#v; xiii.2.

[ofspark]

𝒋𝒂𝒄𝒌'𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒏.

@celestrahl asked: "tell me how it got this way." from noel!

𝑪𝑶𝑼𝑳𝑫 𝑯𝑬 𝑯𝑬𝑨𝑹 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑻𝑯𝑼𝑵𝑫𝑬𝑹 in her bones when his words brought her pause? Was it silent enough that the turmoil laden sinew may yet creak aloud && give away her guilt? This mantle she upholds as champion is one of choice. An atonement; the willingness to become an eternal epitaph for the weight of all that has transpired. For there is truth in a mercy by the hand of a goddess. She should not breathe, should not be given the grace to walk within this stone edifice---her existence should be comprised of crystal. But by Etro's hand, she is all that stands between a slumbering goddess && a being that has since spiraled into his own darkness. "Sacrifice.. and the repercussions that come with it." More a musing, more a thought than statement; the breath she takes in is shallow midst the furrow of her brow. One that sees her gaze cast over the curvature of pauldron, a glance to an endless sea beyond still sands. Careful footfalls carry her nearest ledge && resplendent blues take to the sight of coming tide. A glance to her company ensues && it is devoid of malice. She is neither aggravated nor cross. This responsibility she upholds is one that has since melded itself into the fabrication of her existence. A dedication held taut to the soul to safeguard against the what ifs. Steel in her voice, pride in her shoulders. "We've all got our parts to play. It's a race against oblivion." Oblivion. She can still hear the callous voice that uttered his intentions as their blades crossed. The bellow of steel that clashed---it still rings in her ears.

[allisonmckenzieart]

Well, after many months- I'm happy to share my (rather ambitious) cover for our Final Fantasy Ladies zine: Lucia Sidera. I still can't believe the team trusted me with such an important cover. I decided to be insane and try and draw every main gal from each title and spin off (I ran out of time, so I didn't get everyone sadly). The mod team was already SO patient with me. I didn't have to do all this- but I legitimately had this vision since 2009 (and there were a LOT less gals back then). You can see from teh initial sketch layout, how many character were originally planned- but then...I went off the rails. (note, the first image is the poster version, and second is book variant)

Final Fantasy is kinda my life, let's be real- as corny as it sounds. It has been with me most of my time here on Earth. It set me upon the path I'm on now. I wouldn't be Allison without these characters, the music, the art, the stories. I won't mush too much, but this, to me, was a very special opportunity to show just how much I love this series. Getting to share that with other people in this community, whose life has been deeply touched by Final Fantasy meant a lot to me- and I hope people find there faves in this cover!

I have the remaining folded posters from the zine bundles coming in the mail, but will also be offering this as a 11x17 print soon! So much detail means it won't be coming in smaller sizes, apologies!

Anyway, it would be all too easy for me to talk about this cover and my thoughts overall but I suppose it's not overly necessary- it can speak for itself I guess! I hope you like it :)

[royalarms]

❛ hurry up already . ❜ impatience grows with his friend's indecision , tiredness clawing its way back into his already cloudy head . they've been standing , staring at a gas station's choice in snack for upwards of ten minutes , and the prince is growing restless . not as restless as prompto , of course , but a little less distracted . all distractions or non - distractions aside , a familiar gaze is peering at them through the car , and everything about it screams contempt , ❛ gladio's gonna kill us . ❜ he sighs , his foot tapping intently , ❛ why don't we just call it a night here ? you can spend however long you want doing whatever you want . getting late , anyways . i'll tell iggy . ❜

. . . @qiucksilver .

[g4zdtechtv]

THE PILE PRESENTS: X-Play - Raamario's Shadow | 12/6/11

Yep, it's a show on television, alright.

(4GTV - STREAM WHAT YOU PLAY!)

[proserpine-in-phases]

FF6 was really good when i played it years upon years ago haha

the characters and music are really good, hope you have fun playing it!

I should once I get into it. I know that it usually gets overshadowed by vii but everyone whose played all the ff games ranks it right up there with iv and vii

[jeonginsleftcheek]

The sun to me (series masterlist)

pairing: painter!hyunjin x florist!afab!reader

genre: angst, fluff, eventual smut, slow burn

word count: 80k+

summary: after getting everything he thought he wanted, between the expensive items he owns, the famous faces that dissolve one into another, and the grey concrete of the big city, hwang hyunjin finds his heart withering like a flower without water, cold and empty, reaching out for the sun.

warnings: this fic deals with some heavy topics, warnings will be issued at the beginning of each chapter.

~ find someone who grows flowers in the darkest parts of you🩷

~ all dividers by @cafekitsune

~ credits to painting and pic owners

~ taglist

🌸 Playlist: here

🌸 Chapter navigation:

Chapter I. The Seed. Part I.

Chapter I. The Seed. Part II.

Chapter II. Water Drop.

Chapter III. Sun Ray.

Chapter IV. The Sprout.

Chapter V. Carved.

Chapter VI. Caught.

Chapter VII. Listen.

Chapter VIII. Reminisce.

Chapter IX. Blossom.

Chapter X. Caress.

Chapter XI. Keep.

Chapter XII. The Cut.

Chapter XIII. Bleed.

Chapter XIV. Wither.

Chapter XV. Nurture.

Chapter XVI. Warmth.

Epilogue. Loved.

Bonus content (tba)

1. The Departure

2. Christmas Special - coming soon

2. Little Flower

3. Happy Family

Please do not copy, translate, use or repost my work in any way without my permission. ©jeonginsleftcheek

[bengals-barnesbabe]

“Thank You TikTok” Masterlist

~ a series of text imagines between you and Joe all inspired by random TikTok videos ~

