#when you're almost the sole person

[bloodsworn-marshal]

Forever dominating the google search with my one niche

[jouska-the-deer]

People still suck at writing Sonic the Hedgehog

Interpretations of Sonic outside of media made by Sonic Team often seem either unable or unwilling to reconcile the fact that Sonic is both kind-hearted and intelligent, but I think I've noticed a recent shift in the way writers try to reconcile it.

In general, there seems to be this belief that smart people are inherently more pessimistic toward the world and that kind people are inherently more naive towards it. So, when writing for a character who's both smart and kind, less knowledgeable writers end up flanderizing them in one of two ways:

The first way, which is how Sonic was interpreted in Sonic Boom and prior, is making the character act like a jerk who knows best. At worst, they'll be outright rude towards their closest friends, but any criticism they get for it will be ignored because their opinions are always correct in the eyes of the narrative. At best, they'll sometimes make mistakes and learn lessons about being nicer to other people, which is something their non-flandarized self wouldn't have struggled with.

The second way, which is how Sonic is interpreted now, is making the character a saint who solves everything with friendship. At worst, they'll give absolute tyrants a million chances, but any criticism they get for it will be ignored because their opinions are always correct in the eyes of the narrative. At best, they'll sometimes make mistakes and learn lessons about certain people being unwilling to change, which is something their non-flandarized self wouldn't have struggled with.

You may have noticed I straight up copy/pasted a couple bits of those last two paragraphs. Well, that's because those bits reveal a bit of truth in how Sonic is portrayed by Sonic Team. Sonic's opinions are always correct in the eyes of the narrative, because of the lessons he no longer struggles with. Sonic already learned to balance his desire to give people a second chance with the fact that some people just have to be stopped. When? Since the very beginning. Sonic has always been trying to defeat Eggman for good while also giving second chances to people who he thinks deserve it.

But how do you deal with people who are causing so much harm when you still think they deserve a second chance? Guess what? Sonic answered that straight up in Sonic Adventure 1.

Do me a quick favor and if you can listen to Open Your Heart, specifically the Sonic Adventure 1 version (Click here). You may notice that there're two distinct sets of vocals; One clean and high pitched, and one distorted and low pitched. (And if you're wearing headphones the audio will even pan during the chorus.) For context, this is the song that plays while Sonic is fighting Chaos.

You can figure it out yourself from there, but if you want me to really dig into the topic, feel free to keep reading.

So like, I shouldn't have to say this, but the dark negative voice is Chaos' view and the light positive voice is Sonic's. But notably, they sing together during key points, specifically those related to the anger, sadness, and hopelessness that Chaos has been feeling for ages. Sonic has recognized that 1. imprisoning Chaos as suggested by Tikal wouldn't solve anything because, 2. Chaos is only acting this way due to being blinded by hatred for those he perceives as selfish monsters, and 3. he's still very much currently destroying the world and won't change his mind because he's lost hope that there's anything worth holding on to.

What does Sonic do then? Sonic may be an unstoppable force but Chaos is a seemingly immovable object. Well, he literally uses the positive energy from his friends and within himself to stop Chaos' rampage and prove that there are still good people in the world that want to maintain peace. After he loses the fight, Chaos is able to calm down and see that the cute defenseless chao he'd been protecting ages ago had survived, living among the very people he had assumed could only be power hungry monsters. He's able to let go of his hatred and live a peaceful life understanding that good people still exist and the world is still worth protecting.

And that's where the question is answered. How do you deal with people who are causing so much harm when you still think they deserve a second chance? You do everything you can to stop them, and if they're still around afterward, show them that they didn't need to fight in the first place. But that only works if they had a good reason behind why they were fighting, and would have chosen peace otherwise.

Sonic wanted to give Chaos a second chance because he knew that violence was not truly in his nature. Had he not been forced into those specific circumstances, Chaos would have chosen peace.

And that's what separates characters who have done a lot of harm but Sonic still gave a second chance to like Chaos and Merlina, from those who have done a lot of harm but Sonic wouldn't give a second chance to, like Eggman and Erazor Djinn. The former wanted peace but became convinced that it was impossible, and the latter only wanted power and were willing to hurt others to obtain it. The characters who Sonic won't give another chance to have proven that when dealt a better hand, they'll still chose to hurt others solely for their own gain, because that's what they want. To stop them peacefully, Sonic would have to convince them to give up their true dreams.

And that, is why Sonic's opinions get to always be treated as right in the games, because they are right. He has an absolutely kind heart, a nuanced understanding of morality, and the integrity to never give in to selfish desires.

None of this means Sonic is always right, though. Most people already know of his impulsiveness, which is his greatest weakest, but also one of his greatest strengths. Sonic never waits to act, which is great when innocent people are seconds from mortal danger... but not so great when a situation looks to be one way but is actually another. He teases Eggman for pleading for a second chance in Unleashed and he kicks the Cacophonous Conch from Eggman's hand in Lost World, and both of those were massive mistakes.

But, despite making those mistakes, his mindset wasn't the problem. How was he supposed to know Eggman was a shockingly good actor leading him into a trap? How was he supposed to know the people Eggman was controlling with the conch were equally as evil? (Yes Tails tried to warn him but literally if he didn't Sonic wouldn't have looked stupid and it just shows how poorly written Lost World was overall.) Had Eggman actually been pleading and the Zeti good people, Sonic's actions would've been justified.

Still, those were mistakes, and Sonic always wants to do what's right, so he does what he can to fix his own messes. He restores the planet Eggman broke apart. He stops the Zeti from sucking the life out of the planet. Sonic always makes things right in the end, and so he has the right to be so confidant in his beliefs. So confidant in fact that he doesn't care about looking like the bad guy if it means doing the right thing. Oh look, there's a song about that too. From Sonic's fight with Merlina in Sonic and the Black Knight. (Click Here.) Don't be fooled by the feminine vocals, if you paid attention to the themes of the game, the song is clearly from Sonic's perspective.

So yeah, Sonic is kind but he's also smart. He won't let anyone change his mind on anything, but he doesn't need to change his mind because he follows his kind heart and compassionate soul. He doesn't worry about looking like the bad guy because he and his friends know his true nature. When he gets angry he lets his rage fuel his desire to save the day. He'll never shed tears of despair because he knows that if he keeps fighting he'll make things right in the end. Sometimes his impulsiveness gets him into trouble, but it also helps get him back out. No matter what happens to him, he'll always make it out in the end either through sheer determination or the help of his friends.

Sonic is absolutely silly; He makes dumb jokes about his enemies and talks to himself when there's nobody around. Sonic is completely serious; He's willing to kill someone if it means saving the world and has felt multiple friends die before his eyes and in his arms.

Sonic is literally just some blue hedgehog who can run really fast.

Sonic is a god, and could kill god, and there is not a difference!

But most importantly, Sonic is all of those things at once. He is a wonderfully balanced character who's been right from the very beginning and has spent all his games sharing his wisdom with others simply by being himself. He isn't perfect, but that's not due to some personality flaw he needs to correct, but because nobody can always have all the answers and know how to avoid all potential mistakes.

The problem is, writing a character like this is hard. Writing conflicts for a character like this is hard. Most writers rely on making their protagonists work through relatable flaws to create an emotionally compelling story... but you don't need to do that. Sonic's conflicts are mostly external, but we care about him succeeding anyway because he's a good person who's just trying to live his life.

So really, if you wanna write Sonic well, you have to just let him speak for himself.

...By the way I mean that literally. Dude listen to his character theme it's all right there! (Click here.) Even when his theme was altered in Sonic Adventure 2 the only thing that changed was how confidently the same ideas were delivered. (Click here.) But seriously listen to literally any of the game themes, final boss themes, and ending themes. (I'm not linking all that.) No matter the quality of the games, if Sonic wanted to teach you something he was gonna teach it... through the power of having a music department detached from the nightmare that is game development time crunch.

And that's why Sonic Lost World is the worst Sonic game. Because it was so pointless that Sonic didn't have anything to sing about!

Wait... what was the point of this post again?

[blueskittlesart]

In defense of the original, while I do agree the episodic vibes were a bit much at times, and it was something I kinda had to work my way through slowly rather than binging all in one...

I do kinda prefer the more gradual approach to laying out the information; getting to know both the setting and who Vash is as a person and the different facets of both, before getting the context that lets it all click into place. Plus the main quartet having ample time to grow together so that later developments have stronger emotional weight.

I will agree that Knives definitely suffered in focus, and I am interested in how Stampede handles him, but admittedly he wasn't really what I watched Trigun for in the first place. ^^;

yeah my gripe is less with the way the setting and characters were handled and more with the way the. actual plot was handled. it honest to god felt to me like they realized about halfway through their run that they didnt have enough episodes left to get the backstory in in a cohesive way so they just shoved it all into one episode and pretended that that explanation didn't create more questions than it answered. you spend 20 episodes teasing your audience like "ooooh what is vash?? clearly hes not human!! clearly there's something going on!!! don't you want to know whats going on?? keep watching and you'll totally understand whats going on!!" and then your big reveal is that. He Is Not Human. which is something that any idiot who has watched the last 20 episodes has already figured out. the question the audience ACTUALLY has at that point in the runtime is what, EXACTLY, is vash, and what the context is behind the conflict he and knives are in. the backstory episode explains that Knives Is Here, and it gives context to the setting and everything, but it pissed me off that it STILL didn't answer the actual mysteries i cared about, i.e. vash's real identity and the thing with the gun and his fucking arm and knives's motivations and everything. maybe that gets answered in the last episode that i neglected to watch but personally I prefer a story where i UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON by the time the final confrontation hits. with trigun it got to a point where vash was going out for the final battle with knives and i STILL didn't know who vash was, who knives was, where they came from, or what the hell their motivations were. that just made that final confrontation seem so wholly uninteresting to me that i didn't even feel like watching it. it was like "hey look vash is fighting a cardboard cutout that he is Afraid Of. Why? lmao idk man. probably has something to do with that weird spaceship that shows up in one whole episode before this point. not going to tell you how tho." I think some writers have this tendency to think that mystery = good writing and that not revealing anything to your audience will consistently draw them in for more, but that only works for so long. after 20 episodes of virtually net 0 information it got to feel like I was being strung along and like my questions were never going to be answered, so I gave up on the show in the final hour. Again, i'm not saying it was BAD necessarily and i understand the context in terms of writing and production that led to the show being produced that way but i think it really noticeably suffers due to the fact that it refuses to give the audience ANYTHING but crumbs of information for about 80% of it's runtime. that being said. i did genuinely like a lot of it. it has its moments. im not trying to discourage anyone from watching it or anything lol i just think stampede is a little more successful in keeping the viewer engaged in the story throughout by constantly feeding you bits of information and actually answering your questions as they become plot-relevant.

[shotmrmiller]

wait wait because imagine being a normal OF creator or a cam girl, just a small name nobody who does it for the sole purpose of getting through college. you keep your face out of everything, nothing in the background of any video of yours is personal, like once you get your degree this entire account is getting deleted and it'll be a thing of the past. (not that you're ashamed or anything. we respect sex workers of all kinds here)

and you plan on doing a different kind of video: one of you fucking yourself with a new, much bigger toy. usually you keep to the rabbits and bullets but following your friends advice, you fucking yourself on a dildo wouldn't be terrible.

plus you need it, sweetheart. when was the last time you even had a date?

bitch. (affectionately)

and as soon as you walk into your usual sex store, you double take. there is no, NO, way that is pornstar!ghost's dick you've just spotted as a dildo.

he's been your favorite pornstar long before you even started this side hustle. who in their right mind can resist that beast of a man with the mask and the tattoos and the heaving thing that's between his legs--

you take it home immediately.

it's almost sad how stupid you fuck yourself on it, cunt split open and dripping onto the floorboard for the internet to see but in that moment, you don't give a fuck.

you don't remember how many times you come that night nor how many viewers you had watching your puffy lips swallow "ghost's" cock whole, but come morning, you notice your bank account and it is padded.

PADDED.

one particular tipper was incredibly generous and they even left a message.

i'd love to see you do that on the real thing.

yeah, me too.

(whoever that is becomes a loyal follower who tips regularly.)

*screaming at the thought of simon getting himself off at your video. hasn't come that hard in months and that says a lot since he's yknow, a pornstar.*

[girlbeatings]

reader using g!p Vi like her own personal dildo to get off, even if Vi’s dick is too sensitive

amab vi. overstim. unprotected penetration. this is a very anticlimactic whatever

you feel the muscles in vi's thighs twitch and tense each time your hips come down, her breath coming out in pants behind you. the sheets were clasped tightly in her sweaty fists and her head tilted back on the headboard as she tried her hardest to stay still for you.

her dilated pupils were locked on your body; the curve of your back, how your skin glimmers with sweat and your ass ripples with ever plap and squelch your cunt makes.

she's not sure how much more she can take, it felt like hours of her being under you while you used her dick solely for your own pleasure, riding her reverse cowgirl like she wasn't even there.

she's came a number of time already, hot white liquid pooling at the base of her shaft and creating sticky strings that connected both of your bodies together every time your ass pulled up.

you moan as she twitches inside you, slowly lifting off her and hearing her groan as the cool air blows over her throbbing length. a puddle of cum follows and floods out of you, dribbling down vi's cock and onto the sheets.

she watches with a whimper as your hand comes up between your thighs, your index and middle fingers slipping between your folds and feeling the sticky mess dripping out of you.

she hisses when you reach for her sensitive dick again, bucking her hips to either escape your touch or get more of it. she was confused, her body overstimulated and spent— but the only thing she could focus on was how you sink back down onto her, lifting and dropping your hips.

her hand splays across your lower back, the pleasure making her head spin. it almost hurt, but she just wanted to be the reason you cum. even if you were doing all the initial work.

"oh, fuck..." vi whimpers, fighting to keep her eyes open to watch, but it was proving hard. "...fuck, please. you g-gotta stop, baby—"

you ignore her, bouncing faster and chasing your orgasm once again. you're more focused on moaning when the veins of her cock rub against your walls in all the right ways, and if you angle your hips a certain way, it hits your g-spot.

your hand slide down her muscular legs to her calfs, your head dropping as you bounce on her and feel her cock swell inside you. she grips your hips suddenly, trying to hold you down as she starts cuming again against her will.

you try fight against her strong grip, feeling her dick throb as she floods your cunt, her hips bucking and twitching under you.

you would of cum too, had she not stopped you. so roll your eyes listening to her groans and breathless words behind you while she ruts against your pussy, her release leaking out from the sheer amount inside you.

she shudders as her body relaxes, her hands slipping off you to fall limp on the bed. you huff, shaking the strain out of your arms before slowly rocking your hips back and forth, humming in pleasure.

your hand slips down to rub your clit, moaning softly as you work yourself back up.

vi's brain was fuzzy, almost disoriented as she pants, letting out a gasp once you life your hips again and roll them back down. "ah— s-shit, wait.."

"shut up, vi." you almost whine, a mix of annoyance and desperation for another orgasm. vi's legs twitch and tremble slightly as you keep going, running a hand over her sweaty face and whimpering as you practically milk her dry

╋━ taglist.

@danfelog @fortluocha @ocharavitys @trizxyp @aelizreal @moodient @dollik5 @iamastar @uhh-lana @amastarxoxo @pearlcigs @abbyspup @sunrxxyz @inui-ii @evabby @graciedollie @starrrcane @frazzledgf @lilyyx0 @gaysevika @444fernz @mybelovedvi @abbysbae @tqlepatia @nvr4getme @lesbodietcoke

[lemonlover1110]

Pairing: Toji Fushiguro x f!Reader

Summary: You make sure that you're the first person to congratulate Toji.

Warnings: Fluff

*happy birthday to the sexiest dilf

Discord +18 - Twitter - Ko-Fi - Bluesky

“Happy birthday, Toji.” You wake up the man at midnight, kissing all over his face. The man hates to be woken up, but this surely is a nice way to be awoken. Even though this could’ve waited till the morning, he’s glad that you care enough to stay up late solely to congratulate him.

“Thank you, baby.” He answers as you stop, laying your head on his chest. You listen to his ever so fast beating heart, feeling your eyes get heavy at the soothing sound. 

“How old are you turning again? Old?” You ask him, making a laugh escape his lips. Yeah, old… He feels like he’s lived a thousand lives at this point. He kisses the top of your head before humming in response. You raise your head and narrow your eyes as you stare at him, “Who are you, and what did you do to my husband?”

“What?” He questions, confused why you even ask the question.

“You’re a grumpy old man when I wake you up, but right now you’re...” You begin before he kisses the top of your head again. He’s happy. Instead of being miserable today, he’s here with you– The day hasn’t even started, yet he knows it’s going to be amazing.

You’re going to make a big deal out of today, and he’ll act annoyed when deep down he’s enjoying it. 

“I love you, that’s all.” Toji says, and you feel your face get hot. The man rarely expresses his feelings, so it catches you off guard when he tells you how he feels. Of course you know that he loves you, but it’s odd to hear. 

“I love you too, old man.” You peck his lips before laying your head back down on his chest.

“Stop calling me old man. We’re almost the same–” He begins but you shush him. He chuckles again before his hand goes to your arm, caressing you. He’ll sleep well tonight, and every other night.

“I never asked you what kind of cake you’d like.” You say, feeling your eyes shut on their own once again.

“Your cake.” He responds as he holds back a laugh, a response that makes you lightly slap his chest. “Hey! You asked.”

“You can have that in the morning, I was talking about later in the day.” You answer, and he kisses the top of your head once again. “I’m sleepy.”

“You shouldn’t have stayed up.” He tells you, even though he’s grateful. You care enough to stay up and congratulate him, even if it was something that you could’ve done first thing in the morning.

“I wanted to be the first person to congratulate you.” You mutter as you fall asleep. He can’t help but chuckle, his hand running up and down your back.

You’ve interrupted his sleep, but he doesn’t mind. He doesn’t mind being woken up, as long as it’s by you.

[ridher]

rafe being soft for the shy pogue working at the country club

you were new to the outer banks, having just moved to the island with your family. being a pogue, however, was less than ideal. it's not like you would know that though, because having yet to make any friends, how were you supposed to know these ridiculous terms that separated the town?

luckily, it wasn't hard for a pretty girl to get a job at the island club — serving drinks and bussing tables with generous tips.

the days didn't match up until almost a week into working when he first saw you. ever so sweetly taking orders in the little uniform you wear — a tiny skirt and fitted white polo that looks so tempting, especially because you don't even realize it.

rafe is determined to make you swoon, pogue or not. he saunters over in his effortlessly confident manner, not even bothering to take a seat and instead leaning over the bar with his arms crossed — forearms braced atop the hard counter.

a quick sweep across your figure with his tongue pressed to his cheek before his eyes meet yours as you spin around to greet him with a characteristically shy smile.

none the wiser to his troublesome reputation, you gaze up at him with big eyes through your lashes, standing before him though across the bar and speaking up all soft and polite.

"what can i get you?" rich, attractive boys your age were all but uncommon at the country club — spending their afternoons on the golf course and purchasing excessive amounts of alcohol.

rafe is no different. he orders a drink from some expensive bottle, all the while shamelessly crowding your space and purposefully trying to use intimidation to catch your eye. it works opposite to how he would like, the low and sultry voice he thanks you in only causing you to scurry off and switch to the back of house.

he takes it personally and makes it his mission when he shows up the next day (for the sole purpose of seeing you) to try again. he'll get what he wants. watching from afar he won't admit to himself he's in awe. how soft and sweet you are to everyone, even when you're alone shows it's not a facade.

the next approach he's more patient, coming in the cool lobby and running a nervous hand through his curtain bangs before flashing you a small smile. if only you knew how rare that was.

properly introducing himself with a firm handshake and taking a place at one of the barstools, ordering the same drink as previously and putting it on the cameron's tab.

"you, uh, you're new around here, huh?" he inquires in an unusually soft tone, patiently awaiting your answer.

"mhm. been just a couple days." you wipe up the counter — a repetitive task to busy yourself with in situations like these.

"right, right.." tapping a finger against the smooth surface barricading you from him, watching intently and trying not to come across too strong as he plots thoroughly in his head.

it becomes a regular thing — his near daily visits to the club. after spending a day aggressively hitting balls on the green with his friends, he comes inside to just talk.. and watch how your face flushes when he says practically anything, dimples and all. in your mind, he's the only friend you've made in this town and he is more than happy to be that person in his own, slightly twisted way.

[sukunasteeth]

Marks

Sukuna doesn't understand the hold you have on him.

He's never particularly been a people person. In fact, people annoyed him. This has held true ever since he was a child with his twin brother, Yuji. That is, until Yuji brought you home one fateful day in middle school, claiming to have met a new friend. 

You, with your sweet little smile, and your boundlessly generous heart. You with your giggle that chimes through his darkened soul like a golden bell. With the innocent rosy lips that he'd dreamed of having his first kiss with until high school, when it finally came to fruition. You had been irrevocably his ever since then, and it had been almost seven years.

So why does it still feel like you're the one with all the power here?

Why does it feel like you could create a monster out of him if you truly wanted to? Why does it feel like he's constantly at your beck and call? Why are you the one person on this green earth that reduces him to the feeling of an emotion as pathetic as helplessness?

"'Kuna...hurts..."

He'll admit, he takes it out on you.

Like now, when you're lying naked beneath him (his favorite spot to have you in) and begging him to take it easy on you. He's got you covered in sweat, exerting you to your ultimate limit. He loved to see you train until failure, after all. Adored the way your legs quivered when he relentlessly made you keep riding him, despite your exhaustion. Cooed at the way you begged him to be gentle, even though he knows you prefer it rough. You were quick to submit when he had you behind closed doors, despite how independent you appeared outside of them. Sukuna knew you better. Knew how much you loved following his direction. Receiving his praise.

You were lucky you were such a good girl.

Sukuna was torturing you now already, and you hadn't even disobeyed him. He can't imagine what he would do if you were unruly. Actually, he can. And the thought has him salivating even more as he sucks relentlessly at the nape of your neck. You're covered in marks from his teeth or the raw scrape of his tongue. Your throat has been tormented by his worship to the extent that he's even broken skin in the spots where he can feel your pulse beneath his lips.

Even Sukuna has to admit that you didn't deserve this abuse. You hadn't done a thing out of line, besides selfishly tearing the heart out of his chest for good. It was yours now.

The thought makes him growl against you.

God, you weren't even trying.

Your victory over him was so effortless.

It pissed him off.

He doesn't realize that he's bitten you particularly hard until you're suddenly recoiling away, burrowing yourself into his pillows with a small yelp. Your hand has sprung up to press your palm over Sukuna's mouth in some weak attempt at getting him to stop. Your other hand holds your throat as you purse your lips at him, which have also seen a good amount of Sukuna's biting that day.

You looked good in his teeth marks, what can he say?

"Are you mad or something?" You're blinking up at him like a confused little deer. Sukuna can't help that it makes him hungry. You were a perfect prey to him and he would be chasing you to the end of this lifetime. He could tell solely in the way that your stupid little nickname for him makes his heartstrings snap.

