#uh i suppose i could tag everyone but
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I canât believe hermitaday is over! i feel crazy lol but here is a big oleâ lineup of everyone, including the five I missed due to exams or moving stuff!!
Tysm mod Luna for running this event, it has been a little treat every day this month. Plus seeing your notes in the rbâs made my day every time!
Closer shots under more (haha I hope it works)
Thanks for watching!
#hermitaday#hermit a day may#hermitcraft#hermitblr#uh i suppose i could tag everyone but#nah#relgnirart#hermitcraft smp#this hurt my hand but it was fun to pose them all :3#oh also i donated to the gamers outreach foundation and if ur reading this u should too!
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Busted
Summary: Logan x Fe!Reader -> Rogue has a date, and you and Logan decide to follow. You're just making sure she's safe. But sometimes it's in moments like that, that you find out your 'husband' is the love of your life.
Disclaimer: Mostly chaos, fluffiness, fake dating, mentions of being a soldier, the claws come out briefly, a nosy book club and its members. Some swearing, steam and a little angst. I wrote this over two days so apologies if it becomes spotty. This is a long one. Not Proof Read.
Rogue had a date.Â
Both yourself, Logan andâŠpractically most of the teachers in the school knew about Rogue having a date.Â
Yet, despite knowing all of this. And somewhat knowing the guyâs intentionsâŠLogan had decided to follow them.Â
And you had found yourself tagging along.Â
âAnd what did you think you were gonna do when they figured out you were following them?â You asked him. âAt least this way it just looks like we decided to pick up dinner in town.â
âAt the same restaurant?â
âYou ask that as if this wasnât your idea.â
âOh please,â Logan practically rolled his eyes at you. âI saw what you were actually looking at early. You were caseing the place.â
âI was looking at their opening times.â You countered, if a little harshly.Â
âYou were casing the joint and you know it. If I wasnât coming down here, you would have already come.â
You gave a short, heavy sigh. âFine. I wanted to make sure this wasnât some kind of set up. I just want her to be safe and have fun.â
âAnd I want to make sure the guy isnât a creep.â Logan finalised before opening up the door for you allowing you to step inside.Â
âHello, madam! Ah, good sir! Table for two?â The waiter looked at his list.Â
Logan looked and felt a little out of place. He was hoping you could both enter quietly, not have an announcement made to the entire restaurant.Â
âUh, yea. Yes, please.â
The waiter smiled, picking up two menus. âPlease, this way.â
âLogan.â
Logan followed your line of sight to see where Rogue and her date were sitting, smiling and laughing with one another as they looked over the menus.Â
âUh, actually, bub?â
The waiter turned around. âYes, sir?â
âIf you donât mind weâd like to sitâŠâ Logan looked around and found an empty table. âThere.â
You saw where he pointed and realised why. Too far back into the restaurant, youâd pass right by the happy couple.Â
Sitting where Logan was currently looking, gave you direct sight of the happy couple and with a chance, more coverage from the rest of the guests.Â
âThere?â The waiter asked, a little offended. âOh, no, Sir. Please. We have a lovely booth for a couple such as yourself back here. Romantic candle light, a lot more privacy, no?â
You felt yourself blush at what the waiter was trying to subtly say.Â
And it seemed that Logan caught on, too. And looked at you, unsure of what to do.Â
You gave a small laugh and moved closer to Logan, âIâm sure, but you see, the thing is, myâŠâ
You hesitated a little on your next words. âHusband.â
Christ, you felt that lie weigh on your chest.Â
âHe was in the army. Not a big fan of not being able to see the door. Just a habit, I suppose.â
The waiter gave a softer smile. âAh, no worries.âÂ
Swiftly, he began leading you both towards the table Logan had pointed out. âMy sister is serving overseas right now. We are all very proud. Thank you for your service, Sir.â
Logan gave an awkward smile and thanked the waiter before you both sat down with your menus.Â
âI thought we were busted then,â Logan shifted in his seat.Â
âSo did I,â you replied. âSo long as they donât draw any-â
âSo, what will it be?âÂ
Both yourself and Logan jumped at the waiter's sudden reappearance. However, he didnât seem to notice as he began rattling off the specials. And then the wines. And then came the crash.Â
Everyoneâs heads turned inside the restaurant.Â
Including Rogueâs.Â
Quickly, you scooted your chair around so the waiter blocked you from view. By the time he turned back around, muttering about incompetencies about the newer staff members, he excused himself and headed in the direction of the crash.Â
You saw Rogue settle her back to talking with her date and you breathed again, pulling your chair back to its original position.Â
The waiter returned.Â
âSo, what will you be having?â
This time he blocked your view from Rogueâs table, giving Logan a clearer view of her date. You could see something flare up in Logan.Â
âUh, weâre gonna need another minute.â You said hurriedly, willing the waiter to walk away.Â
And he did.Â
For a moment.Â
âLogan.â
He turned back to you. âWhat?â
âHave you decided yet?â The waiter was back.Â
Logan took your menu from you and placed it with his before handing it over to the waiter, who seemed shocked for a moment since it took him just as long to realise what Logan was doing.Â
âTwo cheeseburgers, a side of fries and two sodas. Please.â
The waiter seemed to force his smile a little. âOf course, sir. Anything else?â
âNo, thank you.â You replied and the waiter bowed his head before walking away.
For a split second as you looked at Logan, you felt a comfort in your gut. And apparently the look was still clear on your face when he looked back at you.Â
âWhat?â
You shook your head, snapping yourself out of it. âNothing, justâŠwell, the last time a guy ordered my food for me he ordered me a salad, with a side of vinegar and sparkling water.â
Logan raised an eyebrow, slightly confused. âIs that what you wanted?â
âFuck no.â You answered honestly. You didnât want it then, and you sure as hell didnât want it now.Â
Especially the sparkling water.Â
Logan looked at you for a moment in a silence you hadnât known from him before. Then he turned back to watch Rogueâs date.Â
And there was that look again.Â
âLogan. You canât kill him from here.â
âDoesnât mean I donât want to.â
You nodded. âI know that. And so does everyone else in this restaurant. At least now I know why Scott doesnât send you undercover.â
Logan turned back to you.Â
âYou might be the âmysterious, silentâ type but if someone took one look at your face, theyâd find their answers.â
âAre you saying Iâm easy to read?â
Someone came and placed your drinks down on the table. You shrugged.Â
âTo the people who know you, yes.â
âOkay, then. Fine.â Logan turned his full attention onto you. âWhat am I thinking?â
âThat Iâm wrong. And that you wished you had the powers of invisibility so you could be closer to the table without being seen and mess with her date whilst he canât see you.â
Logan remained still for a second before shifting in his seat. âOkay, fine. Maybe I am easy to read.â
You smiled and took a sip of your soda. âSee.â
For the next twenty five minutes, things ran smoother than expected. You both enjoyed your meals, yourself and Logan talked a little however spent most of your time watching Rogue and her date enjoy their time.Â
âWhat would you do?âÂ
Logan hummed a questioned response.Â
âIf you took someone out on a date? What would you do?â
Logan scrunched up his paper napkin and placed it beside his plate. âWhy do you want to know?â
You shrugged, looking away from Rogueâs date. âCuriosity? Iâve had that many crappy dates in my time, maybe you can rescue my last sliver of hope.â
Logan felt a smile on his face for a moment, hearing your plea for hope.Â
âOh, come on. Theyâre talking. If we look at them any longer they might sense someone staring.â
Logan sighed. âFine.â
âSo, what would you do?â
Logan shrugged. âI donât know. Go for a drink, maybe some food. Honestly, itâs been a while since Iâve dated.â
âSeriously?â
Logan nodded. âSeriously. What about you?â
You thought about it for a moment. âWell, the last date I went on the guy ordered my food for me.â
âSparkling water guy?â Logan asked.Â
You nodded. âOne in the same. He spent two hours talking about his businesses, and didn't notice I hadnât touched my food. Or my drink, for that matter. Then at the end, said that if we ever got married, I wouldnât have to worry about anything other than what I was going to make him for his dinner each night.â
âFucking asshole. Why did you stay?â
You decided to answer honestly. âDidnât have anything else to do. And my friends had been on my case about my dating life. They were all either married or getting married or starting a family, and when they said they knew this âreally great guy, youâll just adore himâ I decided to give it a shot.â
âWhat did they do when they found out he was an asshole?â
âCouple apologised, others asked me to give him a second chance. They havenât tried setting me up with anyone since.â
Logan watched you for a moment as you pulled your soda to your lips. He wanted to punch the Sparkling Water Guy. He didnât realise how lucky he was to be on a date with someone like you. And, in all honesty, he wasnât too happy with your friends either.Â
âYou deserve better.â
Your eyes widened and for a moment Logan thought he had fucked up, saying that to you out loud.Â
âLogan. Logan, quick. Shit.â
Then he noticed where you were looking. Rogue was standing up, as was her date.Â
âShit.â
You looked around you, trying to find the best place to hide yourself. Only Logan found a solution.Â
From under the table, he grabbed the bottom of your chair and pulled you closer towards him.Â
âJust keep looking at me, hopefully weâll just blur in with the rest of the crowd.â
And you did. You kept your eyes on Logan.Â
In his peripheral vision, he saw Rogue slipping her coat on with her dateâs help, who just so happened to rake his eyes up and down her body from the back whilst she wasnât looking.Â
Then he felt your hand on his.Â
âLogan,â you whispered to him, getting his attention.Â
With your hand on his, you were covering the tips of his claws that started peeking out from between his knuckles.Â
âHeâs just helping her put her coat on.â
Logan felt the tips of his claws retract, however three small holes were left in the cloth on the table beside his plate.Â
âSorry.â
You just smiled. âItâs okay.â
Then the waiter came back. âAh, so lovely to see a couple so in love.â
You felt your cheeks go red and hid your face against Loganâs shoulder as he curled his arm around your back and smiled at the waiter. âCan we have the check?â
The waiter nodded. âOf course, just one moment.â
Within seconds, the waiter was back just as Rogue and her date walked out of the door.Â
âHave a lovely evening!â The waiter called out to both of you as Logan took your hand and headed for the door.Â
Rogue and her date were already half way down the street.Â
âWhere are they going?â
âMaybe heâs walking her to the cab station?â You offered.Â
Logan, with his eyes still fixed on the dates, nodded his head in the opposite direction. âTaxisâ that way.â
Looking back at you, you both made a simultaneous decision and were back to following them.Â
âWhere the hell could they be going?â
âMaybe theyâre just going for a walk. It is still early and they looked like they were having fun. Some couples like to take a walk together after a date.â
âTheyâre not a couple yet. And this is their first date.âÂ
You caught up beside Logan and pulled him to a slower pace so neither of you looked like frantic maniacs going down Main Street.Â
âIf we get any closer, theyâre gonna see us.â
âYouâre right.â
Yourself and Logan tailed them down the street and around the park before deciding to head back home. âIf theyâre coming round on the top of the street, theyâre gonna see your car.â
Logan looked around him before taking hold of your hand and nearly pulling your arm out of its socket. âThis way.â
âLogan, slow down.â You told him. âWe arenât all ten feet tall.â
Thankfully, he did slow down, however didnât let go of your hand.Â
âDo you think we did the right thing? Following them?â
You nodded. âI was questioning it at first butâŠat least this way we know the guy actually meant what he said when he asked her out. Oh, shit
âWhat?â
You just managed to push Logan into the doorway of a closed bookstore, pushing his back against the glass.Â
âWhat are you doing?â
âUhhh,â you panicked. âNothing. Just aâŠpuddle. Big puddle.â
âIt hasnât rained in three days. What are you-â
Logan stopped when he saw what you had seen. Rogueâs date was about to lean in to kiss her.Â
You pushed him back, trying your best to keep him pinned to the wall. âOkay, I get we tailed them most of the night but we have to give them some privacy.â
âDid he even ask?â
âI donât know, but just keep your voice down. The car is three spaces away. Hopefully theyâll be distracted long enough to-â
You peered back round the corner. âOh, thank god.â
âWhat? Whatâs going on? Has hell opened up and sucked him in?â
You looked back at Logan, a little less than amused. âTheyâre going into the ice cream shop. Come on, before they see us.â
However, just as you both stepped out of the doorway, you found your path blocked by an elderly woman and her dog.Â
She chuckled to herself. âDonât mind me kids, just taking Frankie on a walk. And donât worry, honey. I remember when I first met my Harry. We couldnât keep our hands off each other.â
You let out a nervous laugh as Logan looked like he was about to burst from embarrassment as he ran a hand through his hair, his shirt coming untucked and showing off a small hint of his torso.Â
Mrs Keller watched where your eyes landed and gave you a knowing albeit loving smirk as she watched you move closer to Logan, tugging his shirt down a little and pressing close into his side.Â
âWe should get going. It was nice seeing you Mrs Keller.â
Mrs Keller waved you both off towards Loganâs car. âIâll see you for next week's book club?â
You nodded. âIâll be there.â
âFeel free to bring your husband along,â she called back. âItâll drive Little Miss Prissy up the wall that youâve been keeping that Handsome Fella a secret.â
You laughed nervously once again, as Logan gave you a slight smirk despite his initial embarrassment at what the old lady thought you were both doing. Â
âGood night, Mrs Keller.â You called out before Logan repeated it.Â
She waved you both goodbye before continuing down the street with Frankie walking by her side.Â
Closing the passenger door, you covered your face with your hands already feeling Loganâs eyes and teasing smile on you.Â
âShe was nice.â
âShut up and drive.â
Logan chuckled, placing his key into the ignition and pulling out of his spot, his hand behind your headrest as he did so when looking over his shoulder.Â
Barely five minutes into the drive, Logan started asking you questions.Â
âYouâre a part of a book club?â
âWe all meet every fortnight and talk about books.â
âAnd Mrs KellerâŠ?â
You sighed.Â
âIs one of the founding members. I met her at the library one day when taking some books back. She was at the desk asking if they had the newest Danielle Steel. They didnât, but I had seen it in the shop window in a bookstore on the other side of town. We walked together and she invited me to join.â
âHow was the book?â Logan asked.Â
âI cried.â You answered honestly. âFirst book I actually cried at.â
Logan let out a small laugh and you hit his arm whilst trying to hold in one of your own. âDonât laugh.â
âI-Iâm not laughing. Okay, maybe I am. I mean, it is funny. Is this where youâve been disappearing every other Saturday?â
You nodded. âPretty much. Theyâre a fun group. Well, most of them are.â
âLet me guess?â Logan asked. âLittle Miss Prissy?â
You groaned. âShe lives two doors down from Eva. Eva can be nice, but Prissy? God, sheâs a nightmare. Every time itâs her turn to talk, she somehow manages to turn it back to her and her âever doting husbandâ and their âprecious baby niece and nephewâ and âoh, look at how cute he is with them.â You know, we read American Psycho once. She still managed to turn it back to her husband.â
âI wouldnât mind,â you continued. âIf she wanted to know about anyone elseâs love life. LikeâŠâ you sighed, thinking of an example. âMrs Keller? Her and Harry have been together since they were seventeen. They met when they were twelve, lived across the street from each other their entire lives. Mrs Keller had been stood up for one of the local dances by Harryâs friend. So, the minute he found out, he ran over to her house, still covered in motor oil and asked her to the dance. Mrs Keller deserves to write her own romance book for everything that her and Harry have done together. But can she get a word in edgewise? Nope.â
âSounds like a love for the ages.â Logan said with a soft smile on his lips, looking at you before turning his gaze back to the road in front of him. âAnd by the sounds of it, Mrs Keller is going to give her something else to talk about.â
You covered your face again. âOh, god.â
âHey, come on, it canât be that bad.â
âHow do I tell Mrs Keller Iâm not married? Sheâs gonna think that Iâm-â
âWhat if you didnât?âÂ
You turned and looked at Logan. âWhat?â
âWhat if you didnât? Tell them youâre not married? I mean, itâs not like theyâre gonna meet me.â Logan explained. âJustâŠkeep up with the lie.â
âAnd what do I do when they ask me questions?â
Logan shrugged. âJustâŠbend the truth.â
âOkay,â you sat up in your seat, deciding to test him. âHow did we meet?â
âAt work. Weâre both teachers.â
âWhen was our first date?â
Logan thought about it. âSix months after we met. We decided to stay up late and ate leftover Chinese food.â
You furrowed your brows. How the hell did he manage to answer these so quickly? Sure, most of it was true. You were both teachers, and the first night you spent alone in the same room together was eating the leftovers in the fridge. Of course, what wasnât being said was that you both actually met when Logan nearly bulldozed you when he ran into the Professorâs office just after heâd woken up in Jeanâs lab. Or how neither of you had properly spoken to one another until that night six months later.Â
Or how afterwards, it took a long time for you to make a genuine friendship with him that wasnât just talking about the team or what the students had to learn in that semester.Â
âAnd then what?â You asked him. âWe kissed and lived happily ever after?â
Logan shrugged. âSure, why not?â
You groaned again. âI hate lying to Mrs Keller.â
âYou just lied to her like ten minutes ago. We both did.â
Eventually, Logan pulled up outside of the school and left the car back where he had found it.Â
âLike we never left.â
You smiled. âCome on, before she gets back and figures out what weâve been doing.â
Walking through the school ground and up the front steps, both you and Logan chatted away, laughing a little here and there about anecdotes you were telling him.Â
Then you were alone in the middle of the empty hallway, cast in darkness and hints of moonlight.Â
âWe should get to bed before they get back.â
âI think I might stay up and wait for her to get back. Make sure he didnât do anything he shouldnât have done.â
You stepped a little closer to him. âBe nice, Logan.â
âIâm always nice.â
You just raised an eyebrow at him.Â
âOkay, fine.â Logan sighed a laugh. âIâll be nice.â
âThank you. Tell me how it goes?â
Logan nodded. âCourse.â
However, as you both stood together in the hallway, soaking in the vision of the other, you both heard footsteps.Â
âShit.â
Logan looked around. âHere.â
Taking your hand, Logan pulled you into the small space besides the bookshelf and the window.Â
Being pressed between the wall and him, you felt his scent and body heat swirl around you and mix with your own. Your own heartbeat was drumming so loud in your eardrums you could hardly hear what Rogue was saying when she was talking to her date.Â
From above you, Logan leaned down, his eyes roaming across your face, whilst you found your own gaze doing the same.Â
Your heartbeat seemed to drum harder and faster against your chest, your lungs trying to find an even pace to breathe at.Â
But you werenât the only one struggling with that.Â
Because Loganâs breathing had become laboured as he looked at you, wanting the space between you both to be further so he could think clearer and not do something you both could regret, but at the same time, for you to be closer to him so he could cross that line.Â
You swallowed thickly, trying your best to keep your gaze from his lips.Â
You were failing.Â
âLoganâŠâ
âY/nâŠâ
The hand you had pressed against his chest slid up his chest before you took a wad of the loose fabric by his collar in your hands, holding him closer, begging for that line to be crossed. Just as you did so, his own hand pushed the hair from beside your face, his hand gripping onto the space between your neck and your shoulder. Maybe if he forced himself, he wouldnât move his hand and he wouldnât cross that line.Â
âAlright, where are you two?â
You and Logan stilled. âMaybe if weâre quietâŠâ
Rogue started walking around. âYou wouldnât have gone to bed yet. Where are you? Oh, come on. I saw you both in the restaurant.â
You and Logan sighed and he closed his eyes, leaning a little further into you. You didnât want him to leave.Â
âBusted.â
Slowly, you and Logan came out from your hiding spot and Rogue spun around her heels. âThere you both are.â
âLook, before you yell, you need to know something.â
Rogue crossed her arms, waiting.Â
âIt was Y/nâs idea.â
âLogan.â
But rather than yell, Rogue laughed a little. âWhy does something tell me thatâs a lie?â
Logan shrugged. âIt might be part of a lie.â
You gave a sigh. He was hopeless.Â
âWe just wanted to make sure you were safe. And, if you want to know, weâve already learnt our lesson.â
âReally?â
Logan nodded in agreement with you. âJust take our word for it.â
âSo, how did your date go?â
Rogue smiled. âIf you must know, weâre going out again next Saturday. Heâs going to take me to the movies and then weâre gonna go bowling.â
âThat sounds like fun.â
âIt will be,â Rogue said. âSo long as you two promise to not follow us this time?â
You crossed a sign over your heart. âI swear.â
Rogue waited for Logan to do the same, and only when you nudged him did he do so. âBut Iâm dropping you off.â
âJust agree,â you told Rogue. âItâll be easier on all of us.â
Rogue agreed. âFine. You can drop me off.â
Not long after that, both yourself and Logan went to bed whilst Rogue walked towards the kitchen to grab a bottle of water before doing the same.Â
âAre we being overprotective?â
âSheâs just a kid, Y/n. Weâre allowed to be.â
Logan walked you to your door, both of you calling goodnight to each other. However, you didnât fall asleep.Â
At least for the first couple of hours.Â
Mrs Keller thought you were married.Â
Married to the same man you were friends with.
The same friend you had almost kissed.Â
The same friend who had almost kissed you.Â
By the time you woke up the next morning, you seemed to be the only one awake. It was no surprise though, considering you were still three hours off the clock having a one at the beginning of it.Â
âMorning.â
You jumped a little when you heard a voice before you opened your eyes to confirm it was Rogueâs voice who had spoken to you.Â
âWhat are you doing up? Itâs 7 am. And a Sunday.â
Rogue gave a smile. âCould ask you the same thing.â Rogue told you. âFigured youâd be wrapped in Loganâs arms right now.â
Your back was to her as you opened up one of the doors to the fridge, however became completely still and forgot why youâd opened the damn thing in the first place.Â
âWhat?â
Turning around, you saw Rogue and her smirk, sip at her coffee.Â
âI saw you and Logan last night.â
Beside the bookcase?Â
âAt the restaurant?â Rogue was confused by the more than panicked look on your face. She had said she saw you both, when she got home last night, didnât she. âYou and Logan were sat at the table by the window?â
âOhâŠâ You felt your heart leave the vice youâd just locked it in. âOh, yeah.â
Rogue smiled again. âLooked pretty cosy if you ask me.â
âGood job no oneâs asking you.â
Milk. Thatâs why you opened the fridge.Â
Taking the carton out, you closed it behind you and reached for a bowl and some cereal.Â
âAll snuggled up together, his arm around you. I was pretty sure he would have kissed you if the waiter didnât interrupt. Though, if he didnât, maybe you would have done more than kiss at that table.â
âRogue!â
She laughed. âWhat? Oh, come on. Iâve seen the way you look at each other. Seen the way he looks at you.â
She mumbled that last sentence into her coffee cup leaving you questioned just exactly what she meant by it.Â
âItâs too early in the morning for this,â you grumbled to yourself, replacing the cereal box in the cabinet.Â
âYou could always go back to bed.â Rogue offered. âOr go and see if Logan wants some company.â
You turned around a slightly shocked, slightly disgusted look on your face. âOh my god.â
âIâm kidding.â Rogue laughed out. âKinda.â
âWhen did you grow up?â You asked out loud, coming to the daily realisation that Rogue wasnât the little kid you had first met when she arrived at the school but was, in fact, very quickly on her way to becoming a full grown woman. After all, she had started taking on a small time tutoring job and she was still a couple months away from graduation.Â
The rest of the day went smoothly. WellâŠas smooth as it could go when you were having a constant internal flashback to the night before. Mrs Keller and what she thought you and Logan were doing, it almost happening beside the bookcase, and then you walked in on him in his bathroom.Â
He had said it was safe for you to come inside, and you had happened to see him shirtless a couple of times. Though never in sync with a time when at least two people on the planet thought you were married, another one was trying to convince you she saw, at the very least, something similar to what the others had and the two minutes spent beside the bookcase which you had thought about over and over.Â
âHank is asking if you want corn or peas.â You told Logan as you walked inside, trying your best not to yell or scream out loud and retreat away.Â
âEither is fine. You okay?â
You snapped your eyes back to Loganâs face. âHm? Oh, yeah. Fine. Have you talked to Rogue?â
âNot today,â he replied. âWhy? Should I have done?â
You couldnât help but shudder. âNo. That kid is scary.â
You heard Logan laugh as you closed the door a little as you headed back out.Â
âHey, wait.â
You opened the door again, holding onto the frame for dear life. âYeah?â
âAbout last nightâŠâ
âWhat about last night?â You tried your best to remain as casual as possible, though it didnât help when you remembered Logan was practically a walking lie detector.Â
He could hear your heartbeat.Â
And it was only getting faster.Â
You told yourself to calm down.Â
It was only a question.Â
A big question.Â
That he hadnât finished.Â
Was he going to tell you to forget about it? Was he going to pretend it didnât happen? Did it happen? Had you made the entire thing up? Was the line that you thought had blurred for a second been completely in bold this entire time and hadnât shifted?
âThanksâŠfor coming with meâŠI know you would have gone anyway. But, Iâm glad you didnât try to stop me.â
You smirked a little. âLogan, youâre made of metal. The only practical way I could have is if I owned an industrial magnet.â
Logan chuckled a little. âStill. Iâm glad you came. Itâs nice to know the kidâs not alone, you know?â
You nodded. âI know. Anyway, I should probablyâŠâ
âYeah, yeah. I, uh, Iâll meet you down there.â
You nodded, letting your eyes take a mental picture of Logan before you shut the door again and headed downstairs and back into the kitchen.Â
âHe said either.â
Hank nodded and turned back to the stove.Â
âYou were up there for a while,â Rogue appeared by your side. âAnd you look a little flushed.â
You turned your head to look at her and glared. âI do not.â
âYou do look a little red in the cheeks, Y/n.â Hank added from where he was standing, busying himself by the stove.Â
âMaybe Iâm coming down with something.â You pressed your hands to your cheeks to hide them.Â
Rogue stood in front of you and pressed the back of her hand to your head. âYou donât feel hot, maybe- Oh, hey Logan!â
Rogue broke out into a wide grin.
Logan was a little shocked by Rogueâs enthusiasm. âHey, kid.â
âCome here, does Y/n feel hot to you? Sheâs looking a little flushed.â
âRogue.â You warned under your breath. But she just smiled and pulled Logan over where her hand was replaced by Loganâs.Â
And there it was again.Â
That sameâŠdifference.Â
Just like when you stood in front of him when you both got back, before you hid beside the bookcase.Â
âN-no. She feelsâŠshe feels okay.â
Rogue looked back at Hank who was trying his best to hide his smile. âWhy, Logan, youâre looking a little flushed yourself.â
Logan quickly stepped back, as did you. Only, you fell into the counter and gripped onto it for dear life.Â
You looked down at the floor.Â
âMaybe youâre coming down with something, too. I hope itâs not catching.â
Logan shook his head. âI canât get sick.â
Hank hummed. âMust be something else then.â
âMust be.â Loganâs voice was quiet as he looked at you and found you looking back.Â
Though you couldnât look for too long, feeling your cheeks heat up again.Â
âI better-â
âYeah, Iâm gonna-â
Both yourself and Logan headed in opposite directions. Yourself out of the kitchen the way you came in, and Logan out through the back door and into the gardens.Â
Eventually, you made it to your room and locked your door before moving over to the mirror. You did look flushed. Even more so when your brain projected the feeling of Loganâs hands on you from the night before, as well as the look on his face from thirty seconds ago.Â
By the time dinner rolled around, yourself and Logan tried to keep your distance until you both suddenly found yourself seated beside each other, taking one look at each other and then taking a large gulp of your drink.Â
Your main suspect for the forced seating arrangement was Rogue. She had been the one to lay out the cards. Three days previous, you were sure you had been sat beside her and Storm.Â
And when you looked over to her and found her smiling in your direction, you had your confirmed culprit.Â
For most of the night, you were kept distracted by the stories being told by everyone as you all caught up with one another from the past couple of months or so.Â
It was a few days until things felt normal between you and Logan. At least to the extent where you didnât feel yourself visibly flush at the sight of him.Â
And everything seemed normal.Â
Until Saturday.Â
You had already left - Logan being the only one to know where you actually were heading off to.Â
âOkay, but Logan, youâre not allowed to get out of the car.â Rogue told him. âYouâre just dropping me off. And youâre not allowed to come into the movie theatre, either.â
âWhat if I want to see a movie?â
âNot tonight, youâre not.â Rogue told him. âI like this guy, okay. And I think having The Wolverine sat behind us both isnât going to make things easier.â
Logan sighed. âOkay, fine. I wonât come into the movie theatre.â
âPromise?âÂ
Logan nodded, and crossed his heart. âPromise.â
âAnd you canât send Y/n in, either.â
âEven if I wanted to, I couldnât. Sheâs busy.â
âLet me guess, on a date at the movie theatre?â
Logan held back his smirk. âNo, smartass. Sheâs at a book club. But you canât tell the others. She doesnât want them to know.â
âY/nâs part of a book club?â
Logan nodded and stifled a laugh as he flicked on his indicator and turned down a side street. âYeah, it shocked me too.â
âYou wouldnât happen to be the mysterious husband theyâre all talking about?â
As a red light came on, Logan slammed on his breaks a little too hard. âWhat? How would you know about-â
âY/n took me to the library. There were a load of women looking at her. She was outside but when I asked her about it she said it was nothing. But I definitely heard them talking about her being married.â
Logan looked back to the road.Â
âLogan?â
âYeah.â
âIt's green.â
A car behind him honked and Logan quickly got moving, all the while feeling Rogueâs eyes on him.Â
âOh, my god.â Rogue smiled and turned back to the road in disbelief.Â
âWhat?âÂ
Logan was beginning to feel a little panicked. Though he didnât quite know why.Â
âYou are him.â Rogue stated. âOh, my god. Is this what you meant by âlearning your lessonâ? Did something finally happen?â
Logan was confused. âFinally? What do you mean finally?â
âI mean finally.â Rogue repeated. âJesus, Logan. Have you not seen the way you look at her? How she looks at you?â
âHow she looks at me?â Logan questioned.Â
Since when did driving Rogue to her second date become a time for confessions?
âHank was right, you both really are as bad as each other.â
Logan had to shake his head. âWait, Hank? Beast Hank?â
Rogue could help but laugh.Â
For months Rogue had watched Logan and yourself get close to each other. She had to watch as the looks Logan gave you went from untrusted, to familiar, to friendly toâŠeverything after the fact of trust. Not only could you see it in his eyes that he trusted you, but you could also see what he was too scared to admit to himself.Â
He was in love with you.Â
And had been for quite some time.Â
Of course, Rogue had only noticed this in the last couple of months.Â
Except, when talking with Hank as he cooked and she mostly watched and snacked on the parts he wasnât using for the main meals, she realised it had been going on for years.Â
How you had looked at Logan. Intrigue, civil, uncharted, familiar, friendly, safe and,,,love.Â
And apparently Hank hadnât been the only one in agony watching both of you. According to him, so were the rest of the team.Â
They were all just surprised nothing had actually happened yet.Â
âW-why are you laughing?â Loganâs gaze kept flicking from the passenger seat beside him to the road ahead until he finally pulled up outside the movie theatre.Â
âBecause youâre both idiots.â
Logan didnât look entirely amused. âThanks, kid.â
âLook, I could tell you butâŠyou need to work this one out for yourself. Thanks for dropping me off.â
As Rogue stepped out of the car, she closed the door and walked away. However, a few paces from the car she stopped and turned back around.Â
âFuck it, Iâm just gonna tell you.âÂ
Leaning back inside the car, Logan looked back at her.Â
âYou love her. And she loves you.â Rogue told him. âYouâve both loved each other for a long time and itâs about time you both do something about it before time passes and youâre both too chicken shit to do something about it. There is a reason everyone already thinks you're a couple, and thatâs because when neither of you are thinking, you both act like it anyway. You should really see the way you look at each other, Lo. I hope I can find that some day, too. Itâs rare. Donât let it slip past you. Either of you.â
Rogue watched as Logan soaked in all of her words and then settled back behind the steering wheel.Â
Reaching into her bag, Rogue pulled out a book. âThis was on the counter when I came downstairs.â
Logan took it from her. It was a new book. The new book you would be discussing about. Tonight.Â
âFigured she might need that. Maybe you can drop it off with her?â
Logan looked at Rogue and gave a smile. âThanks, kid.â
Rogue shrugged. âJust mention me during your wedding speech.â
Shutting the car door, Rogue watched as Logan pulled out of his parking spot and drove down the street, turning the corner to head towards the address you had given him earlier that week.Â
âJust in case you or Rogue needs me.â You had told him.Â
Pulling up outside the house, KELLER written on the mailbox, Logan turned off the engine, took the book from the passenger seat and headed up the porch steps and knocked on the screen door.Â
From inside he heard laughing before a familiar face opened up the door.Â
âOh, my. Logan, isnât it?â
Logan nodded, trying his best to hide the flush on his cheeks. âMrs Keller. Iâm hoping Y/n is here. She left her book and I thought-â
Mrs Keller gave a wide smile and pushed open the screen door for him to come in. âOf course. The more the merrier. Your wife will be happy to see you, Iâm sure. Follow me.â
As he did so, Logan soon found himself entering a second living room where around a dozen people were sitting in somewhat of a circle, either on the sofas or on the floor.Â
âLook whoâs come for a surprise visit!â Mrs Keller announced.Â
Everyone turned with welcoming smiles and slightly shocked expressions.Â
âLogan.â You werenât expecting to see him.Â
âHey,â Logan breathed with a smile at seeing you. âRogue. She picked up your book and I thought you might need it.â
You stood and took it from him softly. âThanks.â
âWell, honey? Arenât you going to give him a proper hello?â
Suddenly you and Logan felt a dozen pairs of eyes on you both and with a slight awkwardness, you leant up and kissed his cheek.Â
âOh, come on. Girls, I tell you. Last week they were like two teenagers.â
You felt your cheeks go bright red and you hid your face with the cover of your book. The only comfort was Loganâs hand that hadnât left your hip since you stepped into him to kiss his cheek.Â
âOh, Logan, please. Will you stay?â
Logan looked around the room. It was the first time he understood the expression âFeeling like you were going to be eaten alive.â
âNo, no. This isâŠyour thing. I donât want to intrude-â
âNonsense! Besides, weâve been dying to know more about our little mystery.â Mrs Keller said with nothing but affection.Â
âWho knew mystery could have so much romance?âÂ
Logan turned to where the voice came from and by your reaction, he gauged the voice belonged to Prissy. Whoâs name he would soon learn was Pricilla.Â
âIâd love to.â Logan replied, looking back to Mrs Keller.Â
âWonderful!â She clapped her hands together and got comfortable in her chair. âOh, Darwin, honey, come and sit by me so the lovebirds can sit together.â
The sofa in which Darwin had been sitting was as big as a seat and a half. So, when Logan did finally sit down, you were practically sitting on his lap, the only comfortable position you could find yourself in was tucked in by his side, your legs over his whilst his hand held your knees on his thighs.Â
Thankfully, your back was supported by the arm of the chair, but either way you felt yourself melt into Loganâs side, his body heat warming you. The fire Mrs Keller had on in the hearth was enough to heat the room but there was just something about Loganâs warmth that made itâŠdifferent.Â
âOh, you two just make the most adorable couple.â Mrs Keller smiled, watching the pair of you, noticing the smiles you gave each other as you both finally got comfortable in being so close to one another. âLike no one else is in the room.âÂ
Logan heard Rogueâs words echo inside of his head.Â
She was right.Â
âOh, you have to tell us how you met? Please.â Daisy asked from the floor beside the coffee table.Â
Prissy coughed. âArenât we more interested in discussing this weekâs book?â
A chorus of âNoâ sounded out.Â
With a shlump, Prissy sat back with a noise stuck at the back of her throat.Â
âOh, tell us how you met!â Darwin called out. âStart at the very beginning.â
âYou know itâs gonna be a good story when they look at each other like that.â Daisy added on.Â
Prissy leaned forward. âYou know, if you want a good love story, I can always tell you about how me and my darling husband met.â
Dawin groaned. Loudly. âWe already know your story, Pricilla.â
âGod knows weâve heard it enough,â Mrs Keller mumbled.Â
âWe want a new story and we want to hear about Y/n and Logan.â
You looked at Logan and Logan looked back. Something seemed different about him. It was almost like something was gleaming inside of him. You just couldnât figure out what. Or why.Â
But you loved seeing a new side of him.Â
There was just something that made your stomach flip and your heart grow when Logan showed you another side of him. A side he didnât let people see that often. Sometimes a side he wouldnât let himself see.Â
âWe met at work.â Logan told them.Â
âYeah, he nearly bulldozed me in the Professorâs office.â
âI did not.â
âYou did.â You countered. âI almost got a concussion from how hard you opened up that door.â
âYou werenât even near the door.â
âNo, because I jumped out of the way when you did.â
Mrs Keller smiled. âLet me guess, you didnât get off on the right foot?â
You shrugged. âNot particularly.â
âIt took timeâŠabout six months before we had a real conversation. And even then it took time.â
Mrs Keller smiled with a knowing look. âThe best ones always do.â
Over the next two hours, you and Logan were asked question after question. Most of them scolding you for not mentioning or bringing Logan to the book meetings sooner so they could all meet him.Â
Eventually, you did get onto the book you had all read. Prissy spent most of the time talking about the book and Logan got to witness first how she took the descriptions of a bird and placed the conversation back on her husband and what they had done during the week.Â
The first time, Logan could see it almost as sweet. After that it just got tedious.Â
But he couldnât care. Not when he felt you fall into his side, allowing for his arm to come around your back, his hand fanned out across the exposed skin from your hip where your t-shirt had come untucked from your jeans.Â
As the fire in the hearth settled into a constant warmth, people started to get more relaxed and cosier, pulling up blankets, putting on Mrs Kellerâs complimentary cosy socks.Â
Apparently she had a pair for everyone.Â
âLet me go and get some more snacks and then we can talk about chapter fifteen.â Mrs Keller gave a small gasp. âI didnât see it coming.â
But you shot to your feet. âNo, you sit down. Let me.â
âOh, thank you, dear.â
Sitting back down, Logan stood with you and walked into the kitchen with you.Â
For a moment, you both talked about the book club and everything that had just happened before a comfortable lul came and you both realised you had to talk about the elephant in the room.Â
âWe need to talk.â Logan told you.Â
âDo we?â
âRogue told me something and itâs been on my mind ever since. And I canât stop thinking how much she might be right.â
You poured some pretzels from the jar into a section of the dish. âReally? It must be bad if youâre agreeing with her.â
âCan you justâŠlook at me for a second?â
You stopped pouring the snacks and looked at Logan, only for him to grab your hands and hold them in his. Running his thumbs over your knuckles, you forced yourself out of your thoughts and back to focusing on the real Logan in front of you.Â
âI think Iâve known it for a while, I just donât think Iâve been able to let myself know it because, if I doâŠlook, Iâve lost a lot of people.â
He was scaring you now.Â
âLogan, whatâs going on?â
âIâve lost a lot of people,â he finally looked you in the eye. âBut Iâve come to realise you are not someone I can lose, Y/n. I donât want to lose you. But if I donât tell you something now, there might be a day when I could still lose you anyway.â
âLogan, youâre scaring me. Has something happened? What did Rogue say to you? I told you not to talk to her. That kid can be scary.â
Logan chuckled at that. It was true. Especially more recently. Very recently, in fact.Â
âIâm in love with you, Y/n.â
You felt yourself falter and stiffen at his words.Â
âYou are the person I trust the most in this world, and I donât say that lightly. I trust you and I love you. But I canât lose you. SoâŠâ Logan took a breath. âPlease tell me if Iâm going to lose you because of this, because I donât want to. I donât want to ever lose you. Especially over something that Iâve done.â
âYouâŠyou love me?â You questioned. âLoganâŠhowâŠwhenâŠLogan, you canât.â
âWhy not?â
âBecause youâŠyou just canât.âÂ
You were in shock and disbelief. âIâm not someone you fall in love with.â
âLittle late for that.â
âIâm being serious.â Pulling your hands from his, you walked away for a second. You needed space. You needed to breathe. You neededâŠyou neededâŠ
âSo am I.â
You couldnât help but scoff. âLoganâŠIâŠyouâŠweâŠwe donâtâŠâ
âWe donâtâŠwhat?â Logan asked you.Â
âWe donât fit, Logan. WeâŠwe spent years buildingâŠus. Donïżœïżœïżœt you think that couples tend to know- if not instantly, a little sooner than us?â
âY/n. I love you.â
âNo, you donât.â
âI love you.â
Logan started walking closer to you, repeating his words with every step.Â
âLogan, you donât.â
Taking you by the shoulders, he looked you in the eyes. âYes, I do. AndâŠIâd wager to say you feel the same, too.â
âLoganâŠâ
âJust listen to me.â Logan begged. âPlease.â
And so you did.Â
âComing in here to tell you this? I didnât expect you to tell me the same. I still donât. I get youâre scared. Hell, Iâm terrified. But the only thing that is keeping me from running out of that door is you. I know you, Y/n. And you know me, so when I stand here telling you that I love you, you know Iâm not lying. You know that you are the only person I cannot lie to. I respect you too much to do that.âÂ
Logan continued.Â
âBut just nowâŠyou said âusâ. And after what almost happened the other night and what happened in the kitchen with HankâŠhell, even back there with the Town Gossip BoardâŠâ
Logan studied your face for a moment. You were fighting back tears, white knuckling the countertop beside you both.
âI canât lose you, Y/n. So, please, tell me now. Just answer me this and if you want me to walk away I will. Do you love me?â
âLoganâŠâ
Loganâs grip on you tightened for a moment as he bit his lip saying your name. He was desperate for an answer, wishing for you to say yes. For you to tell him not to walk away.Â
He couldnât lose youâŠbut maybe he already had.Â
âPleaseâŠâ His voice broke. âPlease.â
And then you broke.Â
âOf course I love you.â
Pulling him in by his collar, you held your other hand against his face before kissing him. It wasnât soft or gentle. It was full of desperate and an outburst of emotion that you couldnât put into words. You could only hope he knew what you meant by your kiss.Â
Almost instantly you felt his hands come to your waist before he pushed against you, kissing you back, allowing his arms to snake up and around your back, holding you flush against his chest. All the while, his lips caught yours once more after half a breath.Â
Your tears dried up and your hand fell to Loganâs side as he turned you, your ass bumping against the lower counter in the kitchen. A low groan came from the back of Loganâs throat as your hand dipped under his t-shirt and your fingers raked across his skin and up the side of his torso.Â
However, just as Logan was about to lift you onto the counter, you both heard a voice call out from the living room.Â
âDid you manage to find the pretzels? Theyâre in the cabinet above the stove!â
You and Logan pulled away, breathless. With his hands tangled in your hair and your forehead pressed against his, Logan forced a swallow, his cheeks heating as he smiled, still feeling your hand on his skin.Â
âYeah, weâve got emâ!â Logan called out. âWeâll be there in a second.â
You let out a small laugh, as did Logan.Â
âHow long have you got left here?â
You turned your head to look at the rustic clock above the kitchen dresser. âAbout an hour.â
âMake it 45?â
â50.â You gave it as an offer. âI still want to find out what they thought about Chapter twenty two.â
Almost out of arm's reach, Logan pulled you back. âHey.â
âWhat?â You asked, allowing yourself to fall back into him.Â
Looking at you, Logan smiled before brushing the hair from your face and leaving you with a kiss that left you a little stunned and dizzy in the best way imaginable.Â
âI love you.â
âI love you, too.â
âWait.â Logan said once more, before pulling you back. You laughed a little.Â
âIf we spend any more time in here, Mrs Keller is going to think weâre about to defile her kitchen.â
âWe almost did,â Logan smirked watching your face heat before he started fixing your hair and your top.Â
And you did the same with him.Â
Finally walking back into the living room with the snacks, you and Logan sat back down together, your legs draped over his lap all the while your fingers subtly played with the ends of his hair, allowing your nails to run up and down the back of his neck every once in a while that had him shifting in his seat.Â
You were out of there within forty minutes.Â
But not before Mrs Keller gave Logan his own pair of cosy socks.Â
âYellow and blue,â she told him. âFor some reason, they speak to me. Theyâre yours. Youâre an honorary member. Feel free to drop in any session. Weâd love to hear more about you two.â
Both yourself and Logan smiled before walking back to the car where he opened up the door for you before walking around and getting into the driver's seat.Â
It took all of a month before everyone found out you and Logan had finally come together. Rogue and Hank seemed the most relieved that something had finally snapped between you two.
You both spent most mornings and nights tangled in each otherâs arms, finally free to admit the truth to each other.Â
You had loved Logan for a long time. And he had loved you just as long.Â
Neither of you planned on stopping that any time soon.Â
#logan howlett x reader#logan x reader#wolverine x reader#logan howlett x fe!reader#logan x fe!reader#wolverine x fe!reader#wolverine x you#logan x you#logan howlett x you#x men wolverine#x men#falling in love#friends to lovers#rogue#logan being protective#reader being protective#fluff#angst#hugh jackman wolverine#xreader#x reader#x fe!reader
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My Muse - Halloween Special
Summary: What if the Creepypasta characters were real life killers idolized the same way horror movie slashers were? Kids dressing up as Ghostface or Pennywise? More like kids decorated as Jeff the Killer or Slenderman! You chose to dress as your favorite mass murderer, Ticci Toby- and, oh, how he couldnât get enough of it. He had never seen someone look so good in his goggles.