Started: 12 September 2024

Last Updated: 17 January 2025

˖⁺‧₊˚ ˚₊‧⁺˖✮✮˖⁺‧₊˚ ˚₊‧⁺˖

fluff - 🌞 smut - 🌚 mix - 🌗 angst - ☄️

most popular - 🌙 newest - ⚡️ request - 💫

i. booktok ~ ever since he downloaded TikTok, Joe’s learnt a lot more about his beautiful bookworm 🌗

ii. say high ~ Joe takes part in some recreational activities and tries (and fails) to hide it from those who know him the best 🌗💫

iii. the real afterparty ~ y/n comes across a TikTok of a bride and groom doing a wardrobe change together, so naturally, she asks her fiance his opinion 🌚

iv. happy weight ~ nothing says a great relationship like two people falling in love while getting fat together, well that’s what TikTok says 🌖

v. pay attention ~ cons to working with your man... he's you're a distraction 🌞

vi. come home ~ it’s been a while since you’ve seen your man, so you left him a present🌒

vii. how that shit tastes ~ they say it's a man's drink so you've never tried it, so you ask your man about his drink of choice 🌗

viii. you like that ~ inspired by another TikTok, Joe compiles a list of things he likes about you🌖

ix. babies ~ you tell your husband about your daughter's supermarket antics, and he gets baby fever? 🌖

x. heroes & princes ~ everyone makes mistakes, even great boyfriends but especially if he has Tee and Ja’Marr as friends 🌞

xi. roses ~ you have a new favorite song and a certain TikTok gives you an idea on how to introduce it to your man 🌚

xii. you're enough ~ you and Joe feel losses hard, so you try your best to make him feel better after this one 🌖

xiii. i can fix her ~ you end up on Joe's fyp for the worst reason possible ☄️

xiv. im a fan ~ Joe finds your secret TikTok account in the best way possible 🌖

xv. it's just a trend ~ you participate in a certain dance trend with a song Joe does not like ☄️ 🌖

xvi. hey shawty ~ you watched a TikTok on how to domesticate your boyfriend, let's see how he does ☄️🌞

xvii. treat me ~ despite always receiving royalty treatment from your boyfriend, you decide to tease him with one of your favorite songs🌚

xviii. ruined me ~ Joe ruined you for all men, this is how he reacts when you tell him 🌗

xix. hey daddy ~ in order to keep your relationship fresh, you do what all couples do... send each other ridiculous pick up lines 🌘

xx. boyfriend blindness ~ your boyfriend becomes a comedian, so you have to show him who he's playing with 🌖

xxi. mini gossip girl ~ your daughter comes home and spills everything about her dad's life 🌞

xxii. daddy duties ~ Joe's left alone for more than a few hours with his boys and chaos ensues 🌞

xxiii. mini gossip girl 2 ~ your daughter is at it again, but this time it works out in Joe's favor🌖

xxiv. talkin nonsense ~ relationships should be fun, especially when you both are on the same level 🌘

xxv. speechless ~ you sent your friend Joe some messages that were not for him to see 🌖

xxvi. mini gossip girl 3 ~ now older, your daughter's mouth reveals some truths she was not ready for 🌖

xxvii. bye week ~ Joe gets caught lying to his pregnant wife 🌖

xxviii. wait, pause ~ you and joe are in the middle of a fight, but he has some tea to spill 🌗☄️💫

xxix. we listen and we don't judge ~ Joe has an idea, Joe regrets his idea 🌖☄️💫

xxx. tatted truths ~ your true feelings for Joe are exposed by decisions you made on one drunken night 🌘

xxxi. hearts on deck ~ Joe needs to apologize for his acts… in his fiancée’s dream 🌗☄️💫

xxxii. hold on, rewind ~ part two of 'wait, pause' includes more drama 🌖☄️💫

xxxiii. just friends ~ 🌗💫

updates about twice a week🪷

requests to join this series are open! just send me a quote or link to a video and your fav pic of Joe (along with anything else you desire) to be included!

[hoonieyun]

score: love!

lee heeseung x reader "y/n"

summary: after 2 years off the court due to a torn acl, y/n is ready to step back into tennis and take back the years she’s lost to her injury. after vowing to never play mixed doubles tennis ever again, she’s disappointed to find that the only matchup left is mixed doubles and she doesn’t have a partner. luckily, due to a last minute dropout, the tournament director has a player in need of a mixed doubles partner, but it just so happens to be the guy y/n played against 2 years ago that caused her injury: lee heeseung.

genre: smau!! sports au-tennis, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, romance

characters: enhypen heeseung, jay, jake, sunghoon - artms jinsoul - yves/sooyoung - loossemble hyeju (and randome side characters)

warnings: profanity, injuries, aggressive behavior, suggestive, drugs and alcohol, overall 18+

status: completed (nov 3 to dec 26)

reply or send message to inbox to be added to taglist!

teaser (prologue) profiles: baddiesss (and jake) pink pony tennis club

game: one set: one i. girl you're late! ii. shouldn't he be in jail?? iii. only in it for the money babyyy iv. the bow is necessary v. you think he's ever used his brain..? vi. this hoe eat like a bear vii. wait... she's kinda viii. that was so alpha of you bro ix. 9 hours on facetime??? x. what is this??? revenge of the exes???

game: two set: two xi. lord this family is cursed xii. im going to eat my racket xiii. jake spitting some wisdom xiv. secret admirer xv. hyeju on top xvi. aww brotherly love xvii. wait... baddie rizz me tonight? xviii. DISQUALIFIED xix. should i be a detective? xx. SCORE: LOVE!

copyright 2024 - present © hoonieyun all rights reserved. all writing here is fiction & not in any association with characters mentioned.

[verstarppen]

IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY MASTERLIST

: ̗̀°•*⁀☆ SUMMARY: there is little time between fast cars and spaceships but you make it work; lando norris never paid attention to the stupid sci-fi shows daniel used to watch, until he met you.

•*⁀☆ PAIRING: lando norris x fem! star wars actress! reader

╰≫ NOTE: the reader has no face claim. pictures haven't been used to represent the reader's appearance, but within the context of the story she is famous and therefore a well known public figure.

๋࣭ ⭑⁀☆ STATUS: ongoing

⋆｡‧⁀☆ UPDATES: 22:00 GMT (UTC+0 UK), 09:00 AEDT (UTC+11 AUSTRALIA), 23:00 CET (UTC+1 GERMANY, FRANCE, ITALY), 00:00 EET (UTC +2 GREECE), 07:00 JST (UTC +9 JAPAN), 17:00 EST (UTC -5 AMERICA), 14:00 PST (UTC +8 CANADA), 03:30 IST (UTC +5:30)

･ﾟ:⁀☆ TAGS: fluff, celebrity nerds in love, f1 2022 and 2023, light angst, way too much star wars lore, surprise pregnancy, no beta reader we die like oscar and danny's sanity, kotor movie bc i said so, ahsoka pr team needs to pay for this smau btw

‧₊˚⁀☆ A/N: stuck between a rock (f1 brainrot) and a hard place (star wars brainrot)

[ episode i ] - 11/09/2023

[ episode ii ] - 12/09/2023

[ episode iii ] - 14/09/2023

[ episode iv ] - 15/09/2023

[ episode v ] - 18/09/2023

[ episode vi ] - 26/09/2023

[ episode vii ] - 7/10/2023

[ episode viii ] - 8/11/2023

[ episode ix ] - 24/11/2023

[ episode x ] - 4/12/2023

[ episode xi ] - 7/3/2024

[ episode xii ] - 16/3/2024

[ episode xiii ] - 25/9/2024

[ episode xiv ] -

[ episode xv ] -

[ episode xvi ] -

loading...