He takes a frustrated breath through his nose over your hand, nipping at your fingers over his mouth like a muzzled dog. Before you can pull them away, he's grasping your wrist tightly, his unforgiving grip a warning in itself. Easily, he pins it to the side of your head, rendering you halfway useless.

"Don't interrupt." He murmurs, his gaze burning into yours.

A helpless sob escapes you, but otherwise you stop trying to squirm away from him. You allow the onslaught to continue without a peep, bracing yourself each and every time a new hickey is being bruised into your skin. He doesn't offer you any words in terms of praise, but his grip on your wrist eventually loosens a bit. He never fully lets you go, though.

While he appreciates your cooperation, you eventually go almost too quiet and Sukuna thinks for a moment that maybe he's pushed you too far. He pulls away from your neck to look at you, finding your pink little face screwed up in an intense mixture of pleasure and agony. He feels a content smile spread across his face but it's cut short when his eyes hone in on your lips, which you're currently biting hard enough to draw blood from.

His free hand reaches up and grasps your chin, pressing his thumb below your bottom lip and forcing you to relinquish it. You blink slowly, your logical brain having exhausted itself up until this point. You easily let him pry your teeth apart, panting in his grasp. 

"Mouth. Open." He commands.

You squirm in your overwhelming frustration, whining. "It hurts, 'Kuna!"

Sukuna hums in a mock sympathy, watching you suffer with a satisfied grin. You would have these marks for weeks. There were so many now, some more intense than others, and he wasn't even close to being done with you.

"You're being cruel." You accuse, watching your own hardship twinkle back at you in the reflection of his eyes. Your pout is purple and bruised from your attempts to keep quiet. Sukuna leans in closer and presses the sweetest kiss to your lips, as soft as the brush of a feather.

What was cruel was the fact that you had broken down everything Sukuna had ever known about himself. His strength was putty at your feet. His hatred for the world was a joke in your presence. His pride, a mere memory at the touch of your fingertips against his soul.

"You think this is cruel?" He whispers, mocking you. His voice is the taunt of a devilish trickster. "I think I've been going too easy on you. Allow me to rectify that."

There really is no curse more cruel than love.

[riddlesrose]

the small things he does pt. 2

w/ jamil, trey, vil, jade, rook & malleus

part one | part three

jamil knows each one of your habits, even the ones you think he doesn't, he does. his observance knows no end, he's always taking in information and storing it in parts of his mind that he can flip through like a filing cabinet. he can tell when you're overthinking something, or not thinking enough solely because he knows what to look for. he uses his observance against you sometimes, you simply can't hide anything from him. (stupid jamil and his educated guesses.)

trey shows up to the ramshackle dorm once a week with a small tray of desserts. it took him no time to realize which ones you'd set your sights on first; he starts bringing more of it, claiming 'there was extra' with a shrug. you knew it wasn't extra, ace, deuce, and hell, even grim wouldn't let a tray of trey's delicate sweets go to waste. you know he fought them off with a figurative stick to get them here untouched.

vil watches every ridiculous video you send him on magicam and reacts to the one or two he actually finds funny. he'll always reply to the cheesy relationship posts you send but he won't ever tell you about the small smile that graces his gorgeous features, no matter the attempts to suppress them. (rook caught him blushing lightly once and almost had his personal collections cursed.)

jade invites you to the mostro lounge under the guise that he's in need of help, but you quickly figured after the second visit upon jade's request that he is, in fact, perfectly fine and in need of no help, nor is the lounge in any dire need of an extra server. he just wanted you around. (an extra set of eyes on floyd never hurt anyone, either..)

rook uses your face as a makeup palette, "this is la roi du poison's new collection, you must let me try them out!" so you're sat in front of his vanity, face mismatched in foundations and blushes until rook finds your colours and shade matches, gushing about vil's inclusivity for all skin types and the coverage for such a small amount of product. you're left looking a little silly with a few incorrectly matched shade swatches on your cheek and neck but whatever makes the huntsman happy.

malleus leaves small flowers on the front step of ramshackle dorm before you know who he is, when he's still horton to you. you've never been able to catch who's leaving them, they're gone just as quick as you heard the rustling outside. when you're actually acquainted by name after the SDC he continues to leave colourful flowers on your doorstep, this time with a note, signing his actual name, inviting you along a walk occasionally.

heart eyes for my underrated jamil viper

masterlist

[ak319]

Yan Socialite brother x reader

(Warnings: Strictly platonic , not incest)

Ezra Alvarez , your younger brother, has always been your number one supporter. From a young age, he was taught that tradition dictated the older sibling would inherit the business and the farms—essentially, everything. This meant all the power would eventually be in your hands. But Ezra wasn’t a moneygrubber seeking favor, he genuinely admired your intelligence, strength, and the way you cared for the family, especially him. From the moment he gained consciousness, he aimed to be your best friend and sole confidant. He longed to be the person you turned to for counsel, and slowly but surely, things were unfolding just as he wanted.

Let's start from the beginning. Ezra and you were quite different in many ways, largely due to the contrasting upbringings you had. For example, while you cherished solitude and indulged in expensive hobbies like horseback riding, archery, and swordsmanship within the privacy of your estate, not to mention almost always busy learning and handling the business with your father. On the other hand, Ezra thrived in social settings. As a fashion designer, it was his job to attend lavish parties and stay connected with the latest trends. However, his socializing had a deeper purpose, to monitor the people in high circles and gauge their intentions toward his family, especially you.

Ezra was always vigilant, keeping tabs on potential rivals and meticulously recording this information. He made sure you were aware of everything you needed to know, and thanks to his discreet tactics, you were advancing. The way he giggled looking up at you when you patted his head in praise was endearing, if he were a puppy, his tail would surely have been wagging.

Ezra would do anything for his older sister because you're the best sister in the world! Despite being used to receiving expensive trinkets, he always gets teary-eyed when you gift him something special. Given your usually stoic and aloof demeanor, he can't help but cry tears of joy when you show him affection and smile at him. He ceaselessly rambles on about his latest projects and clothing line while you sit there, reading a book and nodding along, often clueless about what he’s saying. Yet, he still cherishes these moments because it’s only HIS sister who takes time out of her busy schedule for HIM. How could he not be grateful? That would be a crime. No other sister would ever do this for their brother! Anyway, back to designing some jockey apparels for you. You really need new ones.

As much as he dislikes your boisterous hobbies, he uses them as an excuse to spend time with you. He eagerly asks you to teach him, no matter how dirty his nails or clothes get, or how much he might risk getting sunburned. Every bit of it is worth it when someone like you is his mentor.

Your parents reprimended you for spoiling your baby brother but you always shrugged it off saying "How can I not spoil my only baby brother?." That's right sister, I am and will be always your only brother. He always makes sure to pass a victorious smirk to his parents who could only sigh in defeat at both of you.

Whenever it rains, he remembers how you love the rain while he hates it because it's all muddy but on the other hand memories of him as a kid getting scared of the thunder and you holding him in your bed in your protective embrace always warms his heart. Maybe this is where the habit of cuddling you has developed. Even now when something in his life goes wrong or he is having a tantrum , only your the one who can calm him or otherwise he is crying screaming and complaining for days and yes this is a true incident , the whole estate was close to becoming deaf if you hadn't come back from your academy bringing some new jewels and his favourite pastries for him.

Speaking of the academy, Ezra had to swallow the urge to throw another tantrum or cling to your feet when the time came for you to leave for further studies. He knew you had to do this for your own sake and the future of your family business. So, instead, he became like a second mother to you, sending letters to make sure you weren’t skipping classes—even though he knew you weren’t that kind of a person. He frequently asked about your meals and sports activities, but the part he hated most was even thinking about you having a potential lover. God, he couldn’t help but crumple up the third letter when he wrote about it, but he had to know. The thought of being secondary in your life, in everything, terrified him. What if you brought home a gold digger?! That’s how he saw anyone who came close to you. They didn’t care about your personality or charm, they were after that KA-CHING! And him being one of your top prized assets, he wasn’t about to let that happen.

His heart however calmed down when you replied with a simple 'No' about the question. Yay! Whenever you came back from academy , he was even more excited than your parents, who always found his enthusiasm adorable. How he ran back and forth scolding the servants for not cleaning your room properly , not having your favourite dish up to notch like DO YOUR FUCKING JOBS PROPERLY! He wouldn't stop yapping when you sat for tea after dinner but no matter how much you were exhausted from your journey , you still listened to him.

As cunning, witty, and sophisticated he was, Ezra made mistakes too, and in his mind, the worst mistake was failing at a task you assigned him. He would cower under your anger, fully aware that he had messed up. He was still learning the ins and outs of the tedious household budget—something he would have to manage for you one day—but it was boring, okay? Numbers just weren’t his thing. Even if you scolded him, he always waited for your apology, which you offered in your own way—like taking him out to his favorite café or silently sharing a cup of tea in his room. Moments later, he’d be hugging you, petulantly whining about you getting angry at him. He hated how you chuckled at his childish attitude, but deep down, he loved it too.

Life was going well until, one day he received a letter that you were unable to attend father's funeral due to work back in the academy. He knew it was a lie , you WOULD NEVER abandon your family like this , even your mother was skeptical. But since there was no sign of you coming back, he handled his grieving mother and the arrangements himself as much as he was dying inside due to your absence. Where were you? They needed you. You were their head now. He was worried sick.

After the guests left , it was only his uncles and aunts who sat in the living room while he came down after putting his mother to sleep.

"Ezra, dear boy. You must be tired, but there is something we need to discuss with you." The words made his blood boil, and he fought the urge to slap the indifferent looks off his father’s brothers and sisters. He knew exactly why they were still here—they were nothing but vile, disgusting pieces of filth, circling like vultures after the family’s money. He had always seen the malicious intent in their eyes when they interacted with you, and it broke his heart how you treated them as family while they plotted to push you out of the way. But he kept up the façade of a nice, obedient nephew, knowing that it would be handy for a moment like this. Where were they when he was struggling to handle everything? They only arrived at the last minute for their sibling's funeral. His poor father had died surrounded by snakes. But he swore he would never let the same happen to you. He would never betray you, his blood, like these filthy excuses for humans.

He wanted to throw up as they offered their insincere condolences, but he remained firm. They inquired about your absence, talking shit about your cold behavior for not being there, and this was his cue to play his cards right. Slipping into his favorite role as the bimbo younger brother, he wept, agreeing with their criticisms, and even cursed you, despite how much it made his heart ache. Eventually, they began to open up, believing in the hate and jealousy he pretended to harbor for you. While they didn’t reveal your whereabouts, they made it clear they deemed you as an unworthy heiress. He fake-laughed through his tears, gaining their trust the best that he could. They even had the audacity to suggest dividing the property among themselves, without even considering his mother as the rightful owner of anything. Oh, they were going to be obliterated.

He then promised to hand them the papers during a party he was going to arrange that too in a ferry. Acting on the information you once gave him, he contacted some gunmen for emergencies, making the necessary arrangements. Oh what a sight it was to see the ferry filled with the corpses of his treacherous relatives. One of the assassin came and informed that they had you abducted and thrown into a mental asylum on your way back to the estate for the funeral. His mouth hung agape at the revelation, his whole body seething with fury, and without wasting a moment, he set out to bring you back. But not before ordering the ferry to be blown up in the middle of the sea. He cackled maniacally from the dock as he watched the explosion, then leaped onto the back of one of the hitmen like a kid, gleeful at the destruction of those who had wronged you.

Once you were back and grieved a bit which only lasted for a few moments before you had to take care of covering up the bloodshed your baby brother did. But at the end you did it and currently Ezra was beside you on the arm of the chair while you worked on your late father's study table , now yours. "You are not mad at me, are you?" He asked softly, voice almost breaking at the end.

"You did what had to be done. I would have done the same to anyone who came after my family like this," you said, hearing him sniffle beside you. You gently caressed his arm, your gaze still fixed on the parchment. "Don’t cry, you know how much I hate seeing you cry, Ezzy." You felt him lay his head on your shoulder, his soft brunette locks brushing against your ear.

"Thank you… I couldn’t fucking stand them anymore, doing such… such a horrendous thing to you."

He suddenly burst into giggles, his feet dangling. "But it was fun! You know, before his death, Uncle Auden wore that hideous yellow sack coat. I saw it through the binoculars—God, he looked like a penguin getting on the ferr-!"

"Ezra." Your warning tone almost made him flinch. "What did I tell you about speaking ill of the dead?"

"I think they deserve a pass." His pout was defiant yet playful, and you couldn’t help but smile. His laughter was light, a contrast to the heaviness of this week.

He couldn't be more blissful than this. You looked as if you were made to sit in that chair, and he felt immensely proud to have cleared the path for you. He always would. As his heart pondered the future, a frown creased his brow. The thought of a day when you might stray, bringing a partner into the estate, unsettled him. Though that day seemed far off, he was already prepared to make their life hell. After all, the chances of you siding with a partner over him were slim. He has got his older sister wrapped around his manicured pinky.

➺Ezra x reader x hubby

[morbidapples]

i never forgot you

𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝖽𝗂𝗏𝗈𝗋𝖼𝖾𝖽!𝖺𝗋𝗍 𝖽𝗈𝗇𝖺𝗅𝖽𝗌𝗈𝗇 𝗑 𝖿𝖾𝗆!𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋

𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒𝖻𝗈𝖽𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗁𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗆. 𝗁𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗆 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗁𝗎𝗋𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗒𝗈𝗎. 𝗁𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗆 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖼𝗁𝗈𝗈𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝖺𝗌𝗁𝗂 𝖽𝗎𝗇𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗌𝖾 𝗒𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗌 𝖺𝗀𝗈. 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗋𝗎𝗍𝗁 𝗐𝖺𝗌, 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖽𝗂𝖽𝗇'𝗍. 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽𝗇'𝗍 𝗁𝖺𝗍𝖾 𝗁𝗂𝗆 𝖻𝖾𝖼𝖺𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗆 𝗍𝗈𝗈 𝗆𝗎𝖼𝗁, 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇 𝖺𝖿𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾.

𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁: 𝟧,𝟨𝟣𝟧 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽𝗌; 𝟥𝟢,𝟨𝟣𝟢 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗌.

𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: 𝖻𝗋𝗂𝖾𝖿 𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝖿𝖺𝗆𝗂𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗎𝗆𝖺, 𝗌𝗆𝗈𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀, 𝖺𝗅𝖼𝗈𝗁𝗈𝗅 (𝖻𝗈𝗍𝗁 𝗉𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗂𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗌𝗈𝖻𝖾𝗋 𝖻𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝖿𝗎𝖼𝗄), 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀, 𝗉𝗋𝖺𝗂𝗌𝖾, 𝗉 𝗂𝗇 𝗏 𝗌𝖾𝗑 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝖺 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝖽𝗈𝗆 (𝖻𝗂𝗋𝗍𝗁 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗍𝗋𝗈𝗅), 𝖼𝗎𝗋𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀.

𝗮/𝗻: 𝗂 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝗂𝖼𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗅𝗈𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗂𝗌. 𝖺𝗀𝖺𝗂𝗇, 𝗂 𝖽𝗈𝗇'𝗍 𝗎𝗌𝗎𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝗐𝗋𝗂𝗍𝖾 𝗌𝗆𝗎𝗍, 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗂'𝗆 𝗍𝗋𝗒𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗈 𝗆𝖺𝗒𝖻𝖾 𝗐𝗋𝗂𝗍𝖾 𝗂𝗍 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗈𝖿𝗍𝖾𝗇. 𝗒𝖾𝖺𝗁, 𝗂 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝖽𝗈𝗇'𝗍 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝗒𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖾𝗅𝗌𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝖺𝗒, 𝖾𝗑𝖼𝖾𝗉𝗍 𝗉𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗌𝖾 𝖽𝗈𝗇'𝗍 𝖻𝖾 𝖺 𝗀𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋.

"Did you hear Art Donaldson's coming?"

That's all anyone could talk about, Art this, Art that. So what if he was coming? You didn't give a shit. (You did, you always did when it came to him.)

Logically, you knew you might see him here, but emotionally, you were really hoping you wouldn't have to, especially considering there were hundreds of people at the Standford alumni gathering.

Once you'd graduated, you'd left all traces of him behind. Or at least, you tried. His name still popped into your head, his face sometimes even appeared in your dreams at night.

Even worse, promotion for him and Tashi Duncan's book was plastered over half the city of New Jersey. It certainly didn't help that one was on the billboard that you so unfortunately had a view of from the window of your apartment.

Your friendship with him had never been clear, but it had been everything but simple. You had felt there was always something more, with the lingering glances, and the gentle touches.

But all of that had changed when she showed up. Tashi fucking Duncan. You felt robbed, stolen from. As soon as she'd stepped into the picture, Art's attention was solely on her.

So you left. Erased yourself out of his life completely. Distanced your life from his until you both graduated, and never looked back. Well, mostly.

Looking back, maybe it was selfish. But all you knew is that you couldn't bear to watch him fawn over her like a lost puppy. Not when you felt so deeply for him.

You shake your head, trying to break yourself out of your stupor. There's too many people here, and you hate it. You already know everyone will want to ask you about your life, your career.

Once you'd left Stanford, you'd made a name for yourself in the tennis world. You loved winning, but you despised the attention. But you knew it was the price to pay for success. So, you tried to keep as much of your private life out of the headlines as possible.

You needed to clear your head, get some fresh air. And figure out what the hell you were doing here, and why you thought it was a good idea to show up.

Unfortunately, it seems like someone else had the same idea, as you're hit with the smell of smoke as soon as you step outside.

"Needed to get away, too?"

Your heart plummets at the familiar, yet unmistakable voice. The one person you'd prayed you wouldn't have to see. Art Donaldson.

You turn to see him leaning against the rail, taking a drag from his cigarette. You'd almost forgotten how utterly gorgeous he was until you laid your eyes on him, and it seemed like he'd only gotten better with age.

The smoke from the cigarette wafts off into the air, and your eyes lock with his. A moment of silence goes by. You want to greet him briefly and then walk off, but he speaks before you do.

"Long time, no see."

You mentally curse yourself for not being quick enough to have the first word, and nod slightly, an indifferent expression on your face.

"Art Donaldson. Has been a long time, hasn't it?"

He blows out another puff of smoke, eyeing you. He'd be lying if he said he'd forgotten about you. You were someone who had haunted him for years, through his entire marriage with Tashi. He could never forget about you, no matter how much time had passed.

"You haven't changed a bit."

You don't say anything, not quite sure how to respond. It's true, it had been years since you and him had last spoken. But what you didn't know is that he had made an effort to keep up with you. He'd been keeping tabs on how you were doing with your tennis career. He'd never admit it, but he was guilty of googling you, to find only headlines of your tennis wins, and barely anything about your personal life.

It seemed like when you weren't playing tennis, you basically ceased to exist, which he suspected was your choice entirely. Despite the years of zero contact, Art couldn't pretend like he didn't care for you. That he didn't still love you, even if he'd been so incredibly blind to it back in your college days.

"Congratulations, by the way." Art says, alluring to your recent conquest in the tennis world. "Winning gold at the Rio Games is no small feat." He can see in your expression that winning that medal wasn't completely satisfying. Your face tells him that you haven't felt a sense of contentment in a very long time.

He wants to ask you why you disappeared. He'd wanted to for years. But all that comes out is, "How's your family?" Stupid question with an even stupider answer. He wanted to slap himself in the face. He knew your family was a sore topic for you. And yet, he was still coming up with mindless small talk to try to fill the unbearable tension between you.

You sigh. "Fine, minus my bitch of a mother. She passed a couple years ago." Art internally winces. He knew you'd had it bad at home, only living with your mother for most of your life after your father had left when you were nine. You'd moved to California to attended Stanford the moment you'd become a legal age to be on your own.

He sucks in a sharp breath and frowns softly as you talk about your mother's passing. There was no love lost in between you and her, but he didn't want to be cruel and completely insensitive.

"Sorry about that." Art says, taking another hit off his cigarette. He looks at you, taking you in with a sense of wonderment. You had grown into such an incredible woman, and somehow, it seemed like you'd gotten even more beautiful. Your deep colored eyes and sun-kissed skin make his heart best faster. How he's missed you.

You shrug, trying not to show any hint of emotion on your face as you speak. "Eh, don't be. You know she was always a shit mother anyways."

If he was being honest, he'd say your mother was a lot of things- manipulative, selfish, abusive- but he would've been lying if Art said that he didn't want to protect you back then.

Looking back at it now, there's so many things he could've done differently back then, like be a better friend. Maybe even a better boyfriend, if he'd had the chance. His mouth opens as if he's going to say something stupid, but Art closes it and instead says, "Why'd you disappear? Why don't we talk?"

Your eyebrows raise slightly, at his inquiry. Truth be told, he knows what you don't talk anymore. He knows he fucked up, majorly. But he's relieved when you don't immediately snap at him, or worse. You always did have a short fuse.

"And how do you know I disappeared? Have you been keeping tabs on me?"

He looks at you, eyes narrowing in disbelief. "Are you serious?" Art raises his brows, "You're not seriously asking me that. You're one of the best tennis players out there. You went radio silent." He pauses, before saying in a slightly teasing way, "You're the one who should've been keeping tabs on me."

You scoff, resisting the urge to roll your eyes. "I don't have to. You and Tashi are plastered over half the buildings and billboards in Jersey." Jersey. Jersey? He was surprised you moved there out of all places. You'd always expressed a dislike for it back then.

Art chuckles at your response. "What, don't you like Jersey?" He jokes, flicking the cigarette away. He turns his body to look at you, studying your expression. "But seriously. Why did you drop off the face of the earth?" He's not going to tell you that he'd looked for you, even though he had. It was a few searches on Google, a few emails. You'd just vanished.

His mouth opens again, this time not backing down from what he really wanted to say. "And don't give me some bullshit excuse either." It sounds more like a command to you than anything. Art is really trying to keep himself from saying all the things he's wanted to say for years.

The thinly veiled frustration lining his voice sends a rush of anger through you. Who does he think he is, ordering you around?

"Don't speak to me that way. Like you have some type of control over me."

It's then Art knows he's screwed up, letting that irritation seep into his tone. He knows he doesn't have any control over you. He never has, and never will. He doesn't want to control you. He just wants you again.

"I'm not. I know I don't have control over you. But did you forget that I was once your friend?" Friend. It pains him to even call you that. You were always more, even though he was completely sucked into Tashi's orbit, like she was the sun. She wasn't. Art stands taller, his broad shoulders straight, his eyes never pulling away from yours.

"Were we, though? You dropped me for Tashi the second she showed up, and you wonder why I haven't reached out?"

Art's teeth grind in his mouth. "That's not fair." He says gruffly, even though he's lying through his teeth. "I didn't drop you. If I remember correctly, you were the one who left." He's getting agitated, his heart starting to race, his hands starting to clench into fists.

But not towards you. God, never you. He'd rather die than ever cause you harm. But the thing is, you weren't wrong. That's exactly what he did.

"I left because I knew if I stuck around, it would never stop hurting me."

That's when Art knows, getting involved with Tashi was the worst thing he ever did. It cost him his friendship with Patrick, his love for tennis. It cost him you.

He knew that your words were laced with truth, that he truly was the root of the heartache that you felt. And he'd do anything to take it back. But he couldn't. The only thing be could do now it try to make it right.

