushing against the nape of your neck.

“Mhin,” you whisper urgently.  “Something just–”  

The cold hits you then.  Bone deep and all consuming.  Judging by the way Mhin swears, they must feel it too.  Whatever this unknown entity is, it’s close.  And it wants…

Shadow flickers, fingers reaching for you, claws grasping, white glint of teeth.

Mhin sneers audibly, reaching for you and reeling you in by your cloak just before the figure can snatch you up.  Their arm wraps around you, guiding you with them as they recede.  They sweep their stiletto in a wide arc and you hear the clang of metal on metal, though you have no idea what it was that Mhin hit.  Their night vision must be immaculate–you can hardly see more than the fresh glint of their stiletto blade.

“Turns out it is a vermin infestation.”

A bark of laughter.  

Very familiar laughter.

The door starts to rattle on its hinges, moving to the rhythm of Vere's glee.  Mhin walks over to it, dragging your shaking body with them.  With a definitive kick from Mhin and a final cackle from Vere, the door bursts open.

Mhin tugs you out into the open air and slams it behind them.

“Awful fur-bag.”  Mhin spits the words out like the mere thought of Vere leaves a bad taste in their mouth.

You’re far enough away that the black paint clinging to both of your shoes is no longer leaving footprints, but you can’t say the same about the bone deep cold.

You’re shivering so hard your teeth start to chatter, adrenaline magnifying the chill in your bones.  How did Vere even do that?  You rub your arms and nearly stumble into Mhin in the process.  Their features twist into a half-formed scowl, eyes sweeping you before softening into something more delicate.

You find yourself staring into eyes that seem to catch the moonlight, words caught in your throat.

“You’re freezing.” Mhin murmurs, resting a hand against the curve of your cheek, testing your temperature.

You’re surprised at the contact.  Mhin is always so careful about touching you–it’s something you appreciate, usually, this unspoken agreement between the two of you; Mhin doesn’t ask intrusive questions, just makes silent hypotheses and treats your personal space with care.  You appreciate it–usually–but sometimes, (constantly), you wish…

Mhin’s thumb pets against your jaw.  They glace away from you as they do, unable to hold your gaze, but they don’t remove their hand, even as the moment hangs heavy in the air.  Their hand is soft, you think, fingertips like silk, though you can feel the thick calluses built up at the meat of their palm.  Likely hard won and harder lost, trophies from their time as a freelancer and whatever secret misfortune befell them what led them to Eridia.  Unthinking, you nuzzle into their touch, luxuriating in the coveted feeling of skin on skin.  You have half a mind to turn your head, press your lips against their calluses, kiss them like you’re drawing poison from a wound.

Mhin catches your chin between their thumb and pointer finger.  Their grip is assertive, certain.  You’d worry that you’ve angered them somehow, but the intensity of their gaze, the subtle tilt of their head, the flush of their cheeks, the featherlight caress of their breath on your lips…

–You think they might–

They back away abruptly in one smooth stride.  Their hands work quickly at the intricate clasp on their cloak.  Oh, now they’re really looking away.

“Wear this while we head back.  You didn’t come to this city to die of cold.”

They look at their bracers pointedly as you hesitate, as if itching to adjust them.  You slowly reach out and put the garment on.

The trek back to the Wick is uneventful.  The occasional star glances out from the pall of clouds constantly lingering in the Eridian sky.  You look for the waning moon, finding its reticent light and following it home.  You return Mhin’s cloak at the door, careful to hold it in a way that allows them to take it without having to touch you – touch your bandages.  

Mhin looks, oddly, a little reluctant to see it returned.  You’re not sure how else you can possibly read their body language.  Their hunched shoulders, the downturn of their mouth, their uncharacteristic lingering.  Holding the cloak in their hands like they can’t quite decide what to think of it.

They let out a sharp breath.

Mhin levels you with a pointed glare as they settle their mantle across their shoulders, affixing the clasp without need to look down.  “Buy some warmer clothes.” they order, “Tell Leander that the contract is complete and the buyer’s ‘ghost problem’ is solved.  The building should be fine for renovations, just tell them to start their renewal project on a day when the Senobium is actually holding Vere’s leash.”

  “You’ll come back for your cut tomorrow…?”  Confusion rolls off your lips.

