#why did you fucking cancel my order when you said it was on the way?

[stonesandswords]

.

[roosterforme]

Aim for the Sky Part 40 | Rooster x Reader

Summary: Work is finally peaceful for Bradley. While it seems like everyone around him is moving to a new stage of life, he knows he is, too. He's surrounded by so much love already, and more will be blooming soon as he counts down to the end of your pregnancy.

Warnings: Adult language, DILF Roo, pregnancy, smut, lactation kink

Length: 3700 words

Pairing: Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw x Female Reader

Aim for the Sky masterlist. This was written to accompany my series Is It Working For You? along with a bunch of my one-shots and other series, but it can be read on its own! Check my masterlist for the reading order.

Work was an adjustment. In a good way. It took Bradley a few days to remember he didn't have to look over his shoulder for Indigo. He didn't have to keep his head on a swivel, wondering if she was giving you a hard time somewhere on base. He could just get his work done without interference.

When he eyed the burrito bowls in the cafeteria at lunchtime, he checked his phone, wondering what was taking you so long to come down. "You okay, Soul Sister?" Nat asked, squeezing his shoulder. "Want to sit with Bob, Maria and me?"

Bradley grunted, and shook his head. "I'll wait for my wife."

"I don't think she's coming," Nat replied casually, bypassing the burrito bowls in favor of the baked pasta.

"How do you know that?" Bradley asked, double checking to see if he'd missed a text from you while he was in his classroom all morning. But there was nothing.

"I was talking to her when her boss tracked her down. He looked flustered, telling her he needed her in his office."

Bradley's brow creased as he picked up just one burrito bowl instead of two. He eyed the green hot sauce you were obsessed with, but it wouldn't taste as good without you sitting next to him. "Did Bickel seem upset with her?" Bradley knew how much you loved working for your commanding officer, and that feeling seemed to go both ways.

Nat shrugged. "Less upset and more concerned. I'm sure she's fine."

Bradley settled in next to his best friend and across the table from Maria and Bob, but he barely got one bite of food in his mouth before Maverick was standing next to him.

"I'd eat that as quickly as possible. Cyclone wants to see us."

"Now?" he asked his godfather, wondering why his day kept getting more annoying since parting ways with you. Maybe he should just cancel his afternoon flight.

"I'll meet you there in fifteen minutes," Maverick said, leaving him to practically inhale his food while the others conversed. 

Apparently Bob and Maria were giving up their lease to move into a nicer one-bedroom place together. While that information wasn't surprising, it made Bradley a little sad. You'd been the one living in that apartment with Maria when Bradley fell in love with you. Your little bedroom was where he'd poured his heart out to you in the early days. It was where he made love to you for the first time.

"I'll help you move," Bradley immediately offered, getting a nod in return from Bob. He really wanted the opportunity to be in that sacred space one last time while he had the chance. And getting brownie points with one of your best friends was never a bad move.

"Thanks, Rooster," Bob replied as Bradley shoveled the last of his burrito bowl into his mouth and got up to leave again. Whatever Cyclone wanted, it was best not to keep the man waiting. But honestly, Bradley couldn't understand how his perfectly good morning was deteriorating so quickly. Waking up with his hand on your belly felt like days ago, and what if Admiral Simpson wanted him for something annoying? Fuck, what if he was about to get deployed even though he'd been promised those would become few and far between? What if he wasn't even home for your due date?

He was counting how many weeks were left in your pregnancy while he knocked on the office door. If he had to spend the anniversary weekend he'd planned at the cabin telling you he was leaving, you would be so upset. You and he needed a break together.

"Lieutenant Commander Bradshaw. Have a seat." Bradley met Cyclone's eyes where he stood next to his desk with Maverick. He hated to be the only one in the room sitting, but he was left with little choice. Bradley sank into the chair while Cyclone cleared his throat. "I wanted to take a few minutes to wrap up your complaints against Lieutenant Jeffries."

Bradley cringed, and Maverick crossed his arms over his chest like he was fighting to stand still. "Yes, Sir," Bradley agreed with a nod, hoping he wouldn't have to rehash anything that had already happened.

"I was notified of her separation this morning. An admiral in Texas called me first thing." Bradley sat up straighter in his chair as Cyclone said, "Lieutenant Jeffries has been formally discharged."

Now Bradley had to fight a smile as he replied. "Thank you for letting me know, Sir."

It was obvious Maverick had something to add. "Bradley. Uh, Rooster," he corrected quickly. "During some of our discussions, you voiced concerns about staying in your current role." Bradley swore his heart stopped as Mav added, "Do you still feel that way?"

Bradley stayed silent. For weeks and months he'd been wondering if he was in the right place. Wondering if he was effective as a teacher rather than just another body in another Super Hornet in the air making decisions without considering the consequences. But the main reason he had been second guessing himself was Indigo. He'd keep his head on a swivel from now on. He'd never let something like that happen again. It was easy to reconsider things without her on base. His classes were fun again. He enjoyed teaching. He loved watching his students take what they learned to the air.

But the best part was being at home with you every night. At home with Rosie. At home enjoying the countdown to the arrival of his second daughter.

"No, I don't feel that way now," Bradley rasped as he shook his head. "I'm where I belong."

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

When you realized you'd inadvertently bailed on your husband, you felt bad, but that feeling didn't last for long. When you got to Bickel's office at the same time as Cat, you and she shared a brief look before he ushered you inside. Once you were all seated, your boss broke out into a smile.

"I don't know how you manage to do it, but you two always surpass my expectations."

You pressed your lips together to keep yourself quiet, because you had no idea what he could be talking about. The baby was squirming around and thumping on your ribs as you tried to remain chill without looking at Cat. You adjusted your maternity tent and let your boss continue.

"The quick work you put in to test the new software updates ahead of schedule was so successful, your efforts are being recognized."

Now you were shaking from holding back your laughter, and Cat cleared her throat awkwardly three times. "Thank you, Sir," she said calmly with a smirk. "We try our best."

The look on her face made you start coughing. Was she hoping to make you pee your pants? You thought you might as you took a deep breath and listened to Bickel lay out an upcoming timeline for the continued software testing. It wasn't like you didn't know the updates would be successful; you and Cat worked too hard for anything otherwise. But Indigo was the reason you wanted to ground an aircraft ahead of schedule.

When you were finally dismissed, you rushed toward the bathroom with Cat on your heels. "Are you still nauseous?" she asked as you headed for the first stall. "You're awfully late in your pregnancy to still be so nauseous."

"No! I have to pee! I don't know how you stayed so calm throughout that meeting. I thought I was going to explode with laughter."

She was still smirking when you washed your hands. "Remember all those promises you made about watching Jer for me if I was willing to finish the code in a hurry?"

"I do," you replied easily. "Want to drop him off at my house after work one day this week so you and Jake can get into some nasty shit for a few hours?"

Cat's laughter echoed throughout the space as she doubled over, cackling. "I guess that depends upon your definition of nasty.... we're trying to figure out which day we can go apply for our marriage license." You screamed before she clapped her hand over your mouth. "Shh! Are you out of your mind?"

"Marriage license!" you screeched when she freed you. "Jake is such a fuckboy, and you're so in love with him!"

"You're the one who told me he's a good guy in the first place!"

"He is!" you insisted, beaming at her. "And he'll be the best dad for Jer."

Instead of returning to your office or the lab, you dashed toward the elevators and went downstairs. As soon as the November sun hit your face, you felt like this day couldn't get any better. The walk to the tower was filled with the distant sound of jet wash and a breeze that gave you goosebumps. When you reached the aviator's lounge, the first person you saw when you opened the door was your husband holding a disposable coffee cup and chatting with Natasha, but you rushed past them.

"Hi, Roo," you offered, patting him quickly on his flat belly as you headed for Jake who was sweaty and unzipping the top of his flight suit. You flung your arms around him, and he held you awkwardly with your bump pressed against him.

"Whoa, Angel. What's got you throwing yourself at me?" he asked with a laugh. "Not that I mind..." he added, winking at Bradley as you pulled away.

"You didn't tell me you're getting married," you hissed quietly so the others couldn't hear over their conversation. "I can't believe you didn't tell me!"

Jake's cheeks paled as he wrapped his fingers gently around your bicep, guiding you toward the window. "Damn, Cat can't keep her mouth shut," he muttered, glancing outside. "We don't actually have anything planned yet, but I convinced her to get the marriage license. That'll give us ninety days to make it happen." He turned his green eyes your way and added, "My lawyer said Jeremiah's biological father stands less of a chance of locating him if I adopt him. Make him a Seresin," he grunted softly. "It's just Cat's name listed on Jer's birth certificate, and I'd really like to change that as soon as possible."

"Jake," you gasped, tears filling your eyes. "You're so in love with them."

He nodded. "I am. And I told Cat she'd have a spectacular wedding in ninety days or less if she promised to get the marriage license now. She told me she doesn't want to spend any money. Claims I've spent enough to help her get free from her ex. But I want her to have whatever she wants-"

"She wants you. You're already Jer's dad. Just marry her. Keep it simple."

"Are you ever going to give me a hug?" Bradley called from across the room. "It's been like two minutes, Sweetheart."

Jake smirked and nudged your shoulder with his bicep. "Get over there so he stops whining."

"I'm not whining," Bradley whined. "I just want a hug from my wife and daughter." He tossed his empty cup into the trash when you slotted yourself into his arms. "That's better," he murmured, lips meeting your forehead as you let your cheek rest against his chest.

"He whined when you missed lunch, too," Natasha said casually as you laughed.

Bradley huffed. "Is it really such a bad thing that I like being around my family?"

"Not at all." You glanced up at him. "And I think it's kind of cute when you whine about it." He rolled his eyes, but he was smiling as his fingers crept around to your hip, holding you tight. "Guess what Bickel told me earlier."

"That you're the best officer he's ever worked with and he wants you to take over his lab when he retires?"

Your heart fluttered at your husband's words; he was your biggest fan. "Not quite. But Cat and I are being recognized for our work on the Super Hornet comms. And I kind of have Indigo to thank for it in a very twisted way."

"Oh! She's out of the Navy, Baby Girl."

You blinked up at him. "She is?" you whispered, mind swirling with the image of Indigo storming away from you in a rage the last time you saw her.

"Yeah, she's toast," he replied, lips meeting your forehead again as Natasha and Jake headed out. "I had a meeting with Mav and Cyclone."

"When were you going to tell me?"

Bradley's lips curled into a smile as he took your hand and kissed along your knuckles. "I'd have remembered later at some point, but Indigo is the farthest thing from my mind now. I'm more intersted in going home and packing for our trip and fucking you."

You glanced around to make sure everyone else had cleared out. "Okay, that does sound fun, but we have to babysit Jeremiah one evening this week."

"Can't it wait until next week after we get back from the mountains?" he whispered. "I'm in family mode, looking forward to our anniversary."

"Nope. We absolutely have to watch Jer for them. It's a necessity, Roo."

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

"Jesus," Bradley groaned, kicking your maternity uniform across the bedroom floor before it could trip him up. Dinner was in the oven, Rose was napping, and you were easing yourself back on the bed, nearly naked. He watched you pull your sensible underwear down until he could see your rooster tattoo, and then he pounced.

"Roo!" you squealed, wrapping your leg around his hip as he held himself over your body, his hands planted on either side of your head. "You have to make it quick. And you're never quick."

"I know," he grunted, biting his lip as you rubbed yourself against the fly of his khakis. All he wanted at the moment was to take his time licking that bead of milk from your nipple before treating his mouth to your entire body. But there wasn't time. Jake Seresin would be here shortly to ruin his fun.

Your hand on his zipper prompted him to savor that bit of your milk as you pulled him free of his pants. Then you guided him right where he belonged, and he sank inch by inch into your pussy until you moaned his name.

"That's fucking beautiful." He kissed away all the little sounds you made as he fucked you slowly; they could just wait out on the porch with Jeremiah until Bradley was done with you for all he cared.

But something about having you naked and beneath him while he was still fully clothed in his uniform made Bradley realize he wasn't going to last too long. The bounce of your tits as your fingers dug into his hair. The scrape of your nails along his scalp as your pupils grew wide. The way your growing belly took up more space than usual. It was all designed to make him insane. He knew it. He wasn't going to fight it. You'd win every time anyway.

"How do you do this to me?" murmured against your neck, inhaling your scent with a gasping breath as your pussy pulsed around him. "How do you fuck me up like this?"

Your answer was your lips on his jaw as Bradley swallowed hard, fucking you as his body tensed above yours. "Roo," you gasped, lips parting, rolling your hips. He couldn't hang on when it was this good. When your voice was in his ear, coaxing him along. 

"God, Roo. Daddy!"

That did it. His thrusts grew shorter as he came, pushing himself deep, filling you with his cum until he let his weight settle halfway on top of you. He was never done until you got what you deserved, but as soon as he dragged his fingers along your tattoo and let them settle on your clit, Tramp started barking.

"They're here," you moaned, starting to sit up with Bradley's cock still buried deep.

"But I'm not done with you," he whispered, keeping you in place while Tramp howled. But it was useless. "Fuck!" He pulled himself free, forfeiting the opportunity to watch his cum leak out of you as he stood. Bradley tucked himself back into his pants and did up the zipper, scowling. "Hangman ruins everything, I swear to god." He pulled one of his old undershirts and some gym shorts from his drawer as you laughed and stood. "I'll finish you off later," he promised with a kiss, pressing his clothing into your hand.

"I know you will."

Bradley was in no mood for company, but when he opened the front door, Jer clapped his hands with a big smile on his face. "Hey, Buddy," he said, smiling reluctantly as Jeremiah climbed from Cat's arms into his. "Tramp is so excited to play with you."

"Tramp!" Jeremiah reached down trying to pet the dog while he went wild.

"Thanks for babysitting," Jake said as he strolled in from the porch earning an eye roll from Bradley.

"It's no big deal," Bradley replied through clenched teeth, trying not to glare. It wasn't like Jake and Cat had any idea what they'd interrupted. Or at least they didn't until you came rushing down the hallway into the living room with Bradley's undershirt on backward. Cat didn't seem to notice, but Jake stifled his laughter behind his hand.

"Hi, Jeremiah!" you crooned, running your fingers along his cheek. "We're going to have so much fun. Rose will be awake soon, and we can go out back to the playset."

"Sorry about the timing," Jake muttered.

"No, you're not," Bradley whispered. "Now get out of here."

Jake laced his fingers with Cat's as she said, "We'll be back in less than two hours."

"Take your time," you said, waving her off. "We'll have so much fun while you're gone." You took Jeremiah's hand and led him to the couch where you'd left a stack of Rose's books, ready for the occasion. 

When Bradley closed the front door, he heard his daughter's cries coming from the nursery. He rushed in to scoop her up, kissing her fuzzy hair and changing her diaper before carrying her to the living room where you were reading Jeremiah the silly goose book.

"Whoa, Baby Girl. You need to start over. Rosie and I love this book."

"Love!" Jer cheered as Bradley settled down on the couch next to him. The little boy suddenly seemed more interested in Rose than in the book, but you obliged everyone by starting the story at the beginning.

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

The sun was setting after dinner as you nursed Rose on the patio wearing Bradley's clothes and your boat shoes. You hadn't taken the time to turn his shirt the other way, too busy bustling around with the two, well, three kids.

"Higher?" Bradley asked.

"Higher!" Jeremiah replied, and you watched your husband push his swing harder. Peels of laugher filled the backyard, and now Rose was crying for a different reason. She seemed to want to join in the fun as Tramp ran around the playset in circles.

"Jake needs to get this kid a puppy," Bradley eventually said as Jeremiah reached for the dog again. Really, the only thing that seemed more interesting to him was Rose, and he shifted his focus as you walked their way, Tramp immediately forgotten.

"Can you say Rose?" you asked Jeremiah as his swing came to a stop in front of Bradley. "Rose."

He tried his best but struggled with the R sound as Rose reached for his hair. "Be nice, Rosie," Bradley scolded, scooping up Jeremiah at the same time he took Rose from your arms. The sight of him holding both kids was almost too much, and you reached for one of the wooden playset posts to keep yourself standing. He kissed your daughter's cheek and said, "It's getting dark out here. How about a snack and one more round of the silly goose book?"

"We could do that," you whispered, letting your hand rest on your belly. For the briefest second, you started rethinking your threat about the vasectomy.

"You have to read it again," Bradley murmured, leading the way to the sliding glass door with his arms full. "The kids love your voice, and so do I."

By the time you finished the book, Rose was falling asleep and Jeremiah was yawning. But Bradley looked attentive, eyes calculating. At the sound of a knock on the door, he was up from the couch with Jeremiah in his arms. "Well, it's been fun, little man, but it's time for you to leave."

"I didn't even get to say goodbye!" you complained, holding Rose. 

Bradley turned around so you could kiss Jeremiah on the cheek, and then he thrust the child into Cat's arms and closed the door as soon as she said thank you.

"That wasn't very nice," you said with a laugh.

"I disagree, Sweetheart," he told you as he reached for Rose. "I thought that was pretty fucking nice considering what they interrupted earlier. Now say goodnight to your daughter and go get undressed."

"Stop swearing in front of the baby," you scolded half-heartedly before he kissed your lips. God, he was doing numbers on you right now. He was in his demanding 'dad' mode while still wearing his uniform, and you moaned out loud. "Okay, fine. I'll go get undressed."

Everything felt so good tonight. You could hear Bradley singing to Rose as you went to the bathroom and did your bedtime routine. You didn't have to wait long after you tugged his undershirt over your head before he appeared in the bedroom doorway. His brown eyes were playful, but his gaze was glued to your body. "Now, where were we?"

You trailed your hand down your side, along your swollen belly, and let your fingertips graze your tattoo. "Right about here, Roo."

He nodded in agreement, closing the distance with three long strides before kneeling in front of you. His hands wrapped around your thighs as his lips and mustache met your rooster tattoo before skimming along your belly. "Yeah. Right about here."

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

Well, I was wrong... there will be one more part after this! Stay tuned for an anniversary trip. And don't forget to send me your thoughts about hcs and blurbs! Thanks for reading!

PART 41

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[lordprettyflackotara]

double fantasy || fred weasley and draco malfoy

SMUT MINORS DNI 18+ tw: please read bdsm kinks, choking, threesome, dom!draco, dom!fred, sub!reader, overstimulation, squirting, passing out, collar/leash is used, bondage, face fucking, gagging, slapping. this is one of my more bdsm extreme fics, please do not read if it makes you uncomfy <3

“I still think Ron would be a good pick.”

Fred’s voice was crisp as you rolled your eyes, sipping whatever butter beer mixture concoction he had created. “You’re only saying that because Ron doesn’t intimidate you,” You debated. You weren’t technically wrong, but Fred didn’t know your desired choice would be someone who did intimidate him. You adored Fred and every fiber of him. It was unlike you to desire more than just him, but a craving to be filled to the brim by two men was igniting a passion through your bones. So you both attended a Slytherin party, a noisy and uncontrolled affair. You could barely hear each other, nevertheless scope out a potential match. Fred was purposefully picking those he deemed to be ‘losers’.

After all he didn’t want competition, he wanted you to realize he was ultimately better and never want to try it again. But you were aware of your lovers inflated ego. Which is why when your gaze landed on the Slytherin prince, your lips curled upwards into a smile.

“I pick Malfoy.”

Fred spat out his drink, thankful his cup hadn’t stranded too far from his lips. “Malfoy? Have you lost your mind? Was there crack in your drink or something?” Fred asked. He dramatically grabbed your cup, examining its contents for any signs of tampering. “Freddie, just go up to him and ask. Worst he could do is say no,” You replied. Draco matched Fred’s energy in a way. Tall, assertive, dominant, and mean. You couldn’t ignore the way the thought of being between the two of them sent shock waves right to your core. Fred brushed his shirt off, shoving his hands in his pockets as he headed straight towards the snakes den. Draco was surrounded by his usual group, his eyebrows darting up at the sight of Fred approaching. The old childish beef the two had was long discarded, but that didn’t take away Draco’s distain for the whole Weasley family.

The war may have mellowed out the taunting, but nothing could reverse his father’s teachings. You watched Fred pull him away from the group, the two talking amongst each other. Through the spotty lighting you could make out Draco’s face going through a whirlwind of emotions. You wondered if this was a bad idea, contemplating if all of you being mature adults cancelled out any possible ridicule. You were surprised when Draco handed his muggle grass filled blunt back to Theo, exhaling as the two of them approached you. You tried not to appearance nervous, awkwardly setting your cup on a nearby table. Draco reached you first, staring down into your soul coldly. “I think this is a more private matter. Follow me,” He said. You trailed behind him, Fred following behind you. The pair were oddly quiet, as if they could read each others minds.

You swallowed as Draco led you both into his dorm, locking the door behind you. “Strip,” He commanded dryly. He seemed unamused as he dug a small velvet box out of his wardrobe. You chuckled awkwardly, trying to override the silence. “What?” You asked. Fred casually sat down in a nearby chair, man spreading as he did so. “You heard him, strip,” He agreed. Unsurely you followed suit, unzipping your dress and allowing it to fall to the floor. You stepped out of the shimmery material, stepping out of your heels as you did so. Draco glanced at you in his mirror, before scoffing. “Ditch the undergarments, you won’t need them,” He ordered. You felt goosebumps spread across your skin as you unhooked your bra, allowing it to fall to the floor. You noted the cocky smirk that was painted across Fred’s lips, watching your every move as you kicked off your panties. “Lay on the bed darling,” Draco said flatly. He seemed to be looking for something specific as he rummaged through his box of mystery.

You did as told, your back relaxing as you laid against the velvet comforter. Draco handed Fred a handful of rope, the two exchanging a nod as your boyfriend approached you. He grabbed your ankle first, tying it to the bed frame. “What’s all this about?” You asked. You bit your bottom lip in anticipation. Fred remained eerily silent as he finished tying you up, spreading you out like a starfish. “Fredrick here decided to let me know that you are such a whore you aren’t satisfied with one cock,” Draco stated. Your eyes widened as you watched him pull out a collar, a shiny chain being pulled out right after. “So I told him that I specialize in taming whores and you need intense training,” He said, finally turning to you. He undid his emerald green tie, the collar and chain in the other hand. “So here’s how this is going to work. I’m going to play with you, as roughly as I want to. And just when you’re about to break, Fred’s gonna come join us, understand?” He asked. You nodded, embarrassed of how much your core was throbbing with desire.

Draco wadded up his tie, crawling on top of you.

“Open your mouth slut.”

Any hesitation Fred had about the whole ordeal faded at the sight of you eagerly opening your mouth. Your pupils were blown with lust, Draco roughly shoving the tie into your mouth. He then ran his hands down your body, admiring the way you melted under his touch. His fingertips were barely grazing your skin, your back arching off the bed in an attempt to get closer to him. Draco roughly grabbed your throat, shoving you back down. “Behave or I won’t let you cum,” He growled. Fred licked his lips as his cock began growing harder in his pants. Draco lowered himself in between your legs, using his index and middle finger to spread open your folds. You whimpered under his inspection, the blonde admiring your dripping cunt. “Such a pretty pussy for a cock whore,” He murmured to himself. You felt heat rise to your cheeks as he smacked your folds, your arms and legs instinctively trying to close. He chuckled darkly as you struggled under the grip of the restraints.

“Nice and red now. I say we make them puffy, hmm?”

You moaned into the tie as he abruptly shoved two fingers into you, your wrists struggling against the restraints. He curled his slender fingers with precision, watching you intently as you grinding your hips against his hand. “So pathetic,” Draco mused. He lowered his mouth to your clit, causing a whole new feeling of pleasure to crash down over you. His tongue was an expert, flicking and his mouth sucking in all the right places. You wanted to clench your thighs around his head, to feel him against your skin. But he kept his distance, reminding you who was in charge as he devoured your cunt. Fred was purposefully watching in awe, refusing to touch himself until the time was right. If he was being honest he feared he would cum too fast to the pornographic sight before him. It wasn’t long before the knot inside of you tightened, your warnings muffled by the tie. Draco grinned in sadistic satisfaction as you came, your heart pounding as he pulled away from your cunt.

Mockingly he opened your folds again, shaking his head. “Not red enough,” He concluded. As if the two were able to read each other’s minds Fred rose from his chair, rummaging through the mysterious velvet box. He pulled out a black vibrator, nonchalantly handing it to Draco. The blonde was quick to turn it on, purposefully placing it on the highest setting. Your whines were muffled as he placed it on your clit, your thighs trembling at the sensation. “Awe what’s wrong darling? Can’t handle a simple toy?” He asked mockingly. Your eyes screwed shut, shocks of pleasure running up your spine. A sharp slap to your thigh made your eyes reopen, a stern look painted across Draco’s face. “Eyes open slut. You close them again and i’ll leave you here for Mattheo and Theo’s entertainment,” He snarled. You whimpered at the thought, your hips involuntarily bucking upwards and grinding shamelessly against the vibrator.