As for his feelings, that's another can of worms Art doesn't even want to open. He'd always had feelings for you, feelings that he thought would go away. But no, years later, they were still as present as ever. He wished he hadn't been so blind.

"I've always been second to Tashi. I couldn't ever compete with her, Art."

He swallows hard. Deep down, he knows it's true. Back in your college days, he was so focused on Tashi that he'd failed to notice what was right in front of him.

Art's heart hurt for you. But even though he knew how much he'd hurt you, how selfish he'd been, he couldn't help but get upset at your words.

"You could never complete?" He huffs through clenched teeth, shaking his head. "God, you just don't get it, do you?" Art steps forward, his body almost towering over you.

Rationally, he knows this isn't the right time or place, and maybe there won't ever be a right time or place. But you're here, now, and he won't lose you again without telling you how he feels.

A sudden heat washes over your body as he steps closer, his breath hitting your face.

"You could never, ever compete with Tashi, but not because you aren't good enough." His hand shoots up to touch your cheek, a soft touch to your skin. His thumb runs against your bottom lip, gently.

Everything in you screams for you to back away, go before you get hurt again. But you find yourself mesmerized by those same eyes you fell in love with all those years ago.

Art's voice is low and deep as he continues, his eyes never leaving yours. "You could never compete with her because I was stupid, I was stupid enough to fall in love with you first. But I pushed you away."

The confession is whispered, and you can hardly believe what he's said. What is going on? Art Donaldson is standing in front of you, declaring his love after years of no contact and a failed marriage to another.

"Art, I..." You don't know what to say. Your brain is mush, your head filled with a million thoughts, your heart threatening to pound out of your chest. You're missed, you're resented, you're loved, and now all you want to do is kiss him.

His hand cupping your cheek begins to slide down to your neck and his other hand slips around your waist, softly tugging you against him. His fingers slide through your hair and Art's eyes are on you, watching you, taking you in.

"I have loved you since we were kids. I was so stupid to not notice it before." He whispers, his breath hitching and his cheeks flushing ever so slightly. "And I have never been able to get you out of my head or my heart. And I am sick and tired of pretending like you aren't the love of my goddamn life."

There isn't any hint of malice, or treachery in his eyes, and he hopes to God that you know that. He knows he can't ever take back the pain he caused you, but he wants to try even if it kills him.

With that, Art kisses you. It's hot, it's needy, and it's passionate as all hell. Your body is responding to him in ways you didn't even know was possible. As he continues to pour all his love for you into that kiss, it picks up in pace, until you feel Art's teeth biting your lip. Your mouth opens to respond, but his tongue slips inside your mouth, causing a low moan to hum out of you. Your tongues slide against each other, your bodies pressed together tightly.

Art can't help himself as his hands explore every inch of your body. One hand is buried in your hair, but the other is traveling down, exploring the bare skin of your back. You arch into him, your fingers digging into his shirt.

You taste like nicotine and beer, you taste like home, a flavor that makes him all that much hungrier for you. He lets out a low groan as he slips his hands into the back of your pants, causing you to moan into his mouth.

Art is starting to lose control and knows that if he doesn't stop this now, he'll take you right here in the grass outside the reunion. He doesn't want your first time to be like this. Not when there's been so much grief getting here, so much pain he's caused to you.

Reluctantly, he rips his mouth off of yours, pulling away slightly. Both of you are panting heavy, your cheeks flushed.

Art doesn't say anything at first. His eyes rake over your disheveled appearance, your lips swollen, your hair out of place. He's sure he looks just as bad. Clearing his throat, he mutters a soft apology. "This isn't happening here. Can I..." He's about to say that he wants to take you back to his hotel.

You nod quickly, eyes blown wide with desire, but with love, too. "Y-yeah. Yeah." After all this time, not seeing him, you'll be damned if you let him slip through your fingers again.

That's all Art needs to hear. He grabs your hand and intertwines your fingers before leading the way to his car. Thank god the reunion was being hosted at a hotel, or Art wouldn't have been able to control himself.

After getting into the car, Art speeds out of the parking lot, his hand never letting go of yours. The drive back is a bit of a blur, his focus solely on you.

When you arrive at his hotel, Art is pulling you down the hallway, your lips connected like two magnets, unable to stay away from each other. Every step is like a challenge as you make your way to the room. All the while, you both stumble over your own feet until you feel your back against the door. You moan into his mouth once more, pulling at Art's shirt, before your kiss is broken by a panting Art.

"Wait," Art whispers, his voice soft. His eyes look at you in the dark of the hallway, his breath coming in hard pants. He's about to ask you if you want this, but your lips meeting his, your hands exploring his bare chest underneath the shirt, is all the answer he needs. He fumbles around for the handle of the door, trying to put the key card in, and it seems like an eternity until you stumble into the room.

Once inside the bedroom, Art is pulling you on top of him on the bed, his body desperate for you to be closer. You shift in his lap, pressing yourself against him, his hardness against your thigh. You gasp, hands running down his chest. Your lips remain locked as your fingers explore each other. Art is running his hands under your shirt, exploring your waist and sides eagerly.

And that's when Art's brain is hit with a sudden realization. He pulls back, breathing heavily, "Wait. We need to stop." He says, his voice firm. Art's eyes find you, and your brow is furrowed as you look at him with confusion and desire.

"What is it?" You ask, your breathing shallow. Art's hands on your sides make you shiver, his touch awakening every inch of your body. "Do you..." You pause, watching his face, "Do you not want this?" Your voice is soft and questioning.

His hands on your sides grip tighter as he answers, "God no, I want this. I want you. I just..." Art can feel the words catch in his throat, but then the question slips out, "Do you love me? I just... I don't want this to be just a causal thing, you know? I finally have you, and I don't want to lose you again." He waits for you to answer, the words hanging in the air. Your breath hitches in his ears.

The anxiety coursing through your veins deflates at his response, and you laugh quietly. "Are you dense? Of course. I've loved you since we were sixteen."

And that is what he's been waiting for. Art can feel a smile spread across his lips, his heart swelling as he pulls you in for a kiss. It's not a kiss filled with the same desire as before. It's filled with love and joy, full of passion and promise.

His hand moves to your back, gently caressing your back, before he flips the two of you so that he's leaning over you, his body still pressed against yours.

His mouth moves down to your neck, pressing wet kisses along your skin, while his hands slide up your sides to tease the waistband of your jeans. He can feel your fingers burying themselves in his hair, your back arching just slightly.

Art can feel the neediness as your touch urges him closer and closer. You're tugging at his shirt, your breath coming out in short stutters. He feels your mouth trail down his neck and Art's hands fumble with your jeans, desperately working on the zipper and pushing them off.

As soon as your jeans are off, he presses his body against you again, his hips rocking into yours. A low moan slips out of Art's mouth as your bodies grind into each other, his mouth finding yours, hungry and hot.

Art can feel your nails dig into his shoulders. He's gripping your thigh, his hand slipping under your shirt to touch your bare skin, feeling his need rise like a raising fire in his stomach.

You gasp out, fingers pushing at his shirt, desperate to see more. More of him. "Off- off. I wanna see you."

Your gasp makes his heart flutter and Art can't help but groan into your mouth as you say those words. "Yeah..." He mutters against your lips, his body hot and needy against yours.

Art lets go of you and lifts his shirt off, tossing it to the floor, revealing his hard, toned abdomen and built chest. His eyes search your face, watching you take in sight of him and waiting for approval.

God, he's beautiful. Like a damn sculpture in a museum. You lean up to press hot, open-mouthed kisses to his chest, taking a moment to gently tug on his nipple with your teeth. If that isn't a sign of your approval, then he doesn't know what is.

Art bites the inside of his lip to muffle his moan. The feeling of your teeth on him is like electricity on his skin and he can't help the whimper that slips out of his mouth. His own teeth graze the skin of your neck, sucking slightly.

He wants you, needs you. And you are making it painfully obvious that the feeling is mutual. He moans into your mouth as Art pushes you gently back into the mattress as he slides between your thighs.

And then his body is pressing against you again, and you're both back to grinding against each other, the friction making you both moan. It's hot and sweat-inducing, passionate and fast. Art's hands are reaching for your bra and tugging it off, needing to feel your skin on his.

The minute the bra hits the floor, he's touching you again, his hands trailing down from your chest to your hips. His mouth finds yours again, your kiss a needy, hard, hungry mess of tongue and teeth.

Art is painfully hard, desperate for you. His hips are rocking, his breath coming hot and needy as you grind together. The pleasure is starting to build, and he can feel your own neediness growing.

He's got to be inside you. Every part of his body is screaming with that need, but he's so desperately trying to hold back. It's not just Art, though. You're needy, as well, your moans and whines telling him exactly what you want.

Art's hand slides down your body, and pauses just above the band of your panties, looking at you in a silent question of consent. When you nod, his hand slip into your underwear, his fingers touching your wetness. He can feel you gasp against his mouth, and Art's fingers rub teasing circles against your cunt. "You're so beautiful." He whispers against your mouth, desperate and needy, "And you're all mine." He's never sounded so possessive before and it shocks him.

But you can't get enough of it. After years of longing, years of pining, he's finally looking at you. He loves you. You moan in his ear, hips canting into his touch.

And then Art's fingers are slipping inside you, pumping slowly as you kiss and press into each other. The way you moan, the way your body reacts, makes Art moan with you, unable to keep himself quiet. He's drowning in your scent and your skin, everything in this room is you.

One of your arms wraps around his neck, as you gasp, moan, and pant into his ear. You're squeezing around his fingers, as his name falls from your lips like a vow. "Oh, oh, God- Art- fuck, don't stop-"

Art's fingers are pumping harder and faster, driven by the sound of his name spilling from your lips. Your moans fill his ears, the sounds and the way you're saying your name makes his neediness all the more desperate. He's desperate to make you cum, to see you come undone because of him.

It isn't long before you feel that familiar coil building in your stomach. "I'm gon- fuck-" You're so close, he can feel it.

He moans into your mouth, shifting down as his fingers work harder, his thumb finding your cunt. "Yeah?" He whispers, his mouth trailing down your neck. "You gonna come for me, baby?"

You gasp out hoarsely, muscles tightening. "Yes! Fuck, mhm-" Your eyes threaten to roll back back, as your jaw goes slack at your upcoming orgasm.

Art can feel you trembling against him, your body shaking as his hands work. This is the effect he has in you and it's driving him crazy. He's panting with his own neediness, but watching and hearing you is what's doing him in. "Come on, sweetheart. Cum for me." He whispers, feeling you clench around his fingers.

"I'm-" You cut yourself off as Art's fingers hit just the right spot. Your nails dig into his shoulders, and you're gasping out into his shoulder, mostly incoherent swears as your muscles clench and your orgasm washes over you. "Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck- so good, so good-" The sight of you is something he never wants to forget. Eyes fluttering, mouth agape, your moans rising in pitch.

Art can feel a groan escape as he watches you orgasm, his fingers still working to bring you over the edge. You're a perfect picture of ecstasy, flushed pink and trembling against him. "God, you're gorgeous." He moans out, feeling your thighs tremble.

A moment later, he's pulling his hands away from your body, his own neediness growing more desperate. He kisses you, deep and hard, before murmuring in her ear. "Turn over for me, sweetheart."

You're a little shaky as you let him shift and roll you over on your stomach, but you're all too willing. Art's hands are sliding up your soft thighs, his touch gentle with so much love. He's pressed against you again, his mouth leaving kisses up your spine, before he's pulling a cushion under your hips.

His teeth sink into the soft skin of your shoulder as he grinds against you again, moaning into your shoulder; the friction and neediness is driving him insane. "I need you." He whispers, his voice thick with need.

You can feel him pressing against you, his desperate need all too apparent. You moan into the pillow in response, pushing back slightly against him. You whine softly as his teeth bite your shoulder, a low shudder running through your body. "Then take me." You moan, arching your back to press firmly against him.

You're driving him absolutely mad. Art's hands grip your hips, fingers pressing into the delicate skin before pulling you up against him. He's panting in your ear, "Yeah? You want me, baby? Tell me his much you need me." His own neediness is making him desperate.

Your hand reaches back to tangle your fingers in his hair, gasping into his ear. "Please, please, Art- need you to fill me up- need you so bad-"

Art's brain doesn't have time to register your words because he's moaning against your skin and rocking needily against you. His teeth bite your shoulder again as he pants out, desperate, "Yeah, honey, anything- anything you want- I'm yours." He whispers, almost incoherent in his desire for you.

His head dips down to your ear, panting into it and shifting slightly. "Do I need a condom, sweetheart?" He moans, his voice huskier than before. His hands are running down your sides again, the touch almost like a soothing caress before they settle on your waist.

You gasp out, hips still rolling back against his, desperate for friction. "No- I'm on birth control-"

Art nearly sags in relief. He would've used a condom if he needed to, but the thought of going raw inside you makes him to absolutely feral.

"God, you're perfect." He moans, one of his hands trailing back down to your hips and gripping them tightly. He's still moaning needily, your words only driving him further towards the edge. His forehead presses to the back of your neck, his breath hit and needy on your skin. "Gonna make you feel good, sweetheart."

When he finally slides into you, his eyes roll into the back of his head. You're so warm, so soft, so perfect. And the way you're gripping into his hair as he enters you is so goddamn good. You're tugging on locks of his blonde hair, as his body is draped over your back, skin to skin, and it takes effort not to cum then and there.

Art is panting into your neck, his body draped over yours like a living blanket. Your body is perfect under his, his hands gripping your hips and pulling you back into him, as he pants out, "You feel so good, sweetheart. God- can you-" His words are cut off as he bites the nape of your neck, and he's moaning, needy and incoherent.

He's pressed fully into you, surrounded by heat and pleasure. It's driving him crazy, but then you're pulling his hair and he's moaning against your skin, shuddering slightly. You're perfect, all of you, and Art's lost in you.

One of your hands stays tangled in his hair, and the other is curled tightly into the sheets as he thrusts into you, your body rocking forward with each one. Your breasts are bouncing slightly as he fucks you, and you're gasping and moaning pleas of his name, incoherent swears, and begging him not to stop.

And Art is thrusting into you, moaning and panting like a wild animal. His hands are gripping your hips, his own breaths coming out hot and needy against your shoulder. His own moans are spilling out, broken up by his words. "God, baby- you feel so good- so perfect-" He's practically whimpering with need, his face buried in your shoulder. "Want you so bad- honey- God-"

You're driving him insane with your gasps and moans, and Art's words are losing syllables, become more incoherent and slurred with his thrusts. You're perfect, and he can feel a pressure building low in his stomach. He's shaking, the pleasure becoming too much as he gasps out, "Sweetheart, I'm close- gonna-"

He's close, the pressure growing, and he's babbling mindlessly now, his words broken up by moans and gasps. "God- gonna come- don't stop-" He's whimpering into your shoulder, his hand traveling down to your waist and holding you like a vice.

He's pulling you back as he thrusts forward into you, and the pressure and pleasure are too much. His fingers dig into your waist, and Art can feel himself fall over the edge. He's moaning, gasping out your name as his nails dig into your skin, his breath hit against your shoulder.

It's only a moment before he's reaching down to rub figure eights against your cunt, desperate to make you cum.

And he's barely coming down from his own climax, still shuddering and gasping, yet his hands are moving already. He's touching you, fingers rubbing circles against your cunt, desperate to bring you over the edge with him. "Come on, baby. Come on-" He's whining, breath hot against your skin, as he continues his efforts, desperate for your peak.

You're close, he can feel it. You're trembling under his touch and Art's fingers are working faster and faster, begging you, "Please- please- come on- please-" And then you're arching your back against him, shuddering and gasping as you cum under his touch.

Art's eyes roll back into his skull as you come under his fingers and on his cock, a desperate whine slipping out of his mouth. He'd almost forgotten how wonderful your orgasms are. You're ethereal. "God- sweetheart-" He's moaning, pulling you closer, desperate to keep touching you and feel you shaking against him.

He's panting, his forehead pressing to the nape of your neck. His head us spinning from the onslaught of pleasure, his body trembling slightly. He's panting and shivering and still buried deep in you, and all he can think about is still you. Your skin, your scent, your body. His brain can't catch up.

It takes a few minutes before he's come down enough to pull away from you, slipping out of you slowly yet reluctantly. He's still whimpering in your ear, kissing your shoulder reverently. There's a gentle smile pulling at his lips as his arms wrap around you and pull you closer, wanting to feel more skin to skin contact.

Everything else slips away as his body is pressed against yours, legs tangled and skin on skin. Art's body is still buzzing from his orgasm, but right now, you're his one and only focus. He's whispering in your ear, mindless praise and sweet words he wouldn't dare say to anyone else. "God, baby- you're perfect. You're everything- I could drown in you and die happy."

You giggle softly, basking in the afterglow. After so long, you're here, with him. And he loves you. By God, does he love you. He reaches out to tuck a sweat soaked piece of hair behind your ear, pausing to gently run his thumb over your cheekbone. "I love you."

You can't help the exhausted grin that creeps onto your face when you hear that. "I love you, too."

He contains to murmur gentle words and praises, although his words are broken up by soft kisses to your shoulder. It's been years since he's felt this kind of pleasure. Years since he felt so content, so at home. Art hadn't realized how much he'd missed it- missed you. Right now, his only desire is to hold onto you, keep you as close as possible, and never let you go again.

Not that you'd even dream of leaving him again.

[holybibly]

𝔇𝔯𝔢𝔰𝔰 𝔱𝔬 𝔦𝔪𝔭𝔯𝔢𝔰𝔰 | Seonghwa x reader

Pairing: CEO Seonghwa x reader Summary: It was definitely a bad idea to tease Seonghwa, but you always loved a good challenge. Your CEO's personality has always been sweet and gentle, but will he act the same when you're dressed to impress him? Genre / Au / Trope : Smut, Office!AU Rating: 18+ / 21+ / MDNI Word count: 10.2k Warnings: dom!Seonghwa, sub!reader, unprotected sex, fingering, degrading, pet names, size kink, pussy slapping, dirty talk, explicit sexual content, explicit language, oral, overstimulation, double penetration, manhandling, multiple orgasms, сreampie, rough sex, rough oral, power play, praise kink, anal fingering, anal play, explicit sexual content, explicit language, squirting, creampie, and more.

net: @cultofdionysusnet @k-vanity @newworldnet A|N: I finally got into the office!au. I hope you were all looking forward to this bunny? Before my little holiday, I came to spoil and corrupt you, my beloved. Enjoy the spicy my sugar babies ℌ𝔬𝔩𝔶 𝔅𝔲𝔫𝔫𝔦𝔢𝔰 𝔗𝔞𝔤 𝔩𝔦𝔰𝔱 ❣ Part I @tiny-apocalypse @captain-joongz @alicedawitchbish @woohwababes @wlv-asteria @wisejudgedragonhairdo @mingisprincesss @lavishloving @teagietots @spooo00oky @sousydive @hwapou @bunnliix @softwsan @mjyungi @fantasy2wonderland @noirsfantasy @cassies-cookies @renaholicss @luffypants @hyukssunflower @watermelon2319 @peachygiku @bunnyxoxodarling @stolasisyourparent @soranosnowbunny @certifiedmoa @sanglix @slvtiny @hopefulrascalstatesmantoad @hecateslittlewitchling @xxawl @pastellbunno @starlletsblog @seonghwasstar @hwanring @vtyb23 @pearltinyy @minjaeum @chasevixx @bomi-ja @onedumbho3 @sanglix @cursedeastern @itza-meee @pinkies-things @atinism @mxnsxngie @nenefix-on @therealcuppicake @annafeebou @sharksandminhos @@lixies-pixieboy @@vampzity @0rangemilk @yellow-foxxing @claimmeyourprincess

ℌ𝔬𝔩𝔶 𝔅𝔲𝔫𝔫𝔦𝔢𝔰 𝔗𝔞𝔤 𝔩𝔦𝔰𝔱 ❣ Part II @unholywriters @hey-syia @hrts4nohee @vnessalau @mlink64 @tessakleine @fr34k4c1dr41n @313hwa @lilyuwon @tiziamattaga @un-knew @wiaxul @siyah-staryis @seonghwasbbgirl @mingisfavgf @bunnyluvr25 @roserperfume @lose-lose07 @variety-is-the-joy-of-life @lelaleleb @bubblebisk @silverlight-h @ chloe-elise-2000

" Y/N." Sumin turns to you and leans closer conspiratorially. "Have you already met Seonghwa today?" You nod in the affirmative to her words, and she continues to speak, lowering her voice to a whisper so that only you will be able to hear her. "I don't know what made him so mad today, but damned if I can complain, Seonghwa looks so damn hot and fuckable when he's mad. I'm ashamed to admit it, but he's making me so wet right now." You pressed your plump, shiny lips together in irritation, but even so, you didn't deny what she had said. It was absolutely true that the CEO of your company looked unacceptably hot when he was angry, and it was nothing new that the female half of your office had to change her underwear several times a day when Seonghwa was in a bad mood. There was something inexplicably arousing about the way he would scold you or torture you in silence with his dark, bottomless gaze that made you squirm in your seat. God, this man could really screw you properly without even touching you. 

But today you could tell the exact reason for his anger and his passive-aggressiveness towards others; you just didn't want to tell Sumin about it. 

Since the morning, Seonghwa's mood had been darker than a storm cloud, and it was a bad omen for anyone who had the temerity to approach him. That's why everyone in the office avoided your stunningly handsome CEO. Everyone tried to keep out of his sight. Everyone except you, of course. You craved his attention, perhaps a little too much for your own good, and so you weren't afraid to use any means necessary to get it. 

As soon as the soles of his perfectly polished designer shoes crossed the threshold of the office this morning, the change of emotion on Seonghwa's gorgeous face was almost instantaneous. His typically sweet, radiant smile that usually adorned his plump, sensual lips faded, replaced by a grimace of pure displeasure, and his slanted, feline eyes narrowed and darkened dangerously as he saw you at the reception desk. You could practically feel his burning gaze creeping up your legs, stopping at the hem of your skirt, or rather the hem of your inappropriately short and tight skirt, which barely covered your plump buttocks but somehow, inexplicably, still fit within the classic office dress code. As a result, you were able to pinpoint the exact reason for the embittered and irritated behaviour of your boss today. The man simply couldn't stand your attractiveness.

" Y/N!" Speak of the devil. Seonghwa's deep, velvety voice brings you back to reality, and you can't help but notice that Sumin is clenching her thighs even tighter at the sharp, metallic notes in your CEO's usually honey-warm tone. An uncomfortable scarlet blush spreads across her cheeks, and she lowers her face in an unsuccessful attempt to hide the embarrassment mixed with excitement she is feeling. You're not really sure whether to feel sympathy or annoyance for her right now, but you decide to leave it for later. Instead, you turn your full attention to Seonghwa, turning your head in his direction and looking up at him with a completely innocent expression on your pretty face.