“No.”  Mhin crosses their arms again.  “I just told you to buy some warmer clothes, didn’t I?  Consider it hazard pay.”  Again, that disgusted tone Mhin reserves for Vere.  “Even with that taken into consideration, you’ll still owe me, though.  Don’t forget.  I’ll collect some day; everyone does in this city.”

You’re not sure what to say.  Mhin is insisting that this is just a loan, and you believe that wholeheartedly.  But that doesn’t mean it isn’t charity.  Mhin’s also offering you transparency–an open disclosure of the deal you’re agreeing to.  You take their cut, buy what you need, and resolve to pay it back when you can.  And if Mhin needs something similar in the future, you’ll return them in kind.  

You think you stumble over your words a little, but you agree to their offer.

“I’ll be back to collect another contract.  Hopefully something that’s not a waste of my time.”

And a promise to come back is a promise to see you again, isn’t it?  To include you in their life?  Is that what you’re supposed to take from this?  That Mhin cares for you, even if they won’t–

  Or is it your foolish heart, showing you a path that isn’t really there?  

“Goodnight, Mhin.”  You say the words, but their back is already turned, steps already taken.

   ✦ EXTENDED ENDING...? ✦

You putter around in your room at the Wet Wick as you go about your nightly routine. The occasional cheer or thud from below only accentuates your nervous energy, punctuating your reluctance to settle down and get into bed. You smooth the covers with your bandaged hands and fluff the pillow before extinguishing the lamplight. You tug the bedding up above your shoulders, fighting to get comfortable. As your eyelids finally start to droop, the flicker of a shadow catches your attention.   It dances and sways and bends and grows until suddenly it is right in front of you.  On top of you. Silken, blood red drips down onto your face, a knife gleam smile too close for comfort.  You breathe in a gasp, wondering if you should scream. “Vere, what–” “Shhh,” he coos, pressing a finger lightly to your lips.  His breath is hot against your skin. “I only came to keep you warm, pet.”

✦Heat Signature (Vere Continuation) ->

[claymoresword]

I Choose Her | Chp: 13

Hermione Granger x Slytherin Fem!Reader

Summary: You are the daughter of known death eaters from one of the richest and oldest wizarding family. Are you prepared to abandon everything you know for Hermione Granger?

Pairing: Hermione x Reader

Wordcount: 3.5k

Warnings: character deaths, parental neglect, mentions of mental/physical/emotional abuse, potential self harm references

Note: an update?? who saw this coming? definitely not me! i know i disappeared for a very long time, i have no excuse i just hope you can accept my apology

i also was kind of procrastinating this chap for so long bc of the heavy themes in this, i just knew this wasn't going to be an easy one to write... (i was right) but anyway i added some fluff to hopefully balance it out so we'll see lol

anyway thanks so much for your patience, i hope you enjoy this one!

also one last thing, thanks for all the love shown on the previous chapters, sorry if i hadn't gotten around to replying to your comment yet but i do appreciate all of u !!

Taglist:@gvrsto @aweidlich @xxsekhmet @arielj @poppyflower-22 @scarleigh1989 @smut-religiously777 @cocoyeehaw @blackbirdv98 @arcturusseer @iamcapitalgbicorn8287 @lonewalker17 @karsonromanoff @httphayn @bigbadsofty07 @cherryflavoredcoke @dumpsapphic

(pics are not mine)

As you approach Malfoy Manor you find it increasingly difficult to catch your breath. 

You were foolish to assume you wouldn't eventually get caught. 

You fleetingly consider grabbing Hermione and disapparating, but Greyback's firm grip on your arm prevents you from even attempting to reach for her.

The gates of the manor come into view, and you try to pry your arm away again. A last ditch effort, but it is no use. 

The man forcefully holds you in place and you have no choice but to stand in front of the gate.

 You make eye contact with Bellatrix as she approaches from the other side, her gaze then shifts to a disfigured Harry to your left, before landing her attention back to you.

A maniacal smile flashes across her face, as if she found the display before her truly amusing, and you have to fight the urge to cower.

"Get Draco." 

════════════════════════════════════════════

You stood in the foyer in front of your parents. An involuntary thrill travels down your spine as you study their expressions. You cannot recall the last time you have seen either of them this furious. 