[macapunoz]

꒰ MASTERLIST ꒱ POSER! ; jeon wonwoo

summary it's hard pretending to be good at video games when it's so obvious you have no skills. too bad the guy you're trying to impress is the only one who tells you you're trash at the game.

starring gamer! wonwoo x f! reader

genre smau, romcom, enemies 2 lovers, she fell first he fell harder, esports au, that one reverse trope where he's nice to everyone but you, suggestive in later chapters

contains profanities, ignore timestamps, some gaming terminology, the jokes in here are not nice..

status airing ( with an inconsistent posting sched )

playlist | taglist is open

from rhin, LMFAOO i watched a tiktok where some school's varsity fortnite team makes it to provincials so i got inspired to write gamer!wonwoo

⋆౨���˚⟡˖ ࣪profiles

character profiles

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪chapters

i, BRO ITS NOT A BBL

ii, imagine if gam3bo1 got a low taper fade

iii, a winner never loses

iv, #switchingtocod ( written )

v, ur not special lil bro

vi, Herro answer my call ( written )

vii, dairy_ninja17

viii, i can’t call them a racial slur

ix, life sucks being 6’0”

x, grandma larping event

xi, IM A MINOR ( written )

xii, rainbow glittery pens

xiii, i felt my shit go up my bum

xiv, “i bought a property in egypt” ahh post

xv, dekubopdumnem

xvi, a wannabe nonchalant opp ( written )

xvii, eye of woo

xviii, who tf is mingyu Bro

xix, tallwonwoojeon1996

chapters to be added !

[ofspark]

𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑

Anonymous asked: i can't do this alone! ( serah @devourlight bc cade doesnt know when to not be a gremlin. )

𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒐𝒏 blossoming in her throat. Wherefore a gaze akin wondrous seas is dulled only by helplessness. But even as warring perpetuity rages midst marrow--- thunder cracks in her bones && howls across pallid horizons--- there is naught one's influence may invoke. For her hands are tied at the behest of a goddess that barely clings to her own existence. Hang high the banner of steadfast warrior && see to it that her blade serves well to ensure the welfare of what's left to tattered divinity. The very armor held taut to frame is evidence enough of cosmic impressionability forcing her hand when home was so close; when she could practically taste freedom. So in this domain that has been forsaken by the darkness && consumed by chaos abundant, flecks of light catch at the grooves of mentioned armor. Roseate hues are a fever dream at best; is this once-soldier turned champion even truly there? Are the greaves that hold her aloft truly leaving the impression of soles against still dirt? Or is this merely a ploy to feed her fervor? To stay true the course set upon. && it is with all of these what ifs that attentiveness averts askew; eyes cast across the crest of pauldron to take in the sight of desperation incarnate. A sibling pleading that Lightning stay. What a familiar construct.

"Serah.." Uttered hushed, nigh pleadingly---but it's because she knows what has yet to come. The travesty that will pass && herald damnation. Lest will damn this course of events && see to it change is enforced. The pair standing just those few paces beyond would play so pivotal a part in the timeline therein. Every action, every blade of grass, every flap of a butterfly's wings; whatsoever their choices be, may it alter the course of unfavorable fate she's wept over. "I can't go with you. Leaving Valhalla would see Caius' plan come to light. Etro would be lost and so too would countless lives." A brief pause ensues, lashes aflutter && cast to settle against the crests of cheeks for but a moment. && when her gaze presents itself once more, resolve blossoms within. One might sense melancholy at the precipice of lash line. Others might see the burden of duty consuming her. "Lean on those around you. See this fight through to the end. The future depends on it."

[kkuzushi]

જ Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby. . .ᐟ

— ꒰꒰﹒SYNOPSIS : Breakups are never easy, especially if your ex is Scaramouche, a famous model that everyone seemed to love, but it’s harder to see him wandering around campus and waltz back in your life again. The future is in your hands, just don’t get swayed by his charms to reclaim what was already gone.

˚𖦹 ‘ PAIRINGS : Scaramouche x Reader _ ִ ࣪𖤐

˚𖦹 ‘ GENRES : Romantic Drama, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Social Media + Modern College students AU, Lovers to Enemies, Slow burn. _ ִ ࣪𖤐

˚𖦹 ‘ WARNINGS : Mature themes; suggestive & offensive jokes, Potentially OOC, Timestamps are often unnecessary. _ ִ ࣪𖤐

˚𖦹 ‘ STARTED : 12-07-24 _ ִ ࣪𖤐

˚𖦹 ‘ ENDED : TBA _ ִ ࣪𖤐

˚𖦹 ‘ STATUS : On-going ! _ ִ ࣪𖤐

— ꒰꒰﹒CHARACTERS :

. ︵ ⠀✦ ⌗YNtwt ৎ ★ .

. ︵ ⠀✦ ⌗SCARAtwt ৎ ★ .

— ꒰꒰﹒CHAPTERS :

I. – Life’s fine without you. I think.

II. – Being swarmed by bees is way better.

III. – Can I please throw coffee at his face?

IV. – Wishing there’s a block button in real life.

V. – Subtweeting is necessary; it’s an invitation for wars.

. 𐙚 . ˙ 𖧧 ₊ ˚

VI. – Guess the party pooper came as well.

VII. – In need of peace and quiet.

VIII. – Desperate times call for desperate measures.

IX. – More than a what-the-fuck situation.

X. – I’ll wipe that smirk off your face; or better yet, I’ll wipe your entire face off.

. 𐙚 . ˙ 𖧧 ₊ ˚

XI. – Trust no one, especially your ex.

XII. – Trust no one—that goes to myself too.

XIII. – Communication is the key.. I guess.

XIV. – Feedback on what happened? [ filler ]

XV. – It’s all a gigantic hoax—a lie.

. 𐙚 . ˙ 𖧧 ₊ ˚

XVI. – Holidays hit different this year.

XVII. – 3.. 2.. 1.. Where’s my kiss?

XVIII. – Must’ve been the wind. [ filler ]

XIX. – Baking cookies for my love, I stir n mix.

XX. – Personal escort for two minutes.

. 𐙚 . ˙ 𖧧 ₊ ˚

XXI. – “You came.” “You called.”

XXII. – How awfully sweet of you.

XXIII. – Seriously, I’m getting diabetes from how sweet you are.

XXIV. – Can’t believe I’m stuck with you.

XXV. – Me? A pillow? Gladly.

. 𐙚 . ˙ 𖧧 ₊ ˚

XXVI. – Breaking News: You have feelings!

XXVII. – Well deserved break.

XXVIII. – I don’t even know why I bother.

XXIX. – Back to being a regular student.

XXX. – Nobody would’ve guessed!

. 𐙚 . ˙ 𖧧 ₊ ˚

XXXI. – The games are over.

XXXII. – It’s only amusing with you.

XXXIII. – Missing: You.

XXXIV. – Sorry not sorry, mom.

XXXV. – Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby by Cigarettes After Sex.

— ꒰꒰﹒ADDITIONAL NOTES :

⠀✦ This is aimed towards f!readers but I did my best to make it gender-neutral.

