#when your stylist says your hair needs some curl

[angelsonthesideline]

[thecoochiefairy]

kill bill. toji fushiguro.

𑄽𑄺 warnings 𑄽𑄺 27.5K word count. toji! fushiguro! third person omniscient pov, black woman, vaginal penetration, deflowering, angry sex, rough sex, sweet sex, sweet talkin’, hair pulling, squirting, creaming, oral [f] [m], choking, praising, LOTS of dirty talk, condomless sex, creampie, kissing, spanking, aggressive toji, caring toji, lil bit of sweet toji, violence, grief, loss, family drama, mention of suguru getou, minors aren’t welcome!

━━ 𝒄𝙤𝒐𝙘𝒉𝙞𝒆𝙛𝒂𝙞𝒓𝙮 𝙩𝒉𝙤𝒖𝙜𝒉𝙩𝒔 .ᐟ now look, you should know when i make a fic, that hoe definitely gon’ be long as fuck. so don’t scream at me, okay? let’s make this a lil early christmas gift to my babies. i think this my favorite fic i’ve written. i’ve chained myself to the bed to finish this. i loved this plot so much. so so much. omg y’all. please enjoy it. please. okay, i’ve said enough.

song while listening ᖭི༏ᖫྀ :: for certain, partynextdoor.

ᖭི༏ᖫྀ :: ….small note for name pronunciations within fic— nozomi (NO—ZO—ME) ami (AH—ME) isamu (EE—SAH—MOO).

PARTYNEXTDOOR FILLED THE SPEAKERS OF THE ROOM, R&B CRAWLING AMONGST THE WALLS. This is where she felt most at peace, her focus directly on her regular customer. 

“This is a new color for me, are you sure it’ll look nice?”

“Stop worrying, the color suits you beautifully. No black woman should ever turn away from brown hair,” she tells her, lessening the worry upon the customer's face. 

“Even at my age?” 

“Even at your gorgeous age, Ms. Bernice.” 

She adds the finishing touches, removing the curling iron as she sat it down on the table next to her. She spruces out the layered curls as she gives her a grin, “You’ ready to see?”

The woman who sat upon the chair nodded her head vigorously in excitement. She had been trying to convince Ms. Bernice to try a wig since she complained with her age that she was losing her hair. She offered to give her an age-appropriate bob, layered in between its curls. 

Her eyes gleamed as she turned in the chair to look in the mirror, a gasp of surprise escaping her lips as she inspected herself in disbelief, running her fingers through the silky soft hair, in complete shock that it was a wig. 

Her eyes sparkled in awe before turning back to her stylist, “It’s—It’s amazing! I look better now than I did with my real hair!”

“You looked just as beautiful before. I just enhanced your beauty,” she shakes her head, “It came out perfect.”

The woman laughed as she took out her wallet from her purse, “My husband’s going to flip when he sees this, you’re gonna get me in trouble!” 

Ms. Bernice then goes to pull out a fifty-dollar bill, this being her tip after already paying her in full as she says, “Thank you, Nozomi. You’ve really outdone yourself today.” 

Nozomi instantly takes the money, reaching around to put it back into her customers purse, “I told you to stop giving me those big ass tips, put some gas in your car or something. You know I’d do this for free if I didn’t have bills.”

The woman chuckled heartily as she pushed the money into Nozomi’s hand, making sure she took it, “Of course I know you’d do it for free, that’s exactly why I’m giving you a big tip! You don’t need the money, but you sure deserve it, you work so hard everyday, it’s the least I could do for you.”

She smiled as she then accepted the money, “Thank you. I really appreciate you.”

Ms. Bernice waves her hand, “Don’t start your sentimental stuff before I start crying. Anyways, can I book you again next week for a touch up? I have an event.” 

Nozomi sighs, “I’m sorry, my love. I’ll actually be out of town, my older sister’s getting married. I should be back a week after that.” 

“No worries—oh, a wedding, how beautiful. Congratulations to her. Where’s it gonna be?”

“It’s uh… actually a surprise to me. To the entire family, damn near. We won’t know until we get the invitations, but she gave us the dates and bought the tickets, so kinda sorta a free trip,” she briefly explains, “I’d never say no to that.”

“Ooh, a destination wedding, how exciting!” The woman clapped her hands together, “It’s like a mystery vacation,” Suddenly an idea popped into the her mind as she spoke, “Maybe it’s Vegas?”

Nozomi’s neck flung back, “God, I hope not. She might as well have Elvis be her damn officiant.”

Ms. Bernice chuckled as she spoke, “From the way you talk about her, she seems a little bougie. Probably Singapore or something.” 

“Now she knows our black ass family ain’t traveling to no damn Singapore,” Nozomi chuckled, “If that’s the case—pray for me. It’ll be a shit show.”

The woman laughed once more before nodding her head and standing up from the chair, grabbing her purse that rested on the counter on the opposite side of the room, “Maybe she’ll surprise you, send everyone off to Paris or something.” 

“The girl is bougie—never said she wasn’t a little frugal,” Nozomi replied as she walked her to the door.

“And that’s why you marry a rich man like your sister did,” Ms. Bernice finalizes. 

“That we can both agree on,” Nozomi chuckles, “See you next time, take a bunch of pictures for me!”

The woman gave a wave before walking out the door, “I will, I will! Bye bye now!” She shouted behind her. 

When she opens the door to let her out, Ms. Bernice stops herself from tripping as she nearly steps over an object along the ground. Nozomi looks down as she notices a pale pink box. 

She frowns, looking around the quiet outside before she hesitantly picks up the box, taking it inside her shop. Placing it along the counter, she pulls the silk white ribbon holding it together, opening the top as it looks to be cherry blossom petals within the box, scattering beneath the pink envelope, golden words trimmed atop of it. This was her sister's wedding invitation. 

She turns down the music within her shop as she absentmindedly begins to clean, other hand occupied as she reads the invitation. Then, her phone begins to ring. 

Ami. Just like clockwork. 

She holds the phone to her ear as she answers, continuing to read the invitation. The squeal on the other line was a usual greeting, something she was used to at this point. 

“Did you get it?”

Nozomi blinks at the envelope, “I did. Uh…Kyoto, Japan, Ami? Really?”

She could hear Ami giggling on the other line of the phone, her excitement evident, “Yes, really! Isn’t it perfect?” 

Nozomi continued to look at the envelope in hand, the pink cherry blossom petals filling out the box, “I…” she sighs, “It’s perfect. I love it.”

“No, no. Say what you need to say before you start holding in your anger and it turns into an even bigger thing.”

“I haven’t been to Japan in two years, Ami. Not since mom’s passing.”

She didn’t want to ruin the mood, knowing her sister wouldn’t let her comment make her upset. She just wanted to remind her. The mention of a place they once called home made something in her stomach turn, their mother being a fully black woman, their father being a full-blooded Japanese man. Their mom met him when traveling for school, and they fell in love immediately, raising their family there up until her sickness. They’d been back and forth between Kyoto and the states, but both of them were home to Nozomi. 

 They took traits from both parents. Ami looked more like their father, fair skinned, hair more pin-straight then anything, while Nozomi looked exactly like their mom, toffee skin, only having her fathers cheekbones, freckles and eyes. Every time she looked in the mirror, her heart ached.

“I know, I know…but,” Ami began to speak, her tone now more gentle than excited, “I just wanted to have the wedding somewhere special. Somewhere that’s special to us…”

Nozomi sighed once more, setting the invitation back amongst the cherry blossom petals. Her eyes traced over the golden writing, a small smile spreading across her lips, though her heart was still aching.

“I understand. Kyoto is an amazing place to have picked, mommy always loved it there. But it’s your man’s hometown too, huh? Did he have any say in this choice?”

She could hear her sister’s soft chuckle on the other line, her smile more than likely a soft one as she spoke, “Suguru thinks it’s a good idea, his family is already here, that’s less expenses on us. Although we still had to fly out our family, it was a smart choice.” 

There was a moment of silence before she could hear Ami speak once again, her tone holding a hint of concern, “Are you upset? I feel like you’re upset.”

Nozomi shakes her head, closing the top of the box as she says, “No, no. Not at all. I’m just…I didn’t think I’d be back there so soon. It’ll feel a little strange,” her smile is weak, trying to be lighthearted. Keyword—tried.

 She then asks, “Is uh…Is dad coming?”

Nozomi and her father’s relationship hadn’t been the best since her mother’s passing. After finding out he had been cheating on her while she was sick, Nozomi didn’t have anything to say to him. Ami kept in contact—that was enough for her.

A heavy silence fell on the other end of the line for a few moments, her sister’s voice finally breaking the uncomfortable silence between them.

“He is.” 

Nozomi could feel her heart begin to ache again, her smile disappearing. The topic of their father had always been a sore subject, though she knew it was better left alone. 

“Great,” she mutters, beginning to place the invitation politely back into the box, placing her other belongings in her purse as she was about to lock up her shop.

Her sister quickly replied on the other end of the line, holding a hint of panic, “Nozomi…don’t be like that. I know you have your feelings towards him, I get it. All I ask is that you at least try to be civil with him? For my wedding? I don’t want any drama.”

“I’d never do that to you, Ami,” she tells her, “Wanna go down your list of invites since you think I’m so barbaric?”

She could feel Ami rolling her eyes, “Don’t start your dramatics. Not when I’m about to tell you that I want you to be my maid of honor.” 

Nozomi halts, dropping her wallet into her purse as she glances out the window, “Me? Your maid of honor?”

A soft chuckle escaped her sister's lips, “Well duh, who else would it be? You’re my sissy-pooh. I’ve already got your dress, don’t worry, it’s not ugly. You’re excited, right? Please tell me you’re excited.”

Nozomi nods her head as if her sibling can see her, “Of course I’m excited. I just assumed that you would pick one of your friends.” 

“Oh, true. I mean, Kim will be there to help you—“

“Kim?” 

The entire conversation halts. It’s not that Nozomi was dramatic, however the name did bring an annoyance to her chest that she couldn’t shake. This was one of her sister's good friends, a friend of hers at one point—up until she slept with her man—the same man she was about to make things official with. It technically wasn’t cheating, but it was a fucked up gesture in her playbook.

“Yes, of course Kim is going to be there. I can’t not invite her to my wedding.”

“I’m aware,” Nozomi mutters more to herself, “But if you expect me to be butt-buddies wit ‘Kim-who-fucks-bitches-niggas’ Kim? Then it’ll be a cold day in hell, bridezilla. I’ll be cordial.” 

“Well you better keep that same energy when you see the man she fucked, cause Toji will be Suguru’s best man.” 

A pen could’ve dropped. 

The name echoed in her mind. She couldn’t lie to herself and say at one point she wasn’t endlessly in love with Toji. She had always been stubborn, not as emotional as her sister or willing to be in love the way Ami allowed herself to. But when the opportunity came with Toji, she made him work for it. He was just like her—stubborn, stern, aggressive—but he knew what he wanted, and that was her. He was the only person that could soften those walls, and just when she was ready to be committed to him, she found out that he hooked up with Kim, knowing that was also her friend, Kim also knowing that was her man. Both of them could go to hell.

Nozomi’s hand tightened around the phone, “Toji is his best man?”

Ami let out a breath as she spoke once more, her voice filled with reluctance, “I…yes. I know you both went through a rough patch—“ 

Nozomi could hear her sister’s voice soften even more, her voice taking a gentler tone, “I know things didn’t end well with you two, and I didn’t mention it before because I didn’t want you to say some bullshit about not going to my wedding.”

“Girl, bye. I love your ugly ass too much not to show up at your wedding,” she tries to joke away her anxiety, “Just send me pictures of all the bridesmaids dresses so I can know how to do my hair.”

Her sister’s giggles came through the phone as her squeal calmed down, her giddiness evident in her voice, “I’m so excited. Oh my God, everything is falling together! I already picked out the flowers…this is gonna be so much fun! Kyoto! Kyoto!” 

Nozomi could hear her sister begin to ramble on about her wedding preparations, it was cute to see her so excited and in love. But the back of her mind filled with the endless possibilities of this being a disaster. Her technical ex was in one room, while her ex-friend was in the other. She didn’t know who to swing on first. But this was her sister's wedding. It would be a perfect day for her. 

….Or an extremely hot day in Nozomi’s personal hell.

                      ‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.  𐦍༘⋆ ‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.  𐦍༘⋆

IT SEEMED LIKE THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS FLEW BY, and she was now arriving back in a place her parents called home at one point—Kyoto, Japan. The minute her feet landed in Osaka’s international airport, the crisp air made chills come down her spine. Memories of her mom rushed through mind like a collage, her smile, her laugh. Her throat went tight again. 

When she brought her focus back to finding her exit, a familiar face held up a sign that read, ‘NOZOMI—OMI.’ The nickname made her smile, pulling her suitcase as she ran up towards her older brother, Isamu, wrapping her arms around his neck as she crushed him into a hug. She wasn’t the affectionate type—but she also hadn't seen him since the funeral. She was the only sibling that now lived within the states, Ami staying in Kyoto with Suguru after the funeral, and Isamu living not too far from them. Nozomi needed the space and time to grieve. But maybe family was something she needed too. 

“Woah—hey, Omi’,” he clutched her, Nozomi digging her face into his shirt. Her eyes begin to well with tears, unable to stop herself as she squeezed him harder.

Her older brother wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer to him as he held her, his arms holding her around the waist as he squeezed her back. She couldn’t see it from having her face buried in his chest, but his face held a soft, sad smile. 

When he spoke, his deep voice was soft, “You’re squeezing me pretty hard, Omi’. You’ scared imma’ disappear if you let me go?”

“Maybe,” she muffled softly, squeezing the tightest she possibly could’ve, “Just—a little longer, please.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” 

He was well aware of the emotions going through her mind. Not seeing any of her family in over two years was hard enough. But returning to their family’s hometown was even harder. 

She quickly wiped her eyes before actual tears could come, hearing his voice made her want to break down. Her and her older brother had always been close—she missed his comfort, especially with their sister too busy in her relationship.

“How are you?” She asks, “You’ been okay?”

“I’ve been good…keeping busy with work and everything that’s been happening around here.” 

There was a brief moment of silence between the two before he spoke again, his voice a little quieter than before, “And you?“

“I’m…good,” she lies, “I’ve just been working. The hair business is great, I’m just…excited to be back here and spend time with you and Ami. I didn’t expect her to want to do the wedding here, considering how hard she took mom’s passing.”

Isamu could tell she was lying, knowing her as well as he did. But he decided against saying anything about it, not wanting to push the topic. His mouth twisted into a small smile as he spoke, “I think it kind of brings her comfort. Being here and all. She says it makes her feel like a piece of mom is here with us.”

He placed a gentle hand against her shoulder, his eyes holding a sad look as he spoke, “How are you feeling about all this? About being here right now?”

That was the burning question. She could handle being here, but as far as speaking upon her mom—she wasn’t ready for that. 

She brushed off the urge to cry again, “It feels nice to be here in Kyoto. I feel at home. However, the rest of our family, Kim, Toji, and our father all in one room? Ami has lost her damn mind to think that would go over well. It’ll be one terrible ass Jerry Springer episode.”

“She’s definitely lost her damn mind,” He agreed, “She’s hellbent on it all being perfect and everyone playing nice.”

“Did you know Toji was the best man? Since when did him and ole’ boy become so close?” She questions, watching as he begins picking up her suitcase, following him out of the airport, “And don’t get to defending your little boyfriend either, I’m aware at how close y’all are,” she threatens, referring to him and Toji’s relationship.

As he loaded her luggage into the trunk of his car, he let out a gentle laugh as he closed the trunk and leaned against the back of it. 

His eyes rolled into his skull as he thought about how to reply, “Him and Suguru got cool overtime, I don’t know. They’ve known each other for a while. Ole boy got a name, dickhead. I’m not defending Toji. I could give you reasons to hate him, but I’m not going to feed into that.”

His eyes met hers, a sly look in his gaze as he spoke, “But you’re not exactly the angel that you think you are.”

“Wh—me?! The hell did I do?” 

He knew he triggered an extremely long ramble, trying to hold back his laugh as she got in the passengers seat, “I don’t fuck peoples men! That’s Kim’s slimy ass! And I’m not the one with the dick that fucked Kim! Toji’s a slimey-nasty-bitch too!”

A loud bark of laughter came from him as they were on their way to their old home, another place Nozomi wasn’t sure she could handle being at. He snickered quietly as they drove, “It’s called a joke, Omi’. Damn. Chill before you pop a blood vessel.”

He chuckled to himself again, “That was some fucked up shit though, not gon’ lie.”

“Not fucked up enough for you to still be cool with him, and definitely not fucked up enough for him to be Suguru’s best man,” Nozomi grumbled.

“I don’t expect you to play nice with him or Kim.”

“At least your expectations aren’t as high as our sisters. You should lower them to hell, considering I wanna rip Kim’s arm off her body and smack her around with it. Fuck that hoe.”

His voice held a hint of amusement, “You got a whole lot of pent up anger and aggression going on in that frame. You might wanna calm down and get that checked out.”

“Oh shut the fuck up,” she grumbled, leaning herself more into the window.

As they continued to drive, she got a good look of the city. It looked as if it never changed. The trees were still healthily green, buildings still posh, everything was always so put together. This was home for her father as well, it made her wonder where he was, but the thought of speaking to him came back to mind. She didn’t want to talk.

Isamu could see her looking out the window in her silent behavior. Even as a child, she didn’t talk as much. 

They soon pulled up to the familiar home, Isamu turning the car off before looking over to her, his voice soft as he spoke, “You ready?”

She didn’t look at him as she sighed, “I have to be.” 

When she stepped out of the car, she looked over the childhood home. A shock came to her face as it seemed to be entirely re-modeled, yet still the same. Dark brown wood on the rooftop of the white house, caramel timber holding the walls all together. Lanterns were all around, glowing the building in a beautiful sight. An aura felt carried around it, almost as if she were here.

Nozomi looked back to her brother as her eyes narrowed, “When did y’all uh…remodel the house?”

He walked alongside her towards the front door, pulling a set of keys out of his pocket as he replied, “Ami started getting it done. A wedding gift to herself, I guess.”

She nods her head, still looking up, keeping her eyes along the trees that hunched over the home. She then hears her brother ask, “You don’t like it?”

She shakes her head, “Nah, it’s perfect. Mom always wanted this place remodeled, dad always griped about wanting a traditional home. She would’ve loved it.”

He chuckled under his breath, the sound a little sad, “Yeah…she always wanted all the fancy things. She would’ve loved this home. Dad’s probably somewhere complaining about it as we speak.” 

Their father was old school, and wanted to maintain the traditional things that Japan had to offer.

“But who gives a fuck about his opinions,” she adds on beneath her breath.

Her attention was pulled as she heard a squeal coming from the top of the stairs. The house looked small on the outside, but on the inside it held about seven bedrooms, perfectly accompanied for a big family that was always usually within the house. The furniture was still pretty small, most of it low to the ground, similar to the beds within the bedrooms, more large, still being covered by Shoji screens, thankful that each room had space enough to muffle the sound next to the other. She was sorry for the room closest to the newlyweds.

When her attention came back, she was nearly tackled as Ami wrapped her arms around Nozomi’s neck, wrapping her legs around her as well as she locked her into a hug. Nozomi couldn’t help but laugh softly, holding her tightly as she said, “Hey, beautiful. I missed you.” 

She could feel her top beginning to dampen, a small laugh falling from her lips again as she said, “Ami, why are you crying?”

Ami’s voice was soft and shaky as she attempted to speak through her tears, “I missed you too. So much, it’s just—“ Her voice broke off into a sob as she buried her face in Nozomi’s neck, her small hands gripping tighter to her sister as she continued to sob in her arms.

“I’m here,” she sighed, pulling her closer, “I missed you more. Please stop crying, this is the shit we’re supposed to be doing on your wedding day.”

“I know. I know, I’m…I’m okay. I swear, I’m just…glad you’re here, Omi’.” 

“Is she crying again?” 

A voice came down the stairs, appearing to be Ami's fiancè. He was just as handsome as Nozomi remembered him, long dark hair pulled out of his face, black sweatshirt, muscles bulging through the top, a tattoo coursing along his arm. 

Nozomi said, “Yes, she is.”

“Babydoll, don’t cry,” he tells her sister, coming from behind and rubbing her shoulder.

Ami turned towards her fiancé, her eyes still watery from crying. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her against his body, her face flushed a soft shade of pink as she smiled. 

Isamu clarified, “She’s fine. Just emotional.”

“Remember when you cried every-time it rained outside, because you thought God was sad at you for behaving badly at school? Yeah, shut up,” Ami insults their brother, both of them putting their middle fingers up to each other. 

Nozomi says to Suguru, “It’s good to see you. Are you happy about the wedding being in your hometown? Is your family excited?”

The soon-to-be husband chuckled quietly as he spoke, his arms still wrapped around Ami as he said, “Everyone’s excited as hell. I can’t wait to make her my wife.”

Nozomi nods her head with a smile. He was sweet. Another question comes to mind as they hear a pair of feet circling the corner from where the office was, a familiar face appearing in the kitchen. Here she was, the infamous Kim. 

Her olive toned skin was always perfect, her dark brown hair up in a sleek ponytail. Her outfits were always classy and expensive. She was a beautiful woman, Nozomi could admit that. She just wished that beauty ran deeper than the skin surface.

Kim’s eyes flicked to everyone in the room, before they landed on Nozomi. A sly smile spread across her lips as she crossed the room, her voice sickeningly sweet as she spoke, “Well…if it isn’t little Omi’.”

“Hey, Kim,” Nozomi gives her a wave, wanting to say nothing else after that. 

Ami then budges in, “That’s it, ‘Hey, Kim?’ You can do better than that.” 

Nozomi raises an eyebrow, “You’ want us to start scissoring or something?”

“Jesus!” Ami smacks her arm, her fiancè and brother laughing at her younger sister's mouth. 

Kim then shrugs, “It’s fine. It’s nice to see you. It’s been so long,” Kim gives her a scan of her entire body, “It seems nothing has changed.“

That comment has Nozomi narrow her eyes, and it seems as if the whole room is holding their breath. She could admit, her and Kim were completely different, and that might’ve tied into more of her insecurities when the man she thought was attracted to her, went after her friend behind her back.

….Did Kim seem more calm? Eloquent? Classy? Knew when to shut up? What was it? 

Even if Kim was better in some aspects, that didn’t mean she couldn’t get the shit smacked out of her. Before Nozomi could dig into her ass, a pair of footsteps interrupt her foul insults, and when her eyes lock on the dark boots that stomp down each step, her throat nearly goes numb.

Each stomp of the boots was like the ticking of a clock, time slowing as she took in the figure standing on the stairs. A feeling of dread settled in her stomach, her mouth going dry as her lips parted but no words came out. Isamu and Ami both looked at her, noting her reaction. 

Toji’s tall frame came down the steps, his expression as cold and apathetic as usual, not that it was abnormal. The man had always been so stoic, to the point that it felt as if there was no life behind his eyes. Or, as Ami had stated a million times before, “That man isn’t a person, he’s a block of ice.” 

The more he matured, the finer he got. They weren’t much different in age, him and her siblings being thirty while she was only twenty-seven, but that came with a price. She was always blamed for not being as participant or even being a hot head, and as soon as she crashed out, her age was the first reason for explanation. But Toji never saw her that way. At least, that’s how he made her feel. 

The dark shirt he wore clung to his broad frame, contrasting the Japanese words that swirled along his arm, creating an entire sleeve that went up to his shoulder, dancing up to the side of his neck, disappearing behind his ear and clothing. His onyx hair and eyebrows, always low each time he entered a room. He was scary, sexy, tempting. Damn him. 

“Took you long enough,” Suguru said to him, “‘Fuck were you doing up there, powdering your nose?”

The tall man huffs in amusement as he responds, his voice deep and smooth, “I had to make an important phone call, you annoying bastard.” 

His friend gives him a smirk, as if mocking his words, “Who were you calling?” 

Toji rolls his eyes as he replies, “None of your fuckin’ business.”

“Omi’s here!” Ami interrupted, almost as if it was something to panic over. 

The entire room locked eyes with her, as if waiting for some type of reaction. They didn’t know what to expect. It annoyed her. When his eyes locked on her, she felt like she wanted to melt into the ground. One thing he could expect from her— she was different from her siblings. She stood in a white baby tee, star shaped nipple piercings poking through the top. Her green cargo pants were slightly baggy, hair in individual braids, poking in between  wavy human hair. 

They’re bohemian goddess braids, jackass. Look it up, he remembers her telling him. 

Her glasses laid upon her freckled face, almost looking similar to an office siren, nose ring shining beneath the lights of the kitchen. Small tattoos roamed her frame, large hips never discreet in any clothing she wore. She was fucking gorgeous.

His eyes took her entire body in, her usual appearance making his eyes narrow faintly. It made the scar on his lip twitch. She looked good, too good. Her brown skin was always just as smooth, her body just as curvy and attractive as always. 

“Yeah,” he scans her up and down, “She is.”

Nozomi has the sudden urge to choke him. 

Her attitude comes first as she completely bypasses him, looking at her sister as she says, “Show me to my room?”

The air suddenly tensed as she avoided him like the plague, his eyes narrowing further at her behavior. Ami noticed it as well, and she quickly nodded. 

“Uh, yeah…follow me.” 

She gave her fiancé a kiss on the cheek before she began walking up the stairs, gesturing for Nozomi to follow her.

“Who else is gonna be staying here?” Nozomi asks, yet she gets no response. She felt a mood shift within her sister, and she knew a lecture was about to come. Once they make it in front of her door, Ami turns to her and quietly whispers, “Why did you do that?!” 

Nozomi tilts her head, “Do what?”

Ami looks at her as if it’s obvious, her tone laced with confusion as she whispers back, “Ignore Toji!” 

She glances down the hall to make sure no one can hear them as she continues to speak in a quiet tone, “You acted like he wasn’t even there!”

“You didn’t tell me he was gonna be here, Ami. Don’t act like you didn’t purposely do that,” Nozomi replies, crossing her arms over her chest.

Ami lets out a long sigh, placing her hands on her hips as she rolls her eyes, “Look, I’m sorry, but you’re both adults. I know you’re mad at him, but you can’t act like he doesn’t exist the entire weekend.”

“I actually can!” She exclaims back in a whisper, “He can fuck Kim in every Kama Sutra position known to man. I wouldn’t give a fuck if he stood there in a clown costume! I still wouldn’t have spoken.” 

“Are you done?” Ami blinks. 

Nozomi then pulls back with a sigh, realizing how she’s being. “I’m sorry. Maybe I should just get a hotel. I don’t wanna ruin your weekend.” 

Ami shakes her head as she replies, “You’re not getting a hotel. Just…can you please try to speak to Toji? Like…be mature about it? You didn’t work out, sure. That’s okay!”

Nozomi blinks, “It’s okay? It’s okay that I was practically in love with the bastard, was gonna let him break me out of my abstinence? Take my virginity? Then to find out he fucked Kim because what— her pussy was free? Fuck him!” 

Ami squints, “You’re still a virgin?”

“Ami!”

Ami looks surprised for a moment before her face becomes neutral again, her voice lowering, “Really? You and Toji never…?” 

She pauses for a moment, as if realizing something else after asking that question. Her eyes widen as she speaks, her tone now in a low whisper, “How? You literally told me you had sex before? Did you lie? Why would you lie to me?!”

“Because I didn’t want you to think I was a weirdo or something, you were all experienced and shit, sex was scary to me! Still is! And you think imma’ let that gorilla take my banana when he’s giving his for free?”

“You don’t have a banana,” Ami reminds. 

“You get my analogy, though. My point still stands, fuck him.”

Ami groans faintly, raising her hands up to rub her temples to calm her growing headache. She sighs as she speaks, “I know, I know…but I need you to be mature about it for one weekend. Please?!” 

“I will respectfully ignore him, unless you want me to be so sweet that I slice his throat in his sleep. And that’s being charitable.”

Ami looks horrified for a moment at her response, her eyes wide as she replies, “No! You will not do that! My wedding does not include any cutting of throats!”

Nozomi stands there with her arms crossed, similar to a child before she huffs, “Fine.” 

“Good! Now go change and get washed up. Matter of fact, you’ll be in the kitchen. With Toji. Helping him cook. Goodbye!”

Nozomi’s eyes go wide, “Ami!—“

Her sister makes an incredulous noise, silencing her before she walks away. She wants to throw a tantrum. Fuck.

After showering, she was now fully dressed in a gray long sleeve that hugged her upper body, matching sweats and her house slippers that wouldn’t ache her feet like her regular shoes did. Her braids were held up by a claw clip, no makeup residual on her face as she pressed her glasses up along her nose. She’d put in her contacts eventually. She was hoping that she would enter the kitchen first, but as she saw Toji standing there in a black wife beater and sweats, silver jewelry clinking along his wrist, she held her breath. She held back the roll in her eyes as she scanned the countertop to see all the prepped food, not knowing where to start. Maybe this was the time to speak. 

Thankfully, she can hear his deep, gruff voice as she seems to be on the phone, speaking in Japanese. She understood most of it, but she didn’t care enough to listen to what he had to say. She took that as her opportunity to scan over the small box in the middle of the island, holding what looked to be the recipe for dinner tonight.

Toji’s eyes were on her the moment she entered the room, watching her movements as she took her time scanning the countertop, analyzing the ingredients and prepped food in front of her. He could admit, she looked as attractive as she did the first day he met her. Her skin was still smooth, hair braided up, tattoos exposed for him to admire beneath the gray clothing she adorned. Her glasses perched on her nose, making her look naturally sexy. Damn her.

She frowns down at the recipes, realizing how familiar they sound. She takes this moment to finally speak to him, never looking up from the counter as she asks, “Did Ami give these to you?”

He was surprised she'd actually spoken, even if it was to acknowledge the recipe, and not him. His eyes scanned her, noting the way her body looked in her current clothing, and how she was still somehow just as attractive in something as simple as sweats.

“Yeah, she did.”

“I’m assuming she has you cooking everything this weekend,” she comments, eyes glancing up at him.

Toji lets out a huff, and his deep voice responds to her question, “Not everything, but I am cooking.” 

He returns her stare, gray eyes scanning her face. He could tell she was bothered just by being in the room with him, but she was holding up. 

“So what did you need help with, then?” She questions, “It looks like you have everything under control.”

Something in him became immensely irritated at how she was being. He knew that she was still upset with him, but for the sake of her sister's wedding, he hoped she would put her feelings to the side. Clearly not. 

“I’m good. You can go,” he tells her, sharpness in his tone. 

She turns to leave the kitchen, and when he sees that she’s actually leaving, he becomes pissed off. 

“You’re gonna do this bullshit all weekend?”

Nozomi halts, turning towards him with a raised eyebrow. She replies, “Call it what you want, Fushiguro.”

“What, you don’t call me Toji anymore?” He snips, a sharp tongue being one of their similarities when they annoyed each other.

“Is that what you want?” 

“I want you to stop acting like a fuckin’ child.”

That makes both her eyebrows raise as she replies with an amused huff, “Huh. A child. Well how about I get back to my playground? Kim can come assist you.”

“Stop acting like a fuckin’ brat. Don’t act like you don’t feel something from seeing me.”