"So this is what you have been doing all this time?" Your mother exclaims, gesturing to Hermione and you have to avert your eyes.

Your silence only further infuriates your parents. 

You cannot help but feel a sense of embarrassment, being apprehended like a child in front of the other Death Eaters, Harry, Ron, and worst of all, Hermione.

"Have you absolutely no regard for your mother or I?" Your father finally speaks, his voice vibrating with anger.

"We have given you everything. Do you have any idea what we had to sacrifice just to raise you? Your mother and I have provided you nothing but the best." Your father raises his voice, it is sudden enough that it causes you to wince.

"This is how you repay us?" He continues.

"Do you have any idea the shame you have brought upon my name? Upon our entire family?" Your father steps closer but you keep your gaze fixed to the ground.

"I'm sorry." All you could afford to utter.

You hate how you feel in this moment, powerless and meek, only wishing for the ground to swallow you whole, so you never have to face any of the people in this room ever again.

You can feel Hermione's worried stare, but you cannot bear to look at her.

"We have warned you time and time again to end your relations with her." Your mother hisses, gesturing to your girlfriend.

You finally lift your head but your mother harshly grabs your forearm to pull you aside.

"Don't you dare look at her, y/n." She scolds, pure vitriol.

"You must think us fools. Is this all just a game to you?" Your mother taunts but you choose to remain silent.

An effort to de-escalate but it results in the opposite effect as you catch your mother fishing her wand out of her pocket.

"We have given you more than enough chances. More than you deserve." She states, pushing past you, storming directly towards Hermione.

A flicker of fear appears on your girlfriend's face. One you mirror, just as you realize what your mother intended to do.

Hermione tries to retreat, only to bump into Scabior, purposely standing behind her to cease her attempt at fleeing.

"It is time you suffer the consequences of your own actions." Your mother takes a fleeting glance at you before lifting her wand to point it at your girlfriend.

Taking large strides, you manage to put yourself in between Hermione and your mother, just before she gets the chance to utter the spell. You feel your girlfriend's firm grip on your arm as you continued to shield her with your body.

"No! Mother, please, don't." You plead, holding up your hand and she hesitates.

"I am sorry I have disappointed you. I am sorry I went against your wishes."

"But I will not– I cannot apologize for loving her." You hesitate as your voice trembles, but you speak the words anyway.

You hear a cackle from Bellatrix, grumbles and groans of disapproval coming from the Death Eaters gathered in the corner, and once again, you feel more exposed and deplorable than ever.

Your mother remains staring at you, this time with nothing but disdain.

"Love?" She scowls, almost like it disgusted her just to utter the word.

"In love with a mudblood?" Your mother's tone shifts, now incredulous and despondent.

She finally lowers her wand, only to strike you across the face with her other hand.

You hear a gasp from Hermione, but otherwise the room is silent, as you clutch your cheek in pain.

When you finally muster the courage to look at your mother her expression betrays no trace of regret.

"You are no child of mine." She utters, exasperated, and your heart shatters into a thousand pieces.

Tearing your eyes away they naturally fall on your father, standing a few paces behind.

You recognise a tenderness somewhere in his eyes, one you hadn't ever been awarded before. It's jarring and unfamiliar, it makes you want to weep.

"Step aside, y/n" Your mother says, lifting her wand again.

Perhaps it was pity, perhaps now your father was just as embarrassed as you are, or maybe, it is love that compels him to step forward, placing a gentle hand on your mother's shoulder.

"Darling, this is hardly the time or place." He attempts, but your mother doesn't move.

However, footsteps soon approach that causes all of you to shift your attention.

Draco can be seen entering the foyer with both of his parents, interrupting your altercation.

Your best friend pauses at the sight of you, evident concern etched across his face.

"Ah, Draco." Bellatrix acknowledges him and he's forced to look away from you.

The witch walks up to Harry, harshly gripping a handful of his hair to pull his head back, giving Draco a clear view of his face.

"Is it him?" Bellatrix asks expectantly, and the platinum haired boy couches in front of Harry.

"I can't be sure." Draco responds, dismissively.

His father then grips the back of his neck, harshly, and you observed as your best friend flinched under his touch.

You instinctively take a glance at your own parents. 