“Cmon slut i’m getting bored,” Draco sighed. He lifted up your folds, placing the vibrator directly on top of your abused clit. Your back arched off of the mattress, your legs shaking violently as you released. Juices you weren’t familiar with squirted from your cunt, your eyes wide as you panted. Draco smirked, looking over at Fred. “I say we ruin her now, what do you think?” He asked. The same mischievous smirk crossed Fred’s lips, the two approaching you. You were dazed as they rearranged you, your elbows and knees digging into the comforter. Draco removed the gag from your mouth, your lungs instantly inhaling as much oxygen as they could. A cold leather collar was secured around your neck, the sound of the chain rattling sending a shiver down your spine. You looked up, Draco glaring down at you. “Open up your mouth,” He barked. Fred yanked on the chain, forcing you to balance yourself on your hands.

Lazily you flattened your tongue out across your bottom lip, Fred’s familiar hands massaging the mounds of your ass. “Fuckin slut, wanting to suck another mans dick?” Fred spat coldly, slapping your ass. Your gasp was the perfect opportunity for Draco to shove himself inside of your mouth, your noise muffled.

“What a dirty cumslut,” Draco sneered, grabbing a handful of your hair. You whimpered at the pain, feeling Fred slide into you with ease. “You’re this fuckin wet? Over being used and abused? Filthy,” Fred growled. Tears flooded your waterline as Fred bottomed out, the ginger not hesitating to repeatedly thrust into you. Draco grinned sadistically as he began his own fun, forcing your jaw to go slack as he face fucked you. As Draco abused your throat Fred yanked at the leash, restricting your airway. You felt light headed, drool dripping down the sides of your mouth as both boys spat degrading profanities. You couldn’t breathe, your vision becoming spotty. Unable to tell them you arched your back, fully leaning onto the collar for support. Your head began to spin, the feeling of another orgasm rising quickly. It didn’t take long for Fred’s warm cum to fill your cunt, or for the taste of Draco’s salty cum to flood your throat. Their strong hands kept you upright, your body shaking as your final orgasm sent you into an unavoidable darkness.

The unlikely duo stared down at your unconscious body, a thick bruise forming around your neck from the collar. Your cunt was red and puffy, full of Fred’s seed. It dripped down your thighs as you peacefully slept, your body spent. It was satisfying in a way, seeing you so content after destroying you. “We should do this again sometime,” Draco said, redressing himself. Fred shot him a dirty look, putting his shirt back on. “Are you suggesting you fuck my girlfriend again?” He asked.

Draco brushed stray hairs out of your face, his caring expression mirroring Fred’s.

“Maybe. But she wants me just as bad. We can make it her perfect double fantasy.”

[simpee9000]

Not Just Friends - 3 -

Prologue : Chapter 1 : Chapter 2 : Not edited : 4.3k words : M.List

Childhood best friends turned into something more, at least with the label. Katsuki Bakugo, a fast-rising hero and fast-learning guy who is ever so slow in getting attached to and loving someone. Even three long years into a relationship, and your friends even forget you're even dating. Nothing happening, spare a few kisses.. like 3 kisses, during high school. Graduated and living together, and you guys have done absolutely nothing to further the relationship. Are you sure you're not just friends? CW: Smut, brief domestic violence discussion, virginity loss, aggressive flirting from creeps, gore with pro hero stuff (lmk if i missed any) Applies to all chapters regardless of it is in said chapter.

A loud spark woke you up, a jolt coming from underneath you before you were pushed to the other side of the couch. Being violently pushed out of the dream you were in and into the land of the living. Katsuki was on the other side of the couch, where you just were, looking at his hands as small pops of his quirk went off. His face looks betrayed at his own body. Small pops until a bigger explosion rattled off his hands. Causing him to franticly wipe his hands off on his now torn-up shirt before he got to the sink and washed the sweat of his hands, and therefore the explosions.

All this happening within the minute you woke up was a lot. Watching him stand at the sink, defeated as he stared at his own hands. It was as if he murdered someone.

You remember waking up in the middle of the night, due to the bright screen of the TV. Quickly fumbling for a remote before you realized that you fell asleep in his arms. Cuddled together on the couch, his legs laying along the couch and you between them and laying on his chest. His arms holding you close. It was something you've never done before. It warmed your heart until you woke up to being pushed away.

"The fuck is happening Katsuki?" you pushed yourself from the couch, wearily walking closer to him. Trying to approach him as if he was an injured bird.

"Don't," he barked out, making you stop your approach.

"Kats?"

"I don't know," he felt defeated and it was obvious. His eyes alone spilled out his emotions. It was also obvious that he was lying about not knowing, something in the way he was looking at his hands told you that he knew. That he knew you couldn't be near. He stood there letting the water wash away his sweat.

You crossed your arms, frustrated that he didn't want to talk. "Is there anyway I can help?"

It was like watching a lightbulb go off in his head, "When can you get my watch done?"

"What?" you furrowed your brows, "How does tha-"

"How soon? Can you speed it up?" he cut you off.

It felt like he just wanted you gone, a chore to busy you while he figured this out himself. "Why? I can but why?"

"It's probably the only way you can help," his voice was honest.

You uncrossed your arms, wanting to take a step closer. "I can't get it done any faster than a week, and that's pushing it. I wouldn't be able to add the whole 'not letting people cancel your quirk,' I can get the password set though."

"Fuck it, I just want the watch as soon as possible at this point," only now did he let his hands out of the water, moving to dry them off.

Now you stood at the other-side of the counter than him, "Is your quirk acting up?"

He's been avoiding eye-contact till now, his hands sparking in response. "Something like that. I need a shower." He quickly pushed past the kitchen and went to the bathroom.

Without anymore guidance, and pure concern, you decided to get ready in order to head to the office and get his watch done sooner. Quickly getting dressed before knocking on the bathroom, a sharp explosion popping off at your knock. "Kats?" you called, getting a sharp grunt in reply, "I'm heading to the office, I'll get your watch done sooner if I pull later nights."

He said a goodbye and you headed out the door and to your office.

---

You still worked at Endeavor's agency, now Shoto's agency, with Endeavor retiring. He was still sitting on the name change for the company, not knowing how to go about it. His first actions were to hire Deku, Iida, Momo, Uraraka, and other classmates as pro heroes, keeping Endeavor's old employees as well. A surprise to you, and likely everyone else, was that he invited Katsuki as well. Giving him a rank alongside him, just like he offered Izuku. The biggest surprise was that Katsuki accepted it, alongside with a vow that he would leave the second he got a high enough rank to start building his own. Which he was slowly doing. He had a separate agency he worked out of with his other closest friends, but he was still coworking with Shoto. Only recently switching to actually work out of his own. He didn't want to leave his friends entirely just yet.

Shoto also promoted you, allowing you an entire floor for yourself and other techs that you hired. It was nice. Mei and you were the only ones of the floor currently. Leaving tons of empty space.

You each had your own office for paperwork and designing the sketch, an office for conferences, and a huge work room for actually making the support gear. It felt wasteful for only two technicians but the agency had four other floors of techs that were constantly working.

Made it a long elevator ride up to your floor through. Being on the 15th floor after all, closest to where the heroes worked.

A familiar voice calling your name cause you to look up from your phone, meeting Izuku's bright smile. "I thought you didn't work Sundays?" he said as he stepped in the elevator with you, pressing the button to his floor.

"Ah, I don't," you put your phone in your pocket, "Kats wanted me to get some gear done for him. His quirk is getting weird."

He tilted his head, "The watch?"

"Yeah, he wants it done as soon as possible," you nodded, remembering the meeting they had about it, "Has his quirk been doing this often?"

"I haven't seen it happen in a while, but I don't doubt that it's happening still," he nodded.

"It's scary, he won't talk to me about it," you expressed, worried about your boyfriend and hopeful his friend knew anything.

"He's fine, he's..he's just changing," Izuku struggled to put out. Pausing for the right words, "Don't stress over it."

You laughed at the idea, "Like that's possible? He almost blew my face off this morning with his quirk."

Izuku's face paled, "I'm sure it's fine. I bet it's something that'll go away with time."

"How can that be fine?"

The elevator dinged that it was at your floor.

"Kacchan will tell you eventually," he gave you a nervous smiled and pushed you from the elevator and closing the doors before you could yell at him.

"Asshat," you muttered, walking to your office.

Setting down your bag before you grabbed Katsuki's file. Flipping to the page of his watch. The drawings for the design were all worked out, just needed to plaster it together.

You had the materials to make the watch itself, just not the technology to make it disable his quirk. So you planned to get the framework done today so it would be ready for everything that was coming in the shipment tomorrow.

---

The transition into work was easy and fluent. Music pumping a steady beat into the air as you put each thing together. It was consuming the work you've been doing for the past six or so hours, making each step of the process more fluid then the last. A rhythm of the technique you've built over the years of working on gear.

You were sitting at your workbench, magnifying glasses covering your eyes, allowing you to see the smallest details that you were adding to the band. Quirk constantly activated so you wouldn't mess up in placements, needing the most practical design for the watch but wanting it to match him all the same.

After the framework was done in the watch, hollow for the functional aspects of the watch, you skipped to the details. Carving in a slight explosion outline, something you added on all his gear in the smallest parts. Showing it was his and only his.

It was well into the afternoon by the time you heard the elevator ding again. Music was blasting all throughout the room but you could still hear the faint steps of what sounded like metal coming towards you.

The brief thought of an intruder flashed through your mind. It wasn't uncommon for tech rooms to get raided, it was expected. Emergency procedures were added for the event though. A button was just needed to be pressed before heroes on the upper level were alerted.

That worry didn't last long, a quick check to your phone reminded you that Mei was coming in today. An idea hit her during 'breakfast', which was at 4pm, so she was coming into work.

Soon enough the doors opened, "Hey! Still working on blasty's stuff?"

You looked up at her, forgetting the glasses you were wearing. Letting out a gasp at her zoomed in face. To which she crackled out a laugh. You placed the glasses on the table, rubbing your eyes, "Yeah, I've finished all I can though, need tomorrow's shipment to do anything else."

"What's he having you do?" She made her way out of the door and towards your station. it was a huge room, used to make and test the supplies.

"He wanted me to make a watch for him, quirk proof and shit," you pushed the watch in her direction, letting her pick it up and look at it.

"Ah, lame, I was curious about his gauntlets. You always add cool shit to them every time," she placed the watch back down. Moving to her work station that was next to yours despite the amount of room. It was good company.

"I was probably going to start working on them, I finished everything on the watch, and I'm already in the flow state," you shrugged, pushing yourself up and off the chair. Grabbing the watch to put it in Katsuki's case. Grabbing his gauntlets instead. "I'll probably finish these and head out, been here since 9 this morning I think."

Mei hummed, "I won't be here for long either, want to go drink or something?"

You walked back to your station setting down the new materials you had to use, putting away the stuff you used on the watch. "Yeah, I'll have to ask Kats."

"Why?" Mei looked at you sideways.

"It's his only day off, I don't want to just ditch him. He is my boyfriend after all, I hardly seem him as is," you muttered.

"You're basically just roommates with a different label, I doubt he will care," Mei laughed out, "Come on, you deserve a drink just for dealing with his ass."

It strung, what she said. You already felt like you and Katsuki didn't pass for a couple, and Mei didn't fail to bring it up every time. You knew she was just teasing. So you hoped he would say no, just to prove that he wanted you around.

"Fine I'll ask," you brushed off her comments, grabbing your phone to text him

You Mei wants to go drinking, am I good to join her? I don't mind spending the night at home with you if you want. Kats Nah, do what you want. I'm probably going to go to the gym.

"He said yes," you breathed out, trying to mask the subtle unease with excitement. It felt like he's been pushing you away. Constantly bringing up how he didn't feel that you were happy enough. At this point you don't know if he was genuinely worried or if he was projecting.

"Fuck yeah! I've been wanting a beer, I know a good bar downtown," Mei cheered. You saw her setting up her station, prepared to weld some of her older protypes together.

"I got to ask though," you started, grabbing her attention, "So the other night, Nana texted me. Did she tell you why she needed my number?"

"Huh? No, why?" Mei set down her equipment and crossed her arms to look at you, curious.

"She asked if my boyfriend was hitting me," you breathed out, "Was hoping you didn't agree with her."

"Nah," she brushed off your worries, "I know Blasty isn't that type of guy, if I knew that's why she wanted your number I would of told her. I don't think she knew you were dating him."

"Good," you let out a breath of relief.

"Don't worry, I may make fun, but I know he's devoted to you," Mei reassured before clapping her hands together harshly, "Now I need to see if what I'm thinking works." She slapped her welding helmet down.

Mei was a good friend of yours, similar but different in many ways. She dug into your relationship but you knew she meant well. It was helpful that every once in a while she would confirm that too. Teasing that you guys were hardly a relationship while he was gone but teasing him for how he looked at you. Saying it was like a puppy that was trying to get a tennis ball from under the couch. Just out of reach.

She knew of the small aspects of your relationship, you've shared more to her than others, due to her not being in the primary circle of friends. She was your outlet, and she was also a good secret keeper. So you spilled to her the small things, after all it was easy to slip the details with how many night and days you've spent working alongside her. It was a way to fill the silence.

She knew how and why you and Katsuki got together. She knew about the crush you had on him from way before high school, and she knew of the odd first kiss you shared. And most surprisingly, she was the only one that you've told about not once getting intimate with Katsuki and in general. She knew how a kiss with him stayed a kiss and nothing more. How a hug was always just a hug. It was nice for her to know all the nitty gritty of it, it was refreshing.

You grabbed a welding helmet, putting it on and flicking it down to cover your eyes. Letting out a sigh as you prepared to work. Thankful that Mei was already wearing one, and got to work on the details to his gauntlets.

---

Before you knew it, you were seated at a bar, placed near the corner so Mei could people watch as much as possible. The bar was in a constant chatter, only some groups being overly loud. It wasn't anything like the bars that Mina or Uraraka went to. It was nice, the normal for you and Mei when you did go out.

You and Mei instantly ordered several rounds of shots, starting the night out strong. Letting the alcohol hit you fast and hard in order to stay drunk throughout the night rather than slowly get there. It was your routine together. Getting drunk then sipping on beers or mixed drinks the rest of the night to keep the buzz.

Mei took a long swig of her beer, "So," she smiled at you, roughly placing the bottle back down, "How ya been?"

"Normal I guess," you shrugged, picking up your drink as well, fighting slightly with the straw.

"Come on, there has to of been something. We haven't hung out solo in a week," she clasped your shoulder, as if she was shaking the information out of you.

You laughed, "I don't know, Mei."

"Really? Nothing?" Mei sighed. She tapped her fingers against the bar, looking around the room for some conversation. Her eyes landing on the TV above the bar, "Deku's getting quite buff, huh?"

"Huh?" you looked at the TV she was staring at. Sure enough, Deku was wearing a bright smile as he talked through an interview. It was a talk show, one he hated showing up on because the late hours, but it was good for hero ratings.

"He was cute during high-school but now he's a man," Mei emphasis with her tone, saying man more sharply than the rest.

"I guess? He's a lot taller now," you shrugged.

"I forgot you're lame," Mei groaned, "Only having eyes for Blasty."

A light went off in your head, "Oh, about Katsuki-"

"All I had to do was mention him? Couldn't of thought of this before I drooled over your best friend," Mei glared.

"Sorry," you shrugged, taking another sip of your drink, feeling the liquor flow through you. "He's been weird lately-"

"Weirder than normal?"

"Shut up, it's hard enough to think as is," you pushed her lightly, "He's been weirder more often. You know how he and I don't.. you know.. do that sort of stuff.." you were fumbling with your hands, not wanting to repeat the confession.

"Yeah?" Mei drawed out.

"Well he obviously heard us talking the other night, when I said that physical touch is my main love language. It's thrown him for a loop. He's constantly asking if I'm happy or if I want him," you rushed out.

"Makes sense, everyone kind of shit on the idea of not giving your partner your all," Mei sipped her beer, "I'd be worried too."

You groaned, "I know but I've told him many times that I want him regardless. And on top of that, his quirk has been acting up lately. To the point he wanted me to make a watch that turns it off."

Mei tilted her head, placing her beer down, "Acting up how?"

"Well this morning, we woke up cuddling and his quirk went off, almost burned the couch. Another when I hugged him, got closer to him, and even when I talked to him while he was showering. Which is odd cause the water should of washed anything away."

She sat on that for a while. Racing through different possibilities. "Doesn't his quirk go off with emotions?"

"It used to, I don't think so anymore."

"When you first kissed, wasn't his quirk off? Same with the next few?" Mei pointed out.

"Yeah? What does that have to do with anything?" you took another sip of your drink, waiting for her to get to the point.

"Didn't his hands spark whenever you tried to hold them?" you nodded. "You are so stupid," Mei laughed, "You'd think with your quirk that you would've known."

"Known what?"

"He's nervous around you! So his quirk pops off," she pushed your shoulder teasingly.

You shook your head, "No, cause why would it be worse lately?"

"Because he knows you want more! Simple," she clapped her hands together.

"I don't know Mei, that doesn't sound like him," you brushed past the idea, finishing off your drink. "It's more likely the opposite. I'm worried his quirk is just showing that he doesn't want me near in general, and that me having a different love language is his 'out' of the relationship."

"I mean, think what you want," she hummed, "But trust me, he is in love with you. He couldn't do that to you."

---

You stumbled through the door way. Fumbling with your keys and toeing your shoes off before fully entering. Trying to tip-toe through the kitchen, craving something sweet. All your drunk limbs cause do was make the ice-cream fall from the freezer and onto your toe, "Shit," you cursed hopping around for the pain to fade. Holding onto your hurt foot as you jumped the pain away. Hopping in the direction of the silverware before you fell.

Not letting the height effect you, you opened the drawer and barely grabbed a spoon. Sliding back to the ice cream container that was on the floor. Opening it and leaning against the fridge as you started to eat it away.

"The fuck did I just watch," Katsuki grumbled from the hallway, looking at you on the floor.

"I was hungry," you shrugged, scooping another bite.

He flicked the light on, making you hiss and cover your eyes till he turned it back off, "It's almost midnight, why are you home so late?"

Content that the light was back off, you continued eating, "I don't know."

"How drunk are you?" He crossed his arms.

"Very," you laughed, leaning your head back against the fridge.

"Mei is a horrible influence," Katsuki sighed, stepping towards you and lifting you off the floor.

"Nah, she makes some good decisions, and points," you argued, letting him guide you to your room.

"Like what?" he entertained.

"Well, I'm not sure about this one, but," you paused, "She says that you spark with your quirk because you're nervous around me."

His footing fumbled slightly, before letting himself stall for too long, he led you to your room, laying you on your bed and under the covers.

"Well?" you asked.

"Well what?"

"Is it true?"

"You're drunk," he dodged.

"Yeah, I told her it was dumb. You would of told me," you smiled at him, getting yourself cozy under the sheets. Glad that your touch didn't scare him away. Just left you concern what the actual reason was.

He flinched at how confidently you said that, guilt consuming his bones as he was doing the exact thing you thought he wouldn't. "Goodnight," you squeezed his hand.

"Night," he muttered.

---

A migraine was all you woke up with the next day, last nights events ruining through your brain. Main regret was how much you had to drink, cause you to puke in the bar bathroom, the men's bathroom at that. Mei went with you but it was still odd to rush into the wrong gender's bathroom and puke. Hearing their laughter while face down in the toilet.

The conversation with Katsuki also stung a little. Made you question what your relationship meant lately.

You turned to pick up your phone, blinding yourself with your screen. Rubbing your eyes awake before you could properly read the time.

It was just past noon, having slept in an extra four hours then normal. Your bedside table also had some water for you, with ice in a good water bottle that stayed cold. You already had medicine in your bedside table, so you fished that out to get rid of your migraine.

You smiled at the fact that Katsuki plugged your phone in and got you water, he might not say that he loves you, but he shows it. It shook away some worry that he was only with you due to not having a way out, but you were still worried at what it could be.

Before you could let the thought fester and ruin your day, you decided to go to the office. Wanting to start on Katsuki's watch again. The shipment came in around ten, so everything would be available to you.

After a shower and some breakfast, you decided to take a job to the office, wanting to get in a better mindspace so you were ready to jump straight into work. It was only a 20 minute walk as well.

---

Reaching the agency, out of breath and tired, you dragged your feet into the elevator. Grabbing supplies from the other tech floors before heading up to your own.

Walking into your office to meet Shoto.

"Hey?" you questioned, setting your stuff down on the table behind where he was standing.

"Sorry, Midoriya said that you'd be in," Shoto stood leaned against your work table, hands propping him up.

"Hope you haven't been waiting long," you apologized, walking around your table to grab stuff to start working, "how can I help you?"

"My suit has been off, the cooling facture broke, been having to do it myself mid fight," he went straight to the point.

You noted that he set down his briefcase, the one that held his hero suit. "That should be an easy fix, do you need it soon?" you pulled the case towards yourself, taking out his suit and looking for the cooler.

"I'm going to see my brother, but I'd need it after," his voice stayed monotone, but you knew Dabi-Touya was a sore subject.

You looked up from his suit, "I can get it done by then, is anyone else joining you?"

Shoto coughed, "I think Momo, she's been curious of his improvement."

"That's good," you smiled. The two of them have been close and she was a good pillar of support for him.

"Yes, I'll be back at three, will you be here after?" he looked at his watch.

"I'll be in office until at least seven, got a late start so i need to put in some hours," you confirmed.

"Thanks," he bowed a goodbye and went on his way.

He stayed formal with you despite knowing you since first year at UA, and working with you since second year. Having you do his minor support gear during school because his dad didn't let you touch his son's gear. Only the best for his trophy.

Shoto told him otherwise eventually, having you be head of design for his gear.

The two of you were never necessarily close, but would definitely consider the two of you friends. If you needed each other, you'd be there basically.

He's told you about his brother Touya one night over some cold soba. He wasn't able to fall asleep easily the month that Dabi revealed. So one night, you went to the kitchen hungry in the middle of night, finding him with his head in his hands at the island.

Your voice startled him at first, but after an offer of food, he started talking.

After that was when he started to let you work on his gear a little.

You looked over the small wiring in his suit, finding only a disconnected wire. Connecting it was easy enough, one of the fastest fixes you've had in awhile. You'd have him test the temperature when he was back.

Your phone buzzed from the corner of the table. Katsuki's contact flashing the screen.

"Are you in the office yet?" he asked once you answered.

"Yeah," you put Shoto's case off to the side. Recentering Katsuki's watch.

"Lunch?"

"Sure," you hummed.

"I'm meet you at your office," he started.

"Wait! I'll meet you at yours," you cut him off.

"Why?"

"I'm already in the elevator, I'll just go up an extra few floors. You're at Shoto's agency right?" you lied, quickly grabbing a few things before actually heading towards the elevator. You wanted to keep the watch design a surprise till you gave it to him.

"Yeah, it's Monday," he pointed out. He worked there every Monday.

"Anyway, I'll see you in a second," rather than letting you say a full goodbye, he hung up.

A sigh left your lips. He's been a constant off and on again with how he is around you. You wanted to stay glad he asked for lunch, but the abrupt goodbye was unusual, just like all his other behavior recently. Maybe the watch would help his quirk, and therefor the stress of the relationship.

Hopefully the relationship went back to normal.

-Next Part-

In them m.list of this fic comment if you want to be added into a tag list <3

I'll no longer add people to the taglist if they haven't commented there. It's too much to keep up with all the new part. Hope you understand <3

@americasass1942 @ofcqdesi @atashiboba @juicyfingers @thescarletwallflower @keiva1000 @snxwflwr @kazuumii @mushroomsneedystuff @ivuriexo @supersecretsamm @kaboomkayla

[cxvii666]

hanta sero - boyfriend headcanons:

- i think that out of all his friends, hanta definitely gets a girlfriend first and your relationship lasts the longest

- friends to lovers, will they won't they, everyone knows but them, because he's an idiot, he definitely fell first and fell harder,

- but once you're actually together, once you're his girlfriend, hanta never shuts up about you. "if my girl was here, she could-" "well my girl knows how to-" "my girl is so cool, she-"

- big fan of laying between your thighs after a smoke for a nap!!! you stopped getting high with hanta before watching movies because every time you guys smoke together he dozes off for hours and snores like a fucking tractor

- brings you EVERYWHERE. he's that one homeboy that's always like "can my girl come with us? 🥺"

like that one time when their friend group was going out for jirou's birthday. it was 'emo night' or something equally ridiculous at one of the clubs downtown. denki had suggested they all go for a laugh, free entry before 11pm, and if it was shit they could bounce. so hanta had been at mina's place pre-gaming when he'd gotten a very emoji filled text from his girlfriend. your two friends who are the worst with cancelling plans, had cancelled on you, again. hanta rolls his eyes at your dramatics but a soft smile tugs at his lips and he stops mid way through typing 'i told you so', when he sees the "idc bout that tho 😵🙄 i jus misss youuuu☹️🥹" from you. he doesn't even think twice before calling out to his friends.

