#which is why he gives his milkshake another sip

[chirpsythismorning]

Anyways the milkshake theory is so real

[cranberrv]

⋅˚₊‧ 𐙚 ‧₊˚ ⋅ prom song (gone wrong)

in which dallas winston is totally whipped!

𐙚

you were always too kind to dallas. he was like a feral street cat, someone that people often tended to stray away from, knowing his unpredictable tendencies. you had heard the rumours, you knew about the way he talked to girls at the drive in, the violent threats directed to anyone who looks at him funny. he was dangerous. but, you never saw that side of him. someone who was described as scary and violent, was also someone who greeted you with a smile whenever he saw you. someone who seemed to genuinely care about you.

there was one day where you were at the diner with your friends, giggling and sipping milkshakes. you were wearing pink sundress with a little bow on the neckline, fiddling with the cherry stem from your vanilla milkshake in your manicured hand, talking to your friend about the record you wanted to buy. as you were talking, dallas and his friend, johnny cade, walked in. you notice the change in atmosphere, the way the diner went quiet as soon as they walked in. you don’t understand how dallas is so confidentally awkward, he stands at the front of the diner with his hands tucked in the pockets of his leather jacker. you smile as you see him make johnny choose where to sit. you’re blithely unaware of the fact that the only reason he’s so awkward is because his little crush is here — you.

johnny whispers something to dallas, chucking as they walk past. you look up to watch them walk past, along with the other people in the diner. johnny is doing a good job at ignoring the glares from the stuck-up socs, and dallas was too, avoiding eye contact with anyone, until he locked eyes with you. he couldn’t seem to pull away.

instantly, a smile lights up your face when his gorgeous eyes meet yours. you mouth ‘hi’ and he just nods his head, trying desperately to play it cool. your friends notice the interaction, and one of them nudges you. “the hell was that, huh?” one of the girls giggles.

“nothing, me ‘n dallas are friends,” you reply, suddenly shy gaze drifitng towards the stem in your hand.

“..right,” the other girl nods softly, not buying it for a second. “hey, you know i heard he broke up with sylvia?” she adds quickly, looking for any excuse to gossip. “she cheated on him ‘cause he was too hung up on another girl, would barely even kiss her. it’s probably you that he wants, y/n,”

“what?” blush instantly rises to your face. “no way, me and him are friends, he doesn’t like me that way. plus, he likes girls like cherry valance. i’m not like her.”

“uh huh. well, he’s still looking at you, so..” she shrugs, giving a sarcastic wave to dallas, snapping him out of his trance.

dallas blinks. johnny laughs. he’s feeling an emotion that’s rare for him to experience: embarassment. dallas winston is embarassed. he just got caught staring at a rich girl who is totally out of his league, and to make it worse, her bitchy friends are making fun of him for it.

you glance at dallas again when your friend says that he was staring. your friend must’ve exagerrated, because he’s certainly not looking now, he’s busy telling johnny to shut up about something. you tilt your head and gaze for a second longer, then look away.

the rest of the stay at the diner goes as usual. your and your friends giggling and chatting, ordering a second milkshake, laughing when one of your friend giggles so much that milkshake comes out of their nose. but you’re still thinking about dallas — the way he nodded at you, the way he was more awkward with you than anyone else. it confuses you, why can’t he just be normal?

after you and your friends finish up, you pay and make your way out of the diner. dallas quickly stands up, he can’t just let you go, he’s not like that! when he see’s a pretty girl, he doesn’t wait. you’ve been an exception, after sylvia he’s enjoyed the peace of just watching you, but now he needs to do something.

you and your friends are hugging, saying your goodbyes as they get into their cadillac and you get ready to walk home. you don’t live far. the little jingle of the bell at the diner door catches your attention, paired with the slight slam of the door of whoever walked out. whoever left wasn’t gentle.

your friends leave, and you start walking, not looking back. dallas was outside, zoned out and staring at you from behind in your pretty dress. but he comes to his senses once you turn a corner. he huffs and takes a second to light a cigarette — he’s addicted to the them — then goes to follow you.

“hey, uh, y/n,” he calls out, taking a drag as he follows you. if anyone on the street was watching this, it would catch their attention. a roughed up greaser trying to catch the attention of a gorgeous soc.

you turn around, stopping in your tracks. “oh— hi dallas!” you smile, walking over to him.

“uh— hey, hi,” he says, suddenly forgetting what he was going to say. this never happens.

“did you need something?” you ask.

he freezes. yes, he did need something. he needed your touch and your smile and your time. but he can’t just say that, can he? and to be honest, you leave him with a loss of words too often, so if he did have an excuse, it’s gone now.

you wait patiently for him to speak. if you knew dallas well, you’d know he was never like this. but this is truly the only side of dallas you know, the wanna-be bad boy who is unable to communicate. you don’t mind, you find it endearing.

“nah, man,” he finally says, regaining himself. he chuckles awkwardly and takes a drag of his cigarette. “jus’ wanted to say hey, haven’t seen ya in a bit,”

“oh, mkay,” you say softly, nodding along.

there’s another stretch of silence. he speaks after a while. “so, uh, you’re good?”

you nod again. “mhm, i’m good. are you?”

“yeah,” he breathes out.

“hey, um,” you start, because this is truly going absolutely nowhere. “walk me home?” you ask, smiling sweetly up at him. he swears his heart stops right there.

it’s like you know him, know his hints better than anyone. you knew what he was to frozen to ask for. he smiles, a kind-of crooked, bashful smile. it makes you smile even more.

“yeah, doll,” he nods, starting to walk. you follow quickly. “put your hand in mine.”

𐙚

a/n — i’m sososo sorry this is ass haha but i haven’t posted in forever n i miss writing sosososo much! hopefully more fics soon 😊 also do we like the new layout?????!!!!

[heavyhitterheaux]

I Gotta Be

See Me Through You Series

I gotta be the one you touch

And baby, I gotta be the one you love

I gotta be the one you feel

And I gotta be the one to fill your life with sunshine

I gotta be the one you know

'Cause I will always love you so

I gotta be the one you need

I'm just telling you that I gotta be

Synopsis: Your feelings have grown for Joe, and you aren't quite sure that you can suppress them any longer

Series Masterlist

Please Do Not Repost My Content Anywhere

The thoughts running through your mind all went back to what had happened on Sunday between you and Joe. After he had dropped you off at your apartment, Justin came and got him in order to take him back to his. He also made sure that you had gotten into your apartment safely before leaving, as bad as he didn’t want to.

The night proved to be restless with you hardly getting any sleep because of the pain in your wrist and the fact that your mind kept going back to Joe and what he had asked you. Plenty of times, you found yourself opening the text thread between the two of you and typing a message, erasing it, and typing again. You thought getting out of the bed and taking another shower would help you fall asleep easier, but it didn’t happen.

By the morning, you hadn't sent him anything and continued to wrestle with your thoughts. The opportunity was right in front of you, and at this point the ball was in your court.

Joe was a kind, sweet, and thoughtful person who had the looks to go right along with his personality. He could also be a little shy at times, but when it came to you, all of it went out the window. And you knew for a fact that he would show you how you deserved to be treated.

On the other hand, you didn't know where you and Trevor had gone so wrong so fast. He was the person that you had always wanted to be around all of the time and now you found yourself avoiding him.

But you were willing to give him one last chance to do right by you and you were praying that you didn't regret it.

It was now Wednesday and the texts from Joe that he had sent to check on you had gone unanswered since Monday.

Joey- Princess, just checking on you. How does your wrist feel?

Joey- Are we still going to have our study session later? Dinner is on me.

Joey- Y/N, did something happen? Why aren't you answering me?

Joey- I can't fix it if you don't tell me what's wrong

You had been staring at them for the past two days not knowing what to say. Yes, the answers to his questions were simple. But what was not so simple was giving him an answer about what he had asked you Sunday,

“Y/N, I know you like me and I like you. I’ve made that obvious time and time again. You literally spend more time with me than your actual boyfriend and you even just told me yourself less than thirty minutes ago how happy you always are around me. Why don’t you just let me in? What are you afraid of?”

After he had asked you that question, the two of you had been silent with both of you sipping on your milkshakes and an occasional glance out the window by you.

Joe knew that he had to be the one to break it.

“You don't have to answer me right now, but I am curious to know when you finally come up with the answer.” He told you as he grabbed your hand and rubbed small circles on the back of it.

“I can give you the short answer now.” You quietly said as you turned to look at him.

“And what's that?”

“I honestly don't know what I'm so afraid of.”

You had laid down in your apartment the majority of the day which also meant that you had skipped out on going to your classes. You sent a quick text to Erin needing someone to talk to so you could get her opinion on the situation that happened but knew for a fact that she was team Joe all the way just like everyone else was.

And you couldn't blame her.

You- Bestie, I need you. Bring food. I haven't eaten all day. :(

Erin- Say less. On my way. But I should beat your ass because you know better.

You- Leave me alone, I'm having a crisis.

Erin- And it's probably an easy solution to fix it. But your hard headed ass wants to take the difficult route.

You- 🙄

When Erin was downstairs in the parking lot, she sent you another text to tell you to have the door open for her. Once you opened it, you went and sat back down on the couch while you patiently waited to see her.

Less than five minutes later, she came through the door with McDonald's which was one of your guilty pleasures when you were feeling down and seeing as Erin was your best friend, she had your order memorized.

Setting it down in front of you, Erin stole a fry before hugging you and then sitting down herself.

“Spill it. Because I know for a fact that you didn’t call me over here for nothing.”

“Joey almost fought Trevor.” You responded as you opened your dipping sauce for your chicken nuggets while Erin’s eyes went wide.

“Oh shit. Bitch, I gotta hear this. Joe should have beat his ass into next week. Should have just let him do it.”

“You're not eating?” You asked as you peeked in the bag to only see one meal and ignored her last statement, even though you low key agreed with her.

“No, I already ate. Now tell the story and start from the beginning.” She told you as she got comfortable.

“I was studying Sunday night and ignored multiple phone calls from Trevor because he had pissed me off and we had gotten into an argument. Joe then sent me a text asking to see me and that there was a party not too far from here. Took a little bit of convincing but I did. So I get there and Joe meets me outside so that I don't have to walk in by myself. A few hours go by, we're vibing, playing beer pong when none other than my beloved boyfriend Trevor who is obviously already drunk decides to come through the door. By this time, I'm by myself and he comes over to me demanding to talk and talking a whole bunch of shit. He grabs my wrist and I'm trying to get away from him when Joe comes out of nowhere.”

“Ah shit, here we go. He's not about to let anyone mess with his princess.”

“Shut up. Moving on, he asks me if I'm okay and this of course sets Trevor off and they're arguing. Keep in mind he has yet to let go of my arm and then Trevor pushed him. He finally did let go and the shit was red. Joe barely moved an inch and as soon as he was about to punch him, he pushed me out the way but Ja'Marr and Justin came. Ja'Marr was trying to calm him down telling him it's not worth it while Justin was holding back Trevor.”

“Not two men fighting over you. I want to be you when I grow up.”

“They made him leave, Joe got ice for my wrist and offered to drive me home. We stopped and got ice cream and…” You trailed off as you smiled thinking about the conversation that you two had.

“AND? Bitch don't leave me in suspense!”

“He said that he knows that I like him as much as he likes me and that he doesn't understand what I'm so afraid of and to let him in.”

“Then yall fucked and you broke up with Trevor. The end.” Erin said as she smiled at you.

“NO, ERIN!”

“I don't know what you two are waiting on. Being around you two and the way you interact and look at one another, I'm convinced that you are undressing Joe with your eyes.” She said while shrugging and stole another fry.

“Uh? Because I have a boyfriend.”

“Who treats you like absolute shit, but go on my good sis. Tell me more.”

“He's been texting me and I've been ignoring them because I don't know what to say.”

“Your dumbass is always stressing me out. Didn't I say there is probably an easy solution but you like to make things so much more complicated?”

“I just have a lot of feelings, okay!?!”

“Your heart belongs to Joe Burrow and for the life of me I cannot understand your thought process of why you don't see it. You applied here to be with Trevor not knowing that you were going to meet the person that you're supposed to be with. Let that man love you. Shit, he already does.”

“Trevor is not the person all of you keep making him out to be. I promise. It just seems like he's going through something right now.”

“If that's the case, he's been going through something since the two of you got together. But I can't tell you what to do. I can just give you advice as your best friend. So here it is.”

“What?”

“My advice.”

“Yes, I know. You said that. What is it?” You asked as you took another bite of one of your nuggets.

“Joe wants you to have his babies so let him. And I'm still planning the wedding. Are you wearing white or off-white? Only saying this because I love you and I care.”

“He has to become my boyfriend first before we even get to that point.”

“He's waiting for you, boo. Ball is in your court.”

–

Joe was currently staring at his phone at the unanswered messages that he had sent you over the past few days hoping that you would respond and hopefully give him an explanation as to why you hadn't said anything to him.

He couldn't understand for the life of him why you were ignoring him and was going over every possible scenario in his head about what had happened on Sunday. Nothing happened that would make him think that you wouldn't want to talk to him so he was at a loss.

The fear that he saw in your eyes as he approached your boyfriend from behind was something that he never wanted to see again and knew that would only happen if you willingly broke up with him. He didn't know what you saw in him, but if there is any truth to first impressions, Trevor was the worst that it could possibly get.

Joe had promised to help you study for your big exam all this week while he would also be working on different assignments for his masters degree. He debated on going over to your apartment, but the last thing he wanted to do was bombard you and catch you off guard. But for his peace of mind, what did he have to lose? Ja’Marr hadn’t said anything about how you were doing and all he told you was that you hadn’t been to any of your classes all week. He also wanted to know how practice went for you on Tuesday with your wrist.

Your apartment wasn’t too far from his, only being about a mile or two down the street and quickly threw a hoodie on along with his shoes and grabbed his keys from off the kitchen counter to make his way to the middle of the hallway where the elevator was.

The entire time during the short drive, Joe had increasingly become nervous the closer that he got. He honestly wondered if he was truly making a mistake about the entire situation as a whole and not just going over there to check on you.

He’s made it clear time and time again that he liked you and wanted better for you. It was hard for him to watch you complain about Trevor and seeing it in real time, he was confused as to why you didn’t break up with him right then and there. He wasn’t trying to rush you in any way, shape, or form but he didn’t know how much longer that he would be able to hold on for. The thought came to him last night if he should actually let it go completely, but he just couldn’t stop thinking about you as much as he tried.

Finally pulling up into the parking lot of your apartment complex, he parked his car and pulled out his phone one more time to try to send you a text and hopefully get an answer.

Joey- Princess, I’m just checking on you. Want to see if you’re okay.

As soon as he sent the text, he looked up to see you coming out of the front door with no one other than your shitty ass boyfriend Trevor.

As Joe sat there and watched the two of you interact, the look on your face seemed content. The two of you didn’t look to be arguing or in any type of disagreement so of course he knew in the back of his mind that you had probably already forgiven him.

He saw you pull out your phone and he assumed that you were looking at the text that he had sent you and he sighed when he saw you read it and then slipped it back into the pocket of your sweatshirt.

Once he saw Trevor lean down and kiss you and a smile spread across your face that didn’t quite reach your eyes, he knew that he still had a chance.

Joe knew deep down that you wanted him and the only conclusion that he could come to as to why you were settling is probably because you were comfortable and content, but for the life of him he couldn’t understand why you would be comfortable in a situation such as this one with not being treated properly.

He thought out of anyone that your brother should know because he knew that he was worried about you just as much as he was.

Joe- She forgave him

Ja’Marr- Wait, how do you know?

Joe- Came by to check on her and I’m looking at both of them as we speak from my car

Ja’Marr- Now you see the cycle that she’s been doing for almost two years

It was now Saturday morning and you were currently packing your bag with everything you needed for the competition that would take place in less than an hour. Erin had stayed over with you the night before so that the two of you would be able to drive to campus together since this was a particular competition that LSU was having on their campus.

Once your bag was packed and you were fully dressed, you made the short walk to the bathroom in order to put your hair up. As you were putting the final touches on your ballerina bun, Erin came in and helped you finish.

“Thank you bestie and good morning.” You said as you smiled at her in the mirror.

“Morning bestie, you ready for us to be placed number one in every single event?” She asked as she had now started to do your make-up for you as she gestured for you to sit down.

“I don’t know about all that.” You responded while laughing.

“You do not give yourself enough credit. Do you not realize how amazing you are at everything that you do? I want to be you when I grow up, except having an asshole of a boyfriend, but everything else, yes.” She smiled as you shook your head at her.

“You are just as good as me, so don’t even try it.” You said as she was looking at your eyeshadow palette and deciding which one to use. She looked down at your outfit and then quickly chose one.

“Y/N, be serious. I’m definitely not and I was surprised that LSU even offered me a scholarship.” She responded as you rolled your eyes.

“If you weren’t good enough, you wouldn’t have gotten a scholarship so don’t talk about yourself like that. You deserve to be here just as much as anyone else. You have always doubted yourself and I’m going to need you to get out of your own head.”

“I guess you’re right. Are we going to the football game later today?” She asked as she had moved on to the mascara.

“I debated on if I was going but I already know Ja’Marr is going to throw a fit if I don’t. Spoiled ass baby brother.”

“And someone else. Have you talked to him yet? And he is literally your baby brother by three minutes.”

“No, and I definitely need to. I just don’t know what I’m going to say once I see him. And I am still older!” You exclaimed as the both of you laughed.

“Obviously confess your love for one another, duh.”

When you were quiet for a few minutes, Erin placed her finger under your chin for you to look up at her.

“Y/N….”

“I love Joey, but I don’t know how to tell Trevor that I don’t love him anymore.”

—

The arena was filling in with guests as you along with the rest of the gymnastics team began to warm up and do stretches to get your muscles loose. After you had confessed to Erin the way you were feeling she told you that however and whenever you decided to tell Joe about how you felt that she would support you a hundred percent. But what she couldn't support was you being with Trevor which you understood. You just didn't know when you would be ready to do that.

Your back was turned from the audience as you were facing the bench where you all would be sitting when Erin hooked her arm into yours. She was smiling at you and you gave her a look asking what her deal was. She led you both across to the other side as the two of you were waiting for your turn to do the balance beam and uneven bars.

“Don't look now, but your baby daddy, your brother and Justin are here.” Erin whispered to you.

“Wait, what!?” You exclaimed as you turned around and sure enough all three of them were sitting in the middle of the stands with Joe having his gaze focused solely on you.

“Hmm, maybe it has to do with those texts that you ignored from him for no good reason? I told you his ass would come looking for you sooner or later.”

“I literally cannot do this right now.” You said while sighing and smoothing out the top of your hair.

“Just focus and finish the competition. Then you and him need to talk.”

As the competition came to a close, you knew that talking to Joe was inevitable at this point. After you had pulled on your sweatpants along with Joe's hoodie that he had given to you on Sunday when you were cold, you exited the area and walked to the lobby where sure enough he was waiting for you along with Justin and Ja'Marr.

“And big sis does it again!” Ja'Marr exclaimed as he hugged you and picked you up at the same time so that your feet were dangling.

“Proud of you! All those flips and shit would have had my ass dizzy and in a corner somewhere.” Justin told you as he hugged you after Ja'Marr had placed you back on the ground.

“Thank you.”

You let out a small laugh before finally making your way over to Joe who had a bouquet of flowers in his hands as he leaned down to hug you. When the two of you separated, he handed you the flowers.

“Thank you for these. They're my favorite.” You told him, but his expression you couldn't quite read.

“Can we talk?” Joe asked and you nodded as the two of you walked out of the front entrance and were now on the side of the building away from everyone else.

The silence was awkward which was unusual for the two of you since there was never a dull moment left lingering in the air.

“Y/N, what are we doing? Did I do something? Are you mad at me?” Joe fired off questions left and right to get to the bottom of why you had been avoiding him.

“No, Joey. You didn't do anything wrong. I just…”

“You what? If I didn't do anything wrong why didn't you answer me? I thought something was wrong after what happened on Sunday. I came to check on you on Wednesday but when I saw you swapping spit with that asshole, I left. And also noticed that you once again ignored my text.”

“Because I don't know what I want! I care about Trevor but…”

“But what?”

“My heart skips beats when I'm around you and I constantly feel like I have a swarm of butterflies in my stomach. You know what I need before I need it and you are thoughtful and considerate of my feelings. You always check on me to make sure I'm okay and I shouldn't feel this way about another man when I have a boyfriend.”

“Y/N, what do you want? Do you want him or do you want me? It's as simple as that at this point.”

“I think…”

“No, you need to know.”

“I'm going to give Trevor another chance.”

It was at that moment that you saw the color drain from Joe's face and gave you a look of disbelief as he shook his head.

It was quiet for a few minutes before you heard him speak.

“If that's what you want, then I have to accept it.” He shrugged and simply put his hands in his pockets.

You couldn't describe it, but there was a shift and it wasn't a good one.

“Joey, I care about my boyfriend and…”

“Someone you care about is not supposed to hurt you like he did and I wouldn't be surprised if he's done it more times than you're willing to admit. But if you want to be with him, who am I to say anything? It's not my business at this point.”

“I just need to help him through whatever is happening right now and it'll get better.” You said as you crossed your arms in front of you.

“The excuses you're giving me are coming left and right and I don't fucking believe any of it. You say you care about him, but I think it's absolute bullshit.”

“Why? Why do I have to lie to you?”

“Because you love me and you're scared to admit it. All you've known is being treated like shit and I want to give you everything he can't.”

“And what can't he give me?” You asked, interested to see what his answer was going to be.

“If you give me the chance, I can show you better than I can tell you.” He said as he stepped closer towards you.

“You are making this so much harder than it needs to be.” You stated as you massaged your temples.

“It's definitely the other way around and you know what I noticed?”

“What?”

“When I said you loved me, you didn't tell me that I was wrong. And you also said that you cared about him multiple times, but never said that you loved him.”

[cevansbrat0007]

Off the Market

Summary: Ari learns that you're not the sharing type. Which is fine by him, because neither is he.

Warnings: Mature Themes, Ari Being A Menace, Jealous/Possessive Reader, Oral Sex (mentioned), Discussions of Public Sex, Mentions of Disordered Eating, Polite Fat Shaming, Cursing, Minors DNI

A/N: This story is part of my Sweet Renegades Series. Be sure to check out the follow-up fic, A Man Starved. Not beta'd. Not beta'd. All mistakes my own. Likes, comments, and reblogs are appreciated.

“So?” You ask before taking another sip of your milkshake. The thick and creamy treat goes down easy, which makes the amount of time it took to get to you well worth it. “What’s the verdict?”

“Not bad.” Your companion mumbles as he eagerly gulps down his own shake. “Not bad at all. But just so we’re clear, drinkin’ one of these isn’t gonna get you out of our deal.” He stirs the drink with his straw before plucking out the cherry and popping it in his mouth. “Remember you swore on it.” He holds up his pinky finger as a reminder.

“Wouldn’t dream of it, sugar.” You tell him as a smile flits its way across your lips. Without thinking, you go to feed him your own cherry. You find yourself giggling at the way he playfully nips at your fingers, his tongue lapping at the traces of whipped cream. 

There went your big Beast of a man proudly living up to his nickname, as per usual. Thank goodness you were the only couple dining outside today.

“Hey. How come yours tastes better?” Ari pouts suddenly, sending you into another fit of giggles.

“We got the exact same thing, honey.” You roll your eyes at him before returning your attention to the menu in your hand.

“Bird?” His growl comes out soft and silky. And it immediately has you on high alert. Because you recognized that tone. 

It meant you were in trouble.

“Um, yes?” You try ducking your head behind the oversized, laminated piece of paper. Maybe if he couldn’t see you anymore, he’d just let it ride.

“Did you just do what I think you just did?” 

“Well, I suppose that depends on what you think I just did.” You sneak another sip of your chocolate shake, doing your best to forget about all the extra unnecessary calories you’re putting into your body right then. After all, you and your man had a deal. And you aimed to see it through. 

“I think you just rolled your eyes at me.” Ari rests his elbows on the table, leaning forward on his arms in an attempt to get your attention. “Now, just because I gave you a pass back the boutique–”

You blow out an annoyed breath. “That wasn’t my fault! You kept making me model the most ridiculous pieces for you, even when I knew they wouldn’t fit.” You peek out from behind your menu long enough to scan the area for Stella, your waitress. Of course she’s nowhere to be found. 

Which, oddly enough, was fine by you. There was just something about the woman that seemed to ruffle your feathers a bit. Although you couldn’t quite put your finger on the reason why. 

“Except they did fit.” Your bounty hunter surprises you by yanking the menu from your grasp. He then tosses both yours and his onto a nearby empty table. “And maybe if you would’ve allowed me into the fitting room with you earlier, we could’ve scored you another bathing suit. I still think we should go back for that sweet little black and white number. That ass was made for it.”

“It was too small. Just like the other ones.” You counter, feeling your cheeks heat at the intimate praise. The burn only intensifies when you recall the way he’d simply let himself into the fitting room after you’d vetoed your third bathing suit. It had been his pick, which meant he felt that he was well within his rights to, as he put it, “see for himself”.  

One Hour Earlier

“Baby.” He said, chuckling softly. “If a woman expects a man to wait outside and do it patiently, then perhaps she ought to give him a little show.” When you balked he’d simply shrugged and picked up an ice blue monokini before handing it over to you, silently demanding that you try it on. With him right there in the flippin’ fitting room. 

And he hadn’t felt the least bit compelled to help preserve your modesty by looking away as you’d changed. Instead, he’d had the gall to take a seat in a chair that was tucked away in a corner.

“This is completely inappropriate!” You hissed, clutching the forgotten suit to your chest. “Wh–what if someone comes by?” 

“Then I expect you’ll have to be quiet then, won’t you?” He held a finger to his lips, playfully shushing you. “That way it stays our little secret. Now, how about you model the pink one for me?”

“I’ll model whatever you want once we get back to your place.” You tried, your entire body had been practically vibrating with embarrassment. 

“Nah. I’m afraid that ain’t gonna work for me.” Ari had leaned back in his chair then, leisurely crossing his long legs over his ankles. “See, this Beast of yours is itchin’ for some instant gratification.” He’d locked his fingers together before resting them on his firm stomach. “And I ain’t leavin’ until I get it.”

“Guess we’ll be in here for a long time then, huh?” You’d responded rather snippily. “Because I’m not about to–”  

“You know, sweetheart, now that I’m thinking about it, I just realized you haven’t fed me yet today.” 

