#we women gotta stick together

[aceoffangirls]

Happy International Women’s Day to all the amazing, strong, beautiful, smart, funny, awesome women out there.

[lifeofcynch]

maybe he’ll die the first month in, there’s still hope

[wildshapedruid]

[loserboysandlithium]

The Pact: Eddie Munson One Shot

Summary: As children, you and Eddie made a pact to never cross that line. But as the two of you have grown it has become almost impossible to keep. You decide to make a new pact instead. ;)

Explicit sexual content, Minors DNI, word count 3k, moved over from my old account 🖤

*******

"Eddie!" you knock loudly on the door of his trailer. His van is here so he's gotta be home.

"Eds?!" you try again, banging on the door even louder.

He's probably still sleeping. The boy doesn't wake up earlier than noon, especially on a Saturday.

You close the screen door and make your way around the trailer to his window. It's cracked slightly and the smell of weed immediately hits your nose, making you smile. He's up.

You push up on the old window, listening to the squeak as it struggles to move. "Eddie!" you shout through the crack. Again, no response.

You roll your eyes as you use all your strength to lift the window enough to crawl through. You climb in head first and tumble onto his floor. As you sit up, your eyes adjust to the dim room. You see him lying on his back on the floor, headphones on his ears, his fingers tapping away as he listens to the music.

No shirt, his tattoos on full display. Hair pulled back into a messy bun, loose curls sticking out everywhere. A pair of dark green flannel pajama pants hanging low on his waist.

Fuck, he looks good.

You watch as he brings his fingers to his lips, inhaling on the joint, releasing a cloud of smoke into the air. You tiptoe across the floor, hearing the tune of 'Dirty Women' by Black Sabbath coming from the headset as you lean over him.

His already round eyes widen even more as he sits up quickly, his head slamming into yours.

"Shit! Are you okay?" he shouts over the music still blasting in his ears. You reach out with one hand removing his headphones, leaving them dangling around his neck as you rub your forehead with your other.

"Easy Tiger." you giggle and he gives you a crooked grin. His eyes are glossed over and slightly red from his activities.

"Sorry, didn't hear you comin.” he explains, pointing towards the earphones.

"Yeah, I got that.” you smile, shoving his shoulder lightly as he scoots a little closer to you.

"Thought you were coming by tonight?" he raises an eyebrow as he stands up, holding his hand out to you. You grab his hand and he pulls you from the ground.

"My shift got canceled and I was bored." you shrug, reaching out for the joint in his hand.

"I have an idea.” Eddie says suddenly, his brown glinting. You inhale deeply on the joint and wait for him to continue. He stands there silently, eyes zoning in on your chest.

"Eddie!" you smack him upside the head bringing him out of his daze and he shakes his wild hair.

“Sorry.. I'm high." he shrugs with a little wiggle of his brows.

"Your idea?" you push.

"Right.. the clubhouse. Let's hotbox." A slick smile spreads on his pretty lips. Every time you're together, you have to fight the urge to kiss him. To touch him. To beg him to touch you.

You had both made a pact. An oath. You were best friends. You couldn't cross that line. But now.. every year it gets harder and harder to keep it.

I wonder if he feels the same.

"Hello?” Eddie snaps his fingers in front of your face teasingly.

"Mhmm.. yeah. Let's go." you grin at him and his smile widens. He walks over to his nightstand, swiping up his little lunchbox.

You make your way outside, following the familiar trail into the woods behind the trailer park. You used to come here all the time together. Staying up, eating bags of candy and telling scary stories until Wayne would come and drag you both out.

You reach the rickety ladder leading high into the trees and glance over at Eddie, a nervous look on your face.

"When's the last time you've been up here? It looks... well, it looks like we're gonna die if we attempt this."

"Oh, we're fine. Come on. You first." he encourages, his hand landing on your waist. The small touch sends tingles down your spine.

"Why do I have to go first?" you groan, grabbing hold of the wooden plank.

"That way I can catch you if you fall." he explains, keeping his hand resting gently on your side. You take a deep breath and begin your climb.

"Shit!" you squeal as your foot slips on the third step and you fall into Eddie, his free hand lands on your ass, holding you up.

"Oops." you laugh, turning to peek at Eddie. His hand remains in place making you blush.

“Eds?" you nod towards his hand and he just smiles.

"Total accident, sweetheart. Swear." he cheeses. Your heart starts to pound in your chest. He's flirting. Shit, no... He always flirts. It's just friendly banter. Normal for the two of you. But is that all it is? Fuck.

You continue up the ladder, Eddie following close behind until you reach the top. You push the Spider-Man sheet to the side and crawl into the small treehouse. Everything looks about the same. A few new additions since the last time you've been here.

An ashtray sits in the corner, a stack of playboy and hustler magazines sprawled out, some empty beer bottles.

"Eddie Munson.." you giggle, shaking your head in mock disappointment.

Eddie plops on the dusty floor reaching out and snagging one of the magazines. "What? A man has needs."

"Ew." you joke, grabbing his lunchbox, plopping a pre rolled joint between your lips.

"What? You don't uh, take care of yourself?"

The question catches you off guard. But even more than that, his tone. It was much deeper than before. You hope your cheeks aren't as red as they feel as you meet his gaze. You light the joint, inhaling deeply, holding the smoke in your lungs a moment before exhaling.

"No, I do." you whisper, taking another toke.

Eddie watches you curiously, scooting a little closer to you in the already cramped space.

"You gonna share?" he winks at you, making your heart flutter. He's so close. All I want is to taste him. To finally give in.

"Hey, you okay?" Eddie nudges you playfully with his foot, shaking you from your thoughts. You nod sitting up on your knees in between his sprawled legs. You bring the joint to his lips and his eyes lock on yours as he inhales slowly.

You inch closer, the slight buzz from the weed making you more confident.

"Are you about to kiss me?" Eddie blurts making you pause.

"What? No!” you snort shoving his chest hard, making him fall back to the dirty floor. He coughs, the smoke filling his lungs coming out in small spurts as you move back to your spot against the wall, feeling a wild mix of emotions.

He scrambles to get back up, immediately coming to sit in front of you again. “I- uh- I wasn't gonna stop you.. if you were going to... ya know?" he mumbles under his breath.

You meet his big brown eyes, the same eyes you've looked into for years and years. There was no mistaking it. They were darker. Full of hunger. A hunger for you.

Shit.. say something. Anything. Your mind goes blank. Every part of you wanting to just kiss him.

The other part of you worried about your friendship. The whole reason the two of you made the pact.

"The pact.” you breathe.

Eddie speaks next, leaning back slightly, twisting one of his rings on his finger.

"Who do you think about when you touch yourself?" he burns lowly, his eyes searching your face.

"What?”

"Who do you think about?" he asks again, his eyes remain locked on yours.

You. Always you.

You shrug instead, keeping your thoughts to yourself.

Eddie nods slowly, taking another long puff off the joint before handing it your way. The small area was already cloudy with smoke as you both continue to add to the haze.

"It's not like we made a blood oath or something."

Eddie says after a few minutes. Both of you now feeling the effects of the high.

"We literally made a blood oath." you argue, a smile on your lips as you think back to the two of you pricking your fingers with a thumb tack.

"We were thirteen." Eddie pushes back, moving over so he's sitting right next to you. You can feel his body warmth radiating against your side. When you turn his face is only inches from yours.

"Where is this coming from?" you whisper.

"I just.. fuck, I don't know. Just, look at you." Eddie breathes out, his words making your entire body warm.

"Who do you think about?" you ask suddenly.

"I don't know what you mean." he grins widely, forcing you to ask him directly.

"When you touch yourself.. do you just think about those girls in the magazine?"

"Sometimes.. sometimes I think of someone else." he hints as his hand gradually makes its way to your thigh.

"Me?" you swallow hard, barely pushing the word out.

"Do you think about me?" he challenges, his hand resting heavily on your upper thigh.

"Yes." you admit. You knew it wasn't the drugs.

You've always wanted Eddie. But the buzz was allowing you to finally speak your truth.

You can tell he's happy with your answer, his face lighting up. His brown eyes gleaming.

"Show me."

"I don't under-'

"Show me what you do when you think about me." he cuts you off swiftly.

Holy shit. Your mind fills with wild thoughts as you take what he said into consideration. You can feel yourself throbbing at the thought. Touching yourself in front of him. Eddie's eyes watching you as you bring yourself to your peak. Would he touch himself too?

Before you can change your mind you guide your hands into your shorts, listening as Eddie inhales sharply.

"Fuck." he exhales, watching carefully as your hand meets your warmth under the material of your shorts. You close your eyes, worried that if you see him you might overthink everything.

Right now it just felt good. So good.. and you know he's watching.

"I close my eyes." you start, slowly rubbing circles around your clit. Eddie hums in response, waiting for you to keep going.

"And I see your face. I-I think about how your lips would feel.. your tongue. the sounds you would make..." you moan as you slip two fingers inside, feeling your arousal.

"What else?" Eddie rasps, his lips suddenly against your ear, his voice makes you speed up your fingers.

"I think about how you would feel inside me.. if you would be rough.. if you would.. ohh.. if you would make me scream."

"I promise I could make you scream." Eddie burns. You feel his fingers on your chin, turning you to face him. Your eyes drift open and Eddie presses his forehead against yours as you work your fingers in and out of your soaked pussy.

"I think about your fingers a lot... your rings.. I pretend my hands are yours.." you whimper, feeling yourself on the edge but not quite there.

You don't want your fingers. You want his.

"Eddie."

"You gonna cum, sweetheart?"

"I want you.. I want you to make me cum.." you whine desperately, only seconds away from your orgasm.

"Yeah?" he pants breathlessly.

"Please." you beg. He wastes no time reaching into your shorts, you remove your fingers just in time for his to replace them. His slender fingers immediately reach exactly where you need them to, curling with precision, stroking across your g spot making you cum instantly.

"Yes! Oh fuck!" you cry, your muscles pulsing around his fingers, Eddie watches in awe as you fall apart beneath his hand.

"Holy fuck.” Eddie groans deeply, slowly working you through your orgasm.

You grab him, slamming your lips into his pulling a moan from him instantly. He leans in, his body pressing you down to the floor as you tangle your hands in his hair.

Fuck.

He tastes like weed and Camel Blues as his tongue greets yours hungrily. You both kiss sloppily, soaking up this moment. After all these years, both of you finally getting what you want.

Clothes are torn off. No more hesitation as you both paw at each other, kissing and biting, the eagerness apparent from both of you. Moans and the sound of messy kisses fill the room.

"Fuck me." you plead with him as your bodies grind together, skin on skin, so close together.

"We need a new pact." he pants breathlessly, lining himself up.

"Mhmm." you moan, feeling his tip start to stretch you out.

"The new pact is that You're mine." he moans as he thrusts himself in, entering you fully, a filthy cry raining from your lips.

"I'm yours." you whimper, your fingernails digging into his back as he begins to pump in and out of you.

"We have to seal it, sweetheart." he mumbles drunkenly, picking up his pace. His size is unlike anything you've had before, your legs already shaking slightly, a tinge of pain mixed with the beautiful pleasure.

"What do you- oh!" you gasp as his teeth sink into your bottom lip just hard enough to break the skin. You feel the trickle of warm liquid dribble down your chin.

"Shit." you breathe out before returning the favor, taking Eddie's plump lip between your teeth and tugging roughly making him growl as he slams his cock into you.

"Goddamn, baby.” he groans, kissing your lips, gliding his tongue inside. A metallic taste fills your mouth as your tongues swirl together wildly, your blood mixing together in your kiss.

"Call me baby again." you whimper, rolling your hips, grinding on his big cock. He feels so fucking good.

Eddie chuckles bringing his lips to your ear as he fucks you powerfully. His cock glides in and out of your slickness, the sounds loud in the quiet of the woods.

"You like being my baby?" he murmurs in your ear.

"Yes!”

"You feel so fucking good.. so fucking good." he praises, entering you deeply with every snap of his hips. Your head falls to the wooden floor as your back begins to arch.

"There we go, sweetheart." Eddie hums approvingly as your thighs begin to tremble.

He keeps himself buried deep, rolling into you, his thick cock filling you to the brim. He thrusts into you precisely, finding your sweet spot making your toes curl.

"Eddie! R-right there!" you whine, the pleasure of someone fucking you right for the first time was unlike anything you'd felt before. You didn't know sex could feel this good.

"Gonna take care of you, sweetheart.. I got you." Eddie reassures, keeping his pace, in and out, in and out.

His lips lock onto your neck sucking harshly. You grip the back of his head, holding him to you, the feeling of his lips sucking your skin felt delicious. His fingers meet your clit, quickly rubbing circles on the sensitive nub, making your eyes roll.

"Please don't stop... I think.. I think I'm gonna..”

"Cum for me, beautiful.” Eddie demands in your ear, sending you over the edge. You pull his hair roughly as your body jolts upward, your pussy clenching around him, spasm after spasm as you flood his cock.

"E-Eddie! Ohh my god.. f-fuck!" you practically scream, Eddie loving every second of you writhing beneath him. Watching as you make a mess of his cock. You can feel your cum coating your thighs as he continues to pound into you.

His hands tangle in your hair as his lips meet yours feverishly. Your entire body is overwhelmed as you cling to him, it's almost too much but you don't want it to end. He lifts your leg onto his shoulder, the new angle making you gasp.

"You're so fucking hot." Eddie moans, the sounds coming from him are everything you imagined they'd be. Even better.

"We're gonna cum together." Eddie orders as he leans down, taking your leg with him, his hard cock somehow reaching deeper.

"Together.” you whimper, feeling him stretch you out again and again. He speeds up, slamming into you wildly, your legs shake as you grasp for him, wanting him to be as close as possible. He leans down even more, you feel the strain of your leg muscles as he bends you in ways unknown to you before.

He sinks his teeth into your neck making your eyes roll to the back of your head as your nails claw at his back, sending red streaks across his tattoos.

"Gonna cum…. wanna cum inside you.." he mumbles, his hips moving at an insane pace.

"Cum inside me, baby." you moan, completely losing all sense of anything but him as he fucks you senseless. A few more hard thrusts and you feel his cock twitch, his warm cum spilling into you as he moans your name.

"Fucking Christ." he laughs breathlessly as he collapses on top of you. Both of you lay there silently, your chests rising and falling rapidly as you come down from your high. You run your fingers through his curls as he rests his head on your chest.

After a few minutes you hear the crunching of leaves below you causing you both to sit up suddenly.

"Edward!" Wayne's voice calls from below.

"Shit."

"Come down here and eat your damn dinner.. 20 years old and still playing in a damn treehouse." Wayne mumbles as you hear his footsteps heading back through the woods.

You both look at each other and burst out laughing.

"Dinner, m'lady?" Eddie smirks, rounding up your clothes.

"Dinner sounds perfect.” you smile at him, feeling happier than you’ve ever felt.

[maiiuelle]

˚❀˚

when you and jj first get together, he really makes an effort to impress you. the boy doesn’t have much to give, having grown up with the shirt on his back and not much else, but he’s eager to make you feel special. he’s no stranger to women, being a pretty hot commodity for pogue girls and tourists but he never sticks around long enough for anything to be considered serious. he’s a free spirit at heart, and before he took interest in you, that boy couldn’t be tied down. your first date was one to remember, the only warning beforehand being a cryptic text saying: “meet me at the dock at 6?”

you’re ecstatic, even though he didn’t explicitly say it’s a date, you’re hoping it will be. you’re something of a hopeless romantic, and your growing crush on maybank was driving you crazy. you put on a pretty sundress, curl your hair into messy coils and pack one of your crocheted shoulder bag with your wallet and emergency lip gloss.

you get there right on time, the sun just starting to set over the marsh. you shuffle nervously to the end of the dock, where you find jj leaning over the wooden railing.

“jayj?” your voice is soft, trying not to startle him. he turns his head and his body follows, but before he can greet you he’s taken in by your dress, his blue eyes transfixed on it’s short frilly skirt. he’s in his usual garb, a white tee and cargo shorts, which you still find very charming. you blink up at him shyly, not knowing why you’re so nervous, after all it’s just jj.

“uh—hey!” he lifts his baseball cap, running his hand through his hair as he tries to keep his eyes on yours. “whatcha all dressed up for?”

“oh, i dunno. was just excited to get out of the house, i guess.” your cheeks heat up, suddenly concerned that you misread the situation entirely.

he nods. “i’m glad you did. y’look very nice.” he lets his eyes linger on your dress a second longer before he clears his throat and reaches for your hand. “would you.. be interested in an exclusive boat tour of this here marsh on the hms pogue?”

you slip your hand into his, tilting your head curiously. “ooo — i’d be honored.” he starts to lead you down the wooden ramp to where the boat is floating against the dock, and once it comes into view your sweet smile turns into surprise.

he spread out a picnic blanket over the front of the boat, and a big bowl of fruit, two subs from haywards, and an empty beer can stuffed with wildflowers sits in the center. you just feel warm, relieved that clearly your feelings are mutual, and this is the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for you. “oh — jj!” you jump into his arms, hugging him tight. “this is beautiful, you planned all of this?”

as you pull away to admire the boat again, his touch lingers on your waist, still holding you close. “‘course i did, cupcake. you like it?”

you huddle close to his side again, looking up at him with anticipation. “do i like it? i love it! this is amazing.”

“well, i’m glad.” jj smiles down at you before clearing his throat, getting flustered already. “c’mere, we should get out there while the sun’s still setting.” he takes hold of your hand, adjusting his hat again in an attempt to hide his rosy face. he helps you onto the boat, where you sit atop the blanket to admire the flowers he picked while he drives you out into the marsh.

the two of you fill the hot summer air with giggles over the roaring motor, but eventually the boat sputters to a stop at a nice clearing. the yellow and orange clouds paint over the still water beautifully, and singsonging birds chirp in the distance. the scene before you looks like something out of your favorite romance movies. jj makes his way to the bow, making sure the anchor is set.

“dig in, you don’t gotta wait on me.” he laughs and finally settles down next to you, popping a strawberry into his mouth casually. he gestures to the sandwiches, eyebrows creased in slight concern. “said you like italian, right?”

“oh yeah — who doesn’t?” you smile, helping yourself to some of the fruit too. “this is all so sweet, jayj. really.”

he waves a hand in the air, brushing it off. “well shucks, you’re sweet, cupcake.” he can’t keep his eyes off of you, between how your skin is glowing in the low sunlight, your dress, hair, lips — he can barely handle it. “y’deserve it, a girl like you’s once in a lifetime.”

you blink at him, his compliments going right to your burning cheeks. “you really think that?”

“you kidding? of course i do.” he rubs his jaw, shrugging like it’s obvious as he leans forward. “m’just lucky enough to be here with you.”

“jayj.” you lean on your arm, tilting your head as you stare back at him. you lick your glossy lips, and he feels like you can read his mind. your mind is spinning, heart racing as he moves closer, reaching gently to tuck your hair behind your ear. you lean into his palm, letting him guide you into a soft first kiss.

˚❀˚

[clanwarrior-tumbly]

HCs: Ken meeting a Human!Fem!Reader who owns a ranch

Wanted to write something for this movie bc it’s all I’ve been thinking about for the past two days. So enjoy, lovelies! 

I’m taking requests for this movie so don’t be shy <3 

[SPOILERS AHEAD]

...........

After going back to the Real World to find a purpose for himself, Ken runs into you, a country girl who left the Mattel company to take care of your ranch.

You just stopped in the city to find new outfits..and instead found him rollerblading through the park, immediately recognizing him as a Ken.