"yo guys, can my girl come with?"

- likes when you yell at him. obviously he doesn't seriously piss you off on purpose, but you're easy to tease, and he knows all the right buttons to push. so why wouldn't he, 'forget' to pick up the shit you needed, and when you get all up in his face, fire burning in your eyes, as you cuss him out, yeah, it makes his dick twitch, just a little.

- you take him shopping with you all the time because he gives you his honest opinion on everything, regardless of whether you like it or not. he gets super up in your personal space and says the most ridiculously accurate bullshit right in your ear, " don't get the purple, you're gonna look like a grape", "you like this one? kinda smells like caca- ouch."

- always calling your phone!!!!! like this man does not let you breathe. and its always to talk about nothing.

"hanta, i'm at work?"

"are you not on break...? you just sent me a tiktok."

"that's not the point-"

"- well, i saw the cutest little cat earlier, reminded me of that cat we saw at...."

- he lets you bite him.

the first time you did it, you had no idea what came over you. you were both curled up on your couch, legs entwined, him little spooning, the side of your face resting on his left shoulder blade, both enraptured in whatever episode of rick and morty. and its like pure animal instinct when you lean down and gently bite the exposed area of his bicep. its less of a bite, more you just lightly sinking your teeth into your boyfriend's soft skin. but its enough to make him sit up slightly and angle his head towards you with narrow eyes. "freaky 'lil shit."

- ceo and founding father of the broke boyfriend pose. notice how i put pose, cos he does spoil you and most times you buy something, it's on his card, but the pose! yknow that one when the guy stands with his arms wrapped around his girl when she's paying for something.... yeah

- that's as far as blatant pda goes for him tho, i think he's more into handholding ORRR,,,, when you're out walking on the busy streets and you grab onto his bicep >>

- huge user of "nah missus says no" "wife's not letting me out, yknow how it is" and "my girl said i cant go" this is a hundred percent false btw!!! he's just too lazy to find a better excuse, and he'd rather spend his time with you

- hanta's a big fan of ordering for you, more because you hate it, unless you're getting boba, then he just stands awkwardly in the shop one hand resting on the small of your back, the other tapping away at some dumb mobile game, while you order for two

- also a big fan of "whatever you need baby." as in whatever,,,, not just material things or physically, maybe it's because he comes from a big family but he has this desire to provide for you, time, love, effort, emotional support, "y'know you can call me whenever." and he always picks up, drops everything.

like that one time, still a fresh month into your relationship, you had cancelled on your brunch date because your period had started and you felt ugly and in pain. and hanta dropped by later in the afternoon with your favourite takeout and some sweet treats and a blunt, when you almost bursted into tears, he had just opened his arms out and you both laid down on the couch to watch whatever shit reality tv you had been watching.

- speaking of tv, he's also big into watching shows together, so you've been going through your netflix list together. when you go to his on a thursday night and you watch the new ep of your anime together, and when he stays over at yours for the weekend you binge your other shows together

- calls you bro and dude sometimes gang

- randomly bursts into song

- randomly starts freestyling, "babe gimme a beat-"

[oceantornadoo]

hii! can you do what it would be like asking price to put pads on the shopping list?? and then when price goes shopping he has to call you to ask for what size ?? 😭😭 btw i love love your work, hope u had a good day💞.

im pretty sure you're referring to this post but i decided to make this price x reader so :) enjoy!

bsf marriage pact!price x reader, he's slightly creepy but he's sweet (this is actually a bit dubcon but its in good spirit)

you had had a shit day. actually, make that a shit week. emotional the whole time, feeling lonely, depressed, and with the weirdest cravings. right when you were about to call your best friend and rant about how terrible you felt, you had went to the bathroom and- oh.

that explains a lot.

and now here you were, sitting on the toilet for the past ten minutes, contemplating. you were completely out of all period products and your flow was so heavy there was no way you were making it to the store free bleeding or with toilet paper as a makeshift pad. of course, that's when john decided to call you (let's be real, who doesn't take their phone to the bathroom. don't judge.)

"evenin', duckie."

"ugh john, i told you not to call me that. its so annoying."

john grunted a chuckle into the phone, swiping a hand over his beard. "you love it." silence. he could practically hear your eye roll. "dinner tonight?" he was pacing his apartment, uncharacteristic for a man like him. calm, cool, collected. never when it came to you.

"can't, sorry. maybe in a few days." he grunted. "could order a takeaway?" you sighed in his ear, the sound a melody he craved to hear over and over again. on lazy saturdays and in-between small fights over laundry. baby steps, though.

"its just not in the cards tonight, john, i'm sorry." you were never like this, withholding information. even when you cancelled on him, it was with a long-winded explanation with the names of about seven people he didn't know and plans you didn't want to go to. "'s wrong, duck? got a hot date or somethin'?" he mentally crossed his fingers, not allowing a physical expression. he wasn't that whipped. not yet.

"no, im just sick. and tired." his muscles relaxed. he started putting on his boots and grabbed a fleece, something gaz insisted was not too tryhard for someone like him. "i'll run to the store and grab ya medicine, hm? what'dya need?" you sighed again, rubbing your fingers to your forehead. he obviously was not giving this up and you did really need pads...

"ill text you a list when you get there. thanks john."

"anythin' for you, duckie."

list: pads, advil, that one chocolate candy you know i like, something for dinner

shit. price had been with a woman or two, but had never had to buy her pads. of course, he'd never let it get to that stage, not when he had you to take care of. but now here he was, staring at playtex and always and what the fuck was a diva cup? he'd better call you.

"all ok, john?"

"ya didn't give me a color on your pads, duck." you giggled. of course he paid attention to the green versus orange pads.

"its pretty heavy so some of the overnight and extra daytime ones would work." silence.

"...there's numbers." your cheeks warmed. you couldn't believe you were talking about this with john of all people.

"god, john. this feels so embarrassing. so weird to talk about with you."

"why? gotta know this for the rest of my life, duckie." shit. he was referring to that night a couple weeks ago, when you confessed to him you thought you'd never find love. when he said he'd marry you in a heartbeat, just say the word. when you compromised by telling him if you were still single in two years, you'd go to the courthouse then and there. when you didn't see him turn and write the date in phone, just as a reminder.

"5, john. there should be a moon symbol or something. and then 3. should be green, i think?" he grunted an affirmation, putting the respective pads in his cart. he turned around, having said goodbye and ended the call, and was subsequently greeted by three women, staring. paused in their product selection, staring openmouthed at how nonchalant he was about buying pads.

30 minutes later he was at your place, groceries and takeaway in hand as he used his spare key to let himself in. "duck?" all quiet. he stalked through your place and noticed the light on in the bathroom. one, two, three quick knocks. "john?" "'s me. can i come in?" "no i- need you to get me something." he waited patiently. "can you go to my dresser and grab a pair of underwear. something ugly, lots of coverage." who was he to say no to a free invite to your underwear drawer?

john dropped the pads outside your bathroom door and headed to your bedroom. finding your dresser, he had to give himself a second. calm down, old man. they're all clean.

that didn't stop him from sniffing a few, reveling at the scent of your laundry detergent. he almost groaned at the scent, imagining you in them. even in the "unsexy" pairs, your curves clothed in cotton and elastic, wrapped up in a lovely package. all his.

john selected a pair with "lots of coverage", whatever that meant, and headed to your bathroom. he opened the door with ease, setting your pads down on the counter. you shrieked.

"john! im half naked, you need to knock." obviously, the sight of your bare thighs and the top of your mound peaking out was most welcome, but he was more concerned about getting you off the toilet and putting food in your belly. "jus' me, duckie. come on, show me how to do it." he gestured at the pads. he couldn't be serious.

you slowly unboxed them, taking care to cover your naked body as much as possible. even while moving slowly, your shirt still shifted and he caught glimpses of your pretty pussy. an image for another day, when you weren't in pain. he focused on your fingers, deftly putting the pad on your underwear with years of practice. he memorized how you placed the pad, ensuring it stuck to your underwear before tearing the paper off the wings and tucking them on the other side. you looked up at him and he nodded, mission complete. "thank you, by the way." he kissed your forehead, so quick you could have missed it in a blink.

"turn around, i have to put it on." he sat back on his haunches, staring. "go'on. 've gotta learn somehow." you were too tired to care, ready to devour your dinner. you missed his hungry gaze as you revealed your cunt to him, wanting even though it was covered in blood. you missed his fingers twitching as you slowly pulled on your underwear, fabric caressing your skin like he yearned to. you got up, flushed, and washed your hands, missing how he tucked his fingers in belt loops and leaned back into the wall, a move he'd done many times in his tac vest.

"thank you, john. truly." he gave you a grin under the muttonchops, all satisfied. task finished, mission accomplished. you had asked him to do this, a husbandly duty. after you dried your hands, you made a move for the door, but he stopped you with a hand to the jaw. he brushed his beard against you, feeling the shiver in your bones. his mouth hovered near your ear, accent coming out low and sultry. "anythin' for my future wife, duckie."

--

ngl this got a bit weird but i like it??? had to struggle to not lean into my simon riley weirdness tendencies as im still learning john as a character.

[l1ve-l4ugh-lov3craft]

Rosekiller Fake Dating AU Anyone?

Barty was already in a pissy mood from the asshole at his tattoo shop, so he certainly didn’t appreciate the dramatically southward turn his meet-up with Regulus took almost as soon as he sat down. 

“Plans have changed,” Regulus said as soon as he sat down at their table at the cafe. Very blunt. No nonsense. Barty usually appreciated his friend’s penchant for getting straight to the point, but this time it made him frown and slouch lower in his seat. 

“How?” He asked even though he didn't really need to. Regulus was going to tell him whether he asked or not.

“Mother was suspicious about my bringing another man as my plus-one.” Regulus said. Figures. His mum was a grade-a bitch. 

Barty let his head hang off the back of his chair stuck his thumb up in front of him, “Cool so I’m off the hook. Love that for me. Good luck with whichever dame you bribed into hanging off your arm all ni-”

“I wasn’t finished.” Regulus interrupted because of course he did. “Mother was suspicious, but I’m afraid cancelling the reservation and bringing a girl instead was not quite enough to convince her.”

Barty blinked at him and shrugged, “Okay? And…there is a reason we give a singular flying fuck about this?”

Regulus pinched his eyes shut as he often did, though Barty hadn’t the foggiest notion why. “Yes, you twat. I’m not exactly about flaunting to an entire room of my mother and father’s most influential friends that I’m anything other than the perfect heir they expect I am. I need my family’s money if I want to make it through law school.”

“Boooooo.”

Regulus did not appreciate this feedback. He frowned all the way through quickly asking for a coffee from the kind woman who had appeared to take their order and rolled his eyes when Barty put in his own request with a wink in her direction as she walked away. 

“So what’re you gonna do about it, boss?” Barty asked as he sat up and reached to fiddle with one of the loops in his ear.

Regulus' back straightened, “I’ll be attending with a woman named Pandora Rosier. Her family oversees a popular real estate firm and are relatively well-to-do. I won’t arouse any suspicion being seen with her.”

Barty nodded. Rosier. Rosier, where had he heard that name before…

“In order to prove there are no particular feelings between the two of us as my maman suspected,” Regulus went on, “you will be attending with her brother, Evan Rosier." 

Still trying to puzzle out that last name as he was, it took Barty a moment or two to process what Regulus had said. Wait he was supposed to-

His eyes narrowed suspiciously, "What like a date?"

Regulus seemed frustratingly nonplussed by this. He shrugged, "I suppose, yes."

Oh hell no.

“No.” Barty had never refused anything faster in his life. Nope. Nuh-uh. Absolutely not, no way.

“Barty I really don’t have time to argue the details with you on this-”

“No,” Barty scowled across the table at Regulus, “Hell no. I said I would go as your plus one, not be a part of your whole ass entourage and pretend to be on a date with some dude I don’t even know.”

“You wouldn’t be my-” Regulus stopped and let out a harsh breath, “You have to go.”

“No I don’t. It’s fuckin stupid.”

“It’s not stupid and yes, you do.”

“Fuck me left, right, and up n’ down an alley and I still wouldn’t go.” Barty snapped, crossing his arms even, and turning his back to his friend.

Regulus muttered what were probably some obscene words under his breath before speaking, “You haven’t even seen him yet.”

Barty’s eyes practically rolled back into his head but he turned back around, “I don’t need to see the bloke to know this is bull-”

He stopped. Decisively. Immediately. His jaw went embarrassingly slack as his gaze fell to Regulus’s phone screen in front of him.

Well fuck me left, right, and up n down that alley…

Barty tried to salvage the shreds of his dignity with a nonchalant shrug, “He’s alright.” He was beautiful. Weirdly familiar looking. But fucking beautiful.

“Well?” Regulus raised his eyebrows expectantly.

Fuck me. “Fine.” He grumbled, “I’ll fucking go.

He could practically feel Regulus smirking. “Perfect.”

[heyimkana]

Desiderium - Chapter 2

Series Masterlist | AO3 Link

Pairing: Yuuta Okkotsu X Female Reader X Satoru Gojo

Genre: Reincarnation AU, Marriage AU, Fluff, Smut, Slow Burn

Summary: Set in Tokyo, Japan, you and Yuuta were past lovers separated by the cruel hands of fate. That same fate brought you to him again a century later, but while you hold no memories of him or the beautiful life you had shared with him in the past, Yuuta remembers everything. He's waited forever to see you again, yearning for your love, not knowing that you already belong to someone else.

Word Count: 12K+

Content Warnings: None for this chapter.

Art drawn by @alwhmd_ on Twitter (commission)

“Hey, you’re late.”

Satoru’s rare greeting comes unexpectedly, staggering her before she can close the entrance door. 

“Oh—yeah, hi,” she replies with a smile, wondering why she sounds so strained. She lies. She knows exactly why. She was in the middle of reeling in the sweetness of the dream she had the previous night when her boyfriend’s voice broke in so suddenly into her head and disrupted the thousands of images of Yuuta she had inside, all at once. 

Dropping her keys on the counter, she makes her way further into the living room to find Satoru reclining on the couch, his feet on the table with his X-Box controller in his hands.

“How was work?” he questions, though both his heart and his mind are clearly somewhere else.

“It was…” Terrible. I couldn’t stop thinking about what nearly happened in the dream. And that makes me feel even worse because I shouldn’t have been thinking about another man at all. “Okay,” she finishes, to which he simply hums in response. “I didn’t think you’d be home this early. You said you had plans tonight.”

“Yeah, Suguru fucking canceled on me, so now I’ve got nothing to do.” He jams his thumbs repeatedly over the buttons, boredom in his face. The TV blares with the horror game he recently bought, though seeing how he’s finished an endless list of DVDs in the same genre, perhaps even the craziest jumpscare starts to feel a little dull to him.

“That’s okay, we can hang,” she offers, dragging a cushion over to her lap as she sits beside him. “Do you wanna watch a movie? It’s been a while since we—”

“Baby, I’m hungry,” he cuts her off, almost as if he didn’t realize she had words coming out of her mouth. Tossing his console to the side, he drops his head onto the pillow, looking up at her. “Did you get something for me?”

It takes her a second to answer, her heart grazed by his blatant disregard, but she’s grown accustomed to the pain. “No. Like I said, I didn’t know you’d be home. I thought about buying you something sweet, but you still have your puddings, so I didn’t—”

“Boooo,” he pouts, spoiled. “You could’ve gotten me something else.”

“I’m… You’re right, sorry.”

“It’s fine. Should we order some takeout, then?”

“Umm… What if we cook something? We can do it together. It’ll be fun.”

“What if you cook something for me?” Satoru grins. “It’ll be just as fun, I’m sure.”

“But…” She balls her fingers on the couch, forcing out a smile. “Remember how we promised to take turns? I’ll cook if you do the laundry.”

“I’ll do the laundry after you cook.”

“I already cooked for you the other day, Satoru, and you didn’t even do your chores.”

“’Cause I hate doing chores,” he whines, jutting out his lip. “You know what? Fine. I like cooking better anyway. If I make dinner tonight, will you do my laundry?” He sits up, his eyes sparkling like a child’s. He acts cute, wiggling his eyebrows as he sings, “I’ll make you whatever you want~”

She huffs out, “Fine,” only because she knows he won’t change his mind. 

“Yay, you’re the best!” Pecking her head before he jumps off the couch, Satoru makes his way to the kitchen with a hum. “So, what is it going to be, Your Grace? Classic chicken fajitas or the magnificent spaghetti aglio e olio Ala Chef Gojo?”

In a flash, a memory of the last time she spent with Yuuta—the real version of him—resurfaced. 

“There’s a new restaurant opening just a block away from here,” Yuuta said as he escorted her back to the nearest subway station after spending quite some time together in the library. They slowed down their pace the closer they got to the place, not wanting to part ways just yet. “They got amazing reviews. Do you have time to spare? I know how much you like Asian food. I thought maybe you’d like to try.”

She raised a suspicious brow. “I never told you I liked Asian food.”

If he sweated, he didn’t make it too obvious. “Everybody likes Asian food. It’s not that hard to guess.”

“Huh.” She poked her tongue against her cheek, eyeing him suspiciously just to see him fidget on his feet. “Fine. But if you can guess what I’m about to order, I’ll start filing a restraining order on you ’cause you’re definitely my stalker.”

“Okay.” He let a moment pass. “It’s not tonkatsu, is it?”

Feeling playful, she gasped, dramatic and loud, while pointing a finger at him. “Stalker!”

“A wild guess, I swear!” He raised both hands in the air, grinning.

“I think I’m gonna have to do a background check on you, Okkotsu. I don’t trust you.”

He chuckled. “I don’t think my history of being a kindergarten teacher would amuse you.”

She gasped again, repeating the exact same gesture. “Pedophile!”

He paled, noticing how a couple of adults walking before them started to turn their heads. “S-stop,” he whispered, “People are looking—”

“Police, help!”

 Yuuta leaped over to cover her mouth, begging her to stop as he broke into a cold sweat. “I’ll let you go if you promise not to shout again.” She nodded. “Y-You promise?” She gave another nod. “Okay…” Though reluctant, he decided to believe in her words, breathing out in relief when she cast him her innocent smile. “So, about the restaurant—”

“OFFICERS, OVER HERE!”

She smiles at the recollection of how he chased after her on the street, their waves of laughter echoing through the crowds like two teenagers running high on dopamine. It was fun, a rare occasion where she felt Yuuta finally let loose around her, acting much younger than his age. 

I wish I could see him now, she can’t help thinking. I want to see him laugh like that again. He’s—

“Bunny?” 

—not supposed to be in my mind. She breaks past Yuuta’s name in her thoughts, fumbling in her attempt. “Y-yeah?”

“What, something funny?” Satoru asks, raising a curious brow. “You were smiling to yourself.”

“Oh, I was just—” She clears her throat. “Never mind. Did you ask me something?”

“Yeah. What do you wanna have for dinner?”

“Oh, umm…” She turns flushed, somewhat jittery. “Something simple like… Like tonkatsu, maybe.”

“Tonkatsu?” He frowns upon her words. “I didn’t know you liked that.”

“I-it’s just something we haven’t eaten in a while.”

She doesn’t sound convincing, and she knows he senses it, too. Whatever it is running through his mind, he chooses to ignore it—or perhaps he doesn’t care. “I mean, I can make that, but… I don’t know, babe. I think we should go with spaghetti tonight,” Satoru says, retrieving a pot from the top drawer. “We’ve got all the ingredients, and it’s easier for me to make. That’s okay, right? We can order tonkatsu some other time, promise.”

She smiles, weak but hopefully not empty. “Sure.”  ***

Her dream continued last night, and it seemed to pick up not long after they departed from the kimono store. She thanked all the deities above for not letting time pass by so quickly, but the question she wanted an answer to remained untouched. She was still just as curious and just as clueless about the question Yuuta had asked her after their near-kiss situation. And there was no way she could find out now or ask about it, seeing she had no control over her lips. The dream, like always, had already written a script for her to follow, and she was just a marionette, while she—the dream version of her—was her puppeteer. 

They arrived at the theatre just a moment ago, their soles landing on the concrete ground after spending half an hour inside a carriage, stealing glances at each other. Moonlight shone above them, a comforting beauty to the graphite night, rivaled only by the tenderness of Yuuta’s smile. “Shall we?” he asked, extending his hand for her to take.

Her heart bore a weight she wished she could chase away. Nevertheless, she flashed him her best smile, accepting his offer.

Her anxiety nearly got the best of her when she was welcomed into a theatre filled with hundreds of unidentifiable faces, ones that belonged to strangers associated with luxury and aristocracy. Even when she was shrouded in the finest clothes she’d ever worn, she still felt like she didn’t belong, sticking out like a sore thumb among the crowd. 

Yuuta held her hand tighter the second he sensed her breaking into a cold sweat, smiling softly to pacify her. “You don’t have to greet anyone if you don’t want to,” he reminded her again with the kindest, understanding tone. “Try to think that it’s only the two of us here. No one else matters.”

To be the only two in the world… That would’ve been so nice, wouldn’t it?

But she knew how proud he was to have her at his side at that moment. How, had she given him the chance, Yuuta would have been so eager to introduce her to his associates and show just how lucky he was to have such a woman holding his hand. Despite how nerve-racking it sounded, it delighted her truly. 

“Let’s go meet your friends,” she said with a smile, squeezing his hand. It took her a little more effort to assure him that she’d be fine with it before he bought her words. 

Beaming with elation, he exclaimed, “They’re going to love you!”

Such a naive thought, she uttered inwardly. Unlike him, she kept her expectations low. A wise choice, it turned out, because once Yuuta presented her formally to a few men and women he considered to be his colleagues, she was met with scrutinizing eyes and words that were too honeyed to be coming from the heart. They weren’t fond of her; it was clear for her to see, but Yuuta was drowning too deeply in excitement at the thought of introducing her to everyone to decipher the fake lines within their smiles.

They bumped against a couple in particular. A man, older than him by a few years, she assumed, and a gorgeous, short-haired lady who was just about her age. The man’s look was striking enough to be remembered—a pair of sharp brown eyes, his chin held high, and a haughty grin plastered on his thin lips. He would’ve been a beautiful man if he hadn’t let his arrogance taint his face, his smirk too revolting for anyone to look past. The two of them were dressed traditionally in kimonos just like she was, but the way they carried themselves, brimming with confidence and a sense of superiority, made them seem completely different.

“Naoya-sama,” Yuuta greeted with a proper bow, although from the side, she could tell he couldn’t put his heart into it. He performed the same gesture to the lady standing behind him. “Mai-sama.”

“Oh, please. Mai is fine, Okkotsu-sama,” she crooned, folding her paper fan to give him her respect. 

“Then, please, call me by my name as well,” Yuuta says. “Perfect timing. I want you to meet someone. This lovely lady here is…” He introduced her to the couple, a pleasant look taking over his face as if looking at her for even a second washed away all the turmoil arising in his heart just a moment ago. 

“P-Pleasure to make your acquaintance,” she lowered her head to them. None of them returned the bow. 

“My, my,” Mai cooed with a ridiculing smile playing on her curvy lips. “When I heard that my sister wasn’t planning to attend the event, I was expecting it was because you weren’t going to come. But now, you’re here with this…” She let her sentence hang in the air, sizing her up. “Girl,” she finished disparagingly.  “This is quite… surprising, I must say.”

Mai might have been dressed sophisticatedly in a stunning bold red kimono, but her stare and attitude toward her were anything but. The clear contempt in her words ached her heart, but it didn’t hurt as much as the mention of another woman.

Her sister… A Zenin? She swallowed. Isn’t Zenin one of the most prestigious clans in the country? She nibbled on her lip, her fingers curling against the side of her kimono. What kind of relationship does her sister have with Yuuta for Mai to expect her to come with him? She pondered agitatedly, but among the storms in her head, the one that struck her the most was—

What do I have to offer against someone like her?

“Oh,” Mai sighed dramatically, “Nee-sama will be heartbroken when she hears about this. Should we keep this a secret, Yuuta-sama?”

“There seems to be a misunderstanding,” Yuuta corrected her, his tone remaining polite and patient. “Maki-san and I are nothing more than friends. I think I’ve made that clear before.”

Mai threw a deriding glance at the woman standing beside him before she tossed another sickening, saccharine smile at him. “My apologies, I must have forgotten.”

Hearing their conversation, her heart twisted for two reasons. 

They’re just friends, she recalled, which assured her.

But he calls her Maki-san, which meant he was close to her enough to be addressing a noblewoman by her name. 

“You heard him, Mai,” Naoya chimed in with a smirk. “He doesn’t care about her. No one does.” 

