#wait a minute... hold on.... i think i feel a wip forming of him running into lucy while she's.... ya know 🤰

[timothyslucy]

you know who they should really bring back for an ep?

emmett.

[jerzwriter]

Delaying the Inevitable: Chapter 30 - Decide, and the Universe Conspires

Book: Open Heart 3 (Post Series)

Pairing: Tobias Carrick x MC, Ethan Ramsey x MC

Rating: Chapter: Teen

Summary: Extended Series WIP – Love Triangle. In this chapter – Tobias’s assumptions could his judgment, Casey has an unexpected run-in, Ethan makes progress resolving his past with a likely, and an unlikely source, and, after a tense day, Casey shares her decision about DC with Tobias.

Category: Extended Series (WIP)

Warnings: Discussion of childhood trauma, a little cursing

A/N: Hi everyone! So, I said it would be 33 chapters, it’s going to be 34. I’m not stressing, the story just needs to be told right. If I put everything I originally planned for Chapter 30 in, it would have been overwhelming. The good news is, as a result, 31 is halfway done, so it shouldn’t be long before it’s out.

A/N 2: Took the standard notes from previous chapters out. I think my remaining readers get what a love triangle means and that the story is not over, and no one knows the ending yet.

SERIES MASTERLIST

CHARACTERS BELONG TO PIXELBERRY STUDIOS

Casey was fidgeting in the backseat of the taxi. Now that her decision was made, she was anxious to share it. Particularly with Tobias, the two of them desperately needed to resolve the tension and, hopefully, dismantle the wall that had been forming between them. A comforting feeling of relief enveloped her as they pulled in front of Edenbrook. Handing the taxi driver his tip, she threw her bag over her shoulder and rushed off to the team’s office. The second the elevator doors opened, she bolted down the hallway. Nearly colliding with Harper as she exited the team’s office.

“Oooh! I’m so sorry!” Harper exclaimed.

“No need to apologize. It was totally my fault.”

“How was DC? Have you made a decision?”

“I have. Can you stay? I’d like to tell the team.”

“I’d love to, but I’m already late for a meeting with Dr. Reynolds. Can we grab lunch later? I want to hear all about it.”

“I’d love that!” Casey grinned.

“Well, go, go…Tobias and Ethan are both inside. I’m sure they’re dying to hear!”

“Well, I’m dying to share!”

She had been in such a rush, but as she stood at the doorway, she stopped for a moment and took a deep breath. Then, with a confident smile, she stepped inside. The two men were just wrapping up their conversation; Tobias gathered the papers scattered before him, preparing to leave. That’s when his eyes locked with hers. Despite the turmoil that was welling inside of him, his lips couldn’t help but curl up at the sight of her.

“Hi!” she smiled brightly.

“Hey, Welcome back. Good flight in?” he asked.

“Yeah. I’m so glad to be home.”

“I’m always glad to have you home,” he replied.

“I’m glad you’re both here. I wanted to let you know that I have given everything a ton of thought, and I’ve come to a decision,” she looked from Tobias to Ethan and back. “I’d like to share it with both of you.”

“Well,” Tobias said, rising to his feet, “it will have to hold for me. I have a patient getting out of surgery in ten minutes, and I need to speak with Dr. Tanaka immediately after.”

Casey frowned, taken aback by his blasé reaction. “It’ll take less than ten minutes, T. Don’t you want to know….”

“I do,” he interrupted, “but nothing is going to change between now and tonight, is it?”

“No,” she demurred.

“Then it’s settled. I’ll talk to you home after work.” He stopped in front of Casey and gave her a quick peck on the cheek as he walked toward the door.

“I missed you,” she whispered. “Do you want to meet for lunch? At least I could….”

“We’ll talk at home,” he answered flatly.

“OK,” she answered, but she hid the hurt in her eyes as she turned back to Ethan. “I guess I’ll speak with you tomorrow after I’ve we’ve had a chance to talk.”

“No,” Tobias’s voice barreled from behind. “There is no need to wait to talk to Ethan on my account. He is your mentor, after all, and why would it be peculiar to speak to him before me.”

“Tobias, I…” she started, but he had already walked away.

Casey’s enthusiasm was all but gone. Ethan’s eyes were fixed on her, wishing he could show her how excited he was to hear but deeming it inappropriate given the circumstances. Her eyes, however, were cast down at the floor.

“I guess I should catch up on my cases with you before I do my rounds,” she sighed.

Ethan’s brow furrowed. Regardless of her news, they should be celebrating her choice.

“Are you OK?”

“Sure,” she smiled. “Never better.”

Ethan shook his head. “You have big news. I wish he would have….”

“It’s fine,” she lied. “Maybe I should have waited until we were home later. I was just so anxious to share.”

“Of course you were,” he agreed, rising and sitting next to her at the table. “And I, for one, am dying to hear, but I agree, you should talk to Tobias first.”

“Yeah. I should.”

“You look exhausted.”

“I am. I had too much on my mind, so I couldn’t sleep, not even on the plane.”

Ethan reached over and removed the folders in front of her.

“What are you doing?”

“Go home. Rest. It was a ridiculous idea to put you on the schedule today in the first place.”

“But I have patients….”

“No, I have patients,” he smiled, “you have a bed that is eagerly awaiting you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. And I look forward to hearing your answer tomorrow. Or tonight after you speak with Tobias, if you see fit,” he chuckled.

“That anxious, are we?”

“Yeah, well, I need to decide what to do with all the resumes,” he smiled. “Now… go!” he ordered.

“Going!”

“And Casey, no matter what you decide, I’m very proud of you.”

“Thank you,” she smiled.

Without thinking, she leaned over and gave him a big hug. She lingered for a moment longer than she should before abruptly retreating.

“Oh, one more thing before you go. You’re not the only person with news.”

“I’m not?”

“No. Naveen has shared some of his own. It won’t be public until tomorrow, but I wanted you to hear it from me first. He’s decided to retire.”

“He what?!”

“You heard right. A date is yet to be determined, but he’s serious this time.”

“Oh my goodness! I’m glad he’s ready, but I’m not sure that I am!”

“I get that! But he wants to focus on something other than medicine for a while, and I can’t say blame him. There is more to life, you know?”

“Yeah, I’m aware,” she chuckled.

“Harper and I have discussed throwing him a party. I’ll let you know the details as soon as they're made.”

“Do you need anything from me? I’m happy to help.”

“I appreciate it, but we’ll take care of it. Just make sure you are there, and Tobias, too, of course.”

“We wouldn’t miss it.”

“Good. Now get out of here before I have to pull rank.”

“Yes, sir,” she saluted. “Oh, and Ethan?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

____________________

Exhaustion was setting in, and so much weighed on her mind that she wasn’t paying attention as she made her way through the lobby. The next thing she knew, she smacked right into someone, emptying the contents of her purse in the process.

“Oh, my gosh! I’m so sorry,” the older man said, leaning down to help pick up her scattered belongings.

Casey turned bright red. “It’s fine. It’s me. I’m just a mess today.” A gentle gasp escaped her when she finally looked up, “Oh, my God!”

“Casey!”

“Alan!”

Their faces mimicked each other as they changed from shocked to happy, with a hint of sadness in their eyes.

Alan wrapped her in a warm embrace. “Oh, it is so good to see you!”

“Same here! I can’t begin to tell you how much I have missed you!”

“I know just what you mean!” He backed away, keeping her hands in his, and looked her over as if he had just discovered something precious that he had misplaced.

“I should have done a better job of keeping in touch with you, Casey.”

“I could have done the same, Alan. It’s just that things were so….”

“Complicated.”

She smiled wistfully. “Yes, I guess that could describe it.”

“Well, time has a way of healing such things. So I hope that we don’t have to remain strangers. Maybe you and I could meet halfway between here and Providence and have dinner one day?”

“Alan, I’d love to!”

“Good! Because I plan on holding you to that!”

“What are you doing here anyway?”

“I’m meeting Ethan. We’re going to therapy together. Today’s our first session.”

“Really?” she said with raised brows, “that… that’s great news. You know, Alan, nothing would make me happier than seeing him at peace, and you too. I know Ethan, and I are no longer together, but I still care for him and you very much.”

Alan squeezed her hand that he was still holding.

“That sentiment is returned. If I’m being truthful, I just wish we had done this a long time ago, then perhaps….”

Casey’s eyes met his; neither had to say another word.

“I know, Alan, but life doesn’t always go as planned.”

“That’s for sure! But you will always be the daughter I never had, Casey. Nothing will ever change that.”

She hugged him tightly, partially out of affection and partially to conceal the tears that were beginning to form in her eyes.

“Oh, Alan. You will alwaysmean the world to me.” She pulled back. “What a difference a year can make,” she sighed. “It makes me wonder where we will all be next year at this time.”

“Well, I can’t say much about next year, but I know I have to be to Ethan within the next fifteen minutes or so,” he chuckled. “But I’m calling you, and we are having dinner together.”

“Goo, I can’t wait.”

____________________

“Wow! Look what the wind blew in!”

“You’d think I hadn’t seen you in a year. I skipped a week, Sonia.”

“Just be glad when someone misses you, Eric.”

“Eric?” Alan queried.

“It’s a long story. Dad, this is Sonia. Sonia, my father, Alan.”

“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said, bouncing up from her seat to shake his hand. “But clearly, your son did not get his looks from you. You’re far too handsome.”

“Oh, you can’t flirt with me, young lady. I’m too old,” Alan laughed.

“Oh, heaven forbid! Flirt with you and end up with this one as a stepson?” she motioned to Ethan. “Not happening! Not in a million years!”

“And now you see why I have been begging Dr. Fernandez to make our sessions virtual,” Ethan deadpanned.

“Oh, as if! You’d miss me!”

“Perhaps,” he smirked.

The three continued bantering with ease until Sonia was called into her appointment.

“Me first for a change!” She grinned.

“Hmm… that’s what she said.”

Sonia stopped in her tracks, and her eyes went wide.

“Wow! Ethan Ramsey has a sense of humor? A little bit tawdry one at that?”

“Don’t expect it to happen frequently. I happen to be sleep-deprived today.”

“Then can you try not to sleep on evenings before your appointments?” She winked, “I think I like you better this way.”

Alan chuckled as she made her way down the hall.

“She’s something.”

“Mmm. And that’s all I want you to say about that, Dad.”

“I wasn’t going to say anything else!”

“Yeah, sure you weren’t,” Ethan chuckled.

_____

Ethan was visibly relieved when the session ended. Though it was productive, he was not eager to discuss it further when they got to his car. He knew the likelihood of his father being able to resist that temptation was practically nil, and he was right. Alan barely buckled his seatbelt when…

“I like Dr. Fernandez. She seems to know her stuff.”

“Mmm. That’s why I pay her the big bucks.”

“And do you feel it is helping?”

“To a degree. Of course, I’m not always the best patient.”

“You?” Alan mocked, “I’m shocked!”

Ethan turned and smirked.

“No need to be a wiseass, Dad. Thank God you don’t have to come back for a bit. At least I only have to take abuse from you and Sonia one at a time.”

“Yeah, that’s too bad. She sure is a spitfire. I like that.”

“Yes. She is.”

“Ah, she was just delightful!” Alan laughed

“She can be when she’s not being a royal pain in the ass.”

“Well, the best people usually are. Besides, anyone dealing with you too much is bound to be a pain in the ass on occasion.”

“Hey!”

“Do you ever see her outside of…”

“Daaaddd,” He interrupted, making it clear he did not wish to discuss it further.

“OK, OK. I was just making conversation.”

“I’m sorry that I have to go back to work now. There was no way I could miss today, plus, I picked up Casey’s workload so she could go home and get some rest.”

Alan raised an eyebrow. “Oh. Well, that’s all right, son. I’m spending the day with Naveen until dinner tonight. We have to discuss all the golfing and sailing that we are going to do upon his retirement.”

He paused momentarily and then continued.

“I saw her, you know? Casey. We literally ran into each other in the lobby.”

“Really? I’m not surprised. She was exhausted. She flew in from DC just this morning.”

“How is that going? Has she decided to go?”

“I don’t know. She has made a decision, but she’ll tell me tomorrow,” he swallowed, “after she has had a chance to share her news with Tobias.”

“Oh,” Alan replied as the car filled with silence.

“I take it they’re doing well, then?” Alan asked moments later.

“I guess you could have asked her that. I really try to stay out of their relationship. Try being the operative word.”

“It’s got to be hard, son,” Alan sympathized.

“Well, as I said in session, I screwed up with Casey all on my own. It’s not your fault, it’s not Tobias’s fault, it’s not even Louise’s fault. The actions were mine. I had more than a few people, not the least of which was Casey, begging me to get help,” he paused, his knuckles turning white as he clenched the steering wheel. “She had every right to move on and find happiness.”

“We all make mistakes, son. And we all pay the price, and if we’re lucky, we learn. It doesn’t make it easy, though. I wish things were different. I live with regret, too. That session we just had that should have taken place over twenty-five years ago.”

“What do you mean?”

“I should have gotten us both into therapy after Louise left. It’s just that I grew up in a time when people didn’t do such things, at least not people where I came from. Even so, I thought of it, but time was so limited, and, back then, our insurance wouldn’t have covered it. It was so costly, but all these years later, I see just how much more costly not doing it was.”

Ethan gave his father a look of genuine understanding, “Dad, you were doing your best. Coping with your own grief, suddenly raising a son on your own, working two jobs to keep us afloat. You did the best you could with the knowledge you had at the time. I know that I was angry with you for so many years, and that’s something I live with,” he pulled into his parking spot in the hospital’s garage and placed it in park. Turning to his father, he continued. “But I understand now, and I appreciate everything you did, and still do, for me.”

“I guess we can’t change the past, no matter how much we may want to. All we can do is appreciate today and work toward a brighter future. And for the first time in a long while, I feel like you have one, and nothing could make me happier.”

“I don’t say it enough, but I love you, Dad.”

“I love you too, son.”

The men shared a brief hug in the car as Ethan clandestinely brushed a tear away from his eye.

“Now, let’s get the hell out of here. I have a reputation as a tyrant to uphold, and I can’t have my interns seeing this.”

“Oh, we wouldn’t want that,” Alan chuckled.

____________________

Later that evening, you could hear a pin drop in Ethan’s kitchen. He may have forgotten to mention that his make-up dinner plans with Floria were taking place tonight. Alan tried to be gracious, but the tension was palpable as the three stood around the island in Ethan’s kitchen, prepping dinner. The only sound was the knife hitting the cutting board as Floria chopped the vegetables. Floria tried to break the tension.

“So, Alan, any chance you will join Naveen and retire soon? I’m sure he’d love the company.”

“No, I think I have quite a few years ahead of me.”

“Oh.”

Silence.

“Are you staying tonight, Alan? I’m sure you don’t’ want the ride to Providence after a long day.”

“Without traffic, it’s under an hour. I’ll be fine.”

Silence.

Dinner itself was not much better. Alan was irritated, Floria was the picture of discomfort, and Ethan wondered how he could have possibly thought this would be a good idea. Floria planned on announcing her departure as soon as they finished their meal, but Alan beat her to the punch. He claimed he wanted to bet a jump on the long ride home, but everyone knew better.

“He hates me,” she sighed as soon as he left the apartment.

“He does not hate you. I don’t think he likes you, but hate? That’s strong.”

She shot Ethan a dirty look as she began to clear the dishes from the table. “That makes me feel so much better.”

“Leave them. I’ll get them later. Being tortured by my Dad is enough work for you for the night.”

“You sure?”

“Yes, let’s sit on the balcony. It’s a beautiful night.”

They sat in Adirondack chairs next to each other as they took in the spectacular sunset, marveling at the different hues of light bouncing off of the skyscrapers in the distance. Floria chuckled, “Remember back when we would eat those square packets of ramen noodles on the porch outside of the ramshackle old apartment you and Tobias shared back at Hopkins?”

“I sure do,” he laughed.

“Times sure have changed.”

“You could say that.”

“I wish everyone could see that I’m not the same person that I was back then. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m far from perfect, but… I’m not her anymore.”

Ethan picked up the bottle of wine on the table between them and poured two glasses. “No, you’re not. But I think sometimes it’s harder to forgive the people who hurt the ones we love than it is to forgive people that hurt us.”

“I don’t know,” she said, accepting the glass, “I’m not too good at forgiving those who hurt me either.”

Ethan shrugged. “We’re all different, Floria.”

She ran her finger along the rim of her glass, wondering if she should ask what was on her mind. After a few more sips, she worked up the courage.

“Why did you forgive me, Ethan? I was dreadful to you. I know I was persistent, but you could have said no. I honestly expected you to.”

Ethan snorted. “I’ll warn you. The answer isn’t going to sound all that noble.”

“I’m listening.”

“When we became friendly again? I didn’t have many other options.”

“Great…”

“I wasn’t finished. I was so angry. I was in a place where your brand protect yourself at all costs was appealing to me. I admired it. It sure beat allowing myself to be vulnerable and getting hurt yet again.”

“I take it you no longer believe that, yet, we’re still friends.”

“Yes, we are. Because in time, I’ve come to see that you’re like me. You’ve made mistakes, big ones, but you have changed. You were kind to me when I needed it, and I felt it was fruitless to continue to punish you for mistakes made long ago.”

“Yeah, but sometimes the damage we inflict on others leaves us permanently broken.”

“It doesn’t have to. That’s what I have been learning. Sure, it will always impact who we are, but we get to control our future.”

“Hmmm. Therapy is working for you, I see.”

“To an extent,” he chuckled. “Have you ever considered it?”

She waved her hand dismissively. “I’m beyond help, Ethan. You know that.”

“I’m not joking, Floria.”

He could sense her discomfort, and, as expected, she moved to change the topic. “Maybe I saw Casey in your office this morning. Has she made a decision on DC yet?”

“Yes, she has. She will share it after she gets to speak with Tobias tonight.”

“You know, as much as Tobias is one of my least favorite people, I hope she decides to stay… for his sake.”

A puzzled look came to his face. “You do?”

“Yeah. I don’t like the guy, but I’ll never forget the three of us sharing our war stories about growing up. We all went through so much, and I wouldn’t want any of us to relive it. Tobias included.”

“That’s if he goes. I don’t think he’ll join her if she goes.”

Floria chortled. “Well, if that comes to pass, then he will certainly be letting his past destroy his future. But I don’t see him letting her go anywherewithout him. Of course, going back there could cost him dearly in other ways. I swear, I won’t go any further south than central New Jersey. It just opens the wounds.”

“I knew you had a soft spot,” Ethan teased.

“I do not!” She challenged playfully.

“Maybe you should go back, maybe he should too. Maybe we should all stop running away. It didn’t do a thing for me.”

“No,” she said adamantly. “I’m not going back.”

Ethan reached over and tenderly touched her arm. “I’m sorry, Flor. You endured things on a whole different level than either Tobias or me. Your father… to this day, I’d still kill him if I ever laid eyes on him.”

She leaned forward in her chair and replied with disdain in her voice. “He wouldn’t be worth the jail time. Don’t sell your pain, or Tobias’s, short, though. The beatings could be brutal at times. And locking the door to my room every night and praying that he wouldn’t come in still haunts me. But the insidious way he got into my head and convinced me I was nothing, that’s what hurt the most. That did the most damage. I no longer worry about being hit, I don’t lock my bedroom door at night, but sometimes, I can still hear his voice when I’m at my lowest. That will never go away. Being made to feel like you’re worthless, that you’re not enough from the people who are supposed to love us the most? That’s harsher than any hit I ever took.”

“Come here,” Ethan sighed, pulling her into a hug.

“You’re right. We all went through too much, in different ways, to different degrees. But the one common factor is that none of us deserved it. You do know that?”

“Sure. On a conscious level, I do. But… And I also know my past led me to do many despicable things and, I have to live with that regret forever.”

His mind immediately went to Casey, and his heart sank. “I know all about that feeling. My dad and I discussed that today. We can’t change the past, but we can change today.”

“Yeah, I suppose.”

She stood and walked to the balcony's edge, Ethan following behind.

“You know, people think you and I are so different,” she said, “and in some ways, we are. But in others, we are so much more alike than they think.”

“I don’t disagree.”

Floria hung her head forward then tilted it to the side to look at him, his eyes fixed on the horizon. Overwhelmed by the tenderness they just shared, more than she had shared with anyone in longer than she could remember, she began to inch closer to him. Her lips were just a breath away from his when he turned to look at her. She leaned forward and placed a tender kiss upon his lips, raising her arms to his neck. At first, he was stunned, but he quickly came around, grabbing her wrists and gently pushing them back to her side.

“Floria, what are you doing?”

“I... I’m sorry… I just…”

“Floria, I care about you. Ido. I consider you a friend, and I’m glad that you’re here, but … you and I… that’s… that’s not something that is going to happen again.”

“But why? Why? We care about one another, we understand one another, and, after all, we’ve been through, we know the whole love thing is not what people say it is. It doesn’t have to be a great romance. I mean, do they even exist? We know they don’t. I don’t want to get married, I don’t want it to be much, but we could be so good together… because we’re the same. Don’t you see it?”

“No, Floria. We have similarities, sure, but we’re not the same. Because I do believe love can be real, I had it, and I blew it; but that doesn’t mean I don’t hope to find it again. But even if all I ever wanted was some sort of ‘arrangement,’ you and I… we have too much water under that bridge. I’ve forgiven. I try to forget, but would I ever feel safe if we took the next step? I wouldn’t.”

As the words fell from his lips, he felt like he was hit by a thunderbolt. “Oh my God.”

“What?” She asked, trying to mask her mortification.

“And I’m sure that’s exactly how Casey feels about me.”

“Wait, are you still thinking you’re going to get back together with Casey?” She asked incredulously.

“No. No!” he sighed, “Not really. But I guess I do have some little fantasy in the back of my mind, and I haven’t fully let go of that yet.”

Floria shook her head, “You thought that she’d go to DC, Tobias would call things off, and you would have your chance. Didn’t you? I would say you were an idiot for not getting over her, but then again, here I am….”

Ethan looked at her softly. “Come here, Floria,” he took her into his arms. “I do care about you, and I want you to be happy, be it alone or with someone else. But that someone else can’t be me. I hope what we have now won’t be hurt by this because I really like what we have now.”

“Well,” she laughed nervously, “not unlike you when you decided to befriend me, what choice do I have. It’s not exactly like anyone is beating down my door. And I want you to be happy too, but I think you need to let go of this notion that you and Casey are….”

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not sitting around planning our future. But I….”

“But it’s still a daydream.”

“Yeah. I guess it still is.”

“We’re all fucked up,” she laughed.

“I guess so. But, are you OK?”

“Well, not my pride. I couldn’t be more embarrassed.”

“You don’t have to be embarrassed with me, Flor. Still friends?”

“Yes,” she smiled. “But I am going to take my leave. After tonight, I think I deserve a night in front of my TV with a pint of Hagen Daz to soothe my feelings.”

“Can I at least buy you the Hagen Daz?”

“Please, I have a freezer full. This isn’t the first night I’ve done this.”

Ethan tilted his head sympathetically.

“No. No pity, Ethan. That’s the last thing I need. I’m going to head out. Good night.”

“Good night, Floria.”

____________________

Casey sat on the couch, still wrapped in the blanket that covered her as she slept the day away. She anxiously watched the clock, counting the minutes until Tobias came home. Refreshed, she was grateful to have rested. She had no idea how her discussion with Tobias would go, and, dependent on that, she wondered if another sleepless night lay ahead. Her heart filled, but her stomach lurched when she heard his key turn the lock on the door.

He walked into the apartment quickly, stopping in his tracks when he saw Casey camped out on the couch.

“Hey.”

“Hey,” she responded.

“So… you got some sleep?”

“I did.”

“It was nice of Ethan to give you the day off.”

“It was, but now… we need to talk.”

Tobias let out a deep breath. “Yeah, I suppose we should.” He sat on the couch, as far away from her as he could. “Go ahead and talk, I guess.”

“You know, your behavior is really hurtful. This is a huge decision, and it has a big impact on our relationship. Yet you were in no rush to hear, and now, you seem like you’re almost bored with the fact that we have to have to discuss it. This is big for me, T, and since you’re the man in my life, I would have hoped it would be big for you too.”

He hung his head, feeling like a heel.

“I’m sorry,” he muttered sincerely. Moving next to her, held her in his arms and rubbed comforting circles on her back. She clung to him on the verge of tears. So grateful to finally feel the warmth and attention she had been craving, but sad that she had to push to receive it. “I’m sorry, Case. I didn’t mean to hurt you or give the impression that I didn’t care. It’s just…things have been….”

“Things have been awful,” she said, pulling back and dabbing her eyes with a tissue. “And I was hoping my answer might alleviate some of that. Which is why I wish we didn’t delay it twelve hours.”

“I was wrong,” he said, placing his hand on the side of her neck and brushing her cheek with his thumb. “And we can talk about that, but right now, I really do want to know your decision.”

She nodded, and Tobias braced himself for what was to come.

“I gave this a lot of thought. I didn’t take it lightly. ”

He stared into her eyes, mindlessly running his fingers through her hair.

“I never thought that you would.”

“After much deliberation and an extensive pros and cons list, I have decided… I’m not taking the offer. I’m going to stay here, in Boston… at Edenbrook… with you.”

Tobias dropped his hand, pulling back slightly in shock.

“You're… you’re serious?”

“Yes,” she giggled nervously, “It was one of only two options, Tobias. I don’t know why you look so surprised.”

“Because I know how much this job meant to you, and I know my uncle, I’m sure the offer was….”

“The offer was spectacular. More than I would have ever imagined.”

“But… you’re turning it down?”

“Yes,” she smiled weakly, “I am. I have to say, I thought you’d be happier than this.”

“Well, I…” a puff of air escaped his chest as he struggled for words. “I am happy that you’ll be here, with me, but….”

“But?”

“But, you’re sure? I don’t want you throwing everything away for me.”

Casey shook her head vigorously.

“It’s my choice, and, yes, you factored into it, as you should. I want a future with you, so we should make any major decisions with each other in mind.”

“But it’s your dream,” he repeated.

“No. You’re my dream. Why can’t you realize that? I have a job I love. This was my dream job for the last decade. I’ve made up my mind. This is what I want, T.”

“But if there were no me? What would you do then?”

“That’s irrelevant because there is you.”

“I just don’t want you to come to regret this and blame me.”

“It’s my choice?”

She sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“I’m where I want to be. Is it where you want me?”

“I want you,” he said, kissing her, “I want you with me, always. I just want you to be happy.”

“Well, I am. I’ll tell everyone at work tomorrow, and then I’ll call your uncle. But this is my final decision. Now, do you want to go celebrate?”

“I don’t know,” he smirked, “What do you have in mind?”

Casey pushed him back on the couch and giggled, “As if you have to ask. But, come,” she said, rising and extending her hand, “let’s actually do it on the bed this time.”

“God, you’re boring,” he teased.

“Hmm, you won’t be saying that in five minutes,” she laughed. “See, no way I’m giving this up.”

_____

Casey was in the shower thirty minutes later, and Tobias lay in bed staring at the ceiling fan slowly circling above him. He was happy but still surprised. He was certain she’d accept the offer, and he was already preparing himself for her move to DC. He remained unconvinced that she wouldn’t regret her choice later, but as he rolled over and ran his hand down her side of the bed, he smiled. This is the only place he ever wanted her to be. His eye caught the clock on her nightstand.

Ten forty-five. It’s still early enough to call. It’s Angelica…

He sat on the edge of the bed and turned to look at the bathroom door before dialing.

Hi, you have reached the voicemail of Angelica Marsh. I can’t take your call right now, but….

Better yet. This way, it’s definitely quick.

“Hey Gelly, it’s me, T. Listen, I just wanted to let you know, we’re not going to be able to do that thing after all. If you want to talk about it, give me a call tomorrow between eight and ten, I’ll have some privacy then. Catch you later.”

A few minutes later, Casey returned to the bedroom wrapped in one towel as she dried her hair with another.

“Who was that?” She smiled.

“Oh, nothing important. I think I’m going to hit the shower, OK?”