You may not be in the company anymore but you just knew (especially with his vibrant outfit giving it away).

You two hit it off right away and eventually you go shopping together.

He gets a new cowboy outfit and is bashful when you pay for it (to which you reply that you..really didn’t have a choice in the matter, as he had no money).

He’s like “ohh that happened before when I was with Barbie..we got arrested for the second time that day :D”

You’re very concerned and decide that he should stick with you from now on (not that anyone at Mattel would ever care about a Ken running around to begin with...you just didn’t wanna have to bail him out of jail).

On the truck ride back to your home, you mentioned owning a ranch and Ken’s in a w e

You tell him more about it, and he’s so intrigued and can’t stop staring at you the entire time, especially as you go on about how a lot of women in your world are cowgirls and how they aren’t represented enough.

He bluntly states that he once believed “patriarchy” was all about the horses and you nearly laughed, but he seemed sad about it, so you assure him if he wanted to see horses, he made the right decision coming with you.

You introduce him to one of your favorite steeds and he’s SO overjoyed to actually see one in person. Like petting its mane and asking dozens of questions like an excited kid.

“Are you sure Barbieland didn’t have any horses of their own?”

“No, we just have the ones on sticks and our imaginations.” He pouts, mimicking the way he rode invisible horses with his hands. “But this? This is WAY cooler!!”

He tries mounting your horse, envisioning himself riding off into the sunset, free as a bird while shouting “yeehaw” at the top of his lungs-

Only for it to rear its head up and nearly stomp on his foot, with you having to calm it down as he snaps back to reality, looking utterly distraught and stressed over upsetting it.

“Alrighty. Ken. If you wanna ride a horse..the first step is earning its respect. Thought you would’ve learned about that in those books....but if you’ll let me, I’ll show you how to properly mount one. Luckily this one here’s accustomed to double riders.”

His face lights up and he listens to every instruction you give him, from placing the saddle on its back to climbing on, and finally how to control the direction he wants it to go.

For this one time, however, you take the reins and let him sit behind you, hugging you a bit too tightly for your liking, but you allow it as you show him around the rest of your ranch.

He just likes the closeness fr and you.

By the time the day’s over, your horse got better acquainted with Ken and let him ride around for a little while before you gotta put it in the stable for the night.

Before he could worry about where he was gonna go, you tell him he can stay with you as long as he wants.

He’s so happy he just,,,,breaks down ugly crying into your arms.

Though he quickly apologizes, admitting he’s still getting used to crying freely and being more emotional and-

“It’s okay, Ken.” You reassure him. “We need more guys like that around here who ain’t afraid to shed a tear or two.”

“Th-Thanks...Barbie told me it’s an amazing feeling. And honestly..it kinda is.”

After that small heart-to-heart talk, he gifts you his horseshoe necklace as a sign of his appreciation, that dopey grin returning to his face when you take it and wear it right away.

Yeah, you’ve only met each other for a day and he’s smitten the moment you started treated him as an equal. You let him have his own room, bed, wardrobe, etc. (and in time he'll have his own horse too).

All you ask is that he helps you manage the ranch, but at this point he’s willing to do anything for you now.

Finally, he realizes this was his dream all along.

One that Barbieland couldn't provide, but that was alright.

Patriarchy is overrated, anyways. This was all he wanted.

[noyzinerd]

Derek teaching unknown werewolf societal/cultural facts to Stiles is cute, and I love that for them, truly, but I want to see the reverse.

We're always hearing about when someone (usually Stiles) asks a naive question about werewolves and Derek going "No, you idiot! It doesn't work like that!" As if it's common knowledge that everyone should know, when in reality there's no possible way Stiles (or any average person, for that matter) could know that.

And I'm sure in Derek's world, stuff like silver not actually being effective against werewolves is a no-brainer or spotting a Kitsune is laughably easy, but not to the common bystander.

So, instead, I'd love to see the random, human customs and social norms Stiles would find himself needing to explain to Derek when they start living together. Stuff that the human family members of his pack never displayed because they had been raised surrounded by werewolves their entire lives.

From all the small things like how, when you get a canker sore or lose a filling, you always gotta stick your tongue in it. ("No, we don't want to do it. It hurts like hell, actually. It's just something we do. Don't ask me why. I honestly couldn't tell you. It's the same with picking scabs or pressing down on bruises.")

Or like how you're not supposed to eat the weird, little black nub at the bottom of the banana. ("I don't care if it's composed of the exact same stuff as the rest of the banana, that's so fucking gross 🤢")

Or like how you have to walk around ladders instead of under them ("Because otherwise you'll get bad luck, Derek!")

Or how, for a short time in history, a man wearing a singular earring on his left ear meant that he was gay for some reason. Or was it the right ear? ("Hey, listen, man, I didn't make these dumb rules!")

Or how you can't pick up a penny off the ground unless the face side is heads up ("Yes, it's another 'good luck, bad luck' thing. We actually have a lot of those, now that I think about it.")

Or how if someone far away sees you coming and holds the door open for you, you very specifically have to do a customary tiny wave or acknowledging nod before doing a small little half trot-half jog that isn't too slow or too fast all the way to the door. ("Because you don't want to take up their time, but also you don't want them to think they've inconvenienced you. Yeah, no, I get that they already have, but you don't want THEM to know that.")

All the way up to things like the weird history of Coke Zero, even though Diet Coke is essentially the same thing. ("Oh, now see, that's actually pretty interesting. And by interesting, I mean dumb and terrible. See, in the 80's, Coke only ever marketed Diet Coke as a 'woman's drink', so when they finally decided to expand their demographic, they had to spend millions of dollars to undo their own conditioning because their women's only Diet Coke campaign had been so successful, it took decades for men to stop associating drinking diet soda with being gay or effeminate.")

Just so Derek can finally know what it feels like to be on the other end of "common sense."

[narbevoguel]

I've always wondered why Aroace peeps feel excluded, when there's lots of cool friendships in media out there. But the more I interact with people across communities, I realize why they feel excluded, especially among their own LGBT peers. Two male characters are really good friends? They must be gay and kissing and doing naughty things! Two women spending time together? Must be lesbians! Two or more characters of any gender getting along just fine? Nope, must be all dating!

Like, I understand shipping characters is fun, I myself do it from time to time, but exploring characters' friendships I find much more appealing cause there's a charm to friendships that I believe romantic relationships ain't got. We gotta learn to appreciate the friends we have, for their unconditional platonic love is as strong as any romantic love, if not stronger.

That's why I will propose to myself a slight challenge: Aroaceptember. Sadly, I can't promise I will be able to draw something daily under this theme because I still gotta work to survive, but I'll try my best to, and in the days I can't, I can talk about my favorite friendship dynamics I've seen in media I've partaken in, or share fanfics/fanart of friendships that I've liked.

If you're interested in that, feel free to stick around, and if you wanna do it yourself, please, by all means. We gotta let our aroace folk know that they're also appreciated.

[msbigredmachine]

New To This - Chapter 5

MASTERLIST

“Sup, trick,” a soft voice chuckled next to Delilah, and she turned to see Tiwa, her co-worker at the supermarket, presenting her a can of Mountain Dew and a bowl of jollof rice and stewed chicken as she joined her to sit on the staircase outside on their lunch break. “Want some?”

Delilah grimaced and bit into her carrot stick for emphasis. “You know I can’t have that. I’m workin’ out and shit.”

“Oh yeah, I keep forgetting about your wrestling. Shoulda brought you a salad or somethin’,” Tiwa joked, causing Delilah to roll her eyes good-naturedly. The two women had known each other since high school and had run in different social circles back then, but working together for the past four years had closed that gap between them.

“So, how’s wedding planning going? You still got time for that with your wrestling and all?” Tiwa asked as she threw her braids behind her shoulder.

“It’s going,” Delilah shrugged, staring out into the empty backlot of the supermarket. “My Mama’s making sure it’s going, anyway. We’ve put a deposit on the reception hall, but haven’t decided on the catering. I haven’t even thought about a dress yet. Luckily I got my mom’s wedding dress to fall back on if everything else goes to shit.”

“You sound bored outta your fuckin’ mind,” Tiwa pointed out, raising an eyebrow. “I’ve never heard any woman sound this uninterested about planning her own wedding.”

“It’s not boredom. I’m just…tired,” Delilah insisted, shuffling her feet on the step she sat on. “Training and working two jobs hasn’t given me much time to think of anything else.”

“What about your man? Is he going to Panama City with you for the show? I mean, that’s gotta be exciting, right?”

“For me? Absolutely,” she responded, turning her face toward the sun. “The networking opportunities are beyond my wildest dreams. For him? Not really. He’s never been a wrestling fan. And he still thinks I’m outta my mind,” she added with a roll of her eyes. In reality, she knew that half the town thought the same way, but she never let it deter her. What she wanted to do with her life was no one’s fucking business.

Tiwa nodded in what seemed like understanding and chewed her food slowly. “That bad, huh?”

“Yeah, that bad. He’s not cooperating at all.” Delilah huffed, feeling her blood begin to boil already. “First off, he refused to come to my first match. My very first match! He bitches about my training schedule all the fuckin’ time now. What is scaring him so much?”

“Gee, where do I start?” Tiwa snorted.

Delilah looked back at her co-worker, startled by her response. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Come on, girl. Look at it. Y’all supposed to be getting married soon and then your wrestling picks up. I saw your match on YouTube and it’s already at like a hundred thousand views. That’s a fuckin’ big deal, ya know? Not to mention you’re spending time with that steaming hot Jey guy that just might end up being your co-worker. And from all the buzz you’re getting, it’s only gonna be a matter of time before that happens. That’s gotta make Andre uncomfortable.”

She didn’t know her match had made it onto YouTube, but she would get back to that later. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”

“I am. And I’m happy for you. This town is boring as fuck. Someone needs to get outta this dump and do something interesting with their lives.” Tiwa took a swig of her Mountain Dew. “So back to you and this Jey dude. He seems to be giving you a lot of attention.”

“Y’all making it sound like me and him are seeing each other every day or somethin’,” said Delilah, her tone a little gruffer than she wanted. “That ain’t the case. Jey’s been like a second coach, like Tank. I want to make it to the big time, and if Jey can help me get there, I’ll take it.”

“You sure he hasn’t hinted at something more? Like, you know…”

Delilah shook her head. “Nope. We only talk about wrestling, that’s it. He’s been very professional.”

“Or he’s just waiting to get you alone,” Tiwa cut in. “Maybe that’s why he invited you to Panama City.”

“He invited both Dre and me. I won’t be alone. Tank’s coming along with me since Dre can’t make it.” She wasn’t sure what Tiwa was trying to insinuate, and though she didn’t like it, she tried not to show it. “Girl you trippin’. Relax. I’m getting married to the man I love. Jey’s already married, I think.”

“You think?” Tiwa repeated, and only then did it dawn on Delilah that she’d never seen a ring on his finger. Still… “He knows better and so do I. I got only one goal in mind, and that’s all I care about.” It had been two weeks since her first match, and she was just getting started with building a reputation for herself within the independent circuit. She was working hard and earning every bit of respect she was gaining, and she really didn’t want to throw all of that away.

“Okay,” said Tiwa. “I’m just looking out for you, girl. Do you, and make sure you’re happy while you’re doing it.”

“I know.” Delilah smiled and looked at her watch. Their break was almost over. “You coulda come with me to Panama City too, ya know.”

“Ha, if I do, who’s gonna cover your shift?” Tiwa said, getting to her feet. “Besides…I got a date on Monday night.”

“Oh. So you’ve finally gotten over your crush on Tank, then?” Delilah smirked as they walked back into the supermarket.

Tiwa gasped and avoided her friend’s teasing stare. “How many times am I gonna tell you, Parrish, it ain’t like that with Tank! It never was.”

“And yet, you’re blushing.”

“…..Bitch, bye.”

—------------------

From her place on the ring apron, Delilah watched in complete awe as Liv Morgan and Becky Lynch practiced in the ring for their match, still a good three hours before Monday Night Raw was set to air. The women were opening the show tonight, and she was very excited to see how it all played out. But watching them rehearse was so much better than anything she could have imagined.

The only thing that would have made her day better was Andre being with her. Of course, they had argued about the trip, in which Tank had tried to step in. He was being completely asinine and paranoid. She would never have stopped him if he had the chance to meet LeBron James or Patrick Mahomes, his favorite athletes. This was a once in a lifetime chance for her, and she really couldn’t understand why he was taking all of this so poorly.

“Now that’s a finisher right there,” Tank interrupted her thoughts as Liv Morgan hit Becky backwards in her signature Oblivion to get the pinfall.

Delilah turned back to look up at the huge Titantron as Liv’s theme song rang out in victory. “This is so cool,” she whispered. How amazing would it be to see her own name in lights that bright?

“Ayyy, look who showed up, uce,” a familiar deep voice sounded from the shadows behind her, and she looked over to see Josh making his way down the ramp. 

Without thinking through it, she rushed towards him and leapt into his arms. “This is so amazing! Thank you so much, oh my god,” she squealed happily, not caring if she sounded like a total fan girl at the moment. Never did she imagine she could ever experience all she had since coming down to Panama City; the backstage access, getting to meet the amazing wrestlers she watched on TV every single week; it was sensory overload for her as a fan.

Josh laughed as her legs tightened around him, supporting the woman in his arms with her round backside in his hands. “You welcome, baby girl. You enjoyin’ yourself?”

It was then, as he set her back on her feet, that Delilah noticed how good he looked in his Nike tech fleece outfit. At the same time, Tank appeared from the corner of her eye, and she quickly took a step back from Josh. “Yes! Everyone’s been so nice. The wrestlers, the officials, it’s been awesome.”

“Good to hear. Wanna go talk to the girls?” Without waiting for an answer, Josh grabbed her by the hand and tugged her toward the ring where Becky and Liv now sat on the apron. They looked over at the approaching trio and waved. “Hey, Jey, hey Tank,” greeted Liv, her eyes skating over Delilah’s form. “Wanna introduce us to your friend?”

Sneaking behind her, Josh shoved the shy woman closer to his colleagues. “This is Delilah Parrish. She’s an indie wrestler in the Pensacola region,” he introduced.

“Oh, fellow hometown girl, huh?” Becky’s friendly nature was infectious as she extended a hand toward the new woman. “Nice to meet you, Delilah. I’m Becky.”

“Delilah. Like Samson, right?” Liv inquired. When Delilah nodded, her smile widened. “Such a cute name. I like it. You stickin’ around for the show tonight?”

“Yeah.” Delilah muttered shyly. It was the exact same tone she had taken with pretty much everyone she had met so far. It was all so overwhelming, she felt like she was in a dream.

“Ay Livvy Liv, you busy?” Josh asked. When she shook her head, he nodded toward Delilah. “How ‘bout you show our guest here how it’s done in the big leagues?”

Liv set her towel aside with a shrug. “Sure, why not?” she answered, turning her gaze to Delilah. “You up for it?”

Shocked, the trainee looked back and forth between them. “Wait, you want me to wrestle her? Right now?” 

“Now’s as good a time as any,” Josh shrugged, raising an eyebrow. “Unless you think you can’t do it.”

Offended, her eyes darkened right away. “Hell yeah, I can do it.”

He stepped closer to her, staring her right down, “Then show me,” he whispered.

Liv leapt back into the ring and backed up, beckoning for Delilah to join her. “Come on, show me what’cha got,” she challenged.

Before she knew what was happening, Delilah was locking up with Liv freaking Morgan in the middle of the ring, listening for her rushed verbal cues as they sparred like old partners. So immersed was she in the match they were constructing, Delilah didn’t notice that Josh and Tank had been joined by a few other men.

“Who’s the girl?”

Turning his head slightly, Josh took his boss’s hand in a handshake and then returned his attention to the action in the ring. “She’s one of Tank’s,” the Samoan spoke of the trainer who was now shouting instructions to his pupil from outside the ring, while Becky cheered on Liv on the other side.

Triple H watched with a critical eye as the new woman launched herself off of the ropes and knocked Liv to the mat with an impressive, albeit stiff clothesline. “She’s unpolished,” he deduced.

Josh shrugged. “She’ll get better,” he assured the older man. “Her very first match was just two weeks ago and she killed that shit, man. Two hundred thousand views on YouTube already,” he added, a hint of admiration creeping into his voice.

“I see.” The multi-time World Champion nodded his head, his gaze still fixed on the story the women were trying to tell in the ring.

As Liv wedged her horizontally between the ropes by the turnbuckle, Delilah glanced to her left, her heart nearly jumping into her throat when she saw Triple H of all people, watching intently a few feet away, as though waiting for her to do something special. She was so distracted that she didn’t hear Liv’s reminder to brace herself for the impact of her double-knee attack. Liv’s knees and shins colliding with her sternum knocked the air right out of her, causing her to collapse hard in the corner, limbs twisting everywhere as she hit the canvas.

“Shit, I’m sorry!” Liv screeched, as Delilah rolled to her side and slowly made her way to her knees with a moan. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. It was my fault,” she puffed, taking the other woman’s extended hand to pull her up.

“Yeah, Triple H has that kind of effect,” Liv said, winking at her. “I was the exact same way the first time I saw him.”

Risking another glance at the base of the ramp, Delilah breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that Hunter had left them alone, but dread quickly filled her insides as she wondered what he’d thought of her performance.

“What the hell was that?” Josh’s laughing voice interrupted the ladies’ conversation. Delilah blushed wildly and ducked under the bottom rope. “I panicked,” she admitted softly. “So tell me the truth,” she said. “How bad did I fuck up my only chance to impress that man?”

Josh helped her out of the ring and set her down on her feet. “You tried. Let’s just leave it at that.” Her nervous expression caused him to wrap an arm around her waist for a quick hug. “But ay, you went for it, and Hunter appreciates that,” he whispered.

The feel of his breath on her ear sent shivers down Delilah’s spine. She shook it off quickly, deciding that she was still being a fangirl, that it was just his breathtaking presence that still affected her. She would have felt the exact same way if it had been Andre holding her like this.

Mistaking her inner turmoil for something else, Tank nudged her from her other side. “You did good, kid. I could tell Hunter liked it,” he said.

The uncharacteristic compliment from her usually no-nonsense teacher caused Delilah to blush, but before she could respond, a stage hand called for Tank to follow him up the ramp, leaving her all alone with Josh. She felt very self-conscious as she walked next to him towards the backstage area.

Somewhere along the way, Josh had invaded Delilah’s thoughts and fantasies on more than a few occasions. Never, since getting with Andre, had she ever thought about another man while making love to her fiancé, until lately. She wanted to blame it on seeing him every week on TV, recalling his deep, seductive voice on the phone, all of which left her imagining things she never dreamed of. Yeah, he seemed to be a bit touchy feely, but he had never made an outright pass at her, and had done nothing beyond a few flirty words and gestures. Maybe she was overthinking it too much and just needed to relax.

Josh looked down at her, trying not to stare into her tank top from his considerable vantage point. She was engaged to be married, but he couldn’t seem able to tell himself that it meant she was off limits. He was drawn to how unaware she was of her beauty and her sexiness, and it made her that much more attractive in his eyes. “You quiet. What’s on your mind?” he asked her, forcing himself out of his wayward thoughts.

Delilah followed him into a huge locker room. “Just thinkin’ about how surreal all of this is. It’s one thing to see it on TV. It’s a whole ‘nother thing to see it all up close…” she trailed off, shaking her head in awe.

Grabbing two bottles of water, Josh directed her to a table and sat across from her, opening her bottle before sliding it to her. “Yeah. Wait until you become an actual employee.”

Scoffing, she drank from the bottle and leaned back in her chair. “Right. Like that’s gonna happen.”