Your mother has since resumed her position next to your father, both of them deliberately avoiding your gaze, once again your chest constricts painfully.

Scabior is standing so close behind you and Hermione, too close, you can both feel his breath against the back of your necks.

"Look closely son." Lucius says.

"If we are the ones to deliver Potter to the Dark Lord, all will be forgiven." He adds, his voice low but it echoes through the large hall anyway.

"Now we won't be forgetting who actually caught him. I hope." Scabior states, finally stepping away from you.

"Mr Malfoy." He continues to antagonize, and it works to set the other man off.

"You dare talk to me like that in my own house?" Lucius raises his voice and Draco flinches again.

"Lucius." Narcissa finally steps forward, extending her arm to calm her husband.

Hermione remained clutching your arm, her grip only tightened the longer you stood watching the commotion before you.

Finally, none of the Death Eaters are in close proximity, so you decide it an opportunity to try and escape.

"We need to apparate." You manage to whisper to Hermione, reaching down to intertwine your fingers but your girlfriend shakes her head.

"We can't leave Harry." She responds and you sigh, defeated.

An answer you expected but it causes your anxiety to heighten anyway. You begin looking for another solution, another way to flee. 

"Now, if this isn't who we think it is and we call on him, he will kill us all. We need to be absolutely sure." Bellatrix warns.

"What's wrong with his face?" Draco finally asks with a scowl.

"Yes, what is wrong with his face?" The dark haired witch repeats.

Scabior shrugs.

"He came to us like that." He states simply.

"Something he picked up in the forest I reckon." Another snatcher chimes in.

"Ran into a stinging jinx.." Bellatrix quips.

"Was it you, dear?" She asks, pointing directly at Hermione.

You feel your heart stop as your girlfriend tenses next to you.

"Give me her wand, let's see what her last spell was." The witch orders, and the evident worry that flashes on both of your faces easily gives you away.

"Ah, I caught you." Bellatrix says pointing at the two of you, amidst a cackle.

"It appears your girlfriend is not as smart as she thinks she is." She taunts, looking directly at you, successfully earning a grimace.

You contemplate lunging at the other woman, but before you can act, she halts. 

She catches sight of the sword of Gryffindor proudly propped up, next to one of the snatcher's.

"Where did you get that from?" Bellatrix gasps.

"It was in her bag when we searched her, I reckon it's mine now." The snatcher responds with a grin.

Before any of you can comprehend it, Bellatrix sends the man flying into the wall with a single throw of a spell. She then points her wand at the other snatcher in the corner, taking him out too.

"Are you mad?" Scabior exclaims, but the wand pointed at his face in an instant, silences him immediately.

"Get out! Get out!" Bellatrix repeatedly shouts, and the band of snatchers scurry out of the hall, all fearing for their lives.

"Put the rest of them in the cellar." She exclaims, lifting Harry by the collar before grabbing Ron as well.

She shoves them hard enough that they fall by Wormtail's feet.

"I want to have a little conversation with this one." Bellatrix states. 

You feel Hermione get ripped from your side, and instinct kicks in.

"No, get your hands off her!" You exclaim, reaching out to grab her but Bellatrix swings her arm, you feel a harsh blow to the stomach that knocks the wind out of you, making you land on the ground as a result.

"Bella!" Her sister scolds, rushing to your side.

"Stop fighting, you will get yourself killed." Narcissa warns, you feel her firm hand on your shoulder as she forces you to stand next to her.

Before you can respond you feel another harsh grip on your collar attempting to drag you to the cellar with the boys.

"No, not her– I want her to watch this." Bellatrix states, gesturing for Wormtail to let you go, and he does.

All you can focus on is the way Bellatrix is handling Hermione, the sadistic smile as she does so, rough and thoughtless.

Your girlfriend looks terrified, and you feel utterly powerless.

She soon retrieves a dagger from her side, holding it up in front of Hermione's face.

"I will give you one chance to answer my question, before I start cutting." Bellatrix says.

Your head is now pounding, your abdomen still aches from the blow, your face stinging where your mother struck you.

Hermione attempts to make an escape but with one swift flick of Bellatrix's hand, she bounds your girlfriend's legs, causing her to fall onto the ground.