Oh, he's pissed—pissed as hell, to be precise—judging by the way his pink plush lips are pouted angrily and his gorgeous feline eyes are literally fixed on your figure, making your skin tingle. God, he's so damn hot. Just the way he looks at you sends shivers of excitement down your spine and makes your panties all sticky and wet. You push yourself lightly off of Sumin's desk, straighten up completely, and adjust the hem of your tiny skirt back up as you give him a sweet, almost shy smile. 

"Mr. Park, is there something you need my help with?" You ask with as much innocence in your voice as you can muster, tilting your head to the side in a lovely way and looking up at him through your long, fluffy eyelashes.

Seonghwa almost has to physically stop himself from saying, "Yes, baby, I need your help with my hard-on. I want to see how your pretty mouth is wrapped around my cock while you are fingering yourself when you are kneeling in front of  me."

But instead, he clears his throat a couple of times in an awkward manner and speaks: 

"Yes, I'd like to have a word with you in my office alone. Now." He suddenly turns on his heels and walks into his spacious, modern office, not even bothering to wait for you, knowing full well that you'll obediently follow him. Your gaze is fixed on his back. Even from your seat, you can see how tense his muscles are and how tight his perfectly white designer shirt is around his shoulders. The silky, expensive material ripples with his movements, drawing attention to his slim, slutty waist and narrow hips. The black fabric of his classic trousers is a perfect accent to the bulge of his bottom. Looking at Seonghwa, you can't help but think that it's completely unfair that he's so gorgeous. How are you supposed to concentrate on doing your job well when your boss looks like a five-course meal?

Seonghwa turns to face you and points to one of the leather chairs in front of his desk. You don't need to be told twice, and you take the upholstered seat with a slight, teasing smile on your face. Your posture is completely relaxed as you cross your legs over each other without breaking eye contact with your boss. This movement gives Seonghwa a stunning view of your thighs as your already short skirt rises even higher. You wiggle your foot in a playful manner, which probably makes him even more angry; the exquisite high-heeled lacquer shoe glistens in the artificial light of the lamps. 

Seonghwa takes a deep breath, trying to control his emotions, and hisses angrily through his teeth when he realises it's harder than it looks. It takes all of his self-control not to grab you by the hair and pull you in for a deep, dirty kiss until your lungs start to burn from the lack of oxygen in your body. And your disgustingly seductive red lipstick will not be smeared all over your face and, preferably, all over his dick too.

Inwardly, you're rejoicing; you can already taste the sweet taste of your own victory, your pride spilling over your chest as he focuses on you intensely. You and Seonghwa have been cat and mouse for a long time, and today you want nothing more in mind than to be eaten by this predatory, beautiful cat.

You've always had an interest in Park Seonghwa. How could you not be when Seonghwa is exactly what you've always been looking for—the perfect balance between wicked sexuality and sugar-sweet tenderness? He could be daddy, he could be mommy, he does both. Gorgeous from top to toe, with those incredible, hypnotic siren eyes, those high cheekbones, and those overly plump, unbelievably pink lips, Seonghwa was gorgeous. And he knew it. 

Lately, your sexual attraction to Seonghwa had become almost physical, and you were finding it more and more difficult to control it. Of course, it was all his fault. As one of Seonghwa's three secretaries, you used to spend a lot of time alone with him, and you would stay at work longer than usual until Seonghwa would deign to let you go home. It was almost tantamount to being tortured—undeniably exquisite, but tortured nonetheless. 

The long hours you spent with him, working late into the night. When he was completely relaxed and calm, he gave you the chance to enjoy his softer, more sensual side.

God, Seonghwa was a treat for your inflamed eyes: his long, silky hair slightly tousled, his thin, stylishly rimmed glasses pushed aside, the tie loosened around his long, seductive neck, and the top few buttons of his shirt undone, giving you tantalising glimpses of his golden, smooth skin and sharp collarbones. In all seriousness, how could you possibly resist that? Especially when he bit down on his plump lower lip, sinking his teeth into it until the plush, soft flesh reddened to a plush, tender blush as he concentrated on reviewing the documents. Or the way he ran a long, wet tongue over his lips, and hell, you wanted him to run it over your lips or, better yet, your pussy. You couldn't tell if he was deliberately teasing you or if it was just a habit—a bloody lewd sexual habit, you had to say—but you couldn't leave it unanswered. 

So, what did you do about it? Well, you teased him back, of course. Every action you took was deliberate, whether it was the light touch of your fingers casually sliding down his arm or the way you always leaned a little more than decently towards him, giving him a glimpse of your gorgeous, plump breasts held up by a lace bra, before pulling away with the most innocent expression on your face, as if you weren't the one who just shoved your tits in his face. But Seonghwa, damn it, continued to pretend to be completely unaware of how you were behaving and your blatant innuendos, which only provoked you to try something more daring.

You began to sit on the edge of his desk every time you spoke, drawing attention to your feet or leaning incredibly close to him so that the softness of your breasts pressed against his shoulder. However, Seonghwa continued to ignore you in a studious manner, and you decided that you needed to do something to really spur him into action.

So today you wore your most daring and vulgar skirt: tight enough to accentuate the curve of your hips and ass in the most delicious way and short enough so that with every move you made, he could see the tops of your stockings held up by the buckles of your garters. Coupled with high stiletto heels that made your legs appear to be longer, you knew it was a deadly combination that no man would be able to resist. You were dressed to impress, and as this morning showed, you were definitely on the mark.

After Seonghwa's sighting of you this morning, you were a provocation to him the whole day long. Whether it was bending over—a little lower than was really needed—giving him a stunning view of your stockings and even your lace panties. Or paying excessive attention to the other men in the office, accompanied by an endless stream of praise and light, playful touches. All the while, you could feel his anger growing more and more obvious with each passing second and his gaze growing harder and darker with each and every teasing move you made.

But what really broke Seonghwa's resolve was how invitingly you bent over for him—arching your back and protruding buttocks as you leaned over Sumin's desk when you brought her the papers to sign. Your whole posture screamed, "Fuck me," which is pretty much what you had in mind. And that was how you ended up here in his office. 

Seonghwa leans on the edge of his desk, his entire body tensed, and you can literally see the dark aura emanating from him as his gorgeous feline eyes take you in for a second before he shifts his gaze to the open blinds in the office, which allowed all employees to see what was going on in your CEO's office. 

The muscles in his jaw twitch as he clenches his teeth, no doubt in contemplation of what his next move should be. In contrast to him, you are sitting comfortably in your chair, fidgeting from time to time in the padded seat as the heat between your thighs begins to build to an uncomfortable level. The longer you're near Seonghwa, the wetter you get. A sharp shiver of anticipation runs down your spine. 

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" Seonghwa's hiss finally breaks the silence between you. You raise an eyebrow at his words, your eyes wide and completely innocent as you stare back at him with a fake look of confusion.   "What do you mean, Mr. Park? I don't do anything." You answer him. Your voice drips with honey, and you flutter your long eyelashes innocently, sinking your teeth into your plump lower lip. Seonghwa breathes out hoarsely, covers his eyes for a second, and you can see him clutching the edge of the table, trying to control himself. The knuckles of his long, beautiful fingers are white with restrained aggression, and, to be honest with you, for a second, you wonder just how much force he could use to squeeze your throat as he drives his undeniably awesome cock into you. Damn it, you want him to fucking destroy you. 

"Y/N, don't play innocent; it doesn't suit you. You know exactly what I mean." Seonghwa's voice is full of displeasure and hissing sounds. This deep, rough tone of voice only makes your pussy clench even more tightly. You can literally feel the silky walls of your vagina tightening around nothing. Fuck, you're so wet right now that you're sure you'll leave a big wet stain of your arousal on his expensive leather chair if you stay sitting like this. 

"Okay, you've got me, Mr. Park. But I have a feeling you have a pretty good idea of what my intentions are, don't you, Seonghwa?" A smug smile spreads across your ruby-red lips and replaces the expression of sweet, fake innocence on your face. Leaning further back in your chair, you shift the position of your legs, allowing them to spread slightly, just enough for Songhwa's gaze to focus on the small slit between your thighs. Unable to control himself any longer, he lets out a low growl, and you smile back at him victoriously. 

"Close jalousie." Seonghwa orders you, and you almost tremble at the amount of power that sounds in his voice. When he looks into your eyes, the look in his dark, feline eyes promises you the most vicious of pleasures. But you can also see a devilish glow in them that doesn't bode well for you. And you have a strange urge to push him further to the edge of his wickedness and malice. You may be poking the tiger with a stick, but what could be more sexy than Park Seonghwa, who is mad as hell?

You slowly rise from your seat and make your way to the glass walls of the office, closing the blinds so that you are completely hidden from any prying eyes. When you have finished, you turn to him and swallow noisily at the realisation of what is about to happen. 

Seonghwa is standing at his desk; his back is perfectly straight, which brings out his stunning proportions and that damn slutty waist of his. He gives you those famous siren eyes that make all the girls in the office fall to their knees. With an elegant movement, Seonghwa beckons you with his fingers like a kitten: "Don't be afraid, my love, come closer. I won't bite you unless you ask me to."

In spite of the lingering excitement in your lower abdomen and the copious amount of moisture that is collecting between your legs, you are suddenly nervous. The cocky bravado of the past is gone as you are confronted with the predatory, dominant side of Seonghwa. As he stands in front of you with his head held high and literally radiating the energy of pure sex and sin, you know that there is absolutely nothing soft and gentle about him at the moment. 

On shaky legs, you slowly make your way towards him until you finally find yourself standing in front of him, just a few centimetres away from him. With a raised hand, Seonghwa wraps his arm around the back of your head and rough pulls you as close to him as he can get you. Your eyes widen as you stumble slightly at the suddenness of his action. The luxurious, thick scent of his perfume invades all of your senses as you  find yourself just a breath away from his stunningly beautiful face. The intoxicating scent of powdery leather makes your head spin and your pulse quicken. 

He smelled wonderful, sweet, spicy, and inexplicable; you'd call it sinful and decadent, like heaven and hell at the same time, and you wanted to dissolve into that scent completely; it was so amazing. And once again, you were convinced that Park Seonghwa was the most perfect man on the face of the earth. You've been completely whipped for him, so much so that it's almost ridiculous.

"Hmm, look at you, my love. Has someone all of a sudden become an obedient, sweet little girl? Where has all your naughtiness gone, Princess? You don't think you're going to get away with all of your antics up to now, do you?" Seonghwa purrs velvety. 

His breath is kissing your lips with every word he says, and the hot sensation is sending goose bumps all over your skin. Your eyelashes flutter in response to his words, and your gaze glides over his soft, sensual lips. Seonghwa grins grimly when he notices your gaze.

"Oh no, my love, I don't think so. Kissing is only for good girls, and you've been behaving very badly. I have to teach you how to act like a princess and not like a whore, don't I, dear?" Seonghwa asks you, pressing harder on the back of your head, and you nod in the affirmative. His plump lips curl into a devilish grin, and his dark eyes flash with a glimmer of hellfire before he suddenly lets go of you and takes a few steps back from you. 

Your knees buckle as you no longer feel the power of his overbearing, burning presence around you, and you almost fall to the floor. Seonghwa sits down regally in his fancy leather chair; his posture is relaxed, but at the same time, you can feel the power and almost animalistic dominance in him. It's so obvious that you've really upset him with your behaviour, and you know for sure that he won't be nice to you now. 

He leans back in the chair and spreads his legs, and you swallow as you notice how tight the fabric of his trousers is around his crotch. His cock is fully hard, and you can see the clear outline of its thick length, causing the saliva in your mouth to begin to collect. You feel so small under the weight of his dark, feline gaze that a pitiful sob escapes from your chest, and you squeeze your thighs tighter, trying in vain to ease your arousal. 

Seonghwa's eyes roam over your form, his gaze gliding over every curve of your body before lingering on your heaving breasts. His tongue slips out of his mouth to lick slowly across his sensual lips, leaving a glistening trail of saliva on his lips. You squirm under his intense gaze, shifting awkwardly from one foot to the other. 

"Take your clothes off." He finally commands you, and you comply. 

Holding your breath, you do as he tells you to. Your fingers tremble slightly as you begin to undo the buttons on your blouse. Seonghwa's eyes darken with lust when more and more of your skin is exposed to his greedy, hungry gaze. 

As the last button is undone, you hurry to throw off the thin material that now only irritates your heated skin where it touches. Seonghwa's mirrored black pupils dilate, engulfing the already dark, glistening irises of his eyes as he sees the sheer lace of your bra encircling your plump, heavy tits—a thin piece of exquisite material that hides absolutely nothing, your pink, swollen nipples perfectly visible to him.

"Aren't you a real slut, daring to come to work in that? You're just a bitch who's aching to be fucked. Now get your skirt off." Seonghwa's voice is full of dominance, and you feel that even more moisture is oozing out of your hole. 

Your hands reach behind your back to undo the zip of your skirt, the material loosening around your waist and starting to slide down your thighs in a smooth motion. With a soft sound, your skirt falls to the floor and spreads out in a puddle of water around your feet. Seonghwa's lips curve into an approving smile as he sees your practically naked body in its entirety. 

His burning gaze stops at the junction of your thighs, his teeth sinking into his lower plump lip as he savours the silky sheen of moisture on your thighs, just above the lace tops of your stockings, and the way the skimpy material of your panties clings to your plump pussy. The lace is digging in between your labia, sticky and wet from the copious amounts of fluid that are leaking out of your hole.

"Fuck. Come here, princess." Seonghwa purrs in a low voice and waves you over to him with one of his long fingers. You slowly approach him until you're standing right in front of him. His hand possessively wraps around your hips, pulling you even closer so that his thigh is between your legs. Seonghwa slides his fingers between your thighs and begins to lazily stroke your warm folds through the lace of your panties. Even through the layer of fabric, the pads of his fingers are coated with sticky, transparent moisture. 

He laughs darkly, a velvety sound full of gloom that fills the stillness of his office.

"God, you're absolutely wet; you're literally dripping, my sweet girl. Have you been naughty in the office and fucking yourself, princess?" Seonghwa asks you as he looks at you from under his thick, fluffy eyelashes.

"N-no!" You stammer before screaming as he squeezes your clit roughly. Suddenly, his fingers are wrapped around the straps of your panties, and then he pulls sharply on them. The sound of the fabric ripping echoes through the room, and the soaked lace falls to the floor in shreds.

"Really? Then what made you?" Seonghwa begins, sliding her fingers between your thighs and touching your wet folds. "Getting all wet?" Your boss finishes, underlining his words with the insertion of two long fingers inside you. They slide in easily, your excitement enveloping his fingers, coating them in a thick glaze, and you let out a loud moan as they do so. Your walls immediately wrap around his fingers in an attempt to keep them inside your pussy.

"It's you, God Seonghwa; it's you. You're making me so damn wet." You whine as he continues to finger you in an excruciatingly slow rhythm, your hips trembling in the tight grip of his other hand. Seonghwa grins as he presses his fingers against the tender walls of your cunt one last time before he pulls his fingers out. 

"No, please, Seonghwa!" You cry out in protest, your hips in pursuit of his fingers. As his palm burns the tender skin of your plump buttocks, the juicy flesh trembling from the force of his spanking, a painful sob escapes your lips.  "Well, look at you; you're already such a fucking mess for me. Where's that teasing little slut who's been shoving her slutty cunt in my face all day? I bet if I fucked you in front of the whole office, you wouldn't mind. Do you think they'd like to see my tongue fucking that flowing, tiny hole of yours, or me pulling that cunt of yours onto my cock until it's stretched all the way around the base?" Seonghwa's hand moves up, squeezing your tit through your bralace. "I have the feeling that I already have this bitch under control, don't I? But don't think that I'm going to forget what you've done before just because you're acting good now. Lie down on the table, my dear; you're going to get punished." He orders it once more before he leans back graciously in his chair. You back away from him, just far enough so that you can hop onto the glass top of his desk with the greatest of ease.

As you obediently follow his command, Seonghwa makes a sweet sound of approval. 

"Spread your pretty legs, darling." He says, although you can tell by the commanding tone in his voice, that it's more of an order. You obey without question. You spread your legs for him and give him a full view of your wet pussy; you've wanted to do this for far too long to play the shy little sweetheart now. Seonghwa turns around in his chair and moves closer to the table. His face is practically pressed against your warm, pink centre. Slender, beautiful palms of his hands rest on the inside of your thighs and press down hard, causing your legs to spread even further apart. Your high-heeled shoes rest on the armrests of his luxurious chair. 

Seonghwa lowers his head until his nose is pressed against your pussy, breathing deeply and slowly. The sweet, thick scent of your excitement fills his senses, and he lets out a deep, soft moan. His gentle, long tongue slips out of his beautiful mouth to lick at your clit for a brief moment. 

"Ah...damn, Seonghwa." You moan, though the sound is more like a choked sob, especially when he repeats his previous action and continues to lick your clit. Your hips automatically rise up as you try even harder to press your pussy against his stunningly handsome face. He chuckles once more, his hot breath lingering around the sensitive folds of your body.

"Open up for me, princess." Your fingers slide down between your thighs and gently spread your swollen, sticky labia for him. He can see your shrinking, flowing hole and your flushed clit. "Yeah, that's right, baby." He whispers before he presses his gorgeous, sensual mouth all the way down to your cunt. A sharp sensation of pleasure shoots through you as Seonghwa's lips and tongue begin to move, doing something you've never expected from more than one man. Seonghwa literally kisses your pussy, licking every millimetre and sliding the tip of his tongue inside you. You let out a loud moan, the fingers of your other hand tangling in his long, silky hair, pulling at the strands as your boss continues to French kiss your cunt. When he finally pulls his mouth away from your pussy, his lips are all wet and glistening from your excitement, a few drops dripping down the side of his chin. 

"Even you taste like a slut. And look at you; you've flooded my whole table with your slime. What a dirty bitch you are." He purrs. "It looks like I'll have to punish you for real after all." Seonghwa gives a grim chuckle before he pulls away. 

He stares at you in silence for a few moments, clearly considering how to deal with you, and you can't help but marvel at how hot and fuckable he looks right now. God, this man is so unjustly handsome. 

You're so lost in your thoughts that you don't notice Seonghwa leaning towards you again. This time, his nose rests against your breast before his gorgeous, kissable lips wrap around your lace-covered nipple. The feel of the hot wetness of his mouth on your breast brings you back to reality in an instant. 

Seonghwa is lazily kissing your nipple, his tongue languidly washing over it, and he is generously wetting the fabric of your bra with his saliva. He does it so relaxed and slowly, as if he had all the time in the world and you weren't in his office in the middle of the day, practically in front of everyone in the company. When Seonghwa has decided that he's paid enough attention to your right nipple, he lets it out of his mouth with a slight 'pop', and long strands of saliva run from your breast to his lips. He licks his lips and returns to your tits, this time sucking your left nipple into his mouth and giving it the same attention that he gave to your right nipple. 

With each of his actions, silent sighs of pleasure escape your lips. Plump, sensual lips are sucking on your nipple before he suddenly bites down on it. The pain makes you cry out, and you feel a devilish grin appear on his lips as he pulls at the hardened, sensitive bud with his teeth. 

"We have to get this off, don't we, Princess?" Seonghwa mutters into your chest and leaves a last kiss on your nipple before pulling away from you. Your hands move back, and you deftly undo the clasp and pull the lace from your breasts. 

Seonghwa lets out a velvety moan of pleasure at the sight of your naked tits. Your breasts are slightly flushed, your nipples stand out proudly—swollen and wet from his previous actions—and he lowers his face down to your chest to give you a couple of kitten licks on each of your nipples. But that's just to distract you, because Seonghwa's next action makes you roll your eyes and moan loudly. 

He collects the saliva in his mouth and spits it on your breasts as he watches as a clear lump of saliva rolls down between your plump, heavy tits. Fuck, and just when you thought Seonghwa couldn't get any hotter, he proves the exact opposite. 

"Are you ready for your punishment, my love?" Hwa asks you. But even though he asks, he doesn't wait for you to answer. His fingers twist your nipples in a painful way, and you cry out as you arch your back. "That feels great, doesn't it?" Now his nails run gently over them. The soft caress sends a tingling sensation through your skin. 

"Yeah, that feels so good." You moan, the words coming out of your mouth in a breathy voice. He smiles at you and then circles one of your nipples with his full, soft lips once more. You shudder at the sting that flashes across your nerves as his teeth sink into the tender flesh before you throw your head back. A sigh of pleasure forms as he begins sucking hard. "Ah, please, Seonghwa." You gasp for air as your pussy clenches around the emptiness. You squirm on the table, rubbing your naked cunt against the cold glass top of the table to stimulate yourself.

Hwa chuckles against your chest before he pulls himself away, a trickle of saliva dripping from his mouth. Suddenly, his hand comes down sharply on your inner thigh, burning your skin and making you scream in pain.

"Don't move, darling." Seonghwa hisses and slaps your thigh once more. Your skin begins to redden beautifully from his rough actions, and you hope that he will leave more obvious marks on you—the kind of marks that you will be able to see the effects of today for weeks to come. "I didn't tell you that you would be able to stain my desk with your slime, my pretty bitch." Seonghwa's words sound like an ominous warning, and you whimper in response but still stop moving immediately. As you show your obedience, he runs a caressing hand down your thigh, soothing the burning skin.

"That's my good little girl." He praises you before he bites down on your chest. His actions force a small meow from your lips as he mindlessly nibbles at the plump, tender flesh. The fierce purple and scarlet marks of his teeth swell on your skin. 

Seonghwa reaches for his neck, loosens his tie, and undoes some buttons on his white design shirt. At the moment when his smooth, golden skin is revealed to you, you start to drool, and the urge to kiss his chest and his collarbones runs through your whole being.

"Lie down on your back; I still have to teach you how to behave properly, Princess." Seonghwa purrs, and your eyes widen slightly at what he says.

"But Seonghwa..." You start to speak, but stop when he gives you his heavy, siren gaze.

"Oh, you didn't think that a little play with your tits was all you were going to get, did you? No, sweetheart, that is only the beginning of it. If I'm gentle with you, you'll never learn your lesson. Will you?" Hwa teases you, his pink, almost vulgarly full lips curling up into a wicked smile. Your breath hitched, goosebumps covered your skin, and a perverse anticipation coursed through your veins. Punished or rewarded, you don't care at all, just as long as he fucks you properly.

You do as he tells you and lie on your back, shivering a little from the cold of the glass against your skin. Seonghwa's hands wrap around your thighs and pull them apart more. His fingers slide lightly over your skin, occasionally scratching with his nails before touching the wet, silky folds of your cunt. Your thighs tremble a little, and Seonghwa gives a wicked chuckle. He strokes your swollen pussy and licks his lips at the sight of your slime as it reaches out for his fingers.

"Look at you, baby; your pussy is all wet and swollen. You're just a cock-hungry slut, aren't you?" Seonghwa asks. You nod hastily and raise your hips. "You want my cock, love?" You don't have time to answer him, as without any warning, he plunges two long fingers into you and begins to thrust them furiously into you, pressing the pads of his fingers against your sweet spot each time. 

"Oh, my God." You whimper, and the sound you make comes out in an incredibly high-pitched voice.