“What makes you think that?”

With a sigh, she looked around the empty room. “I don’t know. For all intents and purposes, I’m still a rookie,” she reasoned. “I got so much more to learn. I don’t even look like the typical WWE Superstar. My hair’s too damn big and curly. I haven’t put on enough muscle yet.” Casting a glance over her own body, she sighed again. “And I’m gonna need implants, which I definitely can’t afford,” she added.

Josh looked her over, zeroing in on her chest. After seeing her in her wrestling outfit a couple of weeks ago, he was convinced there was nothing wrong with her hot body. “You don’t need no implants,” he assured her.

Shock washed over Delilah at his blatant assessment. “Okay, um, so where else are we going after this?” she asked nervously, hoping to break the suffocating tension building between them.

“Whatchu doin’, Delilah?” Josh ignored her question, watching her brush her hair out of her face for the hundredth time, the glint of the rock on her engagement ring seemingly taunting him every time she did so. “What exactly are you puttin’ in all the hours training and wrestling for? To achieve your dream? Or to get away from your fiancé?”

Recoiling a little, Delilah narrowed her eyes at what he had asked. Why was he being so intrusive? “Dude…” she stammered, her defenses going right up. "I’m not…I’m not sure how that’s any of your business.”

“Baby girl, this business is everything to me,” Josh said to her, his tone strangely serious. “It’s my whole life. And I get a kick out of seeing other people who love it too and get immersed in it for all the right reasons.” Shaking his head, he crossed his massive arms over his broad chest. “I need to know which side you’re on, so I’ll know whether I’m wasting my time with you or not.”

“Wasting your time? What the fuck…I never asked for your attention, Josh!” she shot defensively, staggered by this sudden change to their conversation. "To be honest, I don’t even know why you are showing any interest in me.” Behind her, she heard the door open, and she forced herself to lower her voice, even though she was seething at his audacity. “Maybe I should ask you. What’s in this for you, huh? Why me? There are a million other new wrestlers that you could be focusing on.“

Shrugging a shoulder in agreement, Josh leaned back in his chair and let his dark gaze scan her from head to toe. "Maybe,” he conceded, a smirk playing on his lips. “But it’s not them I wanna fuck.”

The words struck her like a blow to the gut. Did she hear him right? Was he suggesting that he wanted to sleep with her? That he was as attracted to her as she was to him? Did he fantasize about her too? Did he forget she was engaged? Wasn’t he married? How could he make such an open confession?

Before she could say something, the room began to fill up with members of the Raw roster, Josh stood up and gestured for her to do the same. “Come on. Let’s go find Tank,”  he said to her.

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

Thoughts?

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[aspoonofsugar]

Do you think Adam will come back as a demon, having to redeem himself? It kind of feels like that's where the few hints at smth deeper going on with him are going.

Hi!

I mean, there is this:

As Charlie and Emily sing about amoral angels staying in the sky, the focus is on Adam and he looks very triggered. I also personally hope he comes back because I think his character offers great opportunities to explore others. Like Lucifer, Lute, Sera, Lilith and Charlie herself. That said, I am also okay if he is meant as a one-season villain tbh. In this case, I trust it is because the story has other plot-lines to follow. Also, it would be an hilarious call-back to his line:

A man only lives once, we'll see you in one month Gotta say, I can't wait to Come down and exterminate you

Adam, you're either right in how THE man only lives once, or you are so wrong and Charlie is so right, that you yourself get a second chance :P

That said, I think there is clearly more about Adam, Eve, Lilith and Lucifer's dynamic that needs to be addressed (either through Adam coming back or in other ways):

The series starts with the retelling of the myth of Eden in the form of a fairy tale. Still, it is clear that we are given only partial information.

Lucifer: Well, your first wife didn't seem to hate what I had to offer…or the second! Bowchicka pow pow!

Sera: He was the first human soul in heaven…

It is very unclear what happened with Eve and Adam himself is judged a "virtuous soul", after his human death. Not only that, but he affirms what brought him into Heaven is:

Vaggie: reading list "Act selfless, don't steal, stick it to the man." Are you fucking serious?

Except that Adam never once acts selflessly throughout the whole season. So, I wonder if an eternity spent being spoilt in Heaven made him worse.

In short, the things I am interested in when it comes to Adam are:

If and how Heaven has changed him

His relationship with Lucifer and Lilith (Eden + his pact with Lilith)

Let's now try to analyze Adam, starting with what we have in the series.

ADAM THE ANGEL

Adam: Call me, Dickmaster.

Adam is introduced as a powerful angel and a jerkass mysoginist. Both things are important, as they tie to different conflicts:

Adam is a genocidal maniac, who mistreats everyone. Still, he is considered a virtuous soul and holds some authority in Heaven.

Adam is "the man" and is shown discriminating and dismissive towards women. According to Charlie's recount in Overture, his mysoginy might be at the very root of the conflict behind the forbidden fruit and the birth of Hell.

These two sides of Adam come together in his interactions with Charlie, who is both a demon and a woman.

1- He dismisses Charlie's ideas of redemption in his song Hell is Forever, which is full of Christian references:

'Cause it's cut and dry Fair is fair, an eye for an eye And, when all's said and done (said and done) There's the question of fun And for those of us with divine ordainment Extermination is entertainment! Guitar solo, fuck yeah!

In general, he sees himself as superior to demons because he was judged worthy of Heaven. In his mind, this makes him automatically the "good guy", while people who exhibits virtues like Charlie or Angel are still beneath him, as they are demons. In short, he has a black and white mentality:

'Cause the rules are black and white There's no use in tryin' to fight it

2- He flirts with Charlie and calls her with sexist names:

Adam: I got you again, bitch! *laughs* Fuckin' hilarious!

Not only that, but his overall characterization highligths his sexism to hilarious degrees. Some examples:

His favourite food is ribs because Eve was born from one. So, it is as if he likes "eating women up"

He leads an army of hot and lethal women, who follow his orders in battle (classical male fantasy)

He gives Vaggie the name "Vagina" and calls it "the best thing ever"

So, Adam is a combination between a zealous religious fanatic and the patriarchy. All neatly tied up with jock imagery (his tunic resembles a letterman jacket). As a result, his interactions with Charlie explore two different power dynamics:

Heaven vs Hell or to better say Hell is Forever vs A Happy Day In Hell. Is Hell a place of eternal damnation or is it a chance of redemption?

Man vs Woman - Adam is far more childish and less intelligent than Charlie, but she has to kiss his butt because he is in a role of power. As it often happens in human society.

The question is: "How can such a person be worthy of Heaven?"

SERA THE MOTHER

Sera: I thought, since I'm older It's my load to shoulder

Sera is Adam's authority figure, as she is the only one Adam shows respect for. He asks for her validation and is ashamed after disappointing her. Considering Adam was created by the angels, it is easy to infer Sera is probably the closest thing he has to a mother. This also ties with Sera's overall role in the narrative, where she is framed as a parental figure to Emily and to the other angels and souls:

Not only that, but her parenting style seems rooted in the determination to protect those in her care, no matter what:

Sera: It is my position as the head Seraphim to protect our people at all costs.

Even if she has to lie to them:

I wanted to save you, the anguish it takes to Do what was required

Or if others end up hurt in the process:

Sera: Heaven needs us, Emily. Everyone looks to us… and we can't doubt ourselves or worry about the fates of demons when we have our own souls to protect.

She keeps Emily and the rest of Heaven in a Gilded Cage and chooses to exterminate the Sinners. In a sense, she too sees the world in black and white, just like Adam. Her loved ones. All the others. This attitude is present in her relationship with Adam too, as she enables him. Some examples:

She gives Adam permission to lead the exterminations. Even if Sera thinks killing Sinners is necessary, there is no reason to entrust it to Adam, who has a very obvious grudge against Lucifer.

He lets Adam boss around the exorcists and mistreat them. Like he did with Vaggie. In general, Sera gives him no rules, if not a generic "do not embarass me" one. And even then, Adam faces no consequence after he reveals the secret.

Sera is angry at Adam's cruelty towards Charlie and reproaches him for targeting the Hazbin Hotel. Still, this is all she does. She could have stopped Adam from attacking the hotel. And yet, she only makes a single remark.

In general, Sera gives Adam free reign and even fulfills all his cruellest requests. This is made clear during Charlie and Adam's questioning.

Since the beginning, Charlie is set up to lose and the seating arrangement shows it. Sera and Emily are at the very top, as they are the judges. Below them there is the jury and then there are the two sides. Still, Charlie and Adam are not at the same level. Adam is higher, while Charlie is at the very bottom.

Sera sustains Adam's petty objection:

Adam: Objection, lame and unoriginal. Sera: Sustained. No further dictionary references please.

But she is about to refuse Charlie's request and only agrees to it because of Emily:

Charlie: Angel will make good decisions, come on! We have to keep watching! Please? Sera: sighs Yeah, I don't know. Emily: Yeah, let's give him a chance. Sera: Very well, the court will allow it.

Finally, when Adam reveals Vaggie's secret (which is irrelevant to the matter at hand), Sera allows it to happen:

She is the one projecting Vaggie's angelic shadow on the wall. Once again she enables Adam's cruelty, instead of stopping it.

in short, Adam is a person who ascends to Heaven, but once there he spends millenias without anyone questioning or disagreeing with him. All his self-serving fantasies are fulfilled and he is never punished nor called out. As a result, he clearly becomes complacent and grows worse:

Lucifer: So, this is what you been up to since Eden? Gotta say, you've really let yourself go, buddy.

Lucifer's taunt mostly references Adam's physique. Still, this is metaphorically true for Adam's soul, as well. In the end, Adam regresses in Heaven, instead of evolving. Moreover, he never addresses nor solves the key event, which defined his life.

LUCIFER AND LILITH

Adam: You judging me? You're the most hated being in all of creation!

Adam's sense of self is clearly warped by what(ever) happened in Eden. Specifically, he is hurt that both his relationships with Lilith and Eve ended up badly (apparently). This is why:

He overcompensates by being overly masculine. He insists he is THE MAN and keeps blubbering about his love adventures. And yet, he has still no wife, that we know of.

He projects his own feelings on Lilith and Lucifer, to the point that thousands of years later, he chooses "messing their home", as his hobby. Specifically, he tries to steal Lilith away (through their deal) and to make Lucifer as miserable as possible ( which is why the King of Hell sends Charlie to meet Adam at the very beginning - he doesn't want to deal with the Exorcist).

This behavior is mirrored in how he treats the Princess of Hell too.

On the one hand Adam associates what he considers Charlie's positive traits with Lilith:

Adam: To think someone as worthless as you landed Lilith's little hottie. 'Grats on that I guess.

On the other hand Adam links what he believes to be Charlie's negative traits with Lucifer:

Adam: Risking your immortal life for sinners? That's some crazy shit, even for Lucifer's brat!

So, it is implied he still wants Lilith and despises Lucifer. These emotions are mirrored in his design, specifically his horned mask:

The horns ironically show that Adam was cheated on by (both?) his wife(s)

The horns give him a demonic-like appearance, which may be just another way Adam tries to appear more badass than what he is. All while trying to look more like a demon (Lucifer) to begin with

In other words, Adam is nothing, but a man scorned. Even moreso he is a person, who deep down could never really like himself. Hence why he chooses to wear a mask 24h/24h. Adam wants to be either a Demon or a God, but deep down he is just the Man. Ironically, this is what he could never truly accept about himself.

ADAM- A MAN

In the final fight, Adam is unmasked and we get a glimpse of his real self. What is he like? His design is far more average and human-like than other angels and demons. It is even inspired by his real voice actor, apparently. Why is that so? Because deep down Adam is no-one special. He is just a dude. He is the man. Not even that. He is a man. A person.

Sadly, though, he refuses this truth and tries to be more:

Adam: I started everything on Earth! All of mankind came from these fucking nuts! You all should be worshipping me, you ungrateful, disgusting, fucking losers-

He tries to be God and in this way he becomes worse than a Demon. He dies pathetically, after refusing mercy:

Adam: No… you don't get to end this! I'm fucking Adam! I'm the fucking man, and you're just some fucking clown or something!

He sees Lucifer as his enemy, but the King of Hell barely registers his presence and only considers him in relation to Charlie. His true opponent turns out to be a small woman of low status. And even she barely considers him as someone worthy of her attention.

And yet, Adam is still a man and he shows humanity in death:

Lute: NOOOO! Sir! Sir! Stay with me sir! ADAM!

Lute is his one genuine bond and probably the only person who earnestly makes him happy.

If only he could have pursued his humanity, he might have not turned into a monster. He might have developed a healthier sense of self and could have become happier. Instead, he could never love himself for being just a man and has spent eternity trying to be someone different.

HEAVEN ISN'T MEANT TO SUCK A LOT

Adam embodies the anti-theme.

Charlie thinks that everyone can redeem themselves:

Charlie: If I can show them the dream I've dreamed That any soul can change! Then they will know everyone can be redeemed From the evil to the strange!

Adam thinks nobody truly can:

'Cause Hell is forever Whether you like it or not Had their chance to behave better Now they boil in the pot

Charlie tries to grow into her own person:

Gotta come into my own Gotta come into my throne Gotta take charge and defend my only home

Adam turns himself into an idol:

The golden exorcists bring to mind the golden calf from the Bible.

Charlie thinks happiness and beauty can be found even in Hell:

I can hear all their stories The lost and displaced And I know that they're more of an acquired taste But if I open the door and I give them a place At my Hazbin Hotel It'll be a happy day in Hell!

Adam can't find happiness and beauty in Heaven and his only source of joy is knowing others suffer more than him:

Fuckin' Hell is forever And it's meant to suck a lot!

And yet, Hell might be meant to suck a lot, but Heaven shouldn't:

St. Peter and Emily: 'Cause every single day in Heaven is a happy day Welcome to Heaven

Still, Heaven could not make Adam happy. And if Heaven can't make its own people happy, then what is the point of such a Kingdom?

Sera: It's your position to keep them happy and joyful. Emily: How can I bring joy when I now know we are bringing misery to thousands of innocent people?

Adam is a character that embodies Heaven's problems, not only because he is an evil monster, but even moreso because he is an unhappy and unsatisfied man.

Here are my two cents on him :D We'll see if he comes back and manages to get some development!

Thank you for the ask!

[punksyeet]

ᰔᩚ Hype Man ᰔᩚ

Plot: Gianna (OC) has her first ever shot at the NXT Women’s World Championship and, when it doesn’t go her way, her boyfriend Josh is right there to comfort her.

Warning: Hefty flirting & mature language!

I wake up to the sound of my alarm and instantly reach over to my nightstand to turn it off.

It's officially NXT Stand and Deliver season.

Tomorrow is the actual event, alongside WrestleMania Night One.

But today, however, are the kickoff shows.

This year, I'm involved in the main event with a title match against Roxanne Perez.

I let out a loud yawn in the middle of my stretch, and get ready for the day, as well as pack my tote bag.

Today, I plan on teasing my match gear, so I'm wearing: a pink rhinestone bra and thong set, some matching hot pink baggy jeans, a sheer pink shrug, air forces, and a matching cowgirl hat (the events are taking place in Texas this year).

I put on some silver jewelry, do my makeup and hair, spray some perfume, and head out the door.

————————————————————————————————-

I just arrived to the arena.

Once I step out of my SUV, fans cheer and chant my name and I acknowledge them by waving and blowing kisses as I head inside.

"Giiiiirl!” a familiar voice calls from behind me, once I enter the building.

I automatically turn around and see one of my best friends and former NXT-mates, Jade Cargill.

"JADEEE!" I squeal excitedly, and we share the biggest bear hug and kisses on the cheek.

She pulls away and scans my body up and down while snapping her fingers. "This fucking outfittt!"

I giggle and spin around to give her the full view.

"I absolutely can't with you sis! You look stunning!" she continues.

I step back and place a hand on my hip, while scanning her body right back. "Girl excuse me?! Look at you! Look at this body teaaaa!"

She laughs and pulls me back in for a hug. "I missed you so much honey. How has NXT been treating you?"

I sigh deeply and fix my hat. "Girl it's been great, don't get me wrong. But it's nowhere near the same without you."

She sticks out her bottom lip. "You're telling me. WWE is so much more chaotic. I honestly miss it here sometimes."

I smile softly. "Okay but girl you've been eating it up over there! We're all so happy for you!"

She giggles again. "Thank you honey. It's been quite the ride, but I wouldn't trade it for the world."

I nod, smiling. "Absolutely sis, I don't blame you one bit."

We end up talking for about ten more minutes, before Shawn comes over to greet us and tell me that I'm on in 20 minutes.

"Alright mama, it was great seeing you, but I gotta go get ready for my promo with Roxanne. I'll see you later?" I suggest, holding her arms.

She nods, smiling. "Absolutely! I'll be watching you Gigi girl! Go kill it!"

We share one last hug and kisses before I head off.

————————————————————————————————-

My segment is in about 10 minutes, so I'm in my dressing room adding the final touches to my look.

As I'm playing with my hair, I hear a knock at the door.

"Come in!" I call, fixing a strand with my curling iron.

And in comes the sexiest pain in my ass, Jey Uso.

Another former NXT-mate, except one that I've fallen head over heels with. And he with me.

"Hey you," he coos sexily, walking in and closing the door behind him.

"Hi Josh," I reply flirtatiously, trying to hide my smirk.

Through the mirror, I see that he's wearing a black jean jacket with nothing underneath and matching bottoms, white air forces, as well as some gold jewelry.

Fuck. This man will be the death of me.

He walks up from behind me and leans against the wall, his arms folded. "You look good."

I unplug my curling iron, turn around in my chair, and get up so that I'm standing in front of him.

"You don't look so bad yourself," I say, pulling him in by either side of his jacket.

He smirks and presses our lips together, snaking his hands on my hips and pulling me in closer.

"So what are you doing here?" I ask, playing with his chain once we pull away.

"Well I couldn't let my lady go out there without me wishing her good luck, now could I?" he asks, stroking my sides.

I raise an eyebrow. "Your lady, huh?"

He licks his bottom lip and scans my body, his eyes finally landing on my breasts and exposed cleavage.

"My eyes are up here pretty boy," I flirt, gently lifting his chin.

He smirks once again and, as he's leaning in, I get another knock at my door.

"Gianna, you're on in five!" one of the members of creative call.

I throw my head back and groan, causing him to laugh.

"Hey my promo with the guys is in like an hour. We can hang out afterwards, okay?" he suggests.

I nod, biting my lip and wrapping my arms around him.

He pulls me in for a hug and gives me one last kiss. "Good luck babygirl. I'll be watching."

"Thank you," I reply, blushing.

I kiss the corner of his mouth before letting go of his hands and exiting my room.

—————————————————————————————————

"And now, the woman that's going up against your current Women's NXT Champion, Roxanne Perez, please welcome Gianna Nicole!" Booker T says into the microphone.

My entrance theme, Trip The Darkness by Lacuna Coil, plays and I walk out to the stage.

Once the crowd sees me, they go from loud to wild.

I'm talking singing along to my theme and everything.

Nothing beats this feeling.

I walk upstage, touching as many hands as I physically can before heading over to Booker.

We share a quick hug and I start my promo.

Eventually, Roxanne interrupts me and I end the segment with a mic drop, leaving her speechless and the crowd cheering.

As soon as we're backstage and out of sight, we share a lengthy hug and well wishes for the match tomorrow before heading our separate ways.

I head back to my dressing room, running into some of my co-workers and WWE stars on the way.

Once I'm inside, I shut the door behind me and check my phone.