“Do you think you’re a prize? What did you think? That I was gonna be happy to see you? Jump for joy? Fuck you on this countertop? Don’t be fucking stupid. Do you need help in the kitchen or not? Cause that’s really all that needs to be said between us. I was doing my sister a favor by coming in here,” she snaps, anger seeping through her that she hadn’t felt in years.

“Don’t be a smart ass. I know that you’re pissed. I get that. But the weekend has barely started, and it’s already irritating dealing with your childish bullshit.”

“Then leave me the fuck alone, Fushiguro! I was fine before you said anything to me. I’m not gonna ruin my sister's wedding by bringing my own issues with you into that. I was fine before, I will be fine.” 

When she goes to turn, she feels him lock his hand around her wrist, her other hand close enough to the kitchen counter as she warns, “My hand is seconds away from a knife. Let go of me.”

For a split moment, he wonders if she’d actually stab him. She might. He decides to test that thought and refuses to listen to her, not letting go of her wrist.

“Maybe that’ll show me that you actually give a fuck to have a conversation,” he sharply replies.

“I don’t,” she promises. 

Damn, this woman. When he goes to pull her closer, the door to the kitchen swings open, the familiar ponytail appearing that almost makes Nozomi actually want to go for the knife on the counter. Kim. If she swung forward enough, she’d slice both of them.

The sight of Kim was both a good and bad thing. It was good because the brunette would act as a buffer between the two. It was bad because it would stop him from talking to Nozomi alone, since he was unable to do so outside of the kitchen. 

Kim asks, “You guys need help? Ami told me to come assist.”

“Of course she did,” Nozomi replies, her tongue on fire, “You got it. He seems to prefer you anyway.” 

She finally snatches herself away from him, making her way out of the kitchen without saying anything else. She barely acknowledges Kim, wanting to spit on her from how pissed she was. Fuck both of them.

Toji is almost tempted to grab her wrist again and snatch her back. His eyes watch her storm out in anger, and he turns his glare to Kim, who has no idea what the hell was going on. 

She looks to Toji, blowing out a breath as she mutters, “Drama Queen,” before shaking her head, “C’mon, I’ll help you finish. I’m starving.”

Nozomi was so upset that she was shaking. She didn’t think that she would care that much about seeing him or even speaking to him, but as soon as they went back and forth, all her feelings came erupting like vomit, and she didn’t know how to deal with them. She might’ve actually hurt him had she stayed in the kitchen. When she went back into her room, she kicked her shoes off, laying within the bed as she pressed her face into the sheets. She could feel her hot tears brimming into the comforter, wishing she wouldn’t cry when she was pissed off. 

She feels as if she’s laying there for an eternity. But as she hears her door slide open, she knows it’s her older sister. 

She mutters, “Not now, Ami. Please.”

She quietly closes the door behind her and makes her way to Nozomi, lowering onto the mattress as she sits down beside her. Ami gently places a hand on her back as she speaks, her tone soft, “You alright?”

It’s like the question had something almost shatter inside of her. She wraps her arms around the pillow in front of her, digging her face into it as she cries softly, “I fucking hate him.”

“You don’t hate him.”

“I know,” she replied, voice trembling. She didn’t hate him. In fact, seeing him again, she missed him so much. Everything hit her, her doubts, her insecurities. It all stood in between him and her sister's friend. 

“I feel so stupid. I’m stupid,”  she repeats, “Crying over a nigga that dropped me because I wasn’t ready to sleep with him.” 

“That’s not what it was about, Omi’,” her sister tries to counter.

Nozomi then sits up, “Then what was it, Ami? I know it’s because she’s prettier, thinner, smarter. More money. I just—“ 

She takes in a breath, trying to wipe her red face, “I just wish it didn’t hurt that bad. That she didn’t make me feel worse about it.”

Ami’s heart hurt as her sister voiced the thoughts that had been tormenting her. The insecurities and the pain that Toji had caused. Her sister had spent two years tormenting herself as if it was her fault.  

Ami gently takes her hand to squeeze, her eyes meeting with hers firmly, “You are so so stupid if you think that’s the only reason he fell for you. You’re beautiful and intelligent and talented. He didn’t break up with you because someone was better than you. And she’s not that.” 

“Then what?” Her glossy eyes glance up at her, “How am I supposed to feel when she’s here? Being with him?”

“Toji is a man, and men are idiots. That’s the only explanation for that. Look, Kim is just here as a friend for me. I don’t want you to think I’m trying to make you upset, it was wrong what she did. I can talk to her, make sure she doesn’t make you uncomfortable. But I need you to focus on yourself. Focus on the wedding. This weekend is a celebration, alright? I don’t want you making yourself feel shitty for that idiot.”

Nozomi sighs, finally feeling herself calm down. She was right. This was one weekend and she’d never have to see him again. It was gonna be a struggle, but she was tough. She wipes her eyes as she exhales, “You don’t need to talk to her. I’m fine. Kim is always gonna be Kim. The bitch has artistic intelligence, so I know she’s making your wedding a fairytale. I want that for you. I’ll be fine. As far as Toji, I’ll…I’m okay,” she finalizes, “I’m sorry. I don’t wanna ruin your night.”

Ami shakes her head gently, a kind smile on her face as she replies, “You could never ruin my night. I’d smack you if you did. I’m happy you’re here, it means the world to me.”

She gently reaches out to give Nozomi’s shoulder a light squeeze as she adds, “Just try to enjoy yourself, alright? You don’t have to talk to Toji, but you don’t have to be rude either. I don’t want you two arguing all weekend. I’m gonna go get dinner. I can bring you a plate up?”

Nozomi shakes her head, “I’ll come eat with everyone. Just need to clean my face up. Go enjoy your food.” 

She hesitates, wrapping her arms around her sister's neck as she mutters, “Love you.”

Ami’s heart warms when she hugs her. She returns the embrace, smiling gently as she responds, “I love you too. Always.” 

When she makes it downstairs, everyone is around the table, seated along the floor as they eat and talk amongst each other. She fell back into her solitude, grateful that no one questioned her silence. She’d give a brief glance at Toji when he wasn’t looking, watching as he spoke to his best friend, laughed, joked, a bit of normalcy that she couldn’t help but miss about him. She might’ve been stubborn, but she refused to get hurt again. She also couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that they used her mother’s recipes to cook the food, an entirely different reason why she felt so down. She wouldn’t have allowed her to cry over Toji. She would’ve called him a bastard and laughed in his face.

Toji feels her eyes on him. 

Throughout the night, he finds himself occasionally stealing glances in her direction. He can’t help it, she’s right there and it’s driving him mad. She’s still so damn beautiful.

As everyone makes small talk, and Kim tells a joke to crack some laughs, Toji’s eyes remain fixated on Nozomi. Her expression remains neutral, but he can see that she’s faking a calm composure. He wished she had giggled at his jokes the way she used to, he just wanted to feel something different from her. He missed that normalcy as well.

Nozomi barely touched her food, feeling her stomach growling as she made it back to bed that night. She couldn’t sleep. If it wasn’t her thoughts running amuck, it was definitely the unfortunate muffled sounds of her sister and her fiancè…enjoying their time together. 

She stands from the bed as she slides her door open, hoping her ears would fall off as she passes by their room, making her way towards the kitchen. She passes Kim’s room as well, and when she hears that Kim also seems to be enjoying herself, accompanied by a sound of masculine grunting, she can feel her palms shaking. 

“That fucking bastard,” she mutters. 

That ruins her entire appetite. Instead of her midnight snack, it sends her right back to bed. As she goes back to her door, she notices an object on the ground. She frowns beneath the darkness, leaning down as she sees an orchid laid along the wood. She sighs, knowing her brother had probably placed it there, a habit he had with both of his sisters if he was apologetic, trying to make them feel better. She appreciated it. She took the flower in her room and closed the door, attempting to get some sleep for the rest of the night. 

When the next morning came, she was greeted downstairs by everyone. Her sister was wrapped under her fiancè’s arms as she held a coffee mug close to her face, giggling as he talked within her ear.

Kim was in the kitchen making herself tea, talking to Nozomi’s brother, while Toji was engrossed within his phone, silent in an unusual manner. 

She rubbed her eyes as she tiredly greeted everyone, “Morning.”

Everyone replied with their own greeting, smiles and kind words exchanged between the group. Well, except for Toji, who was uncharacteristically silent.

He slowly looked up, his eyes locked on her as a pang of irritation spiked through him. She was wearing a tank top paired with tight boy shorts. Toji couldn’t tear his eyes away from the way her skin was on display, or the way her shorts hugged her hips. He was forced to look away, his jaw tense as he silently stared out the window instead.

“How’d you sleep?” Ami asks, “Want me to make you some tea?”

Nozomi shakes her head, “Slept okay. On account of you two love birds, y’all make me absolutely sick.”

“Nah, for real. Imma’ have to bleach my ears,” her brother pipes in, both older siblings once again throwing middle fingers to each other. 

“Oh, fuck off. This is my weekend! And this is my man, my man, my man!” 

Everyone laughs her off, knowing how in love she was with her fiancè. They couldn’t admit it, but it was adorable. 

Ami takes a sip of her tea as she says, “So, what’s on everyone’s agenda before the rehearsal dinner tonight?”

“I’m gonna head to the restaurant that’s catering the wedding, make sure your menus are just the way you wanted them and the food is perfect, beautiful bride,” Kim tells her, nudging her friend's leg with a smile. 

Nozomi figured that as the maid of honor these things would be her job, but if Kim wanted to kiss her sister's ass, she wasn’t going to stop her. 

“Imma’ go with her, it’ll give me a chance to get out of the house,” Isamu adds. 

“Great. We’ll be checking out the venue one more time, making sure they decorated it just how I imagined it—and from all the pictures I framed off Pinterest. If not, I will be going bridezilla on they ass. Anyways, my crew, rolling out!” 

As everyone disperses from the seating area, Nozomi notices as Toji is still there, interest deep within his phone. At least, pretending to be. She can’t read him. However, she can stare at him. The way he looks within this onyx wife-beater, she could lick him. The ink on his skin swirls along his arm, broad frame nearly wanting to break the small chair he sits in. 

Her attention is pulled away when she hears him ask, “You’ going out today?”

She blinks, “Huh?” 

Toji didn’t miss anything. He saw her staring from his peripheral, watching the way her eyes had roamed all along him. 

His eyes were locked on her now as he repeated, “I asked if you were going out today.”

“Oh, uh—“ she thinks about it, hearing her stomach deeply grumbling. She realized she hadn't had a full meal since she got on the flight to Japan. 

“Yeah—Imma’ head to this little restaurant my mom used to take us to,” she briefly replies, proud of herself for being cordial enough, especially after last night. At this point, she didn’t give a fuck about what he had going on. 

“Oishii?” he asks. 

She narrows her eyes a bit, “Yeah. How’d you know?” 

“Isamu mentioned it. I told him that place burnt down a couple months after your mom passed.”

“What?” She exclaims, “What the hell? Fuck, who was gonna tell me? That was the only place I really enjoyed.”

Toji can’t help but smirk at the surprise she expressed. He replies, “Been closed up for a while now,” with a shrug, “Damn shame. It was good.” 

He leans back, Nozomi knocking her eyes down as he spreads his knees, seated in a position he usually relaxed in if he wanted her to sit on his lap. It made her throat dry. 

“There’s other places to choose from. I know one. I’ll take you there.” 

She shakes her head, “That’s not necessary—“

“Get dressed.” 

His word was his bond, it always made her clutch her lips together. He was already standing, already walking away. He was never asking. With that, she pressed her lips together, a small groan falling from her mouth as she made her way back to her bedroom to put on some clothes.

He sat within his room for a while as he waited for her, knowing she would be a minute as she did her full routine. It annoyed him that he remembered that. 

He eventually stood across the door from her room, knowing she’d be out soon. When she opened it, she flew past him to get a look at herself in the full body mirror down the hall. She adjusted the tightly fitted yellow sundress she wore, a matching headband that pulled her braids out of her face, edges perfectly sculpted. She wore her contacts today, able to see the eyes that she carried from her father. She looked more stunning each time he saw her. 

She looked up to him as she pulled her white sandals on her feet, going back into the room for her purse as her soft voice asked, “Ready?”

Toji could have eaten her in this outfit, watching as she walked past him, catching her body in the mirror as she turned. The dress hugged her curves perfectly, showing off each and every bit of her he ached to touch. 

He nods in response, his voice low as he replies, “Let’s go.”

It wasn’t as cold as it usually was in Kyoto, the weather perfect for a wedding. She enjoyed being able to walk rather than drive everywhere, needing a car back in the states. Their walk was quiet, Nozomi enjoying the trees, nature, the colorful buildings. She walks beside him for a while, watching as the cars bustle on the street beside her. 

“Uh…do you know where we’re going?” She questions him, looking to the side of herself.

Toji’s own gaze was also fixated, watching her from the corner of his eye, studying the small habits he missed, the way she observed her surroundings so intently. The way her ass looked in this dress. His hands remained in his pockets, her question earning a glance as he looked down at her.

“You askin’ if I’m taking you to some secluded area where I’m gonna’ chop you up or something?” 

His voice is low in humor, a smirk on his lips as he continues to guide her. “Be patient.”

She sighs, crossing her arms behind herself as she holds her purse in her hand, “I don’t like surprises.”

“I know that, Nozomi.” 

“I would hope the food at this place is good, my mom was picky, so it makes me picky. What if it’s nasty? I’m hungry. I’ll be sad if it’s gross,” she banters.

“You’re whining a lot today, I see.” 

“I’m just curious,” she shrugs, “Fine. I’ll shut up.” 

Toji’s eyes narrow as he notices the way cars fly past as she continues on the sidewalk, something in him annoyed with how quickly they drive by. 

“Don’t. Keep talking to me,” he says, his movement swift as he grips her by her hip, gently pulling her on the inside of the sidewalk as he now walks where the cars pass, “You’ still working on your Japanese?” 

The movement was so quick that the chill down her spine was even quicker, her entire body tingling at his rough touch. 

She nearly loses focus of his question as she swallows, “Um—still pretty shit at it, actually.”

“You’re not trying enough,” his tone low, “‘Can’t speak the language but you’ve lived here. You are Japanese.” 

“Half,” she reminds, “My dad always said that I didn’t ‘look the part’ anyways. Ami always fit for him, her Japanese is award worthy.”

“I’m not talking about looks,” he mutters, rolling his eyes, “I’m talking about heritage. You’re still half, that means something. Your father should have been proud to know you speak his language. It’s annoying hearing you struggle.”

“Then how about you teach me, Mr. I know Everything? I understand you perfectly fine! That should count for something,” she begins to walk a little faster, hips twisting as she becomes slightly agitated with him.

Toji follows after her, his own stride matching as he easily keeps up. He scoffs, shaking his head at her words as he replies, “You don’t understand half the shit I tell you. You’ make this face when you’re confused, it’s cute.”

“Whatever,” Nozomi mutters, now actually irritated.

 As they continue to walk, she notices a small boutique, the dark purple font on the sign above bringing her instant nostalgia. She gasps, “Oh my god, this is the boutique my mom used to take me and Ami too! I can’t believe it’s still here…” 

She can’t help it, but she’s already pulling on the door handle, making her way inside in full curiosity.

Upon entering, she’s met with various traditional kimonos and dresses, a familiar scent filling her senses. Toji is immediately behind her, observing the entire shop as she takes it in. He can already tell that the nostalgia is overwhelming, watching as she walks around the place, her hands gently touching some of the dresses.

She looks along the wall of the shop, seeing all the Sanrio theme plushies and characters, blossoming different colors within her eyes. She felt like a child all over again. She nearly gives herself an asthma attack when she sees a particular plushie—she thought she was gonna faint. 

“Holy shit,” she mutters, pointing upwards, “You see that one? This is a Hello Kitty collectible,” she describes. His eyes follow up to what looks to be a toffee complexioned Hello Kitty, wearing a pink and red Kimono, a matching pink flower within its head. It was the biggest one of all, nearly as big as Nozomi’s entire body. 

“I literally cried all day because my mom wouldn’t buy it for me. She refused because Ami wanted one that looked like her, and because they didn’t have a collectible in her skin tone, my mom didn’t want her to feel left out. So neither of us got anything. The fact that it’s still here is insane.” 

She comes close to it, trying to squint at the price tag on its side as she mutters, “Wonder how much it is…”

“Wanna ask?” Toji questions. 

She turns with a frown, “I can ask, thank you.” 

She surprises him a bit as her tone changes, inquiring the price of the plushie as she asks within his native tongue. He couldn’t understand what she meant when she said her Japanese was shit, she sounded incredibly normal to him. Sexy, even. He wanted to hear her speak it again. 

She blinks as the woman responds, looking to Toji as she repeats back in English, “Thirty-Eight thousand yen? What is that in American dollars?”

“Shit is like three hundred dollars,” Toji replies back to her, watching as her jaw nearly drops.

“Oh hell, I don’t want it that bad,” she sighs, “Ugh. It’s so cute. My pockets will cry. Oh well.” 

She says thank you to the woman, “Let me look at these dresses for a second, then we can go,” her shoulders are a bit more slump as she searches the rest of the store, almost feeling defeated. 

As she continued to look around, her attention was along a dark brown Kimono, a pair of colors she’d never seen before. She doesn’t hear Toji speak to the woman, pointing towards the wall of plushies. She only ever realizes what he’s doing when the woman pulls down the large collectible she wanted, bringing it to the register. 

“What are you doing?” She questions from the other side of the store, nearly tripping as she makes her way back to him.

Toji can tell by her expression that she had completely given up on the possibility of leaving with that stupid doll. It was endearing, seeing the disappointment in her eyes. 

“Buying this stupid ass doll.”

He begins reaching for his wallet, pulling the wad of cash out as her eyes widen, placing her hand over his to stop him as she awkwardly speaks towards the woman, telling her not to worry about it, “No, you are not buying me that.”

Toji glances over at her as she speaks, smacking his lips at her. The woman behind the cash register pauses for a moment, looking between the two of them. 

“Didn’t you just want this shit two seconds ago?” 

Nozomi’s eyebrows furrow, “Yes—“

“So shut up.” 

When she goes to protest, the look he gives her makes her hands halt, pressing her lips together as she puts her hands behind her back. 

The older lady giggles, Nozomi understanding her as she asks if she wants a gift bag. Toji shakes his head, “She’ll hold it.” 

When he looks back to see her still standing with a perplexed expression, still shocked that he even bought it, he snaps her out of her trance as he says, “Take the damn doll from her before I choke you with it.” 

She smacks her lips now, politely thanking the woman as she has to wrap both arms around the plushie, it being a little heavy. She doesn’t know how to feel, but as he grumpily waits for the receipt, a small smile comes to her face.

When they make it to the restaurant, the lights on the streets begin to come on, the buildings and billboards bright to her eyes. She missed this feeling, almost like a child feeling Christmas air. Her plushie sits beside her in its own individual chair, Toji sitting across from her as he pulls a cigarette from his pocket, swiftly igniting it as they wait for someone to take their order. Nozomi looks down at the menu, not sure where to take the conversation. 

They’d been getting along, it was no harm in that. She couldn’t be a bitch after he spent three-hundred dollars on something she’d always wanted. 

She exhales as she looks around the crowded restaurant, looking back to him as she begins, “So…do you still live in the states, or did you move back here?”

Toji’s dark eyes remained on her while she looked around at the restaurant, his gaze always observant. He noticed how her eyes seemed to brighten at the view outside, how her mood completely changed after getting her silly doll. 

He takes a puff of his cigarette before replying, “Moved back home. Got sick of it.” 

“Sick of it? I thought you liked New York. I thought you enjoyed being a body-guard, kicking people's asses and getting paid for it,” she mentions, giving a polite smile to the man that hands her the drink she ordered.

Toji’s eyes follow her polite smile before watching her take a sip, replying as he rests an arm lazily along the back of the booth. 

“I did enjoy it. I just don’t like the people out there. New Yorkers are a pain in the ass,” he scoffs before puffing his cigarette again, continuing, “Why do it there when I can kick people's asses here and still get paid for it?”

That makes a small laugh come from her, something he hadn’t heard in a long time. She crosses her leg, leaning back within the seat as she questions, “When did you and Suguru become so close?” 

Toji’s eyes watch her body shift, taking another pull from his cigarette as her question registers in his head. 

“I’ve known the bastard since high school, but we got closer once I moved back. I thought it was funny he fell in love with your other half,” he pauses, looking at her with a smirk, “He’s a big ass softie now. Whipped, even.”

That makes her eyebrow raise, “So your perception of someone in love is being whipped, huh? Makes sense.”

Toji narrows his eyes at her snarky response, taking a moment to reply, “You’ still need me to choke you with your friend over there? I hope she isn’t ordering too, I’m good on money, but that’s pushing it.” 

She rolls her eyes as he adds with a serious tone, “And I didn’t say that. A man should respect his woman, I’ve just never seen him this way.”

“Well I think it’s adorable. Love should be all mushy and gross, that’s how you know it’s genuine. Makes me wonder what I’m doing wrong,” she admits, swirling her straw around in her cup, “I’m really happy for her.”

Toji’s expression doesn’t change as she responds, his cigarette hanging idly between his lips as his arm is still resting along the booth. 

He looks at her, really looks at her, a thought coming to his mind as he suddenly responds, “You’re not doing anything wrong.” 

He pauses, taking another pull before he changes the subject, “You spoke to your dad?”

That question almost startles her brain. She thought for a second that she could forget he’d be at the rehearsal dinner. She hadn’t seen him in two years. She kneels into the menu as she tries to deflect, “How do I tell the waiter I want this?”

Toji sees right through her, knowing exactly what she’s trying to do. He’s observant of a lot of her tendencies. He knows she’s avoiding talking about her father, and knows that she’s trying to forget. 

He’s not going to let her. 

“Show me what you want,” he mutters gruffly, nodding to the menu in her hand.

“Mmm, maybe I’ll just get ramen,” she tries to distract him. 

He eyes her as he suggests, “You can try the Sashimi.”

She scrunches up her nose, “I don’t think I’m in the mood for raw fish. No thank you.”

“You eat sushi all the time, baby. The fish is just cut differently,” he explains, ignoring the way she rolls her eyes.

He puffs his cigarette before speaking again, “Stop avoiding the subject and answer my question. Did you call him yet?”

She pulls back, letting him have the menu as she says, “I’ll see him at the rehearsal dinner. No need to call.”

“Bullshit,” he mutters, tossing the menu to the side, “He’s your father, of course you should call him.” Toji puts out his cigarette, now giving her his full attention.

“Oh hell, here you go with your family matters bullshit. I don’t need a therapy session. You don’t talk to your family either, Fushiguro,” she points out.

Toji’s expression drops at her mention of his family, something shifting in his eyes now. 

“Not the same thing, you know that.”

“Maybe,” she shrugs, “What am I supposed to say? Hey, thanks for cheating on my mom while she was sick, and then only being there to agree on pulling the plug on her? How’s your new bitch? Oh, did you figure out a tie for the wedding?” She tilts her head, sarcasm laced in her voice.

“Maybe say all that shit, it’s better than nothing. He still loves you.”

“Yeah, because I’m his daughter. Plus—it’s not my wedding, Dr. Phil.  It’s Ami’s and he loves her to death. Would do anything for her, she’s always been Daddy’s little girl,” she flatly says, “This isn’t about me.”

He shakes his head as he begins, “You don’t have to take the backseat to everything or be a doormat all the time. This is about you.” 

He moves closer, “It doesn’t matter who’s getting married. He’s your family, too. You think he doesn’t notice that you avoid him?”

“The phone is a two way street, if he wanted to speak to me that badly, he would’ve,” she crosses her arms over her chest, becoming uncomfortable with the conversation.

“Yeah, it’s a two way street. So why haven’t you called him in the entire two years? It goes both ways.”

“Because he hasn’t called me.” 

“So it’s a competition now?” 

“Fushiguro,” she warns.

Toji continues to glare her down, not backing off. 

“It’s not a competition. I’m just trying to understand your logic, or lack of,” he explains, “You keep saying the phone is a two way street. You haven’t called him either, but are pissed at him for not calling you, shit is ass-backwards.”

Her leg begins shaking beneath the table, not necessarily upset with him. The overall topic has her frustrated. Her attention is drawn back to him when Toji sees the tension in her movements, knowing that his persistent questions have stressed her. He grips her ankle gently to stop her from moving, his large hand wrapping completely around it as he places her leg on his lap. 

“All I’m trying to say is you should talk to him,” he says again, the firmness in his voice fading.

When she realizes that she’s only making herself upset, she stops. She had to face her father, and it would be happening tonight. It didn’t have to be a bad interaction, she just wished he never made the decisions he did.

 She looks down at the table as she then admits, “I love my father. But I hate what he did to our family.”

A small silence comes between them, his hand still loosely holding her ankle. 

“You don’t have to forgive him,” he finally says, “But don’t forget that he loves you. Even with his shitty decisions.”

She looks up at him, realizing his sincerity. The silence is filled as the waitress comes back, sitting down her bowl of ramen, also sitting down a plate of perfectly placed fish—raw, as she mentioned she didn’t like. 

Her arms are still holding onto her chest, realizing that for the sake of this weekend, maybe she needed to make a change. She sits up as she reaches for the chopsticks, dipping a piece of the fish into the soy sauce and popping it into her mouth. She chewed for a moment before tilting her head, “Seems like you don’t always have bad taste.”

He’s glad that she was able to open up a little bit, to talk about her family. As annoying as it was, he was beginning to worry about how she would deal with tonight. 

“See? If you weren’t so hard headed, shit would be much easier for you.” 

“Yeah, yeah. Stop talking to me.”

“Want me to feed you?—“ 

“Not too much, Fushiguro. I’m being nice to your ass right now.” 

“My bad.” 

She was afraid that their time together would be awkward, but it was the complete opposite. It was extremely natural, maybe even a little romantic. It was unfortunately creating that flipping feeling in her stomach. The one she felt if he even spoke to her, catered to her, adorned her—made her feel like she was his again. She pushed down that rush of emotions as they exited the restaurant, seeing the text from Isamu on Toji’s phone to let them know they needed to be on time to the rehearsal dinner. 

“Shit,” she mutters, “We might be late. Is there a quicker way to get back to our place from here?”

“Down this hill,” he refers, holding the large plushie in his own arm as she was too tired to carry it. 

As they continue walking, she realizes he refers to the road with a large downward path as a “hill,” and it makes her laugh to herself.

As they begin making their way down the lit up street, something within her feels giddy, and she can’t help herself. 

“Race you!” 

She’s already beelining down the road. Her body zigzags on the street as she takes off. She knew there was a small competitive bone in his body, no words as she heard his footsteps already booming behind her. Nozomi shrieks into giggles as he grips her up by her bottom half, throwing her over his shoulder as he continues running. 

She was happy and laughing, a sound he enjoyed hearing. He never wanted it to stop.

When he slowed down and was now walking, she huffed over his shoulder as she strained, “I guess this is better than walking,” gripping for her plushie to hold within the air.

Toji chuckled to himself as he felt her squirm in his hold, holding her tight so she wouldn’t fall, “You’re just upset that I always win,” he muttered with a grin, feeling her arms reaching for the plushie, pulling her up a bit so she could hold it.

Her eyes take sight of the city, another pang to her heart. She missed it here. It brought back so many memories within her childhood. Her eyes halt as she catches sight of a bridge farther down, patting his back as she says, “Hold on,” feeling as he places her down. 

She fixes her dress and hair as she catches her breath, looking over the bridge as she sees a rare sight—A cherry blossom tree. 

“They’re so pretty at night,” she sighs, “I’d kill for these in the states.”

Toji watches her as she takes in the scenery, now standing beside her. 

“I didn’t realize how much you missed Japan.” 

He looks out over the river, agreeing with her statement, “Yeah… shit is nice to look at, always has been.” 

It was then that Toji seen her shiver, his eyes glancing down as she attempted to cover her arms. 

“You cold?”

“I didn’t realize it’d be cold tonight, it was pretty warm earlier,” she says, a shiver exhaling from her mouth, “I’m fine.”

“Yeah, no. You’re not.” 

Toji slips off his leather jacket, placing it around her shoulders as he murmurs, “Stubborn ass.”

She huffs out a laugh, seeing her warm breath in the air. She’s now turned towards him as he pulls the jacket to cover her body, her head tilted up to stare in his face, his frame hovering over hers. It was at this moment that she saw him—she hadn’t looked at him this way in a while.

He meets her gaze, his face much closer to hers than just a few seconds prior. The air between them has changed, the shift is palpable. Toji watches as she shudders again, the movement making her body press closer against him. The sight makes him feel protective.

“Toji, I—“

“I’m sorry.” 

She frowns, her eyebrows coming over her eyes as she’s confused. Her stomach tumbled at his sudden apology, and she wanted to beg that it wasn’t for their past. 

“I fucked up, Nozomi. I should’ve never hurt you the way I did.” 

This is the conversation she’d been avoiding. Her throat tightens. 

“Toji…”

Toji sees the mix of emotions in her expression, his own heart feeling heavy as he continues to look in her eyes. 

“I was a dumbass. I know that. I never should have—“ he pauses, feeling his throat constrict from the emotions now bubbling up, “Never should have done what I did, and I know my actions will never undo the pain I caused.” He sighs, voice lowering, “I just need you to know that you mean a lot to me. That never changed.”

She’s unsure of how to feel. He was always too stoic for his own good, never able to say his feelings, and here he was—completely transparent and vulnerable. She couldn’t keep fighting how she felt. She missed him. She wanted to forgive him. 

Toji’s phone then buzzes. Her eyes lowered to see KIM appear on the screen. The message read, ‘Where are you? Hurry back for dinner! It’s boring here without you.’

That was the icing on the cake. It brought back the anger she felt, why she was pissed with him in the first place. All her emotions went sinking into the back of her mind. 

She gives a humorless laugh, removing his jacket and handing it to him as she says, “That must’ve meant something to you too,” referring to his text. 

She begins walking, regardless of how cold she is, “C’mon. They’re looking for us.”

He frowns as her attitude takes a 180 turn, the moment of vulnerability gone as she hands him back his jacket.  Fuck. 

“Nozomi—“

But it’s too late, she’s already walking farther into the night. That was the end of the conversation. For now, at least.

When they arrive back at the house, she feels completely empty. The moment she opened up to him, possibly ready to have a conversation and move forward, it was all ruined. She didn’t know who to blame. Her stubbornness, his idiocy, or the bitch her sister called a friend. She was trying to keep it cute, but even this was too cute for her. 

Her look for the night was more simple this time, a halter top dress, doing her makeup softer than she usually would, her sister requesting her bridal party wear white. Her golden heels with white orchids along the top, braids swimming down to her lower back—feeling pretty might’ve made her feel better for the night to come. 

She came downstairs with everyone else, more to herself this time, especially when she saw Kim talking to Toji in the corner. His black button up was similar to her brothers, silver watch along his wrist and chain matching the jewelry he wore along his neck. 

Her attention was caught by her sister who pulled her arm for her attention as she asked, “You were damn near late, where have you been?” 

“I was just running errands, I’m sorry.”

Ami looks her up and down, “You missed the fitting for your dress. Kim has been calling you all day!”