⠀✦ Reader is addressed as YN with they/them pronouns.

⠀✦ I own none of the pictures and characters used except YN.

⠀✦ Updates are scheduled every Monday and Saturday.

— ꒰꒰﹒TAGLIST : OPEN. [ 24/50 ]

© kkuzushi | Please do not translate, repost, or plagiarize my work. This AU is posted in Tumblr only unless stated otherwise by yours truly.

[ttjisung]

back 2 u 𝜗𝜚

p. jisung x fem!reader smau - exes to lovers

in which jisung does his best to avoid you, his ex, until he realizes his mistake far too late cw: suggestive themes, bad angst, cheating, swearing

i'm not going back, back, back, back, back

masterlist 𝜗𝜚

prologue

chapter i. (wc: 1.1k)

chapter ii.

chapter iii. (wc: .8k)

chapter iv.

chapter v.

chapter vi. (wc: .9k)

chapter vii.

chapter viii. (wc: 1.6k)

chapter ix.

chapter x.

chapter xi. (wc: 2.1k + social media near the end)

chapter xii. (wc: 1k + social media near the end)

chapter xiii. (wc: 2k)

chapter xiv.

chapter xv.

chapter xvi. (wc: 2.1k)

chapter xvii. (wc: 1.6k)

chapter xviii.

coming soon!

[arc-misadventures]

Master Post of Posts VIII

I / II / III / IV / V / V.V / VI / VII

Frieren Weiss

I / II / III / IV / V / VI / VII / VIII / IX / X / XI / XII / XIII / XVI / XV / XVI / XVII / XVIII / XIX / XX / XXI / XXII / XXIII / XXIV / XXV / XXVI / XXVII / XXIX

Meet The Family

Yang / Weiss / 2 / Neo / Blake / Velvet / Cinder / Ruby / Rin

Prank War

I / II / III / IV

Smash

I / II / III / IV / V / VI / VII

Spiritual Beasts

I / II / III

Friends II

XXXXI / XXXXII

[grugruel]

Masterlist

All my fics are labeled oldest to newest to keep track of how my writing improves!

On requests and asks: I might not write every request im sent, but I appreciate getting them all the same!

I'll write most things if I find the suggestion interesting (supplying me with prompts/ideas/wishes is really helpful).

Consent and appropriate reader age are crucial in my fics, I wont write something that's lacking in either.

And please, if you have any critique feel free to tell me. I really want to improve my writing!🎀

I also really appreciate you guys interacting with- and commenting on my posts!☺️

Personal favs = ⭐️

Angst = 🎭

Fluff = 🎀

Smut = ❗️

Arthur Morgan (RDR2)

Saint, or Sinner. ❗️🎀 XII

Big Iron | bounty hunter!Arthur Morgan x outlaw!f!reader❗️XIV

You've Kissed Me For Less ❗️XXII

Benedict Bridgerton (Bridgerton)

The Artist and the flower ❗️🎀 XX

Bucky Barnes (MCU)

An Affair to Remember | collegue!bucky❓️I

Bad News | dbf!bucky

- Part 1 | Baring Throats❗️🎭⭐️ VII

- Part 2 | Cold Thoughts❗️🎭 VIII

Let the Light in | priest!bucky❗️🎭🎀⭐️IIX

Little bit | roommate!bucky❗️🎭 XI

Movement | mob!bucky ❗️ XIII

Save A Horse | cowboy!bucky❗️🎀 X

The Girl Who Cried Cowboy | dbf!cowboy!bucky❗️🎭⭐️ XV

Your Daddy Know 'bout This? | dbf!cowboy!bucky❗️🎭 XXI

Wicked Game | cop!bucky❗️IX

Cooper Howard/The Ghoul (Fallout)

His little killer ❗️XVII

Say it again ❗️🎀 🎭 ⭐️ XVIII

Quiet on Set | pre-war!Cooper Howard ❗️ XIX

Father Paul Hill (Midnight Mass)

Lust for Vampyr ❗️ III

Rick Sanchez (Rick and Morty)

In progress

Silco (Arcane)

The Game❓️ II

Sleeping With the Enemy | ❗️🎭⭐️ XXVII

Blue Eyes | young!silco x f!reader❗️🎀 XXIII

Jayce (Arcane)

Can you do that for me? | ruined!jayce x f!reader ❗️🎀 🎭 XXII

Taking Care of Her | ruined!jayce x wife!f!reader ❗️🎀 XXV

Viktor (Arcane)

Keeping Him Company | ❗️🎭 XXIV

William Afton (FNAF)

Fun at Fazbear's❗️ IV

Horrific findings, sweet nothings❗️🎭⭐️ V

Princess❗️ VI

[ginnsbaker]

fic: if i bleed (you'll be the last to know) (14/?)

Part Summary: Leigh reconciles with Jules and then receives news from Danny that could potentially disrupt her new beginning with you.

Pairing: Leigh Shaw x Fem!Reader | Word count for this part: 5.200+ | Warnings: Spicy phone call | Author's note: The date will happen in the next one, and then after that, 1-2 chapters to wrap up this series :)

Masterlist | Part I Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII | Part VIII | Part IX | Part X | Part XI | Part XII | Part XIII

-

The date doesn't happen as quickly as Leigh expected. You don’t bring it up again for several days after your grand, against-all-odds declaration of love.

In the meantime, you text constantly. Sometimes you call, just to ask about her day. The first time, she’s so confused, waiting for the real reason behind your call. But there isn’t one—you simply wanted to talk, and texting wouldn’t do it.

She’s rarely on the phone with anyone these days. For her, phone calls are usually reserved for urgent requests from Drew or her mom, or from companies trying to sell her something. The last time she was on the phone just to talk was with Matt, during the stretches when work kept them apart for days. Before that, it was high school, chatting with friends and boyfriends about everything and nothing.