I smile when I see texts from a certain someone come through.

Joshh 🥰: Damn girl you look too good 😩

Joshh 🥰: Get her ass baby!

Joshh 🥰: You're gonna rock it tomorrow mama I'm so proud of you 🫶🏽

Joshh 🥰: I gotta go get ready but I'll meet you in your hotel room once my promo is done ❤️❤️

I text back, smiling at my phone like an idiot.

Gi 🩵: Thank you love. Best of luck and I'll see you soon. 🥹🫶🏽

I grab my stuff and head out.

—————————————————————————————————

I just finished taking my makeup off and changing into something more comfy.

FATU replied to your story: 🤤

gianna nicole 🧚🏽‍♀️: Hurry I miss youuu 🥹😩

FATU: Omw I just finished up ❤️

gianna nicole 🧚🏽‍♀️: Alr 🥰🥰

—————————————————————————————————

Josh got here about two hours ago.

So far we've ordered room service, made out, watched a movie, made out some more, cuddled, oh and just finished making out! Again!

"I can't get enough of these ma," he coos, brushing his thumb across my bottom lip.

"Clearly," I reply sarcastically, flicking my hair off my shoulder.

He sucks his teeth. "Girl don't act like yo tongue wasn't willingly down my throat half a second ago."

I giggle and wrap my arms around him as he buries his face into my neck.

"Mmm fuuuck," I moan, as he slowly kisses and sucks below my ear all the way down to my bare shoulder.

"You like that mama?" he mutters in between kisses, squeezing my hips.

I throw my head back. "You know I do."

I feel him smirk as he keeps going, trailing his hands down further and onto my ass, caressing and playing with it through my sweats.

"Boy if you keep doing this," I begin. "We're gonna be half on a baby soon."

He pulls away, an eyebrow raised. "And the bad part of that would be...?"

"Joshuaaaa!" I whine.

He chuckles. "I know baby, I know. You don't wanna be sore for your match tomorrow. But once you win, this ass is mine. Deal?"

I playfully roll my eyes. "Deal."

We shake hands and he kisses my knuckles before laying down next to me and wrapping me in his arms.

After about an hour, he decides to leave for the night.

"It's getting late mama," he says, rubbing my back. "And we both have an early morning tomorrow. I should probably go, yeah?"

I sigh, still holding onto him. "Okay."

He smiles and kisses my temple. "Listen, once we're done with our matches tomorrow, we can spend all the time in the world together. Okay?"

I nod, giving him a soft smile back.

"I'll see you tomorrow princess," he coos before lifting my chin gently and pressing his lips to mine.

I kiss back and he gets out of bed and heads out.

—————————————————————————————————

1!

2!

3!

The crowd has a bunch of mixed emotions, some booing and some cheering, as Roxanne crawls off of me and holds her title up.

I lost.

My first chance at a title and I blew it.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

As the ring is being set for the next match, I head up the ramp in disbelief.

Despite what just happened, fans cheer for me and chant my name, but don't have the energy to acknowledge them.

I don't deserve them.

I don't deserve half the love I'm being shown.

Once I get backstage, Josh is there.

"Baby? You alright?" he asks, his arms open.

I slowly shake my head and, without saying a word, walk right past him.

I can't face anyone, not even him. Not like this.

Tears slowly streaming down my face, I head to my dressing room, pack all my stuff, and leave for the hotel.

Once I arrive, I drop my stuff at the door, climb onto my bed, dig my head into my knees, and cry.

And cry.

And cry some more.

—————————————————————————————————

It's been about an hour since my match and I haven't moved from my bed.

I haven't touched my phone.

I haven't changed.

All I've been doing is staring into space.

Why? Why couldn't I just defeat her?

Tears start to roll down my already stained cheeks as I realize that my self confidence is going down by the second.

I want to quit.

I want to crawl into a hole and never show my face in this business again.

I'm an embarrassment.

I'm a f-

My thoughts are cut off when I hear knocking at my door.

I attempt to speak but my throat is so unbelievably dry from crying.

I take a sip of water from the bottle on my nightstand and try again.

"Wh-who is it?" I call, my voice barely over a whisper.

"Baby? It's me." Josh replies. "Can I come in?"

I take a deep breath. "Yeah."

I hear the door open and close, then footsteps coming toward me.

"Hi," I say, not even bothered to turn around.

I can't even look at him.

"Hi," he replies, rubbing my back. "You feeling okay?"

Just laying there, I don't respond.

Not because I expect him to know how I feel, but because even I don't know how I feel.

He sighs, gets up again, and walks around the bed, and kneels on the floor so he can face me.

I look into his gorgeous brown eyes, tears still spilling from mine.

"I don't know what to do, Josh," I finally say after a sniffle. "I don't know what's wrong with me. How could I lose? I'm an awful wrestler."

He uses his thumb to stroke my cheek. "Babygirl I want you to listen to me. What happened out there, it doesn't define you, okay? You'll have plenty more chances to come. And whether you win or lose, those won't define you either. What defines you is what you think about yourself."

I can't bring myself to speak again.

I simply just stare into his eyes.

"And as for you being an 'awful wrestler'," he continues, using his fingers as quotation marks. "You and Roxanne put on one hell of a show for all those people. You're fucking incredible, mama. So I don't want you to ever say that about yourself again, okay?"

I nod, sniffling again, wiping my tears with a tissue.

"Thank you," I reply, my voice just above a whisper. "I needed this. I needed you."

He gives me a soft smile and leans in, kissing my cheek. "It's my pleasure, beautiful. I love you so much."

My lips part in shock.

Josh and I have been flirtatious towards each other for months now, but we've never used the L word.

Before I can speak up and reply, he shakes his head. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said tha-"

"Josh," I reply, cutting him off and placing a hand on the side of his face. "Baby, I love you too."

He stares at me dumbfounded before a gorgeous smile grows on his face. "You do?"

I nod, a soft smile on my mine. "I always have. More than anything. You going out of your way and coming in here just to comfort me, it just made me realize it even more. I love you Joshua Fatu."

His smile grows even wider and he cups my face, pressing our lips together.

After a few strokes, we pull away slowly.

"Now," he begins. "How does a nice steaming hot bath sound?"

I nod, smiling. "It sounds perfect."

He pecks my lips once more and starts to sit up.

"But first," I continue, placing a hand on his thigh to stop him from getting up completely. "How about I honor that deal from last night?"

He raises an eyebrow. "Baby are you sure? I know we agreed to doing it once you won and...."

His voice trails off and I take a deep breath. "But I did win."

He tilts his head out of confusion. "You did?"

I slide my lower lip in between my teeth, nodding. "Uh huh. I won because I just bagged the man of my dreams."

He chuckles, shaking his head. "Well that makes two of us."

My eyes follow him as he stands up and removes his shirt, revealing his sexy tattoo covered torso and climbs into bed.

He attacks me with kisses and I giggle as he pulls the covers over us.

Liked by uceyjucey, trinity_fatu, jadecargill, roxanne_wwe, and 187k others

giannamacri it's no secret that this weekend didn't end the way i've been hoping it would for months now, but i still had the time of my life doing what i love in front of you all. i'm endlessly grateful to have been apart of this event and to have received as much love and support as i did, even when i felt like i didn't deserve it. i love you texas. until next time. 🩷

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uceyjucey IT GIRL 🥶🩷

jonathanfatu Proud of ya sis 🫶🏽

jadecargill My gorgeous bff 🥹🩷

Tag List: @uceyliyahh ♡

^^ If you’d like to be added, feel free to leave a comment below! <3

Check out my wattpad and twitter! 💟

Follows, feedback, & reblogs appreciated! 🧚🏼‍♀️

[madhatterbri]

Arrangement | N.J.

Summary: Y/N and Nick agree to an arrangement to avoid you paying a fine and getting suspended. 18+.

Impure Fiction

@plentyoffandoms

The moment Nicholas Jackson called to see you in his office you knew you were in trouble. Social media had been buzzing for a week on how he slipped at the top of the entrance ramp. This had nothing to do with you, but apparently it was going to be your problem. You sat across the desk from him. Your fingers fidgeted under the desk. You were so worried about your job. His older brother, Matthew, watched his younger brother writing the report for your file.

"We at AEW try to have a safe environment for everyone and this is unacceptable," Nicholas tsked. You couldn’t believe you were being blamed for this. He wasn't looking where he was going but somehow you were getting the heat for it. "I'm sorry to do this but a 1,000-dollar fine and a suspension without pay should make you pay more attention,"

“That is steep brother, but it’s gotta be done,” Matthew shrugged and adjusted his vest. He walked out of the office to terrorize other workers leaving you alone with Nicholas.

You pleaded for him to lessen the punishment as this was your first offense. Technically, this wasn’t even your offense. He sat back in his chair and rubbed his beard while he listened to you plead to him. The EVP role really inflating his ego. It was good to be the boss. He came up with an idea for both of you. He was tired of the silly little promises the lessers promised to get out of his punishments. He wanted more. Once the deal left his lips you gasped yet nodded. You needed the job more than anything and at least he was attractive.

That night you went to his hotel room wearing a bra and underwear. You stole the robe from your room to hide your body from any guests that happened to be out. The key card worked, and you allowed yourself in. He was on the phone yet signaled for you to sit at the foot of the bed. He only wore a pair of boxers. He hung up the phone and looked at you.

"So, what do you like?" He asked not hiding the fact that his eyes were looking you up and down.

"What?"

"During sex. What do you like? It’s boring if a woman just lays there,"

You laughed at him. "No guy ever cares about that. They like to just stick it in and pump five times and leave,"

"Sounds like a challenge," he smiled and walked over to you. He knelt so he was staring into your eyes. "Looks like we are both going to learn about the other tonight,"

"Whatever you say, boss," you sung and rolled your eyes.

His lips met yours. They were soft and surprisingly sweet despite the sinful arrangement. He cupped your head with his hands. He pulled your bottom lip with his teeth. Nicholas worked his way to your neck nipping and biting at your flesh. One gasp from you was all he needed.

"Guess we learned one thing already," he chuckled and unhooked your bra. Nicholas slipped off the pesky barrier and took in the sight of your breasts. He latched on to one of your nipples. Your breasts were sensitive to him. You needed more of him. The shame you felt when your core started to react to him. No one had ever made you wet so easily before. You clenched your legs together.

"Two things, and I adore you sensitive women. Lay back," your boss ordered. You laid down as he gripped your knees and pulled you closer to him. He spread your legs apart by gripping your thighs.

"Clenching your legs already? Come on, sweetheart, we barely got started,"

"You just caught me off guard, Romeo. You still have plenty of time to disappoint me," you commented. His thumb rubbed the wet fabric on your underwear and gazed at you. He smirked at the ways your eyes rolled back as his thumb rubbed your clothed clit.

His other hand kept your legs spread. You thrusted your hips and licked your lips. You silently cursed your body for feeding his little ego. Much to your dismay, he stopped touching you. You tried to act unbothered as he removed your underwear and threw them over your shoulder. He dropped to his knees. Two of his fingers spread your lips open, and his tongue assaulted your clit.

"Oh God!" Your toes curled, and your hands clenched the sheets. The foreign feel of an orgasm built inside of your stomach. The tempo of his tongue didn't leave you much of a break.

"Nicholas, I'm so close," you warned. Nicholas pumped a finger inside of you, followed by another when you adjusted. His fingers scissored to spread you open. His assault on your clit never slowing down or stopping. You moaned and let your orgasm wash over you. Your legs twitched. You wound down from your high with him kissing your inner thighs and praising you. His rough beard scratched your soft skin.

He removed himself from between your legs and wiped his mouth. He kissed your body, leaving a trail of kisses up to your lips. "I think we are on three or four likes, I believe,"

"Congratulations, boss man, you may know what you are doing with a woman," you scoffed, not wanting to stroke his ego more.

"You ready for another one?" He asked and smiled.

"What?" You asked. Another orgasm coming out of you? Highly unlikely. He removed his boxers and sucked the same spot on your neck from before. His fingers slid down your body and found its way towards your sensitive clit. His fingers worked you right back up.

"Oh!"

"I like your sounds. Let's see if we can make more," he grabbed your left hip with one hand and lined himself to you with the other. He shoved himself inside, slowly wanting to enjoy this moment. He had been eyeing you for a while now.

Your walls clenched around him perfectly. He kept the thrusts slow to adjust to him. Fuck, he needed more than just tonight. He hoped you would agree.

"Nicholas," you moaned and pulled him from hid thoughts. All thoughts of taking this slow went out the window when he looked down on you. Your eyes were filled with lust and your hair a mess. The mark he left on your neck reminded him that you were probably going to murder him in the morning. At least his last night on Earth would be worth it. He gripped your hips with both hands and thrusted quicker. He was turned on by the new sounds from you that filled the room. Every whimper, pant, and moan egged him to give it to you. He praised how well you were taking him.

His thrusts started to get sloppy the moment you orgasmed for the second time that night. With a few more thrusts, he spilled himself inside of you. He brought his head back and allowed the pleasure to control his body momentarily. He placed his arms on your sides and kissed you.

"I'm afraid we are going to need to do this more often," Nicholas admitted.

"I think that can be arranged," you panted and smiled.

[kyleoreillylover]

Chapter 4- Jealous

Series Summary/Masterlist

tag list: @southerngirl41 @venusesworld @jeysbae @reci1996 @tbonesteakwithasideofmashngrav @hope4more @selena-tyler-564 @saintaquarius @whatdoeseverybodywant @raya-hunter01

warnings: wrestling related violence, manipulation, mentions of cheating (kinda??)

word count: 14, 722

Chapter Summary: Everything is going wonderfully, and you are on top of the world. No one can stop your reign, you and Jey are together, and it feel like no one can stop you or the Bloodline, and everything is perfect. That is, until Sami does what he does best, and sticks his head where he doesn't belong, by trying to join the Bloodline. You try to scare him away, but it doesn't work. Tensions rise between him and Jey almost immediately, and you feel caught in the middle. Roman makes you the one to get them along. But it inadvertently almost costs him the stability of the Bloodline.

a/n: not my best work, but I hope ya'll don't mind. Hope ya'll enjoy!!

liked by y/n, jimmyuso, trinitywwe, themercedesvarnado, samizaynwwe and 700,000 others

uceyjucey: the bloodline coming to yo city👆

tagged: y/n

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user: the pretty privilege these two have is killing me

user: cutest couple ever

user: I'm in love with both of them

↳user: did they ever confirm their relationship to the public tho?

↳user: baby, look at them, and then stop asking stupid fucking questions.

y/n: photo creds for my fav person to take pics of ;)

↳uceyjucey: I better be your fav person period. 😒

↳y/n: lemme drive the car and then you will be <3

↳uceyjucey: anything for you ♥️

↳jimmyuso: oh hell naw I aint' agree to a death ride

↳uceyjucey: shut up we aint gotta ask you

↳y/n: exactly, stay in your place jimmy.

↳user: do we need anymore proof??? or ya'll still need them to confirm it?

APRIL 2022

The arena was bustling with excitement and nerves as Friday Night Smackdown was about to begin. Staff were prepping for script changes, wrestlers were getting ready for their segments, cameras were positioned strategically to capture every moment, and the crowd buzzed with anticipation.

Kayla Braxton was standing outside, cameras following her and mic in hand as the show started, and she waited as an SUV pulled up to the arena's entrance. Flashing lights from cameras greeted the opening car door as it parked, and a crew member quickly opened the door.

Out stepped you from the drivers seat, clad in a black tank top and a sleek black leather jacket, adorned with the Raw Women's Championship around your waist.

You smirked as you moved to the other side of the car and opened the passenger door. Jey emerged, looking every bit as confident as you did, with a smiling Jimmy in tow with him, the tag team titles around your waists. Then Paul, and, the crowd's excitement escalated as the reigning Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, stepped out from the back seat.

You smirked from next to Roman at Kayla as you made your way towards her, the camera crew capturing every move. Confidence, glamour, and power exuded from you as you approached Kayla. Kayla smiled as the four of you passed her, holding the mic towards you all, your Raw Women's Championship catching the glint of the spotlight.

"Bloodline, an explosive Wrestlemania for the 4 of you. After all of you retained your gold, Roman against Brock, Y/N against Shayna, and The Usos against Nakumara and Boogs, what's next for the Bloodline on Smackdown tonight?"

Roman paused for a moment, his piercing gaze fixed on Kayla before he took the microphone from her hand. The arena hushed in anticipation as the Tribal Chief prepared to address the question.

"What's next for the Bloodline?" Roman repeated, his voice oozing authority. "What's next is dominance, Kayla. We did what we said we'd do at Wrestelmania, and that is solidify our dominance over this entire company. The Universal Championship, the Raw Women's Championship, and the Tag Team Titles—all held by the Bloodline. That's not just gold; it's power. And tonight, SmackDown will witness the continuation of our reign."

Kayla nodded at Roman's words, the atmosphere heavy with the weight of the Bloodline's presence. She then turned her attention to you, the Raw Women's Champion.

"And Y/N, after a brutal match against Shayna Baszler at WrestleMania, what's your mindset coming into SmackDown?"

You took the mic from Kayla, a confident smirk playing on your lips. The arena was filled with a mix of cheers and boos, a testament to the polarizing effect of your allegiance to the Tribal Chief.

"My mindset, Kayla?" you responded, your voice steady.

"It's simple. I'm here to dominate. Shayna threw everything she had at me, but I'm still standing here with this championship around my waist. The darkness within me is stronger than ever, and tonight, I'll prove that I'm not just a champion, I'm not just the princess of pain; I'm the queen of this division.

And Shayna thought that she could break me like Ronda tried to break me, but all she did was fuel the fire within. And the only way she's gonna get another shot at this title, is if she wins the 4 way match tonight. But trust me, I'm not planning on letting go of this gold anytime soon."

Shayna had thought you were still the same women who Ronda beat 2 years ago, and thought it would be a cakewalk to take your title from you. But you quickly proved her wrong when you fought her in a street fight and made her pass out in her own hold and regret underestimating you.

The scars from that match still adorned your body, but they were badges of honor, that not only marked your resilience but also sent a message to the entire Women's Division that you have been sending for the past 2 years—that you are willing to break anyone who stands in your way.

You laughed, a confident and almost menacing tone to it, as if daring anyone to challenge your reign, and Kayla shifted her focus to Jey and Jimmy, the Tag Team Champions, who stood beside you with smirks mirroring your own.

"And what about The Usos?" Kayla inquired. "What's next for the Tag Team Champions?"

Jey took the mic, his voice filled with the same confidence that you had. "You know, Kayla, it's like this. We're the best tag team in the world, and them titles around our waists ain't going anywhere. We proved it at WrestleMania, and we'll keep proving it. Ain't nobody gonna take these titles from us." Jey finished by wrapping an arm around your shoulder, making you automatically lean into his side, a small smile playing on your lips.

Jimmy nodded in agreement, a smirk playing on his face. "That's right. We're here to dominate the tag team division. Ain't no team stepping up to the Bloodline and coming out on top. We're family, and that bond makes us unstoppable."

Kayla nodded, turning back to Roman. "And Roman, Drew Mycintire has made it clear that he wants another shot at the Universal Championship. What are your thoughts on that?"

Roman chuckled, a low and menacing sound. "Drew McIntyre wants another shot, huh?"

He shook his head with a smirk. "Drew, you had your chance, and you failed. This is the Bloodline's era, and I'm not wasting my time on someone who couldn't get the job done the first time. If he wants another shot, he needs to prove himself. Maybe he can start by going through Jey here." Roman gestured towards Jey, who nodded in agreement.