“What?” She frowns, “I never got any calls from Kim. Why didn’t you just call me?”

“I didn’t have my phone on me, I was fitting for my dress too. It’s fine, let’s just hope you fit your dress.” 

She knew Ami, seeing she was trying not to be upset. But she knew she was. Her eyes flicked over to Kim, and she thought about ripping her dress off and choking her with it.

Everyone made their way into the limousine as they arrived at the rehearsal dinner, and just as they pulled in front did Nozomi realize something— her father was here.

She couldn’t focus. Although the venue was gorgeous and looked like something you’d see in a movie, her palms began to sweat. Most of Suguru’s family had already arrived, her side of the family there as well. She greeted everyone with absentminded hugs and cheek kisses. 

The usual conversations, ‘I’m sorry to hear about your mom’, ‘Why aren’t you married yet?’, ‘You and your sister look nothing alike,’ ‘You sure you both have the same father?’. It was unbearable, but she was used to it.

When she got down to the final family member, that’s when she saw…him. 

A traditional man, stoic and frightening, the only smile she’d ever seen on his face was if he saw her sister, or her mom, but he was different when it came to her. She follows behind Ami as she hears her sister call him, ‘Otosan’ an affectionate term, bowing respectfully. She then says, “Hi, Pa. I missed you,” pulling him into a hug.

He holds Ami to his chest, giving her a tight squeeze. 

“I missed you too, my love.”

He releases her gently, his eyes shifting over to Nozomi as she stands beside her sister. He looks her up and down for a moment, studying her appearance. This was the moment of truth. 

“Nozomi,” he says, “You look beautiful as ever.”  He holds his arms out, asking for a hug.

She doesn’t expect him to be happy to see her, nor was he an affectionate man. They hadn’t spoken in two years. She bows first as before she greets, “Hi, Pa,” taking in his hug, wrapping herself around him tighter than she thought she would.

He wraps his arms tightly around her shoulders, and it feels… strange.

“My sweet girl…” 

He sighs lowly, “Too beautiful for your own good. Still not married? You know the family is getting worried…”

“Pa,” she brushes off, “I’m fine. This is Ami’s day, we can talk about my loneliness later.”

He laughs, feeling the familiarity. It was like nothing had changed. 

“You’re still stubborn as ever, I see.” 

He pats her back before releasing her, looking her up and down once more. 

“You’ve grown more, you look… different,” he says, “Just like your mother.”

The sentence made her heart ache, and she immediately felt tears wanting to brim her eyes. She quickly blinks them away, humming in response. The sweet moment is vastly interrupted as a woman appears. She was smaller in frame between her and her sister, but was definitely older in age. 

She bows affectionately to them as she greets, “It’s nice to formally meet you, Nozomi. Your father has told me so much about you.”

Nozomi holds back her frown, “Uh—nice to meet you as well, and you are?”

“This is Yua,” her father says, smiling from ear to ear, “My wife.” 

Nozomi blinks, “Oh…wife. You got married two years later…” she stopped herself, it wasn’t the time. Her sister clutched her arm to also shut her up. 

She looks at the woman, “It’s nice to meet you, Yua. I’m gonna go find my seat.”

Yua smiles kindly, a sweet tone in her voice, “Oh of course, enjoy yourself tonight.” 

One thing about her father—and maybe where she got it from—he wasn’t afraid to talk shit about anybody, including his own daughter. 

Her father clears his throat once Nozomi is walking away, sighing out, “That girl still has a mouth on her.” 

“You can’t blame her,” Yua says, looking up at him, “She’s probably still hurt.”

“She’s twenty-seven, it’s time for her to stop pouting like a child.”

She hears the small banter between the two, clutching her fist as she sits next to her Isamu at a round table that’s also accompanied by Kim, and Toji. The interaction between her and her father didn’t go entirely bad, but the comments he made still showed who he was, and now sitting close to Kim and Toji, this night still didn’t feel too good.

As soon as Toji notices her at the table, his eyes are glued to her. 

He had never realized how stubborn she really was. 

That was probably one of the reasons why he liked her so much.

“You okay?” Her brother asks. 

She looks up at him, “Yeah, fine.” 

“I saw you talked to dad.” 

She blinks, “Yeah. I did.”

The night is filled with conversations and laughs, Toji watching as Nozomi becomes more and more irritated. 

This rehearsal was becoming a little too much for her as time continued to pass. She felt like this dinner wouldn’t end, her attention coming along Kim who stood at the stage, clinking a small silverware against her champagne glass.

All eyes turned to her, the table quiet as Kim began to speak, “Thank you all for coming out tonight!”

The room responds with applause, everyone anticipating her speech. Kim smiles sweetly— the type that looks fake to Nozomi, but was entirely convincing to everyone else. 

She smiles, “I just wanted to give a little speech for the couple. The love they share started the moment they looked at each other, and they’ve been an unbreakable pair ever since.” 

The entire room is silent, everyone listening to her every word. Toji could see the anger in Nozomi’s face, her eyes almost burning a hole in Kim’s existence.

“I’m so honored to create the dream that you’ve always wanted, your perfect wedding. And as the woman closest to you,” she looked directly at Nozomi, “I’m so happy to call you my sister.” 

Nozomi thrashes her tongue within her cheek, listening as everyone claps, looking over to her sister's table as she gives a smile, which pisses her off even more.

When the speech is over, she stands from the table as she holds her dress up, going over to the open bar they had as she requested, “Got anything brown?”

The bartender nods, “Certainly. What kind?” 

He makes her a vanilla crown and Coke as requested.  She takes it like a shot. The moment she feels at ease when the drink pours down her throat, it’s like a cloud begins to shadow her sun, and here she is standing in front of her—Kim.

“Are you having fun? You barely talked to anyone tonight,” she feigns a frown, “What’s the matter?” 

She leans against the bar, her elbow perched on the counter top.

“I’m fine, Kim,” she brushes off, not ready for her bullshit. But as she takes the last sip of her drink, she has another thought, “Actually, my sister said there was a fitting for everyone’s dress today. Why wasn’t I told about that?”

Kim’s eyes widened faintly, a playful chuckle rolling off her tongue, “Oh, that?” 

She taps her manicured nails against the top of the counter, shrugging as she does so. 

“I must’ve forgotten to tell you,” she grins, “My bad.”

“Of course you did. You’re good at that little thing you do. Being all cute, acting like you’re not an insolent bitch on the inside. Maybe on the outside,” she tilts her head, giving her the same grin in return, watching as her face fell at her words.

She’s startled a bit at Nozomi’s truth. She thinks quickly on her feet as she takes a step forward, “I think the drink is going to your head, love.”

“Maybe. You should order something for yourself as well! But I suggest you wait until I walk away, cause my hand holding this glass is feeling a little itchy, and you might have a headache further into the night.” 

When she expects Kim to simply go back and forth with her, she suddenly shouts, “You’re gonna do what to me?” 

The calculated bitch, she was purposely causing a scene.

Ami, Toji and her brother came running over as Ami questioned, “What’s going on?” 

“Nozomi just threatened to hit me over the head with a glass! I don’t know what’s going on with you, but you’re scaring me!” Kim presses her hand to her chest, Oscar worthy acting as her hand shakes. 

“What?” Ami looks at Nozomi, “Did you say that?” 

“No!” Nozomi defends, “Well, yes. But not for no reason!”

“Nozomi, what the hell?” Her brother says, “What is going on? Why are you threatening Kim?”

“This bitch just said that she purposely didn’t call me for our dress fitting today!” She exclaims. 

“I would never do that,” Kim defends herself, “I called you a thousand times. You just didn’t answer. I’m sorry, Nozomi.”

“Are you serious?” She blinks, “I’m gonna fuckin’ kill you—“ she goes forward, Isamu stepping in front of her. 

Ami then cuts off,  “Enough, Nozomi. I have been trying to be patient with you since you got here, but this is too much! Doing this at my rehearsal dinner? Making a scene? What the hell is wrong with you?” 

“What the hell is wrong with me? Ask your fucking friend that! Oh, better yet, your new sister! You’re seriously gonna’ blame me for this? When am I ever gonna be taken seriously, and not some fucking drama Queen?”

Everyone in the area is shocked by the commotion, the guests at the rehearsal dinner turning and whispering from their seats.

Ami’s face contorts with anger, “I always take you seriously, but look at what you’re doing right now! I’m constantly at your defense! But you’re acting like a fucking child!”

That.  

It always led back to her being the youngest. Nozomi laughed sharply, “Great. I’m a child. I’m over here pulling myself together on account of your goddamn wedding. Forcing me to be cool with your idiotic ass friend who fucked my man, and is still fucking him to this day! Not only that, forcing me to be here with him! The one who fucked your idiotic ass friend in the first fucking place, because I wouldn’t fuck him! Making me be cordial with my father who I wasn’t ready to forgive, because he fucked his new bitch behind our dying mother’s back—I’m doing all this for you! I’m holding it together for you! And I’m a fucking child? How about you wanting everything your way, but pissed off the minute something goes wrong? That’s a fucking child!” 

“What?” Toji then comes in, “‘The fuck are you talking about?” 

“Don’t be dense. I heard you fucking her the first night I came!” 

Toji blinks, confusion not even the word. His eyes narrow as he says, “I didn’t fuck Kim. This is my first time seeing her since you mom’s funeral, and since I left the states. I left right after you broke shit off with me.” 

Nozomi blinks, now equally confused. 

“What?” 

Isamu then smacks his lips, “Jesus,” chiming in to clear the air, “I was fucking Kim, okay? Toji and her only fucked around that one time.” 

That makes everyone’s eyes bulge out—including Kim’s—now realizing that this was all one big misunderstanding. 

“You’re fucking Kim? Ew!” Nozomi starts, “Seriously? Jesus Christ. When the fuck did you even have time to leave that orchid at my door?” 

“I left that orchid at your door,” Toji then clarifies, “It was supposed to be an apology. I wanted to talk to you, but you stormed back into your room and I didn’t want to piss you off more.” 

Nozomi takes all of this in. She doesn’t know what to say.

There wasn’t anything to say at this point, nor did she want to say anything else. With that, Nozomi does everyone a favor as she exits out of the building, finding her way back to the house. This had been a rehearsal dinner like no other. 

                       ‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.  𐦍༘⋆ ‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.  𐦍༘⋆

THE NEXT MORNING WAS SILENT, which was unfortunate. It was supposed to be a beautiful day, Ami’s wedding day—everyone was supposed to be excited. But it felt like the complete opposite. The morning was quiet. Nozomi had a lot on her mind, but all of her other bullshit could be figured out later—she needed to make things right with Ami. 

The house had been cleared of all the men as they had to get ready at the venue, the bridal party now on their way to the house, Ami within her room as the makeup artist was also on the way. 

Nozomi quietly slid the door open to her room as she asked, “Can I come in?”

Ami glanced over at the door, a frown on her face, still upset from the previous night. She sighs before nodding softly, “Yeah, you can come in…”

She slides the door closed, standing along the wall. She tries to collect her thoughts, her words. Instead of jumping into the drama, she asks, “How are you feeling? Ready to be Mrs. Getou?”

Ami smiles, her anger softening as her eyes meet her sisters. She lets out a small yawn before nodding slowly, a tired smile on her face. 

“I’m nervous…” Ami admits, “A little too nervous, honestly…”

“It’s no need to be nervous. He loves you, even if you have a crazy ass family,” she tries to poke, “Today’s gonna be an amazing day for you. It already is. It’s filled with love.”

Ami laughs, the comment causing her to snort quietly, “You’re damn right about that. But I’m still a little mad at you…”

Nozomi sighs, “Look, I’m so sorry about last night, Ami. It wasn’t supposed to go like that. I was telling the truth, Kim purposely didn’t call me for the fitting, you know I wouldn’t have missed something as important as that. When she admitted it to me, I just…mushed her being a bitch to her fucking Toji, and I kinda spiraled. You can choose who you want to be friends with, I just don’t like how she treats me,” Nozomi softly admits, looking down to the floor.

Ami sighs, her expression softening. She knew that it hadn’t been entirely her sister's fault, even though she had been the one to cause the scene in the first place. 

“Listen, I’m not mad at you, okay? I wasn’t ever mad at you, I just hate how you never think anything through before doing it. You’ve always been that way, and you need to work on it.” 

Ami stands from the bed, walking over to Nozomi, wrapping her into a tight hug, “I love you, okay?”

“More than Kim?” She questions, trying to make another joke, “I really don’t like that hoe, seriously.”

A soft laugh tumbles from Ami’s lips, a snort following that, “Yes, more than Kim.” 

She pinches her sister's cheek, pulling her head back, “You gotta’ relax, okay? Today is my day, so keep your cool, yeah?”

“Scouts honor,” Nozomi promises, raising her hand up, “I don’t know why you didn’t just make Kim your maid of honor, no shade.”

Ami laughed, “Oh hell no. I want you to be part of the special moment,” She crosses her arms, “She can just stand over there and look pretty like every other bridesmaid.”

Nozomi rolls her eyes, “Yeah. Like a Disney villain.”

“Sidebar—where did you go yesterday?” Her sister then asks. 

Dammit. She was hoping she wouldn’t ask this question. She closes her eyes as she admits, “Don’t freak out. I went out with Toji—“

The squeal was already releasing from her lips, “Oh my god! Y’all are in love again! Wedding bells, are those wedding bells I hear?” 

“Ami.”

“Oh my goodness, he bought you that big ass plushie in your room! That’s the one you wanted mom to get you! I knew your frugal ass didn’t pay thirty-eight thousand yen for that!” 

“Ami.—“ 

“And he gave you an orchid to apologize, cause you love orchids! Oh my god, I’m gushing. I’m blushing!” 

“Jesus Christ, are you done?” Nozomi squints, “It was nothing. He probably thinks I’m crazy now after I accused him of fucking Kim again. But what else was I supposed to think? I probably just fucked everything up.”

Ami rolls her eyes, grabbing Nozomi’s shoulders, her gaze firm as she says, “Listen. You did not mess everything up. If he loved you then, he probably loves you even more now. You just need to apologize to him…after the wedding. Don’t make it about you, okay? Focus on the love we’re all sharing today, alright?”

She nods her head, “Got it.”

Ami smiles, bringing Nozomi into another tight hug, “Good, now go get your hair and makeup done, the artists will be here in an hour, and you’ve gotta’ look the best you can today, alright? You’re my maid of honor, you gotta’ look like the bottom bitch next to the head honcho!” 

“You’re a mess.”

“Not as much as you. It’s really my wedding day, eeeeek!”

They were thankful to have gotten up early, giving just enough time to do everything without feeling rushed. Nozomi of course did Ami’s hair, agreeing with her request to style it within a low bun pulled back to frame her face, sculpting her edges perfectly, adding her favorite flowers within the claw clip holding her hair together. The soft makeup along her expression brought her face out more than heavy makeup would’ve. She was gorgeous without it. Nozomi could feel a lump in her throat about to create, not sure why she suddenly felt so emotional, but she refused to cry. 

Ami’s heart swells at the sight of her sister in the mirror, her eyes softening as she hears her words. Memories of their mother flood her mind—memories of her sitting on the couch, watching her daughters put their hair in intricate styles for dance competitions, or style their hair for a wedding. She felt a pang of sadness in her chest.

Tears start to trickle down Ami’s cheeks, and she quickly wipes at her eyes. “God, don’t make me cry,” she murmurs, “I’m gonna’ ruin my makeup.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she kisses her forehead, “Don’t cry. Don’t want you choking me cause your makeup is ruined. No more tears!” She tells her, taking deep breaths with her before she continues crying.

Ami laughs through her tears, wiping at her eyes as she nods, “Okay, okay, no more tears. Don’t make me start again.” 

The makeup artist began to retouch her face. Everything was silent for a moment before Ami clears her throat, her voice soft as she says, “Can I ask you something?”

“Hm?” 

“Do you love him—Toji, I mean?”

Nozomi looks up to the mirror, thinking about the question. She doesn’t lie to herself as she replies, “Yeah, I do. But he’ll never know that.”

Ami’s eyebrows furrow for a moment as she glances back at her sister, “Why not?” 

She turns her head, her eyes soft, “Why would you hold that in? After everything he’s done to show you how he feels, why not tell him?”

“Because today isn’t about me, remember? Now, let the makeup artist finish her job, you can’t keep talking while she does your lip liner,” she distracts, “I’m gonna go get ready.”

“I hate when you deflect,” Ami scrunches her nose, “Whatever. You’re dismissed!”

She began to see the bridesmaids' dresses as she exited the room, seeing that they were simple pink gowns, silky and strapless. They were gorgeous regardless, going to search for which one was hers. But as she continued to look, she noticed a dress hanging along the wall, her name attached to it. Her mouth gaped open. It was entirely different from the bridal parties dresses, the only similarity being the color. 

It was a gown, corseted all around, diamonds and jewels cascading the material all the way up to the top, fluff swimming along where her breast sat, mirroring along the side of her hip. 

“Fucking hell, Ami,” she mutters to herself. 

She didn’t have time to freak out about how extravagant this dress was—she had to get ready. 

She pulls her braids within a low ponytail to accentuate her dress, artistically sculpting her edges. It fits her entirely too well. Her hips struck out, the corset cinched her frame in a way that made her feel the most gorgeous she’d ever felt. When she looks within the mirror, all she can see is her mom. 

She exhales as she goes into the other room to show Ami, her jaw dropping at her older sibling. She’d never looked so… ethereal. 

Her dress was a pure white, covered with soft pearls that gave the illusion they dripped off her body, her entire frame equally corseted, material choking her tightly. 

“Ami,” Nozomi placed her hands over her mouth, not enough to ruin her own makeup, “Oh my goodness,” she became choked up, “You look…”

Ami smiles at her sibling, gently standing to keep her dress from being ruined. She looked down at herself, gently placing her hands along the dress, the gems and diamonds sparkling underneath the lights. 

“Good?” She asks her sister, her voice soft. 

“Amazing,” she promises, “Don’t be nervous. I’m so happy for you. Are you ready? We don’t wanna be late.”

“Let’s get going then, yeah?”

It’s now chaos when they arrive at the venue. None of them had yet to see what it looked like besides the bride and groom, the panic of getting into place leaving everything to a surprise once they walked out. The guests had already arrived, sitting within the white chairs that were covered with pink bows and flowers, wearing their own shades of her sister's favorite color. Here were the groomsmen, perfectly dressed in their tuxes, pink flowers within their breast pockets. They were ready, making sure they were perfectly lined up with the bridesmaid they were assigned to walk with. Ami was hidden within a back room, preparing to be the last one to walk out. 

Nozomi holds her dress as she speed walks out to where everyone else stands, seeing Suguru and Toji standing together. She hadn’t seen him since the chaos of the night before—she couldn’t help but not be happy to see him. Seeing Toji’s suit perfectly frame his broad physique, his best friend stands next to him, his long hair within a bun, tied out of his face. They looked handsome. 

“Ready?” She questions Suguru, “I can’t wait for you to see her. You’re not gonna cry, are you?”

Suguru smiles at the question, an almost embarrassed look on his face. However, he doesn’t deny it, “I’m most definitely going to cry.” 

Toji laughs, shaking his head, “Big ass dork.”

Suguru takes another deep breath before he stands by the door, preparing to walk out. Everyone now stands in place, and that meant it was time for Nozomi to get in position too. She turns to Toji whose eyes she can feel along her body as she asks, “What? Something wrong with my hair?”

Toji couldn’t deny that she looked incredible in that dress—more than incredible, breathtaking. Everything about her seemed to be amplified from the dress. 

She looked amazing, gorgeous, etc, etc.

“Words can’t describe how good you fuckin’ look right now,” he grunts within her ear, reaching out to grab for her hand, kissing her palm before he wraps it around his arm. 

That makes Nozomi‘s face go warm, turning her head back towards the ceremony. She watches as Suguru’s parents walk down the aisle, clicking that it was their turn. She didn’t know why she suddenly felt nervous. 

She nods, “Thank you. Um,” she twists the flower within his breast pocket, “Just—don’t let me fall, okay?”

Toji’s chuckle is attractive, still deep in her ear as he lowly promises, “Not a chance in hell.”

When he slides his arm down to clutch her fingers in his  own, their skin feels electrifying together. She hadn’t held his hand in so long—it felt so good. When they prepare to walk, she tugs his arm as she mutters, “Seriously, Fushiguro. Don’t let me fall. I’ll hurt you.”

His eyes glance down at hers as he promises, “You won’t fall, pretty.” 

They finally walk down the aisle, everyone’s eyes turning to them. The flower petals along the ground are being tread upon as they stroll down the walkway, Nozomi’s heart pounding within her chest. 

He squeezes her hand again, gently rubbing his thumb against her knuckles in an attempt to calm her. It works, but not by much, keeping her mind occupied as they walk.

She can now fully see the venue— cherry blossoms, the main event of it all. They all laid along the ground, pink trees floating above the chairs and guests, slumped down as petals swirled in the air each time the wind blew. She doesn’t realize how tightly she’s holding Toji’s hand, feeling a vast amount of emotions come to her, the sentiments of something as simple as a cherry blossom tree meaning so much more to her.

They finally make it to the end, and Toji releases her hand to go stand near Suguru, his nerves settling as he takes his place next to the groom. The music changes, signaling for the rest of the party to begin walking. Each bridesmaid and groom look perfect together—hell, even Kim and Isamu looked nice walking together.

Everyone giggled as one of Suguru’s younger cousins came tumbling down the aisle, throwing more flowers onto the ground, including a smaller baby boy, who followed after her, holding the rings close to his miniature tuxedo. 

It was finally the moment, the moment everyone had come for. When she appeared at the end of the aisle—a gasp came from the entire venue. Nozomi had already seen her, but seeing her here, holding her father’s arm as she began to walk, her veil that swam the ground, she hated the emotion that began smacking her around. It didn’t make it better that every bridesmaid was already crying—that was enough for her. The music that played, the way she could tell Ami herself was trying to hold back tears, it was the most special moment she had experienced.

Nozomi gripped the flowers in her hand, trying to stop the tears that poured like nothing. When she looked over to the groomsmen side—even they were crying, Suguru’s eyes were red as he couldn’t hold back his emotion. His best friend was of course behind him, rubbing his shoulder to comfort him. When Toji and Nozomi locked eyes, she gave a weak laugh, patting her own face to not mess up her makeup.

Toji couldn’t help but look at the way she was crying, his own eyes feeling soft as his chest felt heavy with an unknown emotion. His face felt warm, almost warm enough to make him tear up, but he tried his best to keep it down by looking away and trying to focus on the groom himself. 

However, every once in a while, his eyes would dart back towards her, admiring the way she looked in the soft lighting, the flower, the corseted dress, even her makeup. It amazed him. Seeing his best friend hold this much emotion towards a woman, it made him realize how much of a fuck up he was with Nozomi—he wanted to make things right.

The ceremony felt quicker than she expected, probably because she spent most of it crying. Everyone cheered and hollered as they kissed, cementing their love. It was now the reception, farther out into the trees, tables, menus, a selection of food, waitresses, anything you thought of at a high-end wedding, it was there. Everyone sat down as it was the bride and grooms first dance, seeing as they held each other tight, ‘SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK,’ by Joji filling the venue, Ami’s smile never leaving her face. 

Nozomi watched with a soft smile, kneeling on her arm. Others began joining them on the dance floor shortly after. Her attention was pulled as she heard her father’s voice behind her, “Omi’?” 

She hesitantly turns to him, “Yes, Pa?”

Her father had a wide smile on his face, his eyes soft as he placed a firm hand on his daughter’s shoulder, gently squeezing it. 

“Can I have this dance?” 

She gave him a gracious smile, “Sure.”

She took his arm, following him to the floor as she held one of his hands, the other going on his shoulder, while his hand went on her hip. They swayed slightly to the music. 

“I’m…really happy to see you, Pa’,” Nozomi tells him softly, “I’m sorry I haven’t called.I just…needed time, when mom passed. I know you wanted me to stay in Japan. But I couldn’t.”

Her father gently squeezed her hip, his eyes soft as he nodded his head, “I know.” He says, “I know it was hard. I remember how distraught you were when mom passed…it was hard on all of us. I couldn’t force you to stay in Japan. You needed some freedom after all that, and you found it in the states.”

He halts for a moment, trying to find his words as he says, “I miss your mom everyday. Despite my bad decisions. She’s always with me, just like she’s here with you.”

Despite his infidelity while their mom was sick, she knew how much he loved her. It wasn’t an excuse, but it could’ve been a way of coping with knowing she was going to pass, it was a loss for everyone. 

“I’ll do better at calling, Pa’. I promise.”

A small chuckle tumbles from her father’s lips, as he shakes his head, “No, you won’t,” he teased, “I’ll just have to keep calling you until you finally answer.”

“You know me so well,” she chuckles, continuing to sway with him. 

The moment was something she couldn’t ask for twice. To make up with her father, it brought a weight off her shoulders. She felt at peace. Maybe she needed to come back home. 

Her final conflict she had to resolve appeared, Toji stepping in as he politely asked her father, “May I?”

Her father nods gently at the man, patting his daughter on the hip one last time as Toji steps in front of her, holding his hand out. His eyes slowly drift downwards, examining the beautiful maid of honor, his chest feeling almost tight.

“There you are,” she says softly, bringing her arms around his neck, an eyebrow raising as Toji questions, “You were looking for me?” 

“Maybe.”

He places his hands on her hips, a smirk forming on his face, “You’ve been avoiding me,” he reminds, “The whole damn time. Barely said shit to me.”

“Wanted to make sure you weren’t mad at me,” she deflects, pulling his neck down, wanting him to be closer to her than he was, “The rehearsal dinner was a shitshow.”

Toji’s hands tightened on her hips as he pulled her a bit closer, their chests nearly touching. His dark gray eyes pierced into hers, almost staring into her soul.

“I’m not mad,” he mutters, “I’m used to your bullshit by now. It’s expected.”

She exhales, “That doesn’t sound like much of a compliment.” 

“Cause it isn’t.” 

The same song plays, distracting her for a moment. She rolls her eyes, “So what do you like about me then, since I’m such a problem?”

“You’re a smartass,” he stated bluntly, “A smartass that knows how to press my fuckin’ buttons. A smartass that’s stubborn as all hell. A smartass…that also happens to be the prettiest person in the fuckin’ building. The only person I see here.”

Nozomi blinks up at him, her eyes glittering underneath the lights they have within the ceiling. 

“You’ really wanna be with me?” She asks softly, knowing the answer, maybe just needing reassurance.

“Don’t ask shit you already know the answer to,” he grunts, mouth lowering closer to her ear. 

His forehead pressed against hers, Nozomi giggling as he pulled her heels along his own shoes, holding her close. This might’ve been the moment she needed from him. 

They stayed like that for a while. 

The reception is in full force, different family members dancing together, Suguru and Ami inseparable, the music and food perfect for the environment. Nozomi had found a small moment to pull her and Toji away from the reception as the newlyweds took pictures, pulling him deeper into the trees, away from all the people—away from an audience. 

She leans herself against the bark, fidgeting her hands against his tux as she rambles, “My mom actually wanted her burial to be a cherry blossom tree,” she says softly, keeping her eyes along the material of his tux.

She continues, “We didn’t know until we found her wishes hidden inside the mattress. A weird place to put it,” she laughs, but it’s weak, nothing actually funny, “I think that’s why this whole wedding has been so…emotional for me. Besides seeing my sister be in love and so happy. This entire weekend has brought so many memories for me. Things I’ve realized about myself. Things I wanna fix…”

Toji couldn’t help but watch her closely as she opened up. This was the first time in a while that she’s been so…honest. So vulnerable. 

“I don’t think I ever thanked you for the orchid you left at my door,” she says quietly, “Despite the way I treated you, you still tried. And tried, and tried…” she giggles, Toji grunting as he presses his forehead along hers. She then says, “I also haven’t apologized.“

It was as if everything that happened after that was an unfortunate cue.

 Their attention is pulled away from each other as Isamu and Kim walk up to them, her brother loud as he calls, “Yo, where y’all at? Sneaking out already?”

She tries not to be irritated with her sibling. But as she notices Kim beside him giving her the nastiest look, her blood pressure spikes. 

“Just talking,” Nozomi replies, keeping her hand along Toji’s suit. 

“Got him under your claws so I don’t get to him, I see,” Kim sharply replies, and it’s quick, so quick that Nozomi almost doesn’t catch it. 

She slightly sits herself up as she raises an eyebrow, “Excuse me?”

Kim shrugs, “You assumed I’ve just been fucking him all weekend, is my comment too far off?”

“No, actually, it isn’t. You fucked’ him before, makes no difference now. A hoe is still a hoe.”

“Who are you calling a hoe?” Kim fires off, coming closer. 

But that wasn’t a problem, Nozomi was ready to put her in a headlock as she came around Toji, “ You know what— I can blame a man for his stupidity. But what I can’t handle, is a stupid ass bitch like you that would do anything for the idiocy that is a man’s attention. You knew how I felt about Toji, and yet you fucked him anyways, and you were suppose to be my friend. You’re lucky I didn’t fuckin’ shoot you.”

“Alright, knock it the fuck off,” Toji mutters, bringing his arm around her hip, lightly pulling her back from Kim who was in arms reach of the girl. 

Kim then says, “Don’t blame me that you couldn’t keep your supposed  man in check. I wouldn’t want you either if you didn’t wanna fuck me, Ms. Holier Than Thou.” 

Yup, that was it.

Nozomi laughed humorlessly, taking a step back as she moved Toji’s arm to let him know she was calm, but it was the complete opposite. 

Her eyes quickly scanned the scenery, seeing no one else around, locking her eyes back on Kim. She steps forward, plummeting her knuckles clean into Kim’s jaw, the crack heard in the echoes of the trees, Kim immediately dropping to the ground from the impact. 

“Yo, Nozomi, what the fuck!” Isamu exclaimed. 

Kim holds the side of her face, turning to the side as she spat blood on the ground. Nozomi’s anger had seeped over her. She didn’t mean to hit her, it just happened. Her knuckles stung, but it’s unfortunate that she didn’t feel satisfied. When she lunges forward to finish her off, her feet are suddenly off the ground, Nozomi grunting as she’s being thrown over Toji’s shoulder again, being pulled away from the reception. 

“Put me the fuck down!” 

She didn’t realize how close they actually were to their family’s house, practically feeling the fire off Toji’s body. He carried her into his room, Nozomi grunting as she hit the bed, breathless as her dress was already tight. 

She glares as she sits up, “What?”

Toji was absolutely livid. He could feel the anger radiating off himself as he stepped into the bedroom, his eyes piercing into the woman on the bed. He had never seen her like this before. He didn’t have the time for her bullshit. 

“What the fuck were you thinking?” He questioned, anger laced in his voice, “You trying to get arrested at your sister's wedding?”

“I wouldn’t have gotten arrested,” she scoffed, “Don’t be dramatic. I been letting that bitch talk crazy to me all weekend. The bitch has literally been flirting with you, all up your fuckin’ ass, and you just—let her,” she spits.

“What part of I didn't reciprocate anything isn't getting through your thick ass skull?” He snapped at her, “I don’t give a fuck if she flirts with me. I wasn't interested. I only give a fuck about you.”