Talking to you on the phone feels like stepping back in time. There’s something intimate about it, something that modern-day texting can’t capture. She finds herself looking forward to your calls, the sound of your voice at the end of a long, tiring, or listless day.

Days stretch into a week before you finally ask her out, armed with the when and where. Leigh will never admit it to anyone, but the wait is excruciating.

The butterflies swarm in her stomach as she lies on her bed, fresh from a shower, in an oversized shirt and boy shorts, biting at her fingernails. She's already restless by the time her phone rings at the usual hour.

She picks up almost immediately, trying to keep her voice as blasé as she can manage. “Hey.”

“Hey, Leigh,” you reply breathily, not realizing how that tone makes Leigh press the phone harder against her ear, as if she wants to hear more of it. “How was your day?”

She rolls onto her back, stretching her hand out and drawing patterns in the air against the ceiling. 

“It was okay. Nothing too exciting. How about yours?” she says.

“Pretty good. Just busy with work stuff. I was thinking about you, though.”

The simple statement sends a new wave of warmth through her. “Is that so?”

“Very much so,” you whisper, and Leigh can almost see your smile, just like the one forming on her lips. “So, uh, I was thinking…”

“Yeah?” Leigh prompts, her heart picking up speed. She hears some shuffling on your end and waits with bated breath.

“Maybe we should finally go on that date,” you suggest,  hopeful and a bit nervous. 

Leigh’s heart leaps, and she tears the phone away from her ear, burying her face into her pillow as a squeal escapes before she can contain it. Catching herself, she quickly schools her expression, tosses the pillow aside, and sits up ramrod straight.

“We should,” Leigh blurts out, still feeling her heart thumping wildly against her ribs. “When were you thinking?”

“How about this Saturday?”

Leigh pauses, mentally counting—one, two, three—before replying, “Great. I’m free then.” 

Wanting to lock in the details, she asks, “What time?”

“Could I, um, have you for the whole day?” you ask hesitantly, and then quickly realizing how it sounded, you clarify, “I mean, could we make it a day-long date? I promise it’ll be worth your while.”

Leigh hums, pretending to mull it over, but inside, she's practically screaming yes.

“What do you have planned?”

“It's a surprise,” you reply, the playful secrecy in your tone drawing a grin from Leigh. 

Unable to contain her intrigue, Leigh tries to coax out some clues. “Anything you need from me? Dress code? Anything I can help you with?”

“No, just be yourself,” you say, your voice dropping to a softer, more intimate cadence. “Wear whatever makes you feel most like you. You're beautiful in anything.”

Leigh feels a warm blush spread across her cheeks. She's grateful you can't see her, can't see how your words reduce her to a pile of mush.

“In anything?” she asks coyly.

“Or nothing,” you whisper back, almost without thinking.

Leigh nearly chokes on her breath at that, biting her lip to stifle a moan that threatens to escape owing to the boldness of your flirtation. She doesn't immediately realize she's drifted into a stunned silence until you apologize, worrying that you might have crossed a line. 

“I'm sorry if that was too forward,” you say.

Leigh shakes herself, trying to clear the haze of memories—the soft moans, the way your body yielded to her touch that night. “No, it’s... I still think about that night,” she shares.

“O-Oh?” you stammer, your grip tightening around the phone. You're driving home with one hand, thinking it would be a short call. Suddenly feeling lightheaded, you quickly pull over to the side of an empty street, realizing you might not make it home safely if you don't.

“What do you... think about, specifically?” you venture, slowly unbuckling your seatbelt.

It’s as if a switch has been flipped in her. Her mind races back to that night—the way you touched yourself under her gaze, how she guided your movements, the feel of her finger inside you while she rode your thigh. 

“Leigh?”

Leigh's breath hitches, and she feels heat spreading through her body. She kicks off the covers, finding herself lying flat on the bed, her fingers inching teasingly at the hem of her shorts. She closes her eyes, letting the memory of that night trickle into the forefront of her mind.

“I think about the way you looked under me,” she says softly, “The flush of your skin, the sounds you made, how your lips felt against mine.”

Her words send a shiver down your spine. “Leigh,” you murmur, “I-I think about that night too. How you took control, how you made me feel like I was the only thing that mattered.”

Leigh's fingers slip beneath the waistband of her shorts, teasing herself as she remembers the feel of your skin against hers. “I remember guiding your hands,” she continues, her voice growing huskier. “Watching you touch yourself, seeing the pleasure in your eyes. It was intoxicating.”

You can hear the desire in her voice, and it sends a surge of arousal through you. “I remember the way you moved against me,” you reply, your voice low. “Your skin was so hot against mine, it felt like I was on fire.”

As Leigh's fingers dip lower, brushing against the wetness between her legs, she gasps. She tries to contain it but fails, letting out a guttural moan—a sound of pure want—right into your ear. The rawness of that sound snaps you out of your lust-filled reverie.

“Fuck, are you... are you touching yourself? I-I'm so—” you start, your voice shaking.

“Don't apologize. Just keep talking. It's okay,” Leigh cuts you off sharply, switches the phone to speaker mode, and swiftly removes her panties. For a brief second, she thinks she probably shouldn't be doing this, not before the date they'd just planned. But the overwhelming urge washes over her, making rational thoughts blur into the background. She can't control herself; she needs to come, needs you to make her come.

“Tell me what you'd do,” she chunters, no longer concerned about sounding needy. “Please.” 

“Shit,” you hiss, quickly connecting your phone to your car’s speakers and then tossing it onto the passenger seat. You then adjust the driver's seat to give yourself more legroom and hurriedly begin to unbutton your jeans. Though you're embarrassed to admit that you've never had phone sex before, you're not about to let inexperience stop you. Not when Leigh was practically purring in your ear, begging for it.

“Y/N?” Leigh’s voice rumbles through the confined space of your car and you hurriedly close your eyes as you formulate a response, your head buzzing with several things you want to do to Leigh at once.

“I'd start by kissing you,” you begin, your voice low and deliberate, though you feel a bit foolish at the tentative start. “Soft, teasing kisses, tracing a path down your body. I'd take my time, Leigh, tasting every inch of your skin.”

“Where would you kiss me first?” Leigh breathes.

“Your neck,” you reply, your fingers brushing against your own skin as if you’re tracing the path your lips would take on hers. “I’d kiss right behind your ears…then down your throat, lingering at your collarbone.”

Leigh’s breathing becomes more ragged, and you can almost feel her anticipation. “And then?”

“Then I’d kiss my way down to your breasts,” you say, your own arousal building. “I’d take each nipple in my mouth, sucking gently, then harder, feeling them harden against my tongue. I’d circle my tongue around them, flicking the tip, just like so.”