Characters: Ticci Toby x Female Reader
SMUT WARNING MINORS DNI
TW: Vaginal, fluff and smut, fluff, vaginal fingering, handjobs, use of a condom, slight stalking, slight obsession, praise, alcohol, slight bullying, Jeff being a big brother, slight miscommunication, slight panic attacks, decompression, Toby is obsessive but we knew that, first time?
Tag: #rainykinktober2024
Words: 12k
A/N: Happy Halloween everyone! This work is based off of @h3llw1âs request made a while ago that I felt fit perfectly with a good spooky special! I will tag the request! Please be responsible and have fun tonight and this weekend!
Find the original request for this story here!
âWait, so⊠Who are you dressed up as, again?â
You shuffled the goggles off of your eyes, pushing them onto your forehead and messing into your hair, turning back to your friend.
âToby Rogers- yâknow, that kid who burned all those houses down? Serial killer, dude.â You smiled awkwardly, turning back to your vanity mirror and pressing the makeup brush against your cheek, trying to recreate the infamous cheek gash in the image you had pulled up. You were almost done, detailing the fake teeth at the corner of your lips. âWas really obsessed with him in middle schoolâŠâ
âOh, right.â Your roommate, Avery, rolled her eyes, curling the strands of her hair into big voluptuous rolls, making sure each piece looked nice under her hat. She was supposed to be Strawberry Shortcake, you think, it was hard to tell with how little she was wearing of the actual costume. It was really more of a bikini topped off with a strawberry hat.
âYouâre still planning on going to AJâs party, right?â She chirped, flipping the curling iron off and lying it on the counter, reaching back to grab her phone. You paused, giving yourself a once-over in the mirror- your costume really wasnât the âAJâs partyâ type. You turned around in your chair, a little overwhelmed with how messy your bedroom floor was, but promising yourself you would clean it up later tonight.
âUh, sure- If you guys are still going.â Avery tapped away at her phone, your own lighting up with text messages to your group chat sent by her. You were waiting on the rest of her friends, some people she had become close with in her classes.
It would be fun⊠you hoped.
âOh, theyâre here.â Stepping out of your room, you followed her to the front door, making sure your makeup looked good in the mirror. Standing on your front step, the rest of the group was there, chittering their excitement as Avery swung the door wide.
You stood awkwardly as they all hugged, complimenting each other on their matching costumes- the other two girls were supposed to be Orange Blossom and Blueberry Muffin, but they more or less matched with Averyâs.
They each had a guy with them, the tallest one wrapping his arm around your roommateâs shoulder, the Ghostface costume he had on making her all giggly. You cringed, fidgeting with the hem of the hoodie you had stitched to look like Tobyâs, the stripes on your sleeves were the hardest part.
âOh! This is my roommate [Y/N], sheâs gonna come with us tonight.â You nodded, giving a small wave as they all turned to you. Brushing your hair behind your ear, they all smiled sweetly, but you could tell they were a little put off by the outfit you were wearing.
âAh, whatâre you dressed up as?â The Ghostface guy chuckled, shuffling his mask up to get a better look.Â
âOh- uhm, Toby Rogers? Like, that serial killer. Yeah.â None of them had a clue, you could see it in the weird glances they cast at one another. Avery waved them off, jingling through her keys to pull the door shut and locking it behind you. âWe should get going, I donât wanna miss anyone.â
Nodding, everyone began to walk down the hallway of your apartment building, the guys carrying six-packs of beer under their arms. Sighing, you followed behind, taking the fabric mask from under your chin and pulling it over your mouth.
You would try to have fun tonight, you swore it.
-
âListen, kid, if you donât hurry up Iâm leaving you here.âÂ
Jeff crossed his arms, a scowl on his face as he watched poor Sally try and adjust her costume. Toby shoved him, kneeling beside her and reaching back to tie the little bow around her waist, casting a nasty look at the killer.
She was dressed as Annabelle, the creepy dress splattered with fake blood, making the real blood pooling from her forehead look like nothing more than some face paint. Her hair was tied into two neat little braids, Ninaâs doing. Sally turned to look at herself in the reflection of EJâs truck- Jeff had stolen it for the night, claiming he wasnât going to walk all the way into town just for some candy. She finally nodded, holding her little basket tight in her hands.
This was her first Halloween, with Jeff of all people, so she was a little anxious. The killer, on the other hand, found this holiday to be his favorite. He could waltz the streets of the small town closest to the mansion, hood down and everything, snagging as much candy and compliments as he wanted. People really admired his âmakeup.â
Toby decided to tag along this year, curious to see all the costumes and jack-o-lanterns. He really loved this night as a kid, he wanted to make sure it was good for Sally, too.
âIâm ready now.â She hummed, skipping forward to wrap her hand around Jeffâs hoodie sleeve, the killer rolling his eyes as he began to walk. Toby followed behind, admiring the decorations and darkly colored leaves littering the ground, a surge of excitement coursing through him. It felt just like one of those older scary movies, the sun dipping just low enough to cast an orangish hue across the clouds, kids running around giggling and screaming, parents tossing out candy left and right- he missed this feeling, what it was like to be normal.
He was older now, officially âcandy handing-outâ age. He used to relish these days, promising that he would dress up for Halloween until he was sixty- now he had much more important things to worry about than what costume he was going to wear. If only his younger self knew how much of a genuine horror his life would become.
âCâmon, twitch, I ainât waitinâ on you, too,â Jeff called, snapping Toby out of his trance as he watched kids race across the road, some mother yelling about being careful. He nodded, pushing his mask up over his nose, shimmying his goggles off of his forehead and over his eyes. He was still too paranoid to go outright, the covers made him feel more secure, like fewer peopleâs eyes were boring into him. He felt that swell of anxiety, having to remind himself that people would be far more concerned with Jeffâs look than his. Shoving his hands into his pocket, he took a deep breath- he had to calm down.
He wouldnât lose himself tonight, he swore it.
-
âWh- Whatâd you get?â Toby helped carry Sallyâs basket, the thing nearly overflowing with how much she was getting, everyone was loving her costume. They were nearly done with this neighborhood, but Jeff heard some kids yelling about a Baptist churchâs trunk-or-treat, and he was more than excited to show up somewhere holy. It was getting late, the sun almost nearly disappeared, so Toby knew it was almost time to wrap things up.
âLotsâa chocolate. Jeff keeps stealing the good stuff, though.â Glancing up, the killer was popping a tiny box of nerds into his mouth, tossing the cardboard onto someoneâs yard when he shrugged his shoulders. âYouâve got like, six more of âem- youâll be fine, squirt.â
It was turning out a lot better than Toby had thought, the brunetteâs worries nearly washed away as the night grew more crowded. Jeff had spotted some middle-schooler dressed as Slenderman, the killer nearly doubling over in laughter as Toby hauled his phone out to take a picture. The brunette had forgotten just how popular their boss really was, more of an internet spectacle than folklore now. A meme? Yeah, his big scary boss was a meme. Tim and Brian were going to get a crack out of it.Â
Teenagers were out now, older kids walking in packs with their friends, not so much worried about getting candy as they were trying to hide the alcohol they were carrying. Toby had forgotten just how much different Halloween was when you got older- girls dressed in skimpy outfits of cartoon characters, guys trying to play cool as some movie slasher chasing everyone around, and then you had the ones who just didnât dress up at all. It was weird.
âDamn, when did Strawberry Shortcake lose the baker getup and start wearing lingerie?â Jeff snickered, crossing his arms and nodding towards a group across the street. Toby scanned them, the orangish tint of his goggles obscuring them, but he could easily make out who the killer was talking about. He gave the rest of the pack a once-over, their outfits more or less the same as guys clung to their hips, flirty little touches as they all walked.
He almost missed it though, the one in the middle of the group, unaccompanied. Jeff mustâve seen it at the same time because he was slapping Tobyâs arm like crazy.
âOh fuck, isnât that supposed to be you?â Toby shoved his goggles off of his face, ruffling them into his bangs just like how you had them, looking utterly bored as your group quickly began to get out of his eyesight. The brunette looked down at himself, wearing that same hoodie that every popular image depicted him in, the stripes on his sleeves the telltale sign. There was no mistaking it, you were dressed up as him.
The brunette didnât know how to feel, didnât even really know what to say as Jeffâs teasing went unheard beside him. He couldnât peel his eyes away, couldnât stop his hands from flexing and fidgeting with utter excitement.
He had to get a better look at you.
âHey! Where are you going?!â Jeff yelled across the road, Toby shoving the candy basket into the killerâs hands and jogging in the direction your friends were going.
âIâll catch up with you guys later! Donât wa- wait up!â
He disappeared into another block, Jeff letting out an exasperated sigh as he took Sallyâs hand. âCâmon, kid. Weâve got some Baptists to freak out.â
-
It was already loud inside the house, music thumping against the walls as people tried to shout to hear one another.Â
You hung against the wall of the living room, sipping slowly on whatever alcohol-filled punch they were serving in the kitchen. People were spilling out everywhere, the front yard just as busy as the rest of the rooms of AJâs house.
It was barely even 9 PM, but nearly everyone from your school was here, familiar faces passing by with glances or cheesy small talk. Avery and her friends had disappeared into the crowd near the speakers, couples dancing and talking with one another, the pulsing neon lights, cheers following every finished game of beer pong, and the atmosphere heavy with vodka and laughter. It was nice, a little overwhelming, but nice.
You could feel the buzz in the back of your head, the tipsy dizziness you held making it a little easier to relax, the music swaying your hips gently.
You couldnât see through the crowd, but Toby rested his shoulders back on the wall across from you, tapping his fingers across his thigh as he surveyed the crowd. He didnât even have a drink, awkwardly trying to pretend like he was supposed to be here amongst the buzzed-out college kids.
He had followed you there, staying a comfortable distance behind your group and out of your curious eyes. It was hard not to notice the way your eyes lingered on the houses you passed, smiling at the kids who ran by, and pointing out the overzealous house decorations. You really stood out from your group, a sore thumb from the rest of them.Â
What was he doing? Why was he even here? Following some girl because she was dressed as him? Toby knew he was popular, Ben reminding him every time some new post went up on the internet trying to debunk his whereabouts. It didnât bother him, with his job came weirdos who idolized him- he had just never seen it in person before.Â
It really was surreal.Â
âOh my god.â
Toby shot up, straightening as he looked to his side, panic sweeping over him.
Lost in his thoughts and the rush of the party, he hadnât noticed you pushing to his side of the room, shuffling past to get back into the kitchen for more of whatever you were drinking. You had your mask tugged down under your chin, the facepaint on the left side of your cheek standing out against your flushed cheeks. You even had torn tissue paper to make it look realistic- God, he was going to freak out.
Holding your hands out, you look down at yourself and then at him, comparing your almost identical outfits with a bright smile. âNice costume, man.âÂ
Of course, you were cute. He was trying to register you, eyes flinching across your sweet face smiling up at him.
Toby teetered, shoulder flinching just enough to make you glance, but not enough to take the excitement away from your face. He also realized he was just staring and not saying anything- âOh! Yea- Yeah, hah-â The cool metal of his mask pressed against his cheeks, staring oddly at the fabric one you had.
âOh damn, youâve got like- the legit facemask. I just got mine from Spirit, itâs pretty crappy.â You laughed to yourself, holding the solo cup awkwardly in your hands, fidgeting with the lid. Toby immediately regretted his decision, wracking through his brain for some way to get out of here- he forgot how painful small talk was. âI didnât know anybody else even knew who Ticci Toby was.â
God, that nickname. The play on words was supposed to be funny, but its holder didnât think it was all that humorous. He smiled at you anyway; there was just something about the way you said it, all giddy.
âAh, yeah. Mineâs pre- pretty old.â He was fidgeting again, unprepared for how you snuck up on him. âI, uhm, tried my best. Havenât re- really dressed up in a while.â You complimented him heftily, pointing out the âfakeâ dirt and blood stains across his hoodie, the great quality of his goggles, and even how he got his makeup to that weird milky-gray skin color. To you, it was just a very well-done costume.Â
âNo, I get it. I donât usually go all out like this,â Looking down at yourself, you put on sort of a blush, nervous chirping about how niche it was. Toby couldnât help but smile. âI just have always really loved his story, so I wanted to make one of my last Halloweenâs memorable, yâknow?â Ah, candy-handing-out age. A million thoughts ran in the brunetteâs mind, but he found himself relaxing again, shoulder pressed onto the wall as you rambled. âIâm just glad Iâm not the only one who likes him.â
With you, this close, cheery little features continuing to blab on about the rest of the small details of your own costume, he couldnât help but find himself listening so intently. A fan? Is that what you were? It felt weird to think about it like that, but the brunette found himself blushing at the thought of an admirer.
â-And I fringed the bottom of his hoodie with a lighter. It was hard to get it to look right, but I really liked how it came out. Yâknow, for like him burning his house and stuff- I thought it was a nice detail.â Toby was nodding along, surprised by the little burn holes near the pockets of your lookalike hoodie, the attention to detail far more than he was expecting. âThatâs really cool, uh-â
â[Y/N].â
âUh- Toby.â Was that going to give it away-
âEven got the name down too, huh? Man, I see why you dressed up as him- you fit everything to a T.â He relaxed, your obliviousness laughable, but also a heavy relief.
People brushed by, bumping into both of your shoulders and shimmying their way through. You refocused again, pointing back over your shoulder with a shy smile. âWould you, uh, wanna get some more to drink? I was going anyway-â
Woah- You were inviting him to hang out longer? He was about to refuse, come up with some weird excuse to get back to Jeff and Sally, but the way you gleamed up at him, flashing lights and overstimulating music, it felt so odd.
He was going to let himself give in. He was wearing a âcostumeâ after all, so why not play up the act and enjoy himself a little bit? Slender would have him out running these woods by tomorrow, so why not just take the night and at least pretend like he was still a normal kid? Like all those bad things never happened, being a proxy never happened⊠He was just a kid who grew up, spending Halloween how normal teenagers did now. Yeah, he was going to let himself have this one night if nothing else.
Toby nodded, pushing off of the wall as you led the way, pushing through the mess of wildly dressed people into the kitchen. Behind you, now, Toby could see the way you still stood out amongst everyone, odd glances being cast in your direction. Just like him, almost, a freak in a sea of hateful eyes. You get it.
âI donât really know what this stuff is, but it tastes pretty good.â You laugh, flipping the nozzle of the jug holding whatever concoction was mixed with red Kool-Aid, pouring some into two cups. You handed it to Toby, the brunette awkwardly swirling the liquid around with a nervous stare. You giggled at him, wrapping your hand around the sleeve of his hoodie, and guiding him out the back door and onto the patio.
The atmosphere was much calmer than inside, the muffled thumping of whatever song was playing giving a nice rhythmic atmosphere as you sat on top of the stairs leading out into the backyard. You both watched friends and couples dare each other to jump into the pool, the chilly autumn air guiding you to believe the water wasnât much warmer. Toby sat next to you, mask still snug on his face, revealing nothing for your curious mind.
âSo, Toby, whatâre you doing here?â You sipped lightly on the drink, contrasting flavors of vodka swirling in the fruity punch, the sting of alcohol making you cringe. Toby hesitated, still tapping his fingers on the side of the plastic cup, trying his best to calm his rushing nerves.
âUhm- well, yâknow⊠Halloween par- party stuffâŠâ Even though you had taken notice of his stutter ages ago, you forcefully ignored it. You knew better than anyone about nerves, you didnât want the poor guy to feel any worse about it. Still, his answer made you laugh.
âYouâre not supposed to be here, are you?â You smile as he shakes his head, leaning back to glance up at the sky, the moon hanging bright and casting a milky glow across the clouds. Toby really enjoyed it when it was like this, made it easier to see where he was going at night. âThatâs alright, I donât really belong here, either.â You enjoyed the moon because it was pretty. Same worlds, different perspectives.
âHow come?â Toby leaned back, too, kicking his legs out as he relaxed, easing into the conversation. You rolled your eyes, shaking your head. âI only came because my roommate invited me, I didnât really want to come. These things arenât really my deal.â You took another sip, Toby taking in every inch of your face, studying every detail as you spoke. âI wouldâve much rather gone trick-or-treating. I guess weâre all a little too old for that now, though, huh?â
The breeze ruffled your hair, wrapping your knees in tight against your chest as the air chilled you. Toby caught himself admiring- it was almost like you were wearing his hoodie, the top just a little oversized on you- he could imagine it. âNah, I used to love it. Wish it wasnât we- weird to go when you got a certain age like thereâs a time lim- limit on when you can ask for candy.â He smiled, flinching his leg a little.
Toby felt his phone buzz in his back pocket, leaning over to dig it out, flipping the screen up to see a text message from Jeff.
âwtf r u?????â âparty. dont wait up.â âđĄđđâ
Just to make sure, Toby shared his location with the killer, flipping his phone off and shoving it back into his pocket.
You gave him a sideways glance, smacking him on the shoulder playfully. âYou havenât even drank anything- at least try it. Itâs not all that bad.â Clearly, considering you were throwing the cup back to finish off presumably your second glass.
Toby awkwardly cupped his hand onto the metal of his mask, sliding it down below his chin. Thankfully, he had remembered to get EJ to redo the bandages on the corner of his mouth, the gaudy wound becoming irritating to deal with. He wishes it was just cool makeup like yours.
Taking a sip from the cup, he cringed, brows knotting as he shut his eyes. âGod- Thatâs like- straight vodka with fru- fruit syrup- Fuck-â It burned his tongue, your laughter so sweet beside him, resting your hand on his shoulder. He made a funny face, fake gagging on the terrible thing.
He sat straight when you gasped, cupping your hands onto his cheeks and turning his head forcefully. His instincts kicked, hands flexing to grab at you, to slam you down across the pavement below-Â
Until you were rubbing your thumb across his bandages gently, flattening out the ends that had become soiled with dried blood. Toby forced himself to relax, his heart thudding in his chest with adrenaline. No one usually got this close- touched him- unless they were clawing for their life. It was like a whiplash, having to condition himself differently for your ignorance.
âDude, no way youâve been hiding these all night! Fuck, even these look real- how in the world are you so good at dressing up?â You were taking in every detail of his face, assuming the scars across his lips and cheekbones were merely good makeup skills or a talented friend, Toby trying his best not to freak out with you this close.
You seemed to notice it too, because you were snapping your hands back, eyes blowing wide-
âShit- sorry- I get real excited about these things⊠The drinks probably arenât helping either.â You chuckled, awkwardly sitting back and tucking your knees against your chest, silently cursing yourself for making him uncomfortable with your weird obsession. Toby noticed it, immediately catching the switch-up in your attitude.
Holding his palm out, he levels it in front of you, catching your attention. âIâve, uhm, got the weird hand bandages, too.â He sheepishly smiled, watching as you slowly lit up again, taking his hand between your own.
âNo wayâŠâ You picked at the medical wrap clinging around his hand, little bandaids and medical tape snugged tight around his fingers to hide the terrible bite marks and scars he had given himself, that gaudy proxy symbol etched into his flesh. He wanted to compliment your makeup, to say something about how realistic it looked-
Until you both heard a piercing scream from across the patio.
âTyler!â
Snapping your gaze to the noise, you watched as a tall jockey guy hauled a tiny blonde girl over his shoulders, taking two heavy steps before he jumped into the pool, dragging her along with him. Toby was concerned but was quickly caught off guard when you began to laugh, slapping his arm.
âAvery! Are you okay?!â The other girls on the side of the pool knelt down beside the water, reaching their arms out to help the poor girl back onto solid land. They quickly had a towel wrapped around her, and the guy, Tyler, hopped up onto the side, high-fiving the similar-looking guys accompanying them.
You were still laughing, Toby smiling even when the girl came over to the steps, hurriedly trying to get back inside.
âAh- [Y/N]? Whoâs this?â Your roommate gave Toby a once-over, casting a sideways glance as she noticed you both were wearing the same outfit.
âUh, This is Toby- weâre dressed as the same thing, see?â You were all cheery, smiling up at her even as she dripped water everywhere. Toby recognized them now, the skimpy group you were walking with, the ones who left you alone almost immediately after getting to the party. You tried to act like it didnât hurt you, but the brunette had seen it all, catching every time you longingly stared at them through the crowd- the way you still did now.
âRight⊠Well, Iâm glad you guys found each other,â You could hear the sarcasm in her voice, her friends hanging behind her and giving you both funny looks, whispering to one another as she talked. Toby knew you noticed it, too. You were pressing your knees against your chest again, shriveling up into yourself. âLook, weâre leaving. Probably going to finish the night out at some bars if you want to head on back to the apartment.â
You began to nod, giving Toby a half-glance of defeat, taking your empty cup in hand as you began to stand up.
âUh- Ac- Actually, weâre going trick-or-treating. So, donât wa- wait up.â Toby stared daggers into the girl, unapologetically snagging your hand in his as he stood, taking his cup in hand. Avery watched him with a sour look, glancing back and forth between you two before stepping up the rest of the stairs. âYou two have fun, then. Freaks.â
She definitely said the last part louder than she meant to, because her friends were giggling as they trailed behind her, quickly scuttling into the crowded house. You rolled your eyes, trying not to let it show, but the pang in your chest was heavy.
Toby looked at you, took a firm grip on the solo cup, and closed his eyes. You watched with bright eyes as he chugged the rest, throat burning as he groaned, crushing the cup in his fist and tossing it behind him. You smiled, forgetting that your hand was still tucked neatly into his as you both raced off the patio, pushing through the fence gate, and climbing out onto the road. The street lights were on now, kids dwindling as houses stopped handing out candy, but Toby was determined to get you some.
âAre we actually trick-or-treating?â You laughed, Toby dragging you along with him, pulling his mask back up and over his nose. âDude, weâre like, totally too old for this stuff, now-â
âAnd? Just cause Iâm older doesnât me- mean I stopped loving candy.â He hollered. You clung against his side, the breeze pushing through your hair and giving your nose a cute little blush, eyes bright with excitement as you gripped his hand tighter. You tugged your own mask up, shimmying your plastic goggles off of your head and over your eyes, completing the entire look. Toby stalled, heart whirling in his chest as you raced down the sidewalk, excitement buzzing in the air.
Jeff was going to kill him, but it would be worth it.
-
âTrick or treat!â
You held out a plastic Walmart bag, the thing nearly busting with how many pieces of candy it was holding. You both had meant to stop five houses ago, but when you somehow wound up in the nicer neighborhood four blocks over, you couldnât pass up the full-size candy bars they were giving out.
The tipsiness was really hitting now, you both holding onto one another as concerned glances from parents dumping the rest of their candy into your bag. You always hated those obnoxious people who laughed or talked too loud in public, but now, you found yourself doubling over, cackling at the mean comments Toby was dishing out to little kidsâ costumes.
âTha- Thatâs supposed to be Spiderman? Yeesh.â It wasnât even that funny, but you nearly hit your knees from lack of air, laughing so hard that your chest was hurting. Tobyâs eyes were heavy, neck jerking and body twitching from the overstimulation, his cheeks a rosy color from the swirl of alcohol in his bloodstream.
âOkay, okay,â You raised up, catching your breath as you leaned against his arm, the rusty smell of his cologne surrounding you. âI think if we get any more- hic- weâre gonna be picking all of it up off the ground.â You pointed at the sack, the plastic stretching and threatening to bust out everywhere. Toby nodded, reaching in and snagging a Hersheyâs kiss, popping the sweet chocolate into his mouth. You acted offended, holding the bag close as you both laughed.
The streets were nearly empty now, most of the housesâ lights being turned off and decorations unplugged, the only sign of activity from cars driving by or random groups of kids racing back home to review their hauls. You could feel your own room calling to you, your intoxication pulsing sleepiness into your mind.
Toby noted when you yawned, taking that as a silent sign that the night was ending, preparing to part ways with you. He nearly reached back into his pocket, going to give Jeff a call to come pick him up.
âWanna go back to my place?â
He paused, your heavy eyes grinning up at him.
âUh- What?â He could feel himself blushing. Was it just the vodka? He hoped so.
âWell, I ainât gonna eat all of this by myself. Besides, Iâm not trusting myself to get back without crashing out in a bush somewhere.â Toby laughed, rolling his eyes as you waited for his answer, shifting your weight nervously. You smiled when he nodded, your arm quickly wrapping around his and dragging him down the rest of the street.
Reaching over, he took the bag of candy from your hands, stuffing it under his arm. You walked slowly, taking in the dulled-out character inflatables and oversized skeletons in peopleâs yards, pointing out the Spirit Halloween animatronics that you found so cool. He couldnât help but find himself staring, encapsulated with you. You found such beauty in what everyone else found offputting, admiring what even he would call strange.
âYouâre so weird.â He huffed with a grin.
You glanced up at him, rolling your eyes. âYou like it.â
Toby couldnât find a good answer, turning his attention back to the street lights out front. He did like it.Â
âSo, I never asked about you- Like, really. What do you do when youâre not wearing the best Toby Rogers cosplay ever?â Toby glanced at you, stalling out mentally as he tried to come up with something.
âUh, I travel a lo- lot. Kinda like an on-call thing. Uhm⊠Yeah.â You nodded along, but the brunette wasnât entirely sure you were hearing what he was saying. You were just looking at him, eyelids hanging low as you took in every detail of his face. He smiled, reaching his free hand to tug your mask down under your chin, your sly grin hidden underneath.
âTell me abo- about you, [Y/N]. What is Ms. Rogers doing when sheâs not ob- obsessing over me?â
Toby paused, a dead stare into your eyes as he choked on his words. He slipped up- Did you notice, would you care? He could feel the panic rising in his chest, jerks twinging at the back of his neck, anxiety swelling-
âWoah, easy tiger-â Youâre giggling, pushing the strands of hair that fell in your face when you did an unbalanced little bow. âDidnât know I was in the presence of such a celebrity.â
Toby was already relaxing, shoulders untensing faster than they wound, trying his best to settle his shaky hands. âBut, I donât know. Iâm in between jobs? School?â You fidgeted with your hands, your arm still wrapped tightly around his. The weight was comforting. âIâm only still here because itâs where I grew up, but I donât know what Iâm doinâ nowâŠâ Your stare was distant, fidgeting with the fabric of his sleeve as you talked.Â
He was about to say something, trying to muster up some affirming speech that Tim used to tell him when things got rough. But you were tugging him off of the sidewalk, skipping towards some apartment complex building. âWeâre hereeeâŠâ
He followed you through the neat hallways, the stout smell of clean and tacky air fresheners strong on the brightly colored carpet. Toby didnât know if he had ever been in a place so nice, dozens of doors lining everywhere you went, feeling like he could get lost if you werenât dragging him into an elevator.
Pressing your floor button, he leaned back against the brassy walls, your hands rummaging through your pockets and hauling out a set of keys. Cute little keychains were hooked onto the loop, reaching back into your pocket for your phone, swiping across the screen.
âHere, smile-â You were leaning back against him, holding your hand high in the air to take a selfie, Toby grinning goofily up into the camera. Looking over the picture, you smiled, never moving off of his shoulder as the elevator took you up, Tobyâs heart soaring much higher.
-
âHow many of those are you going to eat?â You gasped, tossing another Skittles wrapper onto your floor, adding to the mess that you swore you were going to clean up.
Alternatively, you were lying on your back, laid out on your even messier bed, stuffing your face with possibly the most unhealthy amounts of sweets. Toby sat on the floor, his back pressed against your footboard, rummaging his hands through the sack and tossing pieces up to you.Â
He looks really good in just a t-shirt, you thought, catching yourself staring at his toned shoulders.
âAs many as I want.â He grinned, popping another jawbreaker into his mouth. Your twin pairs of goggles and masks lay scattered on the floor, hoodies bunched at his feet. Toby was in bliss, the sweet smell of your perfume and clothes soaked in all around him, pieces of you everywhere he looked. Posters of your favorite bands, corkboard full of keychains and polaroids, even your wall-mounted TV playing some older murder mystery documentary. He loved how normal it felt, how comfortable, and different.
In his mind, he could see you going through the motions every day, the boy longing for even just a taste of that. In the way you admired his weirdness, he admired your normality. Same worlds, different perspectives.
âIâm officially cutting myself off until Christmas.â You huffed, climbing off of the bed and staggering to your vanity. Toby watched as you fiddled through your makeup, popping open the box of makeup wipes and taking one out. Pushing your hair behind your ears, you began to wipe the design on your cheek off, rubbing the wipe over your eyes and cleansing your skin of the fake deep-set eyes. The brunette was lost, mesmerized by how your rosy cheeks looked so sweet in the warm light of your bedside lamp, eyes brighter than ever.
Sitting off your chair, Toby sat up a little when you grabbed another wipe, kneeling next to him. âYour turn.â
He stuttered, glancing from your now-clean face to the wipe in hand, nervousness creeping up in his throat. The wipe was cold, pressing it against his as you tried to clean him off, Toby watching through worried eyes when your face started to contort, confusion heavy in your features. âDude, like, none of this is coming off. What kind of makeup did you use?â
âHah- Uh, the good stuff, yâknow?â He could tell you werenât convinced, scrubbing just a little harder on his cheekbone until the grayish skin became littered with red irritation. You sat back on your heels, cupping the side of his cheek with your free hand, running your thumb across the skin under his eye. Toby flinched, your other hand coming up to cup the other side of his head, eyes tensed in focus.Â
Fuck, here it goes.
âThis isnât makeup, is it?â
Toby cringed, refusing to look you directly in the eyes. His fingers flexed, the outline of his pocketknife pressing against his leg, a silent reminder. He didnât want to do it, God, he silently begged not to, prayed for you to brush it off so he could get out of here. The room felt so small now, your closeness becoming increasingly irritating the longer you stared.
But the brunette knew that if you reacted how everyone else did, with panicked screams that would have your curious neighbors come knocking, he knew what he would have to do. Even someone as awestruck as you couldnât keep him from the inevitable.
He clenched his jaw when you dropped your hands, parting your lips like you wanted to say something, but getting tangled in your own thoughts.
â[Y/N]. Iâm- uhm- Iâm him, okay?â
You just kept staring, âI get it, your costume was good- okay? I donât-â
âNo, Iâm not- Jeez,â He slid his hand up the side of his thigh, finally forcing himself to look at your confused face, eyes snagging onto every detail. âIâm Ro- Rogers. Like- Toby, Toby Rogers⊠Iâm Ticci Toby.â
Tapping his heel on your carpeted floor, the brunette waited, collecting every twitch of your eyes or shaky breath that you took. He was ready for the yelling, the panic, taking calculated measurements in his head of just how many steps it would take for you to get to your bedroom door. He had done it a million times, ended someoneâs life a million times. He would force this time not to be different.
His hand flexed around the indent of his pocketknife, ready to flip the metal open as you sat up onto your knees.
Your hands moved slowly, following the same motion you had been making all night, but this time it was more meaningful. Toby flinched as your warm fingertips brushed along his jaw, wrapping gently around his cheeks as you said nothing, the brunette trying to keep the floodgates of panic from cracking open in his mind.
Thatâs when he felt your fingernails picking at the bandage on his cheek, pinching the edge, and slowly, carefully removing the sterile cloth underneath, the fabric spotty with dried blood. Toby let his eyes shut, his facial wound now on full display, slowly ticking the seconds of silence by in his mind, relishing in the fleeting feeling of his ânormality.â
He was a fool to ever think he could have something so nice-
âThe pictures on the internet do not do you justice.â
The rush came to a stop, eyes slowly flinching open as he looked at you, his brows knitted in confusion. âWhat?â
âThereâs these pictures on Twitter, really blurry, but still- of you. They donât make this thing look half as cool as it really is.â As if to confirm it for yourself, you brushed your thumb across the edge of his skin where the flesh broke off in torn tissue and exposed the side of his gums. You watched to see if he would flinch, carefully pressing the softness of his cheek to watch the skin stretch and move- it was real.
Toby watched as you sat back, setting your hands down in your lap. It was strange how the brunette found himself missing the warmth of your touch, already.
âToby⊠Toby⊠How the fuck did I not see it sooner?â You repeated his name over and over, rolling the syllables off your tongue and stapling them in your mind. âHow did I not notice? Iâve seen your face a million times.â
Toby could barely register any of it, his heart thudding a mile a minute as you carried on like everything was normal, more angry with yourself for not noticing it was him than anything. It was almost a blur as you scooted forward, leaning in close to wrap your arms around his neck, hugging him in so gently.Â
He could feel himself melt, hand unraveling from his knife as the panic dissipated, the sweet, lovely smell of your perfume heavy in his nose. He had to be dreaming, he thought, slowly coaxing his hands around your back and pulling you in closer, forgetting the last time he had even had a hug at all.
But then it ends all too quickly, your hands pushing back on his shoulders, a panicked look in your eyes.
âI must seem insane.â And then youâre standing up, running your hands through your hair, pacing back and forth across the messiness of your bedroom. Toby shakes his head, standing off the ground, reaching out to you. âIâve been going on and on about you all night- I must seem so psycho and crazy. This is so embarrassing- What the fuck?âÂ
Heâs grabbing your arms, pulling you back over to the foot of your bed, and sitting you down, an exasperated smile on his face. He was so worried about you freaking out or becoming terrified that he completely forgot who you were. You had been rambling about him all night, unknowingly complimenting the boy right to his face, and Toby was scared you wouldnât like him. Just like how youâre worried about looking crazy, embarrassment flooding your face as you hide your palms in your hands.
â[Y/N], lo- look at me.â He tugs your hands away, sitting beside you on the bed, leaning down so youâre forced to look at him. You nervously hold his gaze, face so red and flustered, heâs smiling at you like a little kid. âItâs cute.â
And then youâre flopping back onto the bed, screaming into your hands as Toby laughs, running his hands through his hair.
Is this what itâs like? Teenagers hiding out in their rooms, casting sheepish glances at one another all night until one of them cracks, everything flooding out. He should be taking a priority, getting the hell out of your room and out of your life before he gets mixed up with something he canât pull himself away from. But the flirty touches, teasing, and everything else that got him here clouds his judgment.
Then youâre sitting back up, scooting closer, and throwing your arms around his neck, abandoning every thought he was just brushing over in his mind. He holds you close, your face hiding in the crook of his neck, taking uneven, steady breaths as you try and rationalize it all, before giving up. âIâm sorry, Toby.â
And now itâs his turn to be confused, leaning back to look you in the face. âFor?â
âEverything. The things even I couldnât have controlled, the things that made you this way- Nobodyâs probably ever told you before, so I will: Iâm sorry. Iâve studied your story so many times, went over every detail, ran your perspective in my dreams- but even still, I canât possibly imagine.â
The brunette canât feel pain, he doesnât understand the cut of a knife or the sting of a bullet. But the pang that snags in his chest, this heavy weight that feels like all the pain he's ever missed out on- that hurts worse than anything. But looking into your eyes, his hands planted firm on your skin, the solid weight beside him- Itâs like it's all never even mattered in the first place.
For the first time in his life, heâs being seen. Viewed as more than just a weapon.
Screw the different perspective, screw the polar opposites, heâs in the here and now. It doesnât matter if heâs been pretending tonight or his entire life, right now is real. Heâs not going to lose it.
âCa- Can I kiss youâŠ?â Itâs nearly a whisper, his voice so quiet and nervous as he leans forward on your bed.
You glance from his eyes down to his lips, heart thumping so loud youâre scared he might be able to hear it. You nod anyway, blinking slowly as you hold his gaze. âY- Yeah.â
Toby brings his hand up nice and slow, cupping the side of your cheek as he leans in, fingers trembling against your skin. Your hand reaches to cup his, warm fingers relaxing atop his, a satisfying weight that has the boy swooning. Then youâre leaning in, too, slowly fluttering your eyes shut.
And then your lips touch, and everything just holds for a moment.
All the rush of the night, the nervousness, the excitement, it stops for just this one second.
Youâre leaning into his touch, soft lips pressed firmly against his rough ones, slowly twinging your jaw to coax him deeper. He feels like heâs melting, skin so hot to the touch when you reel him in, your free hand snaking up the backside of his neck and into his messy curls.
He groans into your mouth, breaking the kiss and leaning back, breathing heavily. Your face is so flushed, cheeks a deep vermillion that makes Toby smile a little, grinning as he still cups your cheek. Your fingers brush through his hair, coaxing his head into your hand with such gentle touches. Itâs so sweet, so calm, a complete turn from what the brunette is used to.
He knows pain, and rough, and cold- but you- thereâs only sweetness, and caring, and warmth behind those eyes. He wants more of it, to feel more of it, he has to have it- to have you.
It doesnât hit him what just happened until youâre giggling in front of him. Then that hold snaps, his conscience rushing back into him, and heâs leaning back further-
âIâm so so sorry- Oh my god- I donât kn- know what I was thinking- I- Gah- Iâm so sorry-â
âToby.â
âIf I should go- or- Oh, my god- Iâm sorry- I should-â
âToby.â
âIâm just so-â
And then your hands are wrapped into his hair, pushing forward until your lips collide, hurried, loud kisses that have the brunette spiraling, eyes fluttering shut again. Thereâs that warmth, your body leaning in to press close to his, arms wrapping around his neck, he thinks he might pass away.
You pull back, taking a deep breath as Toby collects himself, brushing his bangs out of his eyes. Heâs a mess, brain running a mile a minute, his body having a hard time catching up as he twitches and jerks.Â
Throwing your leg over his, you straddle his thighs, wrapping your arms tighter around his neck and holding him close. Heâs swallowed by the sweet smell of your perfume, resting his chin on your shoulder as he wraps onto your back, heart thumping against your chest. He finds the thoughts flooding, dissipating the more he breathes, disappearing into this blanket of quiet.
âYou alright?â You whisper, brushing your fingers through the back of his hair, his skin tingling with your touch. He hums low against your shoulder, running his fingers up and down your spine, the touch making you sigh. He could live forever in this moment, could die happy right here.
But when his fingers mindlessly dip a little too low, brushing your lower back right above the waistline of your jeans, Toby mewls at the way you grip onto tufts of his hair. Itâs abrupt, a reaction, but he feeds into it anyway. He brushes that spot again, right above your tailbone, and youâre taking a deep, shaky breath against his neck. He likes that a lot.
Gently, he tugs the hem of your shirt up, just enough to see a peak of your skin. You pause, hitching a breath when you feel his cold fingers wind up under your shirt and press against your back.
âToby-â He promises heâll stop if you ask him to, making sure you know that- but youâre shaking your head, gripping onto his arm as he pushes his hand higher, snaking his fingers along the bony press of your back. You let out a low groan, quiet, but just enough to have Toby aching for more. He stops when his fingers brush the strap of your bra, dipping back down to caress the curve of your skin, studying every detail youâll let him get.
âYouâre so prettyâŠâ He whispers, the dull lamp glowing across your flushed face making him blush, your body relaxing against his hold. Your noises are like a drug, he wants to hear them over and over, the softness of your voice so intoxicating. But more than that, he wants you. If this is all he gets, heâll cherish it for the rest of his days.
Wrapping an arm around your back, heâs flipping you over, pushing you up to the center of your plush bed and towering over you. âTobyâŠâ He drinks in your sweet gasps as he intertwined his lips with yours, tasting how sinfully delicious you were with a swipe of his tongue across your lower lip. Tobyâs hands wandered the expanse of your body, cupping your head to kiss you deeper, snaking down to rub your waist. Itâs so greedy, so hurried and eager, but doesnât know how much longer he can hold out.
Your fingers run through his curls, following his head as he moves off your lips, slowly pressing a trail of gentle, open-mouthed kisses down the side of your neck. Youâre gasping, running your hands across his shoulders, digging your nails in when he kisses just above your collarbone- but then heâs sitting back, pushing up and off of you with a worried look.
âFu- Fuck, Iâm sorry-â And then youâre sitting up on your elbows, a concerned look on your face. âIâm not be- beinâ myself tonight- I donât know whatâs wrong. Shit, [Y/N], Iâm sorry-â
âToby, itâs alright-â You laugh, pushing up to sit in front of him, reaching out before he takes your wrists in his hands, holding them down.
âNo- I just, never do any- anything like this- Itâs like I canât stop-â Even through his apologies heâs staring at your lips, that hunger pooling in his chest for another sweet taste.
âYouâre telling me I get to kiss the boy Iâve had a crush on for years, and heâs worried about not being able to stop?â Exasperation was heavy on your face, itâs almost laughable how much playful irritation was in your voice. Toby caught that last part though, the words going straight to his head.
âYou gotta crush on me?â He smiles, redness tinting his cheeks. Heâs still holding your wrists, your eyes slowly widening as the heat settles on your face.
âI, uhm- Well, you see-â Youâre scrambling for words, the cheesy smile on Tobyâs face not helping your case at all. âI mean, I thought it was kinda obvious. I dressed up as you for Halloween, man.â
He doesnât let his conscience weigh him down anymore, pulling your hands to wrap around his neck before he pushes you back down onto the bed, swallowing the sweet taste of your lips against him. He can still taste the sourness of the candy you were eating on your tongue, too. He licks at the plush of your lips, drinking in your gasps as he intertwines his tongue with yours. Kissing you like heâll never be able to again. Because, God, knowing his luck- he probably wonât.
Youâre a giggly mess, spreading your knees for him to slot between them, his muscled arms wrapping around the small of your waist. âAnd Iâve nev- never seen someone be able to pull off my go- goggles so well.â He prays you wonât be able to feel the bulge heâs sporting, but when your legs wrap around his hips, he loses all hope.
Your stomach flutters, tingles across your skin as heâs back on your neck, little nips and kisses that have your back arching off of the comforter, arms tightening around him. He would kiss you forever, marking every inch of your skin with a delicate brush of his lips, he could waste his time like that forever. You wrap your legs around Tobyâs waist to pull him closer, feeling the outline of his cock. He grinds against you, letting out low groans at the snag of your clothed core. Both of you knew it- he needed you so badly.
But then youâre pushing your warm hands up the back of his shirt, fingers scorching across his toned muscles and scratching your nails into his skin. You push the top off of his shoulders, up and over his head before throwing it to the side, glancing down at the slim but strong figure looming above you. Scars adorn his skin, long gashes or scattered fragments of bullets that have clipped him, not to mention the littered cigarette burns all down his abdomen. He finds it disgusting, blemishes that he canât stand to look at.
But youâre tracing them with your fingers, rubbing your thumbs across the blistered burns that made him sick, taking in every inch of him. And smiling. Was it possible to fall in love this fast?
âTheyâre disgusting.â
âTheyâre so cool.â
He canât muster the words to fight you as youâre reaching deeper, pushing your hands further down his torso to snag onto his jeans, reaching for his belt. Tobyâs body comes to a rushing halt, his heart beating so hard, the feeling of his cock finally getting the attention it wanted.
His hands rest on either side of your shoulders, a dark shadow over you as you slowly undo his belt, unbuttoning his jeans hastily. Hands dipping past the band of his boxers-
He was big- so mouthwateringly big. Flushed a deep shade of pink at his tip, pulsing in your hand so comfortably- every part of Toby was so endlessly pretty to you. He was gasping, eyes trained on how your fist slowly moved, so hot and heavy in your grasp as you pumped him at a steady, methodical pace. âAh- ShitâŠâ
Glancing back up to you, your face is so red, lips parted as Toby takes your jaw into his grasp, forcing you to look up at him before he bullies his tongue past your lips, little groans slipping past. Your back arches into him as his hands snake up your shirt, parting from your lips only to push the fabric over your head, capturing your kiss quickly again. He thinks he can manage, thinks he can keep his composure- but then your thumb runs over his slit, precum dribbling out onto your finger, and he's moaning into your mouth like he's never been touched before.
He hasnât, not like this, not this gentle.
â[Y/N]- Oh God-â Youâre biting his bottom lip, fingers clenched tight around the swollen head of his cock and pumping gently, his hips twitching and jerking for more. He pushes off of you, the breathless flush of your face so pretty under him, but then heâs glancing down.
And, fuck.
Your tits sit so pretty in your bra, blushed skin laid out beneath him as shaky hands reach to unbutton your jeans, jerky fingers quickly tugging them down your thighs and onto the floor below. And then he canât believe how he's gone this long without you, or how he'll be able to survive another night if youâre not with him.Â
Where you admire his blemishes, he admires your perfection. Not a nasty knife scar or bullet nip anywhere on you, skin so soft and warm, his cold hands running across your smooth hips. âGorgeous.â Itâs the only thing he can think to say, but it doesn't do you any justice.
âLet me- Can I touch you? Pl- Please-â
You donât answer, just rising up off of the bed to reach behind your back, unclipping your bra so seamlessly as it falls off your shoulders. Toby nearly moans when you toss the fabric to the side, chest rising and falling with shaky breaths, tits so round and heavy- so pretty.
Falling to your side, heâs holding you close, one leg draping over his bony hip as he shimmies his jeans off. Your legs spread wide, hands gripped tight into the softness of his curls as rough lips wrap around your nipple. Youâre gasping, skin fluttering with every touch across your abdomen, cold fingers slowly trailing down just below your belly button. He stays there, tongue pressing flat across your nipple as the pads of his digits line the hem of your panties, teasing as you buck your hips up, silently begging for him to go lower.
The brunetteâs fingers were now rubbing against your folds through your panties, causing you to jerk at the friction. He playfully nipped at your collarbone before glancing up at you through heavy eyelids. âMy turn, pretty girl.â
âToby- hah- Yeah-â His free hand wraps behind your back, cradling you into his side as he pinches at your unattended nipple, rolling the bud between his fingers. He smiles against your tit, a long sigh of relief when you feel his fingers break past the line of your panties.