Yuuta’s jaw twitched. “That’s not what I—”

“Okkotsu,” he grinned. “I wouldn’t have guessed for a thousand years that you’d have the bravery to bring someone like her here. Does your old man know about this?” He leaned in, his lips pulled back to show a string of pointy teeth. “Should I tell him? Your father must be ecstatic to learn how his little, obedient son wastes his time with a commoner.”

It hurt. Of course, it hurt. But more than that, it caused her resentment to boil. She could take any insult her way, but if it involved him, her anger would flare within seconds. She would’ve berated Naoya for his poor manners if she owned the power, but she didn’t wish to stain Yuuta’s reputation more than she already had. There was truth in his words, and that was the one thing she couldn’t fight back.

Not knowing what else to do, she just balled her small, silk-woven pouch between her hands, forcing herself to stay mute. 

I shouldn’t have agreed to this, she thought to herself regretfully,placing her gaze on the ground. I should’ve just—

“What goes between my father and I is none of your business.” Yuuta held his head high, ice in his voice, too thick to be dismissed that it even silenced the prideful young man before him. A smile still graced his lips, but the warmth in his eyes had morphed into something dark. “And if you consider yourself a nobleman, I suggest you try and behave like one, starting with how you treat my lady.”

My lady. His words rang like carillons in her head, vibrating to her every being and setting it to flames. With her heart pounding, she sneaked a glance at him, watching how Yuuta’s cold stare remained unwavering on the young lord’s face. 

Naoya’s lips tightened as his vexation grew, but whatever it was that he saw in Yuuta’s gaze caused him to swallow back the poison he wished to spit out. Instead, Naoya dragged his eyes to an easier target—the perfect choice to push Yuuta’s buttons. 

Feeling his attention on her, she brought her gaze to the carpeted floor, tense. She expected Naoya’s spiteful words to cut through her chest, preparing herself for them, but what she received was a pair of lean fingers framing her chin, forcing her to lift her stare before she could process the situation. 

Naoya stood before her, his stare denigrating, coated with a layer of interest. “Let me see your face—”

Yuuta’s hand wound around his wrist with a grip strong enough to make his veins resurface on his knuckles, stopping the other man from laying another finger on his woman. 

Naoya flinched, his face contorting in pain. “Easy, Okko—”

“I suggest you keep your hands to yourself,” he said through clenched teeth, low and dangerous. “Naoya.”

She froze, staggered to see the always courteous Yuuta tossing away his manners to put on a brazen display of his anger. The suppressed rage in his voice was something she’d never expected to flow out of someone as sweet and merciful as him. And as she returned her gaze to his company, it appeared it struck them all just the same. 

To address the next lord of the Zenin Clan by his name was one thing, but to threaten him in front of everyone’s eyes to see… She prayed that it wouldn’t unravel their relationship into something worse than this. 

Naoya’s arrogant smile was long gone, replaced by thin lips quivering in the resentment he couldn’t unleash. He yanked his wrist free. He chose not to put up a fight, but whether he did it out of consideration of where they were or because he simply lacked bravery for it, she could not tell just yet. She wondered if Naoya felt fear from how quickly Yuuta’s personality switched whenever she was involved. She definitely did. It frightened her as much as it excited her. 

“N-Naoya-sama,” Mai shortened the distance between them, speaking quietly as she tugged on the sleeve of his kimono. “People are looking this way.”

She glanced at her surroundings to realize that her words were true. Yuuta did not care about it, not in the slightest, but Naoya did.

With a scoff, he chose to leave the scene. “I suggest you mind your fucking manners,” he snarled through gritted teeth, intentionally knocking his shoulder against him. “And it’s Zenin-sama to you, Okkotsu.” 

Yuuta remained quiet and unfazed, not giving him the satisfaction of getting any reaction out of him. Mai followed closely after her cousin’s trail, hiding the bottom half of her face behind her paper fan as she walked. As the Zenins disappeared into the crowd, she felt the tension lessen in the air.

And with it, her beloved Yuuta returned.

“Are you all right?” he quickly checked on her, his face contorted in concern as if lines of anger never flashed across them. “I’m so sorry you had to hear that. I was planning to avoid them, but—”

“Okkotsu-san.”

They froze, turning their heads around to see another man detaching himself from a group of people to pay them his greetings. He appeared to be a year younger than Yuuta was, dressed in a pure white kimono and a black haori that stood in stark contrast to the color of his eyes. His jet-black hair was untamed, pointing in every direction. His scowl appeared to be permanent on his otherwise very juvenile face, but his jade-like eyes were pretty. Fierce and piercing, but pretty.

“Oh, that’s Megumi,” Yuuta regained his affable smile within an instant. He held her hand, telling her, “He’s one of the close friends I wanted to introduce you to. Come.”

They met him halfway, her body turning rigid under his eyes. Megumi took one look at her, examining thoroughly but far from criticizing. If anything, his sharp gaze turned gentler once he captured the emotions shown on her face. “Good evening,” he said, performing a polite bow. “I believe we haven’t met. Megumi Zenin, my lady.” 

Another Zenin. Her agitation swelled. “H-hello,” she mimicked his gesture.

“It’s nice to see you again, Megumi.” Yuuta’s delight was exhibited clearly in his voice. “How long has it been?”

“Around a month or two? It’s a pleasure to see you, too, Okkotsu-san.” Megumi appeared quite stern for a man his age, but when he tossed his smile at her, small yet genuine, it lightened all the weight in her chest similarly to how Yuuta’s did. “And you, as well.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Zenin-sama,” she bowed.

“Megumi is fine. I’m not really fond of being addressed by my family name. I don’t want to put any distance between us.” 

Ah, she understood immediately. No wonder they get along.

He turned to Yuuta. “Is she…?”

The said man turned red before he gave him a little nod.

“I see,” Megumi gave her a little smile. “It’s nice to finally put a face on it.”

She blinked. “Pardon?”

“Oh, this man right here,” Megumi explained, lightly bumping his shoulder against Yuuta’s. He was dropping all formality, behaving around them the way a friend would, and with it, he put her at ease. “He hasn’t been able to stop talking about you since the first day he met you.”

Yuuta’s blush turned a shade darker. “M-Megumi—”

“He’s been talking about you so often that I’ve been contemplating chopping my ears for good, truth be told.”

“Megumiiii,” Yuuta whined despite being older, pleading for him to stop while clutching his sleeve like a child. She giggled at the sight, which caused both men to stare at her in surprise before their gazes softened in endearment. 

Yuuta, particularly, breathed out in relief, knowing she’d finally rediscovered the strength to smile again.

“Thank goodness,” he said. “I was worried you wouldn’t smile again tonight after what happened with Naoya.”

She grew embarrassed. Was my face that obvious to read? “I wasn’t going to let my mind linger on that for too long.”

“That’s right, you shouldn’t.” Yuuta took a step closer toward her, no longer remembering that he was in public with a friend to keep him company. Like always, he granted her his full attention, fixing the loose hair that fell from her bow. “I’m not sure if you know this, but… I feel truly honored tonight to have you by my side. So pay no mind to anyone else, and just focus on me. Focus on how I feel about you.”

She took a breath, urging her palpitating heart to slow down. “All right…”

“That’s nice,” Megumi muttered flatly. “But I’m still here in case you’ve forgotten.”

“S-sorry,” they both spoke in unison, breaking free from the invisible force that drew them together. “Have you met Itadori-kun and the rest? I want them to meet her, too.” Yuuta quickly added, “If she’s willing.” 

She smiled and gave him her approval.

“I have,” Megumi replied. “They’re already seated inside. The show will start in a few minutes. You can talk to them afterward.”

“You’re right. We should go to our seats. I will see you later then, Megumi.”

The young man nodded, and with a slight bow of his head, he excused himself and proceeded to the house. 

Holding onto Yuuta’s wrist, she asked, “I’d love to meet your friends, but we must return the kimono before the store is closed. Will we make it in time?”

“Oh, umm…” He sweated, scratching a finger to his cheek. “There’s… no need for us to do that.”

“What? Why?”

“Because I already bought it?” He followed his line with a nervous chuckle. At the sight of her dropping her jaw, staring at him in disbelief, he hastily diverted her attention. “Oh, did you hear that? I think the concert’s starting.”

She gripped him by the wrist, glowering at him. “We will talk about this later.” 

He gulped, “Y-yes, Ma’am.” ***

Time flowed faster in her dream than her mind could retain all the details.

The concert was as gorgeous as she thought it would be and more, magical from the very first echo of the cello string being plucked to the glorious symphony that blessed her ears till the end. She was enraptured in every second of the best hours of her life, her fingers dancing on her lap to the tempo, itching to run the same piece on her worn-out piano. 

The little gathering she had with his friends was unexpectedly pleasant, too.  There were three of them, she recalled, excluding Megumi—Yuuji Itadori, whom she’d learned in the past half an hour of knowing him, had a smile that could rival the summer sun itself; Nobara Kugisaki, a young lady who appeared to be curt and judgmental at first, only to resonate very well with her in the next minute once she learned about her encounter with Mai, all due harboring the same amount of hatred toward her; the last one was Toge Inumaki who quirked her interest due to the mischievous glint he wore in his eyes despite being very reticent about himself. She didn’t expect them to be so welcoming, knowing how all of them were sitting in different social positions than her. It was very heartwarming, to say the least, and she could understand why Yuuta was fond of them. It certainly didn’t take long for her to feel that way as well.

“Did you have fun?” Yuuta asked her with a crooked smile, amused at how she was still swaying on her feet to the beat of her own hum even when a fair amount of time had passed since they left the theater. 

“Did I have fun—Yuuta,” she sighed into the air, bliss sketched over her face. “This is the best night of my life. To hear one of my favorite Liszt’s works performed before my eyes in such a grandiose way… I wish I could rewind the time so I could see it again.”

“Which one was that again? The second song? I know the first one was from Beethoven.”

“The second one was Radetzky March by Strauss.”

“Oh, the third one, then. I saw you smiling the entire time when it was performed.”

“The third one was Serenade by Schubert—Yuuta.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Do not tell me you fell asleep during the performance. I might have to commit a serious crime to you if that was the case.”

Yuuta laughed, and it was adorable. He was more beautiful than words could say. “I admit I was… a bit distracted throughout the show,” he bashfully smiled. “I, umm… I was worried about how your reaction would be. I kept thinking whether you’d like it or not. Whether our seats were too far from the stage or too close. Whether the setlist was to your liking—everything worried me. I know very little about classical music—I know nothing compared to you—but I wanted this to be one of the best experiences you’ve ever had. So, I kept glancing at you to make sure you were enjoying it, and then…” His heart swelled with joy and relief, all written in his eyes. “I saw you smiling.” The bow of his lips made his eyes thinning into pretty lines, beaming at her. “I’ve never seen you look so happy. And seeing you so happy made me feel happy, so I kept looking at you, and before I knew it, the concert ended,” he chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck as he grew embarrassed. “I’m such a fool, aren’t I?”

She nearly clung a hand to her chest. She had lost count of how many times she had fallen for him today. Over and over again, she asked herself, am I allowed to be this happy? To have such a wonderful man like him—a man who could have anything the world could offer—love me so ardently like this? 

“I was happy,” she whispered back, stopping in her tracks to grasp his hand in gratitude. “I am happy. This is the happiest I’ve ever been, all because of you. Thank you, Yuuta. Truly.” She locked their eyes together, hoping he’d fathom just how much tonight meant to her. “For everything.”

His gaze dropped to their joined hands, crimson bursting on his face. “I—you—you’re welcome.”

She could never get enough of him when he turned beet red over the slightest touch. At this rate, he’d die over a kiss, she giggled to herself—until the thought sank in. 

A… kiss..?

Her mind wandered back to the intimate moment they shared in the changing room, how his gaze lingered on the inviting shape of her mouth, how her own darted back and forth between his eyes and his beautiful thin lips. 

He was… about to kiss me back then, wasn’t he..?

Now that she mulled about it again, maybe she’d die over a kiss.

“So, umm—” Quickly growing hot under the collar, she diverted the topic, hoping he wouldn’t notice the oddity in her actions. “You said you didn’t know much about classical music.”

“Yes, Ma’am. I’ve never touched an instrument my whole life.” 

They carried on with their late-night stroll. She took a couple of steps ahead of him, too mortified to catch a glimpse of his face as improper thoughts continued to gyrate in her head. “That’s weird.” 

“Weird?” He raised a brow. “Why?”

“I don’t know. I just thought you’ve played some before.” Inside the books she read, they always seemed to portray children—those born out of wealth and royalty—getting musical lessons during childhood. It was the source of her envy back when she was younger, as well as one of the main reasons why she dedicated hours of her life to practicing music—to make herself equal somehow. “What do you like to do, then? When the heavens above granted the high and noble prince Yuuta Okkotsu some time to spare, what kind of wondrous things did he do?”

He scrunched his nose adorably at her choice of words. “I like to read.”

“Oh, dear, what a surprise,” she replied flatly, followed by an exaggerated roll of her eyes. “Come on now,” she bumped her shoulder playfully against him. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

He pondered for a moment, hesitation hinted in his tone. “Well, umm… I like to paint.”

“Really?” She blinked. “Why haven’t you mentioned it before? More than that, why haven’t you shown me any of your work yet?”

He tittered a little tensely, “Because I’m still learning, and I’m… not really confident with my skills.”

“There you go, acting humble again,” she pouted. “Yuuta, you’re brilliant at anything you do. I’m sure your paintings are wonderful. I would love to see them one day. What kind of art do you do?”

“I started by learning how to do realistic drawings. But now, I paint landscapes more.”

Landscapes, huh… As she marveled at the thought, her eyes naturally landed on the scenery before her. It was only then she realized that they had strayed quite a long way from Shinagawa, one of the busiest wards in Tokyo. They’d just continuously walked without knowing where their feet would take them, too engaged with each other to pay heed to their surroundings. Before she knew it, they had reached the edge of the city, their hair ruffled by the ocean breeze as they now stood with their hands on the railing. 

For a moment, she basked herself in the calmness of the seaside. It felt strange to see it so quiet, knowing how crowded it could be under the sun, particularly during the peak of summer. The percussion of waves caressed her ears like a mother’s lullaby, and if this wasn’t a dream, she could probably taste salt in the air. The velvety night sky lacked the presence of the white-gold moon, but the stars painted their reflections on the water, each fragment becoming a part of the body of brine, turning it into a blanket of diamonds. 

She suddenly felt the weight of his coat on her shoulders, something to shield her from the night breeze. She turned her head just enough to thank him for his courtesy.

“I wonder how the world looks like through your eyes,” she said, musing on just how much of this beauty he could capture with his hands, how much of its tranquility he could imitate on a blank, dull canvas. With his gentle, meticulous hands, perhaps he could even bring life into it. “Must have been beautiful. You always seem to catch even the slightest detail. Maybe it’s more because your heart is so pure that the world seems prettier in your eyes. You always look at the bright side of things, your mind trained to find beauty instead of focusing on imperfections just like everybody else. I think that’s a very wonderful trait to have.”

He blushed, “Y-you speak too highly of me.”

“Which makes me so curious.” She smacked her hand against the railing, startling him. “I want to see you draw! Can you do it now? If I give you a paper and a pencil, can you sketch something for me?”

“I… can,” he said unconvincingly, turning stiff. “B-but not when you’re with me.”

“What? Why not?”

 “Because you’ll make me nervous. I’m already nervous, even now.”

“Yuuta, please,” she chuckled. “It’s just me.”

“It’s because it’s you,” he corrected, causing her to grow mute. “It’s… because it’s you,” he repeated, much softer this time. “If there was one person I wanted to impress—one person whose opinion mattered to me, it would be you. I’ll show you my work one day, I promise, just… Just let me prepare my heart first.”

The soft glow of the lamp posts above them was enough for her eyes to witness the plum blossom petals being carried by the wind. Some of them made their way to the sea. A few stroked their cheeks before they danced away. One of the petals was caught in his hair, shell-pink in pitch-black sea. And as she looked at it, giggling internally at how very… heroine-esque he looked like this with his face gorgeously illuminated by the warm light, a flower in his hair, a pretty blush, and a hand plastered over his racing heart.

Once he calmed down, Yuuta inclined his head to the side, curious as to why she was watching him. But she was always watching him, wasn’t she? Her eyes always returned to him, even when she didn’t realize it. “Umm… Did I say something wrong?”

“No. Just being incredibly dramatic,” she said affectionately. “Thank you for thinking about me that way. Stop saying things like that, though. You’re making me feelembarrassed.”

“S-sorry,” he fidgeted.

“I’m joking. Can you bend down a little for me?”

“What? Why?”

“You have a flower in your hair, Princess,” she giggled. He’s like a scared puppy. She rose on her toes, reaching up to steal the tiny flower. He held his breath in the sudden proximity, staying as still as a statue as she brushed her hand against his strands. Yuuta watched her with his heart worn on his sleeves, a lovesick boy down to his core.

“So, you paint, and you read.” She placed the flower on his palm, curling his fingers around it. “Is there something else you do to pass the time?”

It took him a couple of seconds to reply, fascinated by how small and pretty her fingers were compared to his own. “I often find myself wondering what it would be like to have my own company,” he uttered. “All this time, I’ve only been learning how to fill my father’s shoes, how to do everything exactly in his way, down to the minor details. And it’s great even if it feels suffocating sometimes. I appreciate the lessons and the experiences he gave me, and I feel proud of myself when I can meet my parents’ expectations, but…” 

He held the plum blossom between his fingers, placing it in her hair, just behind her ear. He smiled, softer than cotton, while tucking away her loose strands. “I can’t help but feel like there’s something missing, you know? I don’t feel like I belong there, sitting in the chair my father provided to me. With me being the only heir of my family, I would have these companies under my name by the time Father is too old to manage them, but I think I’ll never be satisfied until I could something out of my own hands.”

She pulled herself away before she drowned further in his eyes. “So, uhh, why don’t you?”

He gave a mirthless laugh. “Father wouldn’t let me. He told me to be grateful and just do as I’m told. He doesn’t believe that I’m capable of making something as profitable as the ones under his belt. He said I’d be wasting my time—and his.”

“He said that?” She asked incredulously, almost cursing out loud. How can a parent have so little trust when their child is this bright and talented?! “You should just ignore him,” she muttered in suppressed vexation.

“What?”

“I don’t think you’ll waste anyone’s time, Yuu. I know how diligent you are, and although sometimes you can be a little bit of a pushover—“

“Hey.”

“—Deep down, you’re very ambitious. Once you have your eyes set on something, you won’t stop until you reach your goal. Maybe your father can’t see it, but I do. And even if your father was right, if it didn’t work out because you lacked the experience for it, why should that stop you from trying? Failure is what makes us better. We can learn from our mistakes. And you’re trying your best to make yourself happy. Your happiness is worth more than a million yen in your pocket, I always said. There’s no fault in that!”

He blinked, shocked at how worked up she was for his sake. “You’re always like this, aren’t you?” His gaze softened. “Getting angry on my behalf.”

“Because you never get angry,” she brooded. 

He simply chuckled. “Then, what would you do if you were me? Picture yourself living my life for a while. What kind of company would you build if you had my, uhh, resources?”

“Your resources. Hmm…” She couldn’t help but make fun of him a little, trapping her chin between her fingers as she pretended to think. “So, I’d have natural good looks, sad puppy eyes, and an endless amount of money, huh?” She turned him flustered. “I think I’ll just trade all my yens to gold, put them inside a safe for my future should anything go wrong, go seduce a wealthy mistress, and leech off of her so I’ll never have to work a day in my life ever again.”

He sighed, “I should’ve known not to expect a serious answer coming from you when you have that look on your face.”

She chortled, but not long after, her smile turned fainter. Her previous mischief was replaced with something profound. “A publishing company,” she said. “I would’ve built my own publishing company. It’s always been a dream of mine. But not just like any other publishers that are profit-oriented, I want to focus on the quality of the books.”

That piqued his curiosity. “What do you mean?”

She tarried for a moment. “Yuuta, do you know what my favorite book is?” It was a tricky one to answer, she knew, because every time he asked her that question, she’d always reply with, I don’t really have one. I love everything I read almost equally.

“Hmm…” He tapped his chin, musing. “Is it… The Makioka Sisters by Tanizaki-sensei?”

“Close,” she smiled. “But I’m impressed with your guess. I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned that to you.”

“You never did. I just figured that’s the one because when you showed me your copy the other day, the pages had many creases on them, which means you must be flipping through them a lot, either to re-read it or find your favorite scenes.”

She scrunched up her nose. He saw right through her. “All right, Mr. Detective. Well, that’s the second one on my list, actually. Revival is the first one.” 

Yuuta knitted his forehead. “Have you shown me that before?”

“I haven’t because it’s never been published as a book. It’s still a manuscript, handwritten by Saori-sensei herself.”

His frown only deepened. “Saori-sensei…?”

“She’s a small writer,” she explained. “She lived somewhere in Hokkaido, but she came to Tokyo to try her luck. I had the pleasure of meeting her in person a couple of years ago when she visited the library. Revival is her third piece, but just like her other two, it never made it to the public’s eyes. She had approached many publishers in the past, but with no connections and no name for herself, they turned her over without even sparing her a glance. 

“She came to my library one day, tired and frustrated, and she asked me if she could place her manuscript there on our shelf. I was confused, but I had time to spare, so I listened to her story. By the end of it, she said that the reason why she became a writer was never about money or fame. She just had stories to tell, stories that she longed to be read. She said she wanted people to feel connected to the emotions she portrayed in the book. To make someone happy with her writings. I’m not a writer myself, but I can imagine how an artist would love to have their work seen and appreciated. 

“So, I said yes. More than that, I told her that I’d love to give her book a try. And she broke down crying, crumbling to her feet. It was the first time I’d ever seen someone weep that loudly before, almost like a child. I asked her whether I said something wrong, and she shook her head, wiping her eyes dry. She told me that I was the first person to say that to her. That I was the one who ever showed any interest in her work. She had traveled far away from home with barely any money in her pocket, and she had met many different people, and yet, I was the first one to say that to her. Seeing her like that saddened me, but I didn’t shed tears for her. Not until I finished reading her manuscript. By the time I got to the end, it took all of me to stop myself from crying.

“It was the best thing I’ve ever read. The first book that spoke to me. The premise was hard to believe at first—it tells a story about a couple who were separated by death, traveling through times and spaces just to be with each other again. Maybe it’s even laughable to some, but the way she wrote it… It made me believe in it. The yearning, the struggle, the desperation of being so close to each other and yet so far… It pulled me in. I spent all night finishing it and did it again the next night, reading from the start. I sent her a letter a few days later, telling her how wonderful her writing was, and she replied with, Thank you for reading my story. This is the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. And I thought… She deserves so much more than just a letter.”

She leaned back, resting her back against the railing. “I’ve read all kinds of books in the library to pass the time, not caring about its genre or topic, or whether it’s from a well-known author or someone from the outskirts of town who just made their first novel. I read everything I could get my hands on, but the books written by small authors never failed to intrigue me the most. Sometimes, they only have a few copies, still handwrittenlike the one Saori-sensei gave me. After reading hers, I started finding more of those in the library. They had always been sitting there, but I was just like everyone else, not paying attention to them. And that’s why, even though that place is old and cramped, I love working there. 

“Some of them were lucky enough to be printed, but they’re often published independently, and because of that, they’re not heavily edited. Every author has a distinct style, but when they hand their work over to the giant publishers, they’re forced to suit the public’s taste. It’s not a bad thing, obviously, but when you’ve read someone’s original work, someone brimming with talent, you’ll see the difference. I could feel their raw emotions when I read them. I could feel their authenticity in every word they chose.”   

His understanding dawned on him. “So, you want to give these underrated authors a chance.”

“Yes. I want them to get the recognition they deserve. Most publishers would choose to translate famous works or urge well-known authors to produce new books every year, and they never really give these small writers the opportunity to compete. I know it doesn’t offer much money if you look at it from a business perspective. I know nothing about making profits from books, but I can imagine that publishing works written by popular authors would offer much more fortune than distributing works from unknown writers. I just thought… Maybe there are people out there who wish to read these beautiful stories, but they never get the chance to. I want to help those people and these authors connect.”

Silence settled between them once she ran out of words, and she grew self-conscious. “Gods, I’ve spoken too much, haven’t I?” She tossed him an awkward laugh. “Sorry. Let’s focus back on what you want to do—”

“You said it was your dream, right?”

She blinked. She didn’t expect him to listen to her rambling so intently, let alone take her word seriously. “A silly, silly dream—” 

“It’s not silly,” he affirmed it with deep sincerity. “It’s not silly at all. I think it’s wonderful that you thought about it that way. And even if it isn’t profitable, if it makes you happy, it’s fine, isn’t it? Your happiness is worth more than a million yen in your pocket, I always said,” he couldn’t help but tease her at the last part, throwing her lines back at her; mischievous imps swam in his deep blue eyes.

“Well, you can say that since you’re rich,” she playfully rolled her eyes. Yuuta was no longer poking fun at her. If anything, he turned solemn. “Yuuta?”