"Tell me what you want, my darling." Seonghwa insists as his fingers penetrate you deep inside.

"Y-you! I want you, Seonghwa."

"That's not enough. Be a good girl and express yourself  eloquently." His reply follows. He pushes his fingers inside you, flexing them as he begins to deliberately stroke the sensitive, spongy area inside you.

"Fuck, Hwa..." You let out a sudden gasp, your body writhing on the glass table as he continues to pound on your G-spot. His pace is rough and sharp as he fucks you mercilessly, causing your whole body to shake and wriggle while he's doing this. The loud squelching sound of your cunt fills the office, mixed with Sonhwa's hoarse, sultry purr and your pathetic sobs.

"What did I tell you to do, my love? Tell me what you want!" He hisses through his teeth like a snake. He plunges his fingers deep and sharp into your pussy all the way to your knuckles before he bends them and scrapes your G-spot with his nail. He does it over and over again, his fingernail scraping the spongy area as your silky, sticky walls contract around his fingers. As you begin to feel your orgasm approaching, your eyes roll back in your head, and your breathing gets heavier.

"Seonghwa... please! I'm begging you, Hwa. I need..." You whimper incoherently, an endless stream of "please" flying from your lips as Seonghwa continues to aggressively stimulate you, unable to concentrate on anything but Seonghwa's fingers relentlessly stroking your wet, trembling pussy walls. You're on the verge of orgasm, your skin red and tingling with heat and lust, your thighs trembling, and your pussy clenching around Hwa's fingers with such force that it's almost hard for him to keep moving them. Suddenly, he pulls his fingers out completely, leaving you empty and unsatisfied. The hot tension of your orgasm is cut short, never reaching its climax. 

"No!" You scream. Tears of frustration begin to gather in the corners of your eyes as you raise your hips in the hope of feeling that long-awaited stimulation once more. 

"You're being naughty again, my love. If you can't tell me what you want, how can I give it to you, eh?" Seonghwa asks mockingly, his eyes gleaming with joy at your state of mind. You look absolutely shattered. You're a complete mess, and he hasn't even fucked you properly yet. You wipe away the tears from your eyes, let them flow freely down your cheeks, and try to take a deep breath so that you can finally give him what he wants from you. 

"Seonghwa, please let me come. I need it so badly... " You moan, your hips mindlessly thrusting against him. His lips curl up into an utterly vicious and wicked smile before he slaps you hard on your pussy. The loud, wet sound of the slap echoes through the room as his hand touches the soft, sensitive skin of your cunt. For a moment, your whole body tenses up before a sharp, burning sensation of pleasure hits your nerves, and you let out a squeal of pleasure. 

"Come on, my love; you know you can do better than that. Show me how obedient you can be." Seonghwa purrs as she spanks your throbbing, swollen clit over and over again, and with each spanking, you feel your cunt tighten around nothing. You almost lose your mind as your fingers clench together to form white knuckles and your nails dig into the skin of the palm of your hand, leaving fierce red marks. 

His service becomes more and more frustrating and brutal; the minimal but so rough stimulation makes you start to sob openly; you feel like every nerve in your body is burning; your mind is clouded with lust and painful need. With each spanking, your cunt clenches tighter and tighter, your mucus leaking out of your hole and dribbling onto the table, your silky walls practically aching with the desire to be filled. All you can do is keep moaning and taking everything that's offered to you. 

At some point, it all becomes too much—the pleasure and the pain blend together, and you can no longer tell where one begins and the other ends; you can no longer stand this exquisite torture. 

"Oh fuck, I have to cum. Seonghwa, please make me cum." You finally manage to squeeze out and gather enough common sense to string a few words together. He leans over to you, gives you a sweet kiss on the lips, and slaps your clit for the last time. 

"Good girl." Seonghwa says this as he praises you. He then slides two fingers back inside of you and immediately bends them so that the pads of his fingers are pressed against your G-spot and his thumb is pressed into your clit and he begins to rub it in tight, fast circles. 

An embarrassingly loud squeal escapes from your lips as the sharp stimulation sends you over the edge and plunges you into a feeling of utter euphoria. As you scream his name, you feel like you're floating, your body almost intangible, shaking uncontrollably from the effects of your orgasm. 

"Seonghwa, Seonghwa, Seonghwa..." Again and again...

Hwa hisses as he sees you writhing in pleasure, but still, he doesn't stop attacking you; instead, he continues to push his fingers into you, drawing out the insane pleasure that ricochets through your body. Your orgasm doesn't let up and continues to keep you on a sweet high, and when he presses his finger against your G-spot once more, you practically pass out. All your muscles tense, either to keep his finger in or to push it out, and the walls of your cunt contract violently. And at that very moment, Seonghwa pulls his fingers out of you, and your back arched in an almost painful way, and a huge stream of liquid gushed out of your pussy. 

"Oh, fucking love." Seonghwa lets out a deep, velvety moan, the sound practically vibrating in his chest as he watches your cum spurting out of your beautiful, swollen pussy. His fingers are on your clit in an instant, rubbing furiously over the throbbing, hypersensitive lump of nerves. You whimper out his name, tears streaming down your face as you are overwhelmed with excitement. 

Damn it, this is too much for you to handle. 

Seonghwa's dark, cat-like eyes are completely focused on your swollen labia as he watches your cunt tremble as you flood his desk with your cum. You are completely soaked, your thighs covered in a shiny thin layer of your excitement, your stockings wet, and your slime drips down your cunt and between your buttcheeks, collecting in a puddle below.

As your orgasm begins to melt away and you come back to reality, Seonghwa is purring sweetly, enjoying your fucked state, but unfortunately or fortunately for you, he has only just begun to play with you.

"Has your juicy arse ever been fucked, my sweet girl?" He asks, his fingers sliding along your slit, causing you to flinch slightly, overly sensitive from your previous orgasm, before his long forefinger touches the edge of your anus.

"No." You whimper, the sound coming out soft and almost inaudible.

Seonghwa purrs sensuously in response before lowering his gorgeous face between your thighs. He presses his tongue flat against your swollen, pink pussy and runs it in a long, wide stripe from your oozing hole all the way up to your clit. You hiss at the rough sensation, but still, the caress of his tongue gives you immense pleasure. 

The rich taste of your previous orgasm builds up on the long, wet appendage as his taste buds bathe in the intoxicating flavour of your cunt. Seonghwa moans deeply and swallows thickly the slime that has collected in his mouth, savouring the taste of you as if you were the most delicious dessert in the world. As his tongue licks your silky folds and flicks your clit, he continues to play with your arse, sending another wave of excitement through your body. 

With a gentle touch, he circles around the pink, tight ring of muscle, feeling how your entrance is quivering under his care, before he slides a fingertip inside of you. The sudden penetration makes you feel slightly uncomfortable, but you let him do what he wants. 

Seonghwa moans as he pushes his finger deeper and deeper into you. The excessive amount of mucus from your cunt makes it easier for his finger to sink into your ass. As he pushes his finger even deeper into you, he winces, the hot muscles clenching tightly around his long appendage. You let out a heavy moan of pleasure as he moves his finger inside you experimentally. Hwa raises an eyebrow at you, smirks into your pussy and then repeats the action. As another deep moan escapes your lips, a look of pleasant surprise, mixed with a bit of mischief, appears on his face.

"It seems like I was right; you really are a slut." Seonghwa practically buries his stunningly beautiful face in your pussy; his soft, sensual mouth circles around your clit and he begins to suck on it in a sweet way.

"Seonghwa, oh my God, please, please..." Your sobs are incessant, again and again. Even though you have no idea what exactly you're begging him for, But it seems that it is something that you don't have to think about because Seonghwa is going to decide everything for you. He pulls his finger completely out of your arse, and despite yourself, you find yourself moaning loudly at the lost stimulation, your tight pink hole shrinking around nothing. Your displeasure only lasts for a few minutes, though, as Seonghwa focuses all of his attention on eating your pussy like there's no tomorrow. You let out a loud scream at the hot sensation of his beautiful mouth on your cunt and the way his wet, skillful tongue slides over your quivering folds. His teeth bite down on your clit in a playful way, and you shudder at the sharp feel of his teeth as they scrape across your sensitive, throbbing bud. Your head falls back against the glass top of the table as you feel his fingers stretch your labia to give him better access. 

"It's so fucking hot." Seonghwa moans, his breath gathering around the folds of your cunt with every letter he utters. A devilish grin blossoms on his flushed, plush lips as he notices that your hips are unconsciously arching up to meet his tongue and lips.

Seonghwa pulls your clit into his mouth, and it sends a slight pain through your body: your nerves burn with over-excitement, and you let out a high-pitched squeal as Seonghwa intensifies the stimulation, greedily swirling his long, slippery tongue around your hole several times. Ignoring your cries and tears, he continues to lick you, his tongue whipping relentlessly around your pussy. His own excitement increases every time you try to close your legs around his head, and a shuddering moan escapes from your throat.

"Please, Seonghwa, I can't take it anymore... I..." Your moans mingle with the noisy sounds of him lapping at your pussy like an animal, breathing heavily and growling at the taste of you. More tears begin to flow from your eyes at the full, almost painful sensation of rapturous bliss he brings to your body as his long appendage slips deep into your pussy to fuck you with quick, sharp thrusts of his talented tongue, enough to make your walls clench tightly around him. After a few more thrusts, he pulls back and uses a long, slow lick to catch the copious amounts of fluid that flow from you, his tongue pressing flat and hard against you. When he reaches your clit, he runs his tongue gently over the sensitive bud several times before finally pulling it into his mouth to suck on it, causing you to moan loudly and desperately. In between the sucking and nibbling of your tortured, throbbing clit, he gives it a regular wash with his tongue. 

"Oh damn, I want your cock, please, Seonghwa. Just fuck me already." There is pure desperation in the sound of your voice as you beg him. Your hips unconsciously rub against his handsome face, smearing your juices all over his high cheekbones, his gorgeous lips, and his chin. Now you could definitely confirm the theory that Seonghwa ate a pussy  like God. 

Everyone in your office has always wondered what that long tongue of his could do, and hell, as it turns out, it can do a lot of things. You're completely lost in an ecstatic euphoria of pleasure as he sucks on your clit without mercy once again.

"Cum for me again, my love. Sperm all over my tongue." Seonghwa's voice is muffled by your pussy, but the vibration of his diabolical whisper reverberates off your clit and you give a muffled scream. 

Immediately, you wriggle under his relentless tutelage, your back arches, and you twist painfully on the glass table. Every single muscle in your body stiffens as you begin to cum, and you feel this orgasm even more intense and overwhelming than the last one. Your silky walls clench painfully around nothing; your juices flow out of you in thick streams, straight into his mouth; and Seonghwa greedily swallows it all down, getting completely drunk on your pussy.

Have you come twice before, or is this your third orgasm? You can't even be aware of what's going on; all you can think about is how much you need to be filled with his cock. Lost in the lustful, hazy cloud of your orgasm, you don't even notice that Seonghwa has finally pulled his wonderful, soft mouth away from your cunt. 

He straightens up to his full height before he manoeuvres your trembling body in such a way that you find yourself on your knees on his desk. Your head slides down until your chubby cheek is pressed against the cold surface of the glass, and you still sob in the throes of your orgasm. Your body falls helplessly into the pose that he wants you to assume, your hands resting on either side of your head and your tits pressed against the cool surface of the glass. Grabbing hold of your hips, Hwa lifts your arse up and then, suddenly, plunges his entire cock into you.

He plunges all the way into you in one smooth thrust, not allowing you to take in his thick length bit by bit. The sharp intrusion tears you out of your semi-conscious state and makes you scream at the top of your lungs. You twitch, trying to pull away from him; your senses and emotions are overflowing, and you think you might not be able to take it anymore. But Seonghwa doesn't let you pull away, pulling you against him so that the head of his cock hits your sweet spot and you scream as pain and pleasure mix. 

He moves his hips slightly, changing the angle of the penetration, and your walls begin to contract uncontrollably around his cock, clinging to the swollen veins that stretch along its velvety length, trying to keep it from slipping out of you. In this new position, Seonghwa's cock is now so deep inside you that the head of his cock is kissing the cervix of your uterus. The feeling is fucking amazing, and you start to whimper at how full you are now. 

Seonghwa grits his teeth as he slowly gets used to the tightness of your pussy and the feeling of your walls throbbing all the time only intensifies his pleasure even more. 

"Damn, Hwa, this is too much..." You begin to whimper, causing Seonghwa to look at you with concern. 

"Do I have to stop, dear?" He asks you, and you can feel the change in his tone of voice—soft, caring tones that caress your skin like melted honey. He begins to come out of you slowly, trying to be as gentle as possible. But as soon as you feel him slipping out of your pussy, you start to shake your head violently, in denial, and you start to press your hips against him.

"No! No! Please don't do this, Seonghwa. I'll get better, I promise. Just go ahead and fuck me. Fuck me until I'm stupid and obedient to you. I want your cock so badly." You moan, arching your arse and shaking it slightly to plant deeper in his cock. You are so lost in the feeling of euphoric pleasure that, even with the pain of the overstimulation, you can't help but want Seonghwa to fuck you some more. He digs his fingers into your thighs, pulls you back onto his cock, and plunges deep inside you again. The action brings a sudden scream out of you as the wet, swollen head of his cock makes contact with your cervix. Seonghwa leans over you, his clothed chest pressing against your bare back, soaked with sweat.

"Who knew you were such a cock-hungry slut?" Hwa purrs into your ear, punctuating what he says with a deep thrust. "But don't worry, love. I'm going to give you exactly what you crave." Your hips tremble as Seonghwa starts to thrust hard into you. His pace isn't fast, but his thrusts are hard, driving his cock deep into you, reaching your cervix with each hip thrust, his balls slapping against your wet pussy.

"So fucking full..." The sensation of overstimulation mixes with the way his wiry cock strokes your silky, warm walls in a pleasurable way, pressing against them in the most delicious way. 

"Is this what you were so eager to get your hands on when you started this stupid game with me? Did you really want to be under me with your pretty, slutty cunt stretched around my cock?" Seonghwa asks, speeding up his movements. A deep, guttural moan is the only answer you can give; your brain is no longer able to form any words. When you don't answer, Hwa slaps you hard on your buttocks, letting the aggressive red mark of his palm bloom on the plump, soft flesh.

"I told you to be obedient to me, to be good. And when I ask you something, I want you to damn answer." Seonghwa hisses and slaps your buttocks once more, causing you to sob pitifully.

"Yeah, that's exactly what I want." You finally cry out, the words coming out in a stutter. Seonghwa's lips viciously curl before he begins to roll his hips. The twisting motion changes the penetration angle of his cock as it enters you, and you scream out his name. His velvety, thick length inside you is hot and pulsating rhythmically. When his cock touches your sweet spot, your hips start to shake violently.

If it weren't for Seonghwa's firm grip on you, you're sure you'd collapse into a boneless heap on his desk. 

"Do you feel satisfied, Princess? Is your beautiful cunt finally full? Or do you want some more?" Hwa growls, driving his cock all the way into you, his hips slapping against your plump, juicy arse. Panting, you nod your head, your throat aching from the constant moaning and screaming.

"You fucking naughty little slut." He scolds you. " I." Your skin is on fire under the merciless slap of his hand." Told you. "Another spanking, this time harder and more painful. To be a good girl." Seonghwa rebukes you and leaves a few more slaps on your bottom. 

"Yes!" You squeal in response. "Yes, I feel so full. You are filling me up so well, Seonghwa." Seonghwa's dark, feline eyes glide over your helpless body, watching your muscles quiver almost imperceptibly with pleasure, sweat dripping down your skin as you dissolve into the delight he's giving you. Every time he thrusts his cock into you, you jerk forward, only to have him pull you back down onto his cock like a doll. 

You are such a perfect, beautiful toy for him to use. And he's so fucking full of himself that the sight of you falling apart makes him feel proud and smug. The damn bitch knows he's simply magnificent. His incessant thrusts cause your sensitive nipples to rub against the smooth, cold glass, giving you new sensations of pleasure as you begin to fall into a state of ecstasy.

"Seonghwa..." You whimper. This time, your voice is incredibly soft and almost inaudible. Drowned out by the squelching, disgusting sounds of sex as his cock enters and exits your slime-soaked cunt and the wet slap of his skin against yours. 

"That's it, love; I am going to teach you good manners. You will be a submissive, beautiful princess for me, not a teasing little bitch. And I'm going to fuck you so well... Morning, afternoon, and night, over and over again, until your pink, sweet cunt will flow with my cum and learn the shape of my cock. You will feel me inside you for days... weeks..." Seonghwa leans down to whisper this into your ear in a sultry, husky voice, then he kisses your neck and shoulders, his plump, sensual lips lightly softening the heat of your skin. 

He is affectionate and gentle with you, but this position forces him to penetrate you even deeper, even though you didn't think it was possible. Seonghwa gives a velvety purr of pleasure as he continues to ravage you, his sweet tone and feathery kisses contrasting with the hard and strong points of his hips. 

"Come on, darling, cum all over my cock like a good girl." He whispered in your ear as he left a wet kiss on your skin. He took one hand off your thigh and slid it underneath you, pressing his fingers against your throbbing, swollen clit as he did so.

"N-no, Seonghwa, I can't. Oh God, Hwa. This is so much..." You sob. 

"Just one more, my dear. Give me one more." Seonghwa hums into your skin, his fingers digging into your clit before he twists and turns the throbbing bud. You squeal as a sudden wave of ecstasy rushes through you, bringing you to the brink of orgasm before you even know what hit you. Your body twists and shudders beneath him as you moan and gasp with pleasure. Your hot, slippery walls contract painfully, and Hwa hisses as you clench around him. 

Your orgasm rushes through you like a tidal wave, and he can feel your wetness soaking through the designer material of his trousers. He moans in a guttural voice, throwing his head back and rolling his eyes in pleasure as he realises that you're squirting for him again. 

Fuck, he should have fucked you a lot sooner, not resisted the urge for practically an entire year. Seonghwa should have had your cunt on his cock on the very first day that you crossed the threshold of his office. 

"Damn, Y/N. You're so hot, baby. You are taking my cock so well; your pussy is just made for me." With two intermittent thrusts, he drives his cock as deep as he can into you, his cum-filled balls straining. The furious ripples of your walls milk his cock as he begins to cum deep inside of you. A soft cry of long-awaited relief escapes your lips as the warmth of his cum, thick and viscous, finally fills you. 

He remains deep inside of you, his hips moving in a shallow motion as he empties himself completely. There is so much of his cum that a milky fluid begins to leak from the point where his cock has entered you. When your silky walls clench too tightly, Seonghwa lets out a whimper of overexcitement before he comes out of you completely. At the moment when he pulls his cock out of you, you hiss with a painful burning sensation in spite of the sudden feeling of emptiness inside of you. 

Without his grip on your thighs, you fall limply onto the table, your muscles twitching involuntarily in an attempt to catch your breath. Seonghwa leans back in his luxurious leather chair, a sweet, deep moan of utter satisfaction escaping from his throat. From where he is sitting, he has a perfect view of your used and swollen cunt and your small, pink hole. A mixture of your juices and his cum drips from your folds, and your cunt continues to clench around nothing, spurting out fluid. As he leans in closer to you, he leaves a couple of kisses on your juicy, soft arse. The red marks left by his hands are now even darker and are beginning to take on a purple hue.

"Seonghwa." You barely meow his name. Your throat is dry and tense from the sound. With a soft purr, Seonghwa wraps his arms around your waist and then gently rolls you over onto your back. Plump, hot lips come to rest on the inside of your thigh, kissing and nibbling the skin gently. He leaves kisses on your thighs as he travels up your stomach and between your breasts, pausing briefly to stroke your inflamed nipples gently with his tongue as he crawls up your body. Finally, when he's on top of you, he smiles softly at you, his nose in contact with yours.

"That's it; now your punishment is completely over, Princess. You did such a good job; I'm so proud of you, baby." Seonghwa buried his nose in your neck and inhaled your scent, showering you with praise and compliments. The smell of sex hangs thickly around you, but he can still smell the exquisite perfume you wear. The praise he gives you makes your lips curl into a lazy grin and your chest swell with satisfaction. He moves closer to your face, his eyes twinkling like stars, but behind the sweet glow, you can still see the thick, vicious darkness of his nature. 

Your eyes widen for a fraction of a second, only to close again at the feel of his stunningly soft, plump lips against yours. Moaning into the kiss, he licks the corner of your lips in a leisurely way. Your mouth obediently opens, allowing him to reach inside and touch you. As soon as his tongue slides between your lips and into the inviting warmth of your mouth, the sweet taste of it washes over your taste buds, and you find yourself completely lost in him.

As Seonghwa continues to kiss you selflessly, licking your mouth and wrapping his tongue around yours in the most lewd and dirty way possible, you think about how you should wear that skirt more often, if that's what it takes to have Seonghwa fucking you to within an inch of your life on a regular basis. 

[after-witch]

Bait [Yandere Geto x Reader]

Title: Bait [Yandere Geto x Reader]

Synopsis: You're taken as bait, but will Geto even bother? Companion piece to Fever Pitch and Bus Stop.

Word count: 3100ish

notes: yandere, kidnapped reader (er, twice?); violence against reader; some non-graphic blood and violence 

There is a thin line separating your world at all times. It might be white or gold or every color under the sun, but it doesn’t matter, because you are the only one who can see it. The only one who knows what categories fall on either side of this decisive line. 

On one side, there is something like comfort to be found. Something like acceptance. It is the world where you sit quietly when Geto tells you to be with him; the world where your heart flutters when he asks you to comb through his hair, or undress him for the day, or bring him his meal. A world where you are his good pet, and that is enough.

But on the other side, there is only one singular certainty:

He will get bored of you.

He will no longer find your compliance endearing. He will kill you, or discard you on the streets, and you’re not sure which is worse.

You’ve never been able to decide how much of his behavior towards you is actually endearment, and how much is a vague interest in the novelty of your compliance. Maybe it’s pointless to decide, because that thought always comes in cold and creeping: you’ll be gone, in a flash, like a wayward candle left on in the night. Dead or alive but without him, and isn’t that just about the same thing?

That thought slithers its way around you even in some of your best moments. When he pats the cushion behind him--a cushion, instead of the bare floor--and instructs you to comb out his hair for the evening. When the water is warm and your bodies are wet and close, and afterwards, you smell almost the same. At least for the night.

He’ll get bored of you, that reality hisses, and that will be that. Not even the twins could save you, if they were so inclined. You’re not sure if they would be, if it came down to Geto wanting to be rid of you. Sometimes, they are warm--sitting with you, reading with you, tending to you. Asking for your opinion like you are, perhaps, a person after all. At other times, they keep to themselves; watch you with something that might be wariness.

Nanako and Mimiko are the reason you are here, under his thumb, at his feet. They saw you and wanted you--like a mother, you think, when you’re feeling sentimental--and they got what they wanted. Geto told you this, once, your knees banging against the floor from where he dropped you like a bad dog. 

And you don’t think he’s lying. Even here, now, in the sitting room with the girls, they seem to still like you overall. 

Still.