His fingers dip into the warm folds of your cunt, dipping down to collect your arousal on his digits, messily swiping across your plushy lips. Youâre already soaked just from kissing, Toby popping off of your nipple to snag your lips, kissing you hungrily as you pant into his mouth. His fingers circle your clit, the nub pulsing and jerking at his touch, hips rising and falling as they chase the sensation. âJesus- Youâre soaked.â
Swirling deftly around the sensitive nub, you gasp, heat so prominent on your cheeks. âDonât worry, I go- got you.â Heâs unable to decide between sucking harshly on your poor nipples, or soaking his tongue in the warmness of your mouth, lips glistening with his saliva. And itâs driving you mad, keening and pulling at his soft locks. Youâve never been touched like this before, and Toby didnât know if he would be able to stop.
Then heâs plunging knuckle-deep in your gummy pussy, the tips of his long fingers massaging your plushy walls. You cry out, breaking from his kiss and giving him a good excuse to snag back onto your tit, gently biting on your reddened nipple.
Heâs pumping his fingers rhythmically, curling them in a way that has your eyes fluttering shut, fingers tugging his hair so hard it makes him groan at the pressure. His digits glisten in the low light, hand stretching the fabric of your panties Heâs hitting that little spot each and every time., looking like he was absolutely in heaven as he rolls and swirls his tongue against your nipple, lips wrapped tight around the skin.
âSh- Shit, Toby-â You groan, grinding your hips down as he stuffs his fingers all the way to the knuckle, the two middle digits spreading and pressing against your walls, coaxing your legs to spread wider. His palm bumps against your clit, holding his hand there to press firm against the bundle of nerves, your jaw hanging loose when he leans up to go in for more kisses. He is all over you, barely able to breathe as he ravages your skin, fingers bullying their way deeper until you can feel yourself gushing across his palm. The noises are so lewd, the schlick, schlick of your wet cunt taking him back in, walls clenching around his thick fingers. You canât stand it, canât take it anymore-
Toby can see it in your face, in the way you stop kissing him back to let out a long, guttural moan that has him in bliss. His fingers beat faster, fucking your swollen cunt open as his unattended cock throbs and leaks against your thigh, begging to replace his fingers.
âSâgood Toby. Fuck. Right there- Donât stop.â And then your arms are wrapping around his head, cradling his face into your neck as you fall apart on his fingers, pussy gushing and practically dripping with your orgasm. You think maybe you see stars, or itâs just the freckles on the brunetteâs skin when he captures your lips, drinking up every moan you feed him.
His cock is wilting, throbbing, and twitching against your leg as you finally settle out, breathy groans that have you both staring at each other through heavy gazes. He slips his hand from your ruined panties, pulling your knee up higher to spread your legs more as he slides the fabric from your hips and tosses them somewhere unseen, taking his cock in his soaked fingers.Â
Your breath hitches at the way he drags his swollen head teasingly across your slit, pooling your slick on his achingly hard tip, smearing your juices with his cockhead as he pumps himself lazily. Itâs so torturously good, his face disappearing into the crook of your neck as he gently nibbles your burning skin. âNeed you so bad, Toby.â You breathe out, nearly panting. âCo- Condom. In the nightstand-â
Despite wanting to feel you, really feel you wrapped around him, he kisses just below your jaw before rolling over. Fishing for a condom in your drawer, he misses you sitting up, fresh orgasm giving you a rush of need as you watch him haul the packet in between his fingers.
Because then youâre pushing his shoulders down onto the bed, straddling his thighs as you snag the condom from him, quickly tearing open the packet. Toby watches with excitement, hands reaching to cradle against the sides of your thighs, fingers digging into your plush skin when you slowly slide the latex down his throbbing length. Itâs snug, but thin, able to feel every pulse of your cunt as you take the base of him in your hand, swiping his tip along your folds, wetting himself. It was all the preparation you were going to give yourself because fuck Toby needed to be inside your pussy right now.
Then you feel like youâre being split apart- Tobyâs cock was slowly pushing up into your warmth as he presses through the first ring of muscle. Before you can overthink, youâre nudging your hips down gently. So agonizingly gentle that Toby has to stop his hips from riding off the bed. And you can do nothing more than let out barely-audible whispers of his name as you seat yourself on his throbbing cock into your snug cunt. âAh- Hah-â
You feel so full. So drunk off of the delicious burn of your pussy, hands resting on his chest as he watches you.Â
Youâre so nauseously tight, gripping his length in a way that had his eyes rolling back, fingers digging red marks into your skin. Youâre both breathless, eyes clamped shut and bodies shaky when your hips finally meet his, so utterly full of him. Toby canât even find the words for it.
Thatâs when you hear voices from outside your closed bedroom door, Avery and her friends returning from whatever drunken night they had, loud as ever.
In a panic, you push your hands over Tobyâs mouth, the brunetteâs hot breath fogging against your skin as he smiles, waiting patiently as they all file into Averyâs room, voices slowly dwindling out. Meanwhile, youâre pulsing around him, cunt clenching as youâre forced to wait.
But eventually it's all clear, palm slowly letting off of his mouth, a teasingly smile plastered on his face. You roll your eyes, quietly laughing as you steady yourself, pushing your knees further against his sides. Youâre pulling your hips up eagerly, achingly fucking yourself at a slow, sensual pace. His tip kisses your cervix as you roll your hips sensually against his, making sure you feel every vein and twitch against your tight walls.
âYâlooked so beau- beautiful tonight. So pretty dressing up as me.â Toby gasps, running his hands across your thighs, up the sides of your waist as you dig your knees into the mattress. It sends shivers down your spine, ones that go directly to your clit as you lean forward, pressing your chest against his. Sweaty forehead meeting his, he leans up to meet your pitiful kiss, hips still pushing back as your clit rubs against his abs.
Surprised moans get choked in his throat as you rock your hips back and forth, pulling all the way up till his furiously flushed tip is teasing your sloppy hole, slick glistening on his length, just to nudge yourself down again, relishing in that full feeling.Â
Wrapping his hands around the back of your thighs, he massages the plushness of your ass, smiling to himself when you wrap your arms around his neck and hide your face into the crook of his neck. âMore, Toby.â
âO- OkayâŠâ He breathes, bending his knees to get a better angle, the divot of his cock pressing against that sweet spot and making you mewl. The weight of you on top of him is so satisfying.
Toby starts up a satisfyingly good pace, thrusts get deeper and deeper until he finally buries his cock into you as deep as it could go. Throaty groans spill out of his mouth, he looks over and kisses your forehead gently, taking in every moan and whine you muffle into his neck. âOh- hah! Yeah, yeah, yeah-â
Even if his body was exhausted, he couldnât feel it. All he could tell was that your cunt was gripping him so hard his jaw was clenched, grinding his teeth as he fucked himself up into that sweet warmth. âSo good- Oh, feels so good-â
âOh god. Toby, right there-â You gasp out in pleasure, starting to move in shallow thrusts that have your eyes rolling to the back of your head, the curve of his cock knocking that swollen sweet spot over and over, each thrust more prominent than the last. You bounce your ass back on him, meeting every thrust that he delivers so deep into the swell of your pussy, clit aching and throbbing as it rubs against his hard abs. âYouâre so- doing so good, baby-â He huffs.
Feeling that very familiar coil in your abdomen, you mewl, âToby- Iâm gonna-â
But then his thrusts halt, hands reaching further up your back to hold onto you tightly, sitting both you and him up as he crawls up onto his knees. Heâs got your weight in his arms, cock still nestled so deeply inside of you as you wrap your limbs around him, leaning in to kiss along his jawline sticky with sweat.
He gives up thrusting now, hips rutting and grinding into you in a way that has you moaning deep and long, cunt throbbing with the ache for release. Heâs in so deep- so full.Â
Kissing against your rose cheeks, he looks at you with fucked-out eyes, trying his best to ride out the last of this moment as he feels his gut pool with warmth. His arms reach around your slender back to dig his nails into the unblemished skin, holding you as close as he physically could. It felt so perfect. Your hips grind back to meet Tobyâs, thighs trembling as they cling to his hips. âShit, [Y/N], I think yo- you were made for me.â
And then youâre capturing his lips, breathy moans as you feel him throb inside you.
âClose?âÂ
âMhmâŠâ He sighs, leaning down to kiss along your shoulder.
You grind your hips deeper, chasing that heavy feeling that builds in your gut, clinging onto whatever you can grab of his skin, brushing your hands up into his hair and pulling. âHngh- Toby. Inside- â You whimper, overstimulated, and your senses filled with only the brunette, you finally cum, riding it out on his deep thrusts. âOh, fu- fuck. Gonna cum. Gonna cum, my pretty girl- Hngh-â He moans out as your pussy clenches down on him, finally tipping over the edge as well.
You feel Toby cum in hot spurts into the condom, rasping your name over and over as if it was the only word he knew. He collapses onto you, careful not to crush you with his full body weight as he pants against your neck, slowly tugging himself from your gooey warmth.
As you both come down from your highs, he quickly removes the condom and hugs your sweaty body closer to his, kissing along your neck and up to the corner of your mouth. Eventually, he climbs off of your bed, searching your messy floor for his boxers, tossing you his t-shirt which you happily pull on.Â
He fishes new panties from your dresser- quietly spazzing out at all the different colored bras and matching bottoms you had to choose from- and tugs on his own boxers.
Every movement after that is laced with exhaustion, tired, sticky bodies shuffling under the covers as you cling to his side, breathing in his smell like itâll be the last time you do. Heâll make sure itâs not.
Flipping your lamp off, the only glow is from your TV, dim lights reflecting off of your still-rosy skin. He takes every moment to kiss along your cheeks, brushing your hair from your face, and cradling your body tight against him. He doesnât really remember how you coaxed him into taking off the wrap on his hand- with the false promise that you would change the soiled bandages out tomorrow- but you do, unraveling the fabric until that horrific proxy symbol contrasted against his pale skin. A mark, a reminder of who he was returning to when the sun rose tomorrow.
He promised to let himself have tonight, but he knew that tonight wasnât going to last forever.
But then youâre bringing his hand to your lips, placing a sweet, deep kiss right at the center of his palm. And he melts. He wasnât lying when he said he thought you were made for him, the sour look on his face disappearing when he was cupping your cheeks, pulling you impossibly closer to kiss against your skin.
You kissed against the scar on his cheek, soft lips on jagged flesh, and he knew.
You spend the rest of the night fishing stories from him, things he promised he would never tell, but find your reactions just too good at the mention of Masky and Tim. Your obsession seemed to run deeper than him, but he was your favorite.
-
Toby would have never felt the dip in the bed beside him, or the fingers that messed in his hair, but he did feel the fist that clenched onto his jaw much harder than you ever couldâve.
âRise and shine, twitch.â Jeff, in all of his ugliness, sat on the edge of the bed, teasingly patting Tobyâs cheeks. The brunette sat up, pushing the killer off of him and out of the bed, hoarse little chuckles erupting as he felt you stir next to him.
âHow the fuck did you get here?â
âFront door, duh. You sent me your location last night, remember?â Toby noticed through your open bedroom door that your front door was swung wide open, the killer smiling with satisfaction, but his face slowly dropped when he saw you slowly sit up.
âToby? Wha-â You see Jeff, Toby ready to reach out and clamp your mouth shut, prepping for a terrified scream. But then youâre sitting up, Jeff awkwardly glancing back and forth between you two as your lips part. âNo way.â
Toby shouldâve known better.
Because then youâre bombarding the killer, sitting on the edge of the bed, and studying every detail of his face, fangirling, of all things. Toby smiles, laughing to himself as you banter on and on about newsletters and obscure websites, Jeff casting you concerning looks as you recount his entire backstory.Â
-
Itâs well into the afternoon by the time Jeff finally pushes Toby to leave, barking about how he was supposed to have him back hours ago. The killer would never admit it, but they were only there that long because he enjoyed hearing someone harp on how good of a killer he was, complimenting him like he had always wanted.
Jeffâs already in the truck waiting as Toby kisses your face, kissing against your hands as fear courses him, fear that this will be the last time. But then youâre grabbing his phone, typing in your number, and sending yourself a text. A promise.
âFor whenever you want to stop by ;)â
Followed by your address.
And then heâs back on the road, Jeff harping on and on about how âyou werenât that badâ or âif Toby wasnât careful heâd snatch you up.â He couldnât hear him though, too busy studying every detail of the photo you had sent him, the two of you smiling half-drunk in that elevator. It was already his wallpaper by the time they made it back to the mansion.
And he was already making plans on how he could sneak away tonight to come see you.
God, how he loved Halloween.
Thanks for reading!
Comments and reblogs are appreciated! đââč
Thanks to my wonderful editors @h3llw1 and @solarbites!
Happy Halloween!
#rainykinktober2024#creepypasta#smut#creepypasta smut#creepypasta x y/n#creepypasta x female reader#creepypasta x you#creepypasta x reader#creepypasta ticci toby#creepypasta toby#creepypasta proxy#creepypasta fanfic#creepypasta fandom#slenderverse#slenderman proxy#proxies#proxy#slender proxy#ticci toby#tobias erin rogers#ticci toby x female reader#ticci toby x you#ticci toby x reader#ticci toby smut#ticci toby creepypasta#ticci toby x y/n#tobias rogers#jeff the killer#eyeless jack#slenderman
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ËËË My Love Note ÂŽËË
1 | Something about you
⧠Synopsis | In which Choso Kamo, your asshole of a best friend, starts to change after you get involved with a rather cheeky cashier, Gojo Satoru.
⧠Content | flirting, language, suggestiveness, fluff, & faint sexual tension.
⧠Word Count | 7.1k (we're starting off strong it seems...)
⧠Pairings | Choso Kamo x f!reader & Gojo Satoru x f!reader.
| Chapters mlist |
ââCongratulations, youâve nearly escaped hellâ not-so-happily entering your final year of university as time stands currently. And yâknow what, you think youâve coasted through most of your college years drama-free. Well, aside from freshman year you suppose, everyone fucks up around that timeâŠ
But thatâs a tale for another day, right now, youâre finding yourself waltzing into an entirely different plotlineâ with your head held high as you waltz toward a newfound cafe that you havenât had the pleasure of finding for the past four years. Up until today, youâve just barely been stomaching dining hall caffeine. Which, to say the least, isnât nearly as savory or energizing as coffee from your local cafe.Â
Four years youâve been going to this school and yet here you were walking right into an establishment you swear simply spawned out of nowhere because you pass this street all the damn time and you donât remember this place being here a week ago. Yet, when you enter the cafe and spot a sign that says theyâve been there for the past three years, you begin to realize that maybe you should start going out a bit moreâŠ
Nonetheless, you mentally claimed that if the coffee here was bad, youâd walk right out and return to never acknowledging the place. But hey, when you do push past those double doors, fingers wrapped around a warm metal handle, a waft of smoky coffee aromas simmering into your nose, and spot a rather attractive cashier first thing, youâre quick to tell yourself that maybe shitty coffee might be worth a few things.
Especially seeing as six staggering feet of height, fluffy bright white locks of hair, and the most dazzling set of blue eyes take notice of your entering seconds after youâve stepped insideâ how could you not tell yourself that terrible coffee may be worth digesting so long as you get to drink in this tall, fine man whose name you note as Gojo as you near him and read the tag on his apron.
âSuguru, it seems the gods have finally answered my prayers,â Gojo yells back to someone you canât quite see yet. His eyes were all over you, drinking you in just as you were him. The tall man receives a laugh from somewhere further behind him before he redirects his words to you, âTo what do I have the pleasure of serving you today, sweetheart?â
Your lips parted as you approached the counter fully, your eyes lingering on his far longer than they shouldâve. âUh,â And you were making a fool out of yourself already, great, âItâs my first time here, so Iâm not too sureâŠâ Okay, thatâs a decent enough save considering how your words earn a half smile from the man in front of you who tilts his head and eyes you down.
And fuck if he wasnât every bit of intimidating looking down at you like that. He places a single hand onto the counter space in front of him, leaning forward just a bit before turning his head back to take a glance at the menu hanging up, as if he didnât have it memorized already, âWell, for first-timers I usually recommend anything but our coffee.â
You bat your lashes at the man for a moment as he returns his attention to you, âSeriously? Thatâs the one thing I came in here forâŠâ
âAh, well,â Gojo clicks his tongue and shrugs a bit, leaning toward you just to whisper, âYâgotta come here when Iâm in the back.â
You lean forward, intrigued by his words, ââŠWhy?â
âCauseâ Suguru doesnât know what the hell heâs doing,â Gojo chuckles a bit and you reciprocate before pushing your brows together questioningly. âSuguru, my best fr-, my coworker.â He clarifies quickly.
âOhh,â You nod, âSo should I come back another time, orâŠ?â
âNono, you caught me a few minutes before rush hour,â Gojo says rather cheerfully before he leans away from you and flashes a smile, âI can run back there ând make yaâ somethinâ since weâre not too busy?â
At that, you take a moment to glance around the cafe interior, spotting one, maybe two people sitting on their laptops and languidly sipping or munching away at their breakfast. Youâre glad you came in when you did.
Not only did you get the chance to talk to Gojo, who you turn back to seconds later with a nod, but you also got the chance to get not-so-shitty coffee according to the man. âYeah, actually. Thatâd be nice,â You hum to him.
Gojo dramatically moves to stretch his arms, clasping his hands together before extending them out with a heavy sigh, as if he were preparing to do such a difficult task. âAlrighty then, is there any specific kinda coffee youâre lookinâ for?â
âStill my first time here, Gojo. So, noâŠâ The way you say his name so suddenly has him wondering if you knew him from somewhere. But, you quickly smile a little and nod your chin to his name tag, to which he looks down and laughs at himself. âSurprise me,â You then say moments later.
âSurprise you?â Gojo echoes.
You shrug sheepishly, âIf thatâs not too much work for you-â
âNo, I donât mind. I can surprise yaâ,â His smile at you deepens and you catch the slightest dip in his cheeks as the most enamoring set of dimples pops out to your gaze. âBuuut, before I do⊠Do you have any allergies or dislikes I should be wary of?â
You hum, âUh, no I donât think so? Iâm feeling rather open-minded today so, just bring me something good enough to have me returning for more.â
âYeah? I mean, Iâm sure youâll come back for somethinâ else aside from jusâ coffee,â Gojo laughs to himself at his own comment and your eyes simply widen, a cute lilâ tilt of your head catching his attention.
You chuckle nervously, âWhat else would I come back for if not coffee?â
He shrugs before slowly turning away, âOh, I dunno⊠Perhaps a certain handsome cashier thatâs caught your eye?â
Oh, you see where heâs going with this. It may have been a while but, you know what flirting looks like. âIs this handsome cashier in the room with us, orâŠ?â You tease with a smile on your face, watching the way Gojo freezes and he sends you this look that you have to try your hardest not to laugh at.
He nearly pouts, âW-Well, yeah, obviously. Youâre lookinâ at him.â
Your brows lift, âAm I?â
Gojo narrows those pretty blue eyes of his at you, âDo you not find me handsome?â
âSay I didnât,â You murmur tauntingly, âWouldnât you be really embarrassed?â
The corner of his lips twitch before he scoffs playfully, âWhat are you, some kinda masochist?â
You giggle, âNo, but seeinâ that pout on your face was kinda cute.â
âPout?â Gojo gasps dramatically, âHah, what pout?â He scoffs again before straightening his face and attempting to be serious with you, âI didnât pout-â
âYou totally did,â You cut off, peering right into those mesmerizing eyes of hisâ damn, it was almost like you couldnât get yourself to look away.
âI did not,â Gojo corrects your statement, lower lip poking out once more into a pout.
You shrug and finally get yourself to glance off to the side, âIt was cute.â
He instantly tilts his head at that, ears perking up, âYâthink Iâm cute?â
âI do.â You hum simply with your eyes wandering right back over to his face.
Thereâs this little moment between the two of you, a spark if you will, where you both just meet one anotherâs eyes and admire each other. Is this what mutual attraction feels like?
Perhaps if you squinted, you wouldâve noticed the faintest shade of pink decorating his cheeks, âI-,â Gojo swallows suddenly, âWhy thank you, sweetheart,â He utters suavely, as if to save himself from embarrassment. After which, he clears his throat, âThat aside, weâve got about six minutes before people start rushinâ in here ând itâll take two for me to prepare that coffee of yours so, do you mind givinâ me a name?â
You blink, âA nameâŠ?â
âYour name,â Gojo clarifies.
âOh! Sorry,â Youâre quick to apologize for your moment of daze, giving him your name seconds later to make up for it.
He starts to smile again, âThatâs your name?â
âYes?â You utter almost confusedly. Was there something wrong-
âItâs pretty,â Gojo interrupts your thoughts completely and your eyes go all wide all over again, a small feature in which he finds absolutely adorable.
âT-Thank you,â You stammer out, turning away to now avoid the eye contact you once couldnât tear yourself away from.
âUhuh,â His eyes scan you up and down once more before he sighs, âIâll be back in a secâ, sweets,â Gojo says finally.
God, you think the nickname he threw out has your heart racing because it made your face so utterly hot. Almost as if you donât hear nicknames like that on a daily basisâŠ
Aside from that, you gave Gojo one last nod before looking back over your shoulder to see if anyone was coming yet. Heâd told you that there was only a few minutes until rush hour so you were a bit wary that people would appear out of nowhere in the next-
âSo youâre the girl thatâs got Satoru all giggly, huh?â A voice purrs from somewhere in front of you.
Quickly, you return your gaze forward and spot a man, equally as tall as Gojo, with long dark hair, slim eyes, and a really pretty faceâ holy shit, how many hot guys work here??
âUh,â Youâre stuttering again, tipping your head to the side, ââŠSatoru?â You repeat, confused by the person heâs referring to.
The man chuckles, âGojo,â He tells you, âSatoru Gojo,â You nod at the clarification and he grins warmly.
âOh, then yeah I guess so,â You shrug sheepishly before flashing a smile, âSo then that means you must be Suguru-â
âGeto,â Heâs so quick to correct you that you almost immediately shut up, swallowing down your words as if youâd said something wrong. âSorry, I assume Satoru told you my first name?â
You steadily nod, avoiding eye contact with him out of embarrassment, âHe didâŠâ
âAs expected,â Geto hums before letting out a long sigh, âJust call me by me last, I donât know you too well so Iâm sure you understand.â
You hum, âRight, sorry.â
Itâs a tad bit awkward for the next few seconds after that mild conversation but when you hear Gojo yelling from somewhere in the back, the awkwardness quickly subsides.
You even spot Gojo popping his head out from around the corner just to speak to his coworker, âSuguru donât scare her off jusâ cause you have a girlfriend-â
âI donât have a girlfriend,â Geto interrupts, sharp with his correction as he glances back over his shoulder.
Gojo snorts, âFine then, girl whoâs a friend that you like-â
âI don't-,â A sigh leaves Getoâs lips before heâs moving to pinch the bridge of his nose, groaning afterward, âJust hurry up with the damn coffee before people start cominâ in.â
Your eyes somehow find Gojoâs and you watch him mouth out something to you, âHeâs grouchy because his girlfriendâs ignorinâ him-â
âSatoru,â Geto says scoldingly, causing Gojo to flinch dramatically.
Then you see the white-haired man laugh before winking at you and dipping back around the corner. After which, you donât even realize youâre smiling until you meet Getoâs gaze and feel your expression drop at the glare heâs giving you.
âWhat?â You murmur warrily, raising a brow at his plain look.
Geto tilts his head and studies your face for a mere moment, âYou new around here or somethinâ?â
âNew to this cafe, yeah,â You explain, âWhy?â
He shrugs, âIâve learned most of our customerâs faces and majority of them live around the area but Iâve never seen you before.â
âI live not too far from campus but I wasnât aware this cafe was here until todayâŠâ You explain steadily, earning somewhat of an intrigued expression from the man.
âDamn, really?â
You nod, âMhm.â
âSo, wait,â Geto scoffs a little at the thought, âDonât tell me youâve been stomaching dining hall caffeine all this time.â
You chuckle and glance off to the side, âWellâŠâ
âIf you live near campus, how the hell are you just now finding us??â Geto questions, he seems genuinely confused by your cluelessness.
Your shoulders lift into a shrug, âI donât go out much.â
âMaybe you should,â He tells you.
A thin lipped smile tugs at your lips, âStarting to realize that now, thanks.â
The man opens his mouth to say something but heâs cut off by Gojo returning from the back and placing a hand on his shoulder, to which Geto glances down at.
âAlrighty Suguru, thanks for not scaring the pretty lady away!â Gojo says cheerfully as he pushes past his friend and makes eye contact with you.
Getoâs brows push together, âYouâre welcome? I donât know how I wouldâve scared her, I-â
Gojo unintentionally cuts him off with a laugh, âYouâve been kinda grouchy towards women ever since you met-â
âFuck off,â He grumbles, brushing off Gojoâs hand on his shoulder and turning to make his way to the back once more.
âSee what I mean?â Gojo hums to himself.
Then Geto laughs, âYouâre not a woman are you?â
âSuguruuu,â Gojo whines, turning his head back to his friend whoâs already disappeared from his line of vision. Then, Gojo sighs and looks to you again, âAh whatever, ignore him, he sucks sometimes.â
You grin, âYou guys are best friends, arenât you?â
The way Gojo tilts his head almost innocently is kinda cute, âHow can you tell?â
âMine acts similarly,â You explain, thinking of your best friend whoâs not the nicest person in the world.
âYeah?â Gojo hums, âAn asshole once they get into a relationship?â
âIâm not in a relationship, Satoru!â Geto calls out from the back.
You watch as Gojo rolls his eyes at his friend's refutation of his claims. Looking somewhat off to the side, your thoughts wander more so toward your best friend, âWell, no, heâs kinda just an asshole all around.â
âReally? Whyâre you his best friend then?â Youâve always found this question funny considering most people are confused about how you and your best friend are even friends when most times you two donât get along.
Instead of really answering Gojoâs question, you look up at him and smile, âI could ask you the same thing, no?â
His brows furrow and he scoffs, âWhat? No, Suguruâs just grouchy today, I promise heâs usually better than that.â
You nod, âI seeâŠâ
âAnyway,â Gojo extends his hand out to you, âHere, give this a try,â He offers, handing a decently sized cold drink to you.
You receive the item and look down at it, âYouâre not trying to poison me right?â
Gojo laughs, âAaand why ever would I do that?â
The cup is steadily lifted to your lips as you lift your eyes to him once more, âI dunno, men are weird.â
âThat they are,â He chuckles, âBut no, thatâd be illegal and I have no intentions of harming you.â
Again, you just nod at that and then take that first sip of the surprise drink heâd given you. A strong taste of vanilla and a nearly overwhelming amount of coffee creamer hits your tastebuds. You smile but youâre a bit taken back by how sweet it is. One, itâs way better than any cup of coffee youâve ever had from the dining hall and two, itâs a lot sweeter than you were expecting.
âHoly fuck, how much sugar did you put in this thing?â You utter in surprise as you move the cup away from your mouth and glance at it as if thatâll give you the answer to your question.
Gojo lets out a laugh, âYou said to surprise you.â
âYeah but this is sweet as hell,â You tell him, your eyes raking over the cup in your hand.
âSweet drink for a sweet girl, I donât see a problem,â He responds with a little lean toward you.
âRight and-,â You scoff, eyes narrowing at the very lousy print of your name on the cup, âWhoâsâŠâ You almost laugh, âChrist, your handwriting is shit.â
Gojo lets out a huff, âOkay, first off, my handwriting is not that bad. And secondly-â
Youâre quick to turn the cup to him and lift it, âLook at it!â
âOh.â He squints his eyes at it, âShit, that is kinda badâŠâ Gojo mumbles with an amused little smile on his face.
âYeah, I canât even read thisâŠâ You laugh, returning the cup to yourself, âBut thatâs okay, I appreciate the effort,â His smile grows at your comforting words as you then look up at him once more, âHow much?â
âSince my handwritingâs so shit,â He starts, tilting his head at you and shrugging, âConsider it on the house.â
Your eyes seem to light up, âYeah?â
âMhm,â Gojo hums.
âAw, thank you,â Who would you be to ever pass up something free? Especially given by this cheeky cashier before you.
âAnytime-â
Getoâs voice intrudes from the back, âSatoru I thought I told you to change these filters? And whyâd you leave such a big mess, holy shit.â
Gojo yells back to his coworker, slightly looking over his shoulder, âThe mess isnât that bad is it?â
You snort, âIf itâs anything like your handwriting then uhâŠâ
âAlright,â Gojoâs quick to look at you once more, âYou just got a free drink out of me so I donât wanna hear anything from you.â
âSatoru, these filters arenât gonna change themselves,â Geto nags further.
You watch as Gojo rolls his eyes and yells back to his friend yet again, âYouâre literally back there already, change them yourself.â
âNope, itâs your turn,â Geto argues.
Gojo frowns, âBut-â
âThe girlâs not goinâ anywhere anytime soon,â At that, you blink in surprise. How does he know youâre not ready to leave just yet? âGet your ass back here,â Geto orders.
Gojo turns his head and looks at you almost pleadingly.
You giggle, âWhat? Sounds like youâve got some filters to change, GojoâŠâ
âYâknow what,â He scoffs and nods his chin to the cup in your hand, â$5.45.â
Your head cocks back a little and your brows go up, âIâm sorry?â
âThe drink,â Gojo hums simply, looking back to make sure Geto wasnât on his way out to scold him some more just yet, âSince you wanna take his side over mineâŠâ
The way you frown misses Gojoâs eyes up until he turns to look at you one last time, his eyes going wide as you try to defend yourself, âI wasnât-â
âSâfine, I got it,â An entirely different voice grumbles from your right, causing you to nearly jump out of your skin. So close to you, an arm slips right past your face and you watch as an all too familiar man extends a card out to Gojo.
Your lashes bat a few times as an annoyingly familiar scent of cologne rushes into your nose. Youâd literally just escaped said smell a few hours ago after leaving your apartment and yet here it was all over again, directly in your nose and you met the side profile of your best friend, âChoso?â You utter.
Whatever light and fluffy banter that was in the air seconds ago seems to die at the mere presence of Choso standing so closely beside you. Ignoring you, he urges Gojo to take his card and Gojo soon does so with a scoffâ he was going to keep flirting and teasing you but here comes this all-too-serious-looking man taking your vacant side as if it were second nature.
The smile Gojo once had on his face simmered down and his expression became a lot more neutral as he quietly moved to charge Chosoâs card.
After which, your best friend finally looks down at you, his eyes pointed in a glare that would make anyone feel unloved despite you knowing he feels quite the opposite (to some extent at least), âDonât you have class in an hour?â Choso asks you in a dull monotone.
Your face scrunches up slightly before you shrug, âI was thirstyâŠâ
Choso stares at you for a long moment, glances at Gojo, then back to you with a scoff, âYeah, clearly.â
âWhatâs that supposed to mean-,â Youâre cut off by Choso taking his eyes off of you and receiving his card back from Gojo, the two men making eye contact once more and both looking as if the other had done something to offend them. Your best friend openly scoffs in Gojoâs face before pocketing his card and turning away, quickly walking out of the establishment.
Your eyes go wide, âChoso, wait!â You call out as your eyes followed him walking away from you. Only to be ignored again, you let out a huff and start to walk after him but turn back to Gojo one last time, âSorry about him.â
Gojoâs expression seems to light back up a bit and he shrugs, âYouâre fine.â
You nod and start turning away before remembering something and looking at Gojo yet again, slightly pointing at him, âYou owe me a free drink by the way,â You remind him playfully.
His face is twisting right back up into that intrigued expression from earlier, âDo I now? And what for?â
âYour shitty handwriting of course,â You hum.
"Hm," He takes a second to think before letting out a slight huff. You then feel and watch the way his eyes glide up and down your body before he responds to you, "Alright."
And with that, both of you smile at one another one last time before you go running off to catch up with Choso. Gojo watches you almost in some kinda trance as you leave, spotting more customers approaching but ignoring them for the most part as his gaze remains glued to you until youâre completely out of his line of vision.
Then, he lets out this breathy little sigh, âFuckâŠâ Moving to wipe his face off as if thatâll rid himself of whatever the hell heâs feeling after talking to you.Â
He didnât even get to ask you for your number like he wanted toâŠ
With perfect timing, âSatoru, the-â
âFilters, yeah yeah, I got it,â Gojo cuts Geto off completely, turning around to see his friend emerging from the back as they both swap places due to the approaching rush hour.
· âââââââââ · êš Â· âââââââââ ·
Outside, you were met with a slap of heat as soon as you exited the cafe, your eyes searching the area for Choso. A slight breeze of refreshing wind brushes over your skin as you finally spot the man having not gotten too far away.
Barely managing to catch up to him, you nudge Choso on his arm as soon as you meet his side, âWhyâd you pay for my drink? I couldâve done that myself.â
Just as he did earlier inside the cafe, he acts as though youâre not even there, keeping his gaze forward and pretending he didnât hear a single thing you just said.
âChoso? Hello??â You huff out, nudging him on his arm again.
His lip twitches into a scowl and he just barely side-eyes you, âWhat?â
You ignore all of his attitude, as you typically do, âWhyâd you pay?â
âYouâre a walking charity case,â Choso hums all too casually.
Your head goes back and you scoff, âI-, what? No, Iâm not!â Then the back of your hand is landing on his arm as you hit him and he almost smiles.
Finding amusement in your reaction, he shrugs, âYeah you are,â And before you can even try to get a response out, the cup of coffee in your hand is stripped from your grasp faster than you could blink. Choso removes the top and takes a sip, âEw, you like this shit?â He scowls, placing the top right back on and handing you your drink back.
You blink, struggling to process a logical reasoning behind his action, âFirst off, no one told your ass to take a sip. And secondly-â
âI wanted to know what you got,â Choso cuts off, glancing at you to watch how quickly you get annoyed by him.
You groan, âYou couldâve asked if that was the case.â He shrugs your words off and you roll your eyes at him, âAnd how the hell did you know I was in there anyway?â
âI didnât,â Choso tells you, âI always go in there but today I happened to see your short ass at the counter when I walked in.â
Youâre quick to shoot him a glare, âStop that, Iâm not short.â
Heâs got this arrogant little grin on his face, âLook short tâme.â
âThatâs because youâre taller than me, which doesnât make you tall in general nor does it make me short.â You explain to the man simply with your eyes shooting daggers into the side of his face.
Choso continues to act as though youâre not even looking at him, âBeing shorter than me makes you short-â
âAnd yâknow what,â You cut off, tearing your eyes off of your overly bothersome friend, âYouâre annoying.â
He cocks his head back, âAnnoying? Iâm annoying?â Finally, he looks at you, now searching the side of your face for answers.
âYeah, very.â You hum.
Choso scoffs and then sizes you up and down, âSays the one who was gawkinâ over Gojo Satoru of all people.â
You nearly laugh, âFucksâ that supposed to mean? How would that make me annoying?â
âHeâs a weirdo,â Choso shrugs, pocketing his hands as he faces forward once more, âI canât understand what you could possibly find attractive about him.â
You blink and both of you slow down in the pace of your steps, âI talked to him for less than ten minutes, how was I supposed to know heâs weird. And wait-, how does me finding him attractive even annoy you?â
Your best friend sighs and his words come out all too casually for them to be so offensive, âCause when he breaks your heart,â Choso looks at you, âYouâll come bitchinâ to me about it.â
At that, you freeze, quickly turning to meet his gaze, âWho says heâll break my heart? And bitching? Is that what you call me talking to you about my relationship issues?? Bitching? Seriously?â With your eyes narrowed and brows tightly knit together, Choso shouldâve sensed that he struck a nerve there.
Yet, he seems to not care in the slightest, blinking as if heâd said nothing wrong, âFuck else am I supposed to call it? I warn you about every guy you date but you donât ever listen to me.â
Your face twists up, âThat doesnât make my complaints âbitchingââŠâ
âWell, it makes it fucking annoying,â He hums before pulling his lips into a thin smileâ mocking you through facial expressions.
Your brows go up, âReally? Okay then, sorry for ever confiding in you,â You set your eyes straight once more, âIâll just go find someone else to-â
âYou know no one else is gonna put up with your shit the same way I do,â Heâs so quick to dismiss your little statement, almost as if the implication of you ever leaving him, in a sense, bothered him.
You scoff matter-of-factly, âThatâs not true.â
âIt literally is though,â Choso deadpans, âYou have one friend and thatâs me. Who the hell else are you gonna go rant to, hm?â
âSomeone that doesnât call my rants bitching.â You huff, crossing your arms over one another.
Choso scales his eyes down to your arms and he smiles, âAre you seriously mad about that?â
âMaybe,â You shrug.
His feet come to a stop and you follow suit, turning to avoid his eyes as much as possible. Choso stares at you for a moment before leaning toward you, tilting his head and angling his lips toward your ear.
All of which done so he could whisper to you, âMâsorry, princess,â Choso murmurs to you affectionately, âYâknow I didnât mean that seriously, Iâm jusâ fuckinâ with you.â
You remain unphased for a mere moment more before the constant brush of his breath against your skin makes you shudder, your hands moving to his chest to push him away, âYeah, whatever⊠And stop calling me that.â
Choso blinks, feeling confused since you act as if he hadnât been calling you such a thing for years, âWhy?â
âCause I donât like itâŠâ You so clearly lieâ not that you enjoyed the nickname but more so that youâve always felt indifferent to it. Or, almost always.
He smirks, âYour face is telling me an entirely different story.â
âYeah?â You chuckle, moving to shoot your middle finger at him, âAnd what story does this tell you?â
Choso stares into your eyes for a long period of time before looking to your finger, smiling fully and tilting his head again, ââŠYou wanna fuck me?â
Immediately putting your finger down, your brows tense, âWhat? No!â You exclaim, groaning as you return to your walking, âGod, I cannot stand you.â
He laughs and follows right alongside you, âYouâre so easy to annoy, holy shit.â
âAnd youâre insufferable,â You huff.
Choso shrugs simply, âYou love me though.â
You glance at him, âDebatable.â
He pouts and pretends to clutch his heart, âOuch-â
âAnyway,â Returning your attention to someone much less annoying than the man beside you, you nod your head back toward the cafe, âDo you know if heâs single?â
Choso nearly trips over his steps at the sound of that, letting out a cough, âWho-, Gojo??â
You nod, âMhm.â
âWhy?â Chosoâs lips twitch, âYou lookinâ to get rejected?â
Pausing, you look to him with a quirked brow, âExcuse me? What makes you think Iâll get rejected?â
âYouâre uhâŠâ He trails off a little, eyes lingering down your frame before he smiles and speaks to you in this faux gentle whisper, âNot his type, sweetie.â
Your eyes roll at that, âOkay, first of all, fuck you. Secondly, how do you know?â
âUh, Iâve seen the kinda girls heâs into so trust me when I sayâŠâ Chosoâs eyes shift to peer directly into yours, âIt ainât you.â
You stare back for a moment before shaking your head and looking off, âWhatever, youâre just saying that.â
âYeah because Iâm gonna lie to you about something like that,â He snickers to himself before rolling his eyes. Within seconds, he goes to look at you again only to see you heading in a different direction, âHey! Whereâre you goinâ?â
âAway from you!â You call back.
He laughs yet again, âWhat, you canât handle the truth now?â
Glancing back to him, âIâm gonna prove you wrong asshole.â
Choso flashes you a shit-eating grin as if heâs already begun praying on your downfall, âSure you will.â
He then watches as you further away from him, his smile steadily fading as he catches himself a bit too happy at the sight of you so determined. Choso shrugs off whatever feeling the topic of Gojo Satoru had brought up within him, dismissing the entire thing as he truly believed youâd never really get yourself too involved with that guy.
Unfortunately for him, he didnât see the way you were taking to Gojo before he walked in so, Choso had no idea of how things were about to play out within the next few hours.
· âââââââââ · êš Â· âââââââââ ·
As such, after that morning class of yours that extended decently into the afternoon, you found yourself rushing back to the cafe as soon as you could.
You knew not of Gojoâs working hours so you had no clue whether or not heâd still be there but you sure as hell hoped so. Choso had really ticked you off with his claims.
You not being Gojoâs type? Yeah right, he didnât see the way that cashier was looking at you, nor did he hear all the banter that took place. Given that, you were determined to prove your dear friend wrong and yourself right. You know flirting when you see it and thatâs exactly what Gojo was doing.
So to say he wasnât at least intrigued by you would be a blatant lie you had every hope on exposing to Choso.
When you finally find yourself entering that lovely little cafe, itâs a lot more busy in comparison to earlierâ something you take note of for your possible future visits. The line wasnât exactly too long but quite a few people were hanging out or studying throughout the establishment.
That aside, your eyes were quick to search for a certain white-haired barista, gaze lighting up the very second it meets the man it questions.Â
Gojo had a weary smile on his face as he handed some girl a coffee and you could tell based on his eyes alone that he was tired of the chick rambling to him. He nodded and nodded, trying to keep himself appearing entertained by whatever she was saying but when he glances over and spots you, all his attention is diverted.
Those pretty blue eyes of his fixate on you and you watch as he finally dismisses the girl, nodding toward you as if to say he had another customer to tend to. She shrugs and finally leaves, to which you take place in standing where sheâd been seconds ago, sending a smile to Gojo.
âLong day?â You suggest with a slight tilt of your head, to which he nods.
âYou have no idea,â Gojo sighs out to you, âYouâre back sooner than I expected though.â
He didnât know what it was about you, perhaps the way you gaze at him, but there was something that kept his eyes lingering on yours far longer than normalâ something that genuinely lulled him in. Perhaps it was the natural flow of conversation and how even from earlier, you didnât really feel like a mere customer but instead just a person, a woman at that-, a very pretty woman, might he add.
âYou owe me a free drink, remember?â You remind him, earning a different reaction than expected.
Gojo pauses, âOhh⊠About thatâŠâ He hums, moving to scratch the back of his neck, âYeah see, that offer no longer standsâŠâ
You blink, âIâm not sure I understandâŠâ
He lets out a sigh, then moves to lean forward against the counter, bending down and crossing his arms as he rests on his elbows and comes much closer to your eye level, âAnother cute girl came in ând got it before you,â Gojo whispers.
You couldnât tell if he was joking or not and your brows pinch together, âSeriously?â
âMmhmm,â He hums tauntingly with this smug look on his face as if to say giving away your promised drink was to get back at you for something.
âWell,â You click your tongue, âI think you owe me a free drink now more than before, maybe two.â
Gojo smiles, feeling amused, âYeah? I mean, my numberâs free. Yâwant that instead?â
Your voice gets caught in your throat at how ridiculously smooth that was, trying your hardest not to give in and return a smile. âI⊠What am I supposed to do with that?â You end up asking.
He snickers, âPerhaps text me? Or call? Yâknow, the thing you do with phones-â
âAlright smart ass,â You scoff playfully, grinning as you move to pull out your phone, âWhatâs your number then?â
Gojo smiles triumphantly and extends his hand out, âHere, lemme put it in for yaâ.â
You glance at him, eyes meeting and yet another moment passing before you hand him your phone, to which he takes a second to look down at the device in his hands. Then, he enters his number and a contact name for himself.
After which, your cell is quickly returned to you and you look to see what heâs put in. Studying the name closely, you tilt your head, âSatoru?â
âMhm, thaâs me, sweetheart,â He purrs, moving to rest his cheek against his knuckles.
You look up from your phone, âYou want me to call you Satoru?â
Gojo shrugs, âIf you donât mind, yeah.â
âWeâre on a first-name basis already?â You tease, eyes narrowing at the man.
âIt seems we are,â He utters. His voice was a bit lower with you now, much more casual and playful. âThat alright with you, pretty girl?â
Unknowingly, your face flushes, âYeah, thatâs uh, thatâs fine.â
Gojo lets out a hum, âGood.â Then, the two of you do that thing yet again, peering into one another's eyes, unmoving, nearly frozen and dazed for a moment longer than intended before Gojo snaps out of it by almost awkwardly clearing his throat, âSo uh, you still want that free drink orâŠ?â
You blink out of your own stupor and shake your head, âNo, Iâll come back for it tomorrow.â
âOh?â His brows shoot up in surprise, âYouâre coming back tomorrow?â
âIt seems I am, yes,â A smile graces your face and he canât help but stare.
Gojo mirrors your expression, âJust for coffee?â
Your eyes wander off to the side cheekily, âPerhaps for a certain handsome cashier tooâŠâ
He thinks his heart is fluttering. Is this normal? To experience such a genuine infatuation with a womanâs words within less than twenty-four hours? It was unusual for Gojo, thatâs for damn sure. Hence why his head is tipping to the side, âReally? Have my charms worked so soon?â He teases.
You return your gaze to him, âJust a little, yeah.â
Mesmerized by you, Gojo nods, âGood to know.â
âMhm,â After a slight hum, you glance down at your phone and check the time, âWell uh, I actually have another class so I should probably go.â
âYes⊠Yes, you should,â He voices out slowly, again entangled into that daze of his until you lift your head once more, âBut uh, make sure you text me later, yeah?â Gojo reminds you.
To which you chuckle and start turning away toward the exit, âNo promises.â
Heâs left in a mere awe of you, not even knowing what to say, and left utterly speechless from such an intriguing yet simple conversation with you. As you wave bye, Gojo had to feel for his heart the very second you leave just to see if it was working correctly because heâs not sure what the hell that was just now.
