#why is there a keg in the bath?

[yutamayo]

[star-girl69]

enemies to lover with nat !! i’m begging for u to end this drought! spoiled reader who always get on nats nerve very angsty if you could make it

Party Queen

Natalie Scatorccio x Fem!Reader

—-

a/n: this was so fun to write but idk if i did the request justice ☹️ anyways i hope you all enjoy!!

warnings: drugs and alcohol, underage drinking and smoking, swearing, tell me if i missed anything!!

—-

“Of course I wasn’t home for curfew,” you chuckle, sending Shauna and Jackie an odd look. You were talking about the keg party you had all attended last night, and how late you had ended up leaving.

“Won’t your parents care?” Shauna scoffs.

“As long as I’m not pregnant, why the hell would Rebecca care?”

Both of them look at you, even more confused now. You sigh, bringing your knee up to your chest to tie your cleats.

“Rebecca? The housekeeper? I told you guys about her, right?” Jackie nods after a moment.

“Yeah, but… I kinda thought you were joking?”

You let out a laugh, bending over on the bench, almost crying as you double over.

“Oh, oh, my God, that is so funny,” you breathe when you calm down. “I mean, like, not to be a bitch, but come on! My dad’s off in like, Canada or something, and my mom’s at a wellness retreat in San Antonio. Rebecca is my second mom, basically.”

“Yeah…” Jackie chuckles. “Because that’s perfectly normal.”

You shrug, setting your now tied cleats onto the ground.

“Oh, that reminds me. I was thinking- team bonding at my house tonight? We can use the pool, and I think the hottub is warm, and Rebecca can order pizza for us!” you stand up, putting your hands around Jackie and Shauna’s shoulders as Coach Martinez calls you onto the field.

“Can Jeff come?” Jackie asks.

“Only if you share,” you wink, and it takes Jackie a moment, but she laughs when she realizes you’re joking.

Shauna shrugs. “I’ll come.”

“Great!” you smile, squeezing their shoulders before letting go to take a knee in front of Coach.

—-

“Hey, Taissa,” you say. There’s a pause in the scrimmage- one of the JV girls had accidentally kicked the ball over the fence, and Misty had volunteered to go get it, conveniently not knowing where the extras were.

“Hey, Y/N,” Taissa says, stretching by pulling her foot up to her back.

“Team bonding at my house tonight?” she raises one eyebrow at you. You would be lying if you said you didn’t have a reputation. “Fine. It’s a party.”

She looks you up and down. “Free booze?”

“And pizza!” you sing. “Bring your bathing suit, too.”

She bites her lip, toying with the idea. “Sure,” she says after a moment, sending you a small smile.

“What could the great Taissa Turner possibly have to say to the Party Queen?” Natalie snorts, walking over just as Misty shouts she has the ball, starting her run back over.

Taissa rolls her eyes.

“Party,” you say, drawing out the world while you fix your ponytail. “Free booze, free pizza, and my pool? What’s not to love?”

She smiles and rolls her eyes. “Sorry, Y/N, I’m just deathly allergic to mansions and the people who live in them.”

“You’re no fun,” you scoff. “I mean, what else are you gonna do tonight? Get drunk and suck someone’s dick? Why not at least do it on my dad’s dime?”

“Ha. Fuck you, Y/N.”

“Will you just come?” you groan. “It’s team bonding.”

She stares at you up and down for a moment, and you adjust your jersey, feeling weird under her stare.

“Fine,” she says after a moment.

—-

Rebecca had only shook her head and said not to cause any damage, before placing an order for a million pizzas, and you changed into bathing suit, putting on a loose white cover-up, making sure the pool was clean and the snacks and pizza were out- before you rubbed some sunscreen on yourself, put on some sunglasses, and sat in the last rays of the dying sun.

“Oh, holy shit,” someone laughs, and you hear the click of the fence gate shut. You pull your sunglasses down, looking at Taissa and Van.

“You’re here!” you smile, standing up, adjusting your sunglasses and placing an oversized beach hat on your head. Van immediately grabs a slice of pizza, looking at you, but you only make a wide motion with your hands. “The hot tubs at, like, 102, and the pool is at 84, I think,” your voice drops to a whisper, even though Rebecca is inside the guest room reading her romance book, “the beer is in the coolers.” You nod your head to the two coolers you had lined up against the wall and filled with cheap alcohol.

“Oh, thank God,” Taissa mutters, immediately walking over to it. The gate creaks open again, and slowly, everyone starts filing in.

—-

Natalie doesn’t arrive until it’s already dark, when it feels like the party is just getting started. You’ve long abandoned all your accessories, instead chatting with one of the freshman, Allie, about how she had gotten invited to prom.

“Hey, Party Queen,” Natalie mutters, looking around, and you’re already a little tipsy.

“Natalie!” you shout, not meaning to, and she laughs and cringes while you clear your throat. “I’m drunk,” you explain, and she raises her eyebrows.

“Just a bit?”

“Just a bit,” you nod, saluting like a soldier, which makes you giggle. “Oh, um, beer is-” you spin around, until you finally find the wall with the coolers. “There. And any pizza left is on the table. You were late,” you shrug.

“Oh, wow. What will I ever do without a slice of cheap pizza?”

You frown. “I love Alfredo’s pizza, though.”

“Oh, God,” she mutters, looking around the backyard. Allie has long since walked away. “This place is ridiculous, you know?”

“Ridiculously fun?” you ask, reaching out to grab her wrist, tugging her over to the lounge chairs. A girl screams as she jumps into the pool from the diving board, and Natalie grins, laughing.

“Not the word I would have used,” Natalie shrugs, and you grab her bag from her and put it on the nearest lounge chair. “What the fuck are you doing?” she asks, not making a move to grab her bag.

“Won’t you swim?” you ask, feeling slightly bad that not everyone is having fun at your party. You had a reputation to uphold, anyways. Natalie rolls her eyes, and you lift off your bathing suit cover, letting it drop to the concrete.

She looks at your boobs.

“Stoo staring at my boobs,” you grumble, slipping off your flip-flops.

“What- why would I stare at your boobs?”

“‘Cause I’m hot, duh.”

“I think the parties are getting to your brain.”

You shrug and step into the water, looking at her over your shoulder. And she’s staring at you, but she doesn’t make any move to take off your own clothes. You shrug and submerge yourself, swimming over to Jackie, Shauna, and the infamous Jeff.

—-

You climb out of the pool, pretending you don’t feel eyes on you, spotting Natalie and a glowing ember in her hand. She hasn’t even taken off her jacket, and you suppose it’s a little chilly, especially coming out of the water.

The refreshing pool did nothing to make you any less drunk, and you sit on the end of Natalie’s lounge chair, forcing her to tuck her legs up and sit to avoid getting wet.

“Jesus Christ,” she groans, letting smoke blow out of her mouth. You lean forward.

“Give me some,” you say.

She scoffs. “Why would I do that? Not even a please from the spoiled queen? Oh, God, I’m wounded.”

“Fine. You’ve smoked so much I can probably just absorb it from the air around you.”

You can see her smile, slightly forced, like it always is when it comes to you. “Why are you such a bitch? Mad that daddy’s away?”

“I’m having a pool party at my house, unsupervised, with pizza and beer. Why would I be mad?”

“Yeah, whatever,” she mumbles.

“Seriously, can I have some, though?”

“No.”

“Look at who’s the bitch now, huh?”

“You didn’t even say please, you spoiled brat.”

“Please!” you shout, a smile on your face, and Natalie laughs but finally gives in after a moment, putting the join in front of your face, and you eagerly wrap your lips around the end and breathe in the poisoned air.

You cough, smoke dripping from your mouth.

“Loser,” she mumbles, and you choose to pretend not to have heard it. She takes it back, taking her own drag, and the sounds of the girls talking and shouting and water splashing becomes the only noise.

Natalie Scatorccio has hated you from as long as you could remember. Maybe she was jealous, or maybe you had really done something to hurt her- either indirectly, or so long ago and small enough you had completely forgotten.

“Jesus,” she mutters after a moment, shuffling around, before something hits you.

“The fuck?” you ask, only to be faced with Natalie’s jacket.

“You’re shivering. It’s making me cold just looking at you.”

“Aw,” you coo, wrapping the leather jackets over your mostly-dried shoulders. “Who knew Natalie Scatorccio, infamous bitch, had a heart?”

“Who knew Y/N L/N, infamous brat, could be stupid enough to not grab a towel after she got out the pool?”

“Why do you hate me?” you ask after a moment. “Like, seriously. Did I do something super fucked up in elementary school? Because, come on, get over it.”

“I don’t hate you. You’re just annoying and spoiled.”

“So you’ve mentioned.” You turn to her, eyeing her suspiciously, and her cheeks flush, but it’s probably from the weed. “Get over it,” you say after a moment. “Not my fault my dad is like, rich, or whatever.”

She just looks away.

“Well, you’re annoying, too, you know,” you say after a moment, missing the sound of her voice.

“Oh?” she asks, but by the way she smiles- both of you know you have nothing to say.

“Whatever,” you mumble. “This is making me sad.”

You stand, stumbling a bit, throwing Natalie’s now damp jacket back onto her.

—-

By the time Jackie and Shauna have bid their goodbyes to you, everyone else is gone. You sigh, suiting on a lounge chair in the pitch black, stretching and feeling everything pop, before curling up. You think you stay like that for a few more minutes, telling yourself you’ll get up, but you never do.

The gate creaks open again, and you flip over, scared about serial killers-

“Damn,” Natalie mutters. “I just forgot my jacket. You… you good?” you sigh and wrap your arms around yourself.

You love throwing parties. You love the people and the music, the food and the drinks, the drugs, everything about it. They call you the Party Queen and you are- but mainly because you wish they would never end.

There’s this empty feeling festering inside of you, and this sickness that will never be cured. You tell yourself you’re not bothered by your parents leaving, but now, you don’t know.

Natalie takes a few steps closer, and you look up at her.

“I never like the end of parties,” you say.

“It’s freezing outside. You’re gonna catch a cold,” Natalie sighs, picking up her jacket. But maybe you’re too drunk too move. Natalie takes a sip from someone’s leftover beer. She mutters something to herself, before grabbing your hand and hauling you up to stand.

You stumble, drunk and confused, and she’s drunk too, so she barely steadies you, her hands all over you.

“Huh?” you say, and she wraps a tentative arm around your waist and guides you around the pool, and to the faint lights of your house.

“Time for bed,” she mumbles, and you look at her, before unlocking the sliding glass door and stepping inside the cool house.

“Why are you helping me?” you ask, staring at her suspiciously as you both lean on each other, tired and tipsy.

“I would feel like shit if I just let you to die out there.”

“I wasn’t gonna die,” you snort, taking a turn so you end up in front of the stairs. “It’s not cold enough for that yet. Besides, I was gonna get up.”

“You’re drunk,” she deadpans, and you look at her, almost missing a step, but the two of you quickly steady yourselves. “You can’t even get up the stairs, Y/N,” she sighs.

“Okay,” you mumble, drawing out the word, until you finally lean forward and open the door. Natalie helps you sit on the bed, before looking around your room, covered in soccer trophies and medals, pictures of various teams you had been on.

She sighs. “Goodnight, Party Queen,” she says after a moment, and turns to leave.

“How are you gonna get home?”

“Walk,” she shrugs, and you open the window near your bed, looking out at the sky through the faint streetlights. It’s dark, not only from the lack of sunlight but from some dark clouds rolling about in the sky.

“But, like, don’t you live at the trailer park? That’s, like, on the other side of town.” You gesture to the window. “I think it’s gonna rain.”

“Okay, Miss Meteorologist,” she chuckles, but you aren’t laughing. You’re tired.

“You can stay, if you want,” you yawn. “Rebecca won’t mind.”

“Goodnight,” she says again, as you stand up and start to slip off your bathing suit.

“You should stay.”

She doesn’t turn around until you do, until you’ve slipped on a t-shirt and a pair of undies.

“You should stay, Natalie. I would feel horrible if you died out there.”

She looks at you, then at the dark window.

“Fine,” she says after a moment, slipping off her jacket and her sneakers, placing them in a neat pile near your bed. “Only ‘cause I don’t wanna get rained on.”

“You’re drooling thinking about sharing a bed with me.”

It takes her a moment, but she laughs. Like, really, truly laughs in a way you haven’t heard anyone laugh in years. And after a moment, you’re laughing too, and suddenly she’s sitting on the edge of your bed next to you, the laughter dying off.

“I’m going to bed,” you announce, already dreading waking up with a hangover.

Everything you’re doing is shrouded in a thick haze, and you can’t tell which way is up or down, and you can’t turn back. Not now.

“I always thought you were a bitch. ‘Cause you were such a bitch to me,” you say, curling up on your side. She lays on her back, staring at the ceiling, staying far away from you and breathing heavily.

“You deserved it,” she says after a moment. “You always walk around like you own the world- it was my cosmic duty to knock you down a few pegs.” You giggle, and she finally turns her head to face you. She hides a hiccup into her hand. “But, uh, this house is so big and empty, you know? Now I feel bad.”

“I don’t think you’re so bad, Natalie,” you murmur, and she lets out a dry laugh.

“Maybe you aren’t either. I mean, you’re still a spoiled brat, but.”

“And you’re a trailer park loser.”

“Then you’re a desperate loser.”

“Fuck off, bitch,” you mutter into the pillow. “At least I’m not a goddamn drug addict.”

“At least I’m not a poor little lonely girl, waiting here her parents to pay attention to her.” She turns fully onto her side, and you look at her with narrowed eyes.

“At least my parents make money.”

“Shut up,” she breathes. “You don’t even know anything except spending money.”

“And you don’t know anything besides sucking dick.” The air in the room feels heavier, tangible.

“Shut up.”

“At least I have money to spend.”

But the more you talk, the more you don’t mean it. The more smiles form across both of your faces, giddy and carefree, too teenage girls basically home alone in a big mansion- but they only care about this room, this bed.

“Shut. Up.”

She’s whispering now, leaning towards you, and you’re leaning towards her, like you’re two magnets who can’t stay away.

“You shut up.”

She makes a motion that seems to be a shrug, before making the final leap forward, that final connection, and smashing her lips onto yours.

Life becomes flashes of teeth and tongues, lips and hands, until you’re pulling back for air, her hands in your hair, your lips bitten and swollen, the remnants of your lipstick smeared across her face.

She only pulls away enough so that your noses still brush against each others, and you can feel her breath against your skin, labored from kissing.

“At least I’m not a stupid Party Queen,” she gasps after a moment.

You smile. “You wish you were.”

—-

everything taglist:

@emilynissangtr

[miss-bushido]

Just take me on the floor, I can give you more

Rating: Explicit Tags: Blow jobs, facials, come eating, hand jobs, body piercings Summary: Eddie has a chance encounter with Steve at a frat party…with sexy results.

*The original plot of this fic changed significantly when I saw the gorgeous artwork by @arelliann with frat boy Steve all up in Eddie's space. The artwork in question is here.

*Originally posted on AO3:

~*~*~

Eddie stood out on the balcony, cigarette between his lips as he leaned against the railing. It was cold and windy, but he’d been overheating in the downstairs living room. Too many bodies in too small a space. He felt like he’d been suffocating as he’d pushed his way through the crush of people.

The wind picked up, swirling around him and his too-thin tank top. He shivered and stood up straight, wrapping his arms around himself. He brought a hand up to his mouth as he took a drag from the cigarette, the end going red before he took it out of his mouth and exhaled.

He glared at the cigarette, and shook his head. He’d tried to quit…too many times to count now. If he had been successful, he wouldn’t be out in freezing temps with no jacket on sucking acrid chemicals into his lungs so that the happy chemicals in his brain would surge through him.

It felt so fucking cliche to think about quitting smoking on New Year’s Eve, but here he was.

A chorus of shouts could be heard from the frat party below. Likely from them playing beer pong or doing keg stands. Maybe someone was going into the downstairs bathroom with two girls to get lucky. He’d been to the frat house often enough now to know how it worked. He wasn’t friends with a large majority of the guys who lived there, but he did like their money for his products. They had cleaned him out and he’d decided to stay. See what all the fuss was about when it came to people aching to go to these frat parties.

Apart from being in close proximity to many of the jocks he regrettably had the hots for, chief among them was Steve Harrington who he knew from his European History class, he didn’t see what the fuss was about. It was loud and sweaty and there were too many drunk people who kept knocking into him.

Which is why he’d sought some respite upstairs, trying doors until he found one unlocked. The bedroom he’d found himself in was spacious: plaid comforter and three white pillows on the bed, a pile of books on the desk by the window, the desk lamp still on. There were red Solo cups scattered on the floor close to the door, along with a few socks and some crumpled up balls of paper that had missed being tossed into the trash can.

On his way over to the sliding door for the room’s balcony, he spotted a cork board with various pictures and notes tacked to it. Movie ticket stubs for ‘Twisters’, ‘Kraven the Hunter’, ‘Wicked’, and ‘War of the Rohirrim’ were next to pictures of a group of young teenagers at a backyard pool, along with two others. One included two guys at the grill- one with the longest hair Eddie had ever seen on a man, the other with his hand on his hips as he held the metal spatula; and one picture of two young women in bathing suits- the brown haired one sipping on a Coke and the girl with short hair and a dusting of freckles across her face holding a well worn copy of The Song of Achilles. A hastily scribbled note was tacked on the lower right hand corner of the board: ‘E coming tonite!’ Eddie wanted to snoop more but he heard someone coming up the stairs and so made his way hastily through the balcony door, sliding it shut behind him so he could smoke in peace.

And so he was, though he was getting more chilled with each passing moment. A few flurries drifted by his face then, which he took as his cue to take one last drag of the cigarette before he stubbed it out against the brick exterior wall. He opened the sliding glass door and stepped back into the warmth of the bedroom, coming back in just as someone was coming out of the bathroom on the other side of the room.

Steve Harrington stood in the bathroom doorway, illuminated by the light inside. “Oh, hey man,” the jock said to him amiably, holding a hand up in greeting.

Eddie stared, trying not to drool at the sight of Steve in his tight short shorts, his backwards cap, and his too-small athletic tank top. Eddie had had dreams about this before, the natural progression of which saw him taking Steve to bed in his own apartment and undressing him with his teeth. The frat house where Steve lived had never made an appearance. The knowledge that this was Steve’s bedroom was probably going to mean the location of his dreams would shift a bit.

He shook himself internally and offered a small, slightly wary smile in return. “Hey,” he rasped, clearing his throat. “Some party, huh?”

Steve shrugged and turned the light off in the bathroom. “Yeah, it’s okay.” He walked over to Eddie and clapped a hand on his arm, eyebrows raising at the feel of his skin. “Shit, dude, you’re freezing. Were you outside?”

Eddie’s eyes widened at the feel of Steve’s warm hand on his arm. “Uh yeah,” he managed. “I was having a smoke.”

Steve’s eyes lit up as he smiled and then leaned in conspiratorially. “You have any more?” he asked.

“You smoke?” Eddie asked, trying to control his breathing at the sudden proximity. The moment felt charged, full of possibilities. Eddie tamped down his urge to kiss Steve on those perfectly pink lips. Remain calm and normal.