You watched as the witch got on top of her, pinning her down by her shoulders.

She then forcefully cuts through Hermione's sleeve with her blade, until enough of her arm was exposed.

"That sword was meant to be in my vault in Gringotts, how did you get it?" She asks, her face an inch away from Hermione's.

Your girlfriend is silent, beyond the whimper that falls out of her lips.

This seems to only urge Bellatrix to bring the tip of the dagger to Hermione's arm. The older witch begins dragging the blade down the exposed skin.

Hermione's sobs quickly morph into deafening screams and you don't feel anything beyond panic.

"It was me! I stole the sword, not her!" You raise your voice, hoping that it would be enough to take the attention of your girlfriend.

"Quiet! I am not asking you." Bellatrix retaliates, merely brushing you off like some pest.

Your eyes followed as she hovered the blade over Hermione's arm again. You see her blood trickling from her wound onto the wood underneath, and you feel sick.

"Please, I didn't take anything." Hermione pleads helplessly, and your chest aches so much you can barely breathe.

"I don't believe you." Bellatrix begins cutting again, this time she's laughing.

Deriving true pleasure from torturing Hermione, and you couldn't stand by and witness it any longer, you had to act.

Amidst your girlfriend's screams you manage to slip past Narcissa, stepping next to her son.

"Draco, give me my wand." You state firmly, as his hesitant stare meets your pleading one, he hands you your wand after a beat.

"Stop lying!" Bellatrix exclaims, you see her lower the blade down to Hermione's arm again and you don't allow yourself to think a moment longer.

You point your wand at the dark haired witch.

"Avada Kedavra!" You exclaimed, survival and wrath, your only goal was to save Hermione.

The bright green light shoots out from the tip of your wand, in an instant, the witch drops onto the ground with a large thud, motionless.

"Y/n, what did you just do–" You hear your mother exclaim but you don't acknowledge her, you refuse to.

Her shock, along with everyone else's; hangs in the air, mute but suffocating. 

Hermione is the first to come out of it, she sits up and you rush to her side.

With your arms around her you shut your eyes not half a second passes before you both disapparate, leaving your family behind.

-

You find yourself at the outskirts of Tinworth by Shell Cottage. The location you all agreed to meet at if anything went wrong. 

It was meant as a precaution, you never actually thought things could ever go this wrong.

Disowned by your parents.

Murdered another in cold blood.

Your girlfriend tortured and maimed.

"Hermione, it's alright, you're safe now." You state, carefully placing your hands on either side of the other girl's face.

Your girlfriend doesn't meet your gaze, scattered, her mind entirely elsewhere.

"Y/n, we have to go back, we have to help the boys–" She says, you stop her with a firm hand on her forearm before she can stand.

"No, Hermione! It's too dangerous. If we go back they will kill you." You say with a raised voice, unintentional, driven by your heightened emotions, but it works to get the other woman's attention.

"I can't– I can't lose you." Your voice shakes and Hermione finally looks at you.

An expression flashes across her face that tightens the knot in your stomach. 

She lets herself breathe and think, she realizes what you had done just moments prior, the significance, its implications.

"You killed her." Hermione states, more awe than contempt but you scramble to defend yourself anyway. 

Truth be told you don't know why you had reacted the way you did, you weren't even aware that you had it in you to begin with.

"I had to– sweetheart, she would have continued to hurt you if I didn't stop her." You stutter, but Hermione quickly silences you.

Her lips crash into yours, fervent, anguished, and eager. Your girlfriend's hand rests on the back of your neck, pulling even closer.

Hermione's clinging onto you; with no desire to let go of her lifeline, her love, the only reason she is still here, safe and alive.

You are forced to pull away as your lungs burn from the lack of air. 

"I will go back for them myself, promise me you'll wait for me here." You breathe out against Hermione's lips, your forehead resting against hers.

Before your girlfriend can even begin protesting you see Harry apparate in the distance. Closely followed by Ron and Luna.

The ginger haired boy is first to run to Hermione's side.

"Hermione, y/n. Are you alright?" Harry shouts, your girlfriend nods but you don't respond. Your eyes remain on the elf behind him.

You catch sight of Dobby, limping as he clutches his stomach.

"Harry Potter." The elf calls out, weak and frail.