He tapped his fingers against the railing, his gaze stretching far away as if it longed to become one with the sea. “What if I said I’d do it for you?”

Her heart churned. “What?”

“I’ll do it for you.” He turned around to face her fully, determination in his eyes. “Give me some time to think. I’ll do what I can to make your dream come true.”

“Yuuta,” she almost laughed out of the incredulity of his words, hoping it would pass as just another jest. Yuuta remained unsmiling, and after a second, her smile dropped, too. “W-wait, Yuu, I appreciate the thought, but you couldn’t just—” 

“I want to do it.” He held her gaze firmly. “Let me do it.” 

She exhaled heavily through her nose, not knowing what to say. “What… would your father say?”

“Didn’t you say I should ignore what he told me?”

Oh, Gods. “Well, yes, but—”

“But what?” He took her hand so abruptly that it almost stole a gasp from her lips, but his touch remained gentle. “Didn’t you hear me? I want to do this. Not just for you, but for me, too. I think it’s a wonderful idea, and I’m as passionate about books as you are, you know that. And…” He stroked the ridges on her knuckles, gazing at them as if he wanted to place another sweet kiss upon her skin. “If it’s within my power to make your dream come true, then I’ll do whatever it takes to realize it.”

He was already hell-bent on it, fire in his gaze, and she felt it penetrating her soul. Her heart rate started to soar. He’s insane. He should’ve thought it through. He said he was going to do this for his sake, too, but I couldn’t help but think that… he’d do this solely for me.

And if that’s not out of love, then what is it?

She tucked her chin, watching how his fingers still lingered around her own. “If you could do it,” she said so shyly she almost felt as if she wasn’t herself. “I’ll…. I’ll give you something in return. Anything you ask me, I’ll do it. As a thank you.”

Yuuta’s eyes widened slightly, flickering with hope. “A-anything?”

The way he said it made heat rush to her face. She nodded diffidently. “Anything.” He wouldn’t ask for something… indecent, would he? He’s not that kind of man. “If it’s something I could do for—”

“Marry me.”

She choked on her breath, coughing twice before she forced her eyes to return to his face. “What?!” She squeaked.

“Marry me,” Yuuta uttered, somehow looking even more resolved on his wish than he was a moment ago. “A year. I’ll build the company within a year, and once it’s done, you have to marry me.” His gaze had never been so intense that it robbed her of her breath. Noticing her swallowing hard at his words, he returned to his fidgety self. “I-I sounded so forceful before. I’m sorry—I didn’t mean to coerce you or anything! I swear, I already decided to ask you even without you offering that to me, I just—you said I could—” He took a breath, begging himself to calm down. “All I’m saying is… If there was one thing in the world I wished of you… It’s for you to marry me.” He lowered his gaze as his face burst into flames, adding a timorous, “P-please.”

Despite how ridiculous and sudden the situation was, none of this was a laughing matter. Yuuta was sincere—as sincere as he could be—but still, never in her right mind had she ever thought a man would blurt out something as momentous as a marriage proposal in the middle of the night out of nowhere. The thought tickled her stomach. 

We were talking about business a minute ago, for God’s sake. “Yuuta,” she gave her best attempt at withholding her giggles. “We’re not even lovers yet.”

He blanched, all colors washed out at once. “We’re not?”

She nearly dropped her jaw. He thinks we are?! Since when?!

Oh, she thought, her mischievousness climbing up her throat fast. Oh, this is going to be fun. She put on a poker face, blinking her eyes cutely as she feigned surprise. “We are?”

“I mean—” He started gesticulating out of panic. “H-haven’t we done things that lovers do? Things like—like taking a late-night stroll like this, spending hours talking just the two of us? We—” He was drowning in worry and confusion with each second passing by. “We went to a concert together. We had dinner together, we…” He ran out of words, his face almost turning blue in horror. “Am I the only one who sees it this way…?”

She, the devil that she was, just continued with her torture. “Well, I do those things with my friends, too, you know.”

“Oh…” She could almost see the way his heart shattered in his eyes. “But…” He turned small. Maybe if she weren’t there, he would’ve curled up into a ball and lay down in the middle of the road until one of his butlers came to pick him up. “I already…. think of you as my lover…” 

Cute. Cute. Cute. He’s so cute. “Yuuta, you’ve never even asked me to be your lover before.” She inwardly cackled. “How would I know what you think of me if you never put it into words?”

To her surprise, his head shot back up. “Then, would you be my lover?!” He promptly asked, and only a second after that, he looked regretful, as if he was chastising himself for being so straightforward and not putting enough effort into wooing her heart first. “I love you, I—” He nearly wheezed. “I love you from the very first time I laid my eyes on you. I love you more than anything in the world, and I will love you until all my bones shatter to dust. I will sacrifice my life for you, I will—”

“I-I get it,” she cut him off quickly before he melted her face with his embarrassing words. Her plan to tease him backfires because now, her heart beat so clamorously in her ears that she could barely hear anything else. I just had my first love confession, she almost shouted in glee. And from a man more beautiful than the moon itself. Oh, Lord, thank you for all your blessings, I will never forsake You for the rest of my life.

“But I don’t know, Yuuta…” She faked a pout. This is the last time I’m teasing him, I swear. “I’m not utterly convinced yet. We’ve been friends for so long, what if it gets awkward between us once we start calling each other that way? What if we can’t do… things that lovers do?”

For a second, he was lost. Then— “We can,” Yuuta convinced her, even when his awkwardness clearly proved her point. He twined his fingers around her wrist, his hand trembling and laced with cold sweat. He was adorable. It’s funny how easily he’d held her hand romantically before when he didn’t realize it, but now, when asked to do it, he held her wrist like a mother forcing her child to return home. 

She looked at their joined hands with a flat stare. “What am I, your daughter?”

“S-sorry.” Quivers resurfaced in his fingertips as he slid his hand down to her own, hooking one finger around her pinky before he found the bravery to do more. With a smile, she helped him intertwine their fingers better, each gap filled with warmth the same way the ones in their hearts were. “You, umm…” He began anxiously. “You don’t do this with your friends, do you?”

“I do. Females often hold hands when they walk, don’t you know?”

A pout nearly manifested on his face while she tried to bite back her simper. “Then…” He wound his arms around her, pulling her into a deep embrace. As she had no choice but to plaster her head on his chest, she could hear the rapid beating of his heart. “What about this…?” he asked, his arms coiled tightly around her. She wished he had done more, suffocated her entirely, and if she died in his arms, just like this, she’d go with a satisfied smile. 

But on the outside, she said, “Maybe not. But I hug my sister this way all the time, too. It’s nothing special.”

He became more desperate on his next attempt, his fingers sneaking their way through her strands, holding her still as he planted a shy peck on the center of her forehead. She giggled, didn’t even bother to mask her childish devilry any longer. “My father does that.” He kissed her cheek next. “My mother does that.”

He gave up with a soft groan erupting out of his mouth. “I don’t know what else am I supposed to—” 

Fisting his collar in her hands, she yanked him down toward her, tiptoeing to meet him halfway. Their lips connected in a kiss, and with it, his words died before they could take form.

His eyes turned round, overflowing with surprise. She might have been planning this from the start of her little game, but Yuuta, the sweet, innocent young man that he was, remained clueless till the end. The kiss ended before his mind could comprehend the situation, his body staying rigid even after she loosened her grip from his shirt and returned the small distance between them.

She drew a breath, her blood pumping fast through her veins. 

I did it. I did it! I kissed him. Oh, Gods, I kissed him.

She wished her nervousness wouldn’t show too much, but she could hear it in her breath when she whispered,  “I don’t… do that one with anyone else.” Her hand felt heavier than a boulder when she withdrew it from his chest. “I’ve never done something like that before, actually. Only with you.”

“I…” He lagged a little, still half-paralyzed from her unexpected kiss. “I’ve never done that one either…”

It gave her a sense of triumph. We’re each other’s first, she exclaimed giddily inside. “Did you… like it?”

“I love it,” he reciprocated rapidly, his little nods shy yet eager. “It’s so much better than what I’ve imagined it would be.”

“You’ve fantasized about doing this with me?”

His brain turned to mush, melted by his shame. “M-many times, yes,” he admitted. “But never without your consent, don’t worry!”

Her refrained laughter came out as a snort. “Should we do it again, then?”

“C-can I?” 

She adored him so, so much. Every act of innocence he committed never failed to thaw her heart. “Only if you kiss me first,” she said, her smile tantalizing.

Yuuta noticeably gulped, anxious at the thought, but he wasn’t dumb enough to pass up on such an opportunity. His breathing tattered as he gathered the courage, his blush reaching the tip of his ears. He tried to lean closer, slowly, carefully, his eyes already shutting tight even when there was still quite a space between their faces. 

She almost laughed. I’m torturing him again, aren’t I? But she waited patiently, her lids closing in a piece of euphoria before he granted another with his lips. 

Their mouths caressed one another, lighter than a brush of a feather. A second passed, then two, and by then, she realized that eternity could set in between them, and it would’ve still felt too short once their kiss ended.

Yuuta pulled away, his gaze still fixated on her lips as if he was as spellbound by the kiss as much as she was. “Can I—”

“Yes.” She drew him back to her, molding their mouths together a little deeper, a little tighter, her hands finding their way to tangle around his neck. His lips tasted like a drop of nectar, and they were soft, softer than she imagined a boy’s lips would be. They were warm. Exciting. Addicting. 

He gasped against her mouth, matching her pace as best as he could. He was clumsy, his brain so occupied by the thoughts of her that he couldn’t stop these soft noises from escaping the back of his throat. She loved them. Every bit of whimper and moan he emitted, they flipped and twisted her stomach so exhilaratingly, awakening something inside her that craved to hear more of those sweet sounds. 

And yet, despite all of that, his hands still settled too stiffly on her waist, as if he was desisting himself from such pleasure. “You don’t have to be so gentle with me,” she breathed out when their mouths separated for a brief second. “I want you to kiss me the way you want to—mmph!”

Like a branch snapping under gravity’s pull, his passion took over without warning. He pulled her toward him so abruptly that she fell onto his chest, his suit slipping off her shoulders to land on the ground below. His palm, large and calloused despite how gentle he was, took prisoner of her face, angling her head to the side, holding her still, and slanting their lips better. Deeper. Harder. His other hand slithered dangerously low around her waist before it slid up her spine, crumpling the fabric of her kimono within his hold.

“W-Wait—mmph!” He was no longer listening, holding onto her tight, clutching like she was his lifeline. Butterflies came alive in her stomach when she felt his tongue stroking her own, tentatively at first to see her reaction, but once a moan escaped her, soft yet obscene to his ears, his desire possessed him once more.

Yuuta loved it when she parted her lips for him. His quiet whimpers turned into groans as he tasted her, her body pushed further against the railing and caged between his arms.

“Yuuta—” She was dying for a chance to breathe. 

He couldn’t grant it for her, not now, his lips devouring her still. “Open your mouth again,” he rasped out with haste, his voice so thick with lust that it was almost unrecognizable.

This was a different man kissing her; she loved him just the same.

Clawing against his shirt, she drowned further in this foreign, intoxicating sensation. Being with him like this felt like free-falling from the sky, so thrilling, so—

A bright light flickered toward them. They froze. 

We’re not alone.

They broke apart within a blink of an eye, barely a second before a police officer, who hopefully remained oblivious, patrolled down the road on his bicycle. She whirled around to clench her hands around the railing, pretending to gaze at the sea. Her ragged breathing would give her away instantly, and thus, she prayed for the darkness to be kind enough to act as her veil.

Yuuta, on the contrary, with his hair terribly disheveled, all due to the frantic work of her hands, was not a very good liar. His pale skin betrayed him, showing vividly how flustered he was, like a pure white canvas tainted madly by thick lines of red. The officer met his gaze as the poor boy busied himself with his hair, throwing his gaze to the ground.

“Good evening, Sir,” a male officer, possibly a few years older than Yuuta, greeted him with a polite bow, decelerating the speed of his bicycle.

Yuuta cleared his throat. “Good—” It still came out as a squeak, his voice pitchy enough that she almost flinched when she heard it. “Good evening, Officer.”

“Ma’am,” he greeted her next. “Is everything all right here?”

“Yes, Officer, umm—” She decided to think fast, clutching her hand around Yuuta’s arm. “This is my husband. We’re just taking a little stroll at the beach.”

“It’s already quite late for that, don’t you think?” He angled his head toward Yuuta. “Sir?”

It took an elbow to his side for him to reply awkwardly with, “Ah, yes! W-we’re on our way home.”

Yuuta’s words offered very little convincing, but it seemed that the way she wrapped her arms around his assured him that they were, indeed, lovers. “I see. Be careful on your way, then.”

She smiled, “Yes, Officer, thank you.”

He pedaled away, most likely too exhausted to chastise a pair of newlyweds at this hour. They both breathed in relief, their eyes finding each other once more before she broke into giggles.

“Sorry for suddenly calling you my husband,” she teased him. “Is your heart all right?”

“I almost fainted,” he confessed before he, too, found the energy to laugh at the situation. Once it passed, Yuuta stroked her hair, tucking the stray ones behind her ear. His smile left him as he gazed at her worriedly. “Are we… lovers now?”

She arched her brows, not expecting him to ask that question after what had happened between them. It must be because I’ve been teasing him so much. “If that’s what you want us to be,” she tittered.

“Do you want to?” His hand found hers again, much naturally this time, though his tone remained bashful. “To be mine?”

Do I want to be yours?

“Yes…” The rest of her answer comes out in a sleepy mumble as she returns to reality. Suddenly having Yuuta’s beautiful face replaced by the dull sight of her living room is quite perplexing that it leaves her incapable of doing anything but continue lying on the couch.

What just… happened…?

“Baby?” Satoru’s voice rings from the other side of the sofa. 

Nearly jumping out of her skin, she fixes herself on the seat. “H-hey!” Fuck. “How—how long have I been asleep?”

“Around two hours. You completely missed the movie, by the way.”

“I’m… I’m sorry.” She rubs her temple, trying not to focus on the way her face heats up quickly. “I guess I was tired.”

“I don’t think you were that tired,” he snickers, tossing her a naughty smirk. “You were making noises in your sleep. Did you dream about having sex with me?”

Her face catches fire. Just how good was that kiss for me to make noises in my sleep?! Mortified, she jumps to her feet. “I’m—I’m gonna go take a shower,” she sputters, a moment before she hares off.

“Bunny!” Satoru gasps from behind. “Don’t tell me I was right?!”

“Yes!” She exclaims before shutting the door behind her, knowing it’s easier to lie than to have him interrogate her for the truth.

Leaning her back against the door, she drowns her face in her hands. God, what is wrong with me? Why do I keep having these dreams? What do they mean—if they had any meaning at all? Why is it always him?!

Even hearing herself question such things sounds ridiculous in her head. Dreams are just dreams, they’re not real. She knows that. She’s been telling herself that, but… It’s getting harder and harder to pretend that way.

Nevertheless, this needs to stop. 

She shouldn’t let herself feel attached to them any more than she already has.

It’s a dream, I have no control over it, she thinks to herself as she returns to her feet. Staring into her reflection in the mirror, she promises that she’ll keep them separate, her reality and her dreams, the way they are meant to be.

“Yeah,” she swallows. “Yeah, I’ll do just that.”  ***

Last night, she made that promise.

Today, she betrays herself as soon as the morning sun flows past her window to bathe her skin in a golden shower, warming her bed and reminding her that—

Oh no, I have to see Yuuta today.

It’s the first time she has felt that way. Her fear of acting awkwardly in front of him over something as silly as a dream prevails over her usual excitement of meeting him, and ugh, she hates it.

As her brain is in the middle of registering that her boyfriend has woken up earlier than her for his morning run, her phone screen flashes, notifying her that a text has arrived. Her stomach churns the moment her eyes land on his name. With her heart beating faster than usual, she clicks it open, finding a wall of text written most formally with perfect punctuation and zero cases of childish emojis. 

Good morning. I hope you slept well. Sorry, I didn’t mean to bother you this early, but I want to remind you to bring an umbrella today, just in case. The weather forecast said there’s a 60% chance of rain today. I just thought you should know. 

- Yuuta Okkotsu

God, she almost laughs. Before she knows it, she’s already smiling at the thought of him again. Thank you for the gentle reminder, Secretary Okkotsu, she types her jest with her thumbs. Please remind me of my upcoming meeting at 10 a.m. I need to have a thorough discussion with a colleague of mine on how to exchange casual texts with a friend. The first step is called Dude, Why So Formal? Chill, It’s Just Me. She presses send.

Not a minute later, another text arrives.

I’m sorry, he says, followed by excessive crying emojis, but we’re still on for today’s plans, right?

Only if you behave like a normal human being, she bites back her smile.

Okay, I promise, he replies. Be safe on your way. Again, don’t forget your umbrella. 

Yes, Mom. Though she adds an eye-rolling emoji, nothing but a smile is written on her face.

Despite her expecting their chat to end there, her screen brightens with another one: See you later, Dude 😏

A chortle bursts out of her before she quickly types back, never mind, Yuu. It doesn’t suit you.

Eh? She can almost hear his tone in her ear. But I’m saying what you wanted me to say, he says, followed by a pleading face emoji.

Well, yeah, she snorts, but I can’t imagine you saying that. 

Then, what should I say, he whines, emphasized by a string of highly unnecessary crying faces.

As nonsensical and as unimportant as it is, their texting continues longer than anything they’ve exchanged before. Giggles fill the quietude of her bedroom with every chat sent and received. Yuuta, unbeknownst to him, has washed her anxiousness away—despite him beingthe one who caused it, also unknowingly. She wishes things could go on like this forever. Easy, fun, casual. And she can make it come true if she tries. She just needs to stay focused on her reality. That’s all she has to do.

Just stay focused. ***

It’s frightening how the kiss she shared with Yuuta in the dream bore more details than the one she had with Satoru. She could blame it on time—after all, Yuuta’s ’kiss’ had happened less than 24 hours ago, while her first time with Satoru had happened a little after they had started dating six years prior. Even so, she knew the truth: our minds do not remember days; we remember moments. And that’s why, even if six years passed by from now, she would still remember everything just as it was yesterday—the tension she felt in the room when Yuuta saw her walking out in the kimono he’d chosen for her, the way he introduced her to his colleagues with the brightest, proudest smile she’d ever seen worn on his face; his dream, their conversation, his confession and… His lips. How soft and warm and wonderful they were, how innocent their first kiss was, and how obscene the rest of them were. Everything became a moment beautiful enough to withstand the cruel passing of time.

Her mind drifts toward her dream again, which slowly morphs into a fantasy of her. I wonder what happened after that, she muses to herself, her eyes turning vacant as they linger on the same passage she’s been staring at for the past five minutes. 

What… happened after he took me home? Did he kiss me again? 

Did he…

Her gaze travels up, stretching past her novel to the man sitting before her. 

….spend the night..?

She gulps, trying to think past the harsh pounding of her heart. Yuuta is too immersed in the book he’s reading between his hands to notice her. It’s an unusual sight if she thinks about it, remembering how their eyes usually meet within seconds since he often glances back at her as well. She takes the chance, using this rare opportunity to marvel at him longer.

His hair is falling over his eyes. That’s… pretty.

Oh, he tucks it behind his ear. God, I love it when he does that. He did that often, too, in the dream, didn’t he? Is it one of his habits? She’s in a trance, her mind rambling on its own. I wonder what… else he does that’s similar to the version of him in my dream..? 

Her hazy gaze then drops to his lips.

Does he… kiss the same way?

Yuuta’s sapphire blue eyes suddenly flicker towards her, and she freezes, face aflame. She promptly drags her stare back to her book, flipping over a page—doing anything that keeps her busy. 

“Are you okay?” he questions, closing his book to give her undivided attention—to her horror. 

“Huh? Yeah, I’m fine,” she lies with a small laugh. It sounds so strained; she hates it. And she hates herself for the unstoppable train of thoughts that’s been passing through her mind today. “It’s, uhh, I was just wondering if we could get something to eat after this.”

“Yes, of course, I’d love to.”

“What do you want to have?”

“Anything you want,” he answers with a smile, just like always. 

“Okay.”

When silence sets in, their tension rises, and so does his curiosity. “Is… that why you were staring at me so much? Trying to figure out what I wanted to eat?”

Fuck. She casts away her gaze. “I wasn’t staring.” But she grows self-conscious under his stare, and he notices it. 

He approaches her a little differently, being gentler with her, more than he has been. “I can tell there’s something going on in your mind.” He places his book down on the table, not planning to pick it up anytime soon, telling her indirectly that he’s here for her, and her only. “I’m here if you want to talk. You can tell me anything, you know that, right?”

Not this one, no, she answers internally, but there’s a piece of her that wishes to take on his offer, the same piece that’s been dying to tell someone about this. Maybe if I’m careful about it, I can… “Have you, umm… Have you ever had a dream that felt so real that you could remember every detail even when you’re awake?”

The word yes seems to fleet across his face, though it may have been something she imagined as his lips only shape the words, “What kind of dreams? Nightmares?” 

“No, nothing scary like that, it’s…” She struggles to find the words. “I don’t know, like a weird dream where you just do something normal, but it feels so real. Like, instead of dreaming, it’s more as if you were… walking through a memory.”

His body stills, but within a blink of an eye, he returns to his usual composure. “Your memory?”

Yes, her heart answers to her own surprise. “No,” she says, echoing what her mind tells her. “Someone else’s memory. It felt like I was trapped inside a body—a body that looked just like mine. I heard myself talking about things that I wasn’t aware of, but I felt all her emotions enough to feel like it was me—a different version of me. What makes me feel weird is that the whole time it happened, I was conscious that I was inside a dream. Usually, when you’re in a dream, you can’t tell that it’s a dream because everything looks real, right? My case is the opposite. Whenever I’m in my dream, I’m aware that it’s not real. But when I wake up, I feel like… the dream isn’t just a dream. I didn’t recognize where I was most of the time, but I had some dreams where I was spending my time in the library—this library. The place I was in looked so much like this,” she gestures to her surroundings. “Even down to the little details. I want to say that maybe my mind was just projecting it, but… I don’t know, it just feels weird.”

Yuuta appears to be in deep rumination, but if anything crosses his mind, he doesn’t let it show on his face. “Were you alone in those dreams?”

“Huh?”

“Were you alone, or were you with… someone else? Someone you knew?”

She stops. Returning her eyes to him, she reads what lies between the lines of his features. He seems… hopeful, as if he was expecting, or rather, praying, for her answer to come in the shape of his name. She curls her fingers, wishing she could sound even a little convincing when she says, “There were... people, yes. But I didn’t recognize any of them. They were just… faces.” 

His eyes widen, but instead of hope, she witnesses pain. “I see…” He averts his gaze, his expression no longer readable. 

“Yuuta..?”

“Well, dreams can be strange sometimes,” he attempts to comfort her, the cheerfulness in his tone sounding a bit over the top. “I wouldn’t worry too much if I were you. I once dreamt about my cat turning into a lion and feeding me some grapes.” He forces out a chuckle. “But dreams are just dreams, right? They’re not real.”

She frowns, confused. There’s something concerningly off about him, she just can’t tell what it is. “You’ve never had that kind of dream before?”

“No,” he smiles. “I don’t think I have.”

The curve of his lips never reaches his eyes. ***

Next Chapter

[hbyrde36]

STWG Daily Prompt 3/9/24

Written for the @strangerthingswritersguild

Prompt: Bite

Rating: G | WC: 867

Emotional hurt/comfort, Steve Harrington's parents being the worst, the best uncle Wayne Munson, supportive boyfriend Eddie Munson, the party loves Steve Harrington

Steve had given up on his dad long ago, he was never going to be the kind of man Richard Harrington had always wanted his sons to grow up and be, but he’d held out hope for his mom—hope that someday she would learn to love him the way she loved his brother.

More than ten years between them, and the fact that the Harrington’s had moved to Hawkins only after Christopher had graduated high school and gone off to college, meant no one really knew Steve had a sibling. 

The party, Robin, Eddie—especially Eddie because how could they have been dating for over a year now and him somehow still not know about this—were all stunned to learn of the existence of another young Harrington.

He hadn’t meant to tell them at all, but then Christopher and their parents made a surprise visit home so that his brother could take possession of their grandmother’s ring and pop the question to his girlfriend of a whopping 9 months. Less time than he and Eddie had been seeing each other and didn’t that get under Steve's skin to know he’d never get to propose to his boyfriend with a family heirloom, not only because gay marriage wasn’t legal, but because his parents would never dream of handing down a piece of jewelry to their least favorite son.  

Steve wound up having to make the rounds, letting everyone know movie night was canceled because his brother was in town. Naturally they all wanted explanations for why this was the first they were learning of this mysterious person, and by the time he got to Eddie’s place, Steve was a mess. 