“Not supposed to,” Steve shrugged, “but I do. I’m trying to quit, so I figure what’s the harm in one last cigarette before the New Year?”

“Yeah, I’m trying to quit, too,” Eddie admitted. He fished the pack out of his back pocket and flipped it open. “I have one left,” he said.

“Oh, shit, never mind,” Steve said. “I don’t wanna take your last cig. No worries, man.”

“We can share it if you want?” Eddie suggested. He flipped open the top of the pack so Steve could see the lone cigarette in there.

Steve gave him a smile that made his heart hammer in his chest. When Steve leaned down and grabbed the cigarette with his teeth, Eddie felt like he could swoon. “Got a light?” Steve asked.

“Yeah,” Eddie choked out, grabbing his lighter from his back pocket. “Should we go outside?”

Steve glanced behind Eddie and then back to him. “I mean, we can, but it’s snowing now, and neither of us are dressed for it.” Eddie felt Steve’s eyes roam over his body, catching on the peek of fishnets Eddie was wearing under his ripped jeans. “But, uh, I’ll go out if you want to.”

“We can be quick,” Eddie said, turning to open the sliding door again. He did not see the way Steve’s eyes followed the movement of his body, the sway of his hair, and zeroed in on the long slender fingers that held onto the lighter.

The wind cut through them as they stepped out onto the balcony. “Fuck me,” Steve shivered, stomping his feet.

“That would be one way to warm up,” Eddie quipped before he could stop himself.

Steve raised an eyebrow and smirked. “At least take a guy to dinner first, Munson.” He honest to God winked at Eddie.

A surge of warmth went through him, and he licked his lips as he flicked the lighter to life, holding his hand around the flame to block the wind. “I guess it depends on if you’re a cheap date or not, Harrington.”

“I can be,” Steve answered. He inhaled deeply and then tilted his head up, exhaling the smoke into the air. “What’s on the menu?”

Eddie took the cigarette from Steve’s hands, his fingers brushing against Steve’s. He was trying to keep his cool, and he hoped it was working. This didn’t seem like a joke, but he had to tread carefully. Past experiences with other guys had gone wrong and ended with him on the receiving end of a few fists instead of a blow job in the backseat of a car. “Well, how about Italian? We can go Lady and the Tramp style and share some spaghetti. Maybe have some cannoli or tiramisu?” He took a few more puffs on the cigarette, exhaling out the side of his mouth. “Maybe sushi and some beers?”

Steve grasped Eddie’s wrist and tilted his hand up. He leaned down to take a drag from where the cigarette was in between Eddie’s fingers. The feeling of Steve’s lips against his fingers sent arousal spiking through him. Combined with the look he fixed him with, Eddie felt tingly all over.

“I like sushi,” Steve answered, smoke coming out of his mouth and swirling around them as he spoke. “There’s a rotating all you can eat sushi place down the street that I like. We can go there.”

Eddie nodded, mouth dry as Steve spoke. “Yeah, sure,” he managed. He started to pull his arm back but Steve tightened his hold on his wrist. “Steve-”

Steve moved closer, just as a particularly sharp wind blasted around and through them. Eddie shivered, both from the cold and from Steve’s proximity. “Let’s go inside,” Eddie murmured. He opened his fingers to let the cigarette drop to the ground before they moved to get back where it was warm.

His teeth were chattering as Steve slid the door closed, his whole body shivering. Steve was shivering, too, more than Eddie, because of how little clothing he was wearing.

Eddie tugged Steve forward to wrap his arms around him, the momentum of which made Steve all but slam into him. They bumped into the bed and then fell onto the well worn carpet, Eddie on his back and Steve on top of him.

Eddie scrambled to get up but Steve pinned him down, both bodily and with that same look in his eyes as he’d given him outside not even a few minutes ago. “Steve,” Eddie started.

“That earlier offer to warm me up still on the table?” Steve asked, his voice low and smoky. Neither of them were very cold any longer, and the more they stared at one another, the warmer they both got.

Eddie blinked and pushed himself up, both hands braced behind him. Steve shifted himself up as well, sitting on his knees to allow Eddie up off the floor as he waited for the answer. “Are you…this isn’t a joke? This isn’t-”

Steve leaned forward again, his left hand braced on the floor as he placed his right hand on Eddie’s middle. His back arched invitingly, his already short tank top riding up as he came closer and closer into Eddie’s space. “You gonna kiss me or not?” Steve whispered as he got closer.

“Fuck,” Eddie whispered before he closed the distance between them, kissing Steve right on the mouth. Steve wrapped his arms around Eddie and kissed him back, gently moving them so Eddie was on his back again on the floor. Steve's cap fell off in the momentum, letting his own long hair down around his cheeks.

He felt the hard length of Steve against his thigh, and he shivered with pleasure. He slid his tongue into Steve’s mouth, and was rewarded with a filthy moan, and Steve’s hips rolling against him. Eddie moved his own hips up, the friction it produced making him hiss with pleasure.

Steve’s hands pushed Eddie’s tank top up, and he broke the kiss to kiss down from Eddie’s mouth to his neck, over the fabric, and then to his chest. He traced Eddie’s chest tattoos with his tongue, and when he saw Eddie’s left nipple piercings, he slid his tongue around the metal barbell.

“Oh God,” Eddie gasped, feeling Steve smile against his skin. He gasped louder when Steve gave the piercing a tug with his teeth and then began sucking Eddie’s nipple. He almost didn’t realize, but Steve had moved his right hand down to palm at Eddie through his tight jeans, waves of pleasure coursing through his body. “Steve,” he panted, his back arching as Steve continued touching him all over.

“Eddie,” Steve murmured, pulling his mouth off of Eddie’s nipple. “Wanted to do this for so long,” he said, kissing his way down Eddie’s stomach.

“You have?” Eddie asked, almost breathless. “God, fuck me.”

Steve looked up and gave him a big grin. “Thought you were going to do that to me? If you want me to, though, I will.” He kissed Eddie’s stomach, and the happy trail coming up his stomach. He took his hand off of Eddie’s erection to unbutton and unzip his jeans. The fishnets underneath left little to the imagination, and made Steve bite his lip as he drank in the sight before him.

Eddie decided to help and shoved his jeans and the fishnets down, allowing his erection to bob freely in the warm air. He heard Steve’s intake of breath as he looked down at Eddie. “Like what you see?”

“Did that hurt?” Steve asked as he took in Eddie’s lorum piercing, surprise in his voice.

“It did, but it was worth it,” Eddie answered. Steve kept looking at it, eyes wide and dark. “You wanna feel it inside of you as you ride me, big boy?”

“Fuck,” Steve groaned. “Yeah…Yeah, I do.” He looked at Eddie’s face and then back to his cock before he took his own tank top off, tossing it somewhere behind him in the room. “I want to taste you first,” bending low to take Eddie fully into his mouth and to the back of his throat.

“Steve!” Eddie yelled, tilting his head back, pressing his hands down hard on the carpet. Steve’s tongue slid up and down and around the tip, expertly sucking Eddie deep. “Baby, your mouth feels so fucking good.” He let out a loud moan when Steve swallowed around the tip of Eddie’s cock, electrical sparks moving through his body, arousal and pleasure building quickly. “You’re going to make me come,” he warned, panting hard.

Steve pulled off, just enough to say, “I want to feel it go down my throat,” before he took Eddie back in his mouth.

Eddie groaned again, thrusting shallowly into Steve’s mouth as he kept sucking him off. “Steve, Steve I’m going-” He was cut off as he came hard, a loud groan escaping his mouth as he arched his back. Steve held onto his hips, swallowing everything Eddie had to give him, only pulling off and away when Eddie started to hiss with pain from being overstimulated. “Jesus,” he breathed, a big grin on his face.

“Feeling good?” Steve asked, a big self-satisfied smirk on his face as he sat up on his knees, looking down at the mess he’d made of Eddie.

“So fucking good, baby,” Eddie answered. His eyes raked over Steve, landing on the veritable tent in his athletic shorts. “Take those off and fuck my mouth,” Eddie demanded.

An obscene sound came out of Steve’s mouth as he fumbled with his shorts. Eddie sat up and helped him, pulling them down to his knees. “Stand up,” Eddie said, stroking Steve slowly. “I want to feel those thighs under my hands.”

Steve let out a whimper that turned into a gasp. He nodded and stood up, almost stumbling. “I can’t stand up. My knees are going to give out.” He licked his lips as he looked down at Eddie, precum dribbling out of his cock and onto Eddie’s hand.

“Sit on the bed,” Eddie said quietly. He gave Steve one last stroke before he put his hands on his thighs, maneuvering him to the bed. He pulled his tank top off and dropped it, and then wasted no time in pulling Steve’s shorts off all the way and spreading his legs wide so he could take Steve fully into his mouth.

Steve’s hands went into Eddie's hair, his hips jerking forward as he fucked Eddie's mouth like he had asked. An untold number of filthy moans came out of his mouth as Eddie sucked his soul out through his dick. He dug his fingers into Steve’s thighs, moaning around Steve’s shaft at the solid feel of his legs under his fingers. He imagined digging his fingers into Steve’s thighs as he fucked him from behind, bent over that desk or on this bed. He wondered what other sounds he could pull out of Steve’s mouth, and if they would be louder than the ones he was currently making.

Eddie moaned around Steve’s cock, knowing the vibrations would add to his pleasure. Steve let out a gasp and looked down at Eddie. “Eddie,” he panted, his voice rough and ragged. “I’m about to come.”

He looked up into Steve’s hazel eyes and nodded- as much as he could anyway- and swirled his tongue around Steve’s tip.

Steve came with a shout, his hips bucking forward, pushing his cock back into Eddie’s throat as he started to come. Eddie swallowed every spurt of come that Steve gave him, massaging his thighs as Steve shook above him.

He pulled off, just as an extra spurt of come came out, landing on his cheek and dribbling down to his chin. Eddie smirked and used his thumb to bring the come into his mouth. “I could get addicted to that,” he said, kissing Steve’s hip.

“Come up here,” Steve panted, reaching down to pull Eddie up onto the bed with him. He pulled Eddie close and kissed him deep, a few shivers of pleasure moving through him. “Goddamn you’re amazing.”

“You’re not so bad yourself, big boy,” Eddie said, kissing Steve on the lips and then the neck, wrapping his arms around him. He glanced at his watch and smirked. “Well, it’s officially the New Year.” It was almost 1 AM.

Steve smiled. “Happy New Year,” he said, voice low as he kissed Eddie again on the lips. “Will you stay the night?” He seemed unsure, a tinge of worry in his voice. As if this question was too much after all they’d done together over the last few hours.

Eddie nuzzled into Steve’s neck. “Yes, I’ll stay. We can have breakfast together, and then…I can take you out for sushi for dinner.”

“What about lunch?” Steve asked, twisting Eddie’s hair between his fingers.

“I was thinking of eating you out,” Eddie replied, an evil grin on his face. The sharp intake of breath from Steve spoke volumes. “I take it you’re okay with that?”

“Can we pretend it’s lunch time right now?” Steve asked, a deep flush on his face.

Eddie kissed him, licking into his mouth. “Let’s take a shower first, and then I’ll eat you out all night if you want me to.”

“Happy New Year to me,” Steve replied, pulling Eddie out of bed and into the en suite bathroom.

Eddie pushed him against the wall, his hands roaming over Steve’s body. “Happy New Year to both of us.”

[thewintersoldierdisaster]

a/n: ‘tis the damn season! the first of four holiday themed fics that i’m BEYOND excited to share with you guys! i know i’ve gotten some requests to write more brady, which is why i started with him lol. i’ve missed writing him and i’ll definitely be working on my brady wip list this winter! as always, he’s a cane because i really hate the nashville yellow whoops 😇

word count: 2.4k

tw: domestic fluff

summary: you get more than you thought you would when starting a new holiday tradition with brady

“Ready?” Brady pokes his head into the kitchen, a navy beanie pulled low over his forehead. His eyes are bright and his smile is wide. He looks so adorably excited.

“Ready!” You grin, holding up the thermos that you’d just finished screwing the lid onto. “Hot chocolate all good to go.”

It’s unfortunately not spiked, since Brady has to drive, but you figure you can add a little Bailey’s or whiskey to it when you get home.

You snag two mugs out of the cabinet, thick ones with high walls so you don’t spill anything in the car, and a bag of marshmallows for good measure. No self respecting mug of hot chocolate would be complete without an avalanche of marshmallows.

Brady’s waiting at the door to the condo, keys in hand. He’s got a thick fleece blanket in his arms too and you bounce a little on the balls of your feet, ready to bundle up in the front seat of his car. “Dogs are fed and walked,” he confirms, shifting the blanket under one arm so he can use his free hand to adjust the hat on your head. “Crooked,” he comments with a little smile.

“Thanks,” you murmur and before following Brady out the door, you wave at Sully and Reese, piled together on one dog bed like a huge furry ball. “Bye, boys! No wild ragers while we’re gone.”

Sully yawns at you, tongue lolling out of his mouth and Brady snorts a laugh. “Oh yeah, those are two party animals,” he jokes, pulling the door shut and locking it.

“You never know,” you chirp, falling into step next to Brady as you make your way towards the elevator. ���It’s always the quiet ones who end up doing a keg stand.”

“Speaking from experience?” Brady teases, crowding you against the corner of the elevator and dipping his head to kiss you. The blanket under his arm is a bulky block that prevents you from getting too close to him, but you lean up on your toes and kiss him back, tracing your tongue over his lower lip. Your heart kicks into overdrive in your chest, fluttering with the excitement of kissing Brady.

You’ve been together just under a year and it’s your first Christmas together, so the season feels extra magical.

“You know it,” you wink, breathless in your response to his question. Your face feels warm, your lips tingly and puffed from his kiss. “I did my fair share of keg stands in college.”

“I wouldn’t call you quiet though,” Brady tosses the words over his shoulder with a smirk and a wink. You gape at his retreating back, your core clenching and your face heating up at Brady’s implications.

He’s not wrong, is the worst part. But he’s also the one encouraging you to be as loud as possible when screaming his name. So who’s really to blame?

Brady’s got the passenger side door open for you and you climb in, smiling softly at him when you murmur a ‘thanks, babe.’ You push the thermos and mugs into his arms while you buckle your seat belt and take it all back, including the fleece blanket, which you tuck around your lap and drape over your shoulder.

You snuggle in while Brady starts the car and gets the heat pumping. He flips the Sirius station to a Christmas music preset and you’re greeted by the iconic stylings of Mariah Carey.

“Oh, perfect!” You give a little shimmy in your seat and start singing along. Brady smiles and hums along, not quite singing yet.

Downtown Raleigh slips away into the suburbs and that’s where things start to get fun. The houses are all decorated for Christmas and the sparkly twinkle of lights bathes the inside of the car in multiple colors.

Brady pulls the car over to the side of the street so you can pour hot chocolate into the mugs and hand him one. “Thanks, sweetheart,” he clinks his mug against yours. “Cheers to a new Christmas tradition.”

“Cheers,” you reply, digging out a handful of marshmallows from the bag and settling them into your mug. Brady’s mug gets less marshmallows than yours, but still a respectable amount.

The radio continues playing quietly, Bing Crosby singing about being home for Christmas, and Brady slowly pulls the car back onto the road. He drives carefully through the neighborhoods so you can really enjoy the lights and displays people have put up.

“Oh,” you sigh, “I wish I had a house and lawn to decorate like this.”

One house has a life-sized Santa on the porch, a sleigh with gifts on the lawn, and icicle lights hanging from the gutters. Their neighbor’s house looks like a gingerbread house and the next has the roof and windows outlined in Edison bulbs.

Brady nods, sipping at his hot chocolate carefully. “Decorating the balcony doesn’t really give the same effect,” he agrees. His condo is decorated more than usual because you took over, with Brady’s blessing. You’ve been testing out an arrangement where you spend a chunk of your time at his place, not totally moved in, but it’s definitely been a 75/25 split on how much time you spend at his condo over your apartment.

Knock wood, it’s been going really well. You’ve settled into a routine with the dogs and with his hockey schedule.

Being with Brady is just easy and you’d been a little overwhelmed when he mentioned starting some new holiday traditions a few weeks back. He’s already coming to spend Christmas Eve and Day with your family in Charlotte, but in the days and weeks leading up to the holidays, you’ve been making memories in his free time.

You suck a marshmallow up between your teeth and chew, swallowing before you say, “I think we did our best with the balcony though. I’m adding a little tree to the pot out there, by the way.”

“Whatever you want,” Brady agrees with an easy smile. The corners of his eyes crinkle and you’re filled with a rush of love for him. You’ve been saying it for months now, but it never gets old.

So you say it now, again.

“I love you,” you grin back at him, pulling your feet up on the seat and wrapping your hands around your mug.

“I love you,” Brady parrots, laughing. “If you keep saying it, it might lose its meaning.”

“Nah,” you shake your head. “I don’t think I’ll ever mean it any less than I do right now, drinking hot chocolate and driving around looking at Christmas lights with you, Brady.”

In response, Brady’s face crinkles up into an even wider smile, eyes squinting nearly shut. He transfers his mug to his left hand and reaches for you with his right. You lace your fingers with his, the warmth from both your mugs of hot chocolate making your fingers tingle. Brady brings your hand to his mouth and kisses the back of it, squeezing gently.

He pulls the car over to park on the side of the street and your stomach flips in excitement because it’s dark enough for a little fooling around, but that doesn’t seem to be Brady’s plan. He turns off the car and you pout, even though it’s still warm and actually you’re getting a little sweaty at your hairline under your hat.

“Let’s go walk around and look at the houses up close,” Brady suggests, pocketing his keys and pushing open his door.

You wrinkle your nose a little, not really into the idea of walking around. But it’s a nice enough night, not too cold, and Brady’s opening your door, holding his hand out for you to take. You shrug and pour more hot chocolate and marshmallows into your mug before climbing out of the car and lacing your right hand with his left. He keeps you on the inside of the sidewalk and you smile to yourself.

There are a few other people walking around and you lift your mug at them in a vague wave, smiling when they smile at you. Brady keeps his hand in yours and lifts them to point at one house, “how high is their electric bill?”

The house is covered in lights from top to bottom, illuminating the block as if it were daytime.

“Astronomical,” you reply, blinking against the aggressively bright lights. Brady leads you down the sidewalk and your eyes are still stinging from the assault, bright spots dancing in your vision.

There’s a house with a whole host of inflatable Disney characters on the lawn and they either have kids or they’re Disney Adults.

Another house has spotlights shining on bigger than life sized cutouts of the Sesame Street characters dressed in their winter finest. You beam at that one and let go of Brady’s hand for a moment so you can take a picture of the decorations, explaining to him that the Sesame Street Muppets were the only thing you’d watch as a kid and your mom will love this decor.

“I always liked the Muppets,” Brady comments, laughing when he continues, “Animal always kind of reminds me of Jarvy.”

A surprised laugh bursts out of your mouth and you nod. “Yeah, I can definitely see that,” you giggle, following along as Brady guides you down the sidewalk. “Agent of chaos and always entertaining.”