Harry finally follows your gaze.

"Dobby." He says, sprinting to Dobby's side, and the elf collapses right into his arms.

You watched as a distressed Harry pulled something that seemed to have impaled the elf, he finally sets it on the sand next to him and your own stomach turns.

You immediately recognize the bloodied dagger. 

How can a single object cause so much damage? 

You feel your anger resurfacing, you regret not discarding the blade when you had the chance.

"Just hold on, okay?" Harry says as he tries to stop the bleeding, placing his hand over the wound.

"We'll fix you. Hermione will have something." He reassures before turning his attention towards her.

"In your bag– Hermione?" Harry pleads and your girlfriend merely clutches you tighter.

"Hermione." He repeats, desperate.

"Help me!" The man shouts, you hear your girlfriend let out a sob.

A barely audible "I'm sorry." before Hermione turns to embrace you, burying her face into the crook of your neck. 

An attempt to protect herself from the inevitable anguish; witnessing someone entirely undeserving of death, go out so painfully, abruptly.

"Such a beautiful place– to be with friends. Dobby is happy to be with his friend, Harry Potter." The elf mutters, and you are unable to stare any longer.

You make accidental eye contact with Ron, but for once there is a shared regard between the two of you. Grief, sadness, gratitude, acceptance.

The sheer helplessness Harry feels is shared amongst all of you as you watch the elf take his last breath in his arms.

You observed as Luna walked up to him, graciously shutting Dobby's eyes with her fingers.

Hermione remains in your arms, and you hold her close, having no intention of letting go.

"I want to bury him– properly. Without magic." Harry says, fighting back his sobs.

════════════════════════════════════════════

You are jolted awake once again out of a distressing dream. This time your girlfriend is not in bed next to you, you sit up abruptly in a panic.

"Hermione?" You call out, and the voice that responds almost immediately, swiftly eases your nerves.

"I'm here." Your girlfriend says, emerging through the doorway.

"I had to use the loo." She then explains, climbing back into bed. 

With the feeling of Hermione's head against your chest you can breathe again.

You spent most of the night lying awake, and when you did manage to find sleep you were merely tormented by nightmares. 

The encounter in Malfoy Manor could've gone much differently, in fact it could've ended horribly. You were so close to losing everything that mattered to you. You could only vow that you will never allow yourself to get that close again. 

Any relief you felt this morning derived from knowing your girlfriend at least managed to find some sleep herself. Clearly the events of yesterday took a toll on her, but she is resilient, as always, and you adore her for it.

"I'm sorry you had to leave your parents." Hermione says after a long silence.

"Don't be. Nothing good has ever come from me being around them." You state truthfully, threading your fingers through her hair, absentmindedly.

"You saw how they were." You add.

"I know, still, I'm sorry." Hermione repeats it anyway, lifting her head to place several kisses against your cheek, the same spot your mother had struck.

You then reach down, gently grazing her bandaged arm, soon lifting it up to place a tender kiss against it.

The look Hermione gives you in return makes your heart stop and beat faster in your chest all the same.

"You know, I fight so hard because of you." You admit, extending your arm to cup her jaw.

"I never had a reason before you." You add, your thumb stroking her cheek.

You watched as your girlfriend's eyes welled with tears, overwhelmed and consumed by adoration.

Hermione finally leans in, capturing your lips with her own. The kiss snatches the air right out of your lungs, but you don't care. You'd never wish for it to end.

She finally pulls away only slightly before resting her forehead against yours.

"I love you, y/n. So much, more than you'll ever truly know." Hermione says, and the pleasant fluttering that travels throughout your entire body translates to an easy smile on your lips.