Jey stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the camera. "Drew, if you want a shot at the Universal Championship, you gotta go through me first. And I promise you, it won't be an easy task."

Jimmy chimed in, "And even if you manage to get through Jey, I'll be waiting for you. Y/N will be waiting for you. Roman will be waiting for you. The Head of the Table doesn't waste his time on anyone who doesn't deserve it."

You leaned in, the Raw Women's Championship glinting in the arena lights, as you added your final words. "So, Drew, Shayna, if you guys want to have another shot at our titles, try to fracture our dominance, just know that you'll have to go through each one of us before you even get close."

Roman paused before continuing, a smirk on his face. " Good luck tonight, cause wherever the Bloodline goes, goes, gold follows, and we don't plan on letting go anytime soon."

With those final words, you flipped your curly hair and joined the boys and Paul in leaving Kayla, who watched as the 4 of you walked away with an air of dominance and confidence.

You were on top of the world, as you had been for the past 2 years. Women have tried to dethrone you, but none succeeded. Kevin was finally no longer a thorn in your side as he had gone to do his own thing on Raw, and you were glad for that. You wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but you missed him, and were glad when his feud with Roman ended, not wanting him to keep getting hurt. But you now had The Bloodline, who you trusted and knew wouldn’t stab you in the back, unlike him.

You were the epitome of dominance, the queen of the division, and with the Bloodline by your side, there seemed to be no end to your reign, and nothing was gonna stop that.

Yet there was a certain someone watching you on the screen that would beg to differ.

It was Sami Zayn, who was trying to become the number one contender for the universal Championship.

"How dare Drew try to take my spot?" Sami angrily muttered to himself. But then a lightbulb went off in his head, and an idea quickly formed If he couldn't beat Drew directly, maybe he could indirectly influence the outcome, and in the process, get his best friend back.

You sucked in a breath as Jey pressed the cold ice pack onto your rib, pushing it when you tried to move away.

You were still hurting from your match with Shayna, and despite you claiming you were fine, Jey insisted on taking care of you. Roman and Paul were talking amongst themselves, while Jimmy was talking to Trinity on the phone, and you and Jey were sitting in the cor ner of the locker room.

“You’re taking it easy tonight.” It wasn’t a question, it was a demand from Jey, his voice firm. You rolled your eyes but winced at the movement.

"Fine, Nurse Jey," you teased, earning a playful glare from him. He continued to apply the ice pack, his touch gentle despite the playful banter.

“I’m serious, Y/N. No getting physically involved with Drew or any of the women. I don’t want you getting hurt any more than you already are,” Jey said, his tone firm and protective.

You sighed, recognizing the concern in his eyes. “But I know Drew is gonna already be mad and take it out on you. I can’t just stand there and watch.”

“I said no.” You opened your mouth to protest but Jey cut you off with a stern look. “Baby, you gotta listen to me on this. We got this handled. Roman is dealing with Drew, and Jimmy and I will take care of anyone else. You need to focus on healing up.”

You huffed, not entirely happy with the decision, but you knew Jey had a point. You leaned back, wincing slightly as you adjusted your position.

“Alright, Nurse Jey. I'll behave tonight.” You gave him a half-smile, acknowledging his concern.

“Good.” Jey finally seemed satisfied, setting the ice pack aside. He then leaned in, placing a gentle kiss on your forehead. “I just don’t like seeing you hurt. I’m sorry if I gave you some lip. I just don't want you getting yourself hurt."

You softened at Jey's words, the protective side of him always managing to melt your defenses. "I know, Jey. And I appreciate it. I just don't want anyone to hurt you." You leaned in and kissed him softly, a gesture of reassurance.

Jey chuckled into the kiss, the tension in the air dissipating. "I can take care of myself, princess." He mumbled against your lips as he pulled away.

"I know you can," you replied with a playful grin. "But it doesn't hurt to have a little extra protection."

Jey raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Extra protection, huh? I like the sound of that."

You playfully swatted his chest. "Not like that, dumbass. I meant keeping your hot headedness in check.

Jey rolled his eyes playfully, but brought you into another quick kiss. "I can't promise to tone down the hot-headedness, but I'll try to be careful for you."

You smiled, appreciating the compromise. "That's all I ask."

Jey smirked, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Can't wait to see yo fine ass on commentary, tonight. This top is gonna be the death of me."

You chuckled, feeling the warmth of Jey's playful banter. "Maybe I should start my own commentary on your matches. 'And here we have Jey Uso, looking all fine as he kicks some ass in the ring.'"

Jey laughed, a genuine and carefree sound. "You'd make a great commentator, princess. Better than those clowns on TV."

You grinned, enjoying the lighthearted moment before the intensity of the night's events. "Well, maybe I'll consider it after I retire from in-ring action."

Jey nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Be at commentary for my match too, not just the ladies?" His voice was soft, a hint of vulnerability beneath the playful tone.

"Of course, Jey," you replied sincerely, meeting his gaze. "I'll be there for your match too. Cheering you on from the commentary table."

Jey's smile widened, a genuine appreciation in his eyes. "That's all I need, princess."

"Are you lovebirds finally done with your little chat?" Roman's deep voice interrupted, a smirk playing on his lips as he entered the conversation.

Jey rolled his eyes at Roman's teasing. "Just making sure she doesn't get involved where she shouldn't."

Roman chuckled, his gaze shifting to you. "He's right. Don't get involved physically, Y/N. Drew is expecting that. Mind games are more effective. Let him get frustrated, and we'll handle the rest in the ring."

"Yeah, lovebirds. Listen to him." Jimmy smirked as he joined the conversation. You rolled your eyes at his teasing. "Says the person who was just talking to Trinity on the phone," you retorted, earning a playful glare from Jimmy.

"Alright, Alright." Roman interrupted the banter, standing up and stretching. The atmephosre immediately turned serious. You hopped off the bench, feeling a bit more refreshed after the ice treatment.

"Let's get ready," Roman declared, his authoritative tone taking over. "Y/N, remember what we talked about. Jey, Jimmy, be on the lookout for any interference. We don't want any surprises tonight."

The three of you nodded in unison, and you dapped Jimmy and Roman up, and when you did the same with Jey you intertwined your fingers and brought him into a quick but reassuring kiss. "See you guys later." You smiled at them before heading towards the gorilla position, where you'd make your entrance for the night and make sure Shayna didn't win.

The arena was buzzing with energy as your music hit, and you walked out with the Raw Women's Championship draped over your shoulder, the crowd's cheers and boos echoing through the arena.

You mockingly blew kisses at the fans as you waved at Shayna, Rhea, Sonya and Liv. Liv was the only one to wave back, the others maintained a stern expression. Shayna glared at you, screaming about how she was gonna beat them and take your title.

You made your way to commentary, smirking as you settled into the commentary chair, slipping on the headset. Michael Cole greeted you with a professional smile.

"Welcome, Y/N, It's great to have you here on commentary tonight," Michael Cole said, his voice carrying through the arena's sound system. "Who here would you want to face and defend your title against?"

"Well it's definelty not against someone like Shayna Baszler again," you responded with a confident smirk. "I've already proven that I can handle her. As for who's next, well, I'm open to challenges. Anyone who thinks they can step up to the queen and take this championship, feel free to try."

You made sure to keep an eye out for anyone else, you weren't stupid, you knew where Shayna was Ronda was likely not far behind, and you were tired of facing them.

So, you waited for the perfect time. When you saw Shayna was about to steal the victory on Sonya cause Liv and Rhea were too focused on each other to notice.

That's when you decided to make your move and disqualify everyone from the match. None of them would get a clean win, and you'd walk away with your title still intact and not have to defend it from them.

Standing up from the commentary table, you grabbed the Raw Women's Championship, a wicked grin on your face that fell when seemingly out of nowhere, Drew stood in front of you, a smirk on his face as you glared at him.

"Move." You snarled at him, trying to move past him, but he held his ground, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Not so fast, Y/N," Drew said, his tone taunting. "I saw what you were planning. Trying to save your title by getting everyone disqualified? That's not how a true champion operates."

You scowled at Drew, frustration building up. "Stay out of my business, McIntyre. This doesn't concern you."

Drew chuckled, folding his arms across his chest. "Oh, it concerns me, all right. Cause earlier Roman said I have to go through all members of the Bloodline if I want another shot at the Universal Championship. And well, starting with you seems like a good idea."

You gritted your teeth, annoyed at Drew's interference. Time was ticking, and you needed to act fast to salvage your plan. Before Drew could react, you swung the Raw Women's Championship, aiming for his head. However, he ducked just in time, and the title belt collided with the steel ring post, creating a loud clang.

You tried to capitalize off your distraction and go to the ring but Drew was quick to grab your arm, pulling you back. It wasn't enough to hurt, Drew wouldn't injure you on purpose, but it was a firm grip to keep you from escaping.

"Let go of me, McIntyre!" You growled, struggling against his hold. Your frustration grew as your plan unraveled.

Drew smirked, enjoying the control he had over the situation. "Make me."

The two of you were so caught up in your struggle that neither of you noticed Ronda slipping inside the ring from the back and holding Shayna's feet on the ropes as she pinned Sonya, the ref not noticing her interference.

The bell ringing made you and Drew turn to the ropes to see Shayna and Ronda out of the ring and laughing gleefully at the win. Your frustration reached its peak as you realized your plan had not only failed but backfired spectacularly, and it was all Drew's fault. God, why couldn't Ronda and Shayna just leave you alone?

As Shayna and Ronda gloated outside the ring, Drew released his grip on you, a satisfied smirk on his face. You shot him a furious glare, your initial plan of costing everyone the match so you wouldn't have to deal with the 2 of them ompletely foiled.

"You might want to focus on your own problems, Y/N," Drew taunted, pointing to your belt that laid on the ground, a visible dent on one side from its collision with the ring post.

You seethed with anger, feeling the frustration boiling inside you. Drew had not only disrupted your plan but also humiliated you in the process.

You screamed in anger, slamming your fist against the barricade as you watched Shayna and Ronda celebrate their underhanded victory. "Jey is gonna destroy you!" You yelled at Drew, who was leaned against the ring apron, a smug expression on his face.

Drew laughed, seemingly unfazed by your threat. "Let him try. I'm not afraid of the Bloodline. And as for you, Y/N, take this as a warning to not concern yourself in in my business with Roman like you have done with his other competitors. Cause I'm not like other challengers. I won't let anyone interfere in my quest for the Universal Championship."

You shot Drew a venomous look but decided against engaging in any further confrontation. He was twice your size, and a direct physical altercation wouldn't end well, especially with your current state after the match with Shayna.

With a final glare, you picked up your dented Raw Women's Championship, ignoring Drew's lingering presence, and made your way backstage.

The anger and frustration lingered, simmering beneath the surface as you walked through the backstage area. You slammed locker room doors, your mind racing with thoughts of revenge and payback.

"Asshole." You yelled out as you slammed open the locker room door, not looking at the guys and pacing angrily.

"Did you see what that idiot did to me!" You bellowed out, dropping your title on the table. You still hadn't looked up, still too deep into your frustration. "He messed up everything, and now Shayna and Ronda are celebrating a win they didn't earn!"

You kicked the chair in frustration, sitting down on the bench with a huff and running your hands across your face. "And then he damaged my title! Then he had the nerve to give me a warning about staying out of his business with Roman! Can you believe that?"

You were handed a water bottle and, you took it and took a long swig, the cool liquid doing little to ease the fire of anger burning within you as you finally looked up.

"Thank you Sami- Sami!?" You choked on your drink as you saw Sami standing in the locker room, Roman, Jimmy, and Jey sitting there, their faces also a mix of confusion.

But Jey's also had a hint of anger as he stared at Sami, who was standing with a mischevious grin, but also scared look in his eyes, like he didn't know whether you were gonna beat his ass or not, but he was willing to take the risk anyways.

"What is he doing here?" You turned to Roman, who was sitting with a raised eyebrow, his gaze shifting between you and Sami. Sami, sensing the tension in the room, cleared his throat nervously.

"I came here to acknowledge the Tribal Chief, and acknowledge his position as the Head of the Table," Sami declared, attempting to sound formal but failing miserably under the intense scrutiny of the Bloodline.

Roman leaned back, his expression unreadable. "Is that so?"

Sami nodded, still trying to maintain a composed demeanor. "Yes, and I wanted to propose a truce. A collaboration, if you will."

You couldn't help but scoff at Sami's audacity. "Umm, did I suddenly fall and hit my head? Is this some kind of alternate universe of delusionalness that Sami is living in?"

You stood up and glared at Sami, your frustration with the earlier events now directed at the unexpected presence of the master stragestist and your former best friend.

Roman held up a hand, signaling for you to calm down. You huffed at him, but Jey grabbed you and sat you on his lap before you would do something you would regret later.

"Explain yourself, Sami," Roman demanded, his gaze piercing through Sami's attempts at diplomacy.

Sami shifted nervously, realizing the need to provide a convincing explanation. "Well, it's simple. Drew has been a thorn in my side, and I know he's coming after Roman. My reputation has been blown because of Drew these past few weeks, and everyone thinks I'm scared of him but I'm not!

And I know he's w he's coming after Roman. If we take him down together, it benefits both of us. I get rid of Drew, and you maintain your dominance. Plus, I can help you deal with any other nuisances that might come your way, such as R-Kbro. You didn't hear it from me, but they are planning on taking the tag titles from the uses and unifying them, and if you ask me, they are the most undeserving self centered pieces of shit ever."

Roman raised an eyebrow, considering Sami's proposal. "And what do you get out of this, Sami?"

You scoffed, but Jey tightened his grip on you, silently signaling for you to let Roman handle the situation.

Sami's eyes darted between Roman and you, his confidence wavering. "Well, besides getting rid of Drew, I was hoping we could, you know, rekindle our friendship. I've realized the value of having powerful allies, and I think being on good terms with the Bloodline could open up new opportunities for me."

You couldn't believe what you were hearing. The past 2 years you had spent building your own empire within the Women's Division, and had to make the difficult decision to leave Sami behind.

And now he was here, acting like the past didn't matter, proposing a truce and pretending like everything could go back to how it was. Was he planning revenge on you for abandoning your friendship, or was this just another one of his schemes?

Roman's gaze remained fixed on Sami, a thoughtful expression on his face. After a moment of silence, he leaned forward, his voice low and authoritative. "And you would take out Drew for us? Just like that?"

Sami nodded eagerly, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "Yes, exactly! I know his weaknesses, his strategies. I can be an asset to the Bloodline in taking him down."

Roman leaned back, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Interesting proposition, Sami. But let me make one thing clear. We don't need anyone's help to handle our business. If we decide to take down Drew, it'll be on our terms, not because we need you."

Sami swallowed nervously, sensing the skepticism in the room. "I understand, Roman. I just thought it could be a mutually beneficial arrangement." Sami's eyes went to you at the last line, a hint of sadness and regret in his gaze. Jey glared at Sami when he looked at you, his protective instincts kicking in.

"Mutually beneficial my ass. You're just trying to save your own skin, dumbass." Jey spat at Sami, jealousy and annoyance evident in his tone. Damn, you could feel the tension between them rising, and they barely even had any interaction. Sami shifted uncomfortably under Jey's intense gaze.

"Yo, Jey chill out." Jimmy interjected, trying to diffuse the growing tension.

Roman raised a hand, signaling for everyone to calm down. "Enough, all of you." The room went silent, and Roman's gaze shifted between you, Jey, Jimmy, and Sami. "Sami, we'll consider your proposal. But don't think for a moment that you're indispensable. We've handled our business just fine without you."

Sami nodded, looking relieved that Roman didn't outright reject his proposition. "Thank you so much for considering Roman! I just want a fair chance to prove myself to you," His eyes shifted to you, and sadness filled them when he saw Jey rubbing your back soothingly. "And to her."

Jey glared at Sami, but before he could say anything, Roman spoke again. "We'll let you know, Sami. Now, leave us."

Sami nodded and quickly exited the locker room, leaving you, Jey, Jimmy, and Roman in a tense silence. Roman broke the silence with a sigh.

"Say what you want to say, Y/N." Roman knew you were dying to express your thoughts on Sami's unexpected appearance and proposition.

You took a deep breath, your frustration still lingering, but you knew this wasn't the time to let it out on Roman or anyone else in the room. "Roman, are you seriously considering teaming up with him? After everything he did?"

Roman leaned back, his expression serious. "I'm considering all options, Y/N. Sami might be a snake, but if he can help us take down Drew and further solidify our dominance, I'll use him for that purpose. We don't need to trust him, but we can use him to our advantage."

You huffed in frustration, not entirely satisfied with Roman's response. Jey's grip on you tightened, a silent reassurance that he had your back.

"I don't like it either, Y/N, but if it helps us deal with Drew, then it's worth considering," Jimmy chimed in, his voice calm but firm. He was always the peacemaker of the group, trying to find common ground. "We'll keep an eye on Sami. If he tries anything, we shut him down. Simple as that."

You shot Jimmy a look, still unconvinced. "He's just gonna stab me in the back the first chance he get's. He wants to get revenge on me for leaving him behind." You didn't let yourself believe anything else. You knew Sami was very forgiving, but you couldn't get caught up in past sentiments. You had built your own path, and Sami's sudden return threatened the stability you had achieved.

Roman nodded, understanding the concerns. "We'll be cautious, Y/N. No one gets a free pass, especially not someone like Sami. But for now, our focus is on dealing with Drew and maintaining our dominance on SmackDown."

Jey finally spoke up, his voice a low growl. "If Sami tries anything against you, he's gonna have to deal with me." You moved off of his lap and sat beside him, seeing the angry look on his face. "I saw the way his dumbass was looking at

you. I shoulda beat his ass."

"Jey," Roman interrupted, sensing Jey's hot headed side about to get the best of him. He didn't need any uncessary fights. He needed Jey to focus on taking out Drew. "We handle things strategically. Tonight, you focus on Drew, not Sami. Get ready for your match. And Y/N, keep an eye on Sami. We don't trust him, but if he can be useful against Drew, we'll use him."

You internally scowled at Roman's decision, but you knew better than to argue further. The Bloodline always had a plan, and you had to trust Roman's leadership.

"Fine," you replied, your tone still tinged with frustration.

"Good." Roman clasped his hands together, the air in the locker room heavy with the weight of the upcoming battles. "Let's focus on tonight. Jey, handle Drew. Y/N, stay vigilant with Sami. We'll deal with each challenge as it comes. This is our show, and no one gets in the way of the Bloodline."

The intensity of Roman's words resonated in the locker room. Jey nodded, a determined look in his eyes. Jimmy chimed in with a supportive nod. You sighed, reluctantly accepting the plan, but your mind was already racing with thoughts of Sami and the potential risks he brought to the Bloodline.

"Good luck, baby." You turned to Jey and gave him a good luckkiss, the lingering frustration momentarily replaced by a mixture of concern and affection. Jey smiled, appreciating the support, and then stood up, ready to face Drew in the upcoming match.

You ran your hand over your face and let out a groan when everyone dispersed. You know what? You were gonna take care of this Sami problem before it even became a problem. You stood up, heading towards the door with determination in your steps. The arena was still buzzing with the aftermath of the chaotic match, but you had your sights set on finding Sami.

As you walked through the backstage area, the anger and frustration that had been building up since your failed plan and the unexpected encounter with Sami continued to fuel your determination. Spotting Sami in the corridor, you quickened your pace, the clacking of your boots echoing through the hallway. Sami turned around, a surprised look on his face, realizing that you were heading straight towards him.

"Y/N, hey!" Sami greeted, attempting to sound casual, but the nervousness in his eyes betrayed his facade.