A gust of wind ruffles your hair and you sip at your hot chocolate, even as it feels like Brady is tugging on your hand to move faster. But it’s not that late, and he doesn’t have a game tomorrow, so you’re not sure why he seems like he’s in a rush. Maybe he’s getting cold.

“Oh, this is sad!” You murmur, spotting the gorgeous house seven or eight down from where you started. It’s the only dark house on the block. Not a single Christmas light or decoration to be found. There’s just a single porch light on and you wonder if the owners don’t celebrate Christmas. Hopefully it’s that and not something sadder. “It’s the only one on the block not decorated!”

Brady looks up at the house and his lips twist in a strange expression, like he’s biting the inside of his cheek to stop from reacting. “Huh, yeah. That’s definitely…” He trails off and you look up at him.

“How would you decorate it?” He rushes to ask, before you can think of something else to say.

You blink at him. “Huh? The house?”

Brady nods. “Yeah,” he gestures with his mug, “there’s no decorations, so how would you decorate it?”

Your brow furrows because there’s something in his tone that you can’t quite pinpoint, his face open and curious. But you indulge the question, snuggling against his side when Brady drapes his arm over your shoulder, still holding your hand so that your own forearm is crossed over your chest.

“Definitely icicle lights,” you start, gesturing to the roof. “It would look like a perfect little gingerbread house, lined like that. Garland and lights around the porch railings, too.”

Brady hums in your ear, encouraging you to continue.

“Maybe a giant sprig of mistletoe,” you say slyly, “you know, hang it right over the front door.”

“I wouldn’t need mistletoe for an excuse to kiss you when I leave every morning,” Brady teases. “I already do that. Should we put a big wreath on the door?”

His question is serious, talking as if the house is yours, and it’s nice to pretend for a moment. So you nod and tip your head back against his chest so you can look up at the side of his face. “Of course, what would the neighbors think if we didn’t put up a wreath?” You joke.

“Wouldn’t want to get off on the wrong foot with them,” Brady murmurs, breath warm against your cheek. “Especially if we’re going to live here for a long time.”

You tug on his hand and wrinkle your nose. It was a cute little joke, but now it almost feels like he’s taking it too far. You keep your tone light when you reply, “good thing we’re not living here and don’t have to worry about the neighbors.”

Brady brushes his lips against your temple and says softly, “what if we did? Live here.”

“What?” You ask after a moment’s confusion. You understand Brady’s question, but it’s not making any sense. “Did you buy-“

“Not yet,” Brady interrupts you, more out of excitement than anything else. You can feel the anxious excitement vibrating off of him and you turn to face him, surprised to see the huge, nervous smile on his face. “I didn’t buy it yet,” he continues.

“But you’re going to?” Your stomach flutters, heart pounding.

“I wanted you to see it,” Brady cups your cheek with his hand, his fingers just as cold as your skin. “I know we’ve been doing the split time, but I’ve been thinking and we need more space. For the dogs, for us. To start building our lives together.”

Tears flood your lash line and it’s too much, but not enough. You chew at your lower lip, a grin escaping anyway.

“This isn’t a proposal, right?” You murmur. “Just so I’m clear.”

Brady chuckles, his eyes as soft as his smile. “Not yet, sweetheart. But if you like the house, I’ll call the realtor on Monday and put in an offer,” he sounds nervous and you nod.

“I really like the house, Brady,” you whisper. A disbelieving laugh. “I really like you.”

“I really like you, too,” he leans in and tilts you face up to kiss you and he tastes like chocolate and sugar and home. His thumb brushes against your cheekbone and you melt, knees weak and heart full. You hold your mug tightly, half of your brain focusing on keeping it upright so the drink doesn’t spill on the ground and your shoes. When Brady pulls away, you lift up on your toes to kiss him again, soft and quick, smiling against his lips.

“Can we go home and tell the boys they’re getting a yard to play in?” You tease, bouncing a little on the balls of your feet.

“Yeah,” Brady laughs, taking your hand again and heading back down the street towards his car. “And you can start shopping for that wreath.”

“Don’t forget the mistletoe,” you reply, unable to keep the smile off your face. Moving in with Brady full time had been the next step in your relationship, but a whole house? And his plans for the future? You hadn’t realized that he was thinking and planning that seriously.

Brady winks at you, “I could never forget the mistletoe, sweetheart. That’s the first thing going up when we buy the house.”

We.

You and Brady, a team.

Your heart swells with love for him and you can’t wait to see what’s next.

[mikeeel]

always 'nd forever seungcheol x mixed!reader (MY REPPP) bestfriends to lovers!au (YAAAAAAAAAA) warnings: not much, jst dirty things & suggestive not explicit smut but yanno they get naked, weed, Idk

based off of girl with the tattoo.lewd by miguel

IMAGINE:

you and seungcheol had been bestfriends for as long as you could speak. you two were glued to the hip since youth and no matter how many times you tried to break apart, you always managed to come back to each other. you've never known anyone different. it's always been you and him. it was visible you were close. so visible, your classmates would ask either of you where the other was when they weren't present, because if anyone would know where one was, the other would know. and it's correct. you always knew. you shared everything, you've seen everything. nothing was, embarrassing between you two, i mean, you've bathed with each other for god's sake! that's what close friends do. and since he always defended you when people would comment on your skin colour and then your parents' LACK of colour, you always found him a safe place, a comfort zone. and since he was always alone, you gave him company within a big house.

'girl! where are you?' yunjin waves in your face, pulling a face as she snaps you back into reality. 'sorry, uh,' you scramble to find the notes you were reading over. but your phone vibrates.. cheollie :) is ringing you swipe your phone quicker than yunjin could blink and you answer it with a honey-dew like voice. 'hello?' you say while twirling your hair like a 14 year old girl. you smile cheekily while yunjin pulls the most disgusted face known to man. 'uhm, yeah i'm studying with yunjinnie.. uhh, we're like done now basically hahaha.' you cutely giggled as you falsely claim that you've finished everything (you haven't even started) and start packing away. 'a party?' you stop in your tracks and yunjin's eyes widen. you look at yunjin and she shrugs, egging you on to reply. 'sure, i'll go. yunjin will come with me,' you say as you mouth sorry to a pissed off yunjin. 'okay. love you, bye' you hang up and slap your head repetitively. you can never say no to seungcheol and it's starting to piss you off. 'are you serious, y/n? our project is due in two days.' yunjin scolds you and proceeds to pack up too. 'yunjin, please! this could be my chance.' you beg her with pleading eyes. 'smch, whatever,' she rolls her eyes and grabs you to get ready for the party.

you knock on the door of the house literally vibrating from the loud dj music and screaming. seungkwan opens the door with a desperate look on his face. seungcheol is attempting to chug from a keg but is failing miserably. as you watch him you hear yunjin whisper, "why don't you show him you can do everything he can?" as you remember all the times he says you were too 'afraid' to have fun. you walk over there and snag it from seungcheol's hands. as you chug it and chug it, everyone is egging you on. as you remove your lips and look up from the keg, seeing stars mixed with people's faces the whole room is silent. everyone is looking at each other while seungcheol looks at you in shock. he gives you the widest, shit-eating grin ever and exclaims. 'fuck yeah!!' cheers and roars of encouragement are heard as everybody slaps your shoulders and back. dokyeom shakes your hand. 'well done, y/n. i knew you could do it. i'm about to cry,' he starts to weep dramatically and you roll your eyes. 'y'all can't take no shit.' you kiss your teeth as you whip your head away from him. dokyeom laughs out loud and slaps cheol on his back. 'i forget your girl's british and jamaican. combination of two worlds,' he attempts to do a british accent but pathetically fails. but what you focus on is that dk called you seungcheol's 'girl'? and, he didn't react but laugh and slap him on the back of his head. you can't lie, it got you flustered but that's normal right? right..

'come on, dk. lay off it. your british accent is almost as bad as your engineering final grades,' vernon chuckles as the three of you bust up laughing as dokyeom walks off with an attitude. you don't forget what you came here for though, so you tap cheol on the shoulder. 'hey, can we talk?' you whisper in his ear, he nods and pulls you closer to whisper back. his hot breath fanning across your neck and ear as he whispers. 'yeah of course darling, what about?' you freeze. you personally combusted into a million flames and literally FELT like you were on fire. you felt like you were about to pass out and fawn like women did in those really old movies. you pull him closer until he turns his head and silence.. everything seems silent. it was only for 20 seconds or so but it felt like eternity in his eyes. you snapped out of it though when you dragged to a typical spin the bottle. cheol shouts in agreement as he puts out his hand. 'wanna do it?' as his eyes trace your features. your perked lips and brown eyes with falsies flashing at him. you look beautiful, he's mesmerised. you put your hands in his. 'only if it's with you.' you say as you squeeze his hand. he flashes a golden boy smile as he holds your hand to walk to the living room.

'okay, y/n. you spin,' dokyeom says while taking a swig of some bacardi. you shake your head and spin. it spins and lands on vernon. everyone laughs and chants 'kiss' as you shrug. you don't give a fuck, you downed so many shots and had that big bowl of alcohol, you don't remember what's what and you don't care either.

'sexy, give me a kiss,' you slur as a joke and climb to vernon and grab his face. you kiss him long, slow and hard. everyone in the room is shocked, except one.

seungcheol.

he's bursting at the seams inside actually, trying not to rip you off vernon and show you exactly who deserves you. his clenched teeth and fists, he's mad. and dk noticed. he clears his throat before you start to get deeper in the kiss with vernon. you two break apart and you let out the most obvious giggle ever. vernon shakes his head as you turn your body around to sit on him, and vernon snakes his hands around you to wrap himself around you and whispers in your ear. you giggle and whisper back at his ear as your head tilts backwards onto his shoulders. this is when seungcheol breaks and stands up and proceeds to storm out the living room. you're too focused on vernon's shoe crevices to even notice he's gone until you noticed the long silence with everyone looking at you.

'what?' you question as you turn to ask seungcheol what's going on, you saw he wasn't there anymore. yunjin slaps vernon's hand from your waist.

'girl? did you forget what you here for?' yunjin hushers as she pushes you off. your eyes widen as you run off to find seungcheol.

he's upstairs in his room, window open and looking out into the street. faint barking and alarms can be heard with the midnight sky. the house feels quieter, but he doesn't care that much. 'vernon? you gotta be shitting me,' he says to himself.

you walk up the stairs, towards the back of the house where seungcheol's room is, cursing yourself for not thinking. that's exactly what you NEVER do. you see the door is slightly ajar so you creep in. you scowl as you see a cigarette. as you take the cigarette from his hand, he looks up at you with jealousy in his eyes but a twang of hurt too. 'stop smoking, i told you it's not attractive,' you say as you twist and turn it on the ashtray. 'says the one who smokes blunts,' he grunted as you laughed. 'only when i go to jamaica,' you stand next to him and fiddle with your jeans. 'do you like me, y/n?' he asks and you tense. a long exhale is heard as you scratch your head. 'yeah,' you say straight up. cheol nods. silence occurs and you get more uncomfortable by the second. 'it's okay if you don't like me back. i get it,' you stammered. he shakes his head. 'i've been waiting for you for you to like me back since i turned 15. trust me, there's a lot of things that i'm not, but the one thing i am is in love with you,' he said, but his lip twitched. usually it means he's nervous so you move your hand to his. 'i'm sorry for kissing vernon,' you whisper, squeezing his hand. you've both held hands many times but this time, it just feels different, it feels real. 'it's okay n/n. you can kiss me instead,' he turns his head to face you. you feel sober, he made you realise, he's your reality, your future. he always had been. your eyes get glossy as you admire his features. you lean in to kiss him, his lips flushed against yours. over time, you get closer, touchier. you feel him, here, now. you break apart. the only light in the room is moonlight as he leads you to his bed. 'i want to show you how vulnerable i am for you, y/n,' cheol begins slowly rising his shirt, showing his heartbeat tattoo on his heart. his body sculpted by god, perfecting itself in the shining light. you truly are in him completely. 'i'm vulnerable for you, seungcheol. i always have been,' you unbuckle your corset top as you let it fall, revealing your blue, lacy bra. he inhales as he tries to contain himself, he unties his sweatpants and lets them fall too, kicking them to a random place in his room. you undo your jean buttons, removing your trousers. you're both left in your underwear, you nod and begin taking them off, revealing your nude bodies. you feel cold as the open window brushes wind through your body, making you shiver. cheol laughs as he walks towards you. he opens his arms, leaving you to make the choice to embrace him or not. you're hesitant, but you step closer and hold him. you stay like that for a bit, holding each other.

he lets you go and slowly lowers you onto the bed, prepared to show you how much he truly loves you.

[im-a-marion3tt3]

Zoned out

Tw: sh!!! This work contains graphic depictions of self harm, and mentions dissociating, you have been warned!

It had been a longer tour. Too long in Phantom's opinion. The early mornings and late nights had worn him down into a numb mess. He could even cry regardless if how much he wanted too. Nothing felt quite real any more. And so, Phantom decided to try and fix it the only way he knew how too.

He was sharing a room with Swiss for this keg of the tour rather than his usual Rain or Dewdrop. Phantom didn't mind this necessarily, however, it did mean he had to be far more secretive with his behavior. That's how he found himself locked in the bathroom, shirtless, his back pressed against the cold porcelain of the bath tub. It was the old thing ground him at this point, as well as the cuts that littered his skin.

Having used a small blade, the cuts were neither deep nor long. They were mere through the epidermis to cause a stinging sensation and for him to see the blood dripping down his arms. Phantom had focused mainly on his shoulders and inner biceps, not wanting the fans to catch on to what he had been doing.

Once satisfied with the way he looked, he set the blade down on the lip of the sink but as he did so, everything seemed to slow down, including himself. His vision unfocused as he just kinda stood there unmoving. It was as if his body had shut down for him, freezing him in place and thought. Phantom felt as if he could see him from the outside though nothing was clear. He thought he heard a knock on the door, maybe a voice as well but he wasn't sure and really didn't care. Phantom was ultimately stuck in this odd 3rd person position.

"Fucking hell, -tom," that's when Phantom snapped back, feeling as though he was a rubber band being flicked back into place. "Swiss?" He asked, it being a complete and genuine question as he was confused and stunned. The other ghoul looked at him with cold eyes, tinged with worry, silently asking what was wrong. Phantom did not get the hint though, he was still grappling to see straight meaning he could read the other's expression.

"What is it?" Swiss asked, his voice sounding a little gentler as he moved around the younger ghoul. He had pushed him onto the toilet lid, getting him to sit down so that he could work on him.

"What are you doing?" Phantom questioned stupidly, the wash cloth in Swiss' hand not adding up to him. He still wasn't fully grounded nor was he thinking straight.

"Cleaning you up? Don't worry about it, pretty boy, I got it," Swiss muttered softly as he cleaned the cuts on Phantom's arms, humming a soft ghoulish tune as he did so. Phantom, however, took the comment as an invitation to zone out like he had done before. It was so much easier, albeit a little alarming, to not have to be in his own body.

The next time he smacked back into reality he was tucked into the same bed as Swiss, the ghoul curled around him, letting his hair as he watched TV. It appeared to be some murder documentary that had Swiss' full attention.

"What time is it?" Phantom asked softly, grabbing Swiss' attention.

"A little after ten... You haven't been here for a while though," Swiss said with concern, looking at the younger ghoul questioning. By the way Swiss had pronounced things, Phantom got the point. He had meant that he wasn't here mentally, and the young ghoul was well aware of it.

"Sorry," he whispered, curling into the bigger ghoul a little bit more, "I don't know why I do that." He sounded sad and a little ashamed which simply earned him his back being rubbed by Swiss.

"It's alright, I'm not mad, pretty boy, just concerned," Swiss stated softly, his free hand tiliting Phantom's chin upward so the two were making eye contact.

"So, care to explain, Phantom?"

[eternalsimsstories]

Phantom Lineage

Chapter 2: Ghostly Antics

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Content Warning: This chapter contains scenes of violence.

As Tate appeared at the door of “Little Castle,” he recognized one familiar face. The exterior resembled a compact castle, with its sturdy stone façade and towers that hinted at its regal history. But before he greeted them, he decided to change his color from blue to green, excited to finally be on his own.

“Hi, Panagiota. Nice to meet you again,” said Tate as he entered the living room from the kitchen.

“Hi, Tate! How are you?” asked Panagiota, who was in her bathing suit, her voice bright against the castle-like backdrop.

“I’m doing great! How is life so far at the university?”

“Well, I can tell you that it is quite a bit different from high school, for sure.”

“Hi, Tate,” greeted Nikita as she and Madeline came downstairs. The beige walls of the living area felt warm and welcoming, divided from the kitchen by a wall that hinted at the homey charm of the place.

“Hi, Nikita and Madeline. How’s it going?”

“Great to see you here.”

“What will you be studying?” asked Nikita.

“Computer Science,” answered Tate.

“Oh great! We’re in the same program together!”

“You’re in computer science too?”

“Yep!”

“Where’s your suitcase, Tate?” asked Madeline.

“Well, the Ravenwood Royal Security guards, who are still alive, are just getting my stuff ready, so they will be here any minute now.”

“That’s great.”

“For now, I want to go check out the place on my own. So, I’ll be coming through both literally and figuratively. Oh, and before I forget, I have to apologize in advance in case I accidentally come into a room and see any of you girls changing your clothes or having sex. It's a bad thing about being a ghost.”

“We’ll try to keep that in mind,” answered Nikita, a playful smirk on her face.

As Tate floated to the first floor below, he entered the bar area, where the atmosphere shifted to a more masculine feel. The space was lined with a few kegs, and a sturdy bar surrounded by stools and two tables echoed with laughter and stories—scenes of camaraderie that felt foreign to him.

He saw someone he’d never met before—a brunette with long hair—and decided to pull a prank on her. He made her feet go off the ground as he levitated her, even flipping her upside down.

He was laughing all the way through this ordeal, his joy bubbling over.

Skylar was taken aback, struggling to regain her composure as Tate controlled her in the air. Then he dropped her one the floor with a thud, finishing his prank.

“Why did you do that, asshole?” she shouted, incredulity mixed with annoyance.

“Just having some fun!” Tate replied with a grin, the thrill of the moment electrifying him.

Skylar’s eyes narrowed, and she lunged at him, her hands swiping through the air. Tate giggled, easily dodging her grasp as he floated just out of reach. But she was relentless, and the energy between them crackled as they engaged in a ghostly game of tag.

“Come on, you can’t catch me!” he taunted, darting around her.

“Don’t underestimate me!” she shouted, determination fueling her movements.

As she lunged again, Tate felt a rush of air as her hand grazed him. It was a strange sensation, like a gust of wind that made him feel oddly solid. Suddenly, she managed to grab hold of his arm, and to his surprise, it felt like a firm grip.

Before he could react, she threw him to the ground. Tate landed with a thud, the impact sending a shockwave through his ghostly form. He felt a jarring sensation in his head, which made him dizzy.

“Oh shit,” he muttered, trying to regain his balance.

Skylar stood over him, breathing heavily from the exertion. “Did that hurt?” she asked, a mix of worry and defiance in her voice.