Leigh listens, her breaths becoming shallow, her body trembling with need. She closes her eyes, lost in the sensation, in the vividness of your description. She traps a rosy bud between her two fingers, mimicking the rhythm you describe, the tension in her belly coiling more tightly.

Meanwhile, your own hands are busy on your body. Despite the cramped space even with the car seat reclined, you manage to slide two fingers inside your pants, rubbing your clit, while your other hand tweaks your nipple.

A soft moan escapes Leigh’s lips, and you know she’s imagining your mouth on her. “I’d keep moving lower, kissing down your stomach, tracing the lines of your body with my tongue. When I finally reach your thighs, I’d spread them open and kiss the inside, so close to where you want me but not quite there yet.”

“I’d breathe you in,” you murmur, “taking a moment to just enjoy the scent of you. Then I’d lick, just once, a slow, teasing lick from the bottom of your slit to the top, tasting how wet you are for me.”

“Fuck,” Leigh groans wantonly, her fingers undoubtedly mirroring your words on her own skin. You can almost see her hand moving against her clitoris, fingers collecting her own wetness and spreading it all over until her inner thighs are glistening with it.

“I’d part you with my fingers,” you continue, your own breath coming faster now, “and then I’d dive in. I’d lap at you, my tongue moving in slow circles around your clit, feeling it swell under my tongue. I’d drink you in, Leigh, tasting every drop, getting lost in how sweet you are.”

“Don’t stop,” Leigh pants, and you can hear her movements quickening, the unmistakable sound of wetness and skin in frantic motion, as if she's placed her phone near the epicenter of her impending climax.

“I wouldn’t,” you promise. “I’d suck on your clit, gently at first, then harder, using my tongue to drive you crazy. I’d slide a finger inside you, curling it to find that perfect spot, the one that makes you see stars. I’d keep licking and sucking, adding another finger, thrusting them in and out, matching the rhythm of my tongue. I wouldn’t stop until I felt you trembling, until I heard you crying out my name as you came.”

Leigh’s moans grow louder, more desperate, and you can almost see her, writhing on her bed, lost in pleasure. “Y/N, I’m close,” she gasps.

“I’d be looking up at you, watching your face as you c-come for m-me,” you say, your voice faltering as you slide a finger inside yourself. “Fuck, Leigh, baby, come for me.”

It's the endearment and the mental image of your deep brown eyes, brimming with hunger and worship, that sends her spiraling into ecstasy.

“Oh god, Y/N!” Leigh moans, her back curving as an intense orgasm overtakes her.

You’re not there yet, but you close your eyes, letting the image of her climax burn into your mind.

Leigh lies there, basking in the afterglow, her body still trembling with the remnants of her orgasm. She’s about to check in on you, perhaps return the favor, when the front door opens and closes with a bang.

“Mom? Leigh?” Jules yells from the living room.

Panic surges through Leigh. She scrambles to her feet, hurriedly pulling on her underwear and shorts. The phone slips from her grasp, landing on the bed, the line still open.

Leigh reaches the top of the stairs, breathless and flushed, just as Jules appears at the bottom, looking up with a mix of worry and curiosity. 

“What's going on?” Leigh asks, wincing as she feels the stickiness between her thighs. She silently curses, wishing Jules could have shown up after she had a chance to shower.

“Where’s Mom?” Jules demands, her eyes scanning the hallway. “And Logan?”

“She took him with her for a grocery run,” Leigh replies, coming down the stairs. “Is something wrong?”

Jules sighs. “I was just worried. The door was unlocked, and I couldn’t find anyone. Thought something might’ve happened.”

Leigh relaxes a bit, though the adrenaline from moments before still courses through her veins. “It’s fine. I just didn’t realize you’d be coming home tonight,” she says.

“Yeah, about that…” Jules trails off, tilting her head toward the kitchen with a meaningful glance. 

Leigh follows, her bare feet whispering against the wooden floorboards. Striving for nonchalance, she asks, “You hungry?” Her hand hovers over the fridge handle, betraying none of her recent distractions.

Jules stops in her tracks and turns back to Leigh. “I’ve been thinking,” she starts, hesitating slightly. “I’d like to move back in.”

“That’s… great,” Leigh says flatly, unsuspecting of her sister’s announcement. She catches the sharp drop of Jules’ brows and hurries to cushion her words. “I mean, we never actually wanted you to go. You’re welcome back anytime, you know that.”

Jules' eyes sharpen, her lips pulling into a tight line. “But only if we talk first.”

Leigh nods, a hard lump forming in her throat. “Of course,” she says.

-

They end up ordering take-out when Leigh's nose wrinkles at the unmistakable stench wafting from the numerous boxes of leftovers crammed in the fridge. She can't recall how long they've been there, only that their rightful place is now the trash bin.

It's Jules who picks the restaurant, and Leigh bites her tongue over the choice of Vietnamese. The last time they'd ordered from there, Jules had barely picked at her food, pushing noodles around her plate more than eating them. Leigh tries not to think too much about it.

The dining table is overtaken by a clutter of takeout boxes, each one wafting a blend of lemongrass and ginger into the room—a scent so rich you could almost scoop it out of the air. Leigh watches her sister with that look—the one that's all walls and wariness, like she’s guarding the last piece of herself she can’t afford to lose.  Jules, on her part, looks a little restless, her fingers skirting the edges of a white takeout box like it might offer some kind of sanctuary.

“So, talk,” Leigh prompts,  twirling her chopsticks to pick up a fresh vegetable roll and dipping it into peanut sauce.

Jules takes a breath, a deep one. When she meets Leigh’s eyes, it’s with a resolve that seems to pull her upright. “Fine, since I’m the one who kicked this off, I’ll lead. I’m sorry. I know I tossed around some pretty nasty words last time I stormed out, and I meant them—then. But calling you a sociopath? That was me going off the deep end.”

Leigh’s face hardens, a quick, involuntary tightening of her features as she recalls the sting of that last confrontation. She pushes her noodles around her box, the chopsticks clattering softly. Jules waits, the steam from her own untouched meal rising and disappearing into the air.

“I appreciate your apology, Jules, really, I do. But you can't just throw words like that around, whether you mean them or not. Words stick. They fester,” Leigh says, meeting Jules’ gaze squarely. 

Jules looks down, tries to mask the hurt that flickers across her face, biting down on her lip. 

Leigh continues, “When I criticize you, it’s not meant as an attack. I’m not someone who likes to beat around the bush, especially not with family.”

The word ‘family’ hits differently this time—at least for Jules it does. Her heart aches at the mention, dragging up memories of a recent painful conversation where she had confessed to feeling like an outsider in her own family.

