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captain-huggy-bear · 2 hours ago

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Little Moments

Pairing: Jack Hughes x Fem!Reader

Warnings: Jack occasionally making more mature jokes cause he's just a silly guy

Summary: Jack finds out he's going to be a dad for the first time, maybe he's a little overexcited aka a collection of snapshots throughout your pregnancy.

Notes: Nonnie gave me the confidence to try writing Jack, I'm hoping it's okay...also the jelly cat mentioned is here

Nappies = diapers

Totally happy to take requests/ideas/prompts at the moment in my ask box :)

Writing Masterlist

When they ask you to take a pregnancy test at the hospital because you've been violently sick for 2 weeks, you scoff. You can't be pregnant because Jack and you haven't been trying and you've been using two forms of contraception. It's nigh on impossible for you to be pregnant, statistically speaking it's just not going to happen.

It's not that either of you don't want children, god knows you do, but you're recently married and you wanted some time to settle into that role and dynamic, the new house as well, without an additional person...especially because you knew without a doubt that once you had one, Jack would want another baby, and another, and another. You'd never be just Mr and Mrs Hughes again, it would be Mr and Mrs Hughes and their children.

It's the amount of care that you've both put in to avoiding pregnancy that makes you so certain you're not. So you expect the test to come back negative.

But, there you are...sat on the edge of a hospital bed, slippers almost falling off your feet because Jack couldn't find yours so he brought you his, staring at a pregnancy test with two clear, solid lines.

Pregnant.

Pregnant when statistically it should be improbably, nigh on impossible. Pregnant when you've been married a month...pregnant because your husband is clearly ridiculously fertile. Of course Jack would be, the amount he wants kids and family, it was probably some genetic advantage. Of course you'd marry the one guy who could knock you up when actively trying not to do so.

You don't look up when he enters your hospital room, arms full of snacks and drinks, cap on backwards keeping his hair out of his baby blue eyes. He looks far too cozy and far too sweet for a man who's about to put your body through some extreme changes.

"So, I got you some M&Ms and a orange juice..." Jack trails off noticing the way you're sat, hunched over, staring at your hands, "You okay, baby?"

"Um, I..."

"What's wrong?" Jack's quick to drop everything on the hospital bed, moving between your legs, hands smoothing up and down your thighs. His eyes dip down to the test in your hands, the two strong lines he can see, so strong that there's very little doubt what the result is. The dots starting to connect for him, you being sick for 2 weeks straight, you being tired all the time, wanting to eat foods you normally wouldn't...the ridiculous amount of sex you had on your honeymoon even though you both were using protection, "Are...are you..."

"Yeah..." You finally meet his eyes, the hopefully little look on his face makes you feel mildly better because you can see how hard he's trying to contain his excitement. It's clear from the way he bites his bottom lip, from the way Jack's fingers grip your thighs to stabilise himself.

"Well, fuck..." Even as he says it there's a little smile starting at the corners of his mouth, teeth starting to show, eyes starting to crinkle.

"Yeah,"

There's a beat of silence. You processing the fact that right now there is a human being growing inside you, part you, part Jack and him watching you for your reaction. Jack can't say he's not nervous, not when you don't look overjoyed and it's that apprehension that has him trying to get a laugh out of you.

"Guess I have strong swimmers, huh?"

"Jack!" You whack his shoulder with your hand and he catches it, thumb stroking over your wedding band even as you glare at him. He can't help but stand a little closer, your legs pushing further apart so he can fit.

"What? C'mon, that's impressive right? Condoms, the pill and you still got pregnant?" He's grinning at you proudly, like it's a badge of honour to have managed to knock you up despite trying to avoid that happening at all costs.

You groan out loud, head falling to Jack's chest, forehead pressing into the centre of his hoodie. His hands come up to the back of your head, stroking over your hair soothingly before trailing over your shoulders, down your back. He's gentle, soft with it and had you been able to see you would have seen his expression shift to one of anxious worry, apprehension at your less than excited reaction.

"A...are you...are you not happy, baby?" He's scared that you'll turn around and tell him you don't want the baby, that this isn't what you want. Sure you've talked about the possibility of kids in the future, but neither of you were expecting to have this happen right now. It's a lot for anyone, especially for the person who's body is doing all the hard work. He'd understand if you weren't happy, even though he desperately wants you to be.

"I...I'm just shocked. I want a baby with you, of course I do, you'd be such a good dad...but, I guess I wasn't planning on it right now and I'm..." You're mumbling into his chest as he strokes down your back, your arms wrapping around his waist tight to give you some sense of comfort as your entire world is turned upside down by the reality that you're going to be a mum sooner rather than later.

"You're?"

"Scared...what if I do something wrong? What if I'm a bad mum?"

"Angel, look at me," You finally look up at him, chin resting on his sternum and he looks down at you like you're talking crazy, big blue eyes wide and honest, "You are going to be amazing. You're going to be the best mum...and we're going to have a baby!"

It's his excitement, the grin that reaches Jack's eyes that has you finally cracking a smile up at him. That familiar giddy sensation of joy filling your chest because you're having a baby with Jack...with your husband and yeah, maybe this is sooner than you would have liked, but you still wanted a baby with him and...and he's so excited and he's so good with kids and you'd give him an entire hockey team of babies if he asked.

"Yeah, I hope they have your eyes." You smile up at him and suddenly all that fear, all that apprehension that you weren't going to be happy about this goes, suddenly he knows that it's going to be all good, all okay.

"Yeah, baby?"

"Mmm, you have such pretty eyes."

"Well, I hope they look like you...my pretty wife....and I'll teach them how to skate, and how to play hockey, oh and take them out on the lake in the summer!"

Suddenly it doesn't feel quite so scary, with Jack rambling about all the things he's going to do with your child and how he can't wait to tell his parents and his brothers. Leaning against him, just looking up and watching how excited he is, puts to bed any fear because you're not doing this alone, you've got your husband and it'll be okay.

Jack's got you. Both of you.

"What's that?"

"The results..." The envelope shakes in your hands as Jack comes in from the cold, taking his hat off and throwing his puffer jacket over the back of a chair.

"The...the sex of the baby?" You'd done a blood test 2 weeks ago to find out the sex of the baby, too eager to wait another 2 months for the ultrasound to be able to tell.

"Mmhmmm...I'm too nervous, you open it!" You shove the envelope into Jack's hands. Even though you'll be happy with a boy or a girl, there's something about the anticipation that has your stomach in knots. Were you going to be like Ellen and have a million baby boys or would you be the exact opposite and only have girls or would you end up having both at some point?

You watch him carefully, hands at your mouth, nervously biting on a nail as he rips open the envelope and pulls out the letter. His eyes scan the text quickly, giving very little away until...until there's a shift, a raising of his eyebrows followed by a bright grin as he looks at you.

"We're...we're having a girl..."

"A girl?"

"A girl!" He's so excited that the letter is dropped to the floor almost as quickly as his own knees fall to the ground in front of you with such a resounding smack that you wince on his behalf. He's pressing his cheek to your tummy in an instant, even though it's not very large yet at all, barely a noticeable bump.

"Hey, baby girl..." You can't help the tears that start to form as Jack starts to talk to your belly, to the baby, to your baby girl, "It's your daddy here...I'm going to teach you how to play hockey and we're going to get you in the NHL, show all those boys what for, right?" Your hands find their way to Jack's hair, stroking through it as he talks to your belly, his arms wrapped tight around your hips.

"Not the PWHL?"

"Uh, we're a family of record breakers, angel. She's going to the NHL like Manon Rheaume and she's going to be there until she retires." He grins up at you, teeth showing as you brush a strand of hair off his forehead and back out of the way.

"What if she doesn't want to play hockey?"

"Then I'll love her anyway..." He turns back to your belly, talking in a soft, sweet tone, "don't worry, baby girl, you can do whatever you want. I don't care if you hate hockey, as long as you're happy..."

You can't help the tear that slides down your cheek because how lucky are you? How lucky is your baby girl? To have a dad who doesn't care if she hate everything he loves, as long as she's happy, as long as she's healthy...god, she's so loved already.

"Okay, don't look, close your eyes!" You roll your eyes underneath Jack's palms.

"You're covering them, why would I need to close them?!"

"Just do it, angel!"

"Fine!" You close your eyes beneath his palms, trusting him to keep you from walking into a wall as he guides you through the house from the living room all the way to wherever his final destination is.

"Lift your foot, baby." He helps guide you up the staircase, hands on your hips that had started to grow wider as you progressed through your pregnancy. He always had a hand on you these days. He was trusting that your eyes were still closed as he ushered you up each step.

When you reach the top of the stairs his hands return to covering your eyes and you shuffle down the corridor until he tells you to stop. You listen to Jack opening a door, probably propping it open before his hands find yours, tugging you forward and to the threshold.

"Okay, open your eyes, baby." You practically gasp when you do, Jack standing proudly in the centre of a nursery. A nursery that was empty all of one week ago, as if he'd somehow clicked his fingers and filled it in an instant.

The walls are a soft pink, stereotypically girlie but you like it, you like that he was willing to make the nursery feminine for your baby girl, just as much as you know he'd change it if your girl decided she hated pink.

The crib is set up by the window, soft curtains diming the sunshine outside just enough. The walls have photos of you and Jack, a few from the start of your pregnancy, your wedding. There are photos of the rest of the family and some empty frames clearly waiting for photos of your baby girl when she arrives. He's even put a few copies of your first ultrasound up.

There's a rocking chair in the corner next to a small bookshelf already filled with books, a space for you to sit with your baby when you're nursing or to read her to sleep when she's being testy. A changing table is already stocked with nappies, baby wipes and powder.

It's sweet and girlish and so so lovely because Jack knows you've been worried about having the nursery done even though you have like 6 months until the baby comes. He knows you've been worried it would get put off because he's away a lot for the season. You'd been stressed that the baby might come without having a space to properly stay.

"How did you..."

"I got the guys to help, last weekend when you went out with my mom. That was a distraction!" He grins at you proud of himself, "Nico, Dawson, Luke, Timo and Jesper came round, we got it all sorted. I didn't want you to be worrying about it anymore, baby."

"Is that...is that why you wouldn't let me in here?" You're feeling teary already, hormones running high and emotions always on a knife's edge. It's so so sweet that he did it, even with months left, the fact he knew it was bothering you and decided to fix it even with his busy schedule? You didn't think it was possible to fall more in love with him, but it seems he's proven you wrong again.

"Yeah, didn't want to ruin the surprise and I had a few more bits to get so it was perfect."

"Jack..." You sigh out at him, face scrunching as you try to contain your tears. His proud little grin drops, Jack thinking he's upset you and maybe he's just made you hate the entire room. Maybe it's too pink? Or not pink enough? Or do you hate the crib?

"...Oh...you hate it?"

"No, no! I love it! I love you!" You step forward quickly, wrapping your arms around him as you start to cry into his chest because how could he think you hate it? It's the best nursery in the world and he's the sweetest husband in the world. You really can't stop the tears and Jack should be used to them by now, you've been such a cry baby since you found out you were pregnant, hormones doing a number on you and making you even more sensitive.

"Oh, okay! Oh, don't cry, baby!" He's smoothing your hair down, trying to calm you, but once the waterworks start it's seemingly impossible to stop.

"It's...it's the...hormones...'m sorry..." You sob into his chest, Jack pulling you tight against him and rocking you side to side to try and soothe you.

"Hey, it's okay, angel," He can't help but laugh because he knows you're not sad now and he knows how easily you've been brought to tears as of late. Jack presses a kiss to the top of your head, staying there for a moment to breathe in the smell of your shampoo.

At least he knows you like the nursery, he thinks, enough that it made you cry.

"God, I love you, baby..." He sighs into your hair and his words only seem to make you cry just a little harder because how did you get this lucky?

"Jack..." You waddle into the nursery, now feeling so much larger than before. Quite positively and obviously pregnant and finding moving harder each month. Even simply things are harder because you have a beach ball in the way, Jack tells you it's cute and that's the only thing keep you from crying about it.

"What?" He looks up from where he's arranging some toys in the corner. He's developed an obsession with picking up any adorable toy he finds out and about to add to the collection. There's even a cuddly Fin the Orca from Quinn sitting on top of the toy box.

"Why is there a demon in the crib?" You're staring at the bright red plushie, with big elflike ears, horns, pointy teeth and a curly q tail. Trying to figure out why it's there in the first place because it certainly wasn't there yesterday.

You rest a hand on your stomach and the other on the small of your back, watching as Jack picks the weird little plushie up and makes it wave at you with its little arm.

"It's not a demon, it's our baby girl's first jelly cat!"

"Why is it a devil? A gremlin?" You're not entirely sure what it's supposed to be, definitely some sort of monster or creature and obscenely bright in it's colouring. You have to admit it is kind of cute...in it's own way...

"Uh, because of the New Jersey Devils, obviously? Why would I get our special girl something boring like a bunny?" He places the little plush back in the crib gently, patting it on the head in a way that is so endearingly sweet that you can't help but smile at him.

"She's going to be a weird kid, y'know that? You're going to make our baby a weird kid." You joke knowing fully well that you weren't actually popular or cool in school. Jack closes the distances between the two of you, leaning down to talk to your belly, like he's been doing since day one. He yaps at your baby girl none stop, whether she can understand a single word he says or not.

"Don't listen to your mother, you're going to be amazing and awesome and totally popular." He whispers to your belly, hands coming to rest on either side gently stroking your stomach over your t-shirt.

"You want our baby to be a popular girl?" You raise your eyebrows at him and he looks at you in horror like that might be the worst fate imaginable, to have a stereotypical mean popular girl for a daughter. You think it's impossible for her to turn out that way with Jack as a dad, with Quinn and Luke as uncles and Ellen and Jim as grandparents. She's going to be surrounded by so many amazing, kind people that if she turns out mean you'll be shocked. If she's popular you know it'll be because she's kind.

"On second thoughts, be a weird kid, baby girl. Be into taxidermy or something." You feel her kick his hand in response and can't help but laugh at the pair because you already know they're going to be trouble. Your kid is going to be just like Jack, you have no doubt, and you're certain you're going to be constantly amazed by them.

"You're ridiculous."

You're sighing heavily, hands firmly on your lower back at the ache there as you look in the kitchen cupboard for something to eat. You feel so uncomfortable, so heavy, so big, so achy. Everything hurts, your belly is so heavy that it forces your back to arch and as much as you love your baby girl, you really hate how she's making you feel. Even most food isn't appetising at the moment.

"You okay, baby?" Jack watches you from the kitchen doorway, leaning deliciously against the doorframe. How does he manage to look so good all the time? It only makes you feel worse because you want him but don't feel like acting on it.

"No...back hurts, belly is heavy, I can't get comfy and I feel ugly and gross..."

"First off, you've never been more beautiful," Jack frowns at you, hating that you don't like yourself at the moment. He's certain you've never been more gorgeous than now when you're carrying his baby, your baby. But, he can see it, the way you stand uncomfortable and in pain, how that must weigh down on you as your body constantly changes. "Secondly, c'mere."

Jack moves to you, standing behind your back with his head on your shoulder. His arms come around your front, hands resting underneath your belly securely and in one slow move, he lifts and suddenly everything feels better, lighter.

"Oh, fuck..." It's like he's taken 10 pounds off your spine and you can't help but sigh and lean back into him, eyes closing at the feeling because you haven't felt this comfortable in a while.

"That feel good?" Jack grins into your shoulder, happy that he's helping, happy to feel the way you relax into him as he takes the entire weight of your belly into his palms. It's heavy and he knows his baby girl has been giving you a world of aches and pains.

"Mmhmmm..." You hum, sighing deeply with each breath as he just holds you like that, letting you lean your weight back into him and feel free for a moment, feel more like yourself.

"Well, let's stay like this for a little then, yeah?" He doesn't try to move away, not after a minute, not after 3 or 5. He holds your belly for near 20 minutes until your feet hurt from standing and even then he's considering when he can do it again, when he can help make this whole pregnancy just a tiny bit easier for you.

"What are those?" You point at the tiny little outfits that Jack is currently folding on the changing table in the nursery. The clothes you doubt are going to fit into the drawers you have because he keeps buying more baby outfits, what seems like every single day.

"These?" He holds a little onesie up innocently, grey, red and black, with a little New Jersey logo in the corner.

"Yeah, those? You do know she's going to grow out of them within a few weeks, right?" You keep telling him not to buy so many baby clothes because she's going to grow quicker than she can wear them, but he seems unable to resist.

"Then I'll just buy more..." He mutters continuing to fold the next item he'd brought.

"Jack..."

"But, they're cute! Look! It's a little New Jersey Devils snowsuit!" He holds up a big puffy snowsuit and you can't help but shake your head at him because the baby is due in June and there's no way she's going to be small enough by the time it snows to even wear it.

"She's going to be too big by the time it snows!"

"But, angel!" He pouts at you so badly that you can't help but laugh. Jack's handome, pretty, adorable, always, but there's something about fatherhood, about his excitement to provide for his growing family that makes him even more adorable.

"Okay, okay...they're cute and if it makes you happy you can keep buying them..." You concede, even as you know half the clothes aren't going to be worn by your baby girl.

"Thank you, beside, if it doesn't fit her it might fit the next one." His comment has you letting out a shocked laugh and you move closer to lean into him, pressing a kiss to his shoulder and holding your belly.

"How many babies do you want me to pop out?"

"Mmm, like a whole hockey team? Call the Hughes' Hockey Club? The Hughes Hornets? The Hughes Harlequins?"

"You're planning on killing me with babies?" You're already imagining how exhausting it would be to grow and birth that many babies...you'd do it for him, but...maybe stopping at 3 or 4 or 5 would be better.

"No, sex, obviously." Jack frowns at you and you gasp at his commentary, whacking his chest with a free arm until he grasps it and pulls you close.

"You're such a dick!"

"Hey, you love this dick." He smirks down at you, pressing a kiss to your hand.

"Jack!"

You're exhausted, 24 hours of labour has made it's mark on you. Your skin is ashy and sallow, dark bags under your eyes and sweat wetting your hair and skin to such a moistness it almost seems like you've just come out of a shower. But, you're beautiful to him, laying there with your baby girl in your arms, letting her nurse from you like that.

He's in awe of the way you shift her so naturally against your chest, the way you gentle rub the small tuft of dark hair on top of her head.

"You did so good, baby...look at her, look at you..." Jack is sat next to you on the hospital bed, he's been here for the entire labour, holding your hand and giving you water to drink. He's been amazing, and you know he'll continue to be as you face the challenges of post-birth.

He's gentle as he smooths the hair away from your sweaty face, getting the small strands out of your way as you smile tiredly down at your baby girl before looking up at him once she unlatches from your breast.

"You wanna...wanna hold her?" Your voice is raw, exhausted but no less sweet for it and Jack can't help his enthusiastic nod, arms already in position to take her like he practiced at home. His mum and dad giving him a run down with a teddy bear on how to properly hold a new born. At the time it had felt silly, now he's glad for the confidence it has given him.

You transfer your perfect little girl into his arms, sitting up a little more and shifting so he can sit with her more directly next to you. Your head leaning against his shoulder while he cradles her carefully in his arms like the most precious cargo he's ever had.

"Hey, baby girl...it's me, your daddy...God, I've been so excited to meet you. You're so perfect, just like your mommy..." Jack's finger carefully traces her cheek down to her little palm and she grips his finger tightly, trapping it in that notorious baby grip that has his eyes filling with tears, "I love you so much, both of you," He smiles over at you, pressing a kiss to your sweaty forehead before returning his gaze back to his daughter.

She doesn't even have a name yet, but he loves her so much already. He knows he'd do anything for you, for her and that's both terrifying and uplifting. To love someone so much you'd risk it all, do anything to keep them safe and happy and healthy.

"She has your eyes," You smile up at him, comparing his baby blues with your daughter's own as she yawns in his arms.

"She has your nose, angel."

"You think?" You squint at her, trying to tell if that really is your nose developing or Jack's more button one...it's hard to tell when she's this small, this young.

"Mmm, poor kid." Jack teases you, grinning, full of excitement, happiness, contentment. His wife leaning against him, his new baby girl in his arms, a sense of humour coming back now you're not constantly carrying around an extra weight.

"Hey!"

"I'm joking, she's beautiful just like her mommy." He presses a kiss to your forehead and you sigh into it, letting the tiredness take you knowing that Jack's got you, he's got you both.

#huggy bear writes #jack hughes x reader #jack hughes/reader #nhl imagine #nhl x reader

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mrsfrecklesmarauders · 2 days ago

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"Look at me in the eye and tell me you don't have feelings for Benjy"

There it was. Sirius avoided Remus's eyes when he was asked the question. After almost three years of relationship, Remus knew his boyfriend very well.

"You are going to start with your insecurities and jealousy again?" Sirius tusked, looking at the floor. "Give me a break, Remus"

It wasn't fair. Because Remus knew very well what was going on. He knew Sirius fancied Benjy because of the way he looked at him. Not quite like the eyes of love the he used to look at Remus with, but quite similar. The way he talked about him all the time. The way he smiled to himself when Benjy said something nice about him. The way he blushed when Benjy gave him a kiss on the cheek. Their complicity. Their love for art. Their similar chaotic persolities. Their love for partying.

Benjy Fenwick was Sirius’s classmate in Art School. After traveling across the world for two years, he had decided to stay in London and try with Art. Just because. Just because he was an asshole with luck and money.

Remus never liked him. Nor James or Lily. He didn't get along with the rest of their friends. It was as if he was obsessed with Sirius. He acted like Sirius’s long time best friend, which pissed James off. And like Sirius’s lover which pissed off Remus.

It didn't matter what Sirius said and how many times he denied it. He had a crush on Benjy.

At Hogwarts Remus had bared Sirius’s girls because he hadn't figured out he was queer and he was trying to hide it. But this was different.

It wasn't that their relationship was dying and Sirius didn't love Remus anymore. But Remus knew his Padfoot was enamored with the thrilling life that Benjy offered him. He wanted to feel young and pretty, and have fun. He wanted attention and adrenaline. He wanted adventure and trying new things.

Remus with his poor librarian salary and his calm routine, his introvertion and his shyness, could never give him that.

"Don't tell me I'm being crazy because it is not fair"

Right now, after months and months of playing dumb, telling friends he didn't mind and crying in his room while Sirius was out at some party without him, Remus had decided he couldn't take it anymore.

"I know you are angry because I overreacted last night... And the other night when I got drunk..."

"Yeah you were very mean with Benjy" Sirius whispered "You always treat him like shit..."

"Sirius..." Remus interrupted, his eyes filling up with tears "I need for you to be honest with me. I swear I can take the truth... But please be honest"

Sirius shook his head and shrugged "I'm being honest you just don't believe me"

Remus ignored him.

"You and I, we used to be inseparable..." Remus cried. And he could see tears on Sirius’s eyes as well. His lovely gray eyes "And we were really in love, weren't we?" Remus showed him his wrist tattoo. A little star with a P for Padfoot. "This is one proof" Sirius unconsciously touched his. A little moon with a M for Moony.

Remus shook away the memory of how happy Sirius was when he convinced Remus to get them.

"Our flat..." Remus said, looking around "Our things that we gathered together... There is a lot of proof that we loved each other..."

"Why do you use past tense?" Sirius intervened with tears falling through his cheeks "I still love you"

"I know" Remus said "But now Benjy is in your life..."

Sirius got uncomfortable.

"Benjy with his adventures and exciting plans each week... With his knowledge of bars and pubs and his funny stories about other times he's been there..."

"I don't know why that bothers you so much..."

"Pads... Sirius" Remus took a deep breath and wiped away his tears "Maybe it is all me and my crazy thoughts in my stupid head... But maybe it is you as well..."

Remus looked into Sirius’s eyes. At least tried. When he couldn't, he forced him to look at him by grabbing his chin. Delicately of course.

When Sirius’s eyes fixed on his, they were covered with tears once more.

"Please tell me what you feel. What is going on with you" Remus said "The truth"

Sirius pushed Remus away to compose himself. He cleaned the tears away and sniffed. Then he was quiet for a while.

Remus let him think without crying or pressuring him. He waited patiently for his response. In the meantime he prepared himself for the pain. For whatever Sirius would tell him.

Then Sirius looked up ready.

"You are right, Remus" Remus was surprised how sure he sounded. It meant he was going to say the truth not get nervous and hesitant while lying "I have feelings for Benjy... What I feel for him..." a pause in which Remus didn't even breathe "Is something that I can't control"

Remus felt as if someone was sticking a knife through his heart. Even if he already knew this. He had been preparing himself for this. It still hurt. It hurt like nothing else had hurt him. He felt the tears coming but he swallowed them and tried to be strong. He couldn't crumble down. That would be pathetic. That's what Lily had told him at least. "Have some dignity, Remus! You can live blindly like this forever"

"It's alright" Remus said, voice breaking "I understand. That's what I wanted to know"

"But I love you" Sirius tried grabbing his hands "I still love you..."

Remus dropped his hands.

"I never have and never will cheat on you, though"

"I know" Remus nodded and cried.

"Benjy just makes me feel alive..."

Please stop! Remus thought. But it wouldn't be fair because he had asked for the truth, hadn't he?

"He makes me feel young and pretty" Sirius continued "And I love you but I feel stuck with you and your jealousy and insecurities.. I don't want to explain everything I do. I just want to live!"

Sirius used to love Remus with his boring life, and bad posture, and books and cigarettes. It was Sirius who pushed him to do crazy things. That was how it worked. Or it used to work before Benjy.

"If that's the case," Remus replied "We know what we need to do"

"Remus... Are you breaking up with me?"

Seeing Sirius cry broke Remus's heart even more.

"I cannot share you. I can't and I don't want to"

As selfish as it sounded. Sirius used to be his, now it hurt not having all to himself anymore.

"Okay then" Sirius looked away to hide his tears.

Now Sirius was the one who was hurt? How ironic.

Remus was dying inside.

"I'm gonna pack my things then"

"You don't have to go" Sirius whispered under his breath.

"This is your flat anyway, your Uncle gave it to you"

Sirius didn't stop him. He hid his face between his knees.

Remus thought that he wasn't able to comfort Sirius anymore. He wasn’t able to touch him, kiss him, hug him. Never again.

His own body even ached in pain at the thought of it.

Remus got up from the spot he was sitting on the floor, and ran to the room. Their room.

He won't be sleeping in that bed anymore. He won't see Sirius waking up so beautiful in the morning.

And seeing all their things mixed up together, with not even a difference between Sirius’s things and Remus's things, made Remus crumble down.

How the hell he was going to pack now?

Instead he started crying, then sobbing, then yelling in pain. And he didn't care anymore if Sirius was in the other room. He didn't care about his dignity and honor.

And Sirius had noticed Remus's desperate cries. But he reckoned he couldn't do anything about it anymore.

Beg him to stay together? For what? The memory and nostalgia of what they used to be? How much they had loved each other?

Sirius silently cried as well.

#angsty wolfstar #Wolfstar breakup #They obviously end up together years later they are endgame #Sirius just needs to fuck up a little #marauders #marauders era #muggle au #remus lupin #sirius black #wolfstar #benjy fenwick #I'm in a sad mood so I write sad things sorry

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tkwrites · 17 hours ago

Text

Can We Try Again? - Tyler Seguin x ofc

Photo is my own

Title: Can We Try Again?

Author: Tory / @tkwrites

Relationship: Pre-established/Exes to Lovers: Tyler Seguin x ofc

Warnings: Mature content (18+ only), fingering (f receiving) described very briefly, but no actual smut, talks of anxiety disorders & medication used to control them.

Tropes: Exes to lovers, forced proximity, there’s only one bed!