“I didn’t think you could hold me and throw me to the ground!” Tate exclaimed, still reeling from the unexpected encounter.

“Guess you were wrong!” she shot back, her tone softened slightly as she realized the absurdity of the situation.

“Skylar, do you know who you’re fighting with?” said Madeline, who was witnessing this with wide eyes.

“Who?” asked Skylar, out of breath and still irritated.

“He’s Tate Greywind, the future king of Ravenwood,” answered Nikita. “You might have heard about him and his whole family being murdered by one of their butlers five years ago in the news. Well, they are still the royals of Ravenwood, but they are now ghosts.”

Skylar’s expression shifted from irritation to shock. “Wait, what? You’re kidding!”

“Well, sorry,” she replied sarcastically, as she turned back to look at Tate, still catching her breath. “Don’t ever do that again.”

“Oh, I won’t,” answered Tate, brushing himself off. “But it's nice to meet you, Skylar.”

“Whatever,” she said, still processing the revelation.

He got up, with some help from Madeline and Nikita, and floated down another floor, where he found another familiar figure running on a treadmill in the exercise room. It was modern with wooden paneling, glass doors, and a locker. The room is equipped with a mirror and various exercise machines. The space buzzed with energy, a perfect place for someone looking to keep their physical form in shape. He floated into the room and through the door.

“Hey, bru, how’s it going?” he called out.

“Hi, Tate,” answered Holden with some relief. He stopped running and turned off the machine. “Finally, there’s another guy who's going to be living here.” He paused slightly, “What happened to you, Tate?”

“I just got into a physical fight with your roommate, Skylar.”

“Shit, you can’t be serious. You’re a ghost!” Holden exclaimed, his expression a mix of disbelief and concern.

“I thought so too, until she did it. And I felt it too.”

“How did she do that?”

“Well, I played one of my ghostly practical jokes on her, just for fun. I didn’t think she would get that angry, grab me, and throw me to the ground.”

Holden frowned, a concern etching his features. “Tate, man, you’ve got to be careful. You can’t just go around messing with people. They might not react well.”

“Intense is one way to put it,” Tate replied, shaking his head. “I didn’t expect to end up on the floor.”

“Seriously, though. Being a ghost has its perks, but you need to know your limits. It’s not like you can just bounce back from everything,” Holden said, crossing his arms, his tone serious.

“True, but it’s also kind of liberating,” Tate replied with a smirk. “I can pull pranks, float through walls, and scare people silly. It’s like being a kid again!”

“Yeah, but you’re not just a kid. You’re a ghost with a past, and there are people who might not take that lightly. You need to be cautious.”

Tate paused, contemplating Holden’s words. “I guess I’m still trying to figure out what it means to be a ghost in a world full of living beings. It’s like I’m in this limbo, caught between two realities. Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever really belong anywhere.”

“Exactly! You can’t forget that you’re not just invisible. You have a history and a legacy. People might see you differently,” Holden replied earnestly.

“Maybe that’s why I’m pushing boundaries. I want to explore, to feel alive even if I’m not,” Tate admitted, a hint of vulnerability in his voice. “But there’s also this weight on my shoulders. Being the future king of Ravenwood comes with expectations, and I worry I’ll never measure up.”

Holden nodded thoughtfully. “I know how you feel, being a future king myself. But that’s a lot to carry, especially when you’re not even sure how to navigate the world of the living.”

“Right? I am the future king, to honor my family’s legacy, but what does that even mean when I’m just a ghost? Will I be seen as a joke, someone to be feared, or something in between?” Tate’s voice wavered, revealing his inner turmoil.

“Enjoyment is one thing, but getting tossed around by a girl you just met? It’s a whole different ball game,” Holden replied, his expression serious. “I can’t put my finger on it because I don’t know what it is, but there is something off about her.”

Tate raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “You think so? What makes you say that?”

“I don't know, man. Just a gut feeling. You’ve got to watch your back, especially with someone like her,” Holden said earnestly.

“Point taken. I’ll be on guard next time,” Tate promised, a mix of respect and amusement in his tone. “But if I get another chance, I might just prank her again.”

“Just make sure you stay in one piece, alright?” Holden said, shaking his head with a half-smile.

As Tate walked away, he couldn’t shake the feeling that blending in among the living would not be as easy as he hoped. The prospect of navigating friendships, facing old fears, and dealing with the weight of his past loomed ahead. Would he be able to embrace his identity as a ghost? He would need to find a way to connect with the living while embracing the ghostly existence he now called home.

To Be Continued...

[female-malice]

girl how do we not go crazy in this world. i went to buy face wash and there were hundreds of them at the store. they all do the same thing. why are there so many products on this planet. for what purpose. there are just so many produuuuuuuctssssssss

I go cray cray crazy like this several times a day.

I only feel normal when I sit in the park. Honestly. I'm still trying to learn the names of the plants that are common in my region. I barely know them but I'm trying.

In an ideal world, the face wash would be made in like a giant barrel. Or like a keg. Bulk face wash. Maybe there's two face wash kegs, one for oily skin and one for dry skin. And we can just fill our reusable soap dispensers with face soap and call it a day. Instead of a supermarket or department store or drugstore chain, we'd have little apothecaries. They'd have bulk herbs, bath, tea, and hygiene stuff. Not products, just ingredients. And they'd supply you with ingredients you need or mix them for you or something. I don't even know. There's got to be a better way. There's got to be a world that doesn't make me crazy.

[jeongyunhoed]

As seen on my FF.net Also seen on my Ao3

Following the events of fifth year, a new adventure awaits for Norah Lee. Boys, exams, school events, common room parties, and old foes outside of Hogwarts. Even battling pensieve guardians was easier than this.

Main Pair: OC / Ominis Gaunt Genre: Adventure/Angst/Fluff (it's a little of everything, tbh)

KEEP IN MIND: Characters are aged up (even if the story's got them in sixth year) to make it more appropriate. Time period is leaning towards the modern day so in case you might find anachronisms in the dialogue or references, this is why. This may also be quite a lengthy fic too.

BE WARNED: Social anxiety, mentions of blood and injury, grief, drinking, kissing but nothing more than that, death (this is Hogwarts Legacy, after all)

P.P.S: Norah's got 99 problems and the Ravenclaw party isn't one of them. But seriously, no one's enjoying amongst her circle, and she kind of spirals into self-doubt. Also, Ominis, Leander, and Garreth all gang up on a bunch of fifth year bullies aka Nicholas and his gang.

Masterlist

Chapter 24

The Ravenclaw common room party. The drama and intrigue the past several days hadn't died down, and many had now anticipated what was going to happen by this time, especially when three of the four people involved were bound to cross each other's paths in the Ravenclaw common room, two of which were already under the same house and did everything to avoid running into each other. Second to Slytherin, Ravenclaws were also known for having the best parties, mostly because their dormitory had the added feature of a rooftop deck, perfect for couples who want to be alone.

Music was blasting all throughout the space, bathed in blue mood lights which gave the entire common room a more sultry feel, as if they were in a sophisticated speakeasy. Being the prefects, Henry and Mahendra helped the seventh years put together the tables of food and drink, including a few kegs of Garreth's fizz-beer. For obvious reasons, Natty and Poppy were also inside, already dressed for the occasion and helping wherever they can.

This time around, the rooftop deck was going to be closed off for the game that they were widely anticipated to play. It was equally decorated, thanks to Samantha's green thumbs, with an assortment of roses and flowers to set a kind of mood. There was also a keg of fizz-beer in case the game's players would get a little thirsty.

"I have a feeling this would be the best party yet," Constance Dagworth beamed with pride at the ambiance created by the lights and the music. "Who gets the honor of being the decider for 7 Minutes in Heaven?" She asked.

"The seventh years, of course," Mahendra grinned. "It's their last house party in Hogwarts after all."

They suddenly saw Amit emerge from the staircase, followed by Andrew, finally dressed in more casual wear. "Oh, here comes the Hogwarts heartthrob and Andrew," Constance teased.

Andrew laughed, nudging his friend as they approached the table, Poppy immediately going up to him and holding his hand. "So, I think people are coming in," He said, hearing the slight buzz coming from the entrances. "They're quite early, don't you think?"

"There's plenty of food and drink for everyone to come in, and I doubt they'd run us out," Henry assured him, wrapping an arm around Natty to hold her close. Natty beamed. "Did Sebastian and Ominis say they were coming?"

Natty glanced at Andrew, Amit, and Poppy for a moment, wondering if she should say anything. "I-I'm sure they are. Sebastian's apparently coming with Adele? They've been going out for quite sometime and never really bothered to tell anyone else."

"Not even Norah? She's his best friend, isn't she?" Andrew was curious, as was Amit. Poppy, however, looked pleased at the thought.

Natty shook her head. "I don't think she knows. But I'd like to think she has some idea of what's going on. They're under the same house, she's bound to know if she didn't already. We just caught them snogging in that hidden room behind the fireplace in the library. They've been going there often."

"Is she going? Didn't you say she promised she'd come to the party," Henry recalled.

Strike two, Natty thought. "She did, but I guess she's got different plans, the last time I saw her, that is. We might as well enjoy ourselves."

"She's not going?" Amit suddenly asked.

Natty shrugged. Oh right, Amit didn't know. "I don't know, haven't heard of anything from her. But you know her, she's often keeping to herself."

Henry eyed the brunette. "Amit, didn't you tell Norah you couldn't hang out with her? Or be seen with her?"

"I was just asking," Amit pointed out, reminded of what he said to her that day.

Poppy wrinkled her nose. "In my opinion, Amit was right for not wanting to be seen with her that way. I didn't think she'd do something like that with you, that manipulative tart."

Her comments made the group's expressions change from concerned to surprised. "...You actually believe what people have been saying about her?" Henry questioned. Andrew looked a little flustered, while Amit also looked alarmed.

"She hasn't denied it, has she? She certainly hasn't told me anything," Poppy raised a brow. "I don't know why you're all still hanging around her. Especially you, Natty. Think of all the times Norah and Henry were together. Don't you think she might get him to break up with you?"

Natty couldn't believe what the Hufflepuff girl was saying. "Unfortunately Poppy, I disagree with you. Norah would never do something like that. That's not very nice considering that you're her friend."

Poppy shook her head. "Frankly, I don't want to be anymore. What if she tries to get Andrew to break up with me? She can't stand not being the center of attention and she'd rather ruin our lives for her benefit."

"Poppy, you're being out of line. Norah did not do anything of the sort," Amit was forced to speak. "I told her I wasn't ready and I put my foot in my mouth for even mentioning me confiding in her. This is all my fault. Mine."

Poppy only scoffed. "Poppy," Natty stepped in. "If you're so willing to not be friends with Norah anymore over the gossip that people have spread about her, then you were never a true friend to her in the first place," Her voice was firm. "It would also be wise to stop accusing your own boyfriend and mine of weakness."

"So be it, I'd rather not be around her sort," Poppy said with some finality, pulling Andrew away from them to sit in a corner.

More people were beginning to emerge, and Amit, Natty, and Henry sighed. "...Am I the only one or that wasn't very Hufflepuff of her?" the tall blonde broke the silence between them. "And then I thought my sister Rosalie could have a bad mood. I stand corrected."

"I'm going to get myself a drink," Amit walked off.

In the corner stood Samantha, having overheard the tense exchange between them. The party wasn't starting the way they had hoped even in the midst of a growing number of students filling the rooms.

Natty, on the other hand, couldn't help but think where Norah was at that moment. She could only hope that she was alright.

~

"Oh hello Madame Treadwell," Norah came across the merchant at the eastern bog, the wife of researcher Nora Treadwell. "What do you have for sale today?"

Priya's stall opened in front of her. "A new broom if you're in the market for another. I heard the enchantments Albie Weekes has given your brooms made them all perform brilliantly."

Norah smiled. "Fortunately, yes. But I've just come for a few more bottles of wiggenweld potion. I realized I was running out when I arrived here."

"What brings you to this part of the country and at this hour?" Priya was curious. "You're quite the thrill-seeker, aren't you?"

The Slytherin girl shook her head. "Just revisiting old places I used to have to go to. In fact, I am curious about something, if you can help me, Madam Treadwell? About that Coastal Cavern?" She tilted her head to the structure at the distance. "Do you think there are still some loyalists around?"

Priya seemed to catch onto what she was asking. "You've risked your life enough to rid us of Ranrok and Rookwood. Even with Harlow on the loose, I'd think it might be wise for you to sit this one out. You've helped us enough," She advised.

"Until Harlow's permanently in Azkaban and unable to escape, I'm afraid this is my fight," Norah frowned.

The woman seemed to understand. "What kind of world do we live in when students, children, have to be the one solving our problems?" She said with a hint of sadness in her voice. "Not even the Ministry is doing anything."

"That's what our Hospital Wing nurse said too," Norah said quietly. "But I'll be fine, Madam Treadwell. I've taken on loyalists before, I can still do it now."

After she finished paying for the potions, Norah mounted her broom and flew toward the entrance of the Coastal Cavern. It wasn't far from the goblin mine she infiltrated with Amit the year before, but it was twice as full of loyalists. It took some convincing of her friends for Norah to go at this alone, reminding them of the initial plan. Despite their concerns, she was aware that they'd be preoccupied with their love lives to keep worrying about her. That realization seemed to bring about a wave of loneliness, reminding her that this was her fight and her fight alone.

They needed to move on with their lives after all, but it did remind Norah of her time in the muggle school. Always the loner, never really being seen as someone worthy of befriending. Norah was convinced that this was the right thing to do. She shook her head, trying to rid her mind of the sudden self-doubt that was creeping in as she landed not too far from the kneazle lair close to the entrance.

Much like the Overlook mine, the Coastal Cavern looked overrun with nature. The remains of loyalists and trolls she fought the previous year were scattered all over, the chests of weapons and boilers had understandably burned out over time. She remembered what Amit said, about Bragbor's journals. She needed to find and get those journals to figure out what Isidora might have told him, even if there was a big chance that it would only detail how he built the repository.

It was eerily quiet, save for the chirps from pigeons and the scuttling feet of squirrels and possibly rabbits. Norah quickly foraged the horklumps growing nearby before taking a few steps toward the entrance. It was getting darker and Norah immediately lit a few torches to illuminate the path. It had always been quite dim but going inside at night made the environment even darker.

"This could prove dangerous if I'm not careful," Norah muttered to herself, immediately on alert for any other movements. "If there are journals here, I'm going to get it."

"Petrificus Totalus!"

Before Norah could non-verbally cast a shield, she fell to the ground, her body completely frozen. An Ashwinder scout emerged from a dark corner. "You were right after all, Carrow."

Nicholas also emerged from the corner, looking satisfied. "I spotted you leaving the grounds earlier, mudblood," He kicked her face as hard as he could, blood suddenly gushing out from her nose. He looked around, then back at her, kicking her face once again. "Don't think I forgot about that duel we had in the common room..."

"What do you suppose we do with her?" The Ashwinder scout muttered.

Nicholas smirked, but not before spitting on Norah's face as well. "We can leave her here, or bring her to your boss. Take your pick. I don't really care."

Even the Ashwinder seemed to find it unusual how Nicholas was behaving. They seemed to cackle even louder, echoing throughout the entire cavern. "Shame. Selwyn would've wanted to see this. The very child Ranrok and Rookwood were after, now lying at our feet."

No sooner than Nicholas straightened his jacket and pants did he fall to the ground, equally frozen. Another Ashwinder scout emerged from the corner. "Sorry, we needed some insurance. Besides, why take one when we can have another, and a pureblood wizard at that..." They said, levitating both their bodies as they vanished.

~

Back at the party, the game hadn't begun just yet. Everyone was hanging around the common room, either dancing to the music, drinking, or helping themselves to the tables of food that were brought in from the kitchens much to the delight of the house elves that worked there. Ominis stood in one corner of the common room, a cup of Garreth's fizz-beer in hand as he listened and observed everyone else having fun. Sebastian was standing next to him, an arm around Adele's waist as he whispered in her ear.

"Having fun, Ominis?" Adele suddenly asked, giggling at whatever Sebastian whispered to her.

The blonde didn't answer, which Sebastian took as a response. "Hey, it wouldn't hurt to have some fun once in a while," He nudged his friend.

"It's easy for you to say. Didn't even tell me about you and Adele becoming an item, I've had to hear it from Violet," Ominis muttered in between sips. His mind was racing, wondering where Norah might be at this time. "You could've at least said something."

Their expressions fell at his words, Sebastian looked especially guilty, which Ominis sensed. "I was going to-"

"Ominis, I-" Adele tried to speak.

"Going to?" Ominis cut her off. "And here we were, wondering where you were so happily going off to. The so-called detention sessions turned out to be meeting in the library to snog your mouths away."

"Hey," Sebastian tried to get a word in.

"Don't 'hey' me," Ominis cut him off as well. "If we were really friends, you'd at least say something about your relationship."

"Don't try and take out your frustration on me just because I managed to get a girlfriend before you," Sebastian argued. "You think I was going to let a chance pass me by?"

Ominis's brows narrowed. "I don't doubt it at all. But you're keeping secrets again, aren't you? What's next? Having another go at curing Anne?"

Adele could feel her cheeks heating up and she cleared her throat. "I think I'll go talk to Nellie over there, you two sort this-whatever this is, out without me," She pulled away from the brunette and walked off.

Sebastian sighed. "Look, I'm sorry I never told you that Adele and I were going out. But it's Adele, it's not like I'm dating some dark witch or something," He tried to explain.

"Have you told Norah?" Ominis asked.

"I-" Sebastian shook his head. "I haven't."

"How do you think Adele would feel if you told her you used to go out with Nellie?" Ominis suddenly recalled, taking Sebastian by surprise.

"As much as I owe you two an explanation, I'll tell Adele in time, if things work out, alright?" Sebastian assured him. "I'm sorry I've had to keep this from you, from Norah, from a lot of you, really. I should've been more forthcoming about it."

"You do realize how word gets around easily? As much as I've had to hear about Henry and Natty's snog sessions near the Restricted Section, I've also had to hear about you two," Ominis grumbled. "Have you even checked in on Norah lately?"

Sebastian stared at him, feeling like he had put his foot further into his mouth again. "I-No, I haven't."

Ominis sighed. "It figures, she hasn't told you, and now I'm wondering if she's alright," He was about to put his cup down when he heard one of the seventh years say out loud.

"For 7 Minutes in Heaven, Amit Thakkar and Samantha Dale!"

If it wasn't for the music playing, the entire common room would've gone silent at the mention of their names. Amit slowly emerged as well as Samantha, both of them quietly going up the staircase and to the deck, in which one of the seventh years was standing by to lock them in, setting a stopwatch to seven minutes as the lively mood of the party resumed.

"That ought to fix things between them," Ominis muttered.

"Oh right," Sebastian remembered all the gossip that he heard, with his own friend getting dragged into it. Not that he believed what they were saying. He turned to Ominis with a sigh. "Where's Norah?"