Whatever it may have been, he knows it was much more genuine and raw than what heâs typically used to. And it came so naturally too, the banter, the gazes, the flirting⊠Gojo was longing for more already and heâd only just met you a few hours ago.
· âââââââââ · êš Â· âââââââââ ·
All the while youâre just as cheerful at the interaction you just had, beyond ready to brag to your doubtful best friend of your most recent accomplishments.
Which is exactly why youâre facetiming said friend as soon as you leave the cafe. The call rings for less than a second before itâs answered and youâre met with a visibly displayed and⊠shirtless Choso.
Before you get the chance to even try and take in his naked torso, heâs already scowling at you, âThe fuck are you facetiming me for?â He grumbles, taking the smile right off of your lips, âIâve seen your face enough for one day. Why donât you ever call like a normal person??â
You bat your eyelashes at the man, âCho, we just got on the phone and youâre already souring the moodâŠâ
He ignores your complaint, âWhat do you want?â
Steadily, your smile returns, âGuess who got a certain someoneâs number,â You utter cheerfully, voice light in a little sing-song tone.
Choso gives his phone a blank stare, not saying a single word in response to that.
Which confused you, âWell? Are you gonna guess-â
âYou couldâve texted me this shit,â He cuts off before you watch as your screen is soon met with the ceiling as he places his phone down.
You pout, âWell, yeah but then I wouldnât have been able to see your reactionâŠâ
He scoffs and pops his face into the camera for a second, eyes dull, smile nonexistent, eye bags heavy, and tattoo running across his nose the only thing giving some form of expression despite it being nothing more than a dark black line. âDoes it look like I give two shits about you gettinâ some assholeâs number?â
You let out a long sigh, âRemind me why weâre friends again?â
And thatâs when Choso seems to smirk, âCauseâ you wonât leave me alone.â
âIâm hanging up,â You groan.
His laughter, albeit somewhat of a rare sound, fills your ears, âOkay, okay, Iâm sorry.â
You send him a look, âAre you?â
âMhm, good job on gettinâ his number, princess,â Choso coos, making your eyes widen, âIâm proud of you.â
Your mouth opens to say something to that but your throat runs oddly dry. Instead, you gulp down his sudden praise and ignore how warm his words make you feel. ââŠThank you.â You eventually say.
âUhuh,â Choso nods before removing himself from the camera again, âPretty sure heâs just trying to fuck though.â He says bluntly.
Instead of choking like he expected you to, you only scoff, âFine by me.â
Your best friend is quiet for a moment, feeling almost silenced before he sighs, âOh⊠But you told me no-â
âThat was entirely different, Choso.â You cut off.
He shuts up again.
âYou were drunk, andâŠâ Your voice dies out.
To which he raises a brow at his phone, âAnd what?â
âAnd things were different back then,â You sigh, trying not to recall the entirety of your past with Choso at the present moment, ââŠYou were an even bigger asshole, remember?â
âYeah, yeah,â Choso sighs, moving to dismiss the topic, âAnyway, let me know how things go with your new albino boyfriend.â
You scoff, smiling at the suggestion itself, âHeâs not even my-âÂ
The call disconnects. Oh how you just love your best friend and his antics. You wouldnât trade your friendship with him for anything.
Or at least, thatâs what you told yourself anyway. What exactly does a new man in your life bring if not drama? This right here was but the beginning of a very interesting journey toward such a fickle emotion we know as; love.
mlist | next chapter |
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ikea meatballs before marriage?
contents ౚৠâ touya todoroki x fem reader. fluff. cursing. slightly suggestive. â your fiancĂ© and you get a little too into playing house when youâre supposed to be furniture shopping for your new apartment.
âyouâre home early.â touya smirks. an apron youâre ninety-nine percent sure he stole from the aisle showcasing the ovens with âi cook as good as i lookâ printed on it is tied around his waist.
âiâm home!â you say cheerfully, playing along with him.Â
you take a moment to study âyourâ kitchen and droop in disappointment.Â
it was a bit too dim for your liking, the lighting.
thereâs no way you could read the recipe books rei had gifted you without touya having to stand there and hold a flashlight while you did.
but the deep forest green accented cabinets, reaching all the way to the ceiling, were beautiful.
perfect for storing fuyumiâs leftover snacks that her students gifted her yesterday.
she had complained to you over the phone about how there was no space at home since all the cupboards were full of soba noodles, courtesy of your fiancé and little brother-in-law.
touya nervously watches, until he sees as you visibly brighten up, and he lets a little huff out, half in pride, half in relief.Â
he knew his pick couldnât be that bad.
then you spot the fake plant hanging from overhead, and grimace as you see a cluster of even more potted plants under it near the toaster.Â
cute in theory, but definitely a fire hazard.
touya notices the little way your eyebrows furrow with doubt, and casually leans against the edge of the sink to distract you from making any more keen observations.Â
you giggle at the way he almost knocks off the price tag on it in the process, too busy staring at you to bother noticing.Â
âhow was work?â your favorite fire hazard asks, reaching out a hand to gently brush a stray lash you didnât notice from your cheek.Â
your face always feels hotter than usual when touya pulls away, even after all this time.
âugh, so exhausting,â you fan yourself a bit, let out an exaggerated sigh. âthe printer blew up and got toner all over my clothes, can you believe it?â
âaw.â thereâs a playful sparkle in his eyes as touya innocently frowns in sugary sweet sympathy. âwant me to run a bath for you later?â
you can feel your cheeks start to burn. you just took one with him yesterday!
but of course you find yourself stuttering out, âoh, um sure.âÂ
the memory of his fingers softly massaging your scalp as he helped you wash your hair. the gentlest of touches on your skin as he lathered you in suds, pressing a kiss to your forehead between rinses flood back to you.Â
you remember trying to wash his hair one time, but he quickly stopped you by trapping you in his lap, insisting that he wanted to do yours first. like he does during every bath he runs for you when you stay over at the todoroki house.
and he would take just as good care of you, your heart knows, in your cozy new apartment that was waiting for you back in shizuoka too.Â
not too far from home, so that everyone could still visit, but not too close either, so the both of you had your own space.
touya grins as a shy expression suddenly crosses over your face, knowing exactly what youâre thinking about.Â
with amusement, he watches as you reach over to set your purse on the white marble counter.Â
a pair of strong hands claim their usual spot on your waist, holding you in place, and then youâre pulled away until your back bumps against a familiar, firm chest.
âuh-uh, mrs. todoroki.â he murmurs softly in your ear. âi just cleaned that for you before you got home.â
your breath catches. mrs. todoroki? Â
âmy bad,â is all you can manage to squeak out.
his nose tickles your cheek in response and you giggle at the feeling of his piercings, cold and soothing against your warm skin.
âso. what do you want for dinner today?â touya says, leaning over you to open the fridge. he scans its empty contents with a face so serious that you have to bite back a laugh.Â
âwhat do we have?â
âstale airâi mean,â touya coughs. âuh, salad.â
âthatâs it? just salad?â you point an accusatory finger at him, and he snorts at the way you force your eyebrows to scrunch together to make an angry face. so cute.
âoh, you think this is funny? take that apron off right now, you big phony.âÂ
âyes maâam.â he laughs airily, reaching behind him to undo the tie when his hands stop.Â
touya turns to you with a pout. âcan you do it for me? my fingers hurt from cooking and cleaning all day.â
he makes it so hard to stay mad at him, even as a joke.Â
you bite your lip to suppress the fond grin growing on your face, but it's too late, touyaâs already seen it and he knows youâll give into him soon enough.
âaw, my poor husband all alone in the house, cooking air and salad. it mustâve been so hard for you.â
he pouts even more. âit really was.â
the giggle youâve been holding back finally spills from your mouth. he was ridiculous, and you loved him for it. âokay you big baby, iâll untie it for you.â you move to stand behind him, hands reaching for the back of his waist to untie the neat bow he did for himself earlier.
âi think you mean your big strong husband.â touya leans his weight back into you.Â
not enough to hurt you or make you fall, but just enough to give you a hard time undoing the knot of his apron.Â
âsewing machine was acting up like crazy today, had to teach it some manners.â
âiâm sure you did.â you fight back another laugh, which turns into a whine as his broad back leans into your face even more.Â
âtouya stop it! do you want this apron off of you or not?â
you can practically hear him smirk from in front of you.
âiâm okay with anything as long as it keeps your hands on me.â
you step away from him and he lets out a âoof!â as his back thuds against the hard floor of the ikea showroom, taking down a fake plant with him.
touya is donning a new apron when the two of you find yourselves outside of another kitchen showroom.Â
âârelax, iâll feed you bitches.â it read in bold.Â
you giggle hysterically as he stands there, hands on his hips and looking way too proud of his find, as you snap a pic to send to the groupchat with his siblings.
iâd rather eat poison, natsuo texts back.Â
his message is hearted by fuyumi and shoto a few moments later.Â
a miffed touya reaches over your shoulder to steal your phone, which you easily let go of and surrender like usual with a laugh.
 his chin rests on your head, your back pressed to his chest as he perches his upper arms on your shoulders to text back.Â
after he hits send with a satisfied smirk, the both of you walk onto the set.
the kitchen this time was one with a less colorful theme, yet you hear a sharp intake of breath from touya and you feel your own breath catch in your throat.
the tall windows and generous lighting more than made up for it.Â
framed paintings of cranes were hung on the slate gray wall behind the dining table, and the refrigerator was much, much larger than the one you saw touya open before.
familiar indigo petals catch your eye. there was a beautiful painting of rindou flowers next to the window in the kitchen, and you canât help but stare.
âmom would love those.â touya murmurs from beside you. your fingers lace through his as you smile softly in agreement.Â
âshe would.â
still in the second showroom, touyaâs rummaging inside the cabinets while you study the spice rack.Â
imagine all the goodies you could fit in there, from sesame seeds to shichimi togarashi.
you drool thinking about all the miso soups and sweet potatoes you could put them on when he suddenly turns to you.
âiâve been working on my cocktails while you were at work, by the way.â touya grins, handing you an empty, plastic wine glass from where youâre perched on the granite countertop. âwanna try?â
you raise it to your lips and take a delicate sip of nothing.Â
âoh yum! whatâd you put in it?â
âkale juice.â he snickers behind his hand. âyour favorite.â
you make a disgusted face. âwell thatâd explain the kick to it.â
âright? i really, really think fuyumi and natsuo would like it.â
âtouya todoroki, donât you dare.â
âhey.â he raises both hands in innocence. âa little kale never hurt anyone.â
âyou say that but you hate kale.â
âa little kale never hurt anyone unless itâs me.â
you roll your eyes and wrap your arms around his neck. touyaâs hands smoothly guide your legs to hug his waist, bringing you closer to him from where youâre sitting on the counter. he stays standing, towering over you.Â
âcanât believe iâm marrying a hypocrite.â your voice is muffled against his shoulder, and he laughs.
suddenly, you gasp and point at the sink. âtouya!â
his eyes widen at your raised voice, instinctively looking behind him for bugs to kill because thatâs the only time your tone would sound that alarmed.
touya hugs you closer to him protectively.Â
you canât help but melt as his arms wrap even tighter around you, his serious turquoise eyes still scanning around the kitchen for any threats to you.
no bugs.Â
no tacky âlive, laugh, loveâ-esque sayings framed on the wall.
which he knows is your biggest interior design pet peeve after binging an insane amount of those house flipping shows with you.
â...what is it?â touya finally asks after a moment of hesitation.Â
you giggle at the ticklish feeling of the cold silver of his lip piercing brushing against your forehead as he speaks.
âthe dishes arenât in alphabetical order!â
touya breathes a sigh of relief, then laughs into your neck.Â
he pulls away to roll his eyes at you. âyou nearly gave me a fucking heart attack!â
âwhat, why?â you laugh, fluttering your lashes at him. so utterly adorable, that he resists the urge to bite you.
touya fights back a blush and averts his eyes from your face, remembering his protective actions. they had been purely instinctive. he reaches up to cover his face with one hand.
âtouuu!â you canât help but laugh harder, reaching up to pry his fingers away from his face. âcome on, look at me!â
touya shyly slides his gaze back to you, and lets you take his hand away from his face.Â
you lace your fingers through his and lean in to give him a sweet kiss on the lips, which only makes him blush even harder. the chill of the ikea air conditioning did nothing to help.
his eyes trail in the direction of the spice rack you were dreamily looking at earlier.
âwhy is this crooked?â he frowns, reaching behind you to straighten it.
âpfft is it bothering you?â you take a glance at it. looked okay enough to you.
âyeah it is.â touyaâs hands are on the shelf, trying to readjust it into the right position when suddenlyâ
snap!
the both of your eyes widen at the sound.Â
the shelf was upright and more centered than before.Â
except now it had a clean split down the middle of it.
of course, touya chooses to focus on the most important part.
âwell at least it looks better now.â
and all he can think about as you laugh into his shoulder is that he canât wait to stand hip to hip with you in your actual kitchen.Â
sunshine peeking through the curtains as the two of you make soups, bake each otherâs favorite pastries, and indulge in your random middle of the night cravings.
from now until forever.
after lunch in the restaurant, touya adds ikea meatballs to his list of favorite foods.Â
youâre pretty sure thatâs only because you fed them to him.Â
because while you adore him to pieces, he is an unbelievably picky eater, much to fuyumiâs chagrin.Â
luckily, heâll eat anything as long as youâre the one giving it to him.
your sister-in-law thanks you for her lack of headaches when she makes dinner.
in the third kitchen showroom of today, you squint out the window behind the sink.
âi donât know if i like it.â
âdonât know if you like what?â touyaâs still washing his hand in the imaginary water under the faucet thatâs clearly never going to start running. his silly self has been there for the past five minutes, at least.Â
you hold back a laugh at how meticulous he is about it.
âthe view.âÂ
he looks up and snorts at the wistful gaze you throw out the obviously fake window.Â
it had a picture of city scenery taped on the wall outside of it, and the circular shape of a familiar building catches his eye. he recognizes it.
the meguro sky garden in tokyo.
the first place he ever took you out on a date to.
with a fond twitch of his lips, he remembers the way he almost tripped over his feet under the cherry blossom trees when you had suddenly pecked him on the cheek. all those years ago.
touya turns the faucet off, and comes up behind you to lean his head on your shoulder as he wraps his arms around your waist. his eyes soften as you nuzzle against his chin.Â
he knows that you know he canât feel any sensations there anymore.Â
but god, does touya love that you still touch him in the places where he canât feel.Â
the way you litter soft kisses under his eyes, stroke his forearms as you guide them to your waist. like theyâre still a part of him, like heâs not broken.
like heâs always been whole to you, never any less.Â
âbut sweetheart,â touya muses. âthink about how close it's close to the best schools.â
your face heats up as you realize what heâs talking about. like you havenât thought about it a million times before.
a kid. with him.
his and your kid.
as if the universe read your mind, a very chubby baby being pushed in a cart passes by the opposite side of the window, covering the picture of tokyoâs scenery.
and it stares at touya and you with the judgiest look youâve ever seen in your life.
the two of you glance sideways at each other and burst out laughing.Â
ânevermind,â you giggle, feeling small and safe tucked in his strong arms. âmaybe the view isnât so bad.â
looking softly down at you, the beautiful color of your eyes meets his, and his heartbeat quickens.
touya canât help but agree.
a familiar weight softly rests on your shoulder when you groggily open your eyes, and your fiancé is close to follow as he stirs beside you.
you flip around to face him from where he was spooning you, giggling at the little trail of drool coming from the corner of his mouth as you watch his eyes flutter open.
you feel your breath catch in your throat as you gaze upon him.
his hair is starlight in the morning.
touya, still half-asleep, snuggles against you, completely drunk on your warmth. the soft feeling of your skin against his.Â
he doesnât even try to resist it.
the little giddy smile that tugs at his lips whenever the cool feeling silver of your sapphire embedded ring sparkles under the sunlight pooling through the curtains of your shared bedroom as he laces his fingers through yours.
his own ring softly clinking against the one he gave you.
after moving into the privacy of the apartment, with no prying eyes or nosy siblings randomly bursting into his room, touya loves to sleep with his lips just barely grazing your neck.
whenever you wake up from a nightmare, heâs already kissing the nape of it, the protective hand he has on your hip smoothing circles into your bare skin.
when he wakes from his, youâre already quietly cradling him in your arms, running your hands through his midnight black hair.Â
you really have no idea how hard you make it for him to get up.
but the idea of seeing you happily smile because of him is what gives him the final push to wriggle out of your embrace, and the adorable little pout you give him almost breaks his heart.
âwhere you going, tou?â
he grins cheekily, placing a finger on his lips. âitâs a secret.â
there's a grumble from you in response and he smooths the crinkle between your furrowed brows with a gentle kiss.
âiâ'll be back soon, i promise.â
âyou better or iâm eating your last pocky.â
he laughs at your threat, as if he wouldnât give it up to you the moment you asked.
at the sight of your eyes already starting to droop, touya presses another kiss to your forehead. âgo back to sleep, sweetheart.â
âno.â you pout as his socks pad against the floor when he leaves the room with another laugh.Â
huddled up in your floral patterned blankets, you drink in the faint scent of sweet cologne that lingers on them.Â
it still smells like him. warm like him, too.
thereâs an old photo of touya framed on your nightstand. you love to look at when you fold his and your clothes.Â
rei had slipped it out of the family album for you to keep the moment she saw how much you liked it.Â
itâs the one where heâs holding a baby shoto like a football in his arms. thereâs an easy grin on his face.
you look at it for a little longer, letting a sleepy, content smile spread across your lips.Â
until five more minutes pass, and youâre starting to feel impatient.
âshoto!â you call out the doorway in the direction of the guest room you set up for him the day before he came to visit. âwhatâs your brother doing?â
âcooking.â comes shotoâs soft voice floating down the hallway.
and thatâs all it takes for you to get up and rush to the kitchen at lightning speed.
thankfully, the fire alarm hasnât gone off yet by the time you get there.Â
you find touya slicing peaches on the counter, in front of the painting of rindou flowers. thereâs a plate of neatly assorted fruit next to him, and your eyes widen as you admire the rose-shaped strawberries. howâd he do that?
âhey.â touyaâs eyes narrow playfully when he notices you, putting down the knife. âyouâre supposed to be in bed.â
you place your hands on your hips.Â
âand youâre supposed to not be burning our new apartment down.âÂ
throwing a cautious glance at the unmanned pancakes sizzling in the pan beside you, you add on. âwith your little brother in it.â
he breathes a laugh and saunters over where youâre standing by the fridge, cornering you to the counter.Â
your fiancĂ© grins at your stammers when he leans closer. he can practically feel the heat from your cheeks from here, and touya thinks the tiny house plant overhead grows an inch taller from the sheer warmth youâre radiating.
âstoveâs off, sweetheart. theyâre not gonna burn.â
âo-oh.â you sigh in relief.
âyou worry too much.â touya murmurs softly as holds you in place by the waist to hold up a spoonful of blueberries he forgot to add to the batter.Â
your lips reluctantly part to let him feed you, and his heart skips a beat at the hint of a smile on your face.
âmmph!â
suddenly, touyaâs lips are on yours and you taste the sweet tartness of the peach he mustâve had before you came over.Â
the cold piercing of his tongue teases your mouth and he corners you even further against the cool marble of the counter to make out, just as you hear a pot start to boil and your eyes snap open.Â
youâre breathless as you muster all your willpower and break away from him.
âtouya, the pot!âÂ
âoops.â he glances at it, still caging you against the counter with his arms.Â
âforgot about that.â
âfound your necklace that fell behind the bed last week.â touya says later after breakfast. youâre both sitting on cushions fuyumi and natsuo gifted you at the coffee table in front of the tv, watching ponyo as sunlight seeps into the living room.
it swings it back and forth on his finger and your eyes widen in relief.
âi was looking everywhere for that to wear to shotoâs class party!âÂ
âi know.â he grins, and you sigh as he presses a soft kiss to your neck. of course he did.Â
touya reaches around your neck to securely clasp the back of the necklaceâs chain, a smirk tugging at his lips.
âi think i deserve a little reward.â
you giggle, he was so cute.
âthanks touya.â you say, pressing a kiss to his cheek, and he pouts.
ânot there.âÂ
âwhere then?â you smooth your hands against his bedhead and he almost whines when this time, you press a kiss to his forehead. âhere?âÂ
always such a tease, and he adores you for it.Â
touya looks like a desperate puppy as he huffs, nudging your nose with his.Â
like you didnât spoil him with kisses yesterday when he fixed the washing machine that was acting up.
youâre still not totally sure how he did it, but that was probably because you zoned out while he was explaining it to you.Â
too busy watching the way his forearms flexed as he fixed the pipes behind it and when heâd take whatever wrench or screwdriver he asked you to hand him from the toolbox.
finally, finally your lips find his and you kiss him, soft and sweet.
a cool breeze blows through the open window, and the both of you breathe it in, smelling dewdrops on grass from the rain last night and hints of sunshine.Â
touya smiles against your mouth, arms pulling you into his lap so he can taste you better.
youâre stuck with him.Â
from now until forever.
âor maybe home is just two arms wrapped around you when youâre at your worst.â
â danagray
#div cr v6que#pink touya cr @me LOL#domestic touya is so special to me#touya todoroki x reader#dabi x reader#touya x reader#mha x reader#dabi x you#bnha x reader#bnha oneshot#mha oneshot#dabi fluff
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I Want You to Stay (05) | JJK
Pairing:Â Jungkook x (f.) Reader
Genre/Tags: boss!JK x assistant!reader; idiot strangers to lovers; slow slow burn; k-drama feels; angst, drama, fluff, smut
Chapter (Series) Warnings: foul/explicit language; alcohol consumption & passing out, unhealthy coping mechanisms; family drama; minor injuries; power dynamics (JK starts off as a jerk); work-related anxiety, feelings of helplessness, insecurities; childhood traumatic experiences, nightmares; sexual harassment, prior incidence of domestic violence (PLS PLS BE CAREFUL WHEN READING); arts and business/property devt talk thatâs probably inaccurate; commitment issues & emotionally constipated characters; cold and detached JK; eventual explicit sexual content (specific warnings stated per chapter) (18+)
Chapter Word count:Â 14.8k
Series Masterlist
Status:Â Ongoing
Series summary: Working for Jungkook isnât the same as working for Hoseok. For starters, Jungkook doesnât smile, he doesnât appreciate you, and he gives you too much work. It doesnât help that heâs incredibly handsome and has women at his beck and call. But as the tension grows, it becomes impossible to resist him. Youâve dedicated yourself to your job for 8 years so when you finally decide to put yourself first, he asks you to reconsider. And while you know that leaving is difficult, you learn that when it comes to Jungkook, staying is always so much harder.
Playlist đ¶: on the way home
A/N:Â I deeply appreciate all the love and messages (and anticipation for uh, stuff) but again, it's a slow burn! Thank you so much! đ„°
And as always, my biggest thanks to @wonwoonlight đ„°
PS. If I canât tag you, pls fix your settings!
Jungkook sits cross-legged on the couch in his office, his iPad in hand as he goes through the Board report for the nth time these past five days.Â
Manager Lee and Chin-sun have put together the logistics, construction, and design departmentsâ reports with the VPâs and Jungkook is supposed to sign these off for submission to the CEO today, who then approves it for submission to the Board members. They have until Friday to review it in time for the meeting happening that same day.Â
This consolidated report was finalized last Wednesday and Jungkook has been reviewing it everyday since then, including his presentation, making minimal comments and then taking notes on things heâs unfamiliar with. Granted, heâs reporting about the quarter when heâs only been Vice President for a month, which makes you incredibly instrumental in his preparations. As the executive assistant, you have the information that Jungkook needs from Hoseokâs time, and so youâve also been spending everyday since Wednesday answering all of Jungkookâs questions.Â
You donât mind, really, as theyâre details you know by heart. It also allows you to show him how involved and meticulous you were under Hoseokâs leadership, and Jungkookâs hums and mumbles of appreciation have helped you gain back the confidence that you lost.Â
Even if your self-esteem decreased this past month because of the very person sitting in front of you, the fact that Jungkookâs been showing - in his own ways - his trust in you is enough to lift your spirits. He did admit last week that he needs you - something you hadnât expected him to say - and you could tell it took so much from him to be able to verbalize it. But you suppose you needed that honesty, too; you needed to know that after all that frustration and anger during the first few weeks, there was that realization on his end that you have his back, and youâre just as capable as what everyone has been saying you are.Â
âWhat information do you need from me, Mr. Jeon?â You finally ask.Â
Itâs been a good five minutes since Jungkook had asked for you and youâve just been standing in front of him while he scrolls through the screen, perhaps giving another final look before he finally sends the document to his father.
âNothing,â he sighs, rolling his head back and closing his eyes. âI just⊠I just need someone to tell me to stop reviewing this report. I need this out of my sight but I canât stop checking to make sure everything is okay.â
You look at him intently while he speaks. The tension in his entire face and body is visible, you can even feel it in the room. You feel for him, as he tries to hide the anxiety and desperation. You can tell that he just wants to do well so badly. With the amount of time heâs been spending just going through this, his perfectionist tendency surfaces, and youâre at least thankful that it hasnât turned him back into an asshole. At least not yet.Â
âYou need to stop reviewing the report, Mr. Jeon, and let it go,â you say as instructed but with sincerity in your words. âYouâve been on this for days. Manager Lee and Chin-sun have reviewed it, and so have I. CEO Jeon could still suggest changes and we wonât know them until heâs reviewed it, but we at least have the details ironed out. If I may suggest, you can send the file to him in the next hour so you can now focus on practicing for your presentation. That may be a better use of your time.â
Jungkook opens his eyes and turns to you. Thereâs assurance in your words and your voice and like what he told himself heâd do, heâll trust you and the team. Heâs seen how hard everyone has been working for this - Manager Lee and Chin-sun have done so well in consolidating and cross-checking everything; Do-hyunâs presentation is simple yet effective, and Yohan, whoâs back from the hospital, has been adding in all the needed details. And thereâs you, making sure that everything and everyone is on track, even as you prepare for Jungkookâs upcoming events.Â
âOkay, then,â he exhales deeply. âIâll send it in the next half hour.â
Knowing he has a meeting set at 2PM, you ask him if you should order him lunch.
âYes please,â he answers, saying he wants some braised beef from the restaurant on the next block. âOrder for yourself as well, and the rest of the team. You can all get anything you want.â
The silence prompts Jungkook to look at you, and heâs met with a questioning gaze.
âIs there a problem?â He asks.
âNâno,â you answer. âIâd like to confirm again that Iâll be ordering lunch for you and all five of us.â
âYes, Ms. Cho. Thatâs what I said.â
You remain unmoving as you wait for him to correct himself. This is the first time that Jungkook has offered to treat the team to a meal. Not that youâve been waiting for it, but Hoseok took you all out to dinner on his first day as a welcome and a thanks in advance, and once you picked up that Jungkook wasnât the type to engage with his staff much, you just didnât expect anything. So takeaway lunch from a nice restaurant is definitely surprising.Â
âOkay, sir,â you say. âI will do that. Iâm sure the team will appreciate it.â
Jungkook merely hums, his eyes focused on the screen now as you bow and head out.Â
You go meet the team and as you expected, everyone looks at you in shock.Â
âDid the real Mr. Jeon get abducted?â Do-hyun asks. âBecause treating us is something he wouldnât do.â
âYah! It may be a month late but letâs just be thankful, okay?â You frown at her. âHe can see that everyoneâs been working hard and Iâm sure he appreciates that, and he may not be able to say it but he can at least show us.â
âWhile heâs at it, he can maybe at least say thank you or you know, smile every once in a while,â Chin-sun sighs.Â
âWeâll get there. He knows he needs to do better and he will, Iâll make sure of that,â you assure them, thinking about the conversation from last week.Â
Jungkook wants you to help him and for his sake and everyone elseâs, youâll make sure that you do.Â
âWell, is he better to you?â Do-hyun asks, her face in a pout because sheâs seen you skip meals several times and even cry, and sheâd wanted so many times to just hug you, but she knows itâs not something you openly receive.Â
âYes,â you say, knowing it will drive your point. âIâd like to think that the worst is over and I can just focus on doing better and helping him. It would be great if the rest of us could do the same.â
âSheâs right,â Manager Lee chimes in. âWe grow when we adapt, and much more when weâre able to move on and learn from our experiences. It hasnât been the best month but itâs also just been a month. So letâs be grateful for the meal and just continue with the good work weâve been doing, okay?â
You give them the warmest smile you can muster, hoping this would be enough.Â
It seems to be, as they all excitedly give their orders, which you and Yohan pick up from the restaurant. You return and after giving Jungkook his food, you head to the other room to eat as well.
The team enjoys the meal, with Do-hyun dramatically stating that itâs the best beef brisket sheâs ever had. And you agree; thereâs a reason why Jungkook gets this every week.Â
Jungkook can hear laughter and satisfied hums from the support team office, with Do-hyun, he supposes, claiming that it feels like Christmas. Yohan says itâs a much-needed post-recovery treat, and even Manager Lee - whoâs often serious - cracks a few jokes. Jungkook can pick out your sound, too, noting the joy that emanates from it. He allows himself a small smile, knowing that given how heâs been to everyone this past month, he at least could give his team this highlight of their day.Â
He stands by the door, initially going unnoticed, until Chin-sun catches sight of him and alerts everyone that heâs there. The room goes silent, and Jungkook looks on as his staff quietly munch their food and bow to him in greeting. The teasing and laughter have gone; worried eyes are what he sees instead.Â
Your initial surprise at seeing him melts away. He rarely drops by for anything, even for a greeting or to just check up on the team, unlike Hoseok who liked to come here often to de-stress after long meetings. But you sense Jungkookâs awkwardness at the silence, with his hands in his pockets and his blank gaze, so you smile at him and hope that eases the tension a bit.
âLunch was great, Mr. Jeon,â you say. âThank you.â
âIt was,â Manager Lee pipes in. âThe roast pork was so delicious. The potato salad was very good, too.â
You look at the others and encourage them to say something as well, and they hum in agreement and say their thanks.
âThe beef brisket was heavenly,â Do-hyun raves. âThank you! I hope itâs not the last time.â
She awkwardly chuckles, realizing that her boss isnât one she should be joking with, but Jungkook doesnât seem to take offense, as he purses his lips - perhaps to hide a smile, revealing a tiny dimple that catches you off guard.Â
âIt wonât be. And uh, it was a month late, so Iâm glad you all enjoyed it,â he replies, a tinge of disappointment now painting his face.
Thereâs another moment of silence and you observe him, hands still in his pockets, looking around awkwardly, unable to meet anyoneâs eyes.Â
âItâs greatly appreciated, sir,â you assure him once more. âWe hope you had a good lunch as well.â
âIâm just about to have it, actually,â he says. âI sent the report to the CEO and he mustâve been waiting for it because he read it right away and called to give feedback.â
âOh? How did CEO Jeon find it?â Manager Lee asks.
âHe said it was good. There are just minor things he asked me to change but I can do them on my own,â Jungkook answers. âI appreciate everyoneâs hard work. Now, we can focus on our upcoming events and the Arts Center.â
The team immediately starts packing and swallowing their food, and Jungkook has to stop them.Â
âNot right now,â he clarifies. âContinue with your meal. And donât stay too late. Weâve got another busy week ahead.â
âYes, Mr. Jeon,â everyone says in unison.
Jungkook nods and starts walking away, leaving all five of you with confused looks, as Jungkook has never spoken to the team in such a calm and friendly manner. It was always firm and professional, low and stoic.Â
You scurry out the room and follow him. Jungkook gives you a questioning look when you enter his office shortly after he does, and you pick up his untouched lunch from the table and inform him that youâll heat it up, knowing he doesnât like to eat his food cold.Â
You go back to the pantry then return to Jungkookâs room, his beef brisket dish now properly placed in a bowl. He gives you a nod, his form of acknowledgment and thanks, you suppose, and you ask the question youâve had since his earlier stop at the teamâs office.
âAre the edits really just minor?â You wonder, knowing that CEO Jeon is meticulous and quite particular with these board reports.Â
Jungkook takes a moment to respond. He should know that youâve done this a few times and are probably used to how his father is already, which means youâd see right through him as well.Â
âWell, theyâre not major,â Jungkook says. âI mean, theyâre not trivial corrections. The details are all good but I need to change some terminologies and framing and some construction of the sections based on the Boardâs current concerns, especially about the Arts Center. Theyâre not that substantial but itâll still take me an hour or so.â
âWhy did you tell the team that they were minor, then?â
âSo they wonât offer to help.â
âBut they would. I would,â you tell him. âItâs our job.â
âI was going to ask, but itâs your break time. Everyone was enjoying their meals and each other. First time Iâve seen that, actually. I know it doesnât happen when Iâm around.â
âItâs just that youâre notââ
âHoseok,â he finishes for you.
âNot someone theyâre comfortable being themselves around,â you correct him.
âYes, not like Hoseok,â he pushes.
âYou said it the first day, Mr. Jeon. You do things very differently from your cousin. Your personalities are very different, too. We had him for three years and for Yohan and Do-hyun, he was their first boss,â you explain. âTheyâre just not used to you yet.â
âWhat about you? Are you used to me by now?â
Thereâs sudden tension in the room as he looks at you with the desire for honesty, and itâs what you give.
âIâm not quite sure.â
Jungkook doesnât really know what he expected, as the question just slipped past his mouth before he could pull it back, so he just nods and proceeds to take his late lunch, wanting to forget that heâd asked at all.
You take this as a signal to head out, which you do, before reminding him that he can ask you for help if he needs another pair of eyes before he submits his part again. Jungkook just nods once more, and itâs later in the day, after the third cup of coffee that you take to his room, that he says his fatherâs already approved the version he sent after you went through it upon his request. You know thatâs just half of what he needs to do though, as heâll still need to present it to the Board this coming Friday.Â
âYou may go home, Ms. Cho,â he says after he signs some documents for you.Â
âHow about you, Mr. Jeon?â You ask.Â
Itâs been a long day, an extension of an even longer weekend because heâd been at a work event and then reviewed the report as well.Â
âIâll probably stay back and go over the presentation. Maybe practice a little.â
You purse your lips, holding something back.
âShould I not?â He wonders.
âJust thinking that it might be better for you to take a proper rest tonight,â you advise.Â
âIâll think about it. Itâs gonna be a tough one on Friday and I want to be prepared.â
âI understand,â you smile. âIâll go ahead, Mr. Jeon.â
Jungkook holds your gaze for a while before he nods and returns to his screen, going through the presentation slides and the notes he scribbled on his iPad. But try as he might, the graphs and the words just go over his head.Â
He does need to rest, he thinks. He hasnât really taken a break all weekend. His hookup from last night was the only relief he got, but that was to expend all the negative energy from the anxiety and stress, and he realizes that he probably doesnât know what proper rest is, like what you suggested he have. He wonders if youâve ever had one, or if itâs something you stopped having ever since you started working for him.
Taking your advice, he heads out. Itâs only been 30 minutes and he assumes youâre already on the bus and on the way home. He sits in the passenger seat, letting Mr. Riâs choice of music fill the car as Jungkookâs mind wanders to you - how you laughed at the teamâs antics, how you got them to assure him, how you read him well, how you were patient and helpful, and how you seemed concerned about how tired heâs been.Â
Heâll chalk it up to you doing your job and helping him as he asked you to do; he always will. He canât ever think that any of your actions mean more even if deep down, he wishes they do, only so he knows that you donât hate him, that youâve forgiven him for things he never apologized for, that youâll stay for as long as possible. Thereâs something about your honesty and calm presence that stabilizes him, that makes him take a pause.Â
Jungkookâs worked hard on his career for the past decade and itâs all he focuses on; itâs all he thinks about. But when youâre there, heâs forced to stop and think about you. Heâs noticed that just this past week - when youâre around, he listens; when youâre close to him, he breathes. Ironic, really, considering that every time you close the distance - when you fix his tie or look at his screen over his shoulder or help him retrieve portfolios - he remains still, his heart stopping and his throat drying up, afraid to take in your scent or to know just how fast his pulse would race or what words heâd say that he wonât be able to contain.Â
Heâs afraid to know you, only because what heâll learn might make him want you. And Jungkook knows that he canât let himself feel that about you in any way.
He sighs as he looks out the window - cars in line to cross the intersection, people walking to their destination. He thinks heâs hallucinating as he sees your smile, but a bus blocks his view and Mr. Ri steps on the gas.Â
Outside, you smile to yourself as you wait in line. You were held up at the lobby because Bitna caught you in the elevator and didnât want to let you go just yet, so you left the office just minutes ago and were waiting at the bus stop when a familiar car showed up and you saw Jungkook looking out the window. He opted to leave early, too; you can only hope heâll take your advice and rest tonight.Â
But the thought that what you said prompted him to take a pause from work stirs something within. Maybe itâs because heâs finally listening to you, or that it seems like he trusts you now. Whatever it is, for as long as it makes your job bearable, youâre all for it.Â
It doesnât take away from the moments youâve shared where it seems like the world stops for a bit as you hold each otherâs gazes for the shortest of seconds. Thereâs tension where there shouldnât be, and thereâs something different in his eyes when there used to be disdain, one which you canât read nor identify. It leaves you still for the briefest of moments, unguarded and a little bare, as he seems to tell you something with just a look and you just donât know what it is.Â
As you find a rare seat in the bus, you let the musings go. Jungkook is a man who holds in him a million thoughts a day and those moments with you seem to be his only reprieve; perhaps theyâre also just instances of temporary lags or the rare silence and stoppage of everything. In some odd way, it allows you to see him as the human that he is - exhausted, unsure at times, but seemingly yearning for something.Â
Thereâs always an emotion or a thought or a word that he holds in, and you can only wish - as your relationship with him improves - that whatever it is heâs holding back, heâll find a way to express it.Â
âDo you have any advice for the Board meeting?â
Jungkook slides the question in before Hoseok heads to the elevator and off to an event. Theyâve just finished having a check-in with CEO Jeon, who wanted to make sure that the two of them are well-prepared for this Friday, given that presenting during these meetings and contributing to policy and strategy are crucial in their roles as President and Vice President. Jungkook wonât admit that it caused him a bit of anxiety, but heâll surely take the chance to ask his cousin for tips on how to make sure that he doesnât screw up.
âI do,â Hoseok answers as he holds off on pressing the button. âAsk your assistant. And then listen to what she says.â
Jungkook visibly sighs. âHoseok, I mean it.â
âI mean it, too,â the older man replies. âIf itâs anything about our strategic plan or policies, just take my lead. And itâs your very first so youâre expected to still be adjusting. If itâs about the presentation, let ___ brief you about it. Sheâs been with me every single time I had to present. When I was focused on what I had to say, she was focused on how the Board was reacting and how those translated to the questions they eventually asked. Sheâd know what youâll need to emphasize on or who you need to be wary of.â
Thereâs an unsure look in Jungkookâs eyes, and Hoseok knows it isnât about trusting you. Itâs about him.
âYouâre scared, arenât you?â Hoseok asks. âWhat are you afraid of, Kook?â
âYou know what they think of me,â Jungkook sighs. âI donât want to screw up and give them more reasons to doubt me because they already do. And theyâre definitely gonna ask about the Arts Center. What if they bring up my disappointing social skills? I donât wanna end up feeling inadequate and embarrassing father.â
âKeep thinking that way and you will,â Hoseok huffs. âLook. Our family owns the company. You and I were trained to run it after my sister and your brother decided they didnât want to. The Board knows this. Theyâll either stay in our good graces or plot against us. Your father knows that, too, and thatâs why heâs being hard on both of us because he knows what weâll have to face. That also just means heâll always be on your side. Heâll always be on ours. The Board could be intimidating but we still hold the power. Theyâll impose or question or cast doubt because they want to feel that sense of control. Itâll only affect you if you let them.â
âOkayâ is all that Jungkook manages to say, a tinge of resignation on his face as he takes in his cousinâs words.
âYouâve managed worse people than them,â Hoseok assured him. âJust focus, stand by your project, and engage them. Simple as that.â
âYes, itâs very simple,â Jungkook chuckles with a shake of his head.
âLike I said, your assistantâs there for a reason, Kook. This is when I get to tell you that itâs her job. We would prepare together and debrief right after, and it always helped because she fills in gaps and informs me of things I missed. Trust me. Trust her.â
The thing is, Jungkook does; he doesnât need to be reminded that he should trust you because heâs learned to do that, despite it seemingly impossible given that you both started off on the wrong foot. Itâs the thought of spending more time with you, during a time when heâs still trying to get used to you and how you affect him, that makes him worried about this. But itâs not something he can talk about with Hoseok. Itâs not something he can talk about with anyone.Â
âFine,â Jungkook finally says. âIâll talk to her.â
âGood. Iâll go now. Have dinner at home tomorrow, okay? And Iâll see you when I get back.â
Jungkook waves the older man goodbye and then returns to his office, where he finds you dropping some files off for signing.Â
âPayment requests for the event,â you explain, earning you a nod from him as he walks to his seat. âHow did the meeting with your father go, Mr. Jeon?â
âAs I expected,â he huffs. âA bit of encouragement, more of the pressure. Heâd slide in reminders of what the Board thinks of me and how I should present myself.â
âIs the pressure helping?â You ask.
âA little,â he sighs, sinking into his chair and exhaling deeply. He rolls his head back and closes his eyes, allowing himself a few seconds of peace. âBut I still need help. Hoseok said I can get it from you.â
âYou know, he oversells me sometimes,â you manage to laugh, prompting Jungkook to look at you now. âI know Iâm competent. But I donât know about being your source of help for a Board meeting any more than providing you with data.â Jungkook likes to do things on his own after all, you think to yourself.
âBut youâve been to as many Board meetings as he has.â
âYes, but only for his presentation.â
âAnd thatâs what I need help with,â he says. âI just need direction, I guess. Or affirmation that how Iâm doing it is the right way. Or tips on who to woo or who to not take seriously.â
Jungkook has been to a few Board meetings but heâs never had to present anything. Heâs also never had to engage with the members so he didnât pay much attention to them because he didnât feel the need to. These appointments were all a few years too early, and while heâd had a critical position in the Southeast Asian headquarters, everything had gone through his uncle who headed the office then.Â
This is the first time that Jungkook feels the magnitude of all his decisions, and that every move he makes is being assessed. And even with his father and Hoseok giving him guidance, they have their own teams to manage and an entire company to run, just like him. Somehow, with all the people around him, Jungkook still feels alone.Â
You, with your perpetual presence and surprising warmth, are the only one who makes him feel otherwise. And it terrifies him more than anything.
âWell, Iâve picked up a few things along the way,â you hum. âI can maybe go through my notes and share them with you.â
âGood. Iâd like to do that over lunch, since Iâll have you and Manager Lee watch me practice the presentation around 2.â
Jungkook picks up the slight fall of your face. âIs that a problem?â He asks. âDid you have lunch plans?â
âNothing more important than assisting you, Mr. Jeon,â you say, a change of expression indicating that you indeed had prior commitments that youâre putting off because of him. âIâll inform Manager Lee about meeting with him after.â
You head out and return to your desk to work on your remaining tasks for the morning until lunch time rolls by and you accompany Jungkook to a nearby restaurant as heâd asked. You try not to get too excited about the meal in front of you and then control yourself from letting out orgasmic sounds from the succulent piece of salmon thatâs melting in your mouth. This check-in seems too important for Jungkook and you want to support him in any way you can.
âHow was Hoseok during his first Board meeting?â Jungkook starts.Â
âNervous, a little rattled. His sister left him behind with a lot of work and she was abroad for most of the time so they werenât able to meet up,â you share. âBut he got up there and presented all the officeâs gains for the past months and then explained his plans moving forward. He had all these good ideas on policy and strategy and he articulated them well. He had to take over multiple small projects and he showed how he planned to manage all of them. His charms sort of hid away the anxiety he was feeling and I guess that eventually helped him get rid of it.â
âWell, thatâs one thing I canât claim that I have,â Jungkook sighs.Â
He looks at you to see your reaction, and the awkwardness on your face makes him internally laugh.
âI can lie to you if you want me to,â you say, and he chuckles, surprising you both, though he acts like he doesnât mind.
âIâd actually want you to be as honest with me as possible, Ms. Cho. I donât want you, of all people, to suck up to me to get on my good graces.â
âGreat, since I wasnât on it in the first place,â you trail, earning you another laugh, and you wish this could at least lessen the pressure heâs putting himself under.Â
âThatâs true,â he says, holding your gaze. He turns to his food before he gets sucked in your gorgeous eyes even more. âBut I mean it. I donât exactly know how to charm people, much less the Board. I donât want to add to the narrative they already have of me having terrible social skills. But I also donât want them to think Iâm being fake or pretentious.â
âIf I may, youâll botch that aspect if you keep thinking about it,â you advise. âPerhaps you can just focus on what youâre good at. Delivering a presentation, regardless of what itâs about, is a skill. You have all the information and I can add some more if youâre not confident with them. You also tweaked some existing processes and you can build on it. But also, the Arts Center will definitely be their focus, so talk about it the way you would with your father and the team⊠and me. You let us envision it with your words and your visuals and those are all you need.â
âOkay then. Iâll just imagine theyâre all vegetables or something so I can focus.â
âMrs. Doi likes making eye contact because she wants to feel like youâre conversing with her,â you say. âMrs. Seo asks a lot of irrelevant questions but you have to answer as if theyâre important. Mr. Ong likes being acknowledged every time he says something or even nods. So I donât recommend acting as if theyâre inanimate. Maybe just with Mr. Wang because he falls asleep in everything, but donât take it personally. I think itâs a medical condition.â
Jungkookâs amused look encourages you to continue.