“You got it,” she answered as he leaned over to kiss her.

Five minutes later, her phone buzzed. Casey shook her head and smirked.

She got up and slipped into her pajamas when she heard Tobias's phone ring instinctively looked down at it lying on the dresser in front of her.

INCOMING: Angelica Marsh

Casey looked at the clock and cocked her head, 11:00 PM.

She returned to bed and slipped under the covers, where Tobias joined her shortly after. Smiling, he immediately took her in his arms.

“Hey, you got a call when you were in there. An Angelica Marsh?”

“You answered?”

“No, I just happened to look down and saw.”

“Oh, I’ll handle that in the morning. Thanks for letting me know.”

“Who is she?”

“Just an old friend from Hopkins,” he said, kissing the top of her head. “We should get some sleep.”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea. Oh, I’m going to meet Ethan before work to tell him that I’m not going.”

“Before work? Aren’t you in late tomorrow?”

“Yeah, so is he. So, since we’re both in at ten, we thought… You don’t mind, do you?”

“Why would I mind?” He kissed her cheek. “Let’s get some rest, baby. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Casey closed her eyes. Her choice was made. Still, she wasn’t looking forward to telling Ethan and William tomorrow. She feared Ethan would be disappointed in her, and William did not appear to be the kind of man who took hearing no lightly. She was surprised she still felt so unsettled. She thought making a decision would give her the peace she had been seeking. It’s because she hadn’t told everyone yet, she told herself, tomorrow, she’d finally feel better.

Tobias held her tightly, still afraid that letting her go would mean that she’d slip away forever. His eyes remained open, not wanting to let her out of his sight. Finally, he exhaled and allowed himself a moment to simply be happy. She was staying. She was his, he was hers, and all was right with the world. Everything is resolved, he thought as he drifted off to sleep. But just moments later, his eyes opened with a jolt. Out of nowhere, anxiety gripped his chest so ferociously it was hard to breathe. It’s just residual stress, he told himself. It’s all good now. This will go away. But as much as he tried, he could not silence a little voice inside his head that kept him awake all night. It might seem like it’s over, it said, but it's not.

Some readers asked for me to list Casey's Pros/Cons list from Chapter 29, so I am adding this after the chapter was originally posted. I hope you find it helpful:

Casey's Pros/Cons List

SERIES MASTERLIST

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[wandaromanova]

yay! we love blurb night! could you possibly do wandanat x reader where r tries asguardian liquor and she confesses her feelings to wanda and nat and it’s just really cute. love you 💕

Warnings: cussing, sexual suggestion

blurb requests are closed

| masterlist | request rules/guidelines | wips |

please do not repost or try and take ownership of my work. reblogs, likes, and comments are always welcome. <3

•❅────────────── ᗢ ‎⧗ ───────────────❅•

You were drunk. Actually, scratch that; you were completely fucked up right now. 

Thor had been bragging about how Asgardian Liquor was not for mortal consumption, and being the stubborn person you were; you didn’t believe him.

You assumed he simply created some sort of lie to keep the alcohol to himself, but you were so wrong and were now paying the price. 

Natasha and Wanda were practically carrying you up to your room, your entire body weight on their shoulders as your arms wrapped around them. 

“You know, I’ve had a crush on the two of you for like… ever now?” You slurred out, the two women turning their heads to face you. Natasha’s eyebrow was raised while Wanda smiled at you in amusement. 

“Oh, yeah?” Wanda asked teasingly and you immediately nodded your head at her question. 

“Hell yeah! Two hot ass European redheads that could kill me if they wanted to? Please, I’d let you guys do whatever you want to me.” 

You were so far gone that there was no chance of filtering your thoughts, spewing out whatever came to mind, and effectively embarrassing yourself in the process; not that you cared right now anyway.

The door opened on your floor and the two redheads hauled you out of the elevator. You would’ve tripped over the corner of the couch if it weren’t for the two women’s tight hold on you. 

Natasha’s arm wrapped around your waist to catch you, stopping so you could regain your composure. 

“Your arm is too high up, Natty. You need to move it a little lower.” You gripped Natasha’s wrist and slowly dragged it further down your body. 

However, the former assassin just let out a small chuckle and forcefully pulled her arm back up to your waist, a pout forming on your face. 

“Let’s get you to your room, Ms. Confident.” Wanda laughed at Natasha’s words as they continued guiding you to your bedroom. 

Finally, they managed to get you in and you instantly collapsed on your bed. You felt the bed dip twice, an indication that Wanda and Natasha had taken a seat.

Your head whipped between the two since they were sat on either side of you. 

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“You know, I- I’ve always wanted you guys in my bed. Dreams r- really do come true.” 

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ

Your two teammates let out small laughs as Wanda scooted closer to you, rubbing your cheek softly. Natasha followed suit, getting as close as she possibly could before running her hands through your hair. 

“God, I like you guys so much. Every time I see the two of you I feel like my ovaries are going to combust.” 

You stared up at the two dreamily while your tone of voice remained serious. Wanda and Nat laughed profusely at your words. 

Their faces were turning red from the intensity of their laughter, taking deep breaths in an attempt to catch their breaths. 

“I think it’s time for you to get some rest, moya lyubov (my love).” Natasha managed to breathe out after her giggles subsided. She leaned down and placed a kiss on your forehead, Wanda following right after. 

“We’ll talk about this in the morning, drunky.” Wanda spoke sweetly as Natasha continued combing her fingers through your hair. 

You nodded your head, not having the energy to protest. Your eyes closed shut and you were out like a light in a matter of minutes. 

Wanda and Natasha stayed by your side for awhile, quietly replaying the events of the night in their heads as you slept peacefully, cute snores escaping your lips.

They couldn’t wait for you to wake up so they could tell you that they felt the same way. 

Well, minus the feeling of their ovaries on the brink of combustion; that was a you thing.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ

───────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ──────────

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[wakaoujisenhime]

I’m home - Bakugou x reader

Synopsis: Day after day you return home from work to either find your apartment empty or your husband asleep. Your last joint day off is also quite a while back, so you can’t help but feel rather lonely. And as if that wasn’t enough, you read an interview where your man had to give an insight on his married life with you and the questions he had to answer weren’t as pleasant as expected ...

tags/warnings: Bakugou x reader ✅  fluff ✅  (more or less) some domestic bliss ✅  minimal angst ✅  

crossed off square: Take a day off

A/N: This has been in my WIPs for waaay too long, so I’m finally happy to have finished it. Hope you’ll enjoy it! (°◡°♡)

→ BINGO Event masterlist

━━━━☆ ━━━━☆ ━━━━☆

“Katsuki..“

“Hm?”

“When was the last time our day-offs were on the same day?”

——

You unlocked the front door to your apartment and stepped in as you silently announced that you were home, waiting for an answer which sadly never came.

So he’s still at work, huh?

With heavy steps, you slowly moved towards your living room, fully expecting to see your husband lying utterly exhausted on the black sofa. Much to your dismay, the only thing you saw was his Ground Zero themed jacket you had surprised him with on Valentine’s day last year.

A sigh escaped your mouth as you let your eyes scan the emptiness you called home, and that’s when you noticed something peculiar peeking out of one of your trash cans. 

Upon taking a closer look at it, you realized that it was the latest issue of the monthly ‘My HERO!’ magazine, you always made sure to buy so that you could keep track of what your husband, as well as his friends, were up to.

“Katsuki, you dummy, I still haven’t read it yet, you know?” you mumbled to yourself while you took it out of the waste-paper basket and glanced at the cover picture. 

A tall and bulky man whose red shirt emphasized his toned muscles perfectly took up almost the entire space of the booklet. His long black hair was tied up in a high ponytail, and if one looked closely, it was evident that there were still some red streaks left from back in his student days where he used to maintain a completely crimson hairstyle. 

There were some of this issue’s top stories listed on the front page, so you skimmed through the short extracts.

Earphone Jack: A life between a hero and a rockstar

“With Sensei’s help”: The way someone from the general department became one of the TOP 20 heroes

ICY-HOT: How to not only follow into your father’s footsteps but completely obliterate them

“Let me show you how it’s done”: Red Riot’s guide to becoming the manliest hero of society and women’s hearts

Some of these headlines were quite funny to you, but that positive mood only lasted until you saw your husband’s name.

Exclusive interview: How is Katsuki Bakugou’s married life going?

Even though the title wasn’t anything exceptional, you couldn’t deny that it felt a bit suggestive and provocative at the same time. Curious as you were, you immediately looked up the corresponding pages and began reading through them.

The questions didn’t differ that much from other typical Q&A sessions with other prominent figures of society. Still, some tried to imply that Bakugou didn’t seem as happy as some other married pro heroes, and that implication was making you quite sad. 

At some point, this little questionnaire got quite personal, and even if your husband was trying his best to maintain at least some kind of privacy, the reporter just couldn’t take a hint and continued prying. You could’ve only imagined just how mad he must’ve been at this point, but what interested you most were his answers.

Q: So, how are the two of you managing the housework?

A: It heavily depends on who comes home first, but both of us are trying to take as much load off as possible from the other.

--

Q: Do you suspect there might be a different reason for your wife’s late returns?

A: I don’t know what you’re trying to point at, but no, I don’t. She might not be a hero like me, but she’s still a very busy woman, and there are some days on which she even comes home when I’m already asleep. 

--

Q: Aren’t there times when you wish to come home and see that everything’s been taken care of by her?

A: If I wanted a maid, then I would’ve simply hired one.

You angrily closed the magazine and stomped towards the sofa, where you plumped down and began pouting like a small child. 

Now I know why he threw it away…

Those questions were nothing but pure incitement from the reporter who tried to subtly accuse you of being unfaithful and imply that whatever you were doing was insufficient for such a great hero like him. 

Exhausted, you lay down and held onto your man’s jacket, the mix of his favorite cologne, and his scent instantly managed to calm you down a bit. You began imagining how he was kneeling in front of you, running his fingers along your hair while trying to calm your raging heart down by saying that these people knew nothing about his or your private life, and slowly but surely your eyelids grew heavy until they completely closed. 

——

“I’m home.”

After quietly announcing his return, Bakugou disrobed his coat and kicked his shoes off his feet. Upon noticing your footwear, he immediately headed for the bedroom to see if you had already gone to sleep, but much to his surprise, you weren’t there. The thought that you were still at work crossed his mind as he scratched the back of his neck, a disappointed sigh escaping his mouth.

He dragged his feet across the floor and headed for the kitchen. When his red eyes fixated that magazine he had thrown away some hours ago, the unpleasant memories returned.  

I thought I threw that garbage away.

Just as the man was about to repeat what he’d done today, a particular figure caught his attention.

(Y/N)...

Looking at your sleeping form while tightly holding onto his jacket was both calming but saddening as well. The question you asked him some days ago was still haunting his mind.

When was the last time our day-offs were on the same day?

He knew that this question wasn’t supposed to hint at something, but he couldn’t help but feel guilty. In truth, Bakugou had always requested that his day-offs were on days where you would work so that he could at least help you out even a little bit with the housework. The happy and surprised facial expressions you did when you saw just how much your boyfriend had done around the house always filled him with enormous self-satisfaction, so he figured: why not continue that way?

But now that this stupid interview had planted a small seed of doubt in his mind and after seeing you desperately clinging onto a piece of fabric that bore his smell, it made him realize that he’d lost sight of something quite more crucial than just simple relief of fewer dishes to wash.

His calloused fingers gently caressed your cheek while his red eyes focused on your slightly parted lips. He’d given everything to wake you up with a kiss on the lips, but there was no way he could cope with the guilt he would’ve felt from robbing these small but much-needed minutes of rest. Instead, he carefully picked you up like the princess you were for him, gently leaned your head on his shoulder, carried you to the big and fluffy bed the two of you had picked out together some years back. He was relieved to see that he’d been successful in not waking you up while he’d laid you down as carefully as possible.

After tucking you in like a cocoon, Bakugou shut the door behind him and pulled his mobile phone out of his jean’s pockets, frantically searching for a particular man’s number, and when he’d finally found the one he was looking for, he made no halt. He straight out called it while completely disregarding the fact that it was almost 1 AM. 

A tired and grumpy voice picked up after the fourth ting, demanding to know just what the blond needed at such an ungodly hour. 

“A favor...it’s about this week’s day-off.” 

——

The next day you woke up to someone gently poking your cheeks, and when you finally managed to squint your eyes open, the first thing that stood out to you were spiky blond hairs.

“Katsuki..?” you asked in a silent voice, still unsure whether he was truly standing before you or not.

Said man changed his tactic and softly moved some of your hair from your eyes as he answered: “Yeah, it’s me. Now stop dawdling and get up or you’ll be late for work.”

Just as he was about to make some space for you to get out of bed, you wrapped your arms around his waist, which almost made the both of you fall over...almost.

“You little...what do you think you’re doing, huh?”

A muffled giggle was your answer to his rhetorical question, and no matter how hard he tried to get you off of him, you refused to let go, so for better or worse, he had to return your embrace and stay that way until you were satisfied.

After that short but wholesome cuddle session with your husband, you finally started doing as told and prepared for the upcoming workday.

“Alright then...I’ll be leaving,” you announced half loud, conscious of being a possible disturbance for your still sleeping neighbors while looking back at the already dressed up man behind you. Bakugou was standing there, and after seeing the desolate expression on your face, he immediately spread his arms, initiating the embrace you were so desperately looking for. While his arms rested on your back, rubbing it ever so gently you took his scent in, kissing his neck ever so gently, and wished him a good day.

——

“I’m home.”

You took a look around your dark apartment smiling sadly at the fact that your husband hadn’t come back yet, so you did what you always do on lonely evenings such as these: prepare some dinner, run a bath, surround yourself with soft blankets and watch your favorite shows and movies until you eventually drift off to sleep. The last thing you did before sleep caught up to you was check your phone’s calendar and check whether your partner’s day off matched yours and it sadly didn’t.

Alone tomorrow as well, huh…?

You had fallen asleep on such a sad and rather negative thought that it had killed your entire motivation for the following day. The moment you opened your eyes you immediately wanted to fall asleep yet again, so you turned yourself and were now facing your lover’s bed part. Suddenly something rather peculiar caught your eye. His bedside was way messier than when you slept alone, which could only mean that he had come home at some point and that’s when you heard a silent thud coming from beyond your room. 

Could it be..?

You slowly got up and when you opened the bedroom door you were greeted by a rather funny sight. Bakugou was holding onto the kitchen counter with one of his hands and with the other he held his foot and was swearing silently something about how the ‘shitty counter’ had been in his way. He at first didn’t notice your presence but the moment you giggled softly his red eyes darted back to where you were standing.

“S-Shit…! Sorry babe, I didn’t mean to wake you!” he apologized in a silent voice. Instead of answering you simply jogged up to him and wrapped your arms tightly around his neck. This gesture was all he needed and his former anger was instantly blown away. 

His strong arms glide along your back while his lips plant multiple gentle kisses on your temple. This gentle way of treating you wasn't something so uncommon and every time he did it it made you incredibly happy.

While you cuddled a sudden question crossed your mind that you couldn’t help but ask.

“Say Katsuki...it’s not like I’m ungrateful for you being here, but...isn’t your day off tomorrow?”

You expected him to get grumpy or insulted, but his reaction was quite the opposite of what you braved yourself for. The grin that appeared on his face was one full of pride and satisfaction, it was as if he had waited for that question. 

“Well, what a coincidence of you to ask! Best Jeanist called me yesterday and said that he has to reschedule my free day for today, so I figured that I’d surprise you with some pancakes and grace you with my presence!”

His arrogant way of proclaiming this was a rather exaggerated attempt to hide the fact that he was actually the one who called up his superior at 1 AM in the morning, requesting the switch in days. 

Normally such a sudden change wouldn’t be possible, but Best Jeanist had a hunch that his sidekick’s decision was most likely because of that interview he had a few days. The pro hero still remembered the way the blond had stormed into his office, screaming something about the audacity of the interviewer, about how these extras were lucky he held back, and how he’d make sure to ‘accidentally’ blow up their main building the next time he fought a villain. Considering his outburst, the older one figured that the questions must’ve been entirely different than anticipated so he decided to wait for the magazine’s next issue to release so that he could have a look as well. 

You simply smiled to yourself and pressed your cheek on Bakugou’s trained chest, while the soft and pleasant smell of pancakes and sandalwood reached your nose. The two of you stayed like that for a couple of minutes until your husband gently pet your back, a subtle signal to signalize that it was time for the two of you to let go. With his warm hand still on your back he softly navigated you to one of the chairs he’d placed around your kitchen island and waited until you sat down so that he could serve you his fluffy creations.

“Et voilà! Katsuki’s extra fluffy and freshly prepared pancakes...hope you’ll enjoy them” he announced in a warm tone and kissed your cheek. 

Looking at these soft goddesses you couldn’t help but lick your lips in anticipation, but you decided to wait for your beloved to join you so that you could dig in at the same time. It took a short while to persuade the blond who insisted that you start without him so that he could enjoy your blissful expression, but he yielded in the end.

His red eyes studied your positive reaction to the warm breakfast he’d prepared and a loving smile adorned his lips as he listened to the countless positive comments you uttered in regards to it.

Good thing I managed to escape her grasp this morning, ‘cause this expression is so worth it.

While you happily ate one bite after the other, Bakugou recalled today’s morning and how you had subconsciously wrapped your arms around his body and were cuddling up to him. The temptation to just lie there with you and shower your face with kisses until you woke up on your own was truly big, but he repeatedly told himself that your expression when you met him in the kitchen would be ten times cuter and more satisfying...and he was right.

“Hey (Y/N)...I love you, I really do” he said in a silent and almost soothing voice as he gently wiped off some crumbs from the corner of your mouth. You looked at him with slightly widened eyes. Your husband wasn’t that good with words as some so you often had to read between the lines and yet, this time you knew exactly what brought this sudden confession on.

The interview…

After swallowing that small bite of pancake which you’d been chewing on for a tad too long, you got up and walked around the edges of the island that separated you from your loved one.

The blond seemed to follow your line of thought and got up from his chair as well, already spreading his arms and readying himself for your embrace. When you were standing face to face with him you instinctively went for a hug and squeezed him as hard as you could while he placed his forehead on your shoulder and took in your pleasant smell.

It was at times like these where the thoughtfulness of your usually brash and impudent husband came to light and managed to cosy you along with his actions rather than his words. 

While you were clinging onto his shirt the trash bin at the corner of your kitchen caught your eye and you couldn’t help but smile to yourself as you recognized the familiar and slightly wadded front page of a certain magazine… 

[bratkook]

eleven months. (m) myg. two.

masterlist.

pairing: min yoongi x reader genre: fluff, slow burn!!!, eventual smut, warnings: brief non-descriptive mention of death, otherwise none word count: 7k author’s note: here’s some more backstory on both of them as well as more interaction beyond yoongi hunting down an album by the cure lmao. like i said before, i’m really soft for yoongi in this story so lmk what you think! (also..because i hate myself and love piling up wips, theres mention of oc having a previous love interest that’s actually part of another story that takes place in this universe that’s a prequel soooo...coming soon lol) taglist (open): @min-yus​ summary: it’s been years of yoongi living his routine life, accustomed to his pace of living, going with the flow and simply existing. until you come along. yoongi absolutely can not see the logic in the way you live, but he weirdly craves it. craves the feeling of not being afraid of not knowing what’s coming, being able to just let the cards fall wherever they land. and maybe you can help with that.

In the next coming weeks it becomes obvious that Yoongi is in fact a regular. His routine visits allow you to remember the usual days and times he’d pop in, so you knew if you’d be working on his chosen days. 

Somewhere in between his casual drop ins, the two of you had formed somewhat of a friendship— or the beginning stages of one at least. Yoongi liked your sense of humor, how open and friendly you were to anyone you encountered, always having something to say about anything. Conversation came easy to you, never running out of stories. It left Yoongi thinking you’ve definitely lived about ten lifetimes compared to him.

In turn, you liked how he let you steer the conversation any way you chose. Most people would probably watch on in horror at the way you’d go from talking about a specific song or band, and then switching to a story about how you chased a pickpocketer during your travels before moving on to talking about your roommate’s cat. None of it gave him whiplash though, seamlessly flowing into the next topic with a grin on his face, never feeling like he had to think too hard to keep it going. It worked best this way. Yoongi was observant by nature, a great listener above it all, so if you were the one doing most of the talking it was fine by him. 

Everyone at Rkive360 had taken notice that Yoongi’s usual five minute visits had turned into ten, and then twenty, until it became very clear he was lingering inside the store. No one told him anything, besides the fact that he was bestfriends with the owner and had immunity, all of you were fond of him. Taehyung enjoyed the sly remarks Yoongi would make, Sana just enjoyed ogling at him, Namjoon would never mind seeing him, and you would take any chance you could to attempt to wow him with your small knowledge of music. 

It was a nice distraction whenever he stopped by, always heading straight to the back where the vinyl was kept. Sometimes he had a specific album in mind, other times he was simply browsing, but he only ever bought one at a time. It was routine, maybe even a weird ritual of sorts if he really thought about it. 

On the days you knew he’d be coming you would spend a little extra time in the beginning of your shift picking out a few records to suggest to him if he didn’t have one in mind. Because of this, he had stopped his usual path to the bins and now came directly to you, the first stray off his usual routine. 

Today you’re standing behind the counter, ringing up a customer when he walks in, a smile on your face as you chat away. He patiently waits at the far corner, leaning back against it as his eyes roamed the interior of the store, taking note of the way Sana and Taehyung were trying and failing to build a giant display. It looks like a mess of parts, scattered around with no instruction manual in sight— definitely Taehyung’s idea to toss it judging by Sana’s look of frustration. 

He tears his gaze away from them beginning to argue when he hears you wish the customer a good day as they leave, pushing away from the counter and shuffling your way with a grin on his face. You smile back at the way his doughy cheeks push out, high points of them reflecting the light from above. 

“Any shirt facts of the day?”

That had also become another common occurrence. Whenever you decided to wear a band shirt, he somehow always had random facts about whoever it was. It didn’t matter if it was some obscure french band or a 90’s rapper, Yoongi knew something about everyone, like some walking encyclopedia of musical artists. So when you take a step away and spread your arms out, he sees your shirt of choice today is The Doors, and he scoffs. Too easy.

“The Doors were the first band to ever advertise a new album on a billboard.” He nods his head slowly, almost as if he’s telling you yes I know, amazing right?

A hum leaves your lips at his fun fact, slightly impressed by it. “Interesting. Like always, I did not know that.” You peek under the counter top at the selection of records you kept stowed away for him, safe from any undeserving customers. “Now, do you want to see my daily, hand picked selection just for you.”

This was his new favorite pastime, getting to see the random albums you’d group together for him, wanting to know what you thought was worthy for him to listen to. When he nods, rubbing his hands together in excitement, you haul up the stack and carefully spread them out across the top.

The genre of the day was R&B, he can tell that much as he sorts through the albums. You’re familiar with the way he clumps together certain records, marking them down as albums he already owns, until he gets to an orange colored cover. The words The Internet fill the top right corner along with Ego Death on the bottom left. This he had never heard before. He picks it up and flips it over, scanning the song names with interest.

His eyes raise up to yours with curiosity, the same sharp gaze that somehow still makes you nervous holds the obvious question being passed between you with no need for words: are they any good? And the way you nod your head immediately convinces him enough. “Alright, I’ll give them a shot.”

A small sense of pride fills your chest, a tiny victory whenever he decides to pick something from your stack, trusting whatever music knowledge you had somehow convinced him you have. “I promise you’ll love them.”

When you hand him his change and the brown paper bag, you immediately check the time and clock out, dipping back under the counter and grabbing your bag from its hidden spot.

“Are you off?” Yoongi finds himself asking, no longer used to leaving immediately after he purchased something. The usual fifteen minute conversation you two had was missing today, and he’s not too sure how he feels about that. 

“Yes I am, you were my last customer. The store will now be run by those two heathens. Here’s to hoping they don’t bite each others heads off while they finish building whatever the fuck that is.” Taehyung is now standing up, lazily holding up a part of the display as Sana tries to screw something together, angrily giving Taehyung commands but he only mimics her with a ridiculous face. And when she socks his thigh, her fist aiming a little too close to home, you let out a laugh.

Yoongi highly doubts that’s going to be possible, Namjoon would probably have to be the one left to finish building the display while also putting them on opposite sides of the store whenever he came in for the day. It was truly a shock that they had gone this long working together without an actual fist fight breaking out. If it came down to it, Yoongi had his money on Sana being able to whoop Tae’s ass. 

“Do you know any good take out spots nearby? I’m starving and I’m still new to the area so I’ll take any recommendations.” Your voice snaps him back, his eyes looking at you briefly as the question registers within him.

“Oh, yeah. There’s a place not too far from here that has pretty good jajangmyeon.”

“Hell yeah.” Your hands pat your belly softly, coming up to readjust your bag as you walk around the counter and head for the door, shouting out a goodbye to Taehyung and Sana as you leave the store. When you exit the shop, your hand holding the door open behind you, you glance back inside in confusion when you spot Yoongi still standing by the counter with wide eyes. “Well, aren’t you coming?”

Truth be told, he had been wanting to talk to you outside of work for a while but he was scared to ask, not wanting to make you feel obligated to say yes just because he was a regular at your place of employment. Something about you seemed familiar to him, and to be quite honest he just craved social intimacy. His job consumed him and coming into this record shop was the small escape he needed, you being there was just a newly added plus.

You’re on the same page he is, wanting to hang out with him just as much as he had, something about the way he seemed like a half open book interested you. Throughout all of your adventures you had forced yourself to come out of your shell, no longer afraid or bashful when it came to initiating friendships. If you wanted to get to know someone better, then you’d bite first. And you definitely wanted to get to know Yoongi better.

It takes him a moment to react, his gaze switching from you to look back over at your coworkers, seeing Sana sending you a curious glance. Yoongi was about to attempt to muster up the courage to ask you to hang out and you beat him to the punch, but after a second he grins at you with a nod. Of course he was coming.

The weather in Seoul is forgiving today, the usual cold of autumn being prevalent in the air without the need to bundle up, the slight wind not stinging your skin as it blows around you. This was probably your favorite season, comfortable enough for you to do whatever you want without feeling restricted by heavy layers or sticky from the heat. 

A soft smile is on your lips, hands shoved into the pockets of your baggy cardigan, and a small pep in your step as your eyes take in the world around you. That feeling you get when you visit a new town on vacation, how you’re just passing through for a brief moment in a place so many call home, it makes you realize how small you actually are. 

It’s a feeling you always longed for, to experience a new place and make it home, it's the main reason you always bounced around so much. Staring at all the shops around you, taking in all the people just going about their daily life, you’re content with your new choice of scenery. 

Too lost in your own head as you take in the shops and people around you, you snap out of it when Yoongi reaches out and clasps a hand on your shoulder, steering you to turn right when you keep walking straight. “Get your head out of the clouds.” 

He hears the snort you let out, allowing him to guide you the correct way. Slowly trailing away from the main road, the amount of people lessens, only a handful of stores line up around the alley you had turned into. When you spare a glance at Yoongi you can see the excitement on his face, speeding up his pace until he’s standing in front of the restaurant. It’s a small hole in the wall shop that didn’t even look like it served food from the outside, all black exterior with a red sign hung up on top showcasing their name, Ipum.

It’s charming, and the way Yoongi spreads his arm out puts a similar smile on your face. Only then does he pull open the door, allowing you to step in first before he follows. 

Once Yoongi steps inside he’s immediately greeted by the workers calling out his name in glee, bowing in response with a bashful smile as he approaches the small counter set up for take out orders, not needing to read the menu. You don’t realize he’s waiting for you as you take in the interior of the restaurant, the red dining tables surprisingly packed despite their lack of advertising outside. This place really must be as good as Yoongi promised.

“Anything specific you want?” he asks, finger pointing to the small menu in his hand in case you needed it. When you shake your head, letting him know he can order anything he wants, he does exactly that, placing two orders of jajangmyeon, along with fried dumplings and sweet and sour pork to complete it. It was his go to choices whenever he came, so he hopes you’ll enjoy it as much as he does. 