Summary: Theo Andrews and Tyler Seguin are in Finland for a winter wedding. When all the hotels in the city are sold out and the grooms brother is suddenly able to attend, they’re asked to share a glass hut despite the fact that they broke up six months previous. Will sharing such a small space force them to face the feelings neither of them have been able to let go of?

Word count: 13,000

Comments: Happy Winter Fic Exchange! I wrote this piece for @senditcolton. Nicole, I hope you enjoy what I came up with! I’ve never written Exes to Lovers before, but after staying in one of these glass huts on vacation a few months ago, I knew it would be the perfect setting for a forced proximity, exes to lovers fic. I know you mentioned wanting to visit Iceland, but in terms of semi-believable plot, Finland seemed like the better choice. So please forgive me for that.

Many thanks to Demi @wyattjohnston for organizing this exchange! It’s always nice to get out of my comfort zone and write some new tropes for some new players.

I've been working on this piece for a long time, and I'm so glad to have it done. I really enjoy the way this turned out, and I hope you like it, too. If you did, please consider commenting, reblogging, or sending in an ask. Your comments and encouragement always encourage me to keep writing.

I promise we'll get back to our regular Quinn & Sarah programing shortly now that this is done.

Can We Try Again?

It was already dark when she landed.

They were so far north, it shouldn’t have been shocking, but Theo still found herself pulling her phone from her back pocket to check the time. Just past 3pm. Great, now on top of the jet lag, she felt completely disoriented.

She lost 8 hours because of the time change. Now, with the sun already down, it felt like she’d lost an entire day.

Fiia had messaged while she was in the bathroom, putting on the base layers she didn’t want to wear on the flight, but knew she’d need once she left the airport. I'm in the hallway just outside baggage claim whenever you're ready. So as soon as her suitcase came off the conveyor belt, she made her way out of the tiny airport.

“Theo!” someone called as soon as the double doors slid open. “You made it!”

All five feet of Fiia Forssell - beautiful, blonde and bride-to-be - seemed to be vibrating with excitement as she jumped in front of Theo, hugging her before trying to wrench her carryon out of her hands.

“That’s my equipment,” Theo explained, pulling the handle out of her gloved grip.

“I’ll take this then,” Fiia said, reaching for the other suitcase.

Theo let her take it, knowing it would be easier than trying to convince Fiia she could handle it on her own.

“Joel’s in the car, keeping it warm,” she said, walking out into the dark. “It’s too cold tonight.”

Having grown up in the Finnish North, Fiia was impervious to most cold, especially the little bit they got in Texas. If she was saying it was too cold, Theo knew it must be freezing.

She was right. The chill bit into her cheeks and bare hands as soon as they stepped onto the snowy sidewalk. She hadn’t thought pulling gloves from her backpack would be worth it as they were just walking to the car, but she immediately wished she had. This was a cold like she’d never felt before. It wasn’t just uncomfortable. It hurt.

“He’s just here,” Fiia said, pointing to a small, blue SUV.

Joel nodded from the driver's seat, catching her eye in the rearview mirror when Theo greeted him as they loaded her things. She pulled her gloves out and waited until everything else was in place to set her equipment on top.

“Fuck it’s cold,” Theo said, scrambling into the back seat of the warm car.

“Welcome to Finland,” Joel said with a lilt of humor in his voice.

Fiia got into the front seat and closed her door. When Joel didn’t take the car out of park, she asked, “what?”

He responded in their native language.

A prickle of worry crept up Theo’s spine. She’d known Joel and Fiia for a long time. They both spoke excellent English, so any communication in Finnish was usually meant to hide the meaning from anyone else in the conversation.

Fiia huffed a breath through her nose before muttering a response and turning in her seat to look at Theo. “We have some bad news.”

“Okay,” Theo said hesitantly. Was the wedding off? Surely they would have told her not to make the trip if the wedding was called off. Not that it would be. Fiia and Joel were one of those ‘always together” couples. If the wedding was off, it was just postponed for some reason.

“Tyler is here.”

“Oh.” She shouldn’t have been surprised he was here. He and Joel were friends. They played together for a few years, and Joel had been the one to introduce Tyler to Theo.

“And…” Fiia trailed off.

“And?”

“And I’m really sorry, but you have to share a hut with him.”

“What? Why?” Her voice came out high pitched and whiney, like a child about to throw a tantrum. Of all the things she’d braced for, this wasn’t one of them.

“There are only twelve huts, you know, and you and Tyler are the only single ones,” she rushed to explain. “Everyone else coming in is in a couple.”

“I can’t stay in the city?”

Fiia chewed her lip and glanced at Joel. “Everything is full.”

“Everything?” she repeated, pulling out her phone to check for herself. “I thought I was supposed to be in one of the huts by myself.”

“You were!” Fiia exclaimed, “that was the plan.”

“But,” Joel broke in, his soft voice apologetic, “my brother ended up being able to come, and he and his wife needed a room.”

Now absorbed in her phone, Theo pulled up hotel after hotel, finding no availability again and again. “Why the hell is every hotel room booked in this city?”

“There’s an ice festival tomorrow,” Joel explained. “It’s a big deal. Everything’s been sold out for weeks. If it weren’t for the tournament, we would have picked a different weekend. Plus, it's prime northern lights season.”

Theo felt panic constricting her chest. This could not be happening. Why was this happening to her? She was just here to help a friend.

“I know it’s not great,” Fiia said.

“Not great?” Theo squeaked in response. “Fi, this is a disaster. What the hell am I supposed to do? You checked every hotel?”

“Tyler did,” she said hesitantly.

Somehow, that felt like a low blow. Even though the last thing she wanted to do was share a tiny glass hut with Tyler Seguin, NHL playboy and man responsible for the sizable bruise on Theo’s heart, it hurt to think he didn’t want to share a room with her, either.

Dropping her head into her hands, Theo pulled in a deep breath and held it, beginning the square breathing technique her therapist had taught her. She couldn’t think straight when panic was swirling in her thoughts like this.

“I’m really sorry,” Fiia said, “you know we would have put you in your own room if Joel’s brother didn’t come.”

“I know,” Theo finally managed to say. “I know you wouldn’t do this unless it was an emergency.”

Fiia got the whole Tyler story when Theo had broken it off. She listened to Theo cry and offered words of comfort in her soothing, lilting voice. Even though she and Joel had moved to Colorado, she was still one of Theo’s best friends.

The slow breathing was doing its job, and calm started creeping into her thoughts. She was an adult, as was Tyler. And she wasn’t about to tell her friends the groom's brother couldn’t stay for their wedding. She and Tyler wouldn’t kill each other. It’s not like they could damage their relationship any more than it already was.

Tyler wasn’t a lot of things, but at the very least, he was respectful. He wouldn’t touch her or do anything inappropriate. All in all, having Tyler as a roommate (hut-mate?) for the weekend actually wasn’t that bad. It was better than having to share with a stranger. It would just be hard. Really, really hard.

“Why didn't you tell me sooner?”

“We just found out,” Joel said. “You know, Ville has been living in Dubai, and we didn’t think his travel visa would get approved.”

She did know. Joel had mentioned it when they had the initial conversation about this trip. He had been sad and resigned. She could put up with Tyler for a few nights if it would make stoic Joel happy.

“So…” Fiia began, licking her lips before they relaxed into their natural, full pout. “You’ll stay?”

Theo’s head shot up, “of course I’ll stay,” she said. “I wouldn’t miss your wedding for the world. I wouldn’t miss photographing your wedding for the world. It’s just a bit of a shock.”

Fiia laughed through the tears constricting her throat. “I’m really sorry.”

Theo shrugged, “it is what it is. Ty and I’ll figure it out. Worst comes to worst, I'll make him sleep on the floor.”

Joel snorted a laugh and took the car out of park to start the drive to the resort.

Theo spent every one of the 20 minutes it took to drive to the resort watching the trees. They were so laden with snow, they drooped over the roadway, looking like strange Seussian creations. If she concentrated on the beauty of this place, she wouldn’t have time to worry about what was going to happen and work herself up with scenarios that might not come to pass.

Pulling into the resort, Theo felt overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of it all. Everything was covered in a thick blanket of snow. She’d seen snow before, but growing up in Texas meant that snow always felt a bit magical. They stopped next to a large building, and Joel turned off the car.

She followed Fiia, who insisted on carrying her backpack while Joel carried her suitcase down a long drive that arched around the little city of small, glass-walled huts. Each one was strategically placed, so the back of the hut (the only part not made of glass) was facing the windows of the one next door, providing privacy when so much could be exposed.

“You’re in four,” Fiia said, pointing to the hut straight ahead.

Looking where directed, Theo was surprised to see it was already lit up. Tyler was inside, laying on his back on the bed, one forearm under his head as a pillow, reading a book. His ankles were crossed, making him look long, lean, and completely at ease.

Joel knocked on the door, and he jumped.

Theo bit back her smile.

The door swung out and up slightly, pulling away from the pitched wall, before resting against the panel next to it.

“Honey, we’re home,” Joel called. The sing-song quality to his voice was interrupted by his accent, but it still had the desired effect as Fiia giggled.

“Watch your head,” Fiia warned, gesturing for Theo to step up.

She did, ducking under the doorway. This must be a nightmare for Tyler to navigate. If she had to duck at 5’ 6”, he’d nearly have to bend in half.

“Hey,” she said.

Tyler jumped to his feet, whacking his head on the ceiling in the process. “Fuck.”

This damn hut was too small for someone his size. He barely even fit on the bed.

Theo pursed her lips, trying not to laugh as Tyler rubbed the top of his head.

Fiia and Joel entered after her, forcing Theo forward until she was nearly chest to chest with Tyler, who was hunched to avoid hitting his head again. With his stooped posture, they were nearly face to face.

This was how he leaned down when he kissed her, she remembered.

As if by the sheer magnetic force of her memory, her eyes darted to his mouth. She’d forgotten what a nice mouth he had. How was that possible? She’d always thought it was one of his best features. Sure, he had the tattoos and the abs, but his mouth was nice, and he could do all sorts of nice things with it.

“Hey,” he said, one corner of his lips tipping up in a smile.

Her mind flooded with even more memories involving his mouth, and before she knew it, longing sparked to life in the pit of her stomach.

Then reality snapped back. This was Tyler she was thinking about. Tyler, who, despite insisting he didn’t want to see anyone else, didn’t want to put labels or definitions on their relationship. Tyler, the playboy afraid of commitment, who let her walk away.

Slamming the door on those memories, she skittered around him to stand at the end of the bed. What was wrong with her?

“So,” Fiia pulled back a curtain, “this is the bathroom. It’s just a composting toilet, but there are regular toilets and showers up in the main building.”

Pulling herself out of her self reprimand, Theo forced her mind back to the present.

“If you wash your hair, make sure to dry it up there, or keep it wrapped up when you walk back. The cold will fuck with it pretty bad.”

Theo nodded.

“And you have your sauna here,” she gestured to the small, rectangular building next door. “Did you ask for it to be heated, Ty?”

He nodded, “at 8. Thought it would be nice after dinner.”

Fiia nodded her approval.

“We have dinner at 6, just up at the restaurant,” she said, gesturing to the main building again. “I’ll walk you through the wedding venues after?”

“That sounds great,” Theo said. She always liked to scope out the venue before shooting a wedding. That way, she could find the best lighting and the best places where she could blend into the background.

“So we’ll see you then,” she said with a small, hopeful smile.

Theo nodded, biting back her dismay at their leaving. Of course they wouldn’t be staying. There wasn’t anywhere to sit other than on the bed or the floor, and if everyone did sit, there wouldn’t be any room to move around.

She and Tyler watched the light from Joel’s headlamp bounce down the path as he and Fiia made their way back to the main building, hand in hand.

“So,” Theo said, attempting to break the tension that had thickened the moment the door swung shut.

“I took this half,” Tyler said quickly, gesturing to the half of the bed nearest the door, “but we can switch if you want. I just know you like sleeping next to the window.”

Something in Theo’s heart gave a traitorous little lurch. Why did he have to remember things like that? And tell her he remembered them?

“This half is great,” she said. “Thank you.”

She gave him the kind of smile that told him he’d done something right. The weight of anticipation eased in Tyler’s chest.

“Where’s your stuff?” she asked, looking around. Her three bags, even though they all were on the smaller side, seemed to take up all the available floor space.

“In here,” he said, opening a tall cupboard next to his half of the bed. His slim carryon suitcase was tucked into the bottom half of it - a perfect fit. She never understood how he could pack everything he needed into such a tiny suitcase. Then again, she didn’t travel for a living.

“There’s some storage on the other side of the bathroom.”

She glanced over. There were two robes hung outside the bathroom, along with two pairs of plastic sandals and Tyler’s sneakers.

“The other side,” he said, gesturing.

Theo walked over and drew back the curtain. The toilet space was tiny. She doubted she’d be able to stand up straight in there. The storage space, which was really more like a slanted leftover space, was on the other side of the toilet.

“How do you use the bathroom in here?” she asked, reemerging. “Can you even sit on the toilet?”

“I haven’t tried,” Tyler admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’ve just been walking up to the main building.”

A pause passed between them, not entirely awkward. He was thankful for that, at least.

“So,” he began as he sat on his side of the bed, “how have you been?”

“Fine,” Theo said. “You?”

“Fine.”

The pause that followed was a bit more uncomfortable. He knew there was a lot not being said. At least on his end of things. But he wasn’t entirely certain how to bring up everything he’d been thinking about.

“Have you seen any northern lights yet?”

“It’s been too cloudy. Joel said it’s supposed to be clear tomorrow night, though.”

The smile that lit her face pulled one onto his own. He knew Theo had always wanted to see and photograph the northern lights. They’d talked about it at least six times throughout the course of their fourteen month relationship. He’d wanted to take her, but his schedule meant he could never travel in the winter. Until this year.

When he wasn’t picked to play in the four nations tournament (thank god, he’d much rather have the break), and Joel announced that he and Fiia were taking advantage of the very same break to have the winter wedding Fiia had always dreamed of, and would like him to be a part of it, he’d booked a ticket right away. Fiia’s family owned this little resort, and he’d always wanted to visit.

As soon as he’d finalized his plans, a pang of sadness had swooped through him, wishing he could bring Theo. She’d made it pretty clear she was done with him, though.

And now, here they were, sharing a hut. Under circumstances he wouldn’t have ever guessed. It was incredibly awkward, and then again, not at all. He was comfortable with Theo. He always had been. That’s what made their relationship so easy. He met her at Fiia and Joel’s house and their first conversation was so easy, it was like he’d been looking for her his whole life, only to turn around and realize, oh, there you are.

He shouldn’t have been surprised she was here. She and Fiia were friends, and Theo was one of the best photographers in Dallas. She somehow made every wedding look unique and always took pictures of the bride and groom that were less like portraits and more like art. It made perfect sense that they would fly Theo up for the wedding. And that they’d stick them together when Joel’s brother's visa came through.

If he believed in fate, he would have tipped his hat to it. But Tyler Seguin did not believe in fate. He believed in hard work and determination. Grit and focus. It was just dumb luck that they ended up in the same hut together. Nothing more than that. Fate was something people believed in when they didn’t want to work for what they wanted. “It’s just not meant to be,” he’d heard countless people say, even though he knew if they could just get their acts together and put in a little effort, they’d get farther than they expected.

All the same, dumb luck had it’s advantages. It at least afforded him the opportunity to show Theo how he’d changed - what he’d done to change, and hopefully tell her what he’d been wanting to since she’d left six months before.

“Do you mind if I unpack?”

“Hu?” he asked, his thoughts jolting back to the present.

“I’m going to have to move some things around so I can put one of these bags in the storage.”

“Oh, yeah, of course.” Why did she need his permission to do that? “Do you want me to leave?”

“No,” she said, taking a seat on the floor and pulling her backpack and white roller bag to her. “You can stay if you want. I’m just going to take up a bunch of room, is all.”

He shrugged and sat on the bed.

He debated cracking his book open again, but dumb luck didn’t give you opportunities like this for nothing.

“So, who’s got Kirk?” he asked.

“Nicole’s staying with him.”

“Oh, that’s why she couldn’t stay with the boys,” he mused. He’d called Nicole when his usual dog sitter told him he was busy two weeks before, and she’d politely told him she was already booked. “I was worried she hated me.”

“I’m not sure anyone can hate you, Tyler,” she said offhandedly as she moved a pair of thin gloves into her backpack.

Shocked to silence, he stared at her. How was he supposed to take THAT response?

“How are the boys?”

He swallowed, trying to regain his bearings. “They’re good.”

“Marshall’s doing okay?”

“Yeah,” he said. “Had to have surgery on his left hip.”

Sensing the hesitation in his tone, Theo looked up. Tyler was looking at his hands. She resisted the urge to touch him in some comforting way. Instead, she looked back into her suitcase and pulled another sweater out. “Did it go okay?”

“Yeah,” he sighed as if resigned, “he’s still limping, but the vet says that’s normal.”

“I’m sorry, Ty,” she said.

The short form of his name made him glance up at her. She was still looking into her suitcase, but something within the hut shifted, feeling more settled and casual. His shoulders relaxed.

“Thanks,” he said.

Theo took all of her traveling accessories and packed them into her suitcase, swapping them out with clothing. It would only last two days, but it was better than having two carryons in the tiny space, and she wasn’t about to put her camera equipment back there.

Getting the suitcase over the toilet and into the storage was comical, resulting in Tyler coming over to assist. He managed to get it in but whacked his head on the ceiling as he was extracting himself.

“I’m sorry,” Theo said, not quite able to bite back her laughter.

He shook his head, eyes narrowing in a playful glare.

“Dinner?” she asked, pointing over her shoulder.

He nodded, and they wandered out into the cold, dark night.

The restaurant was cozy and round. Everyone sat in pairs, all facing the stove. She and Tyler sat side by side, trying not to touch each other. It was quite the feat considering how small the table was. Everything about this resort screamed romance. There was only room for two in each hut and at each table. It was made for couples. she wondered if they were the only “we used to be a couple” to sit on the shared reindeer fur that covered the bench.

Dinner was delicious. Cooked right in front of them, on a traditional Finnish stove - open fire under a chimney. They split an order of Beet bruschetta, which Tyler tolerated because he knew Theo loved goat cheese. It would have been better with bread, but there was only so much he could cheat on his diet - even on vacation. He got the salmon, and she got the reindeer, and everyone got dessert. The bites Tyler allowed himself were delicious. Sweet and tart, and incredibly creamy.

“Do you want to Sauna?” Tyler asked as they slipped their coats on after the meal.

“Hu?”

He glanced at his watch to verify, “the sauna is warm now if you want to come?”

“Oh…” she trailed off. Even though a sauna sounded like a lovely way to send off the evening, she already felt stretched too thin. Overly tired from the jet lag and still wrapping her mind around having to not only share a hut with Tyler Seguin, but a bed - a minuscule European double bed, she knew going into a sauna with him when she knew he would be at least half naked was definitely a bad idea.

Thankfully, she already had an out. “I’m walking through the venues with Fi, and then I think I’ll catch a shower and go to bed. Jet lag is really kicking my ass.”

“Yeah,” he agreed, not quite able to keep the disappointment from his voice.

The venue was as beautiful as Theo expected. Modern and built of light wood, it was a solute to Finnish design. The decor was wintery but not cheesy. It fit Fiia like a glove. No wonder she wanted to get married here. They went through each hall, and Theo made mental notes of where to take test shots the next day.

From the Sauna, Tyler watched Theo come back to the hut, gather her things, and walk back in the direction of the main building. Twenty or so minutes later, she came back, her hair tucked under her hat.

He could just barely see her shadow through the tan curtains she’d pulled closed over the glass walls. Her silhouette puttered around for a moment, obviously changing into pajamas before she shook out her hair and crawled into bed.

Relaxing back against the wooden bench, he wondered how long he should stay. He didn't want to stay too long and risk waking her up when he came back into the hut, but didn't want to seem too eager either, as if he'd been waiting for her return to rush inside.

In the end, he poured another cup of water onto the stove and waited for the steam to dissipate before rinsing off in a “traditional Finnish Shower” and heading inside.

Opening the door to the hut, Tyler expected Theo to say something, ask him how the sauna was. But she was silent.

He'd been bracing to have to tuck himself into the minuscule space by the door in order to change, but when he got inside, he found Theo asleep. It was a small mercy after the shock of the cold. This hut was too small for privacy. She’d seen him naked, and not just in the, I posed for the body issue and everyone has seen me naked, way. He’d born it all to her. Thinking about that called up visions of her lips tracing his tattoos. Goosebumps broke out over his skin at the memory.

He stripped and dressed as quickly as he could, pausing only once when Theo rolled over. Her face was still serene, eyes closed and lips parted, her dark hair fanned over her pillow.

The next morning, Theo eased into consciousness, feeling mercifully rested. She hadn’t expected to feel so rested. It was always hard for her to sleep outside of her own bed, but she’d fallen asleep nearly as soon as she’d hit the pillow, and couldn’t remember getting up at all in the night, which was a bit of a feat for her. The jet lag must have really taken its toll.

Her eyes fluttered open, immediately focusing on the pristine blanket of fresh snow that had fallen overnight, turning the field behind them into a postcard perfect winter wonderland. It looked how she’d always imagined Finland would look. Piles of snow - so much so that the trees were bowed with the weight of it, and strange, purple hued light she’d only seen in pictures. Chrystals of frost were skating over the glass walls of their hut, and the light inside seemed softer than the light outside somehow.

As she became more conscious of her surroundings, she realized she was leaning against something solid and pleasantly warm.

In the night, whether searching for warmth, or without her conscious mind to tell her not to, following the instinctual pull she felt to Tyler, they’d come together - back to back in the small bed.

Easing away from him, she rolled onto her back.

Without the brace of her body to hold him up, he fell onto his back, his shoulder landing on top of hers.

“Tyler,” she whined, pushing him away.

He blinked, the liquid sleep state still humming pleasurably on his skin. Theo had been in his dream - unsurprising considering the circumstances - softly murmuring his name as he’d pressed a string of kisses, like seed pearls, down her neck.

“Tyler,” Theo said again, shoving him a little harder, “get off me.”

Reality crashed into him like a hit he wasn’t braced for. Had he been trying to cuddle her in his sleep? How had he ended up partially on top of her?

“Sorry,” he mumbled, scrambling onto his side of the bed and turning his face away, hoping to hide the blush that had blazed over his cheeks. This damn hut was too small for him, and with Theo there, it felt infinitesimal, as if it had shrunk. He had only one half of the bed that was already too small, and given the opportunity, he’d crowded into her space in his sleep.

“It’s okay,” she said, and he was relieved to hear a slight lilt of humor in her voice.

“Was I crowding you all night?”

“Not until I turned over this morning,” she said, looking at the snow covered roof. This was why the light was so different. As it filtered through the snow, it made everything inside the hut look a little more dreamy. She avoided looking at the man next to her. Seeing his rumpled morning hair and sleepy eyes in soft-focus would not help her one bit.

Relieved, he cleared his throat and tried to lay on his back. He couldn’t do it without his arm pressing against hers.

“Here,” she said, scooting to the edge of the bed, giving him a little more room.

They were still dangerously close to touching.

“How was the sauna?” she asked.

Tyler found himself smiling at being proven right, even if it was 9 hours later. “Nice. Kinda boring,” he admitted, glancing over at her. She was looking up at the roof, which was completely covered in snow. Her lips were relaxed and kissable, and her soft eyes seemed to reflect the beauty she always sought out. He liked it when she had this artist's face on. The longing he’d felt the night before hooked into his navel and tried to pull him closer to her. He resisted, taking a few deep breaths to bring him back to himself.

Her mouth tipped in a small smile. “Hard to bring a book into a sauna, I guess.”

A chuff of laughter burst out of him. “Yeah.”

Holding up one of her hands, Theo turned her palm back and forth, watching it in the soft light.

“Hmm?” Tyler asked, wondering what she was doing.

“The light in here is so interesting,” she said, turning her wrist again. “The snow is making it softer. I didn’t know snow could do that.”

“We can melt it off the roof,” he offered, reaching up for the button.

“No!” Her hand shot out to grip his wrist, halting his movement.

He stopped immediately, feeling heat bloom from where her hand made contact. It was the first time she’d touched him since she arrived, he realized.

“I mean,” Theo snatched her hand back, “can we leave it for a while?”

“Sure.” He felt a small measure of satisfaction bloom in his chest at the blush that flushed her cheeks. “Are you still feeling excited even with all this snow?” he asked instead of rolling over and tucking his face into her neck like he would have when they were together.

All at once, everything felt too domestic. Too much like something they would have done six months before: a lazy morning spent side by side, talking about anything and everything.

Theo sat up abruptly, scooting to the end of the bed so she could get out of it without crawling over him. She wanted to change and run away, and she couldn’t even do that. It was freezing outside, and Tyler was inside, and she had nowhere to hide. Maybe the minuscule bathroom, but that didn’t even offer enough privacy. It was just a curtain. Why did this hut have to be so damned small?

Feeling whiplashed, Tyler watched her stumble over the bags she’d stored at the end of the bed. She halted mid step, like a cornered animal, in the floorspace next between the bed and the ‘kitchen,’ which was little more than a sink with non-potable water and some cabinets.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, pulling his hand from his wrist, where it had subconsciously wandered to cover the skin she’d touched.

“I just…” Theo was horrified to hear the shake in her voice. Her anxiety was magnifying everything, making it worse. She felt pulled too tight, stretched too thin. Yes, Tyler was respectful and sweet, but he was also Tyler, and he was easy to love and easy to fall in love with. And she couldn’t afford to go down that path again. Her heart just couldn’t take it.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, voice turned gentle.

Closing her eyes, Theo willed the tears away. She did not need to cry right now. She wasn’t even sure what she was crying over. Was it losing Tyler? Was it being faced with him again after walking away? Was it facing that decision she’d made and wondering for the millionth time if it had been the right one? Was it the softness in his voice that told her he knew she was panicking?

Things with Tyler were so easy. They always had been. That was part of the issue. It would have been easy to continue on with him, even though he wasn’t willing to give her what she wanted. If she reset her expectations, they would still be together, still in love, still having great sex, and sharing this hut for an entirely different reason. Even if she had, she knew part of her would still want what she’d left for: to find someone not so afraid of committing to her.

Remembering that gave her the strength to push the longing away. “I’m just…” this was so stupid. Tyler had seen her naked before. Changing her clothing in front of him should not be this big of a deal. “I need to change, but it’s so cold outside.”

He could have laughed with relief. He thought he’d done something. “I’ll turn around,” he said, sitting up and turning to look out the window.

Theo covered her face with her hands. Why did she have to be so weird? Why did she have to make things so complicated? She could have just asked him to turn around.

Knowing he wouldn’t stay that way forever, she grabbed her backpack and change of clothes, piling the layers awkwardly on the tiny countertop before she changed at record speed.

Tyler stood to change when she sat at the end of the bed to put on her shoes. Glancing up, she realized the glass windows were more of a mirror than she thought. She could see his form clearly - his beautiful body flexing and stretching as he pulled on a pair of long johns then stepped into some jeans. Had he been able to see this same ghostly reflection of her? An embarrassed blush flashed into her cheeks. She’d thrown such a fit about him not seeing her change, and he’d been able to see her all along? Nice one, Theo, she thought.

After pulling on a sweater, he hadn’t had to wear this many layers in ages, Tyler stood as straight as he could and asked, “ready?”

“For what?” she asked, realizing she hadn’t run away like she meant to. Instead, she’d ogled him while he was getting dressed.

“Breakfast?” he said uncertainly, “I thought that’s what you were changing for.” He was hungry, at least.