Years of mistreatment and neglect bubbled to the surface, and not just the big things but the little sniping comments, the small injustices—inequities between the way Mr. and Mrs. Harrington spoke of their older son vs their younger—hurt feelings that he’d pushed all the way down in order to function, in order to put a fucking smile on his face and hide the fact that he was damaged goods who not even a mother could love. 

It all came spilling out of him on Eddie’s bedroom floor as his boyfriend held him, rocked him, was his rock, tethering him to the earth.

When it was all over and Steve was calm, Eddie asked him why he still spoke to them, why he still lived in their house when he and Wayne had both–on separate occasions–invited him to live with them instead.

“They’re my family.” Steve said, shrugging. “I don’t have a choice.” 

“Of course you do, Stevie. You always have a choice. If you were to decide right here and now that you never wanted to see or speak to them again, you are allowed to do that. You hold all the power here. I’ll support you in whatever you decide, but I have to say in my humble opinion, they never deserved you.”

Steve took the night to think about it, though in the instant Eddie had said the words, given Steve the power to take control of his own life, he’d known what he was going to do. It was his life, he could do with it as he wished. He was already doing that with almost every other part of it, so why was he still letting his mom and dad hold any power over him? Why did he subject himself to their passive aggressive comments and disappointed glares?

In the end he never went back, not even to get his stuff. Wayne and Eddie did it for him, leaving behind his keys and his beloved car. 

A small price to pay for freedom. 

He called the next day and left a final message on the answering machine. 

“Please leave your message after the beep.”

“Hey mom. You’re the hardest one to say goodbye to, the last member of this family I held out hope for so you’ll have to forgive me for not doing this in person. My car keys are on the table by the front door. I know the BMW is in dad’s name and I know he wouldn’t want me keeping it under the circumstances.”

“I am no longer a Harrington. I’m sure you won’t mind because you barely thought of me as one to begin with but it’s official now. I’m moving on, and moving in with my boyfriend. Yes, boyfriend, because I am nothing if not a consistent disappointment.”

“It took me longer to see it with you because I've witnessed the way you care for the people around you, most of them anyway, and what you’ve done for this community.”

“You are a good person, except when you’re not. And you were a great mom, just not to me.”

There was no bite in his words, just a sad truth finally spoken aloud.

Steve hung up the phone feeling lighter than he ever had in his whole life, and sat down to dinner with the people who really loved him. His found family, who’d all dropped whatever they were doing at a moments notice to throw him an impromptu moving-in party at his new home with Eddie and Wayne. 

Thanks to my beloved @penny00dreadful for having a look over this 🥰

[yanderestarangel]

"My heart belongs to you alone..."

TW: insecurities, jealousy, reader has trust issues, make-up sex, dom!bi han, praise, v!sex, ftm reader, rough sex, smut, little angst, afab anatomy.

⸺ Your insecurity was never new to him, however, Bi Han didn't really understand why you doubted his conduct and fidelity, but he was an understanding man, who loved you and understood that certain aspects would have to be worked on in your core - From past relationships, he was proud of you and even if he didn't say it verbally, his heart cried out for every piece of you... However, not even the cyromancer's solid passion and love stopped you from feeling hurt and insecure again.

Your jealousy and doubts were so visible that it even hurt, especially when you saw several people - new ninja recruits - trying to flirt with the grandmaster, you tried to control yourself, tried to control that underlying sadness that was trying to climb back into your mind and dope your senses...

But it was too late, especially when I saw some of them whispering about how much they wanted to sleep with their man. Bi Han wasn't stupid and he knew they were trying to flirt with him, he wanted to be a polite leader but that disgusted him, especially because he said several times that you were his partner, but it didn't help and it was too much for you to bear - when he realized you had already left for home which led him to cancel the rest of the training for the next day and go run after you, you were his number one priority.

⸺ Your body was lying on the bed, wrapped like a snail in several sheets, while the copious crying was audible, sub zero was a patient man... But at that moment, he knew that words wouldn't help enough, so he decided to act, act in the best way you could think of - taking the sheets off you with a quick movement, and forcing you to look deep into his eyes, "-Look at me." he ordered sternly, your eyes boring into his, seeking understanding.

"-Do you really believe that I would betray you like that?" His tone softened slightly. "-I chose you because you make me feel alive again. Because you bring light back to my dark world. Do you understand?" This time, he didn't even wait for a response from you, forcefully tearing any fabric that still prevented him from seeing your pretty pussy in his hungry eyes.

You babbled incoherent thoughts to him, letting your insecurities speak louder, which made Bi Han angry. With a violent movement of his hips, he buried himself completely inside you, moaning deeply as he did so - He gave you a light armbar on your neck - reaching down, he slapped your ass hard enough to make you scream before returning to his merciless pace.

Bi-Han grew in frustration, seeing you continue crying because you were insecure, but he held you in place, even if painfully, his cock throbbing against your cunt. "-You know that's not true baby boy...," he snarled, his free hand reaching between your legs to roughly rub your clit through - He began to thrust faster, harder than before, asserting his dominance over you both physically and emotionally.

His pace didn't slow down even as tears continued to trickle down your cheeks, staining the sheets beneath you. "-Listen to me boy." he commanded between heavy breaths. "-I choose you every fucking time. No matter what anyone else says or thinks, it doesn't change how I feel about you." His pace didn't falter, if anything, it intensified.

His hips bucked faster, harder, driving him deeper into your tight channel. Your moans turned into high-pitched whimpers, muffled by the hold on your throat. "-You are beautiful," he growled, his voice hoarse with need. "-Oh- So fucking beautiful... How could I change you? How could I leave you for someone else- You are my husband, goddamnit! And don't you dare forget it!" As he spoke, he began to thrust deeper and harder, pounding into you relentlessly.

The combination of pleasure and pain was overwhelming, causing new tears to well up in your eyes. But despite the carnal and mental pain, something inside you calmed down and you relaxed a little, as you looked directly into his eyes - He moaned deeply, leaning down to capture your lips in a messy kiss. "-That's a good boy... Cum, cum for me, my angel." Sub-zero groaned deeply, his cock twitching violently inside you as your orgasm washed over him - he followed suit seconds later, filling your pussy with hot cum.

His hips continued to rock back and forth for a few moments before he finally released his hold on your throat, allowing you to gasp for air - panting heavily, he turned to look at you, you both sweaty bodies intertwined in a mess of flesh and fluids. "-That was... intense," he managed between heavy breaths. "-But I think we both needed that... Never forget that I love you... never despise yourself again, I love you, I fucking love you."

©YANDERESTARANGEL 2023

[koiir]

‧̍̊˙· CHEER UP BABY! ·˙‧̍̊

— How they cheer you up

Characters - Scaramouche, Diluc, Cyno, xiao,

Genre - fluff, comfort, crack

A/n: less than two weeks bro… and then I see… TWICE BABYY

“Gosh, grumpy today are we?” Scaramouche wrapped his hands behind your neck, continuing the teasing he has been doing.

“Who wouldn’t be around you?”

“And attitude? Wow [name], you’re breaking my heart.” The indigo haired looked at your face, annoyance written on your face as you scrolled on your phone, acting as if you weren’t bothered. But Scaramouche knew better. It’s been hours, you should have gotten over it by. But nope.

“There’s always next time you know, just search the album online and see if you can find it-“

“You don’t understand that was the last one! And I bet online they’ll all be sold out Scara!” You finally turned to face him, a pout on your face as you recall the moment I’m which you saw that one guy purchasing the album you wanted, and walking out of the store happy with his buy. But you were absolutely furious as you watched the man trail into his car, wanting to jump him.

Your lover looked at you, a grin making its way onto his face. A thought of a way to make you happy, annoyed in his thoughts. “Well… nothing we can do now huh?” He said that as he quickly swooped your phone, ignoring your voice telling him to stop.

“SCARA WAIT, GET BACK HERE.” You two should have stayed inside, because with the space available Scaramouche was able to run around with you trailing behind him. It resembled a game of tag, rather it was not fun going after him as he happily mocked you and teased you until finally you caught him.

“What the fuck scara! I was already tired enough and so you decide to make me run around?!”

“Yeah, had to let you blow of the steam somehow,” he winked at you happy with his doing. You rolled your eyes at him, now being pulled into his chest.

“But,” one.

“Don’t get so bothered over this,” two.

“I’ll make it up to you,” three. The third kiss Scaramouche gave to you.

Little did you know he had ordered something that would soon arrive, just in case this happened.

“You ready love?” Diluc knocked on the door, waiting for a sign that it was okay to enter.

You opened the door, seeing the face of your lover who would drop everything for you. Literally. It’s why he canceled his meeting in order to create the date he had in store for you after seeing you so worn out from work. You didn’t even know what the date would hold, not knowing Diluc had came up with it last minute.

“You know… you didn’t have to do this Luc. Staying at home with you would’ve been fine.” It’s true, any moment spent with him was all you needed, being close to him was enough. But this small act of love made you realize how lucky you were to be his.

“And why would I let you spiral into your thoughts? I want you to be happy rather than upset over today. It’s the least I could do you for you [name], after everything you have done for me.” A kiss was given to your cheek as diluc grabbed your hand and led you to the spot in which your date would take place.

The sun now setting made it the perfect view, the small patio outside looked gorgeous with flickering lights around, petals of flowers and the nature around it made it look like a scene from a movie. When did Diluc do this? You sure you would’ve noticed a place like this before, but he always had his ways.

“Diluc… It’s beautiful, when did you-“

“I’ve thought of this for a while actually, but last week. Since I noticed you’ve been more stressed about work. I knew a place like this would help calm you down.” Your heart fluttered at his words, looking away and back onto the scene that he made just for you.

He held your hand, walking over to the table placed just for you and him. Awaiting the both of you was plates of food ready for the two of you. The food was recently made, who else was in on this date he planned?

It didn’t matter though, in the moment in was just you and Diluc. It felt like a new breeze of air, finally not having to the deal with the troubles of work and instead be with the one you cherished most. Looks like his plan did work after all.

“How about-“ “cyno shut up.” The man looked back at you, his expression showing a slight annoyance after you shut him down. Was it so bad that he wanted to tell you an amazing joke of his?

“[name], don’t let your feelings get the best of you. You can’t keep being this mean to me, you know.” It felt like an entirety with how Cyno kept trying to cheer you up, but his jokes were going to be the death of you. No matter how bad the joke was, you would crack a small smile trying not to laugh. If you did, he would only continue. Even though he is still trying. So in this situation, nothing would change him.

“Okay well, let’s try something different.” Oh no. You looked over at Cyno, a small smile smirk on his face. You narrowed your eyes at him, hoping he would get the hint by now. It you couldn’t help the excitement that rose in you, wondering what cyno would come up with.

“Are you twice? Because I’ll be your once and only.” You had no idea how cyno could say these things with a straight face, he stared at you waiting for you to say something. Your mouth hanged open, if it could be possible your jaw would be on the floor.

You blinked once, still looking at him. His mouth was about to open once more, but you had to stop him before he said anything else. “Cyno… that didnt even make sense.” After that you bursted out laughing, not being able to get over what he had said.

“What do you mean? It made perfect sense to me, you should know that.” Cyno looked over at you, hand on your face as you kept giggling. Eyes growing soft as he stared at you, seeing your smile and laughter made his heart flutter.

“Do you wanna hear another one?” For once in your life, you said yes.

“I’m back,” xiao stated as he entered, coming back from getting what was needed. What you needed.

He opened the door to the bedroom you two shared, seeing you curled up in bed. Pain evident on your face, the ache coming from your legs and head while your throat felt like it was fire. You had caught a fever and had to stay in for a couple of days, today was the day you were suppose to be at a fitting. Now you missed the important date and sadness swept over you.

“I’m here love.” Xiao slid into the bed, covering the blanket over you so it covered you fully. You turned around, seeing your lover back. He wrapped your hands around you, pulling you into his warm embrace. You melting into him, the warmth that came from him giving you comfort.

“Have you felt better?”

“Not really… just feel more tired.” Xiao hummed in response, holding you tight while looking back that floor where he had left the bag. The bag contained things needed, and one little surprise.

“I got you some things you might need, and this.” When he turned back to face you, Xiao held a plushie that you saw the other day while looking through the city. Your eyes widened as he handed you the plushie, the small smile you loved appearing on his face.

“Xiao! You didn’t have to you know… but thank you, I love it.” A kiss was given to the crown of your head as he caressed your cheek, the two of you maintaining eye contact. Gazing at one another with love and passion.

“It was worth it since it made you happy, I remember the smile that you had when you first saw it.” Whatever it was, if it made you happy Xiao would not have a second thought about it. He would immediately get it, for you, the love of his life.

A/n: I sincerely apologize for the joke that was made In cyno’s part. I hope you all can forgive me for that

[k-germsworld]

Unstoppable

Yuju x M! Reader

Requested

2.9k words

"Target is close," An unknown said to the phone. Yuju was walking in a dark alley with headphones on at night time. She didn't know that a crisis was slowly approaching her. When she reached the end of the alley, she was suddenly wrapped in a large sack and thrown into the back of a van. After they successfully caught Yuju, the van quickly left the scene and headed to a remote place.

The van drove for almost 15 minutes and arrived at a relatively remote place. The van driver parked his van on the side of the road. After repeatedly confirming that no one was there, he opened the trunk and got in. The woman wrapped in a large sack kept struggling. Finally, the leading man took the sack away and they were shocked by the beautiful face of Yuju.

"Who are you guys ?" Yuju was so shocked after knowing she was surrounded by three unknowing men.

"Hey, pretty. We just received an order, it asked us to meet your needs." The leader tells her.

"Who asked you to do this?" Yuju is curious as to why anyone would know the secret between her and her boyfriend.

The leader says nothing but shows a picture to her. After she saw the picture, she realized that was her stupid boyfriend. She did tell her boyfriend that she wanted to be taken to the wilderness and fucked non-stop with others. But the premise is that her boyfriend and someone she knows is also there, not someone they don't know and also who looks like a gangster.

"I think he made a mistake, can I cancel the order now?" Yuju asked innocently.

"Are you fucking kidding us now?" The leader grabbed her chin and said angrily.

"I don't care if he made a mistake or not, since you are here now let us finish the order then." The leader kisses Yuju roughly after saying that. He also stuck his tongue into her mouth. Their kissing made a very loud noise. He then stops the kissing. Her saliva remained on his lips, and he stretched out his tongue to lick the saliva remaining on his lips clean.

"Your lips are so soft and your saliva is sweet, pretty." The leader sighed at the smell of Yuju. Yuju says nothing but she does feel her body slowly becoming hot. He continued his kiss with her but she didn't resist this time. She also took the initiative to stick her tongue into his mouth. The leader responded to her initiative and stuck his tongue into her mouth too. Their tongues were constantly entangled. Their tongue kiss made the two people watching next to them also horny. The two of them kept touching their dicks through their pants.

"Boss, can we join together also?" They ask for their boss's permission. The leader didn't say anything, but since he was still concentrating on the kiss, he only used his eyes to indicate that they could enjoy her together. After getting the permission from their boss, the driver took Yuju's hand and stroked his cock with hers. The thug was teasing her pussy through her panties. The moment he touch her pussy, he realized that she was already wet.

After having a long time passionate kiss with Yuju, they stop. The leader looked at the drool flowing from the corner of her mouth while still savoring the aftertaste of her soft lips. Her eyes also changed from bright to seductive. While the leader was still savoring the aftertaste of her lips, the driver had already taken off his pants and used her hand to stroke his entire cock.

Now Yuju was very horny, so she couldn't wait to put the driver's cock into her mouth and give him a perfect blowjob. Yuju wants to try to deepthroat, but his dick is relatively medium-sized so the length can't even hit the deep of her throat. Even so, she is still trying her best to make him feel great with her blowjob while her hand is playing with his balls. Her mouth is very hot and moist making him let out a loud moan. "Fuck..... you are so great at sucking my dicks." She felt very happy because he liked the way she gave him a blowjob.

Yuju's other hand seemed to be searching for something in mid-air, groping the air until she encountered something made of fabric. She ran her hand up the fabric until she came across something thick. It turned out that her hand had been looking for the leader's cock, but since her mouth was in the middle of a blowjob, she couldn't ask for it.

When her hand touched his cock, he took off his pants and let her stroke his cock. One of her hands was stroking a cock while her mouth was giving a blowjob now. Yuju even swaps, blowjobs on the cocks of the waiting ones, while continuing to stimulate the cocks that have just been sucked. The two of them felt like they were going to heaven due to her blowjob.

While the two of them were enjoying the heavenly service, the goon had already buried his head between Yuju's legs. He loved the smell of her pussy. He breathed in the smell of her pussy very hard, and he was panting loudly. He was teasing her vagina through her underwear, causing the underwear to be completely soaked and almost turning transparent. He couldn't stand the scent of her vagina anymore, so he took off her panties and then licked the outside of her pussy with his tongue. He kept licking her pussy and inserted his tongue into her pussy. His tongue kept teasing up and down, causing Yuju to moan silently.

When he had teased her enough, he continued fingering her and then sucked on her clitoris. His teasing from both sides brought Yuju close to climax. "Yes... I am cumming soon. Suck me harder. Ah!!" Yuju holds the cock in each hand, then wrapped her legs around the goon's head, trying to let him feel her delicious squirt.

She squirted so hard with his constant stimulation. Even though she had just had an orgasm, her legs were still wrapped around his head tightly. After she squirted all the liquid into his mouth and face, she was willing to let go of her legs. The goon's face was filled with Yuju's juices, which made her very happy. To repay him for making her cum so hard, she went over to him and kissed him passionately. She licked all the liquid off his face, leaving only her saliva on his face. She kept kissing him until her hands touched something hard in his pants.

She knew what this meant, she made the goon sit on the floor, took off his pants herself, and started stroking his cock and giving him a blowjob. Yuju skillfully stroking his dick and licking his head while she was on her fours. She put his dick inside her mouth and slowly swallow it until his dick hit her throat. The moment it hit her throat, she made a sound of retching. However, she likes it so much that she swallows his dick all the way down her throat and holds on until she lacks breath only spitting out his dick. He was feeling so great that he rolled his eyes because she kept pushing his cock up to her throat.

While Yuju gave the goon blowjob, her pussy, and her assholes were completely shown to the other two. They were so aroused by just seeing her widen pussy. The leader immediately walked behind her and put his cock into her pussy from behind. "Shit... you are so tight." The moment he put it in, he almost cum on the spot due to her tightness. When he got used to her tightness, he moved his body and slowly thrust her pussy. He grabbed the sides of her ass so that he could push his cock as deep as possible.

The driver saw that there was no room for him, so he helped Yuju take off her clothes and started playing with her breasts. Her breasts are so soft to him. Her tits were as soft as pudding. He kept teasing her nipples causing her nipples to become very hard. Touching her breasts wasn't enough for him now, so he lay underneath her and sucked her breasts. Yuju was already very aroused by them, but because her mouth was still giving oral sex, she couldn't moan as much as she wanted, and could only moan slightly.

The goon feels like he is cumming soon so he starts to take the lead and give Yuju a great facefuck. He kneels on the floor grabs her head and starts waving her hips to thrust her mouth. He fucked her face very roughly, and each thrust reached the deepest part of her throat, causing Yuju to make a sound of retching. Since she couldn't close her mouth, she started drooling. Her saliva dripped on the driver's head, but he didn't mind and happily opened his mouth to receive her saliva. Her saliva was as delicious as honey to him.

"Fuck, I am cumming!" After saying that, the goon cum into her mouth. He shot all his thick semen into her mouth and pulled his dick out. Yuju opened her mouth wide to let him see how much he shot into her mouth. " Swallow it, pretty." He said. Without any hesitation, she swallowed it all and showed him her clean mouth.

"Hey, let me hear your moan." The leader is so frustrated that he didn't hear any moan while he fucking her, so he spanked her hard. "Yes, you are fucking me so good." He is so satisfied hearing her moaning, so he thrust her pussy faster. After a few thrusts, he got the feel of cumming. "Bear my child, bitch." He leaned on her back and whispered to her while he still fucking her. Finally, he shot a lot inside her. "Ah.... your cum is so hot." His warm sperm slowly flowed out from her holes. He spanked her ass, and the jiggling caused more sperm to flow out.

"It's your turn now. " The driver climbed out after hearing what the leader said and happily walked behind her. She used his wet fingers to tease around her asshole. "Wait... not there. Please don't." The driver not giving a damn and starts licking her assholes. "Oh, fuck..." He licked her ass till very wet and tucked his tongue into the asshole. After the foreplay, he teased her asshole with his erect dick.

"Do you want this dick to fuck you?"

"Yes, please... Please fuck my ass with your big dick." Yuju pulls her ass cheeks open and shamelessly asks for anal sex. Her request inspired him, so without another word, he inserted his cock into her ass. He just inserted the cock head only, the feels made him want to burst out. "Ah.... What the fuck is this ass tightness." Even so, he still stuffed the entire cock inside. He thrust slowly, adjusting to her tightness. After he used to it, he started to thrust faster and faster.

"Ah..... It's so painful but it's fucking good. Fuck me harder." Hearing her moaning, the driver who wanted to cum originally wanted to cum even more now. "Take this, you bitch!" He burst out his load into her assholes. He wasted not even a drop and shot into her ass. After getting a good fuck, Yuju tiredly lay on the floor and took her break.

Three of them are now sitting and discussing how great Yuju is. "Fuck, this woman is crazy." "I haven't fucked her enough yet." "We still have a lot of times, she is our sex toy in this 24 hours."

The goon waited for so long, now is his turn to fuck Yuju's pussy. He turned her over and started playing again with her breasts. Without any foreplay, he inserted his dick inside her pussy. Since Yuju gets fucked many times so her pussy is already wet, and his dick can easily thrust into her deepest part. "OH Fuck. You are so big inside me."

The leader and the driver watching the goon fucking Yuju and hearing her moan make them stroke their dicks unconsciously. The leader can't hold it anymore, he squatted on her face and stuffed his dick into her mouth. Since Yuju is laying down on the floor, the dick keeps hitting the back of her throat. She is hard to breathe but she likes it so much when he chokes her with his cock. He would hold inside her mouth until she patted his legs. Then, he will slap Yuju's face with his soaked dick. She didn't hate it but loved it so much when he slapped his dick to her face.

Yuju's hot wet mouth makes the leader cum real quick. Only with a few thrusts, he feel like he wanna cum. He pulls it out and aims his dick at Yuju's breasts and cum on her breasts.

"Hey bitch, lick my dick clean." The leader asked Yuju to do it. She didn't hesitate and give a nice lick on his dick and clean his dick.

The goon is keep thrusting Yuju even though she just giving someone a blowjob. He grabbed her waist and pounded her very fast. Due to his speed, he creampied her unconsciously. He didn't know it at first but he feel some hot liquid start to flow out from her pussy only to realize that he already cum. After cumming, he tiredly slumped on the floor.

However, the night is still young. They still have to complete their mission. They continue to fuck and creampie Yuju for the rest of the time. After fucking her for the continuous 4hours, they are so tired. They sat sweating and panting as she lay convulsing on the floor, begging for more cock. "More, I still need more cock."

She climbed up with difficulty and then climbed towards the leader. Yuju took his cock in her hand and started another round of blowjob. The leader’s cock has been ejaculated too many times, so it’s a little painful now when it gets hard. "Fuck.... What a crazy bitch." Before she drained him, he quickly picked up his phone and made a call. "Need backup. I will send you the location. Reach here as soon as possible." After a brief explanation, he hung up the phone and continued to enjoy the torture she brought him.

Since he really ejaculated too many times, she gave him a blowjob for a long time and he still didn't cum. This made Yuju very sad. So, she turned to the other two. As she crawled toward the other two, the trunk door opened. The moment the trunk door was opened, the sun shone in, making the four people in the car feel very dazzling. There were more than ten people who came for backup. They saw the naked Yuju giving a blowjob very erotically, which made them all instantly erect.

“This is also your mission, hurry up and take turns satisfying her." The leader order them. They drag Yuju off the van and make her kneel on the grass. The morning sun shines on Yuju's body, making her naked body very sexy. Soon, her face was surrounded by dozens of cocks. She didn't feel any shock but showed a very excited expression. She tries to satisfy their cocks in every possible way. She took turns helping them with her hands and mouth, leaving no one behind. Yuju even puts two cocks in her mouth and licks their pre-cum. She does these things happily.

Some people couldn't bear it any longer, so they lifted Yuju up and inserted their dicks into Yuju's pussy from behind. He leaned her against himself to push his dicks more deep inside. Of course, the others couldn't watch her being fucked quietly, so their hands kept wandering over her body. Some played with her breasts, some fingered her, some kissed her, and some continued to use her hands to masturbate themselves.