“I thought we were gonna grab a bite after..?” The knowing look that passed between you two had been enough to make you feel weak in the knees. “Umm...”

“You know how I get when you make me go too long without a taste.” His piercing blue eyes had dropped to your (thankfully) still panty clad pussy. “I’m gonna need a fix, baby. And soon.” You’d watched him cup his impressive cock through the fabric of his jeans. “Otherwise I might start gettin’ antsy.” The silky purr of his voice alone had been enough to have your thighs clenching.

“Don’t – ooh! Behave yourself, damn you!” You’d done your best to ignore the way your core had spasmed with need. “There will be no funny business in this fitting room. You are not getting us kicked out of this store, Beast!”  

“But I’m hungry now. Starving actually.” He’d pressed, a wolfish grin spreading across his features. “And all I can think about is sinking to my knees and burying my face in that gorgeous pussy. Right here. Right now.” 

You'd watched as he rose from his seat, his big body crowding your smaller one. “Wanna taste all that sweet, wild honey of yours when you cum on my tongue like a good girl.” You’d also squealed none-too-quietly when he pinned you against the wall. 

And although the man had seen fit to warn you of his plan, you still hadn’t been prepared for his boldness. Even less so when he dropped to his knees in front of you, his nimble fingers tugging at the edges of your panties.

“Ari…” You'd breathed, rising on your toes to graze your lips along his bearded jaw. “We can’t. Not here. Patience, sugar.”

“Like I told you, I’m about out.” He’d responded on the heels of a groan. “But I might be able to find some more. Maybe. But only if…”

“If what?”

“If you stay the night once we get back to Bell’s Creek. I wanna spend the rest of the evening getting all tangled up in you. Especially after I managed to work up such a sweet tooth.” Ari had brushed mouth over your covered mound, loving the way your nipples pebbled at his words - his touch.        

“I accept your terms.” You’d told him with a soft giggle as heat suffused your cheeks. “Now let me go so I can model these last few for you. It’s about time we get a move-on to our next stop -- no more kisses. Oh God, Ari! Be patient!”

“I’m not trying on another thing after I stuff my face, honey.” You mumble as you take another sip of your drink. “We’ll just have to come back another time. Plus, you’ve already spent more than enough on me.” 

“You’re worth it.” 

“You should’ve at least let me pay for half.” You start to protest, feeling uncomfortable with being doted on in such a way.

“Already said no. And you ain’t payin’ for lunch either, so you’d best not get that pretty mouth all twisted up to ask.” 

“How about we–” You find your conversation interrupted by the arrival of your waitress, Stella. 

“Hey, ya’ll!” She chirps as she comes around the corner, her blonde ponytail bouncing behind her as she finally makes her way to your table. “Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. How are those shakes treating you, hm? Pretty good?”

“They’re great.” You and Ari respond at the same time. 

“I just knew you’d love ‘em!” She responds rather animatedly, her freshly manicured fingers lightly brushing over Ari’s shoulder. He doesn’t seem to notice. But you do. Because it’s not the first time it’s happened. “Looks like you’re doin’ alright over there, handsome. Can I get you another one?”  

“No, thank you.” Your Bounty Hunter hums, his gaze locked on the menu as he works to make a final decision. “But I do think we’re ready to order.” 

“Yep.” You readily agree, even as your eye twitches. “We sure are.” 

Stella makes an innocent show of turning away from you, her gaze focused on Ari. “I bet a big, strapping fella like you would be interested in one of our steaks. Our beef is grass-fed and sourced locally. Which means it’s always fresh, never frozen.”

“Actually, I think we’re both gonna have–” You attempt to interject, only to be shut down without so much as a glance in your direction. 

“Did you happen to see our line of Skinny Gal Salads, buttercup? They come with all the flavor, but only half the calories. They’re listed on page two if you wanna take a gander while I walk your lovely friend here through tonight’s specials featuring our signature porterhouse.” 

Your waitress’ audacity hits you so hard you almost feel a headache coming on as an unexpected fury burns in your belly. A belly that could probably stand to benefit from one of those so-called Skinny Gal salads, but then again that would go against the deal you’d made last night.

Which involved you and your man enjoying a couple of worry-free milkshakes and bacon cheeseburgers. You’d promised that you would try to relax and not get so caught up in all of that internal calorie counting like you usually did.

So, like it or not, a deal was a deal and you aimed to see it through. Regardless of what your waitress had to say about it. And if the woman was smart, she’d take her hand off your man’s arm before something happened to it.

“Now handsome, did I hear you say you were visiting from Bell’s Creek?” Your waitress cocks her hip against the table while she ignores you in favor of cozying up to your Beast. “Because it just so happens that I have a friend there that I like to visit from time to time. Do you happen to know–” 

“Actually, I’ve heard amazing things about your barnyard cheeseburgers. So I think we’re gonna have two of those with bacon. Extra bacon. Please.” You tack on the last word, which is spoken through gritted teeth. 

Finally, Stella turns to you and offers a patronizing smile. “Can I interest you in a side salad with that, buttercup? It comes with a spritz of our homemade red wine vinaigrette.”

Ari sits back in silence, apparently content to watch whatever the fuck was transpiring between you and this bottle blonde heifer with a notepad. Which was fine. You were a big girl who knew how to take-up for herself when the situation called for it.    

“I want fries, sugarplum. But who knows, my friend might want one of those skinny ass salads to go with his meal. Does that sound good to you, baby?” While your eyes never leave hers, you manage to catch a glimpse of a smile from your companion. 

“I, uh, would also like fries.” He coughs. You can tell he’s trying not to laugh, which only serves to piss you off even more. “But thank you.”

“That’ll be all, honey.” You politely growl, snatching Ari’s menu from him before your waitress could use it as an excuse to touch him again. “We’ll let you know if you need anything else.”

“But you haven’t heard the specials.” Stella turns back to Ari, a soft pout gracing her plump lips. “It just might change your mind. You might find yourself wanting something…better.”

Oh, no the fuck she did not. Your man was fine with his choice. You. The burger. All of it. Be gone, bitch!  

“We’re good.” You snap, seething inwardly. “You couldn’t possibly have anything more special than what he’s already got goin’ on in front of him, right here. Right now.”

Your waitress stares you down, but you refuse to be the one to blink first. If your eyes gave up and fell out, you had faith Ari would collect them for you before safely guiding you home. Your man was a gentleman like that.

“I guess I’ll go ahead and get these orders in. Two burgers, heavy bacon, coming right up.” The smile she gives you now is much more brittle and it doesn’t meet her eyes. But you also can’t bring yourself to give a fuck.

This woman needed to remember to stay in her lane before you ran her off the road.         

“Thanks.” 

“Welcome.”

And then she’s gone. You find your glaring at her retreating form. You’re actually in the middle of fantasizing about what would happen if you took a pair of scissors to her annoying ass ponytail when you hear your name being called.

“What?” You snarl as Ari comes back into focus. And what the hell was he grinning about? Didn’t he realize that that pretty face of his was in slapping distance?

“You’re really something, baby.” He murmurs, his gorgeous blue eyes dancing with mischief. “You know that?”

“Meaning?” At the moment, you were in no mood for anyone else’s bullshit.

Ari leans forward in his chair as one of his big hands comes to rest atop yours. “I just meant…I’ve never seen you jealous before. It just surprised me a little is all.” He finishes with a shrug. “I didn’t expect for you to…to…”

“Didn’t expect for me to do what, Beast?” Your tone softens as you watch his head dip, his bearded cheeks tinged with red. He perks up when you give his hand an affectionate squeeze, flipping your positions slightly so you can lace your fingers through his. 

“Claim me.” 

Those two simple words are enough to send you reeling. Is that really what you had just done?

“It’s no secret that I like you, Bird. A lot.” His voice drops an octave as he works to explain himself. “Every time I see you, it’s like there’s something in me deep down inside me that screams mine. I guess I wasn’t sure if you felt the same way about me. Until now.” 

Was he being serious? Of course he was! This man had never struck you as the type to joke about any of this.

“I like you too, Ari. But what I didn’t like was watching our waitress flirt with you like I wasn’t even here. I almost fucked her up with my spoon for touching what’s mine.” Ari’s perfect teeth sink into his plush bottom lip, his nostril’s flaring as his mind works to process your admission.

“Say that again.” The command rumbles out from somewhere deep in his chest, compelling you to obey. “Louder”

“You’re mine, Ari Levinson. For today. Tomorrow. For however long this magical thing between us lasts – you belong to me.” You breathe, butterflies filling your belly. “You’re officially off the market, you got that?”

“I hear you, Bird. Loud and fucking clear.” The grin on his face soon proves to be infectious. “And you have no idea just how happy I am to hear you say that.” Ari opens his arms to you then, beckoning you forward.

The next thing you know, you’re up and moving before you’ve even registered what’s happening. All you knew was that your man needed you. Which meant you needed to go to him. Now.

“I always want you, Ari. Even when I shouldn’t.” You tell him as you gracefully slide into his lap, looping your arms around his neck as you do. 

“I know the feeling.” Ari murmurs, brushing his mouth over yours. “Which is why I want to do something special once we get back to Bell’s Creek. Before I have to leave again.” The startled look on your face has your Bounty Hunter rushing to finish his thoughts before you can verbalize your confusion.

“What do you–?”

“I’m only gonna be gone a few days, baby. Three, maybe four, tops.” One of his large, slightly calloused palms presses against the back of your neck, drawing you in closer to him so that he can take your lips again.   

“Oh.” Comes your lame reply.

“I’m coming back to you, Bird.” Ari rests his forehead against yours as you try to calm your racing heart. “You have my word. But I still wanna do something special for you – for us – before I go. Will you let me do that without a fight?”

“Okay.” 

“Okay.” Feeling content, Ari leans in to capture your mouth with his own once again. After behaving himself all day, it was time for his reward.

“Wait.” You place your hand on his chest, halting his advances. “You’re still mine wherever you go. I don’t care if it’s fucking Siberia.” You grab a fistful of his shirt, hauling him forward. “You’ll still be mine there too. You with me?”

“Fuck yeah I am.” Ari growls, using both of hands to cradle your face as he slants his lips over yours once again. The kiss is as passionate as it is raw. Your tongues dance together, both fighting for dominance. But this time your Beast lets you win.

Desire burns in your belly as you savor the sensual victory. You bury your fingers in his hair, tugging at the chestnut strands. Meanwhile, one of Ari’s hands goes to grip your hip, making you moan when he gently molds and kneads your curves. 

Jesus Christ! You suddenly felt as if you were wearing too many clothes. 

His lips skim along the column of your throat as you pant. You were always so fucking needy for him all the time. It made it almost impossible for you to resist him during moments like these.

You’re so lost in each other that you don’t even bother to look up when you hear footsteps approaching. “Will these be separate checks or…oh.” You hear your waitress stammer as she tries to collect herself. “I’ll, um - I'll just bring the one.”

Ari briefly pulls away, eliciting a soft whine from you. “Thanks. And while you're at it, we’ll be taking our food to-go.” 

“Bye, Stella.” You giggle as you give a little wave before playfully nipping at his jaw, not even bothering to glance over at the other woman’s face. You knew it was petty, but staking your claim on this man in front of your so-called rival felt so damn good. Especially after a day like today.

Frankly, the only way it could get any better was if you could make yourself utter those three magic words – the same ones you’d been practicing in the mirror last night. But right now they simply wouldn't come. They kept getting stuck in your throat.

Oh well. Guess you’d just have to try again tomorrow.

END

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[explicit-tae]

Reward

Jungkook tells Jin-Seon that he can have whatever he wants by doing a good in school. @seokjinkismet @bloodline1632 @babycandy111

word count: 1.660

warning: light smut, creampie, unprotected sex, dirty talking, praising, jin-seon being spoiled, jungkook spoiling jinseon,

“Appa, I’m so excited!” Jin-seon says before stuffing his mouth full of ice-cream. It drips down his chin and you stop yourself from wiping it because, well - he was a messy eater regardless of what it was. 

“Slow down.” Jungkook sighs but smiles. “You’re still going to get your reward.”

Jin-Seon always did this when it came to being rewarded - and he was for anything he did. Jungkook had gone over the top at Jin-Seon’s first actual sentence, to his first day of school and even his first attempt at tying his shoes - “I’ll reward him again when he actually does it good” was Jungkook’s excuse to just keep spoiling his son.

Jungkook had yet again promised Jin-Seon a reward - “anything you want since you’d done so good in school!” - and Jin-Seon is jumping with joy at the thought of it.

“Can I tell you what I want now?” Jin-Seon’s soft voice says, dropping the plastic spoon in the bowl of ice cream and looks between both parents.

Jungkook nods. He’s prepared for whatever grand present his son wants.

Maybe Jungkook could rent out an amusement park for the day so he could have the time of his life - or a water park in the summertime. Hell, they could travel somewhere hot so-

“I want a baby brother!” Jin-Seon squeals happily, bouncing in his seat. 

Oh.

You turn your head in unison as Jungkook does. 

Jungkook coughs. “That’s…what you want?” 

Jin-Seon nods. 

Jungkook takes a sip of his milkshakes.

You remain silent. 

Jin-Seon blinks. “Now?”

“Jin…a baby brother isn’t something you can just buy.” you sigh. You grasp a napkin and begin wiping his cheeks. 

Jin-Seon has a bewildered look upon his face. “W-Why?”

Jungkook places his milkshake down on the table with another sigh. “That’s not how babies are created.”

“Uncle said Eomma has to eat a seed.” Jin-Seon’s child-like voice makes the situation more light-hearted,  but not anymore embarrassing for you. “And that Appa gives her the seed.”

Jungkook was going to kill Jimin - he was the only person who could have said this to his child. But that meant that Jin-Seon had to be curious for some time about a sibling.

“Well…yes, but-”

“Jungkook.” you deadpan.  

“He’s not wrong, Y/N.” Jungkook murmurs. “Seonie…it’s more complicated-”

“Do you not have monies for the seed?”

“The seed is free.”

“Jung. Kook.” you grit your teeth at your husband, eyes glaring. 

“Then give it to eomma!” Jin-Seon was growing agitated. He doesn’t understand why his parents were being like this, but this was also a child that was incredibly spoiled. He had whatever he desired at the palm of his hands and unbeknownst to him, a whole organization.

Jungkook turns to you for help. He doesn’t tell Jin-Seon no and he’s having a hard time doing so right now, even if his request was completely ludacris. 

“Jin-Seon…why don’t you ask for something else?” you try, but Jin-Seon shakes his head.

Jungkook swallows. He knows what’s about to happen next and he isn’t prepared for it. Jin-Seon’s eyes begin to water and his fist clenches. His face is turning a crimson color and soon, he’s crying.

Jungkook goes to grasp his son but Jin-Seon pushes himself away. “I h-hate you, A-Appa!” Jin-Seon hiccups and goes to fall into your arms. 

“Jin-Seon, that's not nice.” you say sternly, only imagining how Jungkook is going to feel hearing those words come from a five year old. He was a natural overthinker and now you’re positive there’s countless scenarios roaming his mind, all of which his son growing up hating him and blah blah blah.

“Say sorry to Appa. You hurt his feelings.”

Jin-Seon only cries harder - he was a child, after all. You warned Jungkook that this was bound to happen eventually. Spoiling Jin-Seon to the point that he asked for something so outrageous that he couldn’t give - but was another child that crazy? This had to be the least outrageous request his son has asked for - and less expensive. 

“I’m going to put him in bed for a nap.” you sigh, eyes pleading with Jungkook. “Then we can talk later.”

Jungkook nods, unable to speak. 

Jin-Seon’s words shouldn’t have gotten to him the way they had - he was a child that didn’t know the true meaning of hatred. He was just upset, but it cuts him deep. He was expecting to hear Jin-Seon say it far in the future in his teenage years, not at the young tender age of five. 

Jungkook ponders on how his son feels. Maybe Jin-Seon is lonely. They lived in such a large mansion and the only time he’s around children his age is when he’s in school or when family comes. He had his own brother growing up whenever his hyungs weren’t around, there was never a time for him to feel lonely. 

“You’re overthinking.” you tell Jungkook that night, laying on your side to face him. 

“Am I?” Jungkook questions. “Out of everything he could ask for, he wants a baby brother.”

“Or sister.” you quip, giggling to yourself. “He told me that if a boy requires more seeds he would take a sister.”

Jungkook’s heart tugs at the innocence of his son. “Exactly, Y/N. He’s lonely.” Jungkook turns to face you. “You had 4 siblings and I had my brother plus 6 more. Even their siblings are my siblings.”

You try to understand where Jungkook is coming from. Jin-Seon had never questioned before about having any siblings, so you’re somewhat confused on where it came from now.

“Would it be bad to have another?”

Jungkook doesn’t want to overwhelm you. It’s been six years and he understands that you’ve grown to love him now and (hopefully) forgiven him for his past wrong-doings. 

“Never thought about it.” you admit. “I guess I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner.”

Jungkook raises a brow at your words. “What do you mean?”

You snort. “We have sex all the time.” you respond. “And I haven’t gotten pregnant. I just accepted that maybe the universe didn’t want me to.”

“So you want more kids?” Jungkook finds his cock twitching at the thought of getting you pregnant again. 

Jungkook wouldn’t admit it aloud, but he tracks when you’re ovulating and either avoids sex or cumming inside of you. You and he hadn’t discussed children and until you told him specifically that you wanted more, then he would continue to go down this route. 

You feel hot underneath Jungkook’s gaze and glance away from him. “Stop looking at me like that.” you murmur.

Jungkook flips himself on top of you. As if it's accustom, you wrap your legs around Jungkook’s waist. 

“You want to have my baby again?” Jungkook is smug as he speaks, a knowing smirk on his lips. “I hope it’s a girl.”

You push at his chest with a laugh. “You’re already thinking of genders? I’m not even pregnant yet.”

“Yet.” Jungkook dives down to capture your lips into his own. “I can’t wait.” he says between kisses.

You lick your lips when Jungkook begins to place wet kisses upon your skin.

“You’re gonna look so beautiful pregnant.” Jungkook places a hand between your legs, rubbing his fingers along your clothed center. 

“Ugh, just put it in already.” you unhook your legs from Jungkook’s waist and turn yourself around, kicking off your pajama shorts.

Jungkook chuckles at your flustered expression. “But I wanted to eat you out.” he says, already pushing his own shorts down.

“You can next time.” you say in a huff, spreading your legs. It’s humiliating to admit that his words did something to you.

Jungkook's hands dips between your folds and he hums. “Always so wet for me.” 

Jungkook doesn’t waste any more unnecessary time and he’s entering you. His hands place themselves upon your hips as he drives himself deeper into you, shuddering. There’s always something about your walls that he loves, even after the years you’ve been together. He can never get enough of you.

Jungkook’s hips begin to snap inside of you. He’s leaned down now, body hovering above you while his lips kiss your exposed shoulder.

“I can’t wait, baby, you’ll look so beautiful with our daughter.” Jungkook grunts, hips snapping into you. His right hand moves swiftly between your legs to rub along your clit. 

Your clench around Jungkook, head leaning back to rest upon his shoulder. “You’re just…” you stop your words to release another moan. “....just talking…that feels so good.”

“Yeah?” Jungkook snaps into you harder, enjoying your moans as he does. “I’ll finally be able to see you, fuck…see your stomach grow. I won’t miss it this time.”

Jungkook leans back to grip your hips once more. Now he drills into you even harder, his balls slapping harshly against your clit. “You take me so good, baby.” Jungkook huffs.

Jungkook was a man on a mission - just the thought of getting you pregnant again has him wanting to fill you to the brim with his cum. This time, he’d be there when you found out - he’ll be there for all your appointments. He’d have the chance to experience your stomach growing in size and decorating the baby's room alongside you and Jin-Seon. 

Jungkook wasn’t going to last long due to the excitement, and neither were you. But that was okay because now that he understands that you wish to have his child again, there was no stopping him.

You clench around Jungkook as you’re catching your high, feeling your legs give out. Jungkook allows it, pumping inside of you sloppily until he himself was cumming. “S-Shit…!” you feel him twitch behind you, spilling himself inside of you.

“So,” Jungkook murmurs after a few moments of catching his breath. “how long do you think it’d be until you get pregnant?”

You snicker into the soft pillow. You turn your head to look at him. “That tone in your voice…it sounds like you’re challenging yourself.”

Jungkook flushes.

Series Masterlist

[gorae]

two's company, three's a crowd

pairing — kim sunwoo x gn!reader

tags — fluff, a few curse words, sunwoo, eric, and you are close friends, pining!sunwoo, i wasn’t planning to make it this long but i got carried away so 1.1k words <3 t_t

to say that the weather feels hot today is an understatement. to quote sunwoo, “it feels like you’re in satan’s asshole” (to which you punch his arm for giving you a visualization that you didn’t ask for).

you don’t remember whose idea it was to go to an amusement park at 12 pm on a hot summer day. it’s not like you could even attempt to remember anyway; the heat is causing your brain to hot wire and all you can think of is dumping a bucket of iced water over your head.

“it’s so hot today,��� you whine, complaining for the nth time. you fight against the urge to lean back against the bench since it might cause your clothes to stick against your sweat-slick back.

“you know why it’s hotter than usual?” eric asks.

unlike you, eric sits comfortably with his back resting against the bench, paying no mind to the clothes clinging on to his skin. you eye his muscle tank enviously. you should’ve worn something like that.

“no.”

he pops a piece of cotton candy that he tore off into his mouth. “it’s because i’m here.”

you stare blankly at eric, to which he responds with a shameless grin.

“what were you talking about?”

you look up, squinting a bit before your eyes adjust to the bright lighting. sunwoo stands before you, with a glorious chocolate milkshake in his hand. you gulp at the sight.

“nothing.” you answer. “eric was being annoying. you know; as usual.” you scoot a little in your seat, letting sunwoo sit in between you and eric.

“so nothing out of the ordinary.”

“yeah.”

“i’m sitting right here, you know,” eric chimes in.

sunwoo looks at him pointedly. “we know.”

eric scoffs before eating another piece of his cotton candy. both of you snicker at his response.

conversations (and bickering) between the three of you continue as per usual, but your eyes are still trained on sunwoo’s beverage. droplets of water roll off the plastic surface, making you wonder how refreshing it would be to gulp the drink down your parched throat.

as if on cue, sunwoo takes a sip of his milkshake, and you can only watch as his adam’s apple bob up and down as he drinks. groaning internally, you regret refusing to go stand in a long line and buy drinks with sunwoo. the queue would’ve been worth it.

sunwoo isn’t oblivious to your longing stare. in fact, he’s noticed it ever since he approached you and eric. he’s been patiently waiting for you to ask him for a sip yourself; that was until he’s grown tired of the miserable expression on your face. “y/n.”

“hm?”

sunwoo smiles in amusement. your eyes are still on his milkshake, even when he called your name. “my eyes are up here.”

you blink, finally making eye contact with him. “right.”

sunwoo surpresses a laugh, overcome by the unbearable need to coo at your cute expression when you frown involuntarily. “you thirsty?” he outstretches his hand, offering you his drink.

your eyes shine. you look like you just won five million dollars when all sunwoo did was offer you his drink. “really?”

he nods his head. it didn’t take you long for you to register his approval. you immediately take a few gulps of the cold, sugary drink as he holds the cup still for you.

sunwoo freezes. he knows this isn’t a big deal. it shouldn’t be a big deal. but he feels like there’s something intimate about you drinking from a cup that he’s still holding instead of taking it from him beforehand. or maybe it’s not that big of a deal and he’s just overthinking it.

you pull away, and sunwoo quickly recovers from his frozen state. but much to his confusion, instead of grinning and thanking him, your eyebrows are knit together. ���sunwoo, i think you need to get your milkshake away from me. i might finish it.”

he laughs and then shrugs. “i don’t mind.”

you ignore him. sunwoo watches your eyes travel from him to his drink, and then to the line in front of the shop selling cold beverages. “i think i’m gonna go get my own.”

“i’ll get another one. you can have mine.” sunwoo offers while he watches you stand up and collect your things.

you stay motionless for a bit, considering his offer. still, you shake your head. “no, it’s okay. i want to try a different flavor anyway.”

nodding, he lets you go without saying another word. he watches your retreating back as you walk to the far end of the line. you catch his eye and give him a small wave and a grin. sunwoo smiles back, his heart missing a few beats.

“dude.”

sunwoo jumps in his seat. he has completely forgotten about eric’s existence, who’s sitting right next to him. eric sniggers at his reaction while sunwoo turns to him with a bored expression. “what?”

“you are so obvious.”

“shut up.” sunwoo rolls his eyes.

he regrets telling eric about his crush on you. at first, sunwoo gave him the benefit of the doubt. he believed that maybe, eric is going to be an amazing wingman for him and help him out. but to be perfectly candid, he’s been nothing but a pain in the ass.

a few seconds of silence pass, and eric’s lips morph into a smirk.

sunwoo knows that smirk. it’s the ‘i-know-something-you-don’t’ smirk. he has to hold himself back before he tries to punch the smirk off eric’s face. “god, whatever you’re gonna say, just say it. the look on your face is really annoying me.”

“are you sure you want me to-”

“eric, for fuck’s sake-”

“okay, okay! fine.” eric throws his hands up in defense. and then he smirks. again. “you just shared a straw with y/n.”

sunwoo cocks an eyebrow, wordlessly asking eric to continue.

eric sighs, mumbling an insult to sunwoo’s intelligence under his breath. “meaning… you just indirectly kissed them.”

eric’s laughter becomes white noise as sunwoo realizes the shared indirect kiss between the two of you. his mind turns blank, his heartbeat rapidly beating in his ears. heat travels up to his face when his eyes unknowingly went back searching for you and met yours. you tilt your head, confused with his expression.

after shaking his head at you, sunwoo angrily whips his head to face eric again. “thanks a lot, man. really,” he says flatly, a deadpan expression on his face.

eric snorts. it’s funny that he’s still trying to seem nonchalant when the obvious tinge of red is coloring the tips of sunwoo’s ears. “no problem. but maybe actually mean it next time.”

“fuck you.”

sunwoo is never inviting eric to hang out together ever again.