“Oh,” she said, “yeah.” It’s not like she had anything else to do.

Breakfast was back in the restaurant, and she and Tyler were back to sitting stiffly side by side. It didn’t matter that they woke up leaning on each other. At least, that’s what Theo told herself. His soft voice at her panic this morning didn’t change a thing, and neither did his interest in what she was doing.

“What do you have to do today?” he asked, voice low and quiet in her ear.

An involuntary shiver snaked up her spine as a memory of his lips on her ear, whispering something entirely different, flashed through her mind.

“What?”

“What do you have to do today?” Tyler repeated, wondering what was going on with her. He’d never seen her this jumpy. Even when she ran out of her meds, she’d never been this startled all the time. He didn’t want to think it was him. Or maybe he did. If he made her this jumpy, it had to be a good thing, right?

Pulling a small zip-top bag out of her pocket, Theo emptied the pills it housed into her palm before throwing them in her mouth to swallow with a gulp of water. Moving on to her coffee, she tried to make her brain think clearly. She wasn’t sure she’d taken her meds yesterday. When was yesterday in Dallas time? She had no idea anymore. By the state of her mind, she’d obviously missed something.

It took a moment for her to remember that Ty had asked her a question. “I need to take some test shots in the venue,” she said. “And I have some editing from some bridal shots I took on Wednesday.”

“Aren’t you on vacation?”

“Yes?” she said it like it was a question, as if she wasn’t exactly sure what a vacation was.

He laughed, “you should at least take a break to walk around the resort. It’s beautiful.”

A flirtatious response about him giving her a tour slid to the tip of her tongue. She shoved a bite of eggs into her mouth to stop it coming out.

Tyler shook his head indulgently. He knew Theo’s working style - she got in edits whenever she could. It was actually one of the things he liked most about her. She didn’t leave anything to chance.

“Tell you what,” she said once she’d swallowed.

“Hmm?” he asked through a sip of coffee.

She ignored the domestic, sweet way he was looking at her over the rim of his mug. If she pretended it didn’t exist, her stomach wouldn’t have the chance to do that flip-floppy giddy thing it always liked to do when he was around.

“If you help me with my test shots, I’ll go on a walk with you before I work on my edits.”

“Deal,” he said, smiling, glad she had worked out his subtext of wanting to spend more time with her but not get in her way.

And just like that, some of the awkwardness between them dissipated a little more.

As they walked through the venue, Tyler pulled faces in every one of her test shots. She hadn’t laughed so much behind the camera in a long time.

The resort was even more beautiful than she’d expected. It looked strangely at home in the woods, like a little glass city just happened to sprout up in a forest clearing.

As they made it back to the hut, he asked her to share the photos she took on their walk, and she promised she would.

He pulled out his suitcase so he could retrieve his toiletries and a change of clothes before he told her, “I’ll leave you to it. See you at dinner?”

She nodded, pulling out her computer. Emptying her memory card into a new file didn’t take long, but she found herself spending too much time looking over the test shots. Realizing what she was doing, she deleted them, sent the photos of their walk to Ty, and pulled up her latest bridal edits.

Dinner that evening was a little less stiff than their meals before. She didn’t jump when their elbows brushed at least. It felt like a move in the right direction.

“I think the lights are supposed to be out tonight,” Tyler said as they zipped their coats and walked out into the cold night.

“Yeah?”

“I think I might catch a nap so I can stay up to see them.”

She smiled, “that sounds nice. Maybe I will, too.”

He knew she was lying - she never napped - and wasn’t surprised when he fell asleep to the gentle sound of her computer mouse clicking.

By the time he woke, the night was so dark, it felt like it was three in the morning, not ten at night.

“Have you seen anything?” he asked, voice husky with sleep.

Theo shook her head, “I haven’t checked.”

When she felt her fingers start to itch to run through his thick, dark hair, she’d moved to sit on the floor, using the bed as a back rest Best to just remove herself from that situation completely.

He sat up, ran a hand through his hair, and decided he aught to go check.

Stepping into his boots, he glanced at Theo’s computer screen.

She had a photo of a beautiful, black bride pulled up on the screen and was doing some kind of editing wizardry he would have no idea where to start to understand. “That’s pretty,” he said.

“Isn’t she gorgeous?” Theo asked. “She was one of my easiest brides to photograph. It was impossible to make her look bad.”

Lacing up his snow boots, he laughed. “I’ll let you know if I find anything.”

She nodded distractedly.

He was half way to the main hotel when he saw something in the sky. It didn’t look like photos of the Northern lights he’d seen, but he’d heard they only showed up like that on camera. Something about light frequencies the human eye couldn’t see.

Slipping his phone out of his pocket, he took a picture. What came out made his heart jump into his throat.

“Theo!” he found himself yelling, nearly slipping in his haste to get back to the hut.

He could see her clearly - sitting on the floor, her computer in her lap. She had her concentration face on, eyes roving over the screen, tongue poking between her lips, as if she stopped in the middle of licking them, too caught on whatever pulled her focus to finish the movement.

God, she was pretty. He loved seeing her doing what she loved like this.

But she obviously hadn’t heard him.

Wrenching the door to the hut open, he stuck his head inside, “Theo!”

A small shriek escaped her mouth as she grabbed her computer, saving it from crashing off her lap. “Jesus, Tyler. What?”

He was trying not to laugh. It was one of her favorite expressions. He looked like a little kid, caught doing something he shouldn’t, but didn’t regret it at all.

“Get your camera,” he said breathlessly, holding up his phone so she could see the ribbon of bright green light he’d managed to capture.

It was like watching someone get ready to fight a fire. She slammed her laptop closed and tossed it on the bed before diving for her equipment case. Watching her assemble the camera was like watching one of those super nerdy kids solve a Rubik’s Cube. He had no desire to learn how to do it, but the speed at which they did it was impressive.

“Coat!” he reminded, when she stood and ran for her boots. “And a hat. It’s fucking freezing out here!”

Her laughter was unbridled — spontaneous and full of happiness.

He caught her when she almost tripped stepping out of the hut.

As soon as she was on solid ground, her camera was up to her eye.

“Oh my god!” she cried, looking at the preview, “this is incredible!”

After a few minutes, she retreated back into the hut to find her newly acquired snow pants. Even with the thermals she had on underneath, jeans weren’t going to cut it. She grabbed her tripod and her phone, her mind whirring with ideas.

She called Fiia twice to break through the do not disturb, not caring if she was asleep or if she and Joel were getting it on. They needed to come out here.

“Haloo?” she asked.

“Fiia!” she practically screamed, “the lights are out!”

“Are they?”

“Yes! I know you’re gonna think I’m crazy, but I think it would be really, really amazing to get some bridal shots under this. It’s incredible, Fi!”

“Mitä?”

“Bridals! How many people get their wedding pictures taken under the northern lights?”

“I don’t…”

Theo heard Joel on the other end of the call, and then Fiia told him something in rapid Finnish.

“The wedding is tomorrow, Theo,” she said into the phone.

“Not until noon! I’ll only have you out here for an hour, tops. Please, Fi?”

Another sigh and some more Finnish.

“I just did a test shot with Ty, and it turned out so good. Please? Please? Pretty please?”

Apparently she’d been turned on speaker because Joel’s voice came through the speaker. “Let me get this straight. You want us to put on our wedding things to traipse around in the snow in the freezing cold for pictures?”

“Yes. For your wedding pictures. You only get married once,” she reminded. “Here, I’ll send you the shot of Ty.”

She fumbled to get the memory card from her camera so she could load the picture onto her computer and send it. She was so excited, her fingers were shaking.

“Oh,” Fiia said, her voice gone dreamy over the line.

Theo knew she had her. “They’ll be amazing, Fi. Ty has this app that predicts the flairs. They’re supposed to go all night.”

Fiia and Joel went back and forth in Finnish for a minute before Joel heaved a deep sigh, “We’ll get dressed. So much for getting a good nights rest,” he grumbled, walking away from the phone.

“You won’t regret this, Fi, I promise.”

“Are they coming?” Tyler asked, ducking back into the hut.

“Yes!” she practically squealed.

He laughed, thrilled to see her so excited.

“Here, send this to your mom,” Theo said, sending the picture she’d taken to him. “She’ll like it.”

Something behind his sternum cracked. Theo used to say things like this all the time, and he hadn’t realized how much he missed them. She was always looking out for others, taking photos of things she thought they’d like, and sending them, often with a text like, this made me think of you. His mom told him she knew they’d broken up when Theo stopped sending her pictures.

He pulled the photo up on his phone so he could forward it on to his mom and stopped short. Tyler had posed for enough pictures to know a good one when he saw it. It was one of the best pictures of himself he’d ever seen, and he hadn’t even known she was taking it.

He sent it to his mom with the note, from Theo, hoping she wouldn’t read too much into it.

“I’m going to set up a time lapse,” Theo said, pulling another camera and small tripod out of her equipment case.

“Do you need help?” he asked.

“Nah, I’m just going to set it on the floor over here.” She lay across the bed, on her stomach, reaching down to position the camera. She took a few test shots before deciding on the location and settings and hitting record.

“It’s amazing over here, too,” she breathed before pushing herself back up on the bed. “This is so amazing!” she exclaimed, flopping onto her back. Unable to stop herself, she kicked her feet a few times, her excitement too much to contain.

Tyler laughed, delighted at her joy.

“Can I help?” Tyler asked thirty minutes later as they watched Fiia and Joel walk down the path. He was in a suit, with a giant coat over the top, his pants tucked into snow boots, and she was holding her voluminous white dress up so it wouldn’t drag in the snow, revealing a set of full snow pants and boots underneath.

“Yeah, actually. If you wouldn’t mind. It’d be nice if you could hold their coats while I’m taking pictures.”

He didn’t even want to think about what they were committing to. It was well below freezing.

Theo came out and hugged Fiia, then Joel. “Thank you for doing this. I know it’s crazy.”

Joel smirked and muttered something in Finnish. Fiia smacked his arm.

“Okay,” Theo said, taking command of the situation like Tyler had seen her do so many times before. “Let’s take some test shots to find out best placement, then we can start on posing.”

She directed them around the snow for a minute before settling on the backdrop of the open field behind their hut. A row of pine trees edged the property, creating a jagged skyline for the lights to dance above.

Once she’d set it up and got the results she wanted, she started going through posing, instructing them how to stand and if they should look at the camera or at each other.

“Okay, Ty,” she said, taking a bracing breath, “take their coats.”

Joel shook his head, looking at Fiia as he mumbled, “you owe me for this.”

“I know,” Fiia agreed, “I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

Tyler backed out of the frame, and Theo immediately began directing - barking assertive orders. It was too cold to be nice. She took shot after shot, certain this night was made of magic. Even Fiia’s dress, which Theo had seen when they took formal bridals a month before, looked even more etherial and enchanting, turning her into an angel, a snow fairy, a princess finding her prince.

A giddy feeling rose in Theo’s chest until it felt full to bursting. These would be the most amazing wedding photos she’d ever taken.

“Okay, coats back on,” she called, and Tyler rushed forward. He felt a bit like a PA, thrusting Joels coat at him and helping Fiia into hers. It was the first time he’d been at a photo shoot when he wasn’t posing. It was a bit of a surreal experience to see the work from the other side.

“I want to try one more thing.”

Joel looked like he might murder her.

“It’ll be really quick for you, I promise.”

He grumbled something under his breath.

Fiia just stood there, shivering and hoping this would be worth it. Her hands were so cold, she was about ready to stick them in her mouth. She settled for shoving them in her coat pockets.

“I’m going to take a really long exposure, and I want you to come into the shot part way and stand there kissing for a bit before walking out. If it works the way I think it should, we should get a sort of silhouette of the two of you.”

“Won’t you see us walking?” Fiia asked?

“No, the exposure is so long, it should only pick you up when you’re standing still for a while.”

“How long are we talking?”

“You’ll be kissing for about a minute.”

“We can’t kiss for that long,” Joel said.

Theo raised an eyebrow. “I’m pretty certain I saw you kiss for longer than that last night.”

The cold was making him impatient. His ears felt like they might just fall off. “We’ll get stuck together,” he said. “Like that dumb movie with the metal pole.”

“The metal pole?”

“He means A Christmas Story,” Tyler supplied.

“Yes,” Joel agreed, pointing emphatically at him.

“Oh,” Theo bit her lip. That hadn’t even crossed her mind. “What if you almost kiss?”

“What?” Fiia and Joel asked together.

“Like,” she glanced around and then realized she’d have to demonstrate. She wasn’t about to do it with Joel, which left only one option, “Ty, come here.”

He dutifully came to her side.

Leaning down, when one of her hands slid around the back of his neck, Tyler felt his heart begin to race. Was this really about to happen?

Angling her face up to his, she stopped just short so her breath whispered over his mouth. Tyler felt like his skin might just catch fire. A tingling sensation rose goosebumps on his skin, even under all the layers.

Being this close to Tyler, feeling his breath on her face, smelling his cologne, knowing what a kiss from him felt like, a thousand feelings ignited, rushing through her body.

When they were this close, Theo couldn’t see his features distinctly, but she knew from the set of his brow and the slight hitch in his breath that he was excited, which surprised her. He’d kissed hundreds, maybe thousands of women. Shouldn’t he be used to this by now?

Suddenly, kissing him felt inevitable - like a word just on the tip of her tongue. She had to say it, or it’d eat her alive.

Someone cleared their throat, and they snapped back to reality, pushing away from each other with so much force, both of them stumbled.

“Like that,” Theo said, trying to force her mind back to the task at hand.

“So we just walk back here, act like we’re denying our feelings and then walk out?”

Everyones eyes snapped to Joel.

Fiia swatted his arm.

“What?” he asked, rubbing where she’d hit him.

She rolled her eyes, hiked up her dress and walked out of frame.

Tyler glanced at Theo, only to find her doing the same with him. It felt like he was back in middle school as he averted his eyes. What had just happened there? He felt seconds from kissing her, seconds from telling her he was sorry and seconds from professing his love. He didn’t do things like that. What was wrong with him?

Theo turned back to her camera, changing the exposure settings. If nothing else, she’d get a beautiful shot of the lights.

“Okay, we’ve got one shot at this, so when I say go, walk in, almost kiss, and then when I say to, walk out.”

Both Fiia and Joel nodded.

She started the exposure.

“Okay, coats off,” both pieces of clothing hit the snow, “and go.”

To Fiia, it felt a tiny bit like how she imagined walking down the aisle would, except Joel was walking toward her, too. Even the cold felt magic - drawing them together for warmth of so many kinds.

Joel had kissed Fiia hundreds of times, and he still felt his body tightening in anticipation as he hovered a breath away from her. This must have been torture for Tyler, especially as he didn’t have any warning of what was coming. He knew Tyler still loved Theo. He got this nostalgic puppy-dog longing look in his eyes anytime Joel saw them together.

“And, out,” Theo instructed.

Pulling back reluctantly, Fiia broke from Joel’s grasp to back away. She’d never felt anything like that before - she’d never felt such intense anticipation. Whatever cold toes (because she didn’t have cold feet, just a few minor am I really about to do this? anxieties) she’d had were thawed by the time she got back to her coat.

As soon as the shutter of her camera clicked shut, Theo unclipped it from the tripod, anxious to see how the shot had turned out.

“Yes!” she yelled when the preview pulled up, thrusting her fist into the air as if she were brandishing a victorious sword. “Oh my god.”

Everyone gathered around her, Tyler behind, with Joel and Fiia on either side. She felt Tyler’s hands, their weight familiar, come to rest on her shoulders.

Tyler felt awe swell up in his chest like a balloon when she tipped the camera so they could all see. Even on the tiny preview screen, the picture was perfect. The northern lights, glowing bright green with just a touch red, were snaking over the sky, while Joel and Fiia kissed in the foreground. They were slightly blurred around the edges, as if they were made of something magical.

“You’re incredible,” Fiia squealed, throwing her arms around Theo, causing her to nearly drop the camera.

Tyler reached forward to steady it.

“That’s really amazing, Theo,” Joel admitted.

“Maybe a little worth freezing your ass off for?” she asked with a small smile.

He laughed, “maybe. We’ll see how the rest turn out.”

Theo snorted. “Okay, go get inside, you two,” she said, waving them off, “you’ve got a big day tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Theo,” Fiia said, leaning in to plant a kiss on her cheek before Joel helped her gather her dress, and they traipsed back to the main hotel.

Without being asked, Tyler helped her gather her equipment, and they went back into the hut.

“Oh my god,” Theo said, flopping onto the bed. “I’m so glad that worked.”

“How did you know it would?” he asked as he unscrewed the soft box from its base.

“I’ve been dreaming of that picture since I was, like, fifteen.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I had the idea for it the first time I did night sky photography.”

“It was really amazing.”

Now that they were back in the warmth of the hut and her adrenaline was wearing off, she admitted, “Fuck, it’s cold.”

“The sauna’s hot if you wanna go in,” he offered, hoping he didn’t sound like he was trying to be too casual.

“It is?”

“Yeah. When you called Joel and Fi, I asked the staff to heat it so we could go in after we were done.”

“Oh,” she breathed. The forethought in that statement awoke something in Theo she hadn’t let herself feel since she broke things off with Tyler. If he didn’t do all these little things that made her feel so cared for, it would have made walking away from him much, much easier.

“We don’t have to,” he quickly amended. Maybe that felt too intimate to her.

“No,” she shook her head, “I’d like to. It’s just…that was really nice, Ty.” He hadn’t needed to help her with her crazy photoshoot ideas, and he’d stayed there the whole time, doing whatever she asked. And he definitely didn’t need to ask someone to heat their sauna so they could thaw after being in the cold for so long.

He shrugged. It seemed like the right thing to do to him, that was all. It wasn’t like he wasn’t benefitting from it.

She had to fish her suitcase from the little storage space to get her swimming suit. Sure, it was traditional to go nude in a Sauna, but one, they were in public, and two, she wasn’t sure she was quite ready to bear all to Tyler again.

He laughed when he found Theo folded over the toilet, slowly backing up as she eased the suitcase out. “Do you need some help?”

“Nope,” she grunted, finally getting it through the oblong triangular opening and standing up. “Got it.”

Turning, she found Tyler watching her with a bemused expression on his face, wearing nothing but a pair of dark green swim trunks.

The sudden exposure of so much of his skin made her heart flutter in her chest. Seeing him directly, rather than through the ghost reflection in the window that morning, she could see he’d had his tattoos worked on. He must have had some shading and touching up done over the summer.

Reaching past her, he plucked one of the robes off the hook behind her. “I’ll meet you out there, okay?”

She nodded, not quite able to form words.

The door smacked shut after he left, and she stood watching it for a second before she came to her senses and stripped down to change.

“It’s kind of insane,” Theo began when she opened the Sauna door, welcoming the hot, humid air that rushed out at her, “that I just put on a bathing suit when I’m freezing cold.”

“Just get in and shut the door. You’ll thaw right out.”

Laughing, she kicked off the resort-provided non-crocs, stepped inside, and shut the door behind her, twisting the little surfboard shaped piece of wood to latch it. The wood under her feet was smooth and dry. It felt grounding in a way she’d never felt before.

Tyler didn’t try to hide his stare as she slid the robe off her shoulders and turned to hang it up on the hook next to his.

“What?” Theo asked when she turned back and found him staring at her.

A little, secret smile spread over his face, and he laughed, shaking his head a little. “Nothing,” he lied, not quite ready to tell her how beautiful she was in her purple swimsuit. The color brought out the caramel highlights in her hair, and the golden flecks in her eyes, not to mention how the bits that criss-crossed in the front accentuated her figure.

Her hands went to her hips, and then jumped away. They were still freezing.

“Here, come up here,” he said, patting the spot on the bench next to him. “It’s warmest up here.”

He felt a little breathless watching her climb up the short flight of stairs to take her spot next to him.

“Thank you for doing this,” she said, sitting a good two feet away from him.

He wanted to reach over and pull her closer but resisted. They weren’t together. She’d made that very clear. A few months ago, she wouldn’t have hesitated to change in front of him — he’d seen all of her. He knew why, but it still hurt, especially after that almost-kiss which only served to cement how he was feeling. He thought he knew her well enough to know that she felt that spark between them reignite, too, but he must have been mistaken.

“Figured it would be nice,” he said, one shoulder shrugging up.

“It is,” she said, pressing her palms into the smooth wooden bench, willing them to absorb some warmth. The heat was starting to needle at her skin - pricking in a way that felt oddly satisfying. It was almost as if each of her nerves were unthawing and popping back into alignment.

“I’m glad Kivi and Fi came out.”

“Me too,” she agreed, leaning forward a bit to look at the stove. A bright fire was dancing merrily behind the glass. “I’ll need to do a bit of editing, I’m sure, but I think they’re going to be pretty incredible.”

“My mom loved the one you sent, by the way. She said to say thanks.”

Theo smiled, “I’m glad.”

Words he wasn’t quite ready to say pushed into Tylers mouth. He forced them back down and cleared his throat.

“So…”

“How’ve you been?” he asked.

Toying with the idea of being completely honest, Theo thought about what to say. She wanted to say she was lonely and that being here with him was refreshing and nice, like a piece of her life clicked back into place, but she held her tongue. She wasn’t quite ready to reopen that box.

“Good,” she said instead. “Really excited I finally got to photograph the northern lights.” That felt like safe, neutral territory.

“I’m excited for you,” he said, even though he was getting sick of dancing around their relationship. It was a giant elephant sitting between them that just needed to be addressed.

“How have you been?” she asked, finally looking over at him.

Well, he supposed, now was his chance to be honest. You don’t wish for it and then squander the opportunity when it comes calling, “pretty shitty to be honest.”

Theo was a little taken aback at his honesty. “Yeah?”

Was she really going to make him come out and say it? He supposed he deserved that. “Yeah. I miss you.”

Something inside her broke. Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to admit, “I miss you, too.”

Even though she couldn’t see his face, she could hear a smile in his voice as he said, “yeah?”

“Yeah. It’s been torture to be here with you,” she admitted. “I look at you, and…” she trailed off, venturing to look into his face. Heat that had nothing to do with the sauna flashed through her as his tongue darted over his lips.

“And?” he prodded.

“It’s just easy to remember…” she said, eyes locking on his. The lust that had been bubbling under the surface since that almost-kiss roared to a full boil, threatening to spill over.

“I can’t stop thinking about you,” he admitted, scooting closer. Praise be to everything holy, he thought when she didn’t back away. “I want to try again.”

In a replay of just an hour before, his hand slipped to the back of her neck, and he brought his mouth dangerously close to hers.

In a rush of reckless want, she closed the distance between them, pressing her lips to his. The walls she put up around her heart trembled, threatening to collapse all together.

His other hand, dry and warm, slipped onto her waist as his tongue slipped past her lips.

It was like no time had passed. Kissing Theo had always been one of his favorite things to do. And God, the taste of her. He’d missed it so much.

Theo slid her hands into his hair, trying to bring him closer. He answered her call, intensifying the kiss and falling into her even more.

Feeling like she was slowly melting to liquid, Theo lay back, aching to feel Tylers weight on top of her again. He followed willingly, hips finding a comfortable, familiar home against hers. His whole body was hard and hot - just like she remembered.

His mouth broke from hers and dipped to her neck.

She’d missed this, too: the nice things he could do with his mouth and the gentle rasp of his beard over her skin.

“Ty,” she moaned.

“I love the way you say my name,” he moaned into her neck, “I’ve missed it so much.”

“Ty,” she repeated, fire licking into her veins at his admission. As if on muscle memory alone, one of her legs wrapped around his waist. “Oh my god.”

“I can’t wait to be inside you again,” he moaned, trying to soak up the heat that was blooming between them. He’d been with women after they broke up. He’d called old hookups and found women on Raya, but it was never the same. He felt like he was chasing perfection, only to find he really only wanted the one that got away.

Apparently, her desire was taking control of her mouth, too, “no one makes me feel like you do, Ty.”

A ridiculous feeling of pride exploded in him. Bringing his mouth to her ear, he asked, “do you want me to make you come?”

“Yes!” she gasped.

“How many times?”

“I —” This was another nice thing he could do with his mouth. How had she forgotten the way he could work her up with just a few words growled in her ear.

“How many times, Theo?” he asked, grinding his hips into hers. Relishing her gasp.

“I don’t —” she panted, mind racing. How was she supposed to answer that? “As many times as you want.” She knew he wanted a number, but she honestly wasn’t sure her body ever would let her let go of this now that he was back.

He let out a satisfied hum, and one of his hands snaked down to the waist of her bikini bottoms, toying with the band and making her entire body tremble.

The fire popped, and she suddenly remembered where they were. Forcing herself to pull away from the Tyler Seguin slow kiss special, she gasped, “we can’t have sex in the sauna.”

“Why not?” he asked, mouth now traveling down the exposed skin of her chest.

“Ty, it’s not right.”

“Then come inside with me,” he said.

She nodded, and he pushed himself up.

As soon as she was on her feet, he had her hand in his, unwilling to let this moment go.

They couldn’t get into the hut fast enough. They didn’t even grab their robes or shoes - they just made the mad dash between the buildings, too high on the thought of finally being together again to stop.

She giggled, and he swore as he hit his head, trying to scramble into the hut as quickly as possible. The door slammed shut behind them.

Tackling her into the bed, Tyler waisted no time covering her body with his own, resuming the rocking of his hips to build the heat back up again.

Her hands explored the hard muscles of his chest and around to his toned back as one of his slipped down her body again.

Bypassing teasing all together, his fingers slipped under the purple fabric.

Her hips jumped when he made contact with her slick folds.

As he eased his finger into her, a small noise escaped her throat. Tyler glanced into her face and immediately stopped everything he was doing.

Her eyes were screwed shut, and she was pulling in slow, shaky breaths, as if trying to calm herself down.

Easing out, he wiped his fingers on his shorts as he moved to lay beside her. “Hey,” he said, running a hand up her arm.

She pulled in another shaky breath, eyes still shut tight.

“Theo?”

She managed to make a noise that sounded at least something like, “hmm?”

“Are you panicking? Do you need your medication?”

She shook her head, pulling in another quaking breath like she was trying to suppress tears.

“What’s wrong?”

“I thought I could…” she found the words spilling out of her mouth, even as embarrassment flushed into her cheeks. She’d started this whole thing. “But I — I need to know.”

“You need to know what?” he urged gently as his hand came to rest comfortably on the back of her arm.

Her eyes fluttered open to find him watching her, concern all over his face and in his big brown eyes.

She just had to get it over with. “Is this just fucking?”

The breath stalled in Tylers chest.

“Or do you want more than that? Do you really want to try again? I’m not sure I can do this if it’s just fucking.”

He thought he’d made himself clear in the sauna. Maybe what he’d thought hadn’t come out right. It wouldn’t be the first time.

Looking at her now, even full of worry and uncertainty, he wanted her. Not just physically. He wanted to take care of her and let her take care of him. He wanted to keep her safe. He wanted to be with her all the time, even if they were just sitting on the couch, watching some old movie she’d found on some list of films ‘everyone should watch.’

He made his mouth start talking, hoping he didn’t sound like a dick, “I meant it, Theo.”

Her eyes, which had wandered to look through the glass ceiling, snapped back to his.

“I want to try again. I know it’s stupid and cliche that you realize what you’ve got when it’s gone. I knew some of what I had while you were still here, but I was so scared to fuck something up, or what if I got bored or something…”

To her credit, she stayed quiet, just watching as he thought through his words.

“And when you left —” he had to pause as his voice choked in his throat. “After you left...” He tried again, “I’ve never been so bored in my life,” he admitted with a little self deprecating laugh. “I regretted it the day after we broke up, but I didn’t want to call you up until I had everything figured out.”