[t3ddyd0ll]

Oooo how would the yandere react if we woke up from a nightmare all big eyed and sobby and with a tiny betrayed glint in our eyes, flinching from them because in our dream they did something actually unforgivable and we cant really discern the dream from reality??? <\3

simon would be so so worried. they'd try their best to comfort you, while also trying to keep their hands to themself as touching you seems to make u upset! he'd talk real gentle and try to guide you back to reality, telling you it's okay, you're safe, you're safe, you're safe. eventually he might ask you to start pointing things out around the room like everything that's the color blue or reading the words on the book spines that stick out. once he's got u back to reality and you explain what made u so upset, they're gonna feel soooo bad and would be extra extra soft and sweet to try n help u feel better!! he'd do his best to make sure u went back to sleep suuuper comfortable and warm and hopefully feeling much much safer. expect lots of snuggling (if u let him)

wyatt would be a little panicky too! they'd feel terrible that you had such a bad nightmare, and when you flinch away from them they'd frown and keep their hands in their lap. to help ground you, they'd use techniques they learned in therapy and would stay as long as it took to help you get back to reality, though the whole ordeal would make them anxious also lol. they might wanna keep u up for a little bit, have u eat something and talk with them and make sure you're settled down before having u get back to sleeping.

thomas would frown, ohhh, poor dear. if you're that anxious he's going to be very gentle but very firm in trying to settle you down. he'd give u instructions for taking deep breaths and would give u something to hold onto like a stuffed animal or pillow or something. he'd talk with you about what you dreamt, and help u understand that you're far too precious to him for anything bad like that to ever happen <3 he'd probably have u drink some tea with sleeping aides mixed in and would distract u from the bad feelings till ur all done and ready to get back to resting <33

viktor would feel bad for you, but he'd also be interested in your reaction and what made you feel this way. he'd be concerned in getting your breathing back to normal and would use hypnosis to help coax u back down to earth, settle you down, and understand what happened in your dream. he'd probably watch you sleep for a while after you're back down, petting your hair and just making sure you don't have anymore nightmares.

emi would feel bad for you, but honestly he'd understand. why wouldn't you get nightmares from being with him?

once u flinch with him trying to touch you, he'd put his hands near you, but not on. he'd talk gentle and would try to get u to take deep breaths, promise you're safe, you're not gonna get hurt, you're okay. he'd let you cry a little so u can get it out, and once you're awake enough to know what's going on, he'd ask about what you dreamt and would like to hold u close once ur ready to sleep again. if you didn't want to though, he wouldn't force it after a nightmare like that </3

evelyn would be soooo sad to see u like that. she'd sit with you and wait for you to come to your senses on your own, along with the occasional encouragement. once you realize what's happening irl, she'd ask what happened in your dream, and propose giving u some sleeping medicine to help make sure u don't have bad dreams again. she'd want to lay close to you and play with your hair, and watch u sleep until she can't stay awake anymore <3

[hobiebrownismygod]

HAIII HELLOOO HOW ARE U DOING so i just had a random idea and i cant stop thinking about it. you can it ignore it i'm just asking

basically hobie x reader (can be fem or gender neautral idc) where reader is like a siren but isnt dangerous and likes swimming in the canal that hobie's boat is in and then like one night he spots reader in the water

idk if that makes sense words are not wording right now 😭 but yeah you can do whatever you like with the rest. thank yewwww 🙏🏾💞

wait omg I love this idea!! its so cute and I totally see why it's been stuck in your head lol I went kind of overboard with the lore for this one. I also made it femreader because that's easier for me to write and hopefully that's okay!! I hope you like how I wrote it <3

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Humming under his breath, Hobie stood at the edge of his deck, staring out into the distance, mind overrun with quiet thoughts. The night was basically silent, no people nor animals in sight, just Hobie and his canal boat, slowly drifting along the soft waves.

He was still fairly close to shore, and could see some faint lights of alive homes, but it was growing very late, and everyone was going to sleep for the night.

But Hobie couldn't sleep. He was tired, of course, anyone would be after the day he'd had...but he just couldn't sleep.

It was difficult for him to sleep these days. So many scenarios littering his mind, making him think, fear, dream. Not a day went by where he wasn't suddenly awoken by a terrible nightmare, the screeching of civilians flooding his brain, images of horrific villains filling his dreams.

So staring out at the water, enjoying the silence, it was much more calming for him. It was also a way for him to avoid the sleepiness crawling up his spine, latching its gentle claws around his shoulders and pulling him into the soft, warm enclosure of his bed.

But he refused to give in to the temptation, to the tiredness. What he'd experience when he was asleep was too much to bear.

Besides, he couldn't have any nightmares if he was awake.

Suddenly, Hobie's expression perked up, and he leaned his head forward. He'd heard something, but he wasn't sure what. He stopped humming, the area around him falling completely silent as he strained his ears to listen for whatever might have been there.