âMr. Mun doesnât really get design and building terms so youâd have to explain them at least twice. Mr. Bong tends to act all mighty but he doesnât really know much. Same with Mr. Im and Ms. Hwa. The rest are fine,â you say. âMr. Saito is very thoughtful. Heâs a designer so his insights would be good. Ms. Cheng is unproblematic and overall just supportive. Mr. Yeon is just⊠there. Theyâre quite intense when it comes to profits and the companyâs image but if you stand by what you know, they wonât really say much.â
âWow, thatâs⊠thatâs a lot to take in. And also very informative,â Jungkook states. âI never noticed any of those.â
âWell, you had your reasons to be in those meetings and maybe you didnât have a reason to pay attention to them,â you shrug. âI do. I thought it was an added way that I could help Mr. Jung. Assistants are asked to sit on the side of the room so we can be easily signaled for anything and I thought I could use that position to observe the Board members and see how they respond to the presentation. It helped for the succeeding ones and it took the pressure off him in terms of needing to appease them.â
âMakes sense,â Jungkook hums. âWorrying about how theyâll react or what theyâll say is half of the pressure.â
âIt is. I couldnât help Mr. Jung for his first time because it was mine, too, but he picked things up quite easily. He knew who to pay attention to.â
âWell, considering that I donât seem to be ideal for this relationship-heavy position, Iâll have to pay attention and appease all of them, it seems.â
âIf I may, Mr. Jeon, you can take it as a challenge,â you advise, feeling more comfortable in being honest now. âI may be just a humble assistant but Iâve seen things. With all the praises for Mr. Jung - which are deserved, of course - Iâve witnessed his moments of distress, which is perfectly normal for anyone. A-yeong had to remind him of how good he was everyday because he needed that push and it helped him. It also helped that he was trying to prove something and that he was always told that he had all the qualities to do that.â
âNot everyone has a supportive wife like him though. Or like my father,â Jungkook laughs dryly.
âThey had supportive assistants,â you offer, trying to be optimistic. âI had to fill-in as Mr. Jungâs sounding board and I was always in awe at his approach to things.â
âWhich is very different from mine, I know,â Jungkook says unintentionally, the sigh making you feel like heâs tired of the comparison, and you feel a bit bad at having to seemingly remind him of that.
âAnd which isnât bad at all,â you try to assure him. âJust because itâs different, doesnât mean itâs not right.â
Well, it wasnât right to treat you the way I did, he wants to say, but the words stay in his head and at the tip of his tongue.Â
âThatâs⊠comforting,â he says instead.
âI was trying to be assuring but comforting is fine, too,â you chuckle. âBut I mean it, sir. I know there are all these expectations and I wonât be able to truly understand what the pressure is like but if you allow it to challenge you, you might even surprise yourself. And then youïżœïżœïżœll end up surprising them, too. But do it for you. At the end of the day, theyâre just the Board but youâre the Vice President. And youâre you. Youâre all you can control.â
Thereâs a beat of silence as Jungkook takes in everything youâd said. You have this persistence about you thatâs reflected in the way you carry yourself and in the way you relate with others, especially towards him despite how heâd treated you not long ago. Regardless of what you said, he thinks you know exactly what he feels when it comes to dealing with pressure. He supposes that working for his family can do that to someone, especially when itâs him.Â
âSuch moving words, Ms. Cho,â he finally says. Â
âI didnât mean to give unwanted advice,â you shake your head in disappointment.Â
âI needed it though,â he surprises you. âOther than Hoseok or even Yoongi, who are both busy themselves, I only have you as a sounding board. And as support. So, uh, thanks.â
He says his gratitude with a soft tone, almost embarrassingly. You can tell itâs something he doesnât say that often, but you take it, as you think itâs another step towards him trusting you even more. And you need that trust for now; itâs this peaceful and honest dynamic with him thatâs making your job bearable.
Lunch continues with Jungkook asking more questions about some of the Board members and you dishing some dirt on some of them as what youâve heard in the office washrooms, perhaps the only gossip you donât take with a grain of salt. Heâs amused, and you think this is the most expressive youâve seen him.Â
You proceed to meet with Manager Lee in the conference room where Jungkook goes through each slide presentation, asking both of you for more information he thinks he needs and about how heâs carrying himself, his tone, his pace, and his engagement. Itâs good enough for a first run-through, Manager Lee says, and Jungkook decides to dry-run it again on Thursday.Â
The rest of your day goes by a little stressfully. There are multiple events that you have to organize and coordinate with other offices, and those are what you work on until you clock out on time.
Jungkook stays behind for only half an hour before deciding heâs had enough of looking through his notes and will return to them tomorrow. He takes the elevator and nods when Yoongi enters.
âHey,â Jungkook greets. âHow are the designs for the Changwon mid-rise?â
âItâs 6:00. I donât wanna talk about work,â Yoongi whines.Â
Jungkook knows this. Itâs also why he likes to tease his friend about it.Â
âFine. We can just stand next to each other awkwardly until we have to get off,â Jungkook says.
âHmm,â Yoongi hums. âOr, we can talk about how my lunch plans changed because someone asked my lunch partner for a meeting.â
The tension immediately rises and Jungkook hates how affected he is by Yoongiâs teasing.Â
âAh, so it was you. Well, she did say it wasnât as important as what we were meeting about,â Jungkook hits back.
âTrue. Itâs about the Board meeting after all. Itâs a pretty big deal.â
Jungkook starts to feel hot all over, as the thought of you and Yoongi conversing about your thwarted lunch plans because of him plays in his head. Itâs a mix of frustration and disappointment. While the meeting was in no way confidential, he just hates the idea that it was something you shared with Yoongi. Perhaps itâs just after the fact, considering that Jungkook thinks it was a good lunch. You clearly enjoyed the dish - he could see how you tried to control your reactions to it - and your conversations went by smoothly. You were honest and supportive; he was open and all the more surprised with how well you were able to calm him down. Itâs as if someone else was privy to that moment you both shared, even if Yoongi wasnât there.Â
âHuh, I thought you were over her,â Jungkook says, the bitterness slicing through. If his friend picks it up, he doesnât say anything.
âI am. We were just gonna have lunch at this noodle house because she was craving it,â Yoongi clarifies. âI told you, Iâm her only friend here. Itâs nice to share a meal with someone who cares about you every once in a while, you know? Itâs hard being a working adult and we all need a bit of a break and a companion sometimes. It didnât mean anything more than that.â
Jungkook chooses not to respond and Yoongi could tell why. Thereâs this look of annoyance painting the younger manâs face, which makes him a lot more transparent than he wishes he was.Â
But Yoongi can see right through his friend. Itâs not something he raises though, but he wonât be surprised if Jungkook dwells on this. He just hopes it isnât to your detriment again.
The ride home wasnât as terrible last night, and after your elder neighbor gave you some stew because she cooked too much, you had a satisfying dinner and an even more satisfying slumber.Â
You feel like the end of the week isnât too far ahead - although there really isnât anything exciting for you except for a date with your bed - and you just want to get through all your tasks for the day and get that jjajangmyeon that Yoongi said heâll get for you today so you can eat it for dinner. You were initially upset at having to pass up on him for yesterdayâs lunch, but youâd be the first to admit that sharing that meal with Jungkook was still worthwhile.
Not only was the dish you ordered one of the best things youâve ever eaten, it was also nice to see Jungkook loosen up a bit after feeling tense all morning because of his presentation. You liked that heâs being open to getting support from you, as it seems that he sees you now as more than just the assistant whoâs there to serve him. He seems to appreciate your thoughts and didnât even act bitterly when you gave him unsolicited advice. You feel even more that your relationship improves daily.
That is, until you enter his penthouse this Wednesday morning with barely a look of acknowledgement from him. Going through your routine, he doesnât say much; he stays silent the entire ride to the office as well.
When you enter his room to serve his coffee, his furrowed brows have returned and his jaws are clenched as he types away on his desktop.
âMs. Cho,â he calls out, his voice stern once again.Â
You turn around to face him, wondering what has happened since you left the office yesterday.
âYes, Mr. Jeon?â
âI just wanted to raise that while I understand you have personal relationships with other employees, I do not appreciate you divulging the topics of our meetings with them. Even if theyâre my friend as well.â
His last sentence gives away who heâs talking about, and the conversation with Yoongi after you canceled your lunch plans with him rings in your head.Â
It was a harmless statement, you want to say; you didnât share any more than it being a meeting about his presentation. There was no ill-intent in you telling Yoongi why you couldnât see him for lunch. But you choose to pass up on reasoning with Jungkook. He builds his wall up even more when you do, and you donât want things to be that way again, not when they seemed to be going okay already these past few days.
So you nod and concede. âI understand, Mr. Jeon, and I apologize. I wonât do it again.â
Jungkook canât help but just look at you, internally smacking himself as your face falls further and as you, once again, feel far away because of his own stupidity.Â
âIs there anything else you need, sir?âÂ
He shakes his head no, and you bow in response, heading out, with the sadness in your eyes as the last thing he sees.Â
Jungkook is unable to focus on his emails and the conference call he takes part in. The words and thoughts are all jumbled when he practices his presentation, as his gaze constantly flits to your spot just outside where you sit, doing your tasks while looking detached and dejected.Â
He assumes you didnât come to work expecting to be called out the way he did with you, which in hindsight, didnât seem necessary, especially knowing how itâs affecting you right now. Things were going well between both of you after all - heâs being more open and youâre being more comfortable. Information was flowing smoothly, and communication has improved. And he just went ahead and screwed all that up.
Jungkook starts to feel stuffy. Heâs been in his office working on things for the Arts Center and practicing most of the day, with you only coming in to bring the lunch heâd asked Mr. Ri to buy and his cups of coffee. Youâve avoided his gaze and haven't said much to him, too.Â
He decides to take a walk outside. The outdoor space on this floor has nice benches and a small garden that overlooks the Han River. Heâs seen the team eat there sometimes, and while the weather may be a little too hot for it, heâd much rather breathe in the air than his humidifier.Â
But as he takes his time to open the door, he hears a familiar voice from outside.
âFine, if you wonât take the sandwich, at least take the noodles,â Yoongi says. âYouâve been craving that all weekend.â
âNot anymore,â you huff, seemingly annoyed.
âHey, did I do something wrong?â Yoongi asks, calm and understanding in tone, traits that Jungkook could only hope to have.Â
âNo⊠I donât know,â you sigh. âJust that, whatever I talk to you about or mention, other people donât need to know them, okay? No matter how harmless they are. Letâs just⊠not talk about work stuff. Especially in the office. Thatâs it.â
âAh, so thatâs what this is about.â
âWhat do youââ
âMr. Min,â Jungkook calls out, fully opening the door now. âI have design guidelines I need you to go over. I need them by tomorrow morning.â
âOkay, Jungkook,â Yoongi bitterly replies, knowing whatâs happened. âJust send them over to me.â
âMs. Cho will do that right now.â
You nod in acknowledgement of Jungkookâs instruction and remain focused on your desktop. Thereâs silence in the air and tension that you canât deal with right now.
âCan I help you with anything else, Mr. Min?âÂ
âNah. If I do, Iâll check with your boss first if I can ask you for it. Donât want you getting in trouble because of me.â
You finally look up at him, a tinge of annoyance painting his face, a rarity since Yoongi doesnât seem to ever be irate about anything.Â
âAnd Iâll just take this jjajangmyeon if you donât want it,â he adds, taking the container thatâs on the ledge of your desk with him, before walking out of your area.
You canât help the pout that forms on your lips. You really love that noodle houseâs version and youâve been craving it for days. Itâs where you and Yoongi were both supposed to have lunch yesterday but Jungkook spoiled it, and it wouldnât have mattered as much, until it became a reason for him to be upset with you again. Youâre not exactly sure why, but much as you want to question your boss this time, you donât have the energy for it. It doesnât seem worth it, but it also doesnât change the fact that Yoongi might have said something to Jungkook, and thatâs a dynamic youâre still unsure how to read or deal with.Â
Your gaze shifts to the man himself, who looks less annoyed than he did at the start of the day. You donât know how his practice has been going, since he hasnât asked you to run it with him, but you suppose heâs doing alright. Heâs been in his room all day doing that and taking calls in between.Â
Jungkook looks away and heads out. He lets the summer air clear his mind a little before he goes back inside. Itâs 6PM by the time he emerges from his room, surprised at seeing your face still buried in piles of papers.
âMs. Cho, Iâll be heading to Hoseokâs for dinner,â he says, getting your attention. âAnything that needs my signature or approval can wait tomorrow.â
He hopes youâll read through his words, as he wishes youâd take a rest yourself, like you advise him to do.
âFinance needs your expense reports first thing tomorrow morning, Mr. Jeon,â you say, a little too stoic than heâs used to. âThese can be signed tomorrow when you arrive.â
Jungkook just nods, knowing thereâs not much he can do if you donât want to go home yet. But he does leave you with a reminder.
âMs. Cho,â he says before leaving. Heâs met with curious eyes that he tries not to fall into. âMake sure to eat a proper dinner.â
He walks out too quickly, not wanting to see your reaction.
Youâre too tired to react, but that just pushes you to finish all your work and head to the pantry for some biscuits. Itâs then that you see the paper bag with a note on it.Â
For ___. Do not touch!Â
At the back, Yoongi writes, Iâm sorry. Hereâs a man who knows how to apologize, you think to yourself.
The bowl of jjajangmyeon is inside, as well as a container of gimari. The scent reminds you of how hungry you are, so you heat up the noodles and inhale your dinner as you stand by the table. The empty office and the faint sounds of the air conditioning make you think of how alone you really are - working past your hours on a Wednesday evening, a takeaway meal from a friend youâre pushing away, and a stressful trip back to your empty studio apartment.Â
You rarely ever feel lonely. You donât equate being alone with that specific emotion or state. Thereâs certainty and clarity you get from being on your own. But on certain days, you let yourself crack a little and be vulnerable. On certain days, you let yourself admit that being alone makes you feel lonely, and that at this precise moment, itâs exactly what you feel.Â
You send Yoongi a message of thanks but donât extend the conversation after he replies. You know it isnât his fault, and knowing him, he wouldnât have deliberately said anything that wouldâve put you in this position. It could just be Jungkook misconstruing things, but youâve been caught off guard and you donât feel like dealing with anyone right now.Â
Resuming your work, you do your last review of the expense report and leave it on his desk for his signature in the morning - a struggle considering how messy it is, which is also a rarity, as he always likes to keep things organized. You can tell how stressed he is just by this, and the thought hits you again that itâs the Board meeting in two days, and he needs you to be your best for him; he needs you to be calm and stable for him.Â
Whatever youâre feeling can be pushed to the side until next week. Youâll talk to Yoongi after all this is over, you tell yourself; itâs more important that you focus on your tasks and just act as professionally and as unbothered as possible.Â
That proves to be easy early the next morning. You go about preparing Jungkookâs day in his penthouse, going over your coordination and organization of the upcoming events and acting as if what happened yesterday doesnât bother you, with him not acting out of the ordinary, too. Itâs easy when you get to the office as well. He signs off on the expense reports and you go to finance with only minimal clarifications needed.
But when you return to your desk and Jungkook calls you to his room, you feel the tension start to build as you find Yoongi seated on the chair, his face turning sullen at the sight of you.Â
You nod at him but look away immediately, shifting your gaze towards Jungkook.Â
âWhat can I help you with, Mr. Jeon?â
âDeciding on the pieces to be displayed in the event halls of the Arts Center,â he replies. âArtist Lee Jaemin gave us her portfolio for us to choose from. And Iâd like you and Yoongi to work on it together before lunch.â
This prompts you to look at Jungkook in surprise. He just told you off about the things you told Yoongi - which, to your defense, wasnât even anything substantial - and now heâs making you work with the man.
âWhat about the run through of your presentation, sir?â You ask.
âIâll do it with Manager Lee. His feedback will be adequate,â Jungkook replies. âI need your options because Iâll be speaking with her tonight about the chosen pieces.â
âIâŠ, uh,â you stutter. âIn what way can I be of help, Mr. Jeon? Wouldnât Mr. Min be enough to make those decisions?â
âYou hold the budget, Ms. Cho,â he reminds you. âWe need to make sure we follow it. And you and Mr. Min understand my vision more than anyone and I need both of you to bring that to life with those artworks. Iâm packed with meetings today so I donât have time to sort through all of them. I trust that youâll make the best decisions.â
âOf course we will, Jungkook,â Yoongi says, a bit of bitterness laced in it. â___ and I work well together. It isnât the first time.â
Jungkook merely nods, and you feel the tension build up even more as both men share hardened looks that you canât particularly decipher.Â
âI⊠Iâll go ahead and prepare the conference room. I shall see you there shortly, Mr. Min.â
You exit the office and breathe a sigh of relief from being out of there. You donât know what their friendship is like, so youâre unsure if the tension is a sign of something serious or if itâs just a normal thing for them. You choose to brush it off for now and prepare for the meeting, walking to the pantry for a cup of tea before you do.Â
Back inside, both men remain unmoving, their gazes not faltering away from each other. Yoongiâs look of displeasure is a contrast to Jungkookâs somber, almost guilty face.Â
âDriving a wedge between us is kind of an asshole move, you know?â Yoongi finally says. âI donât know what your deal is but this isnât how you make it up to her. You donât get to be nice one day then just decide youâll be jealous and irrational the next without her even knowing what she did.â
âThatâs⊠thatâs not what I was trying to do,â Jungkook reasons.Â
âThen what were you trying to do?â Yoongi scoffs. âI was the one she turned down to have lunch with you. Actually, it was her plan, because sheâs been spending so much time alone and she just wanted to hang out with a friend. And not only did you hinder that, you also made her feel like she did something wrong when all she said was that you had to talk about the Board meeting. No one would even bat an eye. Now she canât even talk to me properly without fearing itâll hurt your fragile ego.â
The truth is a huge slap on Jungkookâs face, and he feels it sting. Heâs seen your comfort around his friend a few times. He also knows that Yoongi has been looking out for you when you fail to take care of yourself. And because of that jealousy and his fragile ego, you might just end up pushing Yoongi away, and isolating you is the last thing Jungkook wants to do.
He tries to say something but his throat dries up, knowing that verbalizing anything would prompt him to face feelings heâs trying so hard to suppress. He hopes Yoongi sees right through him, and the sullen look of the older man says he might.
âYouâre not a bad person, Jungkook,â Yoongi says. âI donât know what about her makes you like this. But if all youâll do is find fault in everything she does, youâre gonna lose all the progress in your relationship. And you've got to know thatâs not fair to her. You know she doesnât deserve that.â
âShe doesnât.â
Itâs the way Jungkook says the words that Yoongi knows his friend regrets what heâd done, perhaps not just yesterday but the other times as well. Thereâs this emptiness in Jungkookâs eyes that Yoongi hasnât seen before; he doesnât want the younger man to drown and lose himself in it.
âIâm⊠Iâm, uhââ
âI know,â Yoongi interjects, knowing how hard it is for Jungkook to verbalize what he feels. âAnd I forgive you. I suggest you find the words and say them to her. Yeah?â
Jungkook merely nods, knowing that would be difficult for him, not because he wonât mean it but because they mean so much more. With you, it always does.Â
âIâll head to meet with her now.â
âPlease fix it,â Jungkook almost pleads. âI think she needs you.â
Yoongi gives a look of understanding then heads out to the conference room where he finds you seated already. The lights are dim, allowing him to see Lee Jaeminâs art pieces projected on the wall. Youâre focused on your laptop screen, not budging even as he opens the door and sits next to you.
âAre you still mad at me?â Yoongi asks, urging you to look at him.
âNo,â you say softly.
âThen why do you act like you still are?â He asks sullenly. âYou know Iâm sorry.â
âIt isnât your fault though,â you reply, finally turning to him, your own soft eyes mirroring his. âYou shouldnât be apologizing.â
âBut I want to. Because I know it matters that you hear the words even if theyâre not from the person who needs to be saying them.â
âYou know he doesnât do that,â you sigh, knowing exactly who he means.
âHeâll have to learn how to. Or just stop having a reason to apologize in the first place.âÂ
âWeâll see about that,â you shrug. âBut Iâm sorry, too. I just didnât know how to act yesterday and earlier. I just didnât want any more drama.â
âI know, and itâs okay. Itâs not your fault either. I had to call him out for it.â
âYou did?â
âYeah. I called him an asshole.â
âYouâwhat?â
âWell, sort of. He had to hear it, and it seemed like he knew it, too. That's why he wanted me to fix things. Not that anything was broken, as far as I know.â
âIs that why he made me meet with you?â
âYes, about something that he and I could easily do over coffee or a meal,â Yoongi chuckles. âBut like I told you before - he tries. Itâs usually just a misstep or something more complicated than actually saying sorry.â
âItâs hard for him to say, I guess. Maybe he just has his own ways of saying them.â
âItâs still not an excuse to be an asshole though.â
âAt least youâre there to call him out for it,â you chuckle.
Yoongi laughs along, knowing itâs a role in Jungkookâs life that he wouldnât mind taking. And just like that, the tension between the two of you is gone. He throws in a few jokes in there that take seconds for you to process, and itâs his crinkled smile that makes you smile and feel comfortable as well. Itâs the icebreaker you need before getting to work, and it takes you both until lunchtime to decide on which of Lee Jaeminâs pieces you think would fit well in the event halls that Jungkook wants to put them in.Â
Itâs a different experience for you, as youâve never made decisions like this before. You wouldnât say youâre artistic in any sense, but Yoongiâs approval of your choices and agreement with your reasoning make you feel that you arenât as design-blind as you think. And while Jungkook has the final say - youâre not even sure if your choices would make the final cut - itâs still satisfying to see the empty spaces come to life on your screen with artworks that you chose with Yoongi, while still being within budget. Â
You both walk back to your work area where you see Manager Lee, and he tells you that Jungkook seems ready for tomorrowâs Board meeting. You enter his office with Yoongi, presenting what youâve come up with - the greens and pinks common in her pieces give the room so much life, and the imperfections of her subjects leave viewers with much to admire. From the tropics to intimacy, the bright yet muted palette of the images elicits both joy and loneliness.
Jungkook goes through them while you and Yoongi look on.
âIâll check each piece again later,â Jungkook says. âBut these look good; Iâd choose these myself.â
â___ chose most of them,â Yoongi says, earning him a glare from you.
âIs that so, Ms. Cho?â Jungkook asks.
âMr. Min helped. And those pieces just spoke to me, I guess,â you answer shyly. âTheyâre beautiful pieces, Mr. Jeon. But I donât have any arts or design background so please feel free to change them.â
âWeâll see,â he says, looking at you with a kind of affirmation that youâre not used to.Â
You nod in response and check the time. Heâs got another meeting in an hour and he should be having lunch soon.
âWhat would you like to eat, Mr. Jeon? I can get it for you,â you say.
âNo need. I asked Mr. Ri to get me something. I figured you might have lunch plans,â Jungkook responds, glancing at you and then Yoongi.Â
You look at the man next to you, who motions towards the door and you get what he means immediately.Â
âOkay, Mr. Jeon. Iâll go take my break now.â
You walk out with Yoongi who asks you what youâre craving, and sweet and sour pork comes to mind. He chuckles at your excited face, and you grab your purse and head out, turning back once to catch Jungkook watching you walk away.
Maybe this is his apology. In whatever form it is, youâll take it. You find sometimes that the silence in place of words means a lot more, in ways that feel more.Â
The rest of your afternoon again feels like a blur, as you meet with the support team about the upcoming events and make sure everyone is on the same page. You spend an hour on the phone with Lucas about some Singapore and Malaysia-based Korean artists who are flying for the project launch in a few weeks while Jungkook goes from one virtual meeting to another.Â
Itâs 5:30 before you know it, and youâre working on your spreadsheets when Jungkook walks out of his office, saying that heâs meeting with Lee Jaemin later in the evening and that heâll just update you about the final pieces.Â
You acknowledge him and wish him goodbye, but he stops on the way, at the entrance towards the hallway, making sure he remains present while unable to see you.
âMs. Cho,â he calls out, surprising you.
âYes, Mr. Jeon?â
âAbout what I said yesterday, I apologize,â he says, almost stuttering. âEspecially if it caused a rift between you and Yoongi. I didnât intend that.â
Youâre too shocked to say anything, much more process the words that you canât believe heâs saying. But he really is apologizing; he really is trying.
âIt⊠itâs okay, Mr. Jeon. I understand.â
Thereâs a beat of silence, and youâre left to observe him from this angle - jaws clenched, head bowed down.Â
He deeply exhales. âIâll go now. No need to stay late; you can go home when youâre able.â
âOkay, sir. Have a good night.â
He finally leaves, and the silence engulfs you. Sometimes, words in any form truly matter. You could only hope that Jungkook knows that.
The suit that you choose for Jungkook for todayâs big day is a dark gray textured piece. He looks immaculate as he stands before you, and you try your best to even your breathing as you fix his tie like you do every morning. Thereâs something about him today that makes him more handsome than usual - a quality that youâve found yourself admitting and accepting more easily as the days go by. He exudes a certain kind of confidence and power with his attire and his parted hair. Thereâs determination in his eyes as he stands tall, ready to face the day.Â
And youâre there, admiring the way he carries himself just inches away.
You fix the collar of his suit and make sure that all creases are flattened. You meet his eyes and the confidence melts away a little.
âDo I look respectable enough?â He asks, a little less serious than you expected. Itâs when you see the nervousness in his eyes that you know how important today is for him.
âYes,â you assure him. âYou also look ready to impress the Board members with your presentation and get them on your side. Iâm sure your vision about the Arts Center will make them believers.â
âAh, well, thatâs asking for too much, I guess,â he laughs dryly. âBut I was on the call with Lee Jaemin last night and she was so excited for the launch. It would get her to visit Seoul often, she said, and that made me realize that artists like her and the consumers, the ordinary people, the ones who the Center is for - theyâre the ones who matter. Itâs their interest and appreciation that I value, not the Boardâs.â
âThatâs a good realization to come to, then, Mr. Jeon,â you smile, suddenly feeling like youâre seeing a different man - someone who cares about meaning and the power of art. âI suppose if thatâs your mindset coming into the meeting, then youâll definitely do well.â
âI think if thereâs at least one other person who ends up believing in the value of the Center, that would be enough for me,â he says, holding your gaze for a while before turning away. âBut uh, today is more than that. You and I both know theyâre there to assess my capabilities - social and otherwise - and definitely point out what I lack, or probably tell me Iâm not cut out for this job or that Iâm terrible or something. I mean, you would know, right?â
His eyes, focused downward, slowly shift to you. You know what he means, and given that he isnât the type to admit to things, this is probably the only other time that he comes close to acknowledging how he was to you.
âMr. Jeon, if youâre indeed terrible, I would have quit after a week. Or⊠well, after the second day,â you admit.Â
âWhy didnât you?â
âWell, I couldnât afford to,â you chuckle to ease the tension. âBut also I⊠I saw the change. And thatâs always a good thing. Lacking something is normal. We all have things we need to work on but that doesnât make us terrible people. That just means we need a bit of understanding from others. And that also means we just have to keep trying to be better.â
Thereâs a sullenness in Jungkookâs eyes but thereâs acceptance and understanding, too. Perhaps itâs the most sincere youâve seen him look, and of all the days that he needs assurance about how heâs been, today is when he needs it the most. Sure, there are still things about him that you wish heâd work on. Heâs still not the best person in the world. He could still be a bit impulsive with you and can sometimes be irrational in your eyes and definitely needs work on dealing with his emotions. But heâs trying. That always counts for something.
âWe do,â he nods.
âYour father believes in you. Hoseok believes in you, so does Yoongi.â Holding his gaze, you add, âso do I. So trust in yourself. If you canât do it for you, you can do it for us.â
âIs giving pep talks part of the job description?âÂ
âIt should,â you giggle. âBut Iâve given several of them to Mr. Jung. Iâve learned that during stressful moments or just when weâre a little overwhelmed, it makes a difference to hear the things we already know from someone else.â
âIâm a little stubborn, but I hope you continue doing that for me. For as long as you think I deserve it.â
Jungkook doesnât know where the honesty and vulnerability are coming from. But heâs found that with you, itâs natural - difficult because theyâre things he rarely is around other people, but natural. He doesnât want to question it anymore for fear of learning what else is instinctive for him when it comes to you. But with the way his insides melt with how you sweetly and assuringly smile at him, he realizes that his defenses against you are not that strong to begin with.  Â
âWell, we donât have time to pass by a cafe for a nice breakfast so I asked Mr. Ri to get some instead,â you announce, changing the subject now.Â
You walk towards the dining room where he follows, and you present a spread of pastries, walnut tarts, and sausage rolls alongside a large cup of coffee.Â
âI donât really eat before a big meeting,â he says, frowning a little. âIâm sure Lucas told you that.â
âHe did, but Iâm a little stubborn, too,â you counter. âBreakfast is important before a big meeting, Mr. Jeon. Itâll help you focus, even if thatâs just one tart or half a danish or a quarter of a roll. Eating will improve your energy levels and lift your mood. It might help ease your nerves somehow.â
âFine, but Iâll just have half a roll.â
âNo worries. You can always eat some more throughout the day,â you say.
Jungkook ends up finishing the entire roll and a walnut tart, while you finish a danish and settle for tea. You pack up whatâs left, and he instructs you to give the rest to the team.Â
The car ride is quiet, save for the gentle sound of his pencil gliding through the pages of his leather notebook. He seems to be channeling his energy in a way that allows him to be calm, you think, and thatâs a good thing.Â
You arrive at the building and Jungkook goes straight to his office while you excuse yourself to go to the conference room to help the other assistants prepare it. You donât see Jungkook until an hour later when he enters, and you lead him to his seat then serve his coffee afterwards. It gets busy quickly as the Board members arrive, and you help in ushering them to their seats and catering to their needs. Before you know it, the assistants are heading out, leaving them and the executives to discuss confidential matters that none of you are required to know.
Itâs another two hours before the presentations start, but Jungkook wonât go until after lunch. So you settle in your desk and work on various things, unable to fully focus because your mind constantly goes to him.Â
This is normal, you convince yourself; you had the same nervous energy for Hoseok the first time he did this. But then again, it was your first time, too. Perhaps itâs knowing how much it means to Jungkook and his own worries that makes you feel uneasy.
You understand the feeling of wanting to prove oneself, and not always being able to fully express that desire to others. Heâs been honest with you recently, and sometimes it can feel quite isolating when no one is there to share the burden, which is why youâve been trying to cheer him up and encourage him, in hopes that heâll feel supported, that whatever happens today, he knows he has you on his side.
You proceed to the function hall for the catered lunch where you meet Jungkook. He shares the table with Hoseok and Bitna, as well as Ji-woo and her assistant, and you engage in conversation with them like old times.Â
Jungkook watches you speak to his cousins casually but respectfully, and he doesnât miss the inside jokes and personal details that you all share. You still look a little reserved, but thereâs this comfort in the way you express yourself around people who trust and care for and respect you.Â
Heâs always known Hoseok and Ji-woo to be great with the employees, and a part of Jungkook envies that theyâre able to just share parts of themselves with others, that theyâre able to expend their time and energy being around them, something thatâs always been difficult for him. He likes his privacy, likes his own space; he revels in the silence to battle the noise in his head. Heâs protective of his thoughts and his feelings; heâs particular with who uses his time and energy on; he keeps his distance because itâs always easier - to not be involved, to not be invested, to not be known at all rather than be judged because of what people know.Â
He also thinks itâs quite isolating. Outside of his family - whom he keeps his distance from as well - the only person who knows him enough is Lucas, but itâs as shallow as just knowing his preferences and his technical opinion on things, not his dreams or fears or everyday thoughts and emotions.Â
Jungkook isnât someone that people go to for advice or for encouraging words; heâs not someone that people ask about how heâs doing; heâs not a person that others seek for comfort or warmth. Heâs just a man who does his work, that people serve, that people want approval from for their own gains. Heâs not someone theyâd go through lengths for. He just takes up space that others orbit around but heâs not the center of their world; he isnât anybodyâs.
âIs everything okay, Mr. Jeon?â You disrupt his thoughts. âIs there anything you want?â
âChocolate milk,â he says too quickly. âUh, only if there is.â
âHot?â
âYes.â
You call the server and ask if they have any, but the man says they donât, so you decide to head to one of the stalls at the food hall downstairs.
âYou donât have to,â Jungkook says, pulling your wrist in reflex as you stand up.
Youâre caught off guard and so is he, and he immediately lets go and apologizes for it. The guilt in his eyes is similar to the one you saw at the restaurant when youâd admitted that he made you feel uncomfortable, and something about it makes you feel moved.Â
âI mean, uh, itâs okay. Itâs not urgent,â he adds, looking away.
âIf itâll help, then I should get it for you, Mr. Jeon,â you insist. âIt wonât take long. Iâll be back before lunch ends.â
You donât wait for a response and head out, leaving Jungkook with curious looks from his cousins.
âSo, I see youâve warmed up to her already,â Ji-woo hums, smiling.Â
âYou could say that,â Jungkook shrugs, acting nonchalant.
âWell, itâs about time you did,â Ji-woo shakes her head. âShe works incredibly hard and sheâs very reliable.â At the younger manâs nod in agreement, she adds, âyou just had to give her a chance. Thereâs a reason why uncle and Hoseok wanted her around for you.â
âI guess,â Jungkook hums. âSheâs⊠sheâs a good person. I donât really know if I deserve that but she is to me. Sheâs required to be, I suppose.â
âOr she sees you as a human being who needs a bit of warmth and joy in his life,â Ji-woo suggests. âKindness goes a long way, you know? Sheâs said before that there are people who have extended it to her and maybe sheâs just doing that, too.â
âOr maybe she sees something in you,â Hoseok says now.Â
âLike what?â Jungkook scoffs, knowing himself that after heâs treated you, thereâs no way youâd see something in him, whatever that is.
âLike an emptiness, or yearning. Something she feels, too,â Hoseok responds. âMaybe sheâs unknowingly making you feel something that she wants to feel herself, you know? I had A-yeong, my sister, my parents, my friends... Seeing her now with you, she didnât pay attention to my every need the way sheâs doing now, and thatâs not a criticism of her. Perhaps she just knew that I had other people to do that.â
âAnd Iâm the lonely, single, friendless man that sheâs stuck with,â Jungkook laughs dryly, although heâs not offended. Deep down, he knows itâs true.
âSort of,â Hoseok chuckles. âBut what I really mean is that she knows what itâs like to not have someone to look after her like that. You may think itâs just her job but I think itâs her not wanting you to feel like thereâs no one there for you. Maybe if you see it that way, you wouldnât think you donât deserve it. Then you can accept it and maybe you can do the same.â
âI donât think thatâs a good idea,â Jungkook counters, given that keeping his distance is exactly what he plans to do because any closer would just lead him down a path that he wonât be able to escape from.
âItâs not that deep,â Ji-woo says. âI think what my brother is saying is that itâs okay to be friends, you know? Or just allow her to be nice to you and then return the favor. Itâs a much better dynamic. I mean, Iâm sure heâs told you but things are just gonna be more challenging down the road, once youâre past the adjusting phase. Youâll need her like youâve never needed anyone before. I do mean that professionally, but that also requires a kind of relationship where you know and trust and respect each other. It goes both ways.â
Jungkook takes in his cousinsâ words, knowing that they speak from experience, and theyâve been doing this longer than he has. He already knows he needs you. That itself terrifies him. He also knows he has to rely on you, and maybe that entails allowing you to care for him in ways that no one - not since Chaerin, at least - has ever done before. That means letting you come close, allowing you to know him, letting you be there for him. Doing the same for you isnât a question of whether he wants to or not - heâll probably be denying it to his grave, but itâs about whether he can remain within the boundaries he set for himself, knowing already how you affect him without even doing much.Â
The thought gives Jungkook a headache, but itâs not something he can give attention to right now. Heâs got a presentation to do in less than an hour. Heâll be scrutinized and questioned and probably judged and then he realizes it again - he needs you through all that. He already knows youâll be encouraging and supportive; youâve shown that in the past week especially, and heâs appreciated and hated every single moment of it.
The hurried footsteps signal that youâre back, and you take your seat next to him.
Youâre panting as you place the cup on the table. âHere you go, Mr. Jeon. Iâm not sure if itâs as milky as you want it but the really good cafe downstairs said it should be good. Oh and uh, wrap your hands around it,â you instruct, earning you a curious look. âYour hands are very cold.â
Jungkook does as you say, feeling the warmth of the drink through his skin, even more when he takes a sip and finds that it tastes just as he wanted.Â
âThis is good. Thank you,â he utters, not wanting to meet your eyes.
You exhale a sigh of relief. You know how he has particular tastes and you just went with a hot chocolate even if he specifically said he wanted chocolate milk. Thereâs a brand he likes from Lucasâ list and you didnât have time to actually get it or even store the office pantry with it - which you realize now you should do, and you make a mental note of doing an inventory so you could request for more of the things he likes later on.
âYouâre welcome,â you reply. âI⊠I hope it helps for the presentation. Or the nerves. Or just in general.â
âIt has,â he confirms, humming with every sip.
Not long after, everyone is instructed to head back to the conference room so the meeting can resume. You take your seat with the other assistants at the side after youâve ensured that the presentation is ready while Jungkook heads to the front. You watch him go through his notes a final time, and when he sets them aside and looks up, his eyes find yours.
Theyâre still tainted with worry, you can tell even from several feet away. So you give him a comforting smile, knowing itâs what he needs. You gently nod and give him a double thumbs up as if to say that he can do it, and he nods back, as if to say that heâll do his best.
And thatâs exactly what he does.
The presentation goes for a quarter of an hour, and while he does give a good rundown of the achievements of the past three months, itâs his pitch of the Arts Center that really makes him shine. The visuals are good to begin with. He did those blueprints himself and the designs give life to his vision, but he explains every aspect of the project with just enough detail to enable the audience to imagine how it looks and what it makes them feel. He took into consideration earlier worries about profits and brand reputation, as well as anticipated questions and points of attack, so he goes ahead and addresses them to the point that he canât be scrutinized for anything thatâs lacking. He keeps in mind the qualities of each Board member, so he makes eye contact if he needs to and acknowledges side comments and builds on them.Â
Heâs definitely added more - and improved - since that first runthrough you did with him, and he looks very confident and very respectable. You can tell that he values not just profits but art itself - its creation, its appreciation, and the various ways it can be experienced. As someone who yearns for that kind of passion for something, seeing him like this is quite moving.Â
It doesnât help that he looks as good as he does standing up there, and itâs a thought you let yourself have before dispelling it quickly.Â
He gets approving nods from most of the Board members. The rest still look a bit doubtful, but you suppose they wouldnât directly criticize Jungkook and his plans in front of everyone after a presentation like that. You also take a peak at CEO Jeon whoâs unable to hide how proud he is of his son. Hoseok and Ji-woo exchange smiles as well. But Jungkook remains focused, ready to answer any questions or comments from the Board.
Mr. Mun is the first to commend him and doesnât ask much. Mr. Im surprisingly praises Jungkook after admitting his reservations, and Mr. Saito, as you expected, asks clarificatory questions that just builds on what was earlier presented. Jungkookâs readiness and creativity are highlighted as well, and you can tell that the older man is extremely excited for this project.Â
The hour is up before you know it, with only minimal questions and a few comments from the attendees. Ji-woo and Hoseok raise points to help with marketing and earning profit, and you take note of all those for discussion and debriefing next week.Â
Jungkook thanks everyone before returning to his seat, and you see the breath he lets out after, seemingly glad that thatâs at least over. You catch his attention again, and you canât help your smile. He acknowledges you with a nod, and he turns his focus towards Hoseok as the next presenter. The afternoon goes by like this, with Ji-woo going last and CEO Jeon closing out the meeting.Â
Thereâs some time before the fellowship dinner, which is spent with side conversations and check-ins. Mr. Saito goes to Jungkook right away and you see the latterâs face light up a little, although you donât miss the sniffing and the throat clearing that he does. You think that his cold hands earlier werenât due to his nervousness; perhaps the last month has finally caught up to him because you truly believe that this man does not rest.Â
You head out to return to your desk, knowing youâve got several things to do before the dinner that assistants are invited to. You fly through your notes from earlier and some administrative tasks before heading back to the event hall where you find Jungkook talking to Mrs. Seo and Mr. Ong this time, two people whoâd most likely be critical of him so youâre glad that heâs at least forging some relations, if their animated way of speaking is any indication.Â
You see him excuse himself to head to the washroom, and you take this time to order a cup of ginseng tea for him. It arrives just as he returns to his seat, and when it registers why youâd ordered it, he nods and mumbles his thanks.
âIf I may, perhaps you shouldnât stay long, Mr. Jeon,â you suggest. âItâs been a tiring week and you need to rest.â
Jungkook hates being told what to do, but heâs also never had someone tell him to rest because he needs it, much less even know that heâs not feeling alright.Â
âI need to engage with the Board,â he reasons. âIâm sure thatâs what father would like. I can rest during the weekend.â
âOkay, sir,â you sigh, knowing heâs also right. Perhaps heâs accepted that this is a critical part of his new role as Vice President. âJust let me know if thereâs anything more that I can help you with.â
âI will.â
You sit at the table where the other assistants are, engaging in hushed conversations as you talk about the Board members and how tired you all are. Itâs nice being around them, as you all share the experience of stress and isolation, of knowing too much sometimes, of security and stagnancy. They know what youâre going through, partially at least - unlike you, they have people to go home to and proper hobbies that excite them. They have loved ones close by and things they look forward to during the weekends. So while they do make you feel understood, you also canât help but be a bit jealous.Â
Your thoughts are suspended when Bitna offers to take you home. Itâs well past 9 and youâre not keen on staying longer to drink with the rest of the big bosses here. You glance at Jungkook who has a wine in hand, clearly trying his best to keep up with the conversations heâs a part of. He looks incredibly tired - much more than usual - and you feel bad that this isnât something you can help him with.Â
You take Bitnaâs offer and you both head to your respective bosses to bid your goodbyes. Jungkook nods and mentions his meeting with the artist last night that he says heâll discuss with you on Monday. Thereâs more you want to say, but you worry heâll think youâre nagging about his health - which, you remind yourself, is also part of your job - and you donât want to end the week on a sour note.Â
Jungkook watches you leave the event hall and he immediately feels your absence. Even when you spent much of your time apart, he could feel you there, partly because of the ginseng tea that you ordered for him twice at your insistence and partly because the knowledge that youâre around is enough. And now you arenât, and he suddenly canât stand any more of the socializing he has to do.Â
But he powers through it for another hour. When he bids his father goodbye, the older man commends him for his presentation earlier and the way he handled himself throughout the fellowship dinner. Itâs assuring, but he knows thereâs so much more work to be done so he doesnât revel in it any longer than a few seconds.Â
The drive home is quiet. His soft groans as he massages his temples are the only sounds in the car. When he arrives at his empty penthouse, he grabs a bottle of whiskey from the counter and sits on the couch - a glass in hand, necktie and buttons undone, feet on the coffee table, and head rolled back as he reminds himself that he survived the day, that he did a good job, and that he changed some of the Board membersâ minds about him.Â
And much as he tries to keep away the image of you, heâs unable to - there you were in the room, on his side, cheering him on. He didnât miss the satisfied smile on your face once he finished his presentation, nor your look of worry after the ginseng tea was placed on the table.Â
Youâre just good at that - making him feel like someone looks out for him, that someone else minds that he succeeds, that someone cares that heâs not well and that he should rest.Â
The smile on his face fades once heâs reminded that youâre supposed to do all that, and that he isnât anyone special, nor should he be. Itâs the thought that keeps him behind the lines - youâre unattainable in so many ways, yet heâs also glad that you are. Itâs easier to be mindful of his place like that; itâs easier to accept that youâre you and heâs him, and itâs easier to do his job when he knows youâre just doing yours.
At least, thatâs what he hopes.Â
But when he gets a call from reception the next morning about a package that you dropped off, all that wishful thinking seems pointless. And as he stares at the bowl of chicken noodle soup in front of him, all his thoughts from the night before come crashing down.
Why is everything so hard when it comes to you?
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#jungkook fic#jungkook x reader#jungkook x you#jungkook fanfic#jungkook x oc#jungkook angst#jungkook fanfiction#bts jungkook#jungkook series#jeon jungkook#boss jungkook
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Confiscated
⣠Summary: He was going a little too crazy on the new Fans app, and you would swiftly reign that energy back in. âŁÂ ⣠Word Count: 791 ⣠Warnings: Slice of life, fluff, humor, sexual innuendos, implied smut, mention of Bubble and Fans messages, Chris is a flirt and menace to stays, Reader teaches him the 'fuck around and find out' clause âŁÂ ⣠Female! Reader [No use of Y/N] | You/Your pronouns âŁÂ ⣠Additional Tags: Chan is referred to as Chris, Christopher Bahng, Bahng, and Baby, Reader is referred to as Baby, this was a wild time for stayville, lightly edited ⣠Stray Kids Masterlist ⣠General Masterlist
Tap tap tap. Send. Switch. Tap tap tap tap. Send.
He was having too much fun with making stays go wild - something about making them have the same reaction as he did, simply pushing him to continue on with his extravagant behavior.Â
From Bubble to the new - and arguably buggy - Fans app, he was giggling up a storm in his bed as he watched various reactions begin to pour in from his not-so-subtle flirtatious comments and innuendos.