A breath of a laugh escaped through Theo’s nose. Typical Tyler, wanting to have everything in a neat little row before he could move forward. “And how did that go for you?” She didn’t mean them to, but the words came out of her mouth sarcastic and insincere.

Thankfully, he laughed and gave her a self deprecating smile. “Not great,” he admitted.

“I started seeing a therapist,” he added on quietly.

“Really?” Theo asked, pulling back in surprise.

“I told you, I wanted to make sure I had everything figured out. And trying to figure it out on my own wasn’t doing jack shit, so I figured I might as well give it a try.”

“And?”

He shrugged, but she could tell he was trying to feign nonchalance, “it’s fine. We’ve talked a lot about my parents' divorce.”

She figured they would have to. It was one of the things he brought up as an argument to her. “I don’t want my kids to go through what I did,” he’d told her as they discussed their future. “I don’t know how to be certain.”

“Yeah?” she said now as the lust that had been dancing between them slipped away completely.

He nodded, and acknowledging this was going to be a much needed discussion, he pushed himself off of her, moving to sit up against the headboard. She joined him, pulling her comforter over her legs as she did so.

In a beleaguered expression, Tyler dragged a hand down his face, “It affected me even more than I thought. I didn’t know…I mean marriage is so huge, you know, and I just felt like I didn’t know if I’d ever be ready to make that step, like why do it if it was just going to fail? Or how do you know that someone is the right one?”

She made a humming noise and nodded. “It is a big decision.”

“And it felt a little like you were trying to get me to marry you right then.”

“Oh,” Theo said, glancing down at her interlaced fingers before looking into his face. “I didn’t mean…I mean, I’d love to marry you, Tyler.”

A small part of him rejoiced when she didn’t use the past tense.

“But I didn’t mean to make you feel like you had to marry me right away. I just wanted to know if it was even a possibility.”

“It is.”

His simple statement hung between them, achingly certain. Their eyes met, and Theo felt something shift in her. There was something tender and earnest in his expression. Something she’d never seen before.

“It is?” she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded, reaching for her hand, “with you it is.”

“You’re sure?”

“Of all the women I’ve ever dated, you’re the only one I could picture myself married to,” he said, not allowing himself to break eye contact. “You’re the only one that it’s worked with like that.”

Maybe it was muscle memory, or maybe it was lust. Likely, it was just because she wanted to feel closer to him, but she found herself crawling into his lap, knees bracketing his hips.

“I feel like that, too, Ty. It’s always been easy with you.” That was a bit of a lie. It hadn’t always been easy - they argued and had to get used to each other just like any other couple, but they communicated well, and it felt easier to express her needs with him than it had been with any of her past partners. Likely because he listened and acted on what he heard far more than any of her previous partners.

“Yeah,” he agreed as a lazy smile hitched onto his face, one corner tipping up more than the other.

Unwilling to wait any longer, Theo leaned in, brushing her lips over his.

Tyler hummed, and tipped his head back to capture her mouth.

“I missed you so much,” she murmured as she brought her mouth to the soft part of his jaw, right under his ear.

“God, you have no idea how much I missed you,” he said, head tipping to give her more room.

“So,” she said, pulling away and sitting on his thighs, “about those orgasms.”

Laughter burst from his mouth, “I’ll give you as many as you want,” he said and, with a smile still on his lips, leaned in to kiss her.

The next morning, Theo was jolted awake by someone knocking on the glass outside their hut.

“Oof!” Tyler groaned as she elbowed him in the stomach in her haste to figure out what was going on.

Fiia was standing on the other side of the window next to her, making kissy faces.

With a jolt, Theo realized she was sitting up in bed with no top on. She scrambled for the bedspread, yanking it out from under Tyler in her haste to cover herself.

“What’s going on?” he asked, attempting to rub the sleep from his eyes.

“Fiia’s a little imp. That’s what’s going on,” Thea said, glaring at the woman in question, who was now cackling.

“I knew it!” Though she was yelling, her voice came into the hut as if she was a great way off. “I knew you guys were getting together last night!”

Joel appeared at the front of the hut, traipsing through the snow to get to Fiia’s side.

Why hadn’t they shut the blinds?

Rifling through her memories of last night, she supposed there was never really a time they could have. By the time Tyler had given her as many orgasms as she could handle, making use of every inch of the tiny European double bed and he’d come on and inside her, they were both so exhausted, they fell asleep almost at once, tangled together.

“Look, look, look!” Fiia was yelling, gleefully pointing into the hut. “I told you so!”

Joel seemed to grumble something, reached into his back pocket, and pulled his wallet out.

“You made a bet?” Theo demanded, watching him hand Fiia a euro note.

“What’s going on?” Tyler repeated, a little louder, sitting up.

“They made a bet we would get together,” Theo said, incredulous as she pointed at Fiia, who was now preening and kissing the 100 note. “Well, I guess Fiia bet we would get together. Apparently, Joel didn’t think so.”

Fiia shoved it in her pocket, raced around to the door, and threw it open. Apparently, in their haste to be together, they’d forgotten to lock it.

“I knew it!” she yelled, voice now loud and clear.

Theo winced.

Tyler threw the blanket over his lap as Fiia strode into the hut.

“I knew it! I knew you couldn’t go through that almost kiss and not get together!”

“Alright, alright,” Theo said, holding up one hand in surrender. The other kept the blanket pressed to her chest.

“What do you want, Fiia?” Tyler asked, not bothering to hide the annoyance in his voice.

“You’re going to miss breakfast,” she said. “And then you,” she pointed at him, “are needed in the Grooms suite.”

The wedding. In the unbelievable, lust-filled haze of last night, he’d completely forgotten about the wedding.

“Fiia, come on,” Joel said quietly, still standing outside, “they just woke up.”

“Alright, alright,” she said, throwing her hands in the air and smacking one of the ceiling beams. “Ow!”

‘Fiia,” Tyler said, warning.

“I’m going. You have fifteen minutes before you’ll miss breakfast!” she said as she walked back outside. When she turned to shut the door, she looked at Theo and said, “you have to tell me everything.”

Theo felt herself grow hot, and with another cackling laugh, Fiia let the door close.

Tyler fell back on the bed with a groan, and before she could get up, he pulled Theo down next to him.

“Good morning,” he said, nuzzling her.

“Good morning,” she echoed, turning to bring their lips together.

His tongue slipped into her mouth with practiced ease as he eased her onto her back.

Breakfast could wait.

#winter fic exchange 2k25 #tyler seguin #tyler seguin fanfiction #tyler seguin x oc #tyler seguin x ofc #tyler seguin au #tyler seguin imagine #tyler seguin fic #tyler seguin smut #nhl fanfiction #hockey fanfiction #hockey romance #exes to lovers #forced proximity #there's only one bed #rpf

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avastyetwats · 1 day ago

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Fair point. Fet was just so taken aback by his offer, he wanted to make sure. But honestly, he didn't even know if Quinlan was capable of lying or of trickery unless it was to take down an enemy. Used to, Fet didn't even think he knew what a joke was, or what humor, in general, was, until recently when he discovered just how sassy and sarcastic The Born could be. Having been on the receiving end of it and watching it happen to others. It was funny as fuck when it was happening to others, though. He got a kick out of Quinlan annihilating others with his words. That sword on his back wasn't his only weapon.

Oh, shit. He was coming closer. His heart rate was picking up again, beating harder and faster, his blood pumping furiously through his veins. The blush had returned to his face again, too. "But...?" He swallowed, daring to look up into those bright, icy blue eyes, though Fet didn't see any coldness within them in this moment. Nor did he hear it in his voice. In fact, this was probably the softest he's ever heard his voice and it was... doing things to him. Both relaxing and arousing him. He started wondering things... such as the feeling of his skin against Quinlan's, even something so simple such as his hand on Quinlan's arm. Was he cool to the touch? Like vampires were in the fictional stories? No... Fet didn't think so, because standing this close to him, he felt nothing but warmth. But his hand twitched, as though wanting to find out for himself. But even then, his breath wasn't cold. They were close enough for Fet to confirm that much.

“ I would very much like to experience these things with you. “

Oh, the way he said that. And how his eyes remained locked on Fet. That was more than just strigoi and human, that was more than just one species wanting to learn about the other... that was Quinlan wanting to experience things with him, wanting to spend time with him. Wanting to know him. So he... he felt the same way, then? He felt all the things Fet was feeling? He couldn't even respond before Quinlan was then asking if it was a date and he said it with a smile. Not meant to tease him, but a genuine smile. One of excitement at the thought of spending time with him, at the possibility of it being a date. Was it a date?

What kind of stupid question is that, Fet? Your heart is hammering in your chest just from standing so close to him. You're wondering how it would feel to touch him, to hold his damn hand, earlier you were offering your blood to him and questioning if it was orgasmic while imagining it in your own mind and now you're wondering what it would be like to kiss him.

That was answer enough.

"Uh, yeah. Yeah, I, um," he clears his throat. "I guess it could be, yeah. If that's what you're wanting, uh, hoping it to be." Only if that's what Quinlan also wanted. Assuming he understood what a date was and he seemed to. "But," he sighed. "it would be best to wait until the master is gone. Until the strigoi aren't running the streets. When New York is at it's most beautiful. That's what you deserve." Not like it was now. Overrun with the munchers, the streets and walls stained with blood and bodies. "Besides, you've said it before... we don't have any time to waste." They needed to stop the Master. "After, though." Finally feeling brave enough, he lifted his hand to touch his arm and his heart did a little flutter. "I promise."

Quinlan could both hear and feel his heart beating fast, and it made him wonder. He’d caught him briefly staring at him in a way he wasn’t as familiar with. Perhaps if he could blush, he would have. Those deep eyes of Fet’s could dive deep into your soul. He had to sdmit, for a human he was quite the specimen. Strong, fierce willed, and yet so soft and gentle beneath. It was a combination that he indeed had come to fancy.

He smiled a little to himself. “ Precisely. He’s been targeting silos already and removing the weapons himself. We just have to beat him at his own game. “ But just then, feeling warm, Quinlan changed the subject and for once it was something lighter. “ I-.. could teach you some of these languages if you desired. I’m not exactly fluent in all of them, however my Sunerian is rather good. “ Why was he doing this? Was this an attempt at flirtation? Frankly, he didn’t know how, but something about Fet simply pulled him in:

“ And I assume we’ll have plenty of time for me to show you a few things. We will be out in the wilderness, after all. Besides staying alive, warm, and fed, it may help to pass the time. “

#c; vasilily fet #strxgxi

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dawnpours · 2 years ago

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Some of you guys were really nice about my Ez art so I decided to go ahead and post these! Some are very sketchy and/or only make sense in the context of our game, sorry about that! I'll put a few explanations in the tags for fun

Also can you believe that last one is the only in-game canon kiss? That said, play a drinking game with Zone of Truth activated, 11/10 best way to get npc lore and/or try to uncover if your cleric is indeed a werewolf.

#the first one was right after the rest of the party yelled at her for always rushing in and endangering herself #and she was trying to explain to them that that was how she kept them safe #because she knew she was the only one able to take the hits and the others needed the range #but she had gone down a few times at that point and they were concerned and a bit aggressive #and Ez basically took her side and defended her a bit before asking her to still be careful #the hug one is wishful thinking #the third one is when they had a bit of downtime to read a certain book and they were having basically sleepovers for a week #and that's when Rainer realized that this was more than a crush #the kiss one I don't really need to explain but the other girl is Savra #who is Rainer's ex in our game #the comic is right after Rainer was exposed as a warforged #she had her arm almost ripped off by a wolf and wasn't sure she could put it in water #that one is very old and the art is eh but it's still a precious moment #especially since it was the beginning of Ez' comments slowly reshaping Rainer's perception of her own body #then it's just my obsession with drawing people in braids #there is a reason it's Rainer's love language and that reason is I want to draw all the braids #then I just wanted to draw her happy and free after we got part of her backstory #the one where she's from the back is right after Rainer almost got mauled by wolves #i got too excited because I had just gotten Haste and got to 1hp ahahaha #she panicked and got Rainer back up #got beat up herself and then refused healing #saying she was okay #Rainer didn't listen and Lay-on-hands-ed her in passing #this was her reaction and to this day I'm half convinced this was part of her hating that they were starting to care for eachother #and then the last one is her kissing Dhakil (our cleric and the love of my life)#during a truth or dare (with alcohol and zone of truth) where she was dared to kiss someone in the party by our warlock #Dhakil 'touch-averse' Virkas straight up said 'yeah don't be shy'#so she kissed him instead and immediately came out as gay afterwards. a queen.#ezmerelda d'avenir #curse of strahd

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foldingfittedsheets · 2 months ago

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There was this park near where I grew up. I remember we’d just moved to the area so I was around six and we drove past and saw this waterfront area. My parents decided to check it out so we went for a walk. It was a lovely park, there’s a lazy slough, lots of trees, extremely picturesque. My parents ambled along the trail enjoying the nature while my siblings and I ranged around in their orbit like excitable moons.

Then I saw something odd. Something vibrantly alive down by the water that was entirely the wrong color. I called back my vital scouting info and my family gathered around me. We looked down the steep verge toward the slough, screened by underbrush. We couldn’t quite make out what it was. The only thing we could agree was that it certainly wasn’t a duck. However it was about duck sized and roughly duck shaped. It just wasn’t a duck.

This led to some heated debate amongst my siblings and I but we were forbidden to scramble down the muddy hill to harass the mystery animal. Reluctantly we continued down the trail, speculating wildly when a chicken popped out of a bush in front of us with a train of several chicks.

We froze. The chicken did not. She placidly herded her little puffs across the trail, pecking happily for seeds, unbothered by our proximity. My family had not yet delved into farming and this was the first time any of us kids had seen a chicken up close. It was like a fairytale thing, a creature we had seen over and over in books was suddenly here in the wilderness of the park. We all realized the mystery creature had likewise been a chicken.

Another couple came up the trail and saw us staring.

“Is this your first time at the park?” They asked?

We nodded.

They informed us that this park had become a dumping ground for unwanted chickens. Once the chickens were dumped they were park property and the locals didn’t mind the eccentric additions at all. No one looked after the chickens, but they got on surprisingly well.

As the years went by we visited the park regularly. Signs were added to warn people not to dump off chickens or they’d be fined. They were also excluded from snatching the existing chickens. The hope was that the chickens would eventually run their course and the park would go back to normal.

It did not.

Instead the menagerie grew. Peacocks cropped up occasionally, turkeys; and one visit we saw guinea fowl. But there were always chickens. Eventually feed dispenser were installed so park goers could pay a quarter to enjoy the motley flocks.

Because we’d moved into a house with land my mom started up a chicken coop and we got our very own chickens at the feed store like proper folks. The first rooster we had was a gentleman, politely clucking at us when came into the coop, but the second proved troublesome a year later. He either adored or hated me. Every time I entered the coop he’d dance and flounce and brandish his spurs.

My mom didn’t want to off him frankly she didn’t know how at that point but his fascination ended with him flying at me and the rooster was sentenced to banishment.

We drove to the park.

We saw him there for years afterward, clucking dutifully around a small flock of hens. He did pretty well in exile.

Anyone who’s kept chickens knows that eventually there’s always a tragedy. Ours happened when a neighbors dog broke into our coop and slaughtered the flock. I was absolutely distraught, my lovingly hand reared chicks all decimated in a flurry of senseless bloodlust. I have not loved a chicken since. They are too fragile to bear it.

After a few days of mourning my mom offered that she knew where to find some more chickens. To make up for the massacre she planned a night raid with us. We stayed up past our bedtime and drove to the park with tarp covered kennels in the back of the truck.

We crept down along the gravel parking lot, looking up into the trees, spotting the telltale lumps of shadows that meant chickens. We quickly developed a strategy. We picked a chicken branch, creeping close underneath. Then we reached the end of the branch and gave it a good shake until the roosting chicken glided down to the ground in confusion. It was easy to scoop them up and we went home the proud new owner of a handsome flock of chickens.

The Take a Chicken Leave a Chicken park is still a beloved feature of its neighborhood to this day.

#ramblies #writing #funny #chickens #chicken park #story #ffs foibles #animal death

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dazevi · 28 days ago

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baby, can i? | vi x fem!reader, fluff, smut (18+ mdni) wc: 6k

synopsis: vi guides you through your first time. | masterlist

content warnings: modern au!, tiniest mention of hockey player!vi, virgin!reader/inexperienced!reader, experienced!vi, soft top!vi, needy vi, nsfw/smut; consent is sexy!!!!!!, kissing/making out, little bit of perverted vi, soft sex, fingering and oral (r!receiving) slight overstim, bit of praise kink for both reader and vi, a little sappy tbh

note: ok wait this actually is really sappy/cheesy/whatver ummm but i hope u like it (also i might be on a writers high a little bit > got a request for bartender!vi andi am very excited to write about it)

It was all innocent at first—a movie you chose playing on the TV in Vi’s apartment, her chin resting lightly on your shoulder, her thumbs gently brushing circles against your sides, and ever so often, her lips grazing the top of your head in fleeting, soft kisses. You were tucked between her legs, your back resting against her chest, and her arms were securely wrapped around your waist possessively, not wanting you to move away from her.

You were watching the movie—or at least, you were trying to.

But Vi wasn’t making it easy.

She’d been unusually affectionate all evening, her hands sneaking under the hem of your sweater to rest directly on your skin. They weren’t wandering; she wasn’t teasing you like she sometimes did.

No, this was different.

Her fingers were just there, pressed against your stomach as if she needed to feel the warmth of you. She was quiet, which wasn’t unusual when she was in one of these soft, clingy moods, but you could feel her every breath against your back, her chest rising and falling steadily. In different minutes, she would shift slightly, her legs tensing around you as if she were adjusting, but really, you knew it was just an excuse to pull you closer.

“Comfy?” she asked after a while, her voice low and soft in your ear.

“Mhm,” you murmured back, turning your head slightly to look at her.

She only smiled.

“What?” You smiled back, a soft giggle falling from your lips.

Vi shook her head, placing a tiny kiss to your shoulder, “Nothing.”

She was so close, her face inches from yours, her eyes glinting in the flickering light of the TV. There was a small smile tugging at her lips, and when she caught you looking at her, she tilted her head, her expression softening in a way that made your heart flutter.

Vi had been head over heels for you from the start, though she’d never admit how fast it all happened.

She prided herself on being smooth, confident, and a little cocky—someone who always knew how to flirt, how to charm, how to make the girls swoon. And it worked for her, for the most part. Vi had never struggled to get attention; her charm, confidence, and maybe sometimes even her muscles, did most of the talking before she even opened her mouth.

But none of that prepared her for you.

When you first started dating, Vi tried to play it cool. She told herself she’d keep it casual, keep things easy. But then you smiled at her like she’d hung the moon, and that was it. Vi fell hard—headfirst, without a parachute—and it terrified her.

She couldn’t stop thinking about you, couldn’t stop replaying every moment you spent together like they were the best scenes in a movie she never wanted to end. Every time you laughed, her chest felt too tight, like her heart was trying to claw its way out of her ribcage just to reach you. She didn’t even realize how deep she was in until one day she caught herself thinking about you in the middle of practice, her teammates yelling her name because she’d missed the puck for the third time.

She told herself it wasn’t a big deal. People fell in love all the time, right?

Right?

And that scared her more than anything. Because Vi wasn’t used to feeling this vulnerable. She was used to being in control, to calling the shots, to knowing exactly where she stood. But with you, she felt like she was walking a tightrope, one misstep away from falling so deep she might never recover. And yet, she couldn’t bring herself to care.

Because as much as you terrified her, you also made her feel alive in ways she never thought possible.

And for the first time in her life, she wasn’t afraid to admit that someone else had her completely, utterly, helplessly wrapped around their finger.

And, truth be told, you’re not exactly experienced when it came to sex.

The first time you told her, it took Vi by surprise.

She had been getting touchy one day, as she always did when she was around you, teasing you with little brushes of her fingers against your skin, her lips grazing your neck as she whispered something playful in your ear. She could sense the way you tensed up, not in a way that made her think you were uncomfortable, but… uncertain.

“I—uh, I’m not really… experienced with all this,” you had admitted, your cheeks flushed a deep shade of red, eyes glancing away, as if ashamed to even say it aloud. “I’ve never… done it with someone before.”

Vi froze, her breath caught in her throat.

She hadn’t expected it—hadn’t thought that you might be nervous about something so natural to her. Vi had been with plenty of people, experienced in more ways than one, but she’d never really stopped to think about someone who was new to it all, someone who might feel hesitant or unsure. She paused, but then the softest smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she looked at you softly.

“Hey,” she said, her voice gentle as she cupped your face with her hand, guiding your gaze back to hers. “You don’t have to be embarrassed, okay? I’m not in a rush. We’ll go at your pace, baby.”

You swallowed hard, the knot in your stomach still there, but hearing her words made it feel a little easier to breathe. She didn’t judge you. She didn’t make you feel small for being inexperienced. She understood your vulnerability because, in a way, she felt it too.

“I’m really into you,” Vi had said, her voice soft but sincere. “All I care about is being with you. So, if we go slow—if you need time—then we go slow. I’m not going anywhere.”

She kept her word.

She let you set the pace, kissed you slow and gentle, her hands always asking for permission before they moved anywhere further. When you’d get nervous, when you’d pull back, she’d smile at you, brushing your hair from your face, whispering how beautiful you were, how much she liked being close to you. She was kind of shocked herself. She had the patience to listen, the kind of patience she’d never thought she’d have for anyone, but for you? She’d have it for a lifetime if you needed her to.

But god, sometimes, it was really fucking hard.

She wanted to fuck you so bad.

Vi was, above all else, just a woman—a woman with desires that had been left unchecked for far too long. Everything you did made her heart race, made her head spin. You were so fucking pretty. It was almost unbearable. Vi wanted to get lost in you, wanted to feel her lips all over your skin, wanted to explore every inch of you until she knew you as well as she knew herself.

And she respected your boundaries more than anything. She wanted you to feel safe with her, to feel cherished, to feel like there was no rush.

But god, it was hard.

Every time you turned to her and smiled that soft, shy smile, when your fingers brushed against hers so innocently, it felt like you were silently asking for more—though you weren’t. The way you looked at her sometimes, the way you held her gaze when your lips brushed against hers, made it nearly impossible to keep herself in check.

In different situations, at a party, or even just in her apartment or yours, she’d excuse herself for a moment, retreating to the bathroom or something, just to compose herself. She’d close her eyes and huff a hard and heavy sigh, shamelessly picture it all in her head until it drove her insane. Then, she’d go back to you, a bit more touchy and loving, standing even closer than before, unable to get her eyes to look away from you. She’d smile that charming smile of hers when you turn to look at her and tell you it was nothing—even though it wasn’t nothing. Not when her eyes would keep falling to your soft lips, her hands itching at her sides to touch you in places people aren’t allowed to see, and her jaw clenching at the sight of you in such a pretty dress or whatever outfit you decided to put together that day.

Vi wasn’t perfect. Sometimes, she was just someone who wanted to touch you, to hold you, to feel your body pressed against hers. Every time you looked up at her, those soft eyes that sparkled when they met hers, she couldn’t help but think how much she wanted to kiss you, to make you feel as good as you made her feel.

But she holds herself back every time. And she’s quite proud of herself, actually.

Tonight, though, something felt different.

Vi couldn’t put her finger on it, but she felt it deep in her bones. It wasn’t just the heat in the room or the way the soft glow of the TV flickered against your skin. It was the how you’d been leaning into her a little more tonight, just enough for her to notice the subtle shift in your body. And it wasn’t like before, when you’d shift away slightly or look at her with wide, hesitant eyes, unsure of the closeness.

Tonight, you didn’t do that. You leaned in closer.

Vi’s heart skipped a beat as she felt the warmth of your body pressing against hers. Her breath caught, the movie fading into the background as her attention narrowed to you. To the way your body fit so perfectly against hers. Her hand, which had been lazily resting on your waist, hands underneath your sweater, now slid lower, just a little bit—no big deal, just a gentle touch—but the way you didn’t flinch, didn’t pull away, made her pulse race. You didn’t look uncomfortable.

In fact, you looked like you were… waiting. Like you wanted her to touch you more.

Vi wasn’t one to back down from anything, but she had always been patient with you. Yet tonight, she felt the urge to push those boundaries just a little. Her fingertips slid from your waist to your hip, feeling the curve of you, the warmth of your skin beneath the soft fabric of your shirt.

Your breath hitched slightly, but you still didn’t pull away. Instead, your back arched just enough for her to notice, and your eyes flickered up to meet hers. That same shy smile of yours tugged at her heartstrings.

You didn’t seem to mind. In fact, Vi could swear there was something more in your gaze—something that matched the heat she felt rising inside her.

She could feel her chest tighten with as thoughts of you—only you—filled her mind.

She wanted you. So badly.

Her breath came out in soft, breathless whimpers, and your name—your sweet, simple name—fell from her lips like a prayer.

“Baby…” she whispered against you, closing her eyes and letting out soft sigh.

It was so desperate, so soft.

There was no mistaking the need in her voice, the way her breath quickened, the raw hunger she was trying so hard to control, to be gentle with you, but it was obvious to you now that she was practically using every bone in her body to stay patient.

You could feel it in every inch of her, in the way her hands trembled just slightly, in the way her breath hitched as shelingered just out of reach of the place you both knew she desperately wanted to touch.

She dropped her head to your shoulder, her forehead resting gently against the soft curve of your neck as if she was trying to hide her feelings, to keep herself under control, but you could feel it in the way her body tensed, in the way her hands hovered close to you, shaking with the effort of keeping her restraint. She was trying so hard to stay composed, to be gentle, but it was clear she was on the edge, barely holding it together.

She wanted you. Needed you. And her restraint was slipping away with every passing second.

“Vi…”

At the sound of your voice, so soft and gentle, Vi’s gaze snapped up to meet yours. Her eyes were wide, waiting, like she’d been waiting for this moment, for you to say something—anything—to pull her back in. She looked almost like a puppy, the look on her face soft and eager, her lips slightly parted as if she were holding her breath, waiting for you to speak again.

She searched your eyes desperately, wanting to know what you were thinking, what you wanted, because nothing else mattered more.

“I’m here,” she breathed out, her voice barely more than a whisper.

She wanted you to know she was all in—her mind, her body, her heart. She was yours. And in that moment, it felt like nothing could tear her away from you.

“What do you need, baby?” she asked, the words falling from her lips desperately. “Tell me… please.”

Vi’s breath caught in her throat the moment you turned to face her, your eyes locking with hers as if everything else in the room disappeared. The movie was long forgotten by now and for a split second, Vi forgot how to breathe. God, you were so fucking pretty. She couldn’t help but melt as you reached up to gently brush a strand of her hair from her face.

She swallowed hard, fighting the urge to let out a shaky breath as you leaned in, your lips brushing against hers in the softest kiss she’d ever felt. It was sweet, but there was something more beneath it—something deeper.

You pulled away just enough for Vi to feel the coldness of the space left between you, and she immediately chased after your lips like a starved thing, her breath coming quicker, hands gripping your waist. Every inch of her body begged for you, aching to feel you pressed against her, to get closer, to melt into you until nothing else existed. She wanted more—needed more.

And then, your voice, soft and quiet, broke through the haze of her thoughts.

“I want you, Vi…” you whispered.

Your words were soft, almost shy, but they sent a wave of heat crashing through Vi’s chest. Her breath hitched at the sound of your voice, her heart racing even faster.

It was all she needed to hear.