“Oh? So fucking her two years ago showed that you weren’t interested? You know what— let’s talk about it!” She exclaims, “Let’s just put it all out there. We were talking, it was becoming serious. Kim was my friend, a close friend at the time. Just when I was ready to bring my walls down, make things official, be with you, I find out you fucked Kim. And conveniently? It was right after I told you I wouldn’t have sex with you unless we were officially together. You couldn’t commit to me, but you could fuck her. Are we on the same page? Am I missing anything?” 

Toji's eyes darkened. The air between them was thick with tension. He never wanted to talk about this part of their relationship again, but if she was going to bring it up—he had to deal with it. 

“I could barely commit to you at the time,” he stated angrily, “You told me you wouldn't be intimate with me unless we were together. What the hell was I supposed to do?”

“Wait for me!”  She shouted back, feeling her throat becoming tight. 

“You were supposed to wait for me! You said that it wasn’t important, that you loved me! If you didn’t, you should’ve never fucking led me on! That's why I hated you. I hated you for it. You sit here now, talking about ‘what was I supposed to do’— you haven’t fucking changed!” She continues to keep her voice raised.

Her anger seeps through so quickly that she can’t help the vast punch she throws into his chest, fist shaking as she turns away from him to control herself. She wanted to be violent.

He reached out and grabbed her wrists, spinning her around to look at him. His eyes locked onto hers with a dangerous glare as he spoke, “I’ve changed. But you’re acting too fuckin’ stupid to see that. It’s like you’re looking for reasons to push me away. To end what we have.”

“Oh? You’ve changed. Typical. Say it a couple more times and maybe you’ll believe yourself. You haven’t fucking changed. You’re a bitch.” 

“Watch your fuckin’ mouth, Nozomi.” 

“Make me.” 

He could set off a bomb with the fear-inducing look he gave her, practically enraged at this point. 

“You made your bed. Be a fucking man and lay in that shit. You wanted pussy so bad you had to fuck a bitch that fucks everybody, my friend at the time. Now look at your bitch on a string, onto the next, fucking my brother when I wasn’t even worried about you. Now you wanna come back to me on some change bullshit. Fuck you.” 

“I'm not that same man anymore,” he spat, “But I guess that doesn’t matter to you, huh? No matter how much I fuckin’ change. No matter how much I try. Your stubborn ass still thinks I’m the same man I was two years ago. You haven’t changed either.”

“And how the fuck haven’t I changed?”

“You’re still the woman who runs from every single emotion. Pushing everyone away from you. You can’t even stand to deal with your own fuckin’ feelings, so it’s easier for you to push everyone out of your life. You’re weak.” 

The words hit her. Actually, hit her. It all mushes together. The loss of her mother, shutting everyone out when she needed support in her time of grief. Toji. Her father. All of it. 

The tears finally come up, dropping down her face as there’s nothing but pure malice behind her voice as she lowly spits, “Fuck you.” 

“I’m sorry I hurt you, Nozomi. I would never hurt you the way I did before.” 

“Shut the fuck up.” 

“I love you.” 

Her heart stopped, hearing those words come from him. He was gruff in his tone, but meant exactly what he said. He wasn’t gonna let her push him away. 

“No you don’t,” she says, her voice cracking as she says that, “No you don’t. Stop lying to me!” 

He comes forward, gripping her tighter by her wrist and tugging her towards him, causing her to try to yank out of his hold as she panics, “Let go of me!”

“Say it again,” he challenged, his voice a low growl, “Say that I don't love you. Say that shit again. Say that you hate me.”

“I fucking hate you!” She exclaims, her voice trembling, slamming her fist into his chest as he takes hold of her other arm, “I hate you…I hate you…” 

The tears won’t stop, and she can’t believe her own words. It gets to a point where her entire body trembles, and she throws her hands over her face, sobbing, “Let me go, Toji…”

Toji's heart tightens in his chest when he sees her crumble before him. This was the first time he’s ever really seen her break like this. He pulled her into his arms, wrapping them around her tightly as he held her against his chest, letting her cry into him. 

“Cry, baby. I want you too. Need you too. I’m here to let you.”

She felt extremely overwhelmed, covering her face to mask her embarrassment, but that quickly fades. She reaches up, wrapping her arms around his neck, clutching her fingers in his hair as she cries. 

He could feel her pain, her hurt, her anger. It practically radiated off of her. But there was one emotion that he could feel clearly. Fear. She was scared.

She didn’t want to be hurt again like the first time, she didn’t know if she could trust him with her heart again. But there was only one way she could find that out. Her crying eventually subsides, tears still along her face as she breathes into his neck, her hand still clutching within his hair.

 She says softly, “I…I love you too…”

Toji felt his breathing stop for a moment as he listened to her words. The three words he’s been wanting to hear for so long. 

“Again,” he mumbled against her skin, “Say that shit again.”

The sound of his voice. It’s different. She hadn’t heard him sound like this in a while, and when he did, it intimidated her. Sex didn’t necessarily scare her, it just scared her with him, for him to be her first. 

“I love y—“ 

It’s interrupted, Toji lowering down as he locks his mouth with hers, clutching a grip along her throat as he filthily kisses her. It’s abnormal. He wanted to entice her, he needed her.

He didn’t hold anything back as he slipped his tongue inside of her mouth, his fingers fully wrapping around her neck as a way to keep her still. He was enthralled, and he was going to show her just how badly he was. 

When he pulled his mouth back, her skin felt on fire. Her eyes blinked residuals of tears, teeth digging into her lip as he kept yanking her forward for another kiss, his mouth on her throat, her chest, her jaw, tongue dragging up her skin, aching for her. 

Her breath hitched as he picked her up, carrying her onto the bed. Her mind is spinning as he hovers over her frame, grasping her by the back of her neck and holding her up, kissing her so fiercely that it made her entire body tremble.

Toji’s mind was reeling. The feeling of her against him, her scent filling his nostrils, the way her skin felt against his lips. He felt like he was in a dream—a hazy, lustful dream. 

He pulled back from her mouth, leaving a trail of kisses down her jaw before moving to her neck. His lips left marks along her skin, wanting her to feel them the next morning when she woke up. 

She finally lets her mouth drop words out as she nervously exhales, “Fushiguro, wait…”

When her words came out with a breathlessness to them, Toji felt his mind go crazy. He pulled back, his hot breath fanning against her skin as he locked his eyes on hers. 

“What?” He questioned in a low tone, his gaze flicking down to her lips as he waited for her to speak.

“You know I haven’t…” she feels embarrassed, “I just…I don’t want to look stupid.”

Toji’s expression softened as he heard her words. He knew her concern, he understood it. But in his eyes, she was anything but stupid. She was perfect. 

“You won’t,” he assured her, his hand moving up to grip her chin, “You don’t look stupid. Let me take care of you.”

She blinks. Her hand slowly reaches back for his hair, nodding her head as she asks him quietly, “Can you…kiss my neck again? It…It felt nice.”

A low grunt of approval rolled from his lips as he heard her request. He leaned in, hovering just above her skin, teasing her, watching her reaction as he finally planted his lips along her neck, right under her ear. The feeling makes her breath hitch, her head kneeling back slightly to rush off the burn she gets from his mouth. 

He left a trail of kisses down to her collarbone, his tongue slowly dragging along one part of her skin in the most torturous way. She shifts beneath him, her chest rising, trying to appear normal—but her skin is buzzing.

He nips at the skin just below her collarbone, and that’s when he hears a sound that sets him absolutely off. 

A gasp. It escapes from her lips as she tries to bite it back. The sound makes his ears go crazy, and he’s instantly driven by one thing now. More.

The dress she wears instantly feels tighter. She’d been around Toji many times, but never fully naked. She kneels her head up, mouth close to his as she murmurs, “Need to um…take my dress off…”

“I know.” 

Her throat goes dry as he flips her body over beneath him, effortless as if she weighed nothing. He begins unzipping the dress, sliding his hand inside the material, his mouth now along the back of her neck. He uses his free hand to grip her hair, fisting it into a ponytail beneath his palms as the dress hits the ground with a thud. Her entire body was now bare to him from behind, only being covered by the ballerina pink thong she wore.

Her skin was like fine porcelain, smooth and delicate. He could see some ink that stretched along her skin, and he instantly was curious to see all of it later. For now, he would leave those questions for another time. His mouth trailed up along her neck before he whispered into her ear. 

“I wanna hear my name from your mouth.” He demanded lowly. “Need to hear it.”

He still holds her hair within his fist, his mouth along her skin again, now along her spine, causing her eyes to flutter closed, unable to respond just yet, only arching her back to show she enjoyed the feeling. Chills rushed down her body as he locked his fingers around her ankle, twisting her towards being on her back again. His mouth was now crawling on the back of her thigh. 

She shivered, a reaction coming from her as she gasped softly, “T—Toji, w—wait—“ 

Yet he didn’t stop, grunting as he continued making out with her leg, dragging his lips across her skin, running his tongue up to reach the back of her foot, repetitively making her lower body throb in a way she hadn’t felt before, like she needed something from him.

Toji was drunk with the feeling of her beneath him. His lips were famished on her skin, marking her up in places that he knew no one would see. When she was now on her back, Nozomi couldn’t help but press her arm over her breasts, her other hand pressing in between her legs to cover herself. She wasn’t insecure in her body, but this was the first time he’d officially seen her naked. She felt…shy.

“Nah, don’t cover yourself from me,” he grunts, “I wanna see my woman.” 

Toji felt her shiver underneath him. He had to taste more of her, to see what else he could make her react to.

His mouth trailed up her leg, lingering near her core. His expression made her entire lower body warm. He leaned forward, darting his tongue out to tease her clit through the fabric of her panties. A low growl came from him in response as he felt her tense underneath him. He lifted his head, looking up at her with a smirk as he tugged her panties to the side, revealing her wet opening to him.

"You're so fuckin’ wet already,” he groaned. 

Her legs nearly locked together when he gave her clit the softest kiss, admiring the pink nub. Her pussy was pretty. Just for him. Leaning back down to lick at her folds, his tongue swirled around her clit before he sucked it into his mouth.

Nozomi’s body shuddered, the feeling almost ticklish, like she wanted to push him away. He instantly locked his hands along the back of her thighs, pressing her knees against the bed as he grunted, nudging his mouth farther into her clit, a slurping sound creating at the way his lips moved. Her hand went to grip his hair if she couldn’t escape, a soft gasp leaving her lips as she whimpered, “Toji…”

The moment she called out his name, Toji felt something stir within him. It wasn't just lust anymore, it was desire. A need to claim her, to mark her as his own.

He continued eating at her, his tongue delving deeper into her folds as he tasted every inch. His hands tightened around her thighs as he held her open for himself, letting her feel his hot breath fan across her sensitive flesh.

"Fuck...you taste even better than I imagined," he murmured, his voice muffled as he dragged his entire mouth along her core, Nozomi jumping as he harshly spanked the side of her thigh in approval. 

Her legs lightly clasped around his face, twisting his head a bit as it felt overwhelming, gripping his hair harder as her body trembled. She whimpered again, pleading to him, “Baby…”

But that didn’t do anything to stop him, if anything it made him continue. Her breath hitched as one of his hands came up, gripping her breast within his palm as the other kept her legs spread.

Toji felt her squirm beneath him, her pleas only spurring him on further. He loved the way she sounded, begging for him to stop yet unable to pull herself away.

“I’m sorry, baby. Can’t help myself,” he groans to her. 

She's trapped beneath his relentlessment as he sticks his tongue out, pushing it inside of her walls, warm and gummy as they fold around his mouth. His eyes nearly rolled as he groaned again, feeling Nozomi’s thighs trembling as she softly cried— He could taste her arousal, thick and potent. It was intoxicating, making him drunk with desire.

“Pussy is so fuckin’ pretty,” he grunts, holding her thighs apart as he circles his head, deepening his tongue inside her, the sight to Nozomi’s eyes completely filthy.

She throws her hands over her face as she softly cries, “Fushiguro….stop…”  her face was entirely red.

The more she begged, the more Toji wanted to hear it. He liked hearing her pleads. He had the intention to make it worse. 

"Shut the fuck up,” he grunted out, “‘Gonna put your whole pussy on my face,” his tongue delving deeper into her. He could feel her walls clenching around him, her juices coating his face as he ate her out.

His hands gripped tighter onto her thighs, holding her open for himself as he continued to feast on her. He could feel her trembling beneath him, her pleas only serving to fuel his desire.

"Oh fuck...you're so tight," he groaned, his tongue curling as he pushed it further inside of her, “Not gonna be able to handle all this dick. Gonna fuckin’ cry,” he won’t stop talking, she wants to punch him at this point. 

Toji couldn't get enough of her—the taste of her. He lapped at her hungrily, his tongue plunging into her depths as his hands held her legs up. He could feel her tightening around him, her juices flowing freely as he devoured her.

"Oh my god, baby, gonna make you cum..." he growled against her pussy, his voice muffled by her folds. "Then I’m gonna fuck you up until you can't walk straight. Can’t think straight.” 

His words in her mind— it makes her legs shake even harder, trapping his head within her thighs again. He snatches them open, the sight of his eyes closed, tongue dipping in and out of her, she felt like she was going to faint. He gets a good leverage of her hips, dragging his tongue back up her clit, sucking it between his lips as the sound echoes in the room, sliding back down as he yanks her pussy against his jaw, practically bouncing her against his mouth. Her abdomen shakes as waves of pleasure come crashing down, something like his tongue making  her feel a stretch in her walls, how was she gonna survive? 

It didn’t help that Toji was beneath her, moaning as if this pleased him entirely, head swiveling around, bottom of his face completely soaked. Toji was lost in the taste of her, the feel of her body writhing beneath him. Her cries filled his ears, her juices coated his tongue, and the way her body shook beneath him drove him wild.

He sucked harder on her clit, his tongue swirling around the sensitive nub as he worked it into his mouth. His hands gripped her hips tightly, holding her in place as he rolled his lips, sucking all at the same time, practically drinking between her legs. 

The moment her legs opened a bit wider for him, Nozomi reached up for her ankle that quivered, her hips matching the jitter as she looked down to him, panting, “Agh…Fushiguro…I—baby…” 

“About to cum, pretty baby?”

“I—I don’t know…” her throat grasps for the oxygen in the room, “F—Feel like I have to pee…”

That makes him grunt, clutching his palms back around her ankles, hovering his mouth above her hips as he makes contact directly with her clit, sloppily slurping at the sticky and wet flesh, dropping his lower lip against her entire core as he slows his mouth down, head motioning in a circle so effectively that he should’ve been dizzy. The sight, the sound, all of it makes Nozomi’s eyes flutter. She tightly snatches his hair as her abdomen tenses up, a sense of defeat as she gushes along his face, Toji reaching up as he sticks his fingers within her mouth, pulling her up by her teeth to make her watch. 

“Cum just like that. Good fuckin’ girl,” his voice is still muffled, entrapping her pussy with his mouth, lapping up her arousal mercilessly, worshipping her body for the pleasure she releases. She jumps as he raises his hand, spanking the side of her ass, gripping the flesh to watch it faint a color of red. 

Her eyes are low, body tired—but they’d only just begun. 

He comes up as he snatches the side of her face, plunging his lips against her own as he messily makes out with her. Nozomi attempts to keep up with him, but her body feels paralyzed, wondering if this was her time to plead the fifth. This man was trying to kill her. 

“Eyes,” he tells her, gripping her chin to look at him, “You’ okay? Need me to stop?”

Despite her own mind in fear of what was to come next, her body was on vibrate, and a bigger part of her wanted more. Needed more. She shook her head, pulling her eyes open as a response.

 She gasps softly as spanks her ass, “Nah. Fuck all that no talking shit, tell me everything you feel. Tell me you want me to keep going.” 

The thought of being vocal made her nervous, embarrassed even. She said softly, “Keep going…” 

He smacks his lips with a grunt of, “You can do better than that,” pulling her into another kiss before he backs up, standing at the edge of the bed to begin removing his own clothes. Nozomi only watches, her face warm and flustered, thinking back to running out of the room each time this man even took his shirt off. 

Now here he was, dark eyes intently on her as he aggressively tugged off his tie, never as gentle with himself as he could be with her. Her eyes drop down as he begins removing his pants, trying to hide the way her eyes want to fall out when he pulls down his boxers—he definitely was…gifted, if she could find the word.

“Don’t look at me like that if you don’t wanna come play with it.” 

She keeps her eyes to herself. 

He almost chuckles, feeling her gaze pull away as he stands before her, now completely naked. His entire frame was beautifully sculpted, abdomen hard, nearly sharp within her sight. He comes back onto the bed, his large arms caging her in by the sides of her head.  

“Like what you see, huh?”

 His lips are close to hers again, lightly brushing along the baby pink of her mouth. Her face is warm again, looking everywhere but between his legs. She says softly, “Don’t do that,” too nervous for his teasing. It’s the little things he does, brushing his mouth against hers instead of actually kissing her that drives her crazy. Her mouth is parted as she wants him to make out with her, but instead he presses light kisses along her jaw, watching as it makes her chest heave up and down, wrapping her arm around his neck, reaching for his hair from behind.

He chuckles, enjoying just how much he can get her worked up. Her need for his mouth on hers was obvious, it only made him want to tease her even more. 

 “You want my mouth?”

His fucking voice—the way he slowly begins locking her legs over his shoulders, it makes her clutch tighter for his hair. A small whine comes from her mouth, breathing into his throat as she begs beneath her breath, “Want your mouth, so bad…”

She’s so vulnerable like this, so vulnerable beneath him. 

“I know you do.” He mutters against her skin, his mouth now trailing up to her ear, “You’re so fuckin’ pretty like this, you know that? Begging for me, whining to have my mouth on you.”

Her legs being separated by his shoulders make her ache even more, unable to squeeze them together anymore. He still doesn’t give her what he wants. He needed the perfect moment. Her heart beats within her chest, hoping this isn’t as painful as she imagined it to be. 

Toji’s face hovers over hers, face stoic as he watches her expression. He locks his palms around her ankles while trapping her along the bed. The moment feels like an eternity. He takes his tip within his hand, rubbing it against her clit, watching as she shudders from that. He then slaps it along her opening, listening to her pussy squelch, needing to be filled. The silence was deafening at this point. 

Slowly, dreadfully, achingly, he begins to push inside of her. Nozomi’s eyes twitch, her mouth parts open a little after, and she starts to feel a deep pinch in her lower body, a sweet pain that she’d never experienced before. Toji keeps his eyes up, gently placing his forehead on top of hers as he moves a bit, the hold she had along his hair clutches even tighter, and finally, a whimper comes from her lips.

The sound of her whimper causes him to pause, closing his eyes momentarily to control himself. He was already engulfed in her pleasure, but it was the fact that he knew he was her first that was making him absolutely feral. 

Toji felt his breath get caught in his throat the moment he heard that sound come from her. It was a mixture of pain and pleasure, and it sounded so damn good to his ears.

Her legs instantly began trembling. Her arms around his neck tighten as she leans her head back, pulling him forward to press his lips along her neck. The mixture of the two feelings made her legs tremble even more, a shuddering whine coming from her mouth. 

She gasped, deeply, her eyes closing as she could feel tears brimming in them, a pleasure she had never experienced before filling her body.

The sight of her so sensitive causes his mind to snap. Her body is like a piece of glass; he has to hold her with care, otherwise she’d break. He had to be gentle with her, and he had never been this gentle with anyone. 

She’s gasping along his ear, Toji unable to help himself to talk to her as he grunts, “Shit feels good, doesn’t it? This is my pussy, huh?” 

His voice in her ear sends her into panting softly, keeping her grip on his hair. His grip along her ankles doesn’t falter, spreading her legs a little wider, Nozomi pulling his face deeper into her neck as she trembles, “Oh my…ohmygod.”

Her trembling beneath him only makes his heart race that much faster. She’s so reactive, every subtle movement he makes as he’s between her legs brings a new response. He lets her claw into his hair, needing her to mark him in some way as her hands stay there. 

Toji’s mind is hazy as he pushes deeper into her, a low groan leaving his mouth near her ear. “You’re doing so good, baby.”

Her inhales are short, but her exhales are long. She pulls his face up to meet hers, lightly pulling their lips together, trying to kiss him, unable to as her head spins, eyes rolling to the back of her head. She whines softly, “B—baby…I…”

He can’t help the grin that comes to his face as she tries desperately to kiss him, but her body is too sensitive to it. She trembles, her hair sticking to her skin, a glow of sweat along her body. 

It’s pleasure, and only Toji can give it to her. He’ll give her all of it. 

“What, baby?” He muttered against her skin, peppering kisses along her neck as he continued his slow movements. “You’ gonna say my name again?”

He’s barely moving, but the moment he does, she cries softly, dragging her nails into his back, “Toji,” she whimpers his name in the most desperate way, as if wasn’t allowed to.

Each time she says his name, he can’t help but feel heat fill his body. Each cry, each whimper, each breath from her skin as she says his name, it makes him hungry for more. 

His grip on her ankles tightens, using them in order to drive himself deeper. When she cries his name, Toji can’t help but groan against her skin, kissing where he can as he whispers, “Say my fuckin’ name just like that.”

His left hand reaches up for the headboard, finding a grip along the wood as his other hand still holds her ankle. Nozomi keeps her nails dug into his back, face within his shoulder as she brokenly moans, feeling that she’d be embarrassed about the sounds she made later. 

She gasps softly, “I…I feel…different…”

It’s obvious that she’s still new to the feeling. Her whimpers are filled with a hint of pain, but Toji was determined to make this as good for her as possible. 

He wants no thought to be in her mind but him.

“How do you feel?” He asked her between breaths, his chest pressing against hers, his head buried in her neck as he began to pick up rhythm, their flesh creating a clapping sound. He slowly moved her leg, moving it to a spot that would make her feel even more.

Her leg trembles at the movement of her leg, mouth right against his as a genuine, “Ughn—shit,” scatters desperately from her lips, eyes fluttering shut, losing the side of her brain to answer the question.

The sound of her swearing has a dark chuckle fan against her mouth from him. Toji wants to ruin her, and he intends to do just that. He wants to make her so sensitive that she’d be unable to handle just one more touch.

His lips brush hers as whispers to her, his movements deliberate and calculated. “You feel good, baby?” He muttered against her skin, “You’ hear me fucking you? Hear your pussy, baby? She sounds so pretty, doesn’t she? Sucking me in like she can’t let go. Listen.” 

The clapping sound of their skin, the way his hips bury into her, sloshing each time he pushes inside. She inhales deeply, eyes rolling to the back of her head as she breathlessly whimpers, “Yeaah,” she drags the word out a bit to her disadvantage, clutching his hair again, sucking her breathing back to silence as she hears herself losing her sense to talk.

Her voice makes Toji groan. She sounds absolutely wrecked. 

“It’s too much, huh?” He cooes, the bastard, his hand moving from her ankle to her thigh, “Who’s making you feel like this?” 

“You, baby,” she says, eyes rolling back ever so slightly, “You, baby. Fuck, it’s you, baby,” she repeats, as if she didn’t hear herself the first two times.

“That’s fuckin’ right,”  He muttered against her skin, his hand rubbing up and down her thigh as he continued his movements, making her feel every each inch of him, “Nobody else is gonna fuck you the way I do.” 

She’s the one who’s begging for him. She’s whining for him, and only him. She’s saying his name and only his name.

“You feel so good, baby.” He whispers to her, “Pussy made just for me. Wanna eat her again, miss that shit gushing all on my mouth.” 

She’s gripping onto him for dear life. Her reactive moans  is the only thing he can hear as he continued, “You’re so sensitive. If I eat you out, I know you’re gonna cream, might even squirt. Fuck, baby…” 

“Oooohshit,” her mouth parts, Toji grasping a rough kiss at the opportunity of her mouth opening, “Fuckin’ feel you, baby,” she clutches his hair tighter, “D—Don’t mean to pull your hair like that…m’sorry…”

“Pull harder.” He orders her, his voice low as his lips now give company to her ear. 

She tugs a little more in response—soft, making sure she doesn’t hurt him—which causes Toji to chuckle, the deep sound fanning against her lips. 

She nearly pouted, “Don’t laugh at me…”

He kisses her shoulder gently before grunts, “You’re so fuckin’ cute like this. Fuckin’ needy ass. So tough, so mouthy—all you needed was some dick.”

“You’re making fun of me…” she whimpers, turning her face down to his shoulder, becoming a bit

more vocal as her body relaxes. 

“I am,” he admitted against her skin, “But you’re taking my shit so good, baby. You’re being such a good girl, it’s so fuckin’ sexy.”

It seems that his voice is what triggers her, because when she takes in his tone, a particularly deep gasp comes from her chest, her head kneeling back, hips squirming in response. Her pussy tightens. 

Toji grumbles against her neck, “You like my voice, baby?”

She nods her head, “I—agh—like it, baby,” she agrees softly, “Like when you talk to me…” she tries to find her words, feeling her face warm as she also adds, “Like when you’re a little rough with me…”

He chuckles against her skin, her confession only furthering his drive, “Rough, huh?” He muttered against her skin, “I’m trying to be gentle, baby. Don’t do that.” 

“I’m okay,” her voice is soft, but it’s a protest, “Feels good, baby. I…” she drags her nails down his back, “Want more of you.”

The sound of her voice is so soft and needy, so desperate for more of him, Toji can’t keep himself from groaning against her skin, her nails digging into his skin just making him all the more greedy. 

“You want more of me?” He muttered against her neck, his lips brushing along her pulse, “You can barely take the dick I’m giving you now, whimpering and shit. You don’t need more.” 

She pulls him down by his hair, tugging it the way he asked before, her tongue dragging along his skin as she whimpers, “Please, Toji…”

The tug on his hair makes his breath get caught in this throat, and the way her tongue drags along his skin is only adding more gasoline to the fire that’s already burning inside of him. 

“Please what, baby?” He asked her against her skin, her whimpering driving him further over the edge, “You gotta tell me what you want, baby. Use your words.”

She thinks for a moment, trying to figure out exactly what she wanted. She then tells him, “‘Wanna get on top.”

The statement takes him by surprise, his movements pausing as he lifts his head to look at her. Being on top would give her a position of control. But one look at her face, her expression, he finds that he’s unable to say no even if he wanted to. 

“You wanna ride me, baby?” He grunts to her, Nozomi nodding in response as she persuades, “‘Wanna show you I can handle you…” a desperation to her tone, “Want you to feel good too.”

“I feel good as fuck, baby. Don’t worry about that. Come here.”

He leans himself back along the bed, pulling her above him as he states, “Prove that shit, then.”

Now she was actually nervous. Her legs feel numb, and there’s a very faint cramp in her lower abdomen, but the pleasure she felt—a rush of it came over her body seeing him now laid on his back, dark eyes watching her every move. She wanted more. 

She slowly crawls towards him, curiously eyeing the monster that stood at her attention, it jumping when she looks fully at his dick. It was veiny, probably heavy in her hands. She can’t help it. She leans forward as she wraps her lips around his tip, dipping her head down as she drags spit along his entire length, pulling her mouth back with a pop.

 As she runs her tongue over her lips, she feels him clutch her jaw, grunting at the sight of her sucking his dick as he growls, “You’re not ready for that. Come bounce on my dick.” 

She listens— although something in her prefers to be defiant—coming onto his lap, reaching behind herself as she runs her palm along his tip, guiding it towards her opening as she spreads herself with her other hand.  

She sinks herself down, the newfound feeling causing her eyes to drop lower, a soft gasp leaving her lips. It was an aching pinch in her body all over again. She adjusts her hips as she moans, feeling Toji’s hands grip the skin of her ass, balancing her weight.

He groaned at her walls tightening around him, opening his palm as he slammed it against her ass with a gruff, “That’s it, baby…” 

She leans herself into him, placing her hands along his chest as she looks behind herself, slowly raising her hips, gently dropping her ass back down. Her entire abdomen felt on fire, her eyes fluttering closed as her legs throbbed, pulling her hair behind her ear as she shuddered, “Like that?”

He groaned the second she began to move, and he was barely able to hold himself back from lifting her hips himself, making her move. He’s letting her set the pace, making sure to give her as much time as she needs to adjust herself. 

His hands found her hips again, guiding her gently as he let out a husky, “Just like that, baby…” His voice is a harsh whisper, his eyes unable to leave her. “So fuckin’ sexy…” 

The way his voice sounds is different from before, a vulnerability that he didn’t have when she was beneath him. She moved her hips up and down a couple of more times, the final connection sending a wave of pleasure over her body, her breath hitching before a soft moan released. This is where she began to find her rhythm, moving a little faster, her fingers sinking into his chest, digging into the skin as she dug her teeth into her lip, eyebrows furrowing as she attempted to hold back the whimpers that wanted to drop from her lips.

As she found her rhythm, Toji allowed himself to let out a low groan, his eyes closing as he savored the feeling of her body against his. The dig of her nails into his skin only drove him farther over the edge, his hands on her hips only holding her, fighting the demon that wanted to take control. He could feel her slowly gaining more confidence—he was loving it. 

“Riding my shit like a fuckin’ pro, baby…” 

She wasn’t sure why was so shy at this moment, and in order for her to feel good, she needed to relax. She swirls her hips around, running her fingers over her body in a way that makes her hips tremble, immediately placing her hands back along his chest as she moaned, “Need you to touch me…” as she takes one of his hands, placing it along her throat, face warm as she does so.

He clutches his palm around her throat immediately, still holding onto her hip, spanking her again, “Like that? That’s what you want?”

She nods, “Mhm,” sucking in a breath as she feels him using her throat as leverage to hold onto her, her breathing going back to quick inhales, and slow, heavy exhales, “Yeah, baby…love when you touch me like that.”

He’s becoming impatient—he can’t help himself. He gives her a new way to move, pulling her feet flat along the bed, raising his hands higher under her thighs to have a good leverage on her, before he’s lifting her up, dropping her down, bouncing her on top of him, the harsh movement causing their skin to make a loud noise, the impact making Nozomi fully gasp. It causes her to place her hand behind herself along his leg, the other still in front of his chest. 

She understands what he wants, doing just that, moving her entire body as her ass recoils to the slam of his abdomen, something she entirely was too sensitive for, but powered through in order to feel the pleasure that came with it. Her head was down, whining as her lower body shook, dragging up and plopping back down, a heavy groan dropping from her lips as her hair fell around her face and shoulder. 

She squeezed the skin she held onto as she messily moaned, “Oh my goddd—baby. baby, yeah—“ she squeaks, connecting their hips in between, “I can’t….” She pants, “Feels so…aghh.”

“Yeah?” 

“Yeah.” 

He was supposed to be letting her have her time on top, but he can’t hold back any longer. He growls against her skin, his voice almost a command, “Lean forward. Let me fuck you.” 

She leans into him, feeling as he wraps his arms around her lower back, his own hips thrusting upwards, the sound within the room like no other. Nozomi places her hand against his bicep, digging into the skin as she bleats, “Ooooh, shit, Toji—“ she gasps to herself, locking her hand over her mouth, shuddering wildly as she then wraps her arms around his neck as she cries, “Mmmm, wait, baby,” she whimpers out, unable to hold her voice back.

He buries his head into her neck, kissing, licking, biting, leaving a mark as he continues. 