[mushroommanstan]

Mommy’s milkshake

College au tenko x reader

Warnings: mommy kink, duh, exhibitionism, dubcon kinda, cum in food

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Hey… p-pst, stop it! I mean it… s-stohaaah, stop iiit.” Tenko whispered desperately, his thighs quaking as you thumbed his slit. You didn’t listen though, no, you just kept driving him crazy while wearing that devious, grinch-like smirk that made him shudder.

You might be asking yourself: what’s going on? Why did Tenko of all people want you to stop playing with his dick? Well, it all started like maybe ten minutes before this, when you and him were walking past the entrance of the cafeteria on your way to the local game store.

You had insisted the both of you get snacks first, craving one of the chocolate milkshakes that were so heavily advertised around campus, to which he agreed mumbling about getting a panini or something.

You got your shake and joined him at the table he found. It wasn’t hard to find him, he was always given a generous amount of elbow room from his frightened peers. Immediately when you took your first sip, you realized something was off. It was just… bland. I mean, yeah, it was sweet but… that’s it. Where’s the bitter in of the chocolate? Where’s the salty of the… I don’t know, salt? It just-it should have more to it than just… sweet.

You scrunched your eyebrows in disgust, which Tenko noticed almost immediately. He took another bite of his sandwich before softly asking “was wong? Don’ like id?”

You could just barely make out what he was saying with the full mouth he had. You shrugged. “Eh.. it’s fine…”

You swirled the straw around in your drink, watching as the dark chocolate lines swirled and swirls until they faded beyond distinction and you were left with a tan brown surface. Then you took the straw out, watching as the blob of ice cream still one it started to sag in the open air, before placing the tip of your straw on your tongue and letting it fall into your awaiting mouth.

Tenko shifted uncomfortably, and seeing the movement in the corner of your eye you turned slightly to look at him, only to see a familiar blush adorning his features. You smirked, wrapping your tongue around the plastic tube then putting in your mouth and swirling it about. He whimpered. It was quiet, deadly quiet, and if you hadn’t been concentrating you would have missed it. But he whimpered.

You smirked, looking down at his lap and seeing what you had suspected. Full mast, just like that. You almost chuckled at the sight, heh, that Tenko and his libido. If you and him were the last ones on the planet he’d have the strength to repopulate the whole world single handedly you suspect. The amount of eager cum in his balls on a daily basis was a marvel of science. Which… gave you an idea actually.

With shaking hands, he returned to his sandwich, expecting that to be the end of it. So color him surprised when he felt a familiar hand groping his bulge. You wrapped your fingers around his bulge and stroked him from base to peak like a scammy claw machine continuously failing to pluck a toy from the mass. Or maybe like an octopus expanding and condensing at it swims. No, no the claw machine was a much better analogy. MOVING ON:

He nearly choked as you caressed his bulge, and his eyes darted around anxiously before settling at you, giving a pleading expression as if this wasn’t what he wanted. Silly boy, you can hear his panting and see his trembling from here. That, and he knew he could just say the safe word. But he wasn’t, was he?

You leaned over to his ear and whispered “Mommy’s milkshake is dreadfully bland. What say you help me give it some of your special flavor, hm? Be a good boy for mommy and I might just reward you tonight. Maybe I’ll use some of my special toys ‘n fill your cute little slutty hole to the brim~.”

His hips jumped at the thought and you chuckled softly. You licked the shell of his ear, making him shudder, before you continued. As you spoke, your fingers became harsher and harsher, now whole handedly squeezing his package and massaging it as he tries his hardest to hold in moans.

He shook his head rapidly, his pitch black curls slapping against his temples as he tried his darnedest to resist your temptations. “N-no!” He whisper yelled in between quiet moans. “No so-aah~someone wi-will, hah, see-mmn.”

Your hand stopped and he was ashamed how much he missed your movements despite his protests. “Is my Tenko seriously telling mommy no? That’s not good boy behavior. No, that’s not good boy behavior at all. Does mommy really have to punish you so soon?”

He shook his head, biting his lip tightly as you gave him slow, hard presses with your palm. “N-no mommy.” He whispered back. “I’m y-you’re good boy, I promise.” He gasped as your hand sped up again, now reaching for his zipper.

“Good.” You said. Then you were kissing his neck again, watching as his face got redder and redder, sweatier and sweatier. You leaned back to enjoy the sight of him, your little whore trying desperately not to cause a scene, before you leaned back in for one last comment as you reached down his pants, finally pulling his member out.

“Besides. Even if someone did see you, would that really be such a bad thing? Being known as the guy with a “not giving a fuck” attitude who gets jerked off in public by his super hot girlfriend? Doesn’t sound so bad to me. Cmon, let me be your trophy wife for you.”

He shuddered. Admittedly, when you put it that way, it does sound appealing. Lord knows his reputation is in the crapper as it is, so anything helps.

You were now properly pumping him, your hand going up and down his admittedly long shaft in practiced rhythm. He was oozing pre at this point, making good lube, and the wet slaps that followed were just barely overshadowed by the chitter chatter around you. Every downstroke you were graced with the feeling of his long, wiry pubic hairs tickling your pinky, a welcomed feeling that no doubt would unfortunately make your hand smell musky for the rest of the day.

His hand rose to his mouth, and he began biting his knuckle in the hopes of muffling himself while sinking lower and lower in his crappy plastic chair. You could tell he was getting close, so with one hand you popped the lid off your milkshake and snuck it under the table. His tip hit the rim, a little bit of the cold residue stuck to it making him hiss. But the feeling was soon forgotten as you sped up, licking your lips as you nearly drooled in thirst, thirst for his cum.

“Cmon baby. Cum for me. Cum for mommy.” You once again whispered, and he whined out slightly louder than before, eyebrows curved upwards in a pleading expression as his eyes fluttered shut. His hips were rising slightly, and you knew it was only just a moment till-

“N-nyaahah!”

A hot, thick rope of cum shot out of him, landing on your fingers and making you tsk. Your hand slowed to a more gentle pace as you milked him into your cup, whispering praises in his ear as he trembled. Like usual, there was a lot, and you felt as maybe 3 or 4 good ropes hit the walls of the cup before dribbling down into the brownish cream. When he was finished, you tucked his wang back in his boxers and even zipped his pants back up for him, smoothing out the wrinkles and leaving it looking like it hadn’t been disturbed.

He was a panting mess, hand dropping from his mouth limply and sweat dripping from his forehead. You, on the other hand, remained casual, popping the lid back on your drink then clicking your tongue at the mess made on your knuckles.

Noticing your dilemma, a peer of yours stopped in his tracks as he walked by, offering you a slightly crumbled napkin to help clean up what he assumed was spilled ice cream. “Here sweetheart.”

Agitated by the pet name, Tenko regained full consciousness, about to show this guy a lesson despite his boneless state before you stopped him, declining and instead opting to lick it off. You turned slightly to Tenko, making eye contact as your tongue followed the white trail on your finger, collecting it and bringing it to your mouth. He inhaled sharply, forgetting everything else as the random guy looked at you both confusedly, but in the end didn’t care and just walked off.

With your hand clean and your shake improved, you took a big sip and smiled at the new flavors. Sweet and salty, a little sour, a little bitter, and the nice musky flavor of him. Perfect.

It’s so good that, well, maybe you’ll have to do this again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tada! I did a fic! Yay…..

Idk why but lately my motivation has been poopy, so I’m sorry about that. But I hope y’all liked this. Sorry if I made this a little more “mommy” than usual hehe.

[silvervioletvalentine]

❣️!wifey for lifey!❣️

Pairing : Daniel ricciardo x Cherrie!

Word count : 6.2 k

Summary: in which a video goes viral of them being chaotically in love. Or in which there is no one that Cherrie loves more than Daniel, except maybe Sebastian vettel.

A viral video of moments where Cherrie and Daniel were chaotically in love.

:

The first screen showed the cameraman struggling to keep his camera straight as it shook everywhere from his own laughter , filming the view that everyone in the lounge had of the two very different drivers .

Cherrie was laid back on the outside couch on the balcony , a large glass of red wine in one hand and a bottle of shaving cream in the other one.

Casually Humming along to a song that was blaring out from Daniels phone as she glanced down at her own phone that was left on the arm rest beside her , completely unbothered by the way that everyone was looking at them like they were insane.

They were. But being normal was extremely boring anyways , so why not be a little more unhinged than the rest?

It was a lot of fun.

Life was a lot better to live when you simply didn’t give a shit about what people thought of you anymore. You just had to do what made you happy, regardless of anyone else’s opinion on their strange behaviour.

And for them, love and happiness , well , that was each other.

Daniel was sat down beside on the couch, her shaving foam covered legs load ontop of his lap as he held up a razor in his hand, casually shaving her legs for he as he nodded his head along to the music too, both in their own little worlds , as usual .

Lando was sat on the couch opposite them , enjoying some time off in the sun while they had a break from their team meetings for a moment.

Sipping on a milkshake as he looked between the two of them in silent disbelief , sharing amused glances with the rest of their friends and team that were spread about across the room doing their own thing.

"You two are so strange.." he called over to them with a humoured grin , shaking his head. Not at all surprised by the scene that was playing out in front of him.

In fact this might have been the tamest and most normal thing he had seen them do together so far.

They weren't exactly known for being a normal couple who did normal things . Like, at all.

Daniel glanced over at him with a raise of his brow , tapping off the razor into the bowl of water by his feet before tilting her leg higher to shave at a different angle .

Cherrie not even glancing up from her phone , completely uncaring of the way that she was laid out in front of everyone in just her bra and knickers, a bright green face mask covered her face as she relaxed, living her best life .

"How? Because I'm helping my girlfriend be silky smooth? Have you seen this? I'm a fucking professional at this shit!" He said proudly , lifting up her leg in the air for all to see and running his hand over her now smooth and hairless skin.

Showing off his work to everyone around them proudly , getting amused laughs from all of their friends . Completely used to their shit by now.

Cherrie just glanced down at her now smooth leg, humming in approval as she wiggled down on the couch to get even more comfortable as he moved onto shaving her next leg.

"Fantastic work baby. But be careful asshat!" She shouted a little as he pressed the razor a little to sharply near her ankle, nearly nicking her .

Squinting her eyes at him when he glanced up and gave  her a cheeky little smirk. Pretending to do it again just to wind her up some more .

"if you cut me Daniel I will cut you twice as bad!" She warned him seriously .

not wanting another repeat of the last time he had accidentally cut her skin while shaving her, it had stung like a motherfucking bitch and even Daniel had been queasy from the amount of blood that came from such a tiny cut on her leg.

Daniel sighed loudly , grinning over at lando in amusement as the two of them snickered between them at her expense.

"She's so romantic! You really have a way with words honey..." he teased her , getting a deadpan look in return from his girlfriend before she went back to typing on her phone again, not paying them any mind.

He continued on happily , ignoring the way lando was filming the both of them while giggling to himself.

"You what they say baby- couples who shave together stay together!" He proudly informed them, wiping down her leg with the towel gently when he was done before grabbing a bottle of her moisturiser and massaging her legs with it . Knowing that it would help keep her legs soft like she liked it.

Lando looked over at him in amusement "nobody says that mate!" He said, shaking his head at him, pulling a face of denial.

Daniel just laughed , looking over at him smugly . "I do and what I say is one hundred and thousand percent true. Always.” He told him seriously before moving her legs off of his lap when he was finished .

Getting up from the couch and wandering over to the mini fridge to grab himself a bottle of cola.

As he walked back to the couch, he pulled on a piece of cherries long hair. Looking down at her green face from the skincare mask and pinching the tip of her nose, Cherrie slapping his hands away from her with a annoyed groan , roughly kicking at his leg as he walked past her with a loud laugh.

"We're like- complete couple goals! The kind that are in love forever . We'll be in the nursing home together and I'll still find Cherrie so hot that they won't need to provide me with any viagra . She's gonna keep my motor running for life!" He declared proudly , looking over at his girlfriend with a lovesick grin.

Lando gagged dramatically across from them, physically cringing at his words .

Cherrie didn't even glance up from her phone, too busy biting down on her bottom lip as she watched a video of Sebastian vettel that someone had edited to a sexy song in the background . Replaying it twice with focused eyes .

"Forever is a long time babe.." was all she muttered with a smirk , distracted by the videos of her favourite driver that she had a slight crush on.

Daniel gasped loudly , slapping a hand over his heart in mock heartbreak as he looked over at her with wide eyes .

"Forever is not long enough with you!" He cheesily exclaimed . Bedore leaning over her to see what she was looking at , immediately groaning out loud as he saw a familiar face on her screen.

"Oh not again! Come on! Vettel?! Really?!" He whined.

Having been forced to watch multiple of those edits of their fellow driver that she had found, being made to listen to the love of his life constantly gush about him like a lovesick teenager .

Cherrie just frowned at him "yes. Don't talk about my husband in such a tone!" She bickered back at him, winding him up like she usually did.

Daniel pouted at her "you're my wife! You're supposed to watch tik toks about me Cherrie! Not vettel!" He exclaimed while eyeing her judgmentally .

Lando laughed "she's not your wife. So technically that role can still be filled!" He wound him up as well. Enjoying the look on the older mans face.

In fact Daniel was turning almost as green as her face mask . Jealousy really was beautiful to witness sometimes.

Fucking pure entertainment for their friends to witness.

Daniel just scoffed, side eyeing him , unimpressed with his added on comment.

"In my head she's been my wife since the moment I met her . I'm just waiting for the green light!" He said while looking pointedly at Cherrie , hinting towards his last random proposal.

It happened almost every month no. It was becoming tradition at this rate.

She just glanced up at him, equally as unimpressed.

"I'm not saying yes to you panting at me to marry you during sex Daniel! That doesn't count!" She scolded him, grinning a little despite herself.

Finding it more than amusing how her boyfriend had a tendency to propose to her during sex all the time .

Only to whine to her the next day about why she didn't say yes , while she explained to him over and over again that she wasn't going to marry him unless he proposed to her properly .

Lando shook his head at him , laughing loudly at how much of a Daniel thing that was to do.

"Dude! You proposed during sex?!" He hysterically exclaimed , grinning widely at him, already pulling out his phone again to text all their friends to tell them about the new information.

Daniel would never hear the end of it from them now.

Daniel just nodded, completely unashamed by his frequent proposing during mind blowing sex.

“Yes. What man wouldn't? After being given the greatest orgasm of my life of course I'm gonna ask her to marry me! It felt right!" He defended himself loudly. Believing that it was the perfect time to propose to the love of his life .

Cherrie rolled her eyes at him , lifting up her foot till it landed on his head. Leaving it there while he pretend to play the drums on her leg as she sighed dreamily .

“Sebastian wouldn't do that to me. I bet you he'd be more romantic." She teased him.

Daniel scoffed , immediately looking offended at her statement .

"There's no one more romantic than me baby! Remember that cake I made you just because? I even gave you a flower from the garden with it! That's romantic!" He argued, clearly proud of himself .

Cherrie looked over at him like he had suddenly grown a third head "you gave me food poisoning Danny! And that wasn't a flower, you gave me a weed! It had a spider on it too!" She reminded him , amusement written across her face as she thought about his idea of 'romance'.

Daniel paused , ignoring lando crying tears of laughter across from them.

He just pursed his lips and side eyed his grinning girlfriend judgmentally.

"it's the thought that counts. We're going to be together forever Cherrie so there's a lifetime of romance awaiting you! Don't worry!" He promised her .

She didn't believe him.

Giggling to herself "I don't know man , forever is wayyyyy too long. What if I want another man?" She joked about .

Lando easily played along with her "yeah. You guys could have an open marriage . Then you could still get with vettel!"

She gasped loudly , grinning slyly at him .

“fantastic idea mate!" She leaned over to High five him happily.

Meanwhile Daniel was sat back against the couch with his arms crossed over his chest, looking at them with a unimpressed look on his face.

"Absolutely not! I'm the only man you will ever need.  Why do you need anyone else when you have me? The most handsome , amazing , smart and incredibly funny - and charismatic-" he started to list of all of his greatest traits.

Cherrie looked over to the camera with a amused quirk of her brow .

"My boyfriend is incredibly modest as you can see!" She snickered loudly , the cameraman chuckling with her.

Daniel just picked her up in his arms making her squeal , spinning her around and around until they both got dizzy .

Lando yelping as they both stumbled down ontop of him, Crushing him in a heap of giggles .

"Get off me you weirdos!" He shouted while grinning as he tried to push them off of him unsuccessfully.

Looking over at the camera with a helpless look on his face .

"You see what I have to put up with?" He simply said.

The next video showed them at a press conference with Sebastian and max, Daniel seated at the end of the table beside vettel , then max in the middle and her at the other end beside him.

Daniel leaning back in his seat and stretching his hand out dramatically to her , pouting like a child.

"You're so far away! We'll see eachother again my love! I know that you can't stand being so far away from me for long!” He called over to her loudly , grinning cheekily making the rest of the room laugh at his usual dramatics.

Cherrie didn't even look at him, fiddling with her bottle of water with a unbothered look on her face.

The complete opposite of Daniel who couldn’t stop smiling at her if he tried.

"I don't even know him. He's just a strange fan that won't leave me alone." She told them with a completely straight face .

Max and Sebastian chuckled together as Daniel leant foward In his seat to see her better , looking down at her on the other end of the table with a wide grin on his face.

"You're biggest fan baby! Will you sign my boobs?" He asked her playfully . Wiggling his eyebrows at her jokingly .

Cherrie just grinned "where's security?!" Was all she said bedore looking back at the reporter that Daniel had cut off mid sentence .

"What was the question again?"

The man just smiled , amused by the couple in front of him.

“I asked what are you're favourite things to do with your time off?" He asked her politely.

Cherrie hummed thoughtfully , not even looking at max as she reached her arm over to his side and knocked his redbull bottle off of the table , putting her Ferrari one in it's spot instead.

Max shaking his head at her with a grin as he picked up his fallen bottle and put it back on the table again, Daniel and Sebastian laughing at them.

"Sex, food and sleep. They're my favourite things to do." She bluntly answered .

Ignoring the way her press officer that was in charge of making sure she didn't say anything wrong to the media , was face palming in the corner of the room at her answer .

Daniel nodded his head along in agreement, pulling a impressed face . "In exactly that order too. She's an animal! She made me go out and get her a burger right after the third round of the best sex of my entire life-" he told them proudly , grinning at Cherrie with hearts in his eyes.

Sebastian grimaced openly beside him, eyeing them both in amusement .

"That's something known as too much information Daniel. Everything I have learnt about your relationship has been against my will." He informed him while laughing , unable to help it.

All the other drivers were used to hearing Cherrie and Daniel loudly , and bluntly detail the ins and outs of their relationship in explicit details . Not one moment went unshared.

Sebastian even knew that Cherrie was incredibly flexible now, and apparently she could contort her body into any shape possible.

Something that Daniel had proudly gushed to them about after disappearing with her for an hour while at a party.

Daniel looked over at him, gasping loudly as he remembered something .

“Do you know that my girlfriend said that she'd leave me for you?" He told him honestly , happily throwing her under the bus.

Cherrie just nodded her head along in agreement , unashamed of her crush as she leaned forward in her seat and winked at Sebastian cheekily.

"Anytime . Anywhere baby!" She joked , wiggling her eyebrows teasingly at the older driver .

Sebastian went red and laughed as he sunk further down in his seat to avoid her flirtatious looks.

Max laughing loudly beside her as he tilted his head at her in amusement.

“You fancy seb?" He asked her . Unaware of her mild infatuation on him.

Bedore she could even answer his question herself , Daniel let out a loud, disbelieving scoff.

Throwing his hands in the air dramatically "fancy? I have had to listen to her go on and on about how dreamy he is! She watches all those edits of him and she's even got a blanket with his face on! We sleep with Sebastian Vettel on our bed!" He exclaimed.

Sebastian groaned long and hard , mortified "oh my god. Don't say it like that!"

The whole room was giggling at them. The cameras filming the wide eyes of Daniel and the proud smirk on cherries lips , max giggling away while Sebastian was covering his face in embarrassment, laughing to himself , completely flustered by them .

"Sebastian is the love of my life. Daniel is just my boy toy!" She said to them . Smirking over at him.

Daniel laughed , nudging a reddening Sebastian in his arm repeatedly.

"You see what you've done? You've reduced me to a sex toy for her!" He joked , finding it all hilarious. The couple Not taking anything seriously . Ever.

Sebastian looked between them in disbelief , laughing .

“It's not my fault!" He exclaimed amused.

Cherrie leant foward on the table to look at him , shaking her head in denial .

"Yes it is! It's your fault for being so gorgeous! I mean look at those eyes!" She gushed . Before Lifting up her phone from the table to take a photo of his blushing face.

Totally screensaver material right there. Daniel was definitely getting replaced as her lock screen now.

Sebastian rolled said eyes at her, used to her teasing him by now. He was her teammate after all.

"I don't know how Daniel puts up with you." He stated while smiling. Balling up a piece of paper that was in front of him and throwing it at her head.

She just at picked it up and held it in both hands with a dramatic , dreamy sigh. "I'll treasure this forever baby!"

Daniel laughed loudly , grinning like a maniac at his equally a menace girlfriend .

They were made for each other .

"That's the love of my life! Isn't she perfect?" He then stated proudly to the cameras .

Leaving Sebastian to side eye the both of them, raising a judgmental brow to the camera silently.

Then the video changed to another one of their interviews where they were being filmed alongside Charles and Carlos .

Daniel was telling the interviewer about how much he enjoyed spending the holidays with cherries family, pulling up a photo on his phone to show the camera proudly.

A picture of him beside a shorter Italian man who was glaring up at him , both of them dressed in matching Christian Pyjamas while Daniel had his arm thrown around his shoulders with his usual bright grin.

"That's her dad. He loves me." He told them all with a beaming smile.

Cherrie shaking her head at him with a smirk , chuckling beneath her breath.

Charles and Carlos looked at him with wide eyes, glancing between the photo and Daniel in disbelief.

"He looks like he wants to kill you mate!" Charles told him with a laugh .

Daniel just grinned uncaringly . "Nah that's just his face. I'm his favourite person in the world." He stated matter of factly . Lying.

Cherrie side eyed him "he threw a chair at you baby!” She reminded him , beyond amused.

Carlos and Charles both gasped , bursting into surprised laughter as they looked between the two of them in shock.

"What?!"

Charles giggled "he threw a chair at Daniel? What did you do?!" He looked at Daniel expecting him to have done something to deserve it.

Daniel just looked at the both of them , completely unbothered by the fact that her father had indeed thrown a chair at him over the holidays.

"oh yeah that was an intense game of jenga!”He said casually as though it was no big deal that her father threw a chair at him.

"Her dad doesn't like losing." He then added as an afterthought .

Carlos giggled loudly "no shit." He said with wide eyes.

Daniel persisted on, determine to convince them of her fathers love for him.

"He really does love me though. I bought him a huge tv for Christmas and he even gave me a hug! That definitely got me brownie points!" He stated to them

proudly.

Cherrie just laughed , looking at her friends with a grin as she told them.

"He's always annoyed my dad. I used to come home, this was before we were even together by the way-" she gave Daniel a pointed glance.

"and he would be in my house annoying my dad. He would be hitting him with a brush trying to get him to leave him alone but Daniel would just follow him around and talk and talk and talk-" she giggled. Shaking her head at the fond memories .

"He drove him mad! He would just randomly call up

My dad to talk about his day and to tell him that he was going to be my boyfriend soon. Even when I was dating somebody else at the time!" She exclaimed , still in awe by the steel balls he had to have to do that back then. Saying it to her father of all people too.

It was such a Daniel thing to do.

Daniel just shrugged casually , grinning At the way Charles and Carlos were laughing at him.

"I knew that one day he was going to be my future father in law so I had to get him to like me somehow .” He simply replied.

Charles laughed "by annoying him? How was that getting him to like you?!" He grinned .

Daniel just scoffed "trust me. I am the favourite boyfriend that she's ever had. He absolutely hated Jake!" He remembered the man smugly.

Mentioning the one boyfriend that he had to sit back and wait to disappear so  that he could jump in and bug Cherrie to date him instead.

He had stubbornly followed her around the whole summer , refusing to give up until she gave him a chance .

It had taken her six months to give in and go on a date with him.

And Daniel hasn't left her side since.

Cherries titled her head , humming in agreement. Wincing a little at the reminder of her ex boyfriend.

"He does like you better than Jake." She agreed bedore telling their friends casually

“-he ran over my ex boyfriends foot with his car. He really didn't like him." She told them with a straight face , completely serious .

Charles and Carlos blinked at her with wide eyes. Stunned by the casual way she was saying it.

Daniel also casually nodding along in agreement "I don't blame him . He was an absolute dickhead. I would have done the same thing . I would have run him over too but I wouldn't have stopped at his foot!" He stated to them honestly , unbothered as he picked up his bottle of juice and handed it over to Cherrie to take a sip from.

Charles swallowed as he glanced wearily between the two of them, casually discussing how they would have gotten rid of her ex boyfriend if given the chance .

"You two are perfect for each other." Was all he could mutter , really meaning it.

Carlos nodded in agreement, giving the camera a knowing look like he was in an episode of the office.

"Yes. Perfect." He repeated warily .

Daniel just smiled at them happily, throwing his arm around cherries shoulder and giving her a loud kiss to her cheek.

"Awww thanks guys! We really are the best aren't we?" He exclaimed proudly , leaning down to kiss his girlfriend properly .

Cherrie pulling him down on the couch as they started to make out like horny teenagers , rolling around and clutching onto each other tightly.

Charles grimacing as cherries foot hit his side during them rolling around, shuffling away from the snogging couple that were currently trying to eat others faces off.

Looking over to the camera with a look of disgust on his face while Carlos dramatically gagged.

Then the video changed to one that showed the couple stood in front of yet another interviewer, Daniel beaming at him while Cherrie just glanced around uninterestedly , looking like she'd rather be any place else .

The man asked them a question , looking slyly between the two of them .

Daniel bouncing on the edge of his feet happily while Cherrie sipped on a glass of champagne and continued to look bored out of her mind.

"Who do you think is the greatest driver to ever live?" He asked them curiously .

Daniel oooed. Wincing a little as he tilted his head from side to side as though the question was a painful one to answer.

"Ooo that's a difficult one! It feels wrong to choose just one because there's so many amazing drivers out there that have done such incredible things.." he answered nicely before sighing long and hard.

Wrapping his hand around his girlfriends waist lazily and smiling down at her like a man in love.