Because Yuju was so hot when being fucked, a few of them couldn't hold back and shot at her body. The one who was fucking her also couldn't take it anymore and creampied her too. The moment he ejaculated, she was quickly taken over by others. They didn't care about the semen leaking out. They just wanted to satisfy their own desires and ejaculated all their semen on Yuju. When one person finished, the other continued until all of them had successfully creampied her. They fucked from outside the car to inside the car, and then from inside the car to outside the car. They never rested. Yuju was so tired that she couldn't move her legs, but they ignored her because they were already treating her like a sex doll. Still, Yuju enjoys being fucked to death by all kinds of cocks.

Early in the morning, a car drove by an alley. The man inside the car threw a sack into the alley. Someone happened to see this scene while running in the early morning, so he went to the alley to have a look. He saw that the sack could move and that the shape of the sack looked like a person. He tried to open the sack and saw that it was Yuju who was thrown naked into an alley. However, she was a bit mentally disturbed. Her body kept twitching, and she kept mumbling: "I want… please give me more cock and semen." You can also see that there is still some residual semen in her pussy.

[numinousher]

CHANTAJE! (xxi)

SUMMARY: being under the watchful eye of the media and your fans, your managers are in desperate need of regaining back your popularity after other influencers who hate you cause mayhem to your life. what best way to do so by having you pretend to be in a relationship with the popular 7 who are known to be intensely wealthy and stoic? will you be able to regain their trust or will they go with their promise of damaging your reputation even more?

WARNING(S) FOR LATER: gore/blood/murder, harassment/bullying, mental health talks (nothing badly triggering), child endangerment (mc was a child actor, again nothing badly triggering. if there is, there will be a warning)

NOTE: ngl im ready for the series to be done bc i want the drama already!!

TAGLIST (CLOSED): @parapiop7 @an-ever-angry-bi @softforyoongles @thenaverse @chansatlan @juju-227592 @skyys-universe @carolinexkpop @reallysparklychaos @namjooncrabs @savagemickey03 @drunkzseok @svnbangtansworld @2ne1unni @shakespeare-in-the-park7

“Why the fuck was Namjoon telling me to kiss you?”

Jimin asked as soon as you opened the door to let him in.

You staggered back as he walked past you because you did not expect him to appear unexpectedly two days after your dinner with the other 4. You thought you had more time to mentally prepare yourself but, you figured Namjoon had something up his sleeve when they were all too quiet for your liking.

“Because it’s Namjoon,” you scoffed, closing the door and hopping away.

At seeing your hopping, Jimin glanced at your figure before doing a whole double take at you. You had your ankle wrapped in some type of white gauze, and he reached down by kneeling in front of you.

“What the hell happened?” He questioned, rubbing his thumb over the rough texture.

Sighing, you recounted what happened.

It wasn’t your fault.

“Hyung-min, if you drop me, I will kick your ass, dude,” you had sternly said to the actor who was holding you in his arm because, for some stupid reason, you had to be held in his arms while his character ran. So, he was running while he had you in his arms. “Why do we have to keep this scene in?”

“He thinks it makes him look bad ass,” Jae said with almost a humorous scoff at recounting her boyfriend’s words back to you. She seemed embarrassed at the way her boyfriend dramatically breathed in and out like an animal, and that’s when you came to a conclusion that Hyung-min was giving you the ick. He really was a man.

“Oh, shit.”

Before you could process it, Hyung-min had tripped over his own two feet, instantly dropping you to the floor. You had tried catching yourself before you landed on your butt, but you failed once you felt your ankle doing whatever it did that shot up a huge amount of pain from your ankle close to your thigh.

“They’re going to kill you,” Jae muttered once she hurried to your side, already grabbing her phone to call your personal doctor, the one you had for a few years now after a nurse almost tried killing you in a public hospital. It was a long story, and it was one you hated thinking about considering the nurse was a huge fan of yours. He didn’t get a lot of years in prison for attempted murder, but you did get a restraining order against him.

“Who?”

“Who else, my love?” Jae asked, giving her boyfriend a look as he instructed him to carry you over to the couch so you don’t have to put pressure on the foot. “Hey, doc. She got hurt… Her foot, it’s not broken or anything. But, it’s starting to swell.”

“So, you hurt your ankle because of Hyung-min?” Jimin asked, his phone already in his hands while he sent a message to the others that they can’t take you out. “Canceled the dinner we had on Saturday. You can’t walk like that.”

Rolling your eyes, you walked (hopped) past him. “I have crutches and it’s a dinner. I will be sitting down majority of the time. Now if it’s a dinner where we have to stand up for whatever reason, then I’ll understand the concern.”

“It is.”

“Uhuh.” Landing on your couch, you made yourself comfortable while eyeing his look. He was looking around, wondering where your help was. “She wasn’t needed today any longer, so I gave her a day off.”

“You give your workers days off?”

“I’m not cruel.”

Knowing you clearly were suffering through the pain of having to hop, he kneeled again beside your figure lying on the couch, and ran his hand over your covered calf. “Are you in horrible pain?”

“Not too much,” you responded. You sighed at his worried look, the one he tried to hide behind his stoic facial expression. “I have a sprained ankle. I’ll be good in a bit. I’m just happy it wasn’t anything too serious.”

“Did Hyung-min apologize?” You nodded. “Good. I need to have a chat with him that he needs to be careful.” Giving him another nod, you dismissed him to continue watching your favorite show, and briefly took a glance at him once he placed his phone on his ear.

“Jae.”

“You saw her ankle I’m guessing,” your dear friend breathed out as soon as she answered the call. She had been waiting for one of them to call her ever since yesterday when her stupid ass boyfriend decided to carry you in his arms while running.

“Yeah, I saw her ankle,” Jimin scoffed. He stood up and crossed an arm over his chest while the other was still held up by his ear. “What the hell was Hyung-min doing?”

“He was stupid that’s what,” Jae said with a shake of her head. “Anyway, don’t worry too much. It’s just sprained, she’ll be fine as long as she stays off. Her doctor checked her and her maids are coming in tomorrow to do whatever she wants. Tell her, too. She’s going to be stubborn about it.”

“You better stay off your feet,” Jimin strictly told you, his finger pointed at you to emphasize the seriousness of his words. You waved him off. “I’m not kidding. I will come in and babysit you if I have to and guess what? I will.”

“No.”

“Yes, now shut the fuck up.” Jae snorted at hearing how serious he sounded. It’s why she had warned Hyung-min not to carry you because she knew how serious things were surprisingly getting with the boys. Much to her surprise and Chan-woo’s. And now Hyung-min, too, who has been begging her to give him the boys’ phone numbers so he could apologize to them (he couldn’t stop sending you flowers as an apology).

“Listen, Hyung-min didn’t mean no harm.”

“Yeah, he better not,” Jimin said. “And tell him I don’t want kissing scenes.”

“They’re not doing kissing scenes, Jimin,” Jae reassured him, glancing down at her paperwork. “He and Y/n have been changing the script because they don’t want to hurt my feelings, when I don’t really care.”

“Why would your feelings matter in this situation?”

“I’ve been dating Hyung-min, idiot,” she unintentionally let out. Once she realized the name she had called him, she immediately apologized with a monotonous voice that made Jimin shake his head.

“Oh.”

“Yeah, ‘oh’.”

Jimin glanced at you and walked away towards your hallway leading to the kitchen and dining room. He cleared his throat and lowered his voice. “They’re not kissing?”

“No,” Jae said with an annoyed sigh. “Convince her, please, to have at least a kissing scene with him. It adds more to the movie.”

“Well, I think kissing scenes are not necessary in this scenario,” Jimin mumbled, looking at his fingers. “I’m sure dialogue and unwanted touches are much more intimate.”

“You just don’t want no one to kiss her,” Jae called him out. “Because you want to kiss her, you freak. I see your looks—”

“I’ll deal with you tomorrow.”

“Don’t hang—”

Hanging up, Jimin goes back to be with you, his phone buzzing in his hand.

He sat down by your feet and placed a hand on your good ankle. “I’ll come by tomorrow, okay? In the meantime, I’m all yours.”

“Jimin, I’m okay,” you said with a chuckle, eyeing his face. He was obviously concerned.

Jimin knew he was concerned because he cared about. It was the reason why he loved bickering with you; he couldn’t let you know he genuinely had a soft spot for you. It’s always been there and it has been since you had slapped him. Don’t get him wrong, it was embarrassing when you did so. But, he knew you had a big heart when you didn’t know the reason as to why he was scolding the people he was scolding and you took it as him being mean.

You didn’t need to know the reason why he did what he did was because he was tired of hearing them talk shit about you behind your back.

You didn’t need to know that.

The next morning, Jimin came at exactly 10 AM.

Your maid had opened the door and she was very surprised when he waved her off and told her to take the rest of the day off. He was in charge of taking care of you now.

“Come here.”

He was tired of reaching over to your head resting on some pillows while your feet rested on his lap. He placed the food on the table and stood up to pick you up bridal style.

“What are you doing?” You asked, immediately holding onto to this neck.

“My shoulder was hurting passing you the food,” he simply said as if it was nothing, sitting back down on the couch with you now on his lap. Your hands were still wrapped around his neck and you could smell the cologne he wore that always made you mentally inhale. He did smell so good.

“Thank you.”

He was feeding you for a while and he was actually entertained with the show you had put on—after he told you to change that “cheesy shit”—due to his facial expressions when a character betrayed the other.

“That bitch.”

Chuckling, you shook your head and hummed in agreement.

You two didn’t even realize you had been done eating and were just now too into the show.

“Kiss me.”

“I will.”

“Is that going to be me and you?” Jimin teased with a small grin, clearly beginning the banter you had. He always mentioned you two kissing.

“Why? You want to kiss me?” You teased back, bumping your shoulder against his.

“You just want to kiss me so bad that’s why I’m asking,” he said with a shrug, feeling your body shake simultaneously with the chuckles you were letting out. He looked down at you. “I always see you glancing at my lips that’s why.”

“Well, yeah,” you sat up as best as you could and eyed the way his lips were glossy due to the chapstick he had put on. “Ypu have nicer lips than me.”

He scoffed and looked to the side before glancing back at you. “You raise my ego too much, sweetheart.”

“Sweetheart?”

“Mhm, you don’t like it?” He raised a brow. He dramatically sighed. “Well, I guess since you hate it so much, I can just call you an idi—”

Placing a hand over his mouth, you groaned. “Sweetheart is fine. I’d rather hear that instead of you calling me an idiot 24/7.” He opened his mouth to speak again but you shushed him. “Shut up, you would never stop calling me that name.”

“You just want me to give you a nickname like Jungkook, Tae, and Namjoon have for you,” Jimin’s muffled voice said under your hand. “You have a little crush on me, hmm?”

“No,” you scoffed out, taking your hand away to flick him on his forehead. “Don’t become delusional.”

“Shame,” he continued his dramatics by sighing rather loudly. “You eye-fucking me turned me on a little.”

“I-” You slapped his shoulder as he let out a laugh. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“I don’t know,” he said in between chuckles, shaking his head. He chuckled a bit more before looking at you with that stupid smirk of his that, you’re not going to lie, did something to you. “Was what Namjoon said true?”

“About us kissing?” He nodded, his eyes glancing between your eyes to your lips and then traveled back to your eyes. You hummed. “I don’t know. Maybe not. He probably just said that because we kissed at the restaurant we went to with the others.”

“Were there cameras?”

You shook your head. “I didn’t see any. But, yeah, it was just a kiss and he wants us to stop bickering.”

“But I love bickering with you.” He could see the facial expression you sent him, making him laugh under his breath. “I just love knowing how much you get ticked off. I like the idea, though, of being able to just shut you up when I get to your face like this, too.”

His hands snaked its way to your neck, right under your jaw, and he brought your face closer to his. His thumb reached over to brush the pad of it on your lips with his eyes never straying away from yours. You could obviously see the humor he had in his eyes.

“And you do shut up,” he lightly said with a few snickers escaping his mouth. “Obedient and beautiful. If only…”

“If only what?”

He smiled and brushed his lips against yours, his other hand slightly hovering above your wounded ankle. He kept his distance though, and you knew he was just teasing you by the way he deviously grinned when he could see you wanted more. But he loved feeling the excitement of having you so close, having his lips brush against yours, to feel that electricity of being close to kissing you.

“I don’t feel like it’s right we’re this close,” you muttered, looking at him under your eyelashes. “With Namjoon, the others knew about it. But, you guys are still in a relationship.”

He smiled at your words and shook his head. “We’ve all been wanting to kiss you. If I knew it was wrong, I would not be pulling this move out of respect for the others and you. But, we have respect for you and we have spoken about this.”

“You have?”

“When I’m in a relationship,” he explained, still holding you a bit closer but maintaining a bit of distance between you two, “I don’t fuck around with others. I’m loyal and I always am. With you, we have all acknowledged that kissing you, is not in any way a direct threat to our relationship. We’re all bonding with you and that’s all that matters; having their consent and having yours.”

“Mine?”

He nodded. “Yours.” He could feel you relax under his touch at knowing that the others know about his actions. He continued his gaze. “If only we could test out Namjoon’s theory.”

“Should we?” You questioned him, slightly backing away. But, you couldn’t get far without his hand bringing you closer again.

“Maybe,” his breath hit your lips as he spoke, the smell of mint and vanilla hitting your nose.

“It’s not a ‘yes’.”

“Definitely not a ‘no’ when you look at me with those pretty eyes.”

“You think my eyes are pretty?”

“I’ll give you whatever you ask.”

“A practice kiss.”

“Anything.”

< before - after >

[ggukalaxy]

still deep in my "angels before man" brainrot and after reading @nicosraf's tweet about fan-favourite lines and dislking like 75% of his own writing, i can't not share my own favourites with rafa himself and also everyone else so get ready for a long fucking post

(side note: i haven't reread abm yet, so there could potentially be new highlights once i do reread it)

short explanation of what the position of the sticky notes mean:

• on the side of the page means this particular line or paragraph (19 marked)

• at the top on the inside means this page (4 marked)

• at the top on the outside means the entire scene starting from here (15 marked)

also, sometimes i didn't highlight a specific line or paragraph if it's within a page or scene i already marked (because i was running out of sticky notes lol)

let's get to it in chronological order!

1) page 25 to 30:

lucifer's first time flying with baal and his first time bleeding

2) page 49 and 50:

lucifer's first time watching michael fight

3) page 68 to 70:

gabriel telling lucifer about how god created him

4) this paragraph on page 86:

"so far away in the crowd was michael, with that proud grin of his and one hand in the air, but he called out to the youngest angel still. 'lucifer! lucifer!' even with all their distance, their gazes met and locked. an intake of breath, then the exuberant shout: 'lucifer—the lord has never made as fine an angel as you!'"

5) page 105 and 106:

michael and lucifer finally actually meeting

6) this paragraph on page 106:

"michael seemed to hesitate, before he turned to lucifer, and they were facing each other, seeing one another, for the first time since that day years ago when lucifer had led all of heaven in worship. up close, finally — lucifer felt all of himself melt like precious metal into a cast. 'you know my name,' michael said, and his voice had a mellow reverb to it. 'that's a shame. i wanted to introduce myself.' lucifer opened his mouth, but michael was grinning; it revealed little dips in his cheeks. 'i am michael, archangel of god, angel of strength.'"

(i was giggling and kicking my feet at this point, i love this moment so much i could scream)

7) page 107 to 113:

michael's and lucifer's first conversation with one another, right after that wonderful introduction above <3

8) michael saying this to lucifer on page 121 and 122:

"'that was a gallery? for art? i suppose it's no surprise that's where i found you then.'"

9) page 127 to 131:

god telling a story about a pure dove that dirties itself while lucifer is thinking about michael

10) michael saying this to lucifer on page 135:

"'(...) but i canceled it. i canceled all the plans i had for this.'"

11) michael to lucifer on page 147:

"'when i asked of you, angels said to me that your beauty was so great, one could take a glance, but never stare. (...) i learned that their words were true. when we wrestle, when we spend time together — the pain you give me is indescribable.'"

12) this paragraph on page 151:

"he discovered himself wanting to be afraid, feeling that he should be, knowing he should taste distress like his first visit to the bathhouse, but lucifer could still hear michael's words from when they had bathed. he thought of thorns, remembered those in his hands so long ago. the prince's eyes were shut; lucifer thought of tracing the bridge of his nose, his mouth, with his index, to see if he would prick him."

13) page 152:

lucifer and michael on earth, touching each other on their last day there

14) this paragraph on page 156:

"(...) but his hands went to lucifer's warm cheeks and, in a quick swoop, he planted his lips against lucifer's forehead; then he did it again, and again, pressing one kiss after another until he had done perhaps more than a dozen."

15) page 168 to 171:

lucifer and michael in lucifer's room, in front of his mirror

(lucifer's questions about why some things are the way they are... michael almost worshipping lucifer in front of their reflection... all the touches between them... oh i'm about to go feral—)

16) michael to lucifer on page 169:

"'for you, i wouldn't mind a little pain'"

17) page 177:

lucifer falling asleep in michael's bed without michael even being home

18) this paragraph on page 180:

"this, this here could be worship. "this—" lucifer pressed an innocent kiss to the prince's sweet, divine mouth. this could be religion."

19) page 181 to 183:

the interlude

(do i even have to say more? do i really have to go into detail about just how beautiful it is, and how every line sounds like poetry? i want to carve every word, every letter, into my skin, so deep that it reaches my bones, and stays with me long after i lose my flesh and soul)

20) these lines on page 201:

"the prince was grinning, waving him over, then offering open arms. when they embraced, it was tight, one of lucifer's hands going to michael's curls of hair and clutching it like an object once lost returned now to be cherished again; and the prince put his face up against the warmth of lucifer's neck and breathed low, hot."

21) page 210 to 216:

michael begging lucifer to stay with him, and then uriel showing up and just the entire conversation between him and michael, and him and lucifer

22) this paragraph on page 210:

"'simply my beloved.' michael smiled back, grand but sleepy, before he swung up to sit again. he shuffled closer to lucifer and chuckled warm, perhaps at the confusion on the other's irises and brows and mouth. 'my beloved lucifer.'"

23) michael to lucifer on page 211:

"'i think i'd like you to be the first thing i see when i wake.'"

24) page 250 to 253:

lucifer and michael touching each other, feeling each other

(i'm so weak for moments like these oh my god i could read a thousand pages just about every time these two even breathed in each other's direction)

25) this line on page 251:

"'i feel drunk,' michael murmured against him, then shuddered. 'your mouth— when you were created, your lips must have been laced with liquor.'"

26) these lines on page 253:

""we were over the flowers, and you touched me, remade me. (...) i want to be yours, your angel. angel of love, angel of michael.""

27) page 278 to 281:

lucifer cutting himself open

28) page 302 to 308:

lucifer trying to have sex with michael, and michael refusing

29) michael to lucifer on page 302:

"'don't make me say such embarrassing, affectionate things, beloved lucifer. but, let me say that — before i saw you on the street, dancing and singing, i was never very joyous. i was content with serving father, i felt i had no room to complain, but then you arrived. and being around you, i had so much joy i became irrational, and now — now, it's all spilling out. you make my heart swell and rise, like smoke."

30) michael to lucifer on page 303:

"'and suddenly i'm questioning everything, asking myself if this is really paradise, or if you are paradise.'"

31) lucifer to michael on page 304:

"'haven't you ever wondered why father is so strict about our subservience? it's because disobedience is creation. create with me, michael, and let's call it sin.'"

32) page 327:

lucifer finally losing his shit

33) page 328 to 330:

lucifer's speech about god being cruel and how angels are also good and deserve better

(just realized i didn't highlight this scene when i first read it and i'm honestly questioning myself right now because that whole speech and everything lucifer says is so fucking real)

34) page 340 to 344:

the moment michael disagrees with lucifer about the end of heaven and the end of god

35) michael to lucifer on page 344:

"'you're everything to me, the stars and the moons, the heat and the cold, the earth and the seeds, the waters and the flowers, but you are not god.'"

(also apparently didn't highlight this one and now i'm one hundred percent sure i ran out of sticky notes in that moment and told myself i'd do it later and ended up forgetting about it because this line absolutely broke me)

36) this paragraph on page 361:

"but the sword never made contact; a golden chain shot out from somewhere, grappled his entire body, flung him downwards. and lucifer, frozen, kicking, screaming — he saw michael suddenly above him (...). lucifer felt the tears land upon his own cheeks, as if they were his own."

(cut me open. let me bleed to death. break my ribs and crush my heart inbetween your fingers. it would hurt less than michael crying while hurting lucifer.)

37) page 362 to 367:

michael destroying lucifer on god's orders, cutting off his wings, and lucifer being damned

38) michael to lucifer on page 364:

"'apologize, i'm begging you, lucifer, stop, i can't do this— i don't want to lose you—'"

(just reading this again made me dry sob)

39) the last paragraph on page 367:

"the angels wept at their punishment — michael, between them all, his tears morphing into crystals, slicing down his cheeks and making him bleed."

40) page 369:

the little bits about the fallen angels finding lucifer on earth and how he loves them

so uhh yeah it's definitely safe to say that abm is literally my new favourite book now and i've been thinking about it every single day since i finished it a bit over a month ago and i find pieces of lucifer and of michael in every song i hear or every other story i read and i'll never get over them or over how good this book and the writing style is

@nicosraf seriously thank you so much for writing it and sharing it with the world, i will treasure it till the day i die

[timetoletmyimaginationfly]

There’s Only So Many Chances

Nanami Kento x Reader

Ryomen Sukuna x Reader

(I Miss You, I’m Sorry by Gracie Abrams)

Tears blurred my vision as I stared at my ceiling. I listened to the soft breathing next to me. My first love. The love of my life. The man that I don’t even know is mine or not. Again.

I hate that I let him get to me again. I hate how easy he makes it. It’s so easy for him to gain my attention. It’s so easy for him to get a rile out of me. It’s so easy for me to fall in his trap every single time.

I covered my mouth to muffle the sobs that were dying to escape. The soft, even breaths sped up and I felt my bed shift. I suddenly felt his warm embrace.

“Don’t cry, baby.”

“Sukuna…”

“Shh. It’s okay,” he said softly and peppered small kisses on my shoulders and neck. Fuck. It feels good. Feels so assuring. Feels right. “We’re right for each other. We belong together.” And I nodded.

He left early for work. He invited me to Toji’s club but I declined. I need a break. I need space. I’m so tired of spiraling back to him and feeling myself lose a part of myself. All I feel is pain. Why can’t I just go about it the hard way? But I ask myself that every time. And I know why. Ryomen Sukuna is the love of my life.

I think.

Because Satoru and Suguru drags me to the club. I see Sukuna making out with a random girl. Almost random. It’s his coworker. Both Satoru and Suguru paused with me. The scene of the club dissipates. All I see is Sukuna and that girl. The same girl he cheated on me with.

I remember clear as day. The heartbreak still feels so new. The way I wanted to surprise Sukuna at this very club with the chain necklace he’s been eyeing on for his birthday. I was supposed to work, but I begged my supervisor to cancel my shift. Whether Sukuna was drunk or not, it didn’t matter. He’s with the woman I worried about. And he’s still with her. Again.

His eyes were wide in shock when he saw me after pulling away from her. He pushed her off his lap and stood up. I shook my head, my eyes so teary and my face wet. I feel like dying. I want to scream and kill him. Every step he was taking towards me, I took a step back. That was until I felt someone pull me outside. Sukuna was blocked from Suguru and Satoru. And I was finally away.

Wait. Who the hell…?

“Kento?” He looked at me with a small smile.

“Figured you need help escaping,” he said.

“When did you get back?”

“This morning.”

Nanami Kento. He’s such a heartthrob. He’s probably the only man that I know who would read all of the love notes that female students give him and smile but also politely decline them. He’s so polite and chivalrous. He’s so kind, putting other’s needs before his own. Satoru and I had to yell at him one day because some girl he faked dated won’t stop manipulating him. Because of that, he went away for college, out of the country. He’s the only one that left while everyone else stayed. He’ll return during holiday breaks and he just received his masters in business, already learning the ropes of the family business. He stayed in America to learn more before agreeing to move back to Japan. Which is, I guess, now.

“And you never told me?”

“Surprise.”

I don’t know what came over me. It’s like all of my emotions decided to take a dump on me that I cried and laughed. It surprised Kento when he gave me such an alarming look. He asked me if I was okay. Of course, I don’t know. I never know anymore.

He held my hand though. We continued to walk. To where? Anywhere he would take me. I always trusted him. He gave me no reason to not trust him. He brought me to a diner. His hand rested on my lower back and had me sit on the booth first before he took his seat in front of me. Gentleman as always. Never stop, Nanami Kento.

We ordered our drinks and he ordered a few appetizers for us to munch on. Perfect man.

“Gojo told me what happened two years ago,” he bluntly said.

I lowered my gaze to the glass of water. Kento’s two years older than me. Once he left, I met Ryomen Sukuna. We became an official couple during our senior year in high school. Stayed through and through in college. He was my biggest support, my anchor whenever I was stress and had panic attacks before exams and finals. He took over for his father’s company while I did my nursing job. A year after we graduated, he was more distant. And I knew why. Just seeing it happen confirmed and broke me.