She was lost in you, in the way you made her feel. She melted against you, her hands roaming up your sides, pulling you closer, her lips finding yours once again. This time, it was deeper, needier. She wanted you, more than she’d ever wanted anyone before. Every kiss, every touch, felt like it was both too much and not enough. Vi pulled you closer into her lap, her arms wrapping around you tightly as if she never wanted to let go.

“Fuck,” she whispered, voice shaky, a low groan escaping her throat as she pulled you even closer, her hands cupping the back of your head, deepening the kiss.

You could feel it—the heat building low in your stomach, the wetness pooling in your panties, spreading through your body in waves with every touch of Vi’s hands on your skin. Her grip was firm, her fingers tracing the curve of your waist like she was trying to memorize you. You gasped softly as she shifted you higher in her arms. It was impossible not to react to her—the way she looked at you like you were the only thing that mattered in the world, the way her voice dropped low and raspy when she whispered your name.

Vi couldn’t focus on anything else but you—your soft breath against her lips, your body pressed so close to hers, the way your fingers brushed against her skin. The movie was nothing but background noise now, and all she could think about how you felt, how you tasted, and how much she wanted you.

Without even realizing what she was doing, Vi pulled you closer, your legs straddling her waist. She could feel the weight of your body, the warmth of your skin, and the softness of your touch. You were everything she wanted and more, and Vi’s breath caught as she watched your eyes flicker with the same heat, the same desire that had been building for what felt like forever.

“Need you…” she whimpered, her voice low and needy, her hands already moving to settle more firmly around your waist.

She didn’t give you a moment to think before she stood up, lifting you with ease, her strong arms, muscles flexing, supporting you as if you weighed nothing, as if she’d done this a thousand times before.

You instinctively wrapped your legs around her waist, your arms around her neck, and the heat of your body pressed against hers, the way you fit perfectly, like you were made to be in her arms. She could feel your pulse against her chest, your body trembling just slightly as she carried you through her apartment, heading toward the one place that she knew would be safe—her bedroom.

Vi’s hands moved carefully as she gently laid you down against her bed, her touch lingering on your waist for just a moment longer than necessary. Her body hovered over yours, but she didn’t lean in right away. She paused instead, pulling back slightly to look at you. And god, the way she looked at you—it was like nothing else existed in the world except for you.

You felt the heat rise to your cheeks under her gaze, her eyes roaming your face. Vi wasn’t in a rush now, even if her body ached for you. She could feel her heart pounding, her breath uneven as she just… stared. You looked so fucking pretty, she thought, her lips parting slightly as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.

Her hands moved absently as she tugged at the hem of her own shirt, a random band tee she got on one of her birthdays, pulling it off in one quick motion and tossing it to the side without a second thought. Her toned body caught your attention immediately, and you felt your breath hitch as your eyes lingered on the taut muscles of her arms and the faint scars across her torso. But Vi didn’t even notice… not when her focus was entirely on you. She leaned back slightly, giving herself just enough room to drink you in.

“You’re so beautiful,” she murmured, her voice barely audible, like the words weren’t meant for you to hear but spilled out anyway.

She reached for you again, her hands sliding over your waist as her thumbs brushed over your hips, thumbs tugging slightly on your shorts. Her mind was spinning, her heart hammering in her chest as she hovered over you. The reality of the moment hit her hard, making her stomach flip over and over.

Is this really happening? she thought, her hands trembling slightly as they rested on either side of your waist. Her throat tightened as she struggled to process it all. You’re really going to let me do this? You’re really trusting me like this?

She swallowed hard, her cheeks burning as her eyes roamed over your face. You were looking up at her with so much trust, and it was almost too much for her. Her chest ached in the best way, and a nervous, breathless laugh almost bubbled out of her throat. Vi was confident—she always had been—but this? This was something else entirely. This was someone she adored more than she could put into words, giving her something so special, so intimate, that she started to question if she even deserved it.

What did I do to deserve this? she thought, her mind racing. What did I do to deserve her?

Her palms grew clammy, nervous, and for a split second, she wondered if she was going to pass out from sheer excitement. Her head was spinning with a thousand thoughts—how to take her time, how to make it perfect, how to make sure you felt as loved and cherished as you deserved, as you made her feel.

“Vi,” you whispered softly, and she blinked, her trance breaking for just a moment as her eyes locked with yours.

Your breath caught as you reached up, your fingers gently brushing against her cheek. And as she dipped her head down, her lips brushing against yours in the softest kiss, you knew you were ready.

Vi’s fingers trembled slightly as they toyed with the hem of your shirt as she pulled back from the kiss for a moment. Her eyes darted between yours and the fabric she was clutching, her lips parted as though she was trying to find the right words.

Finally, she managed to ask, her voice low and almost shy, “Can I take this off?”

The eagerness in your nod made her breath hitch, and a soft, breathless laugh escaped her lips, sounding almost disbelieving.

“Okay,” she muttered under her breath, her cheeks pink and her grin wide as she tugged at your shirt gently, pulling it over your head.

“Oh, fuck,” she whispered, her voice almost reverent as her hands came to rest gently on your waist again.

And she… stared again. Here eyes traced every curve and dip of your exposed skin. Her lips parted as if to say something, but no words came out. You blushed hard as the seconds pass, squirming slightly under her gaze, biting your lip as you glanced away, feeling shy.

“Vi… Stop looking at me like that,” you mumbled, your voice soft, barely above a whisper, but Vi didn’t listen.

Instead, she laughed, lie and warm, and dropped her head to your shoulder. Her strong arms wrapped around your waist as she held you close, her breath warm against your skin.

“Sorry, baby… Can you blame me?” she murmured, her breath tickling your neck as she continued, “I’ve got the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen… looking up at me… waiting for me…”

Her words sent a shiver down your spine, and you couldn’t help but smile, even as you playfully shoved at her shoulder.

“Shut up,” you teased, though your voice betrayed the way your heart fluttered in your chest.

She smiled cheekily and lifted her head just enough to press a quick kiss to your neck, her lips lingering for a second longer than necessary. Her hands moved with softly as they slipped to the waistband of your shorts, her fingers brushing against your skin so lightly it sent shivers up your spine. She paused for a moment, as if giving you the chance to stop her, her gaze flickering back up to meet yours.

When you didn’t protest, only nodding softly with a nervous but eager look in your eyes, Vi let out a small, breathy laugh, the sound filled with both excitement and disbelief.

“Wanna make you feel good,” she murmured, more to herself than to you, and then she began to tug your shorts down your legs slowly.

Her calloused fingers grazed against the soft skin of your thighs as she worked them down. She didn’t rush, like she wanted to savor the moment, the sight of you beneath her, the way your breath hitched every time her fingers skimmed too close. She let the fabric fall to the floor before leaning back slightly, taking you in with wide, almost awestruck eyes.

“Perfect,” she whispered, her voice low and thick with emotion. Her hands rested on your knees, gently spreading them apart just enough for her to slip between your legs.

Her breath hitched as her eyes lingered on the damp spot on your panties. Her lips parted slightly, her tongue brushing over them. Her hands trembled just a little as she reached up, fingers grazing the straps of your bra.

“Let me,” she murmured, her voice low and soft.

You nodded, cheeks flushing as Vi carefully unhooked your bra and helped slide it off your shoulders. She tossed it aside, but her focus stayed entirely on you. Her gaze roamed over your tits, her hands smoothing up your sides. She leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to the top of your chest, then another lower, and another, her lips trailing down the valley between your breasts.

“My beautiful girl,” she whispered against your skin, her voice filled with awe and something deeper—something that made your heart race. Her kisses became firmer, needier, and you felt her nose nuzzle against the swell of your tits as she breathed you in, the pads of her thumbs softly rolling over your hard nipples.

You couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh, your fingers threading through her short pink hair as her mouth moved lower, leaving hickeys as she went. Vi looked up at you briefly, her cheeks flushed, her lips parted as though she was about to say something. But instead, she simply smiled—soft and a little smug—and leaned back in, pressing another kiss to your lips that made your toes curl.

Vi’s voice was barely above a whisper, soft and warm against your skin as her fingers toyed with the hem of your panties.

“Can I?” she asked, her thumbs hooked around the waistband, tugging gently, as though she was testing your reaction before going any further.

Her gaze flicked up to meet yours, her blue eyes searching, waiting for your answer. You nodded slowly, the movement almost shy, and Vi let out a soft, shaky breath, her lips curving into the faintest smile.

“Yeah?” she asked, her voice breaking slightly.

“Yes, please…”

She smiled and hummed, leaning down to kiss your lips softly. Her fingers moved carefully, sliding your panties down your hips and over your legs, and the moment they were gone, she tossed them aside, her eyes never leaving you.

“I love you…” she murmured so quietly as she leaned back in, her hands settling on your thighs, pushing them apart to get a better look at your pussy. “So pretty…”

She pressed a kiss to your inner thigh, her lips lingering, her breath warm against your skin. Her hands, strong but gentle, rested on your knees as she eased them further apart, creating even more space for herself.

Her lips lingered just above your skin, her warm breath fanning against you as she whispered, “You’ll tell me if you need me to stop, okay?”

You looked down at her, her face framed by the dim light filtering in, her pink hair tousled and her eyes staring with need and want, waiting for permission.

“I will,” you murmured, your voice barely audible over the sound of your own heartbeat. Your fingers instinctively moved to thread through her hair, pulling her just a little closer. “I trust you, Vi.”

Vi smiled softly at your words, and the sight made your chest tighten.

“That’s my girl,” she whispered, her lips brushing your skin again, and then she kissed you, slow and deep, as her hands moved to hold your thighs, her thumbs tracing lazy circles over your skin.

Her breath hitched as her fingers dipped lower, finally brushing against the wetness that had been teasing her imagination all night. When she felt just how slick you were, her chest rose and fell with a shuddering sigh, her lips parting in awe.

“Fuck…” she whispered, her voice breaking softly as she let the sensation sink in.

Her forehead rested briefly against your thigh, and you could feel the way her breath trembled, betraying just how much she’d been holding back. You squirmed beneath her touch, your breath catching at the slow pressure of her fingers as she explored you. She looked up at you then, her eyes heavy-lidded.

“You’re so wet,” she whispered.

Her fingers teased along your folds, and when she finally slid one inside, the quiet, shaky groan that escaped her lips sent a jolt of heat through you. Your soft moan filled the room, and it sent a shiver straight down Vi’s spine. The way you reacted to her touch, the way your body seemed to move with hers—it was intoxicating. She couldn’t stop herself from curling her finger inside of your pussy, and the sound you made in response nearly undid her completely.

“Tell me how it feels,” she said softly, her eyes searching yours as her finger moved slowly, her thumb grazing over your skin. “I wanna know… everything.”

Your voice came out in a shaky breath, soft and airy as you tried to keep up with the overwhelming sensations.

“F-feels good, Vi—” you managed to whisper, your hands gripping at the sheets beneath you.

Vi’s breath hitched at your words, a flicker of pride and hunger lighting in her chest. She wanted to do good. For you. She paused only for a moment, her eyes never leaving your face as she carefully added another finger. The stretch was new, different, and it made you gasp sharply, your body tensing for just a second before melting into her bedsheets.

“Yeah?” Vi asked, her voice low and raspier now, almost shaking with how much she wanted to do this right, to make you feel good.

Her lips brush over the soft skin of your inner thigh as she fucked her fingers deeper into your pussy, curling just right. Your moans spilled out, filling the room, and Vi felt her entire body tremble with excitement.

“God, you’re so tight,” she groaned, her movements growing a little more confident as she found a pace that made your hips buck and your head fall back.

She quickened her pace, completely entranced by you. The way your face twisted in pleasure—cheeks flushed, mouth parted with those soft moans—sent a bolt of heat straight through her. She couldn’t look away.

She whimpered softly as her thumb circled your clit, drawing a sharp gasp from you that sent a wave of pride through her. But what really did her in was how fucking wet you were, the way it coated her fingers, the lewd squelching sounds filling the room with every thrust. Her mouth went dry, and her stomach flipped as she watched her fingers disappear inside you over and over again.

“Oh, fuck,” Vi murmured, her voice husky and low, almost as if she were talking to herself. “You’re so—so wet… baby, I—”

She cut herself off with a groan, unable to even form a coherent sentence, too lost in how good you felt clenching around her fingers. Her thumb pressed harder against your clit, rubbing slow circles that had your back arching and your hands clawing at the sheets.

You looked so fucking pretty, it made her head spin.

Vi’s breath was shaky as she moved her fingers faster, desperate to pull you over the edge. Her thumb never faltered, pressing and circling your clit with just the right pressure.

She leaned closer, her forehead brushing yours, her voice soft but needy as she whimpered, “Tell me how good it feels, baby. Please… I need to hear you.”

Your moans spilled from your lips like music to her ears. She couldn’t stop herself, couldn’t slow down—not when she felt the way your wet pussy fluttered around her fingers, not when she could see how close you were.

“It’s so good, Vi—oh my god, it feels so good,” you managed to gasp, your voice breaking as your hips bucked against her hand.

Her focus entirely fixated on you, on the way your body responded to her touch. Her biceps flexed with every thrust into your pussy, the veins in her arms standing out as she poured herself into the task of making you fall apart. She groaned softly as she watched her fingers disappear into you, only to reappear glistening and slick before plunging back inside. The sound of it—the wet squelch—had her nearly delirious.

“So fucking pretty like this, baby.”

Her pace quickened, her fingers curling with precision, hitting that spot that had your back arching off the mattress. Your moans grew louder, less controlled, and Vi swore she could feel your body trembling as your thighs quivered against her.

“V-Vi! I-I’m gonna… cum! Gonna cum—“

“That’s it, pretty girl,” she rasped, her lips parted as she leaned closer, her forehead brushing against your stomach. She looked up briefly, her eyes dark as she took in the sight of you. “You’re so close—I can feel it. Cum for me, yeah? Please, I need to feel you.”

And then it happened.

Your body arched, your moans spilling out in broken cries as you clenched tightly around her fingers. Vi groaned loudly, the sound guttural and needy, as she felt you come undone around her. But she didn’t stop—not yet. Her fingers kept moving, her thumb circling your clit as she worked you through every wave of pleasure, desperate to draw it out for as long as she could.

“Fuck, that’s it,” she whispered, her voice shaky and reverent. “You’re so good for me, baby. So, so good.”

Vi let out a breath, a soft sigh of disbelief, as she pulled her fingers from you slowly after she let you ride out your high, her gaze never leaving your face. Her fingers were glistening with your cum, and she couldn’t help but stare in awe. The way you looked—completely undone, lost in pleasure—had her feeling like she was floating, the reality of what had just happened still sinking in.

Blue eyes traced the curve of your body, watching the way your skin glistened with sweat. She couldn’t help it—her mind blanked, a single thought echoing through her: God, she’s so fucking pretty. She was overwhelmed, feeling like she could never get enough of you, of the way your body responded to her, how perfect you were in her eyes, like you were made just for this. Every movement, every little breath, it was all just… mesmerizing.

She brought her fingers up and slid slowly them into her mouth, her gaze never leaving you as she savored the taste of you on her tongue. Oh, fuck! She needed more. Without thinking, her hands moved quickly, spreading your thighs further apart and her voice came out in a soft, needy whisper.

“Gotta taste you… just real quick,” she murmured so quietly, you barely heard it.

A gasp escaped your lips before you could process anything else, your body already reacting before your mind caught up. Instinctively, your fingers tangled in the strands of Vi’s pink hair, pulling hard, making her groan right into your wet pussy.

This was when you learned that Violet was a messy eater.

Her tongue pressed against folds, inside of you, occasionally sucking around your clit, the feeling of her mouth, wet and needy, sent a shiver through you. You couldn’t help but notice how she lost herself, her sounds louder and messier than you’d expected—like she was devouring you. She slurped everything up and you could feel yourself dripping and soaking her bedsheets beneath you.

God, her tongue felt so fucking good. It was almost too good. Fuck, she’s so good at this.

“V-Vi—” you cried out, your voice trembling, but she didn’t seem to hear you.

You tugged at her hair to let her know you were close, that you were going to cum again, and she didn’t slow down. If anything, it only spurred her on, her mouth sucking and slurping more and more, faster and harder. You cried out, the tension building in your lower body, and before you could even process it, she quickened her pace, her hands shifting from your thighs to intertwine with yours. The way she gripped your hand made you feel like she was holding you in place, ensuring you couldn’t pull away, even if you tried.

“I-I’m cumming again—Fuck—Vi-Violet!”

With a final gasp, your body tensed, waves of pleasure crashing over you. The wave hit you all at once, and you came right on her tongue, your breath ragged, moans slipping from your lips uncontrollably. Vi held you through it, her grip on your hand tightening, her tongue slowing down on your pussy.

After a while, she finally lifted her head up and looked at you, her eyes half-lidded and hazy with exhaustion, a satisfied smile tugging at her lips. Her face was flushed, her skin slick with sweat, and her chin glistened with your cum, like she was wearing it with pride.

She moved slowly, her lips trailing up your body. Her kisses were gentle at first, but the further she traveled, the more urgent they became, each one pressing deeper against your skin, right over each mark and hickey are left behind earlier. She kissed your stomach, your ribs, each kiss a little firmer, a little more hungry, until she reached your chest, her breath mingling with the heat of your skin.

When she finally reached your neck, she paused, her breath shaky against your skin, and you felt the faintest tremor under her fingertips. Then, without warning, she was kissing you again, her lips pressing against yours with a hunger that mirrored the one she’d just left between your legs, whimpering and moaning right into your mouth. You could taste yourself on her lips, a faint sweetness that made your pulse quicken all over again.

When the kiss broke, both of you were breathless, your lips swollen and tingling. Vi pulled back slightly, her eyes heavy-lidded, a soft smile playing on her lips as she gazed down at you.

“I love you,” she said.

You barely caught your breath, the lingering aftershocks from everything that had just passed through your body.

“I love you, too,” you managed to say, the words coming out breathlessly.

Her smile softened, her gaze melting into something tender as she stared down at you.

She bit her lower lip nervously before asking, “Did I do okay?”

You couldn’t help but smile lovingly at her, your heart swelling with affection. Without a word, your hands reached up to brush the mess of pink hair from her face, the softness of the gesture grounding you both in the moment. Her hair was tangled, strands sticking to her skin, but she was beautiful—more than beautiful, especially in this moment where everything felt real and raw.

“It felt… so good, Violet… You were perfect,” you whispered.

She held your gaze, her eyes flickering relief and pride. You leaned up slightly, brushing your lips against her forehead in a tender kiss, as if to reinforce what you’d just said. Perfect. In every way.

Vi’s lips curled into a smug, satisfied smile as she heard you, and you couldn’t help but notice the gleam in her eyes—proud, almost playful, like she knew exactly what she had just done to you. Without missing a beat, she leaned down, pressing soft, teasing kisses along your neck. She let herself collapse on top of you, her body heavy and warm, her muscles wrapping around you firmly. She nuzzled her face into your neck, her breath warm against your skin, close to your ear.

“I… I’m gonna let you rest, but…” Her voice was quiet, almost shy. She paused, just for a moment, before continuing, her words sending a thrill through you, “I wanna go again...“

You looked up at her, eyes widening slightly as you tried to catch your breath. Your arms wrapped around her loosely around her neck, your fingers brushing the hairs at the back of her head. Vi sighed at the feeling, closing her eyes for a brief moment before opening them again to look at you, to plead with her eyes.

“Can we?”

That playful, confident side of her was back again, and you knew then, with absolute certainty, that you were in for a very long night.

thank u for reading :) | masterlist

#b’s writings #vi <3 #vi x reader #vi arcane #arcane x reader #league of legends #fanfic

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no-144444 · 2 months ago

Text

sweating- o.piastri

summary: oscar has been acting strange

pairing: oscar piastri x fem! Brown! reader

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Zak had been worried about Oscar for a while. The far-off looks in meetings, the silence at dinners, the constant stares he was getting, all of it. He’d even been so worried, that he came to you, and you’d told him that Oscar had been just fine at home, so it must be something to do with work.

It was a strange thing, to be dating your boss’s daughter. Oscar had in fact fallen for you within seconds of meeting you back in 2022, his first visit to MTC, before everything else happened. You, a legal trainee on the McLaren legal team, was the one running him through his contract, and he was very thankful that his lawyer was there to ask questions, because he was just focused on you. As he joined the team, you two got closer. About half way through his rookie season, he finally plucked up the courage to ask you out, and you had said yes. What ensued was a few months of sneaking around until you finally told your dad, who supported you two, but from afar. He liked Oscar, would he have preferred you pick someone that wasn’t his driver, yes, very much so, but he didn’t have a say in your life. You were an adult and if you wanted to go get your heart broken by an F1 driver, that was up to you. The one thing Zak hadn’t accounted for was the fact that Oscar was a sweetheart who was genuinely head over heels for you. He saw it when you were in the paddock, how Oscar smiled a little brighter, how he made you a priority all weekend, how he performed better.

So what the fuck was going on with Oscar now?

Zak was worried that he was planning on breaking up with you, or maybe he was just going through some mental roadblocks at work, so he called him into his office.

Oscar awkwardly took a seat across from him, waiting to be addressed.

“Are you alright, Osc? You seem a bit… off lately,” Zak asked, nothing but concern in his voice.

Oscar shook his head. “I’m fine,” he said, but even he knew it sounded wrong. This is really not how he wanted this to go. He was insured of Zak’s worry by the way his brows furrowed. “You can talk to me kid, you know that right? If it’s about Y/n or-”

“It’s not about Y/n,” Oscar assured him. “I’m alright, I promise.”

“Oscar, talk to me, I’m here for you. If you’re going through something-”

“I’ve been trying to figure out how to ask for your blessing!” he admitted, speaking far too loud and far too fast. Oscar looked up to see Zak’s face blank, his jaw slightly dropped. “I’m so sorry-”

“You have it,” he said. Now it was Oscar’s jaw that dropped. “Of course you have it,” Zak’s lips turned into a smile. “She adores you. You clearly adore her. I love you, my wife loves you, my sons love you. Of course you have my blessing.”

He took a deep breath and smiled. “Thank you,” he chuckled. “God, I was terrified.”

“You thought I’d say no?”

Oscar shrugged. “Maybe?”

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Zak was very happy when he woke up to a call from the two of you, engaged, a few weeks later.

oscarpiastri

liked by pierregasly, zbrownceo, landonorris and 348,928 others

oscarpiastri: awesome season, can't wait to marry this girl though :)

comments

landonorris: OMFG YALL ARE YOUNGER THAN ME PLZ SLOW DOWN -> oscarpiastri: no more papaya rules 🤷

pierregalsy: too young -> kikagomez: bitch -> user92: lmao he's never said that before

zbrownceo: Congrats guys! Can't wait to walk you down the aisle!

charlesleclerc: MY SON IS GETTING MARRIED!!!!!! -> oscarpiastri: thank you adoptive father :)

user93: god she is GLOWING

user12: these are the cutest photos ever!!!!!!!

user8: THE RINGGGGG

lilymunihe: OMG I'M SO EXCITED!!!! ->youruser: OMG LOVE YOUUUUU

user98: they're so in love it's actually sickening

logansargeant: no ring picking creds? -> oscarpiastri: I don't think grimacing at every ring I chose was very helpful -> hattiepiastri: nah, but it was funny

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navigation for my blog :) (masterlist)

2K notes · View notes

call-memissbrightside · 8 months ago

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All I can think about is Katsuki dating someone with a baby—

His friends think it’s a bit odd since he’s in his early thirties and could still mess around before settling down but he’s not having it

You’re a bit nervous to tell him that you had a kid after a few dates, and you think he’s never going to hit you up again when he doesn’t really respond when you tell him, he just drops you off at your place with a emotionless look on his face.

You cry to yourself that night as you put your little girl to bed, and the two year old knows something’s wrong because she’s fussy through the whole night routine. You really liked Bakugou, he made you laugh and respect you but if he can’t accept your daughter than it's not going to work out.

Then the next morning he texts you that he got tickets for three to the local aquarium for the day. You call him, confused.

“That way we can take your daughter?” He’s confused by your question. “Why? Is she too little for the aquarium?”

You’re nervous as hell for him meeting Mai for the first time, but Katsuki is taken back at how your daughter looks just like you. She's adorable, and his stomach flipped taking in how you looked so beautiful in your jeans and simple shirt.

"Hi Mai, I'm Katsuki," He kneels down to the four year old's height but he's so big and the little girl immedietly burst into tears and hides behind your legs.

"Oh honey, it's okay," You coo at her, picking her up. Mai isn't convinced and hides away from Katsuki.

"I'm sorry, she'll warm up," You explain, but you weren't too sure. Mai had a shy personality, and was very attatched to you. You just hoped that Bakugou would be patient with her.

Mai started shedding her shy personality once you arrived at the aquarium.

"Mom, fish!" She yelled in excitement, tugging on your hand to get you to walk faster. Katsuki stands back and just watches you interact with your daughter. He knew he liked you, but seeing you be a mom did something to him and he imagined this being his life forever.

"What are you thinking about?" You asked when you noticed Katsuki seemed distracted.

He opens his mouth to answer but Mai interupts him when she squeals, "Mommy penguins!"

Katsuki was closer to her, and the little girl grabs his hand and drags him through to the penguin exhibit. Bakugou is taken aback, but quickly pushes back his fear of scaring her and kneels down to look at the penguins swimming as Mai squeals in excitement. She can’t pronounce his name correctly, so Mai just addresses him as ‘Suki which warms his heart.

It’s like a switch got flipped and Mai wouldn’t let go of Katsuki’s hand for the remainder of the tour through the aquarium. You stand back, smiling and snapping pictures, just watching as Bakugou showed a much softer side to him.

The day ended with Katsuki buying Mai the biggest stuffed penguin the aquarium store had, and the little girl could barely hold onto it as she fell asleep in her stroller.

“You didn’t have to get her that,” You said, feeling overwhelmed by his gesture.

Bakugou feels a string of anxiety pull in his stomach, wondering now if his actions were seemed as inappropriate.

“I-,” He tries to be truthful, “I’m sorry, I should’ve asked. Mai just seemed so happy and I wanted to get her something to remember me by.”

That melts your heart, and you kiss him on the cheek. “Thank you for being so sweet to my baby.”

Katsuki is blushing so hard, his ears are ringing as he helps you by packing down the stroller and putting it in the trunk while you tuck Mai into her car seat. The little girl was out, but still hugging her penguin.

Katsuki keeps the radio low as to not wake Mai as he drives you two home, holding your hand and already planning the next outing.

#sorry this has been in my drafts for so long #bnha bakugo katsuki #katsuki x reader #bakugou x reader #bakugou katsuki #katsuki bakugo x reader #bakugo katuski #bnha bakugou #mha bakugou #dad!katsuki #dad!bakugou

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hannieoftheyear · 4 months ago

Text

After All This Time (kmg)

When you're asked to be on the wedding party of a long-lost friend, you get the chance to reconnect with former classmate Mingyu, but not without your old feelings and struggles resurfacing.

✧˖* pairing: groomsman!mingyu x bridesmaid!reader

✧˖* w.c: 18,7k

✧˖* genre: friends to lovers, fluff, smut, angst, it's another self-indulgent 'running away from your high school past' story from me.

🎧: still into you — paramore

✧˖* warnings: alcohol consumption, a lot of not standing up for oneself, kind of unrealistic wedding timeline (i've never been a bridesmaid so bare with me), mingyu has no flaws here because... im in love with him, this might be badly written I can't really tell anymore | smut: it's messy, and rough, face sitting, unprotected penetration (don't do this), multiple orgasms (f). lmk if im missing anything

The unopened letter stares at you from across the table. Trying to ignore it by doing your housekeeping chores is pointless. Scrubbing your toilet, doing your laundry, making your bed, and even cooking your meal preps for the entire week, nothing managed to take your head away from that stupid letter, wondering what could possibly be.