“Sometimes it's not about what you say but how you say it,” Jules mutters.

Leigh looks at her expectantly, clueless and curious at the same time.

“Not everyone can handle being talked to so bluntly. Not everyone’s as frank as you, okay? Sometimes it feels more like you're pushing me away instead of trying to help.”

Leigh goes quiet, letting the silence stretch just a bit before she nods. “You’re right,” she concedes, the words slipping out almost thoughtfully. It’s almost surprising, the lack of her usual quick-fire defense. “I think I got so wrapped up in the idea that being honest meant being harsh. I can work on that. I should work on that.”

Jules blinks, taken aback by the calm acceptance in Leigh’s tone, the ease with which she receives the criticism. It’s a side of Leigh she hasn’t seen much of—this reflective, almost gentle version. It's a welcome change, a sign of growth that feels both sudden and deeply necessary. 

“I didn’t expect... I mean, I’m glad you took that the way you did,” Jules says.

Leigh gives a small, almost sheepish smile, a rarity on her usually stoic face. “I’ve been thinking a lot lately. About how I say things, not just what I say. It’s been... a lot to unpack. But hearing this from you, it really helps. It does.”

She means it. Ever since you’ve stubbornly eased your way into her life, she’s done a lot of thinking. She’s done a lot of grieving too, realizing that if she had seen the changes that needed to be made earlier, things might have been different for her—for Matt. She’s learned to accept that life is always going to be filled with regrets, but she’s grateful now to recognize that she still has the chance to change, even if it came a little too late.

Better late than never, right?

She looks at Jules, her eyes earnest and a little bit haunted. “I’m sorry, Jules, for everything I said, everything I made you feel. I love you. You’re my sister, always. I know I can be too hard on the people who mean the most to me, but I’m going to try, really try, to balance that love, to understand how you need to be loved.”

Jules sits frozen, speechless for the first time. Their confrontations usually spiral into heated exchanges until one of them storms off. She hadn't expected this to be so... civil and mature. 

So unlike them. 

Finally, she manages a small, shaky smile. “Yeah, this... this went way better than I played it out in my head.”

Leigh’s laughter is a quick splash of reprieve, a burst of surprise at how well things have turned.  But it fades as quickly as it bloomed, her smile slipping into a frown as she catches the shadow creeping over Jules’s face. 

“What is it?”

Jules fidgets, nervously twisting a napkin between her fingers. “I... need to ask you something that’s been eating at me for months... well, almost a year now. And I need you to be brutally honest with me, Leigh. Can you promise that?”

Leigh feels a slight tremor of worry, but brushes it off and nods. “You’re scaring me, but sure. I promise.”

“Here we go,” Jules says, taking a deep, faltering breath. “Remember that night? When I was so drunk you had to come and get me? It was the last night Matt was... before he... you know. Do you ever resent me for it? I did such a horrible thing, robbing you of his last moments because I couldn't keep it together—”

“You know I’ve never blamed you for that. Not during our last fight, not when Matt died, just... never, basically,” Leigh says, leaning back on her chair.

“But some part of you must have hated me, because—”

“No—”

“—maybe he needed someone.”

Leigh just shrugs and denies it which only frustrates Jules even more. “No, Leigh,” she tries, “I need you to listen to me. I was very drunk that night—”

“You were really drunk a lot of nights and you’ve done a lot of crappy things,” Leigh states frankly. “But none of them had anything to do with Matt’s death.”

Jules swallows hard, her eyes stinging. “But what if it did, though?”

Leigh, clearly frustrated, responds, “You really think that?”

Jules looks down at the table and stays silent.

“Jules,” Leigh sighs, searching for the right words to reassure her sister. Eventually, she opts for honesty. “Look, I can’t tell you how to feel, but that’s not how I feel. Okay?”

It takes a second longer for Jules to say, “Okay.”

Leigh stares intently at her sister, noting the way Jules's eyes avoid contact. She knows the soft okay from Jules isn't a signal of acceptance or peace, but a white flag in a battle mostly with herself. Jules is grappling with her own guilt, a feeling that has little to do with Leigh but still consumes her. Leigh wishes, not for the first time, that her sister could see the truth as easily as she reads into misconceptions. It’s the same thing she wishes for herself.

Feeling slightly vindicated to have aired her feelings, Jules turns her attention back to the food spread between them. She reaches for her bánh mì, grips it firmly, and takes a hearty bite. As she chews thoughtfully, she manages a muffled, “Thanks, Leigh.”

Leigh just offers a small, understanding smile.

As they continue eating, Jules suddenly grins, crumbs dotting the corners of her mouth. “You're probably wondering why we're having Vietnamese tonight,” she says.

Leigh raises an eyebrow, curious despite herself. “I was wondering.”

Jules chews quickly, then, with her mouth still full, blurts out, “Well, I've got one more piece of news for you.”

-

It’s almost midnight when Leigh returns to her bedroom. 

As soon as her eyes land on her cellphone, carelessly tossed on the sheets, guilt floods her. She remembers she didn’t even say goodbye to you. Horrified, she realizes she left you hanging, high and dry.

She grabs her phone, her heart pounding in her chest, and checks for any messages from you. The screen lights up, but there are no new notifications, no missed calls.

“God, I’m such an idiot,” she mutters to herself, running a hand through her hair. She takes a deep breath and dials your number, her fingers trembling slightly as she presses the call button.

It rings once, twice, and then you answer. “Leigh?”

“Hey. Sorry, did I wake you?” Leigh asks, picking up on the sleepiness in your voice.

“No, not at all. What’s up?”

She lets out a relieved sigh before rushing into an apology. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to leave you like that. Jules came home and then I—”

“It’s okay, Leigh,” you whisper soothingly, grateful that she called you back at all.

That doesn’t alleviate Leigh's guilt, though. She racks her brain for a way to make amends. 

“Can we… Can we pick up where we left off?” she suggests hesitantly.

You let out a kind chuckle. “I’d like that. But maybe we should save it for… later. Honestly, that was a bit reckless, Leigh.”

Leigh's brow furrows, even though you can't see it. “What do you mean?” she asks.

“I want to do this right,” you explain earnestly. “If taking things slow helps us build something real, then I’m willing to wait.”

“Well, clearly patience hasn’t been my strong suit either,” Leigh admits, her lips curving into a grin at your attempt to be chivalrous.

“I know,” you whisper, traces of a smile audible in your voice. “But I didn’t want you to think that’s all I’m after. And believe me, I want you—it’s driving me crazy.” 