You stopped in front of him, your expression stern. "Sami, we need to talk."

Sami gulped, glancing around as if searching for an escape route. He knew a slap was probably coming. "Talk? About what?"

You took him by the arm and pulled him into an empty room, shutting the door behind you. The atmosphere in the room became tense as you crossed your arms, fixing Sami with an intense gaze. "Just get it over with."

Sami shot you a confused look. "Get what over with?"

You rolled your eyes, losing patience. "The whole 'rekindling our friendship' act, Sami. If you wanted to get revenge, you should have just said it outright. Don't play games with me."

"I'm not playing any games." Sami shot back at you defensively, his eyes wide with genuine surprise. "Why would I try to get revenge on you?"

Your eyes narrowed at Sami, skepticism evident in your expression. "You're telling me that after all these years, you suddenly want to be friends again just out of the blue? After I left you behind? And you conveniently when you need something from the Bloodline?"

Sami sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Y/N, I get it. I messed up when you left, and I went down a different path. But I've realized that I need powerful allies, and the Bloodline is the most dominant force in the WWE, and if aligning with them also means being best friends with you again, then so be it."

You scoffed, finding it hard to believe Sami's sudden change of heart. If you were him, you wouldhave a hard time trusting someone who had left you behind for their own ambitions. "I don't buy it, Sami. You're not fooling anyone with this act. What's your real game here?"

Sami sighed again, frustration evident in his expression. "I told you, I'm not playing any games. I need the Bloodline's help to deal with Drew, and if it means mending our friendship, then fine. But there's no hidden agenda here."

You remained skeptical, the tension in the room palpable. His soft voice was threading to break your resolute stance. You needed to believe that Sami just wanted to get revenge, cause if you didn't that would jeopardize the stability you had worked hard to achieve within the Bloodline.

"Look, Y/N," Sami continued, his tone sincere. I get why you left, I really do, and I don't fault you for it. But ever since you did, I've lost matches, opportunities, and respect. I don't want revenge on you; I just want a chance to make things right and maybe, just maybe, be a part of something powerful again."

You stared at Sami, conflicted emotions swirling within you. The past memories of your friendship with Sami clashed with the skepticism born out of the betrayals you experienced. Could it be possible he actually forgave you for your rightful wrongdoings?

You didn't answer him, and Sami sighed, licking his lips nervously. "Look, I miss my reputation being intact, but I also miss you. And I know you missed me too."

You glowered at him. "I do not miss you."

Sami raised an eyebrow at you, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. "Then why are you here, listening to what I have to say?" he asked, a confident yet desperate glint in his eyes. "Why did you drag me in here and let me plead my case if you don't care at all?"

The room fell into a heavy silence, tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Sami's gaze bore into you, searching for any sign of vulnerability, while you grappled with conflicting emotions.

You thought of something you could say to rebut his plea, something that would assert your strength and independence. But for the first time in a long time, you were speechless.

Sami leaned back, his confident demeanor faltering as he waited for your response. The room seemed to close in around you, amplifying the intensity of the moment. Finally, you broke the silence, your voice measured and cold.

"I am not here for you, Sami. I am not even here for myself," you declared, your eyes narrowing. "I am here for Roman, and that's the truth."

Sami's eyes widened in a mix of frustration and realization. He leaned forward, placing his hands on the table, attempting to regain control of the situation. "And what did he tell you?"

Sami drummed his fingers impatiently on the table, his gaze piercing through you. "He told you that he could use me to hurt Drew and then he could discard me like the trash he thinks I am right? But you don't want me to get hurt, which is why you are trying to stop me from even aligning with the Bloodline."

Damn him and his ability to read you like a book.

You remained composed, refusing to let his words shake you. Instead of denying his words, you set your hands on top of his on the table, holding them firmly to stop his agitated drumming.

Your eyes locked in a heated stare down, your hands were burning with each others touches, and you let out a calm exhale before responding. "Stay away from the Bloodline, Sami."

Sami just gave you a wry smile, his eyes still searching yours for any signs of weakness. He slowly pulled his hands away from yours, maintaining eye contact. "I can stay away from them, but I can't stay away from you." He bit his lower lip, a mix of frustration and longing in his eyes.

You scoffed at his declaration, disentangling your hands from his. "Don't mistake my concern for weakness, Sami. This isn't about you and me. It's about protecting what matters to me, and that includes Roman."

Sami leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression replacing the frustration on his face. "You know, deep down, you still care about me. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here, trying to convince me to stay away from the Bloodline. And you know I care about you too."

Your patience was wearing thin. "Goodbye, Sami. If I were you, I would realize that my loyalty lies with Roman, not with the shadows of our past."

That was a lie, but you needed to assert your allegiance to Roman, even if it meant distorting the truth. Sami's gaze lingered on you for a moment, and you could sense the internal struggle within him. As you turned to leave, he spoke in a softer tone, devoid of the usual confidence.

"Ronda and Shayna are planning to attack you in 5 minutes in the B-Hallway. Be careful."

You halted in your tracks, your back still turned to Sami. A mixture of surprise and suspicion crossed your face. "Why are you telling me this?"

Sami sighed, his tone genuine. "I told you, I care about you. I overheard them talking, and I couldn't let them catch you off guard. I don't want to see you get hurt."

He stood up and grabbed something from next to him, and tossed you an ice pack from a small cooler, and then a kendo stick. "Just in case," he added. "I know you never back down from a fight."

You caught the ice pack and kendo stick with a reflex honed through years of combat. Despite the situation, a small part of you acknowledged Sami's concern.

As you turned to face him, you questioned, "Why didn't you just let them get the drop on me? I just yelled at you, didn't I? It's not like you owe me anything."

Sami's expression softened, and he ran a hand through his hair, a nervous habit of his. "Because even if you hurt me, I'll take the pain if it means keeping you safe. Call it whatever you want, but that's the truth."

You hesitated, the conflicting emotions resurfacing as your hand tightened around the ice pack. Sami's words echoed in your mind, and for a moment, you saw a vulnerability in him that you hadn't expected. The past rushed back, the shared history and the complicated emotions.

Your eyes landed on the TV behind you, which was showing Drew attacking Jey after Jey lost the match. Your eyes went back to Sami, and despite your brain telling you to just leave and not trust him, there was a flicker of doubt in your heart.

"Go help him." Your words made Sami freeze for a moment, surprise evident on his face. You nodded toward the TV, where Drew was beating Jey to a pulp. "Grab that other kendo stick, take out Drew, and get your reputation back."

Sami studied your expression, searching for any deception or hidden agenda. After a tense moment, he nodded, a mix of gratitude and determination in his eyes. "Thank you."

You nodded in acknowledgment, and knew if you smiled at him you would be betraying the stoic facade you worked so hard to maintain. "Don't mention it."

With that, you turned on your heel and left the room, leaving Sami to his thoughts and the impending confrontation with Drew.

God, what did you just do? You didn't have time to dwell on it, cause you saw Ronda rounding the corner, and accompanied by Shayna.

You tightened your grip on the kendo stick, focusing on the immediate threat in front of you, and when they approached, went to town on beating their asses.

Damn Sami and his kindess, was the last thought you had before the chaotic brawl consumed you. He makes it so hard to hate him.

But you would try your hardest to pretend like you did, not just to protect yourself, but also to protect him.

Over the next couple of months, Sami had been trying everything to get accepted into the Bloodline, but you remained steadfast in keeping him at a distance.

Jimmy liked Sami- he thought he was funny and charismatic. Roman wouldn't admit it, but he appreciated Sami's skills in the ring and knew Sami was growing on him. Solo, the new edition to the group who instantly clicked with you and took a liking to you and saw you as a sister- liked Sami. A lot.

Even Paul was secretly amused by Sami's persistent attempts to join the Bloodline. Despite their initial rejection, Sami had managed to secure matches against common adversaries, and his performances were impressive.

But the only people that didn't accept him were you and Jey. Everyone knew you and Sami's relationship was strained, and weren't surprised when you continued to resist his attempts to be part of the Bloodline. Jey, on the other hand, had his own reasons for holding a grudge against Sami.

He was jealous. Point blank and simple. Jey couldn't stand the idea of Sami, someone from your past, trying to weasel his way into the tight-knit circle of the Bloodline. He didn't like someone trying to get into HIS FAMILY. And he didn't like someone pushing up on HIS GIRL.

Everyone could see the chemistry between you and Sami, even if you tried to keep him at a distance. When you guys had tag matches together, it was undeniable that you two moved with a synchronicity that spoke of years of partnership.

Sami took hits for all the members of the Bloodline, but it was no secret he took the most hits for you from the women. Whenever you were backstage, Sami would be there, offering you a bottle of water or a supportive pat on the back.

Then Jey would glare at him from a distance, clenching his fists in frustration. He would tell those stupid jokes that made the rest of his family break character, and he would see you try not to laugh.

It bothered Jey to no end that Sami could make you smile, could break through your tough exterior even after everything that happened in the past. That should be him making you laugh, he thought. That should be him offering you support and being by your side.

You would reassure Jey that there was nothing between you and Sami, that it was all in the past, that you guys were friends and nothing more in the past, but Jey couldn't shake off the jealousy that gnawed at him. He knew you wouldn't try anything, but he couldn't ignore the undeniable connection between you and Sami. It fueled his resentment and made him act out in ways that even surprised himself.

It all came to a head one night during a promo where you, Roman, Jimmy, Jey, Paul, Sami and Solo were in the ring, and Roman finally decided to address the elephant in the room. The tension was palpable as Roman stared at Sami, his gaze unwavering.

"Let's address the obvious," Roman began, his voice commanding attention. "Sami, you've been persistent in trying to join the Bloodline. You've proven yourself in the ring, and some members of this family seem to have warmed up to you." Roman's eyes flickered toward Jimmy and Solo, acknowledging their sentiments. "But there are others who aren't so sure."

He turned to you, and for a moment, his stern expression softened. "Y/N, Jey, Sami, you guys are each gonna say your piece, and then we'll decide."

The spotlight shifted to you first. You licked your lips, gathering your thoughts for the impending revelation. The atmosphere in the ring was thick with anticipation as all eyes focused on you.

"Sami," you began, your voice measured but firm. "I've known you for a long time, and our history is complicated. You've made choices that hurt me, choices I can't forget. But," you paused, locking eyes with Sami, "I also can't deny the times you've had my back, especially recently."

Jey shot you a sharp look, his jaw clenched. You continued,"I won't pretend that there's no bond between us. We've been through too much together. However, my loyalty lies with Roman and the Bloodline. And if Roman think you are worthy to be a part of this family, I'll respect his decision. But," you emphasized, "if you ever betray us, Sami, you won't get a second chance."

Sami nodded, understanding the weight of your words. You could feel Jey's glare on you, and you gave him a stern look, silently conveying that you were doing what you believed was right for the family.

The spotlight shifted to Sami, who took a deep breath before speaking. "So uh, I'll start with Y/N. Look, I know your expecting me to get revenge on you, to hurt you. And I get that, I get why you've been dodging me. But I don't want to get revenge on you! I don't know how many times I need to spell it out for you before you believe me. I like you! I care for you! I want to be your best friend again! I want to be there for you like I used to be. I know our past is a bit messy, but I have never betrayed you in the ring. Yeah, I've made mistakes outside of it, but in that squared circle, I've always had your back. And I can keep having it, not just for you, but for the whole Bloodline."

Sami stepped closer to you, his eyes pleading for understanding. "Whatever doubts you might have about me, Y/N, just give me a chance to prove myself. We've been friends for over 20 years. Don't you think that means something?"

Sami moved closer to you, and Jey was seething with anger on the sidelines, his fists clenched so tight that his knuckles turned white, and turned even whiter when Sami placed a hand on your shoulder, his brown eyes boring into you and making your own eyes soften. "Don't I mean something to you?"

You stiffened at Sami's touch, the conflict within you reaching its peak. The weight of his words and the memories of your shared history tugged at your resolve. You shot a quick glance at Jey, who was practically seething with jealousy.

"Jey." Roman warned him, who looked like he was ready to pounce on Sami right then and there. Sami took a step back, removing his hand from your shoulder as the tension in the ring heightened, and turned to Jey.

"So, uh, look, I’ll be honest; I don’t understand what’s going on here. I… I like you! Man, I like you; I’ve always liked you! And we’ve always gotten along, and ever since I started hanging out with the Bloodline, I don’t know what it is, but you just… can’t seem to stand me, and I don’t understand it! Everybody- Jimmy seems fine, Solo seems fine, Y/N, well, she's got her reservations, but she's willing to give me a chance. But at least she doesn't get in my face and try to intimidate me all the time!" Sami's frustration was evident as he addressed Jey. "Thank you." Sami told Paul who patted Sami's back in a comforting manner as Jey scowled, ready to explode.

"Seriously, whatever… whatever I… whatever I did, I’m sorry. Can we just be cool? Can we just… can we bury the hatchet once and for all?”

Sami extended his hand to Jey, a gesture that surprised everyone in the ring. The tension was thick, and all eyes were on Jey as he contemplated Sami's outstretched hand.

But you knew Jey better than anyone, and you saw the storm of conflicting emotions in his eyes. Pride, jealousy, anger, and a hint of vulnerability, and knew he wouldn't be too receptive of Sami's outstretched hand.

"Sami, you got about two seconds to get your hand out my face." Jey threatened, his voice dripping with hostility. "I don't like you! Huh? I don’t like your hair, I don’t like your face, I don’t like that shirt you wear! Hey hey, I don’t like him being around my family every single week! My dawg this, my dawg that! Hey,” he moved towards Sami, who had lowered his hand and was now facing the full force of Jey's ire. "How you think you’re part of the Bloodline, if you ain’t blood?!”

Your heart dropped at Jey's harsh words, and your face betrayed a mix of frustration and sadness. Guess Jey truly thought weren't apart of the Bloodline, after all.

Jey didn't notice your face fall, as he kept ranting at Sami. "Hey hey hey! Newsflash for you, Sami: you never will be, Uce! You don’t belong here! Don’t nobody in this group like you; I’m just the realist one to say it out loud — you’re a fake ass Uce!”

Sami's face fell at Jey's words, but Jey continued. The tension in the ring reached its peak, and everyone could feel the impending explosion.

“You know what the difference between you and me is? I shed blood for every single one of my family members in here, because it’s my family! Not yours! Huh?! Would you do it? Will you?!” he questioned angrily. “I’m asking you a question! Will-”

"Jey, calm down!" You tried to interrupt, stepping forward, but Jey's rage had reached its peak. He shoved you aside gently, not even sparing you a glance, and focused all his fury on Sami.

"Answer me! I told you to answer me!-"

“Why- Why are you yelling at me, huh?!” Sami shouted, his frustration boiling over. "Why are you yelling at Y/N, huh? What did she do?" The mention of your name from Sami made Jey's rage intensify. He stepped even closer to Sami, their faces inches apart.

"Don't think you can talk about her, Uce! You don't get to mention her name, you don't get to-" Jey's voice was a low growl, his anger barely contained.

"Why can't I mention her, huh? I've known her for 20 years, Jey! Longer than you have! So I'm pretty sure I have the right to talk about her! She's my friend, she's been my friend before you even knew her, Uce!" Sami shot back, refusing to back down.

Jey's eyes narrowed, his nostrils flaring with anger. "You're not her friend! You think I'm stupid? You think I ain't see the way you look at her? How you always tryna ki ki it up with her backstage? You think I'm blind?"

Sami's jaw clenched, his frustration giving way to a more somber expression. "Yeah Jey, that's what friends do. It's not my fault if you're too blinded by your jealousy to see that."

Oh god. You knew this was not going to end well. Jey's jealousy had reached a point where it was clouding his judgment, and Sami's persistent attempts to be a part of the Bloodline had triggered an explosive confrontation.

Jey's eye twitched at the word jealousy, and he moved closer to Sami, practically nose to nose. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

"Jealous? You think I'm jealous?" Jey scoffed, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "You the one that keeps trying to weasel your way into my family, into MY LIFE. Tryna get up on MY GIRL. Now you wanna act like you ain't tryna push up on her, huh?"

Jey bellowed out, and Sami's frustration turned into a mix of shock and disbelief. Jey wasn't wrong, but Sami wasn't actively trying to get Y/N right this second. He just wanted his friend back right now.

“Your girl? Jey, we've been through this. Y/N and I are friends, nothing more. And you're delusional if you think otherwise. If you are insecure about our friendship, that's on you, not me."

Jey's face contorted with anger, and he looked like he was about to explode. "On me? Yeah, it's on me! ou don't know what it's like to be a part of this family, to shed blood, to sacrifice for each other. You don't know what it's like to protect what's yours, do you?" When Sami didn't answer, Jey snarled, "Answer me!"

“Why- Why are you yelling at me, huh?!” Sami glowered at Jey, his frustration reaching its peak. "Y/N was trying to make peace! I’m trying to make peace! The Tribal Chief says, he wants peace!”

“Man I don’t give a damn what the Tribal Chief say!”

You didn't know what was worse. Your heart that was rending apart at the sight of Jey and Sami at each other's throats or Roman's face that contorted into anger as he picked his head up at Jey's outburst. The atmosphere in the ring became unbearable as the tension escalated, and you felt a knot forming in your stomach.

"What did you say?" Roman, standing tall as the Tribal Chief, stepped forward, his eyes locked on Jey. "Nah, don't be quiet now. What did you say?"

Jey hesitated for a moment, the weight of Roman's gaze pressing down on him. He swallowed hard, realizing the gravity of his words. Roman moved closer to Jey, and it looked like he was about to deliver a reprimand that Jey wouldn't easily forget. The entire atmosphere in the ring shifted, and even Jimmy, Solo, and Paul, who were usually more laid back, became tense.

"He didn't mean what he said!" Sami surprisingly interjected, trying to defuse the situation. You blinked at Sami, you weren't expecting him to be the one to help Jey. Roman turned his piercing gaze toward Sami, his expression demanding an explanation. "Jey was just caught up in the moment. We all say things we don't mean when emotions are high." Sami clasped his hands together nervously, looking between Roman and Jey. "He was just venting his frustrations, and I get it. He just, wasn't being himself." Sami grabbed Jey's shoulder, giving him a look that silently pleaded for him to play along. "He just… wasn't feeling very ucey."

Jey, still seething with anger, shot a glare at Sami but reluctantly nodded. "Yeah, uce. I… I was just caught up in the moment. It's just…Sami's been getting on my nerves, and I let it get to me. My bad, Roman." Jey's tone was begrudgingly apologetic, but Roman's stern expression didn't waver.

Roman took a step back, his gaze shifting between Jey and Sami. "Is that what the problem is, Jey. You ain't feeling…ucey?" Roman's voice was calm, but the disappointment in his eyes was evident.

Jey shifted uncomfortably, not meeting Roman's eyes. Roman crossed his arms, the arena seeming to hold its breath at what Roman was about to say.

"You two need to work out your differences." Roman declared, his voice carrying the weight of authority. "We're family, and family doesn't break over personal issues. The two of you will have a match next week, and I expect that despite whoever wins or loses, you settle your problems in that ring. Leave it all there. If you don't, there will be consequences."

Roman's gaze lingered on both Jey and Sami before he turned to you. "Y'know what, to make sure we're all on the same page, Y/N, you're gonna be the special guest referee for that match. Keep things in order."

Your heart sank at Roman's decision. Being the special guest referee meant you would be in the middle of the chaos, responsible for maintaining order between Jey and Sami. Whoever lost would blame you for their defeat, and the tension among the Bloodline members would likely escalate.