As you step to the side, backs pressed against the wall closest to the counter in order to keep the space open for the workers and patrons to walk comfortably in the small shop, you turn your head to glance at Yoongi again. “You come here often?”

The way the workers had spoken to him had made that glaringly obvious, but you wanted to hear it from him, wanted to know if he came here for comfort food or some other weird tradition like his ‘one-vinyl-a-day’ way of life. 

It was sort of a habit he had fallen into years ago. Having grown up in this city his whole life, he had stumbled upon this place his last year of high school. It had become a staple soon after, a place he would come to directly after classes were done to come stuff his face before heading home. Then it became a place his girlfriend and him frequented when the apartment they moved into turned out to be a mere block away. 

In a way, the owners of this shop had become like a second family. The amount of times they’ve seen Yoongi at his best and worst throughout the years, never once throwing judgment his way even if he came in beyond plastered back in the years he used to drink, never turning him away even if he cried into his noodles. 

He decides that’s a little too much to unpack right now, so he just nods in confirmation. “Yeah, I’ve been coming here for years. One taste of their noodles and you’ll be hooked too, trust me.”

Oh you trusted him, the amount of plates you’ve seen so far just made your mouth water once they passed by you and the smell of the food reached your nose. “We should’ve just sat down, I’m not gonna be able to wait until I get home to eat this.”

As you say this one of the workers approaches you two with a tied up plastic bag in his hand, the inside stuffed with takeout boxes and utensils for you to take. Yoongi grasps the bag with a smile and thanks him as he walks away. “Don’t worry, I live like a block away.”

He realizes how his words could be taken immediately, how he had assumed you two would innocently go back to his place to share a meal. You had invited him to eat but the location of where you would be doing so had not been discussed and the last thing he wanted was to come across as a sleaze.

His mouth was ready to back track completely, until he sees the way you dramatically place your hand over your chest, and he knows it's too late, “Oh damn, your place? Saucy, but I’m starving so I’ll do almost anything.”

You can see the way he relaxes when he notices you aren’t being serious, taking his words lightly the way he intended them. His eyes roll behind his lids, a lazy smile gracing his lips as he shoves your shoulder lightly to get you to start walking. 

“Is jajangmyeon all it takes?”

“Slow your roll, good jajangmyeon is all it takes. I’ve yet to have a taste.”

Yoongi smiles at your words, taking the lead when you step out of the shop and turn back down towards the main street. His apartment was on the next block over, a short walk that you didn’t mind, especially since he took it upon himself to point at random stores you passed to let you know the best places to get what.

He has a lot of love for this city, the memories it possesses spread out through his entire childhood and early adult years, lingering in each crack on the sidewalk. He often sits and wonders how different his life would be if his parents had decided to move to Busan instead of Seoul, or stayed in Daegu altogether. The thought of the timeline of his life being altered so drastically to the point of possibly not being able to be living this moment sends his mind into a flurry, so he's grateful you’ve reached his front door now as his mind settles.

“Oh my god who’s this?” You coo as you step into his apartment, crouching down towards the white stone floors to pet the fluffy gray cat that greeted you, enjoying the way it purred and rubbed against your knee.

“That's Yuri, the queen of the house.” He steps away from you, setting the plastic bag on top of the kitchen counter a few feet away, his hands pulling out the containers and setting them down. “Don’t give her too much attention or she’ll never let you leave.”

Yuri glances up at you, her bright green eyes peering up innocently at Yoongi’s words, almost as if she was pleading for you to keep petting her. It doesn’t take much convincing for you to scoop your hands under her and press her against your chest as you stand up, your fingers gently scratching the top of her head. Yoongi lets out a sigh when he sees his cat has succeeded in wrapping you around her finger.

“Sorry, she’s too cute to not cuddle with.”

She nuzzles into your chest, purring in appreciation when your fingers trail down onto her spine. Yoongi watches you as he pops open the lid of the container that holds the noodles. Yuri is his baby, yet every time a new person comes into his place she acts like he doesn’t exist— well not until he pops open the container holding the sweet and sour pork. That's when her head pops up, her green eyes sharpening when she spots the food, and Yoongi glares back at the fluffy traitor.

When Yuri's fluffy body shakes slightly as you laugh Yoongi glances back at you, breaking up the staring contest he had going with his cat. “She’s gonna betray your love right now for some pork.” 

You don’t doubt him, not with the way her paws start to push at your arms, attempting to stand up in your embrace until she’s hopping off from your arms and slowly walking towards Yoongi. She’s absolutely shameless as she rubs her body against his legs, and Yoongi can only look down at her before staring back up at you, gesturing out with his hands. “You see?”

The act of betrayal doesn’t sting, not when she’s as cute as she is. Instead you just chuckle, walking towards the stools Yoongi has by the oversized kitchen island, a breakfast bar set up at the end, the food spread out on top of it. He ignores Yuri for the time being, pulling out the stool beside yours and sliding into it. The both of you pull your chopsticks apart and get to eating instantly, swirling the noodles until they’re evenly coated in the sauce.

You try to ignore the way Yoongi blatantly stares at you as you bring up the first clump of noodles, waiting to see what your initial reaction would be to the food he held so near and dear to his heart. Yoongi knows this could go south so quickly, there is nothing worse than trying something new when you’re starving and having it absolutely suck. Sensing his nerves, you slurp the noodles up, and when the salty taste hits your tongue you hum, chewing them thoughtfully to make a show for Yoongi.

“Verdict?”

He waits patiently for you to swallow, sharp eyes analyzing your expression, seeing you lick your lips and grin at him. “You weren’t lying, definitely some of the best jajangmyeon I’ve had.”

In pure dramatics, he practically sags in his seat and raises a fist into the air in success, being able to properly enjoy his food now that he knew you approved of it. The two of you begin to eat in relative silence, the sound of munching and slurping filling up his kitchen space. 

As the minutes go by, the back and forth of your chopsticks plucking out a dumpling after he did, lands with you snatching the last one. An evil cackle leaving you as you pop it into your mouth and grin at him, cheeks puffed out slightly and he can’t find it in himself to be irked at you snatching the last dumpling when you looked like that.

The compromise of that is you leaving the remaining pieces of pork for him to enjoy, and when Yuri gracefully hops onto the counter you see why he had suggested that. He grasps a tiny piece of pork on his chopsticks and feeds her like a parent would a toddler, airplane noise and all until Yuri opens wide and gently clamps down on the meat.

“She’s spoiled because of you.”

He merely shrugs, a giant smile spreading across his face as he watches her with adoration as she chews the food. “I refuse to confirm or deny that.”

As you finish up the last of your food you just watch on as Yoongi alternates between feeding himself and Yuri until no more pork remains. Seeing the soft way he acts with his cat just warms you up, Yoongi had always seemed like a blunt person from the times you’ve seen him at the store, his sense of humor is one that could easily be taken as harsh or cold if you didn’t match it, but you’d never expect to see him this way. The tops of his cheeks push out as he smiles at his cat, cupping her face between his hands and rocking it back and forth before planting a kiss on her forehead.

She seems to understand that that's her cue to hop off the counter, knowing that snack time is now over as Yoongi starts to clean up the empty containers. When you reach to clean your own mess up he’s quick to slap your hands away, smirking when you retract them with a small wince, your fingers rubbing the back of your palm that he had swatted with a pair of chopsticks.

“Shoo.” He waves his arm in the direction of his couch, not giving you another glance and missing the way you pout at how he had dismissed you like he would his cat.

With a huff you turn on your heel, properly taking in his living room. From the small tidbits of half truthful information that Taehyung had provided you with, you knew Yoongi was somebody in the music industry. You had always assumed that when people said that it meant struggling soundcloud rapper or something of the sort, but from the look of his apartment alone it was very evident that Yoongi was not a struggling soundcloud rapper. 

The wall of his living room was lined with floor to ceiling windows, letting you catch a glimpse of the cityscape down below, the darkening horizon and slowly flickering street lights blending together. A dark grey couch was on the wall adjacent to that, directly facing the entertainment center he had set up, complete with a massive mounted television and soundbar, a collection of DVDs organized in the storage unit below it.

You walk closer to it, catching sight of the picture frames he had displayed along the top of it. They were all simple black frames, all differing in size, all of them having photos of Yoongi and his friends on them. The one in particular that had you smiling was a photo booth picture with Yoongi and Namjoon, they were accompanied by three other people, a boy with slightly red tinged hair and a bright smile, another boy with dark brown hair and a slight pout on his face from Namjoon squishing his cheeks, and a girl with light brown hair smiling widely as Yoongi gave her bunny ears.

Namjoon was a very smiley person, never needing a reason to be, but seeing Yoongi sporting a massive gummy smile had you realizing how nicely a smile suited him. It was clear that he held this group of people near to his heart considering they all occupied the remaining photos as well.

A couple of steps right beside that was where he had his prized possession, his record player that he had fully customized to get him the desired sound he was looking for. It was a sleek black, accents of silver shining off of it, resting pretty on a dark stained wooden stand. A few of his records were stored beneath it, but what really caught your eye was the eight by eight makeshift gallery wall that showcased his current favorite LP’s, each individually shelved to show the album art in all its glory.

“Should I give this a listen with you here?”

His question has you turning your head towards him, cutting your admiration of the album covers short. He stood a few feet away, his hands holding up the orange cover of the album he had bought today with your suggestion, and a small sense of nerves bubbles up in your stomach for some reason. You had always suggested music, confident in your choices when you were in the safety of the record store, but having to witness his first impression made you a little uneasy. What if he hated the band entirely, or worse, what if he pretended he didn’t hate them just to soothe your ego.

Is this what he felt like watching you take your first bite of food earlier?

“Sure,” you choke out, taking a giant step back from his record player, hearing him chuckle at your odd behavior.

As he lifts the cover up and slides the giant record out of its sleeve you decide to go sit on the couch, sinking into the plush material and welcoming Yuri into your lap when she jumps on as well.

With a few clicks, the low whirring is heard of the turntable beginning to spin. And when he eases the needle onto the record a small crackle sounds before Get Away starts to play. He fiddles with the volume slightly until satisfied, only then does he turn back around and join you on the couch.

His face is settled in thought, bobbing his head gently to the beat as he rests back against the couch, sinking into it with a groan until he’s fully comfortable, legs spread out with one arm resting casually on his lap and the other on the arm rest, fingers tapping along.

You watch on in silence, your fingers raking through Yuri’s fur until her purring calms your nerves and you’re sagging back. Before you know it your eyes shut as you listen along to the music, your belly is full and your limbs are sore from the unpacking and rearranging that had to be done at work so being able to sit here and shut your brain off while mellow music filled the room was what you needed.

Before long the A side is finished playing, Yoongi having to get up to flip it over until the B side plays all the way through, the ending voicemail of Palace/Curse playing until it fizzles out entirely, the room falling into silence once more.

Yuri had gotten comfortable herself, sprawled out across your lap with her head by your hip, but when Yoongi gets up with a stretch her head pops up, eyes narrowing at her owner until she senses no threat and lays back down.

“Verdict?” You repeat his earlier question, seeing him hunched over with his elbows resting on his knees, his lips pursed in thought.

“Honest opinion?”

“Brutally honest.”

He hums with a sly grin as he turns his head to face you. “They’re good. Kinda makes me feel nostalgic too for some reason. But as a whole, it's great music that calms you down.”

With the way you’re laying practically boneless on his couch you can attest to that, they were definitely a band you listened to to unwind. He catches the wide smile spreading across your face as he stands back up to properly store the record, your smile only getting bigger when you see him replace one of the displayed albums on the wall with the new one. 

“It's going on the wall of favorites,” he announces, sliding the previous record back into the storage underneath.

“I’m honored.”

He steps back from the wall with his hands on his hips, admiring how the orange of the album pops out against the others. Yoongi very rarely switched these albums out, but he had a feeling this wall would eventually become full of the random albums you’d recommend to him.

“Quick question,” he starts as he turns back to face you, taking in the sight of you and his cat cuddling together. “It’s been sitting at the back of my mind, and Taehyung has given me like three different answers.”

A small laugh leaves you as you raise your eyebrow at him in question. “Sure, what is it?”

“Where did you move from?”

You stretch your legs out in front of you, your toes just barely reaching the coffee table he has set up a bit away from the couch, Yuri mimicking your actions and stretching out as well. You were definitely gonna grow as attached to her as you were to your roommate’s cat.

“Like where was I last before this, or where am I actually from?”

He walks towards his fridge, still being able to see and hear you due to the open layout of his place. “Both I guess.” The door pops open and he reaches for a bottle of water.“You thirsty?”

“You have some wine, or some beer?”

Yoongi grunts at that, shaking his head slightly, “Sorry, I don’t drink anymore but I’ve got water and juice.”

You’re sitting up straighter now, voicing out that the water was fine. “Where I’m from is classified information, you’ll have to level up on our friendship for me to tell you that.” You accept the water he hands you, smiling at him as he sits back on the couch. He was fine with your secrecy, taking whatever you feel comfortable telling him. “But I was in Madrid before I came here.”

“Oh? Did you leave where you’re from to go live there?”

Your fingers capture Yuri’s paw, squishing her toe beans as she gently swats at your hair. “No, I was in Amsterdam before that, and Berlin before that as well to name a few. I’ve been bouncing around since I was 20, so about 6 years now.”

He has a look of interest on his face as he sips the water, leaning onto the couch sideways to face you. “Do you ever want to go back to those places?”

“Like visiting the place more than once?”

He nods, his eyes focusing on Yuri’s fluffy body, seeing her sitting back up to hop onto the ledge of the couch, rubbing her body against the back of your head before settling on the backrest of it and getting comfy.

“Hm, not sure. I can’t see myself wanting to flip back the pages of my life to reread a story I already know the outcome to.” With a sigh you shrug at him, your fingers now tracing the material of the couch. “Maybe in the future, years from now, I’ll crave a specific memory and want to go back, but it hasn’t happened yet.”

The amount of new cities and countries you’ve been lucky enough to call home for any amount of time held a special place inside of you, the memories and stories you had because of those experiences helped shape you into the person you are. Sure not all of them were movie-like experiences, some close calls happening at a few places that made you question whether you made the right choice living your life the way you did. But then you’d have moments that just felt right, and right now, sitting on this couch with Yoongi, this was one of those moments.

“So you don’t plan on staying here forever?”

“Well what do you mean by forever?”

He smiles, not thinking he would have to explain what forever meant to him. “For the rest of your life. Is there another version of forever Y/N?”

“Shut up,” you laugh. “It’s not likely, but who's to say. I never move somewhere with a time frame of how long I plan on staying.”

“How do you decide? Sorry if I’m prying but I just can’t imagine that moving somewhere new would be easy. Picturing having to leave friends behind would probably wound me.” 

That was true, that was definitely the hardest part of doing this— emotionally at least. The people you met and befriended were a factor in deciding how long you’d stay somewhere. After the initial week of exploring a new place, it gets lonely. You’ve been to places where even the roommates you’d stay with weren’t friendly, and you’d have to take it a step further and search for friendships elsewhere. It was the main reason you had learned to not be timid when it came to making the first move.

“It’s kind of a gut feeling. The longest place I’ve lived in was Paris for two years.” A smile spreads across your face as you recall the two years you spent in that city, how you probably would’ve left after a few weeks if you hadn’t ran into that cute boy right before the club you were in shut down for the night. That experience alone was one of the main reasons you made it a conscious decision to not fall in love, not wanting to experience the inevitable heartbreak that came with it. 

Paris was the first place you moved to, jumping head first into adventure and taking everything that came with it, including romance. Leaving friends behind had been hard, but leaving Park Jimin behind had been a different version of painful.

“Before this I was in Madrid for a month. I found myself getting comfortable too fast and when I get comfortable I get bored. When it's no longer new and exciting I don’t see the point of staying anymore.”

Yoongi absolutely can not see the logic in the way you live, the carefree aura radiating off of you, but he weirdly craves it. He craves the feeling of not being afraid of not knowing what's coming, being able to just let the cards fall wherever they land. His entire life had changed in the last few years and was now built off routine, bullet point to-do lists and deadlines he had to meet. The only adventure he experiences anymore is thanks to his friends, luring him out of his apartment to fulfil any of their spur of the moment ideas, but nothing comes close to this. 

He’s not able to understand how you can be suspended in freefall for the majority of your life, and instead of panicking about your lack of parachute, you’re admiring the view.

“Do you plan on staying here forever?”

That question makes him freeze a little, he had been prying into your life no problem but now that a question was directed at him, he felt himself growing uneasy. “I guess I did.”

“Did...why past tense?”

You see the way he hesitates, his mind is already playing through all the scenarios that can come because of this but he decides to just bite the bullet. “Love makes you think of forever. I pictured forever with my fiance.”

At the mention of a fiance your mind thinks of the girl in the photos with Yoongi, the girl with the bright smile and wide eyes.

Was Yoongi a married man?

He can spot the way you process his vague information, knowing he should elaborate before you think anything else, before your eyes move to his ring finger only to find it bare. “When you’re with someone for almost 8 years its normal to think of forever you know.”

The flashes of his relationship play in his mind, meeting his fiance in his last year of high school. How they had pulled each other out of their shells, becoming rather chaotic in their adventures over the years, turning into adults and supporting each other in every aspect of life.

The memory of Yoongi proposing to her still feels fresh in his mind, taking her to Jeju island since it was a place she had always wanted to visit, not being able to due to caring for her family.

“We were actually planning our wedding, having invitations sent out with everything nearly ready but she uh–“ he stops to breathe slightly, his eyes moving to stare at the picture frames, proving your assumption of the girl being his fiance right. “She got into an accident.”

He hadn’t specified if she died or not, but that faraway look in his eyes spelled it out for you. Forever didn’t have any sympathy for his situation, but he just shrugs it off, forcing himself to not speak further on it. There was more that tied in to the tragic passing of his fiance but he felt he had overshared enough already, not wanting to make you uncomfortable by unloading this information on you. The last thing he needed was to turn this nice day into a pity party with him being the center of attention. 

He’s just waiting for the routine apologetic words that would fall from your mouth—maybe you’d reach over and rub his arm like some people did, tell him how sad it was as if he didn’t already know. Some half assed attempt to make him feel better even though you were clearly blind sided by the topic. 

Yoongi didn’t want that, always hating the way people would stare at him like he was some charity case. This was why he rarely chose to stray from his circle of comfort, from the people that knew the baggage that came with him and accepted him, keeping his group as tight knit as possible in order to not pick at scabbed over wounds. 

When you sigh, he braces for it, mentally accepting that this might be what ends your new formed friendship before you could really creep through the cracks in the wall he built. But instead you reach forward and grasp Yuri once more, scooping her up and bringing her to your chest like a baby. “So Yuri wasn’t the only queen of the house, is that it?”

Yuri purrs in confirmation and Yoongi turns to stare at you again, blinking the wetness away from his eyes before he could even call them tears. You had a smile on your face as you stared at him, not that typical sympathetic smile people always sent his way, it was a genuine one, letting him know he was free to talk more on the subject if he needed to.

And for the first time Yoongi acknowledges that maybe he did need to. He was so used to bottling his emotions in, shutting himself off after her passing, pushing all of his friends and family away and locking himself at home as he mourned, submerging himself in his work to numb himself from feeling anything. Even now, his friends never pried, let him handle his feelings any way he wanted to. But Yoongi can’t act like his chest aches from keeping it all in, the pressure slowly releasing even with the minimal information he had given you. 

“Yeah,” he sighs out in relief, reaching out to pet Yuri. “Hani was the queen before Yuri got promoted.”

As you coo at his cat he feels himself sagging back onto the couch. The small dam of emotions he had inside finally released, and before you know it he’s spilling everything out, telling you tidbit stories of him and Hani, and somehow easing you into sharing similar stories of you and Jimin. 

The sun fully sets through the windows, neither of you noticing as you talk well into the night, and Yoongi found himself laughing and smiling at the mention of Hani for the first time in two years. You urge him on, watching on with interest while he talks about the day they had picked up Yuri from the shelter. 

His eyes are crinkled up in that endearing way you had seen more of today than in the past weeks of knowing him, and it fills you with warmth to know he’s allowing you to know about this part of his life. It felt like sacred information, uncharted territory from the way he had hesitated in the beginning, almost like he wasn’t sure if he could trust you with the precious memories he held tightly. All he needed was a gentle nudge and a genuine smile to slowly let you flip the pages of his brain, knowing you wouldn’t judge the bleeding ink and scratched out words that came with each story. 

As he stares at the way you smile at him, he comes to the realization that your sneaky ass must have already managed to slip past the cracks of the walls he built, infiltrating the tight knit circle he had for himself. He has to hold in a laugh when he recalls the way Taehyung had seriously suggested that you might be a spy sent here from another country. Maybe he was onto something, because he was refusing to accept that his willingness to overshare and stray from his norm was due to anything but your highly trained interrogation skills. 

You clearly had his cat fooled as well. When Yuri leans up and nuzzles her face against yours he sighs, knowing she had claimed you as her favorite solely based on the attention you gave her. You were good. Yoongi guesses he would have to keep you around now, just for the sake of his cat, nothing more. 

[leviaju]

forgiveness

pairing: belphegor x GN! reader, hints of everyone x reader

words: 8.1k+

genre: angst, fluff at the beginning and a bit at the end if u squint

warnings: mentions of mc and lilith’s death, foul language

preview: “I’m sorry,” He begins, voice much weaker than anticipated. “I know that will never cut it, and it will never be enough, but I’m sorry.” 

“You’re right, Belphegor. It won’t cut it.”

hey guys what up. so... i’ve done a lot of thinking about belphegor’s dynamic with MC, and, like many others, was really bothered by the sudden switch after... he killed them. u know. typical stuff. i wanted to fill in the gaps!!! if im being completely honest, this has sat in my wips for.... like half a year. it’s my first time writing for obey me, so i hope that everyone’s not too terribly ooc LOL

anyways yeah. i mention how belphegor killed mc a couple of times, so proceed with caution! hopefully, if i get any ideas, the next stuff i write will be a lot lighter. hope you enjoy! (also requests r open soooooooo)

The weight on your chest crushed your rib cage, threatening to snap your bones like they were nothing more than twigs. All you could see was the pitch black of eternal night, and whether your eyes were opened or closed you couldn’t tell. What commanded your attention was the searing pain in your lungs, growing exponentially every half-second, and the unrelenting grip that was slowly shattering your esophagus. No matter how hard you struggled, squirmed and fought against the weight holding your body down, there was no use. It was pointless. The pain spread from the raging fire in your lungs to the tips of your fingertips, and everywhere felt as if you had been set aflame. Slowly, a light illuminated the force keeping you down. 

You couldn’t make out much, save for the cackle that rang insufferably through your ears, and the intense eyes that were staring you down. 

They held no remorse. 

-

Bones ache as you rest against your bed, finally allowing the tension in your muscles to melt away. You’d never mistake this feeling for regret of a busy day, having spent so much time with the people you care about, but it certainly took its toll on you. 

It began with Satan, who’d asked you the night before to accompany him on an early morning walk. It wasn’t an uncommon occurrence — he’d invite you to join his morning routine on every day off, and you’d never refuse — hence, at the wonderful time of 7:00am, you were venturing around the Devildom, hand in hand with the Avatar of Wrath. The two of you would walk, occasionally resting on a park bench for longer than either of you would like to admit, for about an hour and a half before you took an official break. The time was filled with pleasant chatter and comfortable silence. Every so often he’d squeeze your hand, and when you’d look over, the fondest of smiles crossed his face. It was a reminder of how glad he was that you joined him. 

At around 8:30, he took you into a café for breakfast, and two of you spent only about thirty minutes there chattering away happily. For the most part, he was vividly and excitedly discussing a book he’d just finished the night before…

Until you were interrupted.

“Hello, lovely!” Asmodeus wrapped his arms around you from behind, just before pressing a kiss on your cheek. Satan sighed, resting his head in his hand as he watched the interaction. 

“My selfish older brother’s been hogging you all morning, I couldn’t help but want to whisk you away!”

Despite the glare Satan was sending his way, Asmodeus took a seat next to you, happily engaging in conversation as he completely ignored his brother. He told you that the mall was opening in about an hour, and Asmo desperately wished to get his perfectly-manicured hands on a new makeup product being revealed that day. 

“But of course I can’t go alone! How positively dreary that would be.” His fingers twined with yours as he looked at you hopefully, and you ran your thumb across his hand. A sheepish smile crept its way onto your lips, and you looked over at Satan. He simply nodded, flicking his hand as a gesture for you two to leave, and Asmodeus didn’t hesitate. He was quick to stand and pull you with them, holding tight to you as he whisked you away. You called out to Satan, now alone at the table with a reluctant smile on his face as he waved goodbye. 

“Thanks for breakfast! Get home safe!”

You almost missed the chuckle that left his lips, the café door closing behind you. 

Asmodeus kept you until noon. He got a hold of the lipstick he wanted almost right away, but insisted on buying an outfit to match the colour. Regardless of what you’d initially thought, the outfit wasn’t for him.

“Oh, we’ll look positively stunning together!” He exclaimed after about two hours of forcing you in and out of changing rooms, putting his hands all over you to “adjust the clothing” as he deemed necessary. Near the end, you could feel soreness deep in your muscles creeping in from such an active morning, but Asmodeus’ cheery face and constant flirtations helped you forget about it almost completely. 

It wasn’t until you got home that you truly felt the effects of on-and-off walking since early in the morning. Be that as it may, your stomach was growling, loudly reminding you that it was now past lunch. As much as you wished to give up on food for the time being and instead head to your room to collapse, the pain in your belly was enough to urge you to cease any arguments, instead ready to try and ignore the ache in your bones in order to quell the angry rumbling of your stomach. 

Unfortunately, when you finally made it to the kitchen, there was no food prepared. Instead, what you found was a dejected Beelzebub, frowning softly as he once again was at the receiving end of a lecture from the eldest of his brothers. As quiet as possible, you snuck into the kitchen, trying to listen in on their conversation. 

There was silence, followed by a sigh. 

“It’s easier to simply ask what’s going on as opposed to trying to eavesdrop, MC.”

You jumped, then bashfully made your way into the kitchen, a sheepish grin on your face. Lucifer was rubbing his temple. 

“Beelzebub was supposed to be on lunch duty, but ended up ‘taste-testing’ to the extent that he ate it all. Again.” Lucifer sighed. The typically perfect eldest brother was being run ragged, if the bags forming under his eyes told you anything. “So, instead of working on the papers I have to get finished for tonight, I’m stuck making lunch while he cleans up.”

Beelzebub’s frown tugged at your heartstrings, and in spite of the exhaustion clawing relentlessly at your bones, you relented. 

“Why don’t I help? Four hands are better than two,” you proposed, and a small smile graced Lucifer’s face. He lifted his hand to brush the disheveled black hair out of his face, and your chest ached just a bit at the sight. You made a mental note to drag him to bed for a nap the next time you saw him like this.

“That would be more than welcome. Please, if you may.” Already you turned to start working, but Lucifer’s voice made you pause. 

“But no feeding Beel. He’s eaten more than his fill already, he can wait until we’re all done.”

Needless to say, every so often you’d slip Beelzebub a piece of chopped vegetable or cooked meat, and he’d very happily (but quietly!) munch away, his expression radiating warmth and joy. And Lucifer, who seemed to almost be omniscient at times, never once mentioned it. Once the three of you were done cooking, Lucifer placed his hand on your head, patting you gently. 

“Good work, MC. I must leave now, but I trust that the two of you will be able to clean everything up. Your help was much appreciated. You will be paid back in kind for all of your hard work.”

If nothing else, the slight blush on Lucifer’s face as he ever-so-gently pressed his lips to the crown of your head was more than enough payment. 

“Thank you.” Beelzebub cleared his throat, washing the dishes as you dried them. “I… Thanks for helping. And feeding me.”

His smile warmed your heart, and you nodded, bumping your arm with his gently. The small bit of pink that dusted his cheeks compelled you to coddle him, but you resisted the urge. Barely.

“Anytime, big guy.”

After you ate lunch, the only thought in your mind was the prospect of curling up under your covers and passing out. The fretful, broken sleep the night before wasn’t helping at all in keeping you awake, and that on top of the rest of the day’s events had you yearning for the feeling of your pillows. 

Unfortunately, you hadn’t even made it through the door when your phone began to blow up, one notification after the other in quick succession.

GGKKJFLFJG

MC

CMOE QUIC K

PLS

SUPE R RARE EVENT IN MONONONOKE 

PELASE 

YOU HVE TO BE PARTNERED WIHT SOMEONE TO GTE THE PRIZE

MC

MC

PL E A S E

HURRYHURRYHURRYHURRYHURRYHHHUUURRRRRYYYYYYYYYYY

You found yourself in Leviathan’s room, sat in his lap as he explained the event to you. Your half-asleep brain did its best to keep up with his quick speech, but that, along with the warmth of his chest against your back, became the most soothing lullaby. 

“Hey! Normie! I agreed to let you sit here so I could easily help you through the event, but if you’re going to fall asleep on me, I’m pushing you off—“

“I’m awake! I’m awake. 

...Now, what was I supposed to do?”

The unintentional giggle that escaped your lips at his expression caused Leviathan to huff, exasperated, despite the flush of his face. Diligently, however, he thoroughly explained the event, for the second time, and the method to obtain the rare prize: a level 2000 I’m Going To Murder You So Hard That You’ll Come Back To Life Just To Die Again Death Sycthe, the strongest weapon ever released in the game. It was a partner event, which explained Leviathan’s desperate and urgent request for aid. You didn’t mind though. While yes, you’d probably never be able to get to his level of gamer, you were more than happy to go along for the ride. It made him happy! 

Leviathan rested his chin against your shoulder as he played on his phone, focused to such a degree that the usually easy-to-fluster demon was completely unphased by your proximity. Your phone, set to AutoFight, rested untouched near Leviathan’s leg, abandoned on the floor. You watched him expertly take out enemies that would have one-hit KO’d you through heavy eyelids, and every time he beat a wave of enemies, his attention would momentarily avert from the screen, looking at you from the corner of his eye expectantly. A kiss on his cheek was more than enough to motivate him to continue on, albeit with a pink glow on his cheeks until his attention was once again completely wrapped up in the game at his fingertips. 

-

“Levi! I said open up, goddamnit!” 

The pounding against the door was enough to distract Leviathan from his game, subsequently killing his character in the process. He groaned, cursing the demon who interrupted the two of you as he gently lifted you off of his lap, before getting up to open the door. 

“The hell do you want?!”

To be completely honest, you were so wrapped up in watching Leviathan play his games that you had forgotten about your weekly movie night with Mammon, who had come over to his younger brother’s room to drag your ungrateful ass  back to your own. Leviathan had cleared the event in Mononoke Land hours ago, but not wanting you to leave just yet, invited you to keep watching him play. Setting aside how tired you were, how could you say no? You’d wanted to spend time with him, too. 

Unfortunately, you lost track of time, and your phone, battery completely drained from the event, rested uselessly in your pocket. A consequence of this happened to be missing the countless messages and calls Mammon had sent your way, before he began his hunt for you throughout the house. The last place he checked was, of course, Leviathan’s room.

“Come on, human, I ain’t got all day. No one keeps the Great Mammon waiting!” 

“Except for MC,” you heard Leviathan mumble under his breath, and a laugh escaped you before you had the chance to slap a hand over your mouth. Mammon flushed deeply, before striding into his brother’s room. 

“Hey, wait, you moron! I never said—!” 

The force of Mammon throwing you over your shoulder wasn’t enough to hurt, but it certainly was enough to leave you breathless for a moment. “Let’s go, fragile human. I picked the perfect movie already.” Mammon’s words came out in a bashful mumble, but he had enough courage to lift his head and smirk at Leviathan as he carried you out of the room. All you could do was smile apologetically at the blue haired demon before Mammon turned, bringing you out of sight. 

Mammon was all complaints as he carried you to your bedroom, but you knew it came from a place of love. Even though he’d never admit it, you could tell he was hurt by you unintentionally ignoring him. Because of this, instead of demanding he let you down, you allowed him to hold you like this, not a single complaint leaving your lips. 

When he brought you to your room, you were set on the bed you’d missed dearly and he went to put the movie in the player. 

“Hey! No sleepin’ on me, alright? I wanna watch the movie with ya, and I can’t if you’re passed out, now can I?” 

And so here you are now, bed frame creaking as Mammon climbs onto the mattress. Rubbing your eyes, you nod, and lean into him once he gets close enough for you to. 

“Seriously, I’m gonna hafta have a serious talk with Levi,” Mammon grumbles, slipping his arm around your waist and pulling you in so that you’re almost in his lap. He pulls the blankets over the two of you as you rest your head on his chest, and hum quietly in return. “He used up all your energy, and now we won’t be able to get to enjoy the movie as much! Honestly…”

The vibrations of Mammon’s words can be felt through his chest, and you simply cuddle into him more and try to train your bleary eyes on the television screen. The Avatar of Greed shuts up completely when you take his hand in yours and press a gentle kiss to it, before doing your best to focus on the movie. As time passes, however, the idea of giving into your whims grows more than tempting, and oh-so-easy for you to do. 

-

“Hey! Yo, MC! Seriously… You’re hopeless.”

A chiding, yet gentle voice draws you from the confines of rest. You puff air from your nose in response, cuddling closer to whatever it was that had been so comfortable in the first place.

“MC… Come on. Ya gotta wake up, ya didn’t even watch any of the movie! It was really good, y’know.”

Mammon’s hand rubs circles on your back as you mumble incoherently, a noise to acknowledge the fact that he‘s been talking, and that you are indeed awake now. 

It takes a good amount of time, as well as some gentle encouragement from Mammon, to get you to finally open your heavy eyes, and even longer for you to be able to apologize to him for missing out on the movie he was so excited to watch. He pouts a bit, but the blush on the highs of his cheeks lets you know that he didn’t mind all that much. You smile and yawn, and his chuckle resonates in your ears. 

“I gotta go now, otherwise Lucifer’s gonna kill me for staying so late. Sorry I woke ya up, but ya look so tired now that you’ll probably fall back asleep right away.”

And so, after a quick goodbye and a kiss on the cheek (which made Mammon turn the prettiest shade of red), you close your door and… sigh. If you had been able to stay asleep, the fact that you aren’t in pajamas and haven't brushed your teeth wouldn't be that much of an issue. Now that you‘re slightly more conscious, however, it’s hard to convince yourself to simply climb back into bed. Your breath is bugging you a bit, and the jeans you’re wearing certainly aren’t at all as comfortable as your pajama pants.  For that reason, to your own dismay, you begin getting ready for bed — properly this time. 

A small “finally…” tumbles from your lips after you finish your nighttime routine. Lacking any form of grace, you plop into bed once more and pull the blankets to your chin, nuzzling into the pillow. Your bed still smells like Mammon’s cologne, and you hum softly to yourself before closing your eyes and waiting for sleep to take over once more, and hold you hostage until late in the morning. 

Alas, sleep seemed to be evading you now, similar to how you had ignored it during the day. The mattress you lay on simply isn't comfortable anymore, and the blankets that hug your body cause you to overheat. Unfortunately, if even one limb is out of the blanket, you get so cold you start shivering. None of your typical sleeping positions are anywhere near as effective as they typically are, and you’re left to wrestle with sleep alone, hoping to beat it into submission so you can finally get some proper rest. 

After about 45 minutes of tossing and turning with no results, you finally relent. The nap you’d taken while watching the movie royally fucked you over, and you groan. Eventually you decide to give up on trying to fall back asleep, and huff as you sit properly on your bed. 

Blanket dragging behind you as it drapes from your shoulders, you slowly make your way through the silent hallways of the House of Lamentation. The only sounds floating through the walls were the light buzz of electricity running through the wiring of the house, and your own footsteps as you began walking up one of the many staircases in the large building. 

You aren’t sure how long you’ve been walking, the passage of time different at night to a hazy mind, but eventually you arrive at your favourite area in the house, second only to your lush bedroom. There are no artificial lights, only the gentle cast of the night sky providing the ideas of shape in the planetarium. You’ve never seen stars so vibrant and bright, and there are so many more in the Devildom than anywhere you could go back home. Even though the only light comes from the stars, it’s enough to create soft, fuzzy edges around everything in the room; this includes the bundle of various blankets mussed in the centre of the floor. Slowly, cautiously, you make your way towards the pile. 

Since you’d arrived in the Devildom, the planetarium at the top of the House of Lamentation became your safe haven. Your room, without a lock on the door, was way too easy for intruding demons to enter without permission, and on nights when everything became too much for you to handle, you’d head up to the planetarium to clear your mind. There’s just something so calming about a starry sky on a clear night that releases you of your fears and anxiety, and helps you get a grip on the situation around you. 

After freeing a certain someone from their attic-based captivity, however, you learned that the planetarium was a place favored not only by you. Since he’d been freed, you’d been kind, but there were still fears plaguing your mind, reminding you of everything that has transpired between the two of you. It’s something that you can’t escape, following you even - especially - in your sleep, when you wished you’d be the most at peace. It makes sense, considering the sin he embodies, but you wish it wasn’t like that nonetheless. 

Once you’d learned that this was one of his favourite rooms in the house, especially on nights when he can’t fall asleep, you found yourself avoiding this area. It’s not that you hate him; it’s the opposite, really. Nevertheless, you can’t help but feel the tightening of his fingers around your neck, and the burning sensation in your lungs that’s screaming for oxygen, and the desperation to alleviate the seer of deprivation. 

Still, you trek on. Closer and closer to the pile of blankets, your gut cries to you to run away. You ignore it. The nearer you get to the nest of blankets, the faster your heart beats, the more lightheaded you feel. But you continue. 

Eventually you get close enough to make out the shape of a familiar pillow, the cow print on the case worn and well-loved. From the moment you walked in the room, you knew he was here. All the same, you walk on, and the only sounds in the room are the gentle taps of your clothed feet against the tile, and the quiet noises of your quickened breaths.

You’ve avoided being alone with him since… Since you… Since the event. Your heart screamed at you to forgive him, to love him just as much as you love his brothers. That said, there’s nothing in you that can stop your stomach from churning whenever he gets too close. 

Butterflies beat aggressively within your heart and stomach, and it’s years before you get within his range of sight, but you sit down on the floor, holding the blanket tight to your body. 

There’s one beat, 

two beats,

three beats of silence before you can hear him sucking in a breath through his teeth. In your peripheral you can see his lips parting, closing, parting again as he tries to find the words. He heard you walk in, and was pleasantly surprised when you didn’t immediately bolt in the opposite direction. However, this proximity leaves him with an entirely new predicament. He wants to talk to you, he wants to laugh and joke with you the way his brothers do, but one look at your face and he notices the dark bags under your eyes, and the frown that tugs at your lips as you stare up at the stars. He can hear your heart racing, and feel his own in the tips of his fingers. He opens his mouth again, but the crack in his voice betrays his usual collected personality. 

“I’ll go,” Belphegor begins, begrudgingly starting to gather his blankets. His body freezes when his eyes pass over your figure and you’re looking right at him, through him, and he swears he can feel the blood in his veins stop pumping. Your expression is unreadable, almost scary, and he’s never in his life been in fear of a human until this moment. 

The seconds pass as years do, both of your bodies chilled to the bone but neither of you able to look away. In the end, the one who casts their gaze somewhere else is you, and he exhales loudly. 

“Don’t.”

Your reply is simple, but he’s stuck in place. Slowly, he nods, sitting down again the way he had been prior, and pulling his beloved pillow close to his chest. He can’t breathe, the tension suffocating. It doesn’t help that now you refuse to look at him. 

“... If you want,” he replies dumbly, staring at the floor. He feels trapped in place, afraid to move and scare you off. Despite every nerve in his body screaming at him to leave you be, he stays. You told him to, after all. Slowly, you sit down, his blankets creating a low wall between the two of you.

It’s only now that he gets a good look at you. You're tired, he knows, watching as your eyelids droop and your lazy movements when you get more comfortable under your blanket, but there’s more to it than just that. You seem so fragile, like sugar glass, breaking with even the slightest amount of pressure. He feels he can reach over and shatter you with the gentlest of touches, and that thought alone roots him in place. Since you came back, he’s never seen you without a smile. Your genuine smile was the prettiest, he decided rather early on, one that lights up your face and brightens those around you. Belphegor really, truly loves your smile.

He knows there was a point in time, not long ago, where he could have made it so no one saw it ever again. He can’t help but be grateful he didn’t succeed when he sees you smiling at his brothers. 

That’s never the smile you show him though. It’s not for lack of effort; you certainly try, and he loves you for that. But the smile you show him is always plastered on, and he knows you’re doing it for his sake. With Belphegor, your smile never reaches your eyes. Be that as it may, you’re never weak around him. Fake smiles prove exactly how strong you really are, but your heart races every time he enters the room. As much as he wishes your palpitations are out of excitement, he knows better than to give himself false hope. 

That’s why he’s so taken aback when he looks you over and you seem so vulnerable. Never, not in a million years, would he ever let himself believe that you’d allow yourself to look weak in front of him, not after what he did. Even so, here you are, shaking, knees drawn into your chest, and his heart soars because you’re showing him a new side to yourself. It aches at the knowledge that you’re feeling so vulnerable because of him. 

His eyes burn holes in the side of your head. You know he’s watching you, studying you, but you can’t bring yourself to meet his gaze. Not when the hands he uses to pull the blankets over his body are the exact same ones that led you to your untimely and violent demise, and not when every time you look at his face, you can also see Mammon’s above you, sobbing as he tries to will you not to fade away into nothingness. 

There’s no putting it nicely. You were murdered, and Belphegor was the one who killed you. As much as he tries to pretend it never happened, to act around you the same as his older brothers do, you would never forget. Neither would he, regardless of the effort he puts into pushing the memory out of his mind. His chosen way of coping was to laugh with you, to get close and have you forgive him without acknowledging the situation. It was too painful to talk about, after all. He willingly, happily snuffed out the life of someone his brothers love, and someone he’d find himself loving too. You became someone who changed him, helped him grow and be better. It was easier, simpler to act as if you’d met him the same way you’d met any of his brothers. 

Belphegor killed one of the last remaining parts of his past, a part that, while once warm and light, mutated and infected him, causing his anger to grow out of control, like a weed that suffocates any flower that tries to flourish. He killed a descendant of his sister, and the fact that you’re here now is more of a second chance than he thinks he could ever deserve in all his millenia of living. 

And yet, here you are. Scared and shaking, but here. The silence has stretched on for longer than he’d like; he wants to be able to love you, openly and happily, but knows it won’t happen. It can’t, unless he does what he thought was the very last thing he’d do. 

“I’m sorry,” Belphegor begins, voice much weaker than anticipated. He can hear your heartbeat pick up, and he curses himself mentally. Your lip between your teeth, you remain silent. His nerves force him to speak more. 

“I know that will never cut, and it will never be enough, but I’m sorry.”

There’s more silence. He feels like he can’t breathe, the tense atmosphere forcing its way around his throat and tightening its grip. He doesn’t know how long it takes you to even contemplate replying, let alone allow yourself to respond. Belphegor’s ears ring almost deafeningly loud. He can’t take it.

“You’re right.” 

His eyes, which he trained to the ground, dart up to your profile once more. You pause, wetting your lips. 

“You’re right, Belphegor. It won’t cut it.”

There’s not enough time to process your words before he really, really looks at you. Almost fearlessly, you meet his eyes. 

Almost fearlessly. 

The shaking of your hands betrays the strength of your voice. Belphegor’s chest aches. 

“But…”

There’s a pause as you speak. He can’t look away again, even as your eyes meet the stars once more. There’s no chance he’ll miss a word you say, even if it tears him apart.

“It’s… it’s really difficult. I know you know that, but…”

Each time you pause, Belphegor’s mind begins storming. He can’t figure out what you’re going to say, or how you’re going to react, and it drives him crazy. He’s usually so good at reading people, but you’re an enigma. It sends a chill down his spine. 

His throat is caught. Even if he had words to say, they wouldn’t be able to come out. So he sits in silence as you find your own. 

“I don’t want you to feel worse than you do.” You lick your lips. “Or maybe I do? I… I really don’t know. I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel about you, Belphie.”

The nickname tugs at his heart, more than he could ever admit. He wants to cry, wants to scream, wants to do anything other than look at your melancholy face, knowing he’s the problem. He wants to run and hide, to sleep forever. He can’t, though. Not when you’re here. Not now. 

Knuckles turn white as he clutches desperately onto his pillow. His breath shakes as he draws in air. 

“I want to love you. I want to love you as much as I love your brothers, and care about you as much as I care for them…”

You struggle to find the words. 

“... But it’s hard.”

You curse your lack of eloquence. Now, of all times, when your words are the only thing that enable you to communicate how you truly feel, they fail you. This might be your only chance to ever properly show Belphegor how you feel, what makes you so conflicted every time he walks into the room with a smile on his face, and yet all you can say is “it’s hard”. Obviously. 

A breath finds its way into your lungs, and the sound of your lips parting in the otherwise silent planetarium echoes in your ears.

You continue.

“It’s hard because every time I see your face, or I hear your voice, or I-”, you falter, heart catching in your throat, “or you touch me, I can’t help but be reminded of what happened.”

Belphegor doesn’t dare tear his eyes away from your form. The grief that settles into his face perfectly matches your own, eyebrows upturned and bottom lip quivering just the slightest bit. Even the trembling of your hands is replicated in his own. He’s never seen you like this, so incredibly vulnerable, and it tears him apart inside to know that he is the cause of it.

A shuddery breath comes from Belphegor, and you fight your instincts to check if he’s okay. You know he isn’t.

The silence deafens you, thundering in your ears so harshly that you're tempted to place your hands at the side of your head to muffle how quiet it is. You don’t, however, and whether it’s because you don’t want to look crazy, or because you’re afraid you might shatter if you move, you’ll never know. Do you want him to talk? Do you want him to say anything? Do you want an apology?

If you had an answer for that, you’re sure that things would have patched themselves up much quicker than this. You caution a glance at Belphegor, and the weight pressing down on your chest gets heavier at his expression. It feels almost as if you can inhale the guilt he feels, the emotion radiating off of him in waves.

“I… Logically, Belphie, I get it.” Again with that cursed nickname. Usually, hearing it from your lips makes Belphegor feel warm and goddamn near giddy, but now it only seemed to drive the knife in his gut further. 

“I understand what happened and why you did it. I may not agree… but I get it, you know?” You swallow.

“In the end, I’m still here. And… and I’ve come to learn that you’re nothing like that anymore. You’ve grown, and changed, and the guilt and anger that consumed you took control, and that's why you-- that’s--” 

You pause, clutching the blanket around you to try and ground yourself. The shakiness in your voice is not missed by Belphegor, and even if it had been, there’s no way he’d be able to ignore the tears that threaten to spill from your eyes. Slowly, subconsciously, one of your hands comes up to rest against your neck, a phantom of the grasp that once threatened to crush you.

“S-So… I understand why you did it. And I’m alive, and we’re friends, so it should all be okay, right?” Belphegor casts his glance away.

“But Belphie… as much as I want to forgive you, I also know that I’m never going to be able to forget what happened. It’s there in my dreams, and it’s there in your smile, and it’s there every single time your arm brushes mine and I flinch like a total loser.”

A weak chuckle makes its way out of your chest, and the halfhearted smile that follows forces a tear from your eye. You’re quick to wipe it away, hopefully quick enough so that it goes unnoticed by Belphegor.

It does.

What he does notice, however, is the frustration that holds tight to the edges of your sentences. The frustration is not directed at him, no. You would be yelling if that were the case, and maybe that would be easier for him to hear. No, this frustration is directed at yourself. You’ve been trying so hard, and all Belphegor has been doing is running away. His teeth dig so hard into his bottom lip, trying desperately not to show any anger he feels at himself, that he tastes iron.

“And then we became all buddy-buddy, you know? Like I was never lied to, or used, or manipulated, or-- or--”

Belphegor is torn from his self-pity when you continue, and he almost wishes you’d stop speaking. The thought that you might break him with your words has him shaking, and a feeling similar to fear courses heavily through his veins. Please, stop. He wants to go back to running away.

But you continue, as you always have.

“And I’m left not knowing how to feel. I’m so mad at myself for being such a coward and not being able to just get over it like everyone else, and I’m so fucking pissed that I can’t just exist around you like I do for everyone else. I mean, I used to be terrified of Lucifer, too.” Another fragile laugh, and you sweep the hair from your eyes with a shaky hand. Belphegor swallows hard.

“But I… I can’t pretend like nothing happened. As much as I want to be near you, and hug you, and take naps and play pranks on Luci with you… I can’t. I can’t act as if what I feel isn’t real, and what you did didn’t happen. It’s so hard, Belphegor.” You sigh, and finally look at him once more. He can’t meet your gaze, slumped over himself and hugging his pillow so tight to his chest it seems as if he wishes to disappear into it. “Especially because I really, truly want to understand why everyone loves you so much. And I want to love you, too. I want to know why Beel smiles every time you’re brought up in conversation, and I want to smile just the same. But… But right now, I can’t.”

Talking has gotten easier. The words that used to escape you have become accustomed to being used again, and confidence has restored in your gut. You sit a bit straighter as you watch Belphegor carefully, a sad smile lifting your cheeks. 

Belphegor knows that this is when he should swoop in, say something so intellectual that you’re caught off guard, and he can save you from… himself. This knowledge does nothing to save him from himself. He can’t even open his mouth to mime a sentence, let alone actually speak. The thought of how pathetic he must look settles under Belphegor’s skin, and he can feel his irritation rising. Not at you though, never at you. Not even when… When it all happened. His anger was misplaced, but he has never been angry at you.

Finally, when the quiet becomes too much, he forces himself to meet your gaze. The way you look at him, just as vulnerable and bare and scared as he is… he feels safe. He knows, even though your words sear his heart, that you never mean to hurt him, especially now. You’re being honest, and simply expect the same from him.

Belphegor inhales a deep breath, before willing himself to speak.

“I thought--” he croaks, and quickly clears his throat. Fuck. “I thought that if… if I could pretend that nothing happened, then I wouldn’t have to face any consequences.”

He curses audibly. Just how pathetic can he sound? Belphegor’s voice is hoarse and quivering, and weak. “Weak” is never a word that he would have used to describe himself, but now it echoes hauntingly against the confines of his skull. One of the most powerful demons in existence, and he finds himself quaking before a mere human. He cares for you, though, and he cares for you viciously. Something in Belphegor knows that he’s never going to be able to prove that to you unless he pushes his way through this.

So he forces himself to continue, even with every cell in his body desperately screaming at him to stop.

“I did what I did out of a place of guilt… and regret. I couldn’t stand the fact that it was because of me, that it was my fault, that I’m the reason that Lilith--”

Belphegor stumbles over his own words, and he sets down his pillow before he accidentally tears a hole through it. Instead he braces himself on the cool floor, in need of something steady to hold onto. This whole conversation shook him to the core. He can hardly believe he’s talking about his sister. She’s a topic that he’s avoided even around Beelzebub…

But if Belphegor ever wants even the possibility that you’ll forgive him, he knows he has to. Everything is on the line. His blunt nails press against the tiles and he focuses on steadying his voice.

“I couldn’t accept that it was my fault.” A newfound steadiness weaves its way around his words, and he finds himself sitting a bit straighter. “I’m the one who introduced her to the human world, and kept bringing her back. I’m the reason she suffered, and why the war started, and why we fell, and why she…” Belphegor coughs. “In the end, I couldn’t accept that I’m the one who killed her.

Your heart yearns to tell him that no, he’s wrong, it’s not all his fault. You know it won’t help right now, though, and that it isn’t your time to speak. Settling back a bit, you let your blanket fall from your shoulders. 

Belphegor’s heart stutters, and pounds so hard that he feels like it's trying to tear through his chest. Even so, he doesn’t miss the way your hand reaches out to smooth over his own, and for a moment he feels himself wanting to melt just from the simple touch. 

Belphegor pulls away. He doesn’t deserve your comfort, not yet.

“So… So when you said that you’re a descendant of Lilith, I-- I couldn’t help myself. I jumped at the chance to get to know you, learn about what makes you similar and what makes you different. Her blood flows through your veins, and I was quick to ignore what I did in favour of getting to know you, and… and inevitably, becoming just as fond of you as my brothers… but that can’t erase what I did.”

The feeling of understanding floods you and you find yourself nodding at his words. To be completely honest, even now, you’re scared. Your heart beats for many reasons, fear one of them, but you don’t run away. Not anymore. You couldn’t bring yourself to even if you wanted to.

Your hand, abandoned next to Belphegor’s, lay dormant. The need to comfort wills you to once again place your hand on his, but you don’t move. When he’s ready, if he ever is, you’ll be there.

Just as he’ll be there for you.

“I killed you, MC. And in doing that, I killed Lilith. Again.”

Countless emotions storm their way through Belphegor’s conscience, despair clawing at his throat, regret snapping his back, and guilt slowly crushing him under its weight. How is it that one can feel so empty, and yet so filled to the brim with misery?

“And not only that, but if I succeeded… I would have completely missed out on getting to know you, and caring about you as much as I do now. It would have been a loss that I never would have understood, but know for a fact that I would have felt. Even… Even when I was proud,” he spits out the word as if it’s poison, “of what I’d done, watching my brothers’ hearts break at the sight of your body… Even then, I felt it. The ache. It’s so fucking stupid.”

His tone, now bubbling with anger, stills you. It’s not directed at you, and you know this, but despite yourself, you freeze. Belphegor notices, and quickly clears his throat, relaxing his shoulders. He allows your heart a moment to slow as he regains his composure, and you find yourself breathing again.

“I know that me saying sorry is never going to cut it.” Belphegor turns his body to fully face you. He’s no longer running from his feelings, or from you. He knows he can’t anymore. Hesitantly, he lifts his trembling hand to place over yours. The muscles in your fingers tense, and he pauses to gauge your reaction. When you slowly nod your head once, he delicately places his hand on yours, using his thumb to gently begin massaging the tension away. “And I know that even if I do everything right from here on out, that there’s a chance that you won’t ever forgive me. And I understand why.”

Your heart sinks at his expression, his gaze locked on your joined hands. As aloof as he normally is, you can see none of that on his face now. When you turn over your hand he quickly pulls away, but your shaky movements to bring his hand back and intertwine your fingers urges him to go on. 

“But I want to try. And really try this time. I want you to be honest with how you feel, whether I’m frustrating you or scaring you or anything like that, and… and I want to be honest with you too. I…”

Belphegor trails off, but you squeeze his hand. He draws in a slow breath. 

“No matter what happens, no matter how you feel, we’re stuck together for the next few months. I want to spend that time getting to know you, and I want us to be as close as you are with any of my brothers… but I also want you to know that you shouldn’t feel forced. If it’s ever too much, I need you to tell me, and I promise I’ll back off.”

The smallest of smiles makes its way onto your face as you quietly agree. Belphegor doesn’t allow himself to try and figure out if it's genuine, out of pity, or sadness, but in spite of everything, it makes him feel a bit lighter. Just a bit.

“This won’t fix everything right away,” you say, and he now knows that your smile is a combination of the three. Along with this, though, Belphegor also knows the small sparkle in your eyes is hope, and he’s willing to take that hope and nurture it for however long he must.

“I know,” he sighs, but even he can feel the small tilt of a smile on his face, “but I’m willing to take as much time as you need to decide how you feel about me. And… And if you decide you hate me, which is fair, and that you never want to even be in the same room as me, I’ll respect your wishes.

Until then...Until you decide that you really, truly hate me, I won’t stop trying.”

There’s no way of telling how long his words linger in the air around the two of you, circling around your heads and making their way through your body. Even so, Belphegor diligently watches you, wanting to make sure he’s not overstepping his bounds. He even contemplates letting go of you, but is reassured when slowly, almost unnoticeably, you begin smoothing out the lines on the back of his hand with your thumb.

As much as you want to tell him that you could never hate him, you also know you can’t promise anything. Still, for now, just as much as him, you’re willing to try. You stay in silence, more comfortable than you’ve ever been in his presence, gently caressing the hand held in your own.

Eventually, Belphegor clears his throat once more. The vulnerability has made him tense and rendered his voice weak. 

“Can… can you hug me?” He all but whispers, fragility making his body quiver once more. He was completely open about his feelings for the first time in a lifetime, and the intensity of it left him craving affection. He knows how unfair this is to you, but he can’t help himself. He wishes to be held, for his fears to be quelled by someone so much stronger than him. “If you don’t want to,” he falters, speaking quickly, insecurely, “I won't even touch you. I-If you do, I promise I can keep my hands behind my back, and I won’t even--”

His words end abruptly as he feels you release his hand, and his heart sinks. He debates running away again, until he hears you moving towards him, and he finds he’s frozen in place. Slowly, but surely, with more courage circulating through your veins than you’ve had all night, you make your way over the blankets that divide you and position yourself right next to Belphegor, pulling him into your chest. Even now, he can feel how quickly, persistently your heart races, and yet you stay. True to his word, Belphegor rests his hands on the ground behind his back, but he doesn’t stop himself from nuzzling into your chest… and he cries. The complete, uninhibited release of his emotions hit him like a truck, and he sobs heavily into you, tears slowly but surely staining your shirt. You adjust yourself so you can hold him closer, slowly and reassuringly rubbing his back as he lets go of everything he’s been holding on to for longer than you can even imagine. This is a man who’s run from his emotions for centuries, and the fact that he’s willing to face them for your sake comforts you, cradles your heart and presses gentle kisses against the cracks. You know that you’re not going to wake up tomorrow with everything okay, but for now… for now you’re comfortable with his touch. Heaving in a deep, steadying breath, you reach down just enough to take Belphegor’s arms, and guide them to rest his hands on your hips. At this silent permission, he slowly, delicately wraps his arms around your waist, despite craving your body closer, wanting to hold you tight and never let go. He cradles you like you’re made of the most brittle glass, and you smile. The gesture touches your heart, and… and you feel safe. You know that all he wants to do is embrace you as tight as he can, but he doesn’t, even with permission. 

Here, in Belphegor’s arms, you feel safe. Here, where Belphegor’s grip on you is so gentle that it wouldn’t even crumple paper, you feel loved. As he cries into your chest, holding you as if you were an antique, hope slowly fills your heart.

Everything is far from perfect, but it’s still on the right track, here in the quiet planetarium.

[hotchseyebrows]

that's my heart right there

a derek morgan x penelope garcia fic

a/n: hi beloveds :) today i present this happy and soft morcia fic that i wrote in practically one go last night. who needs wips when you can just ignore them all blatantly for new works? thank you as always to @blkantigone for providing another set of eyes, love you lots! love you all too, thank you for reading!

rating/warnings: teens and up, allusions to sex but none on screen, mostly just gooey marshmallowly fluff!

read it on ao3 here!

The sunlight surrounds her in a soft glow. She smiles at him and something inside of him breaks open.

“Let’s get a drink.” It’s not an unusual request for them, but it feels bigger this time. “If you want to.”

Her smile grows. “Yes please.”

-

A post Exit Wounds fic where Kevin doesn't exist and Clooney the dog is much more important to the narrative. They're in love and finally doing something about it.

word count: 2311

“I kinda love you, Derek Morgan.”

“I kinda love you, Penelope Garcia.”

He thinks about it the whole plane ride back from Alaska. When they board, she gently tugs him to the big couch before sitting directly next to him. He drops his arm around her shoulders instinctually, smiling as she hums and pulls out her knitting. She smells like honey and rain (the respective scents of her shampoo and conditioner and her body wash) and has picked a warm color gradient for her outfit and makeup today. She babbles about her knitting group’s latest gossip for a while as he relaxes into her side.

She seems like her normal relaxed and bubbly self, but he can feel the tension in her shoulders. Their early conversation was comforting, but her worries are still weighing on her. But he doesn’t want to bring it up in front of everyone, so he just kisses her temple and tugs her closer. “So wait baby girl, is Jared going to ask out Francisco or not?”

“I don’t know! I asked him about it before we left and he dodged giving me a straight answer. I think he’s worried about their friendship, but it’s SO obvious that Francisco is wild about him. They’re already best friends, so- he’s just being silly. I told him that.”

The conversation moves on, but Penelope’s friends join the merry-go-round of thoughts in his head for the rest of the flight. They stay close for the remaining 8 hours, usually with some form of physical contact even as they adjust positions over the long trip home. Derek focuses on making her laugh as much as possible and trying to make her blush all at once.

When they land at home after almost 9 hours on the jet, the sun is setting. The team is obviously tired, but in relatively good spirits as they exit the plane. Derek is last, just behind Penelope. The sky is full of the same colors on Penelope’s clothes today, he realizes as they walk across the airfield. “It’s good to be back,” she says, pulling her shawl tight. “I miss you when you go but it’s… easier on me in some ways not to be there.”

It makes him pause, slowing to a stop. Penelope walks further ahead but notices he’s not there and stops herself. She looks over her shoulder at him, waiting. The sunlight surrounds her in a soft glow. She smiles at him and something inside of him breaks open.

“Let’s get a drink.” It’s not an unusual request for them, but it feels bigger this time. “If you want to.”

Her smile grows. “Yes please.”

-

They don’t dance. This part is unusual. Instead it’s 4 drinks in each at a quiet bar close to Derek’s apartment, and they are glued to each other’s side on the same side of a table in a corner booth. This place doesn’t even have a dance floor. 

She leans against his side, nosing at his neck. “You smell good,” she mumbles. He wraps an arm around her, feeling shaky like a ship in a storm.

“Baby girl, is this-” He pauses, not sure what the question should be. Not sure of the answer she’ll give. Penelope picks her head up to look at him, cheeks flushed. Derek swallows. “Am I imagining things, or…” 

“You’re not imagining things.” She leans up and kisses the corner of his mouth. “I feel it too.” He grins and pulls her in for a proper kiss. They fall into it easily, as if it isn’t the first time. The first time it really means what it’s meant to. It feels like they’ve been together for years- and in some ways, that’s not untrue.

-

He brings her home. It’s late, and they’ve had a long case and now a long night, so he knows she’s tired. Still, she stops to drop to her knees to hug Clooney when he comes barreling out of Derek’s bedroom at the sound of them entering the apartment.

“Oh, hello sweetie, hi there, yes, I know, it’s so exciting when Daddy comes home, but it’s even more exciting when he brings me to visit, I know-” Clooney agrees with a quiet woof- “see, Derek, Clooney said I’m his favorite.”

Derek smiles at the way his best girl gets along with his big goof of a dog. “He’s got good taste.” He doesn’t mean the words to come out so weighted, but she looks up at him with such a reverent look on her face that he doesn’t care.

She stands up and drags him through his apartment, Clooney hot on their heels. They get ready for bed at the same time as if they’ve done this domestic routine every night for ages. She won’t stop looking at him like she loves him. Like she cherishes him. He believes her.

She pulls him into his bed, arranging their bodies close together. They don’t do anything more than kiss with their arms wrapped around each other. She falls asleep first with her head on his chest. It makes him feel warm. They shared a bed in Alaska too, and now he’s thinking about not wanting the streak to end. He pulls her closer for the moment, the places where her soft skin is touching his own shooting little bolts of lightning through him as he falls asleep too.

-

Penelope makes breakfast. He takes Clooney on a run, slipping out of bed when she’s still asleep and kissing her forehead before he goes. When he comes back, she’s in his robe, standing over the stove. He’s sweaty and hot, but she yanks him into a kiss anyway. After the eggs burn a little, he pulls away and takes a quick shower. She’s waiting at the table, coffee made and Clooney napping at her feet. The food is delicious, but sitting here with her like this is better. She tastes like coffee when he kisses her over the table.

Someone surely would have noticed Penelope in the same outfit again today, but over the years so much of her clothing has ended up hanging in Derek’s closet next to his own that she’s able to pick out a full outfit for the day. Today her dress is frilly and bright green. He picks out a darker green shirt to match- just because he can.

-

They drop into this new routine easily. Their flirtatious phone calls now have this added layer of promise and intent, even if they haven’t made good on it yet. She’s always been the primary person to stop in and take care of Clooney while Derek’s on cases, but now he comes home and she’s still there. His two best loves, sitting on his couch. He gets home after a case with hidden cameras and is feeling particularly exposed over it all. But there she is, smiling up at him, because she missed him. Because she wanted to see him.

“Hi there,” she says. He crosses the room and lifts her off the couch, holding her against him. She follows his lead with ease, trusting him implicitly. His arms wrap around her waist. He can literally feel her breathing like this, and he’s never been so grateful that she’s alive. “Hi,” she whispers again.

“Hi baby.” He nuzzles the side of her head, breathing in the soft honey scent of her hair. 

She doesn’t ask what’s got him all worked up. She just wraps her arms around his neck and lets him hold her. After a minute or two of just swaying in place, he leans in and presses their lips together. A gentle kiss at first, but quickly his desire for closeness, to feel her, bleeds into that too. He lifts her legs off the ground and puts them around his waist. Penelope makes a noise close to a whine in the back of her throat, pushing closer. He carries her to his room, kissing her fiercely all the while.

-

Afterwards, she’s lying on top of him with her head on his chest. Derek runs his fingers through her hair, gently untangling anything he comes across. “I’m glad you’re home,” she says, slightly muffled by her mouth’s position against his skin.

It sounds like she means that this is their home. Or that she is his home. 

“Me too.” He pulls her up for another slow kiss. She climbs up on top of him, straddling his hips. Her hands cup his cheeks before running down his chest. He keeps the kiss slow, and she kisses back with ease. Like they’re in love.

-

Derek is in the break room, making another cup of coffee. Emily slides next to him, a coffee stirrer in her teeth. “You seem happy.”

Derek looks at her out of the corner of his eye. “It’s a nice day, Prentiss.” Emily deliberately looks at where the rain outside is hitting the window. Derek doesn’t back down.

“Whoever you’ve been dating must be a hell of someone. That’s good.”

Derek can’t help but smile. She really is.

“But I want more information sooner than later, Morgan.”

He hums, and picks up Penelope’s coffee cup from the rack. He takes his time filling it before looking at Emily pointedly. 

She pauses and then grins. “I fucking knew it. I knew it!” Derek smiles back. “You better take care of her, I swear to God-”

“I will. I am.”

She softens. “She better take care of you too.”

He picks up both mugs. “She does.”

-

He’s never felt like this in a relationship before. Being with Penelope is easy. It’s just the same as it was, but better and more. She stops by his office a little more, and he swings by the batcave more often than he needs to, but no one notices. It’s just part of the normal Morgan-Garcia antics everyone expects. 

She does take full advantage of this and is definitely getting kissed more often than anyone else at Quantico during the day, but Derek doesn’t mind. He doesn’t mind at all.

-

They’re sitting on a park bench at the edge of the dog park and watching Clooney run himself ragged through the grass. She puts her head on his shoulder. “Francisco asked Jared out a few days ago.”

“I thought you said Jared was the one who was thinking about asking out Francisco.”

“Francisco got tired of waiting.”

He nods. “I know the feeling,” he says before kissing the top of her head.

-

After they find Ellie’s mom, Derek can’t shake this weird mixture of happy and sad in the middle of his chest. Penelope comes over unprompted with a plate of cookies and a stack of dvds. They lay on the couch, her holding him and Clooney with his head on Derek’s thigh. They don’t talk about it then, but they will later. For now she traces a pattern on his side as Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter kidnap a baby. Clooney starts snoring. Penelope kisses Derek’s shoulder, arms holding him tight.

-

They show up together to a little party at Rossi’s. Emily sees them holding hands and grins. No one else notices that, but they do notice when Penelope pulls Derek down into a kiss after he gets her another drink.

“Thank you, mon amour. You’re my hero.”

He laughs. “Anything for you baby girl.” He taps the tip of her nose in punctuation. She pulls him in for another short kiss in response.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” says Rossi.

Emily is grinning widely. Spencer and JJ have matching excited and pleased looks. Hotch has this knowing look on his face. Derek raises an eyebrow at him specifically. Hotch just looks back with the softest smile on his face. He should have known Hotch would have noticed.

“Hold on, does that mean what I think it does or is this something you two are just doing now?” Spencer asks.

Derek looks down at Penelope. “Yes.”

The team laughs. “Yes to which part?”

“Yes,” Penelope says.

Spencer scrunches his nose at her. She giggles. “Yes, as in, it means what you think it does, pretty boy.”

Spencer claps his hands together, swinging them back and forth a little. “Good! Finally. I’m glad we don’t have to wait anymore.” 

“Me too,” Penelope says to the group, but she’s only looking at Derek. He leans in and kisses her again in agreement. 

-

Derek takes Clooney out when they get home to let him do his business before bed. When he comes back inside, Penelope is already in bed wearing one of his shirts and flipping through a knitting magazine. He strips down to his boxers and climbs into bed next to her, laying on his back and putting his face on her thigh.

“I think they took that well,” she says.

Derek rubs his face into her skin. He hums, nodding a little. 

“When did Emily find out?”

“Find out that it’s you I’m seeing? Or that it was you I was too afraid to do anything about?”

She chuckles. “How about both, then.”

“She cornered me in the break room a few weeks after Alaska. And I never officially told her that I was nuts about you, so I think a safe bet would be her first day on the team.” Penelope drops the magazine and climbs into his lap.

“That long?” He knows what she means specifically.

“Even longer.” She runs a thumb along his jawline and looks down at him with such adoration in her eyes he thinks he might burst.

“Me too,” she whispers, like it’s a secret. He pulls her down into a kiss.

“I kinda love you, Penelope Garcia,” he mumbles against her lips.

“I kinda love you, Derek Morgan,” she says back without hesitation. He kisses her again, 'cause that’s the best thing he’s heard all day.

[kaminobiwan]

cannonball

pairing: obi-wan kenobi x jedi!reader

summary: Throwing all caution out the window, Obi-Wan dives headfirst into a long awaited confession. At least, he tries to. The universe seems to leave an obstacle for him at every turn, but Obi-Wan is nothing if not persistent.

a/n: Oh my goodness, this has got to be my proudest piece. It was one of the victims of the incident™ and I had to rewrite the whole thing from scratch, but I actually think the final version came out better than the original! The title is inspired from the summary of my previous fic Indulgence, but this one is actually the cornerstone of all of my jedi!reader x Obi-Wan fics: every one of those has stemmed from this storyline idea that has been living in my head for so long. Suffice it to say this is THE fic that I have wanted to write from the beginning — my pièce de résistance, if you will.

I hope you enjoy :-) p.s. here's my taglist form

In all the years he’s known you, Obi-Wan swears he only ever started to lie to you during the Clone Wars.

In his defense, he’d been lying to himself, too. Forcibly crushing down his much-deeper-than-platonic favor for you in the hopes that it’d disappear, forgotten in his darkest recesses, was exhausting in more ways than one. One’s mind can only be dishonest with the heart for so long.

But after more than a year and a half into the fighting, he’d felt too many times the choking fear that he’d never see you again — be it because of his death or yours.

So he’d given up in repressing his emotions, and let himself feel. In the precious minutes of reprieve amidst the horrors of combat, sometimes the only thing that could console his jaded and war-torn soul was the memory of you.

He wonders how he managed to continue for as long as he did before allowing himself to consciously love — it was well into the conflict when he came to terms with it. If he closes his eyes, he can easily remember the exact moment.

Geonosis. His return to the forsaken planet.

The chaos of it all had been staggering. He’d barely been able to hear Cody’s warning before he was shot out of the sky, and the crash that claimed the lives of nearly everyone in the transport had been just the beginning of the hellscape he’d endured.

There was an instant where he’d been sure he was going to die on the field, seconds before the remainder of his battalion was about to be overrun.

He remembers the gunfire surrounding him, piercing the falling bodies of his men as he laid helpless and injured. Cody’s shouting amidst the mayhem. The stabbing pain of his ribs that had blackened the edges of his vision. The dirt that had caked his face and armor. The sheer amount of it had been maddening.

And yet, as the bugs had closed in around him and he’d forced himself to his feet to meet his imminent end, the only thing that had run through his mind was...you.

Your name, your face. The dissatisfaction at the fact that the last time he’d seen it, it’d been distorted, static and blue from the holo you’d shared with Master Unduli. The way you’d hidden a smile as she interrupted his competitive jeering with Anakin ahead of the battle.

At least he’d made you laugh, he’d thought, and with that, he’d ignited his lightsaber.

And then the reinforcements had come. And he’d been left to sink back down on shaking knees with the image of you burning in his brain until the concerned presence of Ahsoka materialized at his side.

He hadn’t had any time to process the stunning realization that he was in love with you. He’d scarcely had a second to gather himself before he was already spouting a revised attack plan to take the droid factory, reverting to autopilot the way he always did when he assumed his identity as a war general.

But the universe had seemed intent on not letting him escape it, regardless. Just days later, he’d saved your life — you’d arrived at Point Rain with Luminara only to be taken by the Geonosian queen to be turned into a mindless, shivering zombie.

“I still haven’t forgiven you for that, you know.” You’d chirped, while tapping his nose teasingly.

“What? The stunt with the worms? You know I wouldn’t have actually let it go up your nose.”

“No, for disobeying an order to fall back and leave us behind.”

His heart had clenched at your words. Never in a million years would he abandon you if he thought there was the smallest chance of saving you. He knew that, finally.

But the fear of losing the only life he’d ever known outweighed the fear of losing you, and he’d settled with yearning for you from afar. It would be enough, he’d convinced himself. He refused to burden you with the knowledge that he’d been pining helplessly for you for Force knows how long, and ruin the careers in the Order you’d both worked so hard to construct.

That was, until now.

Until he’d seen Satine Kryze again, after decades apart, and she’d declared her surviving affection for him from all those years ago, Anakin witnessing the whole thing. After he’d seen the weight of her unspoken truth upon her shoulders. And although he regretted that he couldn’t grant her the relief from her wanting, he’d resolved that he didn’t want to spend the rest of his days the same way — slowly being crushed by his own supression. Even if his feelings were unrequited.

So he’d decided that he’d tell you, Jedi Code be damned. He wouldn’t hold it in any longer.

As the Coronet docked on the landing pad where the Chancellor was waiting, he’d been jittery with anticipation. That, and disoriented from the events that had transpired on the way there. He’d blubbered uncharacteristically when Satine had caressed his face in farewell, Anakin watching delightedly at his back. Then, as he’d turned to find a speeder to make his way to you in the Temple, the universe had yet again toyed with him — you were there, appearing on the platform out of nowhere like a summoned spirit, but not making your way towards him.

No, you were walking straight towards Satine.

You didn’t seem to notice him or Anakin behind you, welcoming the Duchess with practiced cordiality and leading her to the airbus where the other Senators were boarding, glaringly obvious that you’d been assigned on escort duty. Obi-Wan held back a groan. Of all the Jedi.

Anakin had practically collapsed in hilarity, a hand heavy on Obi-Wan’s shoulder. “The Force works in mysterious ways, Master,” he crowed. “I finally get that one.”

———

You’re perched high up on a viewing balcony of the Senate Chamber when he finds you, a little before Satine is set to address the Republic.

“You’re certainly off your game today,” you exhale an amused laugh as he skids to a stop, attempting to compose his appearance as he approaches you. “Anakin told me all about what happened on the Coronet en route to Coruscant.”

His blasted Padawan. Obi-Wan could strangle him.

“I didn’t teach him to gossip,” he grumbles, coming to stand beside you. He'd run the whole way here to catch you, but his rapid heartbeat isn’t from physical exertion. You’re as tranquil as ever, though, and your presence relaxes him despite.

You give a snort. “Maybe not intentionally. He definitely learned how to operate outside the lines of the Code by watching you.” He knows you’re poking fun at him, but his breath catches at the mention of the doctrine that dictates you both.

But he’s set on telling you. Today.

“Actually, I was hoping to talk to you about something similar.”

You turn to the Chancellor’s podium as his voice reverberates through the hall, but Obi-Wan’s hearing is fixed on you. “Of course, Obi, but it’ll have to wait until later. I think your friend is about to speak.”

He opens his mouth to reply, to bring your attention back to him, but you’re focused on the proceedings. He doesn’t like the jovial way you say friend, as if you’re almost happy about it, but he forces his gaze to follow yours as Satine begins her address.

Which, of course, goes terribly wrong. Because nothing seems to want to work out today.

Even your usually optimistic features are set with a grim expression as a testimonial from Satine’s own Deputy Minister slights her leadership, and the Senate turns against her. As her repulsorpod retreats from the center of the chamber, you cast concerned eyes towards him.

“Go,” you urge him, and he’s frozen between staying or leaving. “She needs you. I’ll buy you some time with the security detail.”

Obi-Wan doesn’t want to depart from your side, words hanging on the tip of his tongue, but he knows you’re right. He nods at you gratefully before chasing after Satine.

———

He tries again in the evening, while you’re between shifts of guarding the Duchess’ guest quarters.

“She seems...interesting,” you nod to the Mandalorian guard that passes by to take your post, speaking low enough that your conversation is relatively private. “She certainly had much to say about you.”

Obi-Wan wanted to scream. It seems everyone had been able to get you alone except for him. “I told you about that year on Mandalore after I came back,” he protests, and you shoot him a pitiful wink.

“Not the way she described it.”

Before he can demand just what Satine had let on, the sound of rapid footfalls draws both of your attention to the guard you’d greeted earlier. “Master Jedi! The Duchess is gone. We don’t know for how long.”

You curse lightly and rush down the hall to follow the Mandalorian, and Obi-Wan is about to do the same when his comm buzzes on his wrist.

He sighs in frustration. He knows exactly who it is.

———

After he’d relayed the untampered evidence to Padmé in time for the Senate convocation and Satine had been released from custody, Obi-Wan makes his way to your quarters in a determined stride. The past couple days were nothing short of a wild Bantha ride from start to finish, and he was tired of tiptoeing around you.

As he raises a shaking hand to knock outside your room, he stalls in a moment of fleeting hesitation. The impending metamorphose of your relationship nags at his brain, and he pauses. What he’s about to do will indelibly transform the dynamic between you, for better or for worse. It dawns on him that there won’t be any going back from this.

He hears your voice from a distant memory of late nights in the Temple gardens, basking in the light of the stars. Of course everything will change. Nothing can stop that.

So be it.

He stands as tall as he can manage, and knocks resolutely.

You open the door looking ready for bed, clad in a billowing camisole, face dewy from the refresher and hair still damp. He smiles at you as you open it wider. “Hello, Obi.”

He shuffles inside, meekly nodding in apology of his interruption. “I thought I’d come see you.”

Like routine, you’re already heating up a pot of water for him as you search for his favorite tea in your cupboard. Ever so thoughtful. His heart flutters beneath his robes. “I’m glad to see you found the Duchess,” you chime lightheartedly, “I had a hunch when you disappeared earlier.”

His hand finds the back of his neck. “I hope I didn’t make you look too bad, being on protection and all.”

You shake your head dismissively. “I was just glad to hear she was safe. You helped save her people from Republic occupation.”

Altruistic honesty radiates off of you, and his chest drops, in a good way. You care, and it’s written all over your actions.

You’re the best person he knows. Without question.

For a split second, Obi-Wan wonders if he even deserves you. But he pushes the thought in the back of his mind for later, hell-bent on not letting anything get in the way of what he wants to say.

“There’s something I need to tell you.”

You face him fully, abandoning the tea as you take in the seriousness of his posture. He sucks in a stunted breath.

“It’s about —”

“I know.”

He startles, momentum lost as you interrupt him suddenly. Your gaze is penetrating. “What?” He asks dumbly.

“It’s about Satine, isn’t it?” Your bare arm comes up across your body to hold the other, and Obi-Wan finds himself staring at the way your too-long pants brush the floor as you sway to one side. Your sleeping shirt brushes the middle of your thighs, and he realizes how utterly small you seem in the moment. “You feel the same way about her that you used to.”

His eyes snap up to yours at your words, mind reeling. It takes him an eternity to force out a single word.

“...No.”

You tilt your head confusedly, and Obi-Wan wants to pinch himself to test if this is some sort of stress-induced hallucination. “No? You do know she’s positively infatuated with you, don’t you?”

“No, I —” he shuts his eyes desperately. “I mean, yes, I know, but I don’t —” he breaks off abruptly, opening his eyes at you with newfound willpower. Blast it.

Obi-Wan crosses the room in three steps, reaching his hands out to cradle you delicately as he pulls you in for a bruising kiss.

He hears your breath stutter, shock just about vibrating off of you, but in the next second your eyelashes graze his cheeks as you close your eyes and lean into him. His heart pounds in crazed gratification, and Obi-Wan feels downright dizzy from the sensation. He’s going to faint, he’s going to die right here in your arms —

Your hands find the top of his chestplate, fingers curling against it, but after a beat of his body singing with joy, he feels you apply the smallest pressure on his armor. You detach your lips from his slowly, and he blinks dazedly at you when you pull away. Disbelief paints your frame.

“Obi, what —”

“I love you,” he says quickly, hands still on either side of your face. “I’m in love with you. I’ve been in love with you. For so long.” One of your hands reaches up to clasp his own against your cheek. “I know that this goes against everything we’ve ever been taught, and you must be confused. I’m sorry.” He breaks off for a second, eyebrows creasing, because he’s not sorry. He could never be sorry for what he’s just done, not with the feeling of your lips still rippling in tingles through his brain. “But I had to tell you. I just...couldn’t go on without you knowing.”

Your mouth opens and closes as you flounder in his confession, and he studies you with more intensity than he’s felt in ages. He’s suddenly hyper-aware of everything about you, offhandedly concentrating to memorize every tiny detail. He’ll relive that kiss a thousand times over for the rest of his life if it’s the last one he’ll get.

“I — I don’t know what to say,” you manage to let out, and he presses his forehead to yours before releasing you. Say you love me, his heart cries. But Obi-Wan pushes the sentiment away.

“It’s alright,” he promises gently. You stare at him as he squeezes the hand that’s still holding his. “You don’t have to say anything.”

“Obi-Wan, I —”

Whatever you’re about to say is cut off by a loud knock from outside, and the way you jerk back from him pricks at his emotions. You quickly pad to the door, opening it a crack as he attempts to conceal himself from your unexpected visitor.

“Sorry to bother you so late, Master,” Anakin’s voice fills the air, and Obi-Wan shrinks further into the shadows. “I’m just checking in before I leave for Vanquor. I wanted to make sure you’re still available to train Ahsoka while I’m gone?”

It takes you a little to formulate a response, your eyes still wide. “Yes — of course, Anakin, always.” You attempt to shut the door, but Anakin speaks up before you can.

“Actually, I was hoping to ask you for some advice as well, if you don’t mind.”

You can’t look at Obi-Wan without giving him away, so he sends a subtle wave of reassurance your way, hoping you pick up on it.

The tension releases from your shoulders, and you nod at his old student. “I’d be happy to. Give me a bit to get ready,” you gesture behind you, “and I’ll walk you to your quarters.”

Anakin must nod in return, because you close the door without another word. You reach up to grab your outer robes from where they’re hung on the wall, and turn to him with a tormented expression.

Go, it’s his turn to coax you as he mouths the word silently. It’s alright.

Your eyes are shining with emotion that he can’t quite read in the dim light, but eventually you slip on your cloak and shoes and open the door once more. With one last lingering glimpse at him in the corner, you disappear into the hall where Anakin is waiting.

As he feels your presence dwindling away, he sends a final thought into the vacant room, more to himself and the aching emptiness of the Force than to you.

I love you.

[officerjennie]

I’ve been meaning to write about some platonic pet play for a while, but have officially been encouraged enough by @kalikatze to do so. So! Have some modern aro/ace!Geralt and Jaskier pet play, in the form of a headcanon bulleted list because I really don’t have the time or energy to add yet another fic idea to my WIPs.

(Jaskier is called ‘Julian’ for the first bit of this)

CW: purely platonic pet play, Jaskier being a pet, consent discussion, brief mentions of sex (with other people), mentions of past sexual pet play (with other people)

Geralt and Julian have known each other and been friends for years, and really are closer to each other than they are to anyone else. It’s kinda just natural for them to move in together rather than seek out another roommate, since they know each other’s boundaries rather well and trust each other.

There had been some worries over moving in together, of course. Some people work best as friends at a distance, but as luck turns out they work extremely well in the same apartment! They know how to communicate with each other, their schedules match well, and overall their routines feel natural together.

Though Geralt had mentioned it to Julian several years ago, and it had come up a few times since, he still cleared it up at the start that he wasn’t interested in them becoming anything other than friends - he trusted Julian to respect that as well. And of course Julian did. Julian even promised to keep his own sexual exploits out of the apartment to help Geralt feel the most comfortable.

Cuddling had been a part of their friendship off and on for a while, on nights where they’d stay up late at each other’s places and order food and watch a movie. It had really never been much more than leaning on each other, sharing a blanket, or sometimes having an arm around the other, but it had always been something that Geralt had found so peaceful. To be allowed to be close with someone and not have anything expected of him.

Now that they lived together and could spend a lot more leisure time together, the cuddles happened more often. Sometimes they would just sit on the sofa, Julian hugging Geralt’s waist with his eyes closed, Geralt watching TV or reading a book while he loosely held his friend.

It first came up when Julian was having a particular rough day.

He came over to be held like most days, worming his way under Geralt’s arm and smooshing his face against him. But unlike most days, he didn’t relax from it.

Julian fidgeted, and sighed. And frowned in that particular way that Geralt knew he wasn’t just being dramatic - something had gotten his friend rather Down and Geralt hated to see it.

But as much as Geralt had always been good at picking out Julian’s moods, he’d never been much good at Knowing how to solve them himself. So he simply asked, “What do you need, Juls?”

It took a little while for Julian to be honest, his nerves getting the better of him, but eventually he asked Geralt to play with his hair. So Geralt did. And after a little while of scratching his head and running his fingers through his hair, Julian relaxed against him. 

Though it wasn’t really a habit to discuss every single little change between them (when Julian had started to wash Geralt’s towels for him they hadn’t discussed it, like they hadn’t discussed when Geralt started to make sure Julian always had his favorite tea stocked), this felt different enough that Geralt, though bad at words as he was, wanted them to talk about it.

It wasn’t a conversation that happened overnight. As a matter of fact, for a long while, this was the only change that happened. When Julian had a particularly hard day he’d come back home and worm his way into his spot, and ask for his hair to be played with. And they were both happy with this.

But Jaskier had a lot of friends with a lot of different experiences, and eventually he came across pet play, and it got him thinking.

Geralt wasn’t the first person he brought it up with. He was actually the fourth or fifth, but the first ones...didn’t offer him what he Needed from it. And after some mixed results he decided to bring it to the person he trusted the most in his life.

That didn’t mean he wasn’t nervous about it. He wrung his shirt in his hands as he sat on the sofa and waited for Geralt to come home, wondering how on earth he was going to properly explain what he wanted/needed, wondering if Geralt would be okay with it, wondering if his dearest and closest friend would judge him for even bringing it up

Of course he’d understand if Geralt didn’t want that. He’d understand and accept it, and ask if they could stay just as they were with their cuddles and occasional head and hair pets. But it didn’t mean that he didn’t very very much hope that Geralt would be okay with pet play, even if just a small amount.

And there was, of course, the fear that Geralt might think it was a sexual thing. Actually Julian had tried the sexual part with someone and just...did not care for it. He wanted to be cared for in a platonic way, he didn’t want to be any sort of sexual pet for someone.

When Geralt got home and sat down next to Julian, he at least listened to his friend. Didn’t interrupt him once, didn’t seem to be judging him, and listened while relaxing back against the sofa as if the conversation didn’t bother him.

“I’d like to try that.”

The words were a flood of relief to Julian, and he nodded eagerly when Geralt said they’d have to discuss it more along the way.

At the start, it was little more than what they’d already been doing, just with tweaks here and there. Geralt would sit on the sofa and Julian would hug him or lay in his lap, having his shoulders rubbed or hair played with. It was relaxing for the both of them, to be so close and it mean nothing else.

The more they relaxed into it, the more they were willing to try.

Julian one day mentioned he’d like to have a collar - one with a cute bell on it, and maybe even a bow. Geralt snorted and said it sounded very much like Julian, to want to be flashy and be heard, but he agreed that he liked the idea.

When they got the collar, the idea of a tag came up, but Julian paused when it came to putting his own name on the tag.

“I’d...like to have a different name.”

And so Geralt and Julian sat down, and they both decided on the name “Jaskier”

Jaskier was a cat, though he liked to be called kitten. He liked to have his head rubbed in just the right way, liked to lay on his person. Liked to lay in the sun on some cushions he pulled over to the best patch of it in the house, and be allowed to relax and not worry about anything.

That was one of the big Needs Julian had out of their play, he realized and explained to Geralt one day. He needed to feel cared for and like he didn’t have to worry about small things. That he could simply nap and let someone else tell him when it was time for food, that he didn’t have to worry about talking or explaining himself, that he could be cared for and patted off to brush his teeth and go to bed when it was time.

Geralt, for his part, needed to be close to someone. To be allowed to hold them and give them affection, to feel someone close to his body without fear of them wanting something from him. It worked out well that his kitten loved to be held and squished between him and the back of the sofa.

When Julian had a rough day, it was his one and only job to let Geralt know that he wanted to be Jaskier. It was up to him to bring Geralt his collar, and if Geralt was in the mood. And it was up to Geralt to put the collar on him all snug and secure, but not too tight, to always check and make sure Jaskier would be able to breathe and not feel strangled by it.

They found some things really worked for them, and some things didn’t.

Julian did not care for being on all fours. He felt like it made him small in a very uncomfortable way, and it took him too long to follow after Geralt and to do things. It wasn’t a warm and safe thing to him, so they decided that was not how Jaskier moved around the house.

Geralt was not comfortable with the thought of punishing his kitten for anything. Though Julian was indifferent about it on most minor things, it made Geralt feel cruel - he had always been soft on his own actual cats so he did not want to punish his kitten either. So they decided that there would be little correcting of behaviors beyond Geralt telling Jaskier if he was doing something that might be hurting him (sitting on a painful part of his leg, etc.). The correcting was always done with a kind voice, and though Jaskier might pout he always listened.

One thing they found they both loved was encouragement and spoiling. Jaskier got gentle pets and cooed at for the smallest of things. If he brushed his teeth, he got to be held extra tight and told he’d done so well, and that’s when Julian finally felt like this was it

This is what he’d been after.

“You’ve done well, kitten.”

“Good job.”

“I’m proud of you.”

“Did you finish your food? Ah, good.”

“I’m glad this wasn’t too much - did you want to be held longer?”

“If you sit still I’ll brush your hair in a minute, kitten. Why don’t you bring me your brush in the meantime?”

“You’ve been so good today. Just lay here for me, I’ll take care of dinner and be right back.”

Julian’s mind was always so busy, so full of endless buzzing. Things he needed to get done, people he needed to contact, all of the chaos at his work, the homework that was due that weekend, the songs he wanted to write, the songs he should have written - and so so so much more.

But Jaskier - Jaskier was allowed to be quiet. Allowed to be content and in the moment, to not be asked for anything he couldn’t do. To stay still and quiet and be told he’d done so well even when he’d only done the bare minimum. To be cared for and given physical affection without the expectation of anything else.

And Geralt was allowed to care for someone so deeply, to give them affection and hold them close and love them, without the expectation of romance or sexual attraction blooming between them.

[heytherejulietx]

Blood ~ Jughead Jones

Masterlists

Notes - So this one might suck but I wanted to post it anyways because this is the first WIP I’ve finished in a while. Tell me what you think!

Warnings - Blood, mentions of violence, swearing, angst.

Word count - 1.3k.

Riverdale tag list - @idont-knowrn @bucky-j-barnes @adorably-sweet-hufflepuff

Jughead tag list - @kpopgirlbtssvt

If you’d like to be added to any tag list please just ask!

Her entire body flinched when the door had slammed open. It hit the wall so hard that it shook the thin walls of the trailer, and probably left a dent in the wall where the door handle had impacted first. Y/N's eyes immediately shot over to watch as Jughead slammed the door behind him again, and didn't even spare her a glance as he stalked through the trailer towards the bathroom.

"Jug?" She asked, clearly concerned as she stood up to follow him. "Hey, what happened?" She asked when he hadn't responded.

"Nothing." He responded through gritted teeth, his body tensing up.

Before he could walk into the bathroom she reached out to grab a fistful of his leather sleeve, trying to stop him. "Baby talk to me, what happened?"

"Nothing, will you just wait out there?"

Y/N almost flinched when he had turned back to look at her with such an angry expression. He had never once looked at her like that, and it truthfully scared her. He looked almost... murderous. She opened her mouth to say something else, wanting to know what possibly could have happened to get him in such a state, though she froze when she caught sight of his hands. They were covered in blood. When she looked closer she could see the crimson liquid also was staining his shirt, and it was enough to make her feel nauseated. Though the thing that scared her the most was that she could tell it wasn't his.

It was someone else's.

"Jug?" She whispered, reaching for his hand, only to have him pull it away immediately. "What happened."

He hesitated again. She watched as his eyebrows furrowed and a small crease formed in between them, a frown curving his lips downwards. His posture remained stiff as he took in a deep breath, before just closing his eyes as he shook his head. "We took care of Penny."

If she had felt sick before, she felt one-hundred times worse after he had said that. He took care of Penny... as in he killed her? Her eyes scanned over the blood again and she held her breath as the possibility of him having actually killed someone ran through her mind.

Could he?

"You didn't... she's not..."

"No." Jughead opened his eyes to look at her again. "No, we didn't kill her. You really think I'd do that?" He snapped, and her eyes widened at the harshness in his tone again. 

Jughead saw this and just sighed, his eyes closing again as his lips formed a thin line. “Sorry.” His voice broke, as did the shell of his non-affected persona. She could see then how scared he was, how guilty he was; and it broke her heart.

Y/N swallowed harshly and hesitated before she took his hand. Thankfully the blood had dried over his hands, because she would have been sick if it was still warm and wet. “Let’s get you cleaned up, okay? Then we can talk if you want.” She forced a small smile in his direction, and watched as he nodded his head, though his eyes still didn’t meet hers.

Her hand dropped his as she opened the bathroom door and she stepped inside, letting him follow her inside as she started running a warm sink of water and wet one of the two washcloths that were there. Jughead kept silent as he sat on the closed lid of the toilet, one of his legs bouncing uncontrollably - something he did when he was stressed.

Nothing was said as she took the wet wash cloth and stood in between his legs as she started getting the blood off of his hands, still feeling nauseated. This was Jughead. Her childhood best friend. The boy who was so kind and sweet, now part of a gang and hurting people.

“Are you scared of me?” Jughead broke the silence with a quiet question and his serious gaze piercing into hers.

“No.” She told him truthfully, letting his left hand go once it was clean before she wet the washcloth again to start cleaning up his right hand. “I’m just worried.”

“I’m sorry.” Jughead whispered, his expression a light scowl as his gaze returned to his hands again.

“What did you even do?” Y/N whispered, and didn’t miss the way his jaw clenched at the question. The silence brewed for another moment, though once it was clear that she seriously wanted to know he sighed and closed his eyes.

“Me and some of the Serpents took Penny to the outside of Greendale,” Jughead started, his leg bouncing again. “We threw her to the floor, told her never to come back here, and...” His voice wavered a little and he had to pause as he took in a deep breath. “And I got Sweet Pea and Toni to hold her still as I cut her Serpent tattoo off of her arm.”

Y/N almost didn’t believe him. She wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for the almost haunted expression he wore over his face. But she didn’t want to believe him. She didn’t want to believe her boyfriend was capable of throwing somebody in a ditch and cutting a part of their arm off, though clearly he was.

“Are you scared of me now?” He whispered as she had kept silent for a long moment.

Y/N shook her head again. Scared wasn’t the right word, she knew he could never hurt her. She was more just utterly concerned. “Why would you cut her?” She whispered, her eyebrows furrowing as she locked her gaze with his again.

“We had no other choice.” Jughead shook his head. “You know what she was doing, what she would have done if she was there for any longer. We had to get rid of her.”

“You didn’t have to cut her.”

“Don’t you think I know that!” His yell bounced off of the thin walls of the small bathroom, and she couldn’t help but flinch in surprise, her eyes widening. Jughead looked at her for a moment, guilt crossing his expression, before he sighed and put his head in his hands. “I know. I fucked up. I shouldn’t have cut her. I shouldn’t have thrown her in a ditch and yelled at her. We could have gotten her out a better way. But we didn’t, and we fucked it up.” His hand moved through his hair and tugged on it stressfully. Only when he looked up at her again did she the tears that were glazing over his blue eyes like freshly cut glass.

Y/N frowned and opened her arms for him, to which he leaned into and moved his arms around her waist. His head leaned against his chest and his hands gripped her shirt as his shoulders started shaking with the cries that left him. She held onto him tightly as he cried and pressed a kiss against his head, not letting go of him as he cried. They were like that for maybe ten minutes until Jughead sighed, now silent as he pulled out of her embrace to look up at her.

“I’m terrified.” He admitted in a whisper. “That she’ll come back and continue dragging my dad down. Or me down. Or the rest of the fucking Serpents.”

“You don’t know if she’s coming back.” She whispered and cupped his face in her hands - running the pads of her thumbs underneath his eyes to rid him of the freshly-shed tears that moved down his cheeks. “And if she does then we’ll deal with it when it comes up, okay?”

Jughead just nodded, his shoulders slumping as he leaned forwards to lean his head against her chest again. Her eyes closed as she held onto him, not able to help the tears building in her own eyes as she looked down at him, her boyfriend.

Though now it was like he was a completely different person. And that scared her more than anything else.

[oh-for-fic-sake]

A Witchers Pack Chapter Four

You all finally reach kaer morhen, but what will Vesemir have to say about Geralts new pack?

Masterlist

Warnings:Swearing, Maybe a little angst, fluff!

A/n:Sooo I lied in my WIP I said this would be the final but it will be the next one, with everything I want to add to finish this fic off I wont fit it on one post in tumblr so yes this is the second to last chapter. I hope you enjoy xx

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A Witchers Pack Chapter Four

Geralt sat by on his side of the bedroll he was content leaning back onto the sturdy leather bag he was resting on, for the first time in a while he was truly at peace reassured with the knowledge that tomorrow his pack would reach kaer morhen. They would be safe and cared for behind its walls. He smiled down at the small pup in his arms, Rebbeka looked up at him her face split into a wide grin at nearly four months old she recognized him and Jaskier, she was a sight to behold. Her features were becoming defined now ,she was beautiful. She held Jaskier’s coloring pale skin tho she held a tint of red across her cheeks, above that two serene blue eyes that seemed to be look right through you, surrounded by two thick lines of dark lashes and a thick patch of chestnut hair that held the hints of a curl. But her features was all you tiny pink lips that naturally rested in a pout ,high cheek bones slim soft jawline, her nose was upturned slightly giving her the look of a noble, or princess...Geralt preferred that to noble,  she was still dainty she wont be tall or broad tho she did have the pudgyiest cheeks he had ever seen on a child he smiled poking one lightly making her frown a little and wriggled babbled at him effectively telling him off hummed in response.

"Oh thats what you think? is it? well now that you have had your say I think its about time you went to sleep now don't you pup...look even your mother and papa are sleeping. You are to young to be pulling all nighters...what would she say if she found out I'd let you stay up with me" he tilted the precious bundle tipping her up as he nodded to you watching as she followed his gaze and smiled babbling again before looking back at him blinking cluelessly. You'd actually put her down to bed a few hours ago then curled up for a quick nap...That ended up being you turning in for the night you laid on your side facing him your quiet snores filling the tent your head was just poking out of the small nest of blankets he made for you nightly, you curled on your side near his thigh a large pillow resting below your head another was placed below your tiny bump cushioning the precious cargo you carried, his chest warmed a little when he cast his gaze on you. He had done the impossible, him a sterile witcher by some confused alpha breeding frenzy loophole had sired not one but two pups. A litter. A small littler but a litter none the less. He closed his eyes dragging in a deep breath, picking up your scent, it was more intense and thicker with a slight change underneath.The beginnings of your pups scents the sort of undertones of them. They were going to have deep natural scents, maybe of freshly turned earth or pine needles.

He had nearly had a heart attack when he found out you were pupped again, it hadn't been like last time either this time you knew immediately before either him or Jaskier had a clue. You began feeling unwell when Rebbeka was ten weeks, not sick just low... drowsy and lethargic all you could manage to do was feed Rebbeka eat and sleep, for the first few days Jaskier was worried you had caught a virus when this continued for weeks Geralt had been worried but you kept brushing them both off after nearly two months Geralt was beginning to think the worst, that you had gotten a terrible sickness. He had tried to force you to see a healer or a mage, again you brushed him off. You had a feeling you knew what was going on, but wanted to wait until you was certain ,you knew how much it meant to the witcher. Finally though you had snapped Geralt had gone to far trying to take Rebbeka from you as you tried to feed her wanting to give her goats or cows milk in case you were ill and could infect her. Safe to say all hell broke loose, you all but bit him when he had suggested such a thing as he reached to take her from you hissing at him to 'try and take her from me!' as you held her closer as she fed readying yourself to claw at him a little feral...Omegas were touchy about providing for their pups and it seems your current hormones wasn't helping, it was then you had decided to tell them the news that you was certain you was pupped again...You had missed two cycles you wasn't sure how but you said you just knew. Geralt and Jaskier didn't believe you at first and took some convincing but by the time you was fourteen weeks he heard it two fast little hearts beating so fast it was more of a hum.He shook his head when he remembers when he first noticed it, it was in a tavern he'd received dirty looks when he had spit his drink all over Jaskier. The sound hit him like a brick wall he had stilled staring at you ignoring the Betas complaint of having ale sprayed up him. moving closer he slipped his hand under where Rebbeka was sleeping on your lap to rest his sweaty shaking palm on your tummy, eyes wide his lower jaw trembled Jaskier had stopped his bitching watching closely. You had just smiled at him

"told you so..." he sucked in a breath closing his eyes resting his head on your shoulder listening, honing in on the fantastic sound of the life he had put inside you.

"Oh my god he did it didn't he?....he pupped you...that's- this is unheard of! another pup so close to Rebbeka!" Jaskier's statement started with disbelieve then became a high pitched squeal of excitement when he finally registered what was coming. Another pup, for him to fuss over and sing to. Geralt pulled his head up you could see his eyes held unshed tears not that you would ever tell anyone.

"No Jaskier no not one....Two....theirs two of them....A litter I'm having-we're having a litter" you froze looking from one to you other. Jaskier paled and stayed stock still going into a mini breakdown.

"What? that's....Geralt are you certain?" he nodded to you smiling kissing your lips quickly once you pulled away Jaskier snapped out of it eyes panicked.

"TWO? YOU MEAN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THREE TINY PUPS TO WATCH OVER AND RAISE AT ONCE?!" the tavern fell quiet everyone looking at the bard who had stood up one hand in his hair the other holding his ale as he basically screamed it

"Yes Jaskier she's having two pups..." Jaskier nodded a little and sipped a small mouthful of his ale and placed the mug down and shook his head with a small chuckle.

"...Nope sorry" he dropped back heavily fainting on the floor you gasped craning your neck clutching Rebbeka you your chest making her whine as you woke her Geralt grunted, ignoring the way the tavern roared with chorus of laughter and slurred congratulations. Geralt didn’t move to help the unconscious man he sat back down waving him off

"Geralt.....Is he going to be okay?" you asked still trying to peer around the table to see Jaskier he sighed

"he's breathing....so probably, give him a minute." you nodded uncertainly then rocked the pup in your arms cooing her back to sleep.

Geralt was pulled from his thoughts as the pup had managed to wriggle an arm free of her blanket waving it about in his face, he knew what she was trying to do, she liked poking him in the eye and pulling his hair. He chuckled hoisting her higher making her miss her target and quickly closing his lips around her fingers 'biting' at her she laughed as he did pretending to eat her then pulled back giving a kiss to her hand and made his way up her arm to her neck blowing a quick raspberry to it making her squeal and laugh. He pulled back with a kiss to her cheek.

"ssh ssh don't wake you mother... now come on its time for sleep little one, I'm not having you start that sleeping pattern again." he said referring to her week of being nocturnal it was hell for everyone, especially you who had to change with her to keep her fed. Laying her on the bedroll in front of him he made quick work of tucking her arm back in the blanket and laid down curling around her moving to pull out her rabbit toy that she slept with letting her pull it into the blankets with her resting a tiny cheek on the soft velvet he smiled running a finger across her forehead. This was his little trick to making her settle and true to form in a few moments she was fast asleep. Finally hearing that Rebbeka was asleep you peaked your eye open barely awake.

"So that’s how you do it?" you yawned and blinked sleepily at him and he smiled

"You were up?" you shook your head at him and shuffled closer curling around your sleeping child.

"No I heard her laugh....woke me" he nodded and placed a kiss on your forehead

"Go back to sleep we will be home tomorrow" you blinked slowly nodding still half asleep, you snuggled back down into your nest curling into him a little more then before circling Rebbeka blushing as you felt Geralt cover your shoulders with the heavy fur blanket.

The next afternoon you found yourself on the road again following Geralt on the well worn path leading higher into the blue mountains. You listened to Jaskier prattling on to Rebbeka as he carried her making the child squeal and laugh every now and then. You sighed rubbing your tender breast as much as you hoped she would need a feed soon you quite enjoyed having Jaskier take her for a while, she was getting bigger and with your little bump it was getting more and more difficult to hold her all the time now, well your bump and the fact you were always so damn tired. You slowed down as the path began a steep incline you panted as your body became heavier with each step but you made it all be it getting a concerned look from Geralt as you made it to the brow of the hill. You looked at the beta of the group then froze as your gaze followed Jaskier's. The trail you was on sloped down to the left  then rose in the distance up to the gated entrance. Embedded into the rocky outcrop was the....Kaer morhen...The famed witcher strong hold, tho it still held the scars of its violent past in the stone ramparts it looked strong, stable and imposing. Safe. You blinked gasping as you looked upon the keep it was... There was no words for the moment you laid eyes on it, you felt a warm relief fill you as your eyes scanned the witcher school you swallowed, you couldn't tear your gaze away trying to seal in the details from all the stories, you'd read them as a child legends, you thought tall tales of scary witcher’s to scare children into behaving....That is what you thought until you met Geralt and even after meeting him you still didn't really believe this was a real place. Your home was so far that it was hard to truly believe that Witcher's were real let alone had a fortress in the mountains that had fallen to men.

"That’s...This is were we are staying? Geralt?" Jaskier spoke the question that had been trapped in your throat as you still stared mouth agape...A home..A real home with a hearth and a bed and...Safety true safety where you could all relax, no one on watch waiting for bandits or monsters you wrapped your arms around yourself nervously, that’s if you were aloud to stay. You were moved a few steps away from the edge of the path by Geralt’s insistent hovering arms as he spoke to the bard.

"Jaskier away form their....And yes this is my home...The only one I know we will stay for a few years" you snapped out of your thoughts as he said that you turned to him, moving to fast as you tried to blinked away the black spots waving your arms out as your eyes darkened. Geralt was quick to capture them and support you holding you until you was steady on your feet then held your hips moving you as he pleased.

"Years? Geralt we cant keep you here that long what about contracts?-" he hushed your anxious with a small smile then hoisted you up on to roach not moving from his spot before you, sending you a stern look as you tried you wriggle down. You huffed a sigh and took the reigns from him resigning yourself to riding the rest of the way.

"Yes years, until the children are older....Then we will venture out a little further. In the mean time I will take contracts no more then a few weeks away." you looked down to your small bump one hand going to it running across the taught skin absentmindedly twiddling the loose thread in the horses tack you took another look at the witcher school as Geralt watched you carefully noting a change in you as you avoided his eyes.

"What is it?" he spoke gruffly you shook your head sniffling moving to wipe a few stray tears then met his gaze with a forced smile

"Nothing ...Its silly don't mind me...Hormones and all that" he narrowed his eyes and placed a hand on top of yours his hand dwarfed yours and you felt the heat on your tummy.

"Omega...Whats wrong?" you sighed casting a longing look to the fortress.

“What...What if they don't believe us....Ger-Geralt Its never happened before....What if they make me leave? cast me out with Rebbeka?! I-I cant do that... Go it alone and then what happens when these are born?...What if they make you choose?" you poured out just some of your feelings to him, he tilted his head with a quirk in his lips.

"You are not going anywhere, Vesemir will understand please trust me on this omega...You wont be cast out or told to leave.." he moved to look at a weary Jaskier who moved from one foot to the other cradling Rebbeka he was also worried of being turned away. Geralt took a breath seeing the uncertainty was mutual between the other two members of his pack.

"Either of you, your family my family and now his...Theirs and we protect our own...All alpha witcher’s have a true mate...Yes it is rare for a witcher to find his mate, but that’s normally due to us outliving them or dying before their birth, not because there wasn't one...The fact that I found you...Both of you and made a pack is a blessing, something to be treasured and they will understand. They will not separate my pack, and if it makes you feel better if they try we leave. Together and find somewhere safe to stay of our own..." he looked back to you eyes soft seemingly amused by your fears.

"But it wont come to that...I can tell that you don't believe me...The only way to settle these fears is when we speak to him so lets not waste time." he moved quickly around roach and continued down the path.

The knot in your stomach got tighter and more sickening as the witcher school got closer you rocked Rebbeka in your arms fussing over her as she held a small wooden rattle Jaskier had brought her moving it enthusiastically back and forth making the light sound, you moved quickly shielding her head as she got close to hitting her forehead you giggled as she looked at the toy closely taking in the small carvings that they had both added to it, a small wolf and little bird. You smiled she was lifting her head a lot now concentrating on Things. Your thoughts were interrupted as you all stood at the small incline of the path to a lowered drawbridge. You gulped as a older man walked out below the gate to the bridge he moved slowly as if not believing what he was seeing, you clutched Rebbeka tighter to your self whimpering under your breath.

"Geralt..." Geralt looked up at you squeezing your calf stopping and turning to you, he noted the way your pulse had picked up and nervous quiver of your bottom lip. "It's okay that's Vesemir, he probably wondered why I wasn't back yet... I'm normally back by winter but we have missed it this year, he may have thought the worst...Please calm down trust me"

"I do....but I don't- I don't know them" he ran his hand up your leg and placed a hand gently on Rebbeka's head making the pup turn to him and smile reaching out for her father dropping her rattle in favor of grasping at his fingers trying to move them to her mouth he gave her a soft look and slowly untangled her from him moving to lay his hand across your bump closing his eyes listening to the humming of his own growing litter as he did so. He pulled back looking up at you capturing your gaze with his own.

"You think I would bring you here..My pack here? if they was any doubt in my mind? that I thought for a second you would be rejected.... This is my home....They are my brothers and Vesemir the only father I have known" you smiled down at him nodding to him.

"Let me down" he moved quickly helping you down from roach setting you down beside him looking over Rebbeka who was contentedly trying to look around he moved again and continued leading roach across the wooded bridge you and Jaskier quickly scrambled up behind the alpha walking alongside you casting you an unsure glance. You came to a stop before the older witcher. He was an alpha to you could tell by the deep scent and the way he held himself ,he commanded respect but not in a arrogant sense, it was more a case you wanted to listen to him he looked like a reasonable man. He looked kind he had a fatherly feel to him, his hair was pulled into a style much like Geralt's and his eyes were the typical amber hue, tho his hinted at a more bright yellow tone rather then your own alphas orange gold tone. the man moved forward clutching Geralt in a tight hug patting him on the back he pulled back smiling at your alpha

"Your alive? Geralt we began to think the worst!" Geralt smiled

"We the others are still here?"

"Yes spring is taking a while to set in and the migrations are going to be later so they have stayed longer this year, they will be glad to know your here....And not alone I see" Vesemir looked beyond Geralt to you and Jaskier, he froze as he cast his eyes on you.

"G-Geralt why?..Whats this?..An omega? you brought an omega here? what would make you  bring an omega back to-" he stopped as he scented you properly...You was bonded to Geralt. Vesemir stared at you wide eyed shoulders slumping shocked he looked to Geralt then yourself and back again, you moved from one foot to the other holding Rebbeka tight to your chest almost trying to hide her in your cloak holding your breath wide eyed waiting to see what would happen

"Mate's....She?" Vesemir's voice wavered as the words were lost in his throat. You felt Jaskier move closer the need for his packmates reassurance to strong to overcome. Geralt took two steps towards you bringing his mentor towards you.

"Yes...My true mate...My omega y/n.....And this is Jaskier my brother....My beta and finally our pup Rebbeka, she is the reason we are so late getting back....She was eager and arrived early." Vesemir swallowed dryly looking from one to the other and finally moved forward peeking at the bundled child.

"G-Geralt I don't know what to say...You found your mate and...you made a pack...How? and the child? Is she of your blood or?" Vesemir looked between you and Jaskier then your pup.

"Jaskier is her blood...But they are both her fathers..Both raising her... Jaskier he is her Papa, Geralt is her father...But-" you said moving forward almost frantic trying to clear up some confusion Vesemir cast the bundle a small look...He would admit he wanted to see the child, but from the way you was clutching at her he would hold back his curiosity for now. You was frightened and skittish, so was the beta probably waiting to be thrown out. He opened his mouth to reassure you but stopped short as Rebbeka chose that time to fuss making Vesemir scan her quickly with a concerned look

"Is she Cold?" you moved her running your pointer finger over her top lip watching as she struggled to latch on her tell tale sign of hunger.

"She's hungry" Vesemir nodded to you and moved to the side making a sweeping motion for you all to enter.

"Then we should go inside in the warm come...I wont be having the pup freeze out here" You and Jaskier shared a look at the last comment, the old witcher sounded... Somewhat protective of her, slowly made your way under the gate sticking close to each other trying to ignore the glances the older witcher was stealing at you both. Soon you was lead to a large type of sitting room with a huge roaring fire and some comfy chairs in front of it with scattered pillows and plush blankets. You took a seat on the pillows by the fire Jaskier beside you digging through the small bag holding Rebbeka's things it held mostly toys and clothes there were a few essentials to but not many. he moved pulling a tiny thin teddy it was a rabbit her snuggles that she recently couldn't sleep without he placed it to the side knowing she would want it after her feed. Geralt and Vesemir watched on as you was quick to place her at your breast and feed her.

"So....Would someone explain how this all came about?.....And why your omega is pregnant again?" you looked to him then Geralt who was the first to start explaining.

"I met....Was followed by Jaskier and he sort of...clung to me, he found me when I was passing out of kaedwen last spring, going into Redania after a few months my lesser had attached to him and he has been pack ever since... we turned back making for Kaer morhen for winter and was making our way through Sodden and heard of a contract...Seemed easy enough a supposed witch cursing the village, I expected to find the usual an old widow and a early wave of influenza... The village had nothing of value...No strategic position no real witch would be caught dead there" Vezemir looked uncomfortable as Geralts gaze landed on the small omega , he could guess where this was going and he didn't like it

."As I came up to the town...I...We felt her scented her at first I thought it was a trap beginning the think there actually was a witch but no...I found Y/n she had been living in an old granary on the outside of town, my lesser latched onto her immediately I knew she was my mate it was....It reminded me of waking from the trial of the grasses, that instant change like I have been sleepwalking my entire life until then...She was, I don't have the words to describe it but I cannot ever let her go...I will not" Geralt took a deep breath scenting you again as you looked down at Rebbeka smiling feeling the golden orbs stare at you softly. Vesemir cleared his throat nodding taking everything in

"A granary?Out side of the village?"Geralt snarled making you and Jaskier shrink at the chilling sound... You went to speak but Geralt’s growling response beat you to it.

"Yes when she presented they cast her out...Treated her like a fucking animal...They didn't understand what she was, she wasn't even aloud to buy hunting gear to fend for herself just gave her rotting food and left her in isolation...You know the attitudes to omegas have changed.She was the contract." you snapped your head to him gasping you hadn't known that.

"W-what? they-they hired you to?" you trailed off eyes staring off into space the shock of it rendering you speechless

"They thought you'd caused the new alphas turning to be painful, they worried you might lure him out to you and endure his wrath. So they lied calling you a witch to bring in a witcher to deal with you...I only found out the day after your heat when I saw the lord... He told me everything, about when you presented... How they cast you out the things they had done, threatened you with..He wanted me to kill you and I refused...I don't think I have ever punched a human so hard in my life" you slowly brought your eyes up to him you had known something had happened but didn't ask, you didn't want to know at the time you just wanted to leave, to wrapped up in a prospect of a new life.

"You...You attacked him?" he shook his head grinning

"Not really....Tho I would be surprised if he could ever talk again... his jaw snapped and quite a few teeth went flying...He will live, just a little less comfortably now." you nodded a warmth spreading through you at the thought of your alpha sticking up for you... Protecting you. Vesemir cleared his throat turning to Geralt, choosing not to comment on his handling of the lord, he doubt he would have faired any better in that position, in a way he was proud of Geralt for not gutting the man."I suppose she fell into a heat as all omegas do in these instances" Geralt snapped his gaze from you to his Surrogate father

"Yes....She didn't understand any of it none of the village explained it to her..I...We bedded her and I lost myself to my lesser ordering Jaskier to...Well you can guess the rest....then we found out down the line Jaskier had succeeded...Rebbeka was early" Vesemir nodded taking a sip of his ale and waved a hand over you and your packmates.

"And you had him have her again?" you moved Rebbeka in your lap letting her latch on to your other breast

"No...Jaskier has not.... Not since that night....Something happened, Geralt did not mate me the night we met ,he didn't want to force a bond and...I didn't know what was happening...It was only after that I found out what I was before that..My home told me I was a siren or some form of succubus...A monster...A whore by nature..Geralt and Jaskier explained to me and I decided that I wanted to be claimed but it was to late once I was pupped he did not want to touch me. After the birth he was...Different over the first two weeks he was peacocking typical male behavior. Then he snapped and we...He had a....well erm" you looked to your alpha going red getting hot just thinking about exactly what had happened and Vesemir chuckled at you thinking that his student had just fucked you rabid,

"And he ravaged you" he said chuckling as your cheeks brightened

“Well that and he ..he had...” you looked to your mate slowly Vesemirs amused gaze fell as Geralt spoke.

"I had a rut Vesemir.... A true rut and I knotted her as I bonded...Mated her properly and she is carrying my pups." Vesemir froze snapping his eyes to Geralt shaking his head slowly looking at you as you finally pulled the pup away from your chest moving to burp her, wanting to ignore this part of the conversation.

"No...It can't...Thats impossible" Jaskier spoke up this time shrugging handing the pup her rabbit as you laid her across your lap she whimpered reaching for her father,Geralt sighed and plucked her from you cradling her gently leaning back in the chair hushing her.

"Thats what we thought to....But an unmated omega that had just had a pup has been known to send alphas into heat, and it may have been the fact she is his true mate that aloud him to...You know...Trust me I was there...He knotted her was stuck to her for nearly a whole night"

"No other has touched her...You know I would have scented him on her if they had....They are mine Vesemir" Vesemir sat quietly, taking in the information it was...None of them were lying he could hear it in the strong beats of their hearts, the was no waver of skipped beats just the constant thrumming of their life blood.

"So...You return with a pack, a pup and two on the way?....How far are you?" you flinched under his gaze

"A-About three months at the moment just over...Rebbeka was two weeks at the time and is now four months"you twiddled your fingers.

"So...we have anything from three to eight months to get this place ready for another two additions..." you gasped turning to face him as Jaskier opened his mouth.

"W-We can stay?...All of us?" Vesemir scoffed rolling his eyes at you both and leaned over Geralt's lap taking in the pup, then moved to hold her settling the sleepy child in his arms, it had been so long since he had seen one cooped up here most of the time.He smiled as she looked up at him he moved to run a knuckle over her face then closed her eyes not finding him interesting in the slightest making him scoff.

"..A headstrong little thing....And of course your staying...All of you...You thought I'd make you leave...don't be so absurd turn away the only grandchildren I will ever have?, I would never turn away family...If your Geralt’s family then your mine to." he fixed you both with a look as he rocked the tiny pup in his arms.Geralt scoffed smugly 'told you' visibly relaxing himself.

"And you will find the others will feel the same...Geralt there are cribs and supplies in the storage room by the old nursery, probably out dated and there might not be many clothes surviving but we can make due." you looked at the witcher's funny as Geralt nodded.

"Nursery? cribs? I thought this was a witcher school?..." Vesemir looked at you with a sad smile

"While many Witchers are children of surprise....Some were abandoned as tiny pups around the hills and woods in kaer morhen, the path here is hidden to most as you noticed so we used to sweep the near valleys but children were found regularly wandering, or swaddled hidden in the undergrowth. We had to accommodate them, just like we will do now...You will always have a place here this is your home now all of you" you smiled in relief holding Jaskier's hand tight. Home. You sniffed wiping your eyes willing the tears back. A family and a home was all you had ever dreamed of and now you had both. Geralt slid to the floor between you both and pulled you in resting both your heads on his shoulders sighing as you both held him tight.

"See...I told you...Both of you, now how about we go get something to eat then move a crib to our room." you pulled back laughing nodding eagerly as you all stood following Geralt and Vesemir to the great hall on one end was the largest fireplace you had ever seen in front of that was a long table separating the room in two halves piled with fresh food and wine there was two men.Witcher's. At the table who both turned to the door as Geralt opened it drawing the males attention

"Geralt! Not dead I see..See Lambert I told yooo-wait a minuet what is that? Vesemir? are you- is that a pup?!" Geralt growled at them whisper shouting.

"Shut up, she has only just got to sleep!" you and Jaskier watched as the new males sniffed the air.

"An...Omega?...She holds your scent...G-Geralt what have you done?" he sighed motioning for you and Jaskier to take a seat. you sat close to Vesemir wanting to be near your pup. sitting quietly as Vesemir and Geralt explained the situation as you and Jaskier picked at the food. The other males sat in silence for a few moments as Vesemir talked them down from their frantic skepticism, finally the message sunk in.

"So...She is your mate....And you had him pup her for you she had a kid and that made you jump off the deep end and knot her making two more....That may or may not have our mutations....Why does all this shit happen to you?" the first witcher Eskel said slapping Geralts. Geralt looked a little sheepish rubbing the back of his neck looking to you then two Jaskier feeling the bard's pout from here.

"And then we have Jaskier my beta and a brother...None of this would have happened had it not been for him...He is the one who ran head first into her, he lead me to her...The reason I found her,the reason we have Rebbeka and ultimately the reason I now have two more pups on the way...I can't thank him enough" everyone looked to the now red bard.

"I-it was nothing... I just sort of broke in to her house-shack thing." you smiled knowing although embarrassed Jaskier had needed the acknowledgment for his own piece of mind, to solidify just what he meant to the pack. You knew you and Geralt loved him dearly and would both be lost with out him...even if he did irritate the alpha to no end you would never part from him you owed him everything. "Y/n...C-can I hold the pup..." you looked up to the witcher you now knew as Lambert then to Vesemir who was struggling to eat and support the shifting pup you smiled nodding. Geralt leaned back watching as the younger Witcher approach the pup as if it was a sleeping dragon, slow quiet steps then tentatively moved to hold the child changing his arms position a few times before even making contact with her making his brothers chuckle. Finally Vesemir handed the child to him swiftly, leaving no choice for Lambert to even think about it. He sputtered nervously standing dead still then chuckled.

"HAH!.look at him standing there looking like he shit himself....Oh Geralt have a look! his knees are shaking!" Eskel said laughing at the poor man.Geralt smirked as Lambert thoroughly enjoying watching him squirm.

"You know you can move with her Lambert....she isn't attached to y/n go sit down...She wont bite, nothing to be scared of" Lambert blinked at the sleeping child and took a shaky breath.

"I...I can't move...No here take her I don't like it....Please I'm going to drop her or-or hold her wrong or something.....Please anyone take the pup" he said slowly twisting around terrified of moving with her, he leant over to place her in Geralt's hands who moved his arms up out of the way.

"No sorry, your going to have to take her to y/n around the table.." Eskel laughed as Lambert paled looking around at you who was trying so hard not to laugh and succeeding... barely.

"Come now Lambert it's just a wee pup nothing to be scared of" Eskel added making the witcher feel worse

"I doubt you'll be any better! My hands are sweaty Geralt?!" Geralt finally relented laughing taking Rebbeka from him only to thrust her into Eskel's lap making him go stiff as a board.

"Geralt- what no take her- I don't bloody want her!" you winced at the volume and within seconds Rebbeka was awake looking around panicked and whined scrunching her face ready to cry.

"Oh my- h-hey sweety oh hell....no no no-don't cry its okay It's fine...Just ignore me...shh come on don't cry be good for uncle Eskel...shh shh that’s it be a good girl no..no-noooo don't do it" he moved quickly rocking her trying to ward off the imminent wailing she wobbled her bottom lip eyes going glassy making the others laugh as Eskel panicked waving his fingers at her making her grab one letting out a whimper she brought the captured digit and brought it straight to her mouth making the witcher cringe as she pulled it suckling then closed her eyes trying to fall back to sleep, he pulled back flinching as she whined as soon as his finger began slipping free.

"Ew...Okay how do I detach her? y/n?" you giggled at his disgusted face as your pup snuggled back into his arms satisfied and falling back to sleep.

"You don't....That’s it your stuck until she lets go or wakes up...If you move she will throw a fit" he blinked looking down at the child sighing pulling a face as she sucked harshly on his finger again.

"You think that's a face all witchers pull?"Jaskier asked you tilting his head at the scene you looked

"You know I think it is..." Geralt furrowed his brow confused looking at Eskel

"I never did that" you and Jaskier nodded

"You did...When she did the same to you...And the first time you changed her....When it went up her back...Thats the face"

"Definetly the same face." Jaskier agreed the other witchers laughed imagining Geralts face when having to clean that up.

"And I can't wait to see that with the new pups....The great white wolf struggling to change a baby..."you blinked slowly at Lambert.

"You're staying here?" he smiled nodding then shrugged

"Well...I will leave in the next few weeks but I'm determined to be here for the birth's on my other nieces and when they are old enough they will have to have teachers, we don't know what powers they will be born with so..." Eskel nodded finally gaining control of his cringes.

"Yes the first and possibly only birth of witcher children,Hell I wouldn't be surprised if we had witchers from the other schools coming to see them... I for one will not be missing my nephews births so will be close until they are born then I will head out....we have even more of a reason to return to kaer morhen each winter now." you smiled placing a hand to your belly. You flicked your eyes down concerned. Mutations. they might have mutations you almost forgot about that, they might be born witcher's they were a first. the only ones of their kind. you sighed

"Don't worry, we will be equipped to teach them everything, Eskel here has a stronger affinity for magic I was a swords master but can also teach them the beastiary. so can Geralt and Lambert. But you must be prepared for them to have some witcher qualities, none of us know what they could be but we will be hear for them." you nodded to Vesemir you believed him you trusted him, and Geralt they would find a way you all would. Finally Geralt rose from the table.

"Jaskier lets go get the crib and set up the room, I’m sure we have a tin bath up there as well. Would you like to come look through the clothes...there might not be many" the beta nodded getting up you followed them to the door then stopped with a giggle.

"Eskel...you should come to if she wakes up and we're not here she might panic" Lambert bellowed a laugh as Eskel paled

"W-what you mean walk...and hold her...At the same time." you nodded staring unblinking. He heaved a deep sighed and rose moving slowly walking, well more creeping across the hall making Lambert holler louder

"Not as easy as it looks is it!?!" Geralt smirked crossing his arms over his chest as Eskel came closer shaking his head as you left the hall towards the old nursery.

[peanut-in-the-goal]

Would love to read the longer insecure Leo fic day if you feel like finishing it. If not it’s totally cool no pressure or anything. 🙂 I love your writing and all the o’knutzy feels!

hhhh so I wrote this so long ago tbh I don’t think I’m going to finish it

If someone actually wants me to finish it just send in an ask and I’ll try to but as of right now this is about as good as it’s going to get okay? (it could just be the fact that it’s 2am and I don’t wanna hurt leo rn lol) This is just like a v long wip that serves no real purpose. as also characters belong to @lumosinlove 

---

Leo woke up to a cold bed. He sat up, yawning. Blearily he looked around, raising his hands to attempt to rub some of the sleep from his eyes. He leaned over, grabbing his phone from the nightstand, checking for any unread messages from either Logan or Finn. The time read 8:12, far too early for Logan to be awake. Finn, maybe. 

He glanced up, hearing the distinct sound of the toilet flushing before a very tired Logan stumbled out. He laughed, his voice rough with sleep, as Logan came back, falling onto the bed. His hair splayed across his pillow, and his eyes looked up to meet Leo’s.

He raised his arm, grabbing onto Leo’s sleeve, trying to tug him back to bed, lightly. Leo went willingly, curling himself around Logan, who had his head buried in Leo’s chest.

“Mph, stay,” Logan muttered, his eyes already slipping closed, content on sleeping their day away. Leo smiled, placing a soft kiss on the top of Logan’s head. 

“D’accord.” He whispered, they’d find Finn later. It wasn’t unusual for him to go for a run in the morning anyways. Leo laid there, toying with Logan’s hair as he felt him relax completely, soft snores coming from the boy.

He smiled as Logan shifted again, subconsciously pushing himself further into Leo. 

The next time Leo woke up, it was to the front door closing. Logan whined in his sleep, shifting slightly, when the noise woke him. He kept his eyes closed, shuffling closer to Leo and pushing his head further into his pillow. Leo shushes him quietly, waiting for him to go back to sleep. After a moment, he heard Logan’s breath even out again and he sighed in relief. 

He felt someone watching them, looking up, he saw Finn standing in the doorway with a soft smile playing at his lips. Leo beckoned him over, silently telling him to come back to the bed, with a small nod with his head. Finn smiled but shook his head.

 “I’m all sweaty,” he whispered. Which was true, it was evident he had just come back from his morning run. “I’m going to go shower.” He spoke softly, mostly not to wake Logan, and removed his airpods. 

Leo nodded, glancing at the clock, 8:56 am, before burying his face back into Logan’s hair. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. Once again, he lets the sleep take over, relaxing them as they waste their day away.

It’s not long before he feels the bed dip behind him, and Finn’s warm body and wet hair lay along his back. His smile lingered on his lips, turning to kiss Finn softly, before finally letting the sleep take over, knowing his two boys were safe, there with him.

Nothing. Honestly, nothing happened. He was fine, the day had gone perfect. He didn’t have practice and got to spend the day sleeping with his boys. He was happy, he was so so happy. 

But why was that familiar dread settling in his chest? Why did he feel like it was wrong, everything he was doing was wrong with that nagging feeling telling him he wasn’t good enough? He shifted, which made Logan stir and look up at him with his wide green eyes blinking up blearily at him.

Leo tried to shush him and get him to go back to sleep, but Logan had seen his sad face, and before he knew it Logan was sitting up, looking at him concerned. 

“Peanut? Vas tu bien?” he asks, searching Leo’s face for something that tells him what’s wrong. Leo opened and closed his mouth, before taking a shaky breath.

“Je vais bien, C’est bon.” He hates the way his voice wavered at the end, cracking slightly. Logan’s eyes softened, taking Leo’s face into his hands.

“Knutty,” he mumbled. He placed a soft kiss to his forehead, then his nose, then both his cheeks before finally landing one on his lips. Leo tried to smile, he really did, but he couldn’t keep it up for long. 

Logan stretched out his arms, letting Leo lean into him as he hugged him close.

This time a small smile actually did ghost Leo’s lips. Logan and Finn always knew how to help him, even if they didn’t use words to communicate. He doesn’t know how long they sat there, with Logan holding him as he tried to ignore the voices in his head nagging at him. Telling him he wasn’t good enough, that he didn’t deserve their love. 

He isn’t even sure when the tears started slipping down his cheeks, but they must have because he felt Logan hugging him tighter. Leo goes to apologize, for being such a mess and for crying. But he can’t even get the words out before he feels a warm weight fall against his back and a pair of strong arms wrapping around his shoulders.

“Mph,” Finn mutters, his voice groggy and rough with sleep as he buries his face in Leo’s neck. Leo sniffs, trying to stop his tears before Finn notices. But Finn hears with his head being so close to Leo’s and his head snaps up. He takes in the tear stains on his cheeks and the damp spot on Logan’s shirt.

And it happens so quickly, where Finn has climbed off his back and is sitting in front of him, raking his finger through Leo’s hair.

“Baby?” He asks, not exactly knowing what's going on, but was definitely not expecting to wake up to Leo crying. “What’s wrong, what happened? Are you okay, are you hurt? Did we do something? Are you...” He trailed off, watching Leo shake his head frantically instead of answering his questions.

Finn quietens down, letting Leo get his thoughts into words, to explain what's wrong so Finn can hold him, and take care of him, because he loves him so, so much and it kills him a little more when Leo starts to slip. He’s right there, he's right there, but he seems so far away. It feels like Leo is slipping through his fingers, and Finn is so scared that one day he won’t be able to grasp on and pull him back in.

That he’ll lose the funny and smart man, that he’ll let the depression take over. He’s scared he’ll stop fighting it and he’ll drift. He’ll drift and become a shell, and he can’t count how many times he’s fallen asleep crying into Logan's arms because he doesn’t want to lose him.

He can’t lose him. 

And he barely hears the muttered apology escape from Leo’s lips, and he would have if he weren’t so hyper-aware of everything Leo was doing. Waiting for the hitched breath that showed he couldn’t hold it back anymore, and Finn could pull him into his arms until he cried himself back to sleep, and Logan went to make some tea and order take out.

Because everyone knows that they can’t cook, and they don’t need to add to Leo’s stress by making him help clean it up. He just needs them by his side, ready to help him, to show him the love that brought him together.

And Finn hates that Leo feels this way, that he isn’t good enough. He hates that Leo tries to push them away, that he thinks he’s a burden and a nuisance. They’ve learned the best way to help him over the past few months have caught up to him. 

The recent news of his father's sickness, with playoffs right around the corner. Loops pulling Kasey from the next couple of games for the pulled hamstring. It was too much, it proved too much when it started pushing Leo.

They could see it happening, Leo waking up earlier to hit the gym before practice, staying late after to add in some more training. The need that he had to feel good enough, to feel like he had to prove something because of his age. That broke both Logans and Finn's heart watching him work and work and work. Draining himself, when he couldn’t see how good he really was.

Leo was fidgeting with the duvet on the bed, pulling at the loose, frayed string on the end. He sniffed, once, then twice, before the dam broke. He angrily tried to wipe away at the tears rolling down his cheeks, biting his lip to try and clench the sobs that were bubbling up. But he couldn’t, he was fighting a losing battle and was giving in. 

They acted on instinct, Finn catching Leo as he fell into his chest, the heart wrenching sobs ripping themselves from his throat. Finn embraced him, holding him tightly, never going to be ready to let go. Logan moved to his side, rubbing his back, placing a kiss to his temple and his cheek every few minutes. 

“Désolé, Je suis désolé, I’m sorry,” Leo sobbed. 

He hates being like this, feeling useless, so utterly vulnerable. The way he was falling apart, with too many thoughts rushing through his head. His heart was beating erratically, his breaths uneven and shallow. He grasped onto Finn’s shirt, knuckles turning white as his hands shook with the material in between his fingers. His lips trembled, the oxygen seemingly impossible to get to his lungs.

Finn hugged tighter, whispering in his ear.

“Baby, don’t apologize. Never apologize for this. I just want to be there for you, we both do. Let us be there for you. Knutty, baby, we’d cross oceans for you.” 

Logan nodded in agreement, delivering another kiss into his blonde curls. Leo let it sink it, not exactly believing it, but hoping that maybe, it could be true. 

He fell asleep there, the tears track drying on his cheeks.

That last thing he heard was Logans whispered, “I love you,” before he let the darkness take over.

Leo could feel his breath picking up, the inward panic settling in his chest. He wasn’t sure why this affected him so much. He huffed, wiping at his eyes angrily where he could feel the tears forming. 

“Baby?” He heard the door creak open, Finn’s voice calling over all the voices in his head. He wasn’t sure why it was hitting him so hard right now. He knew he had depression, he had it since he was young. He would scoff at himself when he let it win, feeling utterly useless, and wanting to do better.

He felt like nothing he did was enough. Not enough for him, or his parents, or for Finn and Logan. 

The bed dipped beside him, feeling Finn’s warm hand cupping his cheeks, and turning his face towards him. Finn made a confused noise, whipping at the tears rolling down Leo’s cheeks.

He hadn’t even realized they fell. He just felt so numb.

“I brought you some food,” he said softly, like if he said it any louder it would’ve broken him. And quite honestly, it probably would have. Days like this, it made him feel horrible when Finn and Logan had to bring him food, or water, or do anything for him that he should be able to do himself. 

He gave Finn a wavering smile in return, which slipped off his face as quickly as it appeared. Gosh, why did he feel like such a fuck up? He took the plate from Finn, placing it in front of him on the bed. 

Finn and Logan knew he wouldn’t be able to stomach anything rich right now. Even then, the toast on the plate seemed absolutely revolting right now, just the thought of food made him nauseous.

[oki-writes]

Cover

Summary: You’re apart of a group that does song covers on yt.

Group Name: Sound Mind Spirits.

Members: Jiro & Shinso

You guys form back in middle school when you all start to take music lessons together

You used to like Jiro but she likes Momo so you’re trying to get over her.

Warning: Slight angst, fluff, mention of anxiety, cursing, & more to come

Pairings: Jiro x Momo, Shinso x Denki, Bakugou x y/n, Jiro x y/n (old)

“You don’t love me anymore...I still do”

3rd person:

“Hey (y/n) wait up for me pls” You turn around to see your tired looking friend “running” up to you. “Hey Shin, so what’s up” you noticed he had a serious face on. “Out of all the songs we could’ve picked from beach bunny you picked that one, why because you still have feelings for Jiro and I knew it hurts ,but you can’t keep it inside” with nowhere to run you huffed and looked at the floor.

“Well she’s happy with Momo and what we had was never official so I can’t hold her back. Even though we both loved each other I couldn’t commit to her. I was always busy helping run my family’s company. That’s not fair to her. So yes I still have feelings for her ,but she GONE, and yes she was my first love...you knew that they never last long. So please don’t keep bringing it up. I just want to be happy for once.” Your voice cracking at the end.

“I’ll find someone else one day maybe. This is what a reminder from the spirits that don’t let the one you love run away...haha I wish I learned that earlier”. Tears were already falling. “That’ll be the last sad song for a while okay Shin”.

Walking away before he could respond you went to the park. “Oi ghost girl why the fuck you crying at the park” you looked up and none other than mister hot-head himself.

“You know the usual Shinso figured out why I pick our latest song this week”

Baku’s per:

Dame why is she always thinking about that shitty earphone girl.

“Well I told him that was going to be the last time so I just want to get all my feelings out at once” (y/n) finally finished talking and rested her head on me. I slowly put my arm around her and pulled her close. Why can’t she see my feelings?

After a few minutes she started again. “There’s someone else who I like ,but I’m scared I’ll mess it up. Or worse lose them like everyone. Maybe next week’s song is a confession and then each week after that I give hints after a while I then tell them” she just kept rambling, but what got me was...

SHE LIKED SOMEONE ELSE. WHO THE FUCK IS IT. THEY BETTER LIKE HER BACK OR ELSE.

3rd person:

You fell asleep on Bakugou, so being the simp he is, he picked you up and took you back to the dorms. Walking in nobody was in there for the most part.

“Hey Bakugou have you se- oh never mind there she is”. He turned and looked to the side and saw Jiro. He doesn’t like her that much because she caused you so much pain without realizing it. “Yea what you want you see she’s sleeping so make it quick” he snapped. “Well I wanted to go over the editing I did for the video, but I’ll just wait. And thank you for taking care of her when I’m not around. She seems more happy when you’re around now-a-days”. With that Jiro walked away to go find Momo.

Bakugou went to your room to set you down. As he got to your door you called him in back to lay by you. He wanted to say “no”. But, he saw the tears fall down your face and he couldn’t bring himself to leave you like this. So he climbed in bed about to wrap his arms around you.

“Suki would you ever leave me” Bakugou stopped dead in his tracks and just stared at you. “Why the fuck would I do that ghost bitch. You didn’t leave me back when I got kidnapped so why would I ever leave you. Now come here and let me go to sleep”. Bakugou pulled you into his arms and rocked you guys back-n-forward to sleep.

In the back of his mind was what Jiro said to his when he walked in.

- Story details:

1. The name of their group each word represent one of their quirks. So Sound is jiro’s. Mind is Shinso’s. Last is Spirit which is yours kinda self explanatory. Fun fact that is part of my oc’s quirks

2. Jiro never realized that you still had feelings for her going into UA. So when Momo asked her out she said yes without thinking about you.

3. You’re quirk allows your “soul” to leave your body. So when Bakugou got kidnapped you sent your soul to go with Bakugou at the last minute. Doing that is super dangerous cause anyone could mess with your body so Bakugou appreciate you for that.

- Why this instead of my other WIPs:

* why because I can’t think what to write for my other serie Boke so I though of this and wanted to write it. This fic is just for when I can’t think so what to write for Boke so I’ll probably finish this way before Boke cause...I actually don’t know it takes me forever to write a chapter for Boke but what ever we got this now.

P.S Boke will be my MAIN SERIES so I’ll put more work into that then this so don’t expect long chapter pls.

Spanish word of the day: La canción - song

[a-katsukitty]

katsuki bakugo x reader

WARNING : ALL CHARACTHERS ARE AGED UP! oral [fem receiving] , alchool and cigaret.

A/N : Ohayoo , this is my first fanfic. I apologize for any mistakes [be gentle with me plz] hope you will like it!

"Come on dude it will be fun!"

"I said no! How many fucking time do I need to tell you?" Katsuki glaces over Kaminari who's been trying to get his friend for his birthday. "Bakugo, you can't eat pizza playing games on your 20th birthday!" he says placing himself between the blond man and the tv.

"You're fucking annoying you know that" Bakugo paused his game putting down the controler. "My sister is mixing, I swear you will have fun!" looking down his face lights up as his friend nods running one hand in his blond hair. "Give me 1 hour! And don't make me wait or I blow your face , all of you!" he says getting up going up to his room not paying attention of kaminari thanking hima million times.

1 hour to shower and put on some decent clothes , nothing too fancy a pair of black jean, a white shirt thigh around his muscular shoulder and arms , carefully left three buttons open revealing his collarbone , three perfume pumps and he made his way downstairs.

Denki park in front of the nightclub. A huge neon writes Dimension. pressing his finger on his favorite contact on the digital dashboard. "Oh Kami! How you doing cutie" your voice resonates inside the car as your brother blushes "Ai! Don't call me like this I'm not alone!" Mina chuckles on the passenger side. "Oh so you friend decided to come! Wait, what is it again? Baki.. Bak-" you're cut by an angry katsuki "OI! IT'S BAKUGO" he says slamming his wrist on the seat in front of him making Kaminari jump. "Oh yeah Bakugo! Well it's my turn to mix cutie, put everything on me" and with this you hang up. "Okay let's go!"

Denki was used to come often to see you, having a drink always waiting sleeping at your house since you were living on top of the nightclub. His drink were free since they knew he was your brother. Everyone knows him. You started to work here two years ago, you loved everything about night life, you had fun , free drinks and a good salary.

They made their way inside as the music get louder but Denki knew you haven't start yet , it's not your style of music. They take a sit in the VIP lounge beside the scene. They ordered drinks after fighting to know who were going to sip on soda all night and Sero took the responsability.

You step on scene talking with the current dj , plugging your mixing board moving your hip to the music.

"Oh! Hey Bakugo are you listening?" Kirishima waves a hand in front of Katsuki's face who is staring at something in the distance making him come to his senses. "hm.. what?" he shakes his head "here" he said handing him his glass of whiskey. He takes a sip on his glass before leaning to talk to Denki "So this is your sister?" he asks pointing his glass in your direction as your wave to them "Yes, well actually it's my twin sister" he replied waving back.

Bakugo leaned back on the leathered couch watching you as you play your first music. He couldn't take his eyes off you, he couldn't believe how good you were looking, his eyes stopped on your hips shaking from side to side, how your boobies were bouncing evertime you were jumping to the beat. Your long blonde hair swiping on your ass made him bite on his lower lip.

He was never very interested in girls , never hanging out. There was no lack of opportunities but he always refused, stating that he had no time to start a relationship but there you were making him forget everything around him. He couldn't even think straigh everytime your were eyeing them flashing a smile to you brother.

2 hours passed as you finally step out the scene to take a break. "Ah she's finally coming" Kimi lifting his head up his phone, Mina were already up dancing with Sero that she begged to come and not leave her alone. Kirishima has already gone out to smoke a cigaret and Bakugo has waited all the time for you to come, he could see everything of you closer.

"Heyy~" You jump inside Denki's arm smiling wild. "it's been two weeks that you didn't come ,I missed your face so much" you says pinching his cheeks "Hey y/n , I-I missed y-you too" he replied escaping from your grip. You turn your gaze to his friend who was already giving you his full attention "Hi!" you turn around the table sitting behind him leaning closer speaking louder as the music drowned out the sound of your voice. Your perfume reachs his nostrils, it's sweet and flowery. Probably cherry blossoms, or lilac.

"So you are the birthday boy!" He only nods "Well happy birthday! I'm y/n Kaminari nice to meet you" you extend your hand to him which he gladly shakes. "I'm coming back!" You look up at your sibling showing you his cigaret and you nod before lifting your hand to the barman who knew exatly what you were taking. "Mina and Sero talked a lot about you!" You lean back looking at the blond boy sitting beside you. "What? You know them?" he looks at you blank "Well , yeah Denki is otfen coming with them and there is Eij' too" his eyes opens wide at the nickname , only his closes friends were calling him Eij' "How the fuck do I not know you yet if you know everyone"

"Because you never

back up sighing in relief and facing the man in front of you "I'm free tomorrow night." you look up try to catch his eyes as you pull you dress down your ass. "no." it's harsh and cold. He lift his eyes on yours. "I'm not waiting tomorrow, we're leaving now."

wants to move your fucking ass!" You glance up to see Kirishima's coming back with your glass and sitting on your side wrapping his arm around your shoulders. " Thanks Eij' " you sit on your drink moving your body against the couch giving an opportunity to Bakugo, he gets up and give you his hand "Wanna dance?" You finish your drink in one time and stand up poking at Kiri's cheek before taking Katsuki's hand as he head you on the dancefloor.

You turn your back to him getting closer to his chest , his hand resting on your hips as they swiped from side to side to the beat like when you were mixing. He pulls you even more close moving with you , your ass making friction against his crotch. "You're making me crazy.." he said in your ears making your shivers as his breath hits the back of your neck. You leans your head on his should smirking moving your ass harder making him growls.

You knew him from a long time, the first time you saw him was on Kimi's instagram and you couldn't get over how good looking he were. Hoping he would shows up sometimes but he never cames. You never made a big deal, it's wasn't the only good looking guy you saw, but he had something you couldn't get over.

Your head spins as he places soft kisses over your neck, tightening his grips around your waist. "Let's go" you turn around meeting his eyes before being pulled away from the crowd. In a minute you were pushed inside girl's toilet as he lock them behind both of you before smacking your lips together slidding his hand at the back of your neck , tongues fighting but you lose fast. His hand went down to grip your thigh "fuck- look at how short this fucking dress is!" he tugs at the hem of your red silky dress pulling away from the kiss "turn around" he orders and you obey instantly resting your hand on the wall.

He raises your dress up your ass kneeling in front of it pulling your dripping pantie to the side and sliding a fingers between your lips making a moans escape your mouth. "Look how wet you are! Is it for me?" you open your mouth to anwser as his slides a finger inside of you making you cry with pleasure, you jump when he slams his hand at your ass "Didn't I ask you something?" he adds a second finger "y-yes all f-for y-you..!" your eyes rolls to the back of your head as he curl his fingers inside you. "Do you wanna cum doll?" you couldn't hide it even if you wanted to, nobody never made you feel like this.

"y-yes p-please Bak-" he cuts you off "It's monsieur" he takes his fingers out replacing them by his tongue sucking hardly on your clit making you arches your back "cum" it tooks only a few second before reaching your climax cuming in his mouth "you taste so fucking good, I can wait to fuck this pretty pussy of yours" he gets on his feets. you can hear his belt undone and the zip of his jeans before feeling the tip of his cock tickeling your entrance making him all wet.

"P-please" you look behind you to meet his eyes, his hand grip your neck leaning to kiss you starving for your lips "please what?" he takes his hand away from your neck petting your hair "P-please just fuck me alr- aah" he makes you chocke on your words when he slams himself into you. "fuck!" he growls "S-so thigh" he pulls your hair back arching you going deeper and deeper inside of you. "You're taking my cock so well princess!" you whine as you well your second orgasme coming fast, tears forming on the corner of your eyes "cum over my cock, come on" you can't hold back anymore, you see white and your legs becomes weak as he hit your sensitive point making you cum all over him.

You can hear him moans your name loudly as he pull out plumping himself two;three time. Cums dripping down your ass to your tight he presses kissed down your back as you try to catch your breath. "wait don't move" he says taking some paper toilet and wipping all the mess you both made. You both freeze as you hear a familiar voice. "y/n ?" Mina calls you knocking on the doors "Y-yeah I am coming!" you reply fast and you hear the door closing back as she leave.

You pulls your pantie

[alias-levi]

flash fic friday #5

@liz-pooh​ this is for you, hun 💙💙

gooood evening people (or whatever time it is when you are reading this)! after hardcore plotting one of my wips for two weeks then procrastinating doing the next step of drafting my best friend came in with a request for me to write. the final result actually happens to be a bit too long for a flash fic but i’m just going to pretend that i don’t know that. here are some basic infos:

fandom: twilight word count: abt. 1.8 k  pairing: Felix/fem!oc warnings: swearing, alcohol consumption, verbal fighting

summary: For weeks Volterra’s streets have been reeking of mutt. The smell seemingly following Liza whenever she leaves the castle’s property. While doing some shopping, she catches a reflection that be able to explain why.

[ID: imagine, Paul imprintes on Felix’ mate]

source: unfortunately we lost the post where this matter was discussed so if anyone know is/has it/finds it, please feel free to share it with me via private messages so i can give proper credit! 

thank you and the text is below the cut :) enjoy!

It’s a dark day, the sky heavily clouded. There is a thunderstorm to come, that is for sure. Liza in the meanwhile uses the time wisely, strolling through the narrow streets, doing some shopping. Girly stuff.

For umphteenth time Liza wrinkles her nose. The almost unbearably gross, musty smell of wet dogs wavers around her. Bypassing a shapeshifter occasionally is nothing too far off the possibility scale but this right here is borderline suspicious. For a few weeks now this smell has seemed to show up every time she had left the properties of the castle.

With a sigh, and a suppressed gag, Liza takes off the sunglasses she had just tried. Turning back to the nice old man owning the small shop, Liza smiles. “Thank you very much but I don’t think these are my style.”

The man eagerly nods and tries to convince her of another pair, but Liza stops him and kindly bids her goodbyes. Just as she takes her first step to walk away, her eyes catch something in the mirror. A reflection. Someone who seemingly fits the natives yet her brain screams at her that something is off. And then the person is gone. Liza frowns. Then her eyes widen.

A few well-measured, yet fast steps later, Liza disappears into the same small backstreet the man in the reflection had stood in.

“I know you are here. I have been smelling you for weeks wondering why Volterra has turned into a hotspot for mutts.” She spits the last word out with as much disgust as she can manage. The smell has gotten worse and Liza wonders if she would throw up.

The man doesn’t hesitate now. Stepping out of the shadows and into her way he looks down on Liza, swallows hard then takes a step back. “Listen I wish I could have saved us both this situation but I have to talk to you.”

Liza snorts then spits on the floor right in front of his feet. “I’m flattered you came all this way just to get your ass kicked, Paul.” An oh-so-sweet and innocent smile plays around the vampires lips and her violet eyes sparkle with excitement. Watching the werewolf almost shrink under her gaze, breaks Liza’s smile into a grin, revealing her fangs. 

“Liza, no. Please, it is important that you listen to me.”

“Then you better spill the tea, mutt,” she puts her weight on one leg, tilting her hip and cocks an eyebrow at him, “I don’t have all day.”

“I will try to make it as quick as poss-”

“For fuck’s sake, Paul, get to the fucking point!”

“Yeah, yeah! I got it, I got it, okay?” Paul raises his hands in surrender. “Listen, remember a few weeks back when Felix and you were-”

“-in Forks and kicked y’alls asses? Yes I do remember, why do you ask?”

Entirely unphased by this snappy interruption Paul continues, “Remember that moment in the woods where I suddenly turned back? You just made a comment and then ran off.” 

Rolling her eyes Liza says, “course I do. What was up with you anyways? Fell in love with the most badass vampire chick you’ve ever seen?”

“I imprinted.”

She snorts, “on what, mutt? The trees? The dirt under your nails?”

“On you.”

The sincerity in his voice makes Liza’s next comment get stuck in her throat. He wouldn’t travel all this way around the world to find her and tell her this if he was joking. Only slowly the full extent, the full meaning behind his words, seeps into her brain. Oh fuck.

“Oh fuck.”

“Yes, indeed. Listen I will try my best not to-”

“How the fuck am I even expected to react in a situation like this?”

“This is unprecedented. There is no knowledge of something like this having happened ever before. Believe me if I knew how to deal with this, how to make this work for the both of us- I would! But for now I just had to let you know. You are in this-”

Liza can see the muscles under his skin straining. He is fighting the urge to run, yet his brain tells him to stay with his imprint. This is fucking ridiculous. 

“No, stop talking, Paul.” Closing her eyes for a second Liza sighs. She then fishes out her cell phone out of her coat’s pocket. “Give me your number I’ll call you in a couple of days. I- I need time to think.”

Paul is surprised. In all the time he had known Liza, nothing could ever knock the smartass out of her. But he obeys and states his number. He knows that he has no say in who he imprints on even though this is by far the worst scenario he could have imagined.

“Uhm, I’m sorry, you know,” Paul watches Liza scoff and nod slowly. He looks defeated, tired and worn out. 

“Yeah, whatever.” 

A shy smile tilts the corners of his mouth upwards upon hearing her sass returning.

---

The conversation with Paul gave Liza much to think about. So much, that her initial confusion has now turned into full blown anger. Paul imprinting on her is an unforeseen and definitely not welcomed inconvenience. No matter how exciting being the first of anything might be- This is not it. Liza doesn’t want it. Nursing a glass of rum and coke, Liza stares out of the window. Volterra lies quiet and peacefully beneath the castle, a stark contrast to her seething mind. The door behind her opens and Felix enters their chamber. Immediately he gags. “You smell even worse than the past days. I swear I will find and kill every single one-”

“Leave it, Felix.” 

Liza doesn’t bother turning around. Neither does she bother saying anything else for the next two hours. She just stays right there, at the edge of her seat, straight back, the glass in her hand close to bursting in her hard grip. Keeping her eyes trained on the streets, Liza almost feels Paul’s eyes on her.

“Okay,” Felix sits up on the bed and puts the book he was reading into his lap. “Okay, would you please finally tell me what the fuck is going on with you?” 

Felix is sick and tired of having Liza filling the room with the most annoyed energy, making the air almost thick enough to cut. Her occasional, totally unnecessary overly dramatic, huffs don't exactly make it better. Apart from breathing, Liza has not moved an inch and Felix thinks that if she sits there just a little bit longer, her drink will simply evaporate. 

Another very patient fifteen minutes later, Felix realizes that Liza’s hands have started to fidget and her knee has started to bounce up and down rapidly. From staring out of the window, her eyes glazed over and she also stopped pretending to blink.

“Liza,” his voice is quiet but nonetheless demanding, “What. The hell. Is. Going. On?”

She takes her time and Felix hates her for it. But if he had known what she was about to tell him, hell, he would have relished every single second of not knowing. 

“Paul imprinted on me.”

The words are so quick to leave her mouth, and oh-so-quiet, that Felix almost misses them. But he doesn’t. His brain makes sure to let him know, with the burning sensation of jealousy pumping through- no, simply filling his body. His fingertips are burning and aching to scratch that boy’s eyes out. Through gritted teeth he finally manages to press out, “He did what?” 

Felix’ voice is dangerously quiet. 

Eventually Liza turns to face him. “I met him today. He asked me to talk and then told me that. Explains why the streets have been reeking.”

“Yeah, no, but- Why on you?!”

Liza smiles upon the barely contained anger in Felix’ voice now, the fire, the jealousy burning in his eyes. 

“Well he doesn’t exactly have the power to control it!” Her voice is sharp and louder than intended. 

“I know that, Liza, I ain’t exactly fucking new in this business.” After a pause of just staring at each other Felix adds, “When did that even happen, huh?”

“Remember when we were in Forks a few weeks ago? Found the pack at the beach and had some fun with them?”

Felix nods along and Liza smiles sourly at the absurdity of this situation. The exact same conversation had happened just hours before, yet, she had been the one listening and Paul the one talking. Providing delicate information.

“You yelled at me to not go too far but I followed them into the woods anyways. Well,” Liza sighs and Felix rolls his eyes at that, “one after the other veered but one of them didn’t. He was so eager, so... hell-bent on outrunning me. It was so much fun when I finally had him, pinned on the ground he looked me in the eyes and went still. At first I thought I had been too harsh, hurt him, or broke something. Then he turned back into his human form. Looking at me like he had seen a ghost.”

“He imprinted on you,” Felix deadpans. “That motherfucker really fucking imprinted on you!” 

Fury seeps into his voice as his body goes entirely still. Liza knows this look, his reaction, the unmoving body. Felix is like an animal, waiting, preparing for that one leap that will get them their prey. With slow movements she puts her glass down onto the floor. She might be naive. Trying to hold back who is said to be the strongest vampire to ever exist, is not in her power. After almost half a century together, Liza knows that she will not be able to stop Felix if he doesn’t let her. His abilities simply exceed her power. 

So, Liza does the only slightly realistic thing that comes to her mind. Keeping up her slow movements she stands up, walking over to the bed ever so quietly. Neither of them is breathing. With a gentle smile on her lips, Liza cautiously cups Felix’ cheek, feeling him release a breath he has never held onto her palm. Their eyes stay locked this whole time.

Bringing their faces close together, she stops only an inch before him. “Let’s not deal with this today, okay? I don’t want to think about it anymore for now.” Her voice is gentle, calm and barely more than a whisper.

Felix surprises her in leaning up, closing the small gap between them and pressing a chaste kiss onto her lips. “You reek of mutt, querida.”

Liza bursts out a short dry laugh. The atmosphere is clearly more relaxed now. “Right,” she stands up again, “I’ll take another shower then... Care to join?” With a wink she leaves Felix on the bed and walks towards the bathroom.

[disgruntledkittenface]

Peanut butter filling!

hiii thank you!!

Peanut Butter Filling: share a snippet that really shows a character’s personality. (or: talk about an upcoming scene where their personality will shine!)

Okay, so what came to mind is super long, so it's below a cut! This is from when Louis comes to meet Harry's family for the first time and the gist is that he tries to take care of Harry, who's nervous, when actually he's nervous too and needs some taking care of!

chocolate themed wip ask game questions

send me one!

“So,” Louis says, as Harry exits the highway. “Are you nervous?”

“Yeah,” Harry admits, turning to look at Louis once he stops at a red light. “My parents can be a little… they have high standards, and they can be kind of blunt about it? My dad especially. And I want them to like you, and to be kind to you.”

“I’m sure it will be fine,” Louis says, reaching over to pet the curls at the nape of Harry’s neck peeking out of his knitted hat. “You know, it’s funny. I’ve never done this before.”

“Done what?”

“Meeting the parents,” Louis explains, looking out the car windows as they drive through Harry’s hometown. “I’ve never been this serious about someone I’ve dated.”

“Are you kidding? You’ve never done this before?” Harry glances sideways to see Louis shake his head. “Well, you know how I’ve always rushed things, I’ve done this way more times than I should have.”

“Any tips before we get there?”

“Um, yeah,” Harry says, chewing his lower lip as he thinks. “Okay. With Gemma, when she makes fun of you–”

“Don’t you mean if?”

“No, when,” Harry says, turning left when they reach an intersection. “When she makes fun of you, don’t just take it; you have to joke back. She’ll respect you for it.”

“Okay, I can do that.”

“My mom is more of a softie than my dad, she just wants me to settle down, I think. She’s been studying up on Monaco, so expect a lot of questions about it, the history. She’ll probably ask about the university there.”

“Well, I happen to be an expert on Monaco, so that’s fine.”

“And my dad… he’s really big on propriety, like manners. He and my mom both taught at the same liberal arts college when I was growing up, and he’s been president there for ten years now, so he’s used to being in charge, not having people talk back. So even if he’s being rude, he’ll get really upset if he thinks someone is being rude back to him. It sucks trying to have, like, an actual dialogue with him.”

“That sounds hard,” Louis says softly, rubbing his thumb over Harry’s neck. “Luckily I have some experience working with difficult personalities like that. I’m not worried, darling, I’m really not.”

Harry pulls into the driveway and shuts off the ignition, turning to Louis. “Famous last words.”

The wind picks up as they get out of the car, shuffling the red and yellow leaves that have fallen to the ground, and they hurry as they grab Louis’ suitcase from the trunk and walk up to the house, which is owned by the college where Harry’s parents work. It’s larger than they need as a family, but one of the requirements of the job of college president is to entertain, and his parents make use of the space more frequently than Harry had expected when they moved in.

“Hello?” Harry calls out as he closes the door behind them. “We’re here!”

Harry’s mom rushes into the front hallway from the kitchen, trailed by Gemma, whose features are schooled in a disinterested expression. She can't hide the gleam in her eyes, though, and Harry can tell that she’s just as eager to meet Louis as their mom is.

“Mom, this is–”

“Oh, no, no,” she interrupts, waving her hands at Harry. “I’ve been reading about protocol; you’re supposed to present us to the prince, not the other way around.”

“Please, Mrs. Styles,” Louis starts, reaching out a hand. “That’s very thoughtful of you, but I’m not concerned with protocol while I’m a guest in your home. Well, that’s not strictly true, I am concerned with your house rules. Should I take my shoes off?”

“Oh, call me Anne,” she exclaims, her face lighting up as she shakes Louis’ hand. “I am delighted to meet you, Harry speaks so highly of you.” She seems to forget to let go of Louis’ hand, and he smiles patiently, raising his eyebrows. “Oh! Oh, I’m sorry, no, don’t worry about shoes or anything like that. Whatever makes you comfortable.”

Gemma makes a scoffing sound behind her. “But you always yell at us–”

“And this is my daughter Gemma,” Anne says loudly, finally releasing Louis’ hand to gesture behind her. “Say hello, Gemma.”

The predictable monotone “Hello, Gemma,” is followed by her stepping forward to offer her hand to Louis, which he accepts, laughing.

“Harry, do you think you could offer to take his coat?” Anne looks meaningfully from Harry to Louis and back again. “Honestly, Your Highness, you’d think they were raised by wolves. We did our best with them, I swear.”

“Please, call me Louis,” Louis says, shrugging off his coat and handing it to Harry. “There’s no need for titles. I’m afraid I’ve already inconvenienced you enough, what with the security requirements.”

“Oh, it’s no trouble at all,” Anne says, her tone sugar sweet in the way it only is when she’s lying through her teeth. It had been obvious that she’d been more than a little freaked out when two guards had done a sweep of the house and grounds earlier that day, something the head of palace security had called to arrange in advance. “We’re just so happy to have you here. Harry’s been on pins and needles all day, waiting to go pick you up.”

“Mom, quit it,” Harry groans in his best impression of a moody teenager. “You’re embarrassing me.”

“Oh, this is nothing,” Gemma remarks. “Wait ’til she gets out the photo albums.”

“I’m afraid that will have to wait,” Anne says, looking genuinely regretful. “Harry, why don’t you show Louis to his room? Your father will be home with pizza soon.” She smiles apologetically at Louis. “Family tradition. We put all of our energy into cooking Thanksgiving dinner, so we always get takeout the night before.”

“Oh, it will be a treat for me,” Louis assures her. “I rarely get to eat pizza, and I love it.”

Gemma snorts. “Harry, you didn’t tell us your boyfriend was such a suckup.”

“Gemma Anne Styles,” Anne hisses, swatting her with a dish cloth. “Kitchen. Now.”

“Alright, alright,” Gemma says, holding her hands up in surrender as Anne herds her back down the hallway to the kitchen, leaving Harry and Louis alone.

“See, that wasn’t so bad, now was it?” Louis whispers, stepping into Harry’s space and resting his hands lightly on Harry’s hips. “Come here, give us a kiss.”

“Us?” Harry raises his eyebrows.

“Sure you’ve heard of the royal we, darling,” Louis murmurs, leaning in and kissing Harry softly. Harry forgets to banter back as he melts into the kiss, their first since Louis arrived since neither of them wanted it to be in front of the crowd at the train station. It’s the little bit of tenderness that he needs to get through the family dinner ahead, and he only pulls away because he doesn’t want his dad to walk in on them. Louis smiles like he knows exactly what Harry is thinking. “Well, Harold? Lead the way.”

The guest room in the basement is more like a suite; the bedroom has a queen-size bed, and there’s a full bathroom as well as a tiny kitchenette. It only takes a minute or so to show Louis around and point out the best feature, in his opinion: the coffeemaker. Harry drapes himself on the bed as Louis unpacks, actually putting stacks of clothes into the small dresser as opposed to living out of his suitcase for the duration of his stay like Harry usually does when he comes home.

“We should get back upstairs,” Louis says as he slides his empty suitcase under the bed. “I want to make a good impression on your father when he gets home.”

“Well, you definitely chose the right outfit,” Harry replies, standing up and running his palms over Louis’ chest. “It’s like you used a stylist, or a costume designer picked out the perfect sweater for a coming home to meet the parents scene in a movie.”

For the first time since he’s known him, Louis actually blushes.

“I, ah… may have had some help,” Louis admits. “From a stylist.”

“Wait, what?” Harry asks, unable to stop the grin forming on his face. “You have a stylist? You’ve never mentioned a stylist before.”

“Well, it’s not like he dresses me every day,” Louis says, smoothing a hand over his sweater. “But yes, I have a stylist. Zayn. We meet every few months and go through my closet, and he shops for me and makes recommendations for special occasions.”

“Special occasions like going to Buckingham Palace…” Harry can’t help smirking. “Or special occasions like meeting my parents?”

“Special occasions like both,” Louis says, burying his face in his hands. He mumbles something that Harry can’t quite make out, so he gently pries Louis’ hands away, lifting his eyebrows. Louis shrugs. “I wanted this weekend to go well.”

“I love you.” Harry kisses Louis before pulling him into a hug. “I’m sorry for teasing, you’re just so cute, Lou.”

“Lots of people have stylists,” Louis mutters, grasping Harry’s sweatshirt in his hands as he hugs him back. “You have a stylist.”

“I know, honey, I know,” Harry says, holding Louis tight and swaying slightly. “You know, knowing that you’re nervous too actually makes me feel better.”

“Really?”

“Really. You don’t always have to be the strong one, you know. We can lean on each other.”

“Well, that’s… that’s very nice of you to say,” Louis mumbles, pulling back. “Can we go upstairs now? I don’t know why but it feels like bad form to be down here when your father gets home.”

“Of course, Lou, let’s go up.”