"That's what I'm going to find out," Ominis drank the last of the contents in his cup, letting his wand guide him down to the door and out of the common room. Garreth, who was about to bring up another keg of butterbeer from the Three Broomsticks, spotted Ominis. Sebastian saw them mutter something to each other that made the redhead leave the task of bringing up the keg to Cressida. He looked back at the party, seeing his girlfriend deep in conversation with Nellie, who seemed unfazed about the fact that Amit and Samantha were called to play the game.

He quietly slipped away from the party, going down the steps and out of the common room, hoping to catch up to Ominis and Garreth. With the way Ominis seemed worried, it was making Sebastian worry too. He had been so caught up with his dates with Adele that he had completely forgotten about the plans they made.

But as he continued to try and find them throughout the halls and staircases, it seemed like Ominis and Garreth vanished with the floo flame nearby.

~

The petrified forms of both Norah and Nicholas were hidden away in what seemed like a cell in the Coastal Caverns.

A growing number of Ashwinders and poachers, some newly joining the cause, were assembling down below. "With the power that Rookwood and Ranrok were searching last year, we can restart our empire, we can overrun the major institutions that govern the Wizarding World," Harlow declared. "We even have the child they were after in our possession now, something they failed to do."

Cheers erupted, reverberating in the room they were kept. Norah couldn't move, yet she could see Nicholas's frozen form across from her. She kept willing herself to at least move her eyes. It was then that she remembered what to do, and what she could train herself to do under this kind of circumstance. She was going to try and non-verbally cast magic.

Finite, she kept thinking.

Finite.

Finite.

Finite.

Finite.

Finite.

Norah began to concentrate, think of the spell as hard as she could. It was too risky to invoke ancient magic now, as it could kill her if she did anything outside what she had done before. By now, they would be looking for her. They would even be looking for Nicholas, or they might not, depending on whoever knew of his whereabouts.

To her surprise, several boys, whom Norah recognized were Nicholas's friends had snuck inside, all of them looking at her with satisfied sneers on their faces as they cast a counter spell to break their friend out of his petrified state.

"Oh, boys, I can't tell you how relieved I am to see you all," Nicholas was quick to compose himself as they helped him up. Norah wondered what he was going to do as he stared her down, her questions getting answered by another kick to her face, followed by several more against her body. They were beating her up while she was down before cackling to themselves as they left the cell, stepping over the equally petrified bodies of the poachers that were keeping watch.

As much as she wanted to be surprised, she wasn't. Norah went back to concentrating again.

Finite.

Finite.

Finite.

Finite.

If she was able to break free, then it would mark another lesson she learned. Norah needed to focus. She had been in a tough situation before, whenever she'd go into caves or abandoned castles. She reminded herself that she could do this. Where she had gone was already enough to continue following Harlow. If she could ever break out, that is.

Finite.

Finite.

Finite.

Finite.

Finite.

"Norah?"

She saw a faint red glow coming from the doorway. It sounded like Ominis. Norah wanted to make a sound, but couldn't. "Where is she?" She heard another voice that she realized was Garreth. "Norah?"

"Norah couldn't have been held captive, could she?" a third voice emerged, in which Norah recognized was Leander's. The three of them?

"Someone's in there," Ominis said, and the two Gryffindors rushed inside, opening the door. Norah felt her insides drop from relief. It really was the three of them.

"Norah! Norah!" Garreth knelt beside her, in disbelief with how she looked. "Finite!"

She rolled over on her stomach, Leander quickly helping her up. "How-how did you three know I was going to be here?" She was curious.

"Well, it's a funny story," Garreth exchanged looks with the other two boys. "We had a feeling you were coming here but we weren't sure at first so we apparated near the bog, then we saw Nicholas Carrow and his friends. That merchant Priya Treadwell told us you went in here, and when we apparated to the entrance, we heard Nicholas gloating about them beating you up and leaving you."

"So we confronted them and gave them a taste of their own medicine," Leander shrugged. "That twat had it coming anyway. He's tied up outside along with his friends. We had to do um, some persuading to get them to tell us where you are."

Norah glanced at Ominis, who had a satisfied smirk on his face. "They keep forgetting we know more spells than them," The blonde said. "We might as well tell Professor Weasley what Nicholas Carrow has tried to do."

"Oh, well, how was the party so far? Was it fun? I bet it was," Norah asked, wiping the blood on her face with her sleeve. She noticed how dressed up they had been, especially Ominis, whose blonde hair was once again styled a little casually, with one lock hanging over his eyes. Garreth in particular was wearing a shirt that was unbuttoned to an extent that exposed a bit of his chest. Leander's leather jacket also seemed to suit his tall frame.

"It depends on who you ask. I heard Poppy talked shit about you when it started," Garreth explained, making Ominis' expression fall.

"When we left, Amit and Samantha were called to do 7 Minutes in Heaven. They must be done by now," Ominis said. "I admit I'm disappointed in Poppy for believing all that rubbish about you."

"Aren't we all?" Leander muttered. "We aren't doing ourselves any favors in here, we should get back to the castle. While the party's still going on."

"Good idea," Garreth said, and they rushed out of the cell and out of the cavern. "We kind of need to bring them along first."

They reappeared in an empty and Central Hall, where Ominis untied the fifth years they brought along. Norah took a moment to drink a vial of wiggenweld, but she needed a few bandages to cover the cuts on her face and suddenly feeling aches on her body where she was kicked and beaten from earlier.

"We ought to tell Professor Weasley what you lot have done," Garreth turned to the fifth years. "I knew you hated people who weren't purebloods like you, but this is a whole other level."

"Don't you have detention right now, Carrow?" Ominis rounded on Nicholas. "You ought to be there or they'll start asking questions."

"Well, I'm not, and I don't have detention anymore," Nicholas smirked. "My parents talked to Black, and he revoked Hecat's punishment. You're looking at a free man, Gaunt. Oh, sorry, I forgot you can't look."

"Not even a thank you for getting back here when we could've just left you at that Cavern?" Leander raised a brow. "I would've thought you were raised to have some modicum of manners. Guess not."

Nicholas ignored him and gestured his friends to follow him up the stairs. As soon as they disappeared, the four of them turned to each other, the three boys suddenly feeling the aches and pains from earlier on their bodies. Norah handed them a few more vials of wiggenweld, watching them drink the potions in amusement. "And then I was going to be impressed they never got to fight back," She snorted. "Well, I'm now in a partying mood, let's go," She cheered.

"Merlin, you never really stop moving around, do you?" Leander said with an exasperated sigh as they trudged toward the nearest floo flame, the four of them appearing at the foot of Ravenclaw tower. They climbed up the staircase, moving past who they realized was Constance Dagwell and Caleb, both of whom were talking animatedly outside the common room, holding cups of Garreth's fizz-beer.

For a moment, Constance opened the doors for them and they hurried up to join everyone, trying to stay casual about their reappearance. Sebastian immediately went up to them, looking alarmed especially at the sight of Norah.

"What in Merlin's bollocks happened to the four of you?" He said.

"Long story, Sebastian, why don't we just enjoy what's left of this party," Norah immediately replied, helping herself to a cup of fizz-beer, wrinkling her nose when the rim of the cup touched the spot where Nicholas kicked her. "I guess Amit and Samantha are already done with their seven minutes in heaven."

"I mean, yeah, you are right in that they finished not too long ago, but what happened to you guys? Why are you all in some kind of pain?" Sebastian pressed, partly to cover for his own guilt in not knowing much earlier. "Did you get in a fight without magic?...Or did you duel with a group of Ashwinders?" His voice was low in the latter, so as not to let anyone else hear them.

"Don't worry, Sebastian, it's all over and taken care of now," Norah waved a hand dismissively. "Besides, it's not like we were hiding a relationship," She eyed him.

Sebastian frowned. There it was. He knew it wouldn't get past her. "Alright, alright, that's fair," He stood back. "I'm sorry I never told you guys about me and Addie, alright? I'm sorry you've had to hear about it from other people."

"Violet and Hector, respectively," Ominis chimed in. "And Charlotte, and Nerida, and Eric..."

"Alright, I get it," Sebastian sighed.

"It's fine, Sebastian," Norah glanced at him. "At least she makes you happy, and at least you're happy. I mean, you were never going to be single forever, right? You saw a chance after the Hufflepuff party and took it."

"What a coincidence, Sebastian told me the same thing when I called him out on it," Ominis added.

The freckled brunette didn't know what to say. He didn't know whether to be annoyed at Ominis's prodding or relieved at Norah's assurance "I-I guess?"

"Get him, Norah," They heard Garreth suddenly cheer from his place, Leander cracking up and nearly spitting his drink. "Make him squirm!"

Norah laughed. "With this revelation, I'm surprised you're not stuck by your girlfriend's side tonight. Henry and Natty certainly are joined at the hip, and I could say the same for Andrew and Poppy," She commented, looking over at the couple, who were absorbed in their own conversation while laughing along toward which two people were next.

"I'm not, and she's off with Nellie, talking, possibly about quidditch or something," Sebastian shrugged. "But I'm still going to hang out with you two, I'm not going anywhere! I promise!"

"Really? Because Natty made that same promise, and look at her now," Norah raised a brow, feeling that pang of loneliness suddenly hit her again. She looked over at the Gryffindor girl, who was cuddling with Henry in one seat.

"I do! I promise!" Sebastian and Ominis sensed the shift in her demeanor. "We're in different houses anyway, it's not like she's a Slytherin too."

Norah smiled and shook her head. "If you'll excuse me, I think I'll head to the hospital wing, see if Nurse Blainey has some bandages for my nose. Good night, you two."

She stood up straight and disposed of her cup, hurrying back down the steps and out the common room. Ominis sighed. "Wow, I suppose this party wasn't fun at all..." He muttered as he took a sip.

Norah tried to swallow hard as she climbed down the staircase to make her way toward the hospital wing. She wanted to be happy for Sebastian. After everything he had gone through, he deserved something good in his life. The same could be said for Natty, who also went through a lot the previous year. But for some reason, she was beginning to feel like people were leaving her all over again. They made those promises to still hang out, but, there was no other way to describe how she felt other than hurt.

Was she wrong for suddenly acting or feeling this way? Norah wasn't sure, but she was certainly feeling hurt, sad, and dare she admit, lonely. She felt stuck, unsure of what to do with herself next. She knew the right thing to do was not to stand in the way of any of them, but perhaps it would also mean that they shouldn't be involved in her plan anymore, even if they objected.

As she arrived in the Hospital Wing, she immediately went up to Nurse Blainey, who tended to whatever wounds she had left that hadn't healed quite yet.

"I don't know what you've gotten into at this hour, but it has definitely taken a toll on your face, hasn't it? Peeves and his blasted tricks again. Don't move," Nurse Blainey muttered an enchantment, immediately healing her nose. "Merlin's beard, you've gotten covered in blood too...lie down and get some rest. You can return to your common room tomorrow."

Norah's clothes were transfigured into a set of silky pajamas as she lay back, a house elf discreetly appearing to pick up her clothes and wash them, disapparating in the blink of an eye. She took the dreamless sleep potion Nurse Blainey gave her and drank it. Norah sighed and closed her eyes as she began to think about it again.

As far as she knew, Poppy hated her now, Amit wouldn't hang out with her, and now Sebastian and Natty were caught up in their own relationships. It was just going to be her and Ominis from now on, or perhaps with Garreth and Leander. Her and Ominis that never seemed to anywhere since he asked her to the Yule Ball.

On top of that, Nicholas Carrow tried to sell her out to the Ashwinders, only for his plan to backfire when he was petrified too. That didn't change his hatred for her, however. But there was still the looming problem of Harlow rebuilding the empire he once had. Would that mean restarting Horntail Hall? Would that mean taking control of several ruined castles all over again?

And then there was the possibility of her parents getting a visit from Harlow's lot, to possibly shake them down, or worse, kill them.

It was getting overwhelming, and all Norah felt like doing was going home. It was also then that she remembered she invited Sebastian, Anne, and Ominis to her home. She suddenly didn't feel like doing so anymore.

"What in Godric's bollocks is wrong with me?...never mind," She mumbled, trying to get herself to sleep. "Maybe I really am meant to be alone."

As she drifted off, Ominis appeared at the threshold of the hospital wing, the glowing tip of his wand guiding him to where Norah could be. They had both been through a lot, and he could sense what she was going through, the thoughts that must be racing her mind.

Quietly, Ominis pulled the chair nearby to sit down beside her. They were alone again, and this time away from the ruckus that was the party. Shortly after Norah left, he followed her, to Sebastian's confusion. He had a feeling he knew what Norah was going through.

He tilted his head to observe her, picking up the way she breathed. From his wand picking up an empty vial by the bedside table, Ominis sensed she took something to help her sleep. He suddenly remembered something Henry told him not too long ago. That he hadn't mapped her face yet despite knowing her for a while.

Ominis raised a hand, letting it hover over Norah's forehead before touching it ever so slightly. His hand moved, fingers gently tracing the outlines of her eyebrows, hovering over her eyelids and her eyelashes. His mind was already painting him a picture of what she looked like, and Ominis could tell she was sleeping peacefully. He knew to go even gentler over her nose, feeling the bridge until the tip, and then to her lips.

Her lips were soft, Ominis thought, as he mapped her face some more, feeling her jaw and then her cheek. He was impressed Norah was deep asleep and didn't wake up anytime soon. As he had long thought, Norah looked perfect.

"I know how you feel," He whispered. "But I just thought you ought to know, you still have me. I'm not going anywhere."

[reverend-dog]

The Thing in the Wall

“Oh, wow!” Kirsten cried, and stared into the hole in the wall. “Aren’t you a beauty?”

A pair of eyes stared back at her. Each eye looked to be the size of Kirsten’s head. Irises the color of bleached bone against blood-hued corneas, and u-shaped pupils, like a goat. They gleamed in the flashlight beam.

“What?” Chas prompted without turning. “Jesus, this place is a pit! I think even a ghost would have too much pride to be caught here.” She snorted. “Fuck the housing market.”

“Yah,” Kirsten agreed, “but it comes with a roommate. Check this out!”

Chas left off unpacking and turned. “Fuck me!” she exclaimed, and drew closer. “What a piece of work!”

The eyes dominated a face clad in scales, with horned ridges above the orbs and a lizard’s stubby muzzle. The head blended into hunched shoulders without the slightest concession to a neck, and arms as thick as either woman’s thighs framed a keg of a torso, hung with tufts of fur between mail-like scales. In place of legs, a serpentine tail curled round and round to support the rest.

The grotesquerie hunched just the other side of the hole that dominated one wall of the room. A tarpaulin had covered the gap, which Kirsten now held aside with one hand. The space beyond still sat bathed in shadow.

“Awesome workmanship,” Chas admired. “Movie prop?”

“Maybe Mr. Costello’s a sculptor,” Kirsten guessed. “But why would he put this beauty in there, then tell us it’s off-limits for renovation?”

“Shock value,” Chas postulated. “Probably listening for our screams.” She yawned. “Come on. Morning was already a long time ago, and we still need to make beds before we can sleep.”

The beds were as dilapidated as the rest of the old mansion, but Kirsten and Chas could not be asked to care. Around them, creaks and moans crept the halls, the sounds of a house neglected too long, easily ignored.

When the floorboards next to Kirsten’s bed bowed and complained particularly loudly, though, that served to stir her from sleep. She turned her head from side to side, then something nudged her shoulder. She opened her eyes – to meet the outsized gaze of the thing from the wall.

Kirsten’s eyes snapped wide, but she did not scream. Even when the thing’s head tilted and those eyes blinked, slowly, like a cat, and completely unlike a statue, she gave no cry.

“Why aren’t you scared?” A voice like silk, like the best salesman or television commentator, flowed from the thing’s muzzle. “Aren’t I scary?”

“For what it’s worth,” Chas spoke from her bed, hiked up on one elbow, “I think you’re magnificent.”

The great head turned, and the muzzle spread to grin with rows of sharklike teeth. “I’ve never heard that word attached to me before.” It nodded. “I could get used to it. What sort of people are you, that you don’t scream and run?”

“Horror fans,” Kirsten supplied. “We grew up on monster movies.”

The creature tilted its head, horny ridges above its eyes drawn together. “But I’m not some celluloid creation, a special effect,” it protested. “I’m very real, and more than able to tear you both to pieces.”

“Yah,” Chas allowed, “but if that’s your thing, why so polite?”

“Boredom,” it sighed. “My man rarely comes around anymore, at least when I’m awake. And until you two, all the previous tenants had the same reaction to my appearance.” Its eyes dropped to inspect the floor. “I – don’t handle confrontations well. Screaming, shouting, panic….” A shudder ran its entire length. “I tend to lose control. It’s very embarrassing.” It sighed. “At this point, I just want to go home.”

Kirsten and Chas exchanged glances, both certain what sort of “embarrassing” events probably happened when the creature lost control. “So,” Chas asked, “why were you playing possum when we found you?”

“I must have been asleep,” the creature explained, “or I suppose ‘suspended’ is more accurate. I’m quite inanimate except for the first hours of the day.”

“Like the Gargoyles!” Chas blurted. “Except they came alive at sunset. Say, while we’re being so friendly, what do we call you?”

“Of course I can’t reveal my true name,” the thing cautioned. “As fans, I’m sure you understand why. My man called me a variety of names, depending on his mood.” Its chuckle sounded like bones rattling. “I indulged him, perhaps too much. I think he forgot who was master and who, servant.”

Chas snorted. “Sounds to me like he figured it out.”

The creature considered. “You may be right,” it admitted. “I thought the benefits I provided would keep him loyal, but perhaps I misjudged. He must be reminded. But how? If he never visits while I am awake?”

Kirsten and Chas looked at each other again, and both knew the other’s thoughts. They remembered Elias Costello’s manner while he had shown them their room, the joke that only he knew. Shared outrage flowed between them, that for Mr. Costello’s complacency and the monster’s boredom, they would by now be undergoing digestion.

Elias Costello cursed as he pulled to a stop in front of the old place. Patrol units crowded the yard, lights flashing. An ambulance was there, too.

“Stupid fucking monster,” he muttered as he clambered from his car. “All these years of practice, you’d think it could handle another couple of girls. Fuck.”

“Detective’s inside,” a patrolman told Elias, and pointed a finger as if Elias needed further direction. Elias grumbled at the officer and trudged up the steps to the oversized front door.

Finely-honed survival instincts warned Elias as soon as he heard the door slam shut behind him. The red and blue lights that lit up the mansion and yard flicked out as soon as he was inside. No detective stood waiting, nobody at all. Elias’ phone buzzed in his pocket, and he dug it out and glared at the screen. ‘911’ read the number. Dread rose in Elias’ throat. He spun and sprinted for the door, hauled on the latch with all his strength. He might as well have tried to pull down the entire building.

His phone continued to call for attention. Hand shaking, he tapped the screen and spoke into the microphone. “Y-yes?”

“Mr. Costello?” replied an official-sounding voice. Elias recognized it from the earlier call, that had alerted him to a disturbance at his property that required his immediate attention, and dragged him out here at five AM. He now realized that it sounded familiar for a different reason, which became clear when he heard the same words come from the grand staircase that led to the mansion’s upper stories. He glanced up, and saw the two girls walking down the steps. One of them held a phone to her lips. “Thank you for arriving so promptly, Mr. Costello.”