He heard a faint hum.

His spider-sense began to tingle.

The song was beautiful, nothing like he'd heard before. It was quiet, soft, reminding him of the way a hug would feel, warmth and love, wrapping around one's body and holding them close. It was musical, vibrant, but just enough to make him feel even sleepier than before.

It was also strangely enchanting.

After a beat, Hobie began to hum along. He knew the tune. He wasn't sure how, but he did know it. A simple five or six notes, easy to remember, easy to memorize, easy to single along with.

And then he realized he was humming alone. The other voice had disappeared.

He furrowed his brows, confused as to where it could've gone.

A ripple passed by, just barely changing the surface of the dark, murky water below. He stumbled back slightly, immediately on defense mode as he peered over the edge, gaze hardening over the sight of a few bubbles, slowly rising to the surface.

"Hello?" He called out softly.

For a moment, he thought nothing would happen. That he'd just been imagining it. Hallucinating even, the little sleep he'd had finally getting to him.

But he watched as a pair of eyes appeared, the outline of luscious hair and a head parting the waters, peering up at him.

He stared, mouth opening in awe.

You were beautiful.

Your face was just barely illuminated by the moonlight, glistening down on the droplets dripping down your smooth skin, just your face and neck having protruded out of the water.

You cocked your head to the side slightly, as if curious, inspecting him as he put his hands on the railing separating him from the open waters. "Hello."

His breath hitched in his throat. "Who...are you?" He asked after a moment, struggling to find his voice.

You smiled, enjoying his reaction. Before you could respond you were interrupted by a loud blare. Another boat was approaching, one that looked similar to a police boat almost.

Hobie looked up too, caught off-guard, and his expression immediately hardened. When he noticed you about to submerge yourself in the water again, he quickly reached a hand out.

"Wait!"

You looked back up at him nervously, eyes flitting between him and the slowly approaching vessel. The silence was thick enough to be sliced, his soft breaths and the ripples of the water both louder than the sound of the boat that was coming closer.

Your eyes stayed on each others, hundreds of thousands of words being exchanged in a single moment. It was like he could read your mind, and you could read his. An odd, yet welcomed, connection.

"What are you?" He asked softly. You smiled once again, eyes crinkling up slightly. When you opened your mouth to speak, Hobie was blown away.

What you spoke wasn't English, but it was like he could understand every word, your voice like a tune, another lovely song, sung by a perfect voice. He exhaled softly when you finished, nodding furiously.

"I-uh-" he stuttered, realizing the boat was only getting closer, the officers' voices growing louder and louder. "Do you speak English?" he asked quickly, praying under his breath that your answer would be-

"Yes."

He grinned, cocking his head to the side slightly as he stared down at you. "I-"

The horn of the police boat sounded again and you snapped your head to the side, pretty eyes widening before you looked back at Hobie. He opened his mouth, hoping to delay you just a moment longer, calling out, "Wait-!"

But you were already gone, having disappeared under the surface without a trace, lost to the pitch black, shallow waters of the canal. He stared back at the slight ripples still emanating from where you'd left before running over to motor and roughly turning it on.

He had to escape, as quickly as possible. If he got caught now, he'd be out of a home, and he'd grown quite used to this little boat he loved so much.

But those lovely eyes were still stuck in his head. He chuckled to himself as he turned the tiller, steering himself in the opposite direction of the officers chasing him. He hummed those same four notes to himself, your gorgeous melody turning into a tune he didn't think he'd ever quite forget.

He hoped...no he knew that wouldn't be the last time he saw you. Hobie Brown was never one to let an opportunity slip past him, and this little encounter seemed to be much more than that. The way you'd looked at him, spoke to him, smiled at him-

Could it be fate? Hobie didn't believe in fate.

But this just felt so real. So real that he couldn't help but hope that it was fate.

That he was meant to see you again.

Because he would, whether it was written in the stars or not.

He'd find the girl with a voice of gold.

No matter how long it took.

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A/N: Might write a part 2 if enough people ask because I feel like turning this into a series might be really fun but I also don't want to spend time writing it if no one's interested because I have other requests to get to too 😭 lmk if you want another part anon!! I'd be glad to write it <3

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