“Nuh-uh, thought you could handle it? Thought you were a big girl?” He grunts in her ear, “Take my fuckin’ dick, big girl.”

He takes advantage of his movement, fully locking his arms under her legs, pulling her knees over his shoulders as she’s still on top of him. Her arms are still wrapped around his neck as he sits himself up a bit, holding her fully as he guides her roughly. His palms are hot as he holds the flesh of her ass, lifting her within the air as he yanks harshly, pussy sopping arousal as he slams her down onto his dick, his balls drenched in her cream.  Nozomi gasps against his mouth, blabbering cries faltering against his lips. She can only listen to the sounds their bodies create together, mewling in defeat. 

She pouts along his mouth as she whimpers, “Fuckin’ love you, babyy.”

He captures her lips with his own, his teeth gently tugging on her bottom lip as he grunts against her mouth, “Stop all that whining shit. Thought you hated me.”

She presses her forehead to his, “Don’t bring that up…” seeing how messy she was against him, her hand back in a deep grip on his hair. She goes silent for a moment, holding him close as she listens to their skin stickily connecting. But that didn’t mean he was done talking to her.

He moves himself slightly, shifting their position just enough for him to get a good angle to give a particularly aggressive thrust, enough to force a cry from her lips, “I know you fuckin’ hear me talking to you.”

Her heavy panting goes into a particularly long and raspy moan, her breath sucking in as she tries to fight it, back to pressing her forehead against his as she whimpers back, “Don’t hate you. Can’t hate you, when you’re fucking me like this…” she groans, eyes wanting to roll back again, “Sorry, baby…was so mean to you…”

He relishes in her groans, her whines, the way she’s unable to speak normally, the way she’s falling apart completely because of him. “You should be sorry. Now look at you.” 

He doesn’t halt at all, her small frame being carried effortlessly, lifting her up and down on his dick, his tip damn near reaching her throat. Her breathless pants are embarrassing to hear, but the squeal she makes when he swirls her hips down with a hard drop onto his hips, that's even worse. 

Her arms tremble as she tightens them around his neck, another aggressive moan pushing out her body, pleasurable tears triggering from that one. She gasps, “Oh my—“ she holds herself back, looking him in his eyes as she whines messily, “Forgive me, baby. So fuckin’ sorrry. Imsosorry,” cheeks hot as she listens to his arrogant laugh.

“Sorry, huh? You don’t mean it.”

“Mean it, baby. Fuck.” 

“It’s cause I’m fuckin’ you stupid,” he grunts, tugging her down, her walls gushing through his thrusts, spurting out suctions of air. 

She drags her tongue up his jaw, reaching his mouth as she pleads, “Said sorry already, baby. Know you wanna forgive me…”

He groans at that, keeping his composure as he talks to her, “Say you won’t be mean to me again,” he demanded against her lips, his grip on her hips tightening.

“Always gonna be nice to you, baby,” she whimpers, “Wanna be sweet to you…” she sucks on his lower lip, giggling in a way that makes her feel insane, so full of pleasure, she couldn’t even think.

“Yeah?” He asked breathlessly, his hands grasping a harsh and unforgiving grip on her hips, “You promise?”

“Promiseeee,” she moans back, “Fushigurooo,” she panics, gripping onto him, “I….my body…I feel numb.” 

She didn’t understand the feeling. She had experienced a certain amount of pleasure, but this was different. While all of this had been symphonies of pleasure, this was an entire orchestra. She was having her first orgasm.

“Just let it happen, baby.” He muttered against her neck, his lips against her skin, “It’s a good thing, I promise.”

Her entire body jolts, shivering in a defeated pleasure, a short scream releasing from her mouth as she holds onto him, her legs trembling as if she’d been electrocuted. Her knees shake over his shoulders as her eyes drop down to see her squirt against him, nails digging into his chest as she cried out, “Tojiii.” 

He presses his forehead to hers, his own body feeling like it’s on fire as she moans, “Ooh, fuck baby. You’re squirting. Keep cumming. Keep cumming. Keep. Fuckin’

Cumming,” he talks in between thrusts, sending her in a state of psychosis. 

The tears that drop from her eyes make her sob in pleasure, knowing his skin was welted with the way she clawed him, her face pressing into his neck as a warmth filled her cheeks. His brain is muffled as she whines, “Cum in me, cum in me. Cum in me.”

He tries to knock sense into himself, but with her in his ear, he grips her skin as he bottoms out, moaning as he cums to her voice. She made him insane.  

Both of them feel exhausted, but not as much as Nozomi. When she finally felt that her mouth wouldn’t release anymore shouts, her body still trembled as she whimpered, bringing her face deeper into his neck.

“Fuck, baby. You’ okay?”

She brings a hand over her face as she nods, unable to do anything else. All her vulnerability returns, realizing she was bare against him, realizing what’d she just done. What they’d just done. 

Her sudden shyness makes him careful. She’s vulnerable like this, and he wants to take the time to handle her, to treat her. He gently guides her body against his, rolling them so she’s against the mattress and he’s laid against her. He gently pries her hand away from her face, his fingers gently tracing over her cheeks. 

“Hey, pretty,” his deep voice greets her. 

Her face turns away, hiding within his shoulder for a moment. Silence goes between them as she softly says, “Hi.”

He lets out a soft laugh at her shy greeting, his hand gently rubbing the side of her body, his fingers gently tracing over her back. 

“You’ okay, baby?” He asked her stain, placing a gentle kiss against her temple, “You with me?”

“Mhm,” she replies gently, “I’m here.”

She whimpers as she feels him spank her attention to him, flicking her eyes as she says, “I’m just thinking.”

He can see the way she twitches from the smack, his voice dropping into a deep chuckle, “Thinking?” His tone is a tease, a playful taunt as he speaks, “I fucked you that good, huh?”

“Fushiguro,” she warns, “Jesus. Fuck off. Is this your way of pillow talk?”

“You’ got an attitude?” he raises an eyebrow.

He hikes her up as he growls into her neck, snatching her skin in a kiss that makes her giggle. She then says quietly, “I just…am curious to know what this means for us. Going forward…” 

She traces her finger over his chest, “If this just happened in the moment, or that you really wanted to be with me…”

The questions almost pissed him off. He’s never wanted anyone as much as he wants her. 

He suddenly captures her chin in his hand, bringing her face up to meet him as he spoke in a deep and serious tone, “I want you. I want all of you.”

The words are genuine, and her heart swells. She leans closer to his face as she grins, “Say it again.” 

She giggles as he raises her leg over his shoulder, spanking her again as he grunts, “I love you, Nozomi.”  

His words make her body warm, feeling as he gruffly kisses her neck, trying to prove his point. The way she smiles, the way the grin looks on her face…he’s completely smitten.  

“Say it back,” he grunts against her skin, his words like a breathless demand, “Say you love me.”

“I love me,” she says softly, giggling louder as he hovers over her now, growling against her skin as he spanks her a couple more times.

He chuckles against her skin at her sarcastic words, his hand gently digging into the flesh of her thigh as he pressed another possessive bite into the skin on her neck, just hard enough to make her squeal. 

“I swear. Say you love me, baby,” he teased her, nipping against her skin, “Please.”

She finally becomes serious, holding up his chin to look directly at her as she says, “I love you, Toji.”

A low groan drops from his lips as he captures her in a deep, hungry kiss, his mouth attacking her own as his hands tug at her body to pull her closer to him, “Again.” 

“I love you,” she muffled, giggling against his mouth, “I love you.”

His body is craving her even more after hearing her words, her voice a drug that’s suddenly driving him crazy, suddenly making him desperate and needy. His tongue forces its way into her mouth, desperate to fuck her. Eat her out. Something. 

She then pulls him back, “We need to get back to the reception before my sister kills me,” she giggles throughout his kisses, “Seriously, Fushiguro.”

He pauses, pulling back from her neck as he groans into her skin, pulling back to grumble against her skin, “Fine.”

“One more kiss,” he bargained with her, “Just one, before we go.”

“One,” she agrees, accepting the kiss from him. He then leans down, “Or two,” kissing her again, “Or three.” 

He can’t help but want to make her giggle. It had been so long since he heard it, he’d never make her stop. She sighs as she says, “Help me with this dress, please?”

“We’re really leaving? For real?” 

“Did you think I was joking?”

“A little.”

“Boy. Let's go.” 

“Didn’t you say you were gonna be nice to me earlier? You were like ‘aghhh, baby! imma’ be nice!’—“ 

“Fushiguro!” 

“…My bad.”

[liz-on-leash]

Yena music show noncon please

My thought is Yena is preparing for a preshow interview, when the director of the music show barge in, shoo everyone out except yena saying that he wants to have some private talk, he end up raping her to get her win in the music show

You stride into the dressing room, a confident smirk on your face as you survey the bustling scene. 

The air is thick with hairspray and the buzz of excited conversation, but your eyes lock onto Yena instantly. 

She's sitting in front of a mirror, her stylist fussing with her hair, and you can't help but admire her beauty, enhanced by the soft lighting. 

Her smooth skin, the hint of cleavage peeking from her low-cut top under the purple crochet. You've been fantasizing about this moment for far too long. It's time to make her yours.

"Alright, everyone out!" Your voice booms, startling the room into silence. "I need a private word with Miss Choi Yena."

The stylists and assistants exchange confused glances, but they start to file out, leaving you alone with Yena, who looks at you with a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Sir, is something wrong?" Yena's voice is soft, her eyes wide and innocent.

You chuckle, moving closer, relishing the power you hold over the situation. "You could say that. But it's not a problem that can't be solved."

Leaning in, you speak, "You see, your CEO has put me in a rather delicate position. He asked a favor, and I'm afraid it involves you."

She frowns, her brow creasing in confusion. "What do you mean, Director?"

"Well, they want you to win the show, but there's a catch. A price to pay." You pause, letting the tension build as you stroke her cheek. "And that price is your body. I want you to pleasure me however I wish."

Yena's eyes widen in shock, and she tries to stand, but you're quicker as you grab a fistful of her hair, feeling the silky strands between your fingers, and yank her back down, forcing her onto the couch. 

She lets out a startled cry, her eyes now filled with fear. "N-no! Please, Director, you can't do this!" Yena struggles, her hands reaching up to pry your fingers.

"Oh, but I can, and I will. If you don't cooperate, I'll make sure your career is over. I have connections, Choi Yena,” you threaten. 

“One call, and not only will you be blacklisted, but I'll see to it that your brother's career goes down the drain too. You won't sing or dance again, and neither will he."

Her eyes dart around the room, searching for an escape, but it's futile. The room is empty, and she knows it. Her screams for help echo off the walls, but no one comes to her rescue.

You straddle her waist, pinning her down with your weight. She squirms beneath you, her body writhing. Raising your hand, you deliver a sharp punch to her stomach, making her gasp and curl inwards.

"Scream all you want, sweetheart. No one's coming to save you," you snarl, punctuating your sentence with another punch.

Yena whimpers, her breath coming in short gasps as she tries to protect her stomach with her arms. Her makeup is now smudged, tears mixing with the black liner, creating dark streaks down her cheeks.

"Please... D-Don’t hurt me– Anything… I will do it…" she pleads, her voice hoarse from screaming.

You lean down, your lips almost touching hers, and whisper, "That's more like it. Now, I want you to strip, slut. Show me what I'm about to enjoy."

Trembling, Yena begins to comply, her fingers fumbling with her clothes.. She knows resistance is futile, and the thought of saving her brother's career pushes her to obey. The top falls, revealing a black bra that contains her perky breasts.

"Faster," you command, your hand gripping her throat, squeezing just enough to assert your dominance. "And while you're at it, tell me how much you want this, how much you've been craving my touch."

"I-I want it..." Yena chokes out, her voice strained. "I've wanted you to fuck me since the first time I saw you... Please, Director, just don't hurt me..."

Your cock throbs at her words, and you grind your hips down, letting her feel your hardness against her soft core through the thin fabric of your pants. 

"That's a good girl. Admit that you've been fantasizing about this, about being my plaything."

As she continues to undress, her hands shaking, you admire her body, the curves that have driven you wild with desire. 

Her nipples hardening under your intense gaze. She hurriedly slides off her skirt, revealing a pair of matching lace panties, already damp with her fear.

"Now, spread those pretty legs, Yena," you order, your voice thick with lust. "Show me that sweet pussy. I want to see how wet you are for me."

She complies, her legs falling open, exposing her glistening folds. You lean down, inhaling her scent, the musky aroma of her core filling your nostrils.

"Such a filthy slut," you whisper, running a finger along her slit, collecting her juices. "You're so wet for me, aren't you?"

Yena whimpers, her body betraying her as she arches into your touch. "Y-yes, Director. I'm so wet..."

Withdrawing your finger, you bring it to your mouth, sucking her essence off your skin, savoring the taste of her. “Delicious. But I want more. I want to hear you beg for my cock, Yena."

"Please, fuck me..." she instantly begs, her voice breaking. "I need your cock inside me, Director. Please, just fuck me hard and make me your slut."

You grin, your cock throbbing painfully in your pants. "That's what I like to hear, you whore. Now, get on your knees and suck me off. Show me how badly you want it."

Yena scrambles to obey, positioning herself between your legs, her hands working at your belt. She frees your straining erection, her eyes widening at the sight of your thick, veined shaft.

"Suck it, Yena," you command, your hand tangling in her hair again, guiding her mouth to your tip.

She wraps her lips around you, taking you deep, her tongue swirling, and you groan, thrusting into her warm, wet mouth. "Oh, Yeah, fuck. What a cocksucker bitch, hah!."

Yena gags slightly, her eyes watering, but she persists, determined to please you to save herself. You hold her head in place, fucking her mouth with abandon, your balls slapping against her chin.

You grunt, your hips moving in a frantic tempo. "Suck me good, and maybe I will consider being gentle with that cunt of yours."

Her mouth works feverishly, and you can feel her tears mixing with the saliva coating your shaft. The thought of her degradation only serves to heighten your arousal.

"Enough," you grunt, pulling out of her mouth with a pop. "Now, get on the couch and spread those legs. I'm going to fuck you like the slut you are."

Yena scrambles onto the couch, her body trembling, but she does as she's told, presenting herself to you, her pussy slick, ready for your invasion.

You position yourself at her entrance, the head of your cock teasing her wetness. "Beg for it, Yena. Beg me to fuck that pretty cunt."

"Please... fuck me, Director..." she contends, her voice vibrating. "I'm yours... just fuck me..."

With warning, you bury yourself inside her, tearing through every layer, claiming her with one powerful stroke. Yena cries out, her body adjusting to your size, her walls clenching around you.

"Fuck, you're tight," you groan, withdrawing almost entirely before slamming back into her, over and over, pounding her pussy harder. "You like that, whore? You like being fucked by the man who holds your career in his hands?"

"Mm! Yes... yes, I do… Ahh!" her nails digging into the couch cushions. "Harder, please... fuck me harder… Nngh!"

You oblige, your hands gripping her hips, leaving bruises as you slam into her, driving her towards the edge. Her pussy grips you tightly, milking your cock, and you can't hold back much longer.

"I'm gonna cum, shit–" you inform, your balls tightening. "Where do you want my load, huh, slut? In that pretty pussy or all over that fucked-up bruised tummy?"

Yena's eyes roll back as she climaxes, her body shaking. "I-inside me... fill me with your cum, Director..."

You pull out, your cock glistening with her juices, and position yourself at her entrance again. With one final penetration, you spill your seed deep within her, filling her up as promised.

Your body shudders as you empty yourself into her. "Remember this moment, Choi Yena, because you're mine now, and there's no going back."

As you catch your breath, you watch her, your cock still twitching inside her, marking her as yours. Yena lies beneath you, her chest heaving, her body spent, but her eyes now hold a new light, one of defiance and surrender all at once.

"Get cleaned up, slut," you say, withdrawing from her. "You have a show to win, and I expect a private encore performance later."

With that, you straighten your clothes, leaving Yena to process what just happened, knowing that she's now irrevocably yours.

[mikedfaist]

love our famous reader but i’m thinking a lot lately about reader who isn’t famous but still has proximity to the industry. maybe she’s his makeup artist or hair stylist for a film… very sweet to think about them getting closer over the course of filming

i'm sorry i switched povs, i have been awake since 5:30 am, i am only human

She would have worked as one of their makeup artists for West Side Story, and let me tell you, every morning he would prance onto set in the hopes he would be first in her chair. She was the one putting his tattoos on every morning – sometimes dirt, sometimes blood – and all of the boys knew he had a crush. They’d exchange looks with each other when her back was turned, and Mike would glare daggers at them telling them to shut up.

He’d always run to her when he needed any touchups, or just simply wanted to talk. They’d talk about Steven, and which movie of his was her favorite.

“ET, of course,” she beams. “Can’t think of a sardine without thinking of that movie.”

A morning would come when one of the boys sat complacent in her chair, turned to look at her through the mirror. “Hey, so, do you have a boyfriend?”

Mike freezes in his spot.

“Who’s asking?” She chimes.

“Just’a question.” All the boys are looking at Mike, who refuses to look up from his phone.

“Nope,” she replies with a pop. “Again, who’s asking?” She’s joking; she’s not expecting an answer. She’s too busy rubbing mousse through Ben Cook’s curls, and not paying quite enough attention to her surroundings, until one of the boys speak up.

“Mike.”

The trailer fills with boyish yells, and Mike literally wants to disintegrate into his chair. He wonders if they really need him on set today. They can film Cool without him, right? Is it too late to recast?

It’s a little while later when Mike needs touchups, that he finds his way to you in your trailer. You’re sitting on the sofa, knees pulled up to your chest as you read a book.

“Michael, hello,” you sit up, closing your page around your finger. “What’s up?”

“Just, uh…dirt is coming off.”

“Say less, darling.” You stand up, and Mike sits in his usual seat. He can’t even look you in the eye. He also can’t seem to ease the burning from his cheeks after hearing such a term of endearment from you. “How’s it going out there?”

“Good, yeah, I think.” He adjusts himself in the chair; his back is killing him. “Should be done on time today.”

“Perfect. I love to hear it. “She dabs her brush onto her palette. “What’cha got going on later?”

“Nothing, I don’t think. Might just go home and rest up for tomorrow.”

“What about Friday? I know you aren’t on the call sheet. That’s a Sharks day.”

“Might do something with the boys? I don’t think we’ve talked about it.”

“When are we hanging out?” His eyes meet yours in the reflection of the mirror, and you reply with a shrug. “The boys were acting like you maybe wanted to hang out, but I couldn’t hear over their rambunctiousness.”

“I…” His mouth was dry. He noticed you stopped applying the makeup and held the brush precariously in your hand. “I didn’t tell them to say that.”

“Oh, I’m sure you didn’t, but you didn’t answer my question.”

“You wanna hang out?”

“That’s what I’m asking.”

He’d nodding his head before he manages words out. “Okay…” He blinks, scanning around the room, looking for nothing in particular. “Uh, Friday? When will you be out of here?”

“Who knows. 5 or 6, maybe? We’re doing rehearsals for I Feel Pretty. I shouldn’t be any later than 6.”

“Wanna aim for 7?”

She smiles, running some mousse through his hair. “It’s a date.”

[constellationguy]

Curl Care

Photo from Pinterest

I know this was second place in the poll but I’m feeling self indulgent. Hope you enjoy! ❤️

Today was just like every other day in the salon. Clients were chatty, some border line bitchy but this is hell, so that’s a common trait.

Woman came and go, some getting their hair cut, others dyed, and some even permed. And just as the clock struck 3pm in pentagram city your last client of the day walked in.

“Good evening Miss Walker.” You said politely. Miss Walker was a not so nice woman that died in the 70’s and got her hair regularly permed.

“Come sit for a moment while I go get my supplies from the back room.” You told Miss Walker.

“Come back fast, you don’t get payed to lollygag,” she spat at you. Always the micromanager she is.

Going into the back room you took some deep breaths, the last few you could take before having to smell perm chemicals for the next 3 hours. Once you gathered yourself you put your smile back on your face and brought the rolling tray of foils, rods, and the perm solution.

“Alright Miss Walker, you just want your usual correct?” You asked.

“No, I want a Mohawk. Of course I want my usual! Stupid girl.” Always a charm she is.

“Well let’s get started,” you said with a sigh putting your gloves on.

As you started on Miss Walker’s hair the bell on the front door rang indicating a customer walked in. You tried to not pay much mind to it though, you just needed to get through this perm as fast as possible.

“Good afternoon sir, do you have an appointment with one of our stylists today?” your coworker Sarah asked.

“Oh no. I was hoping you could recive a walk in.” A familiar voice responded to your coworker.

“In that cause I can take you, if you could just follow me-”

“Well I was hoping to see Y/n, if she is working today that is.”

“Oh she’s currently busy with a client. I can do your hair sir.”

“Oh I insist. You said she was here yes? I’m sure she wouldn’t mind switching clients with her if you just ask.” The voice got louder as it presumably came closer to your styling room as well as the trailing sound of hurried heels of your coworker following close behind.

“Oh there you are,” the familiar voice spoke from behind you.

When you looked up into the mirror in front of you, you saw Alastor.

“Alastor! What brings you back around these parts?” You asked cheerfully, not stopping your task of doing Miss Walker’s hair.

“I was hoping you could accept me as a walk in, I have an important meeting tomorrow you see.” Alastor replied.

“Oh no you don’t! I had to wait a month for this appointment. You don’t just get to cut the line-” Miss Walker erupted, only stopping when she looked up from her phone to see the radio demon looking at her through the mirror.

“What was that? Care to say that to me again?” Alastor asked as his static popped extra loudly in the room.

“Okay! Yes I can take you Al. Let me just relocate Miss Walker to Sarah’s room down the hall.” You said trying it cut the tension.

Alastor snapped his fingers and Miss Walker as well as anything that would have signified she was here vanished. With a light hum Alastor whipped down the styling chair then sat down.

“It’s good to see you too Alastor.” You laughed lightly.

“Oh of course my dear.” He replied.

“Could you tell me what we are doing with your hair today?” You asked calmly while you started to inspect his hair.

“Well my dear, during my sabbatical I haven’t been taking good care of these retched locks I have but I must look presentable for tomorrow’s meeting.”

“Oh don’t say that Al, you make me sad. I love your hair. I honestly think you wear your hair straight to upset me sometimes.” You huffed.

“Well isn’t that a funny thought,” Alastor laughed.

“Well if my hair being straight makes you so sad you can make it curly again, can’t you?” Alastor promoted.

“Of course I can,” you were smiling so wide and could have jumped out of your skin with joy. Alastor’s curls were the most beautiful things to you. His curls complimented his eye and face shape and his hair was slightly rough but still very soft, you lived for doing Alastor’s hair.

“I’m sure I have a suitable hair mask here somewhere… Remind me do you have a preference of ingredients?” You asked Alastor while rummaging through your product drawer.

“Whatever you think is most proper dear, just not to scented if you could.” Truthfully Alastor didn’t mind what you put in his hair, you’ve done his hair enough to trust you know what you’re doing.

“This one should do. Do you care to take a sniff or look at the ingredients?” You asked again.

“No dear, I trust you.” Alastor replied. You had a feeling he did but hearing him say that made your heart swell with pride.

Before putting on the hair mask you applied a bit of hair oil to Alastor’s scalp and rubbed in it. Taking a generous amount of the hair mask from the container, you warmed the product through your hands for a few seconds before applying it to Alastor’s hair. Alastor’s shoulders stiffened slightly but gradually relaxed as you massaged the product through his hair.

“And won’t you look at that! Your curls sure are resilient Al, look at them sprouting already.” You smiled gleefully.

“That’s quite the smile you have there chérie.” Alastor teased.

“Of course I’m smiling! How could I not when seeing your hair curly makes me so happy.”

“I’m glad I could be of service to you my dear,” Alastor replied to you with a dopey smile similar to yours.

“Your curls are just so unique to you and seeing you with curly hair like mine makes me prideful, not only in my styling abilities about also how my hair looks.” The room fell into a comfortable silence as you two admired each other’s smiles, what a perfect feeling this was.

“Look at that! All curly now!” You smiled brightly as you put your hands in Alastor’s hair and lightly shook his curls. Alastor laughed lightly at you.

“I think you’ve had enough fun dear,” Alastor teased.

“Alright, alright. Let’s go wash this out.” You said while you pat Alastor’s shoulder’s as he got up.

You took Alastor to the tallest sink, the one that had a step stood behind the basin for the stylists. Alastor always shortly laughed when he saw your step stool.

Washing Alastor’s hair was always a relaxing experience for the both of you. You enjoyed playing with his hair and he enjoyed the scalp massage, even if he wouldn’t admit it.

After you washed all the product out of Alastor’s hair you brought him back to your styling chair.

“So you want your curls to look the best for tomorrow yes?” You asked.

“Correct.” Alastor replied.

“You still have that bonnet I gave you yes?” You asked Alastor while you searched for the right curl cream.

“Of course I do, you would be rather cross with me if you had to get me another one,” Alastor rolled his eyes in fake annoyance.

“Perfect. You will sleep with it on tonight to preserve these curls okay?” You told Alastor.

“Oh course dear,” he jokingly scoffed at you.

After warming up the curl cream in your hands you evenly distributed it through his hair, taking out the strands that were naturally falling out as you lightly raked through his hair. After a little scrunching to Alastor’s face framing curls you started to diffuse his hair.

You could tell Alastor was a little wary about the diffuser because you haven’t used it on him before so you briefly explained what it did before you started.

“This handy dandy hair dryer will help your curls dry in place, are you willing to give it a shot or would you prefer to just let your hair air dry?” You asked thoughtfully.

It didn’t take too long to diffuse his hair but when you were done Alastor didn’t get out of the chair for some time.

“What do you think Al?” You asked gleefully.

“It looks perfect chérie, thank you for taking the time for me,” Alastor said.

“Of course I would, nothing makes me happier.” You smiled brightly.

Just as Alastor was going to leave after paying you had to tell him one last thing.

“Oh! And don’t forget you can drop by tomorrow before your meeting if you want me to fix your hair.”

Alastor stopped momentarily to face you and replied, “We’ll see what tomorrow brings chérie,” then left out the door, leaving the bell to ring behind him.

[dollsinvogue]

Clawdeen Wolf core doll diary scans

Found a bunch of old monster high diaries and I wanted to share them! Also does anyone else remember these “unlock more online” codes??

English + Français transcription below

English:

this diary belongs to: Clawdeen Wolf

This is my diary. If you want your life to last longer than it takes to read it. You won't.

Unlock more online: MHCWPACK

July 14th

I got up late so there was no hot water left then I cut myself shaving this cause my razor was dull and I was in hurry to get out of the freezing water but amazingly enough the day actually went down hill from there… Later on Crescent, the alpha Kitty, must have sensed my mood cause instead of spending the night prowling around he curled up in my lap and Kept me company while sorted through my funk.

July 15th

It rained today. I hate the rain. It totally caused my hair to poof out and I was not about to spend the rest of the day looking like a were-poodle. So I grabbed a pair of electric clippers and 15 minutes later I had a new 'do. It's short, scary cute and perfectly wolfish I think I'll keep it for a while or at least until this rain goes away. I have decided that when I control my own fashion empire I'm going to have a stylist on call just for rainy days.

August 4th

I hate, hate, hate! sharing a room with my sister. Howleen totally growls in her sleep, she wears my clothes and she got sprayed by a skunk last week which means that every time she takes a bath, which isn't often, it stinks up the whole room. I'd hope she gets fleas but she'd just spread them to me.

August 7th

I've got to get serious about planning what I'm going to wear on the first day of school this year. I mean It's not like I'm worried about some monster showing up and looking more fabulous than me but I feel obligated to set the bar for everyone else. Last year on the first day of school I caused a minor traffic jam just walking across the school parking lot. It's going to be hard to top that but I've been experimenting with some new hair styles and I'm considering just asking for a school assembly so that crowd control won't be a problem.

August 10th

I tried a new hair remover made especially for werewolves. The label says it will totally eclipse unwanted hair and it's supposed to keep you hair-free for a week …not. It's expensive, it stings worse than wolfs bane and I still have to shave twice a day! What a rip…I could have used that money for a new belt.

August 15th

spent the day at Draculaura's. She's the absolute sweetest BMFF ever! Although if she doesn't stop trying to feed me tofu im going to bite her j/k ;p. She has like rooms and rooms of clothes. It's like a fashion museum. So awesome! She always says that were going to pick out clothes to give Ghoul Will but she always gives most of them to me. I pretend I don't need them but with so many brothers and sisters it's not like there's a lot of extra money to go around for new fashions. I guess we must have gotten a little loud though cause we woke up her dad. He doesn't really like werewolves very much but he tolerates me cause I'm friends with Draculaura. Whatever. It's not like I want to hang out with him either. Anyway, the best thing about Draculaura is that she doesn't give me clothes because she feels sorry for me, she does it because she’s my friend.

August 19th

Went to the Maul with Clawd today. He needed a new football and I needed to get some ideas for my next hair style. While I was there I saw the strangest thing. I was walking past the witches Kitchen supply store and saw Deuce Gorgon reading a cookbook! I yelled "Yo Deuce, trying to find a recipe for snake?" He dropped the cookbook and looked all embarrassed; at least I think he was. It's hard to tell what's going on behind those glasses. I think he would have tried to stone me but Clawd walked up and Deuce chilled. Sometimes it's cool to have the toughest guy in the school on your side. Thanks bro!

August 21st

If I were a mad scientist, the hairstyle experiment I tried today would be locked away in the lab never to see the light of day again. I flat ironed my hair so it was straight and then I razor cut it. As soon as the curl came back things got ugly. Even Howleen felt sorry for me. It's a good thing I'm the werewolf equivalent of Rapunzel and my hair will be grown out by the end of the week or I’d be wearing a hat until Halloween.

August 23rd

Draculaura tried to talk me into trying out for the fearleading squad again. Puhh…leeze. A list of why I'm not a fearleader:

I. I don't "Try out" for anything.

2. I wouldn't be caught human in those uniforms.

3-8 Boring and Cleo de Nile

9. While they're yelling for the boys I'm in the stands flirting with the boys.

10. Boring and Cleo de Nile.

I have thought about trying out just to show I could nake the team but then I look at my list again and it reminds me why I don't want to.

August 25th

Hung out at the Maul with Draculaura and met a new girl named Frankie Stein. She was shopping with her mom and fortunately for Frankie then ran into us. Otherwise she would have started the first day of school dressed like the Bride of Lame-n-stein. Frankie's beautiful and sweet but a bit naive. Fortunately, I’m here to make sure she gets properly educated in the ways of the fierce fashionista.

September 5th

Our annual End of summer family bar-boo-que was todan. Mmmmm...fat juicy steaks for everybody. Except for Draculaura of course. She brought tofu dogs, veggie burgers and a human boy named Jackson Jekyll. She'll always be my BMFF and the sweetest monster ever but ghoulfriend makes some strange choices. Anyway, I could tell he was really nervous, and what human surrounded by werewolves wouldn't be, until Clawd started talking about football and then the two of them kinda hit it off. I think Draculaura is major league crushing on this guy.

September 6th

I know most monsters are probably dreading starting school but not me. I want to learn as much as I can so that I'll be totally prepared when I start building my fashion empire. If for nothing else than to be able to move out of the house and get my own place without having to share everything with all my brothers and sisters. Oh no! I think I smell Howleen in the shower! Why couldn't I have been an only wolf?