You nodded in acknowledgment, not daring to voice your concerns. Roman's decision was final, and you had no choice but to fulfill your role as the special guest referee, even though you would be caught in the middle of 2 people you loved.

It felt like they weren't just fighting to settle their differences, they were fighting for a spot in your life.

And you didn't know who would win.

"So I'm not in the Bloodline, huh?" Jey took a second to process your words, but when he did his soft gaze he always had with you turned into a glare.

"Baby, you know I ain't meant it like that!"

"Really? Cause it sounded pretty clear to me." Your tone was sharp, hurt bubbling under the surface.

"I thought you'd get it!" Jey scoffed, his hand reaching out to touch your arm. You pulled away, not willing to let his touch soothe the hurt he had caused.

"Get what? How I'm not blood so my loyalty doesn't matter?" Your voice trembled with a mix of anger and sadness. "Do you really think that little of me, Jey?"

"No! Of course not!" Jey exclaimed, frustration evident in his expression. "It's not about that, and you know it."

"Then what is it about?" You crossed your arms, waiting for an explanation.

"It's about Sami tryna get on you, and get in this family, and everyone in this family is fooled by him. They don't see what I see. They don't see the way he's trying to play you, trying to use you to get what he wants, tryna use the family to get to the top."

You shook your head, disbelief written all over your face. "Again with Sami?" you sighed, feeling the frustration build up. "Jey, Sami, whether you like it or not, has proven to be a valuable allay, and has proven to be loyal-"

"Loyal?" Jey snorted, interrupting you. "Y/N, you're too blinded by your past with him to see what he's doing. I know him, and I know that he is just a fake ass uce."

Your frustration reached its peak. "Jey, you need to let go of your jealousy and trust my judgment. This isn't even about Sami, it's about you hurting me and you not acknowledging that. Did you know how I felt hearing you say I'm not part of the Bloodline? It hurt, Jey. I've been by your side, supporting you, and for you to dismiss me like that…"

Jey's expression softened as he took a step closer to you. "Baby, I didn't mean it like that. You are a huge part of my life, and I didn't mean to hurt you. I just… I'm trying to protect you. Sami is pushing my buttons, pushing you away from me, and I don't want him messing things up between us."

You looked at Jey, your eyes searching his for sincerity. "I get that you're protective, and I appreciate it, but you can't just dismiss my feelings. We need to communicate, Jey, or we'll keep hurting each other. And that means not jumping to conclusions and assuming the worst about Sami or anyone else."

Your words fell on deaf ears as Jey's stubbornness persisted.

"I don't care. I will communicate with you, but I don't want him around you, around us. "

You rolled your eyes, feeling the exhaustion of the ongoing conflict come back. "Oh my God, Jey. The only person pushing us apart is you. I can handle my relationships, and I can make my own decisions. If you can't trust me, then we have a bigger problem." You grabbed your bag and headed towards the exit. Jey followed you, frustration etched on his face.

"Where are you going, baby?" he called after you.

"I need some space, Jey. We both do," you replied, not bothering to turn around. The weight of the argument hung heavily in the air, and you needed time to clear your head.

Jey caught up to you, blocking your path. "You can't just walk away every time we have a disagreement."

"I'm not walking away; I'm taking a moment to breathe. We can't keep going in circles like this," you explained, your voice strained.

He reached out, grabbing your arm. "You ain't listening to me, Y/N. You're letting him get in your head."

You pulled your arm away, a mix of anger and hurt in your eyes. "Jey, this is not about Sami. This is about us and how we handle our issues. I need time, and if you can't respect that, then I don't know what else to say. You can room with Jimmy tonight, I'll find somewhere else to sleep."

Without waiting for a response, you pushed past Jey and made your way out of the building. The cool night air hit you as you stepped outside, but it did little to ease the turmoil inside you.

You sat in your car, not bothering to start the engine. The argument with Jey replayed in your mind, and the ache in your chest grew. You knew deep down that the issues between you and Jey went beyond Sami, and it was a reflection of the larger problems in your relationship.

As you sat there, lost in your thoughts, a light tap on the car window startled you. You turned to see Sami standing there, an apologetic look on his face.

"Y/N, can we talk?" Sami asked, his tone sincere. You hesitated for a moment, then nodded, opening the passenger door to let him in. Sami slid into the seat, and a heavy silence hung between you for a moment.

"Look, I don't want to add to your problems," Sami began, genuine concern in his eyes. "But I overheard your argument with Jey, and I just wanted to make sure you're okay."

You sighed, running a hand through your hair. "I appreciate the concern, Sami. It's just… it's a mess. Jey, the Bloodline, and now you… I feel like I'm caught in the middle of a storm, and I don't know how to get through it." You sarcastically chuckled and looked at Sami, who was gazing at you with concern and something else in his eyes. "I don't even know why I'm telling you any of this. It's not like you and I have been best buddies lately."

Sami leaned back in the seat, giving you a knowing look. "Sometimes it's easier to talk to someone who's a bit more removed from the situation. I get it, Y/N. And I'm not blind to the fact that I've been a source of tension."

You shook your head. "It's not just you, Sami. Jey and I have our own issues, and adding you to the mix just makes it more complicated."

"I'm not asking you to choose sides or anything," Sami said, his gaze sincere. "But if you need someone to talk to or just vent, I'm here. I've known you for a long time, and I hate seeing you like this."

You sighed, feeling a strange mix of emotions. Your phone dinged, and you saw a text from Jey that read, "Fine, I'll room with Jimmy. Do whatever you want." The message only fueled your frustration, and you set the phone aside.

"What did he say?" You quirked an eyebrow at how Sami knew it was Jey that messaged you.

"You had that look on your face," Sami replied with a small smirk. "I'm not trying to pry, but if you want to talk about it, I'm here."

You appreciated Sami's offer, even though it felt odd considering your history. The genuine concern in his eyes was hard to ignore.

At your lack of a response, Sami gently placed a hand on your shoulder and switched gears. "Who are you rooming with tonight? I'd say Jey, but considering the heated argument, I'm guessing that's not an option."

You shook your head. "Definitely not Jey. He's rooming with Jimmy."

Sami nodded understandingly. "Well, you're not alone in this. If you need a place to crash or just some company, I've got a spare room in my hotel."

You arched an eyebrow, a mix of surprise and skepticism. "You have a spare room? Why?"

Sami chuckled. "Well, I always book two rooms just in case. I like having my own space. But in situations like this, it comes in handy. Consider it an insurance policy."

The offer was unexpected, and you couldn't deny the sincerity in Sami's eyes. You considered your options, weighing the pros and cons.

Spending the night alone in your own space could provide some much-needed solitude, but at the same time, the thought of facing your own thoughts in isolation was daunting.

Jey would not be happy with you sharing a room with Sami, but it was his fault considering he didn't apologize and left you roomless. And it's not like you would do anything bad with Sami.

"Alright," you finally conceded, "I appreciate it, Sami. I could use a distraction tonight."

Sami smiled, a genuine expression that seemed to lift the heaviness in the air. "No problem. Let's switch seats, and I'll give you a lift to the hotel. We both know you can't drive angry."

You glared at Sami for his accurate assessment, but a small smile tugged at the corners of your lips. "Fine, but I'm driving back."

Sami chuckled, "Deal."

As you both switched seats, you couldn't help but wonder if Sami's offer was a genuine act of kindness or if there was something more to it. It felt like old t

imes when Sami would drive you for hours to the next city, and let you pick the worst music you knew.  The familiarity of the situation brought a mix of comfort and uncertainty. As you drove through the city, Sami kept the conversation light, discussing everything from random anecdotes to shared memories.

Upon reaching the hotel, Sami insisted on accompanying you inside, stating, "I want to make sure it's a decent place. Can't have my friend staying in a dump."

The hotel lobby was adorned with dim lights, giving it a cozy ambiance. After confirming that the accommodations met Sami's standards, you headed to the room.

Sami opened the door, and you were greeted by a surprisingly spacious and well-decorated room. It seemed Sami had a knack for choosing decent places. 

"Seems like your taste hasn't changed since the last time we traveled together," you remarked, half-teasingly.

Sami grinned, "Why fix something that ain't broken?"

You both chuckled, and as you settled into the room, there was a moment of awkward silence. The weight of unspoken words lingered in the air. Sami broke the silence, "Look, I know things have been weird between us, but I miss this, you know? Just hanging out, like old times."

You bit your lip, your nerves in overdrive. Do you admit that you missed it too, or do you keep your guard up? Sami's sincerity was evident, but there was still a layer of uncertainty. Taking a deep breath, you decided to be honest.

"Yeah, I miss it too," you admitted, meeting Sami's gaze. "It's been a while since we've just... hung out."

Sami's smile widened, and it seemed like a weight had been lifted off both your shoulders. "Good to hear." Sami sensed that there was more to be said, but for now, he opted to let the conversation flow naturally. "Do you wanna order some food? I'm starving, and room service here is usually pretty good."

You nodded in agreement, appreciating the diversion from the emotional tension. As Sami picked up the room service menu, you couldn't help but reflect on the unexpected turn of events. The night had started with frustration and anger, and now you found yourself in a hotel room with Sami, rediscovering the ease of your friendship.

"Do you mind if I shower? I feel like I've been on the road forever," you said, breaking your thoughts.

Sami shook his head, "No problem. Take your time. I'll order something for us in the meantime."

After a refreshing shower, you emerged from the bathroom to find the aroma of food wafting through the room. Sami had ordered an array of dishes, and the sight of it made your stomach growl.

"Hope you like a bit of everything," Sami grinned, handing you a plate. His eyes widened at the sight of you in a hoodie and pajama shorts that left little to the imagination. He choked on his food, and you quickly went to him and slapped his back to help him. Sami coughed a few times, still recovering from the surprise.

"Are you okay?" you asked, genuinely concerned.

Sami nodded, his eyes wide, "Yeah, just... you caught me off guard." You raised your eyebrow at the very poor excuse but he continued, "I wasn't expecting you to look... like that."

You rolled your eyes, "Well, I didn't pack an evening gown for an unexpected hotel stay. This is what you get."

Sami cleared his throat , attempting to regain composure. "No complaints here, just wasn't prepared for a fashion show tonight."

You both laughed, breaking the tension further. As you sat down to eat, the atmosphere shifted from the earlier heaviness to a more relaxed and familiar one. It was as if time had rolled back, and you were once again sharing a meal on the road.

The conversation flowed effortlessly, moving from reminiscing about the past to discussing recent events in each other's lives. The more you talked, the more you realized how much you had missed these interactions with Sami. The ease with which he could make you smile, the shared jokes, and the understanding that seemed to transcend words. Your guard was still up, but it was slowly starting to crumble in the face of the genuine connection you and Sami once shared. As the night progressed, you found yourselves engrossed in conversations about everything and nothing.

After finishing the meal, Sami suggested that you both watch a movie to unwind. You agreed, and Sami scrolled through the available options on the hotel's TV. Eventually, you settled on a classic film that held sentimental value for both of you. You both sat on the comfortable hotel bed, the soft glow of the screen illuminating the room. The movie brought back memories, and you couldn't help but smile at the shared nostalgia.

As the movie played, Sami shifted closer, and there was a subtle warmth in the air. The initial tension that hung between you two seemed to dissipate with each passing moment. It felt like a step back in time, a familiar comfort settling in.

In the midst of the movie, Sami spoke up, "Remember when we used to argue about who got control of the remote?"

You chuckled, "Yeah, and you always managed to win somehow."

Sami grinned, "Well, it's a skill. Takes years of practice." He gave you a smile that made your heart flutter,  a mix of playfulness and genuine warmth. The movie continued, but your attention was now divided between the film and the unspoken connection resurfacing between you and Sami.

As the night wore on, the initial awkwardness transformed into a shared comfort that felt almost effortless. You found yourselves laughing at inside jokes, finishing each other's sentences, and reveling in the familiarity that had defined your friendship. The room, once filled with unspoken tension, now resonated with a renewed sense of camaraderie.

Eventually, the movie ended, and you both sat in a comfortable silence. Sami broke the quietude, "You know, I've missed this, just hanging out and being ourselves."

You nodded in agreement, "Me too. It's been too long."

Sami's gaze softened, "I know things have changed, and we've both moved on, but there's something about tonight that feels like a glimpse of what we used to have."

You took a moment to absorb his words. There was truth in them, a shared acknowledgment of the evolving nature of your relationship. The night held a unique magic, a bridge between the past and the present.

"I agree," you replied, "Tonight has been unexpected, but in a good way."

Sami smiled, "I'm glad you agreed to stay. I was worried you'd say no."

You chuckled, "Well, you do have a way of being convincing."

Sami's expression turned more serious, "Look, I know things have changed between us, and I don't want to overstep any boundaries. I just... I miss having you around, as a friend. If this is too much or if it makes you uncomfortable, just let me know, and I'll understand."

You appreciated Sami's honesty, and the sincerity in his eyes was undeniable. The air was thick with unspoken emotions, and you found yourself grappling with your own conflicting feelings. Admitting that you missed Sami's company was one thing, but acknowledging the complexity of your history was another. And you had to wrestle away the thoughts when his arm wrapped around your shoulders, pulling you into a gentle embrace. It was a gesture that felt both familiar and foreign, stirring a cascade of emotions.

For a moment, you hesitated, feeling the warmth of Sami's embrace contrasting with the cool uncertainty within. It was a delicate balance between the past and the present, and you weren't sure where the boundaries lay. But as you looked into Sami's eyes, you saw not just the history you shared but a genuine desire to reconnect.

You leaned into the embrace, allowing yourself to be enveloped by the comforting familiarity of Sami's presence. The unspoken words hung in the air, the weight of past grievances mingling with the hope of a rekindled friendship.

"I missed this," Sami whispered, his voice barely audible above the subtle hum of the hotel room.

"Me too," you replied, a quiet admission that echoed the sentiments of the night.

In that moment, surrounded by the remnants of shared laughter and the glow of the TV, it felt like a small step towards rebuilding what had once been lost. The complexities of your relationship lingered, but for now, you chose to focus on the shared warmth and the simplicity of being in each other's company.

"Do you remember the last time we roomed together?" Sami's hot breath tickled your ear as he spoke, the shared memories flooding back. You couldn't help but smile, recalling the countless adventures and misadventures you both had experienced on the road.

"Yeah, how could I forget?" you chuckled, "That one motel with the neon sign that kept flickering, and the weird noises all night?"

Sami laughed, "Or the time we got lost in that small town, and the only person we could find to ask for directions didn't speak a word of English."

The nostalgia washed over you, and it felt like a bittersweet journey down memory lane. The distance and time apart seemed to fade away, leaving only the echoes of a friendship that had weathered its storms.

"Or that time there was only one bed and we had to share." Sami's voice lowered, and you involuntary shivered at the tone of his voice. It was low and sensual, a stark contrast to the lighthearted reminiscing. The room suddenly felt charged with a different kind of tension. 

"Sami..." Your voice creeped up like a warning, but Sami ignored the subtle shift in the atmosphere. His gaze locked with yours, an intensity that left you breathless.

"I always wondered what would have happened if we recreated that night again." He admitted, his fingers tracing idle patterns on your arm. The air crackled with unspoken desire, and the weight of the past collided with the magnetic pull of the present.

You swallowed hard, torn between the history you shared and the uncertain territory ahead. The lines between friendship and something more blurred in the dimly lit hotel room. The pull of attraction simmered beneath the surface, a palpable energy that refused to be ignored.

"Sami..." You warned him again, but this time your voice held a mix of uncertainty and caution.

Sami's gaze softened, and he withdrew his hand, respecting the unspoken boundaries. "I'm sorry," he said, his tone sincere. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I just... I've been thinking a lot about us, about what we had and what we lost."

You took a deep breath, trying to navigate the complexities of the moment. The room felt charged with a different kind of tension now, a lingering question hanging in the air.

"I appreciate your honesty," you replied, your voice steady. "But we can't ignore the history between us, Sami. Things changed, and we both moved on."

Sami nodded, a solemn expression on his face. "I know. I just couldn't help but wonder... what if? What if we had taken a different path?"

The weight of the unspoken "what ifs" settled in the room, creating a palpable silence. It was a question that lingered in the space between you, a testament to the complexity of your shared history.

"I think it's natural to wonder," you admitted, "but we can't change the past. We can only move forward."

"What if I What if I told you that I still have feelings for you?" Sami's voice hung in the air, heavy with vulnerability. The admission echoed through the room, challenging the carefully constructed boundaries that had defined your relationship.

You felt a mixture of surprise and a subtle acknowledgment that maybe the lingering tension wasn't one-sided. Sami's gaze searched your eyes for a response, the intensity mirroring the unspoken emotions that danced between you.

The weight of his words settled on your shoulders, and you took a moment to gather your thoughts. The honesty in Sami's admission deserved a genuine response, but the complexities of your history made it a challenging decision.

"I...," you began, but the words caught in your throat. You met Sami's gaze, seeing a vulnerability that matched your own. "Sami, we had something special, but we also had our fair share of challenges. I can't deny the connection we shared, but a lot has changed."

Sami nodded, understanding etched on his face. "I get it. I just needed you to know how I feel."

You sighed, the weight of the moment heavy on your shoulders. "I appreciate your honesty, Sami. It's just... complicated."

He gave you a small, understanding smile. "Yeah, it always has been with us, hasn't it?"

The air hung with unresolved tension, a silent acknowledgment of the unspoken feelings that lingered in the room. The night had taken an unexpected turn, weaving through the threads of nostalgia, friendship, and the potential for something more.

"If it was me instead of Kevin that you had to hurt to prove your loyalty to, would you have done it?" Sami's question cut through the atmosphere, introducing a new layer of complexity to the already intricate dynamics between you two.

The weight of the question hung in the air, and you could sense the sincerity in Sami's eyes. It was a direct challenge to the choices you had made, and it demanded an honest response.

The room seemed to tighten, and you tried to distract yourself with  the remnants of the meal on the table, avoiding eye contact momentarily. Sami grabbed your shoulders gently, urging you to meet his gaze.

You took a deep breath, grappling with the intensity of Sami's question. The honesty in his eyes demanded a genuine response, and you couldn't evade the weight of the inquiry.

"I don't know, Sami," you admitted, your voice tinged with uncertainty. "It's a hypothetical scenario, and emotions are complicated. I can't say for sure how I would have reacted in that situation."

Sami's expression tightened, a mix of disappointment and understanding in his eyes. He knew you better than you knew yourself, and knew you were lying.

"Y/N..." He grabbed your hands and interjected with a sincerity that left no room for evasion. "You can't tell me you didn't have a choice in that moment. I know you, and I know you well enough to know that loyalty matters to you. If it was me, would you have chosen to hurt me to prove your loyalty to Kevin?"

The room seemed to shrink, the weight of Sami's gaze intensifying. You felt a knot tighten in your stomach, torn between acknowledging the truth and shielding yourself from the raw vulnerability of the moment.

"Sami, I..." Your voice wavered, the internal struggle reflecting in your eyes. The truth lingered on the tip of your tongue, a confession that could alter the course of the night and the delicate balance you were trying to maintain.

Sami's grip on your hands tightened, a silent plea for honesty. The unspoken tension hung between you two, an unresolved question that demanded a response. He intertwined his fingers with yours, grounding you in the intensity of the moment.

"I need to know, Y/N," Sami urged, his eyes searching yours for a glimpse of the truth. "Would you have hurt me to prove your loyalty?"

The room was silent, the weight of the question settling over you like a heavy shroud. You took a moment to gather your thoughts, feeling the vulnerability of the truth clawing at the edges of your consciousness.