If Geto wanted you to go away, you would.

And it’s this sole thought that pushes past the primal surge of adrenaline that comes when a rough bag is suddenly, crudely shoved down over your head.

He’s getting rid of me.

Over your heartbeat, though, you hear sounds that don’t match up with those bitter thoughts that whispered at your back for ages.

It’s not Geto in the room; not Geto who put a bag over your head.

The girls are shouting something--a yelp of surprise?--and there are too many strange voices, too many conflicting sounds. Someone’s fumbling with your arms, and you can feel the scratch of rope, but something about that awful yelp from one of the girls gives you the strength to shove them aside, to rip the bag off your head.

Strangers. There are strangers in the room. Strange men wearing black face masks, with their arms on the girls, rough and cruel. They’re carrying rope, too--to tie them up? To take them? To hurt them?

No. No.

You don’t have a plan. You don’t have the time or ability to think of one. Your body simply launches itself at the men, who aren’t expecting it, who trip and stumble when  you throw your entire body weight against them to get them away from the girls.

“Run!” Your voice sounds foreign to your ears.

And the girls--oh, it makes your heart feel fuzzy--hesitate to leave you. But then they grip each other’s hands and run away. The sight makes your heart soar, for a moment. 

They’re safe. They’ll get to Geto, and be safe.

And you--

You grunt against a stinking cloth shoved over your mouth and nose, and inhale a sharp, pungent scent that makes you gag. You blink against the coming grayness as you fall to your knees. Unconsciousness doesn’t come swiftly, and there’s an uncomfortable dizziness as your hands are tied behind your back, and someone hoists you roughly over their shoulder.

You can just make out what one of them says before you pass out--

“Fuck, I don’t know. Just--just grab her instead. He must like her, to let her around those kids.”

--

The sensation when the world gradually returns to you is a familiar one: you’ve been tied up. But instead of soft silks tightly pinning you to the bed, or winding around your body only to be hidden by your layers of clothing, it’s rough rope that keeps you bound to a cold metal chair.

The room that you’re in, when your eyesight returns with a blurry fog, is not Geto’s comfortable apartments but a bare room with concrete walls. The only decorations are--the realization comes with a dull acceptance--bloodstains against the wall, on the floor.

Ah.

This is where you die.

A sound--muffled, still, but a jarring screen all the same--makes you jerk your head. It’s another metal chair. But the person sitting in this one isn’t tied up--it’s a man, wearing a gray suit and puffing a cigarette that glows in the dimly lit space.

“Wakey, wakey.” 

He blows a puff of gray cigarette smoke into your face, and you cough, throat acidic and burning. 

It takes you some time to realize that it’s certainly one of the men who took you, who wanted to take--and maybe there is some justice in the world, because it seems they got away--the girls. There’s a bandage on his face and a vague memory comes back to you; your own hand reaching across his face, clawing at him with your carefully trimmed nails. 

There are other men behind him, quiet, watching the two of you with their hands folded. There are probably countless of these men, waiting for orders, in the rest of the building. 

“You hear me yet? Or are you still all fucked up?” His eyes narrow; his voice is gruff, no-nonsense. There’s some grit behind it. You wonder how much of his gruffness is because their plans were thwarted, and how much is because you managed to get a good dig into his flesh. Maybe both. 

Your lips part, and you feel a film of stickiness keeping your mouth together peeling as you lick the inside to give yourself some sort of moisture. Your voice comes out hoarse and dry, despite your efforts.

“I… can hear you.” 

Your hands flex from their bound position behind your back, pressed harshly against the chair. There’s no way to get out of this, not on your own. And you are on your own, because Geto would not bother getting you from here. 

You can imagine what happened as clearly as anything, despite the lingering effects of whatever drug they used on you.

The girls would run immediately to Geto, and tell him what happened. He would look them over to make sure they weren’t hurt. He would ask who attacked them, how many, what they looked like, and if they could remember any other identifiers. Then he would probably think back to who might have done this… someone with a grudge? Some enemy he’s made? 

It would only be then that he would realize the girls said you had been taken, and he would sigh. Perhaps he'd be annoyed that he lost his pet, but that would be the end of that. It would be too much of a hassle to get you, too much of a bother. He’d need a plan and perhaps men to back him up and heaven knows you weren’t worth…

Your head snaps to the side, pain blossoming on your cheek, as the gruff voice huffs out from above you.

He slapped you.

“Are you even fucking listening to me?”

You’re not trying to be distracted. Really. It would be better to stay focused, since you’re going to die here. Maybe you can think about your life from before all this, that would surely be a more pleasant ending than spending your last moments dwelling on Geto leaving you here.

“Sorry,” you say, out of reflex, more than anything.

The man sighs and runs a scarred hand over his hair. He takes another puff of his cigarette. 

“I said, you’re our bait for that greedy sorcerer. Once he shows up, we’ll do this on our terms, and our boss’ll get his curse removed in exchange for keeping your pretty little head intact.”

You don’t mean to do it, you swear you don’t. The reaction comes from deep inside you, from that part of you that’s been stepping over the line where you know that you’ll eventually be discarded by the man who took over your life.

Your lips quirk. And then, from your stomach, into your chest, it happens: you laugh. A harsh, almost braying sound that bounces off the bloodied concrete walls. 

The man’s face contorts, and perhaps he might hit you again, but there’s something freeing in this moment that makes you not care. What’s another slap to the face, when your blood will spray the flat end of those walls before the night is over? Whenever they realize that Geto won’t be coming for you, that you’re the worst bait they could have possibly chosen.

That you’re simply a pet that’s more trouble than you’re worth. 

The feeble jerk your body makes when he screeches his chair back and gets in your face, hot cigarette dangling from his lips, is reflexive. You’re not scared of him, or what he might do--you’ve faced far worse.

Spittle hits your sore cheek when he growls out--

“What the fuck is so funny?” 

You don’t tell him--

What’s so fucking funny is that they think Geto will actually come for you. That he’ll deign to respond to their blackmail, the heavy presumption of it all, just to rescue you.

A trinket. A pet. A toy.

You smile, and wait to die.

--

Surprises are not something Geto particularly enjoys, unless they end up working to his advantage. And there is a keen sense, as he picks up the sudden sounds of scuffles and running feet and shouts, that this is not going to be a surprise he welcomes.

Something in him turns dull and heavy when he sees the girls running down the hall, hair askew, missing the smiles they often sport around him--instead, their faces are etched in worry, fear, and a terrible sort of uncertainty that he hasn’t seen in them in years.

Everything connects together like an unwanted puzzle. The sounds of a scuffle. The girls with their gasping breaths, their flailing limbs, words that tumble out together like spilled marbles--

“They took her.”

Her.

You.

You, whom he expected to find sitting quietly, sweetly, with Nanako and Mimiko when he returned to you in an hour or two. Yet everything was wrong. Topsy-turvy. There would be no quiet evening where you looked up at him with ridiculous doe eyes, hoping to please him, eager to do whatever he told you.

There would be no warm satisfaction in his gut at the sight, no pleasant tingling in his skin as he bade you to do as he pleased. 

Instead, he would be spending his time retrieving you, and what if–the thought comes, and it’s disturbing how much the thought seems to weigh him down. What if you’re already dead? Disposed of, a corpse? 

No. He shakes his head. They wanted you as bait, clearly; or rather, wanted the girls. Pride puffs in him that you protected them, at least. A small lightness in a sea of grey. 

Still–you were gone, and uncertainty weighed heavy in the air as he weighed the best options for retrieving you. 

It was an unpleasant surprise, after all.

They--whoever they were, it did not matter. Perhaps the girls already told him, but their identity wasn’t important. Not only because Geto didn’t have the slightest care over who they were, but because they would be dead in a matter of hours, if not sooner.

No one disrespects him like this and lives. 

The thought of their filthy monkey hands dirtying you, a pet he had risen up from the lowest of the low into something more palatable and pleasant, made acrid bile climb into his throat.

Oh, you were beneath him, of course. There was no doubting that. But the stench of these stranger’s mediocrity and ape-like helplessness would coat you like dust, undoing so much of his hard work. 

Geto collects only the finest things and oh, it had taken time, but you now counted among them. 

He doesn’t need a plan. Why would he, to counteract a foolish kidnapping perpetuated by some half-baked mafia gang? They stood no chance against him. Even without his curses. He’s not sure he’d even release curses against these monkeys; it would be a waste of time and talent. 

All he does is nod to the girls, who have curled up on his sofa, holding each other tight.

“I’ll be back.”

At this, they smile, and he can see their breaths coming easier, their shoulders relaxing down. 

He doesn’t even need to tell them that he won’t be coming back alone. 

It is, as with so many things, a certainty. 

--

The lingering pain after they left you alone was not too awful. Yes, your lip was bleeding--the man wore metal rings--and your neck was sure to bruise, if you were left alive long enough for the skin to get all mottled. 

But you had expected the pain, and that made it easier to manage while you waited for them to return. They would probably kill you now. A gun to the head, you think. They wouldn’t want to waste time with messier and slower implements, unless they were that angry about their “bait” plan failing.

You had expected the pain, and now you expect the door to open, for those no-nonsense guards to come through and simply pull out a gun and that would be that. Would there be pain? For a moment, maybe, but hopefully not more. 

You don’t expect what actually happens.

Shouts--that quickly turn to screams. 

Clanging of metal, the sound of something being struck and sliced. 

Thumping, an awful, dull sound; like a carcass at the butchershop being let off its chain.

And then that door in front of you creaking open to reveal the last person in the world you ever expected to see in the doorway.

Geto.

Geto, with blood sprayed on his face, gore clotting on his clothes.

It’s so unexpected that you don’t believe it until he’s behind you, the familiar warmth of his body turned upside down with the new stench of metallic blood, mingled the scent of your own sweat, the lingering puffs of cigarette smoke.

It’s not until he’s made you stand up, that he’s right in front of you, tilting your chin up to look at him that the realization comes.

He came for you.

He killed for you.

It’s too much--it’s too much to realize the reality beyond that line was bullshit the entire time. It’s too much to realize that you were, perhaps, worth something after all. Too much to see Geto covered in blood and wonder, briefly, if he had been hurt in the process of your rescue.

It’s too much, all of it, and you black out.

From adrenaline, from injuries, or perhaps from sheer disbelief.

--

When you wake up, you are sitting on the floor of Geto’s spacious bathroom. Disorientation keeps you on the floor for too long, because then there are hands--Geto’s--on you, pulling you to unsteady feet.

Despite the swaying of your body, there is something grounding about all this. You, and Geto, in this familiar space. 

Geto stands in front of you, face impassive, still covered in specks of blood. The reek of his blood covered clothing is stronger in this space, an invasion of stinking metal.

“Strip,” he tells you. Your body obeys before your mind registers the command fully, hands trembling as you peel off clothing stuck to you by sweat and a bit of blood. Most of it wasn’t yours.

He tsks at your naked form, and shame creeps down your collarbone--stopping cold when he opens his mouth again. 

“Remove my clothing.” Another order, obeyed just as quickly, but perhaps with more brightness than you thought possible. If he still wants you to do this, it means he doesn’t find you too disgusting, does he? He can’t, if he’s allowing you to touch him like this. 

He doesn’t give the clothing a second glance--he’ll probably burn it, and yours too--as he steps toward the tub. 

The bath has already been prepared, though without the usual luxuries Geto asks you to slip in for him; lotions and salts, dried flowers and oils. 

Still, it is a comfort when Geto steps into the tub. It is all familiar to you, expected--welcomed, even. The way the water sloshes as Geto steps inside, the warm heat of the water rising to greet you as he beckons you closer. The firm, damp grip of his hand as he steadies you, lest you slip and annoy him.

"Wash this filthy monkey blood off me," he says, when you’ve settled in, his voice soft and clipped.

 Is he angry with you, you wonder, or the people he’s killed? Would he think on this later, and decide that it was far too troublesome to go after you in the end? Maybe the next time you were a target, he wouldn’t save you after all. He’d leave you to die and mutter that once was quite enough. He--

“Well?”

“Sorry,” you murmur, not a reflex this time but a genuine apology.  You were making him wait. That wouldn’t do.

So you take up the cloth and gently wipe at his face and body, where those flecks of blood have sprayed onto him like troublesome paint. You go slow, soft, just like he’s taught you to do. 

It’s the softness of the moment that pushes the words from your mouth. If he had not brought you here, if you two were not together in the warm, naked intimacy of the water, you might never have dared to ask.

“Why did you save me?”

You don’t even stop wiping at his skin, dipping the cloth into the water and watching it run red. Not until he grips your wrists with his wet fingers, making you drop the cloth. 

He pulls your hands closer to his mouth and presses a kiss to your damp skin. Soft. Gentle. A streak of blood near his mouth catches on your skin.

“I merely took back what is mine.” His eyes roam over you; you, the pet he owns, the pet he’s created.  How cold his words are. Strict, no-nonsense. What you’ve come to expect from him.

And yet, and yet--

He presses his lips to your knuckles again, and inhales the scent of you, all traces of cigarette smoke  on your hands washed away with the bathwater. 

[hattiestgal]

If you don't mind my asking, how do you go about drawing fat? :3

JUST THE EXCUSE I WAS LOOKING FOR

So, for me personally, a lot of the time when I draw fat characters, I'm not looking to specifically capture the specifics of fat as much as the feel of fat. Bulkier, rounder shapes in the right places that has a feeling of weight to em! A lot of that is intuition and simplification at this point, but it all works on the same frame as just any ol' person. Like take this-

For example. This is the basis for any body shape, not just the more average one that it may imply. Sure- it can be that average body shape:

But also a fat one too!

And a big part of that is knowing where fat usually tends to bunch up on the body, so lets take a look piece by piece! (Please keep in mind this is very simplified, and not completely precise in some parts)

THE FACE: Cheeks (in purple) and especially the chin (in light blue) are the places where a lot of the fat is gonna wanna gather and round out on your face! Additionally, theres a small pocket of fat beneath the cranium on the backside of your head. It's small, but it is there. I believe fat can build up elsewhere like the bridge of your nose and forehead, but generally speaking, you're gonna have a whole lot more buildup in other places first.

THE TORSO: A lot of the fat built up on the torso is gonna be sent to your tummy. More cushioning for vital organs, mostly out of the way, it just makes sense. Additionally, the lower backs fat builds up and joins with a patch of fat on your sides that forms what is typically referred to as the love handles to make that double belly look. Along with this, the immediate next target for the torso is the breasts, followed by the upper back!

THE ARMS: For this limb, a VERY notable amount of the fat present builds up on the tricep and bicep areas, lessening once you get towards the flexor and extensor areas. You can almost think of the arm as a sort of triangular shape, wide side starting from the shoulder and tapering towards the hand, which itself mostly builds up fat around the back of the hand and the fingers. The shoulders themselves don't build up too much fat unless you got a lot

THE LEGS: And finally, you can think of the legs having pretty similar curves to what you're probably already used to thinking. The front of the thighs getting a big buildup, along with the back of the calves, the other parts being flatter in turn. As far as the feet go- similarly to the hands, the top of the feet, along with the heels get most of the buildup, as fat on your soles would impede mobility. The glute, hip and crotch area will also especially build up fat, lending to the same triangular shape that you can see in the arm!

A big thing to note with fat is that it tends to taper off towards joints. Your knees, elbows, shoulders, hips, and all the other places are gonna have significantly less fat so that you remain mobile and flexible, as that's important!

Now that we have an idea of where fat builds up on the body, you might have something that looks kinda like this

Which yes, does demonstrate a solid understanding of the places fat builds up, lacks the weight you're probably trying to convey, which brings us to out next point! Fat is well... heavy! Gravity is what gives fat much of it's shape, especially as you tread towards larger and larger bodies.

This is demonstrated really well on the arms especially-

Those big ol' bits of fat'll really start to sag when left hanging, and they will squish like hell if they run into something. I like to think of these bits of fat as big ol' ovals that squash and stretch depending on if there's an obstacle in their way or not

These are the important shapes to remember when it comes to the weightiness of fat! If you take all of this into mind, you should be getting something a lot closer to that shape you've been after!

Oh, and always remember that fat bodies come in all variety of shapes and sizes! Play around with a whole lot, and seek out all the resources you can! it'll really lend to your knowledge when it comes to this kinda stuff!

And as I always recommend when it comes to learning art- look at what your favorite artists do with fat bodies. See what you really like about the fat bodies they draw and try to replicate it in your own work, I promise you it's one of the most helpful things ever.

This is like the most basic of basics when it comes to drawing fat bodies though. If there's any additional thing about fat bodies, or maybe you want clarification on something, don't be afraid to ask! If there's enough to cover, I'll make an addition to this post!

[heavysighing-dreamyeyes]

hiya love !! so just a little headcannon that i have is reader curled into jason’s side when watching a movie on the couch, especially in the colder months and he just realised and teases her about it :D

(currently freezing my ass off next to my broken radiator :( )

A Warm Touch

I hope your radiator got fixed!! (Hopefully, this fluff is tooth-rotting enough to warm your heart this winter)  ~900 words

Jason Todd knows he runs hot. Be it summer or winter, rain or shine, he's practically a living furnace. It's just a fact, one that's never really affected him either way.

Sure, whoever joins him on whatever stakeout he's on may shift a little closer to his side and joke about him being their personal space heater once in a while, but it's not a life changing truth.

Jason Todd is warm to the touch, and that's just how it is. He's never spared it a second thought, never felt good or bad about it. That is until you come along, and now he's never been more grateful for it.

He didn't notice it at first, the way you unconsciously (or consciously) sought out his warmth on colder Gotham days. The days wind pounded at your windows, the days snow piled so high on the fire escape his entire boot would disappear into it, the days frost seemed to seep into every crack in your building. 

But he was certainly noticing it today. What was supposed to be a simple movie night has his head spinning, his face fighting back a grin as you cuddle into his side. The blanket thrown over your laps is soft and fuzzy, but it doesn't exactly keep out the chill that settles in your bones no matter how warm your apartment is. 

Jason knows he should offer to get you another blanket, but he's more delighted by the fact you would rather curl into him– hook your arm with his and rest your head on his shoulder– than get up. He should keep quiet about his epiphany, the fact that you enjoy how he runs hot, but he's never been one to pass up the opportunity to tease you. 

"Cold," he asks, voice a whisper of a question and low enough that you have to tilt your head to hear him better.

"I'm okay," you answer, seemingly distracted from the movie by his nose brushing along your temple.

"You seem cold," he prompts, ghosting his lips over the top of your head. It takes all his effort to keep his voice from falling into a teasing tone, to tickle and poke at your sides until you admit that while you were cold, he's doing a wonderful job of fixing that. (He's digging for your praise, sue him)

You almost seem to pick up on what he's doing, your eyes finally leaving the screen to focus solely on him, which is exactly what he's been wanting. "I'm not cold," you say easily, but your fingers move to grab at his sleeve– like you're worried he's planning something. (He is, kind of, but nothing more than this)

"Well, if you're not cold, I could go sit over on the–" he starts, grin going sly and eyes filing with mischief.

"No," you cut him off, eyes narrowing at the thought of him leaving your side. "I was cold," you correct, "but now I'm not."

His grin goes wolfish, but he lifts his arm to sling it over your shoulder, letting you snuggle closer into his side, "And that's because," he drawls out, almost sing-songy. He fights back the laugh that wells in his throat when you roll your eyes, a tinge of embarrassment painting your face.

"And that's because of you. Thank you for having a body temperature that anyone else would akin to a fever, Jason," you finally huff out, holding back a smile of your own at his antics.

He rewards you relenting by littering kisses over every inch of skin he can reach, from your face and down your jaw and to your throat, he doesn't stop until you're both a mess of laughter and smiles. 

It's not until you're holding your stomach with one arm and tugging at his shirt with the other, that he pulls back to study your face, the way the light catches in your eyes, just how happy you look. (You study him too, the way the lines of his face soften, how one corner of his mouth tugs higher when he smiles than the other)

'Not too warm, though. Right?" he murmurs, the briefest hint of insecurity flashing in his eyes. It's a bigger question that he means to ask, even if it's worded as innocently as it is. 

"Not at all," you soothe, fingers brushing back his hair so you can return his kisses with one of your own. A slow, soft kiss that wipes every doubt from his mind as quickly as it appeared. 

"It's the perfect temperature," you breathe out once you've pulled away, fingers lingering against his cheek, and Jason has to wonder what he did to deserve this moment– to deserve you.

"Oh, Good– I mean– That's good," he stumbles out, and tries to ignore the heat that threatens to rise to his face when you kiss his jaw and turn back to the tv.

"Stay here a while and keep me warm," you ask, head nestling back against his shoulder. (Right where it belongs, if you ask Jason)

"Yeah, sure, of course. Happy to," he agrees, giving into the urge to kiss the crown of your head, "For as long as you need me." And he means that, when he tells you, for more than just sharing his warmth. No matter what it is, no matter how simple or grand, as long as you need him, Jason will stay by your side.

[g1rld1ary]

our names in the paper - footballer!james potter x fem!sports journalist!reader

wc: 11,151

cw: swearing, fade to black but suggestive moments?, smoking, slut-shaming, kissing

info: r and james are about 24, set in 2007ish solely for the romcom vibes. james is the equivalent of like David Beckham in his prime, all pics are for vibes only, not reflective of r's appearance etc

me: i've been working on this for soooo long i am so happy it's finally done!! if u couldn't tell it's very inspired by early 2000s romcoms and i am honestly so proud of it so praying it doesn't flop LOL

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

"James, James! Over here! What's the defence strategy this season?"

If you had to hear James' name one more time you might scream. Unfortunately, you were locked in a room with nothing but that. Worse, you were part of the problem.

"Mister Potter, what do you think about your striker's goal-to-game ratio falling rapidly this season?" You called, begrudgingly hoping for a moment of the soccer star's attention. Fortunately (or unfortunately), his glittering eyes settled on you, singling you out from the room of hungry journalists.

"I think that you miss one hundred per cent of the shots you don't take," He said, smirk turning to something challenging, "And as long as my team is training and working together, I'm not gonna cry over a bit of spilt milk or missed goals. And, as far as I'm concerned we're still winning games, aren't we?" You rolled your eyes, scribbling down his answer nonetheless.

You continued the catfight of trying to get answers for your newest article, keeping the balance of vying for James' attention and showing him you didn't care for him personally, unlike the other journalists you were pushing against. The conference room was full of men and women who wanted to be James or be with him. Aside from the professional questions, there were certainly several invitations to the pub thrown around, and you were sure you saw one woman try and give him her cellphone number. You rolled your eyes again at that, James was nothing to fawn over.

He might be a big shot now, but you'd known him almost all your life. The two of you had gone to school together and had bickered through every interaction since then. James had always wanted to be a football star, and you a journalist. You'd never believed in him and vice versa, both of you taking every opportunity to tease the other or cut each other down. Maybe it was just clashing personalities, two people too ambitious to be friends. The rivalry had lasted past school, and unfortunately, the two of you often crossed paths in your respective careers.