You and Olivia haven’t spoken properly since graduating high school many years ago. The last time you had a full-on conversation with her was when she told you she started seeing a new guy freshman year in college, someone who went to your same high school but never knew. Besides that, your only form of “communication” was liking each other's Instagram stories and the yearly happy birthday text. A letter from her addressed to you was the last thing you expected to see today, or ever.

Curiosity finally wins as you take it and inspect it up close. The pastel pink envelope with golden details feels sturdy in your hands, and the wax seal is stamped with two initials, O and T. The boyfriend’s name appears in your memory as the realization hits you. Olivia and Thomas.

This is a wedding invitation.

Opening the envelope just confirms your thoughts, but there’s more to it than just a mere invitation. Just below some details such as dress code and the plus one, there’s a part specifically addressed to you asking you to be one of Olivia’s bridesmaids. Your stomach turns, anxiety, and excitement battling it out in each of your organs. For one, it’s really heartwarming that she thought of you as a friend still and wants you to be a part of such a special day as her wedding. On the other side, it’ll be awkward to see everyone again after such a long time, because, weirdly enough, you never encountered anyone you knew ever again, even if you didn’t move away and still frequented same places as before.

Except, maybe that anxiety is just because of one person, who’s probably going to be more than involved in this wedding. Cassie, your other best friend.

Being a trio was never a problem. Actually, it’s probably the better friend group arrangement for you. The three of you got along immediately since the first day of middle school and never looked back. It was always fun and comfortable, you thought you had found your best friends for life. But something happened around the age when girls start noticing boys, when everyone starts going on dates, flirting, kissing, getting into relationships. That’s when you realized you and Cassie had the exact same type. It became almost like a routine: you’d notice a cute guy around school but didn’t say anything, and the next thing you know, at the next party Cassie would also notice him and hook up with him. You were sure you were in your very own Truman Show.

Was it partially your fault for not saying anything? Maybe, but did it have to happen with literally every single guy you were ever attracted to? It reached a point where you would constantly doubt yourself, compare yourself to her, was she cooler? Prettier? Smarter? Funnier?

In the end, it wasn’t her fault, and you’d never blame her for that, but for your own good and the wellness of your crumbling self-confidence, you had to get away from that situation. And you did. At least until now. But it’s been years, you’re not the same person you were back in high school, and hopefully, all of your self-doubting was also left in the past.

A sky-high, lavish building stands before you in all of its glory. You were no stranger to your old friend’s rich family, but her lifestyle always managed to take you by surprise.

Olivia wanted all the bridesmaids and groomsmen to meet and get comfortable with each other, so she and her fiancé arranged a little afternoon party at their apartment. Over the few texts you exchanged with Olivia, she failed to mention the other people on the wedding party. So during the elevator ride, you think of every possibility, who could be there that you know? With how many people from school has she kept in contact with? Will you know the groom’s friends?

The doorbell rings inside the busy apartment, and a few seconds later you’re welcomed by your old friend with a bright smile. You hug Olivia tightly, the weirdness of the situation fading away for a few seconds. Afterward, you greet everyone with a shy smile, recognizing some faces and encountering new ones. Some people are standing in groups of three or four, while others sit on the couch or a few scattered chairs, talking with each other comfortably.

“While we wait for the last people to arrive, I want to start telling you what I have planned.”

Olivia announces as you walk away slowly, and you find an empty wall by the hallway to rest against.

At least twenty minutes pass, in which Olivia doesn’t take one breath, her happiness and excitement showing through her endless words. The wedding plan is not really out of the ordinary, but the scale of things, that’s the impressive part. She has seven bridesmaids, including you, plus the maid of honor who hasn’t arrived yet, and her fiancé has the same number of grooms, plus the best man. Each of you will pair up throughout the days coming up to the ceremony, and on the big day, each pair will have matching outfits and even a dance scheduled after the couple’s first dance as a married couple. Her idea was essentially thought so no one would feel out of place and enjoy the ceremony, because it should be a happy day for everyone.

While she explains everything for the second time, you take your time to look around the big room full of people. Scanning every face, there isn’t really a lot of girls you know, but the groomsmen, on the other hand, all of them went to your same high school. It seems Olivia’s fiancé still hangs out with his same group of friends. One of them, in particular, sparks a little smile across your face.

Mingyu was the only other person you considered a real friend in school. As scary and anxiety inducing as it is to have classes without your small friend group, he made it more than bearable, enjoyable even. Becoming friends with the nerdy boy assigned as your lab partner is one of the things you remember fondly about those years of your life. He was like a breath of fresh air during all the turmoil. Would he remember you?

His eyes catch yours from across the room, and an instant smile forms across his lips. After all the years that passed, he still looks the same. He’s much more mature and fully over puberty now, his broad bulky frame being one of the more standing out new things about him, but you’d recognize that confused expression and toothy smile with fangs peeking out anywhere. Your mood rapidly improves as he mouths a ‘hi’ and waves his hand lightly at you, not wanting to interrupt the bride to be. You repeat his greeting with a growing grin, but your small interaction is cut short.

Your name catches your attention, and you turn to Olivia, “you and Mingyu will be our last pair. Is that okay?”

The relief is immediate. It might be a little awkward, but at least you’ll be with someone you know. You and Mingyu look at each other once again and then nod at her, but before she can continue with whatever she is saying, the entry door opens behind her.

“Hi everyone!” The familiar voice makes your stomach drop, “I’m sorry I’m late. My boss wouldn’t let me go.”

She looks the same too, only with longer hair and more mature features on her face. Her body language holds the same coolness, as sure of herself as she was when you were younger.

“It’s fine. It’s nothing the maid of honor hasn’t heard before.” Olivia replies to her with a chuckle.

“Oh my god! I haven’t seen you in so long!” When she greets you, you straighten your posture, put on your best smile, and hug her back. “How are you doing?”

“Hey Cassie, good, good, just working my life away!”

You joke and try to ease up your emotions. Your few words manage to satisfy her as she nods with a smile, walks away, and pecks one of the groomsmen – her boyfriend? – on the lips before sitting by his side.

The schedule is easy for Olivia to finish explaining it, so in no time, food starts rolling in, and conversations pop up between everyone, either catching up or normal everyday chats. Cassie starts telling a story about something that happened earlier at her job, but you don’t really understand it. You haven’t talked to them in so long, you don’t know what they do for a living, or where they work. You don’t know them anymore, and you’re too afraid to ask.

To the side, a couple of people over, Mingyu’s talking with the rest of the grooms' friends comfortably. You want to talk to him, but what would you say? It’s not like you were the closest of friends. You never hung out outside of the school, and your friend groups never actually interacted until now. Actually, you never told Olivia and Cassie about him. Maybe because you were afraid that if you introduced him to Cassie, he’d swoon over her like the rest of the guys you ever interacted with romantically.

An uneasy feeling creeps in on you as memories of your past fight to climb up on your memory. Feelings and thoughts you haven’t felt in years come back up, almost reliving everything in a matter of milliseconds. You need to talk to someone, take your mind off of your overthinking. Because this is not the time nor the place to get so gloomy.

You get to talk with the rest of the bridesmaids, and the anxiousness of it all starts bubbling down, and you’re much more comfortable. A couple of them are close family friends with Olivia, also as rich as her, but still really nice girls, even if a little airheaded, and the rest are friends from college.

Time passes by easily, and soon enough, the sun is already set.

On the ride back home, your mind starts spiraling again. Do you even fit in with all those people? An invite to her wedding would’ve been just fine, but a bridesmaid? You feel like a total stranger, someone from her past who’s meddling around trying to sneak into a place she purposely left behind. At least you won’t have to see anyone ever again after the wedding is over.

It is said that changing your usual routine helps improving your mood, taking another path home, shopping at a new place, sitting down at a different park, trying a new coffee order, changing the little things to feel more energized and be more productive. You wouldn’t know, because every task you complete as fast as possible to be back home quickly. So, after days of not being able to think about anything else but the upcoming wedding, it’s your only option left.

With the sky lit up with golden light, the grass and trees as green as ever, and a light breeze that prevents you from getting too hot, you walk around a park you’ve never been to before, with your new ‘hot girl walk’ playlist as a soundtrack. The kids running around the playground are the only sounds that get through your ears besides the music, maybe a bark or two as well, and the sun against your skin soothes all your worries. Damn. Going on a walk does fix your mood.

A hand grabbing your arm softly startles you, and you’re about to punch the mystery person when you recognize his face.

“Mingyu?”

His eyes are focused on your fist that was ready to hit him, and you lower it down, beginning to take out your airpods.

“Sorry! You scared me!” You erupt in a nervous laughter.

“I’m sorry! I called your name but you didn’t hear me.” He stands apologetic in front of you, looking down at his feet before daring to look back up. “How are you doing? We didn’t get to talk the other day.”

“Yeah! It’s good to see you! I didn’t expect you to be there, it was a nice surprise.” Is it too weird to say that? Well, it’s already done.

He gets the tiniest bit shy at your words, his ears turning a light shade of pink before disappearing quickly.

You notice a bicycle by his side, a cute pink helmet with glittery heart stickers hanging by the handle. He must’ve been biking when he saw you and took it off before calling your name.

“I didn’t know if you were still friends with Olivia, I didn’t know if I was going to see you either.”

You fixate on the first part of his sentence, ignoring your body’s reaction to him implying he wanted to see you.

“Oh, we’re not really that close anymore.” There’s a silence as you finish your words, as it wasn’t the reply he was expecting. “Life, you know? We just grew apart.”

It was you who stopped making an effort to talk to her, but even if it was still for your own good, you’re a little ashamed to admit it to Mingyu.

“She still asked you to be her bridesmaid. That must mean something.” Ever the positive guy, he tries to make you feel better after the sour comment.

“Yeah, it’s really nice of her.” The sun shining so bright prevents you from looking up at him, but you smile, hoping he can see it.

The slow steps you’ve been taking side by side turn awkward with silence. You wanted so badly to talk to him after the other day, but now that he’s here, in front of you, you can’t think of anything.

“It’s good that you still hang out with the guys.”

You don’t know what else to say, and the words spill out of your mouth. He doesn’t seem to notice the awkward atmosphere, his body as comfortable as ever walking by your side.

“Yeah, even though not as often as I’d like.” A regretful smile forms across his lips. “Our schedules haven’t been lining up, I met Olivia in person maybe a total of three times over the years.”

“What? There’s no way you didn’t share any classes in school?”

He shakes his head, chuckling at your surprise.

“I think I only ever shared one class with her, but I didn’t really care much about her crowd back then.”

“Wow, thanks for that.”

He means all the popular guys your friends would hang out with, and you know it, but there was always something so fun in teasing him and seeing him get so pouty.

"You know I don’t mean you.”

His shoulder pushes your body lightly to the side, and you chuckle together. It’s hard to prevent the red from rushing to your cheeks. Maybe he’ll mistake it for a faint sunburn.

“That’s a cute helmet you got there.” Your eyes point to it as a way to distract him.

“Oh, that?” He picks it up with what seems to be an embarrassed voice tone, but his actions quickly override it. He puts it on proudly and looks at you with his eyebrows raised, “my sister gave it to me when I bought the bike, gets all the ladies.”

“I'm sure it does.”

Attention from women he for sure gets, but probably not because of that thing. His tall, muscular body is enhanced by the tight blue t-shirt he's wearing. You didn’t get a proper look at him the other day, and now, standing next to him in broad daylight, you almost wish you could still live in the ignorance bliss of not knowing the exact height difference between you two.

“So, what are you doing around here?”

His words make you realize you’ve been staring for a few seconds, and you look ahead, hoping he didn’t notice. He forgets to remove the helmet, making you chuckle quietly before answering.

“I just got off from work and thought it would be nice to take a different route home.”

“That’s such a coincidence! I come here, like, almost every week to bike around.”

“Wow, It really is.”

For how long have you been avoiding this specific park for no reason? Pushing away your chance of meeting the one and only person you would’ve wanted to?

A ping from his phone alerts both of you, taking you out of your little bubble.

“Sorry I-" His expression falls as he reads the new text, “I have to get going, but it was really nice seeing you!”

"Oh, sure! I didn’t mean to hold you back.” It comes out quieter than you’d like. “Goodbye!” With a simple smile and a tiny wave at him, you turn around.

Right when he gets on his bicycle again, before he starts pedaling, he looks back at you, taking your first step in the opposite direction.

“Wait!” When you turn around, he’s taking his phone out of his front pocket, “Can I get your number?”

The both of you blush at his words, and you look up at him cautiously.

“So we can catch up and, you know, get comfortable with each other for the wedding.”

You had already forgotten about that. The reason you even met him again in the first place.

“Sure!”

Your hand trembles slightly when you take his phone, and you mentally beat yourself up for it. It’s just your number! It could mean nothing.

“I’ll text you later so you can save mine.”

And with a wink, he’s off to whatever he was late to.

Great. Now you’re not only re-living your high-school anxieties but also your high-school crushes.

During the following days, you find yourself checking your phone more often than ever, always with the hope that you’ll get a new message from Mingyu. Texting almost every day since the encounter at the park, the time when you’re both free to talk has become your favorite part of the day.

It started shyly, merely updating the other about your lives since finishing high school, your jobs, and hobbies. But as time passed, the never-ending conversation eased onto your daily routines. You’d wake up and text Mingyu, update him as you arrive at work. Lunch, break, evening, clocking out, dinner. Every little free time you got, you’d text each other back and forth.

A text notification cheers you up constantly, thinking that it could possibly be him again. But it’s not always the case, like this time.

It’s Olivia reminding you that, in exactly 29 minutes, you have the dance rehearsal with all the maids and grooms. Half an hour, and you live 1 hour away from the studio she rented. A little white lie never hurt anyone, so you tell her something came up and you'll be just a little late.

You love weddings, but if you had to choose one thing you don’t like about them, it would definitely be the dancing. You can’t dance for shit. You’d tell your right leg to move forward, and your left leg would move backwards, like your body can’t comprehend instructions when they’re related to dancing. Usually, you stay in your seat, choosing not to embarrass yourself in front of all the guests, but this time, you can’t get out of it. Poor Mingyu will leave the class with at least five bruises on his feet from you stepping on him.

The dance studio is part of a new, contemporary looking building on the exact geographic center of the city, a place you would always pass by but never thought you’ll get to enter. Standing at the front desk, over half an hour late, you feel too out of place. Your clothes are probably wrong, your hair is completely disheveled, you don’t remember on which floor is your class, and you don’t even know the name of the dance teacher.

After a long discussion with the receptionist, she finally understands what you’re here for and lets you go up to the 13th floor.

The walk from the elevator to the studio feels longer than it actually is. Three to four footsteps become long, slow turtle-like steps. But not even the infinite time you spend taking four steps prepare you for your stomach to drop down to the basement at the sight of Mingyu dancing with Cassie as soon as you open the door.

His hands on her waist, her arms around his neck, dancing slowly in circles, laughing about something she just said, you can almost hear something inside you break. After all this time, nothing really changed.

“Hey! You’re finally here!”

Olivia’s voice brings you back to earth.

“Hi! I’m really sorry I couldn’t get here sooner.” The dance teacher gives you a look, and you lower down your voice, “So how is this going?”

“We had to put them together,” she points the dreaded pair, directing your eyes to them once again, “because neither you or Tyler were here when we started, but after the song’s over you can join him and I’ll practice with Cassie, okay?”

You nod with the best spirit you can manage to express.

“Is Tyler the guy she was with the other day?”

You don’t forget to whisper so the class isn’t interrupted by your chatter.

“He’s the only one of Tom's friends who’s not from school, don’t worry, you didn’t erase him from your memory.”

You stifle a laugh before it gets loud.

“Good, I was starting to feel bad about not recognizing him.”

In reality, his existence doesn’t matter much to you either way, except for something. “Are him and Cassie a thing?”

“She says it’s something casual but, and don’t tell her about this, I paired them up together on purpose so they can finally realize that they like each other!”

Your lungs clear of air in an instant after hearing those words. She’s not available. She has a boyfriend, sort of. A boyfriend who you do not know nor have feelings for.

“Your secret's safe with me.”

“Mingyu's nice and all, but if he messes with my plan and charms her, I will personally revoke his invitation to the wedding.”

You both chuckle just as the song finally ends, yours quieter than hers. Both of them see you with Olivia, but only Cassie comes forward to say hi.

“Hey girls! Good to see you!” She gives you a little hug before directing to Olivia. “So… Tyler isn’t showing up, I assume.”

“He told me a few minutes ago that something came up and can’t come, sorry.”

Her hand flies to Cassie's shoulders to comfort her, but she doesn’t seem bummed by the news.

“Well, then, I have something to ask you.”

Her presence suddenly becomes overwhelming as she grins at you with a proposition in mind, seemingly all thought out.

“Are you close with Mingyu? Olivia told me you were classmates.”

How did she know? Maybe you did tell her about him after all.

“He used to be my lab partner. Why?”

“How did you not crush on him back then? He’s such a cutie.”

“I probably did, I don’t remember.” Lie.

“Could you find out if he has a girlfriend, pleeease?”

A buzzing sound is all you hear for a few seconds, like your brain forgets how to function. Words don’t come out, and you’re freezed in place as Cassie looks at you expectantly. To the side, Olivia looks just as puzzled by her request.

“W-why?”

“Because, he’s really hot and, if I need a quick rebound because of that other fucker, I need to know I’m not messing with a relationship.”

Silence is all you produce once again.

“I just need a tiny bit of info, and it’ll be weird if I ask him directly, so could you please try?”

“Sure… I’ll try, but I’m not promising anything.”

You’ve never sounded less excited about something in your whole life. You love some gossip and some drama, but not if it involves a genuinely nice guy like Mingyu being used. Or maybe it’s just because it’s him.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Cassie jumps excitedly and hugs you once again, just as the dance teacher calls for everyone to gather.

Mingyu’s hands slot carefully at the sides of your waist, guiding you swiftly and sparking goosebumps across your back. Your arms wrap awkwardly around his neck, making him crouch a bit so you can look properly at each other.

“Were you always this good? Or did you become a professional waltz dancer in the half hour I wasn’t here?”

You remember him telling you the other day, during your endless text conversations, that he, like you, wasn’t particularly excited about dancing.

“Let’s say, hypothetically, that I practiced before coming here, what would that say about me? Hypothetically.”

“It would say that,” you drown out a cackle before you can continue, “you take your duty as a groomsman very seriously, hypothetically.”

“Good, I wouldn’t want you to think I was a dork, hypothetically.”

“You’re too late, I already thought that.”

A pout forms on his mouth at your giggles, and he flashes the world's most menacing puppy eyes ever.

“I mean it in the best way possible!”

“Isn’t it embarrassing?”

“It’s cute!”

His face shifts with skepticism, sending enough signals saying he didn’t like your choice of words.

“It’s charming!”

The warmth his body emanates wraps around you fast. His expectant eyes looking down at you and the closeness of your bodies rises your temperature in record time, your cheeks pinking up furiously. You keep talking as the nervousness takes over you.

“At least it worked! You’re a really good dancer, I’m sorry I keep missing the beats.”

“You’re giving me too much credit. You’re not that bad.”

“Now you’re just lying. My limbs are physically unable to coordinate more than three steps. You’re guiding me through every single one!”

His hands tighten just the tiniest bit around your waist, like a confirmation for the both of you that they’re still there.

The teacher’s voice echoes all around you until it finally punctures your bubble, and you’re able to hear the class you’re here for. The steps she’s explaining for a second time make no sense in your head, too many turns and moves for you (and your body) to comprehend.

“I need all the pairs to practice the final steps again.”

Only her final words make sense on your mind, and when you look towards Mingyu, his hand left its place on your body and is extended at you, his eyes kind yet concentrated back on the dance. You nod, taking his hand with an electrifying rush going through your veins.

Mingyu guides you firmly but with care, moving along the beats of the waltz. With each step, your synchronization improves, and the moves flow along easily, your bodies understanding each other. You can’t help but smile as you look him in the eyes, a familiar warm feeling bubbling up inside you.

“You're doing a really good job.”

His eyes catch yours, a little wrinkle forming by each of their sides before he cracks a smile to match yours. There’s something in the way he looks like when paying attention to you, like a spell being casted on you, making you crave more.

“It’s because it’s comfortable with you.”

Your mouth betrays you and sends out the words without checking with your brain, but weirdly enough, you don’t fear his reaction. It’s just the truth.

“We’re more in synch than you thought.”

You swear you see a glimpse of a smirk before he spins you in his arms.

As you turn and move together through the song, you think your excitement isn't solely because of the rehearsal going well. It could be simply a wish, but a spark of something is definitely lighting up. The way Mingyu holds you, attentive and confident, you can't help to think he feels it too.

“You think we can be this good the day of the wedding?”

There’s more anticipation than curiosity in your voice, remembering you’ll keep meeting until then, you’ll keep seeing him.

Mingyu reaches closer until his warm breath fans your ear and his lips graze your cheek.

“We could meet a few days before and practice, like I hypothetically did today.”

“You think I need practice?” You tease to hide the blush creeping up your cheeks.

“Maybe it’s an excuse to see you again.”

A mix of shyness and giddiness overtakes you as you giggle at his proposition. But in the midst of your interaction, you skip a crucial move and begin to turn, stepping right on one of Mingyu’s feet and almost tripping over to the side. His hand secures you by the waist, the hem of your t-shirt raised just enough so his fingers brush your fiery bare skin.

“Ok, maybe I do need the practice too.”

The teacher talks to you on the background, but it’s hard to concentrate on anything other than Mingyu’s touch lighting fires across your body, his worried eyes over your ‘almost’ fall, and his smile when he realizes you’re laughing at your clumsiness.

The music starts over, and you only realize it because his hand is extended at you once again.

“Let’s give it another try.”

“So, you didn’t get to ask him?”

“I’m sorry, I forgot about it. I was so focused on learning the dance that it slipped my mind.”

Running into Cassie coming out of the subway was the last thing you expected (and wanted) right now. Trying on dresses is the one bridesmaid related thing you were least excited about. So many hours of putting clothes on and off, picking colors, showing the rest of the girls, giving your opinion on their dresses, and listening to their opinions on yours. It just sounds so exhausting. But your mental pep talk got interrupted when Cassie saw you walking up the stairs of the station heading to the bridal shop.

“It’s okay, don’t worry about it.”

“He didn’t say anything that would imply he has one, if that helps.”

More than a helping hand to her, you're starting to hope he’s single too.

“That’s good to know, thank you.”

“I don’t really get why you wanted to know, though. I thought you had a boyfriend.”

“He’s not... I mean, it’s not like, official. I wanted him to get jealous, but I'm over that now.”

“Oh, so... you talked about it with him?"

“Kind of... he just explained why he couldn’t come to the rehearsal, and I just, couldn’t get mad at him simply for that, right?”

“Right...”

You know virtually nothing about their ‘relationship’, or about him for that matter, so it’s maybe for the best to stay out of their… thing.

“Anyway, about today, do you have something in mind for your dress?”

“Not really, I was just thinking of browsing through the store and seeing what they have.”

“Wow, really? You’re so chill about it. I have a pinterest board with all the styles and shapes I like. I even checked their online store to see what they have in stock beforehand.”

“That’s… actually really smart.”

“Nah, don’t be nice. Did you at least think of a color? Olivia wants all of us to be different colors, but in pastel, obviously. I personally didn’t really care about it, but I chose pink after some thought.”

“Oh, actually, I didn't know that.”

“It’s okay, you can decide when we get there.”

“Did the rest of the girls choose already?”

“Maybe? I haven’t had the chance to ask them.”

“I hope I don’t get green then, I don’t really like how it looks on me.”

“You’ll look amazing either way. Don’t let a simple color wear you down!”

Small talk with Cassie turns out to be quite nice in the short walk you have up to the store. It's a pretty shallow conversation, but not at all stressful like you thought.

The place is really fancy looking, tall glass windows and blinding white interior. It makes you take a breath just by looking at the displayed dresses. Relieved that Olivia said multiple times that she’ll take care of everything and not to worry about the prices, you and Cassie walk inside.

You didn’t expect every girl to be already there, and you especially didn’t expect the groomsmen to be also all there. The girls browse through racks and racks of different shaped and colored dresses, and the men are sitting back, talking with one another, waiting for their bridesmaid to ask for their opinion.

Cassie goes straight to greet Mingyu with a hug. Even if he isn’t the closest one to the door. Even if Tyler is there also. And you walk behind her, slowly, shy because of all the people aware of your arrival. You give Mingyu a shy smile as a greet, and he returns it warmly.

After the dance rehearsal all those days back, you’ve been hesitant about contacting him again. There’s nothing wrong with him. It’s quite the opposite, actually. He’s caring, attentive, and kind towards you. You just don’t want to fall in your black hole of a crush on him again. especially after Cassie made it clear to you that he’s caught her eye too. Sure, she just told you she made up with her boyfriend, but her actions are already contradicting her words.

Olivia sees you with Cassie and walks quickly towards you two with a smile on her face.

“Hey girls! How do you like the store?! Isn’t it huge?”

“It’s unbelievable! I’m gonna need at least two hours to look through all the dresses!”

Cassie answers, staring at the lengthy room in awe. You can feel Mingyu’s eyes on you. Or maybe on Cassie. Regardless, you’re in his line of sight, and it gives you chills.

“Well, you have all the time in the world today. I reserved the whole store for the entire day for all of us, and the staff is also here to help us if needed, so don’t worry about asking for help!”

“That’s amazing!” You both exclaim at the same time.

“Thank you!” Cassie doesn’t look back and goes straight to the racks of pink dresses. You’re about to go and walk around as well. Maybe try to find a color that suits you, but Olivia stops you before you can even take a step.

“Wait! I got the list of the available colors left for you,” she hands you a sheet of paper with almost everything on it crossed out, “I’m sorry, I know there isn’t much left.”

“Oh don’t worry, it’s fine. I should’ve picked it earlier. It’s not your fault.”

It’s disappointing to see that only two items aren’t crossed out. Light teal and pastel green. Green and teal aren’t ugly colors by any means, but you always feel awkward when wearing them, so you’ve learned to avoid them. The back of your throat itches to close as you think about looking ugly at the wedding, in front of so many people, in front of him.

“I saw some of the teal dresses earlier, and they’re all super cute! You’ll look amazing!”

“Oh, ok, I’ll go check them out. But, just in case, isn’t there any way for me to change colors?”

“You could ask someone to swap with you.”

Your mind instantly goes to Cassie. Earlier, she told you she didn’t care which color she wore, maybe she wouldn’t mind switching with you. You spot her easily on one corner, asking Mingyu about his opinion. She looks up at him with glittery eyes as one of her hands places itself on his arm. The sight turns your stomach upside down. You want to stop watching the scene as much as you want to break them apart.

Your legs make the decision for you and walk you to where they’re standing. They don’t notice you walking over to them until you speak up.

“Hey, sorry to interrupt you guys, but Cassie, could I ask you something?”

Mingyu’s the first one to look up at you, his face lighting up as you interrupt whatever Cassie was saying to him. She’s slower, making sure to hang the dress back on the rack before turning to face you.

“What do you need?”

There's very little annoyance on her tone, but you don’t miss the way her eyebrows arch and her eyes dart to Mingyu, signaling you that she wants some alone time.

“I wanted to ask if you, by any chance, were willing to switch colors with me?”

“What happened? Which ones are left?”

“Basically, just green.”

“Oh, that’s such a bummer.”

There’s a silence when she finishes talking. You wait for her to continue, blinking at her, but she just doesn’t. Her sentence ended there.

“Yeah, so, would you swap with me?”