Leigh runs her tongue along her teeth, feeling the familiar tug of desire low in her belly.

“I just don't want us to get so caught up in the physical stuff that we miss out on really getting to know each other,” you say.

“Me neither,” Leigh agrees, tucking the blankets up under her chin, pretending it's you keeping her warm.

“While I obviously enjoyed our…conversation earlier,” you say, pausing to maintain your composure. You can still hear the echo of Leigh's moans in your car, the memory likely to revisit you on sleepless nights in the coming days. “I'm really looking forward to diving deeper into things, like your favorite book, on Saturday.”

“Maybe I'll bring you a whole list,” she teases.

“Guess I’ll have to find that library card I signed up for then,” you joke.

“A library card, huh? Dork,” she retorts affectionately.

You feign a wounded tone, “Ouch.”

The laughter that follows is light and easy. You sigh contentedly and say, “I should probably call it a day. I’ve got an early start tomorrow.”

“Good night, Y/N.”

“Good night, Leigh.” I love you. “See you on Saturday.”

The call ends with both of you reluctantly hanging up, smiles fixed on your faces as you lie back. Leigh is an addictive rush, coursing through your veins like adrenaline. You've excused yourself out of habit for sleeping early, but you doubt you’re going to get much sleep tonight.

-

Leigh nudges open the door to the crowded bistro tucked near the Basically News office. It’s the thick of lunch hour, and the place pulses with the chatter of midday patrons. It’s exactly the sort of public, non-intimate setting you'd want for meeting an ex. She weaves through the crowded room, spotting Danny at a corner table, his focus tethered to his phone as he absently taps on the screen.

“Hey,” she greets, sliding into the chair opposite him.

Danny looks up, a hint of irritation flashing in his eyes. “You know, I could’ve just dropped by your house later.”

Leigh shakes her head. “It's better to meet somewhere public from now on.”

His expression darkens, and he scoffs. “Why? So Y/N doesn’t get jealous?”

Leigh leans back, crossing her arms. “Yes,” she says, deliberately blunt.

Danny's jaw sets, a muscle twitching slightly, but he doesn't press the issue. Instead, he reaches into his bag and retrieves a folder, sliding it across the table toward Leigh. “Matt’s publisher wants to release his comic posthumously,” he starts, “but there are strings attached.”

Interest sparks in Leigh's eyes as she opens the folder, her eyes quickly scanning the contract. 

“What kind of strings?” she asks.

“They want either you or me—or both of us—to join a group of artists to promote the comic—”

“That sounds fair and exciting,” Leigh interjects a bit too soon.

“—across the country,” Danny finishes, clicking his tongue in mild annoyance. “It’s a tour, Leigh.”

Leigh's fingers stall at the edge of the paper, the reality of the proposition sinking in. 

“A tour?” she echoes.

“Yeah,” Danny nods. He flags down a waiter and orders a beer. “Early next year. Matt’s comic is in the final stages of editing, and it should be finalized in about three weeks. They’re aiming for a release in February, and the tour will follow right after that.”

“That sounds soon,” Leigh remarks. “How long is the tour supposed to last?”

“About two months,” Danny replies. “We'll be traveling across different states, attending conventions, signing autographs, meeting fans. It’s a big commitment.”

“We?”

Danny shrugs, the hurt briefly flickering across his face before he can hide it. “Yeah, we. Though I'm not sure I can join because of the new job in Vegas. There's a good chance you might be doing this solo.” His attempt at nonchalance doesn't quite cover the sting of her reaction—how distant the concept of 'we' seems to her.

Leigh chews on her lip, her thoughts drifting to her own commitments—her column, her classes at the Beautiful Beast, and you. The idea of leaving all that behind, even for just a few months, feels like too great a sacrifice.

“It’s a lot to take in,” she says, pushing the folder back towards Danny. 

“He deserves this kind of recognition,” Danny implores, as if suggesting that Leigh thinks otherwise.

“I'm aware,” she snaps back, “I just need a bit of time to think it through, to sort out the schedules and everything.”

Danny raises his hands in mock surrender, indicating he doesn't want to escalate the argument. But Leigh knows him well enough to see through it—it’s a tactic. Danny has a way of guilting her into decisions without saying much, letting assumptions and insinuations simmer until Leigh finds herself making the choice he wants.

Leigh stands up, slipping the folder into her bag. “I’ll let you know as soon as I can.”

“Fine,” Danny says with a tight nod. “Just don’t drag your feet. The publishers are waiting on an answer soon.”

-

Saturday comes soon, but not soon enough.

All week, relentless rain showers have scattered across the days, and though the forecast promises sunshine today, Leigh wakes up to the soft splattering of rain against her window. The gentle patter seeps into her consciousness, easing her from sleep. The room is filled with a cool, damp scent, and is bathed in a soft, diffused light as the morning sun is muted behind thick clouds. 

Leigh gropes blindly beneath the pillow to her left, retrieving her phone and squinting at the time. It’s 9:30 AM. She blinks, trying to shake the sleep from her mind, and her heart drops slightly as she notices five missed calls from you, each one timestamped progressively: 7:45, 7:55, 8:15, 8:30, and finally 8:45.

Guilt twists in her chest. She sits up, brushing sleep from her eyes, and dials your number back, hoping she hasn’t missed something important. 

You answer on the first ring. “Hey. Everything okay?”

Leigh sighs, running a hand through her tousled hair. “Yeah, I'm sorry I missed your calls. I just woke up. What's going on?”

“It’s Saturday,” you say rather awkwardly. “We had plans to meet this morning, remember?”

Leigh sits up, suddenly fully awake. She’s been looking forward to Saturday all week, eagerly anticipating this date. The realization that she slept through most of the morning fills her with shame. She’s been so restless the past few days, and it was only the gloomy, sleepy weather last night that finally allowed her to get some decent rest.

“I’m sorry if I disturbed your sleep, but since it’s an all-day affair, I thought we could start with breakfast,” you continue, breaking the silence that had been filled only with Leigh’s soft breathing.

“Where are you now?” she asks.

You hesitate for a moment before replying, “I’m actually parked outside your house.”

Fuck. Shit. Damn it.

“Okay, okay. Sorry, uhm, can you give me five minutes?”

“Take all the time you need.”

Leigh ends the call and throws off the covers, scrambling to get dressed. She rushes to the bathroom, splashing water on her face and running a brush through her hair, muttering curses under her breath. Her hands tremble slightly as she picks out an outfit, the anticipation of the day ahead propelling her forward.

As she heads for the door, a small smile forms on her lips. This might not have been the flawless beginning she imagined, but just knowing you’re on the other side makes it perfect already.