However, what he failed to remember was one stay was considerably close by, and her reaction wasnât contained behind the screen of his phone.
âChristopher Bahng!â
His heart nearly jumped out of his chest as he narrowly avoided dropping his phone on his face, eyes shooting to the slightly cracked door of the bedroom.
The sound of footsteps swiftly followed suit before the door swung open to reveal your flustered, astonishingly enraged face as you held your phone up.
âWhat the fuck are you doing?!â
âUmâŠâ He squinted, unsure what he was supposed to garner from the black screen, âTalking to stay?â
âOh, I know youâre talking to stay, mister âyou know whatâs sweeter than Dango Puddingâ!â
The same heart that almost jumped out of his chest now fell to his ass - he could feel the heat of blush beginning to take over his face and ears.
âYou still have my bubble?!â
You scoffed incredulously, âI- That- This isnât about me! This is about you! You and your three addresses!â
His hands flew to his face, covering his eyes with an embarrassed groan, âNo, no, no, please!â
âNuh uh, itâs too late for begging, Bahng. Now, whatâs this about some,â you paused, and he could hear the barely held back giggle threatening to break through your angered facade, ââthink you can handle it?â, huh? Or, âreplying wonât be the only thingâ, eh?â
Chris let out a shocked gasp as he scrambled to sit up, âYou got Fans?! Baby, really?!â
âBaby? So Iâm just âbabyâ? Not your-â A small snort escaped you, trying your best to keep a straight face, â-precious little Dango Pudding cup? Is that why you decided to stay on Bubble after wreaking havoc?â
âThis canât be happening - this cannot be happening right now.â Falling back onto the mattress, he stared up at the ceiling as he contemplated the pros and cons of simply disappearing off the face of the earth.
The bed dipped at the presence of new weight, hooking your leg over his hips to delightfully settle on his lap with ease.
âIâm confiscating your phone.â You hummed gleefully, leaning over him to grab the device currently abandoned beside his head.
âYouâre what?â Angling his head, he caught your eyes with a pout, âYou canât do that!â
âBaby, youâre being extremely horny on main - trust me, Iâm doing everyone a favor. Besides, arenât you allegedly âcleaning your roomâ?â Looking around the bedroom pointedly, there was barely a hint of anything out of place, âDoesnât look too dirty in here, but Iâm sure we can make a mess to clean up.â
Your words had him choking on air, gasping and spluttering for words while a warm blush settled over him like a blanket.
âI- What- Thatâs- And youâre saying Iâm the horny one?!â
Gasping in mock shock, you pressed your finger into his bare chest, âIâm like this because of you! Do you know how hard it is to try and watch a movie while your significant other is boldly sharing double entendres? How heâd do more than reply to his âfavorite snackâ?â Slowly trailing your index down the valley of his pecs, your tone softened as you tilted your head to the side, âSaying heâs not a flirt, then lamenting on how he needs themâŠâ Honey dripped from your words as your eyes took on a sultry gaze, âGoading about whether or not they could handle it.â
The path of your finger stopped just above his navel, rising and falling with each bated breath he took - the air thick with lust and allure.
âDo you think I can handle it, baby?â
A chill ran down his spine, goosebumps rising along his skin as he blinked slowly, completely and utterly swept up in you.
He swallowed thickly, somehow managing to find his voice, âCan you?â
A smirk curled your lips, fire dancing behind your irises, âGuess thereâs only one way to find out, isnât there?â
Phones discarded on the nightstand, it wasnât long until the bedroom truly had to be cleaned - and with a fresh pair of sheets and a clean pair of clothes, he made a quick excuse for accidentally ghosting on Bubble; the true reason remaining in the form of hickeys on his skin and scratches on his back.
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â§. âIf your username is in bold italics that means tumblr won't let me tag you. If youâd like to be added to the taglist, fill out this form!
#skz smut#stray kids smut#bang chan smut#bangchan smut#bang chan x reader#bangchan x reader#skz x reader#stray kids x reader
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[SUMMARY: After roughly taking your virginity unknowingly, Joel does his best to make the second time around more comfortable for you.]
âIâll make you feel it again and I promise it ainât gonna hurt this timeâ
Part one
Smut
(There is a 50 limit on people who I can tag, I didnât know so many would want to be tagged sorry I didnât get everyone!)
It was early in the morning when you woke up to Ellie still asleep and Joel nowhere to be found. You figured he was out keeping himself busy close by, and so you decided to make something for everyone to eat using what you had. Your mind never stopped thinking about what you had just done the day before, you wondered how he was going to act with you in front of Ellie.
Cutting up some vegetables that you grew you heard the door open and knew it was him. Joel walked inside to find you by the kitchen area before looking up to his left and seeing Ellie was still asleep.
âHiâ you spoke softly as his eyes found you again. He gave you a nod as he walked towards you while you struggled to think of something else to say.
âSo um, Iâm making-â
âYou still in pain?â He suddenly asked in a rough low voice. Of course you were, not even twenty four hours earlier Joel had just rammed himself in you not knowing you had never been touched. You shook your head before you could think of a word to say to his unexpected question.
âN-not really, maybe a little but Iâm fineâ you assured him as once again you began to think of how good it ended. It was worth it to be a little sore. Now if it was ever going to happen again, you werenât sure, but you couldnât help but ask how else you could make yourself feel that wonderful high he made you feel.
âJoel umâŠcan I ask you something?â
âMhmâ he stood across from you.
âWellâŠum, you know that feeling I told you I felt when you made me-â
âMhmâ he cut you off being careful Ellie wasnât eavesdropping yet eager to hear your question.
âHow can I feel that same feeling againâŠI meanâŠI know we probably wonât um do that again but I want to feel itâŠhow can I in another way?â You question was hesitant, you almost felt stupid.
He took a deep breath trying to find a way to not react in that moment, an image of you laying in bed with your hand between your legs making yourself cum now in his head and you didnât even do it purposely.
âJoel?â Your voice snapping him out of it making him look back at you.
âYouâve never-â
âNo. I mean we had health class and people spoke but I neverâŠâ you tried to explain when Ellieâs voice caught you both off guard.
âHey are you making those vegetable fritters again?â Ellie asked with excitement running up beside you as Joel silently walked out the back door.
âUh, yes. Hey why donât you finish cutting these for me so I can go collect the rest of the vegetables.â Ellie nodded and took over with the knife in her hand as you walked out.
Joel stood in the back staring off into the woods trying to control himself with the thoughts you just put into his head. He knew last night shouldnât have happened, especially not the way it did but how the hell was he suppose to ignore this urge for you. His thoughts being interrupted by the sound of the door slamming shut as you walked out.
âSorry, I just needed to get a few thingsâ you uttered low as he looked over his shoulder at you.
âWhat the hell are you trynna to do to me?â
âWhat?â You asked confused as he turned looking behind you making sure Ellie wasnât following you out. Quickly he stepped closer to you, with a very similar look he had the night before.
âIâm trying my best here to not-â he cut himself off, his eyes drifting down to your lips.
âTo not what?â You asked confused making him look back up, but he didnât speak.
âLook Joel, if you donât wanna tell me what I asked-â he suddenly grabbed your face and kissed you making you stumble back against the wall. Still holding your face in his hands he pulled his lips away, his eyes darkened.
âNo I donât wanna tell you,â
âI wanna show youâ his words sending a tingle to the pit of your stomach.
âYou wanna feel what you felt last night, darlinâ?â His eyebrows furrowed as his hands dropped to your waist holding you close.
âY-yesâ
âIâll make you feel it again and I promise it ainât gonna hurt this timeâ
âJoelâŠIâŠI donât care if it hurts...I just want-â
âHey, Iâm done cutting the vegetables!â Ellie called out from inside making Joel quickly turn away from you thinking she came out. You took a deep breath grabbing the vegetables and walked back inside not saying another word.
That evening the three of you sat at the table together having dinner as you usually did. Ellie raised her brows looking back and fourth between you and Joel as you both didnât lift your heads up from your plates.
âSo uh, I was gonna ask if I can try fishing later?â
âBy yourself?â Joel quickly looked up directly at her.
âUh yeah, I mean its right there. We have most of the area closed off. Why not?â
âI donât know, Ellie. I doubt youâd be able to catch more than I can anywayâ he teased her making you look up.
âNuh uh, wanna bet?â
Joel knew exactly what he was doing, Ellie out of the cabin leaving the place to just you and himâŠexactly what he had in mind.
âItâs onâ Joel chuckled making you smile, it was rare to see Joel in a light hearted mood.
After dinner you watched as Ellie excitedly packed her stuff to fish with Joel making sure she had all she needed.
âYou sure sheâs gonna be safe there?â You asked making him look up at you.
âI wouldnât let her go if I thought she wasnâtâ he responded as you stood by the counter.
âOkâ you whispered as they finished up packing before Joel walked her to the lake leaving you alone in the cabin.
Being alone with Joel in doors bought an excitement to you that you never felt before. You knew what this meant with Ellie not there and had an idea. Looking at a tiny dirty mirror that was hung on the wall you began to undress yourself. It was strange, although this man had already taken your virginity, he still had yet to see your naked body.
With only a sweater on you watched out the window until you saw him finally approaching. Quickly throwing the sweater aside you positioned yourself by the counter that he would see the second he walked in. Your heart racing hearing the door knob turn until it finally opened, your naked body catching Joel completely off guard. Clenching his jaw he shut the door behind him as you stood awkwardly not sure what to do with your hands. Joel could tell you were nervous, your innocence arousing him a bit more. His eyes slowly finding the sight of your breasts, he began to make his way towards you without taking his eyes off them. Neither of you said a word but he could see you began to breathe heavier as your chest rose and fell in a fast pace. He stopped before you, slowly looking back up into your eyes.
âNow Iâm trying my very best to not sit you up on that counter and take you just like I did last night but youâre making it too damn hard for me to not-âhis eyes wandered to your naked body again.
âTo not just do what I wanna do without thinking. But I promised you I wasn't gonna hurt you, and I keep my promises, darlinâ. He looked back up at you.
âJoel-â you whispered.
âMm mmâ he shook his head,
âI donât wanna hear a wordâŠnot unless youâre cumming for me. I just want you to lay yourself on my bedâ he proceeded to take off his jacket as you looked at where he slept. He watched as you nervously lay back on his pillow as he slowly lay beside you turned towards you. Silently his eyes drifted down to your body as you nervously took a deep breath. His large rough hand gently brushing over your hard nipples, he wondered if any other man had the pleasure in ever seeing them before let alone touching them. Slowly he moved down to your bare thigh as you looked up at him curiously.
âWhat are you gonna do?â
His eyes found yours as his fingers creeped to your inner thigh. He didnât respond, gently pulling your thigh towards him, making your legs spread. He instantly felt you leg jerk back a bit, he knew you were nervous. You didnât even realize you had done it.
âCâmereâ he whispered pulling your leg completely against him before feeling his fingers trace your slit delicately.
âIâm gonna make sure youâre ready for meâ his lips brushing against your ear sending goosebumps through your body just as you felt his finger on your very clit. Slowly he began to move his finger in a circular motion building up the pleasure little by little. Moaning softly he watched as your body began to squirm with excitement before sliding his finger down and feeling how wet you already were.
âOh there it isâ he whispered just as he slid his large finger in. You softly gasped as he leaned his lips against your face, you could feel his hard on against your thigh. Your fingers digging into the covers beneath you, just like that he was slowly finger fucking youâŠ
So many thoughts running through your mind had all just melted away with what he was doing to you, you hadnât even noticed just how focused he was on watching you as he continued until he spoke.
âThat feel good,baby?â You looked up barely able to speak. The sound of your wet pussy speaking for itself, arousing him more.
âJoel..â you choked out jerking your hips upward, he knew what was about to happen.
âJoelâŠI thinkâŠI think itâs happening againâ you rolled your eyes back as he moved his hand faster pressing his lips together. You grabbed onto his shirt, nails digging in, he watched as your back arched and lips opened but no sound came out before you cried out like I never before.
âOh my god-â you whimpered, your body still shaking against his as his hand slowly stopped. Your legs moving uncontrollablyâŠyou both locked eyes.
âJoel-â
âShh, just feel it, babyâ you panted looking up at him and pulled him in for a passionate kiss.
Joel kissed you before suddenly whispering something you didnât expect.
âGet on me, babyâ he began to undress himself quickly before you could say a word. For some reason your heart sunk at the thought, you didnât know how to ride a man much less a man of his size.
âJoel, I canât-â you whispered looking down at how hard he was.
âCâmereâ he pulled your arms landing your hands on his bare shoulders.
âJoel wait, I donât know how-â
âLook at meâ he pulled your leg over him as you struggled to keep your balance holding onto him, you froze feeling his cock begin to enter you.
âLook at me, baby. You donât have to do a damn thingâ he held onto your hips as he slowly pushed upward while pulling you down on him. This angle only made him feel bigger, still sore from the day before the you winced making Joel instantly stop.
âYou alright?â
âYesâ you whispered looking down at him. It seemed no matter how aroused you were, it was still bound to hurt, being sore also didnât help.
âItâs ok just..just do itâ he quickly shook his head at your suggestion.
âDonât tell me that, I told you I wasnât gonna hurt youâ you felt his hands squeeze your hips, you knew he was doing his best to control his urge to thrust.
âJoelâ you insisted with a look while leaning on his chest. Without saying a word, with full force he thrusted upward making you loudly gasp. The fullness you felt you were almost afraid to move, he remained still beneath you allowing you to adjust to his size.
âDammitâ he whispered breathlessly seeing the discomfort on your face. His hand gently brushing up your body, caressing your face. Slowly he pulled your body down completely against his, kissing you he attempted to distract you from the pain. You could feel his heart racing against your chest as you felt him very slowly pull out half way before sliding back in. You whimpered against his lips as he moved as gentle as he could. He continued this way until he felt your body relax, moving at a steady pace until you pushed yourself up and began to move on your own. He watched as you balanced yourself on him and began to ride him with ease.
âThatâs it babyâ His hands down on your thighs as he looked down and watched himself disappear in you. This position felt different but you liked it, he could feel how much you liked it. Closing your eyes you moaned throwing your head back when you felt his hands cup your breasts. He didnât say much but he didnât have to, the sound of his breathing and the way he touched you said enough. Moving in a faster pace he groaned appreciating the view of you on top, watching your hips grind sensually. His hands abruptly moved down your body as he unexpectedly took back control. You felt his legs lift up beneath you while holding you in place. His hands grabbing your ass he thrusted upward as fast as he could, watching your expressions change from the overwhelming pleasure.
âJoel-â
âGo ahead, cum for meâ he demanded out of breath. Both of your bodies sweaty, your hands sliding up his chest but he held, the pressure you felt was much bigger than you had felt before.
âOh my God-â your nails digging into his chest, this time it felt much more intense, you didnât think you could handle it.
âJoel, I canât-â
âYes you canâ he panted. You squeezed your eyes shut, he felt you tighten up when ecstasy erupted throughout your body. Moaning almost in desperation, you held onto him barely able to keep yourself balanced. His mouth open watching your breasts bounce to his quick movements, he felt your cum drip down his balls. He watched you in awe, holding you steady on him as you felt complete loss of control.
âOh yeah..â he whispered just as he felt himself about to explode. He quickly lifted you up and moaned in a way you had never heard before. Still on top of him, you leaned back, watching his hips jerk upward as his warm load spilled out of him.. Another harsh sound escaping his lips, yet you couldnât take your eyes off his cock. His hand wrapped around it, finishing himself off, he looked down and noticed how you watched. He could barely speak taking a minute to catch his breath.
âYou ok?â He whispered making you look up at him.
âAre you?â
Joel chuckled as sweat dripped down the side of his head and nodded.
The two of you were silent as you got dressed but you could feel Joelâs eyes on you. He knew there mustâve been alot running through your mind but he wasnât a mind reader.
âYou alright darlinâ?â
âCan I ask you something?â You looked at him curiously.
âOf courseâ
âDoesâŠ.does it feel the same way for youâŠthe way it does for meâŠ.when you-â Joel chuckled making you cross your arms.
âWhy are you laughing, itâs an honest questionâ
Joel pulled your arms wrapping them around him, as he wrapped his around your waist.
âIt can feel pretty intenseâŠlike just nowâ he responded calmly with a slight smirk.
âIt almost made it hard for me to get you up on timeâ and you knew exactly what could happen if he didnât. He pulled you in for a kiss as you were still lost in thought.
âYou know-â you gently pushed him back.
âIt felt a lotâŠstronger today..while I was on top of you.â
âI take it you like riding me then, huh,â he whispered as he kissed the side of your face.
âI wanna try different things, Joelâ your eyes rolled back feeling his scruff against your neck, his lips leaving a trail of soft kisses.
âWe willâ you smiled when the random thought of how much of an ass he used to be with you came to mind.
âHeyâŠ.whyâd you always give me a hard time at firstâ your question making him stop as he took a deep breath. He took a step back as he looked down thinking of how to respond.
âI was trying to avoid thisâ
âHaving sex with me?â You almost laughed making him look up, the seriousness in his eyes made you quickly stop.
âThereâs a lot you donât know about me and I just didnât think it was a good thing for youâ he rubbed his facial hair as you raised a brow.
âSo whatâs the difference between then and now?â Joel cleared his throat knowing a moment of weakness from him was what made the difference.
âSeeing you wearing my shirt that nightâ his words making you blush.
âDo you regret it?â You asked hesitantly.
âOf course notâ he responded quicker than you expected.
âI only regret not knowing you were a virgin, for your sake.â You didnât exactly know how to respond and so you looked down with slight embarrassment.
âHeyâ he placed his hand on your waist pulling you in.
âIâm glad it was meâ he whispered before kissing you gently and making his way to the door.
âWeâll be back in a fewâ he left you standing there silently, you couldnât help but wonder what this meant although you promised yourself you wouldnât think too much into itâŠ
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#pedro pascal#joel miller fanfiction#joel miller x you#joel miller smut#joel miller x y/n#the last of us#the last of us fanfiction#tlou fanfiction#joel miller fan fic
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does he always do this?
for @corrodedcoffinfest prompt 'heard it in a love song'
rated m | 995 words | cw: mentions of sex | tags: everyone loves steve, but eddie loves steve like a love song, steddie, corroded coffin friendship
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Eddie tapped his pencil against the journal, checking the clock above the phone in the kitchen for the hundredth time in the last 30 minutes.
Steve was late.
Steve was never late.
He was only minutes away from trying to call his house to make sure he didn't forget he was coming over when he heard a car pull up out front.
"Finally," he said to himself, throwing the pencil down and pushing the chair away from the table.
He went to open the door and was shocked to find not just Steve, but his entire band as well.
"UhâŠhi?" Eddie watched as they all grabbed backpacks from Steve's car. "What's happening right now? Is it an intervention? I don't even drink."
Steve rolled his eyes as he got closer and kissed the corner of Eddie's mouth.
"The guys are here to help with the song."
"What song? There's no song," Eddie panicked. It was supposed to be a secret, dammit. He'd been so careful.
"The song you've been writing for me that you're having trouble with. You've been distracted for days and I want my boyfriend back," Steve pushed past him and into the kitchen, opening the fridge to start grabbing random things Eddie didn't even know they had.
"Hey Eddie," Jeff and Frankie said in unison as they pushed past him and set their bags on the floor inside.
"Hey, man," Gareth said as he did the same.
"Who told him about the song?" Eddie hissed as Steve made himself busy pulling a pan out of the cabinet.
"No one. You left your journal wide open on your desk and he saw it when he was getting ready for work," Jeff rolled his eyes. "We told you to keep your stuff hidden."
"I thought you were just being assholes about Steve being my boyfriend!" Eddie threw his hands up in frustration. This was bullshit. He could get the song done on his own!
"Anyone allergic to anything?" Steve called out from the counter, where a variety of peppers, onions, and garlic were spread out to be cut.
"I'm allergic to vegetables," Gareth smirked.
"Right. I'm sure," Steve didn't even entertain his comment, continuing to cut up the food in front of him. "Dinner will be ready in 45 minutes."
"Does he always just come in here and start cooking?" Frankie asked from his spot on the couch. He sure made himself comfy fast.
"Only if he knows I haven't eaten much."
"How does he know that?" Jeff asked as he settled in Wayne's chair.
"His hands are shaking because his sugar's low and he has six empty cans of Mountain Dew on the table, meaning he hasn't gotten up from the table for hours. Focus on the song, pretend I'm not here."
Eddie smiled fondly at Steve, only turning back to everyone when Gareth clapped his hands in his face.
"Dude, you're so fucked."
Eddie groaned. "Yeah, well, the song has me fucked up worse."
"What have you got so far?" Frankie asked.
Eddie got up to grab the journal from the table and threw it to him. Frankie read the few lines and nodded, smirking.
"This isn't a love song."
"What do you mean? Of course it's a love song!"
"Dude, this is a sex song."
"It is not!"
Jeff grabbed the journal and read the lines, his eyes widening momentarily before handing it over to Gareth.
"Damn, this is a sex song."
"You writing dirty things about me, baby?" Steve asked from his spot at the counter.
Eddie covered his face with his hands and groaned. "I wasn't trying to."
"Alright, so do you wanna shift gears and try to focus more on love or do you wanna stick with this?" Jeff asked, getting down to business. He was good at keeping them on track.
"Stick with this."
They sat around figuring out lines that could work, and Steve stood at the stove listening, but keeping to himself.
He ignored the teasing Eddie received when he admitted to wanting to see Steve in only his vest, but smiled to himself when he remembered the first time he'd worn only the vest while Eddie fucked him against his bedroom wall.
He ignored how red Eddie got when they tried to rewrite the line about "seeing white on red", saying it didn't make sense. Maybe to them it didn't, but all Steve could picture was when Eddie's cum painted his ass, bright red from the spanking Eddie'd given him.
They luckily didn't talk much about it over dinner, too busy shoving the food into their mouths to say anything.
After dinner, Steve cleaned up while they got back to it, then went to take a shower and get ready for bed. They might stay up all night writing, but he sure wouldn't be awake for much longer.
Eddie snuck into the bathroom while he was rinsing his hair, sitting on the sink and asking about his day.
When Steve got out of the shower, he wrapped his towel around his waist and stood in between Eddie's legs, cupping his face in his hands.
"You love me?" Steve asked, the same way he did every night.
"More than anything in the world, Stevie," Eddie answered, the same way he did every night.
"How's the song?"
"It'sâŠour sex life. Kinda out in the open. Is that okay?"
Steve smirked. "Yeah."
"It's not really a love song."
"Sure it is. You love me, you fuck me. It's all the same," Steve kissed his lips softly, smiling into it. "Can't wait to hear when it's done."
"I could sing it to you tonight," Eddie wrapped his arms around him.
"Hey!" Gareth banged on the door. "No fucking while we're here!"
They both laughed.
"Better get back to it," Steve kissed him again before opening the door and walking to the bedroom.
Eddie watched him go, biting his lip.
"I've got the chorus," he yelled to the guys.
#corrodedcoffinfest#corroded coffin#steddie#eddie munson#steve harrington#jeff stranger things#gareth stranger things#freak stranger things
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Joe's Hot Ones experience
Transcript under the cut:
Joe: um, NopeQueen says, "everyone dying in the Hot Ones and then Joe and Pearl just snacking was amazing." Yeah, I--that's one thing--yeah, Cleo, I was talking to, uh, the late night crew about that last night. They were like, 'Joe, what happened with the chicken?' And I was just like, okay, well here's the thing: Nashville is famous for having really spicy chicken. Like, that's just what we eat here. Everybody else, for some reason, eats chicken from Kentucky. But...we don't. So--I was expecting, though, cause people were really talked up this Hot Ones thing like crazy. Cleo: Yeah. Joe: I was like, I'm gonna-I'm gonna get over--walk over there, and get absolutely like, thrashed by this. Cleo: Gonna get wrecked-- Joe: And it's gonna-- Cleo: --Cause you started at like, level nine, didn't you? Joe: I started at level seven. But yeah, I was like, uh--cause I was gonna get tagged in by somebody else when they tagged out. And they lasted longer than they expected to. So I'm like, okay, I'm coming in at level seven, Impulse says level seven in a lot of ways is the worst one. And so I'm just gonna--gonna walk over there and get wrecked. And it's gonna be hilarious. And--I just started eating it, and I'm like, this is just chicken, like, I mean, it had s--the sauce on it, but like I'm like, this is just how we eat chicken, where I'm from. (Cleo giggles) Well, maybe the next level will be hotter? And I'm like...this is still just hot chicken. Joe: Same thing, like, level ten--and, um, apparently too I've been eating chicken wrong, according to the audience. Cause, um, everybody's just like, y'know, cause I mentioned like, yeah, I could-- Cleo: You just chowed down from that. Joe: Yeah. And I said though, I could tell that it's spicy, that's why I had to drink two cans of Coke, and they're like, Joe, you're not supposed to drink Coke with chicken that's spicy. And I'm like, I know, but it was a kid's charity event so I couldn't have beer. And they're like, no, you're not supposed to have carbonation with spicy chicken. And I'm like, what? I-I didn't know this! I've been eating spicy chicken with carbonation for years! Apparently I'm doing it wrong, I must be bad at chicken. Uh-- Cleo: Joe Hills, bad at chicken. Joe: Yeah, yeah. So, I was-I was actually just kinda, like--I was really expecting to--I was like, this is one of those things where I'm overconfident, and I'm gonna get wrecked. Cleo: Yeah. By rights you should be-- Joe: And it's gonna be hilarious-- Cleo: You should've been. Joe: It's gonna--it's gonna be hilarious, but it's for charity, y'know, let's go. And I was just like-- Cleo: You were just like, nah, I'm hungry. Joe: That was the other thing, I was--I legitimately hadn't eaten, I was starving, uh, and so I was just like, 'oh this is--' Cleo: This is just nice chicken. Joe: It was--yeah, it was great. Uhm--
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prompt: IKEA soap/reader fic. PART 1. tags: dubcon
-
You duck behind a stack of boxes when you hear Johnny come whistling into the warehouse.
He shouts your name out somewhere off on the other side of the warehouse, voice echoing through the building. You keep absolutely still, fingers clamped around the clipboard thatâs pressed close to your chest. Even your breathing slows, open-mouthed so as to keep it almost soundless. Itâs strategic. Youâve gotten good at making yourself invisible back here, practically melting into the stack of boxes.Â
A minute or two goes by with repeated calls of your name, echoing from different parts of the warehouse like Johnnyâs making the rounds. Searching for you. Heâs probably been looking around the store for ages, with his track record. Someone must have let it slip that you were assigned to inventory today instead of being out on the floor.Â
You only let out a sigh when itâs been long enough that any reasonable person might have given up on trying to find you in the loading dock.
âHiding from someone?â a deep voice asks from behind you.
Your gut all but self-ejects. When you turn around, heâs standing there in the same bright blue shirt that you also wear. His is stretched tight across his chest though, like itâs a size too small. You wonder sometimes if itâs on purpose. Itâs hard not to let your eyes wander, but by now youâve trained yourself to keep your eyes level when speaking to Johnny.Â
âNope,â you squeak. âJustâŠyou knowâŠcounting. Counting boxes andâŠstacks.â
He laughs, loud enough to make you startle. Itâs far too enthusiastic, like you told a particularly funny joke instead of stumbling over your words and you still donât actually know if he finds you funny or not.Â
âCool,â Johnny says, taking a step closer to you. The clipboard doesnât feel sufficient enough to put any real distance between the two of you. âThought I could maybe come hang out with ye back here. Dinnae want ye to feel lonely.â
âNope, not lonely at all. Totally peachy. Actually glad I could catch a break fromâŠeveryone.â You take a step back.
He follows you, another step forward. âAye, dinnae worry, I get what ye mean. Some of the othersââ he whistles, ââright buggers. Glad to catch a break myself as well.â
A bead of sweat rolls down the back of your neck. âArenât you supposed to beâŠout in the front? I, uh, donât want you to get in trouble with Jeffââ
âAh, Jeffâs fine, kitty, dinnae worry about me,â Johnny coos, sounding pleased as punch. He takes you at face value instead of reading into the set of your jaw and the way you keep inching away from him as he gets closer to you, convinced that you genuinely in your heart care about whether he gets written up or not. âThey fuckinâ love me, ye ken? Think he wants ta take me out for lunch tomorrow, but told him Iâd only go if he invited ye as well.â
âOh. Thatâs nice,â you whisper instead of screaming. Youâre doing that a lot these days. Talking through the scream bubbling behind your front teeth.Â
âWould ye want ta then?â he asks, suddenly in your face, three quick steps bridging the gap between you in barely a second, hardly enough time for you to blink. You blink and itâs just Johnny, in startling definition. Thick eyebrows and scar across his chin, the bridge of his nose perfect like heâs never broken it before. âGrab some lunch with me?â
âI, uhâŠI brought my lunch from home.â
âItâs aâright, Iâll buy it for ye, hen. Dinnae need ta waste your money.â Sometimes when he talks to you, he gets like this, fervent and almost desperate. He seems only half aware of it. âYe like that mediterranean place nearby, right? Seen ye go there once or twice; wanted ta tag along, but dinnae want ta alarm ye.â
âYou saw me go there?â you repeat.Â
âAye, happened ta glance out the window when ye were on your lunch break. Back before management changed my break time. Cheers for that as well because it was really startinâ ta bother me, ye ken? Not being able ta eat with my favourite coworker.âÂ
You never know how to respond when Johnny lets on a bit too much about how he feels about you. Sometimes he slips up and it comes rushing out, a big spool of thread unwinding in front of you. Â
âYeah, wellâŠI donât know about today but maybeâŠâ you say, trailing off. Thereâs a danger in just brushing him off, you feel.Â
âTomorrow then,â he decides, grin still splitting his face. âIâm noâ on the schedule, but I can drop by at your lunch break and go with ye. Howâs that sound?â
âWell, you knowâŠit soundsâŠâ Heâs close enough now that if you lean forward, youâll faceplant in between his pecs. Despite everything, you have to slightly fight the urge. Sometimes you think itâd be easier if he werenât so absurdly gorgeous. It doesnât make any of his actions okay, it doesnât excuse his behaviour just because heâs pretty, yet still he pulls you in somehow, magnetic. âIt soundsâyou know, actually, I think Jeff wanted to talk to me about something, so if you donât mindââ
Johnny tries to say something, but you manage to duck around him and scurry off, disappearing into the stacks of boxes before pressing forward until you burst out the main doors out of the warehouse. It leads to a hall that goes towards the store, but you haul it to the womenâs washroom instead. The one place he canât follow you inside.Â
In the washroom, you can finally breathe. Resting your hands on either side of the sink, you look into the mirror where haggard eyes with deep circles underneath stare back at you.Â
You flinch when one of the toilets flush and the stall door opens, another coworker stepping out.Â
âDid I hear Johnny outside?â she asks, taking the sink beside you to wash her hands. You nod, still tongue tied. âHe really follows you everywhere, huh?â
For a second, your shoulders relax. âGod, I know, heâs always just hoveringââ
She cuts you off, sighing dreamily. âYouâre so lucky. Heâs so hot, itâs unreal. I canât believe he works here, like thatâs insane. Iâd kill to have him as obsessed with me as he is with you.â
âHeâsâheâs not into me, heâs justâŠyou know, he just hovers.â
The water shuts off. Your coworker shoots you a dubious look, almost mocking. âYeah, alright. Sure. Not into you. Not like he hangs off your every word. You donât have to be humbleâweâre already jealous. Itâs like rubbing it in when you pretend like itâs totally normal.â
You slump, defeated, when she leaves without drying her hands. Itâs moot to try and commiserate with anyone. They donât see him the way you do, not for who he is. Your coworkers love Johnny; youâve seen someone genuinely fistpump after being scheduled with him.Â
They donât see any of the weird shit though. They donât see the way he insists on walking you to your car well into the evening after a closing shift together. They donât notice the way Johnny laughs a little too hard and with too much vigour when someone calls him your shadow, his eyes just a little too bright and fervent.Â
Theyâre never around to see him ask if you want to sit on his lap while he shows you how to use the forklift in the backroom. Theyâve never seen him beg management to let him take his breaks with you and doesn't let you have a moment of peace, just sits with you in the breakroom or follows you to your car when you say that you're going out for lunch.Â
Sometimes you look at him and think, this guy should not be in the Appliance section of a big box store. Johnny should be on the front cover of magazines, in commercials for toothpaste, acting in Hallmark movies, or maybe hand modelling for obscenely ornate watch companies that cost the equivalent of a mortgageânot handing out free samples of sliced cheese.
That was then.
It starts like this: an overeager sales associate who butts his way to the front of the line on your first day.Â
You think at first that youâre golden. It seems like a sweet dealâan easy enough job, maybe not what you went to school for, but still something to pass the time and not too backbreaking. Plus, the guy shaking your hand and chatting up a storm in front of you is making you melt inside. Heâs easy on the eyesâall bright smiles, effortless charm, either just brushing or exactly six feet, and built. Broad shouldered and lean.Â
Johnnyâs a model employee as wellâknows the handbook inside and out, and shows you the ropes on your first day along with the assistant manager giving you a tour of the store, which is helpful because thereâs at least three floors that you could easily get lost on. He walks elderly customers to their cars with their bags, shows up to work early for every shift, always with a smile and a positive attitude, and you find out early on that management loves him because of his frankly incredible sales record.Â
(And you get it too; you canât imagine anyone looking into those gorgeous blue eyes and turning him down.)
He's also a spokesperson for the company in all of their internal training videos because he was hired through some âJobs for Vetsâ program that they just rolled out. The guy can also stack things on a shelf like no one's business, products lined up with military precision (hence the ex-military status).Â
All in all, you canât help feeling like for once in your life, you didnât draw the short stick.Â
Then one day, youâre alone with Johnny in the breakroom early in the morning before the store has opened yet and he turns to you with a wide, boyish grin and says apropos of nothing, âNamed my fleshlight after you.â
You think your brain skips a couple tracks like a record player. You rewind and replay what was just said to you. Thereâs no two ways about itâyou must have misheard him. Of course you did because surely your coworker of two months didnât just look you in the eyes and say with a sweet sunshine smile that he named his sex toy after you.Â
He doesnât laugh, just stands there and smiles while stirring sugar into his coffee. He takes it black. You take note of that because the brain still has to work when the mind shuts down momentarily, so you use it instead to catalogue things around the breakroom. One of the motivational posters hanging near the door is hung a bit off-centre. The fluorescent lightbulb on the far side of the room is dimmer than the others. Johnnyâs eyes have a little light spot in them like the tip of an ocean wave.
âExcuse me?â you ask, dumbfounded. Your voice sounds hollow even to you.
âI named her after ye,â he repeats, not a trace of shame in his voice. âUsed ta not have a name at all, but figured since I say it so much when Iâm enjoyinâ her, she might as well share it with ya.âÂ
He stares at you after saying that, letting it hang in the air. Your brain chooses that moment to come back online and all it can do is load that image of Johnny home alone with his fleshlight, toes curled in his sheets and the muscles of his legs straining as he moans your name. All you can do is give a little awkward laugh, growing more uncomfortable by the second the longer he stares at you without blinking.Â
Then, something passes over his eyes and suddenly he's back to normal, laughing and clapping you on the arm before wandering off to the men's apparel section.Â
It leaves you reeling for the rest of the day, sure you imagined it. It recontextualizes a few things for you though. Heâs always been on the handsy side, verging on inappropriate, but skirting just enough around the edges of it that you usually brush off Johnnyâs weird behaviour. Chalk it up to annoying little brotherly tendencies. You know he has a few older sisters anyway; you figured it was just how he related to women in his environment.
Not so.Â
It escalates after that initial escalation. Not that things started off on an appropriate note, but at least before you could rationalize most of his quirks.
Now itâs this: his hand on your lower back during work hours when youâre busy helping a customer and he sidles up next to you, pinkie brushing so low on your back that you worry for a second that he might slip it down the back of your pants. Lifting you up by the hips whenever you have a hard time reaching something on a shelf instead of just reaching up and grabbing it for you. A complete misuse of his height. He digs his fingers into your sides and never lets you go right away when he puts you down.Â
âAw shit, bonnie,â he coos when you complain about it hurting you. âDinnae mean ta hurt ye. Want me to give ye a little massage in the breakroom?âÂ
You learn quickly that thereâs no point in complaining about his behaviour to anyone. You can't complain to any of your coworkers because the second you so much as criticize his work, they bark at you to be nice to him. He's just re-acclimating to civilian life, of course he's not perfect at his job yet, they say. They defend him almost viciously; the real jealous ones even tell on you in front of him, leaving you to stand there embarrassed and on the spot until Johnny just smiles and says that it's alright. That you'll just have to teach him better.Â
Thereâs not much you can do besides grin and bear it. You can hope one day that you'll get transferred; you don't have much hope for him being transferred. Not with how endeared he is to management.
When you finally open the door, ready to leave the bathroom and get back to work, you nearly scream when Johnny lurches off the wall across from the bathroom door where heâs been leaning. Waiting for you.
âCâmon, hen,â he says, all teeth. âLemme walk ye back ta work.â
#ceil writing#cod mw2#cod x reader#soap x reader#john soap mactavish#soap x you#soap/reader#ikea soap#john mactavish#soap mw2#soap mactavish#soap cod
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Time after time
written for @steddieholidaydrabbles prompt: uncle wayne adopts steve | rated: t | wc: 942 | cw: reference to abuse, reference of canon fake suicide | tags: steve harrington has bad parents, steve harrington needs a hug
The first time they met, Wayne knew the boy couldn't be much older than fourteen. Definitely younger than Eddie, who was fast approaching sixteen. It was early, a little before 6 am, during summer vacation, no less. Wayne had finished his shift and called into Benny's to get a coffee and breakfast, on the mornings he did this, he was almost always the first customer of the day. Occasionally beaten in by a cop, or a firefighter, or anyone else that had been stuck with a night shift. But he had never seen a kid in so early. Sat alone in the corner booth nursing a cup of coffee with an almost empty plate in front of him.
"Mornin' Wayne. The usual?" Benny asked.
"You know it. But, uh. What's with the kid?" Wayne replied, nodding toward the boy in the corner.
"Dick and Linda's kid. They're back in town, and he needs a safe place. So he comes here."
"Why don't you report it?" "You think I haven't tried? His parents paid off just about everyone from the mayor down. Kid's not lucky enough to have any other family around to look out for him."
The kid came over with his empty cup and plate.
"I've told you a thousand times that you don't need to do that kid." Benny said.
The kid just shrugged.
"What's your name, kid?" Wayne asked.
"Steve, sir. Steve Harrington." He replied.
"I'm Wayne. And I wish my boy was as polite as you."
The second time they met, it was in more unfortunate circumstances. Benny's funeral. There'd been weird shit going on in town, starting with the Byers' kid going missing. Wayne didn't believe any of the official stories. But especially not the story of Benny's supposed suicide. He knew Benny so well, and something like that wasn't the sort of thing to cross his mind.  He took his place in the community too seriously for that.
But the kid had changed. A few years older, and a lot more haunted. The look in his eyes giving away that he'd seen more than his fair share in his young life. And he was jumpy, almost always looking over his shoulder.  He kept to himself, away from everyone else there. Wayne didn't see much of him until after. Steve was standing at the edge of the parking lot, his hands shaking as he tried to get his lighter to work.
"Here, kid." Wayne held his own lighter out.
"Thank you, sir." Steve replied, after taking a long puff on his cigarette.
"No need for thanks, kid. You doing okay?"
"I. I think I'm gonna miss him. He's helped me out a lot." Steve admitted.
"That was Benny for you. Always ready to help anyone out. But do you have anyone else you can reach out to if you need it?"
Steve hesitated a moment. "Yeah, sir. I do."
The third time, it was less of a meeting than Steve yelling directions at everyone. Tabitha, a woman who lived on the other side of the trailer park, collapsed in the middle of Big Buy. The kid snapped into action without second thought, checking Tabitha for a pulse, for her breathing. He yelled at an employee to call for an ambulance as he started chest compressions. At another to clear space. At some other customers to block the end of the aisle so no one else could stand around and watch. Wayne approached as Steve gave rescue breaths, before going back to the chest compressions. When he noticed Wayne, he looked like he was about to yell at him, but Wayne spoke first.
"It's okay, kid. She's my neighbor. And I know CPR too, so when you need a break I can take over."
They swapped places a few times before the paramedics showed up and took over.
"You did good, son. You acted quicker than any adults did. You may have just saved her life." "Anyone would have done it, sir. I was just the closest who knew what to do."
The fourth time, it was at the hospital. Steve in the hospital bed next to Eddie's, identical wounds, but Steve's were infected. Wayne got to talking to Steve while Eddie slept.
"I tried to protect him the best as I could, sir. I patched him up, and made sure he got to the hospital in time. I know I should have done more-"
"You did more than enough. You kept him alive, now you need to focus on making sure that you're healthy. And you can drop the sir shit. It's Wayne."
After that, Wayne lost count of the meetings. From sharing the hospital room with Eddie, to being friends, to being more. He would do as much for Steve as he would for Eddie, and wanted to ensure that both always had somewhere safe to return to.
"Steve, if you ever want to get out of that big empty house of yours, you're more than welcome to join us here. We'd love to have you move in with us." Wayne said to Steve one day while they were cooking together. Eddie always conveniently disappeared when anything cooking related came up.
"Sir, Wayne. I couldn't put you out like that." Steve replied.
"Nonsense. You're as much my kid as Eddie is, it don't matter who your momma or daddy is. We want you here, you spend enough time here as it is, we might as well make it official."
"I, Wayne. I'd like that." Steve was quite choked up, so Wayne pulled him into a hug. All was going to be okay, with him and his two boys.
#steve harrington#eddie munson#steddie#steve harrington x eddie munson#steve x eddie#wayne munson#steve harrington has bad parents#steddieholidaydrabbles#atimeofyourwrites
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âĄ;-ê° đżđšđœđ°đŹđč ê±âË àŹȘâč I đđđđđđđđ
â°â†â xavier x afab!reader | smut nsfw 18+ mdni
tags : softdom!xavier, reader has negative thoughts, implications of depression (not explicitly stated/mentioned), implication of self-harm (scars) (not detailed), slight arguing (ish), cuddling, praise and reassurance, kissing and making out, nipple play, slight clit play, fingering, soft and lazy foreplay, use of pet names "angel" "princess", lmk if i missed any tags !! ((slightly unedited))
note : the depiction of depression in this work does not mean to generalize; please keep in mind that different people can experience depression very differently!
wc : 6.1k
youtiful masterlist | works masterlist
You blew your hair out of your face as you walked quietly, your footsteps moving slow as you climbed the staircase of your apartment complex. Your hand was loosely holding the upper arm opposite to it, and you sighed.
You couldn't even practice your own profession without making things harder for everyone.
You bit back a grimace recalling the low-level Wanderer that you had even barely managed to killâhow embarrassing! Sure, maybe it had been particularly difficult for you to get proper sleep, and, sure, maybe it had been just as hard for you to find your appetite enough to eat as much as you should be eatingâ
But the point still stood.
You were supposed to be an accomplished Hunter, and yet, here you were, walking home with wound marks from a Wanderer that most beginners could easily defeat.
If Jenna and the rest of the team knew...
You shook your head.
They shouldn't know...
You grimly moved your thumb over the sensor of your door lock, when your ears picked up the sound of light footsteps.
It was as if by instinct that you whipped your head around almost immediately, and when your eyes fell upon a set of very familiar blue ones, you almost felt yourself shrink back.
Xavier.
"...Oh," was all he said for a moment, stopping a few feet away from you, tilting his head to the side. You knew that look; he was observing you. He had obviously found the situation odd, obviously found something wrong and out of place with it, and you weren't particularly surprisedâXavier was always observant.
But you let your arms drop to the side, pulling down your sleeves to the tips of your fingers, and unfortunately, you couldn't help yourself from being a little awkward.
"Um... Hi?" You supplied, attempting a crooked smile.
Xavier didn't reply for a moment, and the silence made your heart beat uncomfortably in your chest.
And then,
"You didn't answer," he spoke, finally.
When you gave him a confused look, he gestured towards the pocket of your jeans, where he always knew your phone was.
You winced.
"Oh... Right... Sorry. I, uh? I was kind of busy..."
Your gaze fell to the ground.
"...Okay," Xavier spoke again after a while, but you heard him take a step forward. "I was worried, so I came down to check."
Another pauseâ
"What were you busy with?"
Your heart thrummed loudly in your chest, and you still refused to look up at him, in fear of making your lie all the more easier for him to dismiss: "Just a little morning outing with Tara!" You tried your best to sound a little energetic.
"So.... You're okay?"
You could feel his eyes boring right into you, and he took another few steps forward until you could see the tips of his shoes from where you stood looking at the ground.
"...Yeah..."
By some magnetic force, your were drawn to look up almost meekly into his eyes, and you knew instantly that it was a giveaway. You faltered when your gazes met; Xavier's eyes were always so impossibly blue that you could never bring yourself to look away once you'd started.
"...Hey... Are you sure?" You watched a small frown grace his features then, and perhaps, it was what triggered what seemed to be a pre-programmed response to any sign of disapproval.
You put up your best smile, and nodded your head. "Yeah! I'm fine! Great, even!"
"But... The way you're standingâ"
Xavier reached out as if to grab your arm, but your eyes widened.