“I…” Her body language turns awkward as she thinks of an answer, side-eyeing Mingyu, who’s also waiting for her, but with no context to what you’re asking her.

“I just, you said you didn’t really care about the color, so I thought you wouldn’t mind changing it.”

You huff, not helping the awkward atmosphere around the three of you. Your eyes connect with Mingyu’s, who's silently watching the interaction from the side. You hate that he’s seeing you in such a state, so... desperate for something that’s not that big of a deal anyway. You need this interaction to be over.

“You’re right, I did say that,” you can already see where this is going, “but, I kinda already put my mind to it, and it took a lot of convincing to get Tyler to match with me. He already bought his suit, and I don’t want to make him mad by changing everything so suddenly, I’m sorry.”

“Oh…”

You can feel your stomach contracting, your throat threatening to close, your eyes getting ready to be filled with tears. This is so stupid. It’s just a stupid color. It's a stupid dress you’ll never wear again. Why is it affecting you so much?

“Wait, I’m sure Tyler wouldn’t mind changing.”

Mingyu’s soft voice sounds closer to you, but you can’t really see much with your eyes trained to the ground and vision blurry from tearing up.

“No, it’s fine, let’s not bother him.”

Blinking away the tears is easy, but looking up and finding a concerned Mingyu makes you feel like jelly. Cassie’s long forgotten as you focus on him, his tall figure watching over you, his hand placed on your shoulder, squeezing lightly, silently comforting you.

“I’ll go try and find something I like.”

“I can look with you if you want.”

“No, it’s fine, you can go back to what you were doing.”

You walk away, leaving him standing there, still worried about your sudden reaction. Cassie is just behind him, waiting for the opportunity to get his attention back.

But you try not to think about him or her while browsing through the store. Trying your best to be positive, to not get dragged down by a simple color choice, or by a friend – if you can call her that – that couldn’t help you.

Hours go by, and it’s easier when you focus on other things. You help the other girls decide on their dresses, reacting and applauding, helping them find new ones if they aren’t satisfied. It’s fun, contrary to what you previously thought, it’s like playing a dress up game, except every now and then, it’s Cassie who comes out on the make-shift runway, and the first opinion she asks for is always Mingyu's.

At one point, everyone has already decided, and you’re the only one left. All the girls you helped come together to try and find you the best possible dress, bringing a new one to you with hopeful smiles on their faces every few minutes.

You try them on, eager to find one and be done with it. But, even if they look gorgeous when on the hanger, they always got something that doesn’t sit right with you when you put them on. And after trying dress after dress, you grow more discouraged.

Olivia notices how tired you are and tells you that you can come back another day, alone and less anxious, but then again, that would mean stretching the situation for longer than needed. You decide to try on one more dress, one that Olivia picked specifically for you, and if you’re not satisfied, you’ll come back with her the next day.

The store lady helps you put the dress on, her sweet smile never fading, even if it’s the tenth dress she helped you put on already. The pastel green silk fabric glides smoothly over your skin, hugging you in the right places as the lady zips it up. Your back’s facing the mirror, too afraid to look in it again and find another disappointing result.

“Sweetheart, I think this is the one.”

The kind woman’s voice startles you, but her honest smile makes you believe her words. You inhale deeply, calming yourself before turning around. But instead of looking at your reflection, you walk outside the changing room and onto the lobby.

Every pair of eyes is on you the moment you step out, your arms wrap around your torso in an effort to shield yourself, and you can feel your cheeks being painted a bright red color. A few gasps are heard, and when you look around, the girls who helped you are all covering their mouths, eyes wide as they watch you cautiously strolling forward.

At the back of the store, it’s like time stops for Mingyu. Whatever he was doing, forgotten at the sight of you. He was unaware of how much your appearance could affect him. His eyes are trained on you, allured by your figure, scanning you up and down like a piece of art worth studying.

Buzz erupts all around you, mumbles and praises about your dress and how you look in it, but it’s all background noise for you. Mingyu’s heavy stare finds yours, and his ears turn a faint shade of pink. The subtlest smirk begins to form on his lips, spreading the warm feeling on your tummy all across your body. He can’t seem to drive his eyes away from you, and you don’t want him to. Your arms relax under his gaze, disarming the protective shield around you and drop to hang by your sides.

But, in a matter of seconds, the girls swarm around you, blocking all 360 degrees around you. Their positive opinions flood your ears as they walk you back to the dressing room, trying to convince you to choose this dress. You can’t look back, but you’re sure all the groomsmen left together.

Doesn’t matter. You’re definitely getting this one.

After spending the whole day shopping together, it marvels you how these girls still want to spend time together. When they noticed all the boys left, they planned an impromptu girls' night at Olivia’s apartment.

It’s amazing how they can spend hours and hours talking with each other, a few drinks here and there, never running out of topics, entertaining you when you’re too tired to talk.

Your phone vibrates in your pocket, and you sit back on your side of the couch to read the new text.

Mingyu: hey, how are you?

Mingyu: sorry i couldn’t stay today, they dragged me to a boys night

Everything that happened a few hours ago flashes through your mind, waking a giddy smile on your face as you reply.

You: why are you sorry?

You: the girls wanted to do a ‘boys free’ night, we’re at Olivia’s rn

Mingyu: i didnt want to leave before making sure you were okay

Oh.

You: im better now

You: it was fun helping the other girls, took my mind off of it

You: but thank you, you didnt have to worry

Mingyu: good to know :)

Mingyu: next time ill drive you home

You: drive me home? Will i sit on the bike's handlebar?

Mingyu: i was thinking more like a piggyback ride

You: hmm... ill have to think about it

You tune back to the conversation before anyone notices you not paying attention, having no idea what turns the topic has taken in the time you weren’t listening.

“I think he’s definitely seeing someone.”

The girls divided into two groups with different conversations going on, but sitting in front of Cassie, you can only hear her side of the table. They might be talking about Tyler and their “relationship” problems.

“I really don’t think he is. He didn’t use his plus one you know.”

A smile forms in your mouth when your phone vibrates in your hand once again.

Mingyu: can you believe the wedding’s so close already

You: times moving so fast

You: i cant believe its less than two weeks away

Mingyu: it feels like it was only yesterday that tom told me he was getting married

“But today, he didn’t seem at all interested, he was really out of it from the start.”

“Maybe seeing dresses all day is not his thing.”

“No but like, I tried every move on him, and he didn’t even bat an eye.”

Bits and pieces of the still going conversation manage to register on your mind, and you realize they’re talking about Mingyu, unaware of your current chat with him.

You: is the boys only hang out getting boring? Its not very polite to be on the phone you know

Mingyu: theyre all playing games, havent looked my way in over 30 mins

Mingyu: besides i much rather talk with you

You: well i wont argue with that

Mingyu: you seem bored too

You: you’re definitely helping me get through the night

“Maybe he’s just not interested in you.”

Olivia teases Cassie, even though her comment is more than just a joke. But why is Cassie so adamant on wooing Mingyu if, according to Olivia, she really likes Tyler?

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

Mingyu: you know what I just realized

Mingyu: I forgot the dance routine already

You: omg me too

You: we might have to meet to practice like you said

Mingyu: we can do it at my place

Mingyu: you up for it?

You: i should ask you that

You: your feet are going to suffer because of me

Mingyu: that’s a risk im willing to take

Mingyu: but I gotta warn you, I take my practice very seriously

You: sure, you can carry me back to my apartment after we're done

Sitting on Mingyu’s couch, waiting for him to get back from the bathroom, you’re too tired to do anything else than looking around his living room. It’s so him. The warm and neutral colors make everything feel cozy, with pictures of him and his family hanging on the walls – no ambiguously romantic photos with unfamiliar girls, and everything is so tidy, not one pillow out of place, even after practicing for over an hour. Out the window, you can see the sun starting to set, and the buildings across the street start lighting up. You recognize all of them.

All this time, he’s lived so close to you. His building barely a ten minute walk away from yours. You can’t help but wonder, what would’ve happened if you kept in touch, if you just walked two more minutes to the park he frequents, or sent him a follow request on Instagram the few times he popped up on your recommended. It comforts you that at least you have this chance to reconnect with him, to make things right.

But sounding confident over text is easy, and now, you’ve only danced for the whole time you’ve been here, barely even talked about anything else.

It’s conflicting, the guilt of meeting with Mingyu behind everyone’s back – even if it’s no one’s business –, the excitement of seeing him alone after weeks of only wedding related stuff, and the actual need to practice the dance so you don’t embarrass yourself, all colliding in your mind, making everything awkward for you.

Like ten thousand spectators, the windows of every apartment watch you through the glass, just sitting, waiting. Mingyu left only a couple of minutes ago, but after the many times you stepped on him, you wonder if he’s actually hurt.

“Are you okay? Tell me if I need to call a doctor for your feet!”

You shout with your head looking towards the bathroom door. His chuckle travels all the way to your ears before he opens the door.

“I’m fine, I swear.”

As he comes out, your body tingles with nervousness once again. He sits beside you on the couch, unknowingly making your head spin.

“You sure? I don’t think feet are supposed to withstand all of that.”

“I’m okay, just tired, why don’t we rest for a bit?”

They way he sits, on his side, facing you, and his arm resting on the back of the couch, your eyes can’t help but wander to where his arm muscles start showing. Every variation of the phrase “butterflies in your stomach" could describe the way you feel as he watches you, paying so much attention that you mumble your next sentence.

“This couch is way too comfortable. It makes me want to just stay here the rest of the day.”

“Let’s do it! We can even have dinner here. If we order take out, we can tell them to leave it at the door.”

“That sounds nice, but one of us will have to go get it.”

“When my roommate comes home, he’ll bring it inside for us.”

“Oh my god, you have a roommate? When is he coming back? I don’t want to be a bother.” You look towards the entry hallway, like he’s about to come in and kick you out.

You really don’t want to leave, Mingyu’s company is already becoming one of your favorites, but you hadn’t counted on being around another person, and in their home for that matter. You start to get up from where you’re sitting, worried about having overstayed your welcome, but Mingyu’s hand grabs yours softly and drags you back down.

“I invited you here. It’s not like you’re trespassing.”

“But I’ve been here for hours, is it not too much?”

“I guess I don't want you to leave.”

His hand hasn't let go of yours, his skin against yours waking up your whole nervous system. You like how it feels when he’s looking at you, but you can’t help feeling too observed under his gaze.

“Should we practice one more time?” You get up as your other hand takes Mingyu’s free one to try and get him off the couch too. He doesn’t fight your push, but you still struggle to move him barely an inch.

“Now that I think about it, my feet do really hurt.”

When he stands up, your hands dreadly separate as you go press play on the song you had paused earlier.

“You’re a big and strong man, you can handle one more dance.”

The music starts slowly, and when you turn around to go where Mingyu’s standing, he’s quick to put his hands around your waist and bring you to him.

Like that day in the dance class, your bodies are quickly coordinated. You’ve been over the same dance for over an hour now, so at this point, every step is engrained in your muscle memory forever.

“Why don’t you take the lead on this one?” He might’ve felt your sudden confidence in the moves, but fails to realize it’s only because you’re doing it with him.

“Do you have a death wish? The last time I tried to take the lead on a dance like this, it ended really badly.”

“But you’re doing good now! I’m sure it couldn’t have been that bad.”

“Don’t you remember the senior prom? When I made my date trip and he fell onto the chocolate fountain? He got completely covered in melted chocolate.” He shakes his head, making you more confused. “He dislocated his shoulder. You really don’t remember?

“I don’t-” He chuckles at your story but stops his words when he realizes you don’t get what he wants to say, “We left early.”

“Oh… I guess you had a good time with your date.” Thinking about him with someone else puts a bad taste in your mouth.

“I didn’t have a date, I went with the guys.” Somehow, that’s less believable than you being a good dancer.

“I vaguely remember seeing you dance with a girl. Is my memory failing me?” You remember because you hated it.

“Maybe I did dance with someone, but I couldn’t score a real date.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“I am! Why don’t you believe me?

“Because I knew at least ten girls who had a crush on you back then.”

The dance is already forgotten. None of you make the effort to go over the moves. With your arms hanging around his neck and his hands holding on to your waist, you’re just going around in slow circles, eyes connected as your talk turns into something more.

“Well, I wasn’t interested in them.”

“But still, you could’ve easily gotten a date.” You could let the subject go, and maybe you should, but you really want to make your point. “I would’ve gone with you.”

“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”

“But I mean it.”

“You wouldn’t have gone with me.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Yes I do!” His tone gets serious, and it just makes you more desperate to make him understand. He needs to know he’s wrong.

“No, you don’t! You would know if you had asked!”

“I wanted to!

You stop in your tracks, looking straight into his eyes, seeing little hints of shock on his face as he realizes what he said. If your bodies were closer, you’re afraid he could feel that you stopped breathing for a second.

“Why didn’t you?”

“Because I knew at least ten guys who had crushes on you back then,” you’re about to shut him off, but he continues, “and you did end up going with one of them.”

“So, you did see me.”

“Yeah, didn’t stay much after that."

None of you know what to say, as your minds work tirelessly to understand what this conversation means.

“You really should’ve asked me.” There’s so much more you want to say, but you simply can’t.

“You were kind of popular and, I don’t know… It messed with my head.”

“I didn’t care about those stupid labels, and I thought you didn’t either.”

“I know you didn’t, but I wasn’t a confident kid back then, I couldn’t just go up to the girl I liked and ask her out.”

Your jaw reaches the floor after hearing those words. The girl he liked?

Speechless for a few seconds, you can only look at him, trying to figure out if he meant to say those words specifically. He seems to be proud of what he said, showing no sign of regret.

“So, now that you’re all grown up…” you dare to let your fingers caress the skin at the base of his neck, and his hands tighten around you at the touch.

“One would think that, after so many years, things would’ve changed but-”

“I don’t believe you’re not confident by now.”

“That did change, but apparently, other things didn’t, even after growing up.”

He tilts his head to the side cockily, his piercing gaze making you feel hot all over.

“Maybe some things aren’t meant to change.” Like an adrenaline rush, it’s your turn to feel confident as one of your hands starts playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. “I'm starting to discover some things are not that different for me either.”

“Could it be, perhaps, the same thing I’m talking about?” His arms wrap around your waist, bringing you closer to him little by little.

“Hmm, I don’t know, you’re being very vague, I could be talking about still enjoying country music.” You joke so he doesn’t notice your heart beating twice as hard as normal.

“I think you know what I mean.” His smirk is one new thing about him, not that you’ve never seen it before, but the reason behind it makes it way more thrilling to see now.

“I want to hear you say it.”

“You really didn’t know? I mean, back then, I always thought I made it obvious.” His chuckle sends shivers down your spine.

“I wish I did.” You can’t help but think about how your life would be if you made a move on him all those years ago. “But I never said anything either, I was shy too.”

“Good thing we can make up for the time we lost.”

His droopy eyes send you down a spiral you have a hard time coming back from, all your insides becoming putty, feeling his want through his embrace, but there’s still one more thing to get to.

“You know… you say you’re so confident now and whatnot, but I still haven’t heard you say it.” The look you give him is all he needs

“Fine, you win, I used to like you, and seeing you again made me realize I still kinda really do, I’m always eager to get your attention and to spend time with you.” He pauses to take the quickest breath ever, all while you’re losing yours. “I know we’re not the same people as back then, but if you want to, we can get to know each other, again, more mature and less stupid. I have my regrets about how I handled my feelings in the past, but I won’t make the same mistakes again. And I will ask you on a date after the wedding, just a heads up.”

“Wow, I was fine with just an ‘I like you’, but it’s nice to see you’re just as down bad for me as I am for you.” You confess with a joke because, how can you possibly answer that? Your brain is barely receiving enough oxygen as it is.

“And one last thing, I really, really, really, want to kiss you right now.”

“Then why are you not doing it?”

It takes a second for the words to register in his head. A second where you only look at each other, almost not believing what’s happening. The air around you gets so thick, so hot, almost unbearably heavy. And just when your hands begin to push his head your way, his lips attack yours.

All the resurfacing feelings come to life, colliding like a thousand stars that have been running to meet for millions of years. His arms around you bring your body closer to his, forcing you on your tiptoes to follow his lead while his hair tangles between your fingers.

It's surprisingly slow, yet hungry and desperate, making the other feel everything through the connection of your lips. You move along with him naturally, and when he bites your lower lip as a request for access, you don’t hesitate. His hands creep under your shirt just as his tongue dares to move past your lips, exploring your whole body to his liking.

Your chests flush together, leaving little to no space between your bodies, and you can do nothing but melt in his embrace. Your hands wander around his arms and back, touching and feeling every muscle they encounter on their way. When his hands travel down your lower back and reach your ass, you sigh on his lips and immediately feel his smirk against you.

A furious knock on the door makes you both jump and separate, leaving you looking at each other, breathless and with confused faces, until you hear a knock again, as strong as the first one. That’s when Mingyu decides to check his phone and sees it's his roommate, who had apparently forgotten his keys. Both a blessing and a curse.

“Bro, what the hell? I’ve been calling you for about 15 minutes.” You hear the door opening, followed by a new, deep voice.

“I told you I had company.” Their voices echo through the hallway.

When they finally reach the living room where you’ve been awkwardly trying to make yourself look presentable, the roommate's face morphs into something, a mix of surprise and realization. You rush to gather your stuff after muttering some variation of ‘hello’ and 'goodbye' to him. Your heart still pumps twice as fast as normal, and you don’t trust you’ll be able to handle yourself if you stay for longer.

“I’ll see you on the weekend?” Mingyu asks when you’ve both reached the entry, his hand on the handle, hesitant to unlock the door.

You want to kiss him again so badly. His lips are parted, still swollen, calling to you to connect them with yours again.

“Find me when you crash the bachelorette party.” You make your best effort to sound confident and not at all dizzy because of him.

“You know about that?”

“The bridesmaids know everything... It’s only a surprise for Olivia.” You peck him goodbye, like a promise for more. And the feeling of his lips on yours lasts all night.

It’s roughly around 1 am. when a high-pitched scream from Olivia announces to everyone at the bar that the bachelor party has officially arrived.

The effects from all the alcohol you consumed in the last 4 hours are just starting to fade, only a little buzz left. But that doesn’t prevent you from seeing what’s happening all the way across the room.

Mingyu standing with his hip resting on the barstool, listening to Cassie as she drunkenly asks him something. You want to stop looking, not wanting to let all your previous feelings resurface again, not after the recent development in your relationship with him. But just as soon as you’re about to turn your head the other way, Mingyu interrupts Cassie’s rumbling and tells her something, to which she doesn’t respond, nods awkwardly, and just walks away, leaving him standing there.

That’s your signal to walk over to him.

“Looks like I found you first.”

“Damn, I wanted to get you a drink first.”

The music and the people drunkenly signing and shouting makes it hard for your voices to reach the other, and Mingyu takes the opportunity to take a step closer to you.

You stand against the bar as the room grows warmer and warmer the closer his body gets to yours. His height taunts you as he stands against the bar as well, forcing you to look up so you can see the smirk on his face. His fingers play with yours as the intensity of his stare increases. You don’t care that you’re in public, that anyone from the wedding can see you two. Maybe you want them to.

“How’s your night going?” His hair tickles the side of your face.

“It was really fun, I might be growing fond of the girls." You don’t remember much, just a vague memory of many different games you played to get drunk, and the feeling of being happy. “How about yours? Don’t tell me you went to a strip club or something like that.”

“Actually, we did a drunk escape room, didn’t even know those existed until today.”

The closeness between you is getting more worrying by the second, mainly because if you hear his low chuckle next to your ear one more time, you might pass out.

“That sounds horrible!” You chuckle away from his personal space, only to encounter his hungry eyes already looking at you.

“It was fun, I wish you could’ve been there.” His honesty has a sultry tone to it that makes your lungs completely empty of air.

“I’m not sure we would’ve made a good team.”

“Why? You’re smart! Or at least you were back then.”

“Hey! I still am!”

“I really have to get to know this new you.”

The pink and blue lights reflect on his face, giving him the most beautiful sparkles on his eyes, directed at you.

“It’s not that new, I’m still very introverted, don’t talk much when there’s a lot of people around.”

“I like that, you’re observant, good thing to be while in a escape room.”

“We’re still talking about that?”

“Maybe, maybe not, I don’t really care, I just wanted to spend time with you.”

“Are you drunk?” You can only ask with a smile plastered on your face, but he shakes his head.

“You kinda make me feel like I’m a teenage boy again, I don’t know how to explain it.”

“I think I get it.” You place your hand on his chest, feeling the beating of his heart under it, even harder than the music blasting out of the speakers.

“You know, back then, every time I had a free period, I would make my friends walk past whatever class you had, just to get to see you, at least for a second.” Out of everything he’s drunkenly confessing, this may be the one that surprises you the most because you really never realized he felt the same. He notices you freezing in place. “Once they found out, I was relentlessly bullied by them.”

“I sure hope it was worth it.” If the lighting was any better, he'd be able to see the cherry red covering your cheeks and ears.

“Every second of it.” Everything around the two of you moves slower, like time’s stopping only for the outside world, and the muffled background noises do nothing to pierce the bubble around you. “I really want to take you on a date, a real one.”

“I would very much like that.”

You can see the gears turning through Mingyu’s eyes, and you move your eyes down to his lips so he can take the hint. But nothing happens as someone else enters your little world.

Olivia’s aware that something’s going on, her eyes switching back and forth between the two of you before she speaks.

“I need your help, I’m sorry to interrupt, but I’m getting worried about her.”

“About who? What happened?” Mingyu stays behind you as you turn to Olivia, grabbing one of your hands, and his warmth gives you goosebumps.

“It’s Cassie, she’s been sitting alone in the restroom for I don’t know how long, she's way too drunk and I can’t take care of her.”

You now realize she’s slurring her words, meaning she’s also too drunk and therefore can’t take care of another drunk person, leaving you no choice but to go help Cassie. You look back at Mingyu, who encourages you to go, even if it takes a little too long for his hand to let go of yours.

The graffitied restroom provides you with a little more light than the rest of the place, and when you enter, you recognize Cassie sitting on the floor inside one of the stalls. Luckily there’s no one guarding the bathrooms because if she’s seen throwing up, it could potentially get you both kicked out.

You sit on the dirty floor beside her without saying a word, letting her know you’re here to help without giving her a headache. Her forehead’s resting on top of her knees as she hugs her legs tightly. But after a minute or two of silence, you decide it’s best to check if she’s at least awake.

“Cassie? Are you okay?” Your hand on her shoulder makes her look up at you.

“I don’t feel so good, I just want to sit down for a while.” She sounds tired, her husky voice giving away all the talking and singing she’s been doing all night.

“Do you need anything? I can get you a cup of water.”

“No, please, just stay here a bit, I didn’t want anyone to see me but I don’t want to be alone.”

“Ok, I’ll stay, let me know if you need something, anything.”

Time passes by, the music making it easier for you to not get bored. A few people enter the restroom from time to time, too drunk or too in a hurry to notice you both sitting down. Olivia passes by the door a few times, hovering, checking if everything’s okay (and if you’re still in the same position as the previous time). You just smile and nod, letting her go back to her party time and time again. But at last, in one of her check-ins, she finally walks inside.

“Hey, Mingyu’s looking for you!” Both you and Cassie look up at Olivia, but her eyes point at you. “What do I tell him?”

You instinctively look to Cassie by your side, and her expression falls.

“Don’t, don’t go with him.” She finds the strength to plead to you, but she seems more worried than anything.

“Why? Did he do something? Is that why you’re hiding here?” Olivia asks, and you realize she didn’t leave after you didn’t answer her.

“No, no, I mean, yes I’m hiding from him, but he didn't do anything, it was me, I embarrassed myself.”

“Why are you telling me not to go with him then?”

“Do you like him?”

“I-” Wow, blunt question out of the blue.

“You can be honest, it’s fine.”

“Yeah, I do, I like him.”

Telling them, her, the truth feels kind of freeing. Finally admitting in front of them that you like someone, after not being able to for so many years, it’s like you can finally breathe.

“Then, for your own good, don’t go with him, he’s seeing someone.”

“What? How do you know?” That freedom lasts barely seconds before a new weight falls right on top of your lungs.

“He told me, when the guys got here, he said that he’s been after a girl for years and they recently started going out.”

“Are you sure? Did he use those words?”

“I’m not saying it verbatim, I don’t remember it exactly word for word, but that’s what he meant.”

Could he possibly be talking about you? How recent is ‘recently’ supposed to mean? You haven’t even started officially dating. Is confessing your feelings considered the start of dating? Is it supposed to be this confusing? Are you going to believe her? Not that Cassie’s a liar, but you don’t know the context nor the exact words he used, and she doesn’t know what happened between you and him either.

“Should I go tell him something?” Olivia's already standing up, your silence not helping the situation.

“Just-" You don’t want to push him away, but it’s not the time to resolve this. The whole thing is too confusing to be making desperate decisions at this hour of the night, “Tell him to go have fun with the guys, I’m getting Cassie home.”

The loudest alarm you could’ve ever set up wakes you up with a jump. Your head hurts like your inside out emotions are building houses inside your skull. But the memories still hit you as soon as your eyelids burst open. Some decisions were definitely made the night before. Wrong ones? That’s to be seen today.

And thanks to the gods and Olivia’s always late waking family, you’re not supposed to be at the venue until 11 am. Only bad news, It’s on a luxury complex outside the city. You have time for a real breakfast and a shower, but all the thinking and feeling will have to wait.

You unlock your phone to find the last text conversation open and the messages you barely remember sending stare at you through the dim screen.

Mingyu: you left so suddenly

Mingyu: everything ok?

You: yeah

You: had to take Cass to her place, she wasn’t feeling well

Mingyu: that’s too bad, hope she feels better

Mingyu: you just got home?

You: yep, about to go to bed

Mingyu: great, just checking before i head to sleep

Mingyu: sleep well, big day tomorrow

Admittedly, you were a little dry. Cassie’s words were still lingering on your mind, making you doubt everything. One side of your brain telling you that he was probably talking about you, he explained what he felt and what he wanted and sounded sure and truthful. But, the other part of your brain, the still self-conscious and self-doubting side, also makes valid points. The void years in between your relationship weren’t mentioned in his confession, and you technically aren’t dating. He hasn’t even asked you out yet! It’s too conflicting. But you know you have to face both of them today. After the ceremony.

The taxi ride to the venue is not only long but full of traffic. The sun shining bright directly to your face, the light humming of the driver to the songs of the radio and the occasional car horn on the distance, somehow make it bearable, with all the thoughts about the previous night, switching sides between the he said she said, it’s nice to have something constant while your minds goes on a rollercoaster.

A rollercoaster that doesn’t stop even when you arrive. As soon as you step foot outside the car, Olivia’s mom rushes you upstairs to where the make-up artists set up. There’s no time to admire the beautiful countryside venue. You walk past the door to where the ceremony’s going to be held later, but rush up the stairs without even looking. The green dress already waiting for you at the door, an infinite echo of voices and even more people running around make the atmosphere feel dizzying.

Nothing slows down for even a second. Even when you’re sitting down having your make-up done, around you there’s only people rushing to do everything, stressing about the little details, people running into the room to tell Olivia or her mom about decorations, the wedding planner coming in and out constantly, checking everything’s in order. It’s kind of beautiful how all this mess has the sole purpose of making today the best day for the couple. Even if it doesn’t look like it, no one will remember the dress that wasn’t properly ironed, or the string of hair that had too much hairspray on it, or the too slippery shoes that made it a chore to walk on the tiled floor.