The press conference wrapped up soon after your question, and you ended up lingering in the room trying to finish your notes. James was still over at his podium next to his coach, drinking out of a plastic water bottle and arduously texting on his flip phone. Seeing you hovering by the door he called your last name, sauntering up behind you. You rolled your eyes and braced yourself for the encounter.

"Potter." You smiled curtly, moving to leave.

"You don't have to call me 'Mr Potter' during the conferences, you know. James is perfectly fine, everyone else calls me that."

"Just trying to stay professional," You said through gritted teeth, aware his coach and a few others were still around you. It could cost you your job to snap at him.

"Was it professional when I was your first kiss?" He stepped closer and you instinctively stepped back, feeling the plaster wall graze your back through your work blazer.

"It was spin the bottle and we were twelve, it's ancient history. And do you mind? I know you're some kind of god around here but I have a reputation to uphold," You whispered, glancing around anxiously. James laughed at your distress which only annoyed you further. Maybe he could get away with anything, but you had to fight for your place in your field as a female sports journalist, you couldn't afford to take it lightly.

You couldn't help the physical reaction to being trapped between James and the wall though, your breathing shallow and quick, face tilted up slightly to look at him. You felt a bit like prey, caught in the predator's territory and resigned to imminent death.

"Let her go, will you? She's just doing her job," Remus Lupin said, entering the conference room with his nose crinkled from the smell. You couldn't blame him, sweaty players and hungry journalists didn't make any kind of utopia together.

"I wasn't doing anything!" James cried, hands up in surrender, "Come on love, I was just giving you the scoop, right?"

"First of all, if you were giving me 'the scoop' right now I'd certainly be accused of sleeping to the top by all the blokes waiting out there," You gestured to the group of other reporters still lingering in the hall waiting for any scraps of information, "And secondly, I work for the bloody Sunday People, not the BBC. I honestly think they'd rather I just write about your 'dashing good looks' or a drug scandal than your games," You complained, falling back into the ease of conversation now that Remus was there. He'd been at school with the both of you, growing up to be a physiotherapist, but was always much more palatable than James.

Both men laughed at your plight.

"If you ever need a more detailed look at my dashing good looks just ask, sweetheart. I'd be glad to show you, you know, for your articles." You rolled your eyes at James' attempt to be charming, snapping your notebook shut.

"Alright, I think that's my cue to go," You said curtly, smoothing out your work trousers. "Remus, I'll return Dracula next time I see you; I'm almost finished." You remembered you'd had his novel for quite a while, sparing him a smile on the way out.

"You lend her books?" James asked incredulously, hazel eyes curiously following your figure down the hall. Remus just shrugged, patting James on the shoulder and attending to his actual job, checking up on the players after the match.

James was still hung up on the fact when he returned to the apartment he shared with Remus and Sirius, flabbergasted as he hung his coat on the rack.

"Since when are you two close enough to be sharing books?" He cried as he paced through the kitchen, "Have we not all been in agreement that she is stubborn and hard-headed and annoying and has been since school?"

"No," Remus shook his head, "You decided that, and I daresay she feels the same about you. I've always rather liked her."

James was unexpectedly dumbfounded at the realisation that you weren’t the common enemy he thought you were. Even Sirius didn’t seem to dislike you, always stopping for a chat when you were around the stadium and giving you extra comments with a flirty wink.

James didn’t need to think about you for another few weeks; his team hadn’t played one week and you’d been assigned other matches for the others — he read your very amusing pieces on lawn bowls and chess-boxing, partly because he knew you’d hate the assignment.

You were blissfully apart until one Saturday night. You were out with your friends and a few coworkers and James was out with his. He’d started in the local pub while you were at a fancy cocktail restaurant for Lily’s bachelorette party, however, your groups crossed paths in the depths of a nightclub.

Maybe you were getting too old for them, waking up with sore backs and knees after nights of dancing, but it didn’t mean you wouldn’t give it a red hot go. And with a few cocktails in your system, nobody could convince you it wasn’t a good idea.

You'd been shaking what your mother gave you for the better part of an hour before it was your turn to get another round, telling the girls you'd be back before stumbling through a sea of sweaty bodies.

Some gross man who was definitely too old for you obstructed your path, grabbing your arms to make you dance with him. Your face crinkled in disgust of its own accord, trying to wiggle yourself free. He continued to encroach on your space, forcing you around despite your persistence. Finally, a man's hands landed on his shoulders, yanking him away and subsequently freeing you from his grasp. The momentum sent you tumbling in your strappy heels, right into something warm and solid. You cringed, having been there before. You turned slowly to meet your unwitting saviour, huffing when you realised it was James.

"Oh, fuck off," You grumbled, mostly to yourself, producing a quick apology to not seem totally impolite.

"Alright?" Sirius asked, revealing himself as the one who'd gotten you away from the creep. You shrugged, fixing your hair.

"Been better," You told him, preparing to leave before seemingly their whole team had surrounded you, all greeting you loudly. You weakly waved at them, feeling dreadfully underdressed and professional. You were used to seeing them in the stadium and press conferences where you were much more modestly dressed. The strapless mini dress wasn't giving you the same layer of protection.

"Right," You said when there didn't seem to be any more productive conversation happening, "I'm off to the bar then."

"Let me buy you a drink, to make up for the freak," One of the players, Frank, said. You smiled but shook your head.

"I'm buying for several, it wouldn't be fair. It's Lily's bachelorette." You directed the last sentence to those who knew her, the football and journalism professions having considerable overlap due to events and the never-ending scandals and interviews. James covered his face in mock-devastation.

"Not Lily! Have I missed my chance forever?" He moaned, earning some shoves from the rest of the group. You and Lily had been friends since uni, and you'd introduced her to the boys at one of the terrible house parties you'd endured over your three years studying. James had developed a thing for her right away (no one knew how much of it was serious and how much was for comedic value) and had been loudly pining for her ever since, despite her long-term relationship with Dirk Cresswell, an economist who worked in the building down the block from your office.

"I think you missed your chance the first time," You retorted with a snort, a little drunk to have any ferocity in your tone. You both made a face at each other, ignoring the laughter of those around you. You dismissed the group and danced away, shaking your arse over to the bar.

A few rounds later and you were not in your best shape. The girls had been absolute menaces, feeding you shots and deceiving colourful cocktails that actually held like seven standards in them, and you were certainly feeling the effects. You excused yourself from the group to find a loo, bile rising in your throat as you pushed past dancers, not even sparing a comment for James as you saw him.

That confused both James and his friends, becoming used to your insistent teasing over the years. He exchanged a look with Sirius, following you through the crowd and to the bathrooms.

He figured something was wrong when you burst into the gender-neutral bathrooms, not bothering to lock the door behind you. James and Sirius silently fought about who was going to follow you in and check on you; James found you insufferable, Sirius had severe emetophobia and would probably throw up himself if he had to be close to you vomiting. James rolled his eyes, it was his responsibility. Sirius clapped him on the back gratefully, leaving him to return to the others. James sighed, reciting some affirmations before he cracked the door open, calling out to you.

When you responded with a disgusting wretch, James slipped inside, gagging a little as he saw you leant over the toilet bowl, bare knees on the grimy tile floor.

"Alright?" He asked for lack of anything better, unsurprised when you replied with another gag.

"I feel ill," You said pathetically, head hung low in the bowl which James knew you would resent tomorrow. He laughed quietly, getting closer to you.

"No shit, idiot," His tone was light as he began to rub your back softly, making sure your hair was away from your mouth. You vomited a few more times, your body reacting in violent hurls as James tried to be both soothing and as far away as possible.

When your stomach was finally empty you slumped against the toilet, cheek pressed against the cool porcelain.

"Woah," James pulled you up to a sitting position, "That cannot be good for your skin. Let's get you home, okay?" You nodded petulantly, letting yourself be led out through the club, James telling Lily he'd make sure you got home (and congratulated her on the upcoming wedding).

"Can we get some gum or something? My throat tastes like vom." James looked down at you from where you were lodged into his side, legs shaky as you wobbled down the street. He sighed and steered you in the direction of a convenience store, picking out strawberry gum for you since it tasted better than mint, your words. Good you thought when he paid for it, the football star can shell out 2 pounds, makes more than you anyhow.

You chewed happily, stumbling down the pavement as James held onto you, keeping you upright.

"You're so muscly," You said, somewhat in a drunken haze.

"Thank you?" James laughed, patting you softly on the forearm he was holding. To be fair, you weren't quite sure if it was a compliment either. Your words were admittedly oddly nice but your tone made it confusing, drunk thoughts not completely translating to sober dynamics.

You meandered for a few oddly peaceful minutes, neither of you starting an argument or picking a fight. It was a nice break from normal, the two of you even sharing some peaceful small talk -- discussing a movie you'd both seen recently.

Of course, nothing good lasts.

"James!" A voice yelled from the other side of the street, a short man with mousy mannerisms. James groaned beside you.

"Peter Pettigrew," He whispered to you, trying to pull you along faster, "We used to be mates but turns out he was just using me to get team secrets out into the papers." You whipped your head around to look at him. Oh! You knew Pettigrew, unsurprising given you both reported on essentially the same topics, but he had a bad name even in your circles. He was closer to a paparazzi than a journalist, going for the cheap stories and ad hominem approaches rather than searching for any meaningful insights. Simply put, in an already sleazy career, Peter Pettigrew was the bottom of the barrel.

"Later, mate. I'm in the middle of something right now." James put his arm around your shoulder, better shielding you as he tried to make a getaway. The telltale flash of a camera reflected off the grey pavement, making both you and James whip your heads around to face Peter, looking hardly ashamed of himself. After a moment of shock, you both covered your faces, stumbling down the street as fast as you could manage. The damage was already done.

Suddenly you didn't feel as drunk, navigating the cobblestone streets with unanticipated nimbleness. James might've had the athlete's advantage but you were on home turf, leading him through local shortcuts and to the front door of your apartment building.

On the journey over you'd attracted a few more photographers all fiending for a scandalous picture of James, a small mob forming as you tried to punch in the door code despite your shaking hands. James was right behind you, front pressed to your back, holding his Adidas windbreaker out in a position to shield your face from the prying eyes.

You slammed the door shut, the nosy questions and camera clicks immediately muffled. James let out a long sigh, running a hand through his already tousled hair. Neither of you spoke for a while, processing what had happened.

"Make yourself at home then." You cringed as you surveyed the state of your flat; clothes flung over chairs and dishes still in the sink. Your only option for living alone was cramming all your stuff into what was essentially a shoebox, so any amount of mess made the place look chaotic.

"Nice place," James said and you immediately rolled your eyes, snatching up a stray bra strewn across an armchair. "No, I mean it! It's cozy. Very you." He gestured up at the colourful, mismatched glassware in a kitchen cabinet and the beaded curtain separating your bedroom. You blushed slightly; you didn't often take men home, your flat staying a girly paradise just for you.

You put on the kettle, comforted by the familiar sounds of water beginning to boil. James sat awkwardly on an armchair near the window, anxiously peeking out from behind the curtain every few minutes. His reactions told you the paparazzi were still loitering outside.

James took his tea gratefully, surprisingly still agreeable despite all the terrible things that had happened in the course of a few hours.

"Do you have a back exit or something? Somewhere I can slip out and get home?" You shook your head with a grimace.

"Only the fire exit, but that still goes out near the front. Otherwise we're surrounded by other buildings."

"You must be exhausted after everything. Head off to bed, I'll wait until the gits outside fuck off then lock the door behind me. We don't have to ever mention this again if you don't want." The orange lamp light made James' eyes look unfairly soft, highlighting the golden flecks amongst the brown. You steeled your nerve and shook your head.

"I'm not that bad of a host," You tried to joke, "Besides, don't you have training tomorrow? You're already up later than I'm sure you intended to be. I couldn't live with myself if I ruined England's star player by making him stay up all night, you take my bed and go to sleep." You were both very carefully trying to keep things light, not wanting to spend any more of the night miserable and fighting.

"Well, I'm not taking your bed, that's just impolite. I'll take the couch, if you're being so generous as to let me stay." He had a cheeky smile on his lips as he said it, both of you dancing around the fact that in any other circumstance James wouldn't have been allowed within fifteen feet of your flat.

"That couch? No way." You pointed at the teensy vintage sofa sitting in front of the boxy television. It had space for maybe two and a half arses to sit on it, maybe horizontally extended legs if you were short-ish, but there was no way the goliath James Potter was getting any decent sleep on it. "You take the bed. I'll survive the couch tonight."

"Don't be stupid, I can't sleep in your bed. If not the couch I'll take the floor."

"Speaking from a purely medical standpoint, I haven't cleaned these floors recently enough for it to be safe to have your face in such close proximity. Take the bed, Potter."

You bickered for a few long minutes, both of you trying to outdo each other's respect as host and guest, respectively. You didn't miss the irony that even when you and James were getting along you were fighting.

"I'm not letting you go without, that's final." You turned away to go fetch a pillow for your night on the couch when James said something you never ever thought you'd hear from him.

"Then sleep with me."

"Excuse me?" You all but shrieked, immediately cringing as you thought about your poor neighbours.

"Look, it's basically morning, we're both shattered and I'm sure your bed is much comfier than whatever alternative you're planning. We can even go full pillow-wall if it'll make you feel better." You stared at him for several moments, lips actually agape. Never in your life did you think James Potter would be asking you to share a bed with him, and never in your life did you think you'd be considering it.

"Fine."

Twenty minutes later and you were both ready for bed. You'd found James an old pair of an ex-boyfriend's long abandoned pyjamas, stuffed in a bottom drawer. They were slightly too small to accommodate all his muscles, the t-shirt sitting a few inches above the pants' waistband, giving him a very '90s crop top and exposing his happy trail.

You were almost definitely more embarrassed than James. You were in a similarly aged pair of pyjamas, a cartoon of Spongebob over your chest. You couldn't tell if you'd prefer to be in the lame pair that you were wearing or a cute pair -- no, it would probably look like you were trying too hard. Which you weren't. You didn't care about looking cute in front of James Potter, why would you?

He was already in bed when you'd returned from your skincare routine, face fresh and moisturised, and though you knew he was going to be there, nothing could have prepared you for the sight of James Potter in your bed. Tucked up to the chin under your frilly floral grandma sheets, he looked the picture of cozy.

"Don't bloody touch me, I mean it. I want to feel alone in my own bed," You snapped, sliding under the covers, pulling the doona similarly high up to your chin. You turned over to the centre of the bed to find James already on his side looking at you. You let it be for a moment, surprisingly enjoying the sleepover vibes you'd created.

"Okay this is weird now, the pillow's going up." You slammed a long decorative cushion in between the both of you, secretly smiling at the sleepy giggle James let out.

The first time you awoke it was hazy, still early in the morning with golden sunbeams streaming through your curtains. Warmth enveloped you, keeping you cozy despite the winter morning outside. You shifted to burrow deeper into your blankets when a groan came from behind you, startling you more awake as you recognised the feeling of muscular arms wrapped around your middle. It suddenly all came back to you, James walking you home, the paparazzi, you making an absolute fool of yourself. However, James was a portable heat source and extremely comfortable so you let yourself ignore everything that had led up to it, allowing yourself another few hours of blissful sleep.

The second time you woke up James was gone. That wasn't surprising given he definitely had early morning training, but you would reluctantly admit that it was a little lonelier in your bed than it usually was.

You didn't leave the house for the rest of the day, finally cleaning your apartment after much too long. Turns out all you needed was to be embarrassed in front of a guest to get you motivated.

Monday morning you weren't hungover anymore, but you were mourning the weekend that had passed much too quickly. Still, things were running smoothly enough; you didn't miss the tube and had snagged a seat, and your makeup was looking absolutely grand. You were absolutely thriving.

That was, until you crossed the threshold of the Sunday People offices and the jerks from the politics columns started bothering you, as if a Monday morning wasn't punishment enough.

"Meet anyone nice over the weekend, sweetheart?" One crowed from his desk chair, looking positively dickhead-ish in his too-small button-up.

"Or still on the clock maybe? We know you're always hunting for a good story." The combination of both remarks confused you, but you strutted past them with a quick glare in their general direction, your clicking heels producing enough attitude that you didn't need to say anything.

As you approached your own desk area, you had the distinct and uncomfortable feeling that everyone was looking at you. You couldn't think of why, but subtly wiped the edge of your lips in case it was foolishly smudged lipstick.

You even swore you heard one of the royal writers -- an awful woman maybe twenty years older than you -- say something about your 'promiscuity' and 'unprofessionalism'. You didn't know where it was coming from. You weren't friends by any means but you usually just stayed out of each other's way, you didn't throw around insults at your workplace. You glanced down at your outfit but nothing seemed especially revealing, the same button-up and pencil skirt you always wore if you weren't doing field work.

You were really starting to wonder why everyone was looking at you when even Lily was sending you pitiful glances. You had just made up your mind to say something about it when your boss came striding towards you, anger emanating in a way which only middle-aged men can do.

"What is this?" He slammed a Daily Mail tabloid down on your desk. The office was dead silent. You looked down at it, wholly confused as to what it could be -- your last article was approved without any troubles.

THE 'INSIDE' SCOOP? POTTER GETS COZY WITH REPORTER ON NIGHT OUT

And there, right under the brazen headline, was the stupid picture that Peter Pettigrew took. The two of you out on the street, you tucked into James' side with his arm around you. Your face wasn't totally visible, but anyone who already knew you would recognise the figure and fashion.

You could feel your face drop as you read the article, a barrage of slut-shamey insults and reports of how intimate you and James were out on the streets of London -- all entirely false, of course. When you'd finished reading the piece the whole office was staring at you, waiting to see how you'd react.

"It's a lie," You said quietly, trying to stop your hands from shaking as they rested on your lap. There was a pregnant pause as your boss processed what you were saying, clearly confused. None of your coworkers dared to speak.

"Bullshit," He replied, face blooming red as he decided you weren't being truthful. "That's you and that's James, there's no denying that. The whole bloody country will be able to see you two getting cozy on the street. How do you reckon this reflects on me, having your name and workplace published alongside your completely unprofessional affair?"

"I understand that it looks bad, but it's not what you think at all. J- uh, Potter was just helping me get home after a chance encounter because I wasn't feeling well, then he hid at my place because of all the paparazzi. Nothing happened." It was a weak explanation, even you could tell, even though it was completely true.

The arseholes over in Politics were already sniggering to themselves and you wished you could have ripped them a new one. Instead, you were cowering underneath your brutish boss.

"It's your word against Pettigrew's, and only one of you's been printed. You've been publicly humiliated and we're getting bad press for it."

Your boss had left you with the threatening promise that the issue would be brought up with your superiors and the whispered opinions of every single person you worked with. You choked out an excuse to get out of the office, taking the lift up to the rooftop to cry.

You had peace for a few minutes, getting the most embarrassing of the sobs out alone.

"Did you actually sleep with him?" If it was anyone else you probably would have snapped, yelling at them for being so insensitive. Marlene said it with such earnest curiosity and sympathy that you turned to face her instead. You were met with her and Lily, your very best friends who you were feeling especially lucky to work with at that moment.

"No!" You told them the full story, about getting sick at the club, James just being polite and walking you home, and Peter Pettigrew's terrible betrayal. Both women listened attentively, taking it all in.

"I thought you hated Potter," Lily said finally, "How'd it get that far in the first place? Usually you'd have ditched him in the first five minutes of being in his presence."

"I don't hate him." You studied your hands intently, observing the peeling red nail polish you should have reapplied yesterday. "I think he's annoying and obnoxious and I've always hated that he's never believed I could be a serious writer, but I don't hate him. He has his moments. Besides, why would I waste energy on hating Potter when I could hate Pettigrew with all my heart?"

"What a snake," Marlene spat, lighting a cigarette as she got comfy next to you. You and Lily both nodded. Peter was not only now a backstabber, but he'd been becoming increasingly insufferable over the years you'd all been writing.

He started out quite nice and was in your periphery of friends in the same way Remus and even James were, but as he'd gotten the job at his shitty tabloid magazine he'd become downright intolerable, always twisting what you'd said both in official articles and when gossiping with other friends. You had all had enough a few years ago and stopped inviting him places. Clearly, he'd held onto the grudge.

At his own work, James was facing the same rumours, though not nearly to the same peril. As he rocked up to his home pitch for the morning training session he was received with catcalls and high fives which made him nervous. No one was ever that happy to be working out on a Monday morning.

"Thought you hated her, mate."

"Maybe all she needed was a good shag to get the stick out of her arse."

"Woah! Can we take it back a few steps and not talk about women that way?" James sent a look over to one of his teammates.

"Sorry bud," He held his hands up in surrender, "Thought you wouldn't mind since you're always moaning about her." James' eyebrows knit together as he tried to piece together what the men were talking about, finally giving up and asking for a plain explanation.

He was met with a copy of Peter's article, outlining the flirty touches and 'electric chemistry' the two of you shared. Scanning it quickly James felt his face screwing up in disgust. Never mind that it obviously wasn't true, what a disgusting violation of privacy. He'd only recently launched into the spotlight, working his way up into the Premier League and then team captain in the last few years. He still didn't know how to handle the fame, especially invasive press like this.

His first priority was setting the ruth straight for his team, explaining exactly what happened and outlining strict instructions not to bring it up the next time they saw you.

"This is going to be a lot worse for her than me," He said, ending the conversation there.

He was correct. Rumours only spiralled from Peter's article. You'd stupidly created Google Alerts for your name; as a journalist, it made sense to keep track of where your writing was being shared. One day of this nonsense and you had all alerts silenced, not wanting to ever visit the internet ever again.

Apparently, this alleged affair was the most interesting thing young British people had ever experienced. The football star and the sports journalist. As you packed up to leave at the end of the day you were feeling sick to your stomach, already overwhelmed by the attention you never wanted on you.

Your face blanched as you approached the dizzying glass windows, a mass of reporters swarming the door. You didn't have to think hard to know they were waiting for you. You retreated to the restroom where they couldn't see you to rearrange your exit appearance. Pulling your coat tight against you and scarf up to cover the bottom half of your face, you plugged your iPod nano in to appear busy (and touched up your eye makeup for the inevitable photos that would make it back into the news cycle).

Physically and emotionally prepared you braved the crowd again, moving through with a polite but firm shove, making yourself a path down to the tube. You only snapped at one particularly rude paparazzi, giving him an instruction of where to 'stick it' as you hopped down the stairs to your station.

You ate a haphazard dinner by your computer, obsessively clicking through the various articles (and now personal blog posts) that had mentioned you. Every link made you feel worse about yourself.

The articles themselves were bad, most of them degrading you and congratulating James. Some had even produced old school photos of the both of you, even a few from your uni days when James was just starting out professionally and you were attending similar parties.

The articles were one thing, at least they usually had to be somewhat impartial. The blog posts by James' fangirls were downright cruel, calling you a slag based on a singular photograph and dragging your name through the mud.

You were drawn from your doom-scrolling by your cellphone ringing, Britney ringtone at least drawing a smile from you.

"Hello?"

"Get off the internet," Sirius Black said from the other end of the line.

"How'd you know?" You exited the webpage dutifully, already feeling the weight of the world's ugly words lifting from your shoulders.

"I figured. First time being written about isn't easy."