"But honestly I think my girlfriend is definitely up there with the best. Along with Schumacher and vettel and god! So many others! I can't choose one!" He honestly told him , smiling all friendly .

Then the camera panned to Cherrie beside him who was looking back at the interviewer boredly.

"And what about you? Who do you think is the greatest driver to ever live?" He asked her the same question as her boyfriend .

Cherrie just casually answered without missing a beat .

"me , myself and I. I am the greatest driver to ever live." She answered bluntly with a straight face . Completely serious.

Daniel started giggling beside her , looking at the camera with a amused look on his face . Having expected her to say something like that.

The man looked between the two of them with a startled laugh.

"Not even Daniel?" He said surprised .

Cherrie just shook her head , not even looking at her boyfriend as she drained the rest of her champagne in one go.

Completely unbothered . As usual.

“No. Not even my boyfriend. Nobody is better than me. That's why I am the champion and he is not." She simply answered before casually turning around and walking off to head back to the bar.

Leaving Daniel to look at her retreating figure with amazement , shaking his head in amusement as he giggled loudly .

Not at all surprised by her confident answer .

He then looked back at the camera with a sly smirk "as you can see the love of my life is an incredibly humble woman." He joked finding it hilarious how cocky she was .

Then he motioned to where she had gone to with a laugh "now If you excuse me I have to go kick her ass for that champion comment! See you guys later!" He exclaimed before jogging off to find his pain in the ass.

Leaving the cameramen and reporters to laugh at the way the couple behaved with eachother. Not taking anything seriously.

The next video showed the two of them in a nascar car for a YouTube video that they had filmed together , both of them giggling chaotically as Cherrie climbed over him to get into the drivers seat while the car was still running .

"Ahhhh! Oh my god! I'm gonna die!" Daniel shrieked loudly while laughing hysterically as he clutched onto the safety bar above him with tight fists .

Watching his girlfriend speed down the track that had been set out for them to do .

The challenge was for them to avoid all the cones that had been set out for them. To not hit any of them.

Cherrie was laughing as she swerved the car around a sharp corner . Their body's flying against the doors as she brakes even harder, drifting them around the Bend as fast as she could .

"We should pretend that the cones are the rest of the drivers!" She suggested mischievously, giggling at the way Daniel was holding on for dear life as she sped down the track , deliberately swerving all over the place to jostle them all over .

Daniel laughed loudly , grinning over at her In pure amusement .

Agreeing with her . “Yes! Oh look here comes max!" He yelled out giggling as a bright orange cone came in front of their car .

Cherrie didn’t hesitate to run straight over it with the car , smirking mischievously as they both cackled like evil maniacs together .

"Whoops! Sorry max!" She exclaimed jokingly as another cone came up for them to swerve.

"Oh look here's Lewis! What are you doing here Lewis?!" She shouted while laughing hysterically.

Daniel had tears streaming from his eyes as he shrieked "oh no there goes hamilton! Toto's not gonna be very happy!" He screamed while giggling as she crashed into the cone that was supposed to be Lewis.

Both of them giggling like naughty children , Daniel reaching over and kissing her cheek as she sped them off the track and down the bumpy field instead, the car flying all over the place as they shrieked and yelled , laughing hysterically.

"Oh my god! Eeeeee!" The Noises they made were nothing but chaotic and insane .

Daniel breathlessly shouted "this cone coming up is vettel!" Bedore laughing knowingly as she perfectly swerved to avoid the cone with ease .

"I knew it! You'd kill the rest of the drivers but not precious Sebastian! You dodged him perfectly!" He shouted at her, giggling loudly .

Cherrie just shrugged with a sly smirk on her face before they swapped seats again.

"Vettel for life!" Was all she said bedore Daniel said that the next cone in front of them was Cherrie and then proceeded to send the cone flying off the track , crashing into it quickly .

Both of them side eyeing each other as they giggled.

"Romance isn't dead but I am! I can't believe you ran me over Daniel!" She gasped jokingly .

He shrugged grinned smugly and sang  "I love yoouuuuu!"at her loudly for a minute straight , almost screeching it while Cherrie plugged her ears and smacked at his arms.

Then the last video came onto the screen titled

'No one loves Cherrie more in the world than Daniel! This is all the proof you need! They are SOULMATES!"

It was from the last race where she had just won the world championship for the second year in a row, her media manager pushing her over to the press that were impatiently waiting for her reaction to her win.

Most people would be in disbelief , maybe crying in happiness or jumping around in excitement.

But not Cherrie.

She merely walked over to them after the podium celebration, soaked from head to toe in champagne as she sipped from the comically large bottle of booze in her hand. Never one to waste a single drop of alcohol .

She simply smiled at them , nodding politely .

"Hello." Was all she said, swallowing another mouthful of champagne happily .

The man grinned at her excitedly “how do you feel?! You're champion of the world! You must be over the moon! Congratulations!" He exclaimed .

Cherrie just let out a laugh and nodded her head, completely calm as she answered.

“Yeah. It's pretty cool . I'm pretty hungry though now ." Honestly more concerned with getting some food In her belly than the championship she had just won.

Bedore the reporter could say anything else , they were interpreted by a excited scream of her name coming from behind her.

Both of them turning to see Daniel sprinting towards her , laughing as she opened her arms for him to crash into.

Burying his face into her neck as he sobbed loudly , clutching onto her tightly as he spun her around and around in excitement.

"I'm so fucking Proud of you! The love of my life is world champion!" He pulled away to clutch at her face , kissing all over face in pure joy. "Again!"

Crying tears of happiness as he rocked them from side to side breathlessly , shaking his head in amamzent .

"This is the best day of my life!" He sobbed loudly , unashamedly . Tears streaming down his face.

Cherrie was giggling at how emotional her boyfriend was. Acting like he was the one that had just won the championship .

Patting him on the back comfortingly as she sent a amused look to the camera , smiling affectionately.

"Me winning is the best day of your life?" She repeated while laughing at him.

Daniel just sniffled and nodded his head, pulling away from her neck to wrap his arm around her shoulders instead , hugging her into his side.

Looking at her with hearts in his eyes "yes! Technically I have won too because whats yours is mine also remember!" He exclaimed seriously , the grin taking over his whole face as he looked down at the trophy in her other hand.

She passed it to him casually knowing what he wanted , laughing loudly as he hugged it to his chest like a baby and kissed it all over.

"I'm being replaced." She joked, taking another sip from the champagne bottle as she looked over at the love of her life fondly .

Picking up her phone to take a picture of him as he posed with her trophy proudly like it was his own.

Daniel just laughed and hugged her to him, before discreetly dropping something into the large trophy cup and holding it out to her .

"Put your hand in the magical trophy and pull out a prize baby!" He wiggled his eyebrows at her, winking at the camera once she was too busy looking down at the trophy with a confused smile.

Thinking he was joking around like usual she played along, putting her hand in the cup and feeling around inside .

Only to pause as her fingers came in contact with something small and cold.

Frowning over at Daniel who's smile had softened , though the tears were still in his eyes as he watched her pull out a diamond ring.

Her eyes going wide in shock as she looked between the ring and her boyfriend , hearing the press gasp and murmur excitedly as they clicked onto what was happening in front of them.

The cameras all watching them as they watched Daniel gently take the ring from between her champagne coated fingers and get down on one knee in front of her.

"Wifey?" Was all he asked her as he looked up at her with a hopeful smirk on his face, his eyes twinkling at her happily.

Cherrie just burst into giggles and rolled her eyes at him playfully . Putting out her hand and letting him slide the ring onto her finger with shaky fingers of his own.

"For lifey!" She finished off the phrase that Daniel always sang to her whenever they were drunk , proudly telling anyone that would Listen that she was his "wifey for lifey!" Ever since their first date.

Daniel let out a victorious whoop and swept her into his arms , spinning her around happily as everyone cheered and screamed their names excitedly .

The other drivers running over to say their congratulations as they slapped the both of them on the back joyfully .

Laughing to himself as he kissed her over and over again

"You won twice in one night baby! You won the championship and me! How great is that?!" He beamed down at her , squeezing her to him tightly .

She just laughed.

"Congrats guys! About time!" Charles exclaimed to them happily.

"Yeah! Can I be best man?!" Lando grinned at them as he hugged the both of them.

Daniel scoffing playfully "obviously!" He exclaimed happily.

Sebastian patted them both on the shoulder proudly "congratulations guys!" He said to them as he hugged Cherrie to him with a fond smile.

She clung onto him tightly , beaming up at him with a playful smile on her face as she rocked them from

side to side, overcome with happiness .

"There's still time for you to object at our wedding and run away with me!" She joked to him, kicking Daniel in the ass when he tried to pull her off Sebastian .

Instead she just clung onto him further and stuck out her tongue at him childishly.

Sebastian just laughed and held onto her , wiggling his eyebrows at Daniel mischievously. Playing along as he wiped away the champagne that was still dripping down from her pretty face with his hand.

"Maybe I will!" He laughed while leaning down and kissing her cheek bedore someone else pulled her away to congratulate her.

Leaving Daniel to sigh as he leant against Sebastian's shoulder and gazed up at him with a lazy grin.

"She'll get over this crush on you one day." He said optimistically , clearly lying to himself as he watched his now fiancé wave over at them cheekily, winking at Sebastian and toasting her champagne bottle at him.

Sebastian just patted him on the shoulder sympathetically , waving back at her with a affectionate laugh.

"Sorry mate. I don't think she is. I'm just too irresistible  !" He played along. Enjoying the way that Cherrie liked to wind them all up,

Never serious even when she had just won the world championship and been proposed to all at the same time.

Then the video ended and Daniel sighed contently as he looked over at his fiancé beside him in bed, both of them sharing mischievous smiles.

He simply suggested "wedding In Vegas?"

Cherrie just laughed "tonight?" Wiggling her eyebrows at him cheekily.

Before they both rushed out of their hotel room like naughty children, racing each other down to the Vegas strip. Video camera in hand.

Too in love to give a shit about what anybody else would think.

Because when had they ever cared?

They were in love!

[heyheydidjaknow]

I’m not dead I promise. Nor am I done with x reader stuff. Finally, Mello gets his day in the limelight. Good for him.

Scarring

“That translation is wrong.”

“Thank you.” You did not look up from your notebook. “You know, it sure would suck if I went a minute without knowing that I’m bad at this.”

He took a sip from his milkshake, his weight leaned against the counter. “Get better, then.” He pointed at the page you were on, gesturing to the words. “The girl isn’t greedy; she doesn’t get to have a masculine adjective.”

You groaned, resting your head in your hands. “Jesus fucking— that’s the only noun in the sentence!”

Another sip. “If there isn’t another noun,” he explained slowly, not bothering to hide his condescension, “you assume there’s an invisible ‘vir’ there.”

“Why is it invisible? For whose benefit?”

“The author’s, mainly.”

You rubbed your eyes, pushing your hair out of your face. “This is bullshit,” you decided. “This whole thing is moronic.”

“Serves you right for learning a dead language.”

“Eat my dick.”

He snickered. “I’ll get right on it.” He looked around the diner for the fifth time, a frown settling on his face. “He’s late.”

You took a sip from your drink. “Serves you right for being a stalker.”

“It’s called espionage.”

“A rose by any other name smells just as stalkery.” You smirked. “Serves you right for agreeing to it in the first place— what if he doesn’t show up? What’s your plan then, genius?”

“Shut up.” He leaned his cheek against his hand. “He’ll be here.”

“Sure, sure.” You closed your notebook. “I give up. Three hours of torture is enough, I think.”

He stirred his milkshake, pulling the straw out of the cup and stabbing the bottom of it. “You won’t get a degree if you flunk out.”

“I don’t need Latin to graduate.” You took another sip from your drink. “I don’t need Latin as a general— how come you don’t know how to cook soup but you know Latin?”

He considered the question. “I wanted to prove that I could learn it.” Another stab.

You sneered. “Then I suppose your rival knows some Latin too, then.”

Another glare.

“If you want me to stop knowing what you’re going to say, stop being so predictable.” You tried to will away your simper with little success. “You can’t blame me for having basic pattern recognition.”

He looked back at his milkshake, took another sip. “I was better at it than him,” he grumbled. “He was always shit at languages.”

You giggled. “I’m sure he was.” Your gaze fell upon the clock behind the counter, your expression souring. “We’ve been here for an hour,” you pointed out. “How long—“

“His arrival time has a two hour margin.” He picked up the glass, scraping the excess shake off the sides. “If Holiday-- his horse-- won, he’s going to be here an hour before closing time. If Holiday didn’t win, he’ll be here thirty minutes before closing because he’ll spend more time at the bar. If he gets into an argument at home— which happens once every week or so, especially on Saturdays because they’re supposed to be their date night— he’ll come here first for dinner before leaving to get drinks and will go to a fast food place instead.” He took another sip. “The diner closes in an hour, so if he doesn’t show up in another thirty minutes, we can leave.”

You stared at him, blinking slowly. “I see.” You ran your finger along the edge of your notebook. “And let’s say this guy— who, for the record, you know too much about— doesn’t conform to the schedule that you assigned him; what’s the next step?”

There was something more in his glare this time, a familiar edge. “What if the Moon crashes into Earth before he gets here? What if the floor opens up and we all die?” His eyes darkened, and you were reminded, much to your subconscious’ dismay, who it was that you were dating. “I didn't give up my childhood for nothing,” he said, conviction dripping like tar out of every pore. “I know what I’m doing. He’ll be here.”

You opened your mouth to answer, thought better of it. You focused on your glass.

He blinked, eyes widening as his face softened. He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry.” He laced his fingers together, twiddling his thumbs. “I have— this isn’t—“

“Don’t stress it.” You smiled weakly. “It’s late; we’re tired. I know you— well, that you aren’t going to do anything stupid.”

He nodded curtly. “Good. I’m glad.” He reached over, taking your hand and running his thumbs over your knuckles. His hands were shaking. “I’m stressed out is all; there’s a lot riding on this.”

“I know, baby.” You ran your free hand through his hair, bringing it to rest against his cheek. “You’re right; it’ll work out.”

He nodded again, slower this time. “I won’t make you regret what you’ve done for me,” he promised. “This will be good for the both of us.”

You brought his hands to your lips, kissing each. “You don’t need to keep telling me; I know you will.”

“Good.” He glanced at the counter, letting his hands fall to his lap. “I’m glad.”

“Good,” you agreed. “I'm glad you’re glad.”

He grinned. “I’m glad you’re glad I’m—“

The door made a jingle as someone entered the diner. The look on your boyfriend’s face told you who it was.

You were smart enough not to look behind you.

He grabbed his glass, turning his back to the man. “What’d I say?” He looked over at you, pride shining in his eyes. “Good day for Holiday.”

You looked down at your closed notebook, pretending to study it. “I suppose you were right.” You glanced in his direction. “What time can I expect to have you home?”

He considered it. “One at the latest,” he decided. “If I can’t make it home before then, I’ll call you.”

You nodded, slipping your book in your bag. “One it is.” You stood up. “Can I kiss you goodbye?”

He shifted the glass, trying to catch the man’s reflection. “He’s too shifty to risk it.” He glanced up at you. “But I’ll kiss you when I get home.”

Waiting was the worst part of dating Mathew.

The second worst thing was the fact that he wouldn’t tell you his real name (he had offered Mello as a substitute— which the two of you agreed was an objectively silly name— but he claimed Mathew was as close as he could give you, what with the times being what they were). The third was that he got himself into bad situations all the time, but the very worst were these agonizing waits between seeing him after the working day was over and Good Samaritan laws practically stopped being in effect. It could have been worse, you supposed— he could be late and stupid enough to get hurt— but it did not make the wait any less unbearably long. He always came back, and you knew he always would, but it was impossible not to assume the worst at twelve-fifty. Fifty-six, now.

‘This show sucks.’ You turned the television off, letting your eyes fall closed.

A knock at the door.

You shot up from your doze. Quickly, quietly, you slid off the couch onto your knees, groping under it before your hand found a cool, heavy piece of metal. Taking the bat in your hand, you approached the door. Stealing yourself, you glanced through the peephole.

Him.

You exhaled, unlocking the door. He was doubled over, breathing labored, glistening with sweat. You pulled him inside, relocking up as he tried unsuccessfully to compose himself. His eyes were trained on the bat. “You should let me buy you a piece,” he panted. “That’s… fuck… that’s not going to be helpful if…” He swallowed, laughing in exhaustion. You could see now that he had dried blood stuck to the side of his face. “If someone comes here, a bat’s not gonna help. I could’ve shot you through the door.”

You reached out, tilting his head up towards you to get a better look. They were ugly scratches; pale skin outlined angry red and pink flesh. You tried not to ask. “You need to disinfect these,” you mumbled. “You’ll get scars.”

He waved your hand away, standing up straight. “I’ll be fine,” he assured you. “The guy just scratched me is all.”

“Disgusting stuff is under fingernails.” You took his hand, leading him towards your bathroom. “You’ll thank me later.”

Grumbling, he let you drag him along, let you sit him down, let you bring harsh antiseptic to the gashes despite his protest. He watched you, mostly, fiddling with his fingernails while you fussed over him.

Finally, he spoke. “You haven’t asked me yet.”

You crumpled up his bandage’s wrapper. “Asked you what?”

“What I did.” He kept his eyes trained on you like it was an effort. “If I did it.”

You shrugged. “Not my business.” You tossed them out. “Are you complaining that I’m making myself a bad witness?”

“I guess.” He swallowed. “I’m in, I think. If they hold up their end of it.”

You leaned against your sink, facing him. “Do you get paid this time?”

“I should.”

You nodded absently. “Are you okay?”

Finally, he looked away. “Well enough. I—“ He paused, amending his statement. The cool light of the bathroom— you meant to get those changed— casted dark green shadows across his face. “Well, I thought I would be doing different horrible things, but I knew I’d– I mean to say, I’ve about come to terms with my going to hell if there is one, so.” He smiled shakily. “It doesn’t matter much to me which circle, so I’m alright.”

You nodded again.

“I’m sorry for being late.” He looked down at his nails, forcing his hands onto his thighs. “I mean, I know I wasn’t late, but I should have let you know I was taking longer than expected to come home. My phone died, and I didn’t want to be dropped off close to here.”

“You’re alright. I appreciate it, really.” You gave him a once over. “But you’re not coming to bed without a shower. And I’m not washing whoever’s blood that is out.”

He looked down at his shirt, realizing— seemingly for the first time— that he was spattered with blood. “I look like I killed someone,” he noted.

You shrugged. “Nobody here’s going to call the cops on you for having blood on your clothes.”

“Disturbing, but convenient.” He rolled his eyes. “One more failure to add to the list for the justice system.”

“I don’t know if it’s that.” You crossed your ankles. “I mean, yeah, but I think it’s got more to do with people thinking that there shouldn’t be capital punishment for people guilty of the crime of being kinda weird.”

“Being put to death for being strange,” he mused. “How biblical.”

“It’s not that either,” you stressed. “It’s just that the Kira fanboys started leaking police records so it’s a bigger dick move than it usually is to call the cops for stuff.”

He leaned onto his elbows, letting his head fall forward. “Again,” he sighed, “how biblical.”

“Old Testament justice,” you conceded. “I wonder if Kira’s a Christian.”

“It’s not likely.” He looked up at you, dull blonde hair sticking to his face. “He’s Japanese; most Japanese people aren’t Christian.”

“I guess.” He had a lot of theories about Kira. They were usually accurate, but their quantity brought you pause on occasion. “That’s funny. So is it just faith in the police, then?”

“That’s more likely.”

“Someone should shoot him.”

“If you’ll tell me where to aim, I’m more than happy to.”

You looked down at your tile floor. “You'll have to wait in line.”

“I know.” A pause, then, “I wonder how much his body would go for.”

“Whose, Kira’s?”

“Yeah.”

You considered it. “I’m sure loads of people would want his head for one reason or another. He better hope he doesn’t end up in prison; you’d be able to buy him and his stuff piecemail.”

“Like a celebrity.”

“Like a pope.”

“Like a god.”

You hummed. “Enough people deify him already; all he needs is a church.”

“Wouldn’t that be funny?” You struggled to pinpoint his expression. It was almost sadistic. “What an accomplishment that would be, to be the first person in recorded history to kill a god.”

You let your head fall back. You really hated that light. “You sound like a serial killer.”

“I feel like one.”

“What’s your plan after you catch him?” You looked back down at your boyfriend. He was shivering. “Will the two of you just call a truce?”

He took a deep breath. “Probably not.” He traced one of the tiles with his foot. “If someone as powerful as Kira showed up again, we’d probably fight over who could catch them too. Then another person after that, and another after that. Rinse and repeat until one of us dies.”

“How miserable.”

“Naturally.”

You loved your boyfriend. You loved most things about him. His passion, his drive, his energy— you could see yourself starting a proper life with him. You shared your life with him, anyway, and a part of you believed that one day he would too.

But there was one thing about him you could not stand.

He was ambitious. Too ambitious.

It would get him hurt one day, and you hated that you knew that you would be around to see it.

[violetsiren90]

All I Haven't Said | Namjoon/Reader

Table of Contents: Chapter 1; Chapter 2; Chapter 3 (part 1), Chapter 3 (part 2)

Pairing: idol!Namjoon/f!Reader

Genre: Soulmate AU; idol AU; chapter fic; strangers to lovers; a bit of idiots to lovers, tbh; slow burn; eventual romance; eventual smut; angst (life is messy & hearts are complex); OT7 featured

Summary: You found your soulmate - or rather, he found you. Turns out he's an idol of much acclaim who needs you for very real and unglamorous reasons. What could become of two hearts so used to giving of themselves when they are confronted with needing each other?

Warnings: 18+ (minors, dni), realistic depictions of cancer and cancer treatment; mention of unfeatured character death (previous to plot); emotional health growth and development; eventual smut; feelings and dealing with feelings (no, but seriously, so many feelings)

Author's Note: First and foremost - Blame Me chapter 1 will still be tentatively dropping by the end of the week. However, this just literally wrote itself last night after a couple of drinks and several streams of Lonely 💔. It was the thing that just poured out of me and could not be stopped. It's been simmering in the back of my brain for a while, and so, now that it's out here, I'm going to be posting it in tandem with Blame Me, probably on alternate weeks (if I can manage it, 😅). I want to give credit to those whose works I have read which have come to set the stage for my concept of the soulmate au, and who are far my betters in creative artistry: Matchy, author of balls-to-the-walls masterpiece Trip No Further, Fallencairns, author of lovely work of art Turbulence, and @teenagebountyhunter , to whom I dedicate this work 💜 the author of the ineffably beautiful Namjoon soulmate fic Bloom (RUN to read this immediately) - the inspiration for what is to humbly follow below. If you're checking this out, thanks a million for reading, and please don't be shy in offering feedback should you be so inclined! (Baby fic writer here, constructive criticism always welcome!)

Without further ado, chapter one is under the cut.

P.S. Tag list is open. If you want in, let me know. 😊

P.P.S. In case no one has told you today, you're loved and worthy of love. 🧜💜

“When your hands leap towards mine, love, what do they bring me in flight? Why did they stop at my lips, so suddenly, why do I know them, as if once before, I have touched them, as if, before being, they traveled my forehead, my waist?”

~ Pablo Neruda

Chapter 1: The Cure

Diana dipped another three fries in ketchup and popped them into her mouth.

"So, what do you need to talk about that has you desperate enough to buy me lunch?" She smiled smugly and sipped and her milkshake.

You hadn't touched the burger in front of you, even if you probably should be absolutely relishing in it, considering your future prospects. You picked up a sweet potato fry and stared at it absently.

"I found my soulmate," you stated flatly.

Diana's jaw dropped mid-chew, unpleasantly framing the masticated remains of a mouthful of turkey club.

"Wait, are you serious?" she pressed, round hazel eyes wide and unblinking.

You dipped the fry down into the little cup of ranch and swirled it around slowly.

"Actually, he found me. Well, his people found me," you continued. 

"Huh? So is he some kind of a big deal - wait...they found you? What does that even mean? Wait, no - you have a soulmate?!"

You smiled ruefully. It was kind of nice to see someone else freaking out about it for a change. You had known your little sister would react strongly, which is why you had waited until now give her the news.

"Y/n, ANSWERS," Diana demanded leaning forward to flick your forehead. 

"Ow!" you protested, rubbing the throbbing spot on your brow. "Keep your pants on, geez!"

You sighed. After having relayed this story to your mom, your doctor, a specialist, legal advisory, your best friend, your brother and his wife, and your very disappointed boss, you had gotten pretty good telling it. Yet, somehow, each time the burden of it's truth felt a little heavier. You ate the fry. It was pretty good. You wished it had sucked so it wouldn't be one more edible thing you missed the prospect of.

"So apparently, a couple of years ago a university in Switzerland found a way to match soulmates using DNA testing. Don't ask me about the exact science of it - I do not understand it. What I do know is that it's illegal to use this technology to locate your soulmate in the US."

"Why?" Diana had abandoned her food and was listening with rapt attention.

"Something about privacy rights. Though they've dealt with that issue in Switzerland - people interested in finding their soulmates join a biological registry. I'm sure our government is just waiting to find a way that big pharma can exploit it before they facilitate the process. Anyway, somehow, I ended up in a foreign registry. I guess there is a black market for soulmate data..."

"Oh my god, could I be on the black market?" Diana gasped, slapping her hands over her mouth.

"I guess anyone could, provided they've ever been treated at a hospital, or given blood, or anything of the sort...but calm down! It doesn't even matter unless you have a match, which is rare."

"So he found you on the black market?! That's so fucking sketchy, Y/n."

"It was his company, actually. I got a visit from representatives of an organization called Hybe. They are some kind of South Korean entertainment conglomerate. One of their employees, a musician, is dying of cancer. Seeing if he had a soulmate was a last-ditch effort to save his life. Now everything is banking on me and my cooperation."

You flicked your eyes up to your sister. Her expression had morphed into something far more somber.

"Heavy..." she whispered.

You nodded.

"What are you gonna do?"

You took a bite of your burger. She wasn't going to like your answer. Diana's face changed again, this time registering alarm and indignation.

"No," she murmured, "No, Y/n. You're just gonna do it, aren't you? You're gonna go be the fucking hero! You're going to traipse off to Korea and save his sketchy, ungrateful ass!"

She stood up, her chair screeching back over the concrete and drawing the attention of other diners on the patio. You glanced around apologetically.

"Diana, sit down! And how do you know if he's grateful or not?!" you hissed.