So much chaos happens between the hair and make-up, and then with the photoshoots, you don’t have time to talk to Mingyu. Your eyes would cross from time to time, but those milliseconds of him in a suit glaring at you from across the room are enough, and there’s so much of that you can take before an internal chain reaction begins.

The walk downstairs, after all the make-up retouches and fixes to any rebellious stray hair that didn’t want to stay in place, feels like the first calm and slow moment of the day. As the steps get closer and closer to the bottom floor, the red carpet muffling the clicking of your shoes, your insides feel fire-like when you see Mingyu waiting for you by the final step, an unknowing smile on his face. His eyes drill holes on your figure, scanning you up and down shamelessly.

“You chose this one, I like it.” He whispers by your ear as you walk to the door, where every pair is already waiting. A little smile shows on your face, but it fades when your eyes encounter Cassie’s, watching the two of you with a frown so little you only notice because she immediately relaxes her face.

The music starts before you can say anything to Mingyu, and one by one, each of the bridesmaids start walking down the aisle, arms linked with the groomsmen, gracefully walking forward as the eyes of every guest fall on them. Your arm tangled with his is the first touch you share since many days ago, and even with all the conflict making your mind a blur, your heart speeds up at the feeling of his muscles.

Nothing seems slow anymore, and the ceremony almost goes by without noticing. There isn’t one second where you don’t feel Mingyu’s eyes on you, making it impossible to focus – or pretend to focus – on what the priest is saying.

The moment your brain reconnects with your ears, Thomas delivers the most beautiful vows you’ve ever heard. You met the guy only once, never even spoken to him, but the way he speaks so fondly about Olivia makes your heart clutch in your chest, and your throat tries to fight it, but you end up bursting with tears. But you’re not the only one with a cascade of dramatic tears falling with seemingly no end. As the room fills with applause and even some whistles at the first kiss between the officially married couple, you see some people with tissues, quietly blowing their nose.

But the never-ending rush in time continues, everyone sprinting to sit at their tables for the reception. The last retouches of make-up get done quickly. The girls gossip to kill the time before the dance, because for them it’s moving so slowly, but in the blink of an eye, you’re going out the door once again, just as Cassie taps on your shoulder. You turn to her, expecting her to be angry, or at least to start speaking, but it looks like she’s still figuring out what to say.

“Thank you, for taking care of me last night, I’m sure you would’ve preferred to enjoy the party.”

“I wasn’t going to leave you alone, it’s fine, you don’t have to thank me. Are you feeling better?”

“Yeah, I am! But actually, I wanted to apologize.” Your head spins, dizzy from the world suddenly stopping hearing her words. “I didn’t know there was something going on between you two.”

“There’s not- I mean, not much happened, I didn’t want to cause a fuzz over it.”

“But you should’ve told me you liked him, at least! If I knew about it, I wouldn’t have gone after him.” You see in her eyes nothing but honesty. “I know we’re not as close as before, but these are the things we need to tell each other. It’s the girl code.”

“I don’t really know why I didn’t, I know I should’ve, I didn’t know how.” You’ve now started to go downstairs to the reception, already the time to dance in pairs.

“Look, it’s okay if you’re not comfortable telling me this, but did something happen? Was he talking about you last night?”

You’ve reached where everyone is waiting, and you’re too embarrassed to look up and possibly find Mingyu standing there, leg-melting and breathtaking.

“I thought about it but I don’t know, maybe?”

Back at the reception, the music starts, signaling the newlyweds are about to begin their first dance, meaning in no time you’ll have to step in and dance around them.

“I’m going to ask you three questions and you just have to answer yes or no. There's no need for explanation, okay?”

“O…Kay?”

“So, you two knew each other in school, did you like him?” You nod shyly, not looking in her eyes, embarrassed to be talking about this so openly, “Did he like you?” You nod again, “And did something happen recently that would indicate that he would like to date you in the near future?”

You give her a final nod and finally look up at her. She sighs, taking your hand and squeezing it to make you pay attention.

“Then he meant you dummy! Go, talk to him. He’s been staring at you all day like a lost puppy.”

When you dare to look his way, where you just knew he was standing, he’s looking at you, a little smirk on his lips and subtly motioning he's ready to take your hand. You didn’t notice it was already time, and everyone around you stands in their position.

The pairs start entering one by one, and your smile trembles, feeling the eyes of every guest on you. Your fingers barely graze his, but they feel raw, like you can feel every particle of his hand below yours. The electric fire emerging from where your skin connects with his runs through your veins in record time.

But as soon as the music starts and Mingyu turns you so you’re looking at him, everything is forgotten. The steps come easily, his eyes calm but observing, his hand on your waist guiding you as he did every time you practiced.

“You’ve been avoiding me.” He whispers, not wanting to disrupt the moment, but knowing it’s the only time you’ll get alone.

“I swear I didn’t mean to.”

You panic. There was so much to do and so few words you could come up with to say to him that maybe you unconsciously avoided him by locking yourself up in the make-up room.

“Did I do something wrong?” He doesn’t sound hurt, but rather just plain curious, eager to work this out between you two.

“No! it was just a misunderstanding,” he waits for you to continue, but the part of your brain that makes sense starts crumbling, making it impossible to form a coherent argument, “I- can I ask you something? It might sound stupid, I’m warning you.”

“Go ahead.” He chuckles, his feet continuing to dance while you've already forgotten about it. One of your hands stays on his shoulder, while the other is being held by him, still in the air by your sides, reaching the height of your shoulders.

“You’re not dating anyone, are you?”

He doesn’t let the silence even come close to the two of you, chuckling quietly so you’re the only one who can hear it.

“I’m not, hard to believe I know, but I’m painfully single.”

“Great, I just wanted to make sure.”

“I remember telling you I want to take you on a date.”

“Y-yeah, of course I remember that too."

The pit of your stomach lights up at the remainder of that afternoon in his home, your bodies as close as they are at this moment.

“Then what made you think that?”

“You just, you said to Cassie last night that you started seeing someone recently and, I don’t know, we didn’t technically start dating, so I panicked.” Saying it out loud to him, it sounds ridiculous, but if he thinks that, he doesn’t show it.

“Oh that, yeah, I might’ve gotten ahead of myself, but hey, think of it as manifesting.” He’s so charming that you don’t care that he’s making no sense.

“Next time, don’t tell a drunk girl who’s flirting with you the wrong information. She might spread it around.”

The synchronized chuckle you let out makes you pay attention to the forgotten situation. You’re dancing and haven’t tripped once, like your muscles got a life of their own and remembered every single step. And you suddenly realize how close your body is to Mingyu’s. One hand down the small of your back, pressing just enough to hold you in his personal space, his face close enough that you could concentrate on his breathing and feel the light exhales on your face.

When the music ends, the applause makes you look around, and your cheeks feel warm immediately, noticing all the eyes on every one of you. But the attention is short-lived, as you and Mingyu walk quickly to your table so the couple can do the welcome toasts. You don't miss how he slides your chair closer to his before you sit down.

Sitting by your side, Mingyu’s body and yours are connected by an electric current, drawing you closer. His knee stays glued to yours, and the cut on the side of your dress allows your bare skin to brush against the fabric of his pants. A conversation takes place between everyone at the table, one of the guys telling a story about something funny that happened with Tom back in high-school, but it’s hard to pay any real attention when Mingyu’s fingers start tracing circles on your knee. He’s not even doing to be a tease. It seems like it’s a habit of his, one that you’re just discovering. You don’t stop your fingers from playing with his, and a subtle smirk forms on his lips at your action.

It’s not like you’re doing anything too flashy or indecent, but you do your best to mask your reactions to his touches, to try and keep the people of the table unaware of the not so innocent things going on under the fancy tablecloth. He only notices your changes because he’s paying attention to you. The way your chest rises just a tad bit more when his hand goes a little over your knee, or how you drink from your cold glass of water when he presses on the skin of your inner thigh, but when he’s about to move his hand off of you, you put yours on his to keep it in place. You also notice things throughout the night, for example, that Mingyu isn’t drinking a lot, restricting to one glass of champagne per serving. You do the same, wanting to remember this night in the future.

Mingyu stands up when the dancefloor opens again, turning down an offer to go to the bar for something stronger than sparkling wine. Instead, he reaches for your hand, silently inviting you to dance with him, to which you agree, with a smile and avoiding his eyes. Following behind him, he doesn’t let go of your hand, even when you’ve reached the spot he wanted. People join you on the dancefloor, drunkenly vibing to the dj set, surrounding you, and blocking you from anyone you know. It’s feels almost private. Whatever song is playing on the speakers, it doesn’t prevent you from following your own rhythm in your own world. Your arms wrap around Mingyu’s neck, and both of his hands hold your waist, mirroring the evening at his place.

“So, tell me, what other embarrassing things did you do when you liked me?”

He throws his head back in embarrassment, sighing with a smile before daring to look at you again. His ears turn a light shade of pink, and you swear you can feel his heartbeat between your bodies.

“I really told you that, did I? I was hoping you wouldn't remember.”

“Nope, I remember it very vividly actually.”

“Let’s leave the embarrassing stories for the future, I wasn’t in my best condition last night.”

“You’re making me too curious now, but how drunk did you get last night?”

“Honestly, I was just nervous about seeing you and about tonight.” He might be confessing another embarrassing thing, but behind his truthful tone, there’s something you can’t quite decipher.

“What’s there to be nervous about tonight?”

Your heels allow you to be in his line of sight, and your chests are too close. If you inhaled deeply, you’d be able to feel him on you. He takes advantage of your new height and forces your attention to go to his lips, smirking shamelessly as he thinks his next words.

“Did I tell you how pretty you look today?"

One hand comes close to your face, removes a strand of hair from blocking your view, and tucks it behind your ear.

“Oh, shut up.”

You can’t even think of a snarky response, your brain melting and showing just how much he affects you. Goosebumps spread all across your arms and back at the feel of his hand caressing your skin.

“I can’t, it’s all I’ve thinking about all day, you, this dress, and you in this dress.”

You instinctively hide your face on the crook of his neck, his cologne invading your senses. It’s hard to think of words when he’s looking at you like he wants to eat you whole.

“I got it because of you. Do you really like it?”

Not that you need any confirmation, since he’s told you twice already, but it wouldn’t hurt to hear it from him one more time. Your reveal makes his smirking lips graze your ear, sending shivers down your spine, and his voice drops an octave to answer.

“I love the dress, but I’ll love it more once I get it off you.”

“I hate you.”

You barely manage to say, your chest rising but breathless at the same time. Your body’s automatic reaction is to push him away, and your hands go straight to his chest to try, but of course it’s pointless. His hands catch yours, not letting you leave his personal space. He taunts you by spinning you around, and once you do a full twirl, he grabs you by the waist again and brings your body to his.

“You have no idea how hard it was for me that day when you stepped out, wearing this.” He gets closer to your ear with every word. You hate it and love it. For one, you can hide from his teasing eyes and blush in peace, but on the other hand, you are cheek to cheek with him, his breath fanning lightly on your side, and you can feel he’s still smirking. “You’re lucky there were other people in the room.”

A breath catches in your throat, and you swallow hard. You thank all the gods there are out there for being surrounded by drunk people. Because to anyone on their senses, your reaction to Mingyu's words would be too obvious.

“I really hate you right now.”

It’s getting harder and harder to ignore the heat growing at the pit of your stomach.

“You don’t.”

“I do.”

“I think it’s quite the opposite actually.”

How are you supposed to play hard to get when his hands hold you like he wants to keep you forever?

“You think you know everything.”

You catch your voice about to tremble when his free hand starts going down the side of your arm, from your shoulder down until your hand, and interlocks his fingers with yours.

“If you hate me then, I can’t tell you the secret I’ve been keeping all night.”

“Have you been secretly writing an article about how to break someone’s heart in 10 days?”

“I love that movie, but it has been well over 10 days, I couldn’t make the deadline.”

“Rom-com connoisseur, noted.” You jokingly nod, but not forgetting what’s important. “Now tell me.”

“So, you know how they told us there were rooms available for anyone that couldn't drive home?” You nod, too enthusiastically. “I may or may not have booked one for tonight, and if you want to, there’s space for one more, we don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to…” He keeps talking, something about you watching him do something, but you get lost in the way his lips move as he talks, so pink and fast and hypnotizing.

“Isn’t it rude to just leave?”

The question leaves your mouth more to tease him than anything else. You want to be alone with him so badly, feel his body all over yours, his hands everywhere he can reach, ripping this godforsaken dress off you.

Before the last food serving rolls out and everyone scatters to go back to their seat, you sneak out of the reception, but the drunk bodies are not making it easy. Mingyu leads the way with you grabbing his hand and walking behind him. You don’t know if you could’ve managed another teasing touching session under the table.

You take a left turn into the hallway just at the same time as one of Olivia's drunk uncles, a stranger to the both of you, who’s half asleep using the wall to steady himself as he walks. The music echoes through the walls, and you can only look at each other, half about to burst out laughing and half needing to take the others clothes off, as you walk as nonchalantly as possible past the man trying his best to open his door.

Giggling like teenagers, you finally reach your room at the end of the hallway, but the second you enter, the atmosphere changes. Standing by the closed door, shoes off, panting, and frozen in place, you only look at each other. Your breaths regulate, and your smiles slowly fade off your expressions as the realization hits. It’s real. He’s here, and you’re here, in a room just for the two of you. His eyes are bound to your parted lips, but you wouldn’t know, as yours are also unable to leave his.

Like magnets, brutally drawn to each other, your lips finally reconnect in a hungry, desperate kiss. After learning how sweet he tastes, how his lips glide over yours so easily, how he wraps his arms around you to keep you close to him, there was only so much time you could spend in abstinence.

No words needed, the want translating in the way your hands push him against you, his hands traveling across your back, touching and groping everywhere he can reach. After the long day testing your patience, neither of you can slow down.

His fang claws at your bottom lip, making you whimper against him. He drinks in any sound you make, his arms bringing your body impossibly closer to his, almost making you one. No one is in control, both of you just touching and grabbing anywhere you can, desperate for more.

Your mouths reluctantly separate as Mingyu starts leaving a trail of kisses down your neck and biting lightly on your sensitive skin, making you gasp. You can only thread your fingers on his hair, encouraging him to leave any marks he wishes to.

“Is this okay?”

His raspy voice travels to your ears, and you don’t trust yourself to not make unholy noises if you open your mouth to answer. But just as you’re humming, he digs his teeth just above your clavicle, turning your hum into a moan.

He slowly slides the straps of your dress down your shoulders, his fingers teasing your skin on the way down. His hand travels across your chest, only the silky green fabric in between your fiery skin and his teasing fingers. They go over your pointy hard nipples, feeling everything on its way, but not letting it stay anywhere for more than a second.

“Are you going to take it off?”

Your breathlessness makes him chuckle, smug and cocky as ever.

“Rushed?”

“Very. You’re the one that put the thought in my head, now take care of it!” His hands sneak up your back, playing with the zipper of your dress.

“Don’t act so innocent.” His tone goes straight to your core. The fabric around you loosens up as his hand runs down your spine, but he stops before it gets too loose to slip down. “You think I didn’t see the way you looked at me all day? You’re not slick.”

He takes a step back to take off his suit jacket, absentmindedly throwing it to the side without breaking eye contact. But you don't let yourself get shy.

“Who said I was trying to hide it?”

Your hands run from his shoulders to his chest, unbuttoning his shirt one by one as his breathing speeds up. The warmth of his body envelops your hands, your fingers barely grazing the skin above his pants, and his muscles tense at your touch before you slip his shirt off.

“Now who’s the one teasing?”

Pulling on the red tie around his neck, he swallows hard as you bring his head closer to yours, so close you unconsciously flutter your eyes closed. His bare chest rises against yours as you undo his tie slowly. You could tilt your chin up and break the tension once more, but something in you wants to keep teasing him.

A step back is all you need to have his lips chase you, and he opens his eyes, droopy and confused, to find you slipping your dress off. His stare turns surprised and hungry as you reveal yourself for him, but his body stays frozen in place.

“I’m supposed to do that.”

It’s your time to chuckle now, taking a step forward again. His hands slot on your waist instinctively, traveling to your stomach, enjoying the feeling of your soft skin against his hands.

“You’ll get to do it next time.” The sentence is almost left unfinished, a breath getting caught in your throat when his hands dare go up your chest. But they’re gone in a heartbeat, as they reach your face and tilt it so you can properly look at him.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” No teasing tone on his voice.

“I’m literally naked in front of you.” Your hands go back up to his neck, pushing his head slightly down, reaching a hypnotic closeness. “I want this, I want you Mingyu.”

Confirmation is all he needed to let loose, to let the want take over his body and soul. He connects your lips with force, and wastes no time. With his hands on your ass and his tongue working its way inside your mouth, he stumbles backwards until you both fall on the bed.

With you on top of Mingyu, your hands make their way across his chest, his golden skin glistening due to the sweat. You can feel his hard muscles tense under your touch, making him sigh on your mouth when you find his sensitive spots. His hands move to your hips and push you down on him, making you both moan un unison because of the first friction between your cores.

His growing hard grinds deliciously against you. Even with his pants still between you, you can feel how big he is, and the wet patch on your panties grows by the second. Your lips are still smashed together, a mess of saliva allowing your lips you glide faster and hungrier on his, your tongues becoming one, not wanting to separate ever again.

Your hands find their way down his abdomen, reaching where his pants hang on his hips. The absence of a belt makes it easier for you to unbutton them, and he takes the off expertly, all without ever taking his hands off you.

The second your hand sneaks under his underwear, he groans under you, disconnecting your mouths to take a look at you.

“Is it embarrassing to be already close?” His blood red lips are parted, breathing out his confession, and you almost moan, clenching around nothing because of the sight, or his confession, or maybe the whimper he fights when you wrap your hand around him.

“You’re so big, fuck.” You sigh, and the side of his mouth quirks up, but slowly disappears as you start sliding your hand down, smearing the precum on his length.

“I’m not gonna hurt you.”

His eyes have a mix of concern and lust on them, and your body doesn’t know how to react, your stomach flips, your hands tremble, and your underwear grows wetter.

“I know you won’t.”

You climb down on him, your eyesight reaching where his boxers begin to tent. His gaze follows you, like he can’t believe the reality of what’s happening. You take off the last piece of clothing left on his body, and his dick springs free, standing proud and angry red in front of your eyes. The throb on your throat makes you move forward, wrapping your lips around his leaking tip.

“Wait. Don’t.” You look up at him but he’s facing the ceiling, ears red and eyes closed. “I can’t.”

“I haven’t done anything.” You play innocent, and a smirk appears on your face when he finally looks at you, resting on his elbows.

“Exactly, that’s why I can’t, I need to have a little bit of pride left.”

“What do you suggest we do?” You slowly climb up on him again, his hands moving to your hips like they got a life of their own. One hand on his chest and one hand on his jaw, you kiss him softly, and he melts at your touch.

A soft moan is heard, could be from him, could be from you, but your mind is too clouded to care when he rolls his hips against yours, following the pace of your lazy kiss. A rush of arousal takes over your body when he presses you harder against him, his length sliding perfectly with your core, your wetness making it easier to reach every point that makes you gasp.

“I want,” his lips stop working on yours, but his arms keep you from separating. You feel his every breath, every gasp at the friction, and his lips graze yours when he speaks, “I want to taste you.”

“Fuck.” He might just be able to feel the new rush of wetness dampening your panties further and smearing around his hard below you. His hands push your hips up his body. He told you what he wants, and he’s showing you exactly how he wants it. “Are you sure? I don’t want to crush your skull.”

“I wouldn’t mind that, at least I’d die happy.”

“Well, I can’t argue with that if you want it.”

The chuckle he lets out reverberates from his chest up through your whole body. There’s not much you can do besides complying with his wants, especially with the way your body’s reacting to the sole idea of it and the way he’s moving you to where he wants.

His hands sneak under the strings of your underwear, and as you climb higher and higher, he removes them easily, leaving you bare on top of him.

“You’re so wet, shit.” Your pussy pulsates just above his face. You can’t see his reaction, but you for sure can hear it, “I would’ve done this sooner if I knew this was waiting for me.”

From your point of view, his whole face is covered, by you, on top of him, only his messy hair laying on the mattress can be seen. A view that’s dizzying and hypnotic at the same time, and you can’t think of any answer to give him. His breath on your wet core makes you shiver, but you’re afraid to sit down, afraid you’ll hurt him.

Mingyu senses your hesitation and gives you no more time to doubt. His head rises until his tongue meets your folds, flattening on you, desperate to make you feel good. The sudden stimulation makes your legs tremble, and you would've fell on his face if it wasn’t from his hands still holding your hips.

He starts making out with your cunt, moaning and groaning against it like this is also pleasurable for him. His tongue finds every place that makes you gasp, moan and whimper, and with every lap at your folds, a nasty wet sound accompanies it.

A shaky moan escapes out of you when he envelops your clit with his lips and sucks lightly, making you grab the headboard so you don’t fall on him.

You must’ve fully sit on his mouth in your search for support, because he moans louder against your pussy, and you can feel everything. His lips and tongue working to drink every drop of arousal that leaves you, discovering every sensitive spot you didn’t know about.

The tip of his nose bumps your clit just as his tongue finds its way inside your pulsing hole, and you instinctively move your hand down to pull at his hair. The action encourages him to go faster, harder, and when you grind on his face and he groans like he’s enjoying it, you let go.

Riding him, chasing your high, you’re using his tongue for your own pleasure. Your hand on his hair tightens, and you lose the little control you had of your throat. But the unfiltered sounds you make just push him harder. Every one of your senses is clouded. The wet sounds, the way he moans against you, his tongue already knowing where to go to make you squirm, everything culminates without warning.

You cum on his tongue faster than you have ever before. Your thighs tremble at either side of his head, and you realize you’re crushing him between them. But he doesn't let you get up. His tongue continues to work on you,

He cleans you up, drinking every last drop of arousal smeared on your skin. You spasm over him every time he –not so accidentally– flicks your clit with the tip of his tongue, starting to get you overstimulated.

You use the strength you have left to push his head back, and take advantage of his surprise to plop down on his side, your back on the mattress and your pussy finally away of his eager mouth.

“Are you okay?”

From the corner of your eye, while you try to recover, you see Mingyu doing his best to clean the lower side of his face.

“Yeah, fuck, that was a lot.” You manage to say in between breaths. “I need a second.”

“If you’re too tired, we can st- fuck.”

You don’t give time to overthink, quickly getting on top of him again, your swollen dripping cunt right on top of his still hard cock.

“Second's over.” Only a little smirk is the warning he gets before you’re grinding on top of him again. All of your juices mix as you slowly ride back and forth, his length sliding between your wet folds deliciously. “I’m clean, and on the pill, are you?”

“On the pill? Unfortunately not.” How he manages to make you laugh even on your horniest moments will forever remain a mystery. “But I’m clean, I’ve never had sex without a condom before.”

“Me neither. I guess this will be a new experience for the both of us.” The sole thought of it makes his dick twitch under you.

“Are you sure?” His hand cups the side of your face, and his eyes look at you with such care that you could melt in an instant.

“Yes, I don’t want to wait anymore. We’ve waited long enough.” That seems to relax him, his hands beginning to roam freely across your torso.

Sliding forward makes the veins of his cock drag along every sensitive spot and you both moan before his tip finally prods at your entrance. A loud hiss comes out of him as you align yourself with his length and push his tip in.

But before you can go any further, he wraps his arms around your waist and turns you around so your back is against the mattress. You gasp at the sudden change, and when he starts slowly sinking into you, filling every possible space inside you, you lose your breath.

His cock being covered by your fluids makes it easier, and when he finally bottoms out, so deep you feel him everywhere, you hear him trying to muffle a moan. Your gummy walls clamp around him, trying to get used to his size. The twitch of his length feels stronger while inside you, and you know he’s trying to resist the urge to pound into you.

“Move, please, I need you.” Your pathetic whimper triggers another smirk out of him, and as he moves down to give you a soft kiss, his eyes darken.

“Whatever my girl wants.”

The slow drag of his cock as he starts sliding it out almost make you delirious, but before his tip slips out, he snaps his full length right back in, making your body jolt upwards. You can't speak properly, a curse you can’t even hear leaves your mouth before he repeats the action, again and again.

“So deep, Mingyu, fuck.” The brutal pace he sets has him abusing every single sensitive spot inside you, even the ones you didn’t know about, hitting relentlessly where it makes you scream, and you’re seeing stars.

“You don’t say my name often,” his voice is raspy and deep, almost mirroring the way his cock pistons inside of you, “I like how it sounds coming out of you."

Your palms are against the headboard and you’re sure the bed hitting against the wall can be heard from other rooms, but when one of his hands sneak between your bodies and starts circling your clit, you stop caring all along.

The grinding of your hips matches his rhythm, accentuating everything as he drives you closer and closer. With his face just above yours, you can only look him in the eyes and let him watch your face contort in pleasure feeling every vein of his cock dragging inside of you. With any other person, you would be self-conscious, but as he finds that spot inside you that makes you squirm, you forget the world around you and focus on grabbing his strong arms for support.

His teeth find your neck again, biting and kissing on your soft skin, pushing you closer and closer to the edge, and he doesn’t stop drilling his hips into you. Somehow, you feel him deeper with every thrust, and the only thing you can do is claw your nails on his arms and back, encouraging him more and more.

“You’re so tight, shit.” His hips stutter when you clench hearing his voice. “Tell me you’re close, please, fuck, I don’t now how long I got."

“Yes! Yes, don’t stop.” You tighten impossibly harder around him when you feel him pinch one of your nipples. He’s literally everywhere, stimulating every spot to tip you over the edge.

Your arms and legs cage his body so close to yours that he has trouble keeping up with his pace, but that doesn't stop him from pounding hard. The sound of skin your skin hitting against his and his groans are like music to your ears.

It's when his thumb teases your clit again that you finally snap.

You tremble around him, moaning uncontrollably as he keeps pounding into you, prolonging your orgasm as he pleases and chasing his own. But he’s far gone too. Your sweet moans in his ear and your walls clenching around him so perfectly are enough to have him spilling inside you.

Sleepiness is about to get you when you feel him sliding out you and plopping by your side. Naturally, one of his arms slots under you as your head rests on the crook of his neck.

There’s silence while you both catch your breaths, his hand softly drawing circles on your back and yours on his chest. As reality sinks in, giddiness fills your entire body, and you can’t contain the smile growing against his golden skin.

“Did you do any embarrassing things back then?” The sudden interrogation makes your cheeks turn red.

“I’m guessing there’s no way out of this, right?” You avoid looking up at him to not make your shyness obvious, and you feel him shake his head as an answer. “Fine… you know… your fangs?”

“My fangs?!” Amusement and surprise mix on his voice.

“Fuck this is so embarrassing.” You’re caged between his arms but you manage to cover your face with your hands.

“You liked my fangs?”

“I still do, but yeah, I would just draw little fangs everywhere, I guess no one ever noticed because they looked more like vamp–"

“Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow?” He luckily interrupts your embarrassing rant with his pending question.

“Already? You want to see me again that badly?” You feel the chuckle on his chest before you hear it, and at that moment, it’s the best sound you’ve ever heard.

“I plan on taking you on dates at least three times a week. You’re never getting rid of me now.” He embraces you in his arms, chests flushed together, and when you tilt your head up, he’s already looking at you, expectant for your answer. “So, what do you say?”

“Yes, I would love to have dinner with you tomorrow.” The smile he gives you might be the most blinding smile you’ve ever seen. “But just so you know, I do not have sex on first dates.”

thank you so much for reading♥♥ sorry this took so long to finish

#mingyu au #seventeen au #seventeen smut #mingyu smut #svt smut #kim mingyu au #svt au #kim mingyu smut #mingyu imagine #mingyu x reader

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