“Think you’re smart?” Elias challenged, attempting bravado. “I don’t know what sort of deal you’ve got going, but trust me: you can’t trust that thing. First chance it gets, it’ll tear you apart. I’m the only one can control it, ‘cause I know its name.” He grinned his best salesman’s grin. “Let’s help each other, and we can all get out of here. Yah?”

Kirsten and Chas looked at each other, then turned and looked up the stairs behind them. Elias followed their gaze, knowing before he did what stood there. “Trust me!” he pleaded. “You don’t know what you’re dealing with! First chance it gets, it’ll swallow you whole!”

“I already had that chance, Elias,” the creature replied. “Turns out these young ladies are much more engaging and cooperative than you ever were. They introduced me to a novel concept, called deadnaming.”

Elias’ face blanched under his swarthy complexion. “No!” he cried, and followed with a name.

“They and I have already struck a deal, so your services,” the thing grinned a wide, feral grin, “are no longer required.”

As it dove at Elias, the monster cautioned, “You may want to look away.”

“Are you kidding?” Kirsten retorted.

“Yah!” Chas concurred. “We wouldn’t miss this for the world!”

[rikerofalltrades]

Jesus Isn't Heroine (part 3)

You stop by a hardware store to pick up a roto-rooter. Behind the counter, French Stewart is chewing on a yoga mat. You shudder at the consideration that it might be previously used.

"Hey, you got a roto-rooter?" You ask. French Stewart ignores you as they nibble away. "Excuse me. Do. You. Have. A. Roto. Rooter."

French doesn't even look up.

"Be with you in a minute!" A voice calls from the back. Tony Hawk in a full leather apron strides towards you, holding a pricing gun. "Sorry about that, French is technically at lunch - but I have no one else to cover. Iggy Pop used to work here but left to open one of those wine and painting studio things. It's just south of here if you're interested!"

"No thanks, but good for him, I guess. Y'all got a roto-rooter?"

Tony strokes his chin. "Let me check the back."

After a few minutes - and half a yoga mat later - Tony wheels out what looks like the bastard child of a keg, one of Doc Oc's arms, and a solar cooker.

"Here ya go! It's nuclear-powered and cordless. Guaranteed to break up…well, anything," he says.

"Are you renting or buying?" "…well… how much to buy?" you ask.

"It's on sale for $139,999. I'll even throw in this sick apron and some heavy duty gloves."

While this is clearly out of your price range, it's a bargain for a nuclear reactor. You contemplate adding it to one of those Bird scooters before remembering that Rainey's shower is filling with sewage.

"Nah, I'll just rent. I'm just fixing my partner's shower."

"Oh, that's cool. If you get it back today I won't even charge you. Flooded showers are the worst!"

"Seriously," French says between bites. The progress he's made on that mat is genuinely impressive.

Tony wheels it out to your car as a gaggle of Gator fans make their way down the street. You can't help but overhearing their conversation:

"…so HE said, after that loss, we didn't have the guts to call."

"yeah…"

"…so I called in to his show."

"…to prove you had the guts to call."

"Right! Then he asks me why I'm calling. And I say 'you said we didn't have the guts to call, so I'm calling'."

"And what did he say to that?"

"Nothing, he wanted to know what I wanted to say, and I said, again, you said we didn't have the guts to call - so I'm calling to show we have the guts to call in."

"Hell yeah, I bet that showed HIM!!' Tony shakes his head. "Poor Gator fans. Ever since Florida flooded, they've been refugees. Between that and the bath salts resurgence, they've had a rough few years."

"AT LEAST THAT TRANSPHOBIC BIGOT DESANTIS DROWNED IN HIS OWN PISS AND SHIT!!" French shouts from the counter. Indeed, 2024 had its moments of joy. The fact that Elon Musk shot himself to Mars and died on the surface was also a bonus.

[waloed-steed]

"Nonsense love, you have steadier hands than men who's been in the practice for twenty years. You no need to fret. And please, darling. Call me Sleipnir. I have no care for formalities at the moment though my dramatic reading of my many titles may say otherwise." He teased, giving her a wink.

At her explanation he nodded and with a grunt of pain would he push himself to sit proper, hissing at the ache it felt on his poor flesh. Thankfully he managed it all the same, albeit looking like he just got hit by Bahamut's teraflare as he did so.

"Ugh....bloody hell." He grumbled under his breath. What he'd do for a nice warm bath or a heafty full keg of ale.

"Not bad, little one. I must say when you wandered to my side, I had naught the mind to believe I'd make it to the next moon...I was proven wrong." Harbard would chuckle.

"Hmm...do you have a home to go to after you're done mending my wounds? I can have one of my men safely usher you to where you need to be. Mayhap an escort of my finest Knights? The very least I can do for your most gracious of kindness, m'lady."

"Or...if you have no home to return to, why not join hither with myself and my van. I'm sure the King himself wouldn't be disinclined to meet the brave girl whom rescued his most trusted speed. You would be greatly reward if you should chose to accompany me." The Lord Commander offered.

Another knot to fasten the thread. And another.

Kihel was engrossed in her work, fully focused on it. So much, that she could have run the chance of missing the man telling her his name. But... the name he told her was not a normal one. No. It was decorated with titles, grandeur and the fate of a very important person. Much like that of his friend.

It made Kihel pause for a moment. Hesitate. Not because Lord Sleipnir and King Barnabas Tharmr were men that were cursed by many people on this continent. No. She did not blame Slepinir for living on the other side of a war that seemed endless. But the circles Sleipnir existed in were so different than these Kihel came from. If she had asked any other refugee on the road about how to behave when meeting Sleipnir Harbard, surely most of them would have advised her to throw herself in the dirt and plead for mercy. And the others would have shrugged and told her she would die then either way.

But... Sleipnir had done nothing to underline that opinion of him that so many from Ash seemed to have. And in the end... did it matter? He had needed help. And she had been able to help. It was a simple as that.

"Then it is an honour to meet you, Lord Sleipnir.", Kihel spoke than, refocusing on her task to sew the wound shut fully. She could concentrate on this and all would be fine...

"And I am sorry... my abilities probably can't match those of the royal healers you surely are used to."

But it was all she could offer. Finishing the stitches, Kihel then leaned back for a moment, smiling briefly at the Lord Commander.

"I will apply one of my poultices. And bandage it up - I would need you to sit up for that. Would you be able to do that but just for a moment, Lord Sleipnir? I promise I will be quick. And afterwards I will figure out how to send word to His Majesty so you can be brought back to camp safely."

[twinkleimagines]

* your secret’s safe with me*

You’re a pogue with a secret relationship with a Kook. Not just any kook either, the Kook KING. When people start to notice and the truth comes out Rafe tries to deny it since he’s the one who really keeps the Pogue vs. Kook war going . Do you go along or do you decide you’re worth more than secrets ?

“ fuck!” You moaned out loudly as you thrust your hips one more time, riding your climax out over Rafes huge cock. You felt him buck his hips up while squeezing your bottom while groaning, finishing out his own orgasm.

“ that was amazing” you breathed out as you rolled over , flopping yourself back down next to Rafe.

“ fuck yeah it was” he said catching his breath before sitting up, pulling something out of his top drawer on his night stand. You rolled your eyes as you heard him sniff something up his nose .

“ you ever gonna leave that shit alone?” You replied with aggravation, rolling over to face his toned back. He stayed quiet as he continued wiping his nose to catch anything that may have fallen out.

“ I just hate seeing how it’s changing you” you said with a softer tone, placing your head on your hand that was propped up on his pillow.

“ yeah well I’m handling my own shit okay” he said glancing over at you from his shoulder before looking back down and the substance in his hand.

“ heard that before “ you mumbled before sitting up, searching the floor for your clothes that Rafe practically ripped off of you an hour ago.

“ where ya goin?” He spoke as he watched you get dressed.

“ it’s 6 in the morning , don’t you have that thing at the country club with topper and Kelce?” You replied as you pulled your t-shirt over your head, pulling your tangled hair back out of it. Rafe shrugged not getting the memo.

“ soooo if we’re going to keep this a secret-“ you relied, pointing your finger back and forth between the space between the two of you , “ - then they can’t see me leaving and they’re going to be here soon”. Rafe nodded his head before standing up, his sweaty body shimmering with the morning sunlight.

“ yeah true” he stated walking towards you holding your sandals. “ you’re still coming to the party tonight at the bone yard though right ?” He replied standing very close to you.

“ duh” you replied pecking a kiss on his lips. “ wouldn’t miss it “ . Rafe stood for a second as he watched you bend over in front of him, placing your sandals on your feet.

“ just meet me at the spot” he replied before placing a quick smack across your left cheek. You jumped up before scolding him. ‘ the spot’ was the place you both hid secretly for quickies. It was the only spot you could be together at the bone yard that the pogues and kooks wouldn’t see.

“ okay I’ll text you” you replied before kissing his lips again.

“ ok I’m getting a shower “ he replied while running his hands through his hair . “ I smell like good pussy” he laughed out while running his finger tips up your crotch outside of your shorts.

“ you’re fucking nasty “ you laughed pushing at his chest .

****

[text message]

Rafe- you here?

Y/n- yuhh wya?

Rafe- topper wbu?

Y/n- bonfire

Rafe looked up from his phone to see you already looking in his direction smirking. Rafe grinned before looking back down at his phone.

[text message ]

Rafe- you look hot af

You grinned as you looked down at your outfit. You had short blue Jean shorts and a blue bathing suit top on, your hair flowing over your shoulders. You knew you looked hot But it was solely for Rafe.

Y/n - you too ;) I really like your hair pulled down the front like that

Rafe- quicky?

You bit your bottom lip, feeling the same tingling feeling at the pit of your stomach as you looked over at a couple of your friends letting them know you’d be right back .

You quickly made your way over to the spot , Rafe following with his red cup of alcohol right behind you.

“ hey princess” Rafe said from behind you. You turned around, lips immediately landing on yours . You giggled into the kiss, the excitement of being in a public area fucking and getting caught ran through you.

“ you can’t go 30 minutes of seeing me without wanting to fuck me huh?” You said , grabbing ahold of his rock hard boner beneath his shorts. Rafe threw his head back in pleasure as you got down on your knees , placing him in your mouth.

“ fuck” he groaned out while placing his hand through your hair, applying pressure against the back of your head. You could feel yourself gagging slightly as the tip of his dick hit the back of your throat , moving at a fast pace .

A couple more minutes went by before Rafe pulled himself away from your face. “ turn around” he replied as he pulled you up by your arm, only to turn you around shortly after . You quickly pulled your bottoms down, showing your bare ass before leaning down, placing your hands against a large fallen tree.

Your mouth flew open as you felt Rafe insert himself into you at a fast pace, his hips immediately moving back out only to slam himself back in . You arched your back, your hair draped to one side over your shoulder, swinging back and forth at the motion Rafe had you moving in. You couldn’t hold the moans in as Rafe continued to hit your g-spot over and over as he usually did.

“ hush baby don’t wanna get caught do you?” He replied as he continued to pound into you, his fingers digging into your hips surely to leave bruises . You bit tightly onto your bottom lip, trying to hold in the moans from all the pleasure you were receiving.

Rafe groaned loudly as he watched you place one of your hands on your clot, rubbing circles , bringing yourself to your climax . Rafe felt your legs begin to shake, causing him to hold you hip against him.

“ you cumming baby?” He breathed out as he watched your body start to tremble in front of him.

“ yes Rafe” you moaned out loudly, causing him to reach his climax as well. Rafe quickly pulled out, pumping himself a few times as his load shot out . You giggled as you watched him finish himself off before tucking himself back in his shorts, you following shortly after to pull your bottoms back up.

“ let me know when you go to leave I’ll take you home okay ?” He replied kissing the top of your forehead. You sighed heavily, sadness filling you. You absolutely adored Rafe. And having to keep him a secret from your friends and family honestly sucked so much. You wished you could be open about your relationship together but with you being a pogue from the poor side and him being a rich kook, it just wasn’t the right time to come out yet.

“ of course , wanna stay the night? My mom won’t be home this weekend “ you asked. He nodded placing his large hands on your cheeks .

“ what we doin? Movie night?” He asked, rubbing circles on your cheek with his thumb.

“ and other things” you teased with a big flirtatious grin.

“ you’re so cute” he laughed out before giving you a quick peck on your nose , before turning away - making his way back to his friends.

You made sure to wait a few seconds before following behind so no one would notice .

You walked over to one of the kegs, getting you a cup of whatever alcohol beverage they had mixed in it when you heard toppers loud drunken voice from behind.

“ where’d ya go buddy?” Topper said patting Rafe on the back. You didn’t hear Rafe respond but topper didn’t hesitate to run his mouth again.

“ you were fuckin someone weren’t you?” He joked, causing the group of people he was with to start laughing and cheering Rafe on. You began to smirk until you heard the words Kelce spoke.

“ I bet it was that pogue Y/n” he said. You froze for a second , the keg you were at was kind of hidden behind a tree so you backed yourself further behind, looking over towards rafes group , ease dropping in.

“ the fuck? No” Rafe replied almost to quick . You frowned slightly, wishing he would’ve had some other type of response other than the one he just gave them.

“ I call bull man “ Kelce replied . “ topper bro I saw her car parked in his driveway like 3 different times “ they all laughed at kelces words , while Rafe shook his head in denial.

“ who wants to fuck a dirty pogue “ he replied. It felt like a blade shot through your heart at his words. Is that really how Rafe felt about you? Was he really that ashamed of a ‘ dirty pogue’ like you?

“ hey man she’s pretty hot for a pogue” topper replied patting Rafe on the shoulder . You couldn’t handle listening to anymore once anger started to rise in you .

“ dirty pogue? I’ll show you a dirty pogue” you mumbled to yourself as you chugged down two full cups of the alcohol, pouring you a third before making your way to a group of tourons.

***

You had been standing there for a good 20 minutes, flirting away with a. Group of guys that were out of town , all young horny college boys looking for some fun one night stands.

You usually weren’t like this but your only intentions right now were to hurt the boy who unknowingly hurt you.

[ text message]

Rafe- tf you doin with them boys?

Rafe- hello?

Rafe- I’m ready to go c’mon

Rafe- are you ignoring me..?

You looked down at your phone after the 5th ding, only to leave him on read purposely.

“ hey I’m gonna grab another drink” you said running your hand down the side of his biceps, solely because you just knew Rafe was watching you from a distance based off of his messages.

You finished off the cup you had as you walked over towards the keg, almost tripping over yourself .

“ yo” you heard behind you as you struggled to fill your cup up. You sat up taking another sip of your drink to see Rafe towering over you, his eyes squinted at you with anger .

“ what” you spat out.

“ why are you ignoring me “ he asked , this time his voice a bit softer as if his feelings were hurt . You shrugged, taking another sip of your drink, not feeling sympathetic to him . “ I think you’ve had enough of this “ he said attempting to take the drink away from your hand but you quickly pulled away from him. “ y/n I’m serious those boys your with could try something with-“

“ what? Try to fuck me ?” You responded with a smirk. Before Rafe could even respond you turned your back to him, filling back up the bit of alcohol you just drank. “ hey at least they would WANT to fuck a dirty pogue like me “ you responded before walking off, chugging your now 5th drink once again.

Rafe wanted to chase after you to apologize , but he knew if he did everyone would see you two together and he wasn’t sure if he was ready for that yet.

You stood over with the boys, one in particular getting very handsy. At first your plan was to make Rafe jealous, but at this point you knew in the end ask you wanted was Rafe and you had taken this’ flirting’ thing too far.

“ you should really let us see your tits” one of the guys said, tugging at the string of your bathing suit. You quickly swatted his hand away, getting nervous as you watched the group of guys circling around you.

“ no way” you laughed out, “ I can’t just show my breasts out here” .

“ oh c’mon” another said grabbing at your ass, which you immediately pushed his hand away. “ everyone’s too drunk to even notice” . You attention to back away from the grabby guy but the circle just kept enclosing around you.

“ okay guys” you laughed off nervously , but by now the guy had his hands around your waste , pulling you against your boner .

“ why don’t you come back to our hotel we can show you a really good time” the guy said , while his friend reached out, grabbing one of your breast.

“ no- please stop” you responded trying push yourself off of the guy behind you. All of a sudden you felt the guy behind you sling backwards, almost dragging you with him. You quickly caught yourself from falling before you turned around, only to see Rafe himself picking the guy back up by his throat .

“didn’t you hear her say no?!” Rafe yelled, the guy stumbling backwards as Rafe pushed him towards the water .

“ Rafe stop!” You yelled grabbing at his flexed biceps but to no avail.

“ the who’re was practically throwing herself on us man !” The guy tried arguing which really set Rafe off. Before you could even defend yourself, Rafe was throwing punch after punch, not even giving the guy a fighting chance. By then a whole circle of people were surrounding the fight , topper and kelce trying to pull Rafe off.

“ he’s down man he’s down!” Topper yelled at Rafe as he watched the nearly unconscious guy spitting blood out his mouth. Rafe squatted down, picking the guys face back up by his jaw.

“ touch my girl again, and I’ll fucking kill you “ he spat out before pushing his head back down against the shore. Rafe quickly stood up, his jaw clenched walking straight towards you. He had pure rage written all over his face when he grabbed you by the forearm , making you follow him. You didn’t bother to hesitate, quickly following along with him. You were practically jogging trying to keep up with his lengthy legs as he walked quickly across the sand to his truck.

“ get the fuck in the truck” he gritted through his teeth, holding the passenger door open for you. You quickly climbed your way in his truck, him slamming the door before walking around to the driver side , getting in the truck with same aggressiveness. The ride back to your place was silent, the only sounds was the trucks engine revving up every-time Rafe pushed on the gas. You watched as his knuckles were pale white from squeezing so tight on the steering wheel and his jaw clenching over and over again. It was turning you on to the max but you decided to stay quiet, since he was way too upset at the moment .

You had finally made it to your house, your front porch light lighting the inside of the car up some.

“ thanks for the ride” you said softly before reaching for the door handle .

“ wait “ Rafe said , not taking his eyes off the street in front of you. He sighed heavily calming himself down before looking over at you. “ I didn’t mean what I said earlier” he spoke. You looked down. You knew he didn’t look at you like that, but to convince the kooks, that’s exactly what he had to say .

“ I know” you said softly looking over at him. The car stayed quiet , neither one of you knowing what to say but neither wanting to be away from each other. “ I wasn’t going to do anything with those guys” you said finally breaking the silence. Rafe stayed quiet, anger filling him just by picturing you getting fucked by one of those guys.

“ I was just trying to make you jealous” you said turning slightly in your seat facing towards Rafe. Rafe looked up at you, his eyes staring deeply into yours.

“ it very much worked” he replied. You chuckled slightly nodding your head.

“ I know and it was so hot “ Rafe laughed at your comment, shaking his head.

“ well everyone knows now too so” he said shrugging his shoulders.

“ I’m sorry” you replied softly while lowering your head.

“ princess it’s okay” he replied grabbing ahold of your face. “ everyone was bound to find out eventually “ he replied with a sincere smile.