"No!" she countered defiantly, yanking her hand away from where you had reached for it. "You always do this! You never, ever think of yourself. And now you'll be gone forever...is this even safe?"

Tears had started to well up in her eyes, and the glances around you had turned into stares and whispers. You stood up and pulled her into a hug.

"Hey, hey, it's okay! Lets get out of here and I can answer all of your questions, alright?"

She sniffled.

"Okay. But you're not leaving me."

You smiled and huffed out a laugh pulling her toward the parking lot.

You had anticipated that Diana would disapprove of your decision, and it being as difficult a situation as it was, you had decided to make all the arrangements and choices necessary before telling her. She loved you so fiercely, she would have watched the world burn before letting you break a nail, if she could help it.

After your father's death nearly twenty years ago, you had become protector and provider to Diana and your younger brother Henry, three years her senior, in ways your sensitive and unworldly mother seemed unequipped to shoulder. If they had both not been so established and secure in the trajectory of their adult lives, you would have made it clear to Hybe that you regrettably had nonnegotiable responsibilities right where you were. But Henry was settled into a suburb with a lovely wife and year-old daughter, Diana was set to finish undergrad and head off to nursing school, and the deal with Hybe had actually allowed you to leverage for your Mom's retirement, so you were boarding a flight to Korea next week to take on a new set of cares and concerns.

You tossed your keys on the table on your way into your apartment and collapsed onto your comfy red couch. While Diana rooted around your fridge and loudly complained about the lack of hard seltzer, you sorted through the mail and made a mental note to add a forwarding address on a few of your accounts and subscriptions, including the one supplying you with Nightwing comics. You set the mail aside and took a moment to look around you.

You loved your little apartment. The kitchen was small, but the big window with the spider plant hanging in it made it one of your favorite rooms - the herb garden on the counter and the fully stocked bar above the fridge did nothing to make you like it any less. The earthy brown walls of the living space were littered with shelves full of candles and living plants and quirky curios, and in and amongst them hung framed watercolors of flowers and herbs that you had painted yourself. The record player sat at the ready in the corner by the wall dedicated almost exclusively to books and vinyl. There was a small tv over the stone-lined fireplace. Over your shoulder your soft, queen sized bed with sheer canopy cozily called your named from the single bedroom. 

The whole place smelled like citrus and cinnamon. In every corner, there was you. It was going to be hard to leave the hobbit hole you had so lovingly curated for yourself over the last half-a-decade...especially since you wouldn't be going "there and back again", but just...there.

Diana plopped down next to you,  breaking your reverie.

"So, you're NOT going, but tell me about the huge mistake you ALMOST made," Diana prompted as she side-eyed you, taking a sip of the wine she had poured herself.

You set the comic book you had been thumbing through aside and drew your knees up to your chest as you swiveled to face her impatient stare.

"Last week, these three people showed up at my door, two men and a woman, and they said they were from a company called Hybe based in South Korea. One of their employees, a singer named Kim Namjoon, has stage 4 liver cancer. I guess they caught it pretty late in the game, so even the most aggressive treatments aren't doing much good. Back in April the doctor gave him two months to live."

"Damn," Diana interjected softly.

"Yeah, that's why all of this is happening so fast. He needs me as soon as I can get there."

"We need you, too," she whispered, reaching out to loop her finger into the top of your sock. You smiled affectionately.

"I know, Di, but you're a grown woman now and you can take care of yourself. You're going to have to and I know you can. Life really won't be that different - you'll be off to school in San Diego anyway! Most of our hangouts were going to be over Facetime...now you'll just have an excuse for a little international travel."

She heaved a stuttering sigh.

"Speaking of travel...Johnny broke up with me," she mumbled.

Your mouth hung open in shock.

"Oh my god, Di, I'm so sorry! Why didn't you tell me?"

She downed her remaining wine and stared into the empty glass, twirling it between her fingers.

"I was gonna, but when I told mom last week she said to wait to talk to you about it because you were dealing with something stressful. Now I know what she meant."

You shook your head.

"Ugh, Mom..."

Your sweet, nonconfrontational mother, while you loved her deeply, was a horrible communicator. Whenever she got involved things like this always ended up worse. You looked at your sister twiddling with her wine glass. She looked so small. And Diana, while she exuded many things, very rarely seemed diminutive. You grabbed her and pulled her to you, and she instantly snuggled into your chest.

"I'm sorry you've had to hold that in all this time," You said softly, stroking her hair, "You really could have told me. How are you doing? Was it bad?"

She shook her head against you.

"Nah, it wasn't so bad. He's going to travel before starting grad school and wants to 'sow some wild oats'," she answered, flashing air quotes.

You couldn't see her face, but the acerbic nature of her tone told you just exactly what she thought of that concept. You snickered. Atta' girl. You'd never liked that guy much, anyway.

"What an asshole," you remarked.

"Yeah, he better not hit me up in a couple of months when he's done fucking his way through Europe."

"Fuuuuuck that," you commiserated. 

"Yeah, so I thought this summer would be our last hurrah. You know, no guys, just you and me...like old times" Diana mumbled in a voice that was all sulking and bottom lip. 

"Ahhh," you said with a smile, "So that's why you are so disappointed. Well, we still have a few days - we can make the most of them!"

Diana lifted her head from your chest and glared up at you.

"Boys ruin everything!" She whined.

You smirked softly.

"Usually I would agree with you, but the one I'm leaving for seems kind of decent, actually."

Diana frowned.

"How do you know? Did he call you or something? Wait, you never finished telling me your story!"

You hummed in assent.

"I mean, there's not much more to tell. I agreed to move out there to bond with him and begin treatment. I signed a really basic contract that will be revised when he is well enough to think about the future - or in a year, whichever comes first. They were pretty quick to meet my terms, I guess they didn't really have much choice since I was the one holding the all the cards."

"What does any of that have to do with him being a good guy?"

"Oh," you blinked, "It doesn't. You see, when they met with me they talked a lot about him. It was almost like a job interview or something. They talked about his accomplishments, his net worth, the importance of his work, and his worthiness as a person. One of the guys was actually one of his bandmates, and he had come specifically as a character reference. They had initially wanted me to sign the contract right there and then - and let me tell you, that kid they brought with them almost convinced me with his giant puppy eyes alone - but in the end I had asked for forty-eight hours to consult legal advisory and think it over. The first thing I did when they left was look him up. You actually probably already know who he is - I think I might have been the only person in the world who didn't. Have you ever heard of BTS?"

Diana jumped back like she'd been stung, clutching her chest.

"Are you about to tell me that your soulmate is a member of the biggest band in the world?" she whispered, her eyes impossibly wide.

You smirked. 

"Not just a member, Di...their leader." Diana shrieked, leaping up off the couch.

"RM??? Your soulmate is RM???" 

Your sister stared at you, agape, while you threw your hands up in indignation.

"I was the only person!"

"Oh my god..." Diana staggered back, demeanor having deviated sharply from disapproval to elation, "My roommate is obsessed with them! She has all these posters - but her favorite, I'm sorry, her bias, is Suga...holy shit, I can't WAIT to tell her she's gonna-"

"Diana," you interrupted her firmly, and her eyes shot up to you.

"Yeah?"

"You can't tell anyone."

Her face fell as she leaned back against the wall beside the fireplace. Clearly this was going to be even more of an emotional roller-coaster for her than it was for you, you thought in amusement. Typical.

"Everyone who I tell has to sign a gag order. You included."

Diana slid down the wall into a slump and knocked her head back.

"This situation keeps harshing my vibes, dude," she whined.

"Well, I'm exceedingly sorry about your vibes, but I'm sure they'll recover," you rejoined sardonically.

"But woah, Y/n, your boyfriend is hot. And rich. And super famous. Your wedding is going to be fucking LIT..." 

"Woah, Nellie!" You cut her off, waving your hands as if you usher her train of thought into the landing strip of sanity.  "Slow. Down. Wedding?? What happened to 'sketchy, ungrateful ass'?! He is NOT my boyfriend. He's supposedly my soulmate. According to some Swiss pseudoscience. We haven't even bonded yet. And if we do in fact bond, that doesn't mean we're a couple."

Diana popped her head up and fixed you with the most incredulous of stares.

"Um, excuse me...soulmates have to touch each other to survive. And I heard that the soulmate connection is better than sex. You're telling me you have the opportunity, nay, the duty, to be up in the business of one of the sexiest men alive, and you're just gonna platonically kick it for the next seventy years?"

You rolled your eyes.

"I mean, if that's what he wants - if that's what I want. Soulmates doesn't automatically equate lovers. I've been reading about people's experiences and there are some soulmates who bond platonically. Some people are already with romantic partners when they meet. Some don't share a sexual orientation that makes them compatible as lovers..."

"Oh my god, Y/n, could you please not kill the sexy by going all nerd on this?" She asked you in exasperation as her finger swiped at her phone screen.

Suddenly she shoved the phone out toward you, while tapping frantically with a neon yellow acrylic nail on the image she had summoned. She was saying something humorous and complaintive but you weren't listening. You were looking at the man in the photo.

You hadn't seen this one in your superficial search-engine dives. It was a headshot. His hair was a light brown, full at the top and styled away from his face. His skin was darker than in many of the other images you had seen, emanating a beautiful golden glow. He was smiling just enough for his right dimple to softly grace his cheek. His features were strong, masculine, and incredibly handsome. All of that was already striking, but his eyes, oh, his eyes - they were staring directly at the camera, irises only half visible under his lidded gaze, warm and sincere, so incredibly intense.

The hair stood up on the back of your neck and your breath caught in your chest in spite of you. You closed your eyes and sucked in a breath. You needed to calm down. He was just a person. Good looking? Yes. Charismatic? Obviously. But you had a job to do, and no time to screw around with schoolgirl daydreams. He probably had a girlfriend. No, definitely, he definitely had one. And hey, he was just a person, like you. No need to be star struck.

Diana had been continuing her rant, completely unaware of being ignored, when she had let out a high pitched squeal of laughter.

"Oh my god...oh my god!" She shrieked.

"What?" You snapped, your hormone-wrestling train of thought cut off abruptly.

She stared at you, lips pressed together as if she was trying to contain more loud giggles.

"What??" You demanded impatiently, your limit for her antics very swiftly approaching.

"RM. K-pop superstar, probably one of the coolest people ever born, gets YOUR dorky ass as a soulmate, HAH!"

"Hey!" you deflated, unimpressed with what she considered to be so vastly comical.

"Oh that poor man!" she pushed dramatically, "That poor, poor man. You're the least graceful, geekiest person in the western hemisphere. What will you even talk about? Good thing you don't speak Korean, you'd probably bore him to death! Shit, at least you're pretty..."

You folded your arms over your chest defensively.

"Hilarious. But actually, he's fluent in English. And I read somewhere that he likes art..."

"Y/n, he's rich," she interrupted condescendingly, "All rich people like art. It's a huge flex to own an original. If I was a billionaire I'd 'like art' too. Oh my god, I just can't believe this is happening. Like he's crazy famous..."

"And very, very sick," you reminded her softly.

Her expression fell into something contrite.

"Oh, shit, I forgot," she murmured.

"I'm glad you're excited for me, Di. It really made me feel a lot better about the whole situation seeing you get some kind of joy out of it. But I can't stress enough that this isn't a fairytale. Who knows how he feels about resorting to this. I guarantee you this is as hard for him as it is for me."

Diana crossed over to the couch and skooched in next to you.

"All jokes aside, he's lucky to have you, Y/n. You love at a thousand percent. Even if you guys just end up being soul-buddies, or whatever, he hit the jackpot," she smiled at you, that sweet smile that made you rethink everything for one split second.

Now it was your turn to try to hold back tears.

"I'm gonna miss you," she murmured, "But I respect what you're doing."

"Now that he's famous?" You prodded with a teasing smile.

"Yeah, now that he's famous," she conceded. 

You pulled her into a hug. The silence that hung around you was pregnant but comfortable. Diana finally broke it with a soft question.

"So you're really going to give your whole life away for a total stranger next week?" she whispered.

"Mmhm," you hummed somberly into her hair.

"Why you always gotta be like Dad?"

A familiar lump began to form in your throat, but you swallowed it back. You always did. And Diana fell asleep in your lap one last time. You stroked her hair as you thought back, rather emotionally exhausted, over your conversation. It seemed like people thought of the soulmate connection as some kind of miracle. You didn't believe in those. People made choices, and those choices governed reality. You had just made the biggest choice of your life, and if it was like any of the other roads you had taken, it would require much of you. 

The following day was your last at work. Your coworkers had greeted you with pizza, cake, flowers, and hugs. It was touching to realize how much you would be missed. Your boss, Shauna, hovered as you gathered you belongings from your desk. 

"Damn it to hell, I'm gonna miss you!" She mourned for the umpteenth time.

You smiled as you tucked your little philodendron into the box, placing it next to the canvas speckled with daisies that read "You Matter" in curly green letters. 

"You have an amazing team here, you guys will do great," you insisted, patting her hand where she leaned on your desk.

"Um, a great team of people you trained!" she said, consoling herself with a swipe of frosting from what had once been a beautiful red velvet cake with white buttercream.

You leaned beside her on the desk, joining her in sadly picking at the dessert remains.

After you had graduated with your degree in social work, you had landed an internship in a program which Shauna was running. The two of you quickly discovered you had similar passions and community goals, and the following year had left the program to start Magnolia Village, a one-stop shop for women's services sadly unprecedented in your area. While the startup had been rough, your passionate duo had believed in the need and refused to say die, and from your mutual blood, sweat, and tears had blossomed a cornerstone of the local community. Over the years it had grown and extended its reach to thousands in need of support. Many of the staff were women who had first come through the door seeking services, and were now your partners in providing the aid they had found empowering in their hour of need.

You were immensely proud of what the two of you had built, but leaving the Village was bittersweet, as you were more confident than ever that it had grown into a well-oiled machine powered by lovely, capable people who could keep it going at full tilt without you.

"This place basically built itself, we just propped up the scaffolding," you remarked, glancing around the building fondly - what had once been a residential fixer-upper was now a cozy space of offices, a nurse's station, six emergency beds, sanitation services, and a food pantry

"Bitch, you know very well that I am the bulldozer and you are the heart and soul of this place. We are going to feel it when you leave. You better come back and visit us. Mirabell is going to do a good job filling your shoes, though. Watching her step up to the plate has been something else." 

"It has," you nodded, "She's going to kick ass. You might just forget I was ever here by the end of next week."

Shauna turned uncharacteristically tearful eyes toward you.

"I will never forget you," she choked.

Then suddenly you were being crushed in a bear hug. You returned her embrace until you thought you might actually pass out from lack of oxygen.

"Okay, I love you, but I'm about to asphyxiate!" you wheezed, slapping her on the shoulder.

She let you go, but grabbed your arm and looked at you seriously.

"I want you to promise me one thing," she said, holding your gaze.

You cocked your head to the side. Shauna released your arm to clasp both your hands in hers.

"I want you to promise me that when you get to Korea, you find something that you're gonna do for yourself."

You started to respond but she stopped you.

"Something for yourself. It doesn't matter what it is, but it can't be for your soulmate, or your family, or anyone else however deserving...just you, okay?"

You looked at her quizzically.

"I do stuff for me..." 

"Don't get swallowed up, baby girl. Find someone to ground you, to remind you that you're worth more than what you have to offer."

You scoffed.

"I'd like to see someone try and swallow me..."

"Y/n,"

"What?"

"Promise me."

"Okay," you nodded, "I promise."

Shauna squeezed your hands, then went back to chipping away at the mass of red crumbs and buttercream.

A little twinge of worry twisted in the pit of your stomach. You were strong. Resilient. No one could bounce back like you, could survive like you. People knew this - they had been telling you so since you were ten years old. So why was everyone acting like you were being cast out to sea without a life preserver? 

You had spent the weekend with your family. Henry and Mercedes had even driven down, Elena in tow, to have one last Sunday dinner and see you off to the airport. Hugs and tears and small parting gifts had made leaving even harder than you had imagined.

When you finally boarded the plane your eyes were red and your head was throbbing. After the plane had gained enough altitude to allow you to unfasten your seat-belt, you had slipped into the restroom to rinse your face. You returned, plopping down next to the man who would accompany you during your first few days of transition.

"I'm getting booze when they wheel it by, Matt, so don't try to stop me," you huffed, gesticulating in mild threat with the book you had extracted from your carry-on at the suited figure sitting in the window seat.

The handsome older gentleman smiled, not lifting his eyes from the copy of the Korean Herald in his hands.

"Wouldn't dream of it," he responded, flipping a large, thin page.

Matt Anders had been many things to you in life. Before you were born, he had been your father's best friend. He had been the best man at your parent's wedding. He and his wife, Rebecca, had cared for you and your siblings during your mother's sanitarium stay. He had tutored you for the SAT score that had earned you a full ride to the university that had saddled you with a BS in social work and minor in English literature. Today, he was your attorney. Matt, who had an IQ of 146, had learned basic Korean so that he could translate for you and make sure that your interests were looked after as you settled in. Having him there made you feel one hundred percent more secure about the process. He, for instance, had been the one in negotiations to ask for the very cush business-class fight accommodations you were new settling into.

"Whatever you would do for him, you'll do for her. I want an equality of treatment clause added with no addendums."

You smiled to yourself as you remembered his exchange with the Hybe's representation. He had asked for things you would have never asked for yourself, and you felt better having access to them knowing that he felt you were deserving.

The flight attendant sweetly asked if you would require any refreshments. You asked for two whiskey and cokes, and handed one over to the man beside you. You took a long, refreshing sip.

"Damn it, I wish I had appreciated food more," you sighed, looking ruefully at your glass.

"What are you going to miss the most?" Matt asked before sampling his own beverage.

"Cheese. I can't believe I'm saying that, but in the end I just love cheese. And there are so many kinds I haven't tried. Do you know there's this Italian cheese that comes in the shape of a pear? It's super expensive because of the breed of cow the milk is sourced from. It's supposedly suuuuper creamy. But, hey, now I'll never know if it's as rich and complex as they say..."

You took another sip of your drink.

"Caciocavallo Podolico," Matt remarked casually, returning to his newspaper.

"Excuse me?"

"The cheese you described, it's called Caciocavallo Podolico," he reiterated.

"You know, I should be used to it now, but I'm not. Don't think I'll ever be. How on earth do you know this stuff?" you insisted incredulously.

"Read it once," he shrugged, "And it's actually pretty famous as far as cheeses go."

"Catch-a-vayo Picadillo..." you murmured.

"No," Matt interjected succinctly. "Anything you want to go over again? We have the time, Lord knows."

You sighed.

"Can't think of anything right now. What did you think of the list of questions I sent you?" 

"Very good," he nodded, "I'll be adding a few of my own, that I think should come from me, if you don't mind."

You swirled the ice in your plastic cup.

"Of course not. Thanks again for coming with me, I'd be pretty lost without you."

Matt smiled at you again, reaching over to squeeze your arm.

"You'd do just fine. But you would be flying coach."

You smirked and cracked open your book. As you flipped to your marked page, a colorful, sturdy rectangle of paper fluttered to the ground at Matt's feet. He reached down and picked it up, regarding it with a curious eye before you could snatch it quickly away and tuck it back between the pages of My Antonia.

"New bookmark?" he queried.

"Something like that," you murmured.

You thought he might press you further about the Hangul characters he had surely noted on the back, but just then the captain's voice crackled over the intercom reiterating the weather conditions in Seoul and you took the opportunity to bury your nose back between the pages. You glanced clandestinely over at Matt, who had settled back into the Korean Herald, before pulling the little watercolor card from between the pages where it had been hurriedly concealed. Your eyes traced over the purple clematis trailing elegantly across the illustration as you wondered if 12 hours was, in fact, a millisecond or an eternity.

-End Ch. 1-

[aguamarinee]

➪ 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: Maki × reader

➪ 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: fluff, crack

➪ 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: Y/n and Maki have been trying to set up two of their friends for dates, but so far all of their tries proved unsuccessful. Luckily for them, there comes a perfect opportunity to try again. But the events don't turn out exactly the way they want them to... and this time they have to get involved, way too deep for their liking.

➪ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭: ,,Seven minutes in heaven? With you? I didn't sign up for this."

➪ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬: 6,7k (I went so overboard with the plot man T_T)

"—What?! You're kidding!" Maki freaked out quite loudly in the school cafeteria, earning some weird looks pointed towards our table when it was just the two of us sitting there.

It didn't help that in the heat of the moment he stood up and lightly slapped his tray down onto the table — he almost knocked over his milkshake but I caught it at the last minute before it could spill out everywhere.

All I could do was sigh and give him a judging look, thankfully he got the message and sat back down quietly, and I handed him back his precious drink.

"Yeah... I wish I was, but I'm not." I continued, toning down my voice and leaning closer to him to resume the story. "I swear I hinted pretty damn aggressively to her that she should wait at the courtyard after school. I mean I had no idea how much, but I told her nonetheless. That was what we talked about all day! And we had two empty classes to talk because the teacher was absent..." I sighed again and took a bite out of my sandwich, so while I'm spilling the news to Maki during the lunch break, I get to eat something as well.

"Anyway, that was until you messaged me about the exact time." I gestured towards him, he nodded, confirming while listening intently. "And by then we were having our last class which was different, but I tried to catch her in the corridor. I almost missed my lesson since I couldn't find her, so I just messaged her instead. I told her to wait for me, so I can keep her company while you and your friend arrive. She saw my message and answered as well, during the lesson. But when I ran to the courtyard 5 minutes after we were dismissed, she wasn't there!" I whisper-shouted to Maki, getting a bit too into my story. I took another big bite out of my sandwich and waited for him to talk.

At first, he just lightly facepalmed and let out a quiet groan.

"Then I don't understand— it was so obvious! No offense but your friend can be a bit absent-minded sometimes..." He trailed off, then started to eat his lunch too. I just shrugged at his remark, still munching, motioning him to continue. "It's true that we got there like 15 minutes after classes were over, but we had P.E. for last and you know how that goes." He rolled his eyes. "Also, our team lost the impromptu basketball game so we had to sweep out the gym and gather all the lost footballs, volleyballs, basketballs, and other supplies, then take them back to the storage room. That's why we were a bit late, but after we got the packing done, damn, I was rushing to the changing room so fast, dragging my friend with me." He laughed a bit and sipped on his milkshake.

I acknowledged this silently while continuing to eat, nodding along and smiling at his silly side of the story.

"I wanted to give a heads up that we're running late but I left my phone in the locker so I figured whatever, and just tugged my friend with me through the corridors so we don't waste more time. But as I saw from afar that neither you nor your friend was there, I got pretty confused. And slightly alerted." Maki looked me in the eyes a bit sharply, expecting me to continue again and explain my situation further. I swallowed my drink and began talking yet again.

"Well — 10 minutes earlier —, seeing that she wasn't there I went into panic mode too and immediately messaged her, thinking that she got lost or got caught up by something — I don't know, I was short on time." I smiled sheepishly at him. "But she wasn't answering and wasn't online, so I opted to try and call her. I started pacing around the courtyard while dialing her number, but I was worried that you guys can arrive anytime and it would be incredibly awkward to see only me standing there, waiting anxiously. So after a minute, I ran off to her classroom, to check there. Although I told her clearly where to go, I thought I should see, just in case. Then I ran to our shared classroom. Then ran to our shared lockers, but still no luck. So I grabbed my coat and went to the school's gate for a last effort, but of course, no luck there either. Between running around I was trying to call her nonstop but she never picked up, not even once! And that was my last straw; I couldn't reach you or her, so I just went to the bus stop and traveled home... I don't know, at that point, I really didn't feel like doing anything." I chuckled lowly and shrugged my shoulders again.

"Right, I saw the messages and two missed calls after I went back to my locker and I felt bad, but it's not like I knew that things were going South this much. But really, it just came out to be the worst-case scenario this time. We suck at being good wingmen, aren't we?" He laughed too, between small bites.

We haven't got much time left from our lunch break so it was time to get to the end of the story.

"...But I'm curious," I said after a minute of eating in silence. "When you saw that none of us were there at the courtyard, what did you do? How did you play it off? Did you just tell your friend to forget about it or what?" I asked and locked eyes with him once again, with a hint of mischief.

"To be honest I tried playing it off cool, but I have no idea if I succeeded or not. We just walked around the courtyard a bit, in a big circle while talking about everyday stuff. I lied that I just wanted to have a nice chat with him — which wasn't suspicious at all..." He dragged the last word out and rolled his eyes playfully.

"—Good thing you didn't start holding his hand or something, to guide him around the courtyard as if you're on a date." I cut him off laughing, already imagining the scene. Maki gave me a look but continued after a few seconds, elegantly ignoring my previous remark. "But yeah, in the end, it seemed like he got over it. Pretty sure he found it strange but it didn't come out as embarrassing as downright telling him that I set him up with a girl and it backfired." We both snorted at this then sighed quietly, finally finishing our lunch.

After a couple of last gulps from our drinks we stood up, took our trays to the disposer, and walked out of the cafeteria side-by-side.

"Do we know what happened to your friend though? She's okay, right?" Maki stole a glance at me while we were walking back to our classrooms, ready for our last class of the day.

"Yeah, in the evening she called me back. She told me she suddenly needed to run off because something important came up, so she couldn't wait. I guess we were just incredibly unlucky." I looked at him and hit his shoulder playfully while grinning.

Although it wasn't as funny 24 hours ago — running around and planning this whole thing in the morning —, as talking about it now, but our idea backfired so much that it was truly laughable.

It wasn't our first try though, we attempted to set up our friends countless times in breaks too — pushing them towards each other accidentally, or making them sit at the same table at lunch and other things like that.

But this was our very first bigger 'operation' on getting them to talk.

I have no idea when did we start doing this, or why did me and Maki think that this is a good idea, but it seemed fun.

And we both agreed on the fact that they should date, so why not?

But after this unlucky experience, I guess we need to think even bigger...

What though? How though?

Drag them into a double date—?

"Y/n!" I heard Maki calling my name from further away in an excited tone.

Oops, seems like I fell behind while thinking hard about our next step.

I ran up to him, meanwhile, I heard the first signal of the bell and took a mental note that it was almost time for our last class to start.

"What's up?" I raised my eyebrows, wondering why was he acting very chipper and happy all of a sudden.

"I just remembered something very good and useful, for our next plan." He was grinning widely, his eyes almost disappearing because of his signature smile, creating small crescent shapes.