About Me

Name: Clawdeen Wolf

Age: 15

Monster Parents: The Werewolf

Killer Style: I’m a fierce fashionista with a confident no-nonsense attitude. I'm also gorgeous, intimidating, and absolutely loyal to my friends.

Freaky Flaw: My hair is worthy of a shampoo commercial and that's just what grows on my legs. Plucking and shaving is definitely a full time job but that's a small price to pay for being scarily fabulous.

Pet: Crescent, a scary cute little kitten as fuzzy as I am.

Favorite Activity: Shopping and flirting with the boys!

Biggest Pet Peeve: I hate having so many of my brothers and sisters in school at the same time. They're annoying, embarrassing, and totally know how to push my buttons. Oh, and Cleo de Nile.

Favorite School Subject: Economics. One day I plan on having my own fashion empire and I want to know as much about business as I do about fashion.

Least Favorite School Subject: Gym. It's only because then won't let me participate in my platforn wedges.

Favorite Color: Gold- it’s the only thing Cleo de Nile and I can ever agree on

Favorite Food: Steak...rare.

BFF's: Frankie Stein and Draculaura

Français:

ce journal appartient à: Clawdeen Wolf

Ceci est mon journal intime. Si tu veux que ta vie dure plus longtemps que sa lecture...Tu ne le liras pas

Accède à plus de contenu en ligne: MHCWPACK

14 juillet

Je me suis levée en retard, et il n’y avait plus d'eau chaude. Ensuite, je me suis coupée en me rasant parce que mon rasoir n’était pas bien affûté et que j'étais pressée de sortir de cette eau glacée. Et la journée ne s'est pas améliorée... Plus tard, Crescent le chaton alpha doit avoir senti que je n'étais pas de bonne humeur, car au lieu de passer la soirée à tourner en rond, il s'est couché sur mes genoux et m’a tenu compagnie tant que je ne m'étais pas remise de mes émotions.

5 juillet

Il a plu aujourd'hui. Je déteste la pluie. À cause de ça, mes cheveux étaient hors de contrôle. Je n'avais pas l'intention de passer le reste de la journée avec un look de caniche-garou. Alors j'ai pris deux tondeuses électriques et 15 minutes plus tard, j'avais une nouvelle coupe! C'est court, effroyablement joli et reflète parfaitement ma nature de loup. Je pense que je vais garder ce style un bout de temps, ou au moins le temps que la pluie cesse. J'ai décidé que lorsque je dirigerai mon propre empire de la mode, j'aurai un styliste de garde rien que pour les jours de pluie.

4 août

Je déteste, déteste, déteste!! partager une chambre avec ma soeur. Howleen groque dans son sommeil et elle porte mes vêtements. Une mouffette l'a arrosée la semaine dernière, ce qui signifie que chaque fois qu'elle prend un bain, c'est-à-dire pas très souvent, ça sent dans toute la pièce. Je lui souhaiterais bien d'attraper des puces, mais elle me les transmettrait aussi.

7 août

II faut que je pense sérieusement à ce que je vais porter pour la rentrée scolaire cette année. Ce n'est pas comme si j'avais peur qu’un autre monstre ait l'air plus fabuleux que moi, mais je me sens obligée de mettre la barre assez haute pour les autres. L'année passée, lors de la rentrée, j'ai provoqué un mini-embouteillage rien qu'en traversant le stationnement de l'école. Ça va être difficile de renouveler l'exploit, mais j'ai essané quelques novveaux stules de coiffure et j'envisage de demander une réunion scolaire pour qu'il y ait un meilleur contrôle des foules.

10 août

J'ai essayé une nouvelle crème dépilatoire conçue spécialement pour les loups-garous. L'étiquette dit qu'elle fait totalement disparaître les poils indésirables et elle est censée les empêcher de repousser pendant toute une semaine... mon oeil! Ça coûte cher, ça sent pire qu'ne meute de loups et je suis toujours obligée de me raser deux fois par jour! C'est du vol... J'aurais pu utiliser cet argent pour une nouvelle ceinture.

15 août

J'ai passé la journée chez Draculaura. C'est vraiment la plus gentille de toutes les amies! Mais si elle essaie encore de me faire avaler du tofu, je vais la mordre! Je blague...;p. Il y a plein de pièces remplies de vêtements chez elle. Un véritable musée de la mode! C'est super! Elle dit toujours que nous allons choisir des vêtements à donner à des oeuvres de charité, mais elle m'en donne toujours la plus grande partie. Je fais semblant de ne pas en avoir. besoin, mais avec tous mes frères et soeurs, il ne reste pas beaucoup d'argent pour magasiner. Je crois qu'on a fait un peu trop de bruit l'autre jour parce que nous avons réveillé son père. Il n'aime pas vraiment les loups-garous mais il me tolère parce que je suis amie avec Draculaura. Peu importe. Ça n'est pas comme si je voulais être son amie. De toute façon, ce qu'il y a de bien avec Draculaura c'est qu'elle ne me donne pas des vêtements parce qu'elle a pitié de moi, mais parce que c'est mon amie.

19 août

Je suis allée aux Galeries l'Épouvante avec Clawd aujourd'hui. Il avait besoin d'un nouveau ballon de football et je cherchais de nouvelles idées pour ma prochaine coiffure. Là-bas, jai vu quelqu'un chose de très étrange. Je passais devant le magasin de chaudrons de sorcière et j'ai aperçu Deuce Gorgon en train de live un livre de cuisine! J'ai crié «Hé, Deuce! Tu cherches une recette de serpents?» Il a lâché le livre et avait l'air très embarrassé, du moins c'est ce que j'ai pensé. C'est difficile de deviner ce qui se passe derrière ces lunettes. Je crois qu'il aurait bien essayé de me transformer en pierre, mais Clawd s'est approché et Deuce s'est calmé. Quelque fois, c'est cool d'avoir le gars le plus costaud de l'école de son côté. Merci!

21 août

Si j'étais un savant fou, l'expérience de coiffure que j'ai essayée aujourd'hui resterait à jamais sous clé dans le laboratoire. J'ai utilisé un fer pour aplatir mes cheveux avant de les couper au rasoir. Mais quand mes boucles naturelles sont revenues, le résultat était horrible. Même Howleen avait de la peine pour moi. Une chance que je suis l'équivalent de Raiponce chez les loups-garous et que mes cheveux auront repoussé d'ici la fin de la semaine, sinon j'aurais dû porter un chapeau jusqu'à l'Halloween.

23 août

Draculaura a encore essayé de me convaincre de passer une audition pour la brigade de la terreur. Pfff... sans espoir. Voilà la liste des raisons pour lesquelles je ne veux pas être dans la brigade:

I. Je ne fais pas d'auditions pour quoi que ce soit.

2. Je ne voudrais pas être vue dans ces uniformes.

3-8. C'est ennuyant... et Cleo de Nile

9. Pendant qu'elles crient pour encourager les garçons, je suis dans les gradins en train de flirter avec les garçons.

10. C'est ennuyant... et Cleo de Nile

J'avais pensé essayer juste pour montrer que je peux entrer dans l'équipe, puis j'ai jeté à nouveau un coup d'oeil à ma liste et ça m'a rappelé pourquoi je ne veux pas.

25 août

Je suis allée aux Galeries l'Épouvante avec Draculaura et nous y avons rencontré une nouvelle fille qui s'appelle Frankie stein. Elle magasinait avec sa mère et, heureusement pour Frankie, nous les avons rencontrées. Sinon, elle aurait commencé l'école habillée comme la fiancée de Horrible-stein. Frankie est belle et charmante mais un peu naive. Heureusement, je suis là pour assurer son éducation dans la plus pure tradition de la mode.

5 septembre

Aujourd'hui a eu lieu notre barbe-queue familial destiné à commémorer la Fin de l'été. Mmmmm.... des steaks gras et bien juteux pour tout le monde. Sauf pour Draculaura bien sûr. Elle avait apporté des saucisses de tofu, des hamburgers végétariens et un humain du nom de Jackson Jekyll. Elle sera toujours ma meilleure amie pour la vie et le monstre le plus gentil qui soit, mais elle fait parfois des choix étranges. Mais bon. J'ai remarqué quil était vraiment nerveux (mais quel humain entouré de loups-garous ne le serait pas)... Jusqu'à ce que Clawd commence à parler de football. Ensuite, ils ont eu l'air de bien s'entendre. Je crois que ce garçon intéresse vraiment Draculaura.

6 septembre

Je sais que la plupart des monstres n'ont pas le goût de retourner à l'école, mais pas moi. Je veux apprendre le plus possible pour être bien préparée le jour où je commencerai à bâtir mon empire de la mode. Même si ce n'est que pour pouvoir quitter la tanière et trouver un endroit pour moi toute seule où je n'aurai pas à partager quoi que ce soit avec mes frères et soeurs. Oh, non! Je crois que je sens Howleen sous la douche! Pourquoi je ne suis pas un loup unique?

Infos Personelles

Nom: Clawdeen Wolf

Age: 15 ans

Parents monstres: Le Loup-garou

Look d'enfer: J'adore vraiment la mode et j'ai une grande confiance en moi. Je suis également ravissante, redoutable et d'une grande loyauté envers mes amis.

Particularité: Mes cheveux sont diques d'une pub de shampooing... Le problème c'est qu'ils poussent aussi sur mes jambes. L'emploi d'une pince à épiler et d'un rasoir constitue définitivement un travail à temps plein, wais dest ou petit prix à paver pour paraître effroyablement fabuleuse.

Animal de compagnie: Crescent, un petit chaton affreusement miguon qui a autant de duvet que moi.

Activité préférée: Magasiner et flirter avec les garçons!

Ce que je déteste le plus: Je déteste avoir autant de frères et soeurs à l'école en même temps. Ils sont Tannants, embarrassants et savent exactement convient viénerver. Oh j'allais aublier...et Cleo de Nile.

Matière préférée à l'école : L'économie. J'aimerais avoir mon propre empire de la mode un jour, alors je veux en apprendre autant sur les affaires que j’en connais sur la mode l’étudier

Matière que aime le moins L'éducation physique. C'est juste parce que je v'ai pas le droit de mettre mes chaussures à plate-forme.

Couleur préférée : Or - C'est bien la seule chose sur laquelle Cleo de Nile et moi sommes d'accord.

Nourriture preférée Un steak... saiguant.

Amis pour la vie: Frankie Stein et Draculaura

[thesmallonesblog]

Soft moments with Minghao

Letting you into his space - we all know Minghao gives off a slight black cat energy and is someone who values his own space and time. But when it comes to you, you're the one person he would allow into his quiet more personal moments. He would welcome you with open arms into his meditation space enjoying walking you through the process in order for you to find an inner peace and relase some of the stress you're carrying in your everday life. Something about sharing this time with you, no words just energies combining together would be so personal and intimate to him and he would feel so much closer to you through these shared moments. It would make him smile and his heart vibrate with happiness in his chest when you would ask to join him in these moments and would be even more elated to see you much more calm and at peace at the end of them. He would also enjoy shared time sat reading together. He would often suggest and pick up books that he thought you would both enjoy so that you could read them together and be able to talk about them with one another. Sharing thoughts and predictions on what was going to happen next. He would love it on the days that you would curl up beside him, you head on his lap. He would run a hand through your hair as he would read out loud to you until you dozed off in peaceful comfort.

Your built in therpaist - this man, the definition of an active listener. He is always there for you when you need to talk. When life gets too hard and he notices you struggling he would sit you down and encourage you to share the burden with him so that you could figure it out together. With him, you would never be alone in this world. To him, your problems, your struggles and your worries were his as well. He would do anything and everything to help provide you with advice, different prespectives and ideas on how to handle things going forward. Just sitting down and telling him what was going on and seeing his face calm and collected would instantly take so much weight off your shoulders. He always would know just what to say to bring you down from your worries and make then seem so much more manageable and not as scary as you would make them out to be in your head. On the flip side he is not only there in the tough times to listen. He loves listening to you ramble on about your day, what you did what you saw. He would love the way your face would light up when you would talk about you faveourite things in life. When he was feelling down he would ask you about your faveourite hobbies just to see you face light up and get lost in how excited you are about it all. It would instantly make him forget the rest of the world.

Personal Stylist - we all know how fashionable this man is. He takes pride in his fashion sense and would love to share that with you. You wouldnt ever have to worry about going shopping, what to wear and what to accessorize with because he has your back. He would love to take you shopping, pilling clothes in the dressing room for you to try on. He would know exactly what would fit you best, always making sure to pick things that he knew you would be comfortable in. He would be your biggest hype man too while trying things on. Talking up how good you looked in all the outfits he picked out for you, taking pictures of everything for his own collection. Going out? Have an event? He's got you. He would love coming over to roam through your closet to help you compile an outfit that would wow everyone else in the room. Minghao would also love buying things that you both could wear or buying somehwat matching outfits that would compliment one another as well. Lets be real, he would also love dressing you up to have full on photo shoots so that he could combine his two favourite things, fashion and you into one thing.

Window into his silly side - despite his usual more quiet and reserved nature with you Minghao is more likely to let his hair donw and let his more relaxed silly side down. We've all seen him twerk on tipsy live. This MInghao would be out a lot when the two of you were alone together. He loved seeing your smile and hearing your laugh and with you he felt no judgemnt so he would let his guard down and express his silly nature more to allow all of this to happen. You would have our own inside jokes with one another, your own looks that would express them so that when you were out with others you could just look at one another and know and giggle silently to yourselves together. I can just see him being much more carefree and open, relaxed.

Always shows up for - you are his pride and joy and he wants you to know that every second of everyday. He also wants the whole world to know that and to know that you are his. He would go out of his way to show up for you in every way he could in life. If it was to be there for a phone call when he was away so that you could vent about a tough day he was there answering the call. If it was an special life event like winning an award of graduating you know he would be as close to the stage as possible cherring you on. If you just needed one of those hugs that seemed to put all your broken pieces back together, his arms were open and waiting. I just feel that with him you would never feel alone, always feel apprecited and always feel safe and secure because you knew he was only one step behind you if you ever stumbled and feel. Man. I have such a sweet spot for hi, but I just feel like he would always be there and you would never doubt him for a second in amything

[scoonsalicious]

Unwanted: Chapter 21, Unacceptable - Pt. 3

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Avenger!Fem!Reader

Summary: When your FWB relationship with your best friend Bucky Barnes turns into something more, you couldn’t be happier. That is, however, until a new Avenger sets her sights on your super soldier and he inadvertently breaks your heart. You take on a mission you might not be prepared for to put some distance between the two of you and open yourself up to past traumas. Too bad the only one who can help you heal is the one person you can no longer trust.

Warnings: (For this part only; see Story Masterlist for general Warnings) Language, violence, mentions of sexual situations.

Word Count: 1.3k

Previously On...: Oh, look-- you didn't sleep with Steve, after all! THANK FUCKING GOD. So what if Bucky thinks that you did? lololololol

A/N: NGL, this part was delicious to write. Pocket setting of explosions, baby.

NOTE! The tag list is a fickle bitch, so I'm not really going to be dealing with it anymore. If you want to be notified when new story parts drop, please follow @scoonsaliciousupdates

Banner By: The absolutely amazing @mrsbuckybarnes1917!

Thank you to all those who have been reading; if you like what you've read, likes, comments, and reblogs give me life, and I truly appreciate them, and you!

Taglist: (Sadly, tag list is closed; Tumblr will not let me add anyone new. If you want to be notified when I update, please Follow me for Notifications!) @jmeelee @cazellen @mrsbuckybarnes1917 @blackhawkfanatic @buckybarnessimpp @hayjat @capswife @itsteambarnes @marygoddessofmischief @sebastians-love @learisa @lethallyprotected @rabbitrabbit12321 @buckybarnesandmarvel @fanfictiongirl77 @calwitch @fantasyfootballchampion @selella @jackiehollanderr @wintercrows @sashaisready @missvelvetsstuff @angelbabyyy99 @keylimebeag @maybefoxysouls @vicmc624 @j23r23 @wintercrows @crist1216 @cjand10 @pattiemac1@les-sel @dottirose @winterslove1917 @harperkenobi @ivet4 @casey1-2007 @mrsevans90 @steeph-aniie @bean-bean2000 @beanbagbitch @peachiestevie @wintrsoldrluvr @shadowzena43

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You stepped into the conference room, still wearing Steve’s shirt, though you’d paired it with a pair of leggings and a belt, and your go-bag slung over your shoulder. You figured if Bucky thought the two of you had slept together, you may as well feed into the notion. Good. Let him have a taste of his own fucking medicine. You smiled when you saw Sam had beat you there and was already sitting at the conference table, chatting with Steve.

You sat down next to Sam. “Morning, boys,” you said, voice more cheerful than you felt after your confrontation with Bucky earlier. “Are we ready to rock and roll?”

“Damn, Baby Girl!” Sam grinned back at you as he took in your altered appearance. After you finished packing, you’d met with a hair stylist and had her dye your hair from its normal hue to a more stripper-appropriate bubble bath pink, and had her put in extensions so your hair came down to your ass in long, loose curls. 

Steve just smiled at your transformation and slid you a manilla folder. You opened it up to find a fake ID, documentation, and a brief dossier with your cover history.

“I hope you don’t mind, Pocket,” Steve began, “but I discussed it with Tony and we decided it would be best if you resumed your old dancer alias. That way, if anyone has any questions about your background, there’s a legitimate history for them to follow up on.” You nodded that was smart. “Cherry Pie’s back in action, then?” you grinned.

Steve smiled. “Looks like. Tony also wanted to apologize for not being here to say goodbye; there was some need for Iron Man’s services in Belize early this morning.” You nodded, sad that you had to miss out on saying goodbye to him, and to thank him for the party, especially when you didn’t know how long it would be before you saw him again. “He also said to tell you he’s arranged to have all your presents moved up to your new room for when you get back but, if you want them at any point while you’re in Atlantic City, to just let him know and he’ll…” Steve paused to check to check a piece of paper that apparently had Tony’s instructions on them, “‘fly them down myself because if she thinks I’m going to let her stay undercover with that birdbrain–’” 

“Hurtful!” interjected Sam.

“‘--with that birdbrain and not come down and personally check to make sure she’s still alive, she’s gonna have to think again.’” Steve finished. 

You laughed. “Yeah, alright. Tell him I said thanks,” you said.

Before anything more could be said, your attention was caught by a ruckus outside the conference room. You could hear the sound of doors being slammed open and someone stomping their way down the hall toward you, and an angry voice bellowing out “ROGERS!”

“Oh shit, Cap,” Sam grinned, “What’d you do?”

Bucky came barreling through the double doors of the conference room, sending them both flying into the adjacent walls with a thud. His gaze bore into Steve as he stalked toward him.

“IF YOU THINK, FOR ONE GODDAMNED SECOND, THAT YOU CAN FUCK MY GIRL AND GET AWAY WITH IT–”

He paused when his gaze took in you and Sam. “Oh… I’m sorry, miss. I didn’t realize–”

“He thinks we had sex, Steve,” you said, crossing your arms, “and for some reason he feels he has the right to be upset about it.” You shrugged your shoulders. “Can’t seem to get it through his thick skull that I’m no longer ‘his girl.’”

Bucky did a double take. “Pocket?!” he stuttered, flabbergasted at the sight of you. “What– what the fuck did you do to your hair?” You rolled your eyes and turned away.

“Bucky,” Steve took a step toward his friend. “We’re in the middle of a pre-mission briefing. What the hell’s gotten into you?” he asked.

 Bucky looked from you to Steve, and back again. “I want to hear you admit it, you fucking punk,” he said, pushing Steve with both hands in the chest. Steve stumbled backward.

“Yo, man,” Sam said, standing up, “what the actual fuck?”

“He slept with Pocket,” Bucky said, his voice beginning to rise. “He slept with my girl and I want to hear him fucking admit it to my face.”

Now it was Sam’s turn to look between you and Steve. “Whoa, Baby Girl. That true?”

You sighed. “No, Samuel. It’s not true.” You cast an angry glance at Bucky. “First, I’m not Bucky’s anything. He made damned sure of that all on his own.” At Sam’s confused expression, you added “Just ask him about what he and Carthage got up to in Russia together.” Sam’s eyes widened and he gave Bucky a disapproving look. “Second, I got high last night, danced with Steve, we went back to my room, we talked, and we fell asleep.”

“You gonna stand there and lie to my fucking face, Pocket?” Bucky yelled. “You answered the door in nothing but his fucking shirt!”

“Okay, first of all, I’m not sure what part of ‘you have no right to be angry about it even if I did’ you don’t understand, and second, I was still wearing a skirt under that shirt, asshole, so, technically, fully dressed. Steve slept in his undershirt, and I just threw the button-up on because my shirt got all tangled up in the night. Nothing happened.”

“Well,” Steve interjected, “I wouldn’t say nothing ha–”

“Jesus Christ, Steve,” you uttered, just as Bucky threw himself at his friend with an angry roar. Sam jumped in to break the two men up, but he was no match for two super soldiers. The two men tousled on the ground, and you could just make out a portion of the insults and accusations they were throwing at one another. 

“If you laid one finger on her–”

“--can’t believe you cheated–”

Having had quite enough of their testosterone display, you grabbed the pitcher of ice water that was sitting on the conference table and, walking over to where Steve currently had Bucky pinned to the floor, dumped its entire contents over both their heads.

“Are you both quite finished?” you asked, annoyed as fuck as the two men spluttered and worked to extricate themselves from one another. “You’re acting pathetic, and Sam and I have places to be.”

Steve reached a hand down to help Bucky get up. “We didn’t sleep together, Buck,” Steve said. “We just… made out a little.”

Bucky looked like he was about to launch himself at Steve again before Steve added “But we knew it was wrong and a mistake and we stopped almost immediately. That’s it, I swear. I would never do that to you, man. You gotta know that. You’re my best friend. To the end of the line, remember?”

Bucky pushed his wet hair back, away from his face. “Yeah, I know. I’m sorry, punk.”

“I’m sorry, too.”

You rolled your eyes. Reaching across the conference table, you grabbed the files that held the paperwork for you and Sam and handed them to him. “And with that touching display of toxic masculinity,” you said, furious that the two men had been fighting over who got to have access to your body like you were some sort of toy, “Sam and I have a mission to get to.” Slinging your duffle bag over your shoulder, you motioned for Sam to follow you back out the conference room doors.

Just as you reached them, you turned back around. “Oh, and Steve?” you added, knowing you were about to throw a match onto a recently diffused powder keg, but not caring the least little bit about the oncoming explosion. Both Bucky and Steve turned to look at you. “Don’t forget to tell Barnes about having your hand on my cunt.” With that, you walked out, Sam cackling behind you and the sounds of Bucky screaming at Steve echoing in your wake.

<- Previous Part / Next Part ->

[cocoatonedcurls]

curly hair 101

hii :))

since "curls" is literally in my username, its only natural that I post about something for the curly girls :D

so why not start with a beginner's guide to curly hair :)

·°●·°●·°●·°●·°●·°●·°●·°●·°●·°●·°●·°●·°●·°●·°●·°●·°●

in this guide

hair types/ curl patterns

wash day routine + products

regular hair care

hair styles + cuts

hair types

soo first of all i think its helpful if you get a gist of what hair type you have, e.g 2c, 3b, 4b etc...

its not mandatory and doesn't really mean anything but like it definitely aids when you're looking for haircair & inspo with hairstyles and haircuts and all that jazz 🤗 [ <- jazz hands :) ]

here's a chart to help you

obviously do some of your own research if you're unsure- this isn't very in-depth and doesn't use irl examples

also keep in mind that you can have multiple, and a wide range of types on one head LOLL like mine ranges from 2C -> 3C 🫣

(PS: this guide will be tailored to type 2 -> 3 hair just because that's what I have experience with and don't want to potentially ruin anyone's type 4 hair 😭 but if aspects of this apply then feel free to apply them 😇)

wash day routine + products

alrighty so i see some overcomplication/people being scared of curly hair washing- like looking at porosity and whatnot but IMO its really not that difficult

the only thing you really need to worry about for the washing aspect is getting moisturising (curly recommended) shampoo & conditioner, just cause if you don't it could dry out your hair and have a pretty dodgy finished product 😬 (I use Umberto Giannini for this)

washing is pretty standard:

wet your hair thoroughly, so that no part is dry

shampoo round 1, make sure to scrub thoroughly to get rid of any dirt and grime 🙈

rinse

shampoo round 2, this should turn your hair into its own bubble bath 🫧

rinse

condition, rake through your hair and make sure it is everywhere

let sit for a little bit, ~2 mins maybe

rinse

and thats it :))

don't use a regular towel, use a microfiber towel if you're using one at all so that all the moisture isn't drained from your hair before the rest of the products

now for the curly hair routine:

start with leave-in conditioner and run it through the entirety of your hair - I use Garnier leave-in, like the big tub

then run some curl cream through your hair and scrunch it in, make sure there is an even application throughout all the hair - I use the Shea Moisture curl cream

~ this next bit is optional because its a gel cast + styling but honestly id totally recommend going the extra mile for it cause it holds your curls for longer and makes ur hair softer ~

apply curly gel to your hair and scrunch it in, I use Aussie curl gel

for styling, I take the middle -> top sections of my hair, take some extra gel and finger coil the curls

let your hair air dry or diffuse

once completely dry, take some hair oil and scrunch it through your hair and separate any coils, I use argan oil

then you're done :))

regular hair care

there isnt really much to say here tbh

only that

if you need to refresh your curls, you should be able to do it just by finger-coiling with water

DON'T brush your hair while dry, it causes breakage

if you sweat, your hair will most likely get frizzy

to tie your hair use a scrunchie

sleeping with a bonnet helps reduce frizz but icl I don't 🫣

hair styles + cuts

okay let me preface this section by saying PLEASE PLEASE PLEASEEEE do some research about curly stylists in your area, I promise it will be worth it because curly hair cutting requires special training (despite the fact we've probably all cut our hair ourselves at some point 🙈)

now here are some things I usually ask for in a haircut:

a trim off the edges to keep my hair healthy (I have hair down past my shoulders)

2 or 3 layers to keep volume around my head so it doesn't look like a flat landslide...

some long bangs at the front to frame my face

obviously thats just me so do some extra research and see what you'd like

not much, but here are some hairstyles i usually do for everyday wear:

hair down (obviously 🤗)

high ponytail/bun with a few curls at the front

half up half down with a few curls at the front

thats basically all the basics 🙃

i know its hard to start on a curly hair journey especially if you don't know what you're doing, so if you are (or aren't) i hope this was able to help you in some shape or form 🫶🤗

- li 🌘

[bellaxgiornata]

Falling For the Devil [Part five: "The Wedding Day"]

Pairing: Matt Murdock x Fem!Reader

Summary: It's finally the day of Foggy and Marci's wedding and you're one of the bridesmaids.

Or

You admire how handsome Matt looks in his tux while feeling sick to your stomach as a pretty bridesmaid flirts with him all day.

[Series of one-shots about Reader meeting, falling for, and dating Matt Murdock.]

Warnings: 18+ for this series; contains humor, fluff, romance, angst, smut (like...a lot of it later in the series), language, some violence

Word Count: 3.2k

a/n: Okay, I lied, I got another one up on tumblr. Y'all, there are so many of these. For real. I feel like putting up 74 of them is going to be a bigger task than I thought. Anyway, this wedding day saga spans like three installments. You can find the list of installments that are on tumblr here. "The Wedding Night" seems to be the most loved installment on AO3 so I'm trying to get that one up next!

You took a sip of your mimosa, eyes glued to Marci in the large mirror as the hair stylist finished pinning back the blonde curls on her head while the makeup artist finished touching up her lipstick. She looked absolutely stunning–not that she didn’t always–and you and the five other bridesmaids had been dying to see her finally fully dressed in her wedding dress.

"How was dealing with the hotel mishap last night?" Karen asked you, leaning in on the couch beside you to whisper. 

You sighed, frowning down at the mimosa in your hands. Last night when you had arrived before the rehearsal dinner to check in with Matt and Karen, you'd found out that the rooms blocked out for you and Matt were adjoining rooms. Which for some reason had made you utterly nervous knowing there was only a single locked door between you and Matt for the two nights you'd be staying here. 

And it shouldn't have made any difference. It was just one locked door. Which had remained locked last night. But somehow knowing Matt was just beyond that door had made you stare at it more than you should have been staring at it last night. But the comments from one of Foggy's cousins to Matt during dinner last night about you needing ear plugs after the wedding, implying beforehand that Matt would be hooking up with someone–a perk of being in the bridal party he had joked–had only upset you further. You'd been anxiously dreading tonight, terrified you'd have to overhear Matt having sex with someone else just in the room next door. You were pretty sure that would kill you.

"It was fine," you lied. 

Karen rolled her eyes. "So naturally you're freaking out?"

You shrugged before bringing the glass to your lips, taking a sip. "I just don't want to hear his activities tonight," you mumbled.

Karen shot you a pointed look. "You know he's not going to do that tonight, right?" she asked you. "How many times do I have to tell you he's into you before it gets through?"

You sighed, shaking your head. "We're just friends, Karen," you said. 

She leaned in closer to you, her voice dropping even lower as she whispered, "But you're one of the few he's told his secret to."

"Yeah," you responded, talking out of the side of your mouth as you whispered back, "only because I'd nearly gotten myself killed looking too far into a story and he showed up to save me. It was sheerly because I have embarrassingly memorized his mouth, jaw, and voice that I'd figured it out myself. He didn't actually tell me."

Karen opened her mouth to say more, but was quickly cut off as Marci’s cousin Rosalie turned her attention on the pair of you. 

"What are you two whispering about over there?" she asked curiously, drawing the attention of everyone in the room to you both.

"It's about Matt, isn't it?" Marci called out, her knowing eyes on you in the mirror.

You felt your cheeks burn hot as your right hand fidgeted with the hem of your robe–sage green, matching each of the other bridesmaids and the same color as the dress you'd be wearing later.

"Did something finally happen?" she pressed you, her eyes widening.

"No," you answered her quickly. "Nothing happened. We're just friends, Marci, you know that."

Allison, a pretty brunette who had been friends with Marci since law school, let out an audible sigh of relief from where she was sitting in an armchair across from you. Your eyes immediately darted to her and she smiled.

"I was totally thinking you and him were together at the rehearsal last night," she explained quickly. "I had a thing for him back in law school but was too afraid to make a move. Now that I know he's available though…" she trailed off, a sly grin on her face as the girls in the room besides Marci and Karen squealed.

Your eyes landed back down on your drink, cheeks further reddening as you tried to ignore the sympathetic looks Karen and Marci were both giving you. Of course there’d be a gorgeous bridesmaid chasing after Matt all day today. Could you have expected anything less?

You followed the line of bridesmaids down the hall, the loud clattering of multiple sets of high heels echoing with each step. Foggy's laugh was unmistakable as he stood surrounded by his groomsmen all waiting for guests to finish filling into the church before the ceremony began. You couldn’t help but smile at the sight knowing how long he’d been waiting for this day. 

And then your eyes instantly found their way straight to Matt in the hallway as if drawn by an unseeable force. He was gripping his cane in one hand and smiling beneath the dark glasses currently on his face. He looked handsome with his hair slightly gelled to keep it neat–probably Foggy's doing, you thought–and his black tuxedo and black bow tie. Despite Matt matching the five other groomsmen in the same outfit, it looked infinitely better on his muscled body and your heart beat just a bit faster at the sight. With a shuddering inhale beside Karen, you tried to will the traitorous organ to relax before Matt could pick up on it. For now, if he was even paying attention, he'd surely assume it was nerves. He knew you had been anxious about having to be in front of so many people today, even if you weren't remotely the person of interest. 

As if Karen knew who you were thinking about as the pair of you headed over, she gestured her head at Matt before grinning and wagging her eyebrows at you. 'Make a move' she mouthed wordlessly. Your eyes widened, heart speeding up just a bit faster. Vigorously you shook your head 'no' in reply. 

And then you heard Allison's voice complimenting him loudly. The sound drew your attention and your heart felt like it was constricting at the sight before you. He was smiling charmingly back at her and indulging in her small talk. Your hands gripped the bouquet of white peonies and garden roses just a bit tighter.

"He won't wait around forever," Karen whispered into your ear.

A heavy weight fell around your shoulders as you plastered on a smile, turning and chatting with the bridal party around you for the next ten minutes as everyone waited for the start of the ceremony. Your eyes occasionally lingered on the way Allison's hand would find moments to reach out and grab onto Matt's forearm or shoulder. Your stomach twisted unpleasantly each time. You were grateful when the wedding coordinator for the church ushered everyone to finally pair up and line up for the processional. With a sigh and a horde of butterflies in your stomach, you headed over towards Matt.

"Hey," you greeted him with a tight smile, placing a hand nervously on his shoulder.

He said your name and you felt your heart flutter wildly in your chest. "Was wondering when you'd come say hi," he teased.

"I didn't want to intrude," you replied. "You ready?"

He smiled back at you, his mouth spreading into a cheeky smile. "I'm not the one getting married today," he joked, folding up his cane.

You laughed, rolling your eyes. "I meant to line up," you told him.

His smile never faltered as he offered you his arm. You licked your lips nervously before looping your arm through his, your hand grasping his firm bicep. 

God, he has amazing arms.

After he placed his cane on a nearby table, not needing it for the ceremony since you would be walking him in and out, you silently led him in line to where you'd been situated at the rehearsal last night. Karen looked over her shoulder from her place in front of you both, shooting you a wink that only further caused your cheeks to burn.

You felt Matt fidgeting beside you and you glanced over, spotting him removing his dark glasses one-handed. He slid them into an inside jacket pocket, smoothing a hand over it and frowning lightly for a moment. You knew he felt uncomfortable without his glasses in front of large gatherings of people, but you also knew Foggy had asked him if he would be alright having them off for the sake of photos for the important parts of the day and that Matt had happily agreed.  

You leaned over towards Matt, lightly squeezing his arm. "You look handsome, Matt," you assured him softly, hating that he even worried about how people reacted to his unfixed stare. "Don't worry."

His head turned, his sightless gaze falling fondly back on you, landing at your collarbone. A warm smile spread across his face now, his eyes crinkling at the corners. You felt your heart involuntarily stutter in your chest when he whispered back, “And I’m sure you look beautiful. No need to be so nervous.”

You ducked your head, some of your curled hair that wasn’t pinned back curtained your face at the movement. “You know I’m always nervous,” you muttered. But then you sighed, raising your head and squaring your shoulders as the processional music began. “But you’re right, no one’s going to be paying attention to me today.”

“Well I wouldn’t go that far,” he whispered back.

You didn’t respond, your eyes watching as Foggy walked his mom down the aisle to her seat, giving her a teary eyed hug before he took his place at the front of the church. And then Foggy’s brother Theo walked out with his arm linked with Rosalie’s and the line at the church entrance shuffled a few inches forward. You and Matt took two steps closer and you felt your palm lightly sweating along the stem of the bouquet as nerves swirled inside of your stomach. There were easily more than a hundred people seated in the pews staring at each couple as they walked in. Suddenly you felt a little unsteady in your heels as Karen and one of Foggy’s cousins now stood at the entrance to the church.

“Relax,” Matt’s voice came from just beside your ear. His warm breath blew over your neck as he spoke, goosebumps lightly dotting your forearms. “I won’t let you trip.”

Your hand gripped his arm a little tighter at his words as Karen and Foggy’s cousin made their way down the aisle next. You shuffled Matt and yourself to the edge of the church entrance. 

“Thanks, Matty,” you whispered back, your eyes on Karen as she gracefully strode down the aisle. “You know I’m like Bambi in heels.” 

“Just smile and focus on me,” he told you. “I’ll be right beside you.”

You glanced at Matt next to you for just one moment, taking in the sight of him smiling back at you. He looked heartbreakingly handsome and your heart squirmed inside of your chest. And then your gaze swept back to the aisle in front of you that somehow seemed vastly longer than when you’d practiced walking down it with Matt last night.

“We’re up,” you whispered to him.

You both stepped forward, slowly making your way down the aisle to the soft music the string quartet was playing. You kept your gaze focused ahead, smiling wide and paying attention to the comforting warmth of Matt along the right side of you. When you neared the front of the church you shot Foggy a grin, then turned to the right with Matt, guiding him up to stand on the step next to the groomsmen already there. Quickly you turned, making your way back towards the opposite side where the bridesmaids were standing and took your place. You exhaled a slow breath, trying to calm your nerves as the next couple began their way down the aisle. Minutes later Allison and the groomsmen she was paired with made their way down the aisle and the doors to the church were closed behind them. Your eyes darted over to Foggy where he was nervously fidgeting and shifting his weight back and forth on his feet. 

Shortly after the last couple had taken their place, the doors opened and Marci stepped out, her arm linked with her father’s. Everyone rose from the pews as she made her way down and you felt your eyes watering watching the emotion on her and Foggy’s face as they stared back at each other. For a brief moment your eyes slid their way across the church and landed on Matt; his gaze was focused somewhere around Foggy, a big smile on his face. Your heart sped up a little, taking a moment to appreciate the sight of Matt dressed like he was as he stood at the front of the church. You saw his eyes slowly shift towards you and you momentarily ceased breathing all together as your gaze quickly shifted back to Foggy and Marci. You could feel your face burning as you watched Marci’s father place her hand in Foggy’s.

The rest of the wedding ceremony was beautiful and you’d cried with Karen through the entirety of it, managing to laugh a little during some parts of the vows they’d written for each other. Foggy had pumped his fist in the air as him and Marci made their way back down the aisle as the recessional began. The pairs of bridesmaids and groomsmen began meeting up in the center and exiting the church together. When Karen began her walk back down with Foggy’s cousin, you made your way over towards Matt, his gaze already finding you before you’d said anything.

“Back already?” he teased you lightly.

You reached out, linking your arm through his offered one with a smile on your face. “You say that like you didn’t miss me, Murdock,” you teased back.

You both began making your way down the aisle with you leading Matt. After only a few steps you felt him lean in beside your ear.

“I did,” he whispered.

Heat rose to your cheeks, your smile widening a little more nervously as you walked. Not knowing how to respond to Matt’s usual teasing flirtation, you kept your mouth closed. Once out of the church, you led him back towards the table where he’d left his cane, reaching out a hand and grabbing it for him. 

“Thank you,” he said when you’d passed it to him.

You reluctantly unlinked your arm from his, fidgeting awkwardly with the bouquet in your hands. Matt slid his glasses out of his pocket, slipping them back on before he began to unfold his cane. He shot you a quick smile as he did.

“See? Wasn’t so bad, was it?” he asked.

You swallowed hard, the corner of your mouth twisting up ever so gently. “No,” you answered. “It wasn’t. Thanks for not letting me fall.”

He opened his mouth to say more, but Allison appeared beside the both of you. She placed a hand on Matt’s arm and greeted him before shooting you a friendly smile. You returned the smile, your heart aching as you turned and headed over to Foggy and Marci to offer them your congratulations as Allison began chatting with Matt behind you.

The past few hours had gone by in a blur after the ceremony. The bridal party had gone with Foggy and Marci for a while to take photos with their photographer after the newlyweds had gotten their family photos taken in the church. And then everyone had headed back for the beginning of the reception. You and Matt had walked in arm in arm to the reception, Matt spinning you on the center of the dance floor while you laughed before you led him up to his seat at the head table and then took your seat by the other bridesmaids. Dinner had passed quickly after the toasts and then you’d teared up watching Foggy and Marci’s first dance. Shortly after Marci had danced with her father and Foggy had danced with his mother, the dance floor had opened up.

You’d ended up with Karen by the open bar, downing a few cocktails before heading out onto the dancefloor for a bit. Eventually Marci had come out and the three of you had danced to a few songs, drinks in hand while loudly singing to the music. 

“We should do shots!” Marci abruptly exclaimed over the loud music.

“Marci, you sure you can even handle more to drink?” Karen asked her, brows raised.

Marci shot her a flat look which had you laughing. “I’m the bride, you’re not supposed to say no to me today, remember?” she told Karen.

“Good enough for me,” you announced.

Marci beamed, grabbing both your’s and Karen’s wrists and then dragging you both to the bar with her. As you swerved through the crowd, your eyes scanned the guests. Eventually they landed on who you were looking for. 

Matt was sitting at a table with Allison, his arm over the back of his chair, his suit coat long abandoned on the back of his chair at the head table. He looked comfortable as he talked animatedly and Allison was leaning forward, her chin resting on her hand as she laughed at whatever he was saying. You felt a little tug in your chest at the sight, your gaze darting away.

Marci asked the bartender for the drinks as you situated yourself against the counter, resting an arm along it. Your eyes were focused on the man pouring the shots, watching as he slid the three glasses forward when he had finished. The three of you each picked up a glass, raising it high.

“To you and Foggy,” you said.

“And to a long, happy marriage,” Karen added.

“And hopefully great sex tonight,” Marci blurted, knocking her glass into your's and Karen’s.

You and Karen exchanged a look and laughed before the three of you downed the alcohol. It burned as it went down. You set the glass back, your eyes unintentionally finding their way back to Matt and Allison. You couldn’t fight the way your mouth curved downwards at the sight of them still smiling and chatting at the table together. You felt Marci nudge you with her elbow and your eyes darted towards her.

“You should say something,” she told you. “Cut in. Something .”

You shook your head, your sad gaze falling on the pair again. “No,” you answered slowly, sighing. “We’re just friends, Marc. Besides, he looks like he’s having fun.”

“I also am of the mind that you should go talk to him,” Karen said. “For what it’s worth, he might just be being polite.”

You shook your head, forcing a smile onto your face. “I think I’m actually just going to step outside for a minute and get some fresh air. It’s getting pretty warm in here.”

You didn’t wait for them to respond, pushing away from the bar and maneuvering your way around the crowd and the tables. You desperately needed air and a minute to get away and clear your head.

[lionlena]

His Curls (PedroPacalxreader) part 3

You are sick, but Pedro comes to the rescue. It's just sweet and fluff.

3.

It was Friday and you were supposed to spend a wonderful weekend with Pedro, but everything was going wrong.

You've been feeling bad since morning. You had a headache, you were cold and you were coughing. You barely made it all day at work. Even holding the scissors required unearthly strength from you.

When you got home you realized you were sick and you had to cancel your meeting with Pedro. It really broke your heart. In a week he was supposed to start filming the 2nd season of "The Last of Us". You knew it meant a long separation.

Pedro answered on the first signal.

"Hola, princesa!"

You almost sobbed heared the joyful tone of his voice.

"Pedro... We have to cancel..." You had to take a cough break. "...our weekend. I'm sick."

"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry."

"I'm sorry," you whispered.

"Shh, it's not your fault. Do you need anything?"

"No" you lied.

You knew you had an almost empty fridge. You were supposed to do some shopping after work, but you were too tired.

"Okay. Take care baby."

"Bye, Pedro."

You groaned and laid down on the couch and curled up in a ball. You felt bad. Not only because of the disease, but also because of Pedro. You wanted to see him so much. You sighed heavily and turned on whatever TV show came your way.

*

An hour later you heard the doorbell ring. You had no idea who it could be. You barely made it to the entrance. You opened the door and...

"Your personal doctor has come to the rescue!"

You were so amazed. Your boyfriend, Pedro Pascal, stood in the doorway with two shopping bags.

"But how?"

You let Pedro in. He put the bags in the kitchen and walked over to you. He took your face in his hands.

"Honey, I literally heard you crying over the phone and... I know when you're lying. So I assumed you needed everything."

He started emptying the bags.

"I bought orange juice, I got noodle soup from your favorite restaurant, I bought a thermometer and medicine for fever, cough medicine... And... Close your eyes."

You obeyed his command and felt him place something soft in your hands. You opened your eyes and saw a green hoodie with Grogu ears on it. You squealed satisfied. You'd be jumping for joy if you were healthy. Pedro was clearly pleased.

"I was going to give you this before I left, but I figured now was a better time."

You cuddled up to him and sighed as he wrapped his strong arms around you.

"Thank you, but... You shouldn't be here. You might get infected."

"Don't even say that. I won't leave you." He kissed the top of your head. "You will now eat the broth, take your meds and go to bed."

You groaned in dissatisfaction.

"I hate lying in bed."

Pedro shook his head.

"That's why I'm here. I'll be your personal warm blanket and pillow. What does that sound like?"

"Much better."

*

Once your stomach was full, you took your pills and headed for the bedroom. As soon as Pedro lay down next to you, you climbed onto his chest and started stroking his hair. Pedro chuckled and asked:

"I don't know why you're so obsessed with my hair?"

"Because I'm a hair stylist? And your hair is sooo soft and beautiful..."

More shivers ran through your body and Pedro pulled you closer to his body. You rested your head against his chest and sighed. Your fever was still high, and it made you mumble.

You always haved that. When you had a high fever you would start saying stupid things like you were drunk.

So it was also this time.

"I'd like to dye your hair pink? Yeah... Piiiink" you whined. "You would look sooo good with pink hair."

Pedro laughed slightly. Well, he was still worried about you, but your sleepy mumbling was so sweet.

He ran his hand across your forehead and murmured.

"Pink? Okay, honey, but why don't we get back to the pink thing when your fever drops."

"And purple..."

Pedro kissed the top of your head.

"Okay. Whatever you want."

Satisfied that she is so close to you and agrees with you, you finally closed your eyes and fell asleep.

*

Two hours later you woke up and Pedro was lying next to you, leaning on his elbow and looking at you. You stretched and rubbed your eyes.

"How do you feel?"

"A little better... A lot better, actually."

"That's good, but I'll stay with you all weekend anyway and look after you ."

"Thank you."

You were so happy to have someone so wonderful and loved by your side.

"As for the pink hair..."

You opened your eyes wide and Pedro laughed.

"Did I say that out loud?"

He nodded.

"I promise I'll let you do it someday. Just not now. I doubt they'll let me play Joel with pink hair... Hmm, maybe when I be filming The Mandalorian. After all, I wear a helmet anyway."

You started laughing and hugged him. He was gorgeous and... He'd really look good with pink hair, or purple, maybe blue? You had so many crazy ideas in your head.

*

Part 1: His Curls

Part 2: His Curls 2

[missbunnybunny]

~◇✴𝔖𝔬𝔫𝔤𝔅𝔦𝔯𝔡 ✴ ◇~

Don't you like your new home, my little songbird?

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this is my first Yandere story, I hope you like it. the reader is genderneutral. There is only one use of y/n, and for the rest of the story, you're referred to by you or Songbird.

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Everything was just so dull. no matter the work he took, be it singing, acting, or other gigs, it was so bland. so when his assistant told him of his next photo shoot, he smiled and said, “Sure, I’ll be right there.” But it was just another fake smile, forced, fake, emotionless, empty.  

When he first became a model, it was like a dream come true! he had the face of a natural-born star. ever since he was a little kid, people would compliment him. “ Oh, Elle! you're so cute.” one of his mother’s friends would say, or “I wish my kids looked like you.” another spoke. 

His job was great at first, then great turned into good, good turned into nice, until it finally became boring. his smile started to fade until it just became a mask he wore. entering the photo shoot site, he expected the usual. and by usual, he meant a bratty, entitled model, thinking they were so high and mighty because they had money and a shoot with him. 

But he could care less. One thing he never lost when he became famous was his kindness. Money never got to his head. He was just glad to have a roof and food. so when he finally got out of the car and set foot in his changing room, he wasn't expecting much. 

The stylist curled his wolf cut a little, making sure his red peekaboo hair dyed could be visible in the photos. after his hair was done, his face was next. he didn’t need any make-up, just some light bush, and he was set. His light skin having its natural glow along with the brush was enough.

He was honestly glad that he didn’t have to take off his piercings. It would have been a pain. but that didn’t mean that he was safe from that either. they gave him 5 earrings to change into. They didn’t look bad. he might ask to keep them after the shoot. 

His first ear piercings were a pair of silver 4-star earrings, the second was a star stud earring, and his last piercing, which was on his Hilix, was a heart hop earring he didn’t have to change his tongue piercing for today's shoot. his hazel eyes looked at his reflection in the mirror, and he looked empty. 

He was wearing a black button-up shirt, black dress pants, and black dress shoes. he could hear some of the staff members whispering that he looked like a prince. ‘ he looks so handsome’ or ‘he so my type.’ When he walked out of the fitting room to walk around a little, he had to wait for his partner to be done. 

He was standing next to the wall while looking at his phone, scrolling through insta. He snapped out of his daze when he heard soft humming. he hadn't realized he was next to the other fitting room’s door.  it sounded like soft rain on a rainy day. He loved it. It was so calming to his heart.

One of your assistants asked what song you were humming to, “Oh, it’s inhale exhale by AURORA.”  he was stunned. Your voice was like that of an angel. How could a person have such a lovely voice? It was music to his ears. 

It wasn't long before you stepped out of your fitting room and by the gods the way you looked at him. He thought you were the most ethereal being he had ever seen. You were like a work of art. His chest started to tighten, and his heart beat faster. ‘ What is this feeling?’ he thought while still looking at you. 

He extended his hand to you, “ Am Elliot Achillies, nice to meet you.” he had a small smile on his face. you looked up at the tall man. He was stunning, but that’s expected of a model. “ Hello, my name is y/n. it’s also nice to meet you, mister Elliot.” You spoke while shaking his hand. How nice and polite you are. his name has never sounded so beautiful until they left your lips, he wanted to heard you say it more.

You were so small, your hand compared to his was sending him over the edge. your touch was warm, it was like fire to his skin, “ just call me Elle, Songbird” his smile became bigger. He kissed the back of your hand, the way your eyes slowly widened at his action. oh, you're so cute!

Your outfit matched his perfectly. You could make a wonderful couple. he heard the director call him over to explain the photo shoot and the poses. He half listened while looking down at you. I wasn’t until he heard the director again “Alright, that’s all. I hope we can run this smoothly. Everyone into position!” He yelled, slightly making you jump. Every expression you made was making his heart beat even faster than the last. how could you be this adorable!

You and him got set to the first pose, your hand on his chest and his hand on your waist. he looked at the camera with a small smile while you looked at it with a more natural look. In every photo that was taken, he held your waist slightly tighter. Until you looked up at his mouth slightly open and wide eyes, a slight bush on your face. 

He was drinking up your expression so much that he didn’t realize he had a genuine smile on his face. he was in his own world looking at you. He pulled you closer until your faces were almost touching. you didn’t know what you were doing to him. “ If you look at me so cute, I might just eat you, my little Songbird.” He thought. he was a true wolf in sheep's clothing, but it couldn't hurt being a sheep a little longer.

Soon, the photo shoot was over. You were on the phone with your friend. talking about your upcoming Biology exam and English essay. This intrigues him. You were a college student? Oh, the more he learned about you, the more he wanted to know you. He was like a starving man. the more he got, he couldn’t fill his stomach because he was always hungry. He just couldn’t get enough.

He soon realized he was in love with you, all the magazine photos that you were both in together he had in his room. He would stalk you on social media, figuring out your college. after a month, he knew your schedule, your friends, your family, everything about you. 

He knew it was wrong, that he had an unhealthy obsession with you. he loves you, and you’ll never meet another like him. he has been to your room and even laid down in your bed while looking at pictures you had of your friends. he had some fantasies of having you pin under him, watching your face as his hands run up and down your body. it had him brushing like a schoolgirl with a crush. Can’t you see what you're doing to him? 

He stopped taking any modeling deals and said that he would only do it with you. he knew you were only a part-time model and that you used the job when you needed the money. why not kill two birds with one stone? You get some extra money, and he gets his songbird a win-win. 

Oh, how he wishes he could cut your wings and keep you in a cage. where only his eyes could see your angelic face, only his ears could hear the melody of your voice. But most of all, only his hands could touch your body. You belonged to him and only him. 

So little songbird, LOVE ME, LOVE ME, LOVE ME, LOVE ME MORE THAN YOU POSSIBLY CAN. He loves you to the point of going mad, so why are you throwing away his love letters? You're breaking his poor heart, won’t you kiss it better? better yet sing to him how much you love him, won’t you Songbird?

YOU DO LOVE HIM RIGHT, SONGBIRD? RIGHT.

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Please like,reblog, or boost this post, THANK YOU!

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[luckyroll3]

Crimson Lights: Chapter 31

Masterlist

Warning: Extreme violence; guns

Bass pulses through the soles of my studded Louboutins, another find of Felix’s, as I step into the crowded, strobe-lit interior of Eclipse Saturday. I haven’t been here since the night Chris and I had our threesome with Hyunjin. The place is packed.

I scan the room anxiously, my stomach fluttering with nerves, until I spot her, Aja, resplendent in a skintight scarlet red number, holding court at the main bar. Our eyes meet and she waves me over with a large smile, her lips the same color as her dress. She’s stunning.

I maneuver my way through the crowd. “Hey lady!” I lean in to give her an air kiss on both cheeks. Aja and I had been texting non-stop over the past week. We talked about clothes, makeup, men and nothing else. I felt like I was back in middle school.

“Kay! You look so hot,” she shouts approvingly over the music. “I loved your curls, but this straight hair is fucking sexy!” She runs her fingers through my high ponytail, meticulously straightened by Felix who apparently has lots of other hidden talents. She looks me up and down as she takes my hand and makes me spin for her. “Balmain!?!? Shit! I need the number for your stylist.” She presses a vodka tonic into my hand. “Cheers!”

We clink glasses and I take a long sip, the burn of the alcohol steadying me slightly. For the next hour, we dance, chat and laugh. Aja introduces me around to her various friends and hanger-ons, knighting me as her new, rich and stylish BFF. Some of the other girls can’t help but give me dirty looks as the person who came out of nowhere and stole the position they’ve been vying for. I keep the conversation light and shallow and remind myself to be friendly to them.

I watch Aja’s interactions. She’s dismissive to many of her “friends”, yet they don’t seem to mind. She flirts shamelessly with every attractive man in her orbit, tossing her hair and touching their arms with calculated coquettishness. Every drink she’s ordered has ended up on someone else’s tab. She’s clearly in her element here, the undisputed queen bee. Despite how bitchy she is, I find myself actually kind of liking and enjoying Aja. She knows how to have fun and doesn’t take herself too seriously. In another life, we may have been friends; at the very least, the type of friends you mainly partied with each other.

When the other girls head to the ladies room, I order several shots for Aja and myself. “You read my mind!” she squeals as I hand her the shot glass. We both bring the glasses to our lips and swallow in one gulp.

“So what’s the story with you and this Chan guy?” I ask, all innocent curiosity as I pass her a second shot glass. “You’ve mentioned him a couple times. Seems like there’s a lot of history there.”

Aja’s eyes flash to mine, suddenly sharp and assessing. But then she smiles slyly. “Ancient history,” she demurs silkily. “We had some good times. He’s definitely the one that got away, you could say.” We take shot number two.

“He must be quite the man if you’re still hung up on him,” I tease. “Hot? Good in bed? Rich?”

“All of the above. Chan definitely has… qualities,” Aja says coyly, swirling her vodka tonic before bringing it to her lips. “But we also have unfinished business. I’m more interested in settling old scores. I’ll get what I’m owed in one way or another,” she murmurs cryptically.

“Sounds intense,” I reply, taking a sip of my drink and working to keep my expression neutral while my mind races. “I’m trying to keep it light with the guy I’m dating,” I lie. “He’s cute and he fucks me into a coma, but after my last partner, I’m not sure I want anything too serious. At least for now when there’s so many hot men here to try.”

Aja leans in closer, her perfume enveloping me. “Life’s too fucking short,” she whispers, her eyes locking onto mine. “We have to take what we want. Especially when we still look like this.” She finishes her drink and slides the glass away from her.

“Come on,” she trills brightly, seizing my arm. “Night’s still young. Let’s go make some trouble. Let’s head up to the VIP. They’ll let the two of us in.”

As she leads me towards the back and up the stairs, her nails dig into my skin. She’s confident as she navigates through the bodies. The bouncer nods deferentially at me as Aja breezes past him, failing to notice as she tugs me along in her wake. She makes a comment about his ass though and I pretend to laugh along.

“Here we are,” Aja announces, parting the curtain with a flick of her wrist.

My gaze sweeps across the occupants in the room. Chris, Changbin, and Marco are deep in discussion on one of the couches, and two hulking shadows that could only be bodyguards stand in the distance.

Shock flares in Aja's eyes, bright and startled, before she smothers it within a second beneath a mask of icy composure.

Marco, on the other hand, looks positively delighted, clearly not realizing that they were maneuvered into being here at the same time. "Aja! What a pleasant surprise." His eyes slide over to me, calculating.

"Well, well, well," she drawls, sauntering forward. "Marco, darling. I didn’t expect to see you here either.” She kisses his cheek. “Chan, quite the little party we have here.” She kisses Chan’s cheek as well, but ignores Changbin. “Funny, I don't remember getting my invitation."

Changbin regards her coolly, his jaw tense. “That’s because there wasn’t one,” he replies evenly. Aja rolls her eyes at him. Their distaste for each other cascades off of them in waves, neither able to conceal it.

“Kay?” Chris’ voice cut through the tension between Aja and Changbin. “What are you doing here?”

Aja’s head whips around, her carefully crafted facade cracking. Her eyes dart between the two of us. “Wait, you two know each other?”

“Yeah,” I say calmly.

Chris stands and presses a soft kiss to my lips. “Why are you here? With her?” His hand smoothes a flyaway near my ear, the intimacy of the gesture not lost on Aja.

“Are you… dating?” Aja says incredulously, her comprehension dawning swift and brutal. “Kay, were you ever going to mention that you’re fucking my sloppy seconds?” she hisses. “I thought we were friends.”

I stay calm, despite the fury brimming beneath. “I did tell you I was dating a guy named Chris.” She rolls her eyes.

“What the fuck is going on here?” Chris asks confused, his gaze flitting between myself, Aja, Changbin, and Marco.

“Marco,” Changbin started, his tone deceptively soft, but the undercurrent of threat unmistakable. “Care to explain what it is you’re planning?”

Marco’s lips twist into a sneer, his arrogance unshaken. He remains silent, defiance etched into every line on his face.

The silence that follows is deafening. Aja's eyes narrow as the pieces start clicking into place in her brain. Aja takes a step back. Her eyes dart to the exit, then widen in furious disbelief. I follow her gaze to see Han, Minho, Felix, and Hyunjin blocking the exit, the door now closed. Their arms are folded, expressions carved from stone. She’s surrounded, cornered. She realizes it in the same instant I do. Her lips peel back from her teeth in a feral snarl.

“You bitch,” she seethes in my direction. I meet Aja’s furious stare head on. “You set me up!” When she takes a couple steps in my direction, there’s a flurry of movement: Chris pulls me behind him; Changbin leaps to his feet; and Han, Hyunjin, Felix, and Minho each take a forceful step forward in my direction. Aja clocks their protective behavior towards me, and she immediately halts her advance.

“Not so fun being the one getting played, is it?” Changbin interjects coldly. He retakes his seat next to Marco on the couch and leans forward, elbows on his knees.

“See, we know all about you and Marco here and the little ‘Overthrow Chan’ committee you’ve started,” Han chimes in, his boyish face uncharacteristically grim.

Changbin turns to Marco. “You’re looking to seize control from Chan? Bold move,” he says with a smile as he sits back against the couch and throws an arm over Marco’s shoulder. His relaxed posture given the tension in the room is scary, but also a bit sexy. “I honestly didn’t think you had the balls.”

“Pathetic,” Felix spits in his deep voice, his usual sunny smile missing.

“Did you really think you could just waltz in and come for us?” Hyunjin asks, his head cocked to the side. His rage is simmering just below the surface.

I watch as Chris starts to understand what’s happening. He intertwines his fingers with mine and squeezes my hand. I squeeze back reassuringly.

Aja and Marco exchange a swift, panicked glance. The bodyguards tense, their meaty hands drifting to barely concealed shoulder holsters.

In a flash, Minho and Hyunjin are on them, a blur of brutal, efficient movement. Minho takes one down with a deft twist, the guy's arm snapping like a twig. Then he knocks him out with a single punch to the jaw. Hyunjin smashes the other's head against the bar – once, twice, three times – until he slumps, boneless, to the floor.

It's over in seconds, the lounge utterly silent save for Minho’s and Hyunjin's harsh breaths.

Marco leaps to his feet, hands held up in supplication."Woah, okay, let's all just calm down here," he placates. "This is just a silly misunderstanding..."

"Can it, Marco," Changbin spits, surging up to grab the taller man by his collar and forcing him back to his seat on the couch. His hand is gripped tightly on Marco’s shoulder, ensuring he can’t move again. "We know everything. Your little plan to steal our territory, to take Chris' place within the syndicate. You're a rat. Always have been."

Changbin’s eyes cut to Aja, cold and merciless. "And you. You just couldn't let the past stay buried, could you?”

Aja's coy expression vanishes, replaced by a venomous glare. "I want what's owed to me. To my family."

"And what exactly is that?" Chris asks softly, the tone of his voice is frightening. He’s been silent up until this point. He stares coldly at Aja as he waits for an answer, his hand still in mine.

"Everything you took from us." She spat the words. "Our business, our home, our status." She pauses for a beat. “I know it was you who executed my dad. You destroyed everything we had.”

The confession hangs in the air between them. Chris' face is unreadable. "Your father was stealing from the syndicate." His tone was implacable. "He got what was coming to him."

Her face drains of color, rage and fear chasing across her exotic features. "Lies!" Aja shrieks. "You betrayed us to take his place, like the ambitious snake you are!"

She lunges at Chris but Hyunjin grabs her, pinning her arms. She thrashes and screams in fury.

“Stop,” Hyunjin demands in a chilly voice as he restrains her. He leans down to growl in her ear, "If you ever try to attack Chan again, I'll kill you myself." Aja calms herself once the threat is made clear. She knows, like the rest of us, that Hyunjin means everything he says.

"You were born into this Aja,” Chan starts. “You know better than anyone about how this works and our obligation to uphold the Syndicate’s laws we all live by. Your father broke them. Skimming millions in profits for over a decade. I did what I had to do; what I was ordered to do." His tone is matter-of-fact, detached, yet I hear the subtle strain behind each word.

Aja doesn’t respond.

Changbin’s gaze bores into Marco and Aja. "You have one chance to come clean," he growls. "What have you two been plotting?"

Marco scoffs defiantly, still refusing to speak. Aja lifts her chin and stares back at Changbin, feigning confidence, but there’s fear evident in her eyes.

Changbin nods to Han, who steps forward and produces a stack of files from his backpack. He hands them to Chris, who releases my hand to flip through the documents. Aja has been keenly aware of the closeness between Chris and I, and I see her nostrils flare slightly when our hands break their hold.

"Marco's been a busy little bee, planning a coup," Han announces, his normally playful tone ice cold. "He’s been hijacking shipments, hiring attackers, paying people off, and skimming off the top of the payments he oversees for us to make it look like our profits are down and like we’re losing control.” He looks at Marco. “You know you’re not actually supposed to document this shit and leave a paper trail behind, right? You dumb fuck.” Hyunjin snickers at Han’s words.

Han continues, “He wants SKZ's territory for himself. And your position as second in command." He directs this last part at Chris, who raises an eyebrow before looking up towards Marco.

Aja’s facade crumbles as she flicks a glance at Marco, whose stoic expression has soured into something more venomous after Han’s evidence materialized.

"Marco reached out to me," she blurts out suddenly, her voice teetering between panic and resolve. "Wanted me to leverage my past with Chan, thought it would help him to... sabotage." Her lips quivers around the word, betraying her desperation. "He promised he would restore what I lost."

I feel Chris stiffen beside me, his jaw tightening. “And you believed him?” Chris’ voice slices through the air, controlled, but laced with an undercurrent of betrayal. “You know if you would have just come to me, I would have taken care of you and your family… no questions asked. I would have wired you the funds, even set up monthly payments. But this...?” He holds up the stack of papers towards her before tossing it on the table.

Aja’s eyes met his, and there is something raw and pained in her gaze. She knows all too well the version of Chris I’ve just recently met. The one who has been bred to eliminate problems in their world with the swift strike of a sword and no remorse. 

And the realization has just dawned on her that she’s become one of those problems to be handled. “Chan…” she whispers. It is a plea for mercy.

Chris sighs heavily. “Don’t worry,” he says calmly. “I won’t kill you. I’ll allow you to go free, as my apology for your dad. I don’t expect your forgiveness, but you know I had no choice.” He looks her directly in her eyes as he speaks. “Hyunjin,” he says without breaking eye contact with her, “take her home to pack, then straight to the airport. Make sure she gets on the next plane to New York and out of our lives.”

“Got it, hyung.” Hyunjin’s voice was tinged with glee, a dark excitement simmering beneath his words. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t miss her flight.” He tightens his grip on her arm.

“Take Lix with you,” Chris adds. He finally tears his gaze away from Aja to look at Felix. “Ensure things stay… civil.” Felix nods silently.

“Can’t promise I’ll be sad if she tries to run,” Hyunjin says, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

“We should kill her,” Han chimes in softly. His statement surprises me. Usually it’s Hyunjin crying for bloody murder. But I know Han is thinking from a purely strategic position. “This won’t be the end of it for her. It’s the only way to eliminate the threat she poses.”

Aja, in shock, opens her mouth to say something, but closes it when she’s unable to form the necessary words to make a case for herself.

“She leaves unharmed.” Chris reiterates, his command sharp and signaling that he wants to hear no argument from any of them. “Aja knows the rules. If she breaks them again, she’ll face the consequences.”

Hyunjin's face falls in disappointment, but he nods obediently. As he and Felix escort a stunned Aja out of the room, Chris calls after them.

"Aja." She looks back at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "If you ever come back or try anything like this again, I won't stop Hyunjin from killing you. That's a promise. This is a one time reprieve… because of our history. You understand?"

“Understood,” she replies, her voice barely above a whisper. Defeat and resignation paint her beautiful features as a wide, cruel smile spreads across Hyunjin’s face that sends shivers down my spine. He and Felix escort her away, her fate sealed within a one-way ticket. The door slams shut behind them, leaving us alone with Marco.

“How about you Marco?” Changbin sneers at him. “Still got nothing to say?” Changbin tightens his grip on Marco’s shoulder and pulls Marco’s body closer to him. “Any other little plots you want to share with the class?”

Marco stays silent as he glares mutinously at Changbin. The air in the room seems to thicken with each of Marco’s breaths. Chris turns towards him and takes a few steps forward until he is towering over Marco.

“Speak, Marco,” Chris commands, his voice low and steady. “This is your last chance.”

Marco scoffs, his eyes flashing with contempt. “You never deserved a seat at the head of the table,” he growls. “You and your crew are nothing but fucking street rats. No heritage, no legacy, no respect for the old ways. You should have stayed at the bottom where you belong, kept to your place as low-level lackeys.”

Marco’s words drip with venom, and I can see the fury building in Chris’ eyes, although his face betrays no emotions. Minho approaches silently, his now gloved hands pressing a gun with a silencer attachment into Chris’ palm. As the gun hangs at Chris’ side, resting against his thigh, the metal gleams under the soft lights. Chris’ index finger taps a beat against the barrel.

"You've plotted against us before," Chris says, his voice low and dangerous. "But this time, you got caught. You've gone too far. What do you have to say for yourself?"

“Fuck you, Chan,” Marco sneers.

With a swift fluid motion, Changbin abruptly shoves him off the couch and onto the floor with a loud thud. He reaches down, gripping a fistful of Marco’s hair, and forces him upright on his knees. I have never seen Changbin like this before. The look in his eyes is intense and commanding, a complete transformation from his usual sweet, funny, playful demeanor. In a low, threatening voice, he whispers into Marco’s ear, “I dare you to say that shit again.” His tone triggers something inside me as I perceive the dangerous aura surrounding him, making him seem almost untouchable and as someone who should be feared. But I am extremely turned on and I feel a puddle starting to form between my legs.

Without taking his eyes off of Changbin, Marco yells loudly, “Fuck you, Chan.” He smiles and continues in a softer tone, “And fuck you too, Changbin.” He blows a kiss towards Bin.

Changbin grins at him, more amused than angry at Marco’s antics. “The balls on this guy….” Changbin says as he looks up at Chris with a laugh. I am in awe at how instantaneous his switch back to the Changbin I know is.

Chris, on the other hand, doesn’t find Marco funny at all. His face is stoic as he raises the gun and points it at Marco’s head. “Kay,” Chris’ voice breaks through the tension, unexpectedly gentle given his current stance, though I startle at the sound of my name. I tear my eyes away from the gun and look up towards Chris’ face. His gaze is still locked on Marco’s eyes. “You don’t need to see this. You can go, if you want.”

I swallow hard, my heart hammering against my ribs. Part of me wants to flee, to escape the violence that's about to unfold. But a larger part, the part that's grown to love Chris, and really all of SKZ, refuses to abandon them now. Plus, Marco made me a part of this when he sent someone to attack me and I feel the need to see him get what he deserves.

I shake my head, my feet rooted to the spot. “I’m staying,” I say, surprised by the steadiness of my own voice. Chris turns his head towards me and locks his eyes onto mine, reading my determination. I’ve committed to being with him in this life, whatever that brings, and he can see that I meant it. He gives me a quick nod of acceptance and turns back to Marco.

Marco laughs, a harsh grating sound, his bravado undiminished and his eyes still defiant even in the face of certain death. “You need permission from JYP to execute me, Chan. You can’t just…”

“As far as anyone outside this room is concerned,” Han interrupts, “you and your guards will have simply… disappeared. The security cameras and your phones have already been scrubbed; there's not even proof that you were anywhere near this building tonight.” Han pauses, a flicker of amusement crossing his expression. “We’ve also already planted evidence of your embezzlement from the Syndicate in addition to what you stole from us. How’s that for fucking street rats?” Han grins.

“And fuck JYP,” Changbin adds as he smacks the back of Marco’s head before he stands up. “I don’t see him here. Do you?” He looks around the room, eyes pretending to search comically.

"Given your track record of being a backstabbing cunt,” Chris says, “no one will question it.” He presses the gun against the middle of Marco’s forehead, his finger curling around the trigger.

Marco’s sealed fate is reflected in his eyes. Yet, he straightens his back and a smirk curls his lips before he spits out one final confession.

“One last thing,” he says, a strained chuckle accompanying his words. “Everything I did? All my moves against you, to sabotage you, to take you out… The orders came from the very top. He doesn’t want you here anymore than I do,” he hisses, his eyes wild with desperation.

His words hang in the air, heavy with implication. Changbin, Han, and Minho exchange quick looks with each other upon hearing Marco’s revelation.

I see the flicker of confusion, of disbelief, that crosses Chris’ face. But it’s gone in an instant, replaced by a steely glare, his eyes locked onto Marco. With a soft exhale, Chris pulls the trigger.

The gunshot is muffled by the silencer, but it still echoes in my ears loudly. Marco’s head ricochet’s backward from the force of the bullet before his body crumples to the ground, a dark stain spreading across the polished floor. I stare at the lifeless form before me and am surprised by how unmoved I am at his death. The end had arrived for Marco De Luca.

The heavy silence that follows is broken by Minho’s voice, low and urgent. “We need to discuss what Marco said. Now!” He holds out his hand towards Chris.

Chris nods, his jaw clenched tight. He places the gun in Minho’s gloved palm. Minho pulls a cloth from his pocket and immediately starts to clean and disassemble the gun.

Minho, Han, Changbin, and Chris stand around the body, huddled together. Their faces are grim masks of contemplation, each man lost in thought.

“You think he was telling the truth?” Han finally asks, his eyes darting between his brothers. “Could JYP really be behind all of this?”

Changbin’s nostrils flared. “It fits,” he says, his tone like gravel. “The problems we’ve been facing — the sabotage, the stealing, the leaks, Felix and Kay… It’s someone who knows us, knows how we operate. It’s someone with power.”

“It would explain a lot,” Han says as he brings his hands behind his head and looks at the ceiling. He sighs out a large breath.

Chris runs a hand over his face, looking suddenly weary. “I don’t want to believe it. JYP has been my mentor, my father figure…”

“He’s also a megalomaniacal piece of shit,” Changbin interrupts.

Although JYP had provided everything for him, it was at a cost. Chris had told Kay he knew JYP was a bad man, but he often looked past it because weren’t they all? 

Chris sighs. “That too. We can’t ignore the possibility.”

I wrap my arms around myself, feeling cold. “The guys at the warehouse,” I interject, recalling the fear etched into their faces as I watched them from my hiding spot. All four men snap their heads towards me; they’d momentarily forgotten I was there. I continue as I look at each of them, “They were more scared of talking than dying. And the one who did talk? He only implicated Marco under extreme duress, no?”

Chris’ gaze meets mine, a storm brewing behind his piercing eyes. “She’s right. Someone higher up has been pulling strings, and it ain’t Marco.”

Han takes off his jacket and walks over to place it around my shoulders before giving them a gentle rub. I whisper a thanks to him and he simply nods back.

“JYP is the only one with that kind of power,” Minho says before adding, “and you.” He nods at Chris. Minho kneels down to place the now disassembled gun into Han’s bag as he continues to speak. “Chan, you know you’re respected, right? More than feared. You have a lot of allies in the Syndicate. People who would willingly choose to follow you over JYP and have outright said as much.”

“That motherfucker is probably terrified of your growing power,” Changbin said with a huff, his hands landing on his hips. “He chose you because you were a street rat. He thought he could control you, but he underestimated your brilliance and your ability to connect with people.”

“You’re the better version of him,” Han jumps in, “and we’re not the only ones to see that. He does too. And so does everyone else. The Marco’s who hate you are the minority.”

“Then we reach out to our allies,” Minho says standing up as he removes his gloves and shoves them in his back pocket. “Learn what has been said or set into motion.”

“And we find out who’s loyal,” Chris adds. “If this is JYP, we need to find out who’d be with us if we move against him, gather allies.”

“You’d be willing to do that?” Changbin asked. “Overthrow JYP?” He raises an eyebrow as he watches Chris consider the question. “We may not like the fucker, but we know how you feel about him…” It was something only a true best friend would ask. The BFF who is willing to put up with the shit person in your life simply because you loved that person, and the BFF loved you.

After a few beats, Chris answers. “Yes. If he’s after me, that means the rest of you are in danger too. Everyone knows that if any SKZ are left alive if one of us is killed, we would burn down the entire planet without a second thought to avenge each other.” The other three nod in agreement. 

I believe every word. I’ve seen how they’ve protected me and I’ve only been a part of their lives for about 6 months. 

Chris continues, “We investigate quietly and only reach out to those we trust implicitly.”

Han pulls out his tablet from his backpack. He starts typing names of people and groups that the others call out.

Chris walks over to me and pulls me in for a hug. “You okay?” he asks, his hand rubbing up and down my back.

I lean into him, suddenly exhausted. “No,” I answer honestly. “But I will be.”

“I’m sorry you had to see that.”

“I needed to. Thank you for trusting me to handle it. I’m with you, one-hundred percent.”

“I know.” He squeezes me tighter. “You should go home. We need to figure this out and clean up. Wait for me at the penthouse? I’ll have someone posted at the building.”

I nod, the enormity of the night’s events pressing down on me. He presses his lips to mine in a soft kiss, then pulls away to head back to the huddle.

As I start walking towards the exit, I feel someone’s hand slip into mine and stop me. I turn and am face-to-face with Changbin.

“Thank you, Kay,” he says softly. “We couldn’t have done this without you. Bye.” His other hand cups my cheek and he leans in to kiss it. Part of his pillowy, pink lips touch the outer corner of mine. I breathe deeply as I feel his skin against mine and start to melt. I resist the urge to pull his face back to mine for a proper kiss.

“Bye,” I whisper. He lets my hand go and watches as I leave.

[willowfolksong]

lavender haze

Manjiro Sano "Mikey" x Reader

The interviewer has a nice smile and perfect manicured nails. You greet her with a hand shake that lasts long enough for a picture, and settle beside her with both of your arms behind your back.

"I know that you must get this everytime you give an interview" she tells you, and you were too distracted watching as they set up the cameras to notice that she has moved a step closer to you "But I'm just such a huge fan"

"Oh" you smile, because yes you've heard that a lot, but it never ceases to make you happy. You wish the joy of finding out people enjoy your music never leaves, or fades and turns into numbness at the face of everyone's admiration "Thank you so much!"

"I actually begged for them to let me do your interview before the ceremony"

You bring a hand to your chest and pout, and the interviewer giggles as a little girl and pushes a strand of hair behind her ear.

"That's so sweet of you, really"

"Whenever you're ready, we're recording now!" the guy behind the camera says, and you take a quick last look at your publicist to signal that you're okay, and then smile.

"So we're back and we're back in style!" the interviewer says, and her high pitched voice is miles away from her shy whispering just a few moments ago. "I have here with me none other than the literal star of the moment" when she turns to you, she does it with a dashing smile and a spark in her eyes "I'm so glad to have you here with me, I'm such a huge fan"

"Thank you so much!" you say again, and she nods excitedly.

"But let's be honest, who's not a fan of you right now? You're breaking records, have a new album coming out soon, and are nominated for none other than eight awards tonight!" she says, not missing a single beat while listing your merits "And all of this after your first album was a commercial success! Be honest, is it like a walk in the park this second time around?"

"What is?" you ask, even tho you definitely know what she means. You've learned that playing aloof from time to time helps to not make you look arrogant to the public.

"The record breaking, the awards, everything! Are you just kind of used to it already?"

You shake your head, careful of the curls your stylist spend hours on "Definitely not. I still can't believe all of this. I'm so happy and still having a hard time understanding what did I do to get this lucky"

And it's true. You're a small town girl that always thought her dreams were more than what she could chew. And somehow, you were the lucky one. You made it. One faithful afternoon that looked like an ordinary one to you, at the coffee shop where the owner used to let you play a couple of your songs for some share of the tips, you got scouted. And the rest was history.

There were still a lot of things you didn't quite understand in the famous people's world. Even if you were a big part of it now yourself. The envy, the need to pretend, the false friendships waiting round every corner. From some of them, you could protect yourself. You had your friends from high school, the unconditional ones. You were glad with the things you had achieved so far, and weren't really looking to stomp on anyone's foot. You tried to be yourself, as much as your publicist thought it was safe, at least.

But there were some other things, however...

"I know we're running out of time and that you almost have to go but I can't just not ask you this" the interviewer is saying, and for a split of a second, you genuinely believe that she's going to ask you more about your next album. About your actual work. The work that has consumed so much of your time, sweat, and even tears during those nights where you were just not sure of any lyrics anymore. For only a second, you forget that you're an actual A-lister now. "What does Mikey thinks about your new album?"

... some other things, are a bit harder to escape.

You're vaguely aware of your publicist shaking her head in disapproval out of the corner of your eye, but you smile and do your best to pretend this isn't the question you were expecting. Or the one you wanted, for that matter.

"Ahm... Mikey?" you ask, trying to win you some time.

The interviewer smirks. If she can sense your hesitation, she's doing a great job of pretending she actually doesn't. "Yeah! I mean, at this point, we all know you live together. Are any songs in the new album about him? Are we going to get any hints about the future?" she moves even closer, and the way she wiggles her eyebrows as if she's actually being funny, has you forgetting all the nice things she said to you "About any... possible wedding?"

"I'm sorry, but we really need to leave" your publicist comes to your rescue, and you let her maneuver you away from the camera with a small push. "I'm going to talk with them, don't worry" she whispers in your ear once you made it far enough "They told me it was just going to be something quick about tonight's awards"

...

Your night is more or less ruined after that silly, seemingly harmless question. The interview leaves such a bad taste on your mouth, that not even four glasses of champagne are able to wash it away. You win three of your eight nominations, including Artist of the Year. The speech you're supposed to give during the last one comes out as a messy blurb, and you just want to get back to your table to finish your fifth glass of the night.

Finally back in your seat, you catch your phone buzzing on your purse.

You have eleven texts from Mikey, and three pictures.

mikey 💖🏍️: you look so hot i wanna cry

mikey 💖🏍️: not going to do that but still. draken says hi and good luck.

mikey 💖🏍️: you're the fucking best.

[Picture attached]

mikey 💖🏍️: you looked so cute here, i'm gonna send this picture to takemichi to brag

You hide your laugh behind your hand, and make a quick inspection of your surroundings. No one else on the table seems to be paying attention to you, their eyes glued to the stage for the next award, so you go back to read your boyfriend's apparent live commentary of your performance for the night.

mikey 💖🏍️: a guy in your table is looking at you too much this is two times the camera catches him i'm going to google him

[Picture attached]

mikey 💖🏍️: congrats babygirl i knew you would win this!!!

mikey 💖🏍️: wtf this one should have gone to you as well. this show is rigged

[Picture attached]

mikey 💖🏍️: you looked so good during your speech i need to get you out of that dress immediately

mikey 💖🏍️: i miss you

mikey 💖🏍️: yeah another win for my baby! you're fucking destroying them!!

mikey 💖🏍️: draken won't stop looking at me i already told him i'm busy rooting for my baby

You leave Mikey's chat to find that you also have a text from Draken, and chuckle a little too louder at your boyfriend's childhood friend desperate message about taking away Mikey's phone, because they're supposed to be working on his bike.

You place your phone back to where it was before as soon as you feel the girl sitting on your right leaning over to take a peak. She gives you a sheepish smile.

"Bored already, huh?" she adds, rolling her eyes. You've known her for two years now. She's a very prominent rock vocalist "Honestly, this things should be shorter. I just wanna go home already"

You nod, and can't help but let your mind wander back to the probing questions that made your publicist cut short your previous interview. Back to the flaming curiosity people feel about your relationship. Back to how everyone seems to have an opinion, a theory to share, something to add to a narrative that has become such a public topic.

You remember the first article to come out after your relationship went public. You had been dating for a couple of months by then, and you were really excited to share the news with your fans, so you didn't mind when some paparazzis found the two of you on a date.

The first article ever written about you and Mikey's relationship wasted four pages on a list of ways your relationship could go sour. Reading it was such a punch to the gut, such a blow to your happiness, that you had decided then and there that you would turn a blind eye to every possible gossip about the two of you.

You were going to protect what you two had, no matter what.

At the cost of not being there, close to the race, cheering your boyfriend on as he came first. At the cost of not feeling the weight of his hand on yours while you walked the red carpet. At the cost of not having a normal date night around town, where the two of you could just walk closely together, counting the stars and sharing laughs.

Your relationship was not meant to be picked apart. The two of you would not become a list. What you had, would stay yours. And no one else.

That's the main reason why you only put your engagement ring back once you're home, when the cat you got as an engagement present from Chifuyu comes to greet you at the door, rubbing against your legs. You bend down to carry him with you to the living room, walking with an excited bounce in your steps even tho is technically three in the morning, and you should be dying of sleep.

But your fiance is there, on the couch, passed out over his phone, the light from the television still on in front him making his face glow in the dark. They're playing some special moments from tonight's ceremony, but you couldn't care less anymore.

"Hey, Manji" you call him, gently shaking him by the shoulder "I'm home now"

He opens one eye to peak at you from under his long dark lashes "Welcome back. I missed you so much"

"So much that you fell asleep?" you tease him.

That gets you dragged to the sofa, into Mikey's arms.

"You're trapped now. Can't leave anymore" he tells you, his voice raspy from sleep "No more award shows for you" your cat, feeling left out on the floor, meows loudly at the two of you "No, I won't let her go. She's mine"

"Yes, I'm yours" you whisper, snuggling against his chest and ignoring the way your dress will be all wrinkly when you (or Mikey, most likely) take it off. "And I wouldn't want to go anywhere else"

You just want to stay in the haze of your love forever.

This work belongs to my Midnights: Sleepless stories 🕰️ collection, a series of reader insert fics based on the album Midnight, by Taylor Swift, with characters from Haikyuu, Tokyo Revengers and Blue Lock. ✨

You can still send an ask if there's any character you would like to see in any particular song ✨

Last: carnations you had thought were roses, that's us. Next: falling in love, again

[dreamofbona]

raise your glass - lee heeseung

summary: a one-shot/drabble about reader and heeseung’s wedding. inspired by huh yunjin’s “raise y_our glass”.

pairing: heeseung x reader

warnings: none

genre: one-shot/drabble, non-linear narrative

word count: 788 (pretty short)

~~

It’s the dream wedding, but you’re not focused on it.

You and Heeseung had been pouring hours of your time into planning it, making sure everything from the tablecloths to the centerpieces to your clothes to the food was perfect, but in the moment, none of it matters.

You’re about to marry the love of your life.

You’ve been with each other through it all - the ups and the downs, the thick and the thin.

~~

“What’s wrong Y/N?” Heeseung just got home from work, and you’re curled up on the couch, crying.

You swallow, grab another tissue, blow your nose.

“Talk to me,” he says. 

“I got fired,” you say. “The company needed to lay off workers, and they picked me.”

“It’s okay,” he says.

You shake your head, “It’s not. Now I don’t have a way to make money, and I got fired so it might be harder to find a new job, and-”

“And it’ll be okay,” he interrupts. “You’ll be fine. We’ll be fine. Any company will want you - you’re so intelligent and hardworking and kind.”

“What if I don’t find a job?”

“That’s not gonna happen,” he says. “If it does, you can be my stylist.”

You sigh, “You know I’m not good at make-up, Hee.”

Heeseung laughs, “My face is gorgeous so you won’t have to do anything anyways.”

You roll your eyes at him before laughing. He always knows how to cheer you up.

~~

Minutes tick by, you’re getting closer and closer to marrying him. You can feel your heart beating, anticipating it. 

Before you’d gotten engaged to Heeseung, you knew you didn’t want to live without him. In a way, it all feels kind of pointless - Heeseung is your person and you know it, regardless of societal and legal norms.

~~

It’s late in the evening, and you’re at the beach with your boyfriend. He’d asked if you wanted to go for a drive, and you’d agreed, thinking it might be nice to get some fresh air, watch the sunset over the water. 

You’re holding his hand, walking along the sand, and he’s talking. You’re listening to him, but also semi-distracted by the way the light is glistening on the water, so you don’t find it weird when he starts talking about your relationship and you and how grateful he is that he found you. 

You finally start to feel like something’s happening when he says, “I know you’re my person.”

That’s when you turn, look at him, and he lets go of your hand.

“Marry me, Y/N?” he asks, getting on one knee. He pulls a ring out of his pocket, and you’re frozen for a second, shocked, before nodding quickly and saying “yes” countless times. 

~~

You’re walking down the aisle now, and you’re nervous. Heeseung, from where he’s standing at the altar, also appears nervous, looking at the ground. 

And then he looks up, you make eye contact with him, and he smiles. It’s a soft smile, reminding you of the first time you’d ever seen him smile.

~~

You were a third-year college student when you met Heeseung. You were working through your time in school to help with your tuition, and you had a morning shift at the cafe where you worked.

A tall boy with dark hair came through the doors, wearing a blue and green sweater and jeans. You took his order, made his drink, and handed it to him.

He smiled. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

He walked out of the cafe, and you pretended not to notice the way he was blushing, staring at his drink.

From there, you met Heeseung a few more times, till he eventually worked up the courage to ask you out. 

It’s funny to look back and see how your part-time job in college was the reason you met the love of your life. At the same time, however, you like to think that you would’ve met Heeseung in any universe, in any scenario. He’s your person.

~~

You’re standing up, holding a glass up. It’s the reception, and you’re finishing up the toast you’re making. “So, everyone, thank you so much for coming here today to support me and Hee. If you could all raise your glasses with me, to me and Heeseung, to our story. To our past, our present, and our future.”

You and Heeseung make eye contact, and there’s nothing but love.

You sit back down, reaching for his hand, before he intertwines your fingers. 

“I love you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” he says.

“I love you more. And all of this,” you say, gesturing around, “is nice, but I don’t really care. As long as I’m with you, nothing else matters.”

[chaoshoranghae]

Dreamies and curly hair

platonic

Gender neutral

Mark - 

learning progress together 

he absolutely loves your natural hair and would love to know how to take care of it 

he wants to be able to do, at least this for you 

def a long night together 

almost have to show it to him as a presentation 

visuals, step by steps

explaining if your hair needs more protein or moisturizer 

what each product does 

simple lazy day routines 

full wash day routines 

he loves it 

its a major part of who you are and he would love to be able to know about it and help you with it 

especially on days where its a low energy kind of day but you really need to wash it, dw he got your back 

would def say he's not as good at it but would try

def talks to johnny or his older hyungs about it, how interesting and different it is compared to what he knows

would write a song about curly hair or the process, atleast mentions of it 

you finally let him do the process by himself completely alone and later on posts pics "styled by my wonderful hairstylist bf" or "did yall know being an idol is a coverup for being a hairstylist"

he would be showing everyone your post about him 

Renjun - 

hes so into self care that he naturally might know a little about it 

especially when you have damaged hair and are trying to bring your curls back 

he is bringing out all the old chinese methods on hair recovery 

he loves your natural hair so much, will get a little pouty if you straighten it

the entire environment is so relaxing, candles lit, soft music running even him singing 

the vibes are immaculate 

once he knew how good he was at it, you will never touch your own hair again 

at this point its a routine, one of the things he looks forward to 

its intimate, just you and him, he might even give you some back massages, with being bent over doing your hair has it hurting 

or hes so in control you can completely relax and will read a book 

i would trust this guy with my hair 

Jeno 

a lesson learned together 

he's so used to his hair and the stylists doing his hair he never knew this much time, effort and money would go into your hair 

when ever he's shopping and sees a hair product he sends it to you immediately wondering if this would be good to try 

he's so optimistic about it 

he's the reason why you haven't gave up on your curls and permanently straighten it 

try out a new product and completely changed the way your hair looks for the worst 

but hes so motivated 

he relates what you hair needs to like working out and if you need more protein or to cut 

would totally make use of your wash/ style day and take a bunch of pictures 

consistent praises and compliments about how beautiful your hair is 

he wants to cater to his partner and absolutely make her love her hair 

Haechan 

he would bring a binder

step by step yk with his own visuals 

he would gamify it, like him getting good at it is his increasement of level or smth yk 

or he would “upgrade” and its a new hairstyle that he has mastered 

do not talk to him until he was good at it, he would be ready to practice until he had it down 

until you had to explain to him that wetting/washing  your hair everyday isn’t necessary 

he was so sad, you swear he was going to buy a mannequin head to practice on, locked away in your room

you guys go out? he brings up your hair to all of your friends about good and pretty it is, 1) to fish for compliments 2) because he wants you to hear compliments and feel better about your hair

bro is constantly touching it/[playing with it 

he absolutely loves it

always talking about his gfs hair 

he loves doing funky hairstyles for cosplaying or halloween 

hes like mark, telling everyone but he's so annoying about it 

the members have a jar for everytime he brings it up and has to put money in

like bro will not shut 

Jaemin 

bro would have princesscore hairstyle boards for you 

if you weren’t a princess before now you are 

i feel like he already learned before you because that was your hair type and he wanted to impress you or he's just naturally good at??? 

just like jeno he is so encouraging oh my gosh 

he always organizes your products in order 

if he sees your running low he’ll subtly see if you want a replacement or a new product and buy one for you 

he is so delicate with your hair oh my gosh 

no pulling, no tangles, no pain 

if you fallen asleep without braiding it or putting it up in a bonnet dw jaemins got you 

like leave it up to him

he knows your face shape and recommend hairstyles that fit your face shape and ones to avoid 

jaemin = personal stylist 

takes such perfect candids of you and your beautiful hair 

bro even writes little notes about how beautiful you look and how 

like the self hate you have on your hair from years of people telling you to straigten is gone 

bro will take the straightener so it won’t even come to mind 

Chenle 

he’s so 

at random just bulk of hair products coming to your place with no letter or sign 

will never admit that it was him though

a person really got to you about your hair recently and you've straighten it? he’ll do perm his hair so you guys can have “matching curls” 

like how dare you hate on something he loves 

he has absolutely no clue what any product does but he's seen your likes on ig and amazon lists

so he just buys them 

i think he's a little afraid to do it himself tbh 

so you have him do little by little yk 

first the brushing

which oh my gosh, hes just a tad bit rough with it tbh 

he compared your hair to daegals fur… 

which kinda threw you for a loop but realized he meant it in a weird compliment way as he absolutely adores daegal 

like he loves brushing her fur 

not one to trust with my hair though 

Jisung 

this poor boy 

hes allowed to watch and thats it 

like honestly i think the first couple of times he would be so amazed by how the whole process works that 

like he wouldn’t even suggest to help or learn he's just amazed 

but he does wanna help so he can help you out with the process, unlike the other ones who are completely allowed to take over

he's allowed simple processes like brushing hair or wetting it. 

teaching him prayer hands to apply products is a work in process 

he almost thinks of it as like a dance? 

once he learns the new world of curly hair he will be asking everyone about it and if they have curly hair 

he’s asking his hair stylists about it 

it’s a whole new world for him tbh like 

no matter how many times you explained your hair type and if what it needs he will ask again and again

he esp likes wash day where he gets to spend time with you as he helps alittle with your hair and you can ramble about life or he does

Who I would trust with my hair 

Jaemin 

Renjun

Haechan

Jeno

Chenle

Mark

Jisung

i could not decide who would get the binder it was between renjun/haechan/jeno

i tried enough to make them all different yk