“ I know but I forced it early and you weren’t ready” you replied , laying your head down in his head .

“ no “ he replied shaking his head. “ I don’t care who was around there’s no way I was about to let those guys keep touching you the way they were. “ you sighed heavily, leaning back in the seat .

“ well you wanna come inside?” You asked, feeling yourself getting drowsy.

“ of course princess “ he said taking the key out of the ignition .

He followed you to your front door, his eyes not leaving your bottom.

“ your ass really does look good “ he said before grabbing a handful.

“ behave yourself “ you joked before leading him inside your house.

It was about to be a loonnnng night .

***

Feedback is always appreciated ❤️

[fivelakesinwriting]

Hi love your Barry content ( he deserves all the love). Could you possibly write something about Barry only being soft for his girl and his girl only. Or even him being super protective over her when a kook/or pogue hits on her

Author's Notes: Thank you so much, lovely - the character of Barry is so interesting to me, and I'm so happy you enjoy my content surrounding him. If this was your request - I hope you love it xoxo

Warnings: Guns, Mentions of drugs, Swearing, Sexual references - Sexual innuendos, Violence.

Requested? YES! Requests for OBX are OPEN!

*My work is not to be transferred, copied, translated or reposted to any other sites without my permission. Please see my masterlist for all other works and warnings. Thank you! xoxo

Vulnerable wasn't a state that came natural to him. Perhaps as a child, but he didn't really remember back that far. He was a soldier and he had to be tough, show no emotion. Don't get attached, it's just easier that way.

Even when he came home he found he didn't attach himself to many people. Or perhaps, there just weren't too many people around he wanted to cling to. He always had his back up around people. If they didn't get to know him, then he didn't get to know them and then his heart never got broken.

Until Her.

There wasn't really a timeline for their relationship, or when she started coming around. If he was honest, it all started to blend together. One day she wasn't there and the next she was. On his couch, perched on his lap with her fingers in his hair and her sweet voice in his ear.

Barry thought she was the sweetest girl in the world. Too sweet to be hanging around with drug dealing scum like him. Too soft, sweet and all around precious to be hanging around with a guy like him. Tripping over a loaded gun every step she took. She would give him those gentle, knowing eyes after she had gathered herself.

I know this is who you are, baby.

It was her unwavering love, patience and support of him for exactly who he was that helped him break his own walls down bit by bit. The way she didn't mind that his house was messy, all types of people from different walks of life knocking on his door. Or how she let him rest his head on her chest after a particularly long day, her fingers twisting the loose lock of hair the hung in his face.

Barry, quite simply, felt like he would die for her if it came down to it. He wasn't sure why he would ever find himself that in position, or why his sweet girlfriend, content on spending her nights cuddled on the couch with him or buried between the pages of book, would ever put either of them in that position.

But he would go down in flames for his woman.

"Baby?" Her voice was soft behind him as he sat at the table out in the sun-room, weighing out bags. His heart skipped a beat, and he felt like a teenager getting caught with his first dime-bag of weed.

"Hey. I was just finishin' up in here. Won't be long." He muttered with a clear of his throat as he turned in his chair to see her standing in the doorway, fiddling with the hem of her dress.

"Are we still going for a walk on the beach today?" She inquired, so sugary sweet it was a shock to his system. He felt dizzy, lightheaded.

Barry stood up, his work completely forgotten at her question. He had promised her that he would take her to the beach. A simple request, but he preferred to say "low profile" and the beach seemed like the least low profile place of all. But if she asked him, he would oblige without question.

"Yeah. Can go now, if you want." Barry nodded as he wiped his hands off on the back of his shorts before he reached for her hands. No part of his life, his work, would touch her. He still didn't know why she chose a life with him, but he took it day by beautiful day.

She took the small steps forward so her bare toes touched the tips of work boots, her hands reaching for his to lace their fingers. Barry looked down at their feet, passed their hands interlocked, at her little painted toes. It would take him a while to admit out loud that the bright colours she painted her toes made him just a little bit weak. The way she curled her toes against his shins when they were in bed together, or even the gentle way she rubbed the flats of her feet against his own to stay warm at night.

It made him remember he was still alive.

Barry loathed the beach. So many tourists, unhappy kids and parents, sun burnt and drunk college kids who just didn't know when to call it quits. All of it was terrible, but he didn't seem to notice all of those distractions so much when he was with her. Playfully kicking water at her as they walked the shoreline, a soft kiss to her forehead now and then. He wasn't too fond of large displays of affection, they seemed grotesque to him. A kiss to the forehead, or the squeeze of the hand was more than enough for him.

The looks of the frat guys around them didn't go unnoticed by the soldier. He was acutely aware of everything that was going on around them. He knew the toddler at the top of the hill, near the food truck, was going to fall the minute it started run. He could see it in his brain before it happened. He saw the teen girls ahead, and to the left of them, battling over who got to take the photo to commemorate the day.

And he saw the group of Kooks, more than one of them could be called a regular customer, eyes zeroed in on Barry and his girl slowly walking down the shoreline. He could see their lips moving, but he couldn't hear anything. A Kook Goon Squad, clad in overpriced bathing suits and Oakley's. He hated them, every last one of them.

"Here. Think that ice cream truck over there has that ice for little kids you like. Take this, I'll be right there." Barry grumbled as he reached into the back pocket of his shorts and pulling out his wallet.

"Super Hero ice cream is not for little kids, Barry." She scoffed, but graciously accepted his wallet with a peck on his cheek before she took off with a run through the water, splashing up her thighs.

Barry ran his hand over his chin as he made sure his love far enough away before he turned on his heel and stalked over to the Kooks beneath a beach umbrella, attempting to tap a keg.

"...too hot for him, though. I met her at this party a year ago but no deal. She's loyal as shit to him, dude."

The conversation made Barry vibrate with anger. She had told him about that party and how some guy had been unruly with her, would not leave her alone.

"The only way he could have been closer to me is if he had been inside of me. He was so creepy."

Barry clenched his fists as he made the last few steps up to the group of Kooks, ready to strike. He pulled his fist back, the blood in his head blocking out any other sounds than the pure rage he felt at the disrespect they were speaking about his girlfriend.

Barry pulled his elbow back and connected his fist with the Kook's jaw, unannounced. Not the most fair punch he's ever doled out, but he didn't think that hitting on another man's girlfriend was exactly fair either. He wasn't sure if it was the sheer force of his punch, or the fact that it was unexpected - perhaps a bit of both - but the Kook was knocked off of his feet, and onto his back.

"So, you like hitting on girls with boyfriend's? Being persistent? Man, if I was as persistent as you, I'd probably having my fucking money from your ass by now." Barry growled as he crouched down in the sand beside the boy as he groaned, clutching his jaw.

"Leave my girl alone, asshole." Barry spat as he stood up, glaring at the friends that stood helpless around the Kook writhing on the ground.

Barry walked away from the rich kids with too much time and money to spare, and found his girl at the front of the line for ice cream. He let out a deep breath as he wiped off his raw, bloody knuckle on the underside of his shirt.

"Hi, baby. You're just in time. I got stuck behind a group of like, ten kids. Do you want something?" She smiled as he walked up behind her and gently placed his hands on her hip as not to scare her.

"Nah. Share yours." He replied softly as he leaned in to press another kiss to her forehead.

"See? Super Hero ice cream isn't just for kids."

Hotties:

@vintageobx @starkey-babie @fashion-fasting @barrysjumpsuit @babeyglo @rottenstyx @pogueslandia @whcclxr @soph0864

@beauvibaby @plutooryectors @sodasback

*tag list is open, please let me know if I forgot you or you would like to be added/removed from particular posts. I've removed the people that don't pre-populate :(

Please let me know what you think if you have a moment! Thank you so much xoxo

Requests for OBX ARE OPEN!

[neonponders]

This isn’t what @memes-saved-me had in mind for this post but lol (read their tags, they’re delightful) 

Thinking about a younger Billy and an older Steve today ✨

✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨

Billy scratched at the hair on his nape. He wanted to grow it out; really had always wanted long hair. And now, as he peered at the other sophomores trying to fluff themselves bigger to match the juniors and seniors, he just might.

Long hair was in. Mullets, rock star manes, extensions - even the opposite. Women with buzz cuts and pixie faux hawks. Pleasant little surprises in Hawkins, Indiana, and Billy might finally indulge in that.

Plenty in this town was backwards as all hell. Girls wearing white stockings like it was the fifties. Boys and girls alike clearly letting having learned hair styling from their out-of-date parents. Two girls with beehives sat in his English class.

But it was fine, because there was plenty of present-day styling, and Billy wouldn’t get any shit at home for matching his peers.

Cherry Lane. The most backwards spot in Indiana.

But that’s okay, too, because small town people need occupations. Parties.

A cool senior with teased, black hair walked right up to him and handed him a neon orange sheet of paper. He saw others holding similar invitations all day. 

Party on Friday night. Address, dress code, and everything.

Caught him by surprise, that a dress code would be needed for one of these things, but the invitation just said ~casual attire~ and someone in his Advanced Biology class told him that Tina hosts the best shin digs, often with costume themes.

So he went. The late summer evening was still humid as all hell, making the party split between the massive house and the matching yard a convenient way to start a weekend.

He’d had alcohol before. Enough to know he preferred tequila drinks over vodka and gin, but the safest way to wake up the next day was to just stick to beer. No matter how bitter or sharply carbonated some of it was made.

Maybe that’s why he heard people hollering about King Steve.

Keg stands weren’t original to Hawkins, but Billy preferred them next to a bonfire on a beach. But people were really yelling for this king to do the damn thing - 

“Steve, why are you even here? You graduated in May,” Tina’s voice cut through the din.

“I live down the street! You really think you’re making this much noise without me noticing? And all of you shut the hell up! I’ll do a keg stand the day one of you dip shits can actually beat my record.”

Another surprise:

Steve Harrington.

Billy’s dumb luck had him three years behind, so he couldn’t look at that face in the hallways. Sit behind that head of glossy, bouncy hair in European History. He still lived in town, apparently. Right down the street. Billy asked around and discovered he worked at the mall and attended the community college -

“Heard you been asking about me.”

Billy stared wide-eyed over his beer. He recovered quickly, but not before Steve bounced on the balls of his feet, smug. That hair was really distracting.

These people really gossip about everything.

“I didn’t think anybody actually went by a title like that.”

“I didn’t put it on my resume, that’s for sure.” Steve’s smirk grew into a smile. Christ, the guy really had that Indiana, home town handsome thing to his face.

That was dangerous. Billy’s gut told him so, the way it bruised like someone had poked it. And wanted to be poked again.

“Let’s do this properly. Steve.” He held his hand out.

It wasn’t queer to accept a handshake. “Billy,” he replied.

“Hargrove?”

“Jesus,” he scoffed involuntarily, releasing Steve’s large hand. His weight shifted over his feet. “Everybody knows everything here.”

“Not everything,” Steve said. His voice sounded...reassuring? But the way his eyes blinked...and a darkness slipped behind his eyes like a curtain. Adults liked to call it maturity. Wisdom beyond years. Billy called it ghosts. Everyone had ghosts behind their eyes. But...he had a hard time imagining what ghosts this pretty senior in suburban America would already have.

Then again, Billy knew better.

Except, as the party progressed and the weekend flowed into a new week, Billy really couldn’t imagine what made Steve slouch a little, and what made his eyes fade out of a conversation. Billy probably should have put more attention into how much he’d begun seeking the guy out.

He worked in the ice cream parlor at the mall. The uniform was equal measures ridiculous and hilarious, but his coworker was cool as hell. Robin. Not Steve’s girlfriend, even though they carpooled to work and community college.

Steve’s house proved just as luxurious as Tina’s, with a pool to boot. A house which supposedly stayed empty more often than it hosted its own family. Steve notoriously didn’t host parties, which....seemed uniquely odd.

Apart from Billy visiting the ice cream shop, it seemed Steve’s only other visitors were high school freshman. Which was weird. That’s weird, right? Then again, Billy was ball and chained to eight hours a day, five days a week to high school. There was plenty of time for Steve to be with friends his own age.

Except he showed up at the next party on Halloween.

Tina’s house boasted a surprising number of Hawkins graduated seniors, forcing the party all the way out onto the street.

Just like before, Steve manifested beside Billy, announcing himself with fingertips brushing his slowly growing, weak little mullet. “Growing that out?”

Steve’s already heavy eyelids were heavier with alcohol. Billy had his customary cup of beer, but his cheeks flushed for a different reason. He had to rub the back of his neck to make the tickle stop.

“Yeah. Maybe it’ll touch my shoulders next year.”

“Have you trimmed it?”

Billy frowned at him. He’d heard some things come out of Steve’s mouth that were endearing in a ‘bless his heart’ kind of way, and this was among them. “No, that defeats the point of making it longer.”

Steve shook his head and waved for him to follow. “Come here. I’ll trim it.”

“You’re not cutting my hair,” Billy scoffed. And followed.

Upstairs.

Billy did his best not to look around the living room; to see any eyes apart from the ones he imagined on his backside. He followed at a leisurely pace. Not eager to be with King Harrington anywhere...

The guy walked right into the closed master bedroom. Billy stood outside of it, stunned at his audacity and the fact that no one was inside it already - 

“You coming?”

Billy’s not a coward -

Actually he is. But he’s an overeager sophomore with a dangerous crush even more.

Steve dug through the master bathroom’s drawers until he found a pair of scissors in their own case. “Sit on the tub.”

By tub, he meant jacuzzi edge. Billy perched. Steve gripped his shoulder to step into the tub with a comb that smelled of foreign hair product and aftershave. Billy’s nose wrinkled. “Wash that first.”

Then he jumped at the tub faucet turning on right beside his ass. Steve laughed. “Chill out. I’m washing it.”

Billy settled with a disgruntled shake of his head. “My hair is curly. You’re not supposed to brush it at all.”

“You’re in the hands of The Hair Harrington, sweetheart. Just relax.”

His shoulders sagged right underneath the weight of sweetheart.

I’m so screwed - 

Of all people to show up in the doorway, Robin from Scoops showed up with an energy that insinuated more sobriety than the guy wielding scissors.

Her mouth hung open like she had come with something to say, but then she sputtered through laughter. “Oh shit. Are you consenting to this?”

Billy rolled his eyes. “If he cuts my ear, I’m beating his ass.”

“I’d appreciate more faith from you, Buckley. I cut your bangs for you.”

Billy chirped, “Really?” admittedly feeling a bit better.

Steve intercepted with the order, “Are you gonna play music or what? I’m so tired of Tina’s music.”

That’s how Billy wound up in a bathroom with college freshmen trimming his ends and styling his hair while Steve and Robin shout-sang to Whitney Houston.

It was great.

Steve curled the top of his hair so he had ringlets falling over his bold brows. Steve, who had his hands all over Billy’s head until he washed the hair down the drain and filled the tub for a bubble bath. Billy scrutinized himself with a handheld mirror until Steve wrapped his arms around him and they tumbled backward into the wet landing.

Tina was hardly pleased to find the three of them making a mess of the jacuzzi, but she sassed a quick thank you for warding off people trying to fuck in her parents’ bed. Billy didn’t have words; only laughter at Robin putting her hair into a wet mohawk and Steve piling bubbles onto his head.

Steve insisted they go back to his house afterward. “It’s November and we’re soaked. Your car will be fine. I can come back and park it in my driveway if you’re that worried.”

That wasn’t the problem.

“It’s fine that your parents are never home, but mine will only recently lifted my curfew for good behavior.”

Somehow, he convinced Steve and Robin to drive him back to his house, at the expense of letting them change at Steve’s first. Billy had his eyes on a beautiful Camaro and was just a few more months of allowance and part time jobs away from having her.

It was his first time in Steve’s house. He had to admit, he preferred Tina’s layout and decor, but he got to wander around. He saw Robin use one of the guest rooms. He saw Steve’s....incredibly boring room. And said as much.

“A prison cell has more personality.”

Steve laughed. “Yeah, you’re right. Are you ready to go?”

It wasn’t until Billy lay in his own bed that those words tumbled through his brain. His fingertips moved through his still-styled hair. It felt better with those dead ends gone. Steve did a good job. Steve liked Whitney Houston and Blondie and a little of everything, really. Steve cared about his appearance enough to be a self-taught stylist.

Steve didn’t have a lot of furniture in his room. Clutter on the dresser and desk, sure, but all of it monochrome or neutral colors. Steve who had an old BMW, house, and surely a bank account to match, but didn’t buy anything in excess. Like he wasn’t allowed to, or something. Billy indulged every scent he got on things he wanted, but Steve didn’t.

Steve had a nailed bat in his trunk. Billy heard it rolling around on their way back to his house, and finally bent over to look under the seats and saw it.

Steve was a walking contradiction. A contradiction who smelled good but didn’t say much when Billy and Robin talked about history. Who started giving Billy free ice cream but never asked about Billy’s stepsister. Who gave Billy rides and gave him the hookup to the high-paying neighbors of Loch Nora for mowed lawns and dogs walked.

Steve helped him get his car sooner than he would’ve otherwise but didn’t ask for anything in return.

Steve, who was always available for a good time, but looked sad when left with his thoughts.

Billy didn’t take well to not being the center of attention. He’d grown up with an interrogation lamp over his head, and sought positive interaction everywhere else. He got so much of it from Steve, that the occasions where Steve bumped against him...refused him, or ignored him, or reminded Billy that he was a rinky dink sophomore lit a match in his belly. And he’d swallowed gasoline for too much of his life.

“That’s something a virgin says.”

Billy couldn’t even remember what he’d just said. He was already, instantly, seeing the glow of embers on the fringe of his vision. “Excuse me?”

Steve shrugged as he got up from his couch. “It’s whatever. It’s fine. Just showing your hand, is all.”

Billy couldn’t believe it. Steve was either the biggest idiot in Hawkins - which he knew wasn’t true considering there was a real cesspool that smoked underneath the bleachers - or he was so far in denial that Billy had a whole new reason to be pissed.

An involuntary sound left Steve when Billy came up behind him and pushed him against the wall underneath the stairs.

“You don’t know anything about me.”

Billy wasn’t some cute sophomore. He stood toe to toe with Steve, barely an inch shorter. If this is what it took for Steve to realize that, fine.

To realize that Billy wasn’t some teenager scared shitless of a girls’ bra -

Steve regained his footing, and closed the distance between their mouths. It was small, soft, and brief. Rationality should have made Billy step away. Punch him, maybe. But Billy wasn’t rational. His shock held him statuesque, barely breathing while Steve moved a hand to cradle the side of his head and neck -

A sound left Billy this time, as Steve angled his mouth over Billy’s. Where he learned Billy was scared, so scared of Steve. His body dashed rationality against the wall and kissed him back tentatively, and then earnestly, just trying to keep up until Steve’s other hand framed him in. As Steve pushed against him until Billy walked backwards to have himself pressed against the wall.

He felt drunk as his hands let go of Steve’s shirt to hold onto the curvature of his ribs. He panted while Steve kissed his throat and washed Billy’s senses with his warm, sweet fragrance; his hair brushing Billy’s face and inspiring him to turn his face into Steve’s scalp. Inhale him into his lungs.