This is the first time I'm noticing something about his smile...

"Yo, did you just get your braces taken off?"

I asked with a similar grin while turning to him, but at that exact moment the bell started ringing and both of us dashed into our classrooms without another word.

...Something very good and useful, my ass.

This party is neither very good nor useful for our plan at this moment.

I hope you're rushing Maki, because I'm about to die of boredom.

I thought we agreed on a fixed appointment when we would all get here!

But of course, the boys had to be late — almost 30 minutes by now.

I suddenly heard a light buzz and I snatched my phone from the coffee table without thinking.

I was pretty invested in the conversation with my friends, but even more invested in my master match-maker plan with Maki.

As I had the phone in my hand the screen lit up and I saw Maki's incoming message.

» The eagle has landed. We're coming at 3 o'clock, through the garage. «

I stopped drinking my alcohol-free minty mojito while rereading his text, because I needed a few moments to myself, trying to understand his written words.

What the heck, Maki...

But when I looked to my right — where the second entrance took place, straight from the garage — I caught a glimpse of his green jacket and he sent me a subtle wink, signaling.

That means the operation is starting.

His friend didn't see us and headed to the kitchen immediately to get a punch or a cocktail for himself, Maki following close behind.

My friend didn't catch our small spark of interaction either as she kept drinking her own light piña colada, happily chatting with her other friends.

The house was lively, to say the least. This made me excited too about what was to come, but this was the moment I relaxed completely since finally the two of them arrived.

People from our school were everywhere in high spirits and a bit tipsy from the small selection of colorful alcoholic beverages.

Although, weirdly enough I didn't see anyone else come in after Maki...

Where are his other eight friends though?

Because I know all of them have been invited.

Compared to a real nightclub the lights were pretty ordinary and weren't as hard on the eyes, but for a normal family's home, there were sure some funky lamps and ceiling lighting, top lights hanging down to illuminate us.

For a moment with the small flickerings above us, it also felt like the lights were illuminating our whole night extending into the future, predicting how will this crazy evening end.

I kept looking through the crowd that was gathering in the spacious living room, a part of it lingering towards the balcony, and also more people were coming out from the kitchen; catching up, introducing each other, or starting to mingle to the soft music.

But no matter how eagerly I searched for our other friends that I knew were invited, I couldn't find them in the tremendous number of my schoolmates.

They're probably not here yet... It's possible that they're coming even later, I guess?

Although I don't think everyone is coming — I doubt that Yudai or Fuma is bothered enough about a simple party when their finals are at stake.

...They'll get the key events in picture or video form anyway, provided by Nicholas and Harua.

Scanning the whole room again — and still finding nothing — I resumed the talking and put my phone back on the glass table.

I guess we're good to sit here until the music gets louder, after that — as we're not planning on taking part in the dance party — we'll just go upstairs to one of the bedrooms and play the game.

Which is supposed to be the big sensation of the party, at least in my and Maki's book — because that's where our mission starts.

Spin the Bottle and from then, Seven Minutes in Heaven.

And we plan on pairing up our friends with... A little bit of cheating but that doesn't matter.

Or, technically it's not even cheating, we're just changing the rules a tad bit. It's fine. It'll be worth it.

I hope.

"—Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!"

Suddenly a random mic went off loudly in the building, the speakers blasting the sounds through our ears.

As I looked to the front I noticed none other than Nicholas, being the owner of the booming voice, holding the microphone with a way too excited grin.

He was standing on a small podium and beside him Yuma was turning up the amplifier's volume which caused the sudden surprise and earache for everyone.

Way to announce their arrival...

And my prediction was on point; everyone came except for the two oldest who were probably at their homes and studying their asses off even at this hour for their finals.

Although, I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing.

At least they won't see much of the stuff that'll happen here tonight, but at the same time I'm scared nobody will be able to hold back Nicholas—

"How y'all doing? DJ Nicholas is in the house!" After a bit of silence, the crowd started to hype him up and I hid my face in my hands, feeling incredibly embarrassed to call him my friend at this moment.

Someone stop him, please.

As I looked at the others Yuma and Taki were trying really hard to keep it together, while Harua was already filming the very first cringe event of the night. Euijoo and Jo just seemed lost and confused beside them.

A bit further away I noticed Maki and his friend exiting from the kitchen with their drinks, Maki joined Taki and Yuma and told them something, then signaled my way.

Taki immediately noticed me and waved, which also meant it was about time I take my friend and leave the living room and Nicholas' newly made chaos.

As I kept looking at them, waiting for them to go up the stairs Yuma noticed me too. He smiled in his signature way with his snaggletooth showing, then Harua made eye contact with me for a moment as a greeting, not giving up on filming the older.

I have to give it to Nicholas, he's hyping up the crowd well and the real party is finally starting.

I don't know if it was intentional or he's just being extra and bored, but this means we're able to sneak away with the others.

I caught a glimpse of Maki already going towards the stairs' direction, beckoning the boys to follow him and having to drag away Jo and Euijoo from the show.

But he purposefully left out Harua because we need the cringe content and occasional blackmail material for Nicholas... Usually, he's the one who has his camera on 24/7 and has tons of embarrassing pictures and videos saved. I mean the rest of us doesn't have that many files combined, as he has alone.

Which is scary. But at least we're getting back at him a little bit.

Trust me, he deserves it.

"Hey, do you want to go upstairs? I'm not feeling the party vibe right now so maybe we can get away for a little? It feels a bit too crowded right now." I turned to my friend and I paid attention to express my words carefully so only she was able to hear them.

She pondered over my offer, taking another sip from her drink then shrugged her shoulders and stood up.

I copied her moves and set my sight on the staircase not too far from us.

We sneakily made our way around the big 'L' shaped leather couch we were sitting on and carefully pushed through the already dancing crowd.

Damn Nicho, you could have waited a little bit with the music though.

As we got closer to the first row of people that were in front of the DJ counter, I caught Nicholas' eyes and stuck out my tongue to greet him in my own way.

His grin grew wider and he quietly laughed while still mixing the music.

I nodded my head in the second floor's direction, signaling that all of us will be there if he would grow tired of being the in-house DJ.

And while we were at it I said hi to Harua as well, with words this time, giggling at the fact that he was still recording.

Finally, as we went up the stairs we came across a couple of rooms and as we looked through the aisle of doors one of them towards the back was left open and light came out from inside.

I guess we've found the others, nice.

I hope they haven't started the game yet.

"Yo, check this out, Y/n!" Taki bumped my hip playfully and suddenly his phone came into my vision.

"Harua sent the video into the group chat and Fuma just answered!" He said between giggles. "But I think Yudai is also with him since they saw it at the same time. They're probably having a break right now if they checked their phones."

As I looked at the device and read through the short conversation in the chatroom I chuckled as well, a smile forming on my features.

I happily laughed with Taki, a bit further away from the others.

We were still waiting for Harua to join us, especially since we ordered him to steal some snacks from the kitchen.

Our group was seated in a semi-circle on the bedroom floor, everyone still chatting and joking, not prepared for the upcoming game.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Maki eyeing me, but I didn't think much about it. I ushered Taki a bit closer to the others but remained next to him, still talking.

He was playing with an empty wine bottle in his hand that he picked up when he arrived — and it will be our helper for the game.

Because, well without any kind of bottle it would be pretty hard to play Spin the Bottle.

Shortly enough Harua arrived with chips and some sweets and he informed us that Nicholas will be present soon too.

I guess he doesn't want to miss the real sensation of our night... And the real chance to take those embarrassing pictures and videos.

We settled into a nice circle with everyone — in the meantime a couple of other girls joined as well after they noticed me and my friend were missing, but I didn't mind — as long as a lot of us gathered up, the fun is just increasing.

"The more, the merrier." Taki whispered to me with a grin and plopped the empty wine bottle into the middle of the circle.

As I looked through our group of friends everyone was comfortably seated beside each other, and I started counting them for the sake of the game, and when it came to Maki we made eye contact immediately and I was sure we were thinking the same thing.

"—Wait, we're odd." Maki interrupted the chit-chat as I was preparing to say the same thing. "We have to be even because later on we'll make pairs." He said with a serious face.

"Well, Nicholas is coming too." Harua chimed in.

"Oh please, we'll complete at least three rounds until he escapes from the party down there." Yuma rolled his eyes with a snort, dismissing Harua's answer.

"Then I'll join too, so we'll be even. And the only game master left is Taki then." I said with a small sigh, getting slightly impatient.

"Are you sure? I can join too, instead. You don't have to if you don't want to." Taki leaned closer, his brows furrowed in a slightly concerned expression.

"It's fine, it's better if you're the game master anyway." I smiled at him then caught Maki's eyes again, nodding.

"Okay, cool. Now, we can start the game. Bring on the first spin—!"

"Wait, how does this work exactly?" Maki's friend interrupted at the last minute, catching him off-guard.

The others just looked at him with a confused expression.

"You guys said that later we'll make pairs. And as far as I remember, you don't need pairs for the traditional version of the game." My friend joined, backing up his statement. "Or at least, I think that's what he meant."

I bumped Taki's shoulder and sent him a meaningful glance that he, as the only remaining game master — and the third person who knew in detail about my plan with Maki — should explain and refresh the rules.

"Okay, then allow me to explain!" Taki announced eagerly. "We're combining two games; Spin the Bottle and Seven Minutes in Heaven. First, we'll spin the bottle and when that stops on somebody, the others — with the game master's guidance — get to decide that person's partner for the next seven minutes, in that closet." Taki pointed to the corner of the room where a seemingly spacious wardrobe stood, emptied out — as many clothes were thrown on the bed — equipped with double doors. "That's all. Everyone ready?" As he finished, there were some groans and whistles heard, meaning that some people were more excited than others.

Before we started I exchanged one last subtle wink with Maki as he was sitting beside his friend, my friend beside his in a good mood and the other girls scattered around, a lot of them sitting close to Jo or Yuma and the small snack bar Harua set up before.

I purposefully settled opposite Maki and our two friends whom we set up, so I can keep my eye on them from afar and occasionally tease them.

...Also to keep Taki in check, because you never know with him.

"How much time is left?" I whispered to Euijoo because he was the one who had set the timer on his phone for this round's seven minutes.

"They have less than a minute." He responded and there was a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Do you think anything happened?" One of the girl's friends asked.

"I think Jo is just trying to survive in the corner." Yuma laughed and after his remark the whole group let out a snort, approving of his words and some of them already imagining the comical scene.

"...She's been crushing on Jo for years now, but she always said that he's just her hallway crush." Said the same girl who asked the question.

They were a group of four in my class that I wasn't so familiar with, and one out of these girls got chosen as Jo's partner for this round — mainly by her friends but Taki allowed it so as a result he got a slight glare from Jo before he went into the closet.

And now as their time was coming to an end suddenly everyone started guessing and whispering, trying to listen in if something was going on or not.

"Hallway crush? Does she have different types of crushes? For every occasion?" Yuma asked in disbelief.

"Well not every single occasion, but to say another example, your friend, Nicholas, he's her P.E. crush." She shrugged her shoulders with a smile.

"What? How does—" Yuma raised his voice as he grew more interested in the topic but luckily Euijoo's phone cut him off.

"Okay, times up!" Taki shouted to them, then stood up and opened the wardrobe's double doors, dismissing the previous conversation.

Jo immediately stepped out with a slightly worried expression. The girl a couple of seconds after him, with relaxed, even confident strides as she sat back beside her friends.

Nobody said anything, Taki was chuckling lowly, trying to keep it together just like the others.

Jo averted his eyes and walked back in a robotic manner to sit back down beside Harua.

He said nothing but his ears peeked out from his shorter hair and they were a bit reddish, differing from his natural skin tone.

Yeah, something definitely happened.

Although Harua kept on giggling as well, he patted Jo's shoulder in a comforting manner to make him feel better.

"Hey, Jo..." Suddenly Maki spoke up, making eye contact with the said boy. "Not to be like that, but there's a lipstick mark on your left cheek." He informed him as discreetly as he could, without laughing loudly but he almost lost it at the end.

As I looked at Jo I noticed the mark that Maki was talking about and I had to use my hand to tone down my laugh.

He just looks so lost and embarrassed. Sorry, Jo.

We'll make it up after this night... Somehow.

"Thanks." The tall boy muttered in a low voice, barely audible to the others and suddenly stood up and excused himself to go to the bathroom.

"I think we broke Jo." Euijoo said after the friendly banter and laughter died down.

"...You got a photo though, right Harua?"

"Let the guy live, Yuma! Or I'll make sure that you'll be the next candidate." Taki threatened the older with a smile, but there was a naughty glint in his eyes.

"Bring it on!" Yuma retorted enthusiastically with a big grin, his snaggletooth showing again.

"Oh-oh, Y/n." Taki's teasing tone woke me up from my daydream and as I looked at him I noticed the bottle's mouth was pointed towards me.

"Now you wish you've stayed as a game master, don't you?" My friend asked me with a playful smile.

"Your time will come too. Very soon!" I replied with the same attitude.

"Now, now. Let us choose your dear partner for the seven minutes." Taki continued teasing, then turned to the others to start deciding my fate.

Challenge accepted.

Honestly, I didn't think I'll have to participate in the game for real — I mean there was a slim chance for the bottle to stop on me.

And I planned on reclaiming my position as game master after Nicholas shows up, but that didn't happen yet, so I guess I'll have to take up this challenge.

"—Right! It's decided then! Y/n's partner will be Maki!" Taki announced happily and I snapped my head in his way, then in my friend's way.

Challenge not accepted. Challenge declined.

As I saw her laughing with Maki's friend and I felt a weird feeling in my stomach that I couldn't explain right now.

I knew immediately something was going on, but when Maki stood up and looked at me expectantly to accept our penalty I needed a moment to calm down and stand up without staggering.

"Well, I guess we got set up this time." He laughed in a carefree way.

"Yeah, and I guess I know exactly who set us up." I gave him a lopsided smile as we walked to the wardrobe.

You know... Now that I'm looking at it up close, it doesn't look that big.

Ok, maybe it won't be as comfortable but this is Maki we're talking about, he's been my friend for ages!

There's nothing weird about this, besides, it's only seven minutes, like come on... You can do this Y/n.

We won't end up like poor Jo over there.

....Right?

"Okay! The seven minutes are starting now! Have fun, kids! Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" Taki closed the double doors on us with a sudden movement and we were left in the dark.

This is so weird already, it's just the two of us here, but at the same time, I know everyone is eavesdropping just a door away.

I couldn't see much, but I was sure Maki stood opposite of me leaning into the corner because I felt his presence quite closely.

If both of us would move just a bit, then our bodies and faces would be touching for sure.

Should I start a conversation? We're going to be here for seven minutes... Why am I acting all weird and embarrassed, this is Maki I'm locked in with!

"...Man, I want to get out already." I heard Maki whisper, his voice came from even closer than I had anticipated. I could almost feel his breath and a small sigh on my face.

"Same." I answered, trying to move my head a little bit to the side. "But we have to wait seven minutes for that." I said nonchalantly.

"And if I kiss you?" He asked after a few moments of silence.

You do what—?

I suffered in silence after I choked on my breath, hearing his quiet words.

"I mean, maybe the sooner we kiss, the earlier they're letting us out. It's worth a try."

He was speaking in such a casual tone that I didn't know how to react properly.

I was relieved he couldn't see me at this moment otherwise, the heat creeping up my neck and cheeks would have debunked my feelings.

It's not like I don't find Maki handsome or attractive, but I've never thought about him in this way...

And I'm sure he would say the same.

But what is his plan?

"I don't think it works like that, Maki..." I whispered back a bit firmly, trying to dismiss his hasty idea.

But before I could knock some sense into him I felt his hands softly sneak onto my sides, one of them stopping at my hips and the other reaching for my waist.

"Maki, what are you doing?" I whisper-shrieked and as I was panicking about where to put my hands, they bumped his chest; I was lightly trying to push him away.

Not that there's much space where I could push him off, but still.

My cheeks were getting dangerously hot so I had to do something.

"Just trust me, I'm sure they'll let us out!" I heard his words directly beside my ears, and I felt goosebumps traveling up my exposed arms because of his low whisper.

"They didn't let out the others either, what makes you think they will do it for us?" I was getting slightly frustrated by his actions.

He was holding me so tenderly and I swear I saw the way his eyes sparkled in the dark.

And it proved really dangerous for my heart at this moment.

"We're not supposed to interact with the others in these seven minutes, we're supposed to concentrate on each other only." I spoke softly and unintentionally moved my head closer to his to emphasize my words, and that's when I felt our noses touch.

My heart skipped a beat and I released a small gasp of air.

In the meantime, my hands stopped pushing him away and they just lay comfortably and peacefully on his chest.

He didn't respond right away and as I heard him take a bigger breath, his hands attached themselves more firmly to my sides.

"I am concentrating on us right now. I want to get us out. Will you let me?" His hand moved to my chin from my hip and he lightly tilted my face. And I still felt our noses touching softly.

I didn't imagine being close to him is like this... But I don't hate it that much.

Aren't we friends though?

Aren't we supposed to watch our friends kiss, rather than ourselves?

....Did they really set us up?

I can't believe we didn't notice it sooner.

"Y/n, you're not paying attention." I heard Maki's soft low voice once again, but his lips slightly touched mine as he spoke.

The sudden butterfly touch and the friction his plush, pillow-like lips caused made me try to move my head to the side, but his hand on my chin kept it still, besides there wasn't much room to move at all.

My breath hitched but Maki seemed to elegantly ignore that and connected our lips finally.

I quickly shut my eyes, even if it was dark and my actions didn't change much about my sight, it was reflex.

My mind felt numb but at the same time, thousands of questions circulated through it within seconds.

This is not my first kiss and I know this is not Maki's first kiss either, but then why does it feel special?

I'm not in love with him, we're just doing this because of the game.

But this feels... nice?

Does he think it's nice too?

I had no idea for how many minutes have we been here, but I prayed that this won't be the end of our seven minutes.

Because that would mean the doors opening and the others seeing... This.

And I didn't want that.

I wanted this to stay in between us, our first and last shared kiss staying between only our lips... And not passing it onto other people's mouths, to talk about and create gossip.

The kiss was slow, and soft, neither of us was rushing things.

It went on much longer than I had expected it to, but — sadly or not — not longer than I would've liked to.

It's still weird that I'm enjoying this, but we won't talk about it after this, and won't mention it to the others either.

I was sure that we were taking this to the grave as well as any sudden spark of sympathy or romantic feelings.

As our long kiss ended I noticed that instead of Maki's chest — beyond my knowledge —, now I was comfortably holding his shoulders, and his hand that held my chin at first, now is caressing my cheek.

I opened my eyes but obviously, all I saw was darkness.

Maybe a tiny line of light seeped into the inner part of the closet since the doors didn't align perfectly but it was at our feet, it reached neither of our faces.

Nevertheless, I still desperately tried to search for Maki's eyes and guess his expression, and how he felt.

I knew that his face was in front of mine, so close yet so far from more intimate acts—

"Guys, you can let us out already! We kissed!"

...Damn you, Hirota Riki.

Damn you, and your big mouth.

As he raised his voice, alerting the others of our situation despite my irritated thoughts on the inside, on the outside my body became still, like a statue, and for the umpteenth time this night I choked on a gasp of air in disbelief and surprise.

"...Good, now go on! You guys still have 3 minutes left! Hahaha!" I heard numerous voices from outside, but mainly Taki's as the only game master.

Now my friend's last words before Maki got chosen as my partner hit even harder.

If only I'd stayed as a game master, really.

...Or Nicholas got his partying ass here sooner.

Damn everyone, I'm never going to a house party with my schoolmates again!

And I can already imagine Yuma, Taki, Harua, or the others typing away on their phone to that ominous group chat they have, sharing this exact moment with the two oldest.

It was embarrassing enough the first time when Yudai found out that I said he used to be my senior crush, barely after the first time I had met him.

I didn't dare to look him in the eye for a month!

And I'm still heavily blaming Taki's loud ass because of that!

Now I won't dare to look into his or Fuma's eyes until I die.

I will never hear the end of this—

"Huh? They're not letting us out! Why not?" Maki's frustrated whisper shook me up from the sea of my cringe memories.

"Told you, dummy." Instead of resting my hands on his shoulders further, I pulled them away and folded them in from of my chest.

It's not like he saw me, and it's not like the feeling was unpleasant for my palms... But I did it anyway.

Maki sighed louder this time and I felt him tap the door a few times but it was clear that someone was keeping it close from the other side.

Yup, we're definitely not getting out sooner.

He lowered his hand, feeling defeated but his other one was still gently placed on my cheek.

But he did raise or turn his head because I no longer felt his quiet breaths fanning my cheek.

"You don't regret that kiss though, do you?" As heard his cheeky tone, I knew that he was smiling.

Do I?

"Because I definitely don't." He said after I stayed quiet.

"No, I don't regret it either." I answered finally with a small, bashful smile, still somewhat relieved that he can't see me.

"...But do you know what I do regret?"

Maki hummed in a curious tone, his hand on my cheek alerting me about our situation once again as he continued caressing it and my blush deepened.

"Not kissing you first." I sighed and casually let out a careless laugh because of how absurd this whole scene is and what I'm about to tell him. "I... Kind of wanted to kiss you first. After we got locked in here, and when you suggested... Well, I'd be lying if I'd say that it wasn't in my head."

His warm palm stayed where it was but I felt him move again, and now his other hand supported the wardrobe's wall behind me, trapping me in a way and expressing his interest.

"And isn't it possible anymore? Only I kissed you, but you didn't kiss me yet. We still have some time left." His soft words made my brain and my body slow down, but on the contrary, my heartbeat quickened once again.

I guess that's how it's done.

His forehead touched mine as he hung his head a little to reach my height and that's where I saw my chance.

I put both of my palms on his warm, tender cheeks that were always stretched in the happiest smile, and at first, I pressed a butterfly kiss on his nose, then onto the corner of his mouth, slightly kissing his adorable dimples when I felt him grinning between my actions and finally I found his lips again and planted a longer kiss onto them.

I didn't dare to keep it as long as our first one, while feeling comfortable in Maki's and the closet's embrace I was starting to think that we don't have much time left.

Seven minutes seemed a lot in the beginning and when the others said that we have three minutes left, I relaxed that there wasn't much left.

But now am I getting paranoid or what?

Or is it my sense of time that is off?

Like three minutes are such a short amount of time, and as much as we talked or stood in silence it should really be over by now——

"Rise and shine, lovebirds! Time's up!" The doors slung open, revealing Taki's wide grin along with Yuma's eager expression and Nicholas' teasing glance behind his phone's camera.

Wait, since when is Nicholas here?

And why is he holding his phone like that?

"Say cheese, guys!" He said in a playful and upbeat tone and we heard him snapping pictures while Maki's arm was supporting the closet behind me, his other hand on my left cheek and both of my palms rested on his cheeks. But our heads were turned to the side, looking at the others in shock.

"Scheisse." Maki cursed under his breath at the sudden interaction, but he didn't let go of me.

If this photo is for the group chat...

...Oh Nicholas, you won't be going to live the next sunrise.

We'll make sure of that.

➪ 𝐀/𝐍.: This came out much longer than I wanted to but I'm not mad at the extra details and scenes! However, it really proves that I can't write short scenarios lol. (Also #SaveJo.)

➪ 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 【𝐌 𝐀 𝐒 𝐓 𝐄 𝐑 𝐋 𝐈 𝐒 𝐓】 !

[cozyknights]

dean/cas ficlet no. 1

not sure how long this is, but my girlfriend wanted me to write dean and cas at a diner so. this is that.

The diner is busy.

It's Saturday, a fact which Dean forgot before stepping foot in here. The bell jingles behind him. When he glances over his shoulder to see who it is, he's relieved to see it's Cas. He comes to stand next to him, frowning as ever.

"Why are you waiting?" Cas wonders, looking over at the full tables and the waitresses bustling back and forth between the kitchen and the booths.

"Kinda packed in here, buddy. Sure you don't want to go somewhere else?"

Cas shrugs. "I don't mind the wait."

After about twenty minutes they're finally seated at a booth with a window overlooking the street. Dean flips open the menu and lays it flat so Cas can read it backwards from the opposite seat.

"Dude, Garlic Butter Bacon Cheeseburger," Dean says. He points at the words and reads the ingredients, an excited spark in his eyes. "Bacon, garlic butter, grilled onions... I'm getting that. And!" He flips the page. "A chocolate shake."

"Dean..." Cas starts, looking slightly concerned.

"What? My best friend's an angel, just heal me up if your spidey senses tell you I'm getting an ulcer, or something."

Before Cas can reply, a waitress appears at their table. She looks pretty put together, except that her ponytail is slightly unkempt and there's a sheen of sweat on her neck. She smiles and takes out her pocketbook and pen.

"What can I get for ya?"

Dean orders his burger. Cas asks for an orange juice and toast.

"Coming right up," she says and disappears into the kitchen. Dean closes the menu in front of him and folds his hands, paying his attention to Cas.

"Just toast? You can have some of my fries if you want. I'll ask for another straw for my shake too."

"I don't get hungry," Cas says, "but I like the experience of eating."

Dean nods at that. "Yeah, eating's pretty fun. Unless you're Sam. Then it's not so fun." A pause. "I'm starving."

They make small talk until the waitress comes by again and drops off their drinks. Five minutes later, their food comes by piping hot. Dean immediately gets hit with the smell of garlic, onions, and warm bread.

"Can I get anything else for you?" the waitress asks, placing her hands on her hips.

"Another straw, please, and some napkins would be great. Thanks," Dean says. She nods and disappears again.

Dean rubs his hands together. This is going to be delicious.

He slides Cas his knife and fork set for his toast and butter and starts on his burger, taking his first delicious bite.

The flavors coat his mouth as he chews, and Dean actually takes a moment to close his eyes and relish in it. The garlicy spread, the bacon, the meat, the onions... they all blend together masterfully on his tongue. He swallows and chases it with a sip of his shake. It's perfect.

When the waitress comes back he says, "Give my compliments to the chef. This burger is delicious."

She laughs and leaves, and Dean opens the straw and sticks it in his shake. He slides it over to Cas and positions his burger basket so that the fries are closer to Cas.

"Have some, man, you won't regret it."

Cas furrows his eyebrows and tries the milkshake, smacking his lips a little to taste it better. Then he takes a fry, and before Dean can stop him, dips it in the cup of whipped butter they gave him for his toast.