You quickly twisted away.
Feeling your heart beat faster, you turned to unlock your door, already taking a step inside. "Nothing's wrong!" You insisted, still smiling cheerfully at him. "I'm feeling absolutely peachy! Just a normal day out! Just, you know. Socializing can get tiring sometimes, right? I'll just, um, get some rest before the banquet laterâ"
Xavier was observant.
He was always observant.
You knew this, and yet, you had clearly underestimated it.
"...Your blouse..." He murmured, still frowning slightly as his gaze shifted to your collar. It was upturned, and you'd missed a button. Your breath hitched in your throat when you realized that he could easily piece things together from this if you let him study you any longer.
In a rush, you reached over to fix your blous, and then looked back up at him with a nervous laugh. You put your arms in front of you to wave them with denial. "Don't mind it! I, uh... I didn't notice. I must've looked silly all day, haha...!"
And then you noticed your next mistake.
Xavier's eyes slowly traveled lower, and you gasped as you realized that your blouse had ridden up with your sudden movements, exposing a cut on your waist from the Wanderer that you had been fighting. There was no hiding it now, even as you cleared your throat and hurriedly pulled and straightened your shirt.
"You're hurt."
It was a simple statement, and the soft concern in his voice made you exhale slowly.
No, you thought, not now, Xavier...
"I-it's just a little cut. I can deal with it! I know how to treat my own woundsâ"
"But you always treat my wounds."
That frown again.
Your mouth went dry.
"...Yes, but... This is... This is different, I'm fine, it's just... Just one cut..."
This time, Xavier's frown deepened, and he didn't say anything else. Instead, he pulled you in through your own door, into your own appartment, and pointed directly towards the couchâ
"Sit down."
You chewed on your bottom lip, watching as he walked further into the unit and into your bathroom.
His voice was cold.
It was one you hadn't heard quite often; one he only used when he was... serious. And most notably, one he used more often with other people than yourself.
Your heart sank.
I've really done it this time... you thought, sitting down neevously on your couch and folding your hands neatly onto your lap. You chewed on the inside of your bottom lip.
Your thoughts were going a mile a minuteâhe was upset, he was angry. He was going to come back out of there and scold you and tell you off, and you could easily have a fight right then and there because you were so needlessly incompetentâ
Footsteps.
The door shut.
Xavier knew your apartment like the back of his hand, having been over so often, that it didn't take long for him to find what he was looking forâa few moments, and he emerged from the bathroom holding your familiar first-aid kit.
You felt meek as he walked over, footsteps heavier than usual, getting on his knees in front of you... But he didn't say a single word. He remained silent even as he lifted up your blouse, respectful enough not to lift it unnecessarily high, only just enough to expose your cut. It's kind of him, you thought, the simple action easing your nerves slightly. Despite the fact that you had been intimate several times before, he would still respect your spaceâeven if he was obviously displeased in the moment.
But displeased, he was.
There was tension, and it was undeniable.
Your heart continued to beat rapidly in your chest, feeling small as he treated your wound.
"...It's our day off," he spoke curtly then.
Ah, you thought, now he's addressing the lie I told him...
"...Yeah..." you whispered quietly.
"Jenna knows we have the banquet later on."
"...i know..."
Xavier looked up, frowning, and you bit your lip at the iciness in his stare. "You know, and yet you went out and got yourself hurt."
"Th- there was a wandererâ"
"And you decided you could take it on your own, is that it?"
"B-but I did! It's gone now, and Iâ"
"It's gone, and you're injured. On. Your. Day. Off."
You swallow down a protest, your lips quivering slightly. You didn't know anymore, if it was the sting from the disinfectant that brought tears to your eyes, or this unusually cold demeanor that you were witnessing from him.
Or, you thought grimly, perhaps it was both.
But it was almost as if Xavier did not notice as he cleaned up your wound, reaching into the kit to bandage it. He kept a solemn, expressionless face, and the silence was loud. Uncomfortable.
"...Xavier..." Your voice came out as barely a whisper, and then he shifted to turn completely to the kit, almost as if rummaging through it.
"I'll need to take off your shirt," he spoke somewhat matter-of-factly, but he still refused to look up at you.
"...H- huh?"
"How many wounds do you have?"
You gulped. "...Just... just this one..."
Another silence.
He paused, and you almost wished that the ground would swallow you whole.
And yet still, again, was the kindness from his usual gentle natureâbecause he still asked for your permission. He knew well that you never took of your top completely in front of him, always preferring it on even on nights he would make love to you.
...But something told you that he wouldn't be entirely happy to let it go in this moment.
You faltered when he turned his head.
"Don't lie to me."
He narrowed his eyes.
It was a simple statement, and a valid oneâyou had indeed been lying to him, since the moment he'd caught you in the hallway. And yes, you deserved chastisement for it. Of course you did! When was it ever a good thing to lie so much to your partner? To avoid them and their care? You knew you were being pathetic and he had every right to be upset with you, butâ
You swallowed down the lump in your throat, feeling tears prick at your eyes again.
"...Don't..." you pleaded, your voice small. You closed your eyes, bowing your head and moving to draw your knees up to your chest, withdrawing into a closed position. "Don't be like this, Xavier, please... Y- you're scaring me..."
Another apprehensive silence followed after your words, and you felt yourself shiver.
But in the next second, Xavier sighed.
There was a shift in weight on the couch as he sat beside you, and then his hands reached over to rest on top of yours. His touch this time was warm. Gentle. A stark contrast to his earlier treatment.
"...I'm sorry, angel," he murmured. The use of his nickname for you made your heart skip a beat, and he rubbed soft circles over the back of your hand. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that, I just... Look at me? Please?"
In response, you loosened your hold over your knees, and grip his hand tightly in yours. After a moment, you raised your hed with a pout, your eyes glistening with tears that threatened to spill. But his gaze was soft againâso gentle and loving like you had always known it to be.
"...'M just worried, angel," he whispered, continuing the soft, comforting strokes over your hand. "I... You promised me last time that you wouldn't be reckless, and, angel... You've been so distant lately..."
You watched as his eyes softened into a look of sadness, and your lips quivered.
"I... want you to honor your promise, that's all. These days... In our missions, you've become less cautious, more reckless... More involved with work and more distant with me and with everyone, and I justâI worry about you, angel. I... I don't understand what's going on, and just now, I let my emotions get the better of me, and I... I shouldn't have. I'm sorry."
His apology came out chopped, a little uncertain around the edges, as if he couldn't find the right words to truly say to you. But his voice remained quiet and soothing, no longer as cold and icy as it had been moments ago.
"Talk to me?" he pleaded. "Please, angel?"
And you figured that you should.
This was Xavier, after allâyour boyfriend, and the most loving person that you had ever known. You owed him an explanation.
...But your heart remained heavily set in your chest.
You were hesitant.
"I... I don't know how..." You managed to get out, swallowing thickly once more.
Xavier's eyes were so blue, so bright, so kind as he looked at you.
Your gaze dropped back down to your knees.
"...I don't know how to do anything anymore," you whispered. "Even if I tried to explain it to you, I wouldn't know what to say, it's just... It's so much easier to ignore, to pretend like these feelings don't exist."
"What feelings, angel?" You felt his hand squeeze yours in a manner of reassurance, but you shook your head.
"Bad ones," you mumbled, "negative ones. And if I don't keep myself busy, then I can't ignore them. I'll think too much. Then if I think too much, it... it might happen again..."
Your chest felt heavy as you spoke, even as Xavier comfortingly held your hand, even as you knew that he was listening to you with every intention to guide you through... whatever this was.
But you really didn't know how to continue anymore.
How could you say anything when you couldn't understand it yourself?
You felt so... pathetic.
"Angel?" Xavier murmured, lacing your fingers together. "What... might happen?"
For a while, you didn't speak; you didn't move.
And Xaver did not pressure you.
He stayed silent right along with you, rubbing into the palm of your hand, his gaze on you so full of love and concern that it almost made you cry.
So you closed your eyes and pulled your hand away from him. You told yourself that maybe it would be easier if they stayed closed, and you slowly unbuttoned your blouse, shrugging it off of your shoulders. You didn't want to see his reaction... But you knew what he could see, on your skin, now.
There were a few cuts on your shoulder from your fight with the Wanderer, smaller and less concerning than the one on your waist. But as you slid your sleeves down lower to your wrists and shrug it off completely... he'd be seeing more scars. Patterned, and much too neatly placed, to be a result of careless fighting.
"Angel..." you heard him breathe out, a mixture of shock, disbelief, and sorrow.
And only then did you open your eyes, meekly searching for his.
"...Iâ I haven't done it in weeks!" Damage control. "I'm clean, right now, but... If I don'tâ If I don't work, I don'tâ I don't knowâ"
Before you could break down in tears again, Xavier gently pulled you into his arms, sighing into your hair. "If you don't work, you won't have anything to distract yourself with?" he whispered softly.
You closed your eyes at his warmth, and you nod.
"But... Can I ask you why?"
It was this question that got you to tense up, enough for him to notice.
"I want to help, princess," he looked softly into your eyes as he pulled back slightly, reaching up to brush the hair out of your face. "But... I need to know how. Would you let me? Could you... Tell me? Is that okay?"
The mere fact that he wanted to help made you want to sob.
He was so... nice to you.
So kind, so patientâ
You didn't deserve it.
You felt tears well up in your eyes once more, and you screwed your eyes shut, shaking your head. "'M sorry," you choked out, and Xavier immediately held you close.
"No, princess... I'm sorry. I should be the one apologizing. I should have known... I shouldn't have gotten upset at you..."
Tears slid down your face, and you buried your face into his chest. His words churned at your stomach with a heavy feeling you didn't know how to describe. "That's not true," you whimpered. "It's... It's me. I'm always a burden... Always having to make you worry, when you've been trying your best to take care of yourself but I can't even keep a simple promiseâ"
You began to sob into his sweater. "Why, Xavier? I feel... I feel so worthless. How could I deserve you? How could I deserve anything you give me? And how... How could I be so selfish to want more of it?" You grip him tightly, almost digging into the back of his sweater as everything begins to pour out. "It feels... It feels as if no matter what I do... Nothing ever makes me any worthier of your love. Of anyone's."
And Xavier listened.
He didn't interrupt you, didn't speakâ
He listened.
He placed his hand over your back, rubbing softly into your exposed skin, letting you speak until his consistent motions helped you relax slightly in his hold. And after a few moments of your sniffling, he gently peeled you away, before bringing you in for a soft, quick kiss.
Your eyes, blurred with tears, looked up at him confused.
"Nothing can change the way I feel about you, angel," he murmured sweetly. "You do deserve everything, and even more than that. You've done nothing wrong, princess. Don't apologize to me. I worry about you because I want to worry about you... Because I choose to worry about you." He softly placed a hand on your cheek. "Do you remember what I told you? I meant it when I said that. You are special to me. And I want to do everything in my power to protect you, to keep you by my side... to make sure you're okay. I'm sorry that I was so cold to you earlier. I'll be a better source of comfort for you now, I... I'm here, angel. I won't leave."
You remained sniffling as he spoke, and your eyes slowly drifted back down to your lap.
But you found the courage to speak.
"The banquet..." you whispered. "I... I don't want to go."
"Then don't. We don't have to."
"But... But Tara, and Jennaâ"
"They won't mind, we won't be the only ones not going, right?"
You looked up, uncertain still. "...And you?"
"Me?"
"You... you said you wanted to go..."
At this, Xavier's eyes softened, and a gentle smile played at his lips. "Well... We could tell them I wouldn't let you leave me... And it wouldn't totally be a lie."
When your gaze had yet to relax, he shook his head with a little laugh. "It's less about the place and the activities... and more about the person you do them with. Remember?" He tucked your hair behind your ear and whispered softly, reassuringly. "Whatever we do, wherever we go, I'll want to be there. Because you would be with me. So if you want to go to the banquet, then I'd want to go to the banquet. But if you want to spend the night here, then I would also want nothing more."
You sniffled again, tears streaming down your cheeks as you felt your chest burst with warmth.
You truly felt so... loved. So seen, so heard, so understoodâhe was right; you should have gone to him for comfort when all of this had started, instead of trying to distance yourself from everyone you loved.
Xavier reached over to wipe your tears away with the pad of his thumb.
"Shh, don't cry angel..."
And then he leaned down to kiss you, nice and slow, and so soft, and loving. His lips moved delicately; nothing like the passionate kisses you sometimes shared, and for a while the both of you stayed that way. Just soft, fond kisses as he helped your body relax into him, relax into the couch, removing all the tension you had built up in your shoulders.
When you pulled away, you let out a soft sigh. He shifted and pulled you back against his chest, stroking your hair and murmuring sweet words of how much he loved you; how much you meant to him.
And you had never felt so... at peace, before. All these past weeks dealing with the void in your mind that you couldn't chase awayâbut here, in his arms, it was all minimized. Calm. Your thoughts weren't as scalding as they usually were.
You felt... Safe.
"Better?" he mumbled.
"...Yeah."
You closed your eyes.
There was another quiet silence before you felt him trace the scars on your arm.
"Wish I could help you relax more, make you feel more loved..." he mumbled.
You shook your head. "Despite everything I said, I already feel loved, Xavi, don't feel pressured toâ"
"I'm not pressured."
There was determination in his voice when he said this, and you let out a soft, barely-there chuckle.
"Yeah," you smiled, "okay."
And he continued to trace over your scars.
"Angel?"
"Hm?"
"Do you still have thoughts right now?"
"Mmmh... A little bit. Yeah."
You tilted your head up to look at him, searching his eyes. "But... They're not so loud. This is... Comforting."
"Comforting?"
"Yeah. Staying in your arms like this..." Your eyes softened. "You're pretty comforting, Xavier."
"...But, do you... want a distraction?"
His eyes didn't stray away from yours, but you felt his fingers trail from your arm to your stomach, light, feathery strokes upwards towards your clothed breasts.
His intentions clicked, and you felt yourself blush slightly.
"Xavier..." you mumbled.
He didn't do anything more than stroke your exposed skin, never going further than you had given permission for him to.
But he asked you again, more clearly this time.
"...I could touch you," he gave you a small, faint smile. "If you want? At least... You wouldn't be thinking of anything too much that way..."
His voice trailed off as he noted your lack of response, and then he reached over to squeeze your hand.
"We don't have to do anything, angel. It was just a suggestion."
"...No, Iâ It's okay." Immediately, you shook your head. "You... You could definitely do that." You felt yourself get breathless at the thought of it, and you leaned back against him.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
You weren't looking at him in that moment, but you could feel him smile as he placed a soft kiss into your hair.
"Okay. Then... I'll make you feel good, angel."
It was a promise, and one that you knew he could fulfil easily.
You felt him tilt your chin up next, your eyes meeting once more, and then he kissed you. Still soft, still slow; his lips moved languidly against yours as if to ease you into it. You felt butterflies in your stomachâthis was a kiss that you knew very well from him, and one that you both knew you loved. It was a kiss that said more than just "i love you"; it was a kiss that said "i like being here with you", a kiss that said " let's stay like this forever".
It was a testamentâthat Xavier was yours, and you were his, and he would show you that he loved you more than you would ever realize.
Slowly, you pulled back from the kiss, the both of you panting. But you didn't look away, and neither did heânot even as his hands moved lower to undo the buttons or your jeans, not even as you lifted your hips for him to pull them down.
"Do you want them off?" he mumbled, still keeping his eyes on yours. "Want you to be comfortable."
"...Mhm. S'okay. I needed to change, anyway..."
When he'd helped you out of your jeans, his lips were back on yours once moreâhands gently stroking your sides, tracing your wounds, and your scars, taking his time with you. Your eyes fluttered closed. Xavier's touches were so sweet, so comforting. They could lull you into sleep, and he was right; there was no more space for you to think of any other thoughts that weren't just... him.
When he reached over to unclasp your bra, he let it fall off to the side. And then he leaned his chin over the top of your head, almost as if to get a better look.
"Haven't seen these before," he commented, a little cheekily.
You rolled your eyesâif you weren't nestled so comfortably in his embrace, you'd have reached up to hit him in indignance. "...Don't act all innocent," you mumbled.
"Hm? Wasn't acting, angel." He cupped your breasts, humming slightly, still keeping his eyes on them. You felt him gently massage them in his hands, and you let out a sigh. "They're so soft. It's different from touching them through your shirt."
"Xavier..."
He chuckled, leaning back up to give you another kiss. "I know. This... is why you've always wanted to keep your shirt on, right? Your... scars."
You felt your stomach churn with guilt for a split second, before your body shuddered and melted into the way his hands worked at your chest.
"...D- didn't want you to know..." you breathed out. "'S not easy to say..."
"I know. But thank you for telling me, angel. You can tell me anything, alright? We'll work through this together."
Together. We.
He wasn't saying that it was... your problem. He was saying it was on the both of youâthat you weren't alone, and that he would be with you every step away... And it was such a sweet thing for him to say. His words touched your heart, and you felt yourself letting out a shaky breath.
"...Okay," you whispered. "Okay."
He leaned back down to suckle over your collarbone, then, nibbling gently over your skin. It was enough to draw out a soft moan from you.
"Ah... That feels nice..."
In response, his fingers brushed over your nipples. The sudden direct stimulation made you gaspâ
And you understood what he meant.
It was different, like this. Now, without any fabric as a barrier, the pads of his fingers rubbed oh-so-perfectly over your little nubs, and it felt... good.
Better than you were used to.
Xavier hummed as he rest his head back on your shoulder, watching the way your breasts molded into his palm, your nipples pert and hard as he began to twist and pinch them in his hands.
"They're pretty up close," he stated again, a little matter-of-factly. "We should do this more often..."
Another pull at your nipples, and you moaned.
"Mmh, shitâyesâ"
You wanted to retort, but instead, you found yourself arching your back further into his hands. Your eyes clouded over slightly.
"Yeah? Feels nice?" he murmured.
"Mhm... Feels real nice, Xav..."
He nuzzled into your neck, a soft, loving action despite what he was doing to your body.
"D'you think you could cum like this? Or do you need more?"
His motions remained steady as he spoke, his eyes flitting over your figure. And you, on the other hand, felt your breath come out in a long exhale.
You closed your eyes.
"...More."
And he smiled.
You could feel it, the way the corners of his lips turned up against your skin where he placed light kisses on the base of your neck. And then he kept one hand on your breast, his other hand began to trail slowly down your stomach.
Your body jolted slightly at the change, his fingers leaving a trail of goosebumps before they settled over your thigh. His hand stayed stationed there, squeezing it gently... Never quite moving upwards, not just yet. He was still quite far from where you wanted him like this, and you huffed with displeasure.
"Can I tease?" he asked, and you could feel his smile widen.
You groaned.
"No! M'already wet."
"But I want to take my time with you, princess. You're so... beautiful."
The way he moaned in your ear, kneading your thighs, made you shiver with excitement. He'd been asking you if he could tease... Yet here he was, already doing it anyway.
You grit your teeth. "I need you, Xavi."
"But... Please? It'll prolong the pleasure, you know?"
"...Why are you begging me?"
You scoffed this time, and he chuckled, his breath hitting the shell of your ear.
"I just like the way your body responds to me. You know that."
Once again, you felt that you could have smacked him on the head if you had any remaining ounce of control over your body, but you only bucked your hips forward in a failed attempt to chase his fingers. The way he laughed at you made you glare at him indignantlyâIt was almost like a little apology on his part when he leaned in for a quick, quick kiss, his hand sliding just a little bit further up your thigh.
"I love you, okay, angel?" he sighed. "Just... wanted to let you know that, again."
You huffed slightly.
"I know, Xavier. And I love you. But as much as I want to say thank you, I just really, really need your fingers inside me. ...Please?"
Impatience was not a look you favored on yourself, but Xavier didn't mind itâhe never minded if you preferred to be quiet, or vocal, or demanding, or receptive... Xavier, despite the way he would tease, had always been driven by the need to please you.
So he finally complied with your request.
You felt him gently bring your knees up closer to your chest, feet close together before he pushed your knees apart, and then he let out a low groan. With you spread out effectively for him, he reached over to gather your slick onto his finger.
"So beautiful for me, angel," he nibbled on your ear, making you shiver. "And so, so wet."
In response, you moaned, allowing your head to lull slightly to the side as he spread your juices all over your cunt in gentle strokes. "I told you," you spoke in a hushed tone.
"Hmm... and what's on your mind now, angel?" His breath was still so close to your ear as he spoke, his tone low, and raspyâsultry, like it always was when you did things like this.
"You."
You didn't hesitate to answer, your mouth falling open in a silent gasp when his middle finger slid inside with a wet squelch.
"Mhm? And?"
"...Y- your fingers..."
He slowly dragged his finger out before thrusting back in, his breath hot and heavy. You could feel him smile.
"Anything else, angel?"
He could have almost been cooing at this point, and it was driving you insane. You groaned in frustration, lifting your hips slightly as if to get from him the stimulation you needed.
"Nothing," you moaned as you felt his thumb reach up to brush against your clit. Slow, thrusting motions, and occassional rubsâit was driving you insane. "N-nothing else, Xav, justâ just how good you're making me feelâ"
He let out a satisfied chuckle then, drawing his finger out and having then drip with your arousal:
"Good."
Your eyes flew wide open as he thrust back into you, moving his finger relentlessly inside as if to explore your walls. It was barely seconds before his index finger pushed right inside your tight hole as well, filling you up in a way that you couldn't do to yourself. His fingers were so long, so much better than your own, and no matter how many times he fingered you, you could never, ever tire of it.
He picked up the pace as your hips met his thrusts.
"F- fuck!" you cursed, panting as he did just that with his fingers, his thumb still circling over your clit, his other hand still avidly toying with your breast and your nipple.
The combined stimulation clouded your brain; he felt so damn good. If, when he'd just started, he had already chased away any foreign thoughtsânow, your mind had nearly frozen white. Your mouth hung open as a testament to your pleasure, and he panted into your ear all the same, almost as if he were just as affected.
His fingers continued to pump into you, stretching you wide, curling against your sensitive spot, rubbing you in all the right places. Your legs began to shake, and he lightly licked at the shell of your ear.
"Close?" he murmured, having already memorized the telltale signs of the onset of your orgasm.
You could only nod, choking back a moan.
And then his lips were back on yours.
A little more frantic in his kisses this time, as he fucked you harder with his fingers, pinching and pulling and rolling your nipplesâ
"M-mmfâ!"
You let out a muffled moan, swallowed into the kiss as you came. Your back arched, your body shuddering; a wave of pleasure came crashing into you with such force that it had you feeling shocked.
When he pulled back, the both of you were panting, your eyes clouded and hazy, his fingers wet and sticky when he slid them out of your cunt.
"...Better, princess?" he whispered, and there was another cheeky, cheeky grin on his face.
You smiled back at him, and he leaned over to kiss the tip of your nose.
"Much."
With a soft chuckle, he continued to place light, feathery all over your face, easing you out of your high, until your breathing became calmer.
"I could take you to your room," he mumbled, feeling you close your legs and cuddle into him. "Are you cold?"
"Cold? After you've just made me cum?" You scoffed, somewhat, but willingly clung to his arms. "I'm okay. But... The bed would be nice..."
Another kiss into your hair, another soft smile. "Okay."
He had you carried in his arms the next moment, soft footsteps padding the floor to your bedroom and gently laying you over your mattress. He took a few moments to wipe you down, before he drew your blanket up over your body, and slipped in to lay right beside you. He shifted your head to rest on his shoulder.
"Tired?" he hummed.
A pause, and then,
"...Yeah, kind of." You closed your eyes as you relaxed into his warmth. "But, you haven't done anything... You could put it inside meâor I could suck you off, orâ"
He immediately cut you off as he gave you a small frown, and then before you could react, he kissed you almost harshlyâas if to shut you up.
"Mmfâ Xavier!" you gasped when you pulled away, your frown mirroring his own. "What was that for?"
"You said you were tired."
"...Huh?"
"Why would you expect me to do any more if you said you were tired?"
You searched his expression to realize that his frown was rooted instead in confusion, rather than disdain or disapproval.
"...But... Isn't it unfair...? If you just let me sleep like this..."
"...Do you want to, angel?" A small pout formed on his lips. "I'm alright like this. It's unfair if I force you when you don't want to. You should rest, if you're tired. This doesn't have to be... transactional, you know? We can do more when you want to."
The use of the word 'transactional'made you flush slightly with embarrassment, as you realized that was likely how you'd made it seemâyou shook your head immediately. But his words, at the same time, gave you the space to lay back against his chest, wrapping your arms around him as the sound of his heartbeat seemed to lull you peacefully.
"...Sorry," you whispered. "I didn't mean it that way. I know our sex isn't like that..."
You sighed. "I'll... I'll sleep for a bit, then? But... thanks, Xavi."
You felt him place another kiss into your hair, a fond, loving gesture, as he shifted to hug your body tightly against his.
"I'll be right here when you wake up."
It was a promise; a genuine one.
Xavier wasn't going to leave you alone, no matter how many times your mind would bug you to think that way.
And you trusted him, and you loved him... and he had shown the same back to youânow, and always.
A tiny little smile made its way to your face as your eyelids fluttered close.
"I love you, Xavier," you whispered. "Thank you."
âșâ / an: inspired by xavier's 4â
card pair, "shining light" and "shining traces" !! i think we underestimate how cold and intimidating xavier can really get because if he was angry at me i too would wish the ground would swallow me whole đ
© rose-tinted-kalopsia. all rights reserved. do not: steal, copy, repost, reupload, modify, or claim any of my works as your own, regardless of credit given. absolutely do not use my works for AI training and other related purposes.
#love and deepspace smut#love & deepspace smut#l&ds smut#lads smut#lnds smut#love and deepspace#love & deepspace#l&ds#love and deepspace x reader#love & deepspace x reader#love and deepspace xavier#love & deepspace xavier#l&ds xavier#xavier x reader#xavier x you#xavier smut#ÊÉ*.ïŸ. lnds#*à©âĄ. rose garden#âżË°. roxiefic#divider by cafekitsune
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Heartbeat | Joost Klein
description: Joost Klein x f! reader- In the months following reader and Joost's breakup, neither of you seem to be able to get rid of each other, not even when you've supposedly "moved on" to other people. (heavily inspired by the narrative in Heartbeat by Childish Gambino)
content: 18+ NSFW, cheating, toxic relationships, arguing, angst, some comfort?cigarettes, alcohol, questionable morals, just some mess mess messy stuff, semi-public "suggestive" behavior, fingering, unprotected PiV. This work contains RPF, and has been tagged as such do not click forward if that upsets you and do not share my work to other sites.
word count: 7634
An unlit cigarette hangs from your sticky, freshly glossed lips, your hands racing to tie the slippery satin ties of your dressing robe. A knock at the door draws you from where you stand in front of your bathroom to the front door. You flip over the locks before carefully turning the doorknob to open it.
A tiny smile forms on your lips as the door opens, revealing your boyfriend, staring down at you. Michael, a man nearly a decade your senior, eight and a half years older than you to be exact, a handsome business-type man who had moved to the Netherlands for work from the States, Boston specifically, though, he didn't have the accent. The pair of you had been casually dating for nearly four months now, though, you could sense that at any moment he'd ask to take things in a more serious direction.
You quickly remove the cigarette from your lips, balancing it between two fingers as you speak,
"Hi!" Your voice expressing greater enthusiasm than you were actually feeling, "You're early." You grit your teeth through the grin that spreads across your face, "I thought you weren't supposed to be coming for another hour."
"Good to see you too," He smiles back, but you can sense a hint of patronization in his words, "I figured, it was already getting kind of late, and I didn't see a problem with heading out a little early. I texted you anyways, but you never responded."
You nod, remembering that you had purposefully left your phone in the kitchen to rid yourself of any distractions while you were getting ready. While you suppose it was nice of him to let you know he'd becoming early, it would have been nicer if he asked first instead of just doing.
"Getting late," You force a fake chuckle, one that turns out more like a scoff, "The sun has barely set, who wants to go to the bar when it's still light outside?"
"Not everyone enjoys staying out until the crack of dawn." He raises his eyebrows, his voice serious in a way that makes you uneasy.
"It's Saturday!" You beam, "Come on, let loose a little." Michael wasn't exactly the party type- at least not now, it had taken a whole lot of convincing to even get him to go out with you and your friends tonight. "We're still going to have to wait anyways," you shrug, opening the door wider to allow him inside, "Julia won't be here for at least an hour, but you know her and being on time." You giggle awkwardly, unsure of what the two of you would do to fill the time while you finished getting ready.
"Right," He shakes his head before his brows furrow, "What's all over your face?"
Your facial expression contorts, confused, "Uh- makeup?"
"Oh pumpkin," He sighs, his voice like saccharin, exceptionally sweet and unimaginably fake. The pet name makes your stomach curdle, and you attempt to press a smile to your lips to hide the way you cringe, "I thought we talked about how I prefer to see you naturally."
You giggle, stunned at the fact he was bringing up this argument again, one you had had far too many times for how short of a while you had been seeing each other, "And I thought we talked about how much I hate it when you call me pumpkin."
"I just don't think you look any better with all that shit on your face, is it wrong of me to think that my girlfriend is beautiful?" There's an argumentative tone in the way he speaks, but you can't even focus on the potential fight that is brewing, not when the word girlfriend is ringing in your ears.
"No," You sigh, not wanting to argue not now, all the energy being knocked out of you with that simple word, "Do you want something to drink while I finish getting ready?"
"Yeah," He lets out a breath, slightly annoyed, "Yeah- sure what do you have?" He lets his tone return back to normal.
"Depends," You step backward, away from the man, towards the small kitchen of your apartment "Do you want something alcoholic or..." You trail off, stepping all the way into the kitchen.
Michael's eyes linger on you as he scratches at the back of his neck, "That's fine." He shakes his head, "Just get me a beer or something."
You nod, opening up the fridge, scowering around, unsure if you even had a beer in there. After pushing some things around, you'd found a singular bottle, you push your arm further into the cold to grab it.
You retreat back to the warmth of the rest of your kitchen, beer bottle in hand, as you kick it closed, both hands now preoccupied as the unlit cigarette still rests between your fingers. Wordlessly, you place the bottle on the kitchen counter in front of where Michael is now sitting before stepping back to search for a bottle opener.
From the corner of your eye you can see your phone light up, resting right where you had left it on the counter before you had begun to get ready. Thinking perhaps Julia was letting you know she was on her way or even worse that she was here now, you quickly shuffle over to it
Upon looking down at the screen you quickly realize it is not Julia who had texted you or any of your other friends who you had intended on seeing tonight.
Joost: It's been a while, what are you doing tonight? Come over?
The simple messages nearly make you choke on your breath as your eyes quickly flick up toward Michael. Joost was just about Michael's complete opposite- he was something exciting, the type of person where you could never guess their next move, no routine, no planning, no nothing- just go go go. Perhaps that discrepancy could be attributed to the fact that, unlike Michael, Joost had only been older than you by a year, his 24th birthday approaching in the fall. Still, even at Joost's age, you couldn't imagine Michael being much fun.
Unfortunately for you, you had let yourself indulge in the excitement that Joost brought to your life in entirely self-destructive ways. Joost had been one of the first people you had met when you moved to the Netherlands, and things moved quick between the two of you, from the moment you met it had felt like you had known him your whole life. Within a few months of living in a brand new country, you had already found yourself with a boyfriend, having rushed way too quickly into a relationship with Joost, and you quickly learned that no matter how much it had felt like you two had known each other your whole lives, the truth was you didn't really know him.
It was a true whirlwind romance, taking your life by storm, every moment consumed by each other. You both had fallen hard and fast. But for as hard as you had fallen, you crashed much harder. Joost was a perfect boyfriend in every area except for the ones that really mattered. It was obvious how completely in love with you he was, he was soft, and romantic, and fucked you in ways that made you feel things you didn't even know were possible.
But for all of his good, for all of his sweet gestures and affection, he couldn't seem to crack the communication thing. At first, you didn't mind when he skirted around the little issues that arose between the two of you, you knew he had things rough growing up and so you gave him grace, figuring opening up to people and dealing with certain emotions was probably difficult for him. But soon enough the "little issues" were not so little, turning into large, glaring problems in your relationship that no matter how hard you had pleaded for him to, Joost would refuse to discuss. Eventually, it had gotten too much, the two of you constantly at each other's throats, and with Joost icing you out whenever things got rough, you had had enough.
Still, you don't get rid of feelings like that so easily, and for the life of you, you could just not stay away from Joost. As hard as you tried to, you had never actually stopped seeing him despite the fact how much things had changed, things weren't quite so sweet and romantic anymore, but to be honest with yourself, if he fucked you good while the two of you were in love, he fucks you 10 times better when you hate each other's guts.
But maybe hate is too strong of a word, oddly enough feeling bad for Joost when you decide you're not going to respond to his text. At some point in the week, you had made the decision that with how imminent a serious relationship with Michael felt, it was probably high time for you to stop hooking up with your ex-boyfriend. It wasn't exactly a decision you were planning on alerting said ex-boyfriend of, no- that made it real, if you were to tell him you never wanted to see him again, it would become real, you were never going to see him again. Ghosting him seemed like the better option, simply leaving things open-ended, it at least allowed for you to change your mind- which you were deadset on not doing.
Michael's voice takes you out of your thoughts, quickly swiping away the message and turning your phone over.
"Hmm?" You hum, looking up, fluttering your eyelashes innocently.
"A bottle opener?" He points to the cap of the drink you had set down in front of him. You throw a smile onto your face, nodding incessantly,
"Right!" You search through a drawer for a bottle opener before pushing it across the counter towards Michael. You continue to ruffle through the crowded junk drawer, looking for a lighter with no such luck. Feeling far too lazy to go rifle through your purse to find one, with the cigarette still in hand you walk over to the stove, turning the burner to its lowest setting, just enough for a small flame to erupt. Carefully, pinching the cigarette by its very end, you quickly stick it in the small flame, allowing it to light.
You shut the burner off, placing the cigarette to your lips, inhaling, allowing your lungs to fill with the warm, prickly smoke.
"Do you really need to do that in here?" Michael asks, his face forming into a scowl, "Or at all."
You turn to the side to exhale, careful not to blow the smoke in Michael's direction no matter how bad you want to.
"Relax," You smile, "The windows are open."
"Are you even allowed to smoke in here?"
"What are you, my landlord?" You furrow your eyebrows, taking another drag, "One cigarette won't get me kicked out."
"Can't say I'm enjoying your little miss attitude act tonight."
You're not in the mood to argue, simply sighing and forcing an apologetic look on your face, though you had felt like there was nothing to apologize for.
"Sorry," You mumble, "Let me just go finish getting ready."
The area that surrounds you is noisy, alive with all that the city's nightlife has to offer, almost overwhelmingly so. You lean against a wall, observing the swarm of people that inhabit the bar.
"You know," Your friend, Julia, pipes up from beside you, "You really shouldn't let him talk to you like that."
You bite at the insides of your cheeks, replaying the conversation shared between you and Michael just before entering the bar.
Stepping out of the car, your skirt had gotten pulled up quite a bit from having been sitting, your underwear almost on display as you climbed out of the backseat.
"Jesus," Michael scolded as he followed you out of the car, "Who are you showing off for?"
"Huh?" You whipped your head around, trying to ascertain if you had actually heard him right.
Michael leans over, his voice rough as he speaks into your ear,
"Pull your fucking skirt down, you look like you should be standing in the windows in De Wallen."
You clench your jaw, eyes flicking to Julia who was walking around the other side of the car, she shakes her head disapprovingly.
"What's so wrong with that? I'm sure the women in De Wallen are lovely ladies."
"I don't care how lovely they might be, I don't want my girlfriend walking around looking like a hooker."
You sigh, you know Julia is right, Michael was out of line, as he usually was. You stare the man down from where he stands by the bar, looking to squeeze in amongst the crowd that surrounds it in to order some drinks. Your face involuntarily twists into a grimace as you watch him pathetically try and fail to get the attention of the bartender. You want to go home.
"I just don't know why you keep him around." She shrugs, "I mean, I know he's got money and all, but I don't think it makes up for the fact that he has got to be the most stuck-up, grumpy man I have ever met in my life- seriously he's thirty, not seventy-five."
"I don't know," You furrow your eyebrows, "I guess he's stable and stuff- or whatever, you know?"
"Michael? Stable? The man that not thirty minutes ago all but called you a prostitute because your skirt got pulled up."
"I mean stable like he has a good job and stuff, he's normal, regimented, life with him has a routine- I think I need that, maybe he'll mellow me out, I don't know."
"Don't be ridiculous, you're far too young to be mellowed out," Julia pouts, "I mean, really, the party is just getting started for you." Julia's eyes suddenly widen, her lips parting as she speaks cautiously, "Speaking of party..."
"What?" Your eyes widen too, confused, you quickly whip your head around to look in the direction she's staring off in, "Shit." You mutter as your eyes meet the door, and there he is, Joost fucking Klein followed by a group of what looked to be about 5 of his friends. You barely manage to inhale, "I need a fucking cigarette."
Without looking back at Julia, you're making your way to the door, praying that neither Joost nor his friends see you on the way out.
The summer air hits you as you step through the exit onto the bustling city street. You wondered how mad everyone would be at you if you decided to leave right now- bail without a word, run home, and spend the night alone.
You grab at the purse that sits over your shoulder, pulling it down your arm so you can rummage through it, looking for your cigarettes and a lighter.
You flip open the cardboard box, removing a single cigarette, putting it between your lips before reaching back into your purse to fetch your lighter.
You flick the jagged metal of the lighter, the grooves digging into your thumb as you light the end of your cigarette. You toss the lighter back into your purse before slinging the bag back over your shoulder.
You're able to get a few drags in before you're interrupted by a voice, one that immediately makes your stomach sink.
"Ignoring me now, are we?" You don't even have to look, you already know- you'd recognize that voice anywhere, it's Joost.
You whip your head to the side, confirming your suspicions, seeing the slender frame of your ex-boyfriend hanging just outside the entrance of the bar.
"Stalking me now, are we?" You respond, hoping the snark in your voice masks everything else you are feeling.
"I'd hardly call showing up to the same bar stalking," He smirks, walking toward you, "But I mean- if you're into that sort of thing we can pretend I was."
You roll your eyes, taking a long drag of your cigarette, hoping for some sort of head rush from the nicotine.
Joost's features come better into focus as he nears closer to you, messy blonde hair spilling over his forehead, falling into his eyes, a piercing blue as he stares into you, a smirk lingering on his soft pink lips.
"Can I get a smoke?" He asks, innocently enough. You want to say no, so desperately you want to tell him to go away, to leave you alone, that you need to start a life without him.
"Oh-yeah, sure." A sheepish smile crosses your face, your words betraying you, unable to force out any sort of rejection towards him.
You let your already lit cigarette rest between your lips, taking your purse off your shoulders again, grabbing the cigarettes and lighter once more. You shove your hand, presenting the objects to Joost for him to take, his fingers carefully grazing the back of your hand as he does, his touch lingering on you for just a little too long as the two of you stare each other down. Shivers run down your spine, and your chest suddenly becomes tight, he was completely gorgeous- damn him.
"You okay?" He raises an eyebrow, a chuckle falling from his lips, he's not really asking sincerely. You can only hum in response, not wanting to say too much. Things were not usually this awkward between the two of you, and you could feel that you were the one causing it.
You watch intently as Joost lights his cigarette before pushing the pack into his pocket, and you make a mental note to yourself to get them back from him before you go back inside.
"So," He starts, exhaling a plume of grey smoke, "My place or yours tonight?"
"I'm going to my place, and you are going to yours." You respond, forcefully, annoyed at his insinuation that you would be sleeping with him tonight.
"Is that so?" He responds challengingly, his eyes lighting up.
"Yes." You nod, having none of his banter, "And-" You cut yourself off, debating if you even want to say what is about to come out of your mouth next. "I think we should stop this. Us, we need to stop."
"I've heard that one before," Joost chuckles.
"I'm being serious." You let your head fall to the side, "I can't keep seeing you."
Joost's face suddenly drops, understanding the weight of your words,
"What changed?" He scoffs, bewildered at your spontaneous proclamation, "Because if I recall correctly, just last week you were begging for me to come over."
"It's not fair to Michael," You shake your head, "I need to move on, we need to move on."
A grimace forms on Joost's face,
"You want to pull the good girlfriend act now?" His eyes widen, "As if cutting things off now will erase the past-what-four months?"
"I don't want to argue with you about this, Joost," You bite your lip, realizing just how unprepared you really were to cut things off with him, "I know I can't erase what happened, but I'd at least like to try to be better." Your lip quivers, and you clench your jaw, eyes fluttering as you fight back tears. You don't want to give him the chance to reply, you know with the right words he'd be able to talk you right back into bed with him, you can't let that happen.
You let your cigarette fall from your fingers, crushing it into the ground with the heel of your shoe.
"I'm sorry," You mutter, refusing to make eye contact with Joost as you brush past him, rushing back inside.
It was a miracle you had stayed out this late with everything that had occurred tonight, but there you were, still standing at the bar as the clock neared midnight, a feigned half-drunk smile pressed to your lips as you stared at Michael.
You tried to ignore the way Joost's eyes burned into you from across the room, but no matter what you did you could feel he was there, ever-present.
"What do you say to another round?" Julia smirks, leaning over the bar.
"Fine by me." You grin, anything to make tonight more bearable.
"Nuh-uh," Michael shakes his head, "You're cut off." He points directly at you, his finger almost in your face.
"What?" You laugh, caught off guard by his sudden controlling-ness
"You, you're cut off, you've had too much."
You furrow your eyebrows, you're not completely coherent, but you're absolutely nowhere near blackout.
"I had four drinks," You continue to giggle awkwardly, "Are you joking?"
His face stays stiff, he's serious.
"I don't think that's really your call to make." A smile lingers on your face as you attempt to keep the conversation light-hearted, but you can feel some sort of anger bubbling inside you.
"It is when I'm the one who's going to have to take care of you."
"It's one more drink, I think I'll be okay."
"Sure, one drink, which turns into two, and then three... you don't know how to control yourself, which is why I'm cutting you off." His voice begins to rise, and your eyes dart around the room anxiously, you hope the noise of the bar can drown out the argument that is brewing.
"I don't know how to control myself?" You scoff, "Is that really what you think of me?"
"You haven't exactly proven me any different, I've seen you, I know how you get on nights out, God forbid I don't want to have to deal with you sloppy and belligerent for the rest of the night." His words become harsher sounding, and more pointed as he continues to speak.
"What do you mean 'how I get'? I barely go out anymore because you don't like it, I would just like to let loose a little for once." You begin to match his tone, unable to hide your growing frustration.
"And you should thank me for that," His eyes narrow, "You don't need to be running around partying every weekend, acting like a complete fucking mess."
You clench your jaw, face forming a scowl, you can't believe the words leaving Michael's mouth right now,
"Don't curse at me." You mutter.
"No, I'll say whatever the fuck I want to, and maybe you should show me some respect for once, and listen."
"Oh!" You respond, a little too loud, drawing a few glances from the people who surround you, "You want to talk about respect? That's rich coming from the man who doesn't seem to respect any of my personal decisions, not the way I do my makeup, or how I dress, or when I want to go out, last time I checked, constantly berating your girlfriend isn't exactly respectful."
"Get a grip, y/n," He rolls his eyes, "Yeah, no shit I don't want my girlfriend parading herself around like some sort of fucking tramp."
It takes everything in you to not escalate things further, to not tell him what you had been doing behind his back, if he thought you were a tramp, oh you could show him tramp.
You inhale deeply, deciding to cut the conversation short before you say something you'll regret,
"I don't need this." You exhale, turn around, and head for the door.
The air is cooler than before when you step outside, now that it is later into the night. Immediately you're pulling your purse down your arm, desperately sifting around for your cigarettes, needing something anything to calm you down. Your mind races as your hand combs through your bag, unable to think straight, your mind foggy from all the arguing and the alcohol.
"Fuck," You mutter, Joost, he had your cigarettes. You run a hand through your hair, pulling at the strands, tonight had been a complete disaster.
"Looking for something." A teasing voice calls, resulting in a groan from you, it was like Joost had a sixth sense for when you thought about him, always showing up as soon as he crossed your mind.
"Can you just give them to me?" Exasperation heavy in your voice, wanting nothing more than to just have a smoke, and go home.
"What happened in there?" He asks, entirely ignoring your question.
"It's nothing," You shake your head, "Can I just have my cigarettes back so I can leave."
"Didn't look like nothing." He continues.
"Well, it was," You snap, your voice getting a little too loud for your own comfort, "I'm fine. Please, Joost just give me th-"
"You don't need to lie," He cuts you off, "You know you can tell me."
"It just," You pause, lifting your head to look Joost in the eyes, "It just doesn't concern you."
"But it concerns you," His voice suddenly much softer, "So I want to know."
A small smile tugs at your lips, despite everything you were feeling, your heart is slightly warmed at Joost's interest in what had happened.
"Stupid argument," You shake your head, looking back down at the ground, "That's all."
"Seems like every time you tell me about Michael it's about an argument you guys have had."
"Well, gloating about how great of a boyfriend I have doesn't exactly make for good conversation when I'm with the person I'm cheating on him with."
"Well, do you? Have a great boyfriend?" He pushes, but the two of you both know the answer. You bite the inside of your cheeks, bringing your gaze back up to Joost, who seems to be standing much closer to you now.