But he always said the right things. His actions seem to always match with his words. But when we argue, I’ll see his arm wrapped around a woman’s shoulders. Most of the time, it was that woman. I would slap him. We argue again. Then we have sex. Everything would be back to normal until the cycle repeats itself. A year passed. A long, exhausting and excruciating year. And I’m done. I’m so done.

“I’m so stupid,” I said and wiped the tears I didn’t realize fell.

“You love him,” he said. Point blank. Straight to the point. “You don’t know how to live without him.” Why do you look so sad, Kento? I have never seen that look on him.

“I want to though,” I said. “I don’t want to live this kind of life anymore.”

“Then do it. You do it to yourself for always going back. You want to get back at him, don’t go back to him.”

And he’s right. I’m pretty sure everyone told me that already. Even Toji, Sukuna’s best friend. But when Kento tells me, it just sounds more right to do so.

But it’s so hard. I’m staring at the eyes of the man I love. We’re arguing again from that night when Kento dragged me out of the club. I haven’t spoken to him for a week. He’s at my apartment right now. Angry. Upset. Heartbroken.

I can feel the heat between us. I can feel the love but also the eternal anger and regret. It only took him to caressing my face to comfort me to easily give in. We kissed. Fucked our anger out. And cuddled in bed. It felt right but also, for the first time, this just felt so wrong.

“I have a proposition.” Sukuna left for work. I’m alone, feeling dirty and hurt. I called Kento. He picked up on the first ring. “Be my fake boyfriend. I-I can’t do this alone and…”

“I’ll pick you up for lunch in a couple of hours,” he said softly to me. It’s like I can see him smile softly. Is he?

“No—wait. It’s—god, I can’t do that to you.” I bit my lower lip. I brushed my hair back and paced around my apartment. No. I can’t do that to him. Using Kento as my backup even if it’s just pretend. Emi used him. I can’t be like her.

“Y/N, it’s okay,” he said. It was so reassuring. “I’ll do this for you. Just say the word and I’ll be there.”

“If you’re stuck in a meeting?”

“The meeting will be over.”

I sobbed.

Satoru and Suguru brought me back to Toji’s club. Toji hugged me and ruffled the top of my head, offering me to beat up the man I love. But I shook my head. I told him that I’m okay. And that I’ll be okay.

“Alright, Princess,” he said and started walking around his club. I texted Kento where I was going to be tonight while he had a late night meeting with his team. He had a project to finish. The deadline is in two days. He offered his presence but I told him not to ditch his team. Besides, I have my two best friends with me. I’ll be okay.

But when I got to the bar, I see Sukuna. He was flirting with her. What does she have that I don’t have? What can she offer him that I can’t? What’s wrong with me? I tried to quickly walk away, but I felt his hand around my wrist.

“I didn’t know you’d be here,” he said. His voice still making my heart skip a beat.

“Sugu and Toru wanted to hang out,” I answered as nonchalantly as I can. I’m not giving in. Don’t give in. But he took a step closer and curled a strand of my hair behind my ear.

“Baby, I missed you. It’s been a week. What does you say? Just like old times?” My body froze. Both my heart and brain were battling with each other. I just stared at his red eyes. Intimidating eyes that always looked at me so softly. I am an idiot. I’m an idiot because I’m about to say yes.

“Sweetheart.” I was suddenly pulled away from Sukuna. A new sense of comfort enveloped around me. This fresh scent that doesn’t reek of cigarettes and cologne instead is something earthy and herbal, like tea. “I’m sorry I’m late.” I looked up to see Kento smiling softly at me. I smiled back.

“It’s okay, Ken,” I said.

“Ryomen-san,” Kento greeted flatly. Sukuna’s eyes were cold and icy. But when I looked at Kento, I gasped to see the same thing. I never saw him like this.

“Nanami.” Sukuna looked at me. “Think about it.” And then, he just left. Walking towards the back of the club, probably going back to her.

I finally felt that rush of air back in my lungs. Oh my gosh. I didn’t go after him. I stayed by Kento’s side. Kento wouldn’t stop me. I just know he won’t.

“Fresh air, sweetheart?” Kento asked. I only nodded and let him lead the way. I leaned against the brick wall of the building. Kento stood in front of me, his hands shoved in his pants pocket. I looked at him from head to toe. He’s still in his work clothes.

“Did you come straight from work?” I asked stupidly. Of course he did. Kento wouldn’t come here in his work clothes. I think.

“Once you said that you were going and that you arrived, I left a bit early. My team’s okay with it. I’ll just do my part at home or return back.”

“Kento, don’t do that. Your work is important.” You shook your head and looked at me with so much sincerity.

“No, Y/N. You’re more important than my work.”

“Ken…” His arm was wrapped around my shoulder and he pulled me in close.

“Do you want to go back in?”

“Yeah.”

“You’ll be okay?”

“No,” I said and I looked at him with a small smile. “But with you, yes.”

There were times where I would purposely bring Kento with me at specific restaurants and at Toji’s club so Sukuna can see. At first, seeing him pissed and seeing him flirt with more women hurt. When he’s hurt, I’m hurt. We both hurt each other. He’s with other women and I stay with Kento.

Kento helped me a lot. I asked him to help me not to respond back to any of Sukuna’s messages. He would take my phone and turn it off. He keeps my phone in his pocket and distract me with fun activities like shopping, cooking, and reading. He’s been doing so much for me, I surprised him with a new suit. To be honest, I did work overtime hours just for him. Just to show how thankful I am for him to help me.

“You didn’t have to buy me this,” he said when I showed up at his apartment. He was going to make us dinner. I gave him his new suit, tie, shoes, socks, and cufflinks. The whole shebang.

“You’re doing so much for me, Kento,” I told him. I walked up to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “So, so much.” He chuckled and kissed the top of my head. I don’t know when that became such a norm for us, but it is.

“Just seeing you happy is enough for me,” he said. I’ll admit, Nanami Kento is good with his words. The difference between him and Sukuna is that Kento means every word. The way Kento looks at me and smiles at me. It’s nothing compared to Sukuna. “I hope you’re starving.”

After dinner, we sat in the living room. Kento was relaxed, his feet resting on the ottoman as he read his book. Meanwhile, my head rested on his lap while I read mine. His hand was on the top of my head, gently combing my hair and caressing it. It’s so soothing. The things he does for me. It feels so real. And…

I’m scared.

“What’s wrong, Y/N?” Kento seemed worried, genuinely worried when I immediately sat up. My mind is suddenly swirling around endlessly. It’s not about Sukuna though. It’s Kento.

“Why me? Why put yourself in this position again, Kento? Emi hurt you and you left,” I said. I will admit that I was hurt when he left. Toru and Sugu may be my two best friends but Kento was always by my side in a heartbeat. And he would at least take my problems, complaints, and venting seriously.

“Because I care about you, Y/N,” he answered so easily, so natural of him to say. “I always cared about you. I think, after Emi hurt me for taking parts of me away, I needed to leave Japan. I needed to get myself together.” I placed my book down on the table and brought my feet up on the couch. I hugged my knees tight to my chest. And Kento? He sat on the couch, legs crossed as he faced me.

“You had me,” I said. I can see sorrow and regret swimming in his eyes. “Would I have been a nuisance?” He immediately shook his head. Phew. That’s one thing to be relieved about.

“Emi attended the one University I wanted to go to in Japan. I had to get away. I blocked her from my life. When I officially returned to Japan, word from the street she’s in a psych hospital. It’s scary because she ended up being obsessed with me.” We both shuddered. She wouldn’t leave him alone. She constantly gaslighted him. Kento! The sweetest and kindest man around. “Y/N, Sukuna stripped so much away from you. I would do anything to bring you back on your feet. Even if it means that you get to use me for your own benefit.”

“But why?” I felt tears in my eyes. I’m just feeling so much emotions again. Kento was quiet. He’s in deep thought. He’s carefully planning out on what to say. I’ve been spending so much time with him, I catch the subtle action he does. Like right now.

“I always liked you, Y/N.” Slowly, very slowly, those words sunk in. My eyes were wide, my mouth slightly open. “When I learned that you had a boyfriend, of course I would support you. You being happy is all I ever want for you.”

“Ken…”

“I couldn’t confess to you when I was mentally a mess,” he said. “But I was too late. And when I heard about the things that Sukuna did and would do to you, I never wanted to kill someone so badly before in my life.” I let my tears fall. Kento reached out to me and cupped my face, wiping the tears away. “It always pained me to see you cry.”

“Is that why you immediately agreed to help me?”

“I agreed to help you because you wanted to try out this plan, not because of my feelings for you. But to be honest, it is a bonus.” I let out a chuckle but it didn’t last long. I stood up and walked over to my things.

“I-I need to go.”

“Wait, Y/N—“

“Please, Ken. I need time.”

And he nodded. He let me go. He watched me leave. But he always and somehow came back. When I’m at work, security delivers my lunch at 11pm at night. He’ll tell me it’s Kento. Everyone loves it when Kento visits me during my shifts. He even makes the patients and married nurses jealous. It makes me giggle every time. Sukuna never did that once. And Kento would text me and leave me voicemails. Always praising me, complimenting me, and to make sure I have a great day or great shift.

It’s been two weeks.

I stood in front of Toji’s club. I don’t know for how long, but my feet were just glued to the concrete. I gripped the handles of my purse and bit my lower lip. All I did was separate myself from everything. Thought about Kento since we became friends. Thought about Sukuna. Thought about Kento when he came back and helped me.

I know he’s here. He’s somewhere. I walked to the bathroom to fix my hair. I hear soft moans and a male shushing that voice softly. I know that voice all too well. I stared at the closed stall as I kept the water running. I let my tears fall one more time. He’ll never change. I pulled my phone out.

“Y/N! Are you okay?” I smiled. I realized that he’s such a worrywart towards me.

“I’m okay,” I said. “I’m sorry I haven’t—-“

“Don’t be,” he told me with so much relief that he knows that I’m still alive. “But, are you okay?” My eyes returned back to the stall. I feel the pain in my heart but now that I think about it, it feels wasn’t as bad as it would be before.

“I’m okay, Ken,” I answered truthfully. “I want to spend time with you. We can meet at the bookstore by Lovey’s Cafe, buy a new book, you can cook me dinner, and after we get comfortable on the couch and read.”

“Sounds like a plan.” I smiled. “I’ll cook your favorite. I can leave work in an hour.”

“An hour? Okay!”

I left and continued to converse with Kento. But I did hear the stall door open. I heard him cursing and I quickened my pace out of the club. It felt good though. I can give him this effect and the effect he had on me, it doesn’t hit deep anymore.

I was running a bit late. I sped walk to the bookstore. Huh? Are you held up at work? If Kento couldn’t pick me up, he always waited for me outside. Didn’t matter if the weather was bad, he always made his presence known.

I’ll just call him and—

I heard a faint sound. I heard multiple voices, two familiar voices.

“You’re manipulating her to go against me!” I walked in the alleyway slowly and quietly.

“She’s capable of making decisions of her own.” Kento! Oh my god! He’s hurt. “You hurt her. It’s all you do because you’re so used to having her around, you can’t stand the idea of her letting you go.” I winced. Stop. Make it stop.

“Fuck you and your stupid mind games! Leave my girl alone!”

I don’t trust Sukuna. Not at all. But there is one thing that I trust that he won’t do. Sukuna was ready to punch Kento. I jumped in the middle, my back facing Sukuna, and my arms wrapped around Kento to protect him. I felt his fist so close to my face. But I know, deep down I know, that Sukuna would never hurt me physically. He hurt others for me but never me.

“Baby…” But I ignored him. I ignored the man I once loved so deeply, that I was willing to get hurt just to have another moment with him. Instead, I cupped Kento’s face. His right cheek is bruised, along with his eye. And his lower lip has a cut.

“Y/N,” Kento said so softly. How does he do it? How does his voice envelope so much warmth and assurance to me?

“Let’s go, Ken. Let’s go home.” I didn’t miss the way Sukuna’s eyes widened. I didn’t miss how broken he look when I walked side by side with Kento. I didn’t look back once.

Kento sat on the bar still of his island. I stood in between his legs while I cleaned his wound and applied some medicine. He would wince ever so slightly. In response, I would giggle and he smiles. His hands eventually made its way to my hips. He held me gently when I finally held an ice pack to his face.

“You’re okay now?” I asked. Kento nodded.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“How are you feeling?” I put everything on the table. I pulled the chair behind me closer. Kento let me go so I can sit next to him. I lifted my feet so I can hug my knees close to my chest.

“I haven’t contacted anyone for two weeks. Not even Toru and Sugu and they’ve been blowing up my phone. So they visited, but I kept to myself. Just thinking, reflecting, and realizing.”

“Seems very productive,” he said. I nodded. Kento chuckled and pushed his hair back. Strands of his hair was now covering his forehead. I missed that look sometimes. His high school look, until his senior year because that was when he decided to do his hairstyle that is now. “You look brighter. You seem different but a good different.” That made me smile.

“Not dreary nor sad?”

“More like content and happy.”

“Productive two weeks, Kento. But, I am sorry for ignoring you.” You opened your mouth to say something, but I quickly continued. “It’s just that, I felt so much the last time I saw you. I don’t know where the hell the overwhelming emotions came from. But it was too much. I-I just knew that I needed to be alone. And it made me understand why you did it. I might’ve needed it too.

“And I know two weeks isn’t compared to your 6 years? You’ve been gone too long, Kento. But…well, here’s the thing. You and me? I don’t think I had feelings for you when we were younger. But I knew you were so important to me. You didn’t feel like a friend like Toru and Sugu, but you weren’t a boyfriend or whatever. I don’t know, you were important and to be honest, it broke me too when you left. You comforted me at your goodbye party. I was not having a good time. I cried the whole way home with your mom from the airport.”

“She never mentioned that.”

“I begged her not to.” We chuckled again. “Even when you were with Emi, you made time for me. You dealt with her berating and manipulation while focusing on me when I needed you. I’m so selfish, weren’t I?” I looked at you the moment I felt your hand caress my cheek.

“I like it,” he said to me. “Your selfishness means more time with you.”

“Sukuna was the new kid. We sat together in class and…” Those memories made me tear up. I let my tears go. Memories. The good and happy memories that everyone wants to relive. “He was always there until he wasn’t. After we graduated and I had to study for my license. I was so busy studying, I didn’t notice the sparse time I would see him until I finished. And when I caught him, I felt like I died.” Kento scooted his chair closer to me. “And I let him hurt me because I kept wanting to relive the moments when were happy and in love.”

“And now?”

“I don’t want to anymore. It felt easy ignoring him. When I called you, I knew he was messing around in the cubicle.” I looked at you, looked at the injuries to your face. “I wanted to piss him off and I’m sorry. I didn’t think he would actually hurt you.”

“Don’t worry about, Y/N.” I smiled.

“I had to piss him off one last time. It felt good.”

“Good.” We were silent. I fiddled with my fingers, spun the rings on my fingers nervously. I watched his hand hover over mine before he held them. I looked at him and I see the sadness in your eyes. “So, I guess the fake boyfriend plan has come to an end, huh?”

“Yes and no. Two weeks may not be enough but I also don’t want to make you feel like a rebound. But I also learned the things I deserve in a relationship and it’s all because of you. I mean, like I said, you were important to me and I love spending with you. I was fine alone for those two weeks.” Oh my gosh, I’m rambling.

“Y/N.” I closed my lips shut and looked at him. “Whenever you’re ready.”

Nanami Kento. You perfect, perfect man.

“Make me dinner?”

“Yes, sweetheart.”

“And we’ll read?”

“Yes, sweetheart.”

“And you’ll bring me home?” Kento laughed. He cupped my face and his lips rested on my forehead.

“Anything you want, my dear.”

The first year, to me, was hard. But Kento stuck with me through and through. There were times when I blew his phone up because he never texted or call me back at the time he usually arrived home. When that happens, he calls and tells me to look at my front door. There is always a bouquet of flowers and a note saying that he’s sorry for being held up at work. Kento would change the phone call to a video call just to show that he was home. I cried every time.

Of course he had women as employees. I stayed in control, almost. I mean, I would give them cold looks and some glares, but Kento always, and I mean always, stayed by my side. Always.

I promise that I stopped being paranoid. Kento being Kento remains blunt, telling me that I am crazy. I don’t know how he does it. Maybe he gives it time until he has a feeling that I know myself. I try not to cling on to him 24/7. Kento has his own life and he wants me to have my own. This man never yelled at me nor show impatience. It was different and nice.

I don’t know when we became an official couple. I don’t even think we directly stated it. We just were. And I’m happy. So damn happy. Three years later and I’m so in love with Nanami Kento.

Toru is having his birthday party at Toji’s club. We always go to Toji’s because of the discount. I go because I’m Toji’s little princess and I can get anything for free. I tip though. His workers deserve something at least. I arrived first. Kento is at work. Toru is getting Sugu. Haibara just left his shift. Shoko will arrive a few hours later because of work. Me? I don’t know. I felt like I had to go.

I ordered a draft beer and some onion rings. I chatted happily to Ino, the regular bartender I always see. He’s my favorite. He’s so sweet and is easy to talk to. Our conversation didn’t last too long though. He smiled brightly at me, promising to return. I took a sip of my beer and I start going back to memory lane again.

“Whiskey, neat.” My heart drop. I turned around to find Sukuna. He was already looking at me. He looks worn out. Still heartbroken and now, there’s so much regret shown on his face and eyes. “Y/N.”

“Sukuna.” I gave him a curt nod, my lips tight together. I watched his eyes roam my body and face. But they stopped at my hand.

“Congratulations,” he said weakly. I looked at my hand. The large diamond ring that Kento proposed to me with a week ago.

In high school, Kento and I had a secret hiding spot, our spot. At the park where I would accompany him at to look at the sky. Clouds, clear blue skies, stars, you name it. He proposed to me there. I was blindfolded and when took the blindfold off, I see flowers and candles surrounding the area. I was too focused looking at my surroundings that I didn’t notice Kento go down on one knee. I cried happily. He kissed me passionately.

“Thank you,” I said with a small smile.

“Can you hear me out? Even for five minutes?” I never thought of scenarios if I ever encounter Sukuna alone. I’ve seen him around the club but we never approached each other. Maybe back then, I would say no, but…”

“Sure.”

“What I did was wrong,” he said. “I hurt you over and over again both mentally and emotionally. You were the first person I fell in love with. We basically had our life together the whole time since we met. And when I did what I did, I thought, ‘If I was single, I’d be able to do this all the time. Maybe just once, I can pretend and then go back to my normal life.’ And the whole shit show I did spiraled out of control. I should’ve just broken up with you. I should’ve just left you alone and not drag you back to the heartbreaking cycle.” I felt tears build up in my eyes. But I held them in and swallowed the large lump in my throat. “I deserve everything I have now. A broken heart and losing the woman that ever cared about me and loved me so deeply she was willing to be hurt for me.”

“Yeah, you did.”

“You deserve what you have now,” he told me. “I don’t deserve you, never did.” He was crying. He quickly wiped the tears. “Look, I think we’re stuck seeing each other since we’re friends with Toji. Maybe we’ll just say hi to each other. That’s it.”

“Yeah, we can do that.” Sukuna nodded.

“Cool. That’s…yeah. Cool.”

“Sukuna, move on. You can redeem yourself, too.”

“I don’t know.”

“I learned things because of you and Kento. I thought that you were the only love of my life. But, that’s not the case. In some ways, I still love you but not the way I did before. You’re still someone who I find important. Kento showed me a new kind of love. A love that I never thought existed. So maybe, just maybe, you’ll find your Kento.” We both laughed.

“Well, my Kento better be a kick ass chick.” I laughed again.

“She will.”

“Well, I better go before your fiancé comes. He might get his revenge and kick my ass.” We laughed again. “Goodbye, Y/N.”

“Goodbye, Sukuna.”

I watched him walk away. He sat alone in the corner, drinking and watching. He raised his glass at me and I did the same. I turned away, recollecting my thoughts. I’m okay. I smiled. I’m okay.

“Sweetheart, did you wait long?” My heart skipped a beat. I looked up behind me to see Kento. He smiled and kissed my lips softly before kissing my forehead.

“Not at all.”

“How was your day?” He took his seat next to me, where Sukuna vacated. “I hope it was good.” I smiled widely and kissed his lips.

“It was wonderful. Much better now that my fiancé was here.”

“You’re being cheesy. Care to share?” I do get cheesy when my thoughts start to get too much.

“I got my closure.” And just like that, Kento smiled.

“Does it help?”

“It does. It surprisingly helped a lot.”

“Is he okay?” Typical Kento. Making sure another person is okay. I feel like a significant other wouldn’t be happy that I spoke to my ex. But not my Kento. I held his hand and squeezed it tightly.

“He’ll be okay. Kento?”

“Yes, my love?”

“I love you so much. Thank you for not giving up on me.”

“Thank you for giving me a chance.” Kento caressed my held hand with his thumb, his eyes resting on the ring he gave me. “I can’t wait to marry you.”

“Me too, Kento.”

[killerpancakeburger]

Peace of mind // Miguel O'Hara

Pairing: Miguel O'hara x female reader

Summary: After a long day of tending to the multiverse, Miguel goes to you for some comfort.

Warnings: swearing.

Tags : fluff. That's it.

Words: 733.

A/N: Inspired by @/the-cat-and-the-birdie's post about Miguel's cooking.

You blindly reach inside the bag of chips on your desk without taking your eyes off your computer screen, grab one and eat it. Tonight’s your weekly online meeting with your friends on your favourite online game. You can’t afford to miss a single kill. You have your noise cancelling headphones on and are completely occupied by the things your companions are yelling are at each other and where your aim is.

It’s probably why, despite your usually sharp instincts, you don’t hear the interdimensional portal who opens in your living room. You don’t notice the imposing – yet looking like he’s buckling under an invisible weight – man in a faintly glowing suit who crosses it. You don’t spot him either when he gets behind you.

However you certainly can’t ignore his presence when he bends over your chair, closes his arms around you and lets his forehead fall on your shoulder.

“FUCK! Miguel! Are you trying to give me a heart attack!” you shout in shock.

He mumbles something unintelligible, his mouth pressed to your back. Your surprise has been clearly noticed by your friends as they don’t miss the opportunity to tease you for it. You grumble and mute your microphone.

You ruffle Miguel’s hair, taking the opportunity to mess it up a bit.

“So? Did something happen?”

He sighs and his warm breath tickles your skin.

“Can you please…?” He starts, but never finishes.

“Uh-Uh?”

You’re still playing your game, but way more casually, and even though you’re pretending to still be busy, you’re actually taking in Miguel’s every word.

“You know…”

“No, I don’t. Still can’t read your thoughts.”

“Urgh.”

There’s a part of you that finds this way of speech endearing but there’s an even bigger part of you that enjoys making Miguel works for it.

“…lay down with me for a bit?”

You pat his head in congratulations.

“There we go! Knew you could do it!”

“Stop it.”

He grunts. You turn your mic back on.

“Alright, game’s over for today. See you later”, you announce before logging off and taking off your headphone.

“Can you have a look at the code I wrote for Gizmo n° 564 before we do that?” you ask.

You pull up said code on your screen. Miguel doesn’t raise his head.

“It’s great”, he says.

“You didn’t even look at it”, you retort, slightly annoyed.

“I don’t need to.” He replies with that unsufferable indubitable arrogance of his.

“Oh really now?”

Your voice is dripping with sarcasm.

“You made it so it’s good.”

You roll your eyes but you can’t help being moved.

“I think I prefer when you’re brutally honest.” You mumble to yourself. “Did you eat today?”

His stomach grumbles loud enough for both of you to hear, effectively stopping him from bullshitting you. You chuckle.

“Should I order food?”

He grunts something that you know means no.

“Oh so you want my cooking? I’m so flattered”, you laugh, the both of you pertinently knowing that while he’s great at cooking, you… are not.

He finally gets up.

“Just do as I say.”

You get up, give him the chips from your desk, and head to the kitchen. Since your relationship with Miguel got more serious, aka him crashing at your place whenever he felt like it, there is always tortillas, sour cream and salsa verde in your fridge. You stop halfway realizing Miguel isn’t following and remember he moves like a zombie in this kind of situation, the situation being “I just spent 24 hours non-stop monitoring the multiverse without eating nor sleeping so now I am on the cusp of a breakdown”.  You turn back to grab his hand and bring him with you.

He leans against the counter as you take out of the fridge and cupboards what you need. You put on some music and make conversation as you tackle your tasks. Once you’re both fed, you go lay down with him on your bed. You hug him against your chest, delicately stroking his hair. He closes his eyes and looks relaxed for the first time since he arrived. You feel his chest raising and decreasing and listen to his steady breathing while contemplating your ceiling. When you know for certain that he’s deeply asleep, you get up as discreetly as you can, leave a kiss on his forehead and go back to your nightly occupations.