Billy didn’t know what game they were playing. But Steve outplayed him.

[talkfantasytome]

Dinner Dances - Part IV

The final chapter of Dinner Dances from the Velaris State Chronicles is up! You can read on AO3 here:

Dinner Dances - Challenge Accepted

Everyone's sticky from the beer fight and in need of a shower. Totally, completely innocent - of course...

TW: Tiny little statement that implies possible experience in a relationship becoming physically abusive.

It really is becoming quite the game. Hope you like it! You can find the beginning of the story here and via my Masterlist. I am also posting these chapters here, on tumblr, and you can read this one below.

Would love love love to hear your thoughts! ☺️

I do already have thoughts on the next story for these chronicles, and a list of possible other stories, some of which may focus on other characters/relationships. If you'd like to be added to my tag list for these stories, just let me know.

Challenge Accepted

"You can shower first," Cassian sighed, leading Nesta into his room.

The beer war lasted all of about ten minutes until the boys surrendered, hands up and devastatingly handsome smiles on their faces. Nesta and her roommates celebrated their victory with a tequila shot each, but no one could forget the fact that they were all damp and sticky with beer and in need of a shower.

Rhysand, Azriel, and Cassian were quick to say they could all shower there, and Rhys divided them up by brother, since the only full baths were attached to each of their bedrooms. Gwyn with Az, Mor and Emerie with him - and a stern decision that they would not be showering together in his bathroom - and Nesta with Cassian. When she asked why he simply said that, because they were the two idiots who'd started the war, they were stuck together.

She couldn't deny that. She'd started it, really. Though, it hadn't been purposeful. Just a bit of a gut reaction to the insanely lewd way Cassian commented on how she looked bending over and pumping the keg. Not that she'd completely hated the insinuation, but he'd caught her off guard. But Nesta wasn't sorry. As much as she hated to admit it, that may have been the most fun she'd had in months. Save for those few minutes on Halloween…maybe…when she wasn't actively ignoring those memories.

Cassian's room was simply decorated. Grey walls, a dark red comforter over his neatly made bed, mahogany furniture that still had a modern air to it. The room was... nice. And, despite being sparse in decorations, it seemed comfortable. There was a very worn book on his nightside table, next to an alarm clock - she didn't even know people still used those anymore - and Nesta had to fight the urge to go see what novel currently held ownership of that spot.

"No, you should," Nesta said, looking back toward him. "It's your house. Plus, you'll likely be a lot faster than me."

"Fastest if we showered together," he countered with a wink, to which her response was simply narrowing her eyes at him and crossing her arms. Cassian shrugged. "If you change your mind, you know where to find me." He removed his sweater and undershirt in one swift motion, revealing a torso far more defined than Nesta was expecting, with whorls tattooed along his chest and upper arms. Nesta's breath hitched at the sight, and Cassian gave her a quick smirk before turning and heading into the bathroom, leaving the door just slightly ajar as he started the shower and, presumably, took off the rest of his clothes.

She tried really hard not to think about that.

So Nesta made her way over to that little table and glanced at the book.

The Neverending Story.

She picked up the book and flicked through it. It wasn't just worn, as she first thought - this book had been loved. The binding opened at the lightest touch and there were chunks of pages that were loose or simply sat, no longer bound, within the book. In a quick flip, she saw some places where a sentence or two had been underlined, highlighted, and even a few where notes or comments were jotted down in tiny letters in the margins.

Nesta was tempted to read some of them, but she slammed the book shut and put it back on the table. She wouldn't want anyone doing that with her favorite book without permission, and the sting of her friends having read her diary was still a bit fresh. Lucky for them, they'd apologized profusely on Saturday with her favorite takeout and a massive chocolate cake.

Still, Nesta couldn't deny she was surprised and intrigued by this discovery. And maybe slightly curious about why this book. What was it that made this one so important to him? What other books did he love? Did he, like her, always have a book he was reading? Or was it just that he liked to keep one by his bed for nights he couldn't sleep?

Before she could stop herself, an image popped into Nesta's head. The two of them, curled together, reading their current books, content to just sit with each other. Enthralled by the others reactions to current scenes.

Shaking her head to get the picture out of her mind, Nesta's eyes kept flicking between the book and the bathroom door. Desire flooded through her - to see Cassian, to touch him, taste him, get to know him.

No, not get to know him. She couldn't let herself want that. That led to dangerous territory she was not ready to explore. Relationships ended in pain, heartbreak, or sometimes the breaking of something else. But, the physical side could be fun, with the right guy. And Cassian sure did seem like the right guy.

Without a second thought, Nesta stripped off her clothes before making her way into the bathroom, closing the door and locking it behind her. She could see a foggy blur of golden-brown skin behind the glass door, and she inhaled deeply, steadying herself.

With a soft tug, she pulled open the shower door and stepped in behind Cassian.

His body stiffened at the feel of the cool air flooding into the shower, and Nesta wondered if he could feel her as much as she seemed to be able to feel him, even though their skin wasn't touching.

After a moment, Cassian finally turned his head partially toward her, glancing over his shoulder. "This is a surprise," he said in a low, guttural voice that made Nesta start to throb.

"I was getting bored," she sighed. "Like you said, this will be much faster than us taking turns."

Even Nesta didn't believe the words she'd just uttered.

Cassian turned halfway, stepping a bit to the side to give Nesta some space beneath the waterfall, which poured from directly above, instead of a spout on a wall. The water was warm against her skin as she settled into her place before reaching around Cassian for the shampoo and squirting some into her hands.

Without taking her eyes off of his, she rubbed her hands together and then started lathering it into his hair. Even when wet it was soft and silky, and her fingers brushed easily through the dark locks. Cassian bent his head forward to make it easier for her, and to keep Nesta from needing to go up on her toes, and once his hair was thoroughly lathered up, she combed her fingers through it while the water washed the soap away.

Before the last of the bubbles were carried off, Cassian was already rubbing his hands full of shampoo and lifting his face so he could wash Nesta's hair. She held his stare for all of five seconds before her eyes shuttered close at the feeling of his fingers rubbing against her head. She moved closer to him, leaning into his touch, and as he tilted her head up so that the water would rinse out her hair, he started to press soft kisses to her neck.

"I can still taste the beer on you," he laughed onto her skin, and Nesta couldn't help but huff a small chuckle back.

"It must have been water-resistant beer," she teased, pulling away slightly and picking up the body wash that sat on the ledge with the shampoo.

She squeezed some into her hand and started to rub it into his shoulders, his arms, savoring each pass against his muscles, Cassian's body once again stiff. She washed his chest as well, and, grabbing more soap, she motioned for him to turn around. Cassian obeyed the silent command and then she scrubbed against his back softly, watching the soap bubble against his skin, and even dared a quick once over each butt cheek.

When Cassian turned back to face her, he smiled gently, his eyes darkened with lust. "Turn around. I want to save the best for last."

Nesta felt her eyes glow at that comment, felt her heart skip a beat when she did as requested, pulling her soaking hair over her shoulder. He massaged the soap into her back, strong hands rubbing at knots.

"Shit, Nes. How the hell are you this tense?" he asked in shock, his hands remaining on her shoulders, working her muscles.

"I have a lot on my plate," she answered swiftly. And that was all he was getting out of her. She made sure her tone conveyed that.

But he didn't comment on it. He just leaned in and whispered in her ear, "I'm sure there are more than a few ways I could loosen you up."

Inhaling a sharp gasp, Nesta felt a purr through her traitorous body as his hands travelled down her back, creating circles to scrub off any lasting imprint of dirt or grime or alcohol.

This was stupid - how could she put herself in this situation? What was she thinking?

She twirled to face him, and was once again mesmerized by his face, by the strong jaw and expressive eyes that seemed to tug on something within her. Oh, right. That's how.

So she didn't stop him. She just stood there, staring as Cassian gently started rubbing the soap on to her neck. His hands slid lower, lathering her shoulders, then her arms, then he moved them across to her breasts and Nesta moaned at the feel of him rubbing them, cupping them. At the soft flick on her nipples. He grabbed more soap and washed her stomach, trailing lower as they stood under the water.

Cassian pressed Nesta against the shower wall as his fingers teased her waist, but he didn't move them any closer. He didn't move at all as he looked into her eyes, a question and request in his stare.

Nesta nodded. "Yes," she breathed. "Just this once."

He seemed to pause at that comment, something like doubt flickering in his gaze, but it vanished in an instant and was replaced with earned arrogance.

"I'll be sure to make it good, then," he growled in her ear before bringing his lips back to her neck just as his fingers brushed against her center. He bit and sucked and licked at her collar, her throat, while his fingers massaged her folds with an intensity no one else had ever dared try.

A loud gasp escaped from her lips just as he finally decided to do a test and slide one finger into her core.

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

Cassian was fucking screwed.

He should have run the second Nesta said 'just this once'. Because no way in hell would he be able to live with just one taste, one chance to feel her. He knew he should have. But how could he?

How the fuck could he walk away from her? Wet, naked, and willing to give him at least something.

He couldn't.

Point blank. Full stop. No exceptions. He could not walk away from Nesta. He could not control himself, stop himself from taking whatever scraps she was willing to give.

Perhaps this would be okay, though. A quick hand job, to give her some release, and not get a full feel for the pleasure she would give him. This could work. He wasn't about to get on his knees in the shower, and he sure as hell wasn't going to go for other things. It wasn't really a habit for him to bring a condom when he washed himself.

And then a fire exploded inside him as one of Nesta's hands found its way to his cock and started to squeeze tight, to pump him fast and hard, and Cassian thought he might burst at the feel of it.

"Fuck!" he groaned, not willing to falter his own pace as he added another finger, now thrusting two straight into her.

His lips made their way up to hers and she captured his mouth, claiming it with her tongue and teeth. She moaned into him, the sound reverberating through both of their bodies.

Cassian felt Nesta clench on his fingers, just as his own release was starting to build, so he brought his other hand up to her breast, cupping one and twirling it around the nipple. Just as his fingers pumped in her, curling slightly, and his thumb pressed down on a sweet spot.

Nesta all but screamed into his mouth as she came on his hand, and within seconds Cassian was echoing it with a roar of his own, thankfully muffled by Nesta's lips as he came hard enough to see stars. She continued to move her hand until he was dry, and she rode out her own orgasm on his fingers. Once they were both spent they stilled, unable to move, to disconnect from each other.

Uneven, ragged pants filled the air along with the sound of the water falling from the shower head, and the two stared at each other, blue-grey eyes meeting hazel ones, revealing a sense of wonder and amazement. Nesta let go of Cassian first and he instantly felt the cold absence of her hand, as if it was meant to remain there forever. He slowly pulled his fingers out next and Nesta sighed, her eyes fluttering shut for a moment as he moved out of her.

Damn, she was beautiful. More mental images to lock away in his mind - the picture of her climaxing, and a second of her satisfied, because of him.

They both cleaned themselves off quickly, Cassian not trusting himself to be the one cleaning Nesta there, and then stepped out of the shower. Grabbing the first ruby towel, Cassian opened it and wrapped it around Nesta.

"Thank you," she whispered, her eyes soft as she looked up at him over her shoulder and dammit if he didn't almost lose his balance at that. Instead he grabbed the other towel and dried off his torso before wrapping it around his waist.

"You can borrow some of my clothes," he offered, heading into the bedroom, noticing the folded stack of women's clothes that sat on the floor, clearly still damp.

She followed, her hands still holding up her towel around her. In that stance, she looked almost like a lost child at the beach, entirely unsure what to do. It made him want to wrap his arms around her and just hold her - something he was sure she would not allow.

Cassian pulled out an old pair of flannel pajama bottoms that barely fit him and a plain white V-neck shirt, offering them to her. Accepting the clothes, she went back into the bathroom to put them on - as if he hadn't just been in the shower with her gloriously naked body and memorized every curve he could.

By the time she came back out he'd pulled on a pair of black sweatpants and a grey t-shirt and was sitting on the bed, waiting. His mouth practically fell open.

Nesta looked fucking adorable.

The pants had clearly been tightened as much as possible and then rolled up in an attempt to make them tighter and keep her from tripping. She wouldn't be able to pull them up high enough to not end up walking on the fabric. And the shirt; that one wasn't exactly tight on Cassian, but it also wasn't not tight on him, and still she was swimming in it.

He couldn't stop the smile that tugged on his lips at the image of her in his clothes. Despite how ridiculously big each piece was on her, Cassian wasn't sure she'd ever looked more beautiful.

"Back down to the party?" he asked, bending down to pick up Nesta's clothes for her.

She nodded, and then froze at the sound of a ring tone blasting through the room.

"That's me," she said, rushing as fast as she could in the massive pants toward the dresser where she'd left her phone. The phone that hadn't stopped buzzing at dinner with text after text. She'd eventually put it in her pocket, either too polite to text at dinner or just blatantly ignoring whomever it was. It hadn't stop Cassian from being insanely curious. "Hello?" The call must have been a face time because she held the phone front-facing before her, eyes on the screen.

"Nestaaaaa!" a girl shouted into the phone. There was a lot of background noise, but her voice was clear enough. "Where are you?? Are you still on that date?!?! I want to know everything! Come meet me at Rita's!"

Cassian watched Nesta roll her eyes but smile lightly. "I never said I had a date, Viv. And I thought you all were studying."

The other girl, Viv, giggled. "We tried but, honestly, after an hour we just ended up completely agreeing with all your notes, so we decided to call it an early night and head out. We got Thesan to come to a new barrrr!"

"Is that Nesta?" a familiar voice asked on the other line.

"Yes!" Viv exclaimed. "I think she's still on her date."

"Oh, don't say that!" The voice became louder and clearer. "Nesta, my heart, tell me you're not falling in love!"

Helion. That was definitely Helion.

"I'm not on a dat-"

"Why is your hair wet?" Another voice Cassian didn't know, this one laced with skepticism and concern.

"It's a long story, Thesan," Nesta sighed.

"Shower sex?" Helion suggested. Cassian could practically see him wagging his eyebrows.

"Don't be ridiculous!" Yep, that was a blush spreading on Nesta's face. An adorable, pink blush.

Cassian decided to step in, walking until he was behind her so that those on the call could see him. He even went so far as to place a hand on her shoulder. "Hate to interrupt, but Nesta and I have some unfinished business to attend to," he said with a wink

"No we don't!" But Nesta's argument was drowned out by the loud "Ooooo" from Viv and the shouted "CASSIAANNNN!" from Helion.

"Oh, girl, you know what. You're forgiven. I can not blame you for that choice," Helion continued, grinning widely as if he'd just watched his favorite ship from a TV show get together.

"Good night!" Nesta snapped, turning her phone off and pivoting to face him. If looks could burn, he'd be ash by now. "What the hell?!"

"What? They don't know anything," Cassian said, flashing her an easy smile.

"You do realize I am now going to be bombarded with questions, far worse than what they were doing tonight." So that's what all those texts were. Cassian tried and failed to hide his amusement. "It was bad enough when they just knew I was missing study group."

"Seemed like they were going to be making a lot of assumptions anyway," he chuckled. "Did I really make it that much worse?"

"Try a thousand times, like everything," she groaned, storming out of the room.

Cassian followed at her heels as they made their way down the stairs. "Oh please, it was just a bit of fun."

"Making people think we're sleeping together is fun?!" She stopped at the bottom of the stairs and looked back at him, not even acknowledging their five friends, already in the living room.

"Newsflash, sweetheart, most of them probably already think that considering Halloween." He didn't dare mention what they'd actually just done, and how close her friends were in their assumptions. Especially not in front of his brothers and her roommates. He reached the landing but kept his eyes on her, his body close enough that he had to really angle his head down.

She grunted. "I doubt it, considering how that night ended."

"You think people really pay attention to that?" he scoffed back. "All they would have seen was you and me, tangled together on the dance floor, making out."

"Tangled? We were not tangled!"

"Have a better word for it?" he asked, his voice getting deeper as a smirk danced across his face.

"I do," she said softly before raising her voice. "A monumental mistake!" She turned to their friends. "Az, Rhys. Thank you for having me. Gwyn, Em, Mor - see you at home." She started toward the door and then turned back, snatching her clothes out of Cassian's hands before stomping away and picking up her boots.

"You can keep the clothes!" Cassian taunted as she opened the door. She didn't falter as she walked outside and slammed it shut behind her, not even bothering to pull her boots on before she did. He watched her leave, once again, a small piece of him going with her. But this time, he was certain it wasn't over.

He turned to the living room to see the other five staring up at him in shock and confusion. And a smugness on Az's face as Rhys slid some money into his hand.

"We…should probably go too," Gwyn sighed, shooting up and looking toward her roommates.

The other two girls stood up with her. "Yeah, we should," Emerie agreed. None looked particularly happy about it, yet they all seemed determined. "But we had a really lovely time."

"We should do it again!" Mor suggested, nodding along with Emerie. "You know, when Cassian isn't PMSing."

"You're blaming me?" His voice cracked, slightly in shock.

"Yes," the three laughed in unison.

The boys followed them toward the door. Emerie was the first to get her shoes on. "I'll go chase her down, see if I can get us walking slow enough for you two to catch up. Thanks again, guys!" She waved quickly at Rhys, Az, and Cassian before rushing out the door.

Az gravitated toward Gwyn and Cassian put all his effort into focusing on Mor and Rhys to let them have a slightly private goodbye. It didn't stop him from seeing the tender kiss they shared, but it wasn't his fault he had great peripheral vision.

"Next time we do your place," Rhys said as Mor and Gwyn stood in the threshold.

"Only if Cass still cooks," Mor countered with a wink. "Don't be strangers!" The two waved and then headed out the house, closing the door behind them, and Cassian had a feeling they were now running to try and catch up to Nesta and Emerie.

"So. Want to tell us what happened?" Rhys asked, turning his gaze toward Cassian.

Cassian turned to Az, a slight pleading in his look. "No, I'm with Rhys," Az said. "What did you do?"

"Nothing!" he groaned in exasperation. Based on the roll of their eyes, neither Rhys nor Az believed him. "Nice. I'm heading to bed."

Turning his back to his brothers, Cassian headed up the stairs and back into his room. He brushed his teeth quickly, and then aggressively pulled the covers back before he got into the bed. Laying on his side, he slid one arm under his pillow, his skin brushing up against something that was decidedly not his pillow or bed sheets. He grabbed it and pulled it out as he sat up, examining the red, lace fabric.

Women's underwear, he realized.

These definitely hadn't been there before dinner. Cassian never kept his partners belongings. Ever. Sometimes he would offer it back to them, other times he'd just throw it out. Too often it was an attempt to either remind him what had happened, and why it should again - which, if it was worthwhile, he'd need no reminder - or a way to get him to come to them first. To get him to call. A game the girls were playing. Cassian never found any to be worthy adversaries.

But these. These were neither a reminder nor a request for him to call.

These were a challenge. One he wasn't planning on losing.

He placed the panties in the drawer of his nightstand and turned off the light, smiling as his head hit the pillow. Cassian never kept his partners belongings, but he supposed he could make one exception.

@live-the-fangirl-life @ladygabrielli1997 @generalnesta @secretlovelybeauty