Your breathing starts to tremble under his intense gaze, the smell of his cologne is suddenly strong in your nose, nearly choking you. He's expecting an answer. But you can't give him one, you can't tell Joost that you didn't have a great boyfriend mere hours after telling Joost you didn't want to see him anymore because of said not-great boyfriend.
"Look," He sighs, "I know I wasn't the best, so maybe I can't talk, but Michael is just a straight-up dick."
His bluntness earns a small chuckle from you, he wasn't wrong.
"Well, I haven't exactly been the world's best girlfriend either." You shrug, any problem with Michael seemed incomparable to the fact that at the end of the day, you were the one cheating.
"You were to me." His tone contained a romance that you hadn't heard from him in a long time.
"Joost-" You choke, your eyes widening, unsure of where he was heading with this now. How were you ever going to get over him when he constantly crossed all the wires in your brain.
You feel your body go numb as he slides his hand to your waist, you should stop him, keep your promise, and never see him again- but you can't, and most importantly, you don't want to.
"Look, I'm not insinuating anything, if you don't want to see me anymore, that's okay, you don't owe me anything not after what you put up with, with me, but what I am saying, is you do owe it to yourself, to find someone who treats you better." His words are genuine, heartfelt, and he almost feels like the Joost you once knew, the Joost from when you two had first met.
There's nothing you can say in response, instead, you push yourself up on your toes, letting your lips meet Joost's in a soft kiss. Joost wastes no time in kissing you back, his hand now gripping your waist. Something feels different with this kiss, no looming sense of guilt hovering over you, it feels right like it's what you should be doing.
You part your lips, deepening the kiss, a small groan escaping you as you feel Joost's tongue brush past yours. Your movements become sloppy, lips lazily working against each other, each kiss filled with increasingly more passion.
Stunned, Joost pulls back from the kiss, a smile on his lips, now shiny from your lipgloss, "So," He breathes, "My place or yours?" It was exactly as you had thought, so easily, Joost was able to talk you back into bed with him.
"Mines closer." You shrug, your voice suddenly timid as you reach a thumb to Joost's lips, rubbing the traces of your lipliner off of them.
The car ride home feels like years, as the vehicle crawls down the city streets you figure you have probably gotten the slowest Uber driver in the entirety of Europe.
You sit in the middle seat, your arm brushing against Joost's, the proximity is comforting, but not quite enough, you want nothing more than to be all over him.
You trail a finger to the buckle of Joost's belt, lazily tracing over the letters engraved into the metal, Albino. The sudden remembrance of Joost's proximity to fame, even if only in the Netherlands, draws a smirk on your face as you think about all the horny fangirls who would probably die to be in your position now.
"What are you doing?" Joost asks, his words slow, teasing.
"Nothing," Feigned innocence in your voice as you let your palm rest just below the buckle of his belt. Joost clenches his jaw as you let your hand trail a little lower, pressing into the fabric of his jeans, his already-defined cheekbones poking out even farther with the way his muscles strain.
"You're going to kill me, you know that?" Joost's eyebrows raise, a smile pressed to his lips. He reaches a hand behind your head, first gripping at your hair before relaxing his fingers, soothingly scratching at the back of your head.
A hum of content vibrates through your lips, satisfied at what amount of power you had over him, even if it wasn't much.
You continue to press the heel of your palm against Joost's jeans, feeling the way they tighten as he begins to stiffen beneath you. Joost sucks in a breath, his free hand moving to rest on top of yours, he grips your fingers, pulling you off of him.
"You didn't like that?" You pout.
"Does it look like I didn't like it?" He grits his teeth. Your eyes wander down his figure, focusing on his lap, a now more prominent bulge in his jeans.
The car suddenly comes to a halt, forcing your gaze to the window- you were home, and now you're scrambling out of the car, unable to wait any longer to get your hands on Joost.
Joost pops his head back in the car for just a moment more,
"Dankje, fijne avond!" (Thanks, goodnight) He says quickly to the driver as you pull at his arm from outside the car, impatient. "God, woman," He chuckles, shutting the car door behind him, "I'm here!"
The climb up the three stories to get to your apartment is intermittent with sloppy kisses and lingering touches. As much as you desire to get to the privacy of your apartment, you can't keep yourself off of Joost, your hips pressed into his he has you pushed against a wall surrounding the staircase, his lips trailing down your neck, surely leaving little marks you wouldn't be able to explain away.
You card your hands through his hair, gripping at the messy blonde strands,
"Joost, please," A strained whisper crawls up your throat, your hips sputtering forward, begging for some friction, "My apartment."
Joost drops his hand from where it sits against your waist, grabbing your hand, and pulling you the rest of the way up the steps.
Anxious hands fumble with your keys as you try to push them into the lock of your door, a breath of relief as you hear the satisfying click of the correct key slotting perfectly into the small space.
Before you know it, you're pushed up against the back of the door, Joost's hands pinned on either side of you, caging you in with his body. Your own hands wander Joost's body, pulling at his shirt, gripping tightly to pull him closer as your lips collide. The way you kiss is rough, animalistic like you're completely starved for him.
Joost shoves a thigh between your legs, the rough denim of his jeans now brushing against the crotch of your panties. You can't help yourself, bucking your hips forward to push yourself further against his thigh. A small sigh leaves your lips as your cunt brushes against him, suddenly feeling your arousal, your movements made slippery.
Joost's hands make their way to your hips, his touch lingering as they slide to your thighs, grabbing at the hem of your skirt, and pulling it up. He drops his leg from where it's positioned between your thighs, his large, tattooed hand now cupping your heat. He presses the heel of his palm into your crotch, rubbing harshly through the flimsy fabric of your panties. His movements send jolts of electricity through your body, only making you crave him more as your arousal pools.
His fingertips push at your slit over what little clothes separate the two of you, teasing what you really want.
"Liefje," He smirks, pulling away from the kiss, "So wet for me I can feel it through your panties."
Your face grows hot, slightly ashamed at how quick you had become so aroused. Joost's fingers find themselves brushing at the seams of your underwear, hooking into the fabric ever-so-slightly. Your body grows tense as he teases you, his position making it seem like he's about to pull the delicate lace to the side, but he doesn't, his fingers, unmoving as he kisses at your jaw.
You can't take it, feeling so pent up that you might just explode, you knock Joost's hand from where it sits between your legs, pulling the crotch of your panties to the side yourself before pushing your fingers to your clit. You rub small circles to the delicate nerves, gasps leaving your mouth as pleasure rushes through you. You let your fingers dip lower, collecting your arousal on your fingers as they glide through your folds, towards your aching entrance.
Joost finally clocks what you're doing, his lips leaving your jaw, his hand reaching down to cover yours.
"So impatient," He purrs, his breath hot against your neck, reminding you of your proximity, "Here, let me help you."
With his own hand, Joost guides your fingers up and down your soaked pussy, before completely taking the work over himself, your hand now resting at your side as he continues.
With a single finger, he teases your hole, rubbing around it, threatening to dip his fingers in, you shove your hips forward, silently begging for it. He gets the memo, as much as he loves to feel you squirm below him, he loves pleasuring you so much more.
Before long he's pushing a second finger into you, a groan leaving your lips at the way you stretch around him. His thumb taps at your clit, sending extra pangs of pleasure through your body. You can do nothing but lean your head against the door behind you, lips parted with your jaw slack, in complete awe of how good Joost could make you feel with simply just his fingers. He knew his way around your body even better than you knew yourself, able to draw you to an orgasm much quicker than when you went solo. He knew just where to press, just where to rub to make you whine, and stutter filthy curses.
"What was that about never wanting to see me again?" He coos into your ear, and you pick up an almost wickedness in his voice.
"Fuck you," You sputter, voice strained from the magic his fingers are working against your cunt.
"Yeah," Joost sighs, "I'd bet you'd like to."
He's right, absolutely, completely right, and you're melting below him, turning to mush under his touch.
"Lucky for you, I'd love to fuck you too," He removes his fingers from your cunt, "And I don't think I can wait much longer."
Your pussy is left throbbing, feeling your heavy pulse between your thighs as you clench around nothing, aching from the lack of stimulation. Joost presses two fingers to his lips, shiny from your slick, enveloping them with his mouth, moaning slightly at the taste of you on his tongue.
"So good," He mumbles as he pops his fingers from his mouth, "Now, c'mon." He's grabbing you by your wrist, pulling you to your bedroom.
You nearly stumble onto your bed, leaning face first on the edge of the mattress while your feet still rest on the ground below you, ass up.
Joost stands behind you, his hips pressed into your ass. You whine as his stiff cock brushes against your exposed cunt through the thick denim of his jeans. You can feel the cool metal of his belt buckle press into you as he leans forward, hands trailing up your torso as he kisses your shoulder blades.
You arch your back farther, looking for some friction, desperately trying to grind your cunt against him. Joost's hands linger on your body as he lets you search for some relief, helping you just a little by bucking his hips ever so slightly. He gropes at your tits, hands crawling into your shirt to get a better feel. He pinches the pebbled surface of your hardened nipples, making you squeal, his breath tickles your neck as he chuckles at your reaction.
Soon enough he removes his hands from you, and his hips no longer press into your thighs. You're impatient as you hear the clinging of his belt buckle. your pussy instinctively clenching as the sound meets your ears like you've been trained to know what's next. You hear a small sigh leave Joost's mouth followed by what sounds like him pulling his pants down, the belt once again clinging as it hits the floor. You peek behind you, biting your lip as you marvel at the sight before your eyes, Joost, naked from the waist down, his cock hard, tip throbbing an angry shade of red. He's gripping the bottom of his shirt, exposing the trail of blonde hair that leads to his pubic area. His shirt comes all the way off, leaving him entirely undressed behind you.
"See something you like, hm?" He asks, teasingly, noticing the way you stare at him, bottom lip tucked between your teeth.
You can't even respond, not as he walks closer to you, your brain dizzy with the knowledge of what is about to come next. You return your gaze forward as Joost's hands find their way to your hips, fingertips gripping your flesh. You gasp as you feel the tip of his cock brush against your folds. You have to fight the urge to instinctively push back against him.
Joost continues to grind the shaft of his cock against your cunt, collecting your slick around its length. He pulls back a little, letting the head tease your entrance, about to push in before he stops himself,
"Wait." He breathes, "Turn around."
Slowly, you flip over, back pressed into the mattress while your legs still dangle off the sides. Joost nods, content as he steps between your legs.
"Take your shirt off, let me see those pretty tits." You obey, pulling the top over your head, suddenly very exposed as you had decided to forego a bra tonight. Goosebumps litter your skin as Joost slowly lowers onto his knees, he's quick about his movements, not taking time to linger or tease as he pulls both your skirt and your panties down the length of your legs. You raise your back to help him a little, lowering back onto the mattress once you feel the fabric hit your ankles. You kick off the heels you had been wearing, the pooled fabric following, now leaving you entirely exposed under Joost's lustful gaze.
He stands back up, gripping the backs of your thighs as he does so, guiding your legs up. You wrap your legs around his thighs, and Joost moves closer, his arms pinned on either side of you as his body hovers over your own. The new position allows you to move your legs to be wrapped around his hips, digging your ankles into his back to push him closer to you.
He presses a rough kiss to your jaw, an indicator of how hungry he was for you now.
"Ready for me," He mumbles into your skin.
"Mhm," You hum, "Please."
You can feel him smirk as his lips linger on your skin,
"So polite, anything for you, liefje," He coos, removing one hand from the side of you, balancing the entirety of his upper body weight on one forearm now.
He grips the base of his cock with his now free hand, messily guiding the tip through your folds before lining up with your entrance. He waits a moment before finally pushing into you, he's slow, careful. The two of you share a gasp as he slips inside of you, the way you stretch around him is familiar, but it never gets any less mind-numbing no matter how many times you find yourself in this situation.
Your fingers grip into his bicep as he slowly pushes into you at a painfully slow pace. A strangled groan leaves your mouth as he finally bottoms out. You relinquish some of your grip on his arm, fingers loosening as he begins to build up a steady pace, thrusting inside of you.
You let your head tip, and back arch, completely relaxing your body, allowing yourself to be entirely consumed by the pleasure Joost brought you.
Neither of you speak for a while, the loud moans that escape both of you were doing more than enough talking. For a split moment you feel bad for the neighbors, and you hope they aren't awake to hear you through the thin apartment walls. But, your thoughts are swiftly taken away from your acute guilt as you feel Joost slam into you, harder than before. Your eyes shut tight, a pathetic whimper crawling from your throat as the tip of his cock hits deep inside you.
"Joost," You gasp as his thrusts become more pointed, the bed rocking beneath you.
"Feels good, right?" His voice is rich with cockiness, "No one fucks you as good as I do?"
"No," You exhale, "No one," Your vision begins to blur, as pleasure completely overtakes you.
"That's right," He groans, "No one knows your body like I do."
He's right, and you're sure no one will ever know you in the way he does,
"Fuck," You swallow, "We're never going to be able to stop this, are we?" Your heartbeat increases as you come to the realization of how badly the two of you need each other- no matter how much it disturbs the other facets of your life.
"No," His fingertips dig into the naked flesh of your hips, "We were made for each other." The way he speaks is barely romantic, his low growl rather implying that the two of you were doomed to forever be intertwined in this unfortunate circumstance, the far of you far too flawed to be with anyone but each other.
You can feel your body tensing up, a pressure burning in your abdomen, threatening to explode at any moment. You screw your eyes shut, your face twisting up, all of the emotion of the night smacking into you as your orgasm approaches.
"So close," You wince the hot coil in your lower stomach about to crack.
"Want to feel you make a mess on me," Joost begs from behind a clenched jaw, "Come on," He urges.
It takes a few more thrusts for your orgasm to overtake you, but as it does, it's strong. What could just be about considered a scream passing through your throat as your legs start to shake, your body tingling.
"Love you," You slur, your brain too fuzzy to even be cognisant of the words as they leave your mouth, your subconscious speaking for you.
"Yeah?" Joost asks, his thrusts becoming sporadic, losing pace, "Say it again, tell me how much you love me, schatje."
"I love you," You whine, your entire body twitching as you lose all control over your reflexes, your climax now in charge, "Love you, love you so much." Your words become slower, jaw slacking as your orgasm rolls over you, reaching its final stages, your cunt spasming around Joost.
"I know," He sighs, his lips returning to your jaw. He's able to slip in and out of you much faster now, his cock covered in your release, his thrusts forcing strangled cries from you, "I know," He repeats, "Fucking love you too,"
His hips stutter, and a string of curses are grunted into your neck as Joost's own orgasm approaches.
You inhale sharply as you feel him begin to finish inside you, his cock twitching in your poor overstimulated cunt as the warmth of his release fills you. It's messy, the way he continues to thrust with as much force as he can muster as he rides out his high, cum spilling onto your inner thighs which each thrust, lewd wet sounds filling the air.
Soon enough Joost is collapsed on top of you, his breathing heavy as he tries to collect himself. Your legs drop from hs waist, your entire body lazy.
A certain sense of guilt creeps into you as you realize Michael is right, you have no self-control, unable to give up the feeling that Joost gives you for anything else in the world. You'll forever be chasing the high he gives you, because Joost was right too, you were made for each other.
#joost klein x reader#joost klein x f! reader#joost klein smut#rpf#joost klein fanfic#joost klein#heartbeat! au
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Divine Favour | Sukuna x Kitsune!Reader (Pt.3)
W/C: 3.1k #SFW, mild yuuji/reader, yuuji and gang are v early 20s, heian sukuna, male reader, typical kitsune shapeshifting, canon typical violence, morally grey reader, unhealthy relationships, power imbalance, ABO elements, mentions of death, yuuji has entered the chat, gojo has entered the chat, idky this got sad tho lol
A/N: This bit made me very sad please suffer thank you!!! Also the main story will be wrapping soon (I think next part will be the last part?) and then after that, it'll probably be drabbles! There might be a 'sequel' that touches on the culling games tho because b r u h they've got some down time during that arc so hfhfhfhfhghghf imagine what I could do--
tags: @kamote-kuneho @better-imagination-9 @flowersatwork @nyanwko @kamote-kuneho @better-imagination-9 @3zae-zae3 @chibiduck @kiiyoooo @lukaijah
A strict no-contact order had been placed on Yuuji, and, subsequently, Sukuna. Neither were to come into contact with you while you recovered, and neither were to be alone with you considering the control-slip incident.Â
Still, the curse had been rampant in the young manâs mind, constantly pacing back and forth just behind his consciousness, waiting patiently as a predator should for Yuuji's guard to go down. Granted, even if Yuuji was caught by surprise, it'd still be near impossible to overtake the peppy twenty year-old. Sukuna didn't have an explanation, but it was what it was.Â
He would have gladly seized control now, when you'd somehow managed to slip away from your recovery prison and get comfortable in Itadori Yuuji's bed. Sukuna would have slaughtered everyone at the academy for a second to touch you again, to breathe you in.
But the brat finally realized something was off, and woke to find your head tucked under his chin, his arms slung across your waist. Your breath fanned across his collarbone, tickling the sorcerer's touch-starved skin and feeding the fire burning in his cheeksâSukuna, though, didnât seem pleased his host was the one touching you. Yuuji counted that as a victory.Â
Suck it, dickhead.
Hm? A strangerâs voice rippled instead of the king's.Â
Yuuji jolted, his blood growing cold for a second before recognizing that voiceâit came from that tidal wave of memories. But it didn't tick him off the way Sukuna's did. It wasâŠnice.
UhâŠyou can hear me? Yuuji wondered. He tried to envision his voice as loud and clear as possible to help it reach you.Â
Your brows twitched in your daze. Yes, I can hear you. There's no need to shout.Â
Oh. Sorry. Uh, how'd you get in here?Â
The door.Â
Oh. Cool. Yuuji shifted a little. I'm not really supposed to, y'know, make contact with you orâ
But you're warm. Your nails lightly dragged across his back, leaving trails of tingly pinpricks dancing across his skin. Yuuji swallowed a moan. God, why did the littlest touches feel so nice?Â
Y-Yeah? My grandpa used to say I ran hot. Like a furnace or somethinâ.Â
I agree. You burn like firewood. And you smell warm. Like cedar and honey. You stretched languidly, and the younger stayed put, not strong enough to pull away from your praise and touch. Your teasing fingers raked through his hair daintily, and this time Yuuji did moan. Just the slightest bit before he snapped his mouth shut and bit his lip.Â
You leave me wondering how you taste.Â
âWhat?â Yuuji squawked. Your eyes lazily opened a crack, seemingly put off by the sudden break in room silence. It gave the sorcerer an opportunity to admire the golden glints of divinity hidden in the hue of your iris.Â
But he found fear in that moment, too. Yuuji knew what most didn'tâthe curse sealed inside of him thought you to be his equal. You were the only beast Sukuna would bow before, the only one whose attention he craved and sought in his reign.Â
You were, in a way, a king yourself.
Do you think I'll eat you, Yuuji?Â
âIâuhâyouâwellââ Yuuji fumbled exceptionally, choking on flustered words. âI just--Sukuna ate people, right? So, uh. Maybe you did too?âÂ
You looked him over for a moment. Your gaze traced the cute curve of the younger's nose, the petite fangs worrying at his bottom lip, the caramel swirl of his eyes. He looked so much like Sukuna. It made you wonder.Â
I've eaten humans, yes, You agreed, nonchalant. Do you want me to eat you?
âEat me?â Yuuji deadpanned, unsure if he should feel just bothered or hot and bothered. âI, wellââ
No. Sukunaâs voice cut like ice through Yuujiâs mind. For a second, it scared him. It reminded Yuuji of what exactly Sukuna was. What heâd do.Â
So what would you do?
âHey,â Yuuji started, suddenly calm, serious. âWhyâre you on Sukunaâs side? You donât seem like a bad person.â
You took a deep second to think before sitting up and hugging your knees to your chest. Your tails curled weakly around your clothless frame, swallowing up any spot a young manâs curious gaze might wander in the secrecy of night. Maybe youâd been in this situation before.Â
ââGood.â âBad.â We all have different definitions.â Your voice rattled and scraped out your tired throat, yet you didnât look perturbed in the slightest. âI do what pleases me: garden, sew, eat. Sometimes, I may cause harm in the process. I care sometimes, and I donât others. Does it make me evil to choose what I care about?âÂ
Yuujiâs head started to ache. He wasnât sure if he could keep up with your fancy, archaic way of speaking, but he was sure as hell gonna try.Â
The younger sat up, too, and ruffled up his hair. âI mean. Donât you wanna try to, yâknow, not hurt people? Not cause harm, ân stuff?â
âIs fire wicked? Or does it simply exist?â You posed. âIn the control of man, it is sacred. It cooks food, illuminates the dark, cloaks you with warmth. Yet it burns down trees. Swallows homes. Devours crops. Kills.âÂ
You looked at Yuuji, rose-wrapped eyes resentful of something the sorcerer could not know. âMan regards fire as a blessing when controlled, yet it is a curse when it runs free with natureâexistence, the black and white of the world, is in the eye of the beholder.âÂ
Yuuji didnât like how much that made sense to him. Objectively, Sukuna was bad. He killed. He murdered for fun. He ate peopleâ
Yet your words, your pretty way of speaking and philosophies gave Yuuji pause. It didnât click, despite igniting grim sparks in the cogs hidden far behind his eyes. He already made his mind up about good and evil, yes and no, white and black, and yetâ
You poked him in the forehead, between his eyes, and Yuuji blinked.Â
âItâs merely food for thought, Yuuji.â Why did you know his name again? âDonât burden yourself with making decisions or anything of the sort. I suppose my answer was long-winded in regards to your question.âÂ
âYeah, kinda,â he laughed, rubbing his cheek. âBut, uhâŠit helped, I guess.â Yuuji pulled your hand down from poking him. âYou donât think Sukunaâs bad,â he concluded.
âI think he was a force of nature.â Your head tilted. Your eyes softened. âA monster to some, a god to others.âÂ
ââN to you?â
Your eyes caught the morning light, iris reflecting with waking embers.Â
âHe was everything.â
Gojo thought you were pretty in the same way Getou was pretty; you were handsome with fine features, you radiated with odd power, and you spoke with unmatched poise and purpose it almost made the manâs ego swoon.Â
But you looked tired as Getou had, too. Skin void of blushing warmth, eyes distant and hazy, dark circles pulling your gaze away from him. He didn't like it. It made him remember that cold hand ripping his heart to pieces.Â
âLook whoâs awake!â Gojo cheered as he sauntered toward you, hands in his pockets and a smile adorning his face. âHungry? I could getcha someââ
âYou were listening, were you not?â You wondered, running your bony fingers through matted fur systematically. Your split nails picked and clawed through tangles and knots thoroughly, as though itâd make a difference in your beat-up appearance.Â
Gojo tilted his head before settling down in the seat beside your bed. âHm? Me? Listening? Toââ
âYuuji and I.â
âAh! You mean the night you snuck out to do some naughty, naughty things with my student?âÂ
You deadpanned fiercely, looking at him the way someone else used to. âHa. Hm. Surely you jest.â
Gojo waggled his brows as much as he could, hoping theyâd peek out over the top of his blindfold. âHah, you think I donât know what my sweet, precious Yuuji does behind closed doors? I know everything! Iâmââ
âYou misunderstand,â you cut him off, looking more and more concerned with each passing second. âYou are a teacher? Why? How? This does not seem ethical.â
Gojo died. Rather, his pride did. Which was essentially his lifeforce.Â
âWhat are youâokay, Iâm just gonna chalk it up to you being cranky after getting woken up, alright? Iâll give you a pass. Just once!â Gojo nodded as a benevolent creature should. âYou should thank me.â
âIâd rather not.â You sighed and returned to your grooming. âIf you wish to interrogate me, I require food first. Tofu, specificallyâ
Gojo laughed. âMan, you are one high-maintenance god. Alright, you want normie tofu, or agedashi tofu?âÂ
You blinked and looked at him, curious.Â
âAgedashi tofu?â
You really liked agedashi tofu. You liked the little sauce it came with, you liked the other random shit Gojo bought to try and win over your complianceâwell, honestly, he also just wanted an excuse to shower someone with the food and snacks he liked. Itâd been a long time since heâd had the privilege to.Â
âSo,â Gojo said as he popped the marble into the ramune bottle for you and handed it over, âAbout you and Sukuna.âÂ
âMhm?â Your eyes glittered in fascination as you took the drink and examined it from all angles, carefully tilting it here and there to watch the blue bubbles rise to the top as the glass ball rolled and spun in its tiny prison.Â
Gojo almost lost his train of thought watching you, but he reigned it in quickly.
âSeems like you were close.â Were was important. You'd referred to the menace in past tense when speaking with Yuujiâclearly, you didn't realize the curse resided within the young sorcerer. Best to keep it that way.
You pursed your lips in thought for a moment.
âI suppose. Why?âÂ
âI'm just nosy!âÂ
âI know that already. But there exists intelligence behind your annoying behaviour.â Your gaze slid to him, staring through the veil of fabric and straight into his eyes. âYou're a monster like he was, aren't you?âÂ
âHah?! Rude!â Gojo whined, but regained composure just as fast. âSeems your intuition is pretty good, huh?â
âIt's simply an understanding of nature.âÂ
âIs that what pulled you to him? His nature?âÂ
âNo. I was given to him. As a gift. By a clan of sorcerers.â
âHuh. A gift.â
âYes. The harvest festival required as much. He was revered as a godly creature. Something to be feared.âÂ
âAnd so were you,â Gojo guessed, and you frowned and looked away, instead picking through the treats and snacks brought to you.Â
âThe people saw us very differently.â
Sukuna didn't walk through the city below oftenânot until you decided you liked it down there.Â
Finding out that you walked through those streets alone sent a trill of something unpleasant up Sukuna's spine; knowing you were alone, vulnerable and under the eyes of so many that so often cursed Sukuna and wished him dead made himâŠuneasy, maybe. You could handle yourself. Sukuna simply couldn't handle the disrespect.
But things werenât as he assumed.
You walked through town, and the people revered you as they would Amaterasu incarnate. Most didn't address you, but all saw and accepted your presence with grace and kindness, nodding or flickering small smiles as you passed by with the king trailing behind.Â
Sukuna could understand; you'd become something astoundingly breathtaking. Lush, full tails dipped and swayed as you walked with the poised elegance of royalty, the feeling only enhanced by the careful, intricate way you presented yourself in your attire. Sukuna knew you felt beautiful. You were beautiful.Â
âIt's (Name!)â A child cried, and Sukuna fought the urge to punt the little shit into the restaurant across the road when the tiny human grabbed at your clothes.Â
But you smiled. You actually smiled when you patted the girl on the head and said your sweet hellos before ushering her along after her mother. The corners of your eyes crinkled for once, showing that, yes, you'd aged and felt joy and become so perfect because of it. And when you cooed sweet farewells to passing little ones, your fangs flickered against the colour of your lips, just for a second.Â
Your gilded gaze caught his carmine stare, and you tilted your head.Â
âSukuna.â You held your hand out to him, and he took it. He had no choice. He was only human, and you were God. Walking through a city of mortals.
He let you lead on, wandering to the shops where you bought thread and fabric for your stupid little projects with money he didn't even know you had. You could have just taken everything you wanted, especially with the king stood right by your side, but you eased the shopkeeper's nerves with kind words and ample pay.Â
Sukuna all but picked you up and launched you both back home the second you were done meandering. He had a job to do; he had to fully commit to siring a runt.
Now, Gojo didn't need to know all that, but it didn't stop your mind from wandering to that night; it was the first time he looked at you like that. It was the first time he decided against lording his power over you, instead holding you close and taking things slow. You missed it. You yearned for the night he stopped seeing you as a toy and saw you as you. The night he finally learned your name.
âThey viewed me as something divine,â you continued, digging out of the warmth of memories. âPerhaps because I walked alongside someone like him.âÂ
âWell, only gods can walk through a volcano and come out unscathed, no?â Gojo smiled a bit as you looked away, embarrassed.Â
âThat's a poor analogy.â
âEh?â
âHow would one walk through a volcano? None would even think to get close enough to do so.â
âW-Waitââ
âYou would be underground, would you not? With limbs melted, oneself ablaze? And one would not walk but wade through lava.âÂ
âIt's just a metaphor!â Gojo wailed.Â
âA poor one.â And you continued to pick through snacks, unbothered that you'd just destroyed the strongest man alive as you munched on cheese-flavoured rice puffs.
Gojo laughed, though. âI can see why he liked you. Supports the theory he's not the one who put you in the coffin.âÂ
âIt wasn't him,â you snapped. Your ears flattened against your skull as you shrunk in on yourself. âAt leastâŠnot directly.âÂ
Oh? Gojo leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees as he laced his fingers together.
âThen who was it? What happened?âÂ
âI don't fully understand it myself,â you confessed. Your voice was a whisper, cold and lonely like a far North winter.Â
âMaybe I can help.âÂ
You looked to him and back down again.Â
âThere was a man. A sorcerer. I don't know his nameâI never cared to learn it. He was odd.â You tore up little bits of hi-chew wrappers as you spoke. âHe asked me if I would sacrifice myself for Sukuna.âÂ
âAnd?â Gojo prodded.Â
âI would not,â you said. âSukuna would never need my sacrifice, he'd never need my aid. He was the strongest.â A light frown tugged at the corners of your mouth. âThat creature thought otherwise. He mentioned something about additional wombs, but I don't know what that means.âÂ
Fuck. Gojo nodded politely. âGotcha, gotcha. What'd this guy look like? You remember?âÂ
âUnremarkable, save for the odd sutures across his forehead.âÂ
âOh? Interesting. Alright, last question, my cute little kitsuneââ
â(Name),â you cut in. âAddress me as (Name).â
Gojo sparkled. âWaaah, I think our relationship just leveled up to A-tier! One more level and I can romanceââ
âPlease do not make me hurt you.âÂ
The white witch whined and deflated against his chair. âBoooring.â
You huffed and flicked your ear. âAsk your question, goblin.âÂ
Gojo took a breath before he spoke.Â
âAre you with child right now?âÂ
The world changed suddenly. Seal papers coating the walls drowned in bones and flowers as the pungent sweetness of orchids and decay curled around Gojo. Around you, a cage began to rise, jutting out from the earth and encircling you like thousands of rigid arms holding you in an embrace. And your eyesâthey shone with abhorrent divinity, outshining even the nine, pristine tails breathing with blackened fire.Â
But there was screaming. Two voices intertwined. Little and distant, warped and outraged atâat something. Maybe Gojo? Maybe his accusations, his questions?Â
Just when the sorcerer was about to act, your clasped a hand over your stomach, and you whispered with the thrum of a thousand voices:
âBe still.âÂ
It all moved slowly, then. The phenomenonâthe apparent domain expansionâreversed, sinking back into the floors and walls with the soft sound of chittering and cooing taking the place of wicked screeches. You, too, cooed back to the twin voices, placating them with maternal ease.Â
Your divinity faded with the last shreds of the illusion. Now, your colours faded further, painting you in desaturated tones of exhaustion and worry. Gojo hated that palette. It'd been used too many times on too many he doted on. God was stupid like that, creating such sad, worrisome colours.
The sorcerer took a deep breath in the silence of the room. He didn't know what to say, or how to say it. He was never good at this kind of thing. His other half was much better at this.Â
But he had to try. The look on your face told him he had to try.Â
What would he have done?
Gojoâs hand reached out as he leaned forward, and he caught your scarred, bony hand in his own. You didnât pull away, you didn't fight him, you instead curled your fingers around his and held your breath while your gaze became unseeing, your heart ceased beating just as your breathing had. For a moment, you died.
âI'm sorry,â Gojo whispered. And you nodded. Somehow, he knew it meant, âme too.âÂ
It was then, touching you, that he could feel the negative energy thrumming beneath a shell of divinity. Two different un-lives coiled inside of you, filled with bitter hate for man and undying love for their mother. For you. It wasn't unlike the bond shared between Yuuta and Rika, but this was not as simple.Â
âYour ilk did not approve of Sukuna siring children,â you murmured. Your grip on his hand turned poisonous. âIf you try to take them from meââ
âWhat'll you do?â He asked, knowing they'd never be born.Â
â--I will turn everything to ash. Set fire to the skies. Just as I have once already.â
âGood.â Gojo smiled. âYou'd be a good mother.âÂ
âI hope I one day can be.â
The masked menaced nodded again as he idly soothed his thumb across your knuckles. âNever say never, yenno? We'll figure something out for you. If you can do something to help the schoolââ
âI can give gifts. Once I have the energy.â You didn't sound like you did. Gojo wasn't sure if you ever would.
âYeah? Like what?â He asked anyway.Â
You looked at him, weak and defeated, yet still clinging to life.Â
âMy divine favour.â
#sukuna x reader#ryomen sukuna x reader#sukuna x male reader#sukuna x m!reader#sukuna x you#jjk x you#male reader insert#male reader#jjk x reader#jujutsu kaisen reader insert#jujutsu kaisen x male reader#jujutsu kaisen x you
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Another Ending - 2 | Bucky Barnes
Character: ex!Bucky Barnes x Female!Reader
Summary: It was supposed to be a short week watching over your niece, who loves romance books. She thought you were just a normal aunt, but it turns out you have secrets.
Tags: Spies, action, threat, offense, fight scene, violence, romance, comedy.
Chapter 1 , Chapter 2 , Chapter 3 , Chapter 4 , Chapter 5 , Chapter 6 ,-
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Thank you to everyone who has read this chapter. Leave a comment and Reblog, please. I'd love to hear your thoughts. â€ïž
The car ride was tense, with only the sound of tires humming against the asphalt breaking the silence. You stared out the window, watching the trees blur by, trying to suppress the anxiety gnawing at you.
âWe need to get to the train station,â you suggested, breaking the silence.
Buckyâs grip on the steering wheel tightened. âToo risky. We have to stay low for a while.â
You nodded, your mind racing through the possibilities. If a motel or hotel was too dangerous, where could you go? âWe should camp. I have the gear in the car.â
Bucky glanced at you, a small nod of approval. âGood.â
The awkward silence returned, thick and suffocating, until a small voice broke through.
âThis is destiny,â Lori murmured, her face lighting up as she reached into her bag to pull out a notebook. She began scribbling furiously.
You and Bucky exchanged a confused look. âWhatâs got you writing all of a sudden?â you asked, raising an eyebrow.
âNew ideas for my fanfiction,â Lori said, her tone excited.
You sighed, running a hand through your hair. âLoriâŠâ
Bucky kept driving, his eyes scanning the road ahead until he found a secluded area surrounded by trees. He maneuvered the car off the road, hiding it as best he could among the foliage.
âWho is she, really?â Bucky asked, his tone serious.
âMy niece,â you replied, your voice low.
Lori, sensing the conversation was about her, raised her hand like she was in class. âOh, I have a confession to make. Iâm the one who replied to your email.â
Buckyâs eyes widened as he turned to you, his expression a mix of disbelief and something else. âCanât say Iâm not a little disappointed. But thanks to her, I finally know your real name.â
Lori, completely missing the tension in the air, beamed. âYou didnât even know each otherâs names, but you kept looking for her? Thatâs so romantic.â
Bucky shot you a look, his expression unreadable, but the way his gaze lingered made you uncomfortable. Was she really your niece? He couldnât help but wonder.
You shook your head, grabbing your bag and pulling out a burner phone. You needed to call your sister and let her know you were taking Lori with you, that things had gotten⊠complicated.
Lori, oblivious to the serious undertone of the situation, watched you and Bucky closely, analyzing every glance and gesture. Through her writerâs lens, she saw the tension between you two as something else entirely. She grinned, her mind already spinning a new story of enemies-turned-lovers.
âUh, I have a question,â Lori piped up. âAfter I replied, did you immediately read it?â
Bucky didnât answer, his silence louder than any words could be. Lori took it as confirmation. âSo, before you replied, you rushed to find my cool aunt, and when you got closer, you finally sent it. Thatâs such dedication to chasing love.â She squealed, hugging her notebook to her chest like a love-struck fangirl.
đ„đ„đ„đ„
Both of you walked in silence, the tension between you growing thicker with every step. You stayed close to the car, unwilling to stray too far, as if the vehicle was the only thing grounding you in this increasingly chaotic world.
âWe canât be together,â you finally said, your voice heavy with regret.
âButââ Bucky began, but you cut him off.
Without a word, you reached up and tugged down your collar, revealing a line of jagged scars etched into the skin of your neck. You usually kept them hidden under layers of makeup, but today, there was no time for that. The collar had been your only shield.
âThese⊠they still haunt me,â you confessed, your voice barely above a whisper.
Buckyâs eyes softened, and without hesitation, he pulled up his shirt to reveal the scars marring his shoulder. The sight of them made your heart twist with guilt.
âItâs not just you,â he said, his voice low and filled with a shared pain. He stepped closer, the distance between you shrinking as if it was the most natural thing in the world. âWe were both in the wrong.â
In the world of espionage, trust was a luxury neither of you could afford. You had been a double agent, living in the gray area between loyalty and betrayal. Bucky, a triple agent, had danced even closer to the edge. The scars you both bore were reminders of the countless times trust had been shattered.
The real reason you were being hunted wasnât just because you were a skilled operative; it was because you had broken a vow. You had promised never to contact Bucky again, a promise made under the threat of being burned by your agency. But you had broken that promise, and now, you were paying the price.
âBuckyâŠâ you whispered, your voice filled with an ache you couldnât suppress. But your words died in your throat as you caught sight of movement behind a tree.
Lori. Your creative, ever-curious niece was hiding, scribbling furiously in her notebook as if she was documenting your every word.
âSo, both of them feel guilty. It haunts them,â Lori muttered to herself, her eyes wide with fascination as she jotted down her thoughts.
You sighed deeply, the weight of everything crashing down on you. You marched over to Lori, grabbing her bag with a grunt. âWhy is this so heavy?â you demanded, feeling the strain in your arm. Then it hit you. âDidnât I tell you not to bring your books?â
Lori snatched her bag back, clutching it to her chest protectively. âNo! I canât live without them. This one is my favorite.â
You sighed again, rubbing your temples as if it would somehow alleviate the stress of the situation. Arguing with Lori was pointless; she was as stubborn as you were. You glanced over at Bucky, who had been watching the exchange with an amused yet concerned look.
âWe should set up camp here,â you said, your voice resigned but firm.
Bucky nodded, but the way his eyes lingered on you told you that he wasnât just agreeing to the plan; he was agreeing to this unspoken understanding that, despite everything, you were in this together, whether you liked it or not.
As you began to unpack the gear, the reality of your situation weighed heavily on you. The scars, the guilt, the constant runningâit was all too much. But here you were, setting up camp in the middle of nowhere with a man who was both your greatest ally and your deepest regret, and a niece who seemed determined to make you believe again in romance.
And all you could think about was how much it hurt, how much it haunted you, and how much you wished things could be different. But in the world you lived in, wishes were just as dangerous as promises.
đ„đ„đ„đ„đ„
After setting up the camp, you busied yourself with preparing dinner. The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving behind a dusky twilight that painted the sky in shades of purple and orange.
The scent of the forest mingled with the aroma of the food, creating a comforting atmosphere that contrasted sharply with the tension from earlier.
Bucky sat by the lake, his figure a dark silhouette against the shimmering water. He occasionally stole glances in your direction, watching as you moved with practiced efficiency. The sight of you, so capable and yet so burdened, stirred something in him that he couldnât quite name.
A soft voice broke the stillness. âđ”Iâm just a talking plant, donât mind me,đ”â Lori sang in a playful, lilting tone as she twirled her way over to Bucky. She stopped beside him, her eyes gleaming with mischief. âDo you like my aunt?â she asked, her tone innocent yet oddly probing.
Bucky blinked, caught off guard by the directness of the question. Whatâs wrong with this kid? He raised an eyebrow, trying to mask his surprise.
Lori, undeterred by his silence, continued with a knowing smile. âI get it. Youâre a man of few words. Youâre exactly like the male character from this book.â
She held up the novel sheâd been carrying, the title "The Red Swan" emblazoned on the cover. Bucky tilted his head, the title vaguely familiar but not enough to place it.
âAre you really her niece?â Bucky asked, his curiosity piqued by Loriâs strange mix of wisdom and childlike wonder.
Lori shrugged a carefree gesture that spoke volumes. âMy dad is a theater teacher.â
Bucky nodded slowly, the pieces falling into place. That explained a lotâher flair for the dramatic, her perceptiveness, her relentless curiosity.
âHere,â Lori said, thrusting the romance novel into his hands.
âWhy?â Bucky asked, looking down at the book with a mix of skepticism and curiosity.
Lori sighed as if explaining something painfully obvious. âItâs as clear as the sky is blue that you like my aunt. But you never express it. If your actions alone arenât enough, you need to use your words. From the start, youâve only said thirty-one words. None of us can read each otherâs minds.â
Bucky found himself unexpectedly impressed. This kid had been counting his words? And, annoyingly enough, she was right. He glanced at Lori, who gave him a confident salute, her eyes twinkling with a mix of innocence and cunning.
âTrust me,â she said with a playful wink before scampering back over to you, her small figure darting between the trees with the energy of a whirlwind.
Bucky watched her go, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his lips. There was something endearing about Loriâs antics, the way she seemed to bring a different side out of you, a side he hadnât seen before. A side he realized he wanted to know more about.
He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts, and looked down at the book Lori had handed him. Romance novels had never been his thing, but something about the way she insisted piqued his interest.
He flipped to the summary on the back cover, his eyebrows raising in mild surprise at the plot. It was more intricate than heâd expected, with themes of loyalty, betrayal, and forbidden love woven through the narrative.
Intrigued despite himself, Bucky began reading, his fingers brushing the pages as he turned them. As he read, his breath hitched slightly. The story was compelling, drawing him in with its depth and emotion. âThis is⊠interesting,â he murmured to himself, unable to deny the pull of the story.
đ„đ„đ„đ„đ„
The next morning, the three of you made your way to the train station. It was too risky to fly; the airport would be crawling with potential threats. You handled the ticket counter, purchasing a ticket for Lori while she waited with Bucky a short distance away. She noticed the way he kept his eyes on you, his gaze lingering as if trying to memorize every detail.
Unable to stand the silence any longer, Lori leaned over and pinched his thigh. âYou should talk to her,â she whispered, her tone insistent.
Just then, you returned, holding the tickets in your hand. âAlright, I got it,â you said, glancing at Bucky. âI guess this is goodbye. Thanks for helping us.â Your voice was steady, but there was an undercurrent of something unsaid, a tension that hung in the air.
Bucky hesitated, his thoughts warring within him. Then, out of nowhere, he felt a sharp kick to his shin. Lori again, urging him forward. âSay something before you lose this chance!â she hissed.
âSeven years,â Bucky finally said, his voice rough with emotion.
âWhat?â You turned to him, confused by his sudden declaration.
âIâve been looking for you and waiting for seven years,â he continued, his eyes locking onto yours.
The words hit you like a tidal wave, stirring up emotions youâd buried deep. Your breath caught in your throat, and your heart pounded in your chest. Seven years. The weight of those words hung between you, thickening the air. Lori squealed beside you, her excitement palpable, but you could barely hear her over the rush of blood in your ears.
Bucky took a step closer, his voice lowering to a near whisper. âI never stopped thinking about you. I never stopped searching. Every lead, every dead endâit all brought me back to you.â
Before you could respond, a sudden prickle of awareness swept over you. You didnât have to look around to knowâyou were being watched. Instinct kicked in, and you grabbed Loriâs hand. âWe have to go,â you said urgently, pulling her along.
âBut Aunt, heâs not done!â Lori protested, glancing back at Bucky as you hurried away.
Bucky was right behind you, not willing to let you slip away again. âWe canât stay together, Bucky!â you insisted, your voice edged with both desperation and regret.
âYouâre going to Massachusetts,â he replied, undeterred. âI want to go there too.â
âWhy?â you demanded, your eyes narrowing.
Bucky held up the book that Lori had given him. âBecause of this.â He pointed to the title on the cover, his expression serious.
âThe Red Swan.â The words rolled off your tongue with a sense of familiarity that sent a shiver down your spine. The title dredged up old memories, ones youâd tried hard to forget.
Bucky saw the recognition in your eyes and pressed on. âFrom what Iâve readââ
âYou read it?â Lori interrupted, her voice tinged with awe.
âFrom what Iâve read,â Bucky continued, his gaze never leaving yours, âthe mission in this book mirrors the one we had. The same code names, the same hotel roomsâŠâ
Lori gasped, her eyes wide with amazement. âOh wow!â
âYou donât meanââ you started, your mind racing to catch up.
Bucky nodded grimly. âI need to see the author of this novel. Whatâs his deal? How does a romance author know so much about a mission we both lived through? The details are too precise to be coincidence.â
Your heart pounded harder, and you exchanged a glance with Bucky. The implications were chilling. Someone out there knew far too much about your pastâa past that was supposed to be buried. And now, that knowledge was in the pages of a book for anyone to read.
"Let's go," you said, your voice steady despite the turmoil inside. But then you hesitated, realizing, "Oh, but I didnât buy your ticket."
Bucky chuckled softly, a rare sound that almost made you smile. "Iâll handle it," he replied, his confidence soothing your worry.
The three of you boarded the train, slipping into a quiet compartment. Lori, practically bouncing with excitement, clasped her hands together. She was thrilled that you and Bucky werenât parting ways.
Unable to contain her joy, she started singing softly, âđ”Weâre all in this togetherâŠđ”â
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