"I understand your fascination with American food."

Dean clears his throat. "Yeah... I'm not sure you do."

[always-andromeda]

strawberry crème for Calvin pls? :) your layout for the event is so pretty! ❤️

– 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐞𝐢𝐫-𝐅𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐱 𝐆𝐍!𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞: thank you so very much, anon!! and aGH thank you for feeding my love for Calvin!!

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: lmao Calvin is an out of touch little weirdo, 100% fluff, nothing else I can think of!

If Calvin could write his first kiss with you, he'd know exactly how to set the scene. It would be the perfect balance between planned and spontaneous. Something cinematic yet quaint.

And really, under those parameters he could go about a dozen different directions. He'd certainly dreamt about it many times.

In one, he took you to an expensive dinner and you both waited all night only for the chef to completely botch your entire order. Instead, you ate fast food burgers in Calvin's car all while softly talking and laughing over the eclectic LA crowd that you'd observed in the restaurant. When you took a sip of your strawberry milkshake, he asked, "Let me have a sip." Only for you to reply, "Why don't I do this instead?" Then grasped Calvin's tie and brought him to your lips. And even in his dreams, he could taste the cool, creamy strawberry on your tongue.

Another one saw him walking with you in a park with Scotty. And of course Scotty couldn't help but drag him along on his leash before trampling in mud. The dog then proudly hopped up to paw at Calvin's legs, tracking the sludge all over his khaki pants and leaving Calvin very frustrated. To which you merely giggled and said, "He's just showing you he loves you, Cal. Here, let me give it a try too." Within seconds, he stopped caring about the inevitable stains that would never wash out of his pants because your mouth was press firmly against his.

Then there was the one that intrigued him most. He was still trying his best to write that one up in a way that did the dream justice. In it, you and him were at his mother's house, up in that treehouse that he often hid away in when his mother and Mort were becoming too much. But he would always be willing to share that treehouse with you. All he could remember was the light of golden hour falling over both of your figures as he took hold of your chin and slowly brought you closer. Your lips barely ghosted over his own before he closed his eyes and sank into the languid kiss. That one was his favorite. He would live in that treehouse with you for the rest of his life if he could. It would just be you and him in a world alone.

Calvin had been writing all day. The more you heard the faint tapping on the keys of his laptop, the more your frustration increased. He had this terrible habit of getting so lost in an idea that it would suck up an entire afternoon if he wasn't careful.

"Cal?" You called from his living room couch downstairs. "Are we going to watch our movie?" No answer. Aaaand he's still typing. You sigh and get up, making your way upstairs.

You found him lost in...something. His eyes were completely glazed over as he typed like a madman. "Calvin?" you tried hopefully.

"Hm?"

"Are you coming down sometime soon? It's been about an hour since you said you'd be finished up here."

"Uh-huh, yeah," he replied distantly.

You folded your arms over your chest, walked around the front side of his desk, and stood beside him. Still, Calvin wouldn't stop typing; hell, he didn't even seem to notice that you were now reading what he was typing from over his shoulder.

And as soon as you saw your name scattered among the paragraphs on his screen, you wanted to tear your hair out. "You're seriously writing about kissing me when I have literally been downstairs for the past hour waiting for you to do it?"

Calvin jumped in his seat and looked at you with wide eyes. Immediately, his mouth began to hang open, speechless and completely unable to form a comprehensive sentence.

"Fine, if I have to do everything myself, might as well add this one to the list," you grumbled. You leaned down and pressed an indignant peck to his lips. Getting ready to turn and leave him, you started to say, "There, now you won't have to stress about planning our your first ki–"

But within seconds, Calvin was on his feet, taking your wrists in his hands and spinning you back towards him before spattering an assortment of little kisses all along the planes of your mouth, cheeks, and jaw. Soon, that lingering frustration was replaced with butterflies tickling at your insides as he continued his onslaught of quick kisses.

"Sorry, I just didn't know–" he mumbled breathlessly against your skin. "Didn't know how to do it just yet..."

You giggled, "Well, you sure are doing it now!"

"Yeah," Calvin finally pulled back, hand going to hold your chin and his thumb brushing over your bottom lip. "And I don't think I ever want to stop," he resolved.

[tenebraevesper]

Five Nights at Freddy's: Salvaged, Night 5: Our Little Horror Story

''A voice calls, a cry in the dark, telling me to crawl to the light. But I won't, the show has just begun, I'm giving one last encore tonight. Five nights left to find you, one last thing to tend to. You'll fear what I can do, but you'll never run. Ghosts warn of my actions, but I'm the main attraction. You'll bring my satisfaction… Our little horror story's just begun.''

– Our Little Horror Story by Aviators (Five Nights at Freddy's 3)

xXxXxXx

Sam was drinking the milkshake she had ordered while walking through the main area, lifting the drink above her head when a few kids ran past her, pushing her aside and almost knocking her over. She looked at them, still a little startled, but relieved she didn't spill anything.

''Who would've thought that the place would still be full at this time,'' she muttered under her breath, taking another sip of the strawberry milkshake and walking out of the arcade area. Even though she told Springtrap how she wanted to go to Ricky's, she realized that it would be a little weird to have an animatronic roaming through the town during the day. She suggested then that they wait until evening, just before closing hours, but she still didn't expect that there would be so many people. ''Nobody seems to be in a hurry to leave. I hope Springtrap is doing well.''

Speaking of which, once they arrived here, the moment Sam turned her back to him, Springtrap vanished. She knew that he was quite stealthy, considering how he managed to sneak up on her without noticing, but it still surprised her. She figured he would be fine on his own and went inside, deciding to try and cover as much ground as possible, even though she wasn't quite sure for what she had been searching for. If there had even been a crime scene in this place, it was probably already cleaned. Even more, one of their employees was, as far as they knew, missing, and they still let people inside Ricky's as if nothing happened.

Or maybe the management at Ricky's has no idea what happened. Everything's possible.

So far, Sam had mostly checked the areas that patrons were allowed to visit, like the main area with the stage and the arcade area, but she knew that, if she wanted to know more, she would have to get into the parts of the location that were reserved for the employees. She was already thinking about asking whether she could get hired, but then figured that she sure wouldn't get the exact job she wanted and would be stuck with having to deal with the patrons instead of trying to find out more about Ricky and his friends.

Wolfrun Corporation may not be like Fazbear Entertainment, but you never know.

She walked over to the stage, where Max, Quentin and Dahlia were performing. Ricky was nowhere to be seen, so she assumed that he wasn't in animatronic mode and probably someone was walking around dressed-up as Ricky. She did wonder why it was only him and not the other animatronics, though. She was quite sure that the children would like to see Max or Dahlia also walking around and interacting with them.

She then glanced towards where the back room was. It was covered in curtains, so nobody would notice it, but she could still see the door at the bottom. After having another look around, she approached the door.

''Hello, there!''

Sam froze, the cold milkshake having nothing to do with it. She turned around, only to see the wolf mascot, Ricky, looking at her.

''Now, where are you going?'' Ricky asked her cheerfully, his movement showing that there was indeed a person inside the costume. Sam laughed nervously, trying to act casual.

''Oh, I was just looking around,'' she said. Despite the grin on Ricky's mask, she had the feeling that the person inside the costume wasn't smiling at all.

''Well, you shouldn't be,'' Ricky said in the same cheerful tone. ''You might get yourself in trouble, you know. Haven't you heard of animatronics punishing those who don't obey the rules?''

Something in his voice gave Sam the chills. Was the actor just messing with her?

''I thought that only the animatronics at Freddy's did that,'' Sam replied, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.

''Oh, they're just haunted. That is, if you believe the rumors,'' Ricky laughed. ''Me and my friends actually make sure that no one with wicked intentions causes trouble. We will do anything to make sure that troublemakers get punished. Safety is very important to us.''

''I see,'' Sam replied, forcing a smile. ''Nice to meet you, Ricky.''

She turned around and walked away, feeling Ricky's eyes boring into the back of her skull. Once she made sure she was out of his sight, she gave a sigh of relief. While she knew that it was the actor's job to approach and entertain people, as well as make sure nobody causes trouble, she felt like she was approached by this guy one too many times ever since she came here. She had nothing against wolves, but this one was rather uncanny. Either that, or it was her imagination messing with her again.

Dude, you're living with an animatronic who has the soul of a murderer inside him and it's Ricky who freaks you out? What?!

Sure, it was surprising, but there was a difference. Sam knew exactly who Springtrap was and what he was capable of, but in comparison to Springtrap, she had no idea what kind of person was representing Ricky.

She kept an eye on the wolf, who walked away, wondering whether she could try again to sneak into the back room. However, once again approached the stage and glanced at Ricky, she noticed him staring directly at her. Shuddering, she walked straight past the stage and to the nearest trash bin in order to throw her empty milkshake cup in it. Still having an uncanny feeling of being watched, she glanced back at Ricky, who seemed to be closer now than before, talking to a few children. He then lifted his head, staring at her and tilting his head.

Sam quickly turned around and left the area.

xXx

It felt rather strange being again at a somewhat familiar establishment. Springtrap felt a little bad for just leaving Sam on her own so suddenly, but he figured that she'd be able to find her way through the place. He had sneaked through the back door into the employee area, finding himself at a maintenance room as he tried to hide and decide where to go next. His first thought was to go deeper into the employee area, perhaps finding the manager's or security guard's office, until he realized that that wasn't exactly an option.

Instead, he found himself peeking into the main area, surprised to see the place packed with people. Despite what Sam told him about Ricky's, he expected that there would be, at least, adults who knew that what went down at Freddy's weren't just rumors and would be suspicious of Ricky's. However, the number of screaming, unsupervised children, parents who were only interested in their smartphones or tablets and exhausted employees told him that he was wrong.

He was quite sure that not only would he be able to snatch away a kid without anyone noticing, but that their parents wouldn't bother searching for their kid until they get kicked out once the place got closed. It had occurred to him to put this theory to a test, but he quickly decided against it, even though he would enjoy the sight of a parent screaming at an employee for not keeping an eye on their kid, despite the fact that the employees weren't babysitters and in no way responsible for the children, as a rule on the framed notice board nearby the entrance said.

And they call me a bad parent.

He sneaked into the main area, hiding in one of its dark corners. It seemed that Ricky's Wonder Shack had been keeping parts of their buildings in the dark, either because of aesthetics or to steer patrons away from them for some reason, which worked in his favor, as it gave him the opportunity to navigate through the place easier.

He observed the people from the corner he was hidden in, a little surprised that nobody seemed to notice him. Maybe they thought he was a obscure addition to the more popular mascots and not really worth their attention. He was fine with that, as he currently didn't need any spotlight. Instead, he observed the mascots on the stage.

 It was a little weird to see animatronics that weren't Freddy, Bonnie, Chica and Foxy, or their variations. On the other hand, this was a different company with a different brand, so there shouldn't be anything surprising. Something he did notice was that the animatronics were kept in a really good condition. While he was still at Freddy's, he would take over for a while as a technician whenever another employee couldn't come to work for whatever reason, and he saw that they were doing a rather poor job. There had been dirt and food stains on the suits, as well as missing parts and even rust on the endoskeletons, with him having to do a thorough work on them to keep them in a good condition. He always had that feeling of satisfaction when he saw the end result.

Just as he was about to leave, he noticed two kids curiously looking at him. They were a boy and a girl, seemingly no older than four or five and looked a lot alike, with Springtrap guessing that they were twins. They didn't say anything and seemed to be rather shy, as they backed away a little when he looked at them. However, they still smiled, even giggling, as if he had just performed a magic trick for them.

''Hello!'' The girl waved and giggled again, happy that she caught his attention. Springtrap was quite sure that she wouldn't be this happy if she knew to what kind of person she was talking to. Wondering where their parents were, he crouched, still towering over the two.

''Hello there,'' he said. ''Do you need anything?''

The girl started to fidget on the spot, as if a little embarrassed to ask him.

''Do you want to play?''

''I'm sorry, but I'm busy with something else,'' Springtrap told her politely. Surprisingly, the twins handled it rather well. Instead of screaming and demanding that he plays with them, they simply nodded.

''What's your name?'' the boy asked, standing on his toes and briefly rising his hand as if he wanted to touch his ears, but stopped himself, looking at the animatronic for permission. Springtrap nodded, with the boy giggling as he touched his ear, a little awed by the soft fur, and quickly stepping back, proud of his achievement.

''Call me Spring,'' Springtrap added, with the two nodding.

''I'm Kathy and this is Kyle,'' Kathy pointed at herself and her brother.

''Where are your parents?'' Springtrap asked, tilting his head. ''You shouldn't be walking alone like this.''

''Auntie told us that we could. She also said that we shouldn't bother her,'' Kathy replied, then pointed at a woman who was sitting at a lone table, staring at her phone and furiously texting someone. Springtrap frowned and then turned to the two.

''Your auntie is wrong,'' he said gently. ''Now, here's a warning from a friendly animatronic. Do not follow people you don't know, as they might try to hurt you. If you think someone is being strange, tell your parents.''

''We know that,'' Kathy said, looking a little excited. ''Mummy and Daddy told us.'' Her expression then changed to a disappointed one. ''But Auntie said that they were just annoying and how she lets our cousins do whatever they want. They're also really mean.''

''Yeah!'' Kyle chimed in.

''Then you are smarter than your auntie or your cousins,'' Springtrap told the two, with them beaming with pride. ''Next time you come here, bring your parents.''

''We will!'' Kathy replied, taking her brother's hand. ''Thank you, Spring!''

''Bye, bye, Spring!'' Kyle waved as they left, walking over to their aunt, who still didn't pay any attention to her surroundings.

Springtrap stood up, glaring at the woman as she yelled at the twins for interrupting her. However, she instantly turned sweet and nice when two boys, a few years older than the twins, joined them, one of them pushing Kathy away and demanding that the woman comes with them and kicks out whichever kid beat them at the arcade game they were playing. The woman followed the two, leaving the twins who were rather upset, looking like they were about to cry.

Springtrap's eyes glowed purple as he clenched his fist. This wasn't the first time he had to deal with entitled people who thought that the world revolved around them, and he really enjoyed messing with them and then kicking them out of his restaurant if they wouldn't stop with their arrogant behavior. However, as much as he wanted to punch that woman, he knew that it would be smarter to take care of the twins.

Kathy and Kyle, who were still upset about their aunt abandoning them, looked rather surprised when they saw the strange bunny animatronic again, this time smiling at them.

''I saw what happened,'' he said, crouching down. ''Are you okay?''

''We are,'' Kathy said, with her brother turning to them.

''What if Auntie Karen leaves us again?'' Kyle asked, tears forming in his eyes. His sister wasn't sure what to tell him, looking like she was doing her best not to cry.

''Do you two know your parents' phone numbers?'' Springtrap asked them.

''No…'' Kyle replied, with Kathy nudging him and showing Springtrap her wrist with a pink rubber band with numbers on it.

''Mummy gave me this and said that, if we get in trouble, to ask someone to call this number,'' she said, looking relieved. Her brother stopped crying.

''Okay, here's what you two are going to do. You will go to that girl,'' Springtrap pointed at a female employee, who looked a little older than Sam, ''and ask her to call your parents. Tell her that you are lost and I'm sure that she will help you.''

''We will do that,'' Kathy said, nodding and grabbing her brother's hand. ''Thank you again, Spring!''

''But, what about Auntie Karen?'' Kyle asked his sister.

''You shouldn't be worried about her. The most important thing is that you two let your parents know that they should pick you up. Don't you think that your parents would be sad if they found out you got lost?'' Springtrap told them.

''Ah, okay,'' Kyle replied, with the two then walking over to the female employee they saw, who seemed to look both concerned and relieved once Kathy showed her the rubber band, and walked with them out of the area.

A few seconds later, their poor excuse of an aunt appeared along with her two sons, screeching like a banshee at the stern male employee, who pointed towards the entrance. She and her kids stormed out, with her yelling about being treated poorly and didn't seem to even give a second thought about the fact that she just left her niece and her nephew at the restaurant.

Springtrap shook his head, sincerely hoping that the twins would get picked up by their parents. He then noticed that more and more people were leaving, guessing it was closing time. This was his cue to find a good hiding spot and wait until the place was finally closed.

xXx

Sam noticed people slowly leaving, several of them being parents who tried to coax their screaming kids to finally stop playing on the tower that was a combination of a slide, a net and monkey bars, and was connected to another one via a tube you had to crawl through. Looking at her phone, she realized that the place would be closing soon.

She had started to wonder where Springtrap actually was, as she hadn't seen him anywhere. She didn't want to use the walkie-talkie she gave him, telling him how he should call her instead in case he found something. So far, there hadn't been a call and she was slowly getting worried about him. Had he been caught?

Sam was contemplating whether she should hide somewhere, but considering how the employees had been ushering people out of the building and were making rounds to make sure nobody remained, that didn't seem to be an option. Feeling like she wasted her time, Sam walked out with the rest of the patrons. Aside from the weird encounter with Ricky, there wasn't anything.

Should I really be that surprised?

She walked away from the almost empty parking lot and towards an alley behind the building. Had she turned around the corner, she would've found herself at the back entrance to the building. She figured she should wait for Springtrap, assuming that he was still inside the building, and wait for the employees to leave. It took a good hour or so until the employees, or at least most of them, have left. The lights had been turned off and it seemed like she was the only person still here, but she didn't dare to do anything yet.

Suddenly, she heard a crackling sound on her walkie-talkie. She took it out, feeling a little relieved.

''Hey Sam, where are you?''

''Outside the building. Where are you?''

''Still inside. Seems like someone just doesn't want to leave.''

xXx

Springtrap's eyes glowed in a soft purple as he glanced into the hallway, noticing a shadow at the end of it. Someone was in the room with the costumes.

''Could you then give me a call when you're sure that the building is completely empty?''

''Sure.''

Springtrap glanced down the hallway, noticing the employee exiting the room. He was a young man, probably in his mid-20s, looking rather tall and lanky, with short brown hair. The man looked around, as if suspicious of something. Springtrap quickly retreated, only to be surprised when all the lights suddenly turned off. He kept quiet, hearing the back door closing. Springtrap waited a little, before getting out of his hiding spot and making sure that absolutely no one was inside the place. He then looked at the walkie-talkie.

''Sam?''

''Is something wrong?''

''Have you seen a guy exiting the building?''

''Yeah, I did. He just entered the car and left.''

''I see. Just wait a little longer.''

xXx

Sam paced in the small alley, a little nervous about what was going to happen. It didn't take long after Springtrap's last call, with the back door opening. She was relieved to see the animatronic, although something did bother her.

''Shouldn't there be a security guard?''

''Seems like they deemed it unnecessary,'' Springtrap replied, then frowned. ''Or they haven't found a replacement yet. In any case, I need to show you something.''

They quickly passed the door where the main area with the animatronics was, with Springtrap leading her towards the manager's office. While walking there, Sam could've sworn she heard steps that didn't belong to either of them. She didn't question Springtrap about it, yet, as she wanted to know what he wanted to show her. Once they got inside the office, Springtrap quickly closed the door behind them, with a look of concern.

''What's wrong?'' Sam asked him, but Springtrap shook his head.

''You'll find out soon enough,'' he replied, pointing at the drawers. Sam opened it, finding some messily placed files, which seemed to be about the animatronics. She took them out, quickly reading through them.

''Looks like they spent a fortune on those animatronics. All of them are high-tech, able to roam around and interact, as well…'' Sam trailed off as she read something and glanced back at Springtrap.

''Seems like they're similar to the Toy Animatronics, except for the fact that the Misfits don't only have facial recognition, but are also programmed to hunt down and detain any intruder, reducing the need for human supervision,'' Springtrap said. ''I'm not sure if they would've stuffed you into a suit like Freddy and his friends, though.''

''Sounds to me more like Circus Baby and the Funtimes, if they hadn't been designed to kill,'' Sam replied, noticing the glint of purple in Springtrap's eyes. She then took out her phone and started to take photos of the documents, while Springtrap looked around the office. He stopped when he suddenly heard steps coming towards the office. Sam held her breath, realizing that one of the animatronics had stopped right in front of the door. A few seconds later, they heard steps again and the animatronic seemed to be walking away from the office.

Sam sighed in relief, looking at Springtrap. ''We should hurry up and leave as quickly as possible.''

The latter nodded, opening a drawer and finding another file, this being one with huge letters printed on it.

''DECOMMISSIONED,'' he read, opening the file. The illustration of an animatronic he had never seen before stared back at him.

''We can read it back at home,'' Sam said, taking the file away from him and quickly taking photos of it. Once done with it, she put all the files back where they belonged. ''Now, the question remains on how are we supposed to get out. There are animatronics patrolling the hallways.''

''Well, you signed up for it,'' Springtrap said, giving her a smug grin. ''It shouldn't be surprising that this would eventually get dangerous.''

''Yeah, I know. I actually wanted to see if there's anything else before we get out of here,'' Sam said, her hand on the door knob. ''Like, the security guard's office.''

''You reckon there's footage of what happened?''

''Maybe, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was deleted,'' Sam replied, opening the door and looking outside. ''No one's here. Let's go.''

They quickly walked down the hallway, listening for steps. So far, they had luck, but just as they were about to enter another hallway, they heard steps. Sam felt Springtrap quickly grabbing her arm and pull her into a nearby room, closing the door. It was rather dark inside, with Sam first turning the screen light on her phone and then switching over to the flashlight. She didn't really like to use it, as it was too bright and would drain her battery fast, and with the screen light, there was less fear for her to be spotted. However, since the room had no windows, she didn't have to worry about it.

The room had hangers with costumes on it, looking rather vague. Sam assumed that they were spare suits for the animatronics. Two hangers were empty, with Sam and Springtrap spotting one of the costumes, the Ricky costume, on the nearby desk.

''I forgot to mention that the guy who left earlier had been here,'' Springtrap told Sam, who was examining it. ''I guess that he was taking the costume off.''

''It seems like it's not a springlock suit,'' Sam said, looking into the inside of the suit. ''I guess that's a good thing for them…''

''Or Wolfrun Corporation tried to create similar suits, but failed miserably and had to resort to normal costumes,'' Springtrap added, looking at the costumes. His eyes glowed purple when he suddenly saw something. He crouched down, trying to push away the costumes as he searched for something beneath them.

''What's wrong?'' Sam walked over to him, with Springtrap pointing at the few barely visible stains on the floor. He then examined each of the costumes, finding a few droplets on one. However, the fur had been rather dark, so it was hard to see them.

''I think we just found the crime scene,'' Springtrap replied. ''Could you shine your light over here?''

Sam pointed her phone at the floor and the suit, the stains now a little more visible.

''It seems that, whoever tried to clean this up, missed a few spots,'' she said. ''Then, there's the missing costume… Do you think someone killed the security guard while wearing a Ricky's costume?''

''Sounds like a logical explanation,'' Springtrap said. ''They then had to drag the body away, leave it at Freddy's, then return back to this place and clean up the blood. However, since it's quite dark in the room and there are also animatronics roaming outside, I assume they were in a hurry and didn't do a proper clean-up. Although, I could imagine someone claiming that the blood is just tomato sauce stains.''

Sam quickly took a photo of it, her hands shaking in both anxiety and excitement. She didn't expect that the night would turn out like this. However, as she was about to walk out, Springtrap stopped her.

''Wait here,'' he said. ''I want to check something first and then I'll come back to pick you up, okay?''

Sam nodded, with Springtrap quickly exiting the room and closing the door. He heard steps again, his eyes flaring purple when he saw Virgil walking into the hallway. The animatronic stopped dead in his tracks, as if observing Springtrap. After a few seconds, he continued walking into the next hallway, with Springtrap grinning.

''I see… They are actually more similar to the Toys than Circus Baby,'' he muttered. He followed Virgil into the next hallway, trying to remember the map Sam showed him. Those parts were marked as restricted for the patrons, but he felt that this was where they would find the surveillance room. It didn't take long for him to find it, as Virgil practically led him to it, only to stop, turn around and walk past Springtrap.

For a brief moment, Springtrap considered tampering with Virgil's system, simply for his own amusement, but decided against it, as he still had to get Sam. He walked back, stopping in front of the room with the costumes and waiting for Dahlia to pass him, as she slowly made her way towards the manager's office.

He opened the door, with Sam quickly getting outside and quietly following him. Virgil was nowhere in sight, although Springtrap had a feeling that he would return soon. They hadn't seen Ricky, Quentin or Max, and he assumed that they were at the main area. Sam, on the other hand, sighed in relief as they locked themselves in the security guard's office. She quickly turned the cameras on, observing the animatronics, who were walking in a set pattern, albeit none of them was entering the rooms with closed doors.

''It's all set to live feed,'' she said, searching for any stored videos. ''There's nothing there.''

''Or maybe someone deleted the recordings and set it to live feed, but nobody bothered to check on it,'' Springtrap said.

''We should leave,'' Sam said, turning the cameras off. ''I have a bad feeling that someone will return here and find us.''

''You mean the murderer?'' Springtrap asked, with Sam shrugging. He then opened the door and looked into the corridor, noticing Virgil vanishing into the hallway he came from. ''This way.''

With Springtrap leading them, the two walked as quickly as possible to the back door, briefly stopping when Dahlia suddenly appeared. Sam quickly hid behind Springtrap, who noticed Dahlia staring at him, her eyes lit, but she didn't seem to notice Sam. Instead, she continued down the corridor, while they entered the one she came from.

''That was close,'' Sam said, breathing a sigh of relief as they finally walked outside, with Springtrap closing the door.

''Seems that we were right about our theory,'' he said, as they walked away from the building. ''We know who was killed and where, but we don't know why or who the killer was.''

''True,'' Sam muttered, only to hear a strange sound and look at Springtrap. Aside from his walkie-talkie, he seemed to be carrying something else. ''What's that?''

''Oh, this?'' He grinned, holding a keychain. Sam stared at him, completely flabbergasted.

''You took the keys?!'' she mouthed, the last part sounding like a hiss.

''I found them at the manager's office, as I needed to open the door for you. I believe that these are the spare keys,'' he said, giving them and the walkie-talkie to Sam, who put them in the small bag she had over her shoulder. She sighed.

''You know what, we'll talk about this tomorrow,'' she said.

''Are you feeling okay?'' Springtrap asked her. Sam nodded.