"It's certainly making me grateful I've never been so bitchy in my articles," You produced a hollow laugh, "I don't know how people can say these things about someone they've never met."

"That's why we like you," He said, "Mostly, at least. You stick to the sport and not our personal lives."

"Don't inflate my ego, Black, it's just because I don't like you guys," You joked, your mood already blooming back to somewhat more chipper.

"That's what I've been telling him!" You heard Remus call from further away, probably the other side of their living room. Sirius made an offended noise.

"Is Potter there?" You changed the topic, swirling your mouse around the window aimlessly, too afraid to check your work or personal notifications.

"He's out right now, calling someone official -- a publicist or lawyer friend. He's tearing his hair out about this, he feels awful for you." Both men explained, bickering about who exactly he was talking to.

"Yeah, I'm noticing only one of us is getting called a slut." You rolled your eyes even though they couldn't see you, balancing your cell between your shoulder and ear as you made a cup of tea. Sirius' barking laughter crackled through the speaker.

"Don't worry about it, love, everyone knows The Daily Mail is full of shite. Besides, I got that all the time."

"Yeah, in school! Not when you have a grown-up job to save face at!" Sirius conceded, apologising lightly. You shrugged him off; he was not the target of your anger at all.

"James'll be back soon, do you want to stay on the phone?" Remus asked and you answered without hesitation.

"No. I don't want to talk to him right now. We'll just find something to fight about, it's not worth it."

"He wants to make things better," Sirius offered, "He feels terrible."

"Maybe when I'm not so angry at the world." You left them with the offered compromise, hanging up to pity yourself for a few more hours before bed.

You didn't end up being fired over the incident, your bosses couldn't find a good reason to cite, but everyone in the office knew you were on thin ice. Most weren't afraid to highlight that fact. You were really starting to hate the Politics guys.

You just tried to keep your head down, diving into your articles and trying to keep in the higher-ups good graces. Amidst the drama though you'd been taken off all football coverage for the time being, banished to the irrelevant 'sports' you never even knew existed.

The week had taken you out of London to cover bizarre rural events like cheese rolling and bog snorkelling; not uninteresting but a big change of pace to the Premier League drama you were used to.

It did take your mind off of James and the media shitstorm for a day or two though. Being in a small town was much preferable to London, at least for the moment. The paparazzi weren't going to make the drive to find you for a single day when there were plenty more interesting figures to find in the city.

Plus, you were meeting the most interesting people. Though it was no Premier League final, everyone around was so wholly invested and excited by the competition that you couldn't help feeling the same, despite your initial hesitation.

Throughout the day it was just you, your notepad, your camera and the few thousand people who came to participate and observe. You'd already met and interviewed the woman who made the cheese, the previous year's winner and you were waiting impatiently to see who'd prevail now.

The paper was paying for you to stay overnight so you could chronicle the post-event celebrations, and you'd never been so glad to be working late. The key players in the day, organisers and competitors had all convened in the town's old pub, basically heaving under the weight of you all.

You held up your beer with the others despite hating the taste, grateful to be included in their toast to the day. You laughed as you tried to down it quickly, wanting the taste out of your mouth as soon as possible without refusing such a kind gift. Holding the pint up in the air victoriously you accepted the cheers of those around you, including the lovely middle-aged lady who made the ceremonial cheese and the man only a year or two older than you who'd won earlier.

"Finally letting your hair down!" He laughed and you smiled back, trying to remember his name. A glance down at your notepad said Drew. "Can I get you another?" You hoped he didn't notice your eyes widen, not expecting attention like that, not when you were allegedly working no less. You opened your mouth to agree when someone else answered for you.

"She doesn't like beer, thinks it tastes like piss." You whipped your neck around at the familiar voice, mouth dropping open at the sight of James Potter.

"What the hell are you doing here?" You asked, jovial politeness abandoned.

"You didn't remember that my family comes to watch every year?"

"Respectfully, why the fuck would I remember something like that?" You snapped, moving to leave and follow the much nicer Drew to the bar. James grabbed your hand lightly, stopping you from leaving.

"Wait, can we talk please?" You just looked at him for a long time, considering how much patience you had after a full day of work, then shrugged half-heartedly.

He led you outside and away from the crowd, both of you letting out a huff as you noticed the change in temperature.

"I liked your story on the bog snorkelling -- interesting stuff," James broke the awkward silence and you rolled your eyes aggressively.

"As if you read my pieces."

"I do!" He insisted, silently refusing the cigarette you offered. "I've read all your pieces, honest."

"But... huh? You're the one who always said I'd be a shit writer, I've spent years trying to get the negative internal James out of my head! You absolute dickhead!" You shoved his chest, turning back towards the door to return inside.

"Are you thick? I only said that because I fancied you!"

James' words rang heavy in the air, the street otherwise silent. You stared straight ahead of you for a moment, his words settling on top of you as you focused on the orange street lamp.

This whole time, this whole time, you'd been fighting the image you believed James had of you, striving to be better, never being satisfied, for nothing. This whole time you and James had been bickering and trading insults for nothing? And all his flirting... James' annoying charm and ironic compliments and innuendo-filled teasing were all genuine, after all this time? Suddenly your whole world had turned on its axis.

"What do you mean you said it because you fancied me? That is not normal!" You whirled around, accusatory finger pointed his way.

"I don't know! I thought I was supposed to! It wasn't cool to be a sap!" James argued back, running a hand through his already tousled curls.

"Jesus Christ," You muttered, "So what, you thought all my arguing back was just flirting?" James' silence told you all you needed to know.

"Come on, don't act like you didn't like it a little bit! As I recall you were always up for the fight, weren't you? You never avoided me or ignored me. Let's face it, you enjoyed it as much as I did." He stepped closer to you, breath visible in the cool air.

"I didn't enjoy it, what the hell are you talking about? Why would I enjoy trading schoolyard insults with some arrogant, idiotic football player who discredited the one thing I wanted most in my life?" Suddenly you were inches apart, heat emanating from both of you as you fought.

"Like you never said I was stupid for wanting to be a footballer? Face it, love, you're just as bad as me."

And suddenly, despite all your better judgement and every bit of sense in your head, you were kissing him. You didn't know exactly how it had happened, and if anyone were to ever ask you you would absolutely pin the blame on James but there you were, out in the middle of the street without a care in the world.

Every one of your senses was on fire, the smell of his cologne, the taste of his lips, the feeling of his soft curls under your fingers. Everything about James felt like he was made for you, like all the years of you revolving around each other, playing off the other's insult was just a lead-up, preparation for the very moment you kissed for the first time.

James' arms around you were warm, strong from years of working out and protective like a weighted blanket. One hand wrapped around your midsection and the other firmly on your neck you felt wholly surrounded by him, isolated in your own bubble of James.

It was probably a bad idea, but you weren't overly concerned with addressing that fact in any rush. It didn't come as you tilted your head to bring him even closer, it didn't come as you said hurried goodbyes in the pub and collected your coat, it didn't even come as you closed the door to your hotel room, undoing the buttons to James' shirt like they had a personal vendetta against you.

The admittance only came as you lay entangled with him, faces millimetres apart.

"Was that a bad idea?" You asked, genuine self-consciousness mixing with pragmatic anxiety.

"I mean, I quite enjoyed myself, love. Did you not?" James' cheeky smile made you snort out a giggle but you sobered up quickly, hitting him lightly on his toned chest.

"Don't turn this into a joke!" You ordered, "Have we just fucked everything up?" James just looked at you for a minute, taking in the sincerity in your voice and the depth of your eyes.

"Of course we haven't," He assured you. "Do you like me?"

"But--"

"Ah! Do you like me?" He reiterated and you paused, nodding shyly. "See? You like me and I like you. We'll figure everything else out. Start slow; baby steps."

"Baby steps," You agreed, sharing his smile. It really only hit you how much you actually liked James once you'd said it, finally noticing how he might've been looking at you the whole time.

You sent James off early in the morning, both of you needing to make it back to London quickly. You had to get your article written up and James had training. Thankfully there was no awkwardness in your goodbye; James had to rush to meet his parents to drive back by car and you had a train to catch. The only moment of hesitance came as you said goodbye, waving at each other with a giggle as James hopped down the steps. He hesitated halfway, turning to look at you with the glint of mischief in his eye that you'd become very well acquainted with.

In a moment he was at the top of the steps again, swooping in to steal another kiss. You rolled your eyes to hide an embarrassing smile, pushing him back in the direction he came.

"Haven't you got somewhere to be?" You asked, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. James mimed twisting a knife in his chest but continued down the stairs nonetheless, giving you one last smile before he turned a corner and disappeared from your sight. You sighed like a schoolgirl then laughed at yourself, packing the last of your things to get home.

As you sat on the train, green landscapes passed you through the window and you felt your cell phone buzz from the minuscule pocket of your work trousers.

thinking of u :P <3

You grinned, looking out at the scenery so the people around you wouldn't be able to figure out your embarrassing secret. You felt like a teenage girl again, blushing over a text from the guy you had a crush on.

Everything turned to shit in a matter of hours after returning to London.

First, James' publicist made his statement. It wasn't necessarily terrible, but it really had no regard for you. No statement declaring you both on good terms, no coming to your defence or asking for the press to respect you. James looked like the hero saving a stupid drunk girl, and you still looked desperate for the most popular footballer in the country. You were decently sure it wasn't James' fault, but it did significantly dampen your lovesick giddiness.

The office was half-empty when you arrived, kitten heels clicking against the ground. You said a quick hello to Lily, still dutifully typing away at her computer. You followed her lead, exporting your notes to your desktop computer, formatting the piece and going through edits to have it ready for the next paper.

The sun was setting, sending orange and pink streaks through the sky when the door to your boss' office slammed open, echoing above the cubicles.

"You kissed him?" He yelled and you paled, knowing exactly what he was talking about but not how he knew. That problem was solved when he slammed the magazine down in front of you, no doubt just delivered by the skittery young receptionist running back to the elevator.

FACT OR FICTION? POTTER AND REPORTER CAUGHT SNOGGING AMIDST PUBLIC DENIAL

Fuck. That could not be worse.

The whole piece was essentially dragging your name through the absolute mud now that they had the confirmation there was something going on between you and James. The whole world thought you were sleeping to the top, or for the best scoop, and everyone hated you for it.

You looked up at your boss, words dying on your tongue.

"Please tell me that's not you," He said, grasping at the thinning hair on his head. You couldn't deny it.

"I..." You trailed off, searching for anything you could say to make it better. "I didn't mean to. And I'm being completely honest when I say that the first article was all bullshit. Things have... happened since then." You were already on the verge of tears. Even on an optimistic day, you couldn't have denied that this was utterly shit.

"Jesus." Your boss muttered, beginning to pace. "Look, I like you, you know? You do good work and you're never outta line, but I reckon the higher-ups are gonna be done with you. They wanted you out over the first article but I convinced them it was all speculation. This is proof and makes us all look bad that you're sleeping with someone you interview every other bloody week. Look, I'll do what I can in damage control, but I'd be bringing your stuff home tonight. I'm sorry."

How could he have just left you with that absolute bombshell? Effectively firing you, just like that? The tears had made their way up to your waterline, sitting there mocking you as you refused to let them fall. You submitted your piece and shut off your laptop, angrily stuffing your sparse personal decorations into your shoulder bag to get the fuck out of the building as fast as possible.

The paparazzi were waiting again, of course, like that was what you really needed. You pushed past them, making sure to land an extra hard stomp on Peter's foot, lips twitching into the beginnings of a smile as you heard him curse.

You sat on the tube, staring intently at your feet and trying desperately to think of anything but your current situation. You'd already been approached by someone who'd coughed out "Skank," which really hadn't done anything for your sour mood. All you wanted was to crawl into your bed and never emerge.

You wandered down the street between the metro station and your flat, hands shoved deep in your coat pockets.

"Hey!" Someone called and you glanced over on instinct, senses drawn by the interruption of an otherwise quiet evening. "You're the girl who kissed James Potter, yeah?" It was a girl still in her school uniform, probably sixteen or seventeen. You thought through your options quickly and shrugged.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Wicked. How was it?" She asked, chewing on pink gum. There was an aura about her that you liked, not judgemental like everyone else you'd met. If you were still in school you thought you might've been friends with her.

"Pretty good, I'd do it again." A cheeky almost-joke between the two of you, ironic given the shit that it had caused for you.

"We were talking about it at school. Pretty shit how they've treated you. Like they all wouldn't jump at a chance to get close to 'im." You liked the way that she didn't get any closer. Just the two of you standing face to face, divided by the empty road.

"Exactly what I've been saying," You agreed, tucking your hair behind your ears.

"If it was the other way around, if you were the famous one, James would be getting congratulated for getting with you, not ridiculed by the mindless gossip columns. All my friends think it's utter bullshit, stopped buyin' 'em and everything." You could have kissed her if that wasn't tremendously creepy. In five minutes, this schoolgirl had vindicated everything you'd been saying for the past week in a way no one else had.

"Thank you," You said, with more sincerity than you probably should have had for a complete stranger. The girl just shrugged with a smile, nodding before continuing down the street, the sound of her leather school shoes growing quieter with every step.

You felt it in your whole body every time you thought of the interaction for the next few hours, warmth spreading through your chest as you were reminded there were still good people around.

Your other reminder of that fact came with the sound of your buzzer, the laughing of Lily and Marlene echoing off the stone of your building. As you let them in curiously they presented armfuls of takeout, the smell of Chinese food immediately floating through your flat.

Lily took the responsibility of setting out the food while Marlene took control of your little television, flipping between channels until she found a suitable romcom starting.

You didn't speak about what had happened, no one mentioned James Potter or the bloody Sunday People. Yet, there was an air of tenderness that let you know the girls knew exactly what was happening and how you were feeling about it.

Still, there was something bothering you. You couldn't give it a name immediately, only a tugging in your stomach while the girls were entertaining you, but persistent nonetheless.

It wasn't until you were all crammed into your bed, the other two peacefully asleep, that you could identify the sensation. It was an overwhelming desire, a need to write that you hadn't felt in ages. It was the same feeling that had pushed you to be a journalist in the first place, an inspiration you typically only felt watching a magical soccer final.

You crept out of your bedroom, switching on your computer at the kitchen table, squinting at the aggressive blue light. And when a blank Word document appeared before you, you started writing. Obsessively, feverishly, words poured out of you at a rate that hadn't happened since you'd started at Sunday People.

The words of the school girl fresh in your mind, you started an article vastly different from your usual kind. Instead of strategies and highlights you dissected your own experience of the past week, saying everything you hadn't let yourself unload to the paparazzi outside your office (though with fewer curse words than they would have received). It could have been minutes or hours that you were writing and you wouldn't have noticed, eyes glued on the screen in front of you.

You didn't realise you'd fallen asleep until Lily woke you gently with a hand on your shoulder, offering a steaming mug of tea. It was light outside, the world already up and awake. You were glad it was a weekend as the girls didn't need to rush off to work, cooking a simple breakfast for you all to share.

"What've you written?" Marlene asked, the second part of her sentence unnecessary: since you don't have a job to write for. You shrugged, taking a bite of some eggs.

"Just something I had to get off my chest. Might see if I can sell it to someone to tide me over 'til I figure out what I'm doing with my life."

"Can we read?" You made a 'go ahead' gesture, the computer already open to the screen.

A WOMAN'S UNWILLING WEEK IN THE PUBLIC EYE:

How a woman always loses.

You sat in mild discomfort as Lily and Marlene read your piece in silence, anxiously awaiting their reactions. They weren't what you were expecting.

When they turned back to face you, Lily had tears in her eyes, red tones brought out in her skin. Even Marlene looked uncharacteristically moved, not at all the reaction you were expecting. Firstly, it was completely unedited so you suspected it was somewhat of a mess from your midnight haze. Secondly, it was more of a vent than anything, getting your hatred for invasive paparazzi off your chest. You thought you'd all laugh about it then move on with your days.

"Lils, what's wrong?" You didn't mean to laugh, it was more out of surprise than anything else.

"It's just, it's so raw and real. It's so unfair," She sniffled, wiping her eyes with the sleeves of her sweater.

"Jesus, you don't have to cry," You said lightly, "I'm fine! I hated that bloody place anyway."

"That's not the point," Marlene pointed out, "And Lily's right, this is really confronting stuff. It's great."

"Thanks," You mumbled, studying a lamp for something to do.

"Can we talk about James?" Your head snapped back to look at her.

"What about him?"

"Clearly there's been some... developments in your relationship, which we don't have to talk about--"

"Yet," Marlene interrupted.

"The point is that it looks like there's feelings involved now. What are you doing about them? Because if you publish that, it's putting everything out there, and even I can't tell how you feel about James right now," Lily finished.

"I don't want to talk to him," You said quickly, "I know it's not his fault but I can't think about him without getting mad. It's like I wrote; he ends up fine while I lose my job over one kiss."

"Understandable," Marlene nodded, "But if I know James at all, he'll be going crazy every minute that you ignore him."

You had much to consider when the girls left. The state of your career, your feelings for James, everything felt too big and overwhelming to make any decisions about. So, you took a nap.

The rest of your weekend was spent sending your then-edited article to as many newspapers and blogs as you could and hiding out in your flat, dodging James' calls.

Unfortunately, you liked him. You'd figured out that much. More unfortunately, he hadn't done anything to help you out in all this mess, benefiting from the press in a way that only England's favourite footballer could.

On Monday morning your piece was published. Not the biggest or most reputable newspaper, if your name hadn't still been trending it probably would have gone largely noticed. Instead, it blew up.

It had mixed reviews, of course, a tell-all so blatantly feminist would always attract its haters, but you were floored by the support it was receiving. Women were validating your experiences in a way you hadn't expected even a few days ago. It made you not so scared to leave the house anymore.

On Tuesday morning, Remus called you. You had the thought that it might have been James calling to grovel on Remus' phone, but you thought it was a smart enough idea you'd indulge anyway. If it was Sirius you wouldn't have picked up.

Instead, it was actually Remus.

"Come to the media room this afternoon," He said, evidently not wasting time with pleasantries.

"What?" You asked, caught off-guard.

"Just do it. Two o'clock."

"Remus, you know I don't have a job anymore, right?"

"Come off it, you know anyone on the team would let you in. You've got quite a name for yourself," He chanced a joke and you rolled your eyes.

"What, whore?" You retorted, only a little worried it would be true.

"I'm hanging up," Was all he said before the line went dead. You huffed, snapping your phone closed with all the attitude of a spoiled private schoolgirl.

Yet, at two o'clock you were standing in front of the media room at James' team's stadium, questioning all of your life choices.

The room seemingly went silent when you entered, dozens of pairs of eyes staring you down as you nervously stuck to the wall. You felt the derogatory, leering stares from all the sleazy men who'd been accusing you of sleeping with players since you first started in the field. It made you want to drop dead.

James made his way to the lectern up the front of the room with a cough, quieting down the chaos.

"Afternoon, everyone. I'm sure you're all wondering why I've called you here, I've got some things I'd like to address.

"As you all well know, I've been a frequent face in the papers lately, and not for my brilliant playing as it usually is. I recently got followed down a street after a night out looking after an old friend who happened to be a colleague of yours. Now I know that my godly good looks lead you to believe that I don't feel the same as all of you, but I do. And I'd like you all to consider how you'd feel if a man with a camera followed you all the way home after you'd been out for a night with your friends and a few cheeky drinks. It's pretty invasive if you can't imagine.

"Now, all this press hasn't really affected me. However, my dear friend has been subject to misogynistic articles, slut-shaming and harassment all because we were seen out together and a few hateful words from someone I used to consider a mate." You had no idea where this was going, but you were absolutely fascinated. James was more well-spoken, more mature and solemn than you'd ever seen him, though he still had his audience in the palm of his hand with his casual jokes. It was a masterclass in public speaking.

"If you haven't read any of my friend's pieces I would highly recommend them; she's got a brilliant voice and I personally read everything she publishes. However, I'm not here to talk about her work; I'd actually like to talk about her if you all don't mind."

What the hell was happening?

"In the midst of all these articles over the last week, I know you've all seen various pictures of us, including from secondary school. A few come to my mind, our graduation picture is a highlight, but I'd really like to talk about this one." James brandished a printed-out photo you recognised instantly.

"This photo was taken when we were twelve or thirteen years old at someone's party. That night, as you tend to do when you're young and bored, we played spin the bottle and ended up being each other's first kiss. I'm sure you're all wondering why I'm telling this story now, and it's because ever since that night as I have recently realised, almost a decade later, I have been embarrassingly, stupidly in love with her."

Your life wasn't real, it absolutely could not be.

"And though I've done some incredibly dumb things over the years, somehow she's managed to like me back -- at least a little. So I'm setting the record straight right now, she is not 'sleeping to the top' or trying to get a secret scoop out of me because I'm the one who's been chasing after her for twelve years.

"I know I've been rambling on for far too long so I'll wrap it up here, but I just wanted to end this little conference with a warning that if I see any more disgusting, hateful articles about her, you won't be getting another comment from me again. So nice to see you all!"

The room started to trickle out but you were stuck to your spot against the wall, frozen in absolute shock. You hardly even noticed the dirty looks you got from some of the people you'd been working alongside for years.

You spotted James in another corner, drinking out of a plastic water bottle and messing with his hair. A nervous tell.

The room was almost completely empty when you approached him, heels muffled by the carpeted floor.

"Hey stranger," You said softly, feeling way out of your depth. He turned in an instant, smile lighting up his face then melting away as it was replaced with an insecure frown.

"Was that okay? I didn't want to embarrass you but I wanted to step up and do something and protect you and--"

"Have you really loved me since we were twelve?" You cut him off bluntly.

"Every day since, as I've figured out," He agreed with a slight nod, glasses slipping down his nose slightly.

"What about all the flirting with Lily? The other girls over the years?"

"So obviously fake. Distractions. It's never been anyone but you, love."

You could only stare at him for a moment, your whole world shifting beneath your feet. James' face became increasingly worried, brow furrowing more the longer you remained unresponsive.

"If you don't feel the same that's totally alright, I still stand by what I did and I don't want you being harassed for--"

You'd always thought that cutting someone off with a kiss was ridiculously cheesy, reserved for shitty Hallmark movies with grown-up child actors who never got their big break. Turns out though, when you realise that your girlish crush on the star footballer has actually been a complicated love of twelve years, you don't really want to waste any more time.

When you woke up on Wednesday morning with James next to you, body heat keeping you cozy, you were convinced you had to be dreaming. When you eventually got up to check your emails and start your day the hypothesis was only solidified by the impossible email waiting in your inbox.

The fucking BBC wanted to hire you as a football commentator and sports writer. Your dream job at your dream company. If you let out an embarrassing squeal then that was none of your business.

You were still convinced you were hallucinating the whole thing until James came in with his biggest smile and that look in his eyes that told you he probably had a hand in getting your name on the BBC desks.

Even a few weeks ago you would have been mad at him, assuming it was mocking or he had ulterior motives. But it wasn't a few weeks ago anymore, and James Potter's whole, endless heart belonged to you. You weren't letting that go anytime soon.