"No." You breathed a sigh, the admission hanging in the air. "No, Sami. I wouldn't have hurt you to prove my loyalty to anyone. It was a difficult situation, and I made a choice. But hurting you would something I couldn't live with."

Sami's eyes softened, and you could sense a mix of relief and gratitude in his gaze. The truth, though heavy, seemed to have lifted a burden between you. He moved closer to you, your faces mere inches apart, the shared vulnerability creating a palpable connection. The unspoken emotions lingered, and for a moment, it felt like the weight of the past had been lifted.

"Thank you for being honest," Sami whispered, his breath mingling with yours. His thumb gently brushed against the back of your hand, a subtle reassurance.

You nodded, the air thick with a newfound understanding. The complexities of your shared history remained, but the honesty in that moment had carved a path towards reconciliation.

"I've missed this," Sami admitted, his eyes searching yours. "Missed these talks, these late nights with you." Sami's eyes dropped to you lips, his gaze intense and filled with a mixture of emotions. The unspoken tension crackled in the air, and you found yourself caught between the familiarity of the past and the uncertainty of the present. 

"Sami," you whispered, your voice barely audible. The room seemed to hold its breath, the weight of the unspoken hovering between you. Sami's thumb continued to trace idle patterns on the back of your hand, the touch sending shivers down your spine. 

Then his lips were on yours, and for a moment, it felt like time stood still, unmoving, like you. 

Then your brain starting working again.

"Sami!" You pushed him gently away, surprise and confusion written across your face. Sami's eyes widened, the realization of what he had done sinking in.

"I... I'm sorry," Sami stammered, a mix of embarrassment and regret in his expression. "I didn't mean to... I just... I thought..."

You held up a hand, stopping his explanations. "Sami, if you wanted to get back at Jey, you didnt' have to involve me in it."

Sami looked taken aback by your accusation. "No, it's not like that. I wouldn't do that to you. I... I got carried away. I didn't mean to use you as some kind of revenge."

You sighed, the weight of the situation settling on your shoulders. You couldn't deny that there was still a lingering attraction between you and Sami, but the context of the situation made everything more complicated. The boundaries were blurred, and it was evident that emotions were running high. You were with Jey. You loved him, and getting involved in a messy situation with Sami was the last thing you needed.

"Sami, we can't go down this path," you said firmly, trying to convey the seriousness of the situation. "I appreciate our friendship and the nostalgia, but it's not fair to Jey, and it's not fair to us."

Sami nodded, remorse etched on his face. "You're right. I messed up, and I'm sorry. I should have respected the boundaries."

You took a deep breath, attempting to diffuse the tension in the room. "Let's just call it a night. I'll sleep in my room. Have a nice day tomorrow, and we can talk about this when things are calmer."

Sami nodded again, a mix of regret and understanding in his eyes. "I understand. I never meant to complicate things."

As you gathered your things and headed towards the door, the air was thick with unresolved emotions. Before you could leave, Sami spoke up, "Please don't tell JJey about this. Jey already hates me, and I messed up, and I don't want to cause more problems for you."

You paused, considering Sami's request. It wasn't fair to keep secrets, especially in a relationship, but you also understood the potential consequences of revealing what had transpired. Jey would be hurt, and it might escalate the tension between him and Sami. On the other hand, honesty was crucial in a relationship.

"I can't promise that, Sami," you replied honestly. You believed in being truthful with Jey, and keeping something like this from him would only make things worse if he finds out later.

Sami nodded, acknowledging the difficult situation. "I get it. Just... take care of things on your end. I don't want to make your life more complicated."

"I will. Take care, Sami." You bid him goodnight once more before  leaving Sami's room and closing the door behind you.

As you walked back to your own room, a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts raced through your mind.

God, this is why you didn't want Sami to join the Bloodline in the first place. The tangled mess of emotions and history between you two had resurfaced, and now you were left grappling with the aftermath of an unexpected, charged moment.

"Y/N." Solo's voice made you jump in the hallway. He was leaning against the wall, a knowing expression on his face.

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." Solo held his hands up in a placating gesture. "Just wanted to check if everything's alright. Jey was worried when he saw you actually didn't come to the room."

You rolled your eyes, "Well, you can tell Jey I'm fine. Just needed some space."

Solo raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "You good? You acting kinda spacey."

You sighed, your face betraying the internal turmoil. "It's just been a weird night, Solo. And all I wanna do is sleep it off."

Solo tilted his head, his eyes narrowing in concern. "Do you want to talk about it? I know I'm not the best with emotions, but I'm here if you need someone to listen."

You appreciated Solo's offer, knowing that despite his tough exterior, he genuinely cared about the well-being of those close to him. However, the complexity of the situation made it difficult to put everything into words.

"Thanks, Solo. I might need some time to process everything. Let Jey know I'll talk to him about it tomorrow. I just need a bit of space for now."

Solo nodded, understanding the need for space. "Sure thing." You turned to go into the room, but Solo grabbed your arm and pulled you into a brief, supportive hug. It was rare that he showed such a side of him, but it felt comforting yet so guilty in that moment.

"Take care of yourself, Y/N. If you need anything, just let us know," Solo said, releasing you from the hug.

"Thanks, Solo," you replied, managing a small but guilty smile. With that, you entered your room, the events of the night echoing in your mind.

Sleep felt elusive, and the weight of the unresolved emotions lingered, making it a long night of introspection and contemplation. You texted Jey that you were fine, got into the covers, and closed your eyes. The events of the night replayed in your mind like a never-ending loop. The mix of nostalgia, tension, and unexpected intimacy left you grappling with conflicting emotions.

Would you tell Jey, the week before his match against Sami, when you knew when he got mad he would lose matches, or would you keep it to yourself, avoiding potential complications and protecting Jey's focus for the upcoming match?

Only time would tell.

[cacaobeans]

(not so) short story i did about my ocs :3c (lawrence and margaret) - to be completely honest. i feel as if it's sorta cringe. but we gotta get in our 500 words a day somehow.

Lawrence drags a heavy hand across his forehead, disturbing the dark strands that had fallen in his eyes. The last rays of summer light fell onto his page, along with his ink-stained wrist - a result of his carelessness while drafting up a proposal to King's College. Lawrence moves to light another candle from the one by the window, yellowy-white stem becoming dangerously short, its flickering flame growing closer to the pool of wax under it.

As his signs his name with a flourish, a weight simultaneously lifts and grows heavier, the stresses of the week clogging up his every movement as he reads over his letter and folds it in preparation for mailing. He's halfway through the process of heating up some sealing wax when he hears the telltale creaking of the staircase, each step too light to be the excited footfalls of Theodore, too easy to be the quiet, gentle padding of Phoebe. Smiling, Lawrence puts down the stick of red wax, making sure it does not melt onto the finely polished wood of his desk and puts aside his writing utensils and tucks away his letter.

He turns to see his lovely Margaret leaning against the door frame, pale yellow locks falling around her face and onto her shoulders.

He crosses the room, leaning down to kiss her tenderly on a blissfully makeup-free cheek.

"You really must be more careful when writing, Lawrence." She reaches up, rubbing her soft, tan thumb against a point on his forehead with a small smirk.

He leans into her touch, cool against warm skin, a comfort during warm summer days, an easy excuse for intimacy in the harsh winter nights. Their bodies slip easily together as Margaret unties the queue in Lawrence's hair, his arms looping around her waist, undoing her tightly bound stay and hearing a sigh as she is released from the vise-like grip. Lawrence will never understand why women must subject themselves to such strict clothing every day.

"You've been working at your office for the majority of the afternoon," Margaret says, untangling Lawrence's hair that had been more ensnared in his queue than she previously thought. "Bear has been missing you."

Lawrence hums, separating himself momentarily from his wife's busy, caring hands for a moment to put away the now cooled wax while shifting over and unfolding his letter.

He shows it to Margaret, eyes scanning slowly over the document with a rueful smile playing at her lips.

"Are you sure you want to send our Bear to an unfamiliar, frightful place?" Lawrence knows that Margaret is only teasing, but her words carry a hint of the fears that lingered on both of their minds when they whispered about it during a sermon or shared a glance watching Lawrence whittle at a piece of wood, dissipating when the child presented a roughly hewn wooden bird that now sat on a chest at the foot of Lawrence and Margaret's bed.

Tutors only served to prepare their son for college and could only get him so far. Theodore deserved a taste of the real world outside of the life that had been constructed for him.

"He's nearly fifteen," Lawrence starts, as Margaret takes the letter from his hands and places it on his desk.

"Nearly? You say that as if fifteen is such an advanced age."

Lawrence sighs. "I know this. I fear, perhaps more than anyone, what he might endure when he is no longer solely under our care."

Margaret gazes at him contemplatively, soft brown eyes never leaving Lawrence's face as if searching for something. Individual strands of her hair illuminated by the warm tones of candle-light, gold streaking through the loose curls. After a long pause, she seems to find herself again.

"We both worry for Bear so much, fussing over this matter and that. But remember how strong we were?"

Appreciation and warmth blooms in Lawrence's chest, melting away the cold fear that had followed him throughout the week.

Margaret picks up the carved bird - imperfect and dimpled - joining their hands together, the wood pressing into both of their palms.

"Perhaps it is time for our little bird to leave the nest."

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

tags! lmk if you want to be included/removed from the list.

@ruemzip @snacho-to-ur-nacho @lil-gae-disaster @marsfingershurt @knowledge-paradox

@harmonikauvegajto @almaprincess66 @hiidkwhatimdoing7525 @culpeppercheckers721 @sopaprimordialy

[wexhappyxfew]

Paulina and Hambone 😭🙌

I need them 🙏

PAULI AND HAMBONE ARE SO SPECIAL TO ME!!!!!!! (you don't understand ive been itching to write them and just haven't had time and now i feel the need to write them so HERE IS A SNIPPET!!!!!!)

(i think we all need a little more howard 'hambone' hamilton in our lives, right?)

"What's that?" Hambone asked, nodding to the letter in her hand. Albeit, the letter was in fact more of a statement - a broad generalization, a solid 'goodbye', a 'no longer want to be seen with you', a rather heartfelt and truthful 'we're through'. She didn't know how else to put it, but it certainly was something she felt ready to discuss with someone quite yet - even the Silver Bullets crew - especially someone, like Hambone, that she'd just met. It was humiliating enough that she still was holding onto this letter like she was going back to home, to him, after all this. "Uh…." Paulina started, staring at the letter 'Dear Pauli' - still with that stupid nickname she'd asked him to quit calling her. That was reserved for her parents - not him. Especially not him. Especially now, after wanting to break this off. After everything. "A letter." she supplemented, folding it quickly between her calloused fingers, ignoring the bubble of emotion inside her as she looked upwards at Hambone again, sticking the crumpled letter in her pocket and smiling. Picking up her drink she nodded, took back a sip and sighed. "Not the best type of letter." she offered, watching his gaze as he carefully seemed to watch her back, "But. A letter. Can't complain." Hambone continued to sit there quietly for a moment, the ruckus and loud-mouthed cackles behind them mixing with the hum of music and glass clinks. It almost felt comical. None of the men owed the women anything - Birdie had told them she'd learned that the hard way. But going out of their way to bridge the gap? Paulina looked at Hambone again - perfectly gelled and styled hair (enough to match that of Douglass), those golden teeth, that….squirrel on his upper lip he called a mustache. Paulina stopped her train of thought. She'd just met the guy - he was that one Lieutenant's bombardier right? Brady? "I'm sorry," Hambone said quickly with a nod, fingers nervously tapping on the beer glass as he shook his head, shooting a smile on his face, "I shouldn't have asked. First impressions, amiright?" Paulina watched him, the corner of her lip perking upward. Emotion swelled in her thoughts, throughout her mind as she thought of first impressions. Meeting Dean, that first night together, all those promises, those broken words. Sitting in front of a bombardier from the Midwest with whom she'd just met, but almost felt more respected by than the person who had said he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Swallowing she looked to Hambone again. "No, no, don't worry," she said, waving him off, offering a smile and twiddling her fingers together in her lap, "If you don't mind distracting me, I'd love to hear why you're called Hambone and not Handsome, huh?" Alright, that was pretty bad, but he had a face, that's all she could think. A chuckle escaped Hambone's lips as he leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs as he sipped his drink, a grin riding his lips as she sat there, smirking. A little bold, a little punchy - if Dean were here she'd rub it in his face - look, a guy can talk to me without sounding like an asshole, is that so hard? "So curious to know, huh?" he asked her, before nodding, "Gotta name?" Paulina watched him, her eyes softening - she felt them soften - and nodded. "Paulina Stagliano. From Philly." she offered, "But my friends call me Pauli."

[atarathegreat]

Keigo Takami-Nesting

She loved him, the stupid girl. He just had some type of hold on her that she couldn't resist. Y/n had known it since she was a teen. At first, she thought it was a stupid crush until she found herself researching multiple birds and their many unique habits. Y/n only accepted that she was completely gone when she began finding little objects for his attention. Trinkets and such, anything she could get her hands on that would make his feathers puff up in excitement.

Y/n would never forget the day she walked through his open door. Keigo had been huddled in the corner of a filthy living room. The child was immediately drawn to his bright vermillion wings, the way he tried to hide behind them was strange and concerning for her. She kicked and climbed over the trash, sitting next to the boy and complaining about the cold. Keigo hesitantly moved to share his thin blanket and wings with her, he understood that the cold wasn't preferred. They kept him very warm while he was alone and Y/n was shivering and purple, maybe the heat of two people would be better than one. However, two kids left alone in a house drew the attention of authorities and the severely corrupted hero commission.

A memory forever etched in her brain was when Keigo fought his agency, that's when she truly fell for him. He fought for weeks to keep her from going into foster homes. Y/n needed him just as much as he needed her, and that made the commission cave in quickly and they paid for her to stay with him until Keigo became a pro. It wasn't just legally he fought for her, she'd seen how ruffled his feathers got when the commission tried to physically remove her from the building.

Keigo kept them together all the years they'd known each other, it was him that kept her spirits high when she couldn't see anything good in the world. Because, unlike the winged hero, Y/n wasn't outgoing and loud, though she never bothered to hide her emotions. She reminded everyone who saw her of a mouse, fine and healthy but frozen by incredibly new things.

"You should have more confidence in yourself!" Keigo always told her, pushing her cheeks together so her lips jutted out, "You're amazing! You just gotta see it in yourself!"

Y/n knew she would stick by the winged hero until she died, even when he was with a new woman every week. It killed her that she loved him, but he had no way of knowing. She hated the way her lungs would lock up when another woman introduced herself, or the way her tears soaked her shirt after said woman would go into Keigo's room with him. She always knew what was happening, from the sound of the door locking to the failed attempts to stay silent from the women. And he wouldn't know. Not until she screamed at the top of her lungs. Her anger was ignited by the commissions' stupid hero bullshit. Y/n was at her limit.

Keigo had come home early, strange for the man who was all over the place. Y/n hurried to help him with whatever he needed, mainly worried about injuries. Keigo made it a habit to avoid hospitals. "I'm fine, chickadee, just got my day cut short is all." Keigo laughed as the girl checked him over for cuts or bruises. She huffed, taking his jacket and scolding him for dragging mud in.

"Why the cut off?" Y/n asked, moving to sit with him on the couch, "You never agree to short days…"

The hero groaned, leaning closer to the woman and whispering, "The commission wants me to go undercover with the League of Villains."

Before she could even stop herself she whined in protest, covering her mouth just as quickly. Keigo chuckled, he thought she was adorable, "Me, too, actually. But, we both know I don't have any other choice. Sorry, kid."

Butterflies went off in her stomach every time he called her silly little names, she knew her face was beet red. Y/n couldn't help but love the birdbrain and the way he made her feel without even trying. Unbeknownst to anyone, Keigo loved her as well. He just couldn't bring himself to take away the adorable and innocent nature of his friend. As Hawks he could be flirty with her all day, he didn't have to hide anything. As Keigo he had to worry and keep her at a distance, not only were his fans a problem, but he feared that Y/n would be severely affected by his personas constantly changing. It even gave him mixed signals sometimes.

"Stay here with me, fuck the commission." She whispered, she'd never cussed before, it felt foreign to them both, "We can watch movies, play board games, and fall asleep on our couch. You'll come home late and I'll make dinner before you shower and go to bed. Nothing has to change."

Keigo sighed, moving to lean opposite of her, "I can't do that, kid, as much as I wish I could."

Y/n grew angry. Years of frustration, at Keigo and the commission, the girls he brought home… She kicked the coffee table over, raising her voice.

The argument lasted for a while. Keigo was trying to defend his job as a hero while she kept herself away from his personal life. It was hard for her, having everything pent up. Screaming it all out was like an anvil was slowly being pulled off her chest. She didn't care about the way Keigo kept his voice steady in an attempt to deescalate the fight or the way his feathers puffed up in anger, she wanted him to know all of her aggravations.

"And don't even get me started on your behavior when you aren't being a hero!" She blurted, rolling her eyes as he tried to replace the items on the table.

He stood to his full height, pulling his wings in as much as he could, "When am I not being a hero?"

Y/n knew he was daring her to speak, she never missed the way his pupils narrowed in anger, "When you're too busy banging random women in the next room over! Do you know how much that hurts me! I love you, and yet I have to listen to you get it every weekend!"

They both froze, Y/n covering her mouth. The tension in the air disappeared and all the anger was gone. She hadn't meant to shout that, let alone say it at all. It wasn't something he was supposed to hear.

"Sorry…" Was all she managed as she ran to the privacy of her room.

Of course, the hero didn't miss a single word that she had stabbed at him. If anything Keigo clung to her voice in his mind, her volume was shocking to him the most. And the pissed-off way she told him that she loved him. Keigo wanted her to yell more, wanted her to be angry again so he could see that fire in her eyes. He glanced around their little apartment. Y/n had picked out the tan wallpaper, he'd never gotten bored of it for that reason alone. The decorations were all her, too, though Hawks had paid for it all. He never cared how much she spent, he called it his way of giving her trinkets without anyone knowing. Confusion bloomed in his brain as he traced the shelf of things she'd gotten him; little rocks, shiny objects, and items she'd made while fidgeting in public. Keigo had always thought it was sweet that she dedicated a whole shelf for her gifts to him. A slight chuckle made Keigo close his eyes. Y/n'd been doing just as a bird would, giving him little things and making a nest to show her love. How had he never noticed? Had she even wanted him to know? He guessed no since she ran off after the argument.

Keigo slammed his head against the wall, she's been making our home, our nest, and I've brought other birds in. He nearly punched himself for being so stupid. For hurting her to that extent.

"Y/n?" He called through her door, knocking gently before opening it. His heart clenched when her noticed her form under the blankets, "Chickadee?"

Her sniffles came out in mock laughter, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up."

Keigo sighed, getting comfortable next to her under the heavy sheets, "You're more like a bird than I ever thought, y'know?"

Y/n groaned, hiding her reddened face, making Keigo chuckle and pull her back to him, "I'm sorry for bringing them onto our nest, I should've noticed it sooner than your breaking point."

To his delight she turned and curled into him, wiping her nose on his shirt in her own little defiant way, "You have to work for that forgiveness, Keigo Takami."

"Yes, ma'am, I'll start with dinner?" Keigo smirked, "How about some sushi and dango?"

Her smile was enough to send his heart into overdrive as she all but kicked him from the bed. Dango was her favorite and Keigo wasn't above using that to his advantage if it meant she smile

I'll just work extra hard so she doesn't change. Keigo thought as he helped her into his hoodie, appreciating her giddy demeanor, I've fought this far, right? What's the rest of my life, as long as she's there.