''I feel a little tired, that's all.''

xXx

While Sam was sound asleep in the room next door, Springtrap was lying wide awake on the couch, thinking about what happened. He had to agree with Sam that it was quite eventful and he actually enjoyed it, as it didn't feel bad being around other people, even if he stayed in the shadows. He had even thought about visiting Freddy's once it opens.

If it opens.

Speaking of which, it was probably a bad idea for him to be at any kind of family friendly locations, as he wasn't exactly safe to be around people. Nevertheless, that didn't mean he did not know how to behave around children, acting like a friendly animatronic, without triggering the bloodlust he usually felt. Not to mention, he had been focused on the task he had been given.

I hope those two got picked up by their parents.

Springtrap glanced through the window at the night sky. He wondered what was going on at Ricky's and how it was connected to Freddy's, as well as whether it was connected to him.

He saw static before his eyes, but shook his head and sat up. The room didn't change, causing him to sigh in relief. He hoped that he could somehow put his hallucinations under control, but he still couldn't figure out how. So far, Sam was the one who managed to wake him up whenever he had a hallucination.

He thought about what she told him, how he had probably already made his choice by not only not murdering her, but also accepting her help.

Just when one horror story has ended, another one has begun. It seems like it never will end. Right, Henry?

xXx

''Springtrap?''

Springtrap was startled when Sam opened the door next morning and looked in the guest room. She smiled.

''Hey, there!'' she said. ''Did you have any hallucinations?''

''No,'' Springtrap replied. ''Did you have any nightmares?''

''Surprisingly, I didn't,'' Sam replied. ''Speaking of nightmares and hallucinations, it's Night 3, isn't it?''

''I am not exactly sure whether I should be looking forward to this, especially considering yesterday's topic,'' Springtrap said.

''Don't worry,'' Sam replied. ''This one involves you being the main attraction.''

Springtrap didn't look assured, wondering what this would be about. A little while later, he was in the kitchen, sitting across Sam, who was eating breakfast and looking at her phone.

''You know, I could've made you breakfast if you wanted. Pancakes, or something else maybe,'' Springtrap said, leaned against the table.

''It's okay,'' Sam replied, checking her smartphone and then turning to him. ''There are a few things we need to deal with first. For starters, I need to return those keys you took.''

''How do you plan to do this? Are you going to just walk inside and tell them that you have their spare keys?'' Springtrap asked.

''No way,'' Sam replied, shaking her head. ''I planned to just go back and drop them on the floor so someone else would find them. Once I'm back, we can talk about what I wanted to ask you for this Night.''

''If you say so,'' Springtrap muttered, observing her as she finished her breakfast and left for upstairs. He got up, entering the living room and waiting for her. Sam quickly came downstairs, putting the keys into her bag.

''I trust you to keep an eye on the house while I'm gone,'' Sam said.

''Don't worry, it'll be fine,'' he replied, with Sam leaving. He watched her until she was out of his sight, feeling a little lonely. Sure, he was capable of being on his own for an hour or so, but he still felt better when she was present.

Com'n! You have survived Hell, you can survive this.

xXx

Sam had been debating, not feeling right about this, but she still went through with it. Currently, she was at the counter at Ricky's Wonder Shack, ordering a pizza for lunch. As she debated which one to order, she felt a little anxious about the second pair of keys in her bag, having decided to make a copy of them. She hoped she would never have to use them and didn't plan to tell anyone (aside from Springtrap) that she had the keys for the back door to Ricky's.

''I'll take the mixed one.''

''Do you want a drink?''

''No thanks.''

After ordering, she had been given a receipt with a number, with the employee telling her how it would take about 20 minutes until her pizza was finished. Sam decided to walk around a little until her number would be called, visiting the stage with the animatronics. Currently, they weren't singing.

She looked around anxiously, still holding the receipt, and wondering where to leave the keys. There weren't many people and she searched for blind spots in case someone was watching the cameras, eventually realizing that leaving the keys at the stage was the best idea. She grabbed the keys and let her receipt fall down. She then crouched down to pick it up, placing the keys on the floor, and got up, quickly leaving the section. Nobody seemed to have noticed her and in another 10 minutes, she would be out of this place.

She walked to the tables, waiting for her order. She read some notifications on her phone, slowly relaxing. So far, everything went according to her plan.

''Why, hello!''

Sam froze when she heard a familiar voice. She turned, only to see Ricky waving at her. Her anxiety skyrocketed.

''Are you alone? Do you want company?'' Ricky asked her in a friendly tone.

''I was about to leave,'' Sam replied, standing up.

''Owww, that's so sad. Why don't you stay and have some fun?'' Ricky asked her. ''Perhaps I could introduce you to my friends?''

''I'm sorry, but I have to refuse,'' Sam replied politely, noticing her number on the screen above the counter and the employee calling it out. ''My order is up.''

Before she could hear Ricky's reply, she quickly went up to the counter, where she was given her pizza. She then walked to the entrance, but not before she glanced back, noticing that Ricky was gone. The animatronics on the stage were singing again, this time accompanied by the wolf animatronic as well.

Feeling nervous, Sam quickly left the place.

xXx

Springtrap was pacing in the living room, waiting for Sam. He had turned the TV on, figuring he could watch something, but he then quickly turned it off, preferring the silence. Someone else would've probably been rather unnerved by how quiet it was, but he was used to it, especially after having spent about 30 years locked in that safe room, the only company being the animatronic who killed him. Also, he felt that it was still better than that hellish office.

It's rather strange how things turned out. One mistake, or rather, one decision, and I came back, my soul possessing the Spring Bonnie suit.

Despite all the agony, he still smiled when he realized what would happen. He wanted it to happen. Death was nothing in comparison to what he had achieved.

It was an amazing feeling, although the only drawback was that those kids sealed the door, so I couldn't escape the safe room. Still, the wait did pay off.

He could still vividly remember the corridors of Fazbear's Fright. To be honest, he was a little surprised to see Freddy, Bonnie, Chica and Foxy being used as props at the horror attraction, but on second thought, he felt that it was quite appropriate. He even had the feeling that he belonged there as well, especially considering his past. He always felt that nothing could stop him.

I always come back.

He closed his eyes as static blurred his vision. He soon opened them, realizing that this was another hallucination.

I'm back at Fazbear's Fright.

He glanced at his suit, which looked now exactly like the withered one he had at Fazbear's Fright. He kept calm this time. It was just a memory, nothing else. He felt that he could handle this one. All he had to do was to stay at this spot and wait, as it would eventually go away. He then looked up, noticing a camera pointed at him. Of course I'm being watched. But, this is just a memory. Henry isn't really here.

He had to wonder what his old partner thought when he saw him again, when he realized what happened to William. Was he happy to see him being served the same fate as his victims? Was he horrified by the monstrosity William had become? Or did he already know about it and ignored what happened, determined to send his old friend to Hell?

I never asked him.

Someone would think that, all that time, Freddy and his friends were the ones people should fear. However, they weren't aware that their legacy wouldn't exist if it hadn't been for him. He was hiding in the shadows for so long, but now, he was the main attraction.

They thought that they could bring me to an end, but they were wrong.

He closed his eyes, feeling the bloodlust resurfacing, calling him. It was inviting him to continue murdering. It wanted him to create a new horror story.

The show has just begun.

He looked back at the camera, then turned his back at it.

However, this horror story is different.

''Springtrap?''

He was startled when he suddenly heard Sam's voice. He saw static again, with Fazbear's Fright vanishing and his suit looking less like a zombie and more like a cuddly bunny. He turned around, noticing Sam's worried expression.

''That was another of your hallucinations, wasn't it?'' she said. Springtrap nodded. ''Should I be worried?''

''No. It was just a memory,'' he replied.

''Speaking of memories, follow me,'' she said, beckoning to him. Feeling a little dazed, he followed her upstairs, with Sam turning on her laptop. ''Five Nights at Freddy's 3, also known as the game that got me hooked on the story rather than just trying to survive five nights of being hunted down by various animatronics.''

''Really? Why that game?'' Springtrap asked her as he looked over her shoulder at the monitor.

''It kinda started with a simple quote,'' Sam said, glancing at him. ''He will come back. He always does. We have a place for him. This was followed by me realizing to whom the quote referred to.''

Springtrap realized what she meant a second before she opened the file, with the screenshot of the very animatronic she was talking about. He tilted his head, seemingly nonchalant about it.

''He looks dashing.''

This caused Sam to burst out laughing. Springtrap had the feeling that she was dying to see his reaction and that he didn't disappoint, feeling somewhat happy about it. He sat on the bed, waiting for her to calm down.

''Will… Seriously?'' Sam was still smiling, taking a deep breath in order to calm down.

''To be honest, even though I was a rotting zombie bunny, I still preferred the animatronic suit,'' Springtrap replied.

''I see, but you never really explained to me why,'' Sam said. Springtrap gave her a smug grin.

''It's quite simple. Whenever I wore the suit, I had that sudden rush of confidence. I became a different person and I felt that I could do or say anything I wanted,'' Springtrap replied. ''I guess you could say I was addicted to that feeling, as it took me some effort to keep my actual identity and my animatronic identity separate.''

''I know that feeling,'' Sam said, with Springtrap looking surprised. ''You see, I have multiple accounts on various websites on the internet. I can pretend to be a completely different person than I am in real life, but sometimes, I feel exposed, especially when I show my emotions in the text I write. I understand that it's hard to separate yourself from the character you love, but in your case…''

''In my case, I became the character I desired to be. William Afton was gone and Springtrap was born,'' Springtrap said. ''It didn't take me long to accept my new identity. In some way, once all the pain and agony subsided, I was looking forward to it.''

''Speaking of which, why did you return to Freddy's?'' Sam asked. ''If you hadn't, none of this would've actually happened.''

''It were the animatronics,'' Springtrap replied. ''By that point, I was already certain why they were acting so strange, and after Freddy's closed, I figured it would be the perfect opportunity to destroy them once and for all.''

''Why did you even want to destroy them? It's not like they could escape the place. As far as I know, the animatronics had a map with the layout of the restaurant and FNaF 3 even had a minigame that showed them getting an error warning whenever they got close to the safe room,'' Sam said, pointing at her laptop. ''I know that you used that to your advantage.''

''That's true. Also, the reason I had to destroy them was because I had the feeling that the spirits would eventually overtake the animatronics' AI and find a way to break out and find me,'' Springtrap replied. ''I was right about it, although I was thinking about the wrong animatronic.''

''So, Spring Bonnie wouldn't have been able to move at all if he had been active?'' Sam asked. Springtrap shook his head.

''Once my soul took over the animatronic, I saw several error warnings, but they soon stopped once I figured out how to gain complete control over it,'' he explained. ''Seems like those kids never figured it out.''

''I bet they were really happy when they saw you die,'' Sam said darkly, staring at Springtrap.

''I assume they were,'' he replied. ''I was kind of busy having to deal with being sliced to pieces by the spring locks to pay attention.'' He then shook his head. ''Nevertheless, I already told you that I chose that fate. It was certainly better than any alternative.''

''Although it also caused you to be locked away for 30 years,'' Sam said. ''You know, I'm still surprised it's been only a couple of years since Fazbear's Fright burned down.''

''I feel like it has been an eternity since then,'' Springtrap said.

''Speaking of which, that old Freddy's location you visited before your demise,'' Sam said, scrolling through the file. ''It got torn down shortly after Fazbear's Fright was burned to ashes.''

''It did?'' Springtrap was surprised. He didn't really think about any of the old locations, but he felt a little weird to hear about it. It felt like a piece of his past had been torn away.

Did you really expect it to last?

''I'm not sure who ordered it to be demolished, but the plot is still empty,'' Sam added. ''I actually visited it twice. Once just before it was torn down and once after that.''

''Now that you're talking about it, I can imagine Henry doing that,'' Springtrap said. ''After all, he wanted the past to burn until nothing remained. Everything we created would be gone.''

''That did work, but it seems that someone wasn't really satisfied with finally bringing the whole horror story to an end,'' Sam said, then smiled, surprising Springtrap. ''I don't mind the continuation, if you can call it that. I mean, everyone involved in it is gone and at peace, except for you, so this feels like a whole different chapter.''

''I guess you can call this our little horror story, since you decided to get yourself involved,'' Springtrap said. ''That is, if you still want to be involved in it.''

''To be honest, I do,'' Sam said in a confident tone. ''Anyways, I have another question. What did happen to Phone Dude?''

''Who?''

''That guy who brought you to Fazbear's Fright. He was talking about having how he found an animatronic and then suddenly realized that the animatronic was gone,'' Sam explained. ''That's the last I heard of him.''

''Don't worry, I didn't kill him,'' Springtrap said. ''He managed to escape once he realized that the rumors about the haunted animatronics might be true.''

''You also said that Henry was the night guard. So, was he the one who set the building on fire? I mean, Phone Dude talked about how the technology in the building was ancient and how, if they weren't careful, it would catch on fire,'' Sam said.

''I think that the fire was indeed an incident, although there's no doubt that it gave Henry the idea to create an incinerator,'' Springtrap said, sounding a little bitter. He then noticed the look Sam was giving him. It wasn't the usual unnerving glare, but she seemed to be rather sympathetic, which surprised him. ''What's wrong?''

''Are you happy with your current situation?'' she asked, tilting her head. Springtrap was stunned, especially since there was no hint of malice or anger in her tone. She was simply curious. ''You said that you feel more confident as an animatronic, so I was wondering whether you are happy being stuck in this state.''

''I guess I am,'' Springtrap replied, looking at his hands. It was a strange feeling, but he couldn't help but smile at the satisfaction he felt. This was now who he was and he didn't care about what others thought about his fate. It might have been horrible in other people's eyes, but he was content with his new identity. I am Springtrap.

''I'm glad about that,'' Sam said, causing Springtrap to look at her. ''At least you're not a tormented soul who wishes to be free from his cage.''

''Well, if someone told me to go into the light, I would just tell them to shut up and go back the other direction,'' Springtrap said, causing Sam to giggle. He could feel the warmth spreading through his chest, once again pushing that hollow feeling away. ''So, do you have any other plans for today?''

''Not really. I am not really in mood to go anywhere tonight,'' Sam replied, stretching her arms.

''Is there anything wrong?'' Springtrap asked her, noticing that she did look a little anxious.

''To be honest, I don't really like those animatronics at Ricky's,'' she replied. ''I don't have anything against the mascots, but Ricky's actor is kinda unsettling. Every time I go there, I get approached by Ricky. I mean, I know that he's just trying to entertain people, but still…''

''Let me get this straight – you're freaked out by a normal guy in a costume, but you're perfectly comfortable in my presence? I feel like I missed out on something,'' Springtrap said.

''I think it's because I know who you are, but I have no idea who the actor is,'' Sam said. ''I guess that some people had the same feeling whenever you would perform.''

''As much as I know, some of the adults felt freaked out by the animatronics in general, not just me,'' Springtrap said. ''And that was even before they became haunted.''

''Speaking of adults, my mum is supposed to come back tomorrow,'' Sam said, earning a look of surprise from the animatronic.

''I hope you managed to come up with an excuse for what I'm doing here,'' he said.

''Well, I thought I could just tell Mum that you are a sentient animatronic whom I found and who followed me home,'' Sam said, shrugging.

''It's not that far from the truth,'' Springtrap said. ''That is, if you exclude all the shadier parts. Is there anything you want me to say or do?''

''Just keep up with the masquerade and don't tell her your real identity,'' Sam said.

''Why would I even want to do that?'' Springtrap asked, crossing his arms.

''Once you meet my mother, you'll understand,'' Sam replied. ''She has her own way of finding out the truth.''

''If she's anything like you, I can imagine that she will,'' Springtrap said, a little sarcastic, only to notice Sam's expression. He felt worried. ''Should I be afraid?''

''If she learns the truth, yeah,'' Sam replied. ''However, I think this will work out. Besides, you look like a cute and cuddly bunny. That's got to count for something.''

''You think I look cute?'' Springtrap tilted his head, feeling flustered. Sam smiled sheepishly.

''Yeah, I do,'' she said. ''Although that perception comes from my experience with the games, where I only saw you as a withered bunny animatronic complete with a corpse. Honestly, it was slightly disturbing with how adorable you could look, even more after I realized who was inside the suit.''

Springtrap felt a little weird, not at all expecting this kind of conversation. However, he was glad that she had such an opinion of him. He knew that, in a way, he wanted her to accept him, but he couldn't force her.

''I'll take that as a compliment then,'' Springtrap said, glad to see her smile again.

xXx

''Huh?''

He noticed something glinting on the floor. He picked it up, noticing it were keys.

''Now, now, who would do that? Someone far too curious for their own good?'' He closed his hand. ''Tsk, tsk, that not how things are done here. Safety is very important to us, isn't it?''

He then turned around, seeing a small boy looking curiously at him. He grinned beneath the mask.

''Do you want to meet my friends?''

Links:

#Previous Chapter

#Current Chapter

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#Five Nights at Freddy's: The Untold Story (Masterlist)

[leigh-kay]

Stay, Stay, Stay

Tyler Galpin / Fluff

Yes like the taylor swift song.

warnings// teenagers in love, 'arguing', groveling, cuteness, idk

She was nervous. Hands fidgeting as she knocked on his door.

They hadn't spoken since the night before, since she'd yelled at him. It hadn't even really been his fault. Wednesday's feelings were in no way Tylers fault.

He thought he was helping a friend. He didn't look at Wednesday the way he looked at her. She knew that. It was just infuriating that he continued to spend time with her even knowing how she felt towards him.

She tried her best to swallow the anger rearrising as she thought about the subject.

As the door opened, her fists clenched at her side. He watched her carefully, the smile he'd answered the door with faltering. It made her heart squeeze to see the usual grin fade at the sight of her rather than brighten.

The silence said more than words were capable of explaining, and the way his arms tugged her against his chest said even more.

He breathed her in, hand finding the back of her head as his chest tightened. He was just happy to see her.

"Come in baby," he stepped back, pulling her with him.

As they pulled apart, she smiled sheepishly at the taller boy. It made her nervous to see the unease in his eyes.

"I'm happy you're here," he tried, soft brown eyes meeting her wide ones.

"I'm happy I'm here too, Ty."

It was tense in the room, and both were glad Tyler's father was at work. At least they could keep the awkwardness to a minimum.

"I'm sorry..." she started, "but I think we do need to talk about it."

He nodded, going to sit at the kitchen table before pausing, "One second."

He disapeared around the curve of the hallway, the pitter patter of his footsteps being all she could hear as she stood still, arms crossed in the room.

He returned a moment later, arms raised, and face covered by the football helmet he'd thrown on, "Okay lets talk."

She wanted to be annoyed, she did. But God he was ridiculous with that stupid grin he wore underneath it.

She laughed, rushing out to hug him, hand grabbing into the front as she rolled her eyes, "You drive me crazy, Galpin."

"Tell you what," he took her smaller hands in his own, "we'll talk just like you want. But, we do it at the diner where there's witnesses when you undoubtedly wring my neck for being a dumbass and not hearing you out. Yeah?"

She smiled, nodding, "Your dad likes me best anyways, he'd bail me out."

***

"I understand why you don't like that I'm still helping her."

"Then why do it, Tyler?"

She sipped at her chocolate milkshake with stern eyes.

"She might want more, okay? But I don't." He sighed, "I like Wednesday, as a friend. She's cool, for a- she's just cool. But I love you."

She tried her best not to further her frustrations, but her hand twitched atop the table.

He didn't hesitate to grab it.

"Wednesday is cool. Pretty, even. But she's not even half way as perfect as you. She can't make me nervous like you do. She can't make me drop to my knees and beg for forgiveness."

"You're certainly not doing it for me either." she replied dryly, half joking.

Eyebrows raised as he dropped her hand, giving a challenging nod. He slipped from the booth quickly, a sly smile on his lips as he hit his knees beside the booth.

"I am begging you, my perfect girl, whom I'm an idiot for arguing with seeing as I'm already pushing my luck with how far out of my league she is," a few onlookers chuckle, "for forgiveness for my idiocy and for chance of a negotiation?"

For a football player, he was extremely theatrical.

She laughed at the thought.

"Get off of the floor and kiss me you dumbass."

He obeyed quickly, pressing soft lips to her own. Tiny cheers and claps rose from the small crowd, everyone of which knew Tyler.

It was the cafe in which he worked after all.

"How about," he kissed her again, "when we go on our little misadventures," another, "you come along too?"

"But you said it was dangerous-"

"It is. But that's part of it. I won't put you in harms way, and that means going out less. I'd feel bad, leaving her alone for my own sake, but I'll be damned if I let anyone elses feelings get you hurt."

She took his face in her palms, "you mean it?"

"I promise. I want you comfortable, and happy, and safe."

It made her chest warm as he spoke quietly to her. She liked when she felt he was all hers. His words, his presence, his smiles.

"I like hanging out with you even if it is because we're arguing." he furthered, as if reading her mind on how grateful she was that they were there together.

She looled at him softly, "Yeah well, you're stuck hanging out with me til' the day I die, sir."

Rolled eyes and quiet laughter formed between them before the room turned cold and the noises got bitter.

"Yes well if we don't get to this lead, that'll be happening alot sooner than I imagine you have in mind."

Wednesday.

[minniethemoocherda]

Sins of the Past: Child Support

Summery:  A collection of drabbles set in my modern au where the Bad Batch raise Omega after rescuing her from the abusive hands of their mother. In this chapter, Hunter asks Omega if she would like to meet their father. 

A/N:  Hi! Sorry I haven't updated this fic as often as I intended. But I hope this new chapter makes up for it! Xxxxxxx

Ao3

Jango had surprisingly agreed to the child support without any fuss. Getting proof of the backlog that the man owed to Ninety-Nine would've been near impossible, without the help of Hera's Mum Elani who had offered her skills as a lawyer

Jango had even offered up some of the money needed for Tech to go to college if he so wished. Hunter knew that Jango had done well enough when Rex and and rest of his half brothers had grown up under his roof, but they'd never been rich. So how and where Jango had gotten a hold that much money in the time since he'd ran off, Hunter had no idea and frankly wasn't sure if he wanted to. At the end of the day, if it could be used to give his siblings the future they deserved, he didn't care where it had come from.

At least that was what Hunter kept telling himself anyways.

Hunter had been of half a mind to halt his pursuit of support when Elani told him that if Jango paid up then then the man would in all likelihood be allowed visitation rights to Omega.

Hunter was under no illusions that Jango had been a shit Dad to to him and his brothers, both half and full. A part of him wanted to shield Omega away from him forever, child support be damned. But he couldn't deny that whatever her had been to them, Jango had clearly been a good father to Boba. Maybe he really had changed.

Plus, growing up, all Hunter had ever wanted was to meet his Dad. Sometimes even imagining that he would be the one to eventually rescue them. Of course that was before he realised what a piece of shit Jango was. Still, he would hate himself if were to deny Omega the dream he'd never had.

Which was why they were currently at Dex's diner.

Cody had introudced them to the place after learning from it through Obi-Wan of course, who himself knew Dex through Qui-Gon (and Hunter was pretty sure Dex used to be Qui-Gon's dealer).

The diner was relatively quiet for a Thursday evening and the pair were currently situated in the corner both in the back.  

Omega was happily munching away on Dex's infamous burgers of mystery meat between sips of her knickerbocker glory milkshake.

"Careful." Hunter chastised gently as she spilled sauce on her shirt.

Omega pretended to bat Hunter's hand away as he dabbed the dollop off her t-shirt with a napkin.

It one of her favourite shirts. It was also a hand-me-down from Wrecker that was ten sizes too big for her. As Hunter leaned back to check he had missed a spot, he realised that her jacket which Hunter had only bought at the start of the school year, was already too short on her rapidly growing body.

Compared to the sterile white gowns Nala made them war, the second hand clothes Ninety-Nine had given the boys When they'd come to live with them had made them feel like royalty. Until the other kids at school had beat the feeling out of them.

All Hunter wanted was for Omega to not have to go through all the shit that they had.

So before he could talk himself out of it, Hunter opened his big mouth.

"Omega I need to tell you something."

Omega froze. She'd just been about to take another sip of her milkshake but there must've been something in Hunter's tone that gave away that it was something serious.

"Do you remember how I once told you that Jango Fett was our father?" Hunter continued.

Omega nodded, her brow creased in confusion.

"Well, he reached out to me. He wants to meet you. Properly."

"Oh." Was all Omega said in reply. It wasn't negative, it wasn't positive just an oh. Hunter wasn't sure what to make of her reaction so he just ploughed ahead.

"Yeah. He wants to chance to get to know you. You guys can talk and I'm sure he'll take you to all sorts of fun days out. You can even stay the night at his if you want?"

Omega went impossibly still. Her back as straight as a ruler and her hands posed around her drink like a doll.

"Of course if you don't want to met him at all that's okay too! I won't let him within an inch of you if that's what you want!" Hunter word vomited, in his panic that he'd upset her.

Omega didn't say a word for what could've only been a minute but felt like an hour.

"Do you not want me anymore?"

Her voice was so small that even in their quiet seclusion, Hunter wasn't sure if he had heard her. But what he did hear broke his heart.

"Why would you think that?"

"Because you asked if I wanted to stay with Jango."

Hunter fought back a sigh. He knew he'd screw this up. Crosshair had told him that even entertaining the idea of Jango seeing her was a colossal fuck up in the first place. And even Echo had warned him, albeit in a more gentle manner that he should be wary of what Omega's reaction could be.

Having failed to heed his words before, Hunter took Echo's thoughts into action now, placing an arm around Omega so that he could hold her in a one armed hug, but loose enough so that she could leave if she wanted. A move he had seen Echo use many times before.

"Omega, of course I want you to stay with us. But I love you. Which means that what I want more than anything else in this world, is for you to be happy. So whatever decision you make will bring me happiness."

After a moment, a felt Omega lean into the hug beside him. Her blond hair tickling his chin as she lay her head on his shoulder.

"I... I think I'd like to meet him, if that's alright?" She asked, tilting her head so that he could see the glimmer of hope and uncertainty in her familiar brown eyes.

"Yeah, that's alright." Hunter told her, stroking a hand through her hair.

"And I can change my mind?"

"Any time you want."

"And I can get an oreo brownie for desert?" Omega asked, a sneaky smile returning to her face.

As usual Hunter allowed himself to be wrapped around her little finger.

"Just this once."

He called for Dex over her cheers of glee to bring them a round of chocolate sundaes. As Omega wolfed hers down the smile now fully returned to her face, Hunter wonder whether or